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We’re leaving for Chicago in a few hours to visit my husband’s family, but I wanted to pop in and share the final version of the cover for MISSING! The series begins in March.
Blessings to all of you~
Shelley
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I’ve been taking a few days off~taking time to watch old movies, complete a Christmas puzzle, chase a very busy puppy, bake a Red Velvet Cake with my daughter, cook two very big holiday meals, sleep, and read books I didn’t write!
I hope all of you are finding time to enjoy a day or two off as well!
As always, I count my family, my faith and my readers in my many blessings. Thank you for your many notes, hugs, and smiles!
With Christmas blessings to you,
Shelley
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Popping in quickly to let y’all know that my western historical novel, A Texan’s Promise, is being offerred FREE on Kindle!
If you have a Kindle, and you’ve ever wondered what that book is about , I hope you’ll give it a try.
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First, congratulations to Gwenda! Please contact me privately with your mailing address and your preference for which book of mine you’d like signed.
I’m still trying to get a winner for Monday’s drawing of a signed book and Amish-made potholders. Our new winner for that is Nancy Lynn. Nancy, please contact me privately, too.
These contests have been keeping me busy, but not too busy to write! I’m near the very end of my last book of the Secrets of Crittenden County series. It’s actually a pleasure to write it now-I know what’s going to happen and just need to get the words on paper! Yesterday I wrote a little over 5000 words, which was 22 pages, I think. Yay!
Last night we drove down to Lexington and picked up our daughter-and a whole lot of her stuff! She’s going to be moving into her sorority house next semester, which meant everything had to be out of her dorm room. Those of you with daughters could definitely relate to the amazing amount of ‘stuff’ she has managed to accumulate since August. For a while, I didn’t think we were going to fit it all in the car! <g> I couldn’t be too hard on her, though. She took two finals yesterday and already found out she got an ‘A’ in Latin. I’m very sure I would not have survived college Latin~let alone make an A in it! I barely got through high school French. : )
Now I’m planning to try to work a little less and bake, shop, and relax a little more. My son should come home on Saturday or Sunday, puppy in tow! I’m hoping to stop by tomorrow or Saturday, but if I don’t, please be on the lookout for Monday’s drawing!
If you have time, tell me what holiday plans you have for the rest of the week. Is your shopping done? I’ve barely started! And, have you ever studied another language? Do you remember any of it?
with blessings to you all,
Shelley
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 Amish cake tester and poem! I bought this ‘Amish Cake Tester’ at the Amish Experience Theater in Lancaster County while on tour. I thought it was so cute, and I loved the poem! Here’s the first verse:
Look at this gift you’ve just received
A round whisk broom, you say…
Or maybe it’s a clothing brush.
To this, I must say nay.
To be fair, I think this is one of those items I think my Amish friends would smile about. I’ve actually never seen one of these in my friend’s kitchen, but who knows? Maybe lots of other Amish women do have one of these nifty cake testers on their counters!
I bought two of these and I’m trying very hard to keep them as gifts or giveaways. I think having one next to my stove would be terrific!
Would you like to be entered in today’s drawing? The winners will receive the Cake Tester, poem, an Amish Country Tour bag, and a signed copy of one of my novels.
All you have to do to be entered is tell me what kind of cake you’d use the cake tester for. <g> I would definitely used it for a sour cream pound cake. I make it in a bundt pan, and a regular toothpick is too short to test for doneness!
Best of luck to all of you. The winner will be announced tomorrow.
Shelley
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Congratulations to Amber Horton! You are the winner of the two Amish-made potholders and a signed copy of one of my books. Please contact me privately with your mailing address, and don’t forget to tell me which book you’d like me to send!
If you didn’t win, please stop by tomorrow. We’ll be holding another drawing then!
Shelley
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Last week’s drawing were such a success, I thought I’d host another two drawings this week! Today’s winners will receive two of Mary’s absolutely adorable potholders(Mary is Amish and made them at home, with help from her son), an Amish Tour bag, and a signed copy of one of my books! All you have to do to be entered is share your favorite Christmas story or book. Mine is A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote. I have a beautiful illustrated version and I love to read it every December. Winners will be announced tomorrow.
Hope you enjoy your week! Thanks for stopping by! Shelley
 Mary's lovely homemade potholders! 64 Comments
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I made a chicken pie yesterday.
I imagine that doesn’t sound like a big deal. However, to the people in my family, it is a pretty special thing. See, I don’t make chicken pie all that often. I make the whole thing from scratch-homemade pie crust, fresh vegetables, thick gravy. I’m a rather messy cook, so by the time I’m done, I’ve got flour everywhere, at least four pans to clean, and assorted cuttings boards to wash up, too. Making this dish takes me a while-usually a couple of hours from the time I pull the margarine out of the refrigerator to when it’s served on a plate.
Because of all that, for me, making a chicken pot pie really is a labor of love. I make it for my kids their first evening home from college. Or when we have company for dinner. Or when a friend is sick.
Two days ago I found out that Helen, a friend of mine from church, is doing poorly. Her cancer has spread, and she’s weak and exhausted. For almost ten years I volunteered a few times a month at our church’s ‘Welcome Desk’. Helen always did the shift before me. Helen’s old enough to be my mom, and she’s the nicest lady ever. So when I was asked if I could bring her a meal this week, of course I knew what I had to make!
I have to say I had the nicest afternoon making that pie for Helen. Doing something for another person is such a gift, I think. While it was baking, I decided to make her cookies too.
Last night, my husband helped me take the dinner to Helen’s house. We quietly set the items down in her kitchen and went out the back door. Then came home to another chicken pie! I decided if I was making one pie today, I might as well make two. My husband was very pleased. I told him it was no trouble…because, you know, I like him a lot too. <g>
So, do you have a dish or a meal that you only make on special occasions? I’d love to hear about it!
Hope you have a wonderful weekend.
with blessings,
Shelley
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Congratulations, Lora Patten! Between Facebook and comments here, we had well over a 100 entries. Please contact me privately sometime today with your mailing address, and please don’t forget to tell me which of my books you’d like to have!
I now have a notebook full of great ideas and time periods for the next series. I can’t wait to share all of it with my editor!
These contests have been so popular, I’ll be offering several more before New Years Day. The next will be on Monday.
In the meantime, I hope everyone has a great Thursday!
Shelley
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Thank you to everyone for the enthusiastic response to Monday’s drawing! It was so much fun giving away a free book that I’m offering another opportunity to win today! Today’s item is so, so cute. It’s a mini quilted coloring tote! On the outside are spots for four crayons. Inside is a cute hand-drawn coloring book of Amish farm animals! I purchased it in Bird-in-Hand while on tour. So the winner will receive this little tote and a signed copy of one of my books-the winner’s choice.
All you have to do today to win is help me do some planning…I need to come up with a new setting for an Amish series for 2013, and I’m kind of/sort of thinking about writing an Amish historical novel. Write a comment about historicals or a series setting idea…either here or on Facebook. One winner will be drawn by tomorrow afternoon.
Thank you for stopping by, and thank you for participating!
blessings,
shelley
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