1 Star Review

Yesterday I looked online and found a 1 star review for Walk Slowly Through the Dark. It kinda smarted. However, I do appreciate people who review my books. It takes some effort to type up a review on Amazon and those efforts are valid. I don't expect everyone to love my writing. There are some who do and some who actually really don't like it at all. That is okay.

Reviews such as this one used to spin me into a big bout of depression. It is amazing how detached I feel from this one. I am going to search the story and see if the points are valid. Then, in future writings attempt to improve on those weaknesses. I find that to be the value of an honest review.

Many of you have been generous with praise for my various books. Yes, those have helped me so much. I am so glad for those. The writing...is from my heart and for a purpose. I want readers to experience the glimmer of hope some of the characters find, the knowledge that struggles happen in life and that there is a God who cares, and the possibility of a great outcome in the end.

If some of the scenarios or even one of them, mirrors a challenge in your life and is a pinprick of light for you, I feel honored to be a part of your journey. I honestly pray for my readers and hope the best for you.

If you leave a review, don't worry about not being able to rate it high. Just be honest and fair. That is all I ask. I learn and grow from every one of them. Thank you, dear readers.

Day 6 of The life of being a Grandma for the 10 day “Being a Grandma” Challenge. Every day I select an image from a day in the life of being a grandma and post it without a single explanation and nominate somebody to take the challenge. That’s 10 days, 10 photos, 10 nominations, 0 explanations. Today nominate Laura Eckroat.

Last of the Manger Scene Refresh Finished

I've intended to refresh this manger scene for years. Now it is finally completed. The feeling of this small accomplishment is sort of funny. I didn't know it would mean so much to me. I made these figures over 20 years ago and was not ready to do away with them. I'm going to finish them off with several coats of spray exterior varnish.

The idea for the title for this book came to me by accident. Walk Slowly Through the Dark seemed to fit the story well. While most of us don't have to navigate life in the perils of the characters of this book, sometimes it feels like we are in the dark bumping into furniture on our way to the refrigerator for a midnight snack. Our big toe seems to always find that one leg of that one chair that isn't supposed to be there.

Back to how this title occurred to me. My granddaughter, Sierra, and her brothers, Devon and Zach, were in Texas with us for an extended visit one summer years ago. We were visiting my sister, Geraldine, at her home with her husband, Bob, and son, Paul. Paul had asked the boys to run a short errand for him. They had to cross the quiet street to a small store to get something for him. When they returned, he paid them a dollar each.

Upon seeing this, Sierra wanted to get in on the money train she saw before her. She hurriedly produced a glass of water for Cousin Paul. He took it and she held out her hand for payment. Now, Cousin Paul has always been one to tease...just a bit. So he asked her what she wanted. She told him something about being rewarded for bringing him water. He told her some quote about walking slowly through the dark. She was pretty young at the time. I'm thinking around 6 years old. So she took the glass of water, went back to the sink, and proceeded to walk very slowly back to him. If memory serves, he gave her a quarter. She shrugged because it was better than nothing.

Days after this occurred and I was finishing the first draft of this book, I was contemplating what the title should be. That phrase came to mind and it fit perfectly with the struggles of almost every character in the story. It is still one of my favorite titles. I believe it is also a very good story. I hope you agree.

Today. 1/25/2020, the Kindle version is free through Amazon. The easiest way to find it is to log in to Amazon and do a search for Elaine Littau. All of my books (plus a few titles by other authors) will pop up. You will see  the cover of Walk Slowly Through the Dark. Click on it and it will take you to the book page. Then you click on purchase the Kindle version and you are done.

Thank you for reading my musings today.

Bierox Recipe from Midway Country Church Cookbook Submitted by Zeffa Custer

2 packages dry yeast plus 1/2 cup water
1  3/4 cup water
3 Tablespoons sugar
1 Tablespoon salt
4 Tablespoons shortening
6-7 cups all purpose flour
2 pounds hamburger
1 medium onion (chopped)
1 medium head cabbage
1 teaspoon salt

Combine dough ingredients, cover, and set aside in a warm place for approximately 25 minutes.
Fry hamburger until it loses red color.
Add onion, chopped cabbage and salt and fry slowly until dough is ready.
Divide dough into two parts.
Roll out one part at a time to 1/4 inch thickness and cut into 4 inch squares.
Spoon 1 heaping tablespoon of hamburger mixture on each square.
Bring up corners of squares to center and pinch up openings.
Turn upside down on cookie sheet.
Repeat other half of dough.
Let rise and bake until brown.

(There was no oven temp or timing on the baking. I am assuming it is 350 to 400 degrees for 15 min or until brown.)

Digging Into Old Recipes

This year at our after Christmas get together with two of our boys and family I made a simple decision. The decision was NOT monumental for most people, but it was a breakthrough for me. What was it? I planned every single meal for their visit ahead of time. Yep, I know you were expecting more.

It made the meals so much better and we didn't have to bring in food from restaurants or drive-ins. I put some old favorites of the boys' and tried some new ones that turned out amazing. The new ones were from "The Best Recipe" book from America's Test Kitchen on PBS. These recipes were Rib-eye roast with small red smokey paprika potatoes and a meatloaf that even those who don't really like meatloaf enjoyed.

While at Denver with Steve, Aimee, Sierra, Devon, Zach, and Jazmin we were talking about those meals. (Yes, it was a topic because I'm usually a 'fly by the seat of your pants' type of cook.) Anyway...I was talking about how I added/replaced some of the holiday type meals for summer type or other favorites for big get togethers in the summer or other times. Steve mentioned that he'd love to have Bierox for one of those meals.

Of course we will have Bierox! This morning I added the notation of Bierox to my master list. (Yes, I made a master menu list for a week+ of meals along with a grocery list to match. I didn't want to think that hard again next year. I also put all the recipes in the same notebook or at least put the page number and referenced the cookbook. Now I had a dilemma...where on earth is my Bierox recipe????

Since we have been eating low carb for a few years some of the old recipes have been neglected. Where or where is that recipe??? I searched through a little cookbook I made when I taught Jr. Church at the Full Gospel Church. Man alive, those ladies can cook! The Bierox recipe was not there. Then, I found the Midway Country Church cookbook that my sweet mother-in-law, Viola, had given me and FOUND IT!!!  Yay!

I did something that seems bad. I carefully pulled out the page, put it in a notebook sleeve, and added it to the Christmas master list recipes. I know how scatter brained I am when trying to remember which book a recipe is featured. I am so happy now! Those Midway ladies are really great cooks as well. Honestly, have you ever heard of a group of church ladies who were terrible cooks? Me neither.

Through the years many ladies...and gentlemen have served our families at times of celebration and distress with food for Viola's 90th birthday as well as many other family members' family funeral dinners. You never realize what a monetary blessing this is until you discover what it costs to feed a group of people at a restaurant. I know we were grateful at the time, but I remain grateful for the love those dinners represented. Thank you again. Not only is it a monetary blessing, the love and support helped us through many tears.

Yes, not only did I find the Bierox recipe, I walked down memory lane paging through those books and leaflets. I could almost taste the cookies and snacks served after our youth group sang at the rest home as well as the snacks at various church parties and fun times. Taking the time to minister by cooking is really a big deal. You may not think you are doing much, but I know it helped me many times as a youth to know there were people who cared enough to spend time in the kitchen for people. Thank you! Thank you!

There is a portion of the book, Christian Single, that describes a motorcycle ride. The scenery is that of  the Texas Panhandle. If you would like copies of my books and do not do internet orders and such, just contact me on Facebook at Elaine Littau author or write to me at 12580 CO RD Q1-Perryton, TX 79070. I will send you a brochure with all 18 of the titles with descriptions of each one. If you have friends/relatives who are readers who are non-internet people, just let me know where to send the brochure and they can choose what they want.  I appreciate all the great support you continue to give to me.

If you have read any of the 18 titles, I'd surely appreciate a review on Amazon for any of them. You don't have to make it super positive. I'd rather you review with a clear conscious. I need feedback to grow in this writing thing. Thanks again- Elaine

Cowboys and Crude Oil

Cowboys and Crude Oil is a Christian Contemporary Fiction book which takes place in Elk City, Oklahoma. It is Book 4 of The Nashville Series.

Book 1- Six Miles From Nashville
Book 2- Christmas in Nashville
Book 3- Restored
Book 4- Cowboys and Crude Oil

My husband has  hauled crude oil for many years. He has told me many stories about the oil patch and one of those stories is featured in this book. The fictional romance was built around the true event. I believe you will like it.

This weekend, January 18 & 19, 2020, the Kindle version of this book is free through Amazon. I hope you get your free copy and write a review. I would appreciate it.

Repainting Christmas Decorations Before We Put Them Away

23+ years ago I cut this Manger Scene out and painted it. It has become pretty weathered and I didn't want to throw it away. It is time to refresh it and a few other items I made that year.

Even though there are 4 more pieces that need repainted, these are the only ones I got repainted today. I had to take it in manageable tasks. This was my limit today.

Joseph and the donkey are next...maybe tomorrow...

I'll do the second sheep. Boy he looks drab.

The last piece will be Santa's bag. I think it needs to be a brighter color...Possibly bright blue or purple? What do you think???

Planning Ahead

I know... I know...Christmas is just now over. Why am I planning so far ahead in the year? Well...this past Christmas we did something new for our family. We had a hayride. Our new neighbors loaned us some hay bales and Terry and he put them on our flatbed trailer. Terry rigged up lights. (There is a technical name ...inverter was used...sorta like a light parade scenario,) Anyway, we toured the welder I had set up next to the camper, the lights on the zip line, the manger scene, and the tree house. Of course there were also the awesome lights Terry put everywhere he could.

I wanted to do something special for next year's hayride. I wanted to make the play house into a gingerbread house. In order to do this, I have to plan and prepare because it takes a lot of time to put out even as many lights as we had this past Christmas. I drew this out on Jan 9 or so and started looking online for ideas on how to implement it. That is why I made those 2 pool noodle suckers yesterday. Only 14 more to go. lol...

Thanks to a Christmas gifting of more lights, we already have the icicles for the play house + lights for other places. We have red and white striped rope light to outline the house and lights for the pathway. (I think) So...More suckers and other candies to make. I am a little worried about how to attach the candies to the walls of the play house. The siding is sort of falling apart a bit. I think the solution is to make differing heights of suckers all around. I could clip some gumdrops made from margarine tubs (painted colorfully) on the ridge of the roof with light clips....

I'm thinking of sewing up a Mrs. Claus dress and serving cookies from the playhouse. Also on my sewing list are multiple elves. 2 to hang from the climbing wall, 2 to act silly at the wishing well, 3 to hang from the big zip line....and the imagination goes on. We will see if I actually get the sewing machine humming throughout the months ahead.

Why all this for just my family? Well, we are going to ask all our neighbors if they'd like to invite their grandchildren and children to join our hay ride. We are also inviting our children's church and youth kids as well. Yes, I'm sure Terry would be willing to let other kiddos and parents who ask to be a part of this to come along as well.This will probably be a one or two night thing...after Christmas. and during the Christmas break.

What do you think? Are we CRAZY? 

Crafting is Not For Wimps

Okay...so Terry and I want to decorate our grands' playhouse like a gingerbread house next Christmas. I got on Youtube to look for patterns for lollipop ideas to put on the sides of the playhouse and along a pathway. 

We watched videos on how to make them with pool noodles from a dollar store. It looked easy enough, so we bought 2 pool noodles. I was glad we saw several ways to do this. 

I think where we went wrong first was that Terry said he'd help me with this, but didn't agree to do it on his day off. He went to work and on his morning phone call to me he asked me what I was doing. Yes, I had started on the project.  He laughed and informed me that he was glad I was doing the project by myself. Grrrr.

I should have realized the pool noodles were way too big in circumference. The second picture shows it on the 'first turn'. The hot glue didn't bond well because it was like turning a wire into a spring. I had it tied up when I came almost to the end...THEN... boing....there it flew across the floor. 

I wrestled it several more times and remembered a video from the Home and Family Show. They cut the noodle into 4ths for small suckers for a wreath. I decided to cut mine in half because I wanted it to be pretty big...not massive...like it would have been had I been able to keep it from springing out of its confines. 

That meant wrapping more white duct tape so that the backside would be covered as well. It is still tied up and I'm sorta scared about untying it. 

I just want to know how it is that the online people and on TV people can make things look so easy when it is anything but easy...My plan was to make 16 of these. I'm soul searching the prospect of making the other half left over from this one...What do you think???

Kindness and Truth

This morning in my reading time Proverbs 3:3 struck me as at no other reading of this Scripture. "Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart."

The pairing of kindness and truth is interesting to me. Most of us have heard the movie quote, "You can't handle the truth!" Because this has become ingrained in our culture as a real thing, a lot of us skirt around the truth when it comes to responding to friends and family. We do it to be kind. (at least that is my motivation most of the time)

Truthfulness, at times, can seem confrontational. I suppose it depends on the delivery of the person presenting the truth. That is where kindness comes in. Truthfulness paired with kindness is like 'a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.' At least that is how I see it.

All in all, the truth is the truth. There are certain truths in Scripture that seem harsh, but are they harsh? Our Lord said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." He was God in flesh, God with us. showing us the Father.

He was kind, yet He was no pushover. He stood for every Word that proceeded from the mouth of God. He didn't water down what God had said. Sin was still sin. A sacrifice still had to be made. Jesus became that Sacrifice for us so that we could know God. He didn't call evil, good. He spoke the truth even though it would hurt people's feelings.

Is it difficult to speak the truth with kindness? Yep, at times it is. Frustration plays a part in the delivery of truth, but we must remember to love the misguided even though we hate the sin. We must check our motives and be sure that we are doing the Lord's bidding and not arguing for the sake of arguing. It is a tightrope walk for sure. I believe that if people see us as kind, their ears will be apt to listen to what we say.

Binding kindness and truth around your neck...to me seems to be something that should stand out. Otherwise, we'd bind them around our ankles. These attributes should be obvious to those coming in contact with us. I personally know quite a few people who are like this and am glad to call them friends and family.

First Book Inventory of 2020

Procrastination has been my partner since the dawn of 2020. Yesterday, I finished packing all the inside Christmas decorations away. Had I not received an email message from the State of Texas, I would have forgotten to send in my Texas Sales Tax for 2019. Yet, my to do list is not all done. One of the many remaining items is/was book inventory.

Since there are now 18 published books to my name, I have to be frugal with my inventory. I do love sending autographed copies to those who order directly from me, but I've had to scale back to having 5 copies of each title on hand at any one time. (If you have a larger order for me to fill, I really don't mind getting more copies in order to fill your order....just sayin'...)It looks like there are 12 titles that need at least 2 more copies ordered.

Another thing on my procrastination list is to finish a 'quilt as you go' quilt that I started years ago. We'll see how that goes.

Do you have projects on your back burner?

Wow...A Chair I Don't Deserve

Yesterday I had another dental appointment. I was told in 2 months he will take an impression and do the insert thing for the implant to prep for the final crown/tooth that my local dentist will craft. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.

While we were in Amarillo, we went to Bob Mills furniture store. They had a massive selection. We found 3 that fit the measurement from my hips to my inner knees. This was the one that matched closest. It wouldn't have hurt if the seat was 1/2 to 1" shorter, but I can reach the floor with the area just below my toes. (It is weird to have short legs.) Anyway, this one is adjustable. It is 100% leather, the head rest expands and contracts, there is a lumbar adjuster, there's an option for heat and massage. Yes, I am spoiled. I feel SPOILED and unworthy of such a nice Christmas/Birthday/Anniversary present.

It is amazing to get out of a chair and not have cramped up & spasm ridden legs and back. The back support and lack of having dangling legs while being seated makes all the difference. I write my books from my easy chairs. This is my home office. I still can't believe it is mine. (The electronics on it are guaranteed as long as I own the chair!!! Yay!)

The Quest for the Perfect Chair- The Goldilocks Shopping Spree

This picture features a picture taken years ago of The Hubs and Maci playing during Christmas time. My 2 person chair is in the left corner. It was a fun chair, but it killed my back. I enjoyed many sessions of sitting with my kiddos and having nice little conversations with them. It was an okay chair until the pleather stuff flaked and could not be covered. (The salesman said it was better than leather...not so.)

Anyway, my Christmas/Birthday present this year is a new easy chair. I am worried that I won't be able to find one that actually fits me. Why? Well, I have super short legs and a long body. Yep, I got that from my Daddy. 

Most chairs, rockers, recliners have seats that are too deep for me. If I sit with my back supported, my legs stick straight out like a toddlers. I need to find a smaller chair that will allow me to have my back supported and my knees go over the edge like regular people. I'd even like being able to have my feet touch the floor...A girl can dream. Sigh...

I'm thinking that a glider recliner would be most helpful because rocker recliners tend to lean back a bit. This causes be to lean forward (at least with my neck) and causes more back and neck pain. Wow, I sound  whiney.... I currently have a very short rocker recliner that is almost too short, but it leans back even when no one is sitting in it. (It was given to me used.) So...short may not be the answer, but an element of what I need. 

Here's hoping I find something that will work for my funny body. I will post pictures of my Goldilocks shopping spree.