A Book Signing in Big Stone Gap, Virginia

Welcome!

I'd just like to share with you part of the fabulous day Greg and I had in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, yesterday (Saturday, July 27) which was easily one of the best days of my whole life!

First of all, there was the book signing at the June Tolliver House for my first book, Photographic Encounters of the Spirit Kind.  It was far beyond my expectations.  I am so thankful my first signing was in my old hometown.  There was such an outpouring of support from people I hadn't seen in a long time, both friends and family.

Here are a few highlights of the wonderful book signing in words and pictures:

Judy Samples, president of the June Tolliver House, did a great job coordinating and promoting the book signing.

Greg and me with Patty Cooper, Garnet Gilliam, and Paxton Algyer (who help to make the Tolliver House the success it is) and friend Joyce.

                                                       Another Friend, Tommie

With cousin Stan who always takes time out of his busy schedule to be supportive of family.

  
              With Bobbi Potter who shares her ghostly Tolliver House stories in my book.

Here, I'm with longtime friends, Shelby and son Ked with girlfriend Miranda.  Shelby and Ked are big-time lovers of Halloween.  In fact, fellow blogger Ked even has a really well-done blog devoted to it.  Check it out- http://www.wickedwaysproductions.blogspot.com

I made new friends with Garry, Holly, and Chris of the Black Mountain Paranormal Society.  We'll all be back together for another paranormal event in October which I'll let you know more about in a later blog post.

Nancy Allman and Patty Cooper served wonderful refreshments for everyone's enjoyment who attended the book signing.

I left several signed books with bookmarks in the Tolliver House gift shop.  The books retail for only $12.95.

I'd also like to thank all the other people who stopped by to see Greg and me.  We appreciate all those in the Tolliver House who brought refreshments, who worked in the gift shop, and anyone else who helped make this book-signing a real event! 

A special thanks to all those who contributed to the book and to Glenn Gannaway who wrote a fabulous article in The Post (a local Big Stone Gap newspaper) about the book signing which was greatly responsible for the turnout we had.

F.Y.I.
Photographic Encounters of the Spirit Kind
(by Becky Arnott)
(Paperback or PDF download)
Fast Pencil Marketplace
http://www.fastpencil.com/marketplace

I have a lot more to share about the day's events, but we're already running long.  I'll just have to save it for next week.

Just click on the link below to see Greg's and my latest photos on iStock:
www.istockphoto.com

Positive thought:  "Change your thoughts and you change your world." -Norman Vincent Peale
Thanks for visiting!  Until next time, Becky

Blog Post Update

Welcome!

I just wanted to let you know about my first book signing at the June Tolliver House in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, the subject of one of the chapters in my new book, Photographic Encounters of the Spirit Kind.  It will be this Saturday, July 27 from 1:00 PM until 5:00 PM.  I would love to see you there!

Also, the adjacent outdoor drama, "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine," is having its 50th reunion on Saturday.

                                 June Tolliver House, Big Stone Gap, Virginia


(I would have mentioned this sooner, but I wasn't sure if my books would arrive on time or not.  I just received them today, and I am very thankful.  This is another of those everyday miracles I wrote about in my Sunday, July 21 blog post!)

Positive thought: "To me, every hour of the day and night is an unspeakably perfect miracle."-Walt Whitman

Thanks for visiting.  Until this Sunday, Becky

Everyday Miracles

Welcome!

According to Wikipedia,..."miracle is often used to characterize any beneficial event that is a wonderful occurrence...such as a birth."  Also, it goes on to say that "some coincidences may be seen as miracles."

     
A few days before we moved to our new home, while Greg and I were relaxing on the back porch of our rental house, a butterfly started flying all around Greg and landed on his head.  I ran to get the camera to take a picture, but when I got back, the butterfly had flown away.  A few moments later, it came back, and this time, it landed on his hand.  I quickly snapped the photo below.

                                                      "Expect a Miracle."

A couple of minutes later, another butterfly came out of nowhere, flew all around me, and then it quickly disappeared.

I decided that these butterflies were a miraculous sign that all would be well with our big change and that we were being watched over.

Other incidences that I would consider miracles are when my mother told me about articles she had read in the newspaper that indirectly led me to my soul mate, Greg, and to a psychic whose advice greatly changed my life for the better.

A few months ago, I was in an office supply store, getting ready to use the photocopy machine, when suddenly a kind-looking man came over and asked me if I needed any help.  Just then, a thought popped into my mind, "Ask him."  I'd been struggling for over a year, trying to get my book published, when out of the blue, I decided to ask him if he knew where I could get it published.  He gave me the name of someone who led me to someone else.  As a result, my paranormal book was published this past week!  (You just have to keep believing and working toward your goals, for miracles can and do happen!)

The name of my book is Photographic Encounters of the Spirit Kind , which contains around 110 paranormal photographs that some my family members, and I, as well as others, have taken, and the stories that go along with them.  In addition, two chapters are devoted to true, local ghost stories, including personal ones.  (For more book information, please see FYI below.)

A few days ago, we celebrated my mother's birthday, and she got the first signed copy of my book as one of her gifts.  (She's in the book several times.)

Personal milestone: We recently welcomed our first overnight guest, friend Sharon Robinson from Maryland.

                                                                  Sharon

F.Y.I.
Photographic Encounters of the Spirit Kind
(by Becky Arnott)
(Paperback or PDF download)
Fast Pencil Marketplace
http://www.fastpencil.com/marketplace

Positive thought: "Miracles happen every day; change your perception of what a miracle is and you'll see them all around you."-Jon Bon Jovi
Thanks for visiting!  Until later in the week, Becky

"Weather Wisdom" Follow-Up

Welcome!

"Life is like a rainbow.  You need both the sun and the rain to make the colors appear."

"My heart leaps up when I behold A rainbow in the sky:" -William Wordsworth

First of all, thanks to a loyal reader, I'd like to do a follow-up on last week's blog post, "Weather Wisdom."

Patricia from Tennessee emailed me the above picture of a rainbow which is appropriate after all the rain we've had lately.

Also, she had her own rain-related story to tell me.  I enjoyed it so much that I got her permission to share it with you.  I call it "The Pink Tutu."

Patricia was going into a grocery store recently on one of those rainy days when she (in her own words) "noticed a young mother walking into the store with her toddler daughter.  The little girl had on a bright pink tutu with her hair done up in ballerina style.  The mother was struggling to keep the umbrella over child and tutu.  Once inside, the patient mom looked at me and said, 'On a rainy day, one should always wear their pink tutu to the grocery store.' " Patricia went on to say that the mother said that the "little girl had INSISTED on wearing her 'pink tutu and pink tights' to the grocery store."  Apparently, the mother "was too tired from a busy workday to protest."

 I agree with Patricia when she further went on to say that she thought that most children instinctively know how to "celebrate the rain" and "how to rejoice in small blessings."

Thanks, Patricia, for sharing your wonderful photo and story.  We can all learn so much from each other.  I believe you've made our day, rain or shine.

I had another blog post planned and written, but I decided to save it until next week.  At that time, I'll share big news with you about my new paranormal book.

Positive thought: "Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue, and the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true."  -Lyman Frank Baum
Thanks for visiting!  Until next Sunday, Becky

Weather Wisdom

Welcome!

The last few days in Tennessee, we have been through a stormy, rainy spell.  Greg just talked to his brother in North Carolina, and they, too, have been inundated with rain.

I'm a fair-weather person, but I've not let the past few rainy days get me down.  I just make a little extra effort to be happy and more positive by doing some of the things I enjoy like watching funny DVD's, doing puzzles, reading something interesting, talking to or emailing upbeat people, and planning things to do for when the weather gets better.  I also try to stay very busy with my projects and business ventures.

A couple of days ago, I had to get out in the rain to go shopping.  As I was rushing into a store to get out of the drenching rain, I noticed a couple of girls strolling along, talking and laughing, seemingly oblivious to the rain.  I thought that I should be more like that, to try to enjoy every moment, no matter what the weather.  Little unexpected moments like that can be learning experiences for us all.

All this led me to the following positive quotes about the weather which I call "weather wisdom":

"I am sure it is a great mistake always to know enough to go in when it rains.  One may keep snug and dry by such knowledge, but one misses a world of loveliness."
-Adeline Knapp

"The best thing one can do when it's raining is to let it rain."
-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"..Let the rain sing you a lullaby."
-Langston Hughes

"Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather."
-John Ruskin

"If you don't like the weather in New England, just wait a few minutes."  -Mark Twain (This is the same quote my parents used to say to me, except they used the our "Southwest Virginia" area in the place of "New England.")

"Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine."
_Anthony J. D'Angelo

"Just as certain as dawn follows night, the rainy weather will give way to sunshine."
-Becky Arnott

                                         What a difference a day makes!

Positive thought: No matter how bleak everything seems, in time, everything will get better.  Hang in there!  Keep the faith.
Thanks for visiting.  Until next Sunday, Becky

Delayed Blog Post

Welcome!

Dear Reader,

Please don't think I have deserted you, for I haven't.  The last two weeks of June seem to have been the busiest ones of my entire life.  Explanation: First of all, Greg and I finally found a house we really love which we bought last month.  Moving took two days, since we had to move our stuff not only from the house we were renting, but also from a storage unit.  On top of that, I got a large coal-jewelry order that I needed to work on and mail by yesterday, which I did, thankfully, get done on time.  Plus, I'm still working on getting my book published, hopefully in the next week or two.  (I'll let you know when that happens.  Around that time, I'll be starting back my "Spirit Photographs" blog.)

Now you know the reason why I needed to delay my blog post.

Here, in words and pictures, is what I've been doing the last few days (so you don't think I'm telling you a fib!):

                                 Our New Home (After a Six-Month Search!)

                       Lovely crepe myrtles are in in bloom all around our area.

Our two babies went from cowering under the bed on the day we moved, to deciding that the new house wasn't so bad after all. 

                                          Part of a Large Jewelry Order

Organizing is my strong suit.  For me, it's a labor of love.

                        Labeled laundry baskets make laundry almost a breeze.

Have a great rest of the week!

Positive thought: Embrace positive change!
Thanks for visiting!  Until next Sunday (hopefully!), Becky