New Holiday Friends

Betsy, Jane Marie and Karen

I often post pictures of some of the new people I meet at book signings.  We have a common interest, historic romance/suspense novels.  After giggling with them and chatting up a storm, the time comes to part and as a remembrance, we take photos to share. 

This was Black Friday in downtown Fernandina on Amelia Island's historic Centre Street.  Since lots of action in my Amelia Island's Goodbye Lie Trilogy takes place on Centre, I love pointing here and teasing them there.  It's exciting for me and seems so for them, too .

From the heavy coats and scarves we're wearing, plus the Santa hat atop my head, you can see the weather fits the season.  Oh, and I'm wearing pajamas since it has become an island tradition on Black Friday that everyone is to come downtown from 8:00 to 11:00 am in their jammies.  If it's silly and fun, you know me, I'm there!

Thank you to Betsy and Karen from The Villages in central Florida.  Hope to hear from you once you've read The Goodbye Lie and Amelia Island's Velvet Undertow.  Stay tuned for Amelia Island's Mark of a Man.  It's right around the corner...



Bless This House, a Hymn

Thanksgiving Bouquet by Ava

May we all remember to

 count our blessings

today and every

Thanksgiving Day.

 

Please enjoy

 Bless This House,

sung by Perry Como.

 

Click below to hear the lovely hymn,  first published in 1927:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=es_Q0pC6I4E

 

Honey Walnut Ice Cream- Peeper Writes



Here is an easy dessert is vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt drizzled with honey and sprinkled with walnuts.  This treat is featured in my upcoming novel, Amelia Island's Mark of a Man, set in 1898 and served at the Crusty Anchor Pub.

Excerpt:

Pat winked as he returned to his table in time for a beefy waiter to deliver steaming bowls of their ordered beef stew. Uncle John, giving nary an acknowledgement of the incident, sliced the loaf of accompanying beer bread and slathered each piece with butter before passing the first portion to Jency, who still smiled in relief that there was no altercation. They ended their meal, appreciating their vanilla ice cream drizzled with honey and walnuts.

 



The Goodbye Lie Diaries:

Fernandina, Florida
1898

Grandmother Peeper writes:  Shoot. I betcha they paid a pretty penny fur that goodie.  Come on down ta my house and I won't charge ya nothin'.  Well, I think I'd have ta send Aunt Noreena a bill, just ta be mean.

Writing Quote

Story Central, where simple words turn the page ... 

The quotation below was sitting randomly at the bottom of an email I received. As a writer, I think I have to agree with Mr. Hemingway.

 

"Poor Faulkner.  Does he really think big emotions come from big words?"

      - Ernest Hemingway (about William Faulkner)

Florida Fall & Goodbye Lie Diaries

Fernandina on Amelia Island
present day

4 o'clocks- A friend gave me the huge bulbs years ago and they smell delightful, too!

Jane Marie writes:
Mama Nature is wonderful in so many way.  One of them is her perennials.  You know, those plants that come up from bulbs or the ones that bloom every year. Yes, fertilizing, dead heading, cutting them back, etc., all the things gardeners should do will make for a bigger display of blossoms. But, for anyone who hasn't the time to bestow much TLC upon these garden gems, well, be grateful they don't need you very much.  The photos are proof of that since I can't be in my cottage garden as often as I'd like to be. 
 

seven  sisters roses


 

white mums from a pot that decorated the altar one
 Easter Sunday morning



yellow mums

Wild red Florida roses-very bug resistant,
and they bloom a couple of times a year.





miniature oleander bush

 


orange tree



pink mums


Gerbera daisy is an annual.  I looked it up,
 but our Florida winter has been mild enough that it survived. 
 I think this plant is at least 4 years old.

******

Fernandina on Amelia Island, Florida
1880's

Aunt Noreen writes:
If you are trying to show off, Jane Marie, you are doing a masterful job of it.  It's not that you don't have some very lovely specimens, but it sounds as though you are neglecting your garden and depending upon the good Lord to make your flowers grow.  I'm sure He would appreciate you lending a hand and spending a few hours a week in your garden.  Don't be so lazy!

Aunt Noreen

The ladies in my orchid society realize how hard I work to produce the show-stoppers I do and so  I am proud to say I won second place for what I call my Emerald Eye.  The only reason I did not win first place was that Mrs. Wiseflicker tripped over a tree root when she was visiting her husband's grave and landed in a patch of poison ivy.  They judges felt sorry for her when she appeared in front of them with her hands, arms, left foot and right ear wrapped in bandages, balancing her orchid pot on her hip. The people who get their way by feigning illness ... I would never think of doing anything like that.  It's not in my nature.

Aunt Noreen is a featured player in Amelia Island's Goodbye Lie series set in the 1880s.  She is less that popular within her family and even less in the small seaside town of Fernandina on Amelia Island, Florida. 

A Singing Treasure

American Legion Post 54 float

Anniversaries are most often thought of as happy. Not in this case, for it is the 100th anniversary of the beginning of 

World War I.  That is hard to comprehend. 



In honor of Veteran's Day, Bruce, my husband, and I rode on the American Legion Post 54 float in our local Fernandina parade.  It was so wonderful to hear the crowds cheer and wave, some with their hands over their hearts, some saluting, all shouting  a sincere thank you for your service to the veterans.



After the parade, we went to Post 54.  Bruce is the chaplain there and I am a member of the Auxiliary.  We ate delicious pulled pork sandwiches in the canteen then went into the hall to hear a young man sing patriotic songs.  What a delight ten-year-old Joshua Barber was and is.  He has overcome severe health issues and is a living inspiration.  He touched our hearts with his love for
America. 

 

Joshua, Uncle Sam and Jane Marie

 

Click on the video below to enjoy Joshua singing the Armed Forces Medley, his tribute to our military men and women.  It will leave you proud and smiling!



 

Here's to all veterans and active duty military. 

God is forever with you.

Making the Mark- Mark of a Man

working cover of Mark of a Man

I was checking for typos, I'm always checking for typos, this time with regard to you, you are and you're.  Then I thought how the words following you're, scattered throughout Amelia Island's Mark of a Man, my next historical romance novel, might offer a hint about the storyline.  Have a look below and let your imagination go. Then when you read the soon to be released book, see if you came close to the actual plot.  But remember, I like to surprise folks ...

 

you’re going to bed ...

you’re plug ugly ...

you’re a dickens ...
you’re strong enough ...

you’re no threat ...

you’re a good, no …

you’re too …

you’re afraid …

you’re telling the town …

you’re making it sound …

you’re better than …

you’re already halfway to …

you’re a lot crazier …

you’re a nasty boil on …
 

The Morning After

We had zero trick-or-treaters last night.  :-(   We  propped open the gate and all the outside lights were on, but still no one.  Could it be the Beware of Dog sign on the gate?  Maybe, but Abby and I took a short walk after dark and there were just no kids on the sidewalk across the street.  So, looks like peanut butter cups for me! The secret is control, of course.  I must look up the definition of control ... once the treats are all gone.  :-)