Notions of Promotions

 

A lovely promotion for Seven Aprils!

Find my books here!

A writer acquaintance of mine once achieved her lifelong goal...to have one of her books reach New York Times best seller list. This was a great promotion in her mind. She said, "Now I know how my obituary will start-- 'New York Times best-selling author...'"

In life as well as art, we receive many promotions. My dad served in the United States military (National Guard and Army) for much of his long life. He first achieved the rank of Sergeant. His men loved the way he looked after them and called him "dad" even though he was in his twenties. While in Europe during World War II, his superiors thought him officer material. They sent him for a crash course in recently liberated Paris, after which he became a lieutenant and back into the field of war with new duties. So, as he often laughed about later, a scrappy son of Irish and French Canadian immigrants from Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan, who dreamed of going to West Point, became a commissioned officer and a gentleman by way of the Sorbonne, Paris. What a promotion!

Sgt. Charbonneau

I love my promotion to mother. For the rest of my life, I will be known as the mother of three wonderful human beings, Abby, Marya, and Lawrence.

More recently, daughter Marya's decision to become a mother gave me another promotion...to grandmother. Wow, this one is totally undeserved and great fun! 

Desmond and his grandma up to no good together

In my work life, I was so pleased to be asked to become a co-author with Jude Pittman of the Canadian Historical Mystery Series. I've long been a reader and admirer of the series of novels based in the Canadian provinces that BWL publishes. So to be asked to contribute to it? A great honor and promotion!

What are the promotions of your life, dear readers? I hope you've had many and that they've brought you joy.

2022 Update to My Story by J.Q. Rose #memoir #motherhood #floralshop #lifestory

 

Arranging a Dream: a Memoir by J. Q. Rose
Click here to find JQ's books at BWL Publishing

Hello and welcome to the BWL Publishing Author Insiders Blog. 

in January 2021, BWL Publishing released my memoir, Arranging a Dream: A Memoir. In 2022, there is more to the story.

What is the story? 

Arranging a Dream: A Memoir
by J.Q. Rose

From the back of the book:

In 1975, budding entrepreneurs Ted and Janet purchase a floral shop and greenhouses where they plan to grow their dream. Leaving friends and family behind in Illinois and losing the security of two paychecks, they transplant themselves, their one-year-old daughter, and all their belongings to Fremont, Michigan, where they know no one. 

Will the retiring business owners nurture Ted and Janet as they struggle to develop a blooming business, or will they desert the inexperienced young couple to wither and die in their new environment?

 Most of all, can Ted and Janet grow together as they cultivate a loving marriage, juggle parenting with work and root a thriving business?

Follow Ted and Janet's inspiring story, filled with the joy, triumphs, and obstacles and failures experienced by these blossoming entrepreneurs as they travel the turbulent path of turning dreams into reality.

A snapshot of the flower shop on the first day we saw it in July 1975

We purchased the shop and greenhouse operation and lived out our dream to be entrepreneurs. It was a risky chance, but we were young and innocent enough not to know what we faced in the world of business. 

I remember how thrilled I was when we decided to become shop owners. I remember how frightened I was to move away from Central Illinois where we had a team of supporters in our family and friends and the security of two paychecks. 

The small town in West Michigan was filled with strangers. We knew nothing about the retiring owners. We had to trust and pray they were good people.

Sara, Easter 1976 
16 months old

The most difficult time for me was, after nursing my baby girl for nearly a year, I had to give her up to a daycare worker whom I did not know in order for me to work full time at the shop.

But, come to find out, Jackie, the sweet woman who took care of Sara, was the perfect person to care for her. 

SPOILER AHEAD: 

We sold the business on March 1, 1995. You can imagine a lot transpired during those 19-plus years of working as business owners. 

In 1982, we purchased property about two blocks from the original chalet-style flower shop and greenhouses and erected three greenhouses, each 50' x 150', for growing plants to keep up with the demand from our customers and to house a garden center. In 1986, we opened our new flower shop and garden center facility which was attached to the greenhouses. 

The floral shop, garden center and greenhouses in one location
1988

Imagining the building that was going to be our new flower shop and garden center was one thing, but planning and building it were another. Dreaming of it was thrilling. Building it was frustrating when we couldn't get the builders to show up and get it done as quickly as we wanted to! Decorating the interior and ordering inventory, moving in...all those things and more were exciting and scary all at once. Figuring out how the design room should be set up, managing the shelving for the shop and garden center, decisions on how to create welcoming, but efficient spaces, were just a few of the responsibilities. 

We celebrated our new facilities with the community with a grand opening in November 1986. That day and the excitement of our customers and visitors still swirls in my memory as one of the best days at the flower shop.

The plans for the new facility were birthed during a lunch date. Here's the excerpt from Chapter 29, Another Move, Arranging a Dream: A Memoir.

Within one year of occupying the new location, we were fed up with running back and forth between the shop and greenhouses in two locations and frustrated with the insufficient space in the design room, coolers, storage areas in the chalet building. We decided in 1985 to build an expansive flower shop with a garden center at the new greenhouse location.

We brainstormed on the place to locate the building on the property, but nothing clicked until we met with our beloved salesman, “Ugly Fred.” He called himself that memorable name to distinguish him from other salesmen. When Fred started calling on us, we liked the tall, white-haired Dutchman. He had experience owning a hardware store, and he shared helpful tips on selecting and displaying products our customers needed. Interacting with him through the planning and setting up of the products, he grew to become our trusted friend and mentor.

At one of those lunch meetings at Samuel’s Restaurant, which seemed to be our home away from home, we discussed the idea of moving the shop to the greenhouse property.

“That makes sense to me,” he said. He grabbed a pen from his shirt pocket and began sketching a drawing on a clean, white paper napkin.

“You can place the shop here.” He pointed to his drawing with the building out front and to the side of the greenhouses.

“That would make room for a large area for the entrance and parking.” Ted’s eyes shone with excitement.

“See, place a door into the greenhouses on this side, a door on the east side into the garden center.” Fred sketched in the doors.

“And the entire front of the building would be the gift shop,” I announced.

Fast and furious came more ideas for storage areas, work areas, delivery space. God bless Ugly Fred and his napkin drawing. I wish I had saved it.

At the ground-breaking ceremony in front of the greenhouses, we invited Fred to be in the photo taken by the Fremont Times Indicator for an article on the beginning construction of the flower shop. Our daughters, Ted and I, Ken Frens, Fred and his boss at Mollema Wholesalers, and building contractor Harold Smith smile brightly in the photo captured by the photographer. What an exciting time to see the shop take form and become a reality.

Now, the rest of the story in 2022:

The owners who originally purchased the shop in 1995 are still in business, however, they sold the shop and property to Aldis grocery store last month. Aldis will bring in the wrecking ball soon to knock down that building whose blueprint was first hand-drawn on a white paper napkin. Soon, our beloved facility will be a pile of rubble, then disappear into a landfill. All the evidence that the shop ever existed will be gone. I'm a bit melancholy about that, even if I haven't been working in the shop for 27 years.

I am glad I have wonderful memories of the times and photos of that era of my life because there is no longer any physical proof of those times. The original chalet building was knocked down several years ago. Only a grassy lot with a  For Sale sign remains where the old shop was located. 

Thank goodness, I have the memoir that leaves our legacy stories for our family and friends and future generations to read and learn about how we made our dream come true. It is a testimony to others to know that dreams can come true.

****

My message to you is to consider jotting down memories for your family. Or record them using your phone. Your story could be an important piece to encourage others.

Tell your life story!

ARRANGING A DREAM: A MEMOIR

Janet and Gardener Ted

Click here to connect online with J.Q. Rose

 

A Delicious Idea for Holiday Entertaining--The Charcuterie Board #Holidayentertaining #Snacksforholidays #BWLPublishing

 

Arranging a Dream: A Memoir by J.Q.Rose
Click here to find more books by J. Q. Rose from BWL Publishing

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A DELICIOUS IDEA FOR HOLIDAY ENTERTAINING-THE CHARCUTERIE BOARD

Charcuterie Board
Image courtesy of Lee Ann Clausen
#Charcuterie #Holidayentertaining
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Whether you are hosting a holiday party, family dinner or friends for game night, the Charcuterie Board makes a festive addition to your snack table. Charcuterie is an arrangement of cured meats, cheeses, fruit, crackers and any fun snack items grouped on a platter, carving board, serving tray or even a rimmed baking sheet. 

My daughter introduced me to them--basically a meat and cheese platter on steroids! The eye-catching loaded trays of goodies are not only attractive but tasty too. The best part is they are so easy to make. There is no way you can make a mistake. Unless you forget to put the pickles in a small dish to capture all the liquids in the bowl. You do not want your foods swimming in pickle juice.

Choose cured meats like salami, prosciutto and ham. Slice them into pieces that will fit a cracker or small toast. Choose hard cheeses like cheddar and Colby and soft cheeses like brie and goat cheese. You can buy more exotic cheeses and/or stick with your favorites. Slice them into different shapes, except for the spreads. Add colorful veggie strips of carrots, celery, peppers, cucumbers, etc with a bowl of vegetable dip, pretzels in fun shapes and sizes, grapes, orange slices, pineapple with a maraschino cherry speared on a toothpick, pickles, olives, nuts, small chocolate squares or my favorite, m & m's. You may add crackers or slices of toasted baguettes to the board or serve separately in a basket or tray.

Do you see what I mean? There's no end to ideas for serving. You are limited by the size of the board or tray you choose. And perhaps your pocketbook.

I hope you have delightful get-togethers during this holiday season. Good food and good fun. Cheers!

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About JQ Rose: 

Whether the story is fiction or non-fiction, J.Q. Rose is “focused on story.”  She offers readers chills, giggles and quirky characters woven within the pages of her romantic suspense novels. Using her way with words, she provides entertainment and information with articles featured in books, newspapers, and online magazines. JQ combined her storytelling skills as an author of fiction and her experience as a journalist to create her "feel-good" memoir, Arranging a Dream: A Memoir.

Blogging, photography, Pegs and Jokers board games, travel and presenting workshops on life storytelling are the things that keep JQ out of trouble. She and her husband spend winters in Florida and summers up north with their two daughters, two sons-in-law,  four grandsons, one granddaughter, two grand dogs, four grand cats, and one great-grand bearded dragon.

Click here to connect online with JQ.

Happy Holidays from J.Q. Rose

Where Do You Find Success by J.Q. Rose #BWLPublishing

Arranging a Dream: a Memoir by J.Q. Rose

Follow this couple’s inspiring story, filled with the joy and triumphs and the obstacles and failures experienced as they travel the turbulent path of turning dreams into reality.

Click here to discover more books by JQ Rose 

on her BWL Publishing author page.

  

🍁🍁🍁🍁

Where Do You Find Success? Fall colors Wednesday, September 22 is the official first day of fall, but we are having fallish-feeling days in West Michigan now. I love it. Fall is a time of change. The days are cooler, The kids go back to school. Mother Nature paints the landscape in gorgeous colors.  The apples turn a brilliant red and are ready for harvest.  The transition from summer to winter sparks a change within me, one of reflection and review of my life.  Succeed! The Insecure Writers Support Group Blog Hop question for the month of September stirred much contemplation about success. The question was—“How do you define success as a writer? Is it holding your book in your hand? Having a short story published? Making a certain amount of income from your writing?” I have to admit I felt the exhilaration of pride and success when I held my paperback book in my hand. I mean, opening the box of books from amazon was akin to the excitement of opening Christmas gifts when I was a kid. I feel that way with every one of my published books. So many folks think of success as related to their job. I find we all look for success in our work, but also in our purpose for our lives. Does success have to be a ground-breaking event to be considered a success at all? Does it have to be as big as being part of the team that landed on the moon? Developing a vaccination to keep us safe from COVID infection? Discovering the components to build the World-Wide-Web? Success to me comes in small and large packages that evolve throughout my lifetime. Some days my success was measured by how many times my daughter’s diaper was dry because she used the potty, when my third grade student figured out the math problem on his own, the bride loved her wedding flowers, my husband and family told me how much they enjoyed the dish I had prepared for dinner, the publisher of my first book offered me a contract because “she loved my voice,” the first time I ventured out to the grocery store during the shutdown and I returned and remained healthy! As I look back on success, I discovered none of them had to do with money. Success is measured in your heart, not in your wallet. During this difficult time in our world, when you are feeling down, reflect on the moments you felt success in your life. Let that feeling flow through your body for a moment. Then use that resurgence of strength and move on with a bounce in your step to achieving your next success, big or small.

“Success is the ability to do what you love every day. This may sound simple but what you love changes over time and having the ability to change what you are doing to match your passion is true success. This has nothing to do with money, wealth or status as each person has different passions and loves.” – David Hauser co-founder of Grasshopper, a virtual phone service for small businesses. 🍁🍁🍁🍁 Wishing you a wonderful fall season! J.Q.Rose 🍁🍁🍁🍁 Click here to connect online with J.Q. Rose

A Leisurely Tour of Our Vegetable Garden #vegetablegardening #freshvegetables

 

Arranging a Dream: a Memoir by J.Q. Rose

Follow this couple’s inspiring story, filled with the joy and triumphs and the obstacles and failures experienced as they travel the turbulent path of turning dreams into reality.

Click here to discover more books by JQ Rose 

on her BWL Publishing author page.  

🍅🍅🍅

Hello and Welcome to our garden! This time of year is when we really enjoy the harvest. Come on along with me and see Gardener Ted's (GT) garden.

My husband, Ted, is a farm boy. He has never lost that love of growing plants. In fact, because he built a small greenhouse on the back of our house way back in the '70s, moved away from our friends and family to purchase a floral shop and greenhouse operation in Michigan. 

My newest release from BWL Publishing, Arranging a Dream: A Memoir, is a feel-good story about the first year we were in the flower business in 1975-1976. What an adventure for us! We knew nothing about the floral industry or how to operate a business. 

Now in our retirement years, we are fortunate to have time to enjoy our passions--Ted's gardening and my writing. 

Garden Gate
Image by Axelle Spencer from Pixabay 

Please come on into our garden in West Michigan. Here, let me open the gate for you so you can step in and discover all the goodies.

Quote by Cicero

Spring garden--We've had a good year this year. I love gardeners. They are such optimists. When the garden does not produce one year, the gardener still plants another garden the next year, believing it will be the best garden ever!

Cabbage

Cucumbers growing vertically to save them from sprawling all over the ground
Easier to pick too!

Weeds-Quote by unknown author

Green pepper hiding in the leaves

Red and ripening tomatoes

Harvest of lettuce, cabbage, green pepper, cucumbers and potatoes

Many varieties of lettuce

Quote by May Sarton

Cantaloupe

Irrigation set up--a timer so Ted does not have to hang onto a hose to water the garden.
The black pipes you see next to the plants are the irrigation tubes.

Black-eyed Susan and zinnias border this part of the garden.
Shasta daisies, now out of season, border the other side.

Green, yellow and purple beans (that turn green in boiling water)
You can see the irrigation tube here and how much water is saved by not watering the entire piece of ground, as well as not watering overhead.

The gardener and family (and sometimes the neighbors') reward. Fresh food from plant to table!

One of our family's favorite meals--beans, onions, potatoes and bacon--

all but the bacon grown in the garden.

Quote by Robert Bridges

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I hope you have enjoyed the tour of Gardener Ted's garden. I take no credit for the garden. I do enjoy the fresh veggies and trying new recipes. Perhaps you would like to grow some fresh vegetables or herbs next year--a bowl of lettuce on your back porch, potted tomatoes or peppers on your patio or a patch of ground out back. I say "Grow for it!" 

Thank you very "mulch" for stopping by.

🍅🍅🍅

GT and me

Click here to connect online with JQ Rose