Tag: mountains

APRIL NEWSLETTER-an adventure in Canyonlands National Park, a teatime treat, and a book review

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

~~Psalm 19:14 (KJV)

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Welcome to my delayed April newsletter celebrating Easter….the season of celebrating our new life because of our Savior, Christ the Lord! I hope your Easter was blessed in many ways and you are rejoicing in the arrival of spring, the season of new beginnings.

TO FIND WHERE SHE BELONGS by Robin Lee Hatcher with blueberry scones and lemon tea

MY REVIEW OF TO FIND WHERE SHE BELONGS BY ROBIN LEE HATCHER

A sweet love story set amid stunning scenery! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

To Find Where She Belongs is the fifth book in The British Are Coming series. I’ve read and enjoyed them all, but this one may be the best because hero William Overstreet finally gets his story and finds love. He’s a moral, kind, and faith-filled man who takes his responsibilities seriously. He manages his cattle ranch, Eden’s Gate, with dedication…to his employees, to his neighbors, and with his livestock, often doing the necessary chores himself alongside his cowboys. 

At first, I wasn’t fond of heroine Keely Boyle. She escaped from England and sailed to America to pursue acquaintance Roger Bernhardt, William’s artist friend, who lived on the ranch. But as past situations are revealed, I began to understand there were reasons for her actions, even if she wasn’t forthcoming about everything. I admired her work ethic and her courage fight for a new life.

The relationship between William and Keely slowly evolves with a hint of the Cinderella story. She’s destitute and he’s wealthy. At times it seems their worlds are too different, but love finds a way…with plenty of forgiveness and understanding….as the couple works together facing evil actions which threaten the ranch they both cherish.

I was pleased to find this book is part of the Christian Fiction Readers Challenge 2026. Since I’ve enjoyed all the other books I’ve read by Robin Lee Hatcher, I knew I would like this one. And I definitely did! The author’s way of describing the stunning scenery of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming makes you feel you are in the mountains and valleys of this gorgeous area.

I highly recommend To Find Where She Belongs to those who prefer sweet historical romances with engaging characters and threads of faith.

Favorite quote: “Discernment is a gift, William. Too often people confuse discernment with judgment, but they are not the same. All I can say is, listen to the Spirit.”

To find out more about the author, check her website at http://www.robinleehatcher.com.

TEATIME TREATS

For a perfect springtime treat, I’m serving lemon blueberry scones (as shown in the photo above) from our local farmers’ market with lemon tea. I hope you’ll pause for a bit of refreshment while reading my blog.

OUR BACKPACKING ADVENTURE IN CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK

Along the trail, then up and over the rock ridge

During this month, we spent two nights in the backcountry of Canyonlands National Park in southern Utah in the Needles district of the park. The views are amazing everywhere you look. With our backpacks loaded with extra water for desert hiking, we covered dusty trails and climbed over slick rock ridges. Wildflowers popped up here and there. The nights were so quiet! I’ll include a few of the photos we took along the way.

On the trail with a view of The Needles of Canyonlands National Park
Hiking along the solid rock ridge
Dropping our backpacks at the backcountry campsite
Backcountry campsite with our new tent
Glowing red rock at sunset
Bright yellow blossoms along the sandy trail.

Thank you for joining me for an adventure, a book review, and a springtime treat. What do you have planned to enjoy the blessing of spring?

With prayers and blessings, Sherida

Your comment is appreciated!

Lost in the mountains….finding my trail to writing….

WILD ROSES AND WATERFALLS ALONG THE CREEK TRAIL

Winding through juniper-covered mountains as we drive to Santa Fe to attend a WORDHARVEST travel writing workshop, I am looking forward to meeting New Mexico travel writer, Lesley S. King, who will be our guide on this adventure.  A year ago, after reading her article in New Mexico Magazine about the historic “Turquoise Trail” of mining lore, we drove along New Mexico Highway 14 through the Ortiz Mountains east of Albuquerque.  A souvenir necklace I purchased along the way was the inspiration for “Turquoise Remembrance” which won the 2011 Tony Hillerman Mystery Short Story Contest and became my first publication.

Gathering at La Tienda in Eldorado on this azure-sky morning, it is good to meet Lesley and the other participants who will share this experience.  While Lesley goes over our itinerary, a cool breeze floats through the open door.  Sipping a cup of English Breakfast tea helps me to focus on this trek through the mountains of my writing desires.  We will be finding our authentic paths, discovering our journey companions and deciding what gear to carry along.  To begin, Lesley is telling us to write something….. a moment of panic!  Which way to go?  What am I doing here?  I don’t know anything about writing!  I don’t even know what to begin to write!  But Lesley is a good leader and steps with me as I begin down this trail.

Where am I going?  She helps me learn how to discover my goals. Writing is fun!  And writing a blog is a way to be my own publisher, giving me freedom to write as I wish.

Who will be going with me?  We explore the various social media–Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest–learning how to connect with others.

What do I need to bring along?  Joy, appreciation, curiosity, enthusiasm.

The day has gone by quickly.  It is time to say good-bye, so I leave with a map in hand, but it is still hard to decide which path to take.  One blog or two?  How much social media?  Who is my audience?  What is the purpose of my writing?  Is my goal too lofty?  Is this too hard and too much work?   Do I have the time?

Driving home as the glowing sun sets in front of us, my husband and I are reviewing the day and what we have learned.  We are surrounded by New Mexico’s lavender sky and purple hills, and I now realize which mountain trail I want to take.  Not the one along the rocky summit and not the one through the swift creek.  I want to take the meandering trail by the bubbling brook.  I want to sit and chat with the others along the path as I snack on dried cherries.  I want to draw in the fragrant wild roses and the vanilla-scented Ponderosa pines.  I want to hear the melodies of finches and the chirping of a robin.  Yes, I want the peaceful trail with the companionship of others who enjoy discovering the journey.

As Lesley says in her book, King Of the Road, “Within a single lifetime, most people live many incarnations.  Career changes, family shifts and travel, all add to the journey’s richness.”  So maybe another time, I will take the trail to the mountain crest or the path along the cascading stream.  At this moment, I am adding to my journey through the mountains by joyfully writing what I love (my family, travel, romance, hiking, afternoon tea, food, cooking, history, historic hotels, faith, inspiration, trains, camping, reading) and with whom I love (my hero, best friend and husband of 41 years–Collin Stewart).  And the sun is shining!

“You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you.”  Isaiah 55:12