Picnic! ...by Magdalena Scott

Last weekend after church, we had a simple picnic at a lake outside town. It was a warm, sunny day, and we were fortunate to score a shelter house on a hill overlooking the lake. Evidently previous picnickers had satisfied the geese, because they didn't pester us.

And only one bug--a sweat bee that checked us out and moved on.

I love alfresco dining, whether a home-packed picnic or sidewalk table at a city restaurant.

It's Memorial Day weekend in the United States, and lots of people will have picnics and cookouts in their backyards or parks.

What about you? Do you like to dine outdoors? Picnic, cookout, or restaurant? Are you grilling anything yummy this weekend? (I keep thinking about Raine English's recipe a few days ago, for grilled shrimp. Yum!)

USA Today Bestselling Author Magdalena Scott writes sweet romance and women's fiction with small town settings. Visit her website here: www.magdalenascott.com

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Making time for silence - by Magdalena Scott

One morning last week I woke up early, fixed my daily mug of French Press coffee, and sat in the windowseat gazing east. I'm in town and don't have a clear view of sunrise, but as I sat there silently, I was able to watch a new day begin, as the sky grew more and more light.

And the birds were singing! Because my apartment faces a super busy street, it's easy to forget there are birds living in the few trees. The only ways to be reminded of that are to park under one of the trees (if you get my meaning), or to get up early enough that the daily traffic noise hasn't begun. By 7:00 a.m. or so, you can forget hearing birdsong.

I have a habit of turning on my radio first thing in the morning. My air conditioner and heater are both noisy. So most days any sounds of nature are lost to me until I go out to walk.

I'm so impressed by people who work long hours plus commutes, have major family and civic obligations, and still make time (I don't think "finding" time works) for silence. 

I recently visited with one such woman, who said sometimes she just sits in a lawn chair and does nothing. She intentionally sets time aside to let her mind relax a bit. Weather permitting, she's outdoors listening to the birds, watching the rabbits, letting nature heal her soul and spirit. I have no doubt that's one reason she gets so much accomplished and has such a good outlook. 

There are always plenty of things calling us to go here, do this. Busy-ness seems to be a badge of honor in our society. But constant going, doing, texting, emailing, working...doesn't give our bodies, minds and spirits time to rejuvenate.

I hope to get better at making time for silence. Is this something you find easy, or challenging? Do you have tips for the rest of us, on how to set quiet time aside on a regular basis? If so, please share in the comments.

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Magdalena Scott is a USA Today Bestselling Author. Her new series is Serendipity, Indiana: small town sweet romance and women's fiction. Click here to visit Magdalena's website, sign up for her newsletter, and read about her two series.

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Simple Things Make Me Smile - by Magdalena Scott

I was recently caught in the act of taking pictures of a parking lot wall. I’m sure the woman who saw me wondered why I would do such a thing, but I think it’s lovely. See how the ferns are growing between the stones? Notice the spot where someone patched the wall with brick?

People park in this lot all the time. Maybe lots of them notice the ferns, and smile at their tenacity. Maybe they wonder why the brick patch was necessary, and who did it.

But you know what? I doubt it.

The people who park in this lot are on their way to work, likely thinking about what happened at home this morning, or a news story they heard on the car radio. Perhaps as soon as they’re out of the car, they’re looking at their phones as they walk toward the building where their workday will be spent.

Hours later when they return to the lot, they may be planning the dinner menu, making a mental grocery list, wondering how to get everything accomplished during the precious evening hours.

The wall is there, though, just in case they have time to look up and notice—and smile. I think they might feel slightly better for it. I know I do.

What are some “simple things” that make you smile?

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USA Today Bestselling Author Magdalena Scott writes contemporary sweet romance set in small towns. Visit her website: www.magdalenascott.com

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Surprise visit ~ by Magdalena Scott

Last week I received a phone call from one of my husband’s cousins. She and her hubby were in town, and wanted to get together for a little visit. This was a delightful surprise because (a) they live in California, and I had no idea they were in Indiana, (b) since becoming a widow, it’s a treat for me to still be included in such things, and (c) these people are so incredibly interesting!

Making sure they didn’t mind climbing a long staircase, and that they weren’t drastically allergic to cats, I directed them to my abode. My giant closet was—and still is--in a sad state of explosion, so I didn’t give them the entire tour of the place. They did, however, get the current complete tour of standing in the center of my studio apartment. Yes, the whole tour, including up and down the stairs, takes just a few minutes. (As an aside, I am happy to report that Attila was more pleasant than usual. Evidently he was having an off evening.) 

After the tour we went back down the stairs and walked a couple of blocks to one of the nearby restaurants where we had a long talk and delicious supper. 

What a wonderful visit! They have been several places this summer, learning lots of new things and becoming reacquainted with family they don’t see often. Talking with them made me feel the same way I feel when I read their Christmas letters: They have a full and happy life because they love learning, travel, and people. 

No matter where we are, it’s the reaching out and really taking time with others that matters, isn’t it? Which is why I spent a few minutes just now playing Ice Cube Hockey across the hardwood floor with Attila. I hope he’s keeping track of these life lessons!

Magdalena

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Magdalena Scott writes sweet romance in small town settings. You can find her on her website, blog "Welcome to Magdalenaville," Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Stop and Watch the Bugs by Magdalena Scott

Margaret Daley’s post on Monday immediately made me think of an experience from my son’s childhood, and I wanted to share it with you.

The house where my husband, son, and I lived was one block from our local post office, and two blocks from the town square. I was fortunate to be a stay-at-home mom up until The Progeny went to Kindergarten, so in any weather short of hail or heavy rain or sleet, he and I might well go for a walk.

At first of course, there was the stroller, then walking along holding hands, and eventually the tricycle, which soon became the tricycle with a wagon bungee-corded to the back for “hauling stuff.” In our small town, many people knew The Progeny by name, and our walks often included plenty of stops to visit for a moment with friends or acquaintances. A walk of a few blocks could take the whole afternoon.

The time I especially remember was a trip to the post office. We were holding hands, and The Progeny was maybe three years old. As soon as we landed on the sidewalk from our front porch, I could see this would be anything but a quick trip. OHMYGOODNESS, we had to stop at every crack in the sidewalk, and many places without cracks, to inspect all of the bugs. (It was an especially busy bug day for some reason.) We couldn't just quickly glance at them, either. We had to stop dead in our tracks, crouch down, and inspect exactly what types of bugs were there, and what they were doing. I wondered if we’d get to the post office before the window closed!

I have no idea why we needed to go to the P.O. that day. I just remember realizing I was in the middle of a parable: Enjoy the journey and don't be entirely focused on the destination. I've thought of that many times in the last 20+ years. Sometimes it shows more than others, but I think I actually did learn the lesson. I'm grateful for it.

What important things have you learned from a child? 

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Magdalena Scott is one of the authors of the best-selling Ladies of Legend, Tennessee series. Catch up with her goings-on at her blog, Welcome toMagdalenaville. She’s also on Twitter and Facebook.

The Simple but Great Pleasures by Joanne Hill

Christmas is starting to be a distant memory but thankfully some of it gets to stay with us a few weeks longer. The tree is always put away on January 6^th (although ours literally came down on Christmas Day when the old tree collapsed - but that’s another story!), and of course there are the presents.

It was getting a really simple present this Christmas gone that reminded me of just how inexpensive life’s great pleasures can be.

I‘d been in a bookshop the week before and randomly picked up the new Bridget Jones novel. I own both the movies on DVD and have seen them many, many times and I think, somewhere, I might even have the soundtrack on CD. But I admit… I’d never read the books. I think it’s because I missed them when they first came out and sometimes reading a book after watching the movie just doesn’t work. But I’d heard good things about the new story in spite of the – you know – the terrible thing that happens – so I was intrigued. I read the first few pages in the store and knew that this year, buying me a Christmas present was going to be dead easy for the kids. The only thing I wanted was to read that book.

Come Christmas Day, there it was under the tree -  “Bridget Jones - Mad About the Boy.”

Naturally, the day was spent reading -  in between the cooking.  And nibbling on liquorice allsorts and scorched almonds.  It rolled over to the next day when I was jokingly informed the only thing I’d done had been lie on the couch. That was indeed my plan, and actually may not have been far from the truth because at some time on Boxing Day, I’d not only finished the book, but the allsorts and the scorched almonds.  (And I have to say – I LOVED the book!!)

I took a photo of it to Tweet and thought, you know, it’s a perfect gift -  confectionary and a can’t-put-down book. It is indeed a very simple pleasure - and books are so much nicer when you get to unwrap them, don’t you think?

So I got to thinking about other simple presents I’ve loved. There was a book about the staff at a library who adopted a cat they called Dewey. A cheap (I know it was cheap because my son told me the price, it was so amazing) china mug with a lid so I can have a coffee at my desk at work –  I use it every day and people still compliment it. And of course, one can never go wrong with favourite chocolates and lollies.

So please share. What simple or cheap gifts have you received in the past that have brought you a lot of joy? Birthday, Christmas – maybe, given we’re romance readers here, even a Valentine’s Day gift? 

Joanne Hill is the author of four romance e-books including a short story anthology “Love The Commute,” which is currently free on most e book sites. Other titles include “Blue Creek Bachelor,” “Daniel’s Bride,” and “Falling for Jack”. A former president of Romance Writers of New Zealand, Joanne is a librarian for a research centre. Although she gets to write about local and family history, help people track down their ancestors, and read old newspapers and magazines - all in the name of research! - she still prefers to read and write novels set in the present. Joanne lives in Auckland, New Zealand. Visit her on the web at www.joannehill.com