Month: May 2024

The Plan Now and Going Forward

/ kellyfbarr / 2 Comments

Photo by Christin Hume on Unsplash

Two weeks ago, I mentioned changes that were to come here on my website. I’m sure you’ve already noticed a few: new landing page, only four tabs at the top of the page, and some new posts.

All of this is happening because I am about to publish my first novel. Therefore, I am no longer accepting any requests for book reviews. Hence, that button has been removed from the top of the page. The “Home” page exhibits a photo of me, as well as photos of my books. Right now the books shown are two that each include one devotion that I wrote. They will soon be joined by a photo of the cover of my first novel — AFTER my upcoming Cover Reveal!

I have updated my “About” page, which explains my love of books, writing, and a few other things.

On the “All Things Books” page, you will find more information about those devotional books, and the devotions I wrote in them, that you see pictured on the landing page. In the future, that is where you will find the Cover Reveals, Release Dates, Book signings and appearances I will make, and other tidbits about my novels as they come out.

Finally, the “Blog” will now have four posts each week, starting next week. I will post about things I enjoy and hope many of you enjoy as well. Mondays will be “Monday Musings” and I will share about books I read; movies I watch; my faith and scriptures that I’m studying as well as my favorite scriptures; occasional poetry that I either write or read, and anything I find interesting at writing conferences I attend. Tuesdays will be “Tuesday’s Tea Time” and I will share photos and information about different teas, tea pots or cups, useful, or cute, tools for making tea, and tea party recipes. Wednesdays will continue to be all about my beloved black Labrador Retriever as I will continue “The Harper Chronicles”. Thursdays will be photos and musings about the “Outdoors and Nature”, which will feature places, plants, or animals.

I look forward to sharing these things with you and hope you will enjoy them too.

Places, Plants, and Animals

/ kellyfbarr / 4 Comments

I was introduced to Longwood Gardens for the first time last fall. It’s a beautiful, (I think, magical), place not too far from my home in Pennsylvania. Then I was blessed with another trip to Longwood Gardens this year in the spring because my oldest son wanted to do something as a special surprise for my birthday near the end of April.

Longwood Gardens is a wonderful place where you stroll through lovely gardens filled with greens, flowers, water fountains, and more. There are also a few indoor places, like the Conservatory where you see beautiful indoor plants, and the mansion, where you learn about the history of Longwood Gardens, and see more plants.

The photo at the top of this post is one of my favorite outdoor areas at Longwood. It’s the bell tower and it reminds me of medieval times with kings, queens, knights, and castles.

My favorite color is purple, and the spring flowers this year at Longwood Gardens offered lots of flowers in many beautiful shades of purple.

Tulips abounded all over the outside grounds in bright colors, dark colors, and pastels.

Above, bright tulips surround the perimeter of a small pond with a center fountain. An exterior evergreen border and some tall trees add to the beauty of this area.

The Conservatory also held lovely flowers in shades of purple.

The above flowers were my favorite flower of all the ones we saw that day. I don’t know what they are but I love the purple shades and the combination of flowers with petals and the tiny clusters that reminded me of stardust or far off galaxies.

The above flower is an orchid. I love the combination of colors. This orchid was in a room in the Conservatory that was filled with orchids of many types and colors.

This lovely plant filled with purple blooms came home with me from Longwood Gardens, thanks to my son. I was looking at it in the gift shop and he came up behind me and asked if I liked it. I said, “Yes, but I asked a lady who works here about it, and she said it’s an indoor plant that will only last for the summer.” He insisted I bring it home to enjoy anyway.

I’m sorry to say that during the past week, it has begun to droop and look unhealthy, so I transplanted it into a large pot and set it where it can receive more sunlight. I’m really hoping to be able to keep it as an indoor plant for a long time. I’m not a great plant caretaker, but I have had plants gifted to me that I have managed to keep indoors that are thriving. A friend gave me a geranium about eight years ago and I have transplanted it and it keeps growing and it blooms every year, even though most people plant geraniums outdoors. So, I have hopes for my little purple blooms.

I hope you have enjoyed this little taste of Longwood Gardens, and the beautiful spring flowers.

The Harper Chronicles

/ kellyfbarr / 1 Comment

Can you see the spider on the screen? I’m watching it. It’s on the outside, so I can’t get it, and that is driving me nuts! I push my nose into the screen and try to get it with my mouth to no avail. Mom likes to have the patio door open when the weather is nice. I like it too, except for the spiders and other bugs that think they can just hang out on our screen.

News! Watch for Changes

/ kellyfbarr / 2 Comments

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

First, I want to apologize to those of you who have been following For Adora here on my blog. I have been very busy finishing the final edits on my first novel. Therefore, For Adora will remain unfinished because I will be making changes here on my blog/website. I’ve been working on my first novel for six or seven years, and during that time, this blog has had no real direction.

However, now that my first novel will soon be making its public appearance and I am already in full swing writing my second novel, I have decided it is time to make some changes here to the blog — to be more intentional in the things I post.

I hope those of you who have been following me will continue to do so. I hope you will still find things of interest and enjoyment here.

Changes will begin to appear within the next week, until the new intentional posts begin. I’m excited about it, and I hope you will catch my excitement!