Posted by Suzanne McMinn on September 28, 2007
After you’re done driving around the backroads and looking at all your ancestors’ tombstones, what else is there to do in the country than sit on the big porch, watching leaves dance on the breeze? The weather has finally cooled off a bit and we’ve had some rain, making for a perfect evening. Kids, cousins, grandparents, friends and neighbors, lots of cats, and plenty of food and conversation.
I’ve done a lot of cooking this week. Monday was roast beef and smoked turkey sandwiches on homemade croissants. Tuesday was french bread pizza–some with shrimp, some with pepperoni. Wednesday was fried chicken night, and last night, lasagna. It looked like I was running a bakery here.
It was my cousin’s son’s sixteenth birthday yesterday. Is this cake fabulous or what? I was quite proud! (I baked it!)
There was lots of talking and laughing and birthday singing and eating.
And kids hanging on grandpa….
….and grandma.
Me, with my parents.
Neighbors stopped by, who also happen to be our builder and his wife. He said he is getting a lot of mileage out of telling people he is building a house for a romance writer. Apparently no one believes a romance writer could live in West Virginia. Maybe I could earn money by setting up a circus sideshow. I could charge people five bucks to come see the Incredible, Amazing Romance Writer at Work! I could type with my hands behind my back or with my toes or with one finger. Don’t you think people would pay for that?
Don’t forget that A Hero’s Redemption hits the stores this weekend! If you pick it up, make my day and tell me about it! For now, here’s another Free Book Friday giveaway–another September Silhouette Romantic Suspense release, Top-Secret Bride by Nina Bruhns! Drop a comment to be in the running. 
8:29
am
Terrific photos, Suzanne. What a great life you have!
8:45
am
You can see the love on that porch.
I got misty eyed as I looked. I miss all that but life sometimes goes that way. My family has dwindled down to just my kids and 1 brother and 2 sisters. My son is the only one I get to see on a regular basis. Cherish them and love them Suz. These are the most precious times of your lives. Have a great day and 
to all.
PS I didn’t mean to get maudlin on you guys. Sorry.
9:07
am
Fannie, you are allowed to get “maudlin.”
My biological family is my mom in Halifax and my dad in Vancouver. That’s it. So having close ties with immediate and extended family, as Suzanne does (or seems to!) is precious.
Suzanne, I think I should be a taste-tester for you. Quality control and all that.
Have a joy-full weekend, everyone.
-Kim
9:16
am
Fannie, I wish you could come sit on the porch with us!!!
Kim, sure, c’mon, I’ll give you a taste.
10:05
am
Nice pictures
10:06
am
Can I be entered please
10:31
am
yummy… those sandwiches made me really hungry
10:32
am
Suz, I have “A Hero’s Redemption”. Bought it last weekend.
I love Nina Bruhn’s books!
This post made me
11:01
am
11:42
am
I love hearing about your life. So different from mine. One day I would love to hang out on your porch. Luckily my sister is buying a place which will have balaconies where the family can hang out.
11:48
am
Wonderful pictures of your family and the delectable meals. Enjoy it all. Lucky you.
12:58
pm
It looks like you have a wonderful family that is full of love.
You did a terrific job on that cake! 
I got a copy of A Hero’s Redemption from Amazon a couple of weeks ago. Maybe it was a mix up on their part. It’s a must read!
1:01
pm
Great way to spend an evening
You had me sold on french bread pizzas. Yummy!!
1:24
pm
I love your pictures and stories.
And I think charging people to see you write would be a great way to pay for your house. *g*
1:27
pm
Family and friends-that’s what it is all about. This Thanksgiving we will be celebrating my mother’s 90th birthday. Guess what she wants-a trip to Laughlin to the casinos so that’s on the agenda. I plan to take alot of of books to read since I am not into gambling.
1:54
pm
Looks like everyone is having a great visit.
Yummy looking food, Suzanne!
1:55
pm
Great pictures Suzanne. You sure have done some cooking this week. I bet you had some happy people at your table. Looks like you are having a great visit with your parents.
Have a great weekend.
1:59
pm
Great pictures! And that cake looks delicious.
It looks as if it has been a great visit. We don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in Belgium, but it looks great!
Have a great weekend everybody!!
3:27
pm
What nice pictures Suzanne!
Please enter me in the drawing.
3:48
pm
Your pictures truly show how much each of you cares for the other. It makes me miss my Mom.
That cake looked fabulous! You did a bang-up job on it!
Have a fantastic weekend!
3:57
pm
You have such a wonderful knack for being able to tell anything and making it so interesting - how could you possibly be anything but a writer! Love the pics too. I think the older we get the more we realize how much family means to us.
4:02
pm
You are not only an author but a baker/cook, entertainer and a great hostess. Love the pics.
4:23
pm
Enjoyed your photos and hope everyone has a great weekend!
5:54
pm
Thanks for sharing your family with us. Wow, that cakes looks beautiful and good enough to eat.
have a good weekend.
6:04
pm
The cake looks great! I would have loved to been at your house this week to eat.
I always enjoy your pictures and stories too. Thanks for sharing with us.
7:43
pm
The cake looks yummy and the pictures are wonderful. It looks like a good time was had by all.
7:50
pm
I got my copy of A Hero’s Redemption earlier this week. Can’t wait to read it.
Look at all that yummy food and fabulous family - can I be part of your family too?
Have a great weekend, everyone!
8:02
pm
Great pics your family looks very happy. Your grandpa looks a lot like mine. I hope his arm is okay,my 93 year old grandma fell again and sprained her wrist really bad.Very scary.I’ll be looking for the toe writing pictures soon,lol.
8:54
pm
What great pictures! I especially love the one with your parents. It’s obvious there was no mailman involved. lol Have a great weekend!
12:10
am
very nic family. have a good weekend
11:53
am
Glad you are having a great visit with you parents!
It’s nice to be able to just sit and relax and talk about old times. Don’t enter me in the drawing, I have to book already. Hope everyone has a great weekend. 
Leanne
10:50
pm
Love the pics! Now I need to go find a croissant…
8:05
am
Wonderful, wonderful family times…
It so good to share life events with our family–close, sweet, loving ones.
10:14
am
I thoguht there were all kinds of romance writers in West Virginia - certainly more than in Montana.
5:33
pm
Wow–great baking
Hmm…now I’m hungry 
12:06
am
Beautiful pictures of your family! Your parents are so cute.
And that cake…yummy.
4:10
pm
Great family. My sister is the only one left in my family except for a cousin I was raised with who is like a sister to me.Please enter me.