The Winner of Belle’s prize is AmyC. Congratulations, Amy. Now, on to Roxanne’s Christmas memory.
My favorite Christmas memory is from when our children were young. Every Christmas, we would set out for the local Christmas tree farms armed with a thermos of hot chocolate and our trusty saw. We would trudge through the snow, searching for The Perfect Tree. We could spend an hour or more at one of the farms, then head for one of the others, until we finally found the tree that all three kids loved. Then the two boys–cub scouts, during the early years–would take turns eagerly sawing away at the trunk, and would drag it back to our pickup. Oh, the scent of that fresh pine! When the boys went went off to college, our daughter wasn’t nearly as interested in the annual expedition through all the snow, so we began buying our tree at a lot somewhere in town….and when she went off to college, I finally gave in to my husband and we bought an artificial tree. True, it’s lovely being able to have it up the day after Thanksgiving and still be able to enjoy it until the second week of January. But I do miss the wonderful scent of fresh pine!
Comeback Cowboy
The odds have caught up with ex-bullrider Jake Landers, who was badly injured last year. Cowboys, bullfighters, and clowns on a given rodeo circuit are often close—cheering each other on, helping one another, seeing each other most weekends throughout the season. Jake not only faces the loss of his career and the only life he’s known, but will now lose touch with the people who have become his second family. Buying a faltering rodeo company is his ticket back into the life he loves. The one person who can help him succeed is the woman he stood up at the altar ten years before, and now they’ll have to work together for the next six months. If she’ll agree…and if dark secrets from the past don’t tear them apart once more.
Roxanne will be giving away a free download of her new e-book, Comeback Cowboy, which is available on Amazon. Or, the winner can choose a paperback book from her backlist (which can be found at www.roxannerustand.com). She’s also giving away this charming metal box holding a delicately scented Fringe Alchemy Amethyste soap.
Award-winning author Roxanne Rustand has written over thirty books. She lives in the country with her family, horses, and a menagerie of pets that frequently find their way into her books. Her blog, at www.roxannerustand.com, features authors and readers blogging about their pets…and books, of course! You can also find her at www.facebook.com/roxanne.rustand and her author page, at www.faceboook.com/roxanne.rustand.author.
*To be eligible for Roxanne’s presents, you must leave a comment and live within the Continental United States. Winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will be notified Dec 10 and posted on the sidebar as well.
6 responses to “9th Day of Christmas~Roxanne Rustand”
I SO understand what you mean, Roxanne. I haven’t had a real Christmas tree since I was very young, and I haven’t had any success talking my husband and two children into buying one either. (Hopefully I will someday). I too used to love that fresh pine scent. I hope you and your family have a blessed Christmas!
So nice to hear from you, Stephanie. I’ve thought about getting some pine boughs to put somewhere, just to enjoy the fragrance. I need a bigger house for all the Christmas things I’d like to use! 🙂
I remember one or two real trees–when I was a little girl, but the mess was too much so we did artificial. It didn’t smell as good but it beat pulling needles from the carpet. 😉
This book sounds fantastic! 🙂
Hi Patty! So true…I regretfully have to admit that I would find pine needles everywhere for months later. Pine needles and tinsel are so persistent! 🙂
We went to a Christmas tree farm and cut down our own for the first time ever this year. It was such a marvelous experience that we are making it a new Christmas tradition!
Good for you! I think it’s interesting that I tried so hard to create special Christmas memories, and then our three kids all grew up to use artificial trees. 🙂 Though this year, our oldest son took his three little ones out to cut a tree, and I’m hoping they continue each year. A thermos of cocoa, good warm boots, and it’s a day of adventure. 🙂