Showing posts with label Thanksgiving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thanksgiving. Show all posts

Friday, November 17, 2017

Thankful For My Furry Family--#Cats This Week by Karen Rose Smith



As we approach Thanksgiving and the holiday season, a time for celebrating with friends and family, I stopped this week to reflect on my furry family. I am so grateful for the felines who have wrapped themselves around my heart.  The looks of trust and affection in their eyes show me how grateful they are for my care and the love I try to share with them each day. Each of the felines has his/her own personality and I have learned to interact with them in their individual uniqueness.

Halo and Zoie love to share the bed and bask in extended periods of cuddling. Paddy, on the other hand, is more of a loner but appreciates a special treat or a passing back rub. London, our senior feline who is blind, looks forward to my husband's afternoon nap with her. The kittens are still adapting to their new surroundings and adjusting to the varying reactions of the adult members of the feline family. They can be cuddly and sweet, but also have their active periods of play and wrestling.

And Bonnie and Clyde, our outside visitors, have been willingly coming in the basement each evening to spend the night, but are ready to go back outside after their morning feeding. They are showing more trust with both my husband and me, but still dart at the smallest movement or unfamiliar sound. I can pet Clyde (when he chooses to allow me to do it) and Bonnie will occasionally tolerate a quick hand down her back as she walks by.

My furry family fills my otherwise work-filled days with laughter and affection. For that, I am grateful not only this week but every week of the year.

Halo, Paddy's mother, is pictured above and below are photos of the rest of my faithful felines.     

Miss Paddington

Zoie Joy

London

Zander

Freya

Bonnie and Clyde


 Happy Thanksgiving!



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NOW AVAILABLE!



Caprice De Luca Home Staging Mystery #7


It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, especially now that Caprice De Luca has wrapped up her holiday-themed staging gig at a stunning historic home in downtown Kismet, Pennsylvania. Behind all the red ribbon and glowing string lights, homeowners Chris and Sara Merriweather have it all. But Chris, a Vietnam vet who plays Santa every year at the community park, has been displaying strange behavior after a recent trip to Washington, D.C.

The joy of the season vanishes entirely when Chris is found murdered on Santa Lane, leaving behind his loyal malamute and lots of unfinished business. As Caprice uncovers hidden secrets in Santa's workshop, the pressure is on to catch the candy cane-wielding culprit--before she's next on a killer's deadly wish list . . .

SLAY BELLS RING on Amazon

SLAY BELLS RING on Barnes and Noble

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 Click on the link below to read an additional blog entry by Karen  
every Thursday on the Cozy Chicks blog


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USA TODAY Bestselling Author Karen Rose Smith is an only child who delved into books at an early age. She learned about kindred spirits from Anne of Green Gables, solved mysteries with Nancy Drew and wished she could have been the rider on The Black Stallion. Yet even though she escaped often into story worlds, she had many aunts, uncles and cousins around her on weekends. Her sense of family and relationships began there. Maybe that's why families are a strong theme in her novels, whether mysteries or romances. This award-winning and bestselling author will have her 100th novel released in 2018.  At present she is working on two mystery series for Kensington Books--Caprice De Luca Home Staging cozies and Daisy's Tea Garden mysteries. From time to time, she also writes romance for Harlequin Special Edition.
Karen and Zander

Readers often ask her about her pastimes. She has herb, flowers and vegetable gardens that help her relax. In the winter, she cooks and does watercolor paintings rather than gardens. And year round she spends most of her time with her husband, as well as her four rescued cats who are her constant companions. They chase rainbows from sun catchers, reminding her life isn't all about work, awards and bestseller lists. Everyone needs that rainbow to chase.

Karen looks forward to interacting with readers. They can find her at the links below. 




©2017 Karen Rose Smith

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Thursday, December 1, 2016

#Feline Preparations For The #Holidays--#Cats This Week by Karen Rose Smith


With Thanksgiving, decorating for the holidays and the release of my newest cozy mystery, SHADES OF WRATH, it was a busy week in the Smith household. And, of course, the cats were in the middle of the fracas. But looking over the cat photos I snapped this week, I realized that perhaps we should take a few hints from our feline friends and step away from the frenzy of activity that surrounds the holidays and just take a moment to relax and enjoy the true beauty of the season.    
Miss Paddington decided it was much easier to observe the goings-on from the distance. She perched on top of the refrigerator while we stuffed the Thanksgiving turkey and peeled the potatoes, but she couldn't resist the temptation to help preparing the dining room table for dinner. As the table extenders were inserted and the pads fitted on top, she decided to claim the area as her own. Halo wasn't far behind, settling on a chair under the table. Needless to say, setting the table was delayed until right before our guests arrived.   


I expected the same amount of interest when the boxes of Christmas decorations were stacked in the living room, ready to be emptied. But there were a few sniffs from Halo and a short inspection by Paddy, then Halo headed off for an afternoon nap and Paddy perched on a nearby chair and quietly supervised the decorating. 


Despite all the glitter, lights and tinsel that we consider necessary to make our holidays brighter, Halo and Zoie quickly settled on their Christmas throw and nestled in for a long afternoon nap. Warmth and comfort are their Christmas preferences. 




While my husband readied and hung the outside decorations, he spotted Clyde (one of our outside duo of Bonnie and Clyde) snoozing on the deck in the November sunshine. He seemed oblivious to the extra outside activity. Of course, hubby had to do a few sidesteps so Clyde's afternoon nap wasn't disturbed. I'm sure Bonnie was out doing her Christmas shopping. She often leaves us "presents" in the basement. 

The launch day of a new book is busy and the daily routines can be disrupted by social media that needs to be addressed and preparations for the Facebook launch party later in the day. The felines were accepting of the disruptions. Paddy liked being near the center of activity, following us around the house and settling nearby to observe the packaging of prizes or the back and forth between my e-tablet and the desktop computer.    

Now that the launch party is over and the prize packages are in the mail, I can go back to finishing my next writing project and hopefully enjoy a few holiday parties and family gatherings. But just like Caprice De Luca, my fictional sleuth, I always make sure the cats are in a safe spot while we have guests or that the pop-up food dispensers are full before we leave the house for a holiday shopping spree or to spend an evening with friends. And, of course, I follow Caprice's decorating style and add a few cats to my holiday trimmings. Enjoy your preparations for the holidays!



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NOW AVAILABLE!!
Wendy Newcomb, director of the Kismet women's shelter Sunrise Tomorrow, is thrilled when the shelter receives a legacy.  She hires Caprice to decorate the mansion to serve women who need more than an overnight port in a storm. But in her drive against domestic violence, Wendy has made enemies and is murdered. Caprice finds herself in danger once more as she asks questions and even calls on St. Anthony for inspiration to solve this murder mystery.


SHADES OF WRATH on Barnes and Noble


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USA TODAY Bestselling Author Karen Rose Smith is an only child who delved into books at an early age. She learned about kindred spirits from Anne of Green Gables, solved mysteries with Nancy Drew and wished she could have been the rider on The Black Stallion. Yet even though she escaped often into story worlds, she had many aunts, uncles and cousins around her on weekends. Her sense of family and relationships began there. Maybe that's why families are a strong theme in her novels, whether mysteries or romances. Her 97th novel will be released in 2017.
Karen and Paddy

Readers often ask her about her pastimes. She has herb, flowers and vegetable gardens that help her relax. In the winter, she cooks rather than gardens.  And year round she spends most of her time with her husband, as well as her four rescued cats who are her constant companions. They chase rainbows from sun catchers, reminding her life isn't all about work, awards and bestseller lists. Everyone needs that rainbow to chase.

Karen looks forward to interacting with readers. They can find her at the links below. 




©2016 Karen Rose Smith

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Saturday, October 11, 2014

Three Reasons Why I Write #Holiday #Romances by Karen Rose Smith



Many of my books include holidays--Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day and Valentine's Day. There are several reasons why I set my books during holiday festivities.

MEMORIES PROVOKE EMOTION

I think our hearts are attached to holidays. The memories of both happy and sad ones tug at us year after year and seem to grow larger rather than diminish. For that reason, my characters share emotions and heartfelt sentiments and that can't help but imbue my writing. Love for significant others and family seems huger, wider and more encompassing around holidays. Emotions run high and conflict as well as connection lurk around every corner, propelling the plot and urging personal growth.

THE SPARKLE OF CHILDISH DELIGHT

Children appear in many of my romances. They are so much fun to write about during holidays--their wide-eyed wonder, their questions about holidays past, their yearning for closeness with the people who matter most to them. When I write about them I travel back into my childhood, putting out cookies and waiting for Santa, welcoming cousins to celebrate with me, reading the Christmas story, receiving valentines from friends and, in later years, from that special someone.

HOLIDAYS HAVE UNIVERSAL APPEAL

Most of all I write about holidays because readers identify with them. Each year, I hope for the perfect holiday.  I believe readers do too. In a romance I can give that to them.

Holidays can provide an extra spark to a story. That's why I weave novels around them. If you enjoy stories that surround the holidays, here are five you might enjoy:



 A doctor and a Wyoming cowgirl fall in love around the holidays.  Lucy's gift to Zack -- the real meaning of Christmas.






Love is just a jingle bell away when a sexy toy store owner and a pretty job counselor travel the rocky road to love.





A former stunt man turned lodge owner and a trauma make-up artist meet in Colorado to help an actress who has become a recluse.  When their scars are bared, they all learn the power of love.






Can a marriage of convenience become a true marriage?  Jake and Sara find the meaning of Christmas in forgiveness.





 

 Tessa and Max are reunited when Max's son needs them both.  Thanksgiving could be a holiday they celebrate for a lifetime.

FREE





©2014 Karen Rose Smith





                           Karen's Facebook Author Page



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Tuesday, November 20, 2012

RESCUING A KITTEN, Part 10 -- THANKFUL FOR ZOIE


Most of my blogs about Zoie, the kitten we rescued this summer, have been the story of what's happened since we adopted her and she adopted us.  And I'll continue with that in upcoming weeks.  But this week,  for Thanksgiving, I just have to blog how thankful we are that we found her and she found us.

So here are some of the reasons we are thankful for Zoie Joy:

My husband retired this year and it's been an adjustment!  As a writer I've been used to being alone all day and just talking to our cats London and Ebbie.  But Zoie has made this transition easier.  Taking care of her has bonded us in a way we'd forgotten about when our son was small.  Nuturing and sharing love has brought about renewal.  We have a common goal, a being to care for togetehr, a reason to enjoy each day more fully.

We have to thank Zoie for the many belly laughs--downright tear-rolling, can you believe she's doing that? kind of comedic entertainment.  Maybe you have to love animals to appreciate kitty antics, but smiling and laughing is great for the heart and soul.  From Zoie playing like a little imp with London to her new pastime of  watching TV, we're amused too many times to count!


Ebbie and London want to thank Zoie for their new lease on life.  They are more active again and seem in better health.  Maybe they're laughing under those whiskers, too.

I'm thankful that spending time petting and nurturing Zoie seems to relax me in a way nothing else can.  I heard somewhere that petting an animal lowers blood pressure.  I know I'm more calm and peaceful after she falls asleep in my lap or when she looks up at me with those big golden eyes.  And whether my husband will admit it or not, I think the same is true for him.


I've got to thank Zoie for making me feel like a mom again.  Our son is grown and more than half a country away.  Caring for a baby kitten definitely brought out my motherly instincts again.  Nurturing Zoie has brought back happy memories of the times when our son was two and we adopted a kitten who became his playmate, when we brought home Ebbie and London, when we watched all of their personalities develop as they became integral members of the family.



I have so much to be thankful and grateful for this year, not the least of which is a black kitten with tuxedo markings who has a hold on my heart.

Happy Thanksgiving!



©2012 Karen Rose Smith

Karen Rose Smith's romance website 
Karen Rose Smith's mystery website 
Karen Rose Smith's SEARCH FOR LOVE SERIES website 
IN TOUCH WITH KAREN ROSE SMITH ezine


  
ALWAYS HER COWBOY (Holiday Edition) on Amazon 

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