Showing posts with label spring. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spring. Show all posts

Thursday, April 13, 2017

#Felines Celebrating the Arrival of Easter--#Cats This Week by Karen Rose Smith



Since the time changed in March, it seems that our feline family began making preparations for the arrival of warmer weather and Easter. The cats, as well as all of us, welcome the arrival of green grass and flowers blooming in the garden. They like the cover.  Bonnie, one of our outside feline siblings, immediately napped in  a spot under the new wicker rocker as soon as it was moved from winter storage onto the patio.

Clyde, Bonnie's sibling, had started sitting under the bare branches of the dwarf American Redbud tree even before it burst into blossom this week.  Eventually the shrub will add foliage which will provide shade and shelter from the hot summer sun. Last year it was one of Bonnie and Clyde's favorite afternoon spots.


Bonnie can often be spotted in a corner garden off of the patio as the daffodils and hyacinths bloom. She likes a spot under the re-blooming lilacs as soon as their leaves provide shade and shelter.


Also this week, the creeping phlox and the cat mint joined in the celebration of spring's impending arrival with mounds of pink and white color and fresh herbal scents. When glancing out the window, I spotted Clyde enjoying both. He has adopted this spot as a special little "nest" for his afternoon naps.

Inside, Miss Paddington and her mom, Halo, are really enjoying the spring throw on the bed.  The butterflies in bright pastel colors add that touch of spring to their inside world. Just watching them sleeping together on the throw lifts my spirits and provides impetus to pull out my spring wardrobe.



I try to take time to enjoy the changes that spring brings, whether as simple as a beautiful blooming pansy in a cat planter by the front door or as enormous as the whole landscape turning from barren brown branches to trees and shrubbery in lush green foliage.


Happy Easter!

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FOREVER IN HER EYES
Search For Love series, Book 9





The Search for Love romance series includes:



SEARCH FOR LOVE series website 



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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. 



©2017 Karen Rose Smith












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Thursday, March 24, 2016

Happy #Easter From the Smith #Felines--Cats This Week by Karen Rose Smith



As Easter approaches, we're readying the gardens for spring and making them cat friendly.  Hopefully we'll have a fountain with circulating water, cat mint for them to nap in and nibble on, snapdragons and zinnias to nestle in and make paths through without fear of harm. We'll lay some straw in the garden near the foundation of the house for our more regular visitors to nap on. Pampas grass will provide shade and hopefully the St. Francis statue will bring down blessings on our feral and stray visitors.

It will be fun to sit on the patio again, soaking in the warm sunshine and conversing with Bonnie and Clyde, our new stray visitors, while they eat breakfast or their evening meal.

Inside, the Smith felines are enjoying the Easter throw on the bed and have even decorated 

their own scratching house for the holiday. Zoie has been spending more time on the bench at the bedroom window, listening to us talk to Bonnie and Clyde or plan our patio landscaping below the window. Halo and Paddy have also been spending more time watching the robins in the yard gather nesting materials. As we trim the outside trees and shrubs, it 's always interesting to find the remnants of last year's nests in places we had no idea they had nested. Perhaps we should play closer attention to the areas that capture the cats' attention as they watch the outside goings-on!

We had an early Easter dinner and Zoie "decked" herself in some spring colors while Paddy patiently awaited the table to be set and food to be served. 

 My Easter wish for you is much warmth, renewed joy and time to enjoy the beauty of nature's revival.  

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After a hearty Easter dinner, 
Halo settles down with a
really good book!

Pre-order SILENCE OF THE LAMPS on Amazon




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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 95th novel will be released in 2016.

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. 


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Thursday, March 17, 2016

#Felines (And Humans!) Appreciate Warmer #Spring Temperatures--#Cats This Week by Karen Rose Smith





Changing our clocks in March always signals that we are "springing" forward. With the increased hours of daylight, our spirits rise and we begin to think of  spring cleaning, sprucing up our yards and gardens and appreciating the warmer temperatures that bring green grass and budding flowers. 

The Smith felines are slowly adapting to the time change and their feeding schedules are returning to their normal times. I don't think Zoie Joy realizes that the time changed because she still gets me awake in the morning at her usual early sunrise hour. The outside visitors also seem to be unaffected by the change in feeding times. They seem to follow the rise and fall of the sun to set their morning and evening feeding times.  

Bonnie and Clyde bathe after their
evening meal against a backdrop
of rapidly greening lawn.
The winter animal print throws on the bed have been replaced with pastel-colored throws and Paddy and Halo seem to have approved. Paddy and Zoie have both been preoccupied with ladybug visitors that seem to think they are safe in higher places. 

Paddy enjoying the new throw on the bed.
Paddy watching a
ladybug.
Spring temperatures also signal the need for spring cleaning. A clean office somehow feels even more inviting when bathed in the afternoon spring sunshine and a warm breeze wafts through the room from an open window. The cats love the fresh air and outside sounds. 

Zoie supervising the winter/spring
wardrobe switch
I also began switching my winter clothes for my spring wardrobe. Zoie, Paddy and Halo accompanied me upstairs to do the switch. Zoie immediately found a comfortable spot on the wool rug in the spare bedroom and Paddy made herself at home on the window bench. Halo, of course, headed for a comfy spot on the bed! 

Bonnie catches a whiff
of cat mint in a patio
planter.
Bonnie surveys the first weeds of spring.
Outside the grass is rapidly turning a beautiful shade of green and Bonnie and Clyde, our newest stray visitors, love to frolic in the grass on the hillside, obviously appreciating the passing of winter. The cat mint in the garden and patio planters is beginning to sprout, the forsythia is ready to pop into bloom and the daffodils are showing off their spring colors. Our patio visitors will have to adjust to the sound of neighborhood lawn mowers, my husband working in the gardens and me spending some time on the patio enjoying the fragrances and sunshine. Hopefully, Bonnie and Clyde will become my summer patio companions. It would be nice if they could help pull the weeds that have already begun sprouting in the gardens!  
Watching the feline springtime antics of Bonnie and Clyde has reminded me of the beauty of spring and the importance of valuing those we love. They share food, bathe together and clearly have an inseparable bond. Too often we take those bonds for granted.



Happy SPRING from the Smith felines!

So you don't miss an installment of CATS THIS WEEK, sign up to follow my blog over on the right side of the page!


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Halo says goodbye to winter and hello
to spring as she settles down with a
really good book!

Pre-order SILENCE OF THE LAMPS on Amazon




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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 95th novel will be released in 2016.

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. 


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Friday, March 27, 2015

Letting #Spring In by Karen Rose Smith


There comes a day after a long cold winter when no matter what the weather is doing outside, spring needs to be coaxed to life in my heart. Maybe it's after that first 50 degree sunny day. Maybe it's after seeing a crocus blooming despite a late snow. Maybe it's just because we need hope every April.

Last year's crop...this year's promise
This year's seedlings
I plant heirloom tomatoes from seed in out basement on a heat pad with a grow light. Today I transplanted seedlings that have developed four or five leaves just in the past few weeks. Transplanting brings the promise of beautiful beefsteak and cherry tomatoes come summer.

Another way I "experience" spring is to change my bedspread and the valances at the windows in at least one room. I change from heavier winter colors to whites and pastels, from fleece to light chenille and seersucker.

Zoie Joy enjoys the freshly changed bedspread
Then there's the clothes closet--moving long sleeves, corduroy and sweatshirts to the side to give more room to short sleeves, cottons and capris.

In the kitchen, I switch from making soups to incorporating more salads into our menus.

Although we're still having freezing temperatures some nights, I can start spring inside. Isn't that what renewal and a new season is all about? As soon as the sun shines again, I might have to open a few windows and let the cats and our family inhale a breath of spring.

How do you let spring in?  

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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 87th novel will be released in 2015.

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. 


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©2015 Karen Rose Smith





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