You Can Judge A Book By Its Cover

I'd like to share my author friend, Sahar Abdulaziz's, Tuesday blog. It contains faccinating information about how to choose a book cover, plus so much more...

Enjoy!

Sahar's Monday Morning ‪#‎Blog‬ on ‪#‎Tuesday‬ !

COVER ME CRAZY

Truth be told, nothing does it for me more than seeing a book cover finally come to fruition. It is the single most visible telltale sign that a book is close to completion and will formally have a home and name.

SAHARRAZIZ.COM

My Favorite Time of Year

As I reflect on the beauty of each season, it's difficult to choose my favorite time of the year.

When April and May roll around, I always say, "Ah, this is my favorite time of the year!" This spring was especially lovely with the flowering trees, greening grasses, and the plethora of blossoms of all shapes and scents.The tulips, daffodils, and primroses gave way to roses, lavender, and our spring and summer perennials of all shapes and sizes.

Early June was changeable with its warming days, coolish nights, and occasional thunderstorms.This year robins pecked their way through the vent screens and made a nest in our attic.The sound just about drove our kitty crazy. She could hear the chicks chirping, but couldn't figure out where they were hiding. As soon as the winged family left, we patched up the hole. There was a limit to our hospitality.

I wanted to hold onto each moment June provided because I knew July and August would bring the heat and triple digits. Faded rose petals, patches of dry grass, and hot nights seemed to linger until mid-September. Fast forward to October and I declared, "This is my favorite time of year." The warm autumn colors are clinging to the trees and the sounds of migrating Canadian geese fill the skies. They are reminders winter is not long in coming.

The hardy geese will remain to feed on the golf courses and parks and then lay eggs along the river banks. Spring comes again and life burst forth. The cycle begins anew.

Each season holds a special place in my heart and I'm grateful to live in a region where I experience the fullness of Nature's changing seasons. So, here's to my favorite time of year, no matter what the calendar says.

Weather or Not

I pride myself, or perhaps delude myself into thinking that weather doesn't affect my mood. Well, that theory was proved incorrect last weekend as we left our hometown of Portland, Oregon to head east and home. I couldn't figure out why I was so depressed. We had a great visit with family and friends over a three day period and even saw our three month old grand nephew. What's depressing about that? Leaving? No, we can go back anytime.

Well, I was enlightened, literally, when we stopped in The Dalles for lunch and the sun appeared. Then I realized it was the heavy rains of Portland that had dampened my spirits. Funny. I'm a Portland native and know that it rains nine months out of the year in the City of Roses. Was I in a perpetual bad mood for the forty years I lived there? No, but being introduced to a drier climate has changed my perspective and my preferences. I love the sun!

So here I am back in God's country where the sun shines 300 days of the year and I can enjoy the big sky that produces breathtaking sunsets. There's no place like home.

Hold Onto the Sky

Yesterday it was so windy, that the clouds could not hold onto the sky. The morning hours were cloudy, gray, claustrophobic. But gradually, the sky cleared - it had no choice - the cloud cover was swept away. I had no desire to go outside, and when I did, my trip was cut short. It was the perfect day to stay inside to read and watch DVDs, which I found myself doing for the remainder of the day.

Today, we're back to normal for this time of year: chilly and a bit breezy, with intermittent sun breaks and warming temps, just enough to encourage the plants to perk up and to send out the ever-optimistic golfers.

The strong, unrelenting winds from yesterday stirred up thoughts about how life's trials can knock us over or simply wear us down with its ferocity. It may come all at once with an unexpected phone call, email, or letter, or sneak up innocently and escalate into a full-blown gale.

Times of stress and challenges are tough to bear, no matter the source or duration, but when I remember to hold onto the sky with faith and hope, after the winds blow past, a calm that soothes the mind and soul will reappear.

Forecast: Sunny and Warm

When life throws everything at you all at once, a heavy fog seems to cast an emotional and spiritual heaviness that envelops your mind, heart, body, and soul. Recent unpleasant events beyond my control have sent a lingering, unstable weather pattern into my flight path. I almost hear the pilot announcing,"Folks, we are in for a little turbulence, so fasten your seat belts." So as I look outside at the gray sky, I have to remind myself that just above the clouds, the sun is shining all bright and warm.

Despite the current situation, I'm grateful for the Christmas season, my family, and for every blessing I enjoy. I know the pilot will soon turn off the "Fasten Seat Belt" sign because fair weather is on its way.

Thankfulness is a State of Mind

Periods of relative peace, prosperity, and thankfulness can be fleeting. When I find myself in the "eye of the storm", where all is calm, I want to savor every moment. Thanksgiving is an official North American holiday set aside for us to gather with family and focus on our blessings. Tomorrow most of us will spend the day with loved ones and do just that.

Many will devote their energies to devouring turkey, potatoes and gravy, pumpkin pie, and then watching football and perhaps falling asleep in an arm chair. I remember those days at Grandma's house - full from the year's best meal and me falling asleep in front of the t.v., or at the foot of my granddad as he smoked his pipe.

We didn't rise early the next morning to wait in line for Black Friday bargains. It was a simpler time, less materialistic in many ways.

Life is complicated this year for me, stressful on several fronts.

But I'll take a day off, maybe a whole weekend, to energize. That's what Granddad would advise. He witnessed plenty of tough times, but he was optimistic and tried to live in a Thankful state of mind.