Finding Hearts in the Valley

Warm Friendships Diminish the Autumn Chill

Mother Nature teaches us to make the best of every situation…especially those over which we have no control. Whether sitting on the front porch, or crossing the front door threshold, getting together to pass the time swapping a story or two always chases the storm away—or at least helps us to ignore it!

Hurry now! Let’s leave the wind and rain outside while we grab a cozy chair by the fireplace. Don’t be shy. Grab a mug of hot cocoa and a chocolate chip cookie or two. Not even this wild weather can diminish the warmth of our hearts.

Speaking of hearts, have I got a story for you! Most of you already know that I take care of my dad. Some days are a challenge, but I do my best to make it a work of heart. Like Evergreen Valley, I try to make my home a place where kindness dwells with every heartbeat.

Well, nature left me a little heart in a most unexpected way. As I stopped my work to prepare my dad’s dinner, I reached into a bag of russet potatoes to make him a baked potato. Lo and behold, when I pulled one out, nature had grown it in the shape of a heart! I have preserved the moment with this photograph.

Of course, I had to share it with my dad, who got quite a kick out of it. I haven’t used it yet, but I will. As I continued preparing his dinner, I couldn’t stop thinking about my heart-shaped potato. As I shared last week, I am working through some ideas that will make the website an even more inviting place. I never thought I would be inspired by a potato, but magic appears in ordinary moments when we are paying attention.

In the valley, the puppies discover magic through kindness, curiosity, and everyday experiences rather than by searching for adventure. If we are open to that idea, the same can be true for us. That heart-shaped potato has become the catalyst for a larger Evergreen Valley tradition.

Beginning with this week’s post, every front porch illustration will have a hidden heart. This is just the beginning. That heart-shaped potato was like a key opening my creativity vault. Love is at the heart of Evergreen Valley, so it is not coincidental that my heart-shaped potato is nourishing the rhythm of the valley’s heartbeat. Evergreen Yuletide is inspired by love and there is no better symbol to represent love than the heart.

One photograph of a heart-shaped potato has produced more than a half dozen creative ideas. It has also inspired me to adjust my schedule to accommodate development time for these new ideas.  This will directly assist with the website improvements I have desired to begin.

The heart will be a recurring symbol in the valley and on the website. As previously mentioned, there is a hidden heart in the blog post image, and there will also be future hidden heart activities as well. I would love for this to inspire community participation and have plans to improve my social media connection. Work will also begin for spot-the-difference activities for both children and adults. I believe that these ideas are just the tip of the iceberg.

As each idea blossoms, I will share more details. I will add another gallery that will showcase heart-shaped gifts from nature. I am pretty certain that I have a photograph of a heart-shaped cloud that I witnessed during a vacation in Texas. Locating that image in my large collection of vacation photos is on next week’s agenda. I am looking forward to building our community into something bigger and brighter, one heartbeat at a time.  Speaking of growing things one step at a time, Bernie’s story has been on quite a journey of its own this week.

In the heart of my studio this week, I finalized plans for Bernie’s story. To say the least, my plans changed. If I could just take one moment to share something very important for anyone who might also be seeking to publish a book, ask a great number of questions regarding terms and requirements. Calculate the cost for printing and shipping. There is so much that determines the price for which you will be selling the book.

Initially, I thought a reputable print-on-demand company would be of great assistance. The most challenging aspect of choosing any company to print your book is that the outcome is no longer entirely in your hands. Playing by somebody else’s rules isn’t always the best choice. In order for the company to fully distribute the story to book stores and Amazon, I would need to change my format from landscape to portrait. The illustrations are designed for the landscape layout. That alone for me was a non-negotiable item.

When I encounter a situation that requires a significant change to what my heart has created, it sets off an internal alarm that makes me ask many more questions. To say the least, there were a few more situations about which I would not compromise my standards.

The result is The Dawn of Evergreen Valley will truly be a boutique book.  Within the next month, I will be upgrading my printer to a color laser printer. I have been saving to do so for about a year now. This will be a studio upgrade that I believe will make many projects both doable and affordable. This first edition of Bernie’s story will be creator made from start to finish. It will allow me to personalize a copy should a customer request that feature. Also, I will be able to create future bundles that offer additional embellishments and such with the book.  I hope to have the story available in my Etsy store very soon. The valley has become a part of my everyday life as surprises continue to appear in the valley.

Speaking of the valley, today’s Evergreen Valley puzzle piece shares the front half of the log cabin that was revealed almost 20 weeks ago. Time might not pass in the valley, but our weeks are certainly moving along.  I especially think that this puzzle piece is appropriate. The front porch of the cabin is a direct reflection of our front porch. It is where all gather, love is shared, and the heart is revealed. In two more weeks,  two more canine friends will make their appearance. I can hardly wait…and neither can they. Every puzzle piece shares another piece of the story.

This week story card shares a verse that defines the emotional value of every home. Those who dwell within make every house a home.  Together we are better, whether we are on my front porch, in my living room, or in the valley.

Be sure to visit Inspiration Gallery as well. I’ve decided the gallery will now hold your completed coloring pages — whether they’re colored by you, your child, or another generation of your family. If the page comes from your Secret Garden, you’re welcome to share your finished gift here, adding your touch to the gallery’s growing collection.

📧 Stay in Touch and Claim Your Gifts

Do you have a need for a special product that you cannot find anywhere? My studio awaits your request! You can always send me an email at: paula@evergreenyuletide.com

⛲️ Newsletter and Your Garden Gifts

By signing up to receive my weekly newsletter, if you so choose, you will be given the password that opens Your Secret Garden. You can always access the garden by clicking on the golden key at the bottom of this post. Within that garden, you will find every gift that has been given since the inception of this blog. Nothing ever leaves—it is ready when you are.

Gently tapping the below images brings you to your treasure chest and magical book. The newest button takes you to Inspiration Gallery—a great place to view the work of your Creative Kindred Spirits. Don’t forget, you can always email me a photograph of something you’ve created with one of my products, or send in a colored coloring book page that was shared with you in the garden. I would love to feature it in the gallery.

🌞 Closing Reflection

This time spent with you every Sunday means so much to me. Sharing another piece of the valley and my world is quite a joy. I look forward to spending this time again with you next week, and I’ll do my best to have something new and interesting to share with you. Don’t forget to comment or even send me a message. I always look forward to hearing from you.

Until next time…