The Love In Bloom Extravaganza will feature an author a day from 3/30 – 5/16/12. Daily book give aways and a GRAND PRIZE of a Nook Touch or Kindle Touch ($99 gift cert for INT) See form at end of post for details.
Spring In Canada
I live in Canada, on the western prairies. We have what meteorologists refer to as a ‘continental climate’, which translated from weather-guy-language means that it gets cold here. Really cold. With the exception of the Arctic and Antarctic, there aren’t many places on Earth that get colder in the winter.
So, after a long, hard winter, the coming of spring is a much anticipated event, as in, “I’m gonna go nuts if spring doesn’t get here soon!” Being stuck indoors for months can make a person a little squirrelly. We just want to get outside and breathe fresh air without it freezing our lungs.
There’s a song written by a Saskatchewan born singer that goes: “Spring on the prairies comes as a surprise. One minute there’s snow on the ground, the next the sun’s in your eyes.” Sometimes the change from winter to spring comes so fast it surprises me. But it’s always a wonderful and welcome surprise.
One of my fondest childhood memories is looking for crocuses in the spring. Our farm was on the edge of a valley, and every April, the western slope of that valley was carpeted in wild purple crocuses. These tough little flowers needed only the barest of encouragement from the spring sun to pop their heads out of the ground, sometimes emerging before the snow melted. When the crocuses bloomed, I knew that winter was truly, finally over. The relief at being able to shed layers of clothes without worry of frostbite was enormous. Even greater for me as a teenager was the relief of not being snowed in and cut off from the rest of the world.
These days spring means it’s time to get the flower beds ready for planting. It means watching my perennials stirring back to life, and combing the garden centers for the perfect annuals to fill my beds and pots. I can happily pack away the parka, and relegate the snow shovel to the back of the garage. Spring means I can come out of hibernation and meet my friends with the
Saskatchewan Romance Writers for our annual spring retreat. And it means the dog and I can go for a walk without either of us having to wear boots!
Mostly, spring brings hope. Growing up in a farming community that called itself ‘Next Year Country’, I learned the endless optimism of spring. Even if this year’s crop failed, next spring would be better. If you didn’t believe that, you couldn’t go on.
Spring is a time of rebirth and renewal when all things are possible. It is a promise of better things to come. No matter how bad things were last year, no matter how hard the winter, spring is a chance to start all over with a clean slate. May all your dreams come to fruitarian this spring.
Website – http://www.janarichards.net
Blog – http://janarichards.blogspot.com
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jana-Richards/157005711005866
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/janarichards
Email: jana.richards@hotmail.com - I love to hear from readers!
What signals Spring for you?
One lucky commenter will get an e-book copy of THE GIRL MOST LIKELY, winner will be selected using random.org on 4/20. Winner must leave a comment and be a GP Follower.
Blurb:
Cara McLeod, the girl most likely to have the perfect marriage, is now divorced and, in her own words, “fat, frumpy, and over forty.” The thought of facing former classmates—and the ex-husband who dumped her—at her high school reunion terrifies her. Cajoled into attending by her kids and her best friend, Cara enlists help at the gym to lose weight and look great for the reunion. Personal Trainer Finn Cooper is more than willing to help—but does he have to be so to-die-for gorgeous?
Finn thinks Cara is perfect just the way she is. She’s everything he wants in a woman, except for one thing—she can’t get past the fact that he’s eight years younger. To Finn, age and weight are just numbers. But can he convince Cara the numbers she worries about add up to only one thing for him—love?
The Girl Most Likely Excerpt
He chuckled. “Jessica better watch her back. You could give her a run for her money.”
He heard Cara’s throaty laugh, and various parts of his anatomy tingled in response. “Yes, that’s my evil plan. Take over Rochester Noon, then the world.”
“If you set your mind to it, I’m sure you could do it.”
“Thanks Finn.”
“For what?”
“For believing in me.”
“Are you going to be okay now?”
“Yes, I’m fine. Thanks to you.”
He wanted so badly to tell her he loved her, adored her, thought she was the most amazing woman in the world. But fear stopped him. Was she truly over her ex-husband? Why else would losing weight for the reunion be so important to her if not to impress Peter?
“I’ve got to run. Thanks again. I’ll talk to you later at my condo, right?”
“Absolutely. I can hardly wait to hear about your big TV debut. Break a leg. Isn’t that what they say in show biz?”
She laughed. “Yeah, that’s what they say. Bye.”
Finn replaced the receiver and closed his eyes. He hoped everything went well with this interview. Cara deserved to realize how amazing she was.
If she did come to that realization, would there still be room in her life for him?
20 comments
Skip to comment form ↓
Kathleen O
April 17, 2012 at 11:00 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I too am a Canandian Girl, and spring here in Ontario has been the weirdest on record as far back as I can remember. I mean just yesterday the temps were around 21C and today they are under 10C… Don’t blink because the weather will change.. But I am watching the Tulips ouside my window bud and bloom, as well as the trees.. I can’t’ wait for our Magnolia tree to bloom… Ah nothing sweeter smelling…
Joanne
April 17, 2012 at 11:34 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
When I look out the sliding glass door to my deck and I see out shade tree starting to bud, I know Spring is on its way.
e.balinski(at)att(dot)net
Suzanne
April 17, 2012 at 12:08 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I know spring is here when the hy acinths bloom, followed by the tulips. My roses are also in full bloom and smell heavenly.
Na
April 17, 2012 at 12:13 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
It’s pretty mild here all year round but Spring for me is when I see the flowers blooming and wake up with bright sunshine filtering in my room. Everything is nice and bright.
Harlie Reader
April 17, 2012 at 12:19 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I loved this series and I’m sad to see it end.
I live in Texas so we have flowers blooming year round. I would actually like to have a winter season. Yes, I want to wear a winter coat and have some snow.
Marika
Leni
April 17, 2012 at 12:28 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
It is spring when I have to pull the lawn mower out and do the lawn. I prefer lawn work to shoveling and now do it without complaining
Lauren Mackesy
April 17, 2012 at 1:19 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I also look for the crocus’. My little ones get so excited watching for them. I watch for the buds on the trees and wait for my forsythia to bloom.
cky15
April 17, 2012 at 1:40 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
cky15: loved your cd thanks alot.
bn100
April 17, 2012 at 3:28 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
The blooming flowers signal Spring.
bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com
MaryC
April 17, 2012 at 4:44 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Budding trees and blooming flowers signal spring.
Timitra
April 17, 2012 at 6:41 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Great post!
Jen B.
April 17, 2012 at 8:47 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
As soon as I see the bulbs starting to flower, I know spring is here. jepebATverizonDOTnet
Mel B
April 17, 2012 at 9:09 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Here in Southern Illinois we have all of the wonderful seasons. So after the wonderful icy winter I love to see the beautiful John Quells come up. We also have tulips in the front that start blooming as well as the magnolia trees. So pretty.
Mel
bournmelissa at hotmail dot com
Maria D.
April 17, 2012 at 10:16 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I live in the Midwest US so for me what signals Spring is when the weather heats up during the days and the weather in the evening no longer hits the frost level. That’s usually when green things start coming up in our garden and I can always judge if it’s really spring or not by whether or not the birds have made their home and are singing in our evergreen tree.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Maria D.
April 17, 2012 at 10:17 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I live in the Midwest US so for me what signals Spring is when the weather heats up during the days and the weather in the evening no longer hits the frost level. That’s usually when green things start coming up in our garden and I can always judge if it’s really spring or not by whether or not the birds have made their home and are singing in our evergreen tree.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Shelly
April 17, 2012 at 11:23 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Spring is my favorite season. Love to see the crocus start to bloom. This sounds like a good story. The excerpt makes me want to read the rest of the story.
Renald
April 19, 2012 at 1:28 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Flowers and the robins.Deb P
r.d1@myfairpoint.net
Jennifer Mathis
April 19, 2012 at 8:37 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
my kids want to go outside and play
DiDi
April 22, 2012 at 1:34 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Thank you all for stopping by!
The winner of this post is bn100
April Alvey
May 14, 2012 at 9:29 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Wow what an interview loved it book is on my wish list.