Winners at the County Fair!

What a fun week this has been celebrating the county fair! Thank you all so much for your comments and contest entries--your participation made this a great week all around!

The first winner I'll announce is the givewaway winner for Made to Order Family. And the winner is . . .

Bluerose!

I used Random.Org's List Randomizer to pick the winner. Congratulations, Bluerose! Be looking for my e-mail!

Now, for The County Fair Contest winners. Yes, winners (plural)! Both official entries were so good that I want to give them both something for their heart-warming scenes.

The prize package goes to Michelle, for her scene at the Ferris wheel! Michelle will be receiving Love Finds You in Romeo, Colorado, A Name of Her Own, a bag of kettle corn, a purple stuffed monkey, and a personalized bookmark from Ashley! Congratulations!

And Ariel will be receiving my copy of Love's Long Journey by Janette Oke! (If you already have this book, let me know, Ariel, and I'll send you a different one!)

Thank you both for your great entries, and I hope it's alright if I share them again below so everyone can enjoy them! And thank you, also, to all of you who left such kind and encouraging comments. They were much appreciated!

Here's Michelle's scene:

She stared up at the ferris wheel. Never in a million years, had she believed she'd be here again. Back in her hometown, at the county fair. The city, and all of its problems and worries, seemed a million miles away. But there she was, back in Justice, and who was standing next to her? Her high school sweetheart.

“Penny for your thoughts?” She heard a soft voice say in her ear. She glanced up, meeting the blue eyes of Donovan Carter. They'd been inseperable in high school. The cowboy and the valedictorian. They had been a bit of an odd couple.

Rachel laughed softly. “Are you certain they are worth that much?”

“I would say your thoughts are worth considerably more than a penny, Rachel.”

She blushed, looking down, perhaps feeling just a little embarrassed. But this was Donovan, who had always cheered her on, no matter what. The one person who had helped her believe anything was possible. She hadn't realized how much she'd missed that. How much she'd missed him in the last fifteen years.

“Being back here, it seems very strange.” She said softly. “Honestly, I'm not certain I ever imagined I would be back.”

He looked straight into her eyes. “Fifteen years ago, you left to chase your dreams. I don't believe there was a person, in this town, who wasn't proud of you when you won that scholarship to Yale. But it is very good to have you home.”

She took his hand, as they stepped onto the platform. “It's good to be home.” She said softly. As they set down in the car, she couldn't help but wonder what, if anything, would happen when they reached the top.


And here's Ariel's scene:

Yeesha walked alone and lost through the hustle and bustle of the booths and barns of her county fair. She didn’t come alone; she came with her best friend Lily and her best friend’s boyfriend Curtis. Those two did everything together, and not having a boyfriend or anyone that liked her made Yeesha lonely. She had slipped away while they weren’t looking and began exploring on her own.

Unfortunately for her, Yeesha had never been to the county fair before and didn’t know her way around the grounds. She passed tons of people, all laughing and smiling and having a great time, while she just wanted to leave. Suddenly she heard her name.

“Yeesha!”

She expected it to be Lily calling her back, so she turned slowly. To her surprise, it was David! David and Yeesha had a small history: He had asked her to her senior prom, and at the time it was obvious they both liked each other. However, nothing had happened beyond that. Seeing him now brought a flood of thoughts and emotions back, and Yeesha stood there shocked as he ran up.

“Yeesha! I haven’t seen you in a while. What are you doing here, and all alone?”

She smiled slightly and explained the whole situation. As they walked, they caught up on everything that had happened in each other’s lives. After a while Yeesha realized she still had feelings for David. Was it possible he still had feelings for her?

Eventually they found themselves in the pig barn. Yeesha wrinkled her nose.

“Yuck, they don’t smell so great!”

David smiled. “They are very smart though! You should pet one!”

“Pet one?! Why on earth would I want to do that?” Yeesha cried.

“What are you chicken? “ David teased.

Pouting, Yeesha gave in. “Oh, alright.” Gingerly she reached through the bars and patted one curious pig on his nose. Surprised, the pig pushed her back and she fell right into David’s arms!

As she looked up at him, it was as if the rest of the world had melted away. Right there, she knew he felt the same way. As he leaned to give her a kiss, the pig snorted rather loudly and rammed the bars. Laughing, David picked her up and gave her a real kiss.

“I really missed you, Yeesha.”

Smiling, Yeesha realized she was glad to have come to the fair. While it started terribly, it had ended with her dreams realized by the help of a very noisy pig. Who would have thought?


Please be sure and leave some encouraging comments for these ladies! Great job, Michelle and Ariel! (And thank you to my parents for looking over both of the scenes, too!)

Have a wonderful weekend ya'll, and be sure to tune in next week for the "End of Summer Bash," starring some of your favorite authors! Can't wait to see you there!

My Day at the Fair

Original title, I know. ;) Doesn't it sound like I'm writing a report for a third-grade class? But I hope you don't mind joining me anyway on my fabulous day at the Humboldt County Fair!

My dear friend, Elena, joined my mom, sister, and me for a fun afternoon and evening at the fair. The first task on our list was to see how our various entries fared. My mom and I got second place stickers on our poems, and my sister got second and third place stickers on her artwork and photograph, I believe (as well as some stickers for several poems). But what really excited us was the special award ribbon my sister received for one of her poems! How exciting! Of course, my sister was especially excited about the $35 cash award that came along with it. ;)

Next on our task list was finding a bunny. Yes, my sister is getting a bunny for her 13th birthday! We'll be picking up the bunny from the fair on Sunday, my sister's actual birthday. The picture on the right is of our new (most likely) soon-to-be member of the family: Candy. (My sister chose the name.) Isn't she sweet? She's a Holland Lop, if I'm not mistaken. My sister is quite delighted, which is no surprise!

Following the two activities above, we all got caricatures of ourselves (me with Elena, and my mom with my sister). The man who drew them was really nice, and we had fun chatting with him while he worked!

The rest of the time was a blur of food, rides, food, games, and (did I mention this already?) food! ;) Elena and I shared a funnel cake covered in powder sugar early on. After all the talk on this blog about funnel cakes, how could I not get one? And believe me, it was GOOD! Dinner for me consisted of a "beef stick" and curly fries, topped off with a frozen peach lemonade. And for dessert: cotton candy! Oh, yes, I was stuffing my face with great pleasure, and I loved every bite! Yum, yum, yum!

And the rides? Oh, so much fun! Elena and I felt like little girls again, running around like crazy, shouting with glee, and taking in the thrill of it all! The picture to the left is of the three of us (my sister, Elena, and me) on one of my favorite rides: the Yo Yo. I loved spreading my arms out wide and feeling the rush of the wind. It made me think of standing on the bow of a ship, like on Titanic. I loved that sense of adventure and excitement as I was flying through the air on a swing!

This next picture is not flattering in the least (with my eyes all squinted like that!), but I decided to share it with you because I think it gives you a glimpse of how much fun we were having. The bumper cars were great, and between that and the other rides, I was laughing a ton!

There's nothing quite like a day at the fair when you're with those you love. We had such a fantastic time, and I'm so thankful for my mom, my sister, and Elena. God blessed me so much by letting us be a part of each other's lives!

It has been so much fun celebrating the county fair with all of you this week, and I'm so thankful for your friendship! I hope this post might have brought a smile to your face, and I hope it might serve to remind us all of the blessing we have in our family and friends! How great it is to be able to reach out to one another--even simply making each other laugh!

On a side note, as I'm writing this, I can smell the kettle corn that I purchased today. Yes, as an encouragement to any possible last-minute contest entrants, I picked up a bag of kettle corn to include in the prize package. I'm also adding a cute, purple stuffed monkey I got at one of the games to the deal! Thank you to all those who have already entered! =) Be sure and check out the comments section of the contest post to read the latest entries!

(Thank you, Mom, for the pictures and for the great memories at the fair this year!)

At the Fair with Ariel

Please join me in welcoming Ariel from The French Poet! She's going to tell us more about her experience at the county fair.

Amber: What is your favorite part about the fair?

Ariel: My favorite part about the fair would have to be just seeing all the animals and other exhibits. I loved seeing how creative other people could be! It also gave me ideas of things I could do for next year.

Amber: Do you have a favorite fair food (ie: popcorn, cotton candy, curly fries)?

Ariel: Oh, I cannot pick just one! I love junk food, so I ate almost anything. :P I ate hotdogs, curly fries, cotton candy, snow cones and ice cream. Oh and funnel cake! I don't even want to know how many calories I eat during fair! :P

Amber: Funnel cake seems to be really popular with ya'll! ;) What kind of ride do you enjoy the most, and what do you think that says about your personality? (For example, if your favorite ride was the Ferris wheel it might say that you're daring and you like seeing the big picture from a higher perspective. This is just for fun, so anything goes!)

Ariel: I loved the Sizzler because it squishes you close to whoever you're sitting with. I love being close to be people and snuggling so I never found it awkward. Some of my friends on the other hand... ;)

Amber: Any fun fair memories you want to share?

Ariel: The year I got Grand Champion Rabbit Showman and Reserve Champion Small Animal Showman! I know most people can't relate, but the feeling you get when you find out you won and all your hard work paid off is amazing. And my mom cried, which is a rare occasion. ;) Gotta love the support!

Amber: That's great! Can you think of any movies or books set at a fair that you would recommend for us to check out?

Ariel: Well this isn't technically at a fair, but the movie Grease is great when they have that closing carnival and are singing in all the rides; I love to sing along. And I just love the atmosphere!

Thanks for having me as a guest, Amber! :)

Amber: Thank you for joining us, Ariel! It was fun hearing about your adventures!

Side Note: My mom and I had lunch today with one of my good friends and her mom, and they both live in Ferndale. So they went to see Guy Fieri on opening day at the Humboldt County Fair! My friend's mom said that he was really nice, and that he had a group of bodyguard-type people around him called the "Knuckle Sandwich Brigade," or something like that. ;) Apparently he was really kind to everyone. *sigh* Would have been nice to meet him, but at least it's fun to hear more about him!

(Picture is from Guy Fieri's website.)

At the Fair with Ruth Logan Herne

Today we're going to visit the fair with none other than author Ruth Logan Herne! For those of you who aren't familiar with this author, you can find her at her website or her blog. Also, one of my favorite places to chat with her is at the Seekerville blog. Ya'll are in for a treat today!

Amber: What is your favorite part about the fair?

Ruth: I love the animals. I can moo like a cow, cackle like a hen and crow like a rooster. I love to see who's cross-bred what, to check out new breeds to our area, to see the 4-H projects. I love the county fair for just that reason, the animals/farm essence of the whole thing. It's great. Totally bucolic and country. A few country rock guys that know how to play a mean guitar or fiddle just add to the fun!

Amber: Do you have a favorite fair food (ie: popcorn, cotton candy, curly fries)?

Ruth: Funnel cakes. Awesome. And Cheesy fries. A heart attack waiting to happen.

Amber: What kind of ride do you enjoy the most, and what do you think that says about your personality? (For example, if your favorite ride was the Ferris wheel it might say that you're daring and you like seeing the big picture from a higher perspective. This is just for fun, so anything goes!)

Ruth: The Merry go Round with my husband at the Fair. At an amusement park? The biggest, baddest, fastest roller coasters they make.

Not with hubby, he'd rather watch.

Not me!

Amber: Any fun fair memories you want to share?

Ruth: Kissing behind the chicken barn.

Amber: You're not going to elaborate on that? ;) Anyway, can you think of any movies or books set at a fair that you would recommend for us to check out?

Ruth: There's a great fair chapter in Understood Betsy one of my favorite childhood books. It's a great book about coming of age and growing up and seeing the world through changing eyes, and I just love it to pieces. It affected my outlook on life and the way I raised my kids. That's some book!

Amber: Could you tell us what books of yours are available? Maybe a short description of each would be nice... ;) And, of course, we would love to hear about any upcoming releases, as well!

Ruth: My debut novel, Winter's End, is still available on Amazon. It's an amazing book that's got a lot of people talking because it touches hearts in ways you don't often find in a romance novel. Marc and Kayla are two people who cannot be together for a number of reasons, and they know it. Still, they yearn. And with the gentle power of God's love and patience, the Holy Spirit is able to apply slaps upside the head at just enough velocity to bring two stubborn hearts and heads around.

Waiting Out the Storm is actually the FIRST novel in the series, but it was published second because my editors at Steeple Hill loved Winter's End and wanted to get it out there, in people's hands. What a lovely compliment that was. And if you love county fairs, farm folk, totally hot country vets, and farm girls that do not need a man to help tend the farm, but like to have one around anyway, then this is a book you'll cherish. Great story, great setting, the North Country of New York State, rugged and cold, bordering our Canadian friends. Long winters. Short summers.

Due out in two weeks is the second book in the series, Made to Order Family, a great story of forging a family out of the ashes, of rebuilding lives, hopes and dreams with enough humor (and a DOG) that you just want to sit down and have supper with this family. And the dog, of course! All of them are available at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com, Parable.com and Made to Order Family will be in WalMarts, big grocery stores, book stores, etc., anywhere where Harlequin books are sold.

And (bragging here!) all three books have been given the coveted 4 1/2 STAR review from Romantic Times Magazine. I'm so grateful for that, what a lovely pat on the back that is!And Winter's End was named a BEST BEACH READ by Woman's World magazine in July.

SWEET!!!

Amber: Congrats on all those accolades! I really need to read your books now! Thanks so much for joining us, Ruthy!

Now, readers, I sort of coerced Ruth into giving away a book today. ;) Here's how I asked: "And, if you wanted to...say...give away one of your books on my blog, I wouldn't hate you for it or nothin'. ;) Completely up to you!"

Yes, I was bad. BUT, Ruth went along with it anyway! Here's what she said in response: "Yes, give away a copy of Made to Order Family, okay? It's the new one about to come out. If you need anything else, let me know, kiddo." Isn't Ruth great? =)

So leave a comment for Ruth along with your e-mail address to enter for a chance to win Made to Order Family! Giveaway ends 11:59 PM West Coast time on Friday, August 20. ;) Winner will be announced on Saturday, August 21.

At the Fair with Julia

Please help me welcome my dear blogging friend, Julia from Dark Glass Ponderings! Come join us on a trip to the fair!

Amber: What is your favorite part about the fair?

Julia: I haven't been to the state fair since I was a child, so this is fun to think about. I am a total nerd and I always thought the invention exhibits were fun. I thought it was neat to see the new innovations. And I also love fair food because those are foods I don't eat throughout the year.

Amber: Do you have a favorite fair food (ie: popcorn, cotton candy, curly fries)?

Julia: Oh, definitely my favorite fair food is fried dough. I love it hot as the powdered sugar "splashes" my chin. And I love fresh squeezed lemonade.

Amber: What kind of ride do you enjoy the most, and what do you think that says about your personality? (For example, if your favorite ride was the Ferris wheel it might say that you're daring and you like seeing the big picture from a higher perspective. This is just for fun, so anything goes!)

Julia: Hmmm...I still love the carousel and love taking my kids on it. We have a beautiful historical carousel in our city. I am definitely a traditional person and I have always had a love for beautiful things. I'm a bit of a dreamer, I guess that's why I love to write.

Amber: Any fun fair memories you want to share?

Julia: The first time my mom took me on the Ferris wheel, there was a malfunction and we ended up stuck near the top for nearly an hour. My mom hasn't been on one since, but I don't think it phased me too much.

Amber: Can you think of any movies or books set at a fair that you would recommend for us to check out?

Julia: I can't think of any books. But I can think of two great movies set at fairs. Meet Me in St. Louis and State Fair are both great musicals. I love old musicals. Carousel is also a wonderful musical where the hero works at a carnival. I know Carol Cox has Christian fiction set at a fair, but I haven't read it.

I would have loved to have attended the Chicago's World Fair or Prince Albert's Exhibition in 1851. I think those would have been two of the coolest events ever!

Amber: Thank you so much for joining us today, Julia! I'm sure in the mood for some fair fun now! =)

(The picture above is the poster from my school's production of State Fair last fall, which I participated in. Lots of work, for sure, but also lots of fun!)

The County Fair Week Contest!

Welcome one and all to County Fair Week here at "Seasons of Humility!" I'm so excited for all this week has in store, and I hope you are, too!

As many of you know, county fairs are filled with contests--with quilts, livestock, poetry, and so much more being judged. So in honor of County Fair Week, I'm going to host a fun contest for all you writers out there! Before I get into the rules, let me tell you about the prize package:

The winner will receive my gently used copies of Love Finds You in Romeo, Colorado and A Name of Her Own, along with some fair goodies I'm hoping to pick up at my own county fair this week. =) Here are the descriptions of the two books:

From Summerside Press: "Can one woman's tragedy turn into happily ever after? Claire Caspian is a first-rate professor, teaching even the most cynical student to find beauty in literature. But with her own personal story, she isn’t as successful. Having recently lost her husband, Claire returns with her young son to the tiny desert town of Romeo, Colorado, where she grew up. There she settles in with her feisty old Abuelita, the richest woman in the county, and attempts to rebuild her life. But love comes searching for Claire in the form of attractive local doctor Stephen Reyes. Will another tragedy prevent her from accepting love the second time around? Or will she embrace her new Romeo and finally find a happy ending?"

From WaterBrook Multnomah: "Based on the life of Marie Dorion, the first mother to cross the Rocky Mountains and remain in the Northwest, A Name of Her Own is the fictionalized adventure account of a real woman’s fight to settle in a new landscape, survive in a nation at war, protect her sons and raise them well and, despite an abusive, alcoholic husband, keep her marriage together.

With two rambunctious young sons to raise, Marie Dorion refuses to be left behind in St. Louis when her husband heads West with the Wilson Hunt Astoria expedition of 1811. Faced with hostile landscapes, an untried expedition leader, and her volatile husband, Marie finds that the daring act she hoped would bind her family together may in the end tear them apart.

On the journey, Marie meets up with the famous Lewis and Clark interpreter, Sacagawea. Both are Indian women married to mixed-blood men of French Canadian and Indian descent, both are pregnant, both traveled with expeditions led by white men, and both are raising sons in a white world.

Together, the women forge a friendship that will strengthen and uphold Marie long after they part, even as she faces the greatest crisis of her life, and as she fights for her family’s very survival with the courage and gritty determination that can only be fueled by a mother’s love."

Also, Ashley from After All....... Tomorrow is Another Day has offered to give away a personalized, homemade bookmark like the one pictured left to the winner! (And if she enters and wins, then the bookmark will go to the second place winner!) ;)


So what do you need to do to enter this contest? Here are the rules:

• Write a clean and appropriate romantic scene that involves some fair attraction, such as a ride or contest of some sort.
  

• Please keep the scene under 300 words if possible. I will still consider longer entries, but it would probably be easier on Blogger if we could keep the entries short and sweet. ;)

• Leave your e-mail address in your comment along with your entry, so I have a way to contact you if you win!
  

• If Blogger will not let you leave a long comment or if you would like me to check your scene's content to see if it works for this contest, feel free to e-mail your entry to me at: stokes[dot]a[at]suddenlink[dot]net.

• Entries will be accepted through Friday, August 20. The winner will be announced on Saturday, August 21.
  

• You must have a U.S. mailing address. (I apologize to any of my friends from other countries; this is due to higher costs. But feel free to share a scene with us anyway if you'd like!)

• Entries will be judged by me and one or two other people of my choosing.

Thank you to Tina from Seekerville for letting me "borrow" her contest idea! A couple of weeks ago they had a similar contest for "Slacker Tuesday," and Tina gave me permission to use a similar idea.

And I told you last week that I would give you my own example. I used the same characters from my entry for the "Slacker Tuesday" contest, so feel free to click HERE and read my entry for that contest in the comments section, if you're interested. Now, here's my example:

“What do you see?”

Looking into the multiple mirrors around her, all Christine saw were accusations and disappointment. Why did they call this place a “fun house”? Her dreams of being published were as unreal as the image she had seen in that wavy mirror a ways back.

“Would you like me to tell you what I see?”

She nodded. Let Rich try to put into words what she couldn’t bring herself to say. “I see a girl who doubts God.”

The images in the mirrors blurred, and Christine whirled around to face him. “What on earth do you mean?”

“I mean that you’re so worried about getting published that you’ve forgotten it’s all in God’s hands. If it’s His will, it will happen. If not, then maybe He’s just using this time to prepare you for something else that will be even better for you in the end. Why are you so worried, Christine?”

A tear fell, but Christine didn’t look up. She didn’t want to see the rainstorm brewing around her in her reflections. Rich placed both of his hands gently on her face, forcing her gaze to him. A rush of warmth shocked her. Those blue eyes…

Suddenly, a bunch of giggling kids ran past, practically thudding into the mirrors as they searched for the way out. Rich and Christine parted, glanced at each other, and laughed.

“Come with me?” Rich offered his hand, and Christine took it. Slowly, he guided her through the mirrors and out into the painful but beautiful light of daytime at the fair.

According to Microsoft Word, my example is 261 words long, and the scene takes place at a "fun house" (or "house of mirrors") at a fair. Hope you enjoyed the scene!

Now it's your turn! I can't wait to read your entries! And remember to tune in every day this week for some fun interviews and fair stories. (It's quite possible there will be a separate giveaway going on this week sometime, so this is my hint that you should keep checking in on a regular basis!)

Anticipating the Fair

Yes, it's almost that time! This year is the 114th year of the Humboldt County Fair, which takes place in Ferndale, California. I'm looking forward to the rides, the food, and the fun with my family and friends! Fairs have an atmosphere all their own, and I especially love the time in the evening when all the rides are lit up and the place seems almost magical.

I'm a little disappointed that I won't be going to the fair on opening day (tomorrow, August 12), because Guy Fieri from Food Network (who is from Ferndale and who hosts Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives) is going to be there!!! But, I'm going to a dear friend's birthday party, so I'm happy! Plus, I'll be going to the fair next week, so I won't be missing out on that!

Now, how many of you are planning on going to a county fair before the summer is over?

If you can't make it to any fair in your area (or even if you can!), I hope you'll be sure and join me next week for "County Fair Week." There will be several interviews, stories from my own experience at the fair this year, and a special contest. Well, it wouldn't be a fair without some sort of competition, right? ;)

This contest will be similar to the one hosted on Seekerville on "Slacker Tuesday" last week. Except, in this case, you will be required to write a romantic scene involving some attraction from the fair, such as a ride on the midway or a competition of some sort (and the word count will be a bit longer--300 instead of 150). On Monday, August 16, the contest will be open for entries, and I'll be giving my own example, as well!

I'll wait to let you know more about the prize, but let's just say that it will include at least two books . . . and I'm hoping that the prize package will make you want to participate! ;) So start thinking and writing in the next few days, because it's your participation that will make the contest fun!

Remember, "County Fair Week" kicks off Monday, August 16, and will go through August 21. Hope to see you there!!!

*With thanks to Tina Radcliffe from Seekerville for letting me borrow her idea for the contest!*