A Walk in the Woods....

I had some time before I went to an appointment today. So I decided to stop and check out a park that I have never been to since moving here. I have heard about it and my neighbor told us about it. It's so beautiful and just a peaceful place to walk in the woods by a creek. I plan to go back!! Plus for this nature loving picture taker,it was heaven for picture taking as well :) This is Rotary Park in Clarksville TN.

 Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as 

I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; 

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim

Because it was grassy and wanted wear,

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

                                     Oh, I kept the first for another day! 

Yet knowing how way leads on to way

I doubted if I should ever come back I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,

 I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

~Robert Frost~

Book Review:The Guardian by Beverly Lewis

I just finished reading the newest by Beverly Lewis, "The Guardian". She is one of my favorite authors of Amish fiction. This is another book in the home to Hickory Hollow series. You really don't have to read them in order,they are pretty much stand alone books. Jodi is house sitting her cousin's house near the Amish area. She has lost her job as a Teacher,lost her Sister to sickness and engaged to be married. After her sister's death she has turned away from prayer and does not want children. While out jogging one day she find a little girl on the side of the road. After searching she returns her to the Amish community where she lives. This brings her to meet Maryanna,Mother of the lost little girl. She is a widow with children. Jodi becomes fast friends with her and becomes the temporary teacher for the Amish school. I related to Jodi in this one a little. She had lost her faith to pray and was struggling with prayer and faith. Both ladies were grieving their losses in different ways. It was a simple story and everything ended up pretty much like what I thought it would. Hickory Hollow is a unique little place and the wise woman Ella Mae Zook returns again in this book. I love how God brought about a change in Jodi through their lives. Another great read from Beverly Lewis!

I received this book free from Bethany House for my honest review

Yard Sales and Thrift finds

Me and mom went to yard sales this morning. Their are sooooo many where we live. We could never get to all of them. I bought a few things this morning. I got pretty much a whole stack of blank cd's for 1.00!! You know how much those run in stores. I am always needing them for pictures or music. I also bought a cute little wallet for a 1.00. Then the following below. In all I spent under 5.00!! I didn't buy much today. I love yard sales. Why pay full price? I love the hunt and the deals!!!

I love Amish fiction and I found this pretty wall hanging and got it for .75 cents!!! So simple and peaceful!

 A picture frame for .25 cents and the cutest little Angel I just had to have for .50 cents!

 This tin I didn't get today,but wanted to show it. I found it at a thrift store the other week. I use it to store all my handwritten recipes. I love it!!!

I love Summer only because it's Yard Sale season!!!! Other than that I can do without the heat..lol :)

Book Review:Once upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck

About Book: Susanna Truitt never dreamed of a great romance or being treated like a princess---just to marry the man she has loved for twelve years. But life isn't going according to plan. When her high-school-sweetheart-turned-Marine-officer breaks up instead of proposing, Susanna scrambles to rebuild her life. The last thing Prince Nathaniel expects to find on his American holiday to St. Simon's Island is the queen of his heart. A prince has duties, and his family's tense political situation has chosen his bride for him. When Prince Nathaniel comes to Susanna's aid under the fabled Lover's Oak, he is blindsided by love. Their lives are worlds apart. He's a royal prince. She's a ordinary girl. But everything changes when Susanna receives an invitation to Nathaniel's coronation.

My Review:  A fairy tale come to life was what this book was all about! I very much enjoyed the characters. Nate was a lovable honest Prince and you came to like him very much. Susanna was likable as well and came out rooting for her to win her Prince. It's all set near the coast of St. Simon's Island in Georgia. What I took from this book is we can have all the plans in the world and everything the way we want it,but in the end though it's God's plan that is your destiny in life. I loved all the characters in the book. The closeness of Susanna's family and her learning to trust love again after problems in her parents marriage when she was a child. How Nate was a man of his word and took his duties quite serious. I felt like I was right there in the book with the characters and I did not want to put it down. What a wonderful read. A must read for all you fairy tale lovers!!

Meet the Author: Rachel Hauck is the bestselling author of Carol Award winner "Sweet Caroline", and RITA Finalist "Love Starts With Elle", and of the critically acclaimed fiction collaboration with multi-platinum country artist Sara Evans, "The Songbird Novels". She lives in sunny, though sometimes hurricane plagued, central Florida with her husband and their ornery pets. Rachel earned a degree in Journalism from Ohio State University and is a huge Buckeyes football fan. She is the past President of American Christian Fiction Writers and now sits on the board as an Advisor.

More About Rachel

Purchase the Book

Read more Reviews

***Giveaway below is over***

Rachel Hauck is celebrating the release of Once Upon a Prince with a fun "Royal Wedding" Giveaway and connecting with readers at her May 28th Facebook Party.

One "royal" winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 27th. Winner will be announced at the "Once Upon a Prince" Facebook Author Chat Party on May 28th. Connect with Rachel for an evening of book chat, wedding trivia, laughter, and more! Rachel will also be sharing a sneak peek at the next book in the series and giving away books and fun gift certificates throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of Once Upon a Prince and join Rachel on the evening of May 28th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 28th!

I received this book free from Zondervan for my honest review

Mother's Day 2013

It was a nice Mother's day Sunday!! We cooked out and enjoyed just talking on the deck. I hope all you Mom's out there out a wonderful day as well!!

Retro Diner Birthday Party

We threw my dad a Diner themed party this past week for his Birthday. He loved it and really enjoyed it. I made a playlist of oldies diner type music and had it playing as well. I had so much fun looking and finding ideas and stuff. Pinterest is a must stop for anything!!! Here are some photos.

Mom made the cake!! I loved it. I had the little dancing people forever in a box off a cake on year.

 Ice Cream Sundae Bar. I put a table cover out. Then we had the Sundae bowls(you can find any like it at most dollar stores) I made little ads and put them in a clear picture frame. I had pictures from varies places. I took the diner looking ones and I edited them into little pictures and taped them on the cover and walls.

 I ordered scene setters off the internet. I found these under a seller on Amazon!

 More Scene setters and pictures I have taken and edited to look like wall pictures. I got 25 free through a deal one day at Walgreens!!

 I was so excited when I found the Diner baskets at the Dollar General for 4/1.50!! I sat out the old style Mcd's glasses we had bought the awhile back when they were selling them. I used old records we had as place settings. I put a cup under a record and made a little stand in the middle. I place a mustard and ketchup bottle,fake menu I made,napkins and a daily special ad I made on top of it. I used the black and white checkered table cover.

 Took a picture I had and made a ad. I bought a bucket at the dollar tree along with the coke glass. I bought the straws at Hobby Lobby. Then I put the old fashion glass bottle Crush sodas in the bucket with ice.

 I found the Root Beer Float recipe on Pinterest. I bought the small coke glasses at the Dollar Tree. I put Chocolate pudding in the bottom and topped it with whipped topping and a cherry. I cut a straw in half for decor look of it. 

 I found these little hot dog holders at Dollar General for 4/1.00

 I had the labels. I took these small little paper bags at hobby lobby and cut them in two. I used the top half to make the French Fry Holder cause it had the little ripple cut at the top. I took the bottom half and make Onion Ring holders. Was trying to go for the paper fry bag holder look.

 The food table. I used a table cover and old records to put the stuff on.

Made a fake menu cover and a ad like a daily special with what we were having!

This was loads of fun to plan. I love planning themed parties!!! Can't wait to plan another one!!

Book Review:It happened at the fair by Deeanne Gist

Book Plot:A transporting historical novel about a promising young inventor, his struggle with loss, and the attractive teacher who changes his life, all set against the razzle-dazzle of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair.

Gambling everything, including the family farm, Cullen McNamara travels to the 1893 Chicago World's Fair with his most recent invention. But the noise in the Fair's Machinery Palace makes it impossible to communicate with potential buyers. In an act of desperation, he hires Della Wentworth, a teacher of the deaf, to tutor him in the art of lip-reading.

The young teacher is reluctant to participate, and Cullen has trouble keeping his mind on his lessons while intently watching her lips. Like the newly invented Ferris Wheel, he is caught in a whirl between his girl back home, his dreams as an inventor, and his unexpected attraction to his new tutor. Can he keep his feet on the ground, or will he be carried away?

My Review: I am always excited to get Dee's latest book. She always has the most wonderful way of taking you back in time to different points in history. She makes you feel like your right with the people. This book was another great one from her! I was drawn in right from the first page and kept reading. I really loved with this one that she added pictures of the places that were being talked about in that part at the front of chapters. It really help put where they were at and what it looked like in your head. I loved Cullen and Della. Dee writes with such detail you feel as though you are right there with them. It makes history fun. I learned so much about the Chicago World Fair and never realized all the different exhibits that were at it. We are taken into the world of invention and also into what it like to be deaf and what deaf people faced back then. I enjoyed this book,but most of all I just love going back in time with Dee and being in another time for awhile.

You can buy the book here

Meet Deeanne:

Deeanne Gist---known to her family, friends, and fans as Dee---has rocketed up bestseller lists and captured readers everywhere with her very fun, very original historicals. She has received numerous RITA nominations, two consecutive Christy Awards, and rave reviews. Deeanne has a background in education and journalism and a degree from Texas A&M. She has written for People, Parents, and Parenting. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and has four grown children. She has a very active online community on her website at IWantHerBook.com and at Facebook.com/DeesFriends

For other Reviews and such click here

Deeanne Gist is celebrating the release of It Happened at the Fair with an iPad Mini Giveaway and a Live Author Chat Webcast event {5/22}!

  One "fair" winner will receive:

• An iPad Mini
• A $25 iTunes gift card

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 21st. Winner will be announced at the "It Happened at the Fair" Live Webcast Event on May 22nd. Connect with Deeanne for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Deeanne will also be taking questions from the audience and giving away books and fun gift certificates throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of It Happened at the Fair and join Deeanne and friends on the evening of May 22nd for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 22nd!

I received this book free from litfuse for my honest review

Book Review: Simply Delicious by Sherry Gore

I was so excited to receive this Amish cookbook!! I love different kinds of cookbooks and this is now one of my favorites. I first heard of Sherry Gore on Amish out of Order TV documentary. I have followed her ever since. This book is filled with wonderful recipes. My favorite part is that they are all simple and easy to follow recipes. I love simple and easy cooking. The recipes look so good. Some colorful pictures are in it of some and then black and white pictures of the Amish. It is also filled with stories. I love that in a cookbook it adds something to one to read cookbooks!! She is a Amish so I recommend this one for a true Amish cookbook. I enjoyed my visit in the book to Sarasota FL in the Pinecraft area!!

I received this book free for my honest review from booksneeze!