Saginaw Series, Holiday Series, and Much More: Rebecca

Showing posts with label Rebecca. Show all posts

When We Make a Difference

Changing the World with One

Act of Kindness

One of my characters in my newest book, Enough Kindness to Fill an Empty Heart, makes a difference in Rebecca's life without even knowing about it.

Detective Peters gives Rebecca his business card and she thinks about it even when she doesn't have it with her. It gives her comfort to know that Detective Peters is there if she needs him.

How many times have we given encouragement, support, or advice without knowing that later on someone has called upon what we've said to give them support, comfort, and strength to continue on during a difficult time in their lives?

Many times during my career I watched the police officers do extraordinary acts of kindness. Most people have no idea how much they do.

It's important to encourage others. We may never know that we've changed others, but one thing I know for sure though is that it changes us when we are kind.

My Latest eBook

Click on the book to go to Amazon

Pleased to announce my latest eBook, "Enough Kindness to Fill an Empty Heart" has been published. It's been a great year.

It happened before, but never for this long. Rebecca's aunt left her alone in their apartment and hasn't returned. So far she's been able to elude the landlord and her principal, but time is running out.

Recipes Enough Kindness to Fill an Empty Heart

Anything in the Refrigerator Muffins

In my book, "Enough Kindness to Fill an Empty Heart" Rebecca calls this the Anything in the Refrigerator Muffin. I love baking this muffin. I've used many different combinations:

zucchini and carrots
zucchini and cherries
carrots and applesauce
carrots and blueberries
peaches and blueberries
zucchini, carrots and applesauce

Sometimes I only add one banana and sometimes only one egg, depending on how wet the ingredients are when I mix them all together. Sometimes I bake them for 60 minutes instead of 50 and even leave them in the oven when they are done for awhile. This is a very forgiving recipe.

When they are cool I turn them upside down on a cooling rack until the bottom dries. Then I put them in a Rubbermaid container with paper towel on the bottom and in between layers. I store them in the refrigerator and we have one or two for a night snack warmed up in the microwave and topped with Reddi Whip. It makes for a delicious snack. 1 muffin is 1 point - 2 muffins are 3 points.

Tahquamenon Falls

Every year my husband and I try to go to these fabulous falls.

In my 13th book - Enough Kindness to Fill an Empty Heart - Corey, Beth and Rebecca go on a buying trip for the thrift store. They take a side trip to see these.

In the second book of the Saginaw Series, Bertie's Bakery Heaven Scent, Katy and Jen are overwhelmed with the majestic waterfalls in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Tahquamenon Falls is one of the largest falls west of the Mississippi. It is about 200 feet across with a 50 foot drop. The average flow is 7,000 gallons per minute, sometimes the flow is much more like on this day.

Buying Trip Itinerary

In my book, "Enough Kindness to Fill an Empty Heart"
Corey, Beth and Rebecca go on a buying trip in Michigan.
Here is their itinerary:

Saginaw to Lansing 75 miles

Lansing to Grand Rapids 67 miles

Grand Rapids to Grand Haven 34 miles

Grand Haven to Pentwater 56 miles

Pentwater to Interlochen 13 miles

Interlochen to Traverse City 14 miles

Traverse City to Mackinaw City 118 miles

Mackinaw City to Tahquamenon Falls 81 miles

Tahquamenon Falls to Mackinaw City 81 miles

Mackinaw City to Saginaw 191 miles

Rebecca finds my great aunt's cookbook!

Looking through my Great Aunt Rosie's cookbook I was inspired to have Rebecca find it at the thrift shop in, "Enough Kindness to Fill an Empty Heart" the book I am working on.

I love the classic red and white checked cover on the cookbook that could be found in most kitchens when I was growing up.

On each chapter divider I found handwritten recipes of family and friends. Rosie's sister, Mary, was my Grandma and her Hot Cross Buns was on one and the family Lasatna (sp) was on another. I especially loved the recipe was for 15 people.

They spoke Italian at home growing up so English was their second language. Many words were spelled phonetically. It took me a bit to figure out Mutarel (sp).

Inspiration from East Side Soup Kitchen

Webber House

Obituary Inspiration

My eyes were pulled toward this obituary in the Saginaw News. When I read the description of Rosalie I knew immediately I wanted her in "A Light Shines Forth" - after talking with her daughter and emailing her granddaughter - I was so inspired. Thank you new friends. THIS IS FROM THE OBITUARY: From homesteading the farm to owning a local eatery, she raised her children by example of frugality and superior work ethic. She could stretch a penny into the next month and could feed an army on a squirrel. (And yes, thered be seconds.) Rose was a master gardener (often times with strangers stopping to admire) and was known to sleep on a cot along the row of dill to figure out how the deer got in. A canning magician, each year would produce a family squabble over who would get the last quart of dilly beans or tomato jam. An avid outdoors and fisherwoman, she raised and sold bait, smoked and sold fish, and was known to wrestle snapping turtles (for soup, of course) into her trunk on her way to pick blueberries. She was an excellent bowler, loved liver pate and cheap whiskey, produced miles of beautifully knitted and crocheted anything (no, really...anything) and was the dog whisperer of the family. For years she refused to use a microwave and she never used credit, boasting that the only plastic she owned was her laminated AARP card. She conducted her five foot self with grace and dignity but even at 85, she could swear like a sailor and wasn't afraid to take your money at the card table (or an IOU if you didnt have it). Affectionately known as Nonnie, she will be eternally missed by the grandchildren and great-grandchildren who claim that she first hung the moon and then scattered the stars.