Vintage Postcard Takes Me Back In Time To Winter Haven, Florida

I love old postcards and am always adding to my collection. This one brought back so many memories I had to share it with you!

Azalea Time at Cypress Gardens, circa 1930 - 1945, printed by Lakeland News Company.

I graduated from Winter Haven High School, we won't say just when. But I can honestly say I was not born when this card was printed! Winter Haven is the home of Cypress Gardens and I remember it well.

Cypress Gardens was Florida's first theme park. Founded in 1936 by Dick and Julie Pope, Cypress Gardens was a showcase for Central Florida and paved the way for other parks such as Disney and Universal to follow. The beautiful botanical gardens became the backdrop for beautiful belles and peaceful boat rides, as well as many movies and thousands of advertising campaigns over the years. Many stars walked its paths. To name a few: Betty Davis, Johnny Carson, Carol Burnett, Esther Williams and Elvis.

Cypress Gardens was proclaimed the Water Ski Capitol of the World, and became the birthplace of performance water skiing in 1941. In 1962, Dick Pope turned the reins of the park over to his son, Dick Pope, Jr.

To read more about Cypress Gardens and see a water ski video click on this link!

Dogs And Decorating, partie deux

Tommy Bahama in the living room!

Oh so many changes in the house! Now that I have my shop, I need to have the dogs in a spot where they will behave better! That large picture window with its continuous parade of dogs, people, and the UPS truck, drive my dogs crazy! I need them away from all that visual stimulation.

So I have done some doggie and human redecorating. My sunroom, which is my office, and never has been comfortable, although full of old Bar Harbor white wicker, has been turned into a den. I've moved my great old paint cupboard to the back wall, and made room for a Salvation Army couch (like new, $115.00) and a Last Chance Thrift Store comfy chair and ottoman (like new, for $30). Yeah, eat your heart out. I know where to shop! And you can buy some of my great finds at The Little Shop Of Arts And Antiques at very reasonable prices too!

The antique wicker is going to my late husband's cousin in Bloomington, Indiana. She remembers it from the old lake house and it needs to go back to her! She and my husband had many fun times as kids in that house, surrounded by this wicker. I also needed it out of chewer Bray's teeth!

My living room sports a new chair (Salvation Army, $99.00) and a ....please let me brag.....Tommy Bahama sofa from the same Salvation Army for $360.00. That's more than this thrifty shopper likes to pay, but if you Google my sofa, it retails new for $2999.00.

Yes the dogs sleep on it too. But they spend the days in our lovely sunroom den. I like to nap in there with them, so most days when I am at home we are all cuddling in my new den.

Our evenings are spent in the living room with Tommy Bahama relaxing and watching TV. The couch is so high I had to buy a footstool for chubby Annabelle to crawl up to cuddle next to me on Tommy. No matter how much a piece is valued, it is of no value to me if we can't all snuggle on it!

It is amazing how well behaved they are away from my picture window.

Wouldn't you like to join us for a cup of coffee in my new doggie sunroom?

I can see clearly now...Chloe has a bird's eye view of yard.

Bray ready to party down, hope he won't eat quilt. He is a chewer!

Rascal finds her new spot in the sun so relaxing!

full couch

Foxy looking for a place on the floor.

Foxy likes to sleep behind the computer chair. Her old bones don't like to be jarred getting on furniture any more.

Rascal wondering if she should try to get up

All by myself....

Annabelle likes to keep the couch to herself most afternoons

I think it's time for a nap. Hey, Annabelle, better move that big butt of yours! Mine is joining you!

Dog Saves Bird - Film At 11...Following The Adventures of Ziva the dog!

I have a dog photo contest running on my Writer With Dogs blog. The contest began with the launch of my online dog magazine on December lst. Well, the dog stories and photos are amazing. The contest continues until the Feb. 18th. The winner will be announced on March lst. My magazine will be in a different format, a newsletter, rather than an eflip online magazine. The spirit will be the same however. The winner of the dog contest gets a $300 check payable to their favorite dog rescue group. Anyone can enter by the way. Just send your photo to thefourhounds@gmail.com and a brief story of your dog! The winner is determined by the number of comments on each photo. The most comments is our winner!

One dog keeps popping up in my e-mails. Ziva. Her antics are charming! I've decided to post this one here and may share other Ziva stories down the road. BTW, Ziva is entry number 6 in the contest, The Golden From Maine. Check out all the dogs at Writer With Dogs!


And now, meet Ziva here!  The story begins.......

I had just put more sunflower seeds in the bird feeder and returned to the kitchen to warm up. Ziva stayed out by the feeder and was watching the birds arrive by the dozens. They don't mind her sitting by the feeder. In fact, they will land all around her and pick up the seeds that fall from the feeder. One flew into the side of the feeder and fell to the snow below. Ziva went over, poked it with her nose, and then gently picked the bird up and scratched at the door to come in.

When I let her in, she ran to the sofa and placed the bird by her side and started licking it. I thought it was dead and went to get a paper towel to wrap it in. But when I came back to the room, Ziva had moved the bird to the arm of the sofa and was still licking it. I grabbed the camera as it stood up, still a bit wobbly, and then it hopped even closer to Ziva’s nose.


After a few minutes we took it outside and it flew away, much to the dismay of both of my cats, who watched this whole episode unfold.

I don't know why, but birds and other animals are not afraid of Ziva at all.

Too cool not to share these pictures.

I thought you would enjoy them.


Bruce

"ZIVA, HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I TOLD YOU... NO BIRDS ALLOWED ON THE FURNITURE!"

She growled at the cat and it is rare to hear her growl. "Leave my bird alone!"



Yes, these are photos to share! Don't you agree?

Book Signing At The Little Shop Of Arts And Antiques

I am really excited! My shop will have its first book signing on Saturday, Feb. 5th. Not just any book, but a Steampunk novel. For those who aren't sure what Steampunk is, check out the author's web coalcitysteam! You will get excited too. This is going to be the most fun afternoon!

Emilie P. Bush was a former host of Georgia Public Television's Georgia Gazette. This is her debut novel, "Chenda and The Airship Brofman". She was a 2010 Amazon Breathrough award finalist.

We are going to have fun, fun, fun!

I am posting here my invite to the event and then the You Tube video of her book trailer.

Have fun. Wish you were here to join me! If you are in town, you don't want to miss meeting Emilie P. Bush!

This newsletter design made with Smilebox

The Little Shop Of Arts And Antiques Has An Etsy Storefront Online

Come shop with us on Etsy. New items added daily to our online shop, ShopOfOnesOwn!

The Little Shop Of Arts And Antiques has just opened a shop on Etsy, AShopOfOnesOwn. New items will be added daily, so be sure to come by and check us out. And if you are in the Lilburn, Georgia area, stop by 94 Main Street, Lilburn, Ga. and visit The Little Shop Of Arts And Antiques in the heart of Old Town!

Opening Day Scrapbook Of The Little Shop Of Arts And Antiques

Digital scrapbook customized with Smilebox

My Day On Kindle Nation! Review of The Unfaithful Widow

I haven't talked about my book lately, with all the other news going on in my life, ie, opening my shop this week. But I am working on some great things for my book this year, have started my own publishing company, Gilbert Street Press, and am working on two new books. A few months back I joined Support Kindle Nation and today my book is reviewed! Very exciting. This review goes to 6400 Kindle newsletter subscribers!


Kindle Nation Daily Free Book Alert, Thursday, January 20: 5-Star Fiction from the Hollywood Nobody series, plus ...Think "Joan Didion's Year of Magical Thinking Meets Jane Juska's Round-Heeled Woman" and You've Got The Unfaithful Widow: Fragmented Memoirs Of My First Year Alone by Barbara Barth (Today's Sponsor)

Another great 5-star entry in Lisa Samson's YA "Hollywood Nobody" series tops this morning's freshly updated presentation of our 350+ Free Book Alert listings....

But first, a word from ... Today's Sponsor

And, speaking of 5 stars, here's a new discovery for your Kindle bookshelf that's been getting nothing but 5-star reviews!

Widowed, Barbara Barth has to figure out how to get happy again. No subject is taboo in her essays, she says. "From dealing with the funeral home (Can I show you our upgraded cremation package?)... to dating again... and those questions you hate to ask (Condoms anyone?)."

"It's a book for anyone seeking entertainment and anyone who might benefit from inspiration to keep going. It's also for everyone who likes dogs and soft-core dirty talk." --Michael N. Marcus, author of Stories I'd Tell My Children

The Unfaithful Widow

Fragmented Memoirs Of My First Year Alone

by Barbara Barth

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 Reviews

Kindle Price: $2.99

Text-to-Speech: Enabled

Don't have a Kindle? Get yours here.

"Grief defeated by laughter"

"Not just for widows !!!!!!"

Here's the set-up:

Welcome To My World. Doing All Those Things I Thought I’d Never Do Again.

The Unfaithful Widow is a collection of essays and fragmented thoughts on finding joy again after the loss of a mate. A memoir of the first year alone written with warmth and laughter, no subject is taboo. From dealing with the funeral home (Can I show your our upgraded cremation package? I looked at Miss Death, was I booking a vacation?) to dating again (He ran in the door, looked at me and said “I’ve left something in my car.” He never returned). Sprinkle in a bevy of rescue dogs (Finally a good nights sleep with someone new in my bed.) and those questions you hate to ask (Condoms anyone?). A story for anyone who has suffered loss and is determined to become their own super hero.

What the Reviewers Say

This is a charming story of how one woman fought her way back from the grief of losing her husband to a new future filled with faith and happiness. As you go along on her year's journey, you will cry a little, laugh a lot as she experiences trying to date on line, and the joy that came from adopting neglected dogs to fill her life with love.

This is not just a book for widows. This is a book for anyone who has a void to fill in her life. Be prepared for surprises with every chapter that will delight you.

--Audrey Frank

In her review, Audrey Frank said, "This is a book for anyone who has a void to fill in her life." That's much too limiting. No void is necessary, and the book is not just for females. It's a book for anyone seeking entertainment and anyone who might benefit from inspiration to keep going. It's also for everyone who likes dogs and soft-core dirty talk.

Barbara Barth is a master (mistress?) storyteller, with an uncanny ability to recall or recreate dialog. She is able to pluck humor from sadness. She shows proper respect for the past without being a prisoner of the past. Barbara demonstrates impressive resilience, strength and the ability to keep looking ahead despite widowhood, bad dates, and the death of a dog. Her unwillingness to accept cliche roles dictated by age, custom or gender are important lessons for everyone.

I don't want to concentrate only on the inspirational aspects of the book, because it is a LOT OF FUN. I read the Kindle version on a bumpy train ride. I was tired and woozy. A lesser book would have made me turn off my iPad. With Barbara's book, I kept tapping to turn the electronic pages to see what happens next. The woman sitting next to me wondered what was making me laugh and she started reading along with me. I read faster than she did, and let her catch up before I turned the pages.

Although I didn't "get" the cover illustration (it's apparently a chick thing) and at times I thought I was overhearing a conversation that was meant just for women (number of bras owned, evaluating a man's butt), at other times I thought Barbara was talking directly to me. Buy the book and hear what Barbara has to say to you. You won't be disappointed.

--Michael N. Marcus, author of Stories I'd Tell My Children (but maybe not until they're adults) and other books

Losing a loved one is always difficult and sometimes you need the support of others who have been through the same situation. I have not lost a husband but I have lost loved ones. The essays in this book will help you feel both the loss and provide a bit of a "pick-me-up". Rescuing animals became Barbara's coping tool that allowed her to learn to live again. This book is funny, wise and very insightful.

I think that anyone who has lost a loved one, even if you aren't a widow, you will find parts in these essays that ring true to you. I love Barbara's voice and I like that she didn't hold back.
--Bridget Hopper

You can read more at Kindle Nation. Click here!