Fun Fiction Friday featuring Marcia Gruver

Hello, Simple Livers!

I'm online today to tell you about a great book for Fun Fiction Friday. Fellow writer Marcia Gruver signed a three-book deal in 2007 with Barbour Publishing. Go, Marcia! What a blessing! Her first book, Diamond Duo is now on the shelves. Click on the book title to be sent directly to her site on Amazon.com.

Here is what a few of my friends are saying about the book. I actually know these women and trust their opinions. :o)

With lyrical prose and a cast of characters that will remain in your heart long after the last page is turned, Marcia Gruver’s debut novel is a must-read. Whether you’re seeking a romance, a wonderful Southern story or an escape to another time, Diamond Duo is a masterpiece waiting to be found. ~ Kathleen Y’barbo author of the Fairweather Key series


Marcia Gruver’s writing is witty, charming and historically accurate. She pulls you into the lives of the characters and makes you feel as though you’re actually walking and talking with them. Best of all, she captures the true feel of the setting, (a real strength in her stories). I can’t recommend Diamond Duo strongly enough! ~ Janice Thompson author of the Bridal Mayhem series

Well-written, delightful characters—Diamond Duo is the most entertaining historical to come around in a long time. ~ Elizabeth Ludwig author of Where the Truth Lies and Died in the Wool

My favorite part about this book is Marcia based this fictional account on a true-life unsolved murder case in Jefferson, Texas. I love historical unsolved mysteries, so when I found this tid-bit out, it made this book a must-read for me!

I began reading this book and fell in love with one character in particular -- Sarah. She stands out with superior dialogue and likeability. I am eager to keep reading and find out her fate. I hopes she doesn't die in the end. I just hate that. LOL


While you are out in cyberspace, check out these other witty bloggers and their interviews with Marcia Gruver. And, be sure to check out Marcia's personal blog by clicking right . . . here!

Take care and God bless!

DMM :o)


A Latte and Some Words

A Little Bit of Sunlight

Anne Greene

Be a Barnabas

Book Splurge

BookingIt

Cara’s Musings

Erica at ShoutLife

Fictionary

God With Us - Finding Joy

Horizontal Yo-Yo

Janice Olson

Lighthouse Academy

Marthawrites

Mary Connealy - real life

My Christian Fiction Blog

Net’s Notes

On The Write Path

Pam Krumpe

Patti’s Porch

Readin N Writin

Relz Reviewz

Tamara Lynn Kraft

Terri Tiffany

The Friendly Book Nook

The Writer’s Tool

Writing by Faith

Laundry Detergent - The Simple Living Way

Hello, Simple Livers!

I mentioned to several people over the last few days that I make my own laundry detergent. It is so easy, and believe me, it would have to be for me to do it! So with great Simple Living style, here it is. If you have any questions, please post them below. I'm sure if you have questions, other people will to and you can help them out.

I got this recipe from my new friend Michelle. I met Michelle while writing a piece for Focus on the Family on Getting Back to the Basics. If you would like to read how Michelle and her family live the simple life with Christ, click here.

What you'll need:

Large pot and spoon - designate one pot big enough to hold 4 quarts of water and one spoon to solely use for laundry detergent making. I use a big wooden spoon. It feels more rustic that way. :oP

2-3 gallon milk or water jugs (or any containers you like to put the soap in)

1 Funnel

4 quarts of water - any ol' water will do
Ivory or Fels Naptha bar soap - I always use Ivory since I never can find Fels Naptha in my super market. If you want to purchase Fels Naptha, visit a great site called SoapsGoneBuy.com to purchase any soap you can imagine!
1/4 cup 20 Mule Team Borax - I find this in the laundry aisle.
1/4 cup Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda - In my market, it is right next to the 20 Mule Team Borax. God made it easy for me. LOL Make sure you use the WASHING soda and not BAKING soda. I am not responsible for results with use of baking soda. :oP

Alrighty...

Pour 4 quarts of water in your pot on medium heat. With a grater, shave one-half to three-forths of the bar soap into the pot. Stir as you desire and allow the soap to completely dissolve before the next step. Believe me, if you have any chunks of soap, they will never, ever, ever dissolve. At least they don't for me. I know. . .it's a conspiracy. It will not take long at all for the soap to dissolve.

When your soap is sufficiently dissolved, slowly pour in 1/4 cup of 20 Mule Team Borax and 1/4 cup Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda. One time, I poured this in when the pot was at a raging boil. It overflowed and I had a yucky, gelatinous mess throughout my stove top to clean up when it cooled. So, please be advised. At least your stove will be really clean afterwards:o)

At this point, I stir and let it all dissolve together. The mixture will not be thick so don't expect laundry detergent consistently yet. Let the detergent cool until you feel comfortable pouring it into the gallons jugs. A funnel is a life-saver for this. PLEASE USE ONE. :o)

Fill each gallon jug 1/4 to 2/3 with the detergent mixture, then fill the rest of the way with water, put the lid on (very important!) and shake, shake, shake. I played around with consistency for a while and now I know I like the consistency when I split the soap between two jugs and add water. If the soap is too thick for you, add more water. Please note, the solution will separate when cooled so whenever I am in the laundry room I give it a good shake to keep it all together.

I use about 1/2 cup of detergent with each load. I love this detergent. I tend to have sensitive skin and haven't had a problem at all when using it. I hope you enjoy it!

Live simply God's way!

DMM :o)

Simple Sustainable Living

Today, on a impromptu trip to my library, I picked up a book called The Self-Sufficient Life and How to Live It by John Seymour. As a Simple Living enthusiast, I'm quite excited to venture through its 311 pages. On a flip through, I accidentally read too far and learned how to kill a chicken.

EEK!! For a vegetarian, I will forever have the text and drawing burned into my retinas. You should warn a person! LOL For all those opposed to the partaking of chickens, you may want to avoid page 121. :o)

So far, I've learned how to grow rice, millet, carrots, beets and how to make mustard from scratch. (My husband will be excited about that!)

Through my reading, I've considered constructing a chicken coop and acquiring a few fowl-y friends to assist me with my scrambled egg habit. But, I'm concerned about city ordinances and wastes. Anyone have any insights?

I'm really feeling led to further pursue ways to guard God's creation. Sustainable living, recycling, and thinking before I buy items are ways I can affect our world and keep it in tip-top shape for Jesus. What are some ways you and your family help out our world? Let me know by leaving a comment. Together, we can come up with new ways to fulfill our obligation as stewards of God's kingdom.

Genesis 1:26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

God put us in charge of His creation. Let's do our best this week to do our part.

In Him all things are possible!

DMM :o)

Simply Be

I'm having one of those God days. One of those days where I "decide" to let God lead every step I take.

And, it's killing me.

Evidently, God wants me to sit and be with Him. Not read a book. Not memorize scriptures. Simply be with Him.

Did I mention it is killing me?

As you can see, I resorted to writing about it. :o) Why is simply "being" so difficult? Is it hard for everyone or just me? Are other people able to sit and pass the time with nothing to do without a flitting thought except for God's whispers penetrating their flawless minds? This sitting and reflecting and being is the hardest thing I've had to do in a long time. Why is reflecting so hard?

Maybe I'm too scared of what I may reflect on?

The past mistakes, the regrets, the so called friends who weren't that seem to always pop up when I have a quiet moment in my brain. (I wasn't always a Christ Follower to shed a glimmer of light on the memories.)

This is called healing as hard as it is to swallow. Healing grows new cells, dispenses with the old and makes a new shiny me to reveal to the world. Healing is good. Even though I have this scab that doesn't want to heal, and I keep picking at it like a three-year-old.

Sorry for the visual. LOL

Are you going through a healing today? Trust me. Simply "being" in God's presence may seem hard at first, but when you are sitting on your Daddy's lap cradled in His arms, through His love, all the old bruises go away. He is good. Thank God for Him!

Simply BE today. It is Friday after all.

Love to you my brothers and sisters in Christ~

Dawn Michelle Michals