Showing posts with label friendship. Show all posts
Showing posts with label friendship. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Tea Party Tuesday ~ Birds of a Feather

Welcome to Tea Party Tuesday. Please enjoy a nice cup of tea as we share a little time together.

Tea etiquette suggests talking of only positive things. So even though some of us (including myself) have faced challenges this week, things have a way of working out. That's the sage advice my mom has given me. The mere words "working out" gives hope for solutions.

I pray whatever situations you find yourself in - good or bad - you'll know that celebrating or working on the solutions with the help and support of family and friends brings us all together as frail humans.

Thank you for all your prayers and support dealing with my mom this past few weeks. Today, she's getting a pacemaker - working on a solution to her heart stopping.

Love and hugs to all you dear readers.

~Nancy Jill 
My dear mom and me.

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Tea Party Tuesday * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Teatime in "The Ghost Orchid Murder"




Welcome to Tea Party Tuesday! It's lovely to share a cup with you. Please have a sandwich. Aren't these delightful? Oh and let's not forget a little fruit and cheese. We'll have cake later.
I love serving afternoon tea in my books. The ritual is such a nice way to share friendships, old and new. Jillian Bradley loves serving it not only to close friends but also to someone who needs someone to talk to - in this case a mother who lost her only son, one of the murder victims in Book 2 "The Ghost Orchid Murder.

Here's an excerpt -


"The Ghost Orchid Murder" 


At precisely four o’clock, there was a knock on my door. When I answered, Yvette stood in the doorway and smiled. Room service was right behind her. I motioned for her to sit down on the sofa by the fire as the server placed the tea tray on the table in front of her. I signed the bill and thanked him.
Teddy was yipping, trying to guard me from whoever entered his territory.
Yvette’s face brightened.
She looked surprisingly young for her age, which I judged to be about forty-five to fifty. Her firm handshake confirmed that she was self-assured. She sat straight on the sofa with her ankles crossed. Although she was pretty in a country sort of way, the lines around her eyes told of a difficult life, not one of privilege.
High cheekbones spoke of her French ancestry. Like many Europeans, Yvette wore no makeup, only a little lipstick and yet her color looked quite healthy. She wore her shoulder-length blond hair straight and simple. Her clothes flattered her medium built figure. I wondered if Rene had been like her.
Teddy was yipping in the bedroom, trying to guard his territory from the present invader.
“Would you like some tea?”
“Thank you, I’d love some. Just plain, please.”
I took my time pouring the tea and stirring in the sugar for mine. I offered her a slice of decadent chocolate cake or a chocolate chip oatmeal cookie. She took the cookie and white linen napkin. We sipped our tea and she told me again how much she appreciated the invitation.
“I would love to meet your dog, Jillian.” She placed her cookie on her saucer.
I walked over to Cecilia’s room and let Teddy out. He immediately ran over to Yvette and jumped into her lap.
She smiled and began to pet him.
“He’s adorable.” She rubbed his ears gently and stroked his fur. “I could never give Rene a dog because A.J. said we couldn’t afford one. Of course I regret it now, like so many things.”
“Is A.J. your husband?” I was glad Teddy was taking to her so.
“He was my husband. A.J. died when Rene was a teenager.”
“I’m so sorry. What did your husband do for a living?”
“He was a logger.” She sighed. “Six days a week he’d take logs from where they fell and load them onto trucks that took them to the mills. A.J. would work twelve hours a day and when he got home, all dirty and hungry, Rene would disappear into another room. The two didn’t really mix.
“A.J. and I would have a little time over dinner together where he recapped his day. Then to sleep…early…7 o’clock sharp every evening. The same routine started all over again the next morning.”
“He seems to have worked hard to provide for his family. I’m sure you miss him.”
Teddy licked her hand as if to say he was sorry she had suffered two deaths now.
“You’re a good dog, Teddy. Thank you.” She stroked his fur. “Please have your friend come in and have some tea. I feel like I’m encroaching.”              
I stood. “I’ll ask her if she’d like to join us.”
I introduced Cecilia. Yvette seemed comfortable sharing her personal life in front of her. I think she sensed I had her welfare in mind and trusted me.
She was hungry to talk to someone, so Cecilia and I listened sympathetically.
Yvette talked for some time, unfolding her life story as we drank tea together. I made sure her cup stayed full.
“I was the daughter of a common shopkeeper who had emigrated from France when I was only three years old. We had moved to Ocala, Florida, where our family ran a small grocery store. After my parents could no longer keep up with the work of running the store, I took over.”
Cecilia sipped her tea. “So you run a family business. That must take a lot of work.”
“Yes. I rarely get a break. We added a couple of gas pumps and turned the grocery part into more of a convenience store. Since tourists stopped by frequently on their way to the Everglades or Disney World, I put in a small gift shop section, and it did quite well.”
I was curious. “What type of merchandise do you carry?”
“The usual things—greeting cards, souvenirs, stuffed animals, T-shirts, caps, and I even sell books, you know, travel books and books about Florida.”
“Do you carry souvenir bells, shot glasses, things like that?”
“Oh, yes. I even carry a few porcelain teacups. I remember my grandmother having quite a collection.”
“I collect them myself. I think I’m up to forty-four, last time I counted.”
“That’s quite a collection.” She sipped her tea and took a small bite of her cookie.
“Yvette, would you by any chance carry any porcelain flowers, like Capodimonte flowers?”
“I think I know the ones you’re talking about. They’re flowers on branches, right? I saw one my friend had sitting on an end table in her living room.”
“Yes. They’re beautiful and distinctive. Do you carry anything like that?”
“I do have a few flowers, but they’re mostly local for the tourists. I carry a few roses because they always seem to sell.”
I watched her face closely. “Would you have any orchids for instance?”
Her expression didn’t change and she seemed unaware of any significance.
“Orchids? Of course. Florida’s full of them. Why do you ask?”
“I collect all sorts of porcelain. I’m really a soft touch for anything out of the ordinary.” Careful. Don't reveal the evidence. I’d promised Detective Noble.

Let me refill your cup. Would you care for a powder puff?

I hope you enjoy the Jillian Bradley mystery series as much as I enjoy writing them. Now, back to work on number nine - "Murder at Mirror Lake."


Cheers!



~Nancy Jill





Sunday, July 1, 2012

SOMEONE BELIEVES IN YOU!

A MESSAGE ON MY HEART TO SOMEONE READING THIS POST TODAY. LIFTING YOU UP FOR HOPE AND ENCOURAGEMENT, MY FRIEND. ~NANCY JILL

Friday, June 8, 2012

WHEN YOU NEED A FRIEND...

Up the "Down" Ladder
Sometimes a person suffering from depression just needs a friend to talk to. And a friend like Dolores Ayotte would be an excellent choice. In her book, "Up the "Down" Ladder", Dolores shares insights from her experience with depression and simple steps to manage it. She cites numerous authorities on the subject, and writes the book in a conversational way, just as if she and the reader were sharing over a cup of coffee. If you are a person suffering from depression, I would highly recommend reading this book. Sometimes, you just need a friend.Thanks for being mine!

Thursday, April 5, 2012

REAL/VIRTUAL FRIENDS

If I'm feeling blue (which is rare for me), I find people who communicate their sentiments through the written word are far more sincere than someone verbally throwing a tired cliche my way. Those of you who responded to my last post about the ups and downs of being an author encouraged me so much and I wanted to thank you. Despite the fact that our tear ducts no longer produce as much fluid as they should for healthy eyesight, due to staring at our computer screens for most of the day, I must say that I enjoy being with all of you virtually and count you as friends, especially when you care enough to give me encouragement when I need it. I for one believe most of us try to put our best foot forward when we post and tweet, and I think it makes for a lovely world, albeit a virtual one. Do you have more friends online or off?

Thursday, March 8, 2012

CINDY NAVARRO

It's amazing to me that someone I only know online would take the time to help me peruse a manuscript. She asks nothing in return. An author is indebted to people like this and without input from such wonderful readers, my writing would be myopic and terse. Cindy Navarro not only wasn't feeling well when she worked on my book, her area of the country suffered from tornadoes this past week as well. In the past, she has helped me as a Beta Reader and wrote a review for one of my books. Friends like her are rare and I had to say a special thank you for the way she sacrificed to help me. May God richly bless you in all you do, Cindy, and may we in turn be willing to serve those who ask us for help. 
Visit Cindy's blog at: cindynavarro.blogspot.com

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

FAITHFUL FRIEND

Teddy is the dog character I use in The Jillian Bradley Mystery Series as Jillian's faithful companion. She trains Teddy to perform wonderful tricks (which comes in handy when Jillian needs help catching the bad guys) and he accompanies her wherever she goes. If you stop and think about it, dogs are some of the best friends mankind will ever have. If there's any doubt, talk to someone who has lost a dog in death and you'll see the depth of emotion I'm talking about. Here's to Raider, who was put to sleep today after 16 1/2 years of faithful friendship to the family who loved him.