Happy September! And Some Book News!

Oh, what a joy it is to welcome the beautiful month of September! It seems this entire year has just flown by, and here we are sailing into Fall with all its splendor. The trees have begun their gentle color flush, the grass is withering, and the flowers are fading... with the most brilliant colors of Fall on the horizon - I can't wait! 

August was a busy month! The garden was producing and keeping me busy! 

Always a good feeling to put up canned vegetables for the winter months. 

My stamping friends and I got together to start working on Christmas cards. I can't even wrap my mind around it... But here we are! The "ber" months are here!

We always have so much fun together! 

One evening, I was working in my garden when I saw this striking cloud formation at sunset. It looked like a heart that was spreading its wings...

A short while later, the clouds were moving quickly, and the form slowly disappeared.  

I love watching the clouds, especially at sunset - they are filled with wonder and incredible colors! 

Danika spent her first night away from her parents with us! We had so much fun on our first sleepover. From the moment she awoke (4:30 in the morning!) until she fell asleep in my arms at bedtime, she wanted to be outside. Here she is in her nightclothes, wearing my shoes, ready to go feed the chickens!! 

She loved picking strawberries fresh out of the garden. My everbearing strawberries are producing huge berries right now! 

We watched the amazing August moon come up! It was incredibly beautiful! So bright and full in the night sky. Danika watched the moon with me. We shared the wonder of its beauty together. 

I bought a box of peaches from a local supplier, and froze them for my girls to use in smoothies for the grands. They love a fruit smoothie for breakfast. 

I also bought a box of pears and canned pear sauce for the girls. It is so yummy mixed with cottage cheese! Or just by itself. I add no sugar - just a bit of lemon juice. So good! 

Had a wonderful tea party last week. Because the weather has been so hot, we had it in the evening. It was truly delightful to visit with dear friends and watch the lights come on and the stars come out. I took this picture after everyone had left. 

It brings my heart such joy to enjoy my garden with friends!

And of course, enjoy all the wonderful food - everyone brings something, and it is a delight to have so many yummies to sample!

The August moon eclipse was incredible! I got to watch it from my garden as I was cleaning up from the tea party! What a blessing to see such a spectacular wonder in the sky. 

Because our skies have been so smoky, it was truly miraculous that we could see the eclipse of the moon! The skies were clear, and the stars were out. 

We went to Creston, BC, with Dan's cousin and his wife on a Saturday. They live very close to the Canadian border, so they often "go across" into Canada. We had a wonderful time with them. 

We ate at a lovely restaurant in Creston, and they ordered a Creme Brulé for us to share. It was delicious! 

We also stopped by Tim Hortons for a late afternoon double-double coffee. My Canadian readers will know what that means {smiles}. I did get mine a decaf as I wanted to sleep that night! 

As we were crossing back into the USA, we could see the Upper Smith wildfire burning. It is a massive wildfire (4808 acres) that was started by lightning and has been burning for several months in northern Idaho. 

We were treated to gorgeous sunset skies on our way home. 

More produce picked from the garden - now it is keeping me busy every day! 

Praise God, I have finished writing my first Christian fiction book! It has been sent to my editor! This will be a bit of a process, but once the editing and formatting are complete, I will be ready to publish. I am more than ready! Here is a sneak peek of the cover! You can visit my website, MOUNTAINTOPSPICE, to read more about the story. It has been a fun journey writing the book! 

If you would like to be part of my launch team for this book, with benefits that will include a free signed copy of my book, please email me! 

I hope you are having a wonderful start to your September, and I keep all of my precious readers in my daily thoughts and prayers!! 

Ephesians 1:15-20

Wherefore I also, after I heard 

of your faith in the Lord Jesus, 

and love unto all the saints,  

Cease not to give thanks for you, 

making mention of you in my prayers;  

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

the Father of glory, 

may give unto you the spirit of wisdom 

and revelation in the knowledge of him:  

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; 

that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, 

and what the riches of the glory 

of his inheritance in the saints,  

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power 

to us-ward who believe, 

according to the working of his mighty power, 

Which he wrought in Christ, 

when he raised him from the dead, 

and set him at his own right hand 

in the heavenly places.