It's another summery Friday. I'm spending the morning editing this next book while Paul swims with friends at the lake and Wyatt stays home and keeps me company:) We've been busy picking raspberries, cherries, peas, carrots, potatoes and more.
I'm so looking forward to meeting this next deadline and having some more time to read and research and play in the garden before beginning that next book. I'm dying to tell you all about it but mum's the word;)
My friend Britt blessed me with this creative picture of TCL - I laughed out loud when I saw it as I think her wording is delightful:) Wish every reader felt that way! Thanks to those of you have read the book or want to! And to those who have left kind reviews!
Here are our Friday winners...
Scarlet M. and KarenK!
Congrats, readers!
If you'll email me your snail mail addy, I'll mail those books right out.
What are you doing this last weekend in August?
Are all of those foods from your own garden? I would love to have that many foods in my garden. We have been picking many berries this year as well. And we just bought muscadines at the market yesterday, and watermelon, honey dew, and cherries. We added some aloe and lavender plants around the house this year as well.
ReplyDeleteHope everyone has a great day!
I love that picture! What a creative idea. Still really enjoying TCL and looking forward to getting to read the end, as I've been delayed by work.
ReplyDeleteAdrienne, Yes, all those foods are from our garden though I can't take any credit for it! It's Randy's and the boys doing. Since the writing kicked in, I can't do as much gardening or my usual canning and preserving like I used to. I do still make jam and pickled beets and jerky but that's about it:) And I really miss it. We do eat a lot of fresh things out of it every day though. I think my favorite this year were the raspberries. Next week I'll post some pictures of the garden - though my photography is not very good.
ReplyDeleteYour own market finds sound wonderful, right down to the aloe and lavender, one of my personal favorites:) And I just LOVE fresh cherries...
Rosslyn, Oh, do I understand about books being bumped by work. Thanks for wanting to get back to TCL! Although I hate to see summer go, I'm looking forward to more time for reading this winter - and praying my next edits aren't extensive! Sigh. You can understand that, I'm sure;)
ReplyDeleteHoping to see you next month - if you're going to be there:)
Happy Friday, Laura!
ReplyDeleteWell, I'll be spending this last weekend of August praying for two things - that our house doesn't blow up OR blow away! Currently the state is working on the gas lines in my neighborhood - not sure why they want to cut the streets open just before a hurricane... Speaking of a hurricane, I'll also be praying Irene doesn't huff, puff and blow us away! Not sure our roof can withstand her fury but by the grace of Almighty God we're hoping for a testimony. Little Rhody could possibly take a direct hit or we'll pass the honor off to Connecticut but either way were in for some heavy winds and rain :( It's all in the Lord's strong and capable hands but prayers are appreciated.
We're also celebrating my brother's 20th b-day tomorrow! We're keeping it simple and going to his favorite Chinese restaurant. My mom keeps saying her baby (pretty big baby if you ask me, lol!) is a hurricane baby because when she was about to deliver him hurricane Bob came to RI. She was so scared he'd come during the storm but thankfully he waited till it was over ;) Now, 20 years later another hurricane is threatening on his special day. I told him he better be praying harder than all of us! ;)
Wish I was there picking raspberries and the like with you, my friend! Sounds like so much fun! Praying your weekend is peaceful and sunny :)
Blessings,
Amanda
What am I doing? Weeding! Now that it's not so hot and humid I can actually stand to be out in the garden longer than 20 minutes. And I'm trying to reorganize my whole house by Monday which is when I go back to work. I had nearly the whole month of August to do all that stuff but, well, I ended up reading most of the vacation away. :-)
ReplyDeletePrayers with you, dear Amanda!! I've been watching the news - the hurricane bears my mother's name:( Some friends of ours in Virginia have already evacuated. Praying it just blows away out in the Atlantic far from everyone. Scary, I know. The high winds cause such havoc here with power outages and such so I know what a huge problem it can be. You're right, the Lord has everything under control but prayers really do help!
ReplyDeleteNo doubt your brother will remember his 20th birthday! Happy birthday to him:) Interesting he came into the world in a storm! Oh my...sounds like a good beginning for a novel! Please keep me updated as to how it goes for you all if you can. Praying, praying...
Kav, Weeds - arggghhhh! I'm going to take some pics of our garden to post next week (if I can edit the weeds - lol!). I'm so glad you had the month of August off. It's fune to think of you reading and weeding or cleaning or whatever:) Mainly because that is what I need to be doing. But with this deadline next week, I'm afraid my poor house will have to wait. I do have to make blackberry jam today as one of my dear sons forgot to close the freezer door last night... Hamburger, anyone, or melted ice cream? Grrrr. Happy Friday, anyway, dear Kav!!
ReplyDeleteExcuse the typos;) FUN, not fune... Still early here...
ReplyDeleteThank you, dear Laura :) Sorry that I've been one big prayer request lately! And don't worry, we won't hold it against your mom ;) It is a very pretty name. It actually means "peace" if I'm not mistaken. Oh, let us hope!
ReplyDeletePrayers for the East Coast!
Blessings,
Amanda
Today I'm spending some more family time (going out to breakfast in just a minute!), and then later today and tomorrow I have to pack! (Lots of packing...) Sunday I leave for school, and Wednesday classes begin again. It's a bittersweet time, as I will miss my family tremendously, but I know it's important to start that new semester.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a wonderful weekend, Laura (sounds like you have some great plans!), and I'll talk to you again soon! :)
~Amber
So funny to read the comments here today. My mother's name is also Irene, Laura :) And though we're upstate New York, we're expecting high winds and flooding Sunday night when the storm is supposed to make a direct hit on NYC. Hopefully, no power outages. Then I have to lug out the portable generator thing for Mom's oxygen or relocate to my sister's house. Not fun.
ReplyDeleteAnd Amanda's comments reminded me . . . Back in 1991, my mom, sister, and I decided to take a quick trip to Cape Cod several days before hurricane Bob was due to hit. But while we were incommunicado on Martha's Vineyard, they upped the time for him to arrive. We were stuck in a little motel during that storm.
So on this last weekend in August, I'm prepping for school (we start Monday) and dreaming about hurricanes . . . Both are making me look forward even more to the ACFW Conference!
I will be finishing up the last of my editing on my novel and starting my third book!!! I am so excited to be delving into a new journey, there's just something so wonderful about starting those first few pages. I can hardly wait. :)
ReplyDeleteAll the best to you and yours Laura, Enjoy your last days of August!!
I didn't know that, Amanda - the meaning is lovely! Irene isn't very common but might work in a book - I'm thinking WW2 era. Anyway, so happy you're back online! It really ISN'T the same without you:)
ReplyDeleteThinking of you, Amber, as you spend precious time with your family before heading back. I know your friends will be so happy to see you - here goes another year! I can't believe it. This may sound strange but I still have dreams sometimes of packing for college. It must have traumatized me! In my dreams I can't fit everything in and have to leave things behind...
ReplyDeletePrayers with you as you transition! It will be fun making the switch with you on the blog from home to school:)
I've been wondering when you'd start teaching again, Renee Ann - now I know:) Praying the hurricane and the first day of school don't coincide! Would you believe Kentucky schools (western Ky, anyway) went back August 3?! A teacher friend had to return August 1 but they must get out very early.
ReplyDeleteOh, how I love Cape Cod!! But not in a storm! That sounds so very memorable I'm sure you'll never forget it. Praying your power holds for you, your mom and sister, etc. That can be very hard.
Counting down with you! St. Lou here we come:)
Hannah, I should ask this question more often as I love hearing what you all are doing! You and I are at the same phase - finishing one book and beginning yet another:) It's a wonderful feeling, huh? Kind of scary, too, as you're not sure where the journey will take you. But we know Who's in control, and He doesn't make mistakes! Happy writing to you this weekend and beyond!
ReplyDeleteI will have a people free weekend, as my husband is taking the 4 kiddos with him to a memorial service and I'm staying home to work/write. And to keep the puppy home since he has to visit the vet on Monday.
ReplyDeleteGotta finish editing my novella so I can turn that in to the editor. And try to hash out this new series idea banging around in my head. Hmmm
Laura,
ReplyDeleteOh, thank you for thinking of me! I'm sorry packing left such a bad impression on you... :( I must admit it's not exactly my favorite activity, either, and I'm nervous about forgetting something important (packing or otherwise!).
But with all this transitioning, it really does help knowing I have such dear friends (like you!) who will still be here in the blogosphere when I get back to school. :) And knowing that God is with me no matter where I am is the best blessing of all!!
Thank you for your encouragement, and thank you for sticking by me. :) I feel like we've been friends for a really long time, even if it's only been a matter of months rather than years. :) Thank you!!
~Amber
Winter, You're about to have the weekend I just had:) Randy took the boys camping on the coast/beach and the house was so quiet it seemed to echo;) I can imagine being minus 5 people instead of 3!! Enjoy every minute. I sure did:)
ReplyDeleteAs for that new series banging around in your head - me, too. Almost painful! I was sitting on the swing today scribbling away and thought, "Where AM I going with this?" Shrug. I hope you have better direction than I do! Prayers with you, my friend. I so relate:) But it's sure a lot of fun, too...
Amber, Thanks so much for the timelly reminder - that God is with us no matter where we go:) Reminds me so much of Psalm 139, one of my favorites. Happy packing! And thanks so much for hosting the blog party. So fun to see the different authors and enjoy the comments:)
ReplyDeleteI'm back from my vacation and guess who went with us? The Colonel's Lady! My Mom and I each had a copy and read side by side in our hotel beds each night. It's so much fun to share reading the same book together. I wanted so much to read it as we went through Kentucky, but we had to take another route back through Ohio.
ReplyDeleteWhat a special pic from Britt, my sentiments exactly!
It's so nice to see how you are enjoying your gardening. It's hard to believe these are the last days of summer.
We are bracing for the storm, but it shouldn't be too bad here in Maine. So glad that God calms the storms in our hearts regardless of the circumstances.
Oh, Renee Ann, you were on Martha's Vineyard for Bob?? That must have been an experience! Will be praying Irene doesn't knock out power for you, friend, or cause flooding! May the Lord bless you and strengthen you and your dear mom, too, for whatever lies ahead. I have to say every time I see your name it puts a smile on my face :) God bless you!
ReplyDeleteLaura, you are so sweet and always know just how to brighten my day :) I'm so happy to be getting back to visiting you here like I use to! Hopefully that will last! I've missed you and everyone so much! Thank you for your prayers... for everything, my friend :)
Blessings,
Amanda
Well said, Carla. God calms the storm inside us which is far more important than any turmoil outside us. How often I need that reminder!
ReplyDeleteI'm SO happy you're back! I've really, really missed you but know you had a wonderful time. And I'm smiling ear to ear that you and your mom had not one but 2 copies of TCL so you didn't have to share! Please thank her for me. I'd love to meet her in person someday. BTW, I absolutely loved the picture of you at CW in that beautiful coach! I wasn't able to comment due to a Blogger issue. Grrr. I'll have to go back and try Google Chrome.
I know you must be so busy getting back and into a routine again. I'll be over to visit soon;) On the blog, anyway...
Amanda, Thinking of you so much - haven't listened to the news yet as we just woke up so hope all is still calm. Felt so bad for the patients at hospitals who are being evacuated in NY and other places. So glad you are popping in! And THANK YOU for your gracious words:)
ReplyDeleteI have the weekend off! I am having tea with a friend at Greenfield Village. I love coming to this place :)
ReplyDeleteWork makes the weekends off even more special, Stacie:) And tea at such a wonderful spot with a friend is right up my alley! Enjoy every minute - wish I could join you!!
ReplyDeleteHi Laura, I recently read The Frontiersman's Daughter, and I just wanted to let you know how much I loved it. Your writing is genuine, real and sincere, and the story was beautiful. I've already ordered The Colonel's Lady from Amazon, and I will be seeking out a copy of Courting Morrow Little very soon.
ReplyDeleteA new fan,
Beth
This weekend is a bit of a transition as Chris finished his job Friday and starts his new one Wednesday. Chris insists I should put in some writing time today, so I guess I won't argue ;)
ReplyDeleteBeth, Wonderful to wake up to your words this morning:) I'm so glad you've met Lael and want to read Roxanna's story - and also Morrow's. Love the words you've used to decribe my books - you're so gracious. I try to portray history accurately - without sugarcoating the grittier aspects but also without dwelling on them either. So happy you find beauty and realism in them. This weekend I was thinking I really don't fit the CBA market. Maybe in time the Lord will call me into the general market. Now that's a mission field;)
ReplyDeletePlease stay in touch! I hope you enjoy TCL just as much when it arrives! And a million thanks to you, dear Beth!
YES, obey that husband of yours, Julia;) He sounds like he has good sense! I've been thinking of you and am so glad to know when C. begins the new job. Praying it goes well and it's a huge blessing for you as a family and couple, etc. It's great to see what the Lord is doing! Also praying the homsechooling is going very well. It's fun to begin fresh with a whole new year stretching out before you. Oh, I miss those days! Happy homeschooling!! So good to see you here.
ReplyDeleteStill enjoying our very warm weather, but looking forward to some soup and warm jacket days!
ReplyDeleteI just finished the last of your three books Laura...Courting Morrow Little. I kept thinking...there is no way the next will be as good as the last, but was I in for a treat. I don't remember the last time I have anticipated another book by one of my favorite author's as much as I am now. You, Laura Frantz are right at the top. Thank you for your wonderful books!
Debrjean,
ReplyDeleteOh, so happy to think of you finishing Morrow's story now, too! Bless you for that. I wish I could write faster and turn out a book every other month - often feel that about my favorite authors, too. The wait seems so long between books! I'm glad you found them to be equally good reading:) I try to maintain that and it's so encouraging to think it's happening, at least for you. That really blesses me.
Like you, I'm getting geared up for soup and autumn and warm jacket days:) There's something magical about fall. We have a lot of bonfires here and press our own cider - always a fun time.
Thanks so much for your kind words this morning - praying today is full of His best blessings for you!
Yes, we're praying for it. Your garden sounds wonderful. I have to say food comes up enough in the comments that I wish you would share some more recipes with us as you sound like a wonderful cook!
ReplyDeleteJulia,
ReplyDeleteOh, love your idea! I think a regular recipe post would be a great idea for fall, especially as we settle back in and focus more on food and being indoors again. I do love to cook and have so many good recipes I'd like to share. I'll try to start that in September which is right around the corner:) Thanks for the great idea!!