BryonySeries Pre-Halloween Party is Saturday

Come out to the the BryonySeries "Pre-Halloween Party" at The Book Market in Crest Hill on Saturday.

Several of us will be there from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. telling spooky stories, distributing Halloween treat bags (while supplies last) with fun Halloween "stuff" inside, and drawing the winner of our pumpkin decorating contest (four pumpkins remain as of this writing - pop in and decorate yours!)

Here's how it works.

Simply select one of our Bertrand the Mouse-approved, Cindy-created Ribbit-Ribbit pumpkins.

And then decorate it in the store with sticky back felt shapes and designs, which are divided by shape and design and placed in the plastic Jack-o-lanterns next to the pumpkins.

Leave your pumpkin on the table, so customers can vote "by number." (The pumpkins are numbered).

Write the number of your favorite pumpkin on a sticky note, fold the note in half, and drop it in to the bucket.

Voting ends shortly before 1:30 p.m. October 25 (a the conclusion of the BryonySeries pre-Halloween Book Party), upon which time the notes will be counted and a suprise bookish "prize" will be awarded and all pumpkins may go home.

All pumpkins are free to choose, free to decorate, while supplies last. Decorated pumpkins have an approximate retail value of $25, so this is a free fun way to bring personalized autumn decor into your home.

Questions?

Email us at bryonyseries@gmail.com. Or pop into The Book Market and ask owner Janet Staley before Saturday.

Happy decorating!

Decorate a FREE BryonySeries Crocheted Pumpkin at The Book Market

Come visit the BryonySeries "Pumpkin Patch" at The Book Market in Crest Hill, with an array of pumpkins ready for decorating!

Here's how it works.

Select one of our Bertrand the Mouse-approved, Cindy-created Ribbit-Ribbit pumpkin.

And then decorate it in the store with sticky back felt shapes and designs, which are divided by shape and design and placed in the plastic Jack-o-lanterns next to the pumpkins.

Leave your pumpkin on the table, so customers can vote "by number." (The pumpkins are numbered).

Write the number of your favorite pumpkin on a sticky note, fold the note in half, and drop it in to the bucket.

Voting ends shortly before 1:30 p.m. October 25 (a the conclusion of the BryonySeries pre-Halloween Book Party), upon which time the notes will be counted and a suprise bookish "prize" will be awarded and all pumpkins may go home.

All pumpkins are free to choose, free to decorate, while supplies last. Decorated pumpkins have an approximate retail value of $25, so this is a free fun way to bring personalized autumn decor into your home.

Questions?

Email us at bryonyseries@gmail.com. Or pop into The Book Market and ask owner Janet Staley.

Happy decorating!

Ireland In Autumn

BryonySeries "Jump Into Fall" Book Party

Good morning!

It's been a busy, busy, busy week of work and physical therapy - and this blog will be the shortest and the simplest of nearly all the blogs since I began it on Aug. 1, 2010.

I am looking forward to a lowkey, fun-filled party on Saturday.

Details are on the flyer and on our "pumpkin patch" blog.

Pleaaw join us! 

Decorate a Pumpkin at the BryonySeries "Pumpkin Patch"

The BryonySeries first "Pumpkin Patch" is installed at The Book Market in Crest Hill, with a dozen pumpkins ready for decorating!

Here's how it works.

Select one of our Bertrand the Mouse-approved, Cindy-created Ribbit-Ribbit pumpkin.

And then decorate it in the store with sticky back felt shapes and designs, which are divided by shape and design and placed in the plastic Jack-o-lanterns next to the pumpkins.

Leave your pumpkin on the table, so customers can vote "by number." (The pumpkins are numbered).

Write the number of your favorite pumpkin on a sticky note, fold the note in half, and drop it in to the bucket.

Voting ends shortly before 1:30 p.m. September 27, upon which time the notes will be counted and a suprise bookish "prize" will be awarded.

Make sure your fingers "jump" into our leaf pile for a BryonySeries book discount.

Pull a leaf, take it to the counter, and Jan will look up your discount.

You can then take it or "leaf" it.

All pumpkins are free to choose, free to decorate, while supplies last.

You may take your pumpkin home anytime after September 27. 

Or you may "leaf" your pumpkin at The Book Market as a gift to become part of the store's autumn decor. Just let Jan Staley, the owner, know.

For more fun, plan to pop into the BryonySeries "Jump Into Fall" book party, where we will announce the winner, give out free chef-made packaged werewolf bark, and do spontaneous "turn the leaf" book readings.

Happy Monday!

A Time for Silence

I love waking up before the rest of the household, when all the house is silent.

No voices.

No cats running around.

No corgis squeaking squeaky toys.

No background noises from media on computers or cell phones.

But I also love those same sounds once the day is really awake. That same type of silence would be out-of-place, I think.

Years ago when the children were young on an exceptionally weary day, I lay on the couch to nurse the baby to sleep and drifted off myself for a short bit.

The older kids had scattered to friends' house.

I remember waking up to the very quiet house and realizing that would, one day, be my reality. And I wasn't sure I liked it.

In college, several of us owned the same poster. Mine hung on my water closet door. The poster was about how life was full of contrasts, and that what made life meaningful.

For instance, having the flu meant you could stay in bed and lose weight. Having a cold meant you could say in bed and eat.

Or nights of going out and having fun would become dull without nights of staying home with a good book and hot cocoa.

Maybe that's why God created seasons, in nature, in life.

Maybe?

Thoughts?

George Winston - Woods - Autumn

A Glimpse of Autumn

Until March 2020, my early morning walks were for me alone, a time to clear my mind before the day began.

But after Rebekah was furloughed that month, she started making healthier changes. So I invited her to walk with me. That's been our habit ever since.

Four to five days a week in the early morning before we start our work day, we walk and talk together.

As we walked and talked, I became aware of my surroundings in different ways, simply because Rebekah notices things I do not.

Coupled with the fact that Timothy keeps upgrading my phone include better and better cameras, I started noticing details in those walks I wanted to capture.

I'm no professional photographer by any means. But I've captured some scenes that make me smile.

Here are five of my autumn photos from 2020 and 2021. I hope they add a bit of warmth to the start of your week.

Happy Monday!

Autumn Leaves Tin Whistle Cover

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Nov.12 through Nov. 17

First of all, a huge "thank you" to everyone who supported "An Evening with Tom Hernandez" last night. It was an enjoyable evening of readings from Tom's latest book, which he infused with humor, inspiration, and tremendous introspective transparency.

If you missed Tom last night (or feel like seeing him again) he, along with other members of WriteOn Joliet, will be at The Book Market tonight at 6 p.m. hosting an anthology release party. Details below.

WriteOn Joliet Anthology Release Party

When: 6 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 17

Where: The Book Market, 2365 Plainfield Road, Crest Hill

Etc.: Copies of "Write Where We Are" (WriteOn Joliet's first anthology) will be for sale. Information about WriteOn Joliet. A chance to meet and talk to some of WriteOn Joliet's members, as well as purchase books written by individual WriteOn Joliet authors as well as browse the store and purchase others books. Chef-created refreshments. BryonySeries raffles. Free admission.

Contact: bryonyseries@gmail.com

Visit: writeonJoliet.com or www.bryonyseries.com

Next week, I have vacation time to use, so I'm giving myself a "writer's retreat" and immersing myself in Before the Blood. Social media postings will be sporadic in order to maximize my time, but I'm hoping to give a brief update about my progress each day via this blog.

Also in 2018, I'll be starting a newsletter. I'm giving away the first chapter of one of the books in the BTB prequel as a "thank you" for signing up. Want to be included? Drop me a line at bryonyseries@gmail.com

Now some quick information before the stories:

Non-bylined features:

Monday through Saturday I assembled my non-bylined works - brief posts and calendar listings - into one convenient file and posting them on Facebook in the evening, so readers can easily choose the ones they want to read.

One can also find those event listings, the Gotta Do It calendar, as well as the pets, health, faith, and arts and entertainment calendars, under the sections tab on the left hand side of http://www.theherald-news.com/. Click on "features" and the topics drop down.  Gotta Do It runs under "people."

Community news? Again, under the sections tab, under features, and by topic. Updates are posted on these days in print and web and in web on other days as I have the time: Monday (pets), Tuesday (health), Thursday (faith), Friday (arts and entertainment), and Sunday (people).

Social media:

Daily updates: I do post the briefs and calendars on Twitter during the week, so you're welcome to follow me at @Denise_Unland61.

BryonySeries stuff: I post curated content relating to the BryonySeries at @BryonySeries. And assorted related content at www.facebook.com/BryonySeries. And of course, please follow the adventures of Bertrand the Mouse on Instagram at bertrand_bryonyseries.

Thank you for reading The Herald-News. And for reading this blog. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Will and Grundy counties offer resources for veterans

A listing of services and organizations for veterans along with opportunities to serve veterans in return.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2017/11/07/will-and-grundy-counties-offer-resources-for-veterans/ad8ww4/

Beagle ‘best companion’ for Joliet family

To make up for his neglected years, Allie Rios admitted she spoiled Spanky with an abundance of toys and food. Spanky’s favorite toy was his stuffed beagle. Spanky’s favorite food was all of them.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2017/03/14/beagle-best-companion-for-joliet-family/auwibr/

Pets of the Week: Nov. 13

Read the caption of each photo to find out about that pet, including where he or she can be adopted.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2017/11/12/5fc3548dda324939bc4f81cbd942a5d2/index.xml

'Ellie has spina bifida'

'But spina bifida does not have Ellie'

Ellie Fontanetta of Lockport serves as an ambassador for various charitable outreaches.

“We honestly just have a heart to help,” Nikki Fontanetta, Ellie's mother,  said. “From an early age we wanted her to be involved with her hospital. Philanthropy is a core value in our family.”

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2017/11/12/60389d94cd1348dc97a43d65bce2e18b/index.xml

'A little bit of comfort' in Nicholas' name

July 4, 20111: That was the day Joanna and Bart Veghts' 8-year-old son, Nicholas, was diagnosed with leukemia. While on vacation, Nicholas “wasn’t himself” and his lymph nodes in his neck had grown very large, Joanna said.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2017/11/12/757f38f59b144e8d8b41eec8987c558e/index.xml

Mystery Diner: Pesciolino Osteria isn't easy to say, but it's worth your time to try

The place isn't huge, but it's well-decorated with an intimate setting that was more welcoming and comforting than loud.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2017/11/12/66126613f4fb4a648a09b29076c11ca1/index.xml

Thursday: The Center returns to its Joliet roots

Incorporated in 2013, The Center has one mission: to help teens connect with God, so they can experience the life Jesus promised to everyone in John 10:10: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

http://www.theherald-news.com/2017/11/13/thursday-the-center-returns-to-its-joliet-roots/agbdls5/

Joliet artist shares her autumn art

A freelance artist for many years, Terri Ellinger specializes in watercolor, gouache, pencil, colored pencil, mixed media and ink. She enjoys creating custom portraits of people, places and pets.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2017/11/15/f92f64ac843b449db66d49f06b3d2a96/index.xml

Artworks: Joliet resident wrote lyrics for 'Here Come the Irish'

John Scully said: "As a musician, I think it's always good to add to something to people's lives, something that's worthwhile, and I think we're on the mark here with 'Here Come the Irish.' It has added immeasurably to the quality of people's lives. [And that's just not a ] good goal for music. I think that's a good goal for anything."

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2017/11/14/8951675f6b2c4e5fa2bc30100ef1cc5c/index.xml