" Deck The Halls & A Winner "

Good Morning! Welcome to a Christmas Tour of our home on Swiftwater Farm! Don't be expecting a " Southern Living " house as my decorating is simple and comforting rather than fancy! Most of the stuff is old but holds lots of memories. If you entered by the the front door and most people don't, you'd see this very old wreath, made by me............











If you came through the carport, which most do, you'd see another old wreath made by me....

And....you'd see this on the left of the door..........

We're going through the front door and into the foyer for a look at the decorated Cabin Hubby made me........

Now this is my favorite decoration this year!

I should have cleaned up around it before snapping a pic........ :)

Hubby made me a 6 foot table to put my Dept 56 Dickens Village on.........

I have two more houses coming via the mail...........

2nd from the left is BOZ's BOOKS, a Christmas Present this year from my daughter Melanie

Here we see Dickens Birthplace, The Old Curiosity Shop, & Boz's Books..........

Here is my " Skinny" Christmas Tree....... I still have umpteen presents to wrap which is not one of my favorite things to do............

Even the clock gets a bow!

A few Santa's for Scarlett & Rhett...........Don't ask why I didn't turn the telly off....

Mine and Hubby's stockings...I NEED a TITANS Stocking !!!

I need Angel Hair (can't find any) under this manger scene too.......

A festive mantel..........

To the kitchen where even the pitchers get gussied up!

A Nativity on top of the fridge.............

The kitchen table..........

The cookbook rack.........have some M&M's...........

I made this wreath this year for the dining room door...I'm still decorating in that room so I'll show it later....... :)

My Christmas Cactus is trying to bloom..........

Yesterday I made Candy all day to fill the Christmas tins.........Divinity........

Peppermint Bark...........

And...Christmas Macaroons...........these are as rich as Bill Gates!

Today, it's cookies, cookies and more cookies! I know, your dying to know who WON the 1st edition copy of " Shades of Gray! Well, I combined the comments on Author Extravaganza (19)

the comments on Shades of Gray(29) and the 3 from The Book House Blog for a total of 51. I then asked Hubby for a # between 1 & 51. He said 36! I went back and counted to 36! It was

Angie Muresan @ Autumn Days

Congratulations Angie !!!!!!!!!!! You are gonna LOVE this book !!! I'll need your snail mail!

Shades of Gray with Author Jessica James

I can't think of a better way to celebrate 1 year of blogging with all my blog world friends, than to

talk about three of my favorite subjects! The Civil War, an awesome book and a brilliant Author! I met Jessica James last year via the blog world on another authors blog. We started writing e-mails and she told me about her book which I immediately ordered! Jessica has her own blog, "Life in The Past Lane" which I'm sure you have seen on my side bar. As most of you know, I'm a Gone With The Wind freak. Let me say this to you all, had "Shades of Gray" been published back then, my daughter would be named Andrea instead of Melanie!! I kid you not!

I will talk further about the book after we talk to Jessica about it............

Jessica thank you so much for allowing me to interview you about your Award Winning Debut Novel for this special occasion..............

TWP........Having written a 5 Star Civil War Epic, will you tell us where your desire to write this book came from ?

JJ........Sounds a bit cliche, but it really came from the heart. This story just grabbed me and wouldn't let me go no matter how hard I tried to fight it. It was really important to me to tell a story that would appeal to readers whether or not they had an interest in the Civil War, so I worked hard to balance the historical facts with a love story that would engage and entertain.

TWP.....How long did it take you to write " Shades of Gray" ?

JJ.....Oh, I hate this question! I'll say "a long time" ( Two decades would not be exaggerating)

TWP......Are any of your characters based on real life Civil War participants?

JJ....My two main characters are fictional, however Colonel Alexander Hunter, the male lead, is based loosely on Colonel John Mosby, a confederate cavalry commander who operated in northern Virginia. Though perhaps not as well known as some other Confederate officers, Mosby is a legend in Virginia for his daring, behind-the-lines exploits. Even today, if you drive through northern Virginia, you will find signs showing a soldier with a cape flying out behind him on horseback. That let's you know you're in Mosby's Confederacy, which is now the Mosby Heritage Area.

TWP........Shades of Gray briefly knocked GWTW from the #1 Historical Fiction Romance spot on Amazon, how did this make you feel?

JJ....Flabbergasted. Excited. Amazed. It has actually happened twice now, and both times I have hardly dared to believe my eyes! It is truly an honor to be considered in the same class as GWTW, and I can only hope that Shades has the same longevity and devoted following in the years to come.

TWP... Did you ever think your debut book would be so well received?

JJ... I guess every author hopes and dreams that readers will "get it" and, more importantly will enjoy and remember their book. I think what has surprised me the most is the way Shades has been received by both men and women, and by lovers of both historical and romance genres, It has really blurred the lines between the two categories.

TWP... Shades of Gray has received awesome reviews from many Civil War "experts", does this influence you to continue to write in this genre?

JJ... I think what influences me more than that is my love for the time period, but certainly the fact that it has been so well received in the Civil War community inspires me to keep going when the going gets tough.

TWP... Are you currently writing your second book? If so, tell us about it.

JJ...Yes, I am working on a second Civil War novel called Above and Beyond, in which the heroine plays the part of a strong Unionist in Virginia while secretly spying for the Confederacy.

Unfortunately, she is so convincing in her role that friends, neighbors and even her brother believe she is a traitor to the South. I chose this plot line because I can't imagine the courage and strong will it would take to be despised and maligned by family and friends while nobly serving a cause-even more so during the Victorian era when reputation and allegiance were everything.

I think it could be argued that it would take more strength and fortitude than fighting an outright battle with hundreds of your comrades surrounding you.

TWP... What Awards has Shades won so far?

JJ... Shades was a 2009 HOLT Medallion Finalist for Best Southern Fiction Theme and won a 2008 Indie Next Generation Award for Best Regional Fiction. It was also a finalist for Best Historical Fiction in the 2008 Indie Next Generation contest and won a 2008 IPPY Award for Best Regional Fiction. It was a finalist in the Romance category in the 2008 ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year contest and was chosen as the Favorite Book of the Year (2008) by The Book Connection. Two other book review sites, The Printed Page and BookWorms Dinner chose it among their Favorite Books of 2008.

TWP...Shades is often favorably compared to both GWTW and COLD MOUNTAIN which were both made into blockbuster movies. Do you feel Shades would also make a great movie?

JJ... There is probably no comment I receive more often from readers than " this should be a movie. " I have so much material that had to be cut from the book that I have plenty of new material for a screen play- so if you have any connections, let me know!!

TWP....You live in Gettysburg yet you chose to set Shades in Virginia, why is that?

JJ.... Strangely enough, I grew up with Civil War history all around me, but didn't get "the bug"

until I moved to northern Virginia in the 80s and learned about John Mosby. He is such a romantic figure and larger-than-life legend that I began to read everything on him, about him, and by him-which is where my interest began. I'm back in Gettysburg now, but still take day trips to northern Virginia quite often when I feel a need for inspiration.

SHADES of GRAY by Jessica James (2008)Fiction/historical- Paperback 524 pp.

Patriot Press Gettysburg, PA. ISBN# 978-0-9796000-0-5

Thank you Jess for your great answers! WOW!

I loved Shades of Gray! It is at the top of my best reads of 2009! Quite a few of you readers take my recommends for great reads. PLEASE read Shades! You will thank me for it! It does appeal as Jessica said, to ALL, even if you don't read historical. If you loved GWTW (who didn't) or Cold Mountain or North & South, you will love SHADES of GRAY. Jessica James is a brilliant writer who will capture your heart, soul and mind for 524 pages! Give it as a gift to anyone who loves to read, it will be their favorite gift! Don't forget to leave a comment so you have a chance to win a copy of Shades of Gray...............Winner anounced Saturday!

Visit Jessica's Website Jessica James Historical Fiction Author for the purchase of signed copies of Shades and a chance to WIN a basket of goodies from Jessica !

" Author Extravaganza "

Last night I attended the 6th Annual " Author Extravaganza " at my local Indie, Main Street Books! What a great line up of Mississippi Authors. Among them was my dear friend Anne B. Magee whose book " Historic Photos of Mississippi " has been nominated in non-fiction category for best book by The Mississippi Institute of Art''s and Letters! Good Luck Annie !






































My thrill of the night...........meeting and talking with Neil White! Neil is the author of the the Incredible memoir " In The Sanctuary of Outcasts"! One of the most amazing books I've ever read! If you haven't heard of this book, go to Amazon and read the reviews!

Another thrill was meeting author Howard Bahr who writes fact based fiction novels set in the Civil War era such as "The Black Flower" and " The Year of Jubilo" ...........

It was poring down rain but the turnout was great..........
Oh! Did you know John Grisham's brother Mark is an author also! He was there but I didn't get a picture. :(

The owner Diane is ringing up those book sales.................

See that line at the cash register? Notice the woman in blue with dark hair? More on her later.

Book lovers everywhere...........

The woman in blue is Artist Donna Talbot Woods who painted the original painting of this print.

This is WINDSOR before it burned. Some of you may remember that Hubby and I saw a full bodied apparition of a Union Soldier at Windsor Ruins a couple of years ago which I did a post on called Did You See That? I saw this print at Main Street Books when I went to the Rick Bragg luncheon. I took this picture. I told Hubby I was REAL tempted to buy it. Well, last week he did!

As a Christmas present for me!! He gave it to me early so I could take it to the framer. There are 2,000 prints of this and will be no more. Mine is number 551. The original is privately owned by the man who commissioned it as an engagement gift for his now wife 15 years ago.

Tomorrow, December 9th, The Writers Porch blog celebrates its ONE YEAR BLOG ANNIVERSARY !!!!!!!!!! I will celebrate with an interview of Jessica James, author of the AWESOME book " SHADES of GRAY ! I will be giving away a copy of this wonderful book!

So get your name in the pot!!

SEE YOU TOMORROW !!!!!!!!!!!!!

" Fall Passes Away"

Hubby and I went to visit my friend Pat yesterday and came home with a new addition! Meet Miss Kitty! The mother cat and one of her two kittens disappeared when the kittens were two weeks old. Pat bottle fed this one till it could eat on its own. She is a Calico Manx. She has NO tail ! She is 8 weeks old.The dogs were all excited to see her but she DID NOT take to them !!
She was ready to take them all on!!



So for now she stays in "my porch " room..................

Yesterday we had a dusting of Snow! Not the 1-2 inches predicted but enough to excite my southern heart............

Put me in a real Christmas mood..........

I know you Northerners laugh at us Southerners for getting so excited over Snow.........

We'll laugh at you around late March when we plant our garden and you are still shoveling the white stuff.......... :)

I always think of Ballerinas when I see the branches bending gracefully under the weight of snow

I spent the day decorating for Christmas.........

Digging through box after box of decorations..........

Then of course we watched the football game between Alabama & Florida! Congrats to Alabama on an awesome win!

Today I will decorate some more and of course watch my TITANS try to give the COLTS their

first loss of the season!! This morning we had 26 degrees and heavy frost so I'd say Fall has passed away in South Mississippi.................

We did have some beautiful colors in November. I was so busy I didn't get around to posting the pics! So browse through them and I see you at the end...........

HAVE A GREAT SUNDAY EVERYONE !! GO TITANS !!!!!!!

Then & Now

Remember Kathleen Turner? I saw her in a film the other day and for the longest could not figure out who she was! What a gorgeous woman she was then & now! No plastic surgery for her!






Last Spring our yard was so green but............

Tomorrow it may look like it did on December 11th last year! We are expecting 1-2 inches of Snow tonight! Yes, bloggers, it does Snow in South Mississippi! :)

Oh how pretty my Cannas were not so long ago.........

After the hard freeze last week..................:(

I cut the last of the Roses for my Thanksgiving Dinner table............

This is the Rose bed now............

Our wonderful Miss Trixie GoForth has kept us in eggs for the last few months laying 1 a day!

Now we are getting her 1 a day and 3 more from Miss Vicki, Madame Willow and Dottie Rambo !

Most of you know that Steve McNair was my favorite all time QB may he RIP ! I loved watching # 9 play ! Now, I have finally donned a new QB Jersey for # 10 Vince Young ! Once again I can enjoy watching my Titans play !

When I started cruising EBay to add to my China, I had no idea I would come close to being an EBay addict ! I have finished my Christmas shopping on EBay and got a few neat things for the home! I got this Lazy Susan which had several bidders...............

Cleaned it up and refinished it!

This wooden Bread Box was highly sought after also..............

Cleaned and refinished...........it's a beauty!

I got an e-mail from Author Sharyn McCrumb telling me she has asked her publisher to send me an ARC of " Faster Pastor " her new book with Co-Author/ NASCAR Driver Adam Edwards!

It will be released in April 2010. She included this picture of her and Adam and said;

" I should picture him as the main character Camber Berkley"

I really have a lot going on right now and need to be working in the greenhouse as I type! I'm trying to get around to all of you but it's kind of hard right now! Things should slow down next week for sure!!

Have A Great Weekend Everyone!

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow! :)