Boo! Happy Halloween

Boo! Have a creepy Halloween. Did I scare you? You never know what the rustling leaves are up to outside. They dance in the wind and have a spooky time of it. :D

Thought I would entertain you while I'm working on my project.

Hugs, JJ

Prayer of the Woods

I wonder who wrote this Prayer of the Woods? Does anyone know?

When Jeff and I camped at our favorite campground at the Lower Tahquamenon Falls a few weeks ago, we came across this charming and enlightening prayer. We both read it and were humbled by the beautiful words. Nature does provide for us and we should in return care for what God has given us.

We've been using the woodstove for a couple of weeks but Jeff selectively chops down trees so that the forest replenishes itself. He takes the ones that are dying and will fall down in a strong wind soon, anyway. We use the woodstove because we can't afford the alternative methods of heating during the long and frigid months. I am sure we are not alone in this.

Jeff also replenishes our garden soil by growing buckwheat. We had some huge squash this season and I am grateful for all of the produce. If we could grow most of our food, we would, and I hope that happens one day.

If you know me, you know my heart is with nature and that I have a deep spiritual connection with God because of it. And this has led to open doors I thought I would never pass through because of my carpal tunnel. God has been good to me.

May God bless you, always. :D

Hugs, JJ

Short Fiction Story Ending

Jer flipped on the hallway switch and strode past a darkened bathroom. Noticing the next door down was closed, he stood before it and twisted the knob. With a slight push the door swung open. The room was faintly illumined from the hallway and Jer found the bedroom light switch easily while he listened for breathing but heard nothing. When the overhead lit up, he noticed the rumbled bed. Mari was here. But where?

Striding over to the bed he noticed the pink bedspread had been dragged off to one side. “Mar,” he whispered as a hard object swung out hitting his shins, bruising the bones. Pain crept up his legs and he winced. He backed away, hitting the wall and hung pictures crashed to the floor.

*****

Mari had had enough of playing the victim, afraid to live her life. She rolled out from under the bed with her aluminum bat in both hands and quickly jumped to her feet. The dark bearded man was staring at her in disbelief and shock. She ran toward him, trying to butt the head of the bat into his abdomen. “You creep!” she hollered. “How dare you break into my house.”

But the man wearing blue jeans and a flannel shirt grabbed the bat and swung it off to the side. “Mari. Look. It’s Jer.”

Still shaking, Mari blinked a few times and focused on the man’s familiar dark eyes, his overgrown eyebrows, and then her eyes rose to his long, wavy hair. Her shoulders slumped and she relinquished the bat to him. “Jer? Is that really you? What has Alaska done to you?”

“Turned me into a grizzly intruder, I guess,” Jer said and chuckled deep in this throat. “Come here and give me a hug. I have been ringing your phone off the hook and leaving messages for you to call me.”

“Oh, Jer! I thought I had lost you.” Mari fell into his open embrace and nuzzled herself against his strong chest.. “Your whole body is…stronger. I wouldn’t have recognized you at all if the light hadn’t been turned on.”

“I’m glad you didn’t kill me with this bat,” Jer said and tossed it onto the bed, embracing her tightly. “Because then you couldn’t have married me.”

Tilting her head and glancing into the deep pools of Jer’s eyes, she teased. “Are you so sure I am going to marry you?”

“Where’s your mother?” Jer asked.

“With my sister. My mom was too picky to live with me.”

“That’s one roadblock out of the way." He pulled her away and gazed into her teary eyes. “Where have you been. Are you seeing someone else and parking in a farmer’s field?”

“Of course not! What an imagination you have,” she said.

“Then why does your car bumper have dried grass stuck in it?”

“Oh,” Mari laughed and sighed deeply, inhaling the pine aroma and fresh air that was Jer’s new scent and loving it. “I had a run in with a moose while attempting to drive to Alaska to find you.”

Jer pushed her away from him and held her at arms length. “You tried to drive all the way to Alaska by yourself?”

Tears ran down Mari’s cheeks and she whirled away from him so he wouldn’t see her vulnerability. She walked over to straighten the bed covers, aware of the drab flannel striped pajamas she was wearing.

“Don’t turn away from me, Mari.” Jer stepped over to her and turned her to face him. “Don’t turn away from me ever again.” He crushed her to him, and she wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tight, her cheek resting on a button.

“If I weren’t an honorable man, I’d have you on that bed in two seconds,” he said. “How I have missed you!”

“I’d have to clobber you with the bat again if you tried,” Mari teased.

“No thanks,” Jer said, “ I already have bruised bones. I guess I better do the honorable thing. By the way, I’ve had your engagement ring for months. It’s in the glove box of my truck…in Alaska.”

“Then I suppose we should both go to get it,” Mari said. “Will you help me pack?”

“Not until I’ve kissed you thoroughly,” Jer replied. He bent his head and Mari stood on her tiptoes, allowing Jer’s hungry lips to devour hers. She had so much to give Jer that she had been holding back because of fear. She returned his heated exploring kiss with one of her own.

“Whoa,” Jer said. “Let’s fly out of here in the next couple of hours. I don’t want you to lose that mood. Are you sure you haven’t been practicing on someone else?”

Mari saw the dance of ecstacy in his eyes and knew her own cheeks were as flushed as his. “Nope,” she said. “You are my only love, now and forever.”

The End

I hope you enjoyed my fiction romance story. I don't write romance but have fun playing with it. :D The above photo was snapped by me, and it's a shot of the interior of Jeff's log building workshop.

Hugs, JJ

I Love Your Blog Award

Spirit has blessed me with the I Love Your Blog Award! Thank you, sweetie. Now it's my turn to pass it on to blogs I adore visiting. Here are the rules: 1) Add the logo of the award to your blog 2) Add a link to the person who awarded it to you 3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs 4) Add links to those blogs on your blog 5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs!

Now it's my turn to pass the award on. :D My choices are:

Suzanne Perazzini because I have grown so much with my writing since meeting her at e-Harlequin on the forums there. She is my main critique partner and we have been through an adventure together as we read each other's work. Suzanne has brought me a long way from when I first began writing fiction. I can't read enough of her beautiful books!!! She also posts great vacation trips and is a world traveler.

Shellmo because she has a great bird blog which I love visiting. You should see the shots she snaps!!! And she's a kindred spirit in Michigan.

Whispered Blessings because Traci has children with autism and I am blessed to know her courageous spirit as she fights for her children's well-being in this world. She also is a cp of mine. :D

Kitchenette Soul because I love her wisdom. I always come away from her blog learning something about myself I never knew. She has a way with people that makes you smile. :D

Let's Paint Nature because of the beautiful artwork and photos I have found while reading Chris's posts. She inspires me and is a great teacher.

Swubird's Nest Swu paints beautiful images with words and gives you candid posts about his past and very interesting life. He's a slice of honesty. :D His photos also ROCK.

Petty Pieces because Bitter Chocolate also gives her readers a great accounting of her life and her feelings as she experiences her world. I find blogs like this heartwarming and poignant and so honest. Her images are also special.

The Dreaming Tree because Lana has talent with photos and artwork and I can't wait to see what she's up to next. We also learn about her life in her posts. She's quite the beautiful soul. :D

Thank you for being my friends, dear bloggers. I appreciate all of you who come and visit. I would have named all of you but am saving some for the next awards and don't want to scare you all away at once. :D

The photo was snapped by me from the back of our garden. We've had some awesome blue sky days this season that have made the fall colors glow even more in the sun. The forest is as happy as we are. :D

Hugs, JJ

Chapter Eight - Mari's House

With his rented car parked behind Mari’s in her driveway and the headlights illuminating her car’s back bumper, Jer scratched his head at the stalks of straw that Mari must have brought back with her…wherever she had traveled. And she hadn’t even cleaned that off, which was unlike her. Add that to the fact that she must be home and not answering her phone, Jer decided this would take emergency action.

Opening his car door, he unfolded his long legs and bumped his head as he exited the vehicle. Stupid cars. They made everything too low or too cramped. He missed his truck which was still in Alaska. It had been quicker to fly back home.

With loping steps he climbed onto the porch and found the illuminated doorbell button. After pressing it, he heard the familiar chimes echo through the house. If Mari was in there, that ought to grab her attention. But the door remained silent, unopened, as if the place were deserted. He rang two more times. Nothing.

“Mari!” he hollered. “It’s me. Open up.” Jer pounded on the door until the neighbor’s outside light came on.

Whistling through his teeth and acting like he had every right being there, he moseyed over to the garage’s side door and found that open. He stepped into her tidy garage. Moonlight softly filtered through the one small swag curtained window. Now, where would she hide a key to the house? He rubbed his chin as he looked at the shadowed paraphernalia that was neatly stacked on a long table.

Switching on the lights, Jer searched for ten minutes before he found an old key underneath a dried up can of paint. Finally! Walking across the cement floor, he inserted the key into the lock and turned the knob. Success.

*****

Mari opened her eyes when she heard the back door creak open. Awaking from a deep sleep, she wondered if she was still dreaming. Intently, she listened. Maybe the furnace was making odd noises again. It always did sound like someone walking.

No! The kitchen footstool scraped across the floor. Someone was in the house. She knew that sound well. The footstool had been placed by the end of a cupboard and someone must have bumped it.

Mari froze and her heart threatened to beat out of her chest. What should she do? She had no phone in her bedroom. She tried calling out but her throat was too dry. Maybe whoever it was didn’t know she was in the house. If she could force herself to move, she could hide under the bed amidst the boxes. Sliding out of bed, Mari shoved a couple of long, narrow boxes that held her photo albums aside and slipped into the dark recesses under the box springs. Afraid to breathe. Glad she had one weapon she could use against her attacker, Mari hung onto it with a death grip.

Hugs, JJ

The Lovely Canyon Falls, MI

This photo shows you the lovely Canyon Falls near L'Anse, Michigan. Jeff and I enjoyed every second of our hike at the falls. We could have sat and listened to the roaring waters cutting through the autumn forest for days if we had the time and could have slept by them at night if that were allowed. We had such a romantic time! What an AWESOME vacation.

There was only one tense moment and I will share that with you so you can have a chuckle. I brought "Ajax" with me so Jeff could snap a photo with me and the Spartan hero at the falls and I could enter author Deidre Knight's Red Fire Ajax-Not-So Flat contest she has running. Well, Ajax's photo disappeared along the way and Jeff had to track back through the rocky terrain to find him. What a great husband to trail back and bring Ajax back in tow. And what a great hubby to snap pictures of his wife with another man. LOL A pic of the recovery of Deidre Knight's hero is to the right and if you click here you will see my contest entry - number 4. While you are there, how about considering entering the Ajax Not-So-Flat contest? :D

Hugs, JJ/Nancy

Fiction Chapter Seven - Returning Home

The tour bus honked its horn as its brakes screeched and Mari’s forehead beaded with sweat as the encroaching vehicle halted a few feet in back of her car bumper. To her relief the bullish moose was also startled by the racket and had disappeared by the time she brought her gaze back to the windshield. With shaky fingers she started the stalled car, then pulled off to the side of the road and let the bus pass her. When the road was clear, she made a U-turn on the highway and headed back toward Blixon, Michigan, which she wished she had never left. Fate was telling her that she should never have begun this journey by the obstacles thrown in her way and it was time to forget about Jer and move on with her life.

Jer probably had started over by now, anyway. That thought knotted her stomach and made her heart ache. How wrong she had been to let him go. She had been afraid to accept his marriage proposal because she had been caring for her mother and couldn’t leave her. But a deeper reason was that she had never lived out of Michigan before and that thought frightened her. She never liked new beginnings but preferred old comfy ones like a pair of old shoes. Swallowing hard, Mari saw herself turning into an old maid and would stay that way if she didn’t get a handle on her life. All she knew and loved was here in this state. Except for the love of her life and that left her with an emptiness that couldn't find fulfillment.

Driving straight through with only a stop at the restrooms in Mackinaw City, Mari enjoyed driving along Lake Huron again, appreciating the glimpses of a cloudy sky and sparkling waters that peeked through the landscape in between houses. Her memories of Jer were tied up in that great fresh water lake. They spent most of their dating along it because the water embraced them like a good friend.

She pulled into her driveway in the late afternoon. A good thing too because her gas tank had been running on fumes. Lucky she had a gas can in the garage. But that could wait. All she wanted to do was dive under her comfy bed covers with a box of chocolates and not come up air for a day.

Tears stung her eyes as she fumbled with the sticking key in the door lock. Pulling it out, she realized she had jammed in the wrong one. But it was good to be home. She selected the right key and open the creaky wooden door.

Entering the kitchen, Mari saw her message machine was blinking but she ignored it and headed for a hot, soothing shower instead. At least she didn’t have to worry about Psycho in her own bathroom. But after she stepped into the bathtub, her pulse quickened in fear, not letting her pull the shower curtain shut, so she stepped out again and locked the bathroom door. Better to be safe than sorry. She would spray an intruders eyes full of hairspray if she had to. Placing the can on the corner of the tub, she turned the shower massager to her favorite selection.


After drying her long blonde hair with the blow dryer, Mari slipped out of the towel and into her cushy bathrobe and walked down the hall to her bedroom where she collapsed on her bed, too tired to think about the chocolate.

And fell into a deep sleep from pure exhaustion.

******

I hope you enjoyed chapter seven. The ending will be posted next. The photo is a shot of Lake Huron by Mackinaw City, Michigan.

Hugs, JJ

Canyon Falls River Gorge

The Canyon Falls in Michigan, which runs through the Sturgeon River, had many beautiful river gorge views to appreciate as we walked along the bank. Each step was an awesome adventure. Jeff and I gazed around in wonder and spent four hours sitting with our legs swung over the banks and appreciating the sight before us like this colorful wall or continuing our hike along the falls while taking in God's architecture.

The falls were excellent photo subjects too. It's not often we have visited a falls where the main attraction was everything we set eyes on!

A photo of Canyon Falls is coming up next. There were several cascading, roaring falls to enjoy.

Hugs, JJ

Fiction Chapter Six- the Decision

“Hello, this is Mari.”

“Mari! I’m so glad you…”

“I am not home. Please leave a message after the beep and here’s a little canary song to brighten your day.”

Patiently waiting for the canary to stop singing, Jer jumped in after the beep. “Mari, this is Jer. I need to talk to you. Call me at work. The number is…”

Blast that neither of them carried cell phones. Why hadn't her mother answered like she always did with her gruff voice, like the call was intruding in the household? The phone was right on Mrs. Berl's bed stand. He had tried calling Mari several times after he had moved to Alaska but her mother had always said that Mari was not taking his calls. He had left his address so Mari could write to him. Now he wondered if Mari ever received those messages? Perhaps they’d slipped from her mother’s mind or perhaps she had kept Mari away from him on purpose.

No, he only had himself to blame. He had backed off too quickly because of his injured pride.

The day at work dragged on and Jer wished he was out on the water on the research vessel instead of having a desk day where he caught up on his paperwork. He fidgeted in his chair and drank seven cups of coffee and wished the hours away. Something bad must have happened at Mari's house. That would explain the change in routine.

“Are you coming down with something?” His co-worker asked. Do I look that bad?” he replied.

At home, Jer paced his way through the night, walking from one end of his one room cabin to the other, while listening to the loud clock ticking on the fireplace mantel. Finally it struck 2 AM. Mari should be awake by 6 AM Michigan time and starting her morning. He turned on his heel and wrenched open the cabin door, still dressed from the day before, and hopped into his truck, telling a skunk he better not dare raising its tail as he slammed the vehicle door. The truck crept through the foggy night on the dark forest road and then picked up speed on the highway.

The pay phone outside of the small grocery store was ancient but Jer was glad it still worked. He punched in Mari’s phone number and hunted in his jeans pockets for the needed coins, inserting them into the slots and hoping each clank meant he was closer to talking to Mari.

“Hello, this is Mari.”

That stupid recording again! Blast it all! Slamming the phone receiver down, he hated not having any control of this situation. Hated how he had let Mari’s absence from his life put months of distance between them. What kind of man was he? Certainly not the alpha type he thought he was when he was chopping wood. He had become Beta Man, tucked away in a hole in the woods, happy with his own company and even enjoying the shoreline without his Mari. Raking his calloused hand through his thick wavy hair, Jer watched a bat circling the old gas pump lights.

There was only one thing he could do.

******

Please click the older posts link to find the previous chapters. I found out this is just as easy as linking. Some chapters are on the same pages.

I hope you enjoyed chapter 6. The last chapters will be posted soon. :D Also coming up are adventure photos. :D

Off on Adventure

We're off on adventure again. Here is a peek of our last outing.

This photo was snapped at the part of Canyon Falls where the scenery is surreal and prehistoric looking, with the deep gorge of the river made up of huge gray and lichen covered sheets of slab rock. Jeff snapped the photo as I was descending the make shift steps. I was tuckered out by then but kept moving because I didn't want to miss a thing. Slept twelve hours after that in the campgrounds. LOL

I have Canyon Falls photos to show you soon. This is just the warm up.

Have a super weekend!!! I'll post chapter 6 of the fiction story on Monday.

Hugs, JJ

WOOT for Michigan Autumns!!!

As you can see from this photo autumn has graced our land once again and she's displaying her finest wardrobe of colors. I love the peaches and pinks, reds and yellows and all of their hues. The added greenery sets off the season even more for great color contrast.

One thinks this is a glimpse of heaven with the surrounding vivid leaves dancing in the sun, glowing from within. I'm in the autumn of my life and may I look as good as I travel through each day. :D

The day is windy and the precious leaves have begun to drop one by one and flutter down to earth in the breezes. More intense photo snapping tomorrow. :D

Hugs, JJ

Fiction Chapter Five - On the Road Alone

Taking off in her car in the dark of night had been a stupid idea, Mari thought. And heading from Michigan to Canada alone was insane. Three months had gone by since she had seen Jer and each second of that time had drawn them further apart emotionally. He could be a stranger to her when she showed up at his door.

His door. She didn’t even know where he lived! Why hadn’t she planned this better? Why had he never written her?

She had finally stopped at a tacky motel last night after finding herself jolting awake while driving on the lonesome highway. She was glad for the haven then, not wanting to sleep in the car. But the mattress in the seedy room dipped deeper than the trough between waves and now her backed ached as it rested against her car seat, and she had a headache from the mildew smell in the room. She hadn’t taken a shower thinking of the movie PSYCHO and had left before sunrise.

The map book lay open across her lap. She would take US 2 through the several states and then cut up through Montana to Canada.

Canada! She’d need a passport. Ugh. The palm of her hands hit the steering wheel in frustration. Why had she forgotten that new law? Haste makes waste.

She was so unprepared. What if all this driving were for nothing? This whole journey was so unlike her. That strange book and nightmare had turned her into a plunger instead of a thinker.

The heavily antlered moose trudged out onto the highway from the misty swamp and at first Mari thought she was seeing things. It was the first moose she had ever seen and it was larger than life. Braking, she slowed down to let the massive, spindly - legged animal cross the highway. But he stopped dead-set in the middle of the road twenty-five feet from her vehicle and stared at her through the bug flecked windshield with his glassy eyes. Snorting, his breath sent up puffs of vapor into the chilly morning air.

Was he going to charge? Mari's knuckles turned white as she grasped the steering wheel and her blood pulsed in her ears as she envisioned her car crumpled by that menacing creature. As she shifted the car into reverse with a jerk, it stalled.

******

Did you enjoy chapter five? Let me know. :D The first photo is a swamp reflection that I loved finding on the car window and the second photo is an actual sign.

Hugs, JJ

Bond Falls Photo

Jeff and I are back from our AMAZING camping trip. I have changed the header with a vivid autumn photo from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and have also posted this photo of Bond Falls. This is only a small portion of the falls and the photo was snapped standing at the right edge of it. The roaring volume of water sounded like heaven on earth.

More pics to come. First I have to play catch up and post another chapter of my fiction story.

My FAVORITE author Deidre Knight has a paranormal fantasy romance coming out tomorrow and the book is called RED FIRE and one of seven books in the GODS OF MIDNIGHT series. Please visit her website if you have time. She's having a SUPER Not-So-Flat Ajax contest going on. I have a funny story to tell about my participation in the contest. It will be in another post. :D I looove Deidre's books!!!

http://www.godsofmidnight.com/about.html

Cheers! JJ

Do You Enjoy African Violets?

My grandmother used to have a plant stand full of beautiful, thriving African violets so I was happy when my mother brought me this plant a few months ago after she had transplanted it. Every time I look at it I remember bits about my grandmother. She raised me for a few months after I was born and that gave us a lasting bond that lasted...I actually feel it even now that she's gone.

The funniest time with my grandmother was when I was in high school and she said I could have a touring college choir member spend the night at her house. I slept in her big bed with her that night and as soon as we were settled the male student came loping down the steps from the second floor and entered the bathroom. He filled up the claw foot tub very full and serenaded us with song for a good twenty minutes. The door to my grandmother's bedroom led right to the bathroom so the sound acoustics were good. How we laughed and giggled in that bed, shaking the mattress. Just like kids. :D We were tickled pink he was comfortable enough to serenade us as he bathed.

Special memories like that will live in my heart forever. The African Violet is thriving and it makes me smile every day. Grandma, I miss you and am glad my mother still cans those delicious sweet cherries and pickles the way you used to. :D And I'm especially glad my mother raises African violets because I believe I can see this plant smile. :D

Hugs, JJ

Beautiful Autumn

Beautiful autumn has painted the Michigan deciduous trees and is coming into full swing. This week will be excellent for photos for any of those traveling in Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. The photo on the left was snapped a couple of weeks ago as Jeff and paddled me around in the kayak on the Tahquamenon River. That was a peaceful stay at the campgrounds and where we met the Pringle eating chipmunk I featured in a previous post. Of course the car horn and flasher post happened there too but photos like this erase that from my mind. LOL

Idyllic. The memory lingers in my mind of the still waters below the roaring falls. Of a bald eagle soaring in the sky and the autumn tinged trees that were vibrant against the forest green coniferous foliage.

Blessed. I am blessed to have a husband who enjoys the same nature settings I do and who sees each outing as a kid's adventure as I do with exploration, sunning ourselves, musing about what we have yet to experience outside. Living life and loving it.

Happy. I am thrilled to be at this time of my life. Many autumn leaved photos await my camera and the rich earth scent will renew my soul. I have finished my photography class and have come away with knowledge that will give me even more enjoyment of my camera. Jeff was so caring the whole time I took the class. He drove me wherever I needed to be, helped with the camera equipment and didn't laugh too much when I snapped tons of photos of the same subject. :D

Have a super day, dear friends.

Hugs, JJ