'FREE' TV AND CHEESE  (And moving boxes. Oh my!)   Every April, my newsletter isn’t complete without me including a photo of the flowering cacti in our park. As you can see, this year’s blooms haven’t disappointed with their bright, yellow colors.   WRITING NEWS: I have a title…maybe…it’s still growing on me. I’m tentatively calling Book #13: Journaling to Love. What do you think? Let me know…   And speaking of writing, this month I’m featuring Anne Greene, a fellow Winged Publications author, on my newsletter.       FOR SUCH A TIME, The Story of Jarrett Ross A life of danger. A love stronger than death. What would you do if you fell in love with the daughter of your family’s worst enemy? Jarrett Ross, son of John Ross, whose story is told in the Trail of Tears, the Story of John Ross, lives during one of the most turbulent times of America’s history. Caught in the middle of a fifty-year feud, Jarrett Ross and Delight Flint attempt to conquer the odds of star-crossed love. Jarrett’s faith and strength mature as he survives a hazardous buffalo hunt and Indian initiation rite, a deadly blizzard, the excitement of riding for the Pony Express on its most risky route, and as a pacifist inducted into the Union Army during the worst battles of the Civil War fought in the West.           His home destroyed.           His loved one missing.           His courage tested.           Will love win over hate?  BIO: Anne Greene writes about ordinary people who do extraordinary things. She delights in writing about alpha heroes who aren’t afraid to fall on their knees in prayer and about gutsy heroines. She writes both historical and suspense novels. Plus, she’s written 34 exciting novellas. Anne and her hero husband, Army Special Forces Colonel Larry Greene, live in McKinney, Texas. Anne’s highest hope is that her stories transport you to awesome new worlds and touch your heart to seek a deeper spiritual relationship with the Lord Jesus. Anne is a multi-award-winning author. To learn more about Anne, visit her at AnneGreeneAuthor.com. April Funny from my friend: You may remember me mentioning Jeri in my January newsletter. She’s at it again, with funny things happening to her. These are her exact words that she posted on our resort’s Facebook page after this incident occurred:   “A big thank you to the lady who gave a chunk of cheese to a random stranger. I sent someone to my daughter's to pick up some cheese, and she couldn't find her house, so she just knocked on someone else's door and asked for cheese. The woman gave it to her and said, "Enjoy it."  This could only happen at The Good Life.”     I (we) have news. Drum roll please! We've sold the park model that we bought and lived in for the last two years. Our plan was to go back into the RV after selling it. However, while we waited to sell, we bought another one with an Arizona room (extra living space).   We closed on it on April 13. Hence, OUR APRIL FUNNY:   After closing, we went through the house, clearing out some of the previous owner’s stuff we didn’t want. One being her 2014 TV and stand. Ray posted them on Facebook, asking $30 for both. Then he left for a few minutes to pick up more boxes.   When he returned, he noticed that someone had taken the TV. Ray posted on the site where we live, saying, “Some jerk stole my TV.” A little while later, a man knocked on the door and said, “Is the TV stand free?”   Ray replied, “It is now" and repeated what he’s said on Facebook. Then the man said, “I’m the jerk. My wife told me it was free.”   At this point, I asked Ray if we knew the man. Yeppers! He’s a fellow pool player. I can’t wait to see him next Tuesday. As I’ve said before, you cannot make this stuff up. And this little tidbit sounds like it came straight out of one of my Early Birds books. HA!     April is Birthday Month for Mouse in Your Pocket, so it’s ON SALE for $0.99. Romance is the last thing Jessica Montgomery expected to find at the junkyard she inherited from her uncle—unless you count the mouse. During clean-up, her common sense flies out the window except when she deals with Jimmy Barnes. Can life get any more complicated? Yes, it can! Before I go, I want to thank my new subscribers. I'm a happy lady you've signed up. Also, thanks to those who continue to read my newsletter each month. Hugs! Until next time…  Janetta Fudge Messmer - Author of Christian Comedy/Romances “Turning Life Into Comedy!” E-mail: janettafudgemessmer@gmail.com Website and sign up for my newsletter: http://janettafudgemessmer.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janetta.fudge.messmer Twitter: https://twitter.com/nettiefudge

 

CAN IT GET ANY HOTTER?  (And it's only March!)   Yes, it can. And it’s a lesson learned. Don’t wait until the end of March to go to a spring training game. The day we attended, IT WAS A 101. WOW! We stayed in the sun through the first inning, then moved to the shade. Each of us went to see the team we root for. Mine is the Kansas City Royals, and for Ray it's the Colorado Rockies. I'm happy to report that the Royals won. Oh, and we got to see Bobby Witt, Jr. in action. Yay!   WRITING NEWS (Part 1): I want to thank those of you who wrote me last month and complimented me on my new website. If you haven’t looked at it, please go to: www.janettafudgemessmer.com. And as with any new venture, there’s always a funny story attached to it.   Here it is: I published my newsletter last month, then waited for responses from my readers. Hours went by, and I didn’t see anything. I may have panicked a bit. But hubby came to my rescue. He found that we had skipped a crucial step when we switched over to the new website. Ray fixed it, and your emails arrived in my inbox. It was a Praise the Lord moment.   P.S. Because of the above hiccup, if you didn’t see February’s newsletter, go check your spam. It may be resting there.   WRITING NEWS (Part 2): Since I’m done with the website, it was time to get back to writing. As of right now, I have 9,500 words on Book #13. My character is a successful realtor who has signed up on a dating site. You may ask yourself, what can possibly go wrong? Plenty…   I've had help. Since we live in a 55+ community in the winter, I've told my friends that I'm writing a book about online dating. Their stories have poured forth about some of their disastrous dates.   Here's a little hint: One of the stories may include a three-legged squirrel. Stay tuned…   (Yes, another sunset picture)   I don’t know if the excessive heat (we have been in the 100s) has anything to do with more breathtaking sunrises and sunsets, but the one above ranks among my Top 10. If you take photos of sunrises or sunsets, send them to me. You know I’d love to see them.   Most of you know that I LOVE to play pool (billiards) and play twice a week with the ladies. However, a few weeks ago, we got together with the men and played six games. Since the men set it up, the ladies just came in and picked a card to see which gentleman they’d be with.   I picked the Ace (#1), so I was matched with Mike. Even though I turned 70 in January, I almost broke out into a happy dance because he’s a top-rated pool player. He and I tied for first place. What a fun day, learning from a pro. Waltzing with a Grease Monkey is ON SALE for $0.99 through March 31! Click the book cover to go to Amazon.     Penelope teaches ballroom dancing. At night, she moonlights as a mechanic alongside her ex-boyfriend, Derek. One day, her two professions collide. Will Harrison waltz into the studio and steal Penelope’s heart, or will Derek’s wit win her over?   Thank you for reading my offering each month and commenting. It means the world to me and puts a smile on my face!   Until next time…  Janetta Fudge Messmer - Author of Christian Comedy/Romances “Turning Life Into Comedy!” E-mail: janettafudgemessmer@gmail.com Website and sign up for my newsletter: http://janettafudgemessmer.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janetta.fudge.messmer Twitter: https://twitter.com/nettiefudge

 

(Another Arizona sunset)    MY WEBSITE JOURNEY  (And I lived to talk about it!)   Happy Valentine’s Day. Sorry, it’s a few days late. I hope it was filled with lots of love and chocolate. Hubby and I attended a dance that evening at the place we are staying. They always do a Sock Hop. Great costumes. Unfortunately, I didn’t take any to share.   But I did get a photo of my 99-year-old friend (see below). She was the Grand Marshall of our Mardi Gras parade this year. She’s a special lady and quite the pool player. She is no longer able to play because of her eyesight, but we still go over to her place on Tuesday for Happy Hour and snacks.     Even though February is a short month, it’s been full of lots of activities. Along with the Sock Hop, I’ve gone to two shows. The first: Song, Sung Blue. Outstanding. Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson… both should win an Academy Award. My friend Jeri insisted we go, and I’m glad she did. Well worth it.     The second movie: I went with Jeri again. It was EPIC (Elvis Presley In Concert). Amazing! His rendition of How Great Thou Art was worth the ticket price. IMAX makes you feel as if you’re there. And for almost two hours, the King of Rock and Roll serenaded us. If you’re a fan, it’s a must-see!   February Funny: This same friend had a birthday last month. I went over to visit her on her big day. I’m not sure how it ended up with her saying to me, “If you want to buy me a present, you can buy me potatoes to go with the broasted chicken our other friend brought me.” We both laughed.   As I walked home, I thought, “Why not get her different kinds of potatoes?” I told Ray about it, and we ran to the store to pick up hashbrowns, two potatoes to bake, and mashed potatoes. We went to her house and delivered her ‘present’. She got a kick out of the variety.     You might be asking, “Who gives a broasted chicken and potatoes as a birthday gift?” That would be our mutual friend and me!   News about Liver and Onion that you didn’t know you needed: I know you’ve waited patiently to find out how this turned out. Surprisingly, the people who wrote me about the aforementioned food were split 50/50 on whether they loved or hated it. And they gave good reasons for their answer.   One subscriber (Barbara) said: “As far as liver and onions, whenever my mom's side would get together for Christmas and my uncle was hosting, the meal was at The Machine Shed Restaurant. He always ordered liver and onions. When he and his wife passed away within days of each other last year, I told my cousins that I would go to Machine Shed and order the meal in his memory.”   That’s so sweet. Thanks for sharing your stories. If you missed last month’s Liver and Onion story, go to my BRAND NEW website at: www.janettafudgemessmer.com.     The above photo is what my Home Page looks like. Click on the two lines I’ve circled. It will take you to the different pages. Click on Ramblings, then go to the bottom of the page and click on the black button. Enjoy!   And when you’re done reading the story in Ramblings, click away on the other headings (About Janetta, Contact, Subscribe). Just know, I couldn’t have pulled this off without Janice and Ray (my hubby). In the end, the hills and valleys were worth it. Oh, and the prayers. I felt every one of them.   Please let me know what you think of my new website. You know I love to hear from you.   Writing News: You may have noticed that I haven’t included this heading in quite a few months. Yes, I am still a writer. And, yes, I can blame part of not writing on creating the new website. But you can only use that excuse for so long.   I’ve started working on one that I put away last year. I’ll keep you posted on the progress. And I always appreciate your prayers.   As always, thank you for your support. And I want to thank the new subscribers who have joined us. I appreciate all of you. Please tell your family and friends about my new website and to sign up for it on the Contact page.   https://amzn.to/3sa1KNP Pigtails and a Tool Belt is ON SALE for February. Who doesn’t want a love story that includes a female handy person, her ex-fiancé, and a guppy? Oh, and a surprise ending… Until next time…  Janetta Fudge Messmer - Author of Christian Comedy/Romances “Turning Life Into Comedy!” E-mail: janettafudgemessmer@gmail.com Website and sign up for the newsletter: http://janettafudgemessmer.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janetta.fudge.messmer Twitter: https://twitter.com/nettiefudge

 

MY 70th B-DAY + LIVER/ONIONS  (Decades to remember!)   Yes, it's 2026, and a few days into it, on January 3, I turned THE BIG 70. As with all my milestone birthdays, I’ve dreaded their arrival. I’d tell myself, “Now, you have to grow up.” I still haven't, but to help me get through the pain of reaching another decade, Ray always softened the blow. Here is what he's done over the years: 30th birthday: Ray set up a singing telegram to come to where I worked. The man dressed up as a clown and made me sit on his lap in front of everyone. I have to admit I was embarrassed, but it was a fun time. 40th birthday: My sister called to wish me a Happy Birthday. All of a sudden, our call went wacky. I looked up, and she’s walking in my front door. She'd flown in from Kansas City to surprise me. Hubby also hired a limo (first time for all of us) to take us to dinner. WOW! 50th birthday: Ray surprised me with a trip to Hilton Head Island. We had a blast, but I don't recommend visiting there in the winter. 60th birthday: By the time I hit this terrible number, we had retired and were in Florida in our RV. I heard that the Make-A-Wish Foundation was having a Gala. We attended and had a grand time. And the money we’d given helped the organization grant more wishes for children. 70th Birthday: I bemoaned this one for way too long, but as with all the other years, Ray helped me cope. He threw me a surprise party at one of my favorite breweries. Friends gathered, and the night was filled with laughter.   ELVIS came to the party, too! A fun time was had by all! Thanks to Ray and all my friends who made turning 70 one for the books.   January Funny: And speaking of friends, I have to share a little backstory first. A friend I grew up with in Kansas, her hubby, and children had moved to Houston a few years before we did. While living there, we’d get together and go out to eat at our favorite restaurant—Luby’s Cafeteria—and have their liver and onions. YUM!   Now back to the story—A few months ago, our friends mentioned they’d like to visit us. During the conversation, she told me that she had bought Ray a cookbook from Luby’s in hopes he’d make us liver and onions when they came. I assured her he would. And she asked me to keep the gift a secret.     They arrived and were barely in the house when Ray was given his present. He opened it and started flipping through the pages. He's not too far in his perusal, and our friend said, "The recipe is on page 60.” We all laughed, then my friend told her husband, “Go out and get the cooler.” He did, and when he brought it in and opened it, he handed Ray two packages of liver. He said, “Do you think that’s enough? And you’ll have to buy the onions to go with it.” More laughter filled our living room. How about you? Do you have a liver-and-onion story or one about a close friend? Please tell me all about either one. You know I always love to read them. BTW: The liver and onions were delicious!   https://amzn.to/47xzLbg   January Book Special: Mayhem and merriment travel along with the RVers in Early Birds Adventures (5-book series). Who knows, when you’re done reading the series, you may want to buy your own camper and tag along with them on their next journey.   Until next time… Janetta Fudge Messmer - Author of Christian Comedy/Romances “Turning Life Into Comedy!” E-mail: janettafudgemessmer@gmail.com Website and sign up for the newsletter: http://janettafudgemessmer.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janetta.fudge.messmer Twitter: https://twitter.com/nettiefudge

 

WHITE ELEPHANT GIFT EXCHANGE  ('Tis the season of giving and sharing!)   With Christmas fast approaching, I’m sending out my newsletter early. This month, I thought it’d be fun to chat about White Elephant Gift parties. I'm sure you’ve attended one or two in your life. If not, please accept the next invitation. They’re an experience you don’t want to miss.   Here’s our White Elephant Gift Exchange story:   When we lived in Colorado, Ray and I belonged to a Bible study. The couple who led the study invited us to our first White Elephant party. A few days before going to it, I looked around our house to find something out of the ordinary to take to the festivities. I found nothing.   Even back in the day, before we began our RVing adventure, hubby and I didn’t keep unnecessary things around the house. In the end, we rummaged through our bookshelf and put two books we’d read into a gift bag and headed out.   We arrived, and as the saying goes, “Let the party begin.” There was food to feed an army, children running around with the new friends they’d made, and a table full of brightly-colored packages and bags waiting to be opened.   And the time arrived for gift giving…   Our host had us sit down and said, “When the first person’s name is called, they will choose a present and open it. Then Player #2 can either steal Player #1’s gift or take a new gift off the table. Players #3, #4, and so on do the same. The game ends when all the gifts are opened.   The game began, and soon my name was called. I chose my gift and opened it. Inside, I found a round purse with a working clock on the outside of it. Throughout the rest of the evening, I hoped someone would take the novelty item off my hands, but no one wanted it…   Except for one little boy. After the gifts were opened, he came up to me and asked, “Can I trade my present for yours?” And with tears in his eyes, he finished with, “I want to give it to my mommy.”   How could I resist? I gave it to him, and he promptly ran over and gave it to his mom. I knew she didn’t want it any more than I did, but I’ll bet that was a gift she cherished (and maybe used it a time or two) because of who gave it to her.   What about you? Have you attended a White Elephant Party? Please tell me about it. You know I love your stories.     I (we) love to watch Hallmark Christmas movies. The other night, we watched Christmas at Midnight Clear. What a cute movie. In the middle of the show, I heard one of the characters say something inspiring.   Instead of writing it down, I thought I’d remember what they said. I didn’t. Then a crazy idea hit me. I got on Google and said, “Christmas at Midnight Clear script.” Within seconds, the lines of the story showed up. WHAT? Who knew!   If you’re wondering, the line is: “Prayer isn’t just about getting what we want, it’s also about finding the strength for what we get. We call that divine intervention.”   December Funny: A few days ago, I was on Facebook. I turned to Ray and said, “I saw on this reel that you can make four different flavors of Dump Cake.” His response, without skipping a beat, was, “Who would want flavored Duct Tape?”   You guessed it. I laugh hysterically and literally couldn’t correct him for a minute or two. When I contained myself, I told him why. He laughed along with me. You gotta love a spouse who is hard of hearing. As I told you in last month’s newsletter, he is a funny guy!     WRITING NEWS: I have joined Celebrate Lit and several other authors to bring you the Merry Christmas Readers Giveaway (Dec. 15-Dec. 23).  You have a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card and over 45 books. My book, An Unexpected Christmas Gift, is featured.   Don't miss your chance to enter! Just click the link below! https://www.celebratelit.com/posts/merry-christmas-readers-giveaway/   And for more holiday cheer, Rekindled for Christmas Eve is ON SALE too—for $0.99.     https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BD8ZGMZ5   Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!   Until next year… P.S. I'll leave you with a bit more humor. The photo below is of us at a December dance. We were to dress up as rockers. Hubby hit the mark with the outfit and wig. I slicked back my hair and looked more like I was going to work. HA!     Janetta Fudge Messmer - Author of Christian Comedy/Romances “Turning Life Into Comedy!” E-mail: janettafudgemessmer@gmail.com Website and sign up for the newsletter: http://janettafudgemessmer.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janetta.fudge.messmer Twitter: https://twitter.com/nettiefudge

 

MY NOVEMBER THANKFULNESS (What are you thankful for?)   Most of us will be celebrating Thanksgiving in a few days. Our plan is to go over to our friends' house. I’m excited because it’s potluck style and there will be a variety of food. Since I love Green Bean Casserole, that will be one of the dishes we take. YUM! What are some of your favorite dishes and/or traditions you have for the holiday?   Also, since it’s close to Thanksgiving, what are you grateful for in 2025? Here’s my list. Maybe we have similar things that we’re thankful for:   My hubby: Mr. Ray is a hard worker (more on that subject later in the newsletter), he's a godly man, he’s thoughtful, and funny. Our family and friends: Some have had their share of struggles this year, but the Lord has seen them through their challenges. My reader friends: That’s you! I know I say it almost every month, but I truly mean it. Without you and your help in getting the word out about my books, I’d be lost. Thank you for all you do. My Savior: Through the ups and downs of life, the Lord has been faithful. And He has continued to teach me countless things as I’m reading His Word. This year, we’re reading the Chronological Bible. I recommend it. For Maggie: She’s such a joy and makes us smile with her antics or when she does something extra cute (like in the picture below).   November Funny: While we were in South Dakota this summer, friends from Arizona came to visit. One afternoon, our friend decided he’d drive when we went sightseeing, but before I got in their vehicle, I had to run back into the RV to get something.   I came out, and as I reached for the door handle, he moved the car. That’s when I heard a sound that made me look up to the heavens. I thought I’d see Jesus in the clouds and start hearing the trumpet sound.   I didn’t, but I’m not kidding—I thought the End Times had arrived, and I announced it to the others when I sat down in the vehicle. Instead of them peering to the skies, I heard laughter.   Then our driver explained, “Hybrid vehicles do not make noise when they’re backing up. Since that’s a safety hazard, they had to put in a sound to alert people.”   And as we drove off to see Mount Rushmore, I said, “And the manufacturers decided to make it sound like a choir of angels? Maybe next time, they should use another sound, since this one fooled me into thinking I was meeting Jesus today.”     As you can see, Ray is working. He’s become the golf cart battery king. People want to switch from regular batteries to lithium, so my hubby is the man for the job. Side Note: He’s done four conversions so far this season.   https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CL53W615   It’s birthday month for An Unexpected Christmas Gift—just in time for Christmas. It’s $0.99 for the month of November. Breanna Snow owns Snowed Inn B&B, but Matt Jacobson (city manager) wants to shut it down. Bree doesn’t have time for his nonsense—she’s getting married. Then her world is turned upside down, and Matt’s in the middle of it. Can they work together, or will they die trying? Thank you again for your faithfulness. From my family to yours, I pray you have a Happy Thanksgiving!    Until next time... Janetta Fudge Messmer - Author of Christian Comedy/Romances “Turning Life Into Comedy!” E-mail: janettafudgemessmer@gmail.com Website and sign up for the newsletter: http://janettafudgemessmer.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janetta.fudge.messmer Twitter: https://twitter.com/nettiefudge

 

A COLORFUL STOPOVER (Fall is the perfect time to visit!)   On September 29, we waved goodbye to South Dakota and headed to Colorado. As you can see, Maggie was thrilled. HA! We planned to stay for a week to visit family and friends, then be on the road again. However, we were having so much fun, we stayed for two weeks.   (My brother-in-law took this fantastic shot)   While in Colorado, we had to leaf-peep. As you can see from the photos, it was a spectacular year. We hit Peak to Peak Highway, Estes Park, and Rocky Mountain National Park. Trips here never disappoint. A fun day with Ray’s brother. And if you’ve not visited in the Fall, get there ASAP.   (Rocky Mountain National Park outside of Estes Park)   Finally, we left and made our migration to Arizona. This marks our seventh year here. I say again: the roads were less than stellar, but we made it without our RV falling apart (trust me, some of the bumps made us think it might happen).   Then the fun began—emptying the motorhome. Three days later, and many trips between the park model and the RV, Winifred is cleaned out and in storage. Ray has already been over there two times because we forgot something.   I don’t know if I mentioned that Ray is not working this season. He decided he wanted to enjoy the festivities for a change. I did laugh because his first stop when we got back was to check out the grill/bar. Was he making sure that it could run without him? I’ll keep you posted on his employment, or lack thereof.   WRITING NEWS: Speaking of work, I've gotten virtually NO writing done since we left South Dakota. Trust me, I had time, but why work when there are things to do and people to see? I kept telling myself, “You can write your next book when you get settled in Arizona.”   Well, we arrived, but I’m still making excuses. HELP! I need some encouragement from my faithful readers. What do you do when procrastination keeps you from finishing the task at hand? You know I love to hear from you.   October Funny: Since Ray worked at Ace Hardware on Sundays while in South Dakota, I went to church with some friends. Afterward, they’d drop me off and I’d go inside. This particular morning, I tried to unlock the door, and nothing happened.   I tried the other lock—nothing there either. My last resort was to call Ray. Thankfully, his boss told him to take his lunch break to help his damsel in distress. I waited, and within five minutes, my hubby arrived.   He did exactly what I’d done, and he got the same result. Ray turned to me and said, “I may have to drill out the lock.” But before he brought out the big guns, he fiddled with it a couple more times. The door finally opened.   As we walked inside, he said, “We’ll be using the bottom lock from now on.” Then I heard him chuckle, and he pointed to the shelf behind the banquette. “It’s a good thing that I didn’t need the drill because it was in here.”   Once again, the Lord helped us out of a jam. And as Rosie Wilford would say in Early Birds, “Praise the Lord, and pass the turtle soup.”   And since we’re on the topic of being locked out, do you have a story to share when you’ve been in the same predicament?   http://amzn.to/3Y8v4RV   Mouse in Your Pocket is ON SALE through October 31 for $0.99.   Jessica Montgomery inherits her uncle's property (i.e., junkyard). During clean-up, her common sense flies out the window—except when she deals with Jimmy Barnes. Can life get any more complicated? Yes, it can!   https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CL53W615   And since it’s almost November, I’m offering An Unexpected Christmas Gift for $0.99 November 1-30. Breanna Snow owns Snowed Inn B&B, but Matt Jacobson (city manager) wants to shut it down. Bree doesn’t have time for his nonsense—she’s getting married. Then her world is turned upside down, and Matt’s in the middle of it. Can they work together, or will they die trying? As always, thank you for the emails that you send me. It encourages me to keep going with this crazy writing thing. Love you all!!! Until next time…   Janetta Fudge Messmer - Author of Christian Comedy/Romances “Turning Life Into Comedy!” E-mail: janettafudgemessmer@gmail.com Website and sign up for the newsletter: http://janettafudgemessmer.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janetta.fudge.messmer Twitter: https://twitter.com/nettiefudge