MARCH COMES MARCHING IN

Okay, I admit it, I’m not a fan of February. Every year, I wish it would fly by and push us into March. After the holidays, February brings holiday bills to pay, freezing temperatures in the northern regions, hibernation tendencies, snow, lack of light, more snow, colds, flu and then…more non-melting, dirty snow with ice. It’s a bleak, long, tedious month, despite the fewest number of days. But to February's credit, it ushers in March.

March in Pennsylvania is cheered on by the arrival of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, featuring rising temperatures, longer days, and vibrant, but unpredictable weather. It’s Women’s History Month, Ides of March, Johnny Appleseed Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Spring Equinox, and a full lunar blood moon that looks red on March 3^rd.

For me, it’s a joyful time. Rains will come, but they will leave.

I search my flower beds for new shoots and check the lilac buds to see if I’ll have blooms in April. Daffodils, crocus, snowdrops, tulips, and forsythia burst forth to color the dreary landscape. In the words of Bishop Reginald Heber: “Spring unlocks the flowers to paint the laughing soil.”

Rabbits scurry over the yard looking for tasty new shoots. The neighborhood possum checks out the fallen sunflower seeds below the bird feeder. Canada geese flying overhead sing their tunes of spring. Their sounds remind me to check my many birdhouses which may need paint or repairs before they can be hung outside.

March is the time to make time and do the things we love after a cold winter. You might find me scrutinizing the colorful seed packets on display at a local store—or staring into space and making a mental list of vegetables and herbs to plant in our bucket garden in May. Or maybe I’ll just stare at the blue sky and watch the clouds sail by in a brisk spring wind.

  

It’s March. It’s spring. Fresh breeze and warm sun. The best time for new beginnings is now.

                              NEW RELEASE - Finding Love in Pine Valley  

 

 

FINDING LOVE IN PINE VALLEY  

 

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VALENTINE'S DAY - and a - SWEET KISS!

 In honor of Valentine's Day, I'm posting an excerpt from SWEET KISS, where Kate Clark, owner of the coffee shop, tells quirky post mistress, Eva May Poole, about the legend of Valentine's Day.  

     

        “Hey, Eva May, did you know there’s a legend of how Valentine’s Day came about?" Kate asked and looked over at the post mistress."It’s credited to St. Valentine of Rome during the reign of Emperor Claudius II. Claudius was unable to get soldiers to join his army and thought the reason was because men did not want to leave their wives and families so he cancelled all marriages and engagements in Rome. A romantic at heart, a priest of Rome, Saint Valentine, defied Claudius's unjustified order. Along with Saint Marius, St. Valentine secretly married the couples.”     

          “Is he still doing it?” Eva May asked.

          Kate closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She heard her friend, Melanie, beside her, mutter, “Tell her, yes. What the heck? 270 AD until now? What' s a couple of years?"  

          Kate choked back a laugh.  

 

                                              Sweet Kiss  -  Now $2.99

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TO ALL!  

 ~ * ~ 

NEW RELEASE - Finding Love in Pine Valley  

 

 

FINDING LOVE IN PINE VALLEY  

 

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NATIONAL COMPLIMENT DAY - January 24th

Hello 2026! Good-bye 2025.

It’s been a long year. A wild ride. A year when negativity has reigned 365 days on the radio, television, internet, and in our lives. Whenever someone tells us to be thankful for the blessings in our lives, it’s a tough rule to follow, especially when we feel our calm, once functional world is now not the same.                

National Compliment Day on January 24th offers a wonderful way to brighten someone's day or to give credit for a job well done! It’s a day to give an extra compliment not only on January 24^th, but also any time one is deserved.

A compliment has a powerful effect. It can empower confidence in a child. Allow a person to feel worthy. Validate someone's hard work. A compliment not only improves the receiver's mood, but also it says something about the giver. It tells them you’ve noticed. Whether we recognize someone's achievement or their classic style, a compliment can go a long way.

However, in all our attempts to stay positive, we also need to navigate negativity. This includes actively reframing our thoughts and shifting our focus by practicing mindfulness, gratitude, and self-compassion. 

It also means we may have to set boundaries and limit exposure to negative environments or people. It might mean we may have to walk away. It also involves recognizing negative patterns, challenging their validity, and consciously choosing to engage in positive actions and seek uplifting experiences instead. 

To further make our lives more pleasurable, we need to surround ourselves with uplifting, positive people who share and support our goals. Engaging in enjoyable hobbies or activities like reading, exercising, listening to music, for example, also helps to disengage from negativity.

Whatever day, whether you’re reading this or currently having one of those negative moments, take some time to treat yourself with kindness and pass it on to others...and especially be sure to do it on "National Compliment Day," January 24th! 

 

 

 

FINDING LOVE IN PINE VALLEY  

 

New Release:  

eBook/Digital - $2.99

Print - 6.99 

 

CHRISTMAS - Make It Stress-free!

Christmas is an overwhelming time  during the holidays when we get caught up in the glitz and hustle and bustle of finding presents, writing cards, hosting parties, listening to radio and television advertising, making food and baking--and so many other activities that we become over-stimulated, cranky, and sometimes downright depressed. We think we have to get everything just right. Just perfect.

My mother used to remind me when I slipped into my crazy Christmas mode, that Christmas is only one day. It will come and it will go--in just twenty-four hours, she would admonish. 

Here are some quick tips to reduce the Christmas stress:

PLAN AHEAD – Plan ahead, whether it’s starting the Christmas cards early in November or making a list of things that are priorities such as travel plans, possible presents, or your food lists for menus for the season. It always helps to start early and avoid rushing later.

BUY ONLINE – There’s no need to elbow you way through crowded stores when many of the online specials already beat the Christmas prices advertised in the flyers and on the radio and television. Shop online and have everything delivered to your door.

TAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF – Take time to breathe, take time to exercise, take time to do something you like. Grab a cup of hot chocolate or decaffeinated coffee and your favorite book and cozy chair for a few minutes. Psychologists say we need 20 minutes of “me time” or “personal down-time” each day. Take it and don’t feel guilty.

ENJOY THE SEASON – If Christmas music makes you feel joyful, turn up the knob on your radio or find music on your phone or Tablet/Kindle. Take a quiet, solitary walk and get away from it all, if you must. Watch the snow fall silently and peacefully, covering the world in white. Smell the homey scents of the season: pine, citrus, cinnamon and vanilla. Listen to the sounds of bells or children laughing. Enjoy the very sights that remind us of Christmas such as a wreath on someone’s door or a lighted Christmas tree.

And in the end, remember—“It’s really only one day. It will come and it will go--in just twenty-four hours!”  

Merry Christmas to all!

 

Please Note: 

The above blog is a re-post from December 2017, but is relevant every December.

 

 

Musical Christmas Series  - JUNE ~ The Pianist