Six More Sleeps – Christmas festivities

Christmas is almost upon us. Our tree is outside, the trunk soaking in a bucket of water with sugar and Vitamin B. The lights have come up from the basement and wait in old boxes for the decorating to begin. I’m slow this year, can’t seem to get too organized. I did begin the baking.

Last year I made shortbread and chocolate oatmeal cookies. Then I found some paper plates, filled four of them (we have four neighbours on our road) half with one type and half with the other. Wrapped them in plastic, wrote a Christmas card for each house and delivered them. It was a year that looked like a celebration that was going to be isolated and I thought it would add some festivity to the season.

This year, there are eight neighbours to consider. One of them took the time to clear the ditch so the water ran into the culvert and didn’t wash out our driveway. One started parking his truck in a different spot so it was easier to access our road. One cleared our drive of snow last year, mentioning that the cookies were darn good. These are such good people, I feel blessed to add a little to their holiday celebrations. But it does mean more cookies. 🙂

What is the celebration like in your neighbourhood?

Treason at Lisson Grove, by Anne Perry

Anne Perry does a wonderful job of presenting the British world of the 1800’s. Thomas Pitt, investigator, has been promoted to a position he’s highly uncomfortable with, yet he must step up if he will be able to save his friend Victor Narraway from the false clues and planted evidence against him. Pitt’s wife Charlotte is soon involved.

Perry brings the societal niceties and mores to life. 5 Stars

Eagle in the Tree

Don’t know if you can see the bald eagle perched on the branch of a fir tree in the middle of that picture. He watches the flats below. As soon as the winter rain starts, the water begins to accumulate down there and the birds arrive- trumpeter swans, seagulls, ducks, Canada geese. The eagles hunt the seagulls. I see them chasing around above the flats. When that happens all the seagulls rise and circle around each other, maybe to threaten or confuse the eagle. Sometimes it works.

I’ve almost finished Lies He Told, Book Four. I don’t have a title yet. This is Randy Bonnar’s story and it was fun to write. Will post the cover when I get it.

Book of the Week

Suspended Animation by Sylvie Grayson
Be careful who you trust…

 Katy Dalton worked hard to save her money. And having her friend Bruno invest it seemed like a safe bet. But her job disappears and she needs her money back, everything Bruno has already loaned to Rome Trucking. When Katy insists he return it, Bruno stops answering his phone and bad things start to happen.

Brett Rome is frustrated. The last thing he wants is to leave a promising career in hockey to come home and run his ailing father’s trucking company. What he discovers is a company teetering on the very edge of bankruptcy and a young woman demanding the return of her money.

But danger lurks in the form of Bruno’s dubious associates. What secret are they hiding and why are they willing to kill Katy? Can Brett put this broken picture back together, and is Katy part of the solution or the problem?

A thrilling roller coaster of a story…

“Sylvie Grayson has found her niche, you’ll love this book…”

Click on the book cover to the left to purchase it.

Birds at the Feeder and Merry Christmas to All

I finally got around to filling up the bird feeder and putting it out on the deck for those poor little fellows searching for something to eat.

Then this morning, I was delighted to see four little chickadees flitting about, obviously drawn to the chance of a feast. But were they checking out the seed in the bird feeder? No. They spent their time chasing each other. One bird sat on the top of the hook, waited for others to flit up to the feeder ledge, then dive-bombed them. It looked like fun, but no one was getting much to eat.

The best way to start The Last War series is with Book One, and guess what? Khandarken Rising, Book One is free for the next few weeks.

Major Dante Regiment must find a way to protect Beth, as the Emperor is not the only one causing chaos in Khandarken

The Emperor has been defeated. New countries have arisen from the ashes of the old Empire. The citizens swear they will never need to fight again.

Bethlehem Farmer is helping her brother Abram run Farmer Holdings in south Khandarken after their father died in the final battles. But when Abram takes a trip with Uncle Jade into the northern territory and disappears without a trace, suddenly things are not what they seem and no one can be trusted.

Major Dante Regiment is sent by his father, the General of Khandarken, to find out what the situation is at Farmer Holdings. What he sees shakes him to the core and fuels his grim determination to protect Bethlehem at all cost.

https://books2read.com/u/bQBBq6

Merry Christmas to you and yours! Wishing everyone a much better New Year in 2021.