Vegetables do not like to grow for me.  For some reason, it takes an entire growing season to get a tiny knob of a tomato to even show up, and generally it doesn’t get much better than that.  I planted two tomato plants back in April or May; I fed/watered the little buggers and still almost nothing.  Don’t know what’s up with that.

HOWEVER…. When it comes to flowers, I can excel.  They bloom and grow and spread and sometimes even get a little wild and crazy.  I have morning glories popping up all over the place – seldom where I planted them, though.  I plant purple; they come up pink.  I plant pink, they come up white.  What’s THAT about?

But there’s almost no place I would rather be than outside, digging and planting and weeding and trimming and fixing and pruning.  Than I just like to walk around and look at all the little flower friends and feel the joy and beauty given in each plant.  My grandma Crooks, my mother, my friend Gen – – all have the ‘touch’ for gardening.  I was concerned for several years that it passed me by.  I may not have ALL the genes, but I received enough to appreciate and enjoy.  Bloom, little friends!  BLOOM!

On Saturday, Ron and I met Aunt Darlene (Ron’s aunt and my unofficial ‘publicist!) and Uncle Bud at New City Buffet for lunch.  She asked me how many books I thought I had sold, and we discussed that. 

Next thing I know, she plopped a box in front of me, and said, ‘This is in honor of selling 100 books!’  And there was this copper colored bracelet, with a charm that stated ‘Let Creativity Rule.’

I was very touched and honored that she would be so excited about the book and about its success.  She has been my champion since even BEFORE she knew me!  So I have added Aunt Darlene to my list of loyal fans, along with Mom/John, my favorite sister Kathy, my Skunk Hollow cousin Susan, and Ron. Plus countless others!

Thank you all for your support and for sharing in this adventure with me!  I could not begin to name all of you! 

Last night, after a full day of business and fun in Ligonier, Ron and I took a romantic walk…. in the cemetery!  Looking for deer, of course.  But it was coming on dusk, and we were struck by the beauty of the sunset – the full, glowing sun slipping behind the hill between the houses.  It was the perfect photo to share.

As we walked further, the full moon was just popping up over the trees, and again – perfect photo!  We did see deer – a family of three munching on some grass in a clearing at the lower field, and another deer up toward the pond.

All in all, perfect evening for a walk, even if it was in the cemetery!!

On Friday afternoon Ron and I took a few minutes out of our book-selling mode and went up to see the Battles Museum of Rural Life (Girard PA).  The Yellow House was open, and we looked through the rooms and read some amazing facts about the Battles family and about Girard in the 1700’s and 1800’s.

We drove down to Charlotte Elizabeth’s White House, but it was closed for renovations this summer.  We did, however, walk through the beautiful gardens.  We both took a minute for a ‘photo shoot’ on the green park bench under a lovely old tree – but I love the photo of Ron and the bird house.  I think it’s the Ritz Carlton for Feathered Friends! 

The museums are a great treat, and there will be more about Dan Rice and the Battles family (no connection except location) later.  But if you like history, check it out online! Here’s your homework:  What did Charlotte say in her letter to the President of the United States about closing her bank???  Good luck!  Answer next week!

Today’s post is a little out of the ordinary.  It was on this date in 1991 that Stoney Burke, the father of my two children, passed away.  The photo is one that was taken back in 1966 at a business meeting for work – ironically at Bud Smail Lincoln Mercury! Stoney is in the back row, far left.  Bud Smail is in the front row, second from the right.

Although our paths took different directions in 1981, he did give me two of the best gifts I could ever imagine.  So on this day I will honor the memory of the man that I married, and thank him that Kelly and Nathan have been the best thing that ever happened to me.  Now there are grandchildren to fill the quiver with arrows and bring joy and delight!

I might add that the journey of single-parenting helped immeasurably in telling Mary’s story, as I knew the struggles and the joys of raising two young children to adulthood.  This is a tribute to all single parents out there – keep going!  God will lift you up and sit your feet on a solid rock, and your children will rise up and call you blessed! 

Strange things have been known to happen at Dan Rice Days.  One year, as I recall, my cousin Susan, my mom and I walked seven miles one afternoon, wanting to walk past Dan Rice’s daughter’s home (that he built for her!) and past the gravestone for his baby daughter Lottie, who had died as an infant.  The thing that struck us so strange was that when we walked through the cemetery gates, there was a HUGE tombstone that said DODGE.  I think maybe it was our clue to get out of DODGE!  Or maybe, we already HAD!

Last weekend, we walked about 3 or 4 blocks from where we parked the car to check out the church’s giant all-day flea market.  We found a few pretty cool treasures:  A cast-iron mountain pie maker (already cured!), an 18 in wooden cutout of Dan ‘Uncle Sam’ Rice, A tiny wooden block house for my collection, and ….. a deer head in a rubber-made tub.  Ron was tempted, but we did not purchase this particular item.  It was rather disconcerting to walk around the corner of the table and have a deer staring up at you like that.  Hmmmm.

Stay tuned for more pictures and stories from Dan Rice Days — We had a great time!  Thanks to Caroline, Betsy, and Geoffrey for making it happen!

DAN RICE DAYS!  What an amazing weekend!  First, a huge thanks to MOM AND JOHN for their gracious and patient hospitality, and to Ron for being at my side the entire time – support, errands, anchor – great job!

Sold more books than I thought I would, and we were rained out on Saturday.  Met many interesting people, some who were drawn to Mary’s story like a magnet.  I heard many of their stories, as well, and realize that people just love to connect.  I think it makes their own stories feel more real.

Dan Rice was an amazing person – a jockey at the age of five, friends with President Lincoln at age twelve – circus owner/performer, local citizen widely traveled, promoter of peace and recognizing the need to honor those men and women who served in the Civil War.  There is a statue in the center of Girard (PA) that does just that, and it was the very first monument erected to honor our Civil War Soldiers.  Maybe take some time and check out Dan Rice, and in the meantime, if you haven’t already done so, read LETTERS TO MARY to see her encounter with the great ladies man!  Happy Sunday!!  God Bless….

THE BOOKS ARE ON THEIR WAY!  After days of fretting and fussing over their impending arrival, I received an email this evening with tracking numbers.  30 books will be here tomorrow, and 40 more next week.  Now, most of the people I know have already purchased books (thank you all!), so these last ones may actually be around a while.  At least they don’t expire!

Even though I get a little crazy waiting on the books, I really appreciate everyone at Wings and Paw Prints for helping to make this dream a reality. 

Oh, and one more thing.  In an email from Mom tonight, she said, ‘don’t forget to ask me about the letters to Charlie.’  Hmmmmm.  Now THAT’s something I hadn’t known about! Stay tuned!

Yesterday I had the privilege of taking Autmn to Camp Christian in Mill Run, PA.  It was fun to help her get settled into her bunk in the dorms, watch her pass her swim test for the deep end, and see her chasing around the grounds with her cousins.

I was barely a year older than Autmn the first time I spent a week at Camp, and this is Autmn’s second year as a full-week camper.  There are so many wonderful people there – all Godly men and women who love the Lord and share their faith with the campers.

I am praying this week that the blessings of heaven will fall freely (hopefully not accompanied by rain!) and touch the lives of campers and leaders alike.  Camp Christian – a place set apart. 

Since it’s throw-back Thursday I thought I’d go back a bit myself – not to Mary’s and Daniel’s lives but to my own.

The photo is of me when I was maybe two years old, standing in front of our family car.  I don’t remember where the photo was taken and should really ask my mom!

Who would have thought by looking at that little girl back then that she would grow up and write books!  The only thing I can remember wanting to be when I ‘grew up’ was a librarian.  Well, that didn’t happen, but the next best thing DID happen:  I grew up to write books that may actually be IN libraries!

How fun is THAT?  Have a great day.