Pitchin' Horseshoes - Saturday Snapshots

When I saw a Throwback Thursday post on Facebook, showing a backyard picnic, it reminded me of church picnics from my childhood. So I searched through my old photos and came up with these.

This photo was taken in Oak Cliff, a suburb of Dallas, Texas, where I grew up, and the get-together probably took place at Weiss Park.

A favorite competition at picnics was horseshoe pitching. I remember the loud clang when someone scored a "ringer" or hit the stake with the horseshoe. Here's a photo of my parents' friends in action.

The man who's tossing in this picture has his right foot next to a stake. 

If you're curious about the rules of horseshoe pitching, here's the link to the National Horseshoe Pitchers Association website:
Rules

We also played "Washers." In this game, competitors pitched large washers toward a shallow hole in the dirt. I don't remember the scoring, but the washer that landed in the hole (or got closest) got the highest point. I remember the washer as being about as big as the palm of my hand. I understand that nowadays the washers are thrown toward a cup set in a box, but we didn't have that fancy equipment. 

Did you play similar games growing up?

Saturday Snapshots is hosted by West Metro Mommy Reads.

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click HERE or on the box below.  

To participate in Saturday Snapshots: post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) 

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Three Weeks With My Brother - #TeaserTuesday and First Chapter/First Paragraph/Tuesday Intros

    Nicholas Sparks fans will adore this memoir, and even though he isn't my most favorite author, I enjoyed it a lot. I like the way Sparks wove his life story into the round-the-world trip he took with his brother Micah, relating memories from his past in a natural way as the brothers reminisced. Their humble childhood surprised me.
    Thank you to my new walking-group friend, Donna, for loaning the book to me.

Genre: Memoir
Book Length (Trade paperback): 356 Pages
Amazon Link: Three Weeks With My Brother
Author's Website: Nicholas Sparks

The book begins with a prologue, explaining how Nicholas Sparks and his brother decided to go on the "Heaven and Earth" round-the-world trip to exotic places. I'm sharing the First Paragraph from Chapter 1:
     Many stories begin with a simple lesson learned, and our family's story is no exception. For brevity's sake, I'll summarize.
     In the beginning, we children were conceived. And the lesson learned - at least according to my Catholic mmother - goes like this:
     "Always remember," she told me, "that no matter what the church tells you, the rhythm method doesn't work."

Teaser Tuesday (from Page 148 in the paperback edition):
Because we couldn't afford the sort of treats that other kids seemed to get - cookies, Twinkies, Ho-Hos, etc. - we developed a binge mentality when the opportunity presented itself. If we were visiting someone's house, for instance, we'd devour whatever we could, eating until we felt like we would burst.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):
The day the brochure came was a typical one. With a wife and five small children, a hectic schedule, and a new book due to his publishers, Nicholas Sparks was busy with his usual routine. The colorful mailer, however, described something very different: a tour to some of the most exotic places on Earth. Slowly, an idea took hold in Nicholas's mind and heart. In January 2003, Nicholas Sparks and his brother, Micah, set off on a three-week trip around the globe. It was to mark a milestone in their lives, for at thirty-seven and thirty-eight respectively, they were now the only surviving members of their family. And as they voyaged to the lost city of Machu Picchu high in the Andes. . . to mysterious Easter Island. . . to Ayers Rock in the Australian outback. . . and across the vast Indian subcontinent, the ultimate story of their lives would unfold. Against the backdrop of the wonders of the world and often overtaken by their feelings, daredevil Micah and the more serious, introspective Nicholas recalled their rambunctious childhood adventures and the tragedies that tested their faith. And in the process, they discovered startling truths about loss, love and hope. Narrated with irrepressible humor and rare candor, and including personal photographs, Three Weeks with my Brother reminds us to embrace life with all its uncertainties. . . and most of all, to cherish the joyful times, both small and momentous, and the wonderful people who make them possible.

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by Jenn of Books and A Beat. Post two sentences from somewhere in a book you're reading. No spoilers, please!

Link at Books and A Beat

First Chapter/First Paragraph/Tuesday Intros is hosted by Bibliophile By The Sea. To participate, share the first paragraph (or a few) from a book you're reading or thinking about reading soon.

Link at BibliophileByTheSea

Twitter: @SandyNachlinger

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The Midwife of Hope River - The #Friday56 and #BookBeginnings on Friday

Patricia Harman's Hope River novels vividly capture life in West Virginia during the Great Depression. In The Midwife of Hope River Patience Murphy delivers the babies of Appalachian mothers whether rich or poor, black or white, often under difficult circumstances. The author takes the reader to dangerous coal mines, explores racial attitudes, and shows the reality of childbirth during that era. The plot captured me from the very first as I watched Patience deal with a difficult past (she'd been orphaned and widowed and had been accused of a crime) and yet find joy in bringing new life into the world. The story is touching, funny, and eye-opening. One of the most memorable books I've read.

The Midwife of Hope River is Book #1 in the Hope River Series. I featured The Reluctant Midwife (Book #2) on my blog earlier: Here.  Both books stand alone, and I highly recommend them. 
FYI: Patricia Harman worked for over thirty years as a midwife and has an MSN in Nurse-Midwifery. She knows her stuff.

Book Beginning:
Stillbirth
     "How long do you think my baby's been dead?" Katherine turns toward me, and I can tell she's still crying.
     "Five days, maybe less," I answer my patient. "I heard the heartbeat when I checked you last Friday, and you said the baby moved during church. Shut your eyes now. Try. You need to rest."

Friday 56 (from 56% on my Kindle):
     At last we are getting produce from the garden, small peas that we eat without shelling, lettuce, and chard. We enjoyed Hannah's bacon and we fish in the river, but we are down to a cup of flour, the sugar is gone, and our money jar is empty except for a few last coins. I stare at them now, scattered on the table, as I pull on my town shoes.

Genre: Historical Women's Fiction
Book Length: 403 Pages
Amazon Link: The Midwife of Hope River
Author Website:  Patricia Harman

Synopsis (from Amazon):
A remarkable new voice in American fiction enchants readers with a moving and uplifting novel that celebrates the miracle of life. In The Midwife of Hope River, first-time novelist Patricia Harmon transports us to poverty stricken Appalachia during the Great Depression years of the 1930s and introduces us to a truly unforgettable heroine. Patience Murphy, a midwife struggling against disease, poverty, and prejudice—and her own haunting past—is a strong and endearing character that fans of the books of Ami McKay and Diane Chamberlain will take into their hearts, as she courageously attempts to bring new light, and life, into an otherwise cruel world.

                

Anyone can participate in Book Beginnings on Friday and The Friday 56.
Click HERE to connect to other Book Beginnings posts (sponsored by Rose City Reads) 
Click HERE to join other Friday 56 bloggers (sponsored by Freda's Voice)

Twitter: @SandyNachlinger

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Little Free #Libraries

"Take a book, return a book." I'm over at Smart Girls Read Romance today, blogging about Little Free Libraries. Check it out HERE.

Are You There Erma? It's Me, Gayle. - #TeaserTuesday and First Paragraph/First Chapter/Tuesday Intros

    In the introduction to Are You There, Erma? It's Me, Gayle, the author writes, "I wanted to write like Erma [Bombeck.] After all, we shared the same birthday as well as the same sense of humor." She got her wish and wrote a column for the Placentia News-Times, her local newspaper. This book is a collection of some of those columns. (Her first two years of columns are shared in What Would Erma Do? Confessions of a First-Time Humor Columnist.)
    Carline has also authored mysteries, romantic suspense, and a memoir. I haven't read her books in those genres, but if her sense of humor comes through in them, they've got to be fun!


First Paragraph: 
Column: "So You Want to Have a Resolution"
    Every year I swear not to make any New Year's resolutions, and every year I can't resist making a few, anyway. It's like trying on clothes you wouldn't normally choose, just to see how they look. I attempt to change my behavior, to see if a new year can make a new me.
    I picked two resolutions to try on this year; I hope one of them fits.

Teaser (from 18% on my Kindle):
Column: Tripping On An Anniversary
    I'm convinced that wolves mate for life because they can't speak English. When the female snaps at the male, she can only mean, "Stop it!" And there is nothing for the male in wolf-speak that translates to, "Stop what?"

Genre: Humor
Book Length: 254 Pages
Amazon Link: Are You There, Erma?
Author Website: Gayle Carline

Synopsis (from Amazon):
When Gayle Carline clawed her way into her local newspaper office and groveled until they gave her a weekly humor column, she worried about not having enough material. Then she took a look at her life. Nearly every week something in her house or car needs repair, her son doesn't know why being able to see his carpet is a big deal, and her husband believes less is more, especially when it comes to communication. In What Would Erma Do, she chronicled her first two years as a paid exaggerator. Now she's back with two more years of merriment, along with editorial high jinks and readers' opinions. It's the most fun she's ever had without a credit card.
    

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by Jenn of Books and A Beat. Post two sentences from somewhere in a book you're reading. No spoilers, please!

Link at Books and A Beat

First Chapter/First Paragraph/Tuesday Intros is hosted by Bibliophile By The Sea. To participate, share the first paragraph (or a few) from a book you're reading or thinking about reading soon.

Link at BibliophileByTheSea

Naches Peak Loop Trail, #MtRainier - Saturday Snapshots

The September 16 hike along the Naches Peak Loop Trail is my favorite, so far. Cool, sunshiny weather; friendly group of hikers; beauty everywhere. I took about fifty photos but I'll only share my favorites.
[Click on photos to enlarge.]

And... we're off! This is designated as a wilderness area, and groups were limited to twelve people. We numbered fourteen so we broke up into two separate groups. 

When I saw the sign saying our hike was part of the Pacific Crest Trail, I felt like Cheryl Strayed from Wild (but without the heavy pack and emotional baggage!)

I hope the presence of the two women on the trail will give you an idea of the vastness of our surroundings.

We walked through forests, in open meadows, and alongside dramatic rock walls.

Lunch break ...

... with a great view.

During the second half of the hike, Mount Rainier dominated the horizon.

We passed several alpine lakes along the way.

Good view of Mount Adams to the south.

Breathtaking view of our famous volcano. I hope the blue ice in the glaciers shows up in the enlarged view of this picture.

The hike started and ended at Tipsoo Lake.

As a reward for our workout, we stopped at Wapiti Woolies. I had an ice cream sundae -- vanilla ice cream topped with local huckleberries. 

More info and a map of the trail 

Mount Rainier National Park

Washington Trails Association

Writing Retreat at Buck Creek - #SaturdaySnapshots

Have you ever been completely off the grid? Recently, I spent several days at Buck Creek with my Puyallup, Washington, writing group. We had an amazing weekend with no cell phone coverage, no internet access, delicious meals, hiking, and lots and lots of talking and writing in a comfortable lodge in the middle of the woods.

[Click on photos to enlarge.]

Our group came to Buck Creek to write, but we also wanted to enjoy the area's natural beauty. When we asked the facility's management for advice on walks or hikes, they recommended a nearby trail. Here's where we walked. 

        

Although our hike ended up being longer than we'd anticipated, and at one point, we thought we might be lost, we talked to a couple of other hikers and found our way. Now we have an entertaining story to tell about our trek through the woods.

This facility has been around for many years as a religious camp. Originally called Berachah at Buck Creek, it has recently been purchased by a different organization and is now named Black Diamond Camp at Rainier. [LINK]


Creekside Cabin (where we were housed) can accommodate up to twenty people, and each of us had our own bedroom.

The new owners have upgraded the facilities with new bunks and comfy mattresses. They have even more improvements in the works. 

 

The attentive staff took care of us very well. Retreat Coordinator Katy (black shirt) and chef Amanda, along with A.J. and Josh, served sumptuous meals, answered our questions, and made sure our retreat was everything we'd hoped for. If you ever need a facility for a family reunion or other gathering, I highly recommend Black Diamond Camp at Rainier. This would be a great place to stay if you're a skier because it's close to the Crystal Mountain ski area.

Here we are! 

Left to right:

Kathy Guimond - Has completed one novel (a historical family saga) and is working on its sequel. 

Sandra Nachlinger (me!)- Author of two romance novels. (Links to my two novels are shown above.)

Kelly Marshall - Author of two murder mysteries (with another one in the works), one post-apocalyptic novel, one sweet romance. [Website link]

Pam Johnson - Co-Author of The Jelly Jar Project, a book of money saving tips. Contributor to God Answers Prayers: Military Edition anthology. [Amazon Link]

FYI: I wrote about last summer's retreat at Buck Creek on the Smart Girls Read Romance blog HERE.

Click on the + or - sign to zoom in or out of the map.

Saturday Snapshots is hosted by West Metro Mommy Reads.

To enjoy a variety of beautiful pictures from around the world, 

click HERE or on the box below.  

To participate in Saturday Snapshots: post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) 

have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky on the host blogsite. 

The Songbird's Call - #TheFriday56 and #BookBeginnings on Friday

    If you're in the mood for a contemporary romance with a small-town California setting, you'll definitely enjoy The Songbird's Call. In this story, Rachael Herron creates likable, believable characters with real life problems. Molly, the protagonist, has ongoing issues with her weight. She's "the fat one" of the three sisters, and she's recovering from a bad relationship, one in which she suffered from verbal abuse. 
    This is Book 2 in the trilogy, but it stands alone. However, I'm looking forward to reading Books 1 and 3 so I can learn more about Molly's two sisters, who are an important part of this book.
FYI: The book contains a couple of scenes of explicit sex, but they are between loving adults and not gratuitous. The whole book is nicely written.

Book Beginning:
    At one time in her life, Molly had liked a good old-fashioned country dive bar as much as the next singer-songwriter. Every honky-tonk smelled a little different, but they shared the same notes of pine dust and good tequila, of cowboy aftershave made of bay run and cloves mixed with the scent of bitters and quinine. Each bar sounded the same, too - bottle caps snapping off, Hank Williams wailing on the jukebox, balls clacking on the pool table, men trying to impress women who were laughing and pretending to pay no attention. 
    Molly inhaled deeply and then wished she was back on the cruise ship.

Friday 56 (from 56% on my Kindle):
The band broke up shortly thereafter when their father died. They'd all lost their voices, and their way. Molly took away one thing: she wouldn't be forced into situations. 

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Book Length: 297 Pages
Amazon Link: The Songbird's Call (Book 2 in the Songbirds Trilogy)
Author Website: Rachael Herron

Synopsis from Amazon:

    Once Adele, Molly and Lana were The Darling Songbirds, a world-famous country band. Now they're just three sisters who barely speak. But that's about to change. 

    Middle sister Molly arrives in town, and is immediately drawn to the neglected little café where she worked as a teenager. Could she dare to bring it back to life? As lead singer, Molly had always been the voice of the band. But caught between controlling big sister Adele and demanding baby sister Lana, she never felt heard. If she's going to reopen the café, she'll do it on her own terms, no more being bossed. 

    So the last person she should fall for is the handsome Sheriff Colin McMurty - the man whose job it is to tell people exactly what to do. 

                

Anyone can participate in Book Beginnings on Friday and The Friday 56.
Click HERE to connect to other Book Beginnings posts (sponsored by Rose City Reads) 
Click HERE to join other Friday 56 bloggers (sponsored by Freda's Voice)

Twitter: @SandyNachlinger

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