Mary Ricksen

About Me

Name: Mary Ricksen

Location: West Palm Beach, FL, United States

I moved to Florida in 1980. I was born in Vt., but it's cold sooo long, I'll settle for scenic North Carolina. I enjoy the change of seasons. Spring, summer, winter, and fall, all have such a unique flavor; here it's just too subtle. I loved to ride horses more than anything. My dog Junior is a character in my first book, and there will be more of my pets in my next book. We moved a lot when I was young, from Canada to New York, and from Texas, to Florida. I met all kinds of people, and I find that the more rural it is, the more friendly people are. I have been married for a long time. So long it's like he's my left hip. But I'll keep him, he can fix anything! I have a beautiful secret garden, with everything from Plumeria, to Penta. There is nothing better than sitting out there with a good book and seeing the palms and ferns wave in the breezes, in winter, the real time to be here in Florida. I have written and published my first book in a series that takes place on Lake Champlain in Vermont. My always home. The only thing like the Green Mountains are the Great Smokey's, and a little town called Bryson City, NC. My next home, hopefully!

Thursday, December 10, 2009

It's beginning to get close to Christmas!

My father used to decorate the house when I was a kid, inside my mom was allowed to help, but outside was a historical event. Every year he added more and more to the decorations. We lived in Burlington, Vermont at this time. When he started to do this, the neighbors began to do it too. It was like a contest and the more decorations the better. He spent a fortune on it and it showed.

Every window had a candle and every window was decorated with the white spray snow. The closer to Christmas it got the more the men of the neighborhood scrambled. Especially when the city of Burlington held a contest for the best decorated yard. Alarms musta gone off, because all efforts doubled!

The winner won a hundred dollars, a lot at the time and the house would be featured in the Burlington Free Press.

Well my father won and we still have that picture framed in my mom's living room. For him it was worth the effort and it made the holidays just a bit more exciting. Decorations are just what you need to get into the mood and feeling.

My parents made Christmas so special. I used to think the magic was Christmas time, when my parents were the one's who really made it magic! Thanks mom and dad, for making Christmas so special for us.

Merry Christmas and may you have that special Christmas feeling!

Labels: Christmas pictures, holidays, neighbors decorating the house