As promised, today I will reveal the winners of Halfway to Happily Ever After by Sarah Aronson and Every Shiny Thing by Cordelia Jensen and Laurie Morrison. See this post and this one if you’re completely confused by that statement.
Before I get to that, in honor of the first day of summer, here is a photo (the one on the left) of three trees I pass every day. Okay, yeah. You can only see the the trunk of the tree at the far right. So, the photo at the right shows the tree you couldn’t really see in the left photo (though some of the foliage in the left photo belongs to that tree). Yeah. I know. The knot holes give it a creepy look. So, let’s call it Creepy Tree. Despite its appearance, squirrels and birds by the score are drawn to it and to the one across the street from it. The latter tree seems like a happy tree, with its fuller access to the sun’s rays.
Happy Tree. Even the branches seem like a smile.
The tree in the foreground of the picture on the left (same tree in the photo at the right) reminds me of a brush, so its nickname is—you guessed it—Brush. Brush is a haven for birds. I’ve seen cardinals dart into it from time to time, though they usually live in one of the larger evergreen trees nearby.
Brush has reached a lovely height.
Brush is a place that many birds visit, but don’t live in. Sort of like a Starbucks or a library—a place they go to hang out in or work. But Creepy Tree and Happy Tree are the homes squirrels and birds return to after a hard day’s work.
Creepy Tree is less creepy from this side of the street (the Happy Tree side).
What makes some trees more habitable than others? It takes a squirrel or a bird to know best, since trees are their domain. But as I asked myself that question, I couldn’t help thinking about stories—places we find ourselves inhabiting, even if the settings are completely made up.
There are some stories we visit. We might read them once and move on. But there are stories we call home—the ones that draw us back to their pages again and again. We become citizens of their well-drawn worlds, and gladly tread their well-worn paths.
In what story worlds are you a citizen?
Speaking of well-drawn worlds, time for the book giveaways. Thanks to the random number generator, the winner of Halfway to Happily Ever After is
Is . . .
Is . . .
Is . . .
Is . . .
Is . . .
Is . . .
Nancy Hatch!
The winner of Every Shiny Thing is
Is . . .
Is . . .
Is . . .
Is . . .
Is . . .
Is . . .
Marian!
Congrats to the winners! You know the drill. Please comment below to confirm.
Author photos and book covers courtesy of the authors. Tree photos by L. Marie.
El Space--The Blog of L. Marie 
Loved this, L. Marie! The happy tree does look like it’s smiling. 🙂 Congratulations to the winners!
Thank you, Jill! After this I will return to my usual once a week posting. 😀
I like the idea of a Starbucks tree! Personally I love trees: trees, birds, water, sky. That’s all I need on my travels.
I enjoy your travel posts, Andy, and your coffee shop posts. You overhear such interesting conversations!
Love trees and sky and birds:
“If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things in nature have a message you understand, Rejoice, for your soul is alive.” ~ Eleanora Duse
And, yay! Thanks to the random number generator . . . I am a winner!
OPA!
I look forward to reading Halfway to Happily Ever After. Thanks, LM & SA.
If I have a choice, I’d prefer hardcover to Kindle. 😀
My address is the same.
Let me know if you need anything else.
Nancy, I ordered your book. Soon it will wing its way to you!
What a lovely quote. I find it interesting that on the first day of summer, the rain has come. Not a hint of sun.
Thanks!!!
Hope the sun peeks out for your soon.
I hope so! But at least the rain has ushered in cooler weather! No more 90+ temps!
The book arrived today ~> I’m Halfway to Happily Ever After! 😀
Yay! That’s great! So glad, Nancy!
First off, congratulations to Marian and Nancy.
I love your trees. Such personalities, though I will admit that I would be particularly drawn to Creepy. As you might recall, there is Copper Beech at the Morton Arboretum that is MY tree, though I’m not sure that the good folks at the Arb know it is mine. 🙂 It is warm and comforting, not quite perfect but sheltering and she rules the grounds around her with compassion.
Little Women always draw me in to their tight knit circle. Flawed, snippy, playful, caring, resourceful. Sigh. Thanks for this post, L. Marie.
I love a copper beech. So comforting as you said. Penny. Of course it is your tree. They should know that! And I’m also drawn to Creepy, because of its personality and demeanor.
Ah Little Women! A great book to return to again and again!
Congrats to the winners!
Great names for your trees…Brush is in reality an Italian Cypress…FYI!!!
I don’t know why, but one of those ‘home’ books for me is called, “The Shell Seekers’ by Roasmund Pilcher. Not in anyway a classic. I first read it during the summer when my middle child was a few months old and related the ‘older’ character to my Ma and how I wanted to be when I got older. Now I am around that ‘older’ character’s age and I relate to it as having some of those attributes in my own self HA!!!!
Kinda weird, I know…and I mention this specifically because I am currently re-reading it!
😀
Good to know that Brush has an identity, Laura! Lovely! Italy has always had a siren call for me. Nice to know that a little piece of it is nearby.
I read The Shell Seekers several years ago at the recommendation of someone. Great book! I see why you return to it!
Congratulations to the winners! You won’t be disappointed. A tree in my local park made the national news because it’s home to a family of red-tailed hawks that had a bit of drama earlier this year.
Really? Wow! I saw a red-tailed hawk awhile back! What happened with the hawks in your neck of the woods?
Haha – I love that you give all the trees names! I feel so sad for my anonymous local trees now – I’m going to have to start checking out their personalities… 😀
Yes! They deserve identities. You must have a creepy tree around somewhere. Everyone needs one of those! 😀
Oh, my goodness, I’m a winner if Marian cited here is indeed ME. Here’s the irony: A copy of “Every Shiny Thing” arrived in the mail TODAY for my granddaughter’s birthday. I guess the winning volume will be another gift. Wow! 🙂
Hi, Marian. Yes, the winner is you. 😀 How awesome that your granddaughter was given the book. I contacted you via the form on your blog. Could you send your street address to that email?
I’ll send my address to your gmail account. Thank you! 🙂
It’s best to send it to lwashin301(at)comcast(dot)net.
Smiling at the idea of happy trees. Thank you for the mental image. Congrats to nancy.
Glad to provide it, Ally! 😀
Pingback: Kitty on the Lam or: How a Tiny Car Is Not the Best Bet for a Getaway | El Space–The Blog of L. Marie