Autumn S Back Porch

This book is a collection of poems dealing with the author's own personal reflections about life. They are works of encouragement, faith, and social consciousness meant to uplift the reader in their daily walk through their own individual journey. They were written as a message of hope for the trying times in which we currently find ourselves.

This book is a collection of poems dealing with the author’s own personal reflections about life. They are works of encouragement, faith, and social consciousness meant to uplift the reader in their daily walk through their own individual journey. They were written as a message of hope for the trying times in which we currently find ourselves.

When the line between past and present blurs, all roads lead to home. The haunting legacy of a brutal family massacre casts a dark shadow over the picturesque coastal town of Crescent Cove. In a night of unfathomable violence, the Piper family was torn apart, leaving one solitary survivor. Enna Piper, a gifted artist with an affinity for capturing the essence of life on canvas, fled this idyllic haven a decade ago. Bound by guilt for surviving while her loved ones perished, Enna could only run from the relentless memories for so long before fate dragged her back to the home she tried so desperately to leave behind. Armed with a new found desire to unearth the truth and unravel the threads of her own shattered history, Enna vows to confront the darkness that claimed her family. As she delves deeper into the intricacies of the past, the town's secrets begin to reveal a twisted tapestry of greed, vengeance, and deceit. Enna must navigate a treacherous path, reconciling her yearning for answers with the longing to build a future. This is Book One in the Crescent Cove series.

Ministers often find themselves caught in the day-to-day pressures of leading a congregation and yearn to experience the unfolding of their professional lives from a larger perspective. Four Seasons of Ministry serves as a guide for what you will find on your ministerial journey and gives meaning to the routine and repetitive tasks of ministry. Authors Bruce G. and Katherine Gould Epperly, each of whom has over 25 years of experience in various pastoral roles, invite clergy to see their ministries in the present as part of a life-long adventure in companionship with God, their loved ones, and their congregations. There is a time and a season to every ministry. Healthy and vital pastors look for the signs of the times and the gifts of each swiftly passing season, but they also take responsibility for engaging the creative opportunities of each season of ministry. Those who listen well to the gentle rhythm of God moving through their lives and the responsibilities and challenges that attend the passing of the years, vocationally as well as chronologically, will be amazed at the beauty and truth that shapes and characterizes the development of their ministries.

Springs and Autumns is a compelling novel that chronicles, through the voices of several family members, the intriguing history of an extended Majorcan family. The novel is set in Orlandis (a fictional version of Porcel's hometown) on the island of Majorca. Even though the novel rises from this specific, exotic island setting, Springs and Autumns ultimately appeals to universal human emotions. Although the entire novel takes place as the family gathers at Taltavull Hall for a Christmas Eve dinner, the reader is conveyed to places as far away as South America and Asia, learning along the way about murder, love, rape, incest, travel, discovery, regret, and forgiveness.

Separated for years due to a secret squabble among their parents, a group of cousins reunite following the death of an uncle. Their mission is to help close up the family cottage for good, but in doing so, they uncover old family photos that include a woman in a wheelchair. None know who the woman was, but the older cousins have a vague memory of her presence, and of the loud scream they heard the last time they saw her. As the teens sort through the family’s past and learn its secrets, each learns truths about themselves.

A comprehensive and highly practical study of the art of growing flowers, Mastering the Art of Flower Gardening presents expert tips on growing both annuals and biennials (including native and heirloom species) alongside 300+ lush photographs. This gorgeously illustrated book by Matt Mattus is based on decades of first-hand experience in his own garden—every variety or cultivar presented is one that he has personally tested and grown. Mattus sets you up for success by first providing everything you need to know about starting seeds, soil, sowing, hardening off, transplanting, plugs, growing on, cutting, and saving seed. Then you'll find tips for growing over 100 different annuals from seedand 12 types of spring and summer bulbs—all based on his hands-on experience, going beyond the information available on the seed packet. Every one of the hundreds of stunning photographs is taken personally by Mattus from the flowers growing on his own farm in Massachusetts. Just a small selection of the annuals covered: aster, cornflower, chrysanthemum, impatiens, larkspur, California poppy, delphiniums, sunflowers, morning glory, kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate, salvia, and zinnia. The bulbs are allium, anemone, ranunculus, fritillaria, freesia, tulips, lily of the valley, true lilies, canna, calla, gladiolus, and dahlia. In short, there is nothing ordinary about this book—it is unlike any other cut flower book you will find anywhere.

A PASSION FOR POETRY Why poetry? Why has this ancient craft existed throughout time, continuing even into our fast-paced age of moderncy and technology? Perhaps two reasons: 1) The human condition still demands we ask who we are, what we are and why we are; and 2) space is limited in this form of writing requiring the poet reduce his thoughts into a quick-read format. Puns, pundits, quotes, poetry and prose capsulate 90% of everything the human race believes to be important and true Poets are avatars who define the nature and meaning of our roles. They reduce the fabric of our existence to the simplest ingredients of mind, soul, bones, sinew and desire. It is the forum that speaks to all, reaches all, touches all, teaches all, questions all, answers all.