I’ve been spending a lot of time in Colorado this summer. We have a small, longtime family cabin just west of Colorado Springs. First, the hubs and I went out to get things opened up. Then both kids (one with a husband and the other with a fiancé) joined us. Then I made another trip with a friend.

It’s a great place to relax and unwind—to sip morning tea or an evening glass of wine on the porch with no mosquitoes attacking me. So many things about the place make me smile—a creekside picnic where I can hear the rushing water of a babbling brook, the bright blue sky and big, puffy white clouds, the sweet wildflowers along a hiking trail.

On this last trip, my friend and I had the delightful surprise of meeting a mama deer and her fawn along a walking trail. I’d never been that up-close-and-personal with a deer before, and it was great fun to just enjoy nature.

Summer is my season, but it’s so short. Seems shorter every year. I have a lot of work to do. I’m editing a Christmas romance to be released this November. I’m working on a sequel to my latest romance, The Story Between Us. I have several other manuscripts waiting their turn for my attention. And I have endless marketing and promotion I could be doing.

But I don’t want to miss an opportunity to read by the pool, to stroll along a creek, to dine outside in nice temperatures. They are so fleeting! And this is my time to take a break and recharge. Almost every health professional will say it’s important to take some time off, right? I looked up the word relax in the dictionary, and here’s what it says: 1. to let go of stress and tension 2. to free oneself from burdens 3. to experience serenity. I don’t know who Mark Black is, but he’s quoted as saying, “Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is relax.”

Absolutely! As July comes to a close and fall looms in the distance, I hope you all can squeeze in a little vacation or down time to recharge. To inspire you, here’s a little Colorado Zen. Enjoy!

Darlene

Speaking of unwinding . . . a happy-ever-after always offers an uplifting way to spend a few hours. Just in case you could use a little more summer reading material, here’s a peek inside The Story Between Us.

— The line went dead, and Kristen swore under her breath. She didn’t want to fight with him again, but she didn’t like being pushed and pressured. Didn’t he have a shred of sentimental feeling for any of their past?

Leaning against the counter, she rubbed her temples. The items in the house weren’t just stuff—they represented history. These things were pieces of their lives. Kristen was acutely aware they would all be gone soon—and her brother and his family were all the family she had left. On that sad note, she opened a bottle of peach-flavored sparkling water and stepped back outside to shake off the foul mood.

Much later, when the people were gone and Kristen was alone with her thoughts and space, she finally relaxed. She sat on the porch and watched dusk turn to darkness. Gazing up at the stars in the clear night sky, she let her mind wander to her young readers and her quest to connect with them. The possibilities poured in. A story about starry nights? About listening?

Was the farm the energizing force that got her creative juices flowing? Or did she owe the surge to the quiet solitude of being in nature? She used to think she’d have the farm forever—imagined writing retreats in the country and having a little getaway now and then where she could unplug and refresh. Drawing up her knees, she locked her arms around them and breathed in the crisp air. Maybe she could find a quiet getaway in other places, as well. Occasionally renting a cabin in the woods or on a secluded shoreline would be far cheaper than keeping and caring for this old house and farm. Would new environments spawn new ideas and adventures?

Did the house deserve more than someone lost in its memories? Perhaps a new family, new life, new possibilities? Kristen released a heavy sigh. Maybe her brother was right—time to cut the emotional attachment. She wished she knew whether cutting the strings meant gaining a new perspective—or losing a chunk of herself.–

Christmas at Tall Pines is coming this fall. Be sure to follow me on social media to stay up to date with the latest news!

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Happy reading to all!