Julie Saffrin

S. L. Russell’s Land of Nimrod: Captured brilliance of ordinary people

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  Book Review for S. L. Russell’s Land of Nimrod by Julie Saffrin   I might as well say this at the get-go. For the review of Land of Nimrod, you will find some bias. I cannot help myself. For 246 pages, I was transported to England at the turn of the last century, where life is worked out by rain, train, walks and tea and more tea. Land of Nimrod, which released late in 2011, is the third and last of Sue Russell’s Leviathan trilogy. Though one can follow the storyline well enough to read the work as a…

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Perham’s “The Gathering Grounds Coffee Shoppe” where Gouda and BlessBack come together

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Sometimes you happen upon a place with just the right ambiance to change your mood to a happier one. That happens every time in Perham, Minn., when I walked into the Gathering Grounds Coffee Shoppe. The shop is so much more than a place that serves coffee. It has cold and grilled sandwiches, wraps, weight-watcher friendly meals, a children’s menu and amazing desserts. A month ago, I ordered takeout from them and when I arrived at my destination was surprised my meal not only had a loaded and great-tasting sandwich but also fresh fruit and a wedge of Gouda. Yes,…

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Bev’s Book Nook in Perham now carries BlessBack

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Since we bought our cabin on Dead Lake six years ago, one of my favorite stops when friends and family come to visit is Bev’s Book Nook. Beverly states on her Facebook page that her shop is “a unique little bookstore located in the heart of lakes country in Minnesota. We stopped there over the Memorial Day weekend and my son Sam picked up a Fitzgerald, two Steinbecks and a “newer” novel. Opened in 1988 as a bookstore that carries gently used book, classics, rare books, new books and everything in between including puzzles and cards, this gem (conveniently located…

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BlessBack now available at Dot & Minnie’s in Perham, MN

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Congratuations to Andrea Greiff on the opening of her new store, Dot & Minnie’s in Perham, Minnesota. She has the coolest clothes, accessories and gifts….and now she carries BlessBack, right next to these cool blessing bracelets. “Dot & Minnie” were her grandmothers’ names. “Now they continue to be with [me] every day,” she says, according to her Web site. Look for BlessBack: Thank Those Who Shaped Your Life for sale at her shop! Thanks, Andrea, for taking a chance on my book. Best of success on your new business. Your grandmothers would be so proud of you. You make Perham proud of…

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Here’s how to possibly win a Kindle and autographed copy of BlessBack:

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I am a member of a network of published authors. This week, from May 7 to May 14, this network of authors have come together and created a blog hop. What is a blog hop? This particular blog hop is designed to showcase the books written by our network of published authors. It is also designed to give you, our readers, a chance to win some great prizes as you “hop” (i.e., visit) from blog to blog. A Chance to Win a Free Kindle. A different prize is offered at each blog site (no purchase necessary). To register for a…

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Sparkplug

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“There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart.”    — Celia Thaxter,   Notes from a traveler afar Recently a recruiter gave a friend of mine a battery of tests to assess, using just one word, both the essence of her personality and her career. The recruiter defined her as “sparkplug.” The recruiter could not have assessed her better. My self-starter is great at contract work and helping companies find out what they are good at. She ignites passion in people and “sparks” them to start – and complete -their projects. She’s made a lot of companies a lot of money. As…

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BlessBack Dinner, part 2: Hosting a gratitude meal

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Gratitude can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. ― Melody Beattie           BlessBack Dinner, part 2: Hosting a Gratitude Meal On April 10, I shared ideas for you to thank your life influencers by taking them out to dinner. For this post, let’s talk about ways to host a BlessBack dinner in your home. Hosting a BlessBack dinner might sound fun and it is. I know some of you will want to unleash your creativity as you plan. For those of you on Pinterest, I have created…

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BlessBack Dinner, part 1

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So, you’d like to host a BlessBack Dinner. While some of you have shared your BlessBack stories with me, others have expressed an interest in wanting to thank your life influencers over a meal. This is a wonderful idea and your life influencer will be forever grateful. Here are three possible options for you to consider: 1. Take your honoree out to a restaurant for dinner. 2. Invite your honoree to your home for dinner. 3. Find two or three of your friends and plan a BlessBack meal with each of you inviting your BlessBack honorees to the meal. For…

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What You Would Have Said

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Spring has come early to Minnesota this year. This week’s temperatures reached 80 degrees for the First. Time. Ever. We even beat Phoenix’s high of 50. “Ice out” on Lake Minnetonka happened mid-week, beating all records as far back as anyone can remember. As for spring break, there is no need to go south. We already have a good start on our tans and D, the sunshine vitamin, is well on its way to replenishing our souls. Plants I overwintered are now on my deck. My cleaned windows squeak with joy. And my porch ― always a sign that spring has…

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