Cecelia Dowdy's Blog, page 8
November 14, 2024
Ruth Chapter 2
This blog post is sponsored by Divine Desserts Publishing. Read one of our novels – sweet comforting soothing stories for parched souls. All books are Christian-themed and they are perfect for Bible study and church groups! Tell your friends by sharing this blog post! For those listening – the link is at the end of this blog post!
A number of things come to mind when I read Ruth Chapter 2. Boaz was quite taken with Ruth. He wanted to know more about her and he wanted to protect her. Love was on the horizon – you can tell by his actions. Also, he told the harvesters to leave some grain behind so that Ruth could pick it up and have plenty to eat.
When they stopped for mid-day meal, Boaz offered her some roasted grain and bread dipped in wine vinegar.
For a Sunday School project you should read this chapter and serve a meal to your students using similar food, if you’re able to find it. I found some roasted grain on Amazon and I prepared it. I served it with some over-easy eggs. You can also eat it as a side dish.
I cooked it in chicken broth. You must cook it for a long time – similar to the cooking time for brown rice. The roasted grain tasted okay – it reminded me of a cross between rice and oatmeal. It looks similar to oatmeal.
Another thing that comes to mind is my childhood. When I read about Ruth and the other women gleaning wheat behind the harvesters, I recall my life on a military base. There was a huge cornfield on the edge of our neighborhood. I honestly don’t know if the cornfield belonged to the government, or, if it was owned by another entity.
To clarify, we lived on a patch of land, with other families, that belonged to the US Army. Our patch of land was surrounded by civilian territory. I was very young at the time, so, am unclear as to if the cornfield belonged to the government, or to a civilian entity.
After the corn was harvested my mom, me, my siblings, as well as a bunch of other people in the neighborhood, would go through the cornfield and pick up ears of corn that may have been missed. I’m not sure why we did this! It was an activity that the community did together. We’d husk and eat the corn later.
So, here’s Ruth chapter 2 – don’t forget to leave a comment!
Ruth 2
New International Version
Ruth Meets Boaz in the Grain Field
Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side, a man of standing from the clan of Elimelek, whose name was Boaz.
2 And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.”
Naomi said to her, “Go ahead, my daughter.” 3 So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek.
4 Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters, “The Lord be with you!”
“The Lord bless you!” they answered.
5 Boaz asked the overseer of his harvesters, “Who does that young woman belong to?”
6 The overseer replied, “She is the Moabite who came back from Moab with Naomi. 7 She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the harvesters.’ She came into the field and has remained here from morning till now, except for a short rest in the shelter.”
8 So Boaz said to Ruth, “My daughter, listen to me. Don’t go and glean in another field and don’t go away from here. Stay here with the women who work for me. 9 Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the women. I have told the men not to lay a hand on you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled.”
10 At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She asked him, “Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me—a foreigner?”
11 Boaz replied, “I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. 12 May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”
13 “May I continue to find favor in your eyes, my lord,” she said. “You have put me at ease by speaking kindly to your servant—though I do not have the standing of one of your servants.”
14 At mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come over here. Have some bread and dip it in the wine vinegar.”
When she sat down with the harvesters, he offered her some roasted grain. She ate all she wanted and had some left over. 15 As she got up to glean, Boaz gave orders to his men, “Let her gather among the sheaves and don’t reprimand her. 16 Even pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up, and don’t rebuke her.”
17 So Ruth gleaned in the field until evening. Then she threshed the barley she had gathered, and it amounted to about an ephah. 18 She carried it back to town, and her mother-in-law saw how much she had gathered. Ruth also brought out and gave her what she had left over after she had eaten enough.
19 Her mother-in-law asked her, “Where did you glean today? Where did you work? Blessed be the man who took notice of you!”
Then Ruth told her mother-in-law about the one at whose place she had been working. “The name of the man I worked with today is Boaz,” she said.
20 “The Lord bless him!” Naomi said to her daughter-in-law. “He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead.” She added, “That man is our close relative; he is one of our guardian-redeemers.”
21 Then Ruth the Moabite said, “He even said to me, ‘Stay with my workers until they finish harvesting all my grain.’”
22 Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, “It will be good for you, my daughter, to go with the women who work for him, because in someone else’s field you might be harmed.”
23 So Ruth stayed close to the women of Boaz to glean until the barley and wheat harvests were finished. And she lived with her mother-in-law.
This blog post is sponsored by Divine Desserts Publishing. Read one of our novels – sweet comforting soothing stories for parched souls. All books are Christian-themed and they are perfect for Bible study and church groups! Tell your friends by sharing this blog post! For those listening – the link is at the end of this blog post!
November 11, 2024
The Blacksmith’s Bride & Holidays 11-11-2024 Newsletter
Divine Desserts Publishing, LLC
Plants!
I hope all of you have a fantastic week!
The weather has been inconsistent lately – which often happens in autumn. It’s been cold, and then it gets warm. My basil plants are still alive, but are slowly dying. My peppermint will usually stay alive until Christmas. Here’s a couple of pics. The first is my marigolds and the other is of some late tomatoes that recently sprouted.
[image error] [image error]Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving is coming up. What do you have planned for the holiday?
The Blacksmith’s Bride – Preorder
The Blacksmith’s Bride, the third book in my historical Romance Bride Series, is up for preorder on Amazon. I will provide more information about this novel later. I’m so excited to be working on a new story!
Butterscotch Bliss
[image error]I hope to have Butterscotch Bliss, a Christmas novella, available within the next few weeks! A download link will be included in one of my newsletters.
Speaking of Christmas – books make fantastic gifts! The books are gift-wrapped and include extra goodies! Consider gifting some to a friend or loved one!
Don’t forget to download one of my novels for some cool autumn reading!
I hope your week will be fantastic! Let me know if anything exciting happens! I’d love to hear about it!
[image error]November 9, 2024
Christmas Romance Gift Bundle!
Christmas Romance Collection – Perfect for gift giving!
[image error]November 6, 2024
The Summer Girls by Mary Alice Monroe
The Summer Girls by Mary Alice Monroe
[image error]The Summer Girls by Mary Alice Monroe
This blog post is sponsored by Divine Desserts Publishing. If you enjoy warm, comfortable, feel-good reads then check out our amazing titles!
Do you have siblings? If you do, are you close to them?
This book was such a treat to read! It’s about three half sisters (different mothers, same father) who spend summers together with their paternal grandmother. Their father is deceased and the story shows how each sister had to go through a unique struggle – partially stemming from their irresponsible alcoholic father. Carson is the main character and she loves swimming and surfing. When she has an accident, she becomes acquainted with a dolphin, and then the story takes on unique twists and turns after that.
She meets Blake, and they share a special bond and love for the ocean. However, their bond proves tenuous as they discover secrets and new information about sea creatures.
I highly recommend this book if you want a nice, comforting read.
So, do you have siblings? If you do, are you close to them?
This blog post is sponsored by Divine Desserts Publishing. If you enjoy warm, comfortable, feel-good reads then check out our amazing titles!
November 4, 2024
The Blacksmith’s Bride – 11-4-2024 Newsletter
Vote!
I hope all of you have a fantastic week!
As already mentioned last week – remember to vote! Tomorrow is Election Day!
Halloween!
We only had one trick-or-treater this year. Most of the houses on my street had their lights off. Did you have any trick-or-treaters?
Here’s a little treat for you! My little grandniece with her friend from church on Halloween!
[image error]Autumn!
I’ve been enjoying the beautiful fall weather during my daily walks. Here’s a pic of a beautiful tree in our neighborhood. I love seeing the beautiful colors of the leaves this time of the year.
[image error]The Blacksmith’s Bride – Preorder
The Blacksmith’s Bride, the third book in my historical Romance Bride Series, is up for preorder on Amazon. I will provide more information about this novel later. I’m so excited to be working on a new story!
Butterscotch Bliss
[image error]I hope to have Butterscotch Bliss available within the next few weeks!
Don’t forget to download one of my novels for some cool autumn reading!
I hope your week will be fantastic! Let me know if anything exciting happens! I’d love to hear about it!
[image error]The Bakery Romance Series
Loving Luke Raspberry Kisses Shades of Chocolate Sweet Dreams
Sugar and Spice Southern Comfort Sweet Delights Cinnamon Kisses
The Candy Beach Series
Caramel Kisses Chocolate Dreams Milk Chocolate Kisses Bittersweet Dreams Coffee and Kisses Rocky Road Dreams
The Romance Bride Series
The Baker’s Bride The Doctor’s Bride
Signed Paperbacks
Christmas Book Bundle – $50 + postage
August 18, 2024
Ruth – Chapter 1
#Ruth #BookofRuth #SundayBrunch #blogpost #podcast #OldTestament #Bible #SundaySchool
Ruth – Chapter 1
Welcome to this episode of Sunday Brunch. The Sunday Brunch blog posts are warm and inviting, encouraging discussion about the Bible.
This blog post was sponsored by Divine Desserts Publishing LLC. If you like stories about faith and Christianity then you must read Loving Luke by Cecelia Dowdy. Loving Luke is about a reunion between Luke and Kim, two childhood sweethearts. It’s a Christmas novel full of love, regrets, and second chances. There’s also a bakery and plenty of delicious desserts wrapped within this amazing story. Can Luke and Kim find the courage to overcome their hang-ups and learn to love again? Loving Luke has been an Amazon bestselling novel with several 5-star reviews! Purchase today and tell your friends by sharing this blog post! The purchase link for Loving Luke is at the end.
Subscribe to this blog by leaving a reply and selecting “Notify me of new posts by email.”
Ruth 1
New International Version
Naomi Loses Her Husband and Sons
1 In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. 2 The man’s name was Elimelek, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there.
3 Now Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4 They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, 5 both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband. [Poor Naomi! I can’t even imagine how painful that must have been – losing both of her sons and her husband! I’m assuming Orpah and Ruth did not have any children. I wonder about this – why were there no offspring. I assume it was the Lord’s will. The text mentions a great famine in Bethlehem which caused them to move to Moab. I also wonder why both of their husbands died.]
6 When Naomi heard in Moab that the Lord had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them, she and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home from there. 7 With her two daughters-in-law she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road that would take them back to the land of Judah.
8 Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back, each of you, to your mother’s home. May the Lord show you kindness, as you have shown kindness to your dead husbands and to me. 9 May the Lord grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband.”
Then she kissed them goodbye and they wept aloud 10 and said to her, “We will go back with you to your people.”
11 But Naomi said, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands? 12 Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons— 13 would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the Lord’s hand has turned against me!” [Did older people NOT get married during these times? Naomi said that she’s too old to have another husband. She may have been speaking from the viewpoint of being too old to have children.]
14 At this they wept aloud again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her.
15 “Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.”
16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” 18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her. [This is such a moving, emotional speech. It brings tears to my eyes. Ruth’s and Naomi’s relationship has progress from being in-laws to true mother and daughter. I think about the relationship between daughter-in-law to mother-in-law. A lot of the time when people talk about their mother-in-law it doesn’t appear that the relationship is so close and stable as Ruth’s and Naomi’s. I believe it might be difficult to forge a bond so strong with a mother-in-law since she’d not raised the daughter-in-law. Do you have any friends or family members who have a relationship with their mother in law that mimics Ruth and Naomi’s? If you do, I’d love to hear about it. Leave a comment.]
19 So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them, and the women exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?”
20 “Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. 21 I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The Lord has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.” [When I read these two verses, I’m reminded of Saul, who later became the Apostle Paul. His life had drastically changed – he’d persecuted and killed Christians, was blinded, and then became a minister for Jesus Christ. Since Saul changed his name to Paul, that’s why I’m mentioning him.]
22 So Naomi returned from Moab accompanied by Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, arriving in Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning.
So, if you know of someone who has mother-in-law, daughter-in-law relationship that mimics Ruth and Naomi, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment!
This blog post was sponsored by Divine Desserts Publishing LLC. If you like stories about faith and Christianity then you must read Loving Luke by Cecelia Dowdy. Loving Luke is about a reunion between Luke and Kim, two childhood sweethearts. It’s a Christmas novel full of love, regrets, and second chances. There’s also a bakery and plenty of delicious desserts wrapped within this amazing story. Can Luke and Kim find the courage to overcome their hang-ups and learn to love again? Loving Luke has been an Amazon bestselling novel with several 5-star reviews! Purchase today and tell your friends by sharing this blog post! The purchase link for Loving Luke is at the end. Subscribe to this blog by leaving a reply and selecting “Notify me of new posts by email.”
August 12, 2024
Still Missing the Beach!
We’ve been back for a week and I still miss the beach! I wish we’d stayed for two weeks instead of one!
Here’s a pic of the living room of our beach rented condo. The place felt like home. I loved walking outside straight to the beach each morning!
Perhaps we can retire here someday!Condo – Beach Rental – Living Room

Well, this sweet story delves into that very question! Plus, the book had lots of food – and candy – and pie! Give my podcast a listen! If you’ve read The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie, I’d love to know what you thought about it!
This novel is going to be made into a Hallmark movie.

I Listened!

Many of you have pinged me, wanting to know when/if I would be able to accept credit card payments via my website. I’ve finally updated my site and made the appropriate changes.
Candy Beach Series – $50 for entire set
Bakery Romance Series – $75 for entire set
Payment can be made with credit card.
Email me if you have any questions!

Candy Beach

Speaking of beaches, be sure to check out The Candy Beach Series for a cool, emotional, delicious and pleasant read during your beach vacation!

Candy Beach & Bakery Romance Paperbacks!


As mentioned previously, I’m having a sale on the paperbacks – and it’s now been extended to both of my series! The Candy Beach Series – $50 for the entire 6-book series & The Bakery Romance Series – $75 for the entire 8-book series – must be ordered directly from me – price includes domestic US postage. This deal is cheaper than Amazon’s price. I take payment via credit card, check, or money order. Ping me if you’d like to pay with an alternate method!
Spread the word about my books! Social media is a writer’s best friend!

Rocky Road Dreams






I hope you have a fantastic week! Let me know if you have any fun plans for the summer!


ALL titles are available as autographed paperbacks!
The Bakery Romance Series
Loving Luke
Raspberry Kisses
Shades of Chocolate
Sweet Dreams
Sugar and Spice
Southern Comfort
Sweet Delights
Cinnamon Kisses
The Candy Beach Series
Caramel Kisses
Coffee and Kisses
Chocolate Dreams
Rocky Road Dreams
Milk Chocolate Kisses
Bittersweet Dreams
Historical Standalone Titles
The Underground Railroad Brides Collection
A Teacher’s Heart
August 10, 2024
The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie
This blog post was sponsored by Divine Desserts Publishing LLC. If you enjoy novels such as The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie then you must read Loving Luke by Cecelia Dowdy. Loving Luke is about a reunion between Luke and Kim, two childhood sweethearts. It’s a Christmas novel full of love, regrets, and second chances. There’s also a bakery and plenty of delicious desserts wrapped within this amazing story. Can Luke and Kim find the courage to overcome their hang-ups and learn to love again? Loving Luke has been an Amazon bestselling novel with several 5-star reviews! Purchase today by clicking on the link at the end! Tell your friends by sharing this blog post!
Subscribe to this blog by leaving a reply and selecting “Notify me of new posts by email.”
Have you ever wondered what your life would have been like if – in the past – when you were facing a big decision – if you’d decided differently – what would your life be like today?
Heaven help me, this story was amazing! The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie is about Lolly, a young woman who is dissatisfied with her life. She wonders how her life would have been if she’d made different choices. One of her biggest regrets is that things didn’t work out with Rory Shaw, her childhood crush. Rory was her neighbor and her friend. Her eccentric aunt gives her a gift – 3 magical lemon drops. When you eat one before bed, think about one of the big decisions in your life – what if you’d decided differently? The lemon drop will allow you to spend one day in your “present” life in an alternate-type universe. This “alternate universe” would show how your life would have been like, if you’d made a different decision.
Lolly is full of hopes and dreams – so for three nights – she’s given the chance to see how her lost dreams would have played out if she’d embraced her decisions and pursued her desires.
What I loved most about this book was that it seemed so realistic. I believe most of us wonder – what would have happened if? Do you have certain dreams that you’ve always wanted to pursue?
Lolly is dedicated to her family. Her dedication is over the top, and it really affects her life. The family diner means so much to her and she knows how much her father wants their establishment to be a success. She gets up early every morning to bake six lemon meringue pies – using her mom’s secret recipe. The pies are served in their diner – a favorite for many of their customers.
Another reason I enjoyed this story was that it mentioned food – a lot! I love foodie-themed stories. So, if you’ve enjoyed the novels that I’ve written, then you’ll love this book!
The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie teaches us that sometimes it’s okay to pursue your dreams – although placing the needs of others before your own is noble – it’s not always the right decision.
By the way, I noticed that The Magic of Lemond Drop Pie will be made into a Hallmark movie. The premise sounds like it might be a nice fit for Hallmark Movies and Mysteries!
So, have you ever wondered what your life would have been like when you were facing a big decision – if you’d decided differently – what would your life be like today? Do you regret NOT following your hopes and dreams? Have you thought about pursuing some of your hopes and desires now?
This blog post was sponsored by Divine Desserts Publishing LLC. If you enjoy novels such as The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie then you must read Loving Luke by Cecelia Dowdy. Loving Luke is about a reunion between Luke and Kim, two childhood sweethearts. It’s a Christmas novel full of love, regrets, and second chances. There’s also a bakery and plenty of delicious desserts wrapped within this amazing story. Can Luke and Kim find the courage to overcome their hang-ups and learn to love again? Loving Luke has been an Amazon bestselling novel with several 5-star reviews! Purchase today by clicking on the link at the end! Tell your friends by sharing this blog post!
Subscribe to this blog by leaving a reply and selecting “Notify me of new posts by email.”
July 7, 2024
The Classics
I’ve been thinking about reading some of the classics.
This is a list of books that I acquired from Artificial Intelligence.
The list didn’t include full canons, such as those from Shakespeare and Edgar Allen Poe.
Which of these have you read?
Would you recommend any of these?
Are there any books on this list that you haven’t read – but wished that you had?
I’ve placed an asterisk beside the titles that I’ve read.
Ancient ClassicsThe Epic of GilgameshThe Iliad by HomerThe Odyssey by HomerThe Aeneid by VirgilMetamorphoses by OvidThe Republic by PlatoClassical LiteratureThe Divine Comedy by Dante AlighieriThe Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey ChaucerDon Quixote by Miguel de CervantesRenaissance to EnlightenmentParadise Lost by John MiltonGulliver’s Travels by Jonathan SwiftCandide by Voltaire19th CenturyPride and Prejudice by Jane AustenMoby-Dick by Herman MelvilleWuthering Heights by Emily Brontë *Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë *Great Expectations by Charles DickensWar and Peace by Leo TolstoyAnna Karenina by Leo TolstoyCrime and Punishment by Fyodor DostoevskyMadame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert *Les Misérables by Victor Hugo *The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor DostoevskyMiddlemarch by George EliotEarly 20th CenturyUlysses by James JoyceThe Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald *1984 by George OrwellBrave New World by Aldous HuxleyTo the Lighthouse by Virginia WoolfThe Sound and the Fury by William FaulknerMid to Late 20th CenturyCatch-22 by Joseph HellerOne Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García MárquezLolita by Vladimir NabokovInvisible Man by Ralph EllisonTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper LeeBeloved by Toni Morrison *The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. SalingerSlaughterhouse-Five by Kurt VonnegutNon-English ClassicsThe Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu (Japan)Journey to the West by Wu Cheng’en (China)One Thousand and One Nights (Middle Eastern collection)Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe (Nigeria)The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov (Russia)Modern ClassicsThe Road by Cormac McCarthyThe Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret AtwoodMidnight’s Children by Salman RushdieThis list includes works from various cultures and periods, representing a broad spectrum of the human experience through literature.
March 16, 2024
Beef & Bean Burritos
#food #recipe #recipes #Mexican
These are delicious!
Beef and Bean Burritos
This burrito recipe can be made in advance without garnishes and frozen, then heated in the microwave to serve. I freeze the burritos on a cookie sheet
then wrap in foil and store in food storage bags.
List of 13 items
• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon dried whole oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 can (16 ounces) refried beans
• 1 can (10 ounces) enchilada sauce, divided
• 6 flour tortillas, 8-inch size
• shredded lettuce
• Optional garnishes: shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, sour cream, salsa, sliced ripe olives, shredded cheese
list end
In a large skillet cook ground beef, onion, and garlic until ground beef is no longer pink, stirring to break up meat. Drain well.
Add chili powder, oregano, cumin, salt, and pepper; simmer for 5 minutes. Add refried beans and 1/2 cup of the enchilada sauce. Cook until heated through;
keep warm.
Wrap tortillas in foil; bake at 350° for 10 minutes, or until thoroughly heated. Spoon about 1/2 cup ground beef mixture on each warm tortilla. Roll tightly
and place seam-side down on a shredded lettuce-lined serving platter. When all burritos are made, spoon remaining enchilada sauce over the burritos. Garnish
with your choice of toppings.
Burrito recipe makes 6 servings.