It has been a very busy and productive week! Some unexpected projects are now complete and I feel like is has been a rich 7 days since our last Saturday Meanderings. Thank you for joining me today as we chat about all good things this week!

Valentine’s Day, Arizona’s Birthday, Ash Wednesday

This week is chock-a-block full of holidays, especially this past Wednesday. I hope you did something special on Valentine’s Day with either a spouse, friend, children or the myriad of people in our lives that we love. Typically we host a Valentine dinner party, but this year, it is just my husband and I, which actually felt extra special.

Delicious steaks, arugula salad (with fresh arugula from a neighbor’s garden) with a lemon vinaigrette, roasted cauliflower for two made the perfect VD dinner.

February 14th is also Arizona’s state birthday, now 112 years old. Our home was built in 1912, the same year Arizona became a state. What makes this interesting for us is that the owner of our home at that time, Everett Ellinwood was also integral in writing the Arizona constitution and actually ran for the first governor’s seat (and lost).

In the Christian tradition, Ash Wednesday, also on February 14th this year, marks the start of the holy season of Lent, a time for reflection and repentance in preparation for the celebration of Easter. Needless to say a very busy holiday week.

Painting Project

I did spend last weekend painting the art room in Dunn Edwards Cottage White. With an entire gallon in my paint stash, it would be wasteful not to use it. The trim (baseboards, crown molding, window and fireplace) are already painted Cottage White so getting the walls to be the same color is an easy decision.

Goodbye goldenrod yellow and hello creamy white. Honestly, I did like having color on the walls but for my art room, where I will be hopefully painting more, the walls are much brighter. I will do a full post on the re-do once the room is all put together.

My Stuffed Hen painting

In removing all the canvases from the art room, I find some of my earlier paintings that are, shall I say, a bit rough. At one first year art class, I took an old shedding stuffed rooster (not even sure how it is in my possession) and attempted to paint it with a bowl of eggs.

Instead of tossing it or painting over it, this original is perfect for the hen house! I put it under glass because the hen house gets a bit dusty with all the hay. It looks nice in its new home.

Spring is in the Air

Even though the mornings here are so chilly, the days are getting warmer. The first sign of spring in our yard is when the peach tree puts out its first blooms.

In addition the birds (and the bees) are out in force. Even though I mentioned this before, you must get the Merlin Bird ID app by Cornell Laboratories. It is completely free and you can record the bird sounds in your yard, or when you travel, and a list of birds magically appears on your phone.

Here are all the birds that are chirping in my yard this week. Such a great app and you can find the information here.

Spring Garden

Just yesterday, I finally removed all the frost protection from my garden beds. Our mornings are still nippy but I am hoping we are past freezing temperatures. Some surprises~my huge tomato plants sustained frost damage on the top, but many healthy green branches and leaves remain. When I last checked, the tomatoes were green and growing. Look how many have started ripening now!

Our winter tomatoes are not as flavorful as the spring/summer ones, but they are certainly better than anything you can find in the grocery store! Looking forward to cleaning out the old and planting new for the spring.

Last Call for All Things Lemon

There are only 2 spots left to the All Things Lemon class on Saturday, February 24th. With the weather getting warmer, it will be so delightful to gather on the back terrace. You can click on the link here to register. I will be closing the registration on February 20th or when the last two slots are filled.

Why Do My Hardboiled Eggs have a Green Ring around the Yolk

I love following Lisa, from Fresh Eggs Daily. She lives in Maine, raises chickens and ducks, has written 6 books and hosts her own television show. When I have a chicken question I generally will search her website for an answer.

Recently, she writes a post about that green ring often found in hard boiled eggs. Since I didn’t know the answer to this, I found her post very informative. If you would like to learn more, you can find it here.

Mary’s Must Haves and Updates

Lately I am focusing on natural health remedies. I don’t know about you but I am so tired of all those pharmaceutical commercials advertising a pill or vaccine for everything (and hearing the litany of bad side effects). Granted, some medications necessary, but when did we become a society where we believe a pill cures everything?

Please know I am not referring to serious illnesses here. I am a believer that the world is full of germs and viruses and we should be taking a more active role in building our own immune systems.

Living on a 112 year old property, I think many of our original plants and trees were sourced, not only for their beauty, but possibly for their medicinal value.

Olive Leaf Extract

In doing some research, I discover that the leaves of olive trees can be used as an extract, tea or powder. We have lots of olive trees and am drying the leaves for tea. However, you can purchase the extract~which has the amazing benefits:

The antioxidants in olive leaf extract are mainly polyphenols. From WebMD: Scientists believe these plant-based nutrients play a role in preventing conditions like cognitive decline, cancer, and osteoporosis, heart disease, and Parkinson’s. This extract also lower blood sugar and helps prevent LDL (bad) cholesterol from building up in your arteries. Olive leaf extract may also reduce the severity and duration of upper respiratory infections. It has anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and anti-microbial effects. Wow.

Surprisingly, I’ve never heard of this before now. Olive leaf extract comes in both liquid and capsule form. I am taking 20 drops (recommended is 30-40 drops) in a glass of water daily to see if it improves my cholesterol level and my cognitive functions. Over time, I will work my way up to more drops; I don’t mind the taste either.

Naturally if you have any underlying health issues, always consult your physician before taking any supplement.

Soil Test Kit

I never used to test our soil before planting my garden. Using our own compost (see that post here) seems to suffice, but I find when I do a soil test, I am a bit surprised by the results.

My recommendation is getting a soil testing kit is well worth it. My Soil Testing Kit is 17% off at $29.99 right now on Amazon. Whether you are planting now or in a few months, you may want to consider getting one. It takes about a week to get a report after you have sent in your soil samples.

Queen of Hungary’s water Update

As mentioned before, I did buy Karen’s Botanicals Queen of Hungary’s water. First of all, there is a very strong vinegar smell. In some of the reviews, users indicate if you make it yourself, there is more of a rose water scent.

However, I must say my skin feels very clean and tightened after use. Instead of using both morning and evening, I am only using it in the evening. The description of the product states that it restores the pH of the skin and it helps improve dryness, flakiness and inflammation. Since using it (about a month), my skin feels great. Will it help me look decades younger? Time will tell. Wouldn’t that be nice!

That’s a wrap. Looking forward to sharing the photos with you next week from the All Things Lemon class. Enjoy the long Presidents’ Day weekend. Do you have any special plans?

As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. My blog may contain other affiliate links but not all links have affiliations. I truly love to share products that I have personally tried and highly recommend. If you connect with a product through a link on my blog (and if I am an affiliate) I may receive a very small stipend.

With Valentine’s Day just a day away, will you be sharing the love? Is it a romantic dinner for two or a dinner party with friends? We are having a very low key evening at home this year but whether you enjoy Valentine’s Day quietly or pull out all the stops, here are some Valentine-inspired table ideas for you.

A Quiet Dinner for Two

I like to experiment with setting up a table in an atypical part of the house. It’s fun to get a different perspective and not always eat in the same spot. Our front entry hall is the perfect place for a small round table to seat two guests. If the weather is pleasant, then it’s even more inviting to sit by the open door.

Pink and white matte ornaments (used at Christmas) are hung with clear fishing line from the overhead light fixture for a bit of whimsy. The two upholstered chairs (see similar here)from Ballard Designs bring a sense of comfort and elegance to the table.

The antique Black Forest carved drop leaf table provides the perfect backdrop to the gold chargers and Juliette china from Royal Doulton Romance collection . Pink stemware, both vintage and new add to the pink theme. Vintage napkins are a thrift store find.

Since the table is small, a narrow row of fresh hydrangeas is just enough. Candlesticks by West Elm. The blush linen table runner is from Williams Sonoma but they no longer carry this color. Here is a very affordable one on Amazon.

Do you have a fun location where you can set up a small table for dinner? There is something refreshing about having a meal in a new place! You can see more details about this dinner set up here.

If You Prefer Red

As you know, I love all types of linens~antique, vintage or new. Typically before I set a table, I select the right linen and then go from there. Here’s a favorite one with deep red roses~another perfect Valentine basic and can often be found in thrift stores.

Finding a quiet corner in our living room by two bright and cheerful windows, makes the perfect place for a Valentine meal.

With silver chargers and beaded white dishes, the place setting compliments the grays and whites in the tablecloth. The heart-shaped glass ornament (I purchased and hand carried back from Paris) serves as a napkin ring.

Crystal glassware and candlesticks captures the light and ups the elegance factor. Again, the table is small so a gathering of deep red roses in a small crystal vase is perfect. To see more about this table, click here.

For a larger crowd

We love hosting an elegant Valentine dinner party for friends. It is not an annual occurrence anymore, but we still enjoy putting it on every other year or so. With a larger group, we tend to set up on the back terrace patio, where the dinner table easily seats 10-12.

There is a great deal of planning that goes into this event~from unique invitations to gifts at the dinner table. The outdoor heaters are set up just in case it gets too chilly as the evening progresses.

When it comes to flowers for this event, I tend to go all out. There is something so magical about a table lush with flowers and candlelight. There are so many details to this event, that I wrote two blog posts about it.

You can find Valentine Dinner Party ideas, Part 1 here and all the resources for the table and Valentine decorations here in Valentine Dinner Party ideas, part 2. If you are thinking about having a fun event, you will find lots of inspiration in these two blog posts, from the initial invitation to the actual event.

Here is another Valentine dinner party setting on the back porch table but without linens. The mahogany table really makes the flowers and dishes pop. Similar set up but isn’t it interesting how linens (or no linens) can completely change the look?

Here is an evening shot and isn’t the table just magical?

Experimenting with a New Tablecloth

I just recently received this lovely shade of pink tablecloth from my friend, Darviny. If you don’t follow Darviny on Instagram @dayswithdarving, she is the queen of Indian block print fabric. So I am playing a bit with different dishes and colors. My photos don’t really capture the warmth of this soft pink, but it is perfect for Valentine’s Day.

For this 60″ x 90″ Juliette tablecloth, I got it on sale (25% off)for $43.50. It looks just fabulous on my dining room table too!

The brushed gold chargers are a staple and I like how they pick up the gold in the Famille Rose salad plate by Williams Sonoma. You can find similar chargers here. And it appears that William Sonoma still has these plates available too. The Emma white dinner plates with the dotted edge are a regular item at Pottery Barn. Pale pink linen napkins can be found on Amazon here.

Well, I am hoping this post is inspiring you to think about Valentine’s Day and a very special table. Happy Tuesday to you! I love Valentine’s Day as it helps me stop and absorb all things of beauty.

If you enjoy this post, please share on Pinterest!

This post is shared with Between Naps on the Porch Tablescape Thursday #697 and Peacock Ridge Farm Fabulous Friday Link Party 2.4.22.

Happy February, Groundhog Day and welcome to the first Saturday Meanderings of this month. February 2024…wow. Who remembers the year 2000 like it was yesterday? That was 24 years ago! As life continues to just fly on by, my attempt at slow living is truly failing. Here we are with another month starting and it’s time to chat about all good things this week for Saturday Meanderings.

Add Touches of Pink

This week, I am adding touches of pink to the house to celebrate the month of love. I treat myself to a new wreath for the front door from TwoInspireYou. I first found them initially on Etsy and they make wreaths of various widths. With a 4 foot wide front door, standard wreaths look a bit puny so it nice that they create wreaths up to 30 inches wide.

These are not inexpensive wreaths, but they are a very good quality and last a long time. I purchased an autumn wreath from them several years ago and it looks as good as the day I received it. Granted, you need to store them properly, but I find these wreaths a good, long term investment.

The pink peony wreath with greenery comes in a hot pink, paler pink or a white flower. For Valentine’s Day, I add a few yarn hearts to pick up the colors from the nearby lighter pink geraniums. A few pots of more pink geraniums are in the wicker basket on my blue beach cruiser.

Fireplace Garland

Do you remember the Valentine’s garland I made a few years ago? That’s up this week on both the dining room and breakfast room fireplace mantels.

What’s nice about this garland is that once you make it, you can use it year to year. Paper heart garland DIY here. Yarn heart garland DIY here. Each year I try and mix it up with something else-like this pearl button garland.

Why not find a fun or unusual container to hold your heart-shaped candies? This Cambridge Rose Point footed mayonnaise bowl with etched depression glass is from the 1920s. I never use it for mayonnaise so may as well use it here.

Are you putting up any decorative touches for Valentine’s Day?

More Progress

This week I am able to check off 3 items on the 2024 Small Project List~woohoo! Though I cannot take credit for this one, I am thrilled that our side green gate near the rose garden is finally painted. It looks so nice and fresh. A relatively easy project with a great impact! Though the picture doesn’t reflect that actual deep and rich blackish green of the door, it still looks good!

Valentine Cookie Decorating Class

The class is full and we will be creating gorgeous Valentine cookies today! I’m a little worried about the weather because the temperatures have dipped out of the pleasant 70s to the 50s. But we have heaters on the back terrace so hopefully everyone will be comfortable. Will take lots of pictures and share with you next week.

From the Internet

I just discovered Drew Michael Scott from Lone Fox Home on Instagram. Truth be told, I try not to spend any time on my phone unless I have to, but this young man is so incredibly talented I watch all his videos. He recently purchased a 1929 small Spanish style home and on a budget and with amazing creativity, he is transforming it into a one of a kind living space.

He finds bargains on Facebook Marketplace and has a great eye for detail. What I like is that he is true to his taste and not following the latest trends. Drew is an inspiration as his ideas and techniques are not typical, but very innovative. You can find him on Instagram @lonefoxhome (where you see him in action) or his website here (which sells his products).

My friend, Stacy from Bricks ‘n Blooms has written her FIRST book and it will be releasing on February 6th. Stacy is a phenomenal gardener and her flower beds are magazine worthy. Here’s what Amazon has to say about this book:

In this incredibly comprehensive and gorgeously photographed guide, master gardener Stacy Ling helps aspiring green thumbs achieve success with her easy-to-grow, easy-care, and low maintenance approach to growing beautiful flowers.   

I have preordered mine and you can see it here. Let’s help out a budding new author and get lots of books sold! Fabulous gift to a gardener!

Speaking of flowers and seeds, my sweet friend, Kim from Shiplap and Shells shares a recent post on the viability of seeds. If you are like me, I try and plant seeds that I find several years later and wonder why they didn’t grow? See Kim’s informative Flower Seed Viability Chart here.

Mary’s Must Haves

Lately, in the afternoon I am enjoying a hot cup of tea. However, I am unable to find this tea on the supermarket shelves. It is available online and I highly recommend it. Twining Earl Grey with Lavender is delicious. Of course I add a few things like honey, a small amount of vanilla extract before I steep the tea bag in hot water. Then I top it with some steamed oat milk (any milk with do). You can find this yummy tea here.

First Saturday Lime

Even though I have shared this before, I cannot say enough good things about this product. It is the ONLY thing that gets rid of those nasty worms that eat my geraniums. It was probably over a year ago I first applied it and didn’t see one worm for months. The package recommends you apply it monthly and First Saturday Lime is a healthy alternative to pesticides.

Plus this product does many things~ from increasing soil pH to turning hydrangeas pink. You can use it with horses, chickens and even as a whitewash. Pretty amazing and a 20 lb bag runs about $32.00. If you follow me on Instagram @lifeatbellaterra, I did a reel this week demonstrating how I use this product. You can find it here.

Perfect Hostess Gift

If you are looking for a Valentine gift or hostess gift for February, isn’t this an attractive cocktail shaker set? I own a few products from this company and so far the quality and performance has been great. This entire set is only $24.99 and includes a 24 oz. shaker with a built-in strainer, a double sided jigger and a muddler mixing spoon. See it here.

Help for my Knee

Decades ago, due to a bad skiing accident, I severed my ACL and significantly injured the other two ligaments in my left knee. Three surgeries and a full year recovery, I am happy to say I do not walk with a limp. However, lately my knee is slightly swollen and creating a bit of a fuss.

I am looking at this ice pack wrap as perhaps a solution to minimize the pain. Does anyone use a product like this? Coldest Knee Ice Pack Wrap can be used for both hot and cold therapy. This reusable compression is best for Meniscus Tear, Injury Recovery, Bursitis Pain Recovery, Sprains, Swelling and Rheumatoid Arthritis. It’s on my list of things to buy and you can find it here.

That’s a wrap! Have a beautiful weekend and whatever you do, stay warm and safe.

As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. My blog may contain other affiliate links but not all links have affiliations. I truly love to share products that I have personally tried and highly recommend.

I have such fond memories of making Valentine’s Day cards when I was a child and when my children were young. Granted, the store bought ones are so much easier, but what says love better than a card created by your own two hands. There are easy ways to make your own card, especially now with all the digital resources available to us. The only handmade Valentine’s themed cards I tend to make now, are the invitations to our nearly annual Valentine’s party Here are some creative ideas for DIY handmade Valentine’s Day cards.

Supplies You will Need

• A good quality white card stock paper or other color
• Watercolor pencils
• Water
• Your imagination

If you are a newbie artist, this set of 12 watercolor pencils by Derwent may be perfect for you. There are sets with 72 pencils too, if you are feeling ambitious.

What I love about these pencils is that you can draw your image and then add water to it ~voila! a watercolor! Depending on the amount of water, your color can be intense or diluted~it’s all up to you. I find that experimenting a bit on a spare piece of paper will help you achieve the results your are seeking.

Keep a bit of paper toweling nearby so you can blot extra water and keep your brush clean between colors.

Card Paper Type and Weight

No one likes flimsy cards so getting the right paper is the key. You can find several types of card stock here.

The most common weight is 80 lb cardstock, weighing approximately 225 GSM (grams per square meter) or 400 sheets to a ream. This type of cardstock is usually used for invitations and business cards. The next step up from this would be 110 lb cardstock which weighs 360gms/m2 or 500 sheets to a ream – this type of paper can also be used for invitations, but it’s more commonly found in postcards and handmade greeting cards.

I also use my sketch book which has 98 lb. mixed media paper. I use the 7″x 10″ size which easily folds into notecards.

Paper Size

The standard size for handmade cards is half of an 8 ½ inches by 11 inches cardstock paper, folded in half. This is also known as an A2 size card. Depending on the size of your paper, you can truly make your card size whatever you want.

Card Design Options

It is easy to create your own Valentine design. For the cards above, with a light pencil I make the outline of a heart and then draw flowers and vines. No rhyme or reason, just what comes to me. Sorry for the blurry photo below as it is a screen shot from a video.

Of course, you can download a number of images from the Internet and trace them on your card stock too.

Using Paints and Pencils

Here is a card where I use watercolor pencils, watercolor paints and a combination of white and pink card stock. By combining various tools you can add texture and depth to your holiday card.

Personally, I have always found watercolors a bit intimidating. But like most things, the more you work with them, the less scary they become.

Inside these cards to our guests are the details to our Valentine dinner party. Create whatever message you would like!

Other Ideas for Homemade cards

You certainly do not need to be an experienced artist to make a Valentine card. Here are some cute and simple ones as featured in Real Simple Magazine.

Here is a very cute and simple one that you can download here from Homemade Gifts Made Easy.

Using decorative paper is another easy way to make your Valentine’s Day card special. All you need is some embroidery thread and glue. You can find the detailed instructions from Prima here.

The possibilities are endless but at the end of the day, it’s the thought that counts. Will you be making a card for your Valentine?

Happy Creating!

This post shared with Between Naps on the Porch 785th Metamorphosis Monday.

This is the last Saturday in January. Unbelievable. It doesn’t appear that 2024 will be passing slowly. What a gray, wet and gloomy week here in Phoenix. Of course, we always love (and need) the rain, but the sun has been absent for days now. Hope you are enjoying the weekend. Thank you for joining me for another Saturday Meanderings, where we chat about all good things this week.

Barrett-Jackson

On Sunday, we spend the day at the Barrett-Jackson collector car auction. Widely regarded as a barometer of the collector car industry, this auction has evolved over the world’s most sought-after, unique and valuable automobiles that are sold to a global audience ‒ in person and on live national and international television. 

Really. It is quite an astounding eventswith cars ranging from futuristic prototypes to antique relics. I had my eye on a Land Rover Woody Electric D90~which is a blend of classic and modern. The wood is inspired by the 1940s woody station wagons with the design staying true to the classic Land Rover shape. I actually thought I could see myself driving this….and then we checked the price. $325,000. Choke. Heart attack. Oh well. A gal can dream.

One SUV even has a Nespresso machine with 2 insulated cups and the pods built into the back seat console…now that’s what I need!

This event runs from January 20-28th and if you haven’t been, you must do it at least once! More information here.

Baby Chicks

We are the new proud parents of 15 baby chickens. With only 5 mature chickens and one duck currently in the hen house, it is time to raise another flock. Due to their size and the cold weather, the little chirpers are in a cage on the breakfast room table, equipped with a heat lamp, food and water.

They are at the eat.sleep.poop stage so the cage needs to be cleaned daily. Our cat, Donovan is VERY interested and we are hoping he gets bored with their presence quickly. The chickens will stay inside until they are about a month old.

It must be feathered friend week because look who is out by the pool on one very rainy afternoon. It’s that time of year where the ducks pick their partners and baby ducklings will soon follow.

Valentine’s Day decorations

It’s is time to get rid of the winter decor by the front door and just adding this bit of pink makes me happy. The sweet blush cable throw is an old purchase from Target, but here is one from Macy’s that is very pretty and on sale for$23.99.

The heart pillow is again from Target (no longer available), but I actually prefer these blush pillows from Amazon, as they are pretty but not seasonal.

A new front door wreath is on its way and once it’s up, I’ll take pictures.

Slowly adding a few heart touches here and there around the house. Do you do any decorating for Valentine’s Day?

Queen of Hungary’s Water

Have you ever heard of Queen of Hungary’s Water? Some say that it was created for the aging Queen Elizabeth of Hungary by an alchemist in the 1300s to restore her youthfulness. According to the legend, it reversed her appearance so much that the 25-year-old grand-duke of Lithuania asked for her hand in marriage when she was 70! 

Even though I would like to make my own (12 different herbs steeped in vinegar for 4-6 weeks), I find one from Karen’s Botanicals out of Taylorsville, Georgia.

Here is the description from Karen’s website: It is a wonderful all-purpose, ph balancing cosmetic lotion, which is safe to use for those with sensitive skin. Queen of Hungary’s Water works by restoring the natural acidity to skin, and problems such as dryness, itching, flaking, inflammation, and acne are greatly improved when using this product on a regular basis. Karen’s Queen of Hungary’s Water is based on the ancient recipe from eastern Europe, this vinegar extract is full of summer flower blossoms and herbs harvested at their peak of summer power. 

I received my bottle of it this week and I’m looking forward to trying it. Not that I’m looking for a 25 year old suitor, but it would be nice to naturally improve the effects of my aging skin. You can buy this from either Amazon here or Walmart here. Both are priced at $18.90 for this 4 oz. bottle.

Two Classes in February

This week I sent an invitation to a spontaneous Valentine Cookie Decorating class that will occur next Saturday, February 3, 2024 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (may end sooner) here at Bella Terra. As of yesterday, I believe I have only one or two spots left. So if you are interested, please reach out to me first to make sure there is still availability at [email protected]

The All Things Lemon class will occur on Saturday, February 24, 2024 from 10:00 a.m. to noon. In this class we will learn how to make Preserved Lemons, Limoncello and a lemon surprise (to be determined). Depending on the weather, we will gather on the outside, covered back terrace so seating is limited. Now is the perfect time of year to use all the freshly picked lemons and learn new recipes together.

Giveaways in February

Since February is the month of love and friendship, I will be conducting a few giveaways as a thank you for all your support. So make sure you check back to see what goodies are in store for you.

What Are You Reading?

Elin Hildebrand

When I read that Elin Hildebrand (known as the Queen of Beach Reads) is retiring from writing in 2024 (according to a statement made in 2021), I decide to read every single one of her 33 books. The setting for most of Elin’s novels is Nantucket. I just finished Summerland, The Identicals, and Barefoot.

My reason for liking most of Elin’s books is that I seek a book that is written well, smart, fun, and engrossing, but not too heavy, too serious or dark. Perhaps it’s my reason to escape all the horrors going on in the real world.

Reader’s Digest has a list of Elin Hildebrand’s books in order which I need to reference and mark as I go.

Nita Prose

Number #1 on the New York Times Bestseller list and a Good Morning America bookclub pick, I so enjoyed The Maid by Nita Prose. As described on Amazon, “A Clue-like, locked-room mystery and a heartwarming journey of the spirit, The Maid explores what it means to be the same as everyone else and yet entirely different—and reveals that all mysteries can be solved through connection to the human heart.”

So when The Mystery Guest: Molly the Maid Book # 2 arrives, it is an easy decision to download this one. From the reviews, “Nita Prose shines with the return of Molly the maid who is one of the most memorable, endearing characters I’ve ever read. From page turning suspense, to laugh-out-loud humor and moments that are deeply heartfelt, The Mystery Guest has it all! This book is a knockout.”

Amy Harmon

My friend, Christine is reading A Girl Called Samson and is thoroughly enjoying it. Downloaded, it is on my list to read. Here is a review, “This is a thought-provoking, deeply moving read in which a patriotic woman, forbidden from serving her country due to her sex, defies all odds to do it anyway. Harmon’s riveting narrative allows Samson’s bravery, both on and off the battlefield, to soar from the pages of long-forgotten history.”

What are you reading? Please share as I know many of you are always looking for great book recommendations.

Have a terrific weekend. We are hoping for blue skies and some sunshine. Whatever you are doing, stay safe and warm!