M. Jean Pike's Blog, page 15

For the love of books!

I woke up to a nice surprise this morning– no rain — so my sister and I headed down to the library for the spring book sale. We would have gone regardless, but the library was packed and we had to park quite a ways away, so it was nicer not to have to slog through puddles to get there

The deal is you fill a bag for a donation. I take my own tote bag and when it gets too heavy to comfortably carry, I know it’s time to quit. There were tables full of books. Using my tried and true formula, I got a nice mix of memoir, romance, thrillers, and women’s fiction. I found books by a couple of my favorites, but most of these are new to me authors. That’s the fun of the book sale. It’s like meeting up with old “friends” and making new.

My formula: Look at the cover. Read the synopsis. Read the first paragraph. If a book passes these tests, I bring it home. I did well today. I love that I can support my beautiful local library and get hours of enjoyment for just a little money in the deal. When I finish a book, unless it earns a rare permanent spot on my book shelf, it will be donated to the Little Free Library. So it’s a win all the way around.

I’m excited about the books I found today. I can’t wait to get started

And the rain rain rain came down down down…

I hate to rob my flower beds of color, now that they are looking so pretty, but these tulips and daffodils looked so sad this morning with their pretty heads bent to the ground that I cut them and brought them inside. They wanted rain but not that much, lol.

After tonight, I have the weekend off. It’s supposed to rain straight through Sunday (welcome to spring in Ohio!) My plan was to hunker down in the house and write until work on Monday morning — I’m making so much progress on Blackberry Summer! – but I just learned the library book sale starts tomorrow! I may put on my rain gear and venture out, as it’s the highlight of my year

Stay dry, friends!

Long day ahead

I have a feeling this is going to be a very long day. A rip roaring thunder storm kept Miss Emma up, trembling and panting, for most of the night. So needless to say, I was up all night too. And Emma didn’t even know we were under a tornado warning. My cell started blaring at around 3 AM. The weather radar showed the activity not only in our county, but directly above our town. I’m so, so thankful that it didn’t touch down. Thank you, Lord! I have a dentist appointment this morning and then it’s off to work on a coffee and a prayer!

A song of joy

Good morning, friends. I had to run a few errands before work today and while I was out and about I came across this bit of loveliness. Doesn’t it look like these flowers are singing for joy

Sing to the Lord a new song;
    sing to the Lord, all the earth.

Psalm 96:1

I hope you have a song in your heart today. Have a beautiful and blessed day!

Silly girl

Evidently the blue pillow wasn’t cutting it today. Silly girl

Goodbye, March. See you next year!

And just like that, March has gone the way of January and February. Looking back, it was mostly uneventful, which is how I like my months to be. March came and went, neither a lion nor a lamb. With all the rainy days, I would say it was more like a duck!  (Although from what the weather reports say, the tail end might be a bit lionish across the heartland) Thanks to the rain, I have some good things going on in the yard…

My daffodils are so happy! I love the sunny pops of yellow

The tulips are opening, yay! They are a little on the small side this year, but considering they didn’t bloom at all last year, any color is a welcome sight.

This batch looks a bit more promising.

As reading months go March wasn’t the best. I read four books and only one was a five star(er).

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult. I gave it three and a half stars. The writing was good, but the sequencing seemed a bit disjointed. I can respect that everyone is entitled to their opinions but my goodness, it seemed that every social issue du jour was addressed in this book. I have enjoyed Jodi Picoult’s books in the past, but this one just wasn’t my cup of tea.

The Weight of the World by David Joy. This very dark story of two young men growing up in poverty in the Appalachian mountains was extremely well written. The characterization was spot on. But it was much too heavy for my taste, and I didn’t love the ending. I gave it a generous four stars.

All the Other Me by Jody Holford. The premise of this book was so intriguing. A highly successful NY executive Googles herself and discovers there are alternate versions of her life. It had a nice message about family love and forgiveness, and the writing was very good. I would have loved to give it five stars, however… the swearing was way overdone and imo unnecessary. I deducted a star for cussing and gave it four.

What saved the day for my March reading was an ARC I received from Carol James, Always and Only. This beautiful Christian romance was so nicely done. Great plot, wonderful characters and a clear message of faith. A solid five star read. It releases next month from Pelican Book Group.

I promised myself I would take a break from Book Bub and read what’s already in my Kindle. I’ve been good this month. Mostly. But today I got an email saying a book on my wish list is now on sale. Hmmm, what book? I had to take a peek. Oh goodness, it was Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout! I love this author! After I first read Olive Kitteridge years ago (I read it three times) I started reading her other books. I connect with her characters better than I do many people I know, lol so I was thrilled to pick up this long awaited return to Olive’s life for just $1.99. I know what my next read is going to be!!

As for my writing, I got around 4500 words down in March. I was hard at work on a new Redford’s Crossing Romance when a friend made an offhand comment that brought all work on that story to a screeching halt. We were talking about relationships and being just… done. Then she said, “My mother thought she was done, too. She was sitting on her porch, just waiting to die when a man pulled in the driveway and asked if he could pick from her blackberry bushes. They’ve been together 43 years…”

Wait, what?  Why did she want to die? Who was the man? What was he going to do with the blackberries? I needed answers and my friend didn’t really have any, so my wheels started turning and the idea for Blackberry Summer was conceived.  I’m about three chapters in.  I’ll keep you posted

(Last year’s blackberry haul!)

With Easter season here, I have been reading through the Gospel of John, soaking in the words in red. I have been invited to a beautiful Easter event in April that I’m very much looking forward to. I’ll tell you more about it later.

I’m also still working my way through the Old Testament. In March I read several Psalms, the book of Numbers, and most of Zechariah. I haven’t spent nearly enough time reading the minor prophets. Zechariah is so rich in promises and beautiful verses. I came upon one that I absolutely love. It gives me such hope…

Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin… Zechariah 4:10

That said, a brand new month is upon us. Let us begin!

Bikini Bottoms, 1904 feet, and breaking down in the drive-through window

Though my workdays can sometimes be eight hours of perpetual motion, I’m trying to do more pleasure walking. I like to get Miss Emma down to the park as often as I can. This morning we awoke to rain and gloomy skies, but after a couple of hours the sun came out so I threw on a sweatshirt and a pair of jeans and Emma donned her collar and off we went.

This sign is posted at the park entrance for those keeping track of their mileage. We are usually good for two laps, some days, three. By the end of summer I would like to build up up to maybe two miles, if my back and Emma’s hips will stand for it. Today we did just two laps (1,904 feet sounds more impressive )

The food trucks are back! I’m not really a burger person, but the Bikini Bottom sounds like fun. Maybe I will try one sometime!

We walked in a symphony of birdsong today. The leaves are starting to unfurl now. Soon our little park will be decked out in all its spring finery.

Miss Emma spotted a robin bathing in a mud puddle and decided to investigate, even though it meant having wet feet. By the time she got there the robin was gone. Thank heavens the rain didn’t wash away all the good smells

Leaving the park, I saw something that made my stomach ache. I can’t imagine many less welcome scenarios than breaking down at a busy drive-through window. Poor guy.

So that was our adventure for today. Now to get down to some serious writing…

Early birds

The sparrows are busy busy building homes for their babies.

The early birds get the words!

Beautiful outlaw

Between the time I left work on Tuesday and when returned yesterday, this lovely lady had burst into the softest, prettiest white blossoms. They tell me she is a Bradford Pear tree, an outlaw in many states, including Ohio. They say she is invasive, a noxious pest. She’s never caused us any problems, politely occupying her little corner of our parking lot She is one of the first signs of spring!

Good morning, blogging world

I wanted to start the day with my favorite hymn, a Lake Erie sunrise, and a beautiful thought to carry into your day: God is for you!

 Great is thy faithfulness, O God, my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with thee.
Thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;
As thou hast been, thou forever wilt be.

Great is thy faithfulness,
Great is thy faithfulness,
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed thy hand hast provided;
Great is thy faithfulness,
Lord unto me.

(Thomas O. Chisholm, 1923)