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14<meta content='The Hummingbird House' property='og:title'/>
15<meta content='                 Excerpt from CHRISTMAS AT THE HUMMINGBIRD HOUSE       W reaths were hung, trees were decorated, lights were strung. Gingerb...' property='og:description'/>
16<meta content='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQ4o0mFGkBkWBY0PTbnTjwI87vdSJpxrQfeeDBF2kkfeD-uI58fK1QhMNn95zUWL5LRBTZQnyKIi4V2cMkX07hFcYW58w5PxbPbVOavHqFFn8_5AfgciicdDjDNXZfhVGae3CZihZ3U8/w1200-h630-p-k-no-nu/Christmas+at+the+Hummingbird+House+Cover+Nook.jpg' property='og:image'/>
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621clear: both;
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623font: normal normal 86% Verdana, sans-serif;
624color: #435519;
625}
626.feed-links a, .feed-links a:visited {color: #435519}
627.feed-links a:hover {color: #738549}
628/* -----   BLOCKQUOTE   ----- */
629blockquote {
630margin: 10px 0px 10px 20px;
631padding: 10px 15px 10px 15px;
632font: italic normal 95% Verdana, sans-serif;
633line-height: 1.6em;
634color: #9cae73;
635background: #ffebac;
636border: 2px solid #efdb9c;
637}
638/* -----   CODE   ----- */
639code {
640color: #2d2442;
641font-size: 110%;
642}
643/* -----   SIDEBAR   ----- Blogger template design by Ourblogtemplates.com */
644#side-wrapper1 {
645max-width: 188px;
646float: left;
647margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
648padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
649word-wrap: break-word; /* fix for long text breaking sidebar float in IE */
650overflow: hidden; /* fix for long non-text content breaking IE sidebar float */
651}
652#side-wrapper2 {
653max-width: 329px;
654float: right;
655margin: 0px 0px 7px 0px;
656padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
657word-wrap: break-word; /* fix for long text breaking sidebar float in IE */
658overflow: hidden; /* fix for long non-text content breaking IE sidebar float */
659}
660#sidebar-wrapper {
661float: left;
662margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
663padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
664word-wrap: break-word; /* fix for long text breaking sidebar float in IE */
665overflow: hidden; /* fix for long non-text content breaking IE sidebar float */
666}
667.sidebar {
668margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
669padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
670text-align: left;
671font: normal normal 11px Verdana, sans-serif;;
672}
673#sidebar1 {
674width: 160px;
675margin: 3px;
676padding: 15px 10px 0px 10px;
677color: #9cae73;
678line-height: 1.6em;
679background: #fff3b4;
680border: 1px solid #efdb9c;
681}
682#sidebar2 {
683width: 322px;
684margin: 0px 0px 0px 7px;
685padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
686color: #394224;
687line-height: 1.6em;
688}
689#sidebar1 .widget {
690margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
691padding: 0px 0px 20px 0px;
692border: 0px solid #efdb9c;
693}
694#sidebar2 .widget {
695margin: 0px 0px 7px 0px;
696padding: 10px 10px 10px 10px;
697background: #fbd65d;
698border: 1px solid #d4ad35;
699}
700/* sidebar heading ----- Blogger template design by Ourblogtemplates.com */
701#sidebar1 h2 {
702margin: 0px 0px 2px 0px;
703padding: 0px 0px 2px 0px;
704text-align: left;
705color: #738549;
706font: normal bold 14px Verdana, sans-serif;;
707text-transform: uppercase;
708text-decoration: underline;
709/* background: #ffffff;
710border-top: 0px solid #86AA3F;
711border-bottom: 1px solid #86AA3F; */
712}
713#sidebar2 h2 {
714margin: -10px -10px 8px -10px;
715padding: 3px 10px 3px 10px;
716text-align: left;
717color: #738549;
718font: normal bold 14px Verdana, sans-serif;;
719text-transform: uppercase;
720text-decoration: none;
721background: #f4cd55;
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723border-bottom: 1px solid #d4ad35;
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725.sidebar ul, #BlogArchive1 ul {
726margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
727padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
728list-style-type: none;
729}
730.sidebar li, #BlogArchive1 li {
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732padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
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743#sidebar1 a:visited {
744text-decoration: none;
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747#sidebar2 a {
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750}
751#sidebar2 a:hover {
752text-decoration: underline;
753color: #738549;
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755#sidebar2 a:visited {
756text-decoration: none;
757color: #b47b10;
758}
759.sidebar a img {
760margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
761padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
762border: 1px solid #f4cd55;
763}
764/* -----   PROFILE   ----- Blogger template design by Ourblogtemplates.com */
765.profile-img {
766margin: 5px;
767padding: 0px;
768border: 1px solid #0066CC;
769}
770.profile-textblock {
771margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
772padding: 3px 0px 3px 0px;
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778.profile-datablock {
779margin: 2px 0px 5px 0px;
780padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
781}
782.profile-data {
783margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
784padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
785font-weight: normal;
786font-style: italic;
787}
788.profile-link {
789margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
790padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
791}
792/* -----   COMMENT   ----- Blogger template design by Ourblogtemplates.com */
793#comments {
794margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
795padding: 0px 15px 20px 15px;
796text-align: left;
797color: #738549;
798font: normal normal 94% Verdana, sans-serif;
799background: #ffebac;
800border: 1px solid #fff5d5;
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802/* comment-header */
803#comments h4 {
804margin: 20px 0px 0px 0px;
805padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
806color: #000000;
807font: normal bold 127% Verdana, sans-serif;
808}
809.deleted-comment {
810font-style:italic;
811color:gray;
812margin: 3px 0px 3px 0px;
813}
814.comment-author {
815display: block;
816margin: 10px 0px 0px 0px;
817padding: 8px 10px 3px 0px;
818color: #738549;
819/* background: #7f7f7f; */
820border-top: 1px solid  #fff5d5;
821border-bottom: 0px dotted #fff5d5;
822font-weight: normal;
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824.comment-author a {color: #738549; text-decoration: none;}
825.comment-author a:hover {color: #738549; text-decoration: underline;}
826.comment-author a:visited {color: #738549; text-decoration: none;}
827.comment-body {margin: 0; padding: 5px 0px 5px 40px;}
828.comment-body p {margin: 0; padding: 0; line-height: 1.7em;}
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830.comment-timestamp {
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838}
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840color: #738549;
841text-decoration: none;
842}
843.comment-timestamp a:hover {color: #738549; text-decoration: underline;}
844#comments ul {margin: 0; padding: 0; list-style-type: none;}
845#comments li {margin: 0; padding: 0;}
846a.comment-link {
847/* ie5.0/win doesn't apply padding to inline elements,
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849padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
850}
851html>body a.comment-link {
852/* respecified, for ie5/mac's benefit */
853padding-left: 0px;
854}
855/* -----   LOWER SECTION   ----- Blogger template design by Ourblogtemplates.com */
856#lower-wrapper {
857margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
858padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
859width: 980px;
860font: normal normal 11px Verdana, sans-serif;;
861color: #ffebac;
862background: #738549;
863border-top: 5px solid #ffebac;
864border-bottom: 5px solid #ffebac;
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866#lowerbar-wrapper {
867float: left;
868margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
869padding: 0px 0px 15px 0px;
870width: 33%;
871text-align: left;
872line-height: 1.8em;
873word-wrap: break-word; /* fix for long text breaking sidebar float in IE */
874overflow: hidden; /* fix for long non-text content breaking IE sidebar float */
875}
876#lowerads-wrapper {
877float: left;
878margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
879padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
880width: 100%;
881text-align: center;
882word-wrap: break-word; /* fix for long text breaking sidebar float in IE */
883overflow: hidden; /* fix for long non-text content breaking IE sidebar float */
884}
885.lowerbar {margin: 0; padding: 0;}
886.lowerbar .widget {margin: 0; padding: 15px 20px 0px 34px;}
887.lowerads {margin: 0; padding: 0;}
888.lowerads .widget {margin: 0; padding: 10px 0px 10px 0px;}
889.lowerbar h2 {
890margin: 0px 0px 2px 0px;
891padding: 10px 0px 2px 0px;
892color: #f4cd55;
893font: normal bold 14px Verdana, sans-serif;;
894text-align: left;
895text-transform: uppercase;
896text-decoration: underline;
897/* background: #bb0000;
898border-bottom: 1px solid #333333; */
899}
900.lowerbar ul {
901margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
902padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
903list-style-type: none;
904}
905.lowerbar li {
906margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
907padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
908/* border-bottom: 1px solid #cc0000; */
909}
910.lowerbar a {color: #ffebac; text-decoration: none;}
911.lowerbar a:hover {text-decoration: underline; color: #f4cd55;}
912.lowerbar a:visited {text-decoration: none; color: #ffebac;}
913/* -----   FOOTER   ----- Blogger template design by Ourblogtemplates.com */
914#footer-wrapper {
915clear: both;
916display: inline; /* handles IE margin bug */
917float: left;
918width: 980px;
919margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
920padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
921background: #435519;
922border-top: 1px solid #ffffff;
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924#footer {
925margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
926padding: 7px 0px 0px 0px;
927text-align: center;
928color: #ffebac;
929font: normal bold 72% Arial, sans-serif;
930line-height: 1.6em;
931}
932#footer h2 {
933margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
934padding: 0px 0px 2px 0px;
935color: #ffebac;
936font: normal bold 114% Arial, sans-serif;
937}
938#footer .widget {
939margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
940padding: 0px 10px 7px 10px;
941}
942.footer p {margin: 0; padding: 0}
943.footer a {
944color: #ffebac;
945text-decoration: none;
946}
947.footer a:hover {
948color: #cc0000;
949text-decoration: underline;
950}
951.footer a:visited {
952color: #ffebac;
953text-decoration: none;
954}
955/* -----   BOTTOM ADS   ----- Blogger template design by Ourblogtemplates.com */
956#bottomads-wrapper {
957margin: 0;
958padding: 0;
959position: relative;
960text-align: center;
961width: 100%;
962}
963#bottomads {margin: 0; padding: 10px 0;}
964#bottomads .widget {margin: 0; padding: 5px 0;}
965/* -----   CREDIT   ----- */
966#credit {
967margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
968padding: 2px 0px 0px 0px;
969width: 100%;
970height: 26px;
971clear: both;
972font-family: verdana, helvetica;
973font-size: 70%;
974color: #fbe7a9;
975font-weight: normal;
976background: #435519;
977}
978#creditleft {
979margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
980padding: 7px 0px 0px 0px;
981height: 26px;
982position: relative;
983float: left;
984text-align: left;
985display: inline;
986width: 71%;
987background: #435519;
988}
989#creditright {
990margin: -33px 0px 0px 0px;
991padding: 7px 0px 0px 0px;
992height: 26px;
993position: relative;
994float: right;
995text-align:right;
996display: inline;
997width: 30%;
998background: #435519;
999}
1000#creditleft p {
1001margin: 0;
1002padding: 0
1003}
1004#creditright p {
1005margin: 0;
1006padding: 0
1007}
1008#creditleft a, .creditleft a:hover, .creditleft a:visited {
1009color: #fbe7a9;
1010text-decoration: underline;
1011}
1012#creditright a, .creditright a:hover, .creditright a:visited {
1013color: #fbe7a9;
1014text-decoration: underline;
1015}
1016/* ************ END OF CSS STYLING ************ */
1017/** Page structure tweaks for layout editor wireframe */
1018body#layout #main,
1019body#layout #sidebar {
1020padding: 0;
1021}
1022
1023--></style>
1024<script type='text/javascript'>
1025
1026var fade = false;
1027function showFull(id) {
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1051                   spans[i].style.background = peekaboo_bgcolor;
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1055             if (spans[i].id == "showlink")
1056                 spans[i].style.display = 'inline';
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1075}
1076
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1077
1078<link href='https://www.blogger.com/dyncss/5713937317617581476/authorization.css?zx=326ecd5f-63e4-4973-b01d-3b4c22dd4887' media='none' onload='if(media!=&#39;all&#39;)media=&#39;all&#39;' rel='stylesheet'/><noscript><link href='https://www.blogger.com/dyncss/5713937317617581476/authorization.css?zx=326ecd5f-63e4-4973-b01d-3b4c22dd4887' rel='stylesheet'/></noscript>
1079<meta name='google-adsense-platform-account' content='ca-host-pub-1556223355139109'/>
1080<meta name='google-adsense-platform-domain' content='blogspot.com'/>
1081
1082</head>
1083<body>
1084<div class='navbar section' id='navbar'><div class='widget Navbar' data-version='1' id='Navbar1'>
1084<script type="text/javascript">
1085    function setAttributeOnload(object, attribute, val) {
1086      if(window.addEventListener) {
1087        window.addEventListener('load',
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1093  </script>
1093
1094<div id="navbar-iframe-container"></div>
1095<script type="text/javascript" src="https://apis.google.com/js/platform.js"></script>
vendor: 1 bytes, line 1095
1095
1096<script type="text/javascript">
1097      gapi.load("gapi.iframes:gapi.iframes.style.bubble", function() {
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1106<script type="text/javascript">
1107(function() {
1108var script = document.createElement('script');
1109script.type = 'text/javascript';
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1111var head = document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0];
1112if (head) {
1113head.appendChild(script);
1114}})();
1115</script>
1115
1116</div></div>
1117<div id='outer-wrapper'>
1118<!-- skip links for text browsers -->
1119<span id='skiplinks' style='display:none;'>
1120<a href='#main'>skip to main </a> |
1121<a href='#sidebar'>skip to sidebar</a>
1122</span>
1123<div id='topads-wrapper'>
1124<div class='topads no-items section' id='topads'></div>
1125</div>
1126<div style='clear: both;'></div>
1127<div id='blog-wrapper'>
1128<div id='header-wrapper'>
1129<div class='header section' id='header'><div class='widget Header' data-version='1' id='Header1'>
1130<div id='header-inner'>
1131<a href='http://donnaball.blogspot.com/' style='display: block'>
1132<img alt='Donna Ball' height='300px; ' id='Header1_headerimg' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBGCWMsCGhnc754jf9IZPZoNV_DZjK8-PbWyIi-QtobjW38fmXi_ZGZsUcgpwZpT95B7jFh5QS4WvP8nGwUozOJrsu-rciydJOriscmYXo95voQGN2shCg-l_-q4m9pmbabHjKsSVlBw/s1600-r/Shinyheader4.jpg' style='display: block' width='980px; '/>
1133</a>
1134</div>
1135</div></div>
1136</div>
1137<div style='clear: both;'></div>
1138<div id='linkbar-wrapper'>
1139<div class='linkbar section' id='linkbar'><div class='widget LinkList' data-version='1' id='LinkList1'>
1140<h2>Pages</h2>
1141<div class='widget-content'>
1142<ul>
1143<li><a href='http://donnaball.blogspot.com/'>HOME</a></li>
1144<li><a href='http://rainestocktondogmysteries.blogspot.com/'>RAINE STOCKTON</a></li>
1145<li><a href='http://doglegislanddogmysteries.blogspot.com/'>DOGLEG ISLAND MYSTERIES</a></li>
1146<li><a href='http://donnaball.blogspot.com/p/the-hummingbird-house.html'>THE HUMMINGBIRD HOUSE</a></li>
1147<li><a href='http://www.ladybugfarmcharms.blogspot.com/'>LADYBUG FARM</a></li>
1148<li><a href='http://donnaball.blogspot.com/p/donna-ball-published-her-first-book-in.html'>BIO</a></li>
1149<li><a href='http://donnaball.blogspot.com/p/contact-me_21.html'>CONTACT</a></li>
1150<li><a href='http://donnaball.blogspot.com/p/backlist.html'>BACKLIST</a></li>
1151<li><a href='http://donnaball.blogspot.com/p/flash.html'>READ AN EXCERPT</a></li>
1152<li><a href='https://thesagaofthehunter.blogspot.com/2025/09/a-story-so-powerful-it-takes-three.html'>THE SAGA OF THE HUNTER</a></li>
1153</ul>
1154<div class='clear'></div>
1155</div>
1156</div></div>
1157</div>
1158<div style='clear: both;'></div>
1159<div id='middleads-wrapper'>
1160<div class='middleads section' id='middleads'><div class='widget HTML' data-version='1' id='HTML2'>
1161<div class='widget-content'>
1162<script charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_ssw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fthepetcoach-20%2F8003%2Fe1fab9cd-3436-4a22-aba2-96c099d8e03d&Operation=GetScriptTemplate"> </script>
1162 <noscript><a href="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_ssw&ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fthepetcoach-20%2F8003%2Fe1fab9cd-3436-4a22-aba2-96c099d8e03d&Operation=NoScript">Amazon.com Widgets</a></noscript>
1163</div>
1164<div class='clear'></div>
1165</div></div>
1166</div>
1167<div style='clear: both;'></div>
1168<div id='content-wrapper'>
1169<div id='subcontent-wrapper'>
1170<div id='side-wrapper1'>
1171<div class='sidebar section' id='sidebar1'><div class='widget Image' data-version='1' id='Image35'>
1172<h2>Bones from the Sky</h2>
1173<div class='widget-content'>
1174<a href='https://www.amazon.com/Bones-Sky-Donna-Ball-ebook/dp/B0HG6K2BF9'>
1175<img alt='Bones from the Sky' height='256' id='Image35_img' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiuN5dmpOzMkexmsTx28xLeRTJ8LsMTIf5stLE3Gpqu02Fh8i8b8CbD3ld6Lac0AmUhvMlmPH_hemak0ePWVJfEzLbiWHXsKo48Dnile5ENIRETHb8gwgK3kfePvGovtfd4ou1czPCza7Y9Z-sKT0IkKG-KEyGDiBL096UrneanMD9Ftl_FE4ws3ol--vA=s256' width='160'/>
1176</a>
1177<br/>
1178<span class='caption'>Now Available</span>
1179</div>
1180<div class='clear'></div>
1181</div><div class='widget Image' data-version='1' id='Image33'>
1182<h2>Jagged Edges</h2>
1183<div class='widget-content'>
1184<a href='https://www.amazon.com/Jagged-Edges-Donna-Ball-ebook/dp/B0GGXCZT5T'>
1185<img alt='Jagged Edges' height='256' id='Image33_img' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigonsjNhIPByt_-2vtcJw7jcWMbr17r6yPWxctfCOMHa5VDKbFbZXB2cusQTs3INwr0wDXT4NlDZrWeGcg-SA93gvAuug86WO4wAISzkBXayIi6BcXQVtXE5OwxnEndu-wXnC3plARQRGnnQ6t2FSmVxrktzljPIdaGVEnN9sND95aHDiPRld2AJZ3KL4=s256' width='160'/>
1186</a>
1187<br/>
1188<span class='caption'>Raine Stockton Dog Mystery #17 Now Available!</span>
1189</div>
1190<div class='clear'></div>
1191</div><div class='widget Image' data-version='1' id='Image32'>
1192<h2>A Flash of Shadow</h2>
1193<div class='widget-content'>
1194<a href='https://www.amazon.com/Flash-Shadow-Dogleg-Island-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0FNKTGBJ3'>
1195<img alt='A Flash of Shadow' height='240' id='Image32_img' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6_NvjgYbGj7W1gAVDJuY1qSmtpGORfMobNhsQc2JHoEdZEH9mmL88ssVNm0CKtJ7GvYK-hXVw5IgS7MLS3Ho8gCc1M8areaUeHF8VSSRlZBuuNinNT4Sm-wlQXDWMn85mgwG_-J4lk_ON1L1f8gnJLQ5c0xBGmPJ-qOGOU79kvAaX-prtX2UfVzWCLvI=s240' width='160'/>
1196</a>
1197<br/>
1198<span class='caption'>Now Available</span>
1199</div>
1200<div class='clear'></div>
1201</div><div class='widget HTML' data-version='1' id='HTML7'>
1202<h2 class='title'>Subscribe to Newsletter</h2>
1203<div class='widget-content'>
1204<!-- Begin MailChimp Signup Form -->
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1218
1219<!--End mc_embed_signup-->
1220</div>
1221<div class='clear'></div>
1222</div><div class='widget Image' data-version='1' id='Image30'>
1223<h2>Undefeatable</h2>
1224<div class='widget-content'>
1225<a href='https://www.amazon.com/Undefeatable-Lawson-Mystery-Blood-River-ebook/dp/B0DZKGZMQ6'>
1226<img alt='Undefeatable' height='240' id='Image30_img' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZa9_DSNqytkKInATgcC3jIZm-I_Jzyzd2C-x-bOqR5HCRY7j1q9etOm2GKaZP1MQ-i2mZbAo_UMbPIKbaPV-NoIBs7Fz3TPZi0wlQ86A4e8dmM1D3OT0a12hy_Jih7k3_MzuBTw2pReF04txdtbX-qHUz9ei3yA7RZqXt1vD1FF_WPa2ZF7GUiT6c1E0=s240' width='160'/>
1227</a>
1228<br/>
1229<span class='caption'>Now Available</span>
1230</div>
1231<div class='clear'></div>
1232</div><div class='widget Image' data-version='1' id='Image31'>
1233<h2>Dead Man's Trail</h2>
1234<div class='widget-content'>
1235<a href='https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Mans-Trail-Donna-Ball-ebook/dp/B0D2VKP49Q'>
1236<img alt='Dead Man&#39;s Trail' height='256' id='Image31_img' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6BKnXoPRj7PDkOnBo0OoYPDCWvnV2VyMoCETgQD8tXdxNVr4_DRqRjeBGFjF1LLKl3ZsH67QpinY2EodwlbKqh0ejC7uOFJ_psR6bq4DhHgFvT0SBQNA9ZXCiaFLMoAAr0-h0vLo4-lyG-5wZgXnl9ggLvjNznxBPeO9fEYGCxi5ruDhWeHhGKeKwR2k=s256' width='160'/>
1237</a>
1238<br/>
1239<span class='caption'>Now available</span>
1240</div>
1241<div class='clear'></div>
1242</div><div class='widget Image' data-version='1' id='Image29'>
1243<h2>Flash of Fire</h2>
1244<div class='widget-content'>
1245<a href='https://www.amazon.com/Flash-Fire-Dogleg-Island-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0CLQWQRGT'>
1246<img alt='Flash of Fire' height='256' id='Image29_img' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqUIcuiwgg_Z09LkgbuZJP-g-wCqbelFNXmw8HtvxsvWZa5h_ydqWDCnmcBEAdnHK42HFa0KGWOdCWJpUTBcyCmnmByLzRGlHXoNibLKDchR814YqXQZhq2KPhIiIMQvTYQT3IU67AVU6XTCx5Oebza17Y22IHPMHOevyBe_asrLzQD85a41aompk5ZHY=s256' width='160'/>
1247</a>
1248<br/>
1249<span class='caption'>Dogleg Island Mystery #6 now available everywhere</span>
1250</div>
1251<div class='clear'></div>
1252</div><div class='widget Image' data-version='1' id='Image28'>
1253<h2>Unstoppable</h2>
1254<div class='widget-content'>
1255<a href='https://www.amazon.com/Unstoppable-Lawson-Mystery-Donna-Ball/dp/1735127167'>
1256<img alt='Unstoppable' height='256' id='Image28_img' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJ-LSTC_TsaT9_mFZy7i7xcJVyTLzZJ0mPqhp_l9drt7vRl9uTl5yXzNBZM2urWyuW4
1256Sa8J3wotnf7hJh8S3IVHUEqP3eauuKBEvbhGsivMUtMkhJhMtudKha4jrrLKw5tUZeA7b70nulefrQY3LAj5sEegKYF-aTboJLBPSC7J1XxI47z7-TTRnjkNoE=s256' width='160'/>
1257</a>
1258<br/>
1259<span class='caption'>Available now! </span>
1260</div>
1261<div class='clear'></div>
1262</div><div class='widget Image' data-version='1' id='Image27'>
1263<h2>Deck the Halls</h2>
1264<div class='widget-content'>
1265<a href='https://www.amazon.com/Deck-Halls-Holiday-Mystery-Anthology/dp/1735127132'>
1266<img alt='Deck the Halls' height='217' id='Image27_img' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMPs6dHGggFLhvjV6aZqWSjzlVN0WXucJaDMYjCzK6x_nJx-mO2En1CVp6GexjP_fFvDQC3YOJRoUa8_icxGPJL1SbzUd6EOsEl5-1u2SpEdTbuammXrQdtVyu8TS3U6wymz2SlOF7Ss7dwXi-OwSkfgeaJkDkICoWZzopnp2stSt1KmBpOIDD1KOL5Tc=s217' width='160'/>
1267</a>
1268<br/>
1269<span class='caption'>Featuring Raine and Cisco, Flash and Aggie, and Buck Lawson</span>
1270</div>
1271<div class='clear'></div>
1272</div><div class='widget Image' data-version='1' id='Image26'>
1273<h2>The Judge's Daughter</h2>
1274<div class='widget-content'>
1275<a href='https://www.amazon.com/Judges-Daughter-Raine-Stockton-Mysteries/dp/1735127140'>
1276<img alt='The Judge&#39;s Daughter' height='214' id='Image26_img' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMGkE_pWn-4b-dxGIFmW5KTTwa5kYByN93ocKeh70K_1fu8bHYV4fg1Ei-lmKEcGMoSSJkEaVpOJvNcNQtVYs1plg4-swHuDSxaWvTBVYRsT1f7fSpISiKJsWMGNt1akDusDfYTifqW9olUTOI0_Wy5klHQwxzz38TUiiYztBjxaY7TV0Sx-Cnt6mEEvA=s214' width='160'/>
1277</a>
1278<br/>
1279<span class='caption'>Available now!</span>
1280</div>
1281<div class='clear'></div>
1282</div><div class='widget Image' data-version='1' id='Image25'>
1283<h2>Unfixable: A Buck Lawson Mystery</h2>
1284<div class='widget-content'>
1285<a href='https://www.amazon.com/Unfixable-Lawson-Mystery-Blood-River/dp/1735127124'>
1286<img alt='Unfixable: A Buck Lawson Mystery' height='256' id='Image25_img' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxgF6_FiMmAeVLwTifmevILi1t0mJEbHmz074mXGKcqVXe6HIiFsyzHWCIU0_G46AYD2d41N2EksbpMKdZft9ekCXomybFEjXSStA5btCJ1Wy-92zXU_azjK8wGI_jrKjutYFwYLmEEcLjn4uATGceRq7JF5VL5P5vdD6ErIRIisxDbRDvzK_kEA-WSak=s256' width='160'/>
1287</a>
1288<br/>
1289<span class='caption'>Available from Amazon</span>
1290</div>
1291<div class='clear'></div>
1292</div><div class='widget Image' data-version='1' id='Image24'>
1293<h2>Flash in the Dark</h2>
1294<div class='widget-content'>
1295<a href='https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08VDLZ25H'>
1296<img alt='Flash in the Dark' height='160' id='Image24_img' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRj3zDoUsCOF-9cj_9vRRYhYCR5ITeenBLEDxAaVOOaJkEECwaOpJ92o0245gbd9Iud8O57fkgO1HTobNaog4pn29lADkcGvxO5A0S6iKbL_cvmDEeu7ELcMccX3JEoqhLrdtzVeml0ao/s1600/Flash+in+the+Dark+E-COVER.jpg' width='100'/>
1297</a>
1298<br/>
1299<span class='caption'>Now Available</span>
1300</div>
1301<div class='clear'></div>
1302</div><div class='widget Image' data-version='1' id='Image23'>
1303<h2>Murder Creek</h2>
1304<div class='widget-content'>
1305<a href='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084T96C6V'>
1306<img alt='Murder Creek' height='214' id='Image23_img' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqL94B_NH9x-YhaLTcJPu2Mg6myp_Ro8tRIIdwfYHn27ubs0ZJYmK75eb6nJVhjSTuNDLv7trYw8O7rh9ssVNs-sMFqMqCOjOsN-zFlW9upk7i8hiQs0Fa5BEre0hXCrQGxmHSPMSeG0g/s1600/Murder+Creek+Cover.JPG' width='160'/>
1307</a>
1308<br/>
1309<span class='caption'>Now Available!</span>
1310</div>
1311<div class='clear'></div>
1312</div><div class='widget LinkList' data-version='1' id='LinkList2'>
1313<div class='widget-content'>
1314<ul>
1315<li><a href='http://http//ladybugfarmcharms.blogspot.com/p/readers-guide-year-on-ladybug-farm-by.html'>READERS'GUIDES</a></li>
1316<li><a href='http://dogdazejournal.blogspot.com/'>DOG STUFF</a></li>
1317<li><a href='http://www.awriterreads.blogspot.com/'>VISIT MY BLOG</a></li>
1318</ul>
1319<div class='clear'></div>
1320</div>
1321</div><div class='widget Image' data-version='1' id='Image22'>
1322<h2>The Devil's Deal</h2>
1323<div class='widget-content'>
1324<a href='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K37D63Z'>
1325<img alt='The Devil&#39;s Deal' height='214' id='Image22_img' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtUOBGbS-ic2vod1Bga3n8ODCKGRyHSArBhxlvACgsUwE7Z3I-80EDwDC9L4SHJto0H4-rf_uNiEK1YLvqWuBC2lB3ZDG_wwm8JmKeEire6PY7n7YU_ZD8ejyrAavaRRIMw0bF-aFXmvQ/s1600/The+Devil%2527s+Deal+Cover.JPG' width='160'/>
1326</a>
1327<br/>
1328<span class='caption'>November 29 2018</span>
1329</div>
1330<div class='clear'></div>
1331</div><div class='widget Image' data-version='1' id='Image21'>
1332<h2>Love, From the Hummingbird House</h2>
1333<div class='widget-content'>
1334<a href='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F4PG6GQ'>
1335<img alt='Love, From the Hummingbird House' height='221' id='Image21_img' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2xvwBix2QFNbAc6HyzihHKf9ng7x39nDcHQDaLMnzRzowSg5DVH0VAekcqF5URBzncy7e3frWPc9i2u0kn_yvRsB-ez-dGbtUXrCMVYNU1hlNlz9536E8NHpBz6W1DUnDzUp7tYGnJs/s1600/Love+from+the+Hummingbird+House+Cover.JPG' width='160'/>
1336</a>
1337<br/>
1338<span class='caption'>A Short Novella for Hummingbird House Lovers</span>
1339</div>
1340<div class='clear'></div>
1341</div><div class='widget Image' data-version='1' id='Image20'>
1342<h2>Flash of Brilliance</h2>
1343<div class='widget-content'>
1344<a href='http://www.amazon.com/dp/B071WNQ5CJ'>
1345<img alt='Flash of Brilliance' height='225' id='Image20_img' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKPCtMoWftOFn3d9INO60uTHEJ8lY3Zdwofq_FmMPfKYEexgZMiSq0zvoHSNJ3poLMehehQFgSAbsAd43PU-nqON2pp6GmWNCzP-Pwa3gKfKDXgqEDQ6Vaa0MJoipjcDdzaY_c4tHVOA/s1600/Flash+of+Brilliance+Cover+Final.JPG' width='160'/>
1346</a>
1347<br/>
1348<span class='caption'>Dogleg Island Mystery #3</span>
1349</div>
1350<div class='clear'></div>
1351</div><div class='widget Image' data-version='1' id='Image18'>
1352<h2>Land of the Free</h2>
1353<div class='widget-content'>
1354<a href='https://www.amazon.com/Land-Free-Donna-Ball/dp/099656103X'>
1355<img alt='Land of the Free' height='160' id='Image18_img' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBx-KVAqEI7c9ATljDd6nRbpV7687h32mt
1355yXJLufwr7CIQBQcWYlkGwfvkog4v5rHZLINb9ypKJ4AUtG41iDVkEnpeFtoXMsIlLmy9UP6rsyfVYqmh5pEMLJjAad65CFsjlFcENc6NGY/s160/Land+of+the+Free+Cover+Final.JPG' width='119'/>
1356</a>
1357<br/>
1358<span class='caption'>Now Available!</span>
1359</div>
1360<div class='clear'></div>
1361</div><div class='widget Image' data-version='1' id='Image14'>
1362<h2>Dog Days</h2>
1363<div class='widget-content'>
1364<a href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01228E65M'>
1365<img alt='Dog Days' height='160' id='Image14_img' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiijfLVqwV_midKQeZqF3SlWlmr-_oHMfT4kGsgfUDnHfeBBb7yjr8rEv4WBPEHU3LR6ZPVdComghmJCuzHs_LpIU65qCHgqRf8I4awsJtDC7w8ozgWeB-wlroxirHHpav9_11SwUoItKE/s1600/Dog+Days+Cover+FInal.JPG' width='118'/>
1366</a>
1367<br/>
1368</div>
1369<div class='clear'></div>
1370</div><div class='widget Image' data-version='1' id='Image12'>
1371<h2>Home of the Brave</h2>
1372<div class='widget-content'>
1373<a href='http://http://www.amazon.com/dp/0985774878/'>
1374<img alt='Home of the Brave' height='215' id='Image12_img' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidUUT1B1PmmiX6V9jC0eWJnBqU7ye-pTKF37F9DUj_xElAIcdA3WrrJFNpzH-q77w_WY-DSiVlGji0IRg5K8M4QERviBFVN2n98Sp52ndc0hsVq5rsYXLLYPffx5fDFqDajKj0dZavObk/s1600/Home+of+the+Brave+Cover.JPG' width='160'/>
1375</a>
1376<br/>
1377<span class='caption'>Now Available!</span>
1378</div>
1379<div class='clear'></div>
1380</div><div class='widget Image' data-version='1' id='Image19'>
1381<h2>The Sound of Running Horses</h2>
1382<div class='widget-content'>
1383<a href='https://www.amazon.com/Sound-Running-Horses-Donna-Ball/dp/0996561021'>
1384<img alt='The Sound of Running Horses' height='160' id='Image19_img' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarbq552L9xt1jKlB4g8btN0QKfE_-yxNmIb-0yuvU2DR_RqB7ed1XHabDFRbNk96qG_R2iASztCDzI5NKi5CERI0zThyphenhyphenyr_yu97OwUM_aF-5z-GETEUU-uLNZwMsnbMccbLxuLJcNxpw/s1600/The+Sound+of+Running+Horses+Cover.JPG' width='118'/>
1385</a>
1386<br/>
1387<span class='caption'>Dogleg Island Mystery Book Two</span>
1388</div>
1389<div class='clear'></div>
1390</div><div class='widget Image' data-version='1' id='Image15'>
1391<h2>Christmas at the Hummingbird House</h2>
1392<div class='widget-content'>
1393<a href='http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Hummingbird-House-Donna-Ball-ebook/dp/B017ODW8ZA'>
1394<img alt='Christmas at the Hummingbird House' height='160' id='Image15_img' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpGvMowzrgosaQaPNee1YjsZTiZNWF7eSiWq-Dh0RyKbM9MS8lBCFQx72SY2iILtv0pdLpGzWxHOswMNlYV0-EdGzYEVHbB76Yy17PNeLcViq0zMKXfsVvPafJ9s5aQ6gtp3GtBHkWUBA/s160/Christmas+at+the+Hummingbird+House+Cover+Nook.jpg' width='124'/>
1395</a>
1396<br/>
1397</div>
1398<div class='clear'></div>
1399</div><div class='widget Image' data-version='1' id='Image16'>
1400<h2>Christmas on Ladybug Farm</h2>
1401<div class='widget-content'>
1402<a href='http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Ladybug-Farm-Donna-Ball-ebook/dp/B006GEILHI/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1449502103&sr=1-1&keywords=christmas+on+ladybug+farm'>
1403<img alt='Christmas on Ladybug Farm' height='160' id='Image16_img' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFa9D1KpstYCpbMqAM4J1pgoo_uYBYNBoOkNGX0OpNv-1bGeJ2xbKUUDp24vQxwhwxa97gkiKGh_OvFmL7xqlKoEbpmZVpDcTXmrO-NzOVEa3DkP8jZcfZjd-BInx9wUHIc0TxOqZsOxs/s1600-r/Christmas+on+Ladybug+Farm+Cover.JPG' width='124'/>
1404</a>
1405<br/>
1406</div>
1407<div class='clear'></div>
1408</div><div class='widget Image' data-version='1' id='Image17'>
1409<h2>Silent Night</h2>
1410<div class='widget-content'>
1411<a href='http://http://www.amazon.com/Silent-Night-Raine-Stockton-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B006A9POVU'>
1412<img alt='Silent Night' height='160' id='Image17_img' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrY0-j5F7pBJdtk3HGyk05LSyiP_6gVR4ex3qGeiu7leppulo30k1oAdh6QXf8qUDifksS-hV4ZixKf-tavSLI1Qn8OMdJJJwuH__LnhVzUgC5_tdYEFtNb63SNbJ-yUO-qa_iA9AwpDc/s1600-r/SIlent+Night+Cover+Web.jpg' width='126'/>
1413</a>
1414<br/>
1415</div>
1416<div class='clear'></div>
1417</div><div class='widget Image' data-version='1' id='Image13'>
1418<h2>Flash</h2>
1419<div class='widget-content'>
1420<a href='http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00V3KTHT6'>
1421<img alt='Flash' height='160' id='Image13_img' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivyJD9khw-fC6PGo8RdpCnaJFfhn8elhfr0wBMCaEv2o6bgT5RmKvX65cypNSQP1iZYBtHazFurQWuzkLFQbFGjoYmImT3uoQLq26Ntl-1LF_68I33iY9_gwca9rYtZLliLpuSOAEyw0I/s1600/Flash+e-book+Cover.jpg' width='107'/>
1422</a>
1423<br/>
1424<span class='caption'>Available May 1 2015!</span>
1425</div>
1426<div class='clear'></div>
1427</div><div class='widget HTML' data-version='1' id='HTML11'>
1428<h2 class='title'>A Wedding Ladybug Farm</h2>
1429<div class='widget-content'>
1430<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/098577486X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=098577486X&linkCode=as2&tag=thepetcoach-20&linkId=365LONS4ZJNCCBGS"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&amp;ASIN=098577486X&amp;Format=_SL250_&amp;ID=AsinImage&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;WS=1&amp;tag=thepetcoach-20" /></a><img src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thepetcoach-20&l=as2&o=1&a=098577486X" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />
1431</div>
1432<div class='clear'></div>
1433</div><div class='widget HTML' data-version='1' id='HTML9'>
1434<h2 class='title'>Double Dog Dare</h2>
1435<div class='widget-content'>
1436<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0985774843/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0985774843&linkCode=as2&tag=thepetcoach-20&linkId=MYI2U7HG3LXKSKAC"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&amp;ASIN=0985774843&amp;Format=_SL250_&amp;ID=AsinImage&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;WS=1&amp;tag=thepetcoach-20" /></a><img src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thepetcoach-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0985774843" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />
1437</div>
1438<div class='clear'></div>
1439</div><div class='widget HTML' data-version='1' id='HTML8'>
1440<h2 class='title'>Hummingbird House</h2>
1441<div class='widget-content'>
1442<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0985774835/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0985774835&linkCode=as2&tag=thepetcoach-20&linkId=32RHEK5ZJ5INAW5M"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&amp;ASIN=0985774835&amp;Format=_SL250_&amp;ID=AsinImage&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;WS=1&amp;tag=thepetcoach-20" /></a><img src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=thepetcoach-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0985774835" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />
1443</div>
1444<div class='clear'></div>
1445</div><div class='widget Image' data-version='1' id='Image11'>
1446<h2>High in Trial</h2>
1447<div class='widget-content'>
1448<a href='http://www.amazon.com/Trial-Raine-Stockton-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B00BVSM1R0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1363709050&sr=8-1&keywords=High+In+Trial+by+Donna+Ball'>
1449<img alt='High in Trial' height='160' id='Image11_img' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJS8x-06kocQsf2DYsXw3fLt1yBY_fd2i8rQ-_x1S0U1TSf3QDdcKkIfnE9x-PLK5Y18AxKPzoViMj9gW66dFXWEAf2n_fl7I1a1mQ6Xolg5AIBVzzrb1hNxAbu1ikJUDpi622jYqStbM/s160/High+In+Trial+Amazon+Ebook+Cover.jpg' width='120'/>
1450</a>
1451<br/>
1452<span class='caption'>Now available!</span>
1453</div>
1454<div class='clear'></div>
1455</div><div class='widget Image' data-version='1' id='Image10'>
1456<h2>Vintage Ladybug Farm</h2>
1457<div class='widget-content'>
1458<a href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009G2KABW/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B009G2KABW&linkCode=as2&tag=thepetcoach-20'>
1459<img alt='Vintage Ladybug Farm' height='160' id='Image10_img' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWMMdraB9gymW5JIY-pq3P2QblWAUKiy3cRV83Y6iFHyqv3oy2EEoa38LU92rKfCTPA_VqADe-yUywBI3YIPDyCEjeamaB4GeHNVR7v5sXY9et3AzTBvl77e7k4e8FhHJ3Z-IzkYgGTUw/s160/Vintage+Ladybug+Farm+Cover+6x9.jpg' width='107'/>
1460</a>
1461<br/>
1462<span class='caption'>Now Available!</span>
1463</div>
1464<div class='clear'></div>
1465</div><div class='widget HTML' data-version='1' id='HTML6'>
1466<h2 class='title'>The Dead Season</h2>
1467<div class='widget-content'>
1468<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/097732964X/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il?ie=UTF8&tag=thepetcoach-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=097732964X"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&amp;Format=_SL160_&amp;ASIN=097732964X&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;ID=AsinImage&amp;WS=1&amp;tag=thepetcoach-20&amp;ServiceVersion=20070822" /></a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thepetcoach-20&l=as2&o=1&a=097732964X" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />
1469</div>
1470<div class='clear'></div>
1471</div><div class='widget Image' data-version='1' id='Image9'>
1472<h2>Shattered</h2>
1473<div class='widget-content'>
1474<a href='http://<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007WMHHEQ/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thepetcoach-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B007WMHHEQ">Shattered</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thepetcoach-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B007WMHHEQ" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />'>
1475<img alt='Shattered' height='160' id='Image9_img' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6i4yUXzZbYhGaN9w-5zNdV2LgUtjGAnMnChUcu51xuLj88zBKt4AXIcIEXXYigGoIFSuDPp71HNC180csMVHvHOQDC2G-s62J40NqfGfIT1TwNU3dHcbl-InQBZdK8Qhhb6JK3c4Y41E/s160/Shattered+Cover+copy.jpg' width='124'/>
1476</a>
1477<br/>
1478<span class='caption'>Now at Amazon.com!</span>
1479</div>
1480<div class='clear'></div>
1481</div><div class='widget Text' data-version='1' id='Text4'>
1482<div class='widget-content'>
1483Two new holiday books from your favorite characters!<br/>
1484</div>
1485<div class='clear'></div>
1486</div><div class='widget HTML' data-version='1' id='HTML3'>
1487<h2 class='title'>Renegade</h2>
1488<div class='widget-content'>
1489<iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thepetcoach-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0977329615&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe>
1490</div>
1491<div class='clear'></div>
1492</div><div class='widget Image' data-version='1' id='Image8'>
1493<div class='widget-content'>
1494<a href='http://www.amazon.com/Exposure-Donna-Ball/dp/1463618166/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1309621609&sr=1-3'>
1495<img alt='' height='160' id='Image8_img' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkbpR5r8v5nbRp7bpF8moLiESbCzG6BlDoV0_ORDg2nrsmKYAuIKN0qjJXJjGaX6q0mDUfHbWlrlxQ5marHm1cnTw1-Ksepu6Xqs4UjqsMCuQlhVgppotV96W-MbiXgvybabnr0TbTsDQ/s160/Exposure+Cover.JPG' width='124'/>
1496</a>
1497<br/>
1498<span class='caption'>A suspense thriller in paperback or digital editiion</span>
1499</div>
1500<div class='clear'></div>
1501</div><div class='widget Image' data-version='1' id='Image7'>
1502<div class='widget-content'>
1503<a href='http://www.amazon.com/Bone-Raine-Stockton-Mystery-ebook/dp/B00506U9LO/ref=pd_sim_kinc_3?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2'>
1504<img alt='' height='160' id='Image7_img' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXpgHY871rQNNWJSzxpD0JDTUeG_VLWp-GpxRV4sIaQRkv3N-ddQgzBOqAiRd1aZT4J6TqA4nwtnZtdzGiTQAhxqEswSVZ2TEtE0U72Sh6blxSRMZkr0rEPHYezIqs1cU-hyZSPGXRAM/s160/Boneyard+Cover2.JPG' width='124'/>
1505</a>
1506<br/>
1507<span class='caption'>Book #4 in the Raine Stockton series.  E-book only.</span>
1508</div>
1509<div class='clear'></div>
1510</div><div class='widget Image' data-version='1' id='Image6'>
1511<div class='widget-content'>
1512<a href='http://www.amazon.com/Keys-Castle-Donna-Ball/dp/0425239306'>
1513<img alt='' height='160' id='Image6_img' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFOnaWJ-O8xdkcQSTnxPFzBHK4dvdKuJtm9Ra0glzf_Scw3u70KSQgUMHfig4ruUK3Pq97z8mHMhIlXy-ctkJM5V5nNVIXOiO9lGBVggZR9Qw7hm2U9iGijrUF2roin5AdWaKSim705eA/s160/Ball_keystothecastle.jpg' width='105'/>
1514</a>
1515<br/>
1516<span class='caption'>
1516For everyone who needs to believe in second chances...</span>
1517</div>
1518<div class='clear'></div>
1519</div><div class='widget Image' data-version='1' id='Image2'>
1520<div class='widget-content'>
1521<a href='http://www.amazon.com/Love-Letters-Ladybug-Farm-Donna/dp/0425237176/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_c'>
1522<img alt='' height='160' id='Image2_img' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYvyZneaVYAcdmHO6si6tgkdkgUKvR1XLXB37ctPKvb8wS4PUE8mHe1lQXMQpokJZzpRb7xRFSmbtYW1Teem44IYIzJOtpYkcQGxDzjpTmJvxlvvNz82xX2qP-eaVaRaGLW5sAwe66tOs/s160/loveletterladybugcomp3.jpg' width='104'/>
1523</a>
1524<br/>
1525<span class='caption'>Love comes to Ladybug Farm in unexpected ways... <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Love-Letters-Ladybug-Farm-Donna/dp/0425237176/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_c">Buy <b>LOVE LETTERS FROM LADYBUG FARM</b></a></span>
1526</div>
1527<div class='clear'></div>
1528</div><div class='widget Image' data-version='1' id='Image3'>
1529<div class='widget-content'>
1530<a href='http://www.amazon.com/Home-Ladybug-Farm-Donna-Ball/dp/B00403NFVE/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b'>
1531<img alt='' height='160' id='Image3_img' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPjEu46CZrsTYQ3VZEK_Ta17IjNI6E5Ww2iAtzTZkyWi2qBY0iDMtxSmECZ2kKfYJOkF4tHDvxkExKzFLVX1I7oEAlZdYT7fXxg4J-uTqudWdsxbrfMLCZQz6rq0S9cxrnKHsZIX1FjnU/s160/lbf_2.jpg' width='105'/>
1532</a>
1533<br/>
1534<span class='caption'>What does it take to make a house a home? <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Home-Ladybug-Farm-Donna-Ball/dp/B00403NFVE/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b">Buy <b>AT HOME AT LADYBUG FARM</b></a></span>
1535</div>
1536<div class='clear'></div>
1537</div><div class='widget Image' data-version='1' id='Image4'>
1538<div class='widget-content'>
1539<a href='http://www.amazon.com/Year-Ladybug-Farm-Donna-Ball/dp/0425225879/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b'>
1540<img alt='' height='160' id='Image4_img' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiStkYBE3By4WNFWKl6-Cqc4UcTUcjcFr5nLunk71A5shuTAaKdqG8TB67IaTYbCB4aXc7tkkhXv4AM64DtgkJ0dgMahiD8gz6qoydIW9Mg2Gf9wKw-vtA36xcf3_g3m5S30OHFBk9paQM/s160/Ladybug+Farm+Cover.jpg' width='104'/>
1541</a>
1542<br/>
1543<span class='caption'>Three friends discover an old house.. and a new life.  <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Year-Ladybug-Farm-Donna-Ball/dp/0425225879/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b">Buy <b>A YEAR ON LADYBUG FARM</b></a></span>
1544</div>
1545<div class='clear'></div>
1546</div><div class='widget Image' data-version='1' id='Image5'>
1547<div class='widget-content'>
1548<a href='https://www.createspace.com/3478703'>
1549<img alt='' height='160' id='Image5_img' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTa_ukSrn1RU0XBLtGY8KeZPtseY5rt1De2R9NNaHPaB60U-OBFSuNPzH7CVzgGe_kUp02nP4bro2P-Bf47XooGQaT_pEMOHlF8c1-PsSmd9XoUsqb30sDzCjgXdZNUBfR3rKx_wOTeo/s160/lbf_recipes.jpg' width='107'/>
1550</a>
1551<br/>
1552<span class='caption'><a href="https://www.createspace.com/3478703"><b>Buy RECIPES FROM LADYBUG FARM</b> here</a>!</span>
1553</div>
1554<div class='clear'></div>
1555</div></div>
1556</div>
1557<div id='main-wrapper'>
1558<div class='main section' id='main'><div class='widget Blog' data-version='1' id='Blog1'>
1559<div class='blog-posts hfeed'>
1560
1561          <div class="date-outer">
1562        
1563
1564          <div class="date-posts">
1565        
1566<div class='post-outer'>
1567<div class='post hentry'>
1568<a name='3131228198770747677'></a>
1569<h3 class='post-title entry-title'>
1570<a href='http://donnaball.blogspot.com/p/the-hummingbird-house.html'>The Hummingbird House</a>
1571</h3>
1572<div class='post-header'>
1573<div class='post-header-line-1'></div>
1574</div>
1575<div class='post-body entry-content'>
1576<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1577<br /></div>
1578<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1579<br /></div>
1580<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1581<br /></div>
1582<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1583<br /></div>
1584<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1585<br /></div>
1586<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1587<br /></div>
1588<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1589<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0996561013"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQ4o0mFGkBkWBY0PTbnTjwI87vdSJpxrQfeeDBF2kkfeD-uI58fK1QhMNn95zUWL5LRBTZQnyKIi4V2cMkX07hFcYW58w5PxbPbVOavHqFFn8_5AfgciicdDjDNXZfhVGae3CZihZ3U8/s320/Christmas+at+the+Hummingbird+House+Cover+Nook.jpg" width="248" /></a></div>
1590<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1591<br /></div>
1592<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1593<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><i><b>Excerpt from CHRISTMAS AT THE HUMMINGBIRD HOUSE</b></i></span></div>
1594<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1595<br /></div>
1596<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1597<br /></div>
1598<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1599<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">W</span></b>reaths were hung, trees were decorated,
1600lights were strung. Gingerbread baked in the oven and wassail simmered on the
1601stove, filling the air with the aroma of Christmas spices.&nbsp; Every surface sparkled.&nbsp; Fires were laid in each guest room, awaiting
1602only the strike of a match, and the London Symphony Orchestra&#8217;s recording of <i>The</i> <i>Nutcracker
1603Suite</i> wafted softly from speakers throughout the public rooms.&nbsp; A framed copy of the dinner menu was artfully
1604placed on every dressing table, and on each bed, in a leather bound
1605commemorative folder, the day&#8217;s agenda was printed in scroll font on heavy
1606vellum paper.&nbsp; No detail had been
1607overlooked, from the cut-glass canisters in the bathrooms filled with lavender
1608scented cotton balls, to the fragrant basket of evergreens and cinnamon sticks
1609that flanked the front door.&nbsp; This was
1610the moment everyone at the Hummingbird House had been working for, planning
1611for, and waiting for all year.&nbsp; Their
1612Christmas guests arrived today.</div>
1613<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1614<br /></div>
1615<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1616Gift baskets filled with hand-poured chocolates, local
1617cheeses, preserves, water crackers and a bottle of Ladybug Farm wine were
1618thoughtfully placed in each guest room&#8212;with the exception of the room the two
1619teenage girls shared, whose basket contained a bottle of sparkling cider&#8212;along
1620with complimentary wineglasses etched with hummingbirds, a corkscrew tastefully
1621imprinted with the name and phone number of the B&amp;B, and of course, a copy
1622of the Geoffery Allen Windsor book.&nbsp;
1623Hand-loomed Christmas stockings, one for each guest, were hung above the
1624fireplace in every room, specifically designed to coordinate with the
1625mantelscape, of course.&nbsp; The bins were
1626filled with firewood, the walk was so thoroughly swept it practically gleamed,
1627and even Mother Nature had cooperated with a delicate frosting of snow that
1628dusted the winter lawn and the holly bushes like confectioner&#8217;s sugar.&nbsp; Everything was perfect. They were ready.</div>
1629<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1630<br /></div>
1631<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1632
1633
1634
1635</div>
1636<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
1637Almost.</div>
1638<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1639<br /></div>
1640<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1641<span style="color: #990000;">Order <i>Christmas At the Hummingbird House</i> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0996561013">here</a></span></div>
1642<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1643<br /></div>
1644<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1645<br /></div>
1646<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1647<br /></div>
1648<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1649<br /></div>
1650<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1651<br /></div>
1652<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1653<br /></div>
1654<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1655<br /></div>
1656<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1657<span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d;"><i><b>And see how it all began with THE HUMMINGBIRD HOUSE</b></i></span></div>
1658<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1659<br /></div>
1660<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1661<br /></div>
1662<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1663<br /></div>
1664<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1665<br /></div>
1666<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1667<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPaLH9Wse-BPs43cGvzLMCdhGFjEdHJEKysUr9ff0wMFIr5EKZjuYmQurz63Sh6X3D_RCcgiz8P67czvCR4q4dyuYHwU4SZHLWCK5yNYDJG7ENgo_CwDLV3pWQ6UtV80X6us8btY6fZzs/s1600/Hummingbird+House+Cover+Final.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPaLH9Wse-BPs43cGvzLMCdhGFjEdHJEKysUr9ff0wMFIr5EKZjuYmQurz63Sh6X3D_RCcgiz8P67czvCR4q4dyuYHwU4SZHLWCK5yNYDJG7ENgo_CwDLV3pWQ6UtV80X6us8btY6fZzs/s320/Hummingbird+House+Cover+Final.JPG" width="238" /></a></div>
1668<h3 style="text-align: center;">
1669<em><span style="color: #38761d;">Excerpt from The Hummingbird House:</span></em></h3>
1670<div style="text-align: center;">
1671</div>
1672<div style="text-align: left;">
1673</div>
1674<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1675<br />
1676<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
1677<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Of Vice and Men<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
1678<br />
1679<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
1680<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">By Paul Slater<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
1681<br />
1682<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
1683</div>
1684<br />
1685<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1686<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">After twenty
1687three brilliant, flashy, and often outrageous years with you, Gentle Reader,
1688the time has come for me to say goodbye to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">In
1689Style</b> and all it entails.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>We&#8217;ve
1690laughed together, we&#8217;ve cried together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;
1691</span>We survived mom jeans, Cuban heels, and Kim Kardashian together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>But now the voice of adventure calls me in a
1692different direction, and I know your best wishes for a safe passage are with me
1693as I sally forth to boldly go where no self-respecting style guru has gone
1694before.</span></i></div>
1695<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1696<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The country. </span></i></div>
1697<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1698<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">It&#8217;s been
1699three months since I left the hustle and bustle of the big city for the bucolic
1700pastimes of the Shenandoah valley, and I&#8217;m often asked what I miss the
1701most.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The traffic jams on the
1702Beltway?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The gangland shootings that
1703dominate the nightly news?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The clever
1704cocktail conversations of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Washington&#8217;s
1705finest, those silver-tongued devils to whom we are eternally grateful for
1706putting the hustle into the term &#8220;hustle and bustle&#8221;?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Or perhaps simply the vastly underestimated
1707delights of really reliable Internet service?</span></i></div>
1708<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1709<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The answer, my friends, is none of the
1710above.</span></i></div>
1711<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1712<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Here in the
1713country we watch the sunsets instead of musical theater.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The musical stylings of the chickadees have
1714replaced concerts in the park and we attend county fairs instead of the
1715opera.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Fusion cuisine may be a bit hard
1716to find, but farm fresh produce is on every corner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The Manolo Blahnicks have been traded for
1717gardening clogs and Fashion Week for the Founder&#8217;s Day Parade, but life has
1718never been richer.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
1719<br />
1720<br />
1721<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1722<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;I certainly hope you don&#8217;
1722t expect to support us with
1723that drivel,&#8221; commented Derrick, reading the computer screen over Paul&#8217;s
1724shoulder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>His arms were filled with
1725folded towels&#8212;half aqua and half peach, six hundred thread count, finest
1726quality Egyptian cotton --and his reading glasses had slipped down to the tip
1727of his nose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>He was, in fact, wearing
1728gardening clogs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
1729<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Paul scowled at him briefly. &#8220;I&#8217;m experimenting with a
1730new style.&#8221;</span><br />
1731<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1732<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;So I see. If you don&#8217;t mind a suggestion&#8230;&#8221;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
1733<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;I do.&#8221;</span><br />
1734<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1735<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Derrick lifted an eyebrow and used his index finger to
1736push his glasses back onto the bridge of his nose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The tower of aqua and peach towels tilted
1737precariously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Paul sprang up to help
1738him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;Sorry,&#8221; he said, transferring half
1739the stack into his own arms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;I don&#8217;t
1740mean to be cranky.&#8221;</span></div>
1741<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1742<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;My suggestion was going to be,&#8221; replied Derrick
1743archly, &#8220;that you turn your considerable talent for the written word into
1744producing advertising copy for our brochures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;
1745</span>We&#8217;re supposed to be running a business here, you know. By the way, the
1746towels arrived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Gorgeous or not?&#8221;</span></div>
1747<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1748<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;Gorgeous,&#8221; agreed Paul,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>admiring them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;You didn&#8217;t forget the white ones for the
1749ladies to remove makeup, did you?&#8221;</span></div>
1750<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1751<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;Shipping separately.&#8221;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;
1752</span>Derrick nodded toward the cursor still blinking on the screen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;Where&#8217;s the &#8216;vice&#8217; part?&#8221;</span></div>
1753<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1754<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Paul sighed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;
1755</span>&#8220;Still looking for it.&#8221;</span></div>
1756<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1757<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;Aren&#8217;t we all?&#8221;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;
1758</span>The muffled sound of a car door slamming reached them through the tall,
1759wavy-paned window of the small office, and Derrick&#8217;s face brightened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;That must be the girls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Bridget is bringing three dozen eggs and Cici
1760promised to look at the leaky faucet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>I ordered two cakes for tomorrow&#8217;s brunch,
1761too, and Lindsay is bringing another landscape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;
1762</span>I&#8217;m going to try to get Bridget to help with the demi-glace for the pork
1763loin while she&#8217;s here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Come give us a
1764hand, will you?&#8221;</span></div>
1765<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1766<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Paul glanced thoughtfully back at the half-empty
1767screen of the laptop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;Maybe I&#8217;ll start
1768a blog,&#8221; he said.</span></div>
1769<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1770<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;Boys!&#8221; a voice called from the kitchen door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;Are you here?&#8221;</span></div>
1771<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1772<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;Be right there, sweeties!&#8221; Derrick paused at the
1773doorway to glance back over his shoulder.</span></div>
1774<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1775<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;Right,&#8221; said Paul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;
1776</span>&#8220;Coming.&#8221;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></div>
1777<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1778<span style="font-size: 12pt;">But he lingered in the office as Derrick hurried away,
1779gazing at the words on the screen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;What
1780do I miss?&#8221; he muttered. &#8220;My life.&#8221;</span></div>
1781<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1782<span style="font-size: 12pt;">He used his elbow to close the laptop without
1783bothering to save the document, then he went to put the towels away.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></div>
1784<br />
1785<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1786<span style="font-size: 12pt;">~*~<o:p></o:p></span></div>
1787<br />
1788<br />
1789<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1790<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The lodge had begun its life, as far as anyone could
1791tell, as a one-room way station for travelers in the days of <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>rutted wagon roads and horse drawn carriages,
1792serving cold ale and hot stew, along with a straw mattress on the floor if you
1793didn&#8217;t mind sharing with six other men, for twenty five cents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>A bath was extra.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Paul and Derrick had scoured the countryside
1794antique shops for a tavern sign from the era, but the best they could do was a
1795hand-painted wooden livery sign that harkened from a hundred years later, which
1796they hung from the arch of the twig pergola that led to the herb garden.</span></div>
1797<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1798<span style="font-size: 12pt;">When the Dry Creek gold mine opened in the 1830s, the
1799lodge added a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>second story and another
1800wing to accommodate the miners who flooded into the county to try their
1801luck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>A full course meal was offered
1802every Saturday and Sunday night at the wide-board table in the dining room, and
1803it became so popular that extra tables had to be set up on<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>the porch in the summertime to accommodate
1804the townspeople who drove out for the meal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;
1805</span>The mine played out, and the lodge descended into the ignominy of a
1806private home for a decade or two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Then
1807came the Shenandoah Valley Railroad and the rooms were once again filled with
1808the bustle of travelers and the aromas of good sturdy food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Derrick had salvaged a wooden bench from an
1809old railroad station in Pennsylvania to commemorate the era, and it now
1810welcomed modern day guests in the entry hall of the lodge.</span></div>
1811<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1812<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The provenance of the lodge became muddled during the
1813early part of the twentieth century, but there was a picture of it in the
1814archives of the local paper when it opened its doors as the Blue View Motor
1815Court in 1955 and again as the Heavenly Hash Diner in 1968.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Paul had found a set of chrome stools with
1816red vinyl seats from an old diner in Georgia, had had them beautifully restored
1817by an acquaintance of his from Washington who just happened to own an auto-body
1818repair shop, and had them bolted to the floor around<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>the stainless steel island in the kitchen,
1819almost as they might have been in the sixties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;
1820</span></span></div>
1821<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1822<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The building was occupied by a group of lawyers in the
1823eighties, stood empty in the nineties, and fell into disrepair until a private
1824party undertook the task of restoration at the turn of the twenty-first century
1825with the idea of turning it into a bed and breakfast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The result was a long rambling structure
1826embraced by a wrap-around porch with peeled-log support posts, tall narrow
1827windows, and a mixture of log and lap siding stained a nature-loving
1828brown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>There were seven airy guest
1829suites, each with a door opening onto the shady porch, and each door was painted
1830a different color&#8212;bright fuchsia, canary yellow, cobalt blue,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>emerald green, purple,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>tangerine, watermelon red.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>It sat in the midst of a tangle of
1831wildflower gardens accented by twisted laurel arbors and colorful folk-art bird
1832feeders, and was surrounded by the flowing vista of lavender blue
1833mountains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It had functioned as the
1834Mountain Laurel Bed and Breakfast for a mere six months before Paul and Derrick
1835came to stay there with the idea of retiring in the Shenandoah valley and
1836building their dream house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>They were
1837immediately drawn in by the funky charm of the place, the quiet evenings, the
1838lush gardens, the comic antics of the warrior hummingbirds, and grew enchanted
1839with the life of ease and hospitality offered by life at the B&amp;B.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>When the opportunity arose to purchase the
1840property and become the permanent proprietors and gracious hosts of what was
1841now known as The Hummingbird House they did so without hesitation.</span></div>
1842<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1843<span style="font-size: 12pt;">They were only now beginning to realize they had not
1844entirely thought this through.</span></div>
1845<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1846<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Of course there had been renovation and redecorating
1847to do, and one could not accommodate paying guests while construction was going
1848on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>They had made a point of continuing
1849to open for the Sunday brunch that had been popularized by the previous owner,
1850and they always had a waiting list for reservations, but they both knew that
1851was due mostly to the fact that their friend Bridget did the cooking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The art gallery that Derrick had established
1852in the front of the house always saw a lot of traffic on Sundays, and their
1853friend Lindsay, an amateur artist of considerable talent, helped keep the
1854display interesting by rotating her own paintings through the collection each
1855week in keeping with the current theme. The one thing they hadn&#8217;t really given
1856much thought when they purchased the place was that older homes, particularly
1857ones that are open to the public and required to meet certain health and
1858building codes, demand a good bit of maintenance, and the only thing either one
1859of them knew about maintaining property was how to dial the handyman&#8217;s number.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Fortunately, they now knew how to dial the
1860number of their friend Cici, who had restored a hundred year old mansion
1861practically single handedly, and who knew more about nail guns and ratchets and
1862pipe fittings than either of them was likely to learn in a lifetime.</span></div>
1863<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1864<span style="font-size: 12pt;">If the truth be told, they never would have made it
1865this far without the help of the girls, and that was why, seeing them all
1866gathered in the kitchen now with very determined looks on their faces filled
1867both Paul and Derrick with an uneasy dismay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;
1868</span>They didn&#8217;t like to admit it, even to themselves, but they each had
1869known this moment was coming for some time now. </span></div>
1870<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1871<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Paul rubbed his hands together in false enthusiasm as
1872he came into the kitchen, declaring, &#8220;Ladies, you&#8217;ve never looked more lovely!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Lindsay, new shoes?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Bridget, darling, love your hair! That shade
1873is definitely you.&#8221;</span></div>
1874<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1875<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Lindsay glanced down in confusion at her worn, if
1876freshly laundered, plaid sneakers, and Bridget gave him a skeptical look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;It should be,&#8221; she said, touching her short
1877platinum bob briefly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;It&#8217;s the same
1878color I&#8217;ve used for thirty years.&#8221;</span></div>
1879<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1880<span style="font-size: 12pt;">All three women had passed their first blush of youth
1881decades ago, but all three still had legs that could wear shorts without
1882embarrassment, and glitter polish on their toenails when the occasion called
1883for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The edge might have fallen off
1884their fashion sense since they had abandoned the suburbs for the country, but
1885they weren&#8217;t exactly attending society parties every weekend, either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Even with their hair tied back against the warm
1886midsummer day and their tee shirts less fresh than they might have been six
1887hours ago, Paul&#8217;s compliments were not entirely insincere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span></span></div>
1888<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1889<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Paul brushed a kiss across Cici&#8217;s cheek. &#8220;Cici, you
1890look&#8212;&#8220;</span></div>
1891<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1892<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;I look like I spent the morning pulling weeds and the
1893afternoon setting Japanese beetle traps in the orchard,&#8221; she interrupted
1894impatiently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;We need to talk.&#8221;</span></div>
1895<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1896<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;Will you look at these eggs?&#8221; Derrick put in
1897cheerfully, trying to postpone the inevitable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;
1898</span>He carefully transferred the eggs from their padded basket to a big
1899yellow bowl on the countertop, fussing over them as he might a flower
1900arrangement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;They&#8217;re as pretty as
1901Easter eggs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Brown and green and
1902turquoise&#8230; what do you call the green ones again, Bridget?&#8221;</span></div>
1903<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1904<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Bridget forgot her stern demeanor and agreed happily,
1905&#8220;They are pretty, aren&#8217;t they?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>And the
1906yolks are as bright as butter!&#8221;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>She
1907started helping unpack the basket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;Now
1908remember, fresh eggs don&#8217;t have to be refrigerated, so these will do just fine
1909until morning on the counter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>In fact,
1910if I were you&#8230;&#8221;</span></div>
1911<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1912<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Cici spoke over her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;
1913</span>&#8220;Let&#8217;s all sit down, shall we?&#8221;</span></div>
1914<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1915<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Paul looked at Derrick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Derrick looked helplessly back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Like guilty children, they went to the table
1916by the window where they took their family meals, held out a chair for each of
1917the ladies, and then took their own seats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;
1918</span>Cici took a breath.</span></div>
1919<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1920<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;Boys, you know we love you,&#8221; she began, &#8220;but we have
1921to have a talk.&#8221;</span></div>
1922<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1923<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Derrick smothered a groan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;No good thing has ever happened to me after
1924those words.&#8221;</span></div>
1925<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1926<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Paul gave Cici his most endearing smile. &#8220;Oh-oh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Have we over-imposed ourselves upon your good
1927natures?&#8221;</span></div>
1928<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1929<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;Oh, no of course not!&#8221; Bridget exclaimed, but Lindsay
1930silenced her with a sharp and meaningful look.</span></div>
1931<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1932<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;The thing is,&#8221; Lindsay said carefully, folding her
1933hands atop the table, &#8220;we know it&#8217;s hard getting settled into a new community,
1934and that you never would have made the move if it hadn&#8217;t been for us, and we
1935love having you here, we really do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>But&#8212;
1936&#8221;</span></div>
1937<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1938<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;But we can&#8217;t keep running over here two and three
1939times a day,&#8221; Cici interrupted impatiently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;
1940</span>&#8220;We&#8217;re spending more time taking care of your place than we are our
1941own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>We have our hands full working to
1942get the winery off the ground&#8212;&#8220;</span></div>
1943<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1944<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;And I&#8217;m trying to open my own restaurant,&#8221; Bridget
1945put in.</span></div>
1946<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1947<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;And I&#8217;m supposed to be planning my wedding,&#8221; added
1948Lindsay, &#8220;on top of everything else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;
1949</span>It&#8217;s not that we mind helping out&#8212;&#8220;</span></div>
1950<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1951<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;Yes we do,&#8221; Cici corrected her flatly, tossing her an
1952exasperated look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span></span></div>
1953<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1954<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;It&#8217;s just,&#8221; continued Lindsay deliberately, &#8220;that
1955we&#8217;re worried that it&#8217;s gone beyond helping, and is bordering on enabling.&#8221;</span></div>
1956<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1957<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Derrick looked at Paul with a touch of horrified
1958embarrassment. &#8220;This is an intervention,&#8221; he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
1959<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Cici sat back and folded her arms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;Exactly.&#8221;</span><br />
1960<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1961<span style="font-size: 12pt;">A beat passed while they absorbed this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Then Paul glanced at Derrick uncertainly and
1962said, &#8220;I don&#8217;t suppose this would be a good time to mention the loose
1963floorboard in the powder room.&#8221;</span></div>
1964<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1965<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Cici lifted her eyes to the heavens and blew out a
1966breath that ruffled her bangs.</span></div>
1967<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1968<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Bridget reached across the table and squeezed
1969Derrick&#8217;s hand, her gentle round face filled with compassion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;The Bed and Breakfast is yours now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>You have to let it <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">be</i> yours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Take over, be in
1970charge, make some decisions.&#8221;</span></div>
1971<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1972<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;We&#8217;ve made plenty of decisions,&#8221; Paul objected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;We decided to completely redecorate the
1973public rooms.&#8221;</span></div>
1974<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1975<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And</i> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>expand the art gallery,&#8221; added Derrick.</span></div>
1976<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1977<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;And enclose the side porch to enlarge the dining
1978room.&#8221;</span></div>
1979<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1980<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;And you did a fine job with all of that,&#8221; Bridget
1981assured them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;Everyone loves the new
1982glassed-in dining room.&#8221;</span></div>
1983<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1984<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;But who was over here every day helping you paint and
1985strip wallpaper and move furniture?&#8221; Lindsay pointed out.</span></div>
1986<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1987<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;And who was it who called the contractors and
1988supervised the workers while you two were busy ordering Battenberg tablecloths
1989and shopping for mismatched Havilland?&#8221; Cici put in.</span></div>
1990<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1991<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Paul and Derrick exchanged a look that was both
1992abashed and distressed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;They&#8217;re right,&#8221;
1993Paul told his partner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;We&#8217;ve been
1994fiends.&#8221;</span></div>
1995<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1996<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Derrick turned to Cici. &#8220;We used you
1997outrageously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Can you ever forgive us?&#8221;</span></div>
1998<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
1999<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Cici shifted her gaze toward Lindsay in a mini-eye
2000roll, but her lips quirked with repressed amusement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>&#8220;You&#8217;re not fiends,&#8221; she admitted, &#8220;and
2001you&#8217;re forgiven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>But&#8230;&#8221;</span></div>
2002<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2003<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;But,&#8221; Lindsay interrupted firmly, &#8220;it&#8217;s time you
2004started doing things for yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>How
2005can you make this place your own if you don&#8217;t, well, own it?&#8221;</span></div>
2006<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2007<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;And when are you going to open for business again?&#8221;
2008Bridget added.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;You&#8217;re missing the
2009height of the tourist season.&#8221; </span></div>
2010<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2011<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;We are open for business,&#8221; Paul objected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;This is the most popular place in the county
2012for<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Sunday brunch.&#8221;</span></div>
2013<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2014<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;It&#8217;s the only place in the county for Sunday brunch,&#8221;
2015Bridget said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;And what I meant was,
2016when are you going to start renting the rooms?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;
2017</span>That&#8217;s what a bed and breakfast does, you know.&#8221;</span></div>
2018<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2019<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;A bed and breakfast also offers breakfast every
2020morning,&#8221; Paul said, &#8220;and I really only know how to make three things.&#8221;</span></div>
2021<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2022<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;Two,&#8221; Derrick corrected, and Paul frowned a
2023little.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;Of course, I only know how to
2024make two as well.&#8221;</span></div>
2025<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2026<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;One,&#8221; Paul corrected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;
2027</span></span></div>
2028<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2029<span style="font-size: 12pt;">They looked at each other for a moment, and then
2030Derrick said, &#8220;We&#8217;re not nearly ready to open to the public yet.&#8221;</span></div>
2031<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2032<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Paul added, &#8220;We haven&#8217;t even started redecorating the
2033guest rooms, and the entire second floor has to be remodeled&#8230;&#8221;</span></div>
2034<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2035<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;Who knows what we&#8217;ll even find when we get up there?&#8221;
2036put in Derrick with a shudder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;We
2037opened the door once and saw a spider the size of a puppy. Slammed the door
2038closed and taped it shut.&#8221;</span></div>
2039<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2040<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;Not to mention the spa,&#8221; Paul said, &#8220;which we haven&#8217;t
2041even started yet. Frankly, it&#8217;s going to be rather more expensive than we&#8217;d
2042planned, so it may take awhile.&#8221;</span></div>
2043<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2044<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;It would be a great deal more affordable without the
2045Roman baths,&#8221; Derrick pointed out smugly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;
2046</span>&#8220;And I told you, one massage room is plenty if we intend to put in the
2047steam room as well.&#8221;</span></div>
2048<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2049<span style="font-size: 12pt;">At Bridget&#8217;s raised eyebrows, Paul explained, &#8220;Not
2050Roman baths, just a simple hot tub.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>And
2051I might have said something about a small waterfall.&#8221;</span></div>
2052<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2053<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Derrick looked self satisfied, but said nothing.</span></div>
2054<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2055<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Cici, Lindsay and Bridget were also silent for a
2056moment, but the look that passed between them spoke volumes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Finally Lindsay said, &#8220;You know, boys,
2057considering the way your house-building project turned out, it might be a
2058little too soon to take on a major construction project like a spa.&#8221;</span></div>
2059<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2060<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Derrick winced and Paul deliberately looked away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It was, in fact, too soon for them to even
2061talk about that fiasco.</span></div>
2062<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2063<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Lindsay said, &#8220;The guest rooms don&#8217;t need
2064redecorating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>They&#8217;
2064re gorgeous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Everything is gorgeous.&#8221;</span></div>
2065<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2066<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;They&#8217;re fine, I suppose,&#8221; admitted Paul reluctantly,
2067&#8220;if not entirely to our taste.&#8221;</span></div>
2068<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2069<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Bridget said gently, &#8220;Sometimes you can wait so long
2070for everything to be perfect that nothing ever gets done.&#8221;</span></div>
2071<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2072<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Cici said, &#8220;Guys, I really don&#8217;t know what the problem
2073is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The place was in perfect operating
2074condition when you bought it and it was full almost every weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It&#8217;s the only really nice overnight
2075accommodation within an hour&#8217;s drive and it could be a gold mine for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>You just need to open.&#8221;</span></div>
2076<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2077<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Lindsay squeezed Derrick&#8217;s hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;All we want is for you to be happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>But how can you know if you&#8217;re going to be
2078happy here unless you actually try?&#8221;</span></div>
2079<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2080<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Paul said worriedly, &#8220;I just don&#8217;t think we&#8217;re ready.&#8221;</span></div>
2081<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2082<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;Then get ready,&#8221; exclaimed Cici, exasperated.</span></div>
2083<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2084<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;We have plenty of towels,&#8221; Derrick pointed out
2085helpfully.</span></div>
2086<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2087<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;We don&#8217;t have a staff,&#8221; Paul protested.</span></div>
2088<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2089<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;All you need is a housekeeper,&#8221; Lindsay said.</span></div>
2090<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2091<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;And a cook,&#8221;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;
2092</span>Bridget added quickly.</span></div>
2093<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2094<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;Most people,&#8221; Cici pointed out, &#8220;go into the
2095bed-and-breakfast business because they want to do it themselves.&#8221;</span></div>
2096<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2097<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Paul looked at Derrick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;That&#8217;s exactly why we wanted to do it,&#8221; he
2098agreed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;Only&#8230;&#8221;</span></div>
2099<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2100<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;Only,&#8221; Derrick said, &#8220;I think we rather imagined
2101ourselves more in the roles of genial hosts.&#8221;</span></div>
2102<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2103<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Patrons</i>,&#8221;
2104agreed Paul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;Maître d&#8217;hôtel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;Reminiscent of the grand houses of Europe.&#8221;</span></div>
2105<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2106<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The three women exchanged a look, the corners of their
2107lips tightening in a mixture of resignation and repressed mirth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Bridget stood and kissed Derrick atop his
2108head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;We love you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I&#8217;ll put the cakes in the refrigerator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>And,&#8221; she added sternly, &#8220;hire a cook.&#8221;</span></div>
2109<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2110<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Cici dug a tool of out her pocket and handed it to
2111Paul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;This,&#8221; she told him, &#8220;is a
2112wrench.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It&#8217;s used to fix leaky
2113faucets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Come on, I&#8217;ll show you how.&#8221;</span></div>
2114<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2115<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Paul meekly followed Cici from the kitchen and Lindsay
2116turned to Derrick. Her tone was a little apologetic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;Are we still invited for brunch tomorrow?&#8221;</span></div>
2117<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2118<span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , &quot;serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Derrick looked at her hopefully. &#8220;Do you know
2119how to make a pork loin?&#8221;&nbsp;</span>&nbsp;</div>
2120</div>
2121<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"></span><br />
2122<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2123<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">&nbsp;~*~</span></div>
2124<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">
2125<o:p></o:p></span>
2126<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2127</div>
2128<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">
2129</span>
2130<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2131<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;You know what the difference between men and women
2132is?&#8221; declared Cici, flinging herself into the front porch rocking chair.</span></span></div>
2133<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">
2134<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2135<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>She was so
2136distracted that she let the screen door bounce closed behind her, and Bridget,
2137who followed with a tray of lemonade and cookies, caught it with her toe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;Well, for one thing, men usually hold the
2138door.&#8221;</span></div>
2139<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2140<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>&#8220;Oh, Bridge,
2141I&#8217;m sorry.&#8221;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Cici leapt up again and held
2142the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>There was a faint cloud of
2143anxiety in her eyes as she added, &#8220;Do you think we were too hard on them?&#8221;</span></div>
2144<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2145<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;Too hard on who?&#8221;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;
2146</span>Lindsay came down the stairs, smelling of a delicate floral body wash
2147and wearing a loose print maxi-dress with no bra, her hair pulled back and damp
2148around the edges from her shower.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The
2149day was done, the chores were completed, they were at home with each other, and
2150comfort was the order of the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>She grabbed a cookie from Bridget&#8217;s tray
2151before she took her own rocking chair, swinging her legs up onto the porch
2152rail.</span></div>
2153<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2154<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;The boys,&#8221; Cici said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;
2155</span>She moved some magazines off the white wicker table between the chairs
2156to make room for the tray.</span></div>
2157<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2158<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;I wasn&#8217;t,&#8221; Lindsay replied easily, biting into the
2159cookie, &#8220;but you were, definitely. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>These
2160are great, Bridget.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Lemon drop, right?&#8221;</span></div>
2161<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2162<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;I doubled the recipe,&#8221; Bridget said, pouring the
2163lemonade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;I&#8217;ll take the boys a batch
2164tomorrow.&#8221;</span></div>
2165<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2166<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;Good idea,&#8221; said Cici.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>She handed a glass of lemonade to Lindsay,
2167and took one for herself, along with two cookies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;I never knew of a problem a lemon drop
2168cookie couldn&#8217;t fix.&#8221;</span></div>
2169<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2170<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Lindsay tasted the lemonade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;Nice,&#8221; she said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;Different.&#8221;</span></div>
2171<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2172<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Cici sipped and agreed, &#8220;It&#8217;s a good day for
2173lemonade.&#8221;</span></div>
2174<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2175<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Bridget poured herself a glass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;It is a nice change, isn&#8217;t it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I used a fresh basil simple syrup.&#8221;</span></div>
2176<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2177<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The other two women tasted again and murmured their
2178appreciation.</span></div>
2179<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2180<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Sometimes it seemed like only yesterday that the three
2181of them had shared a cul-de-sac in the suburbs of Baltimore and Paul and
2182Derrick had been their neighbors. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>It had
2183in fact been four years since they had stumbled upon the old brick mansion in
2184the Shenandoah valley and decided to try their hands at bringing it back to
2185life. What they had imagined to be a quiet retirement clipping roses and
2186drinking tea from patterned China cups in front of the fire had in fact turned
2187out to consist of a dawn-to-dusk labor of love, replacing rotting timbers,
2188pulling weeds, hauling fence posts, fighting potato bugs and planting a
2189vineyard cutting by cutting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Now they
2190shared not only a home, but a life, and Paul and Derrick-- perhaps the most
2191unlikely candidates imaginable for the rigors of rural living-- were once again
2192their neighbors.</span></div>
2193<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2194<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>A slow and lazy
2195dusk settled over Ladybug Farm and the three women, as they had done every evening
2196since they had moved into the old house, settled into their rocking chairs to
2197watch the sun set and solve the problems of the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Usually their refreshment of choice was wine,
2198but after a hot day working in the vineyard they had decided the lemonade would
2199be a refreshing break from the ordinary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;
2200</span>A light breeze stirred the air beneath the shade of the wrap-around
2201porch, rustling the fronds of the ferns that hung in evenly spaced baskets
2202around the porch and sending of them to turning lazily. As the light took on
2203the purplish shadows of evening across the wide expanse of meadow that
2204stretched before them the sheep huddled into their night time knots and the
2205shoulders of the mountains that stood guard over them became muted with the
2206deep greens and shadowy blues of another ending day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Through the open windows they could hear the
2207sounds of Ida Mae, who had been taking care of the hundred year-old house
2208almost as long as it had been standing, rustling around in the kitchen, closing
2209down old day and preparing for a new one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;
2210</span></span></div>
2211<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2212<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;So,&#8221; said Bridget, settling into her chair with a
2213cookie and a glass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;What&#8217;s the
2214difference between men and women?&#8221;</span></div>
2215<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2216<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;This I&#8217;ve got to hear,&#8221; murmured Lindsay.</span></div>
2217<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2218<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Cici ignored her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;
2219</span>&#8220;Men expect everything to be easy,&#8221; she answered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;They&#8217;re programmed that way from birth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>All their lives they have some woman taking
2220care of them, doing things for them&#8230;&#8221;</span></div>
2221<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2222<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;That&#8217;s because, most of the time, it&#8217;s easier to do
2223it ourselves,&#8221; Bridget pointed out.</span></div>
2224<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2225<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;Learned helplessness,&#8221; said Lindsay, who had taught
2226third grade for twenty-five years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;It&#8217;s
2227sweeping our society, like ADHD. Only you don&#8217;t get it from Red Dye Number
2228Seven or early childhood immunizations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;
2229</span>You get it from well-meaning mothers.&#8221;</span></div>
2230<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2231<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Cici have a decisive nod of agreement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;I&#8217;m not saying it not our faults,&#8221; she
2232said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;I&#8217;m just saying men, as a gender,
2233have an entirely different attitude about adversity than we do.&#8221;</span></div>
2234<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2235<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Bridget sniffed with laughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;Anybody who&#8217;s ever taken care of a man with
2236a head cold can testify to that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>A woman
2237could go through twelve hours of labor while having both wisdom teeth extracted
2238without making half as much fuss.&#8221;</span></div>
2239<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2240<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Lindsay and Cici raised their glasses in a toast to
2241that.</span></div>
2242<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2243<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;Women, on the other hand,&#8221; Cici went on, &#8220;expect life
2244to be difficult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>We don&#8217;t even bother to
2245complain until things start approaching impossible.&#8221;</span></div>
2246<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2247<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;And we get it done anyway,&#8221;
2247 said Bridget.</span></div>
2248<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2249<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;Look what we took on with this house,&#8221; Lindsay said.</span></div>
2250<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2251<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;Broken plumbing, trees crashing through the sunroom&#8230;&#8221;</span></div>
2252<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2253<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;Sheep storming the front porch, a sink hole in the
2254back yard&#8230;&#8221;</span></div>
2255<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2256<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;Rattlesnakes, fires, blizzards&#8230;&#8221;</span></div>
2257<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2258<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;Not to mention the ordinary painting and refinishing
2259and patching and rebuilding,&#8221; Bridget said.</span></div>
2260<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2261<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;The chicken coop, the goat house&#8230;&#8221;</span></div>
2262<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2263<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;The winery,&#8221; Lindsay added, and they all nodded,
2264impressed with their accomplishments.</span></div>
2265<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2266<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;And did we complain?&#8221; Cici demanded.</span></div>
2267<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2268<span style="font-size: 12pt;">They thought about that for a moment, until Bridget
2269finally admitted, &#8220;Well, maybe a little.&#8221;</span></div>
2270<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2271<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;All right, a little,&#8221; Cici conceded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;But we never gave up.&#8221;</span></div>
2272<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2273<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;Talked about it a few times,&#8221; Lindsay reminded them,
2274and Cici frowned, annoyed.</span></div>
2275<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2276<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;The point is,&#8221; she began.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span></span></div>
2277<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2278<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;The point is,&#8221; Bridget spoke over her, &#8220;We got it
2279done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Women always get it done.&#8221;</span></div>
2280<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2281<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;Right,&#8221; said Cici.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;
2282</span></span></div>
2283<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2284<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Lindsay raised her glass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>&#8220;To women who get it done.&#8221;</span></div>
2285<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2286<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The three clinked their goblets and sat back, sipping
2287lemonade and munching cookies.</span></div>
2288<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2289<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;Good lemonade,&#8221; Cici said.</span></div>
2290<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2291<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;Just tart enough,&#8221; added Lindsay.</span></div>
2292<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2293<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;Hits the spot,&#8221;
2293 agreed Bridget.</span></div>
2294<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2295<span style="font-size: 12pt;">They rocked for a moment, looking at their glasses.</span></div>
2296<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2297<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;It&#8217;s nice for a change,&#8221; Lindsay said.</span></div>
2298<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2299<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;Just the right amount of sugar,&#8221; Cici said.</span></div>
2300<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2301<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Bridget put aside her glass. &#8220; I&#8217;ll get the wine,&#8221; she
2302said.</span></div>
2303<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2304<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;I&#8217;ll get the glasses.&#8221; Cici followed her inside.</span></div>
2305<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2306<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&#8220;The corkscrew&#8217;s on the counter,&#8221; Lindsay called after
2307them.</span></div>
2308<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2309<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Evening at Ladybug farm had begun.</span></div>
2310<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2311<span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
2312<div style="text-align: center;">
2313~*~</div>
2314</div>
2315<h4 align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2316<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><em>The Hummingbird House</em> is available October 10, 2013</span></span></h4>
2317<h4 align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2318<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: red;">Order your autographed copy <a href="http://donnaball.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html">here<o:p></o:p></a></span></span></h4>
2319<div align="left" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.25in;">
2320</div>
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2326</div>
2327</span><br />
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