Great Christmas Tree Tour: Sherri Shackelford

This year, the kids decorated the Christmas tree for us. Last year, my latent perfectionism dampened the festive mood. So instead of getting frustrated, I let go and let the children. And they did an amazing job! It's a hodgepodge of homemade and store-bought decorations arranged with love. 

I have to say that I'm rather proud of my porch decorations. I put together foil wreaths and trees for a unique, and I daresay festive, decoration. 

A wife and mother of three, Sherri's hobbies include collecting mismatched socks, discovering new ways to avoid cleaning, and standing in the middle of the room while thinking, "Why did I just come in here?" A reformed pessimist and recent hopeful romantic, Sherri has a passion for writing. Her books are fun and fast-paced, with plenty of heart and soul. She loves to hear from readers: sherrishackelford@gmail.com

 

Sherri's debut novel, Winning the Widow's Heart, is available in large-print just in time for the holiday season. CLICK HERE

Rose Zediker's Drawing Winner!

The names are all in the Santa hat, and I'm drawing to see who will be getting three of Rose's books!

And the winner is.....


Gert!

Gert, please send your address to me at: SaintJohn@aol.com

Thanks to everyone who dropped by today and congratulations to Gert.


Stop back tomorrow when Sherri Shackelford is here. 

Great Christmas Tree Tour: Rose Zediker

Three Trees = A Three Book Giveaway!

Since good things (and sometimes bad) comes in threes, I decided to put up three Christmas trees this year. 

One is my antique tree. I found an old Christmas tree stand at Goodwill, along with glass ornaments.  As I turned both Christmas decorations in their original 1950’s boxes over in my hands, and idea turned over in my mind. I’d clean up the stand, insert floral foam in the water reservoir, add a small artificial tree (I don’t do real trees-see the next tree’s paragraph), and decorate it with the antique ornaments that I inherited from both of my Grandma’s.  I did an up close shot of one of favorite old time ornaments. 

Do any of you remember these?

 

The second tree is adorned with my collector’s Terry Redlin ornaments. The last time I tried a real Christmas tree it was decorated with these ornaments, and it fell over breaking several! We were lucky a store in the mall carried the ornaments and we were able to replace every one that broke. My husband secured the tree to insure that is didn’t fall over again by tying it in place for the remaining holiday season but from that point forward, I swore off of real trees. 

My third tree is the biggest. It’s the tree that all the gifts will be stuck under. My tree topper is three hand quilted ornaments that my mother made. Beside it sits one of the Christmas quilts that she started and I finished after her death.  My inspirational romance books, Lily of the Field, Job’s Tears, and Rose of Sharon, have a quilting theme thanks to my mom.

It seems appropriate in this season of giving, to give away some books, three as a matter of fact to three lucky winners. Leave a comment about my trees, quilts, your trees or any other Christmas memory to be entered.

Merry Christmas!  

 

Rose Ross Zediker lives in rural south eastern South Dakota and works full time for at The University of South Dakota. Rose uses her evenings and weekends to write. Besides writing inspirational romance novels, Rose has many publishing credits in the Christian children’s genre. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers and SCBWI.

Great Christmas Tree Tour: Judith Sanders

White House decorations for the 2011 holiday season in the Blue Room honor military families. They were shown on Wednesday, November 30, 2011, in Washington, DC. (Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/MCT).  

There is always a great celebration around the lighting of the Christmas Tree on the White House lawn.  Yet, little attention was given last year to the tribute to our military families in the decoration of the Blue Room of the White House, a part of which was captured in this photo by Olivier Douliery. 

Earlier this month, I had the privilege of hosting an event to raise funds for a charity that honors our troops in a special way.  The charity, HeartsApart.org, supports families by providing professional photos of deploying soldiers with their families free of charge and not only giving the family a set of photos but providing the solider with a tri-fold version of those photos that is water, mud and nearly war-proof that can be folded and put in a pocket or helmut to keep with them while deployed.

So, as we approach this December holiday season and I think about those soldiers pulling their photos out of their pockets, I can't help but wish and pray that they could all be at home with their families. 

Until that day, whenever our military members are in harm's way, I believe that those troops and their families need our support and attention with the best equipment, best ways to stay connected to one another, and our best services when they return as veterans.  And I ask everyone to consider that when you hear or speak the words "military", "troops", or "soldiers" you should stop and think of these men and women not as "soldiers" but as the sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, wives, husbands, and friends that they are in our lives.  For it is because of their service and the umbrella of safety that they provide to us that we have our homes, our jobs, our religions, all of our very special freedoms.

As for my Christmas list to Santa, I have one wish, one that I borrow from President Franklin Delano Roosevelt who said "More than an end to war, we want an end to the beginning of all wars…"

In His Stead explores the tension, devastation, strength, and love of service families during wartime through the story of one man, Retired Army Ranger Thomas Lane, as he attempts to make the greatest sacrifice for his son.

Lane once burned for the taste of gunpowder and thrill of the battle. But as he struggles to cope with his own PTSD and the death of his eldest son who was killed by an IED in Afghanistan, Lane learns that the price of war is far too dear. Now the National Guard is calling on Lane’s youngest son to serve. Consumed with sorrow, Lane knows he will do anything to save his child—even if it means going in his place.

In His Stead follows the tumultuous battle of Thomas Lane as he navigates the United States Army, its JAG corps, a vengeful officer, the very son he is desperate to save, and his own wife, who has the Solomon like choice of losing either a husband or a son. Capturing the essence of family life in wartime—the good, the bad, and the hopeful—In His Stead explores what it means to be a father and a man.

Judith Sanders received her BS from Graceland College and worked as a registered nurse for many years, including serving the military as a nurse in Maryland and Texas. Sanders, a mother of three boys, now makes writing her full time career and divides her time between her homes in New Hampshire and North Carolina.

ORDER IN PRINT OR FOR KINDLE:

2013 Annual Great Christmas Tree Tour Starts Tomorrow!

I don't like the term Black Friday. Where did that come from? What's so black about it? The stores should call it Green Friday. I'm not one to push through crowds to buy stuff anymore, though I do do my share of it when the kids were all younger.

For us it's a day to eat leftovers, do some online shopping, and watch football. Nebraska Cornhuskers play Iowa Hawkeyes today. No offense to all of our Iowa family on both sides, but THE HAWEYES ARE GOIN' DOWN! lol

And, last but never least, a lot of us are probably putting up our Christmas trees. Whoo hoo! I have an incredible lineup this year, and the fun starts tomorrow. Stop back every day--yes a new one every day--or why not subscribe to my blog in the right sidebar, so you won't miss a single tree? They'll be delivered right to your inbox. It's quick and easy.

Hope you enjoyed Thanksgiving and are ready to see Christmas trees from all over!

The photo is a plastic Santa and reindeer that were always on my Grandma St.John's tree.

what's cookin'?

 

So here's my pretty stuffing all ready to bake.

But the best part of being the stuffing maker?

Leaving some in the bowl and eating with a celery stick.

YUMMO

Diane Gaston: Born to Scandal

Lord Brentmore–half Irish peasant, half English aristocrat–grew up under a cloud of scandal. Even money and a title aren’t enough to stay the wagging tongues of the Ton. But he’s vowed that his children will never experience the same stigma.

After the death of their infamous mother they need a reputable governess. Anna Hill is too passionate, too alluring, but she fills Brentmore Hall with light and laughter again–and its master with feelings he’d forgotten.

But a lord marrying a governess would be the biggest scandal of all!

Teacups Washed and Dusted

The cups and saucers are all washed and the shelf dusted. Love to admire them when they're all clean and shiny. This is only a small part of my teacup collection on a wall in my living room. Some of my favorites.

Tanya Hanson: Release of Angel Child

Angel Child, Book Six, Hearts Crossing Ranch series, by Tanya Hanson

Determined to get her life back on track,  Mary Grace Gibson takes on a substitute-teaching  job, grateful for the room and board offered at Hearts Crossing Ranch. The bustling family life helps her heal after abandonment by her ex. But her little boy’s serious disabilities make her cautious about revealing her secrets to anybody. Even Scott Martin, the handsome cowboy who’s fast stealing her heart.

Her former student now grown up, cowboy and graphic artist Scott Martin is instantly drawn to the beautiful single mom. She’s had some hard luck but never let go of her faith. Their age gap doesn’t fret him, and their kisses ignite his love. But as they fall for each other, Mary Grace’s lack of trust in him shatters his feelings, for he’s been down that broken trail before.

How can he assure her he’s different from the man who hurt her and neglected her son?

BUY IT HERE

www.tanyahanson.com

www.petticoatsandpistols.com

www.goodchristiancowgirl.com

COMING SOON! The Fifth Annual Great Christmas Tree Tour

The Great Christmas Tree Tour has become a popular tradition for readers, writers and even editors! I just love seeing how others decorate and hearing about their family customs, and plenty of you enjoy it too, because it's my biggest traffic event all year.  

This season I have a great line up of trees and Christmas decorations you are going to love. You'll want to visit every day to see who has shared their lovely Christmas tree. This year the UK editors are putting together a tree to share with us. Also on my list of participants are Mary Connealy, Winnie Griggs,  Donna Alward, Maggie Brendan, Charlene Sands and even Seekerville just to name a few!

I have a few spots left if you'd like to participate. All that's required is a photo and a big dose of Christmas spirit. 

email me at SaintJohn@aol.com for available dates.



Here's how to participate and see your Christmas tree on the web:

Take a photo of your tree as soon as it's up.
or: Take a photo of a tree you particularly enjoy, for example at a museum, a lobby or mall.
Send me the photo as a .jpg attachment.
Include anything you'd like to share: a family tradition, something about the ornaments.

If you're an author, include a cover and a brief blurb about your current book, so readers can learn more about it and you.

READERS WHO SENT ME PHOTOS OF THEIR BOOKSHELVES WON CUPS AND SAUCERS FROM MY COLLECTION

In August you had an opportunity to send me photos of your bookshelves, I enjoyed seeing your favorite books - and also bags of books being donated. :-) Readers enjoyed the pictures too.

I promised someone would win a vintage cup and saucer set from my collection - and I'm excited to tell you there isn't only one winner. I drew three names!

If you see your name here, please email me asap to claim your prize: SaintJohn@aol.com

And here are the winners:


Abi B!
You won this:

Jenny Tipton!
You won this:

Jamie Adams!
You won this:

Now email me, ladies!

*lizzie starr: TALES FROM THE MIST

Thank you, Cheryl, for allowing me to visit during the release celebration for the Tales From The Mist anthology! Writing a short story for a collection of creepy stories was a fun and interesting experience. My story is Dead Lily Blooms. Someone wants vampyre Lily dead, and a bargain with Death has been struck. Death send servant Agaar to bring Lily to him, but the task becomes more complicated than either Death or Agaar anticipated.

But I don't really want to talk about writing today. Instead, how about one of the things Cher and I have in common?

A love of movies! And in light of the anthology, perhaps I should talk about horror movies.

Except I don't really like them. Too often horror equals slasher, and I see no reason for all the blood and surprise and running through the woods in bra and panties. I'll admit to going to a few bloody classics and usually just laughed at the audience's reaction. I jump just as much as the next person even when expecting someone to jump out from hiding. And there are a couple of movies I simply can not watch--and who know why those affected me and others didn't.

I do like classic horror movies, in classic black and white, even though now they can seem so campy without all of today's special effects and CGI monsters. Yeah, the 'monster' still jumped out from behind a tree or suddenly appeared at the heroine's bedside flashing long incisors, but there was usually more of a story there than some of today's movies. A psychological scare to make you stop and consider that shadow in the corner more than a knife-like fingernail slash to leave an audience screaming in their seats.

Then there's those classic classics such as Billy the Kid Vs. Dracula. Hey, this has to be a class movie. It stars a Carradine (John) after all. And often ran with another classic Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter.

Hmm, after adding Young Frankenstein to my favorite's list, I'll have to say I enjoy somewhat silly 'horror' movies the best.

So, what are your favorite movies or television specials to watch at this time of year? As for me, I think it's time for a Hocus Pocus fix.

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*lizzie made up games and stories to keep her company as a child. So, a witch lived in Grampa’s weather research station and was only held at bay by waving a certain weed. An ancient road grader morphed into a boat carrying wild adventurers to islands filled with sheep that turned into lions and cannibals.Now, the stories of her imagination have found their way to paper and pixels. Filled with fantasy and love, these tales take her far from the mundane world.

When *lizzie has to return to that mundane life, she’s *the Lunch Lady* at a private school. Happily, those who know *lizzie have become accustomed to her writer’s ways and just shake their heads when she goes off on some fantastical tangent, asks strange what if questions, or just has to find a piece of paper and a pen that actually writes.

You can discover more about *lizzie at her website, blog, Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook.

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Note from Cheryl: I am reading these stories right now, and they are really really good. They take me back to my roots as a reader, when I only read Stephen King, Dean Koontz, etc.. I highly recommend the anthology. It's available as a print book or for your Kindle.