Enter to Win!

Meet October’s Freebie Winner!

~ Midwest Storyteller

It’s time to see who won the most recent First Friday Freebie.  I promise I got it to her in plenty of time for decorating throughout the month, even if I am slow in posting this.

Let’s meet –

Freebie Winner Shirley www.midweststoryteller.com

Shirley from Boonville, Missouri!

Congratulations, Shirley!  This was my “two-fer”, so I hope you enjoy them both.

Shirley is a repeat winner.  She’s learned to enter every single month and that it pays off.  Remember that I do send freebies anywhere in the continental U. S., so don’t be shy.  I seem to have many more subscribers than those who enter to win.

Shirley had her name drawn after she commented on the freebie post as directed in the post.  I do have to make it just a little tricky each month in order to prevent spam and make sure you’re on your toes and paying attention.. 

You can comment as directed on my post on the first Friday of the month also.  That is all any subscriber needs to do to enter to win.  If you’d like to see other past winners and their gifts check it out here on my Freebies! page.

You can see the original First Friday Freebie offer for the one Shirley won here. 

Not yet a subscriber to Midwest Storyteller?  Hopefully, my freebies, not to mention the stories, recipes and other great content, will entice you to become one – freebies are for email subscribers only.

NOTE:  Subscribe with an email you intend to keep and check the week after the drawings.  This is my only means of notifying winners.  If it isn’t up to date, you may not get your gift!

Computers, tablets, smartphones – they each give this blog a different appearance, but you can easily find the subscription area in the menu under “CONTACT”.  Confirm your subscription when the email arrives.  If you’ve don’t receive a confirmation email, please email me at barb@midweststoryteller.com – it seems that from time to time, a subscription will get “stuck”. 

Subscribers get an email reminder each time there’s something new – like when there’s a FREEBIE on the First Friday of every month.

Comment as directed on the post that offers the Freebie and you’ll be entered to win. 

Freebies help me reach more people.  I need you to help me share all the fun with your friends and family.  When you share on MeWe, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, you’ll give them the opportunity to subscribe and win also.  Subscribing is free.  Freebies are free. 

Just a shameless plug here.  When my soon to be released novel comes out (the first in a three part series), it won’t be free.  Well…perhaps one special copy might just pop up as a First Friday Freebie?  We’ll see!

Coming up on November 3rd, you’ll see the new Freebie.  Enter to win that day.  A winner is chosen at random from those subscribers who enter before midnight.  Then, check your email in the days following. 

Smartphone reminders help.

Take a moment make yourself familiar with the complete Freebie Rules by clicking HERE.

Subscribers, be ready to enter to win on Friday, November 3rd, 2023.

Enjoy the glories of autumn.  Like the First Friday Freebie, it is fleeting – it’s not here to stay. 

It’s an October Two-fer and It’s Free!

~ Midwest Storyteller ~ 4 Comments

I couldn’t resist.  My favorite season is spring, but my favorite season to decorate for is fall! So, when I found myself choosing a First Friday Freebie for you, I couldn’t make up my mind.  Take advantage of my indecision today because I got both!

Let’s take a look at them.

Fall Decor Give-a-Way www.midweststoryteller.com

The slatted wall hanging on the left measures 13.5” X 9” (not counting the twine hanger) and invites your guests to “Gather Here with Warm Hearts”.  The metal section adds some sparkle and shine against the rest of the rustic wooden slats which are all connected with twine, enabling the whole thing to collapse accordion-style for storage.  This is great if you have limited space as I do.  On the right you’ll see “Leaves are falling – autumn is calling” on a 6” square wooden box that can either perch on a shelf as it is 1.5” deep or hang on the wall.

When I say I was undecided, I really mean it.  I started out with three items and ended up falling in love with one and keeping it for myself. Just true confessions here.

To enter to win the “October Two-fer” wall décor, all you need to do is “Leave a Comment” on this post, saying, “Make mine a double, please!”  You’ll need to leave your comment before midnight TONIGHT, October 6th, 2023.

NOTE:  An occasional problem occurs with subscribers not receiving confirmation emails.  Should this happen, email me at barb@midweststoryteller.com so that I can report it and have the issue resolved.

Haven’t subscribed yet?  You’ll need to do that before entering to win.  Head to the right sidebar or use the menu to navigate to the “Contact” page where you can fill in your email address and then watch for your confirmation email.

If you’ve missed my recent post, you’ll want to visit my Food Freedom page and get the recipe for “Lime Sillies” which only takes seconds to make.

ANNOUNCING: The September First Friday Freebie went to Ruth in St. Louis, Missouri! Ruth didn’t have a way of getting a photo to me, so if you’d like to see what she won, check it out here.  Congratulations, Ruth!  I hope this finds a great spot on your wall during “sweater weather”. 

Be sure to share my blog with friends and family through all your social media.  They’ll never know about it unless you do.  If you save things on Pinterest like I do, hover over the photo and “pin it”. Hey!  The world needs to know.  People have enough news every day to drag them down.  Give them something smile about.

On the “Freebies” page, you can see what readers have been winning every month.

A winner will be chosen at random from those subscribers who enter before midnight tonight, October 6th, by leaving a comment which says, “Make mine a double, please!” 

For the complete First Friday Freebie rules, click here.

We’ve been doing a few things to beautify our porch and also screening it in.  We’re thinking we may not see much of Phoebe June when she finds out she can get out there and glory in the fresh autumn air.  You get out and do the same and remember – October is a gift!

Welcome September and Sweater Weather!

~ Midwest Storyteller ~ 5 Comments

We have arrived.  It’s “relief month” here in the sweltering Midwest.  September means that there is a chance that perhaps even half of the days this month won’t be those that enable you to fry an egg on the sidewalk in less than a minute.  A few of them may even leave your hair without the frizzies.  One or two might even get you out of your flip-flops. Today it is a certainty that you can enter to win my First Friday Freebie.

Let’s take a look at it.

Sweater Weather Wall Hanging www.midweststoryteller.com

I’m a believer in positive confessions, so join me in announcing “Sweater Weather” even if it hasn’t actually made itself felt yet.  This round wooden declaration of crisp days to come measures just under 8 inches in diameter.  The white inset is metal with cutout lettering and leafy embellishments.  It’s just the thing to prop on an easel, tuck into a shelf or hang on the wall using the attached metal hanger or even its twine extender.  This is just one of Hobby Lobby’s great fall items.

This time, instead of just getting one for you and wishing I had one just like it, I went ahead and bought an extra for myself.  Now I’ll have no regrets when this one leaves my house for yours! 

To enter to win the “Sweater Weather” wall décor, all you need to do is “Leave a Comment” on this post, saying, “I can’t wait for sweater weather!”  You’ll need to leave your comment before midnight TONIGHT, September 1st, 2023.

NOTE:  An occasional problem occurs with subscribers not receiving confirmation emails.  Should this happen, email me at barb@midweststoryteller.com so that I can report it and have the issue resolved.

Haven’t subscribed yet?  You’ll need to do that before entering to win.  Head to the right sidebar or use the menu to navigate to the “Contact” page where you can fill in your email address and then watch for your confirmation email.

If you’ve missed my recent post, don’t forget to check out the results of Smuffy’s kitchen remodel!  We are both glad to have the bulk of that ordeal behind us and I can’t wait for you to see how my design and all Smuffy’s hard work turned out! 

Be sure to share my blog with friends and family through all your social media.  They’ll never know about it unless you do.  If you save things on Pinterest like I do, hover over the photo and “pin it”. Hey!  The world needs to know.  People have enough news every day to drag them down.  Give them something smile about.

On the “Freebies” page, you can see what readers have been winning every month.

A winner will be chosen at random from those subscribers who enter before midnight tonight, Septemer 1st, by leaving a comment which says, “I can’t wait for sweater weather!” 

For the complete First Friday Freebie rules, click here.

Enjoy every bit of pleasant weather coming your way.  I know I’m going to try.  Life for me will fluctuate between getting outdoors to enjoy these days and closeting myself to do final edits on my novel series.  More news on that in the days ahead!

Meet July’s Freebie Winner!

~ Midwest Storyteller

Due to circumstances that shouldn’t have been beyond my control, I’ve had some sort of “can’t get the freebie into the hands of the winner syndrome” this summer.  Oh, well, better days ahead. 

Let’s meet the July’s winner  –

Freebie Winner Christine www.midweststoryteller.com

Christine from Boonville, Missouri!

Congratulations, Christine!  I hope you make good use of having a pocket-sized U. S. Constitution for yourself and a couple of extras for someone who might need to know what makes the greatest country on earth the greatest country on earth! I always think these make the most meaningful gift I can offer in July as we celebrate the founding of our nation.

Christine had her name drawn after she commented on the freebie offer as directed in the post.  I require that little bit of effort on the part of my readers in order to prevent spam and make sure you’re on your toes and paying attention.. 

You can comment as directed on my post on the first Friday of the month also.  That is all any subscriber needs to do to enter to win.  If you’d like to see other past winners and their gifts check it out here on my Freebies! page.

You can see the original First Friday Freebie offer here.

Not yet a subscriber to Midwest Storyteller?  Hopefully, my freebies, not to mention the stories, recipes and other great content, will entice you to become one – freebies are for email subscribers only.

NOTE:  Subscribe with an email you intend to keep and check the week after the drawings.  This is my only means of notifying winners.  If it isn’t up to date, you may not get your gift!

Computers, tablets, smartphones – they each give this blog a different appearance, but you can easily find the subscription area in the menu under “CONTACT”.  Confirm your subscription when the email arrives.  If you’ve don’t receive a confirmation email, please email me at barb@midweststoryteller.com – it seems that from time to time, a subscription will get “stuck”. 

Subscribers get an email reminder each time there’s something new – like when there’s a FREEBIE on the First Friday of every month.

Comment as directed on the post that offers the Freebie and you’ll be entered to win. 

Freebies help me reach more people.  I need you to help me share all the fun with your friends and family.  When you share on MeWe, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, you’ll give them the opportunity to subscribe and win also.  Subscribing is free.  Freebies are free. 

The next freebie winner you’ll see won a free book – not mine (mine’s not out yet) – and that is an example of how sometimes someone is gracious enough to offer a freebie here on my blog.   I love it when people do that!

Coming up on September 1st, you’ll see the new Freebie.  Enter to win that day.  A winner is chosen at random from those subscribers who enter before midnight.  Then, check your email in the days following. 

Smartphone reminders help.

Take a moment make yourself familiar with the complete Freebie Rules by clicking HERE.

Subscribers, be ready to enter to win on Friday, September 1st, 2023.

These are the days of change. This is the time of year that we all look back at the fun of summer or its grueling chores in the hot sun and ahead to crisp days that haven’t quite arrived but tease us with a day here and there of “nice”. Treasure the last days of August.

New Release:  This Month’s First Friday Freebie!

~ Midwest Storyteller ~ 6 Comments

It’s August.  I don’t know where you live, but there might be a good chance that it’s hot in your neighborhood.  When it’s hot and steamy like this, what better time than to be thankful for air conditioning (and I hope you have it) and stay inside and read a good romance.  Oh, but what shall I read, you ask?  Let me do my part to help you decide.  If you love a romance, you’ll love this month’s First Friday Freebie.

My dear friend and fellow author, Diane Yates, has a brand new book out and she’s graciously offered an autographed copy for you as a free gift.

Diane Yates writes award-winning inspirational romantic fiction and nonfiction with endearing characters who find courage to overcome obstacles and emerge victorious. Her Fate Series, published by IHeart Publishing, begins with Melissa’s Fate and continues with Impossible Fate. The third book in the series has just released last week. Diane is the author of two biography/memoirs, Pathways of the Heart and All That Matters. She served two terms as President of Ozarks Writers League and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She teaches writing workshops and has spoken at various organizations. She and her husband Rick have served for years in youth and adult ministries. She has three children and eight grandchildren. You can follow her at www.dianeyates.com. Today, she’s offering you her brand new release –

To Deborah, who lost her sister, Aliyah, to a Christian cult, the only thing worse than a Jewish Christian is an Arab Christian.  But Amir, banished from his Arab-Israeli family, falls in love with the sad, beautiful Jewish Deborah at first sight. A bond forms between them despite their religious and ethnic differences.  After Deborah’s sister left, her parents, Yosef and Esther, have loathed each other, and nothing can ignite feelings of love between them.  While David Drake and Aliyah return to her homeland as missionaries, David’s sister, Melissa, tries to reach teenagers with the message of abstinence, but her own marriage threatens to derail her mission.  Little do they all know what the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob has planned for them and the Fate of their love.

To enter to win an autographed copy of Love’s Fate, all you need to do is “Leave a Comment” on this post, saying, “I love a love story!”  You’ll need to leave your comment before midnight TONIGHT, August 4th, 2023.

You may remember that Diane has previously offered books here at Midwest Storyteller as First Friday Freebies.  Perhaps you were the winner of Pathways of the Heart or the sequel, All That Matters, memoirs about her mother’s life.  If you haven’t read those and the earlier books in Diane’s Fate Series, be sure to check those out at www.dianeyates.com

NOTE:  An occasional problem occurs with subscribers not receiving confirmation emails.  Should this happen, email me at barb@midweststoryteller.com so that I can report it and have the issue resolved.

If you are new to Midwest Storyteller and haven’t subscribed, you’ll need to do that before entering to win.  Head to the right sidebar or use the menu to navigate to the “Contact” page where you can fill in your email address and then watch for your confirmation email.

My own love story is my Life with Smuffy, so head to that page if you want to find out what life has been like with this man of resource and adventure. You could start with our Smokin’ Hot Honeymoon. The thing I enjoy most is knowing I’ve made you smile, so be sure to visit my Laugh! page to brighten your day and find some fun to share with others. If you save things on Pinterest like I do, hover over the photo and “pin it”.  Help me get the word out!

On the “Freebies” page, you can see what readers have been winning every month.

A winner will be chosen at random from those subscribers who enter before midnight tonight, August 4th, by leaving a comment which says, “I love a love story!” 

For the complete First Friday Freebie rules, click here.

Shameless plug: I’m excited about my own novel coming soon!

What books have been a part of your summer reading plan?    

Which of Diane Yates’ books have you read?  Leave a comment and let’s share what we’ve enjoyed most.

Meet the Freebie Winners!

~ Midwest Storyteller ~ 2 Comments

What a hectic summer!  It’s been that way for all of us.  So much so that getting First Friday Freebies to their winners became delayed due to their vacations and other events.

Here they are at last, so let’s meet the May and June winners  –

May and June First Friday Freebie Winners www.midweststoryteller.com

Ginger from Prairie Home, Missouri and Vikki from Boonville, Missouri won the months’ free gifts respectively.

Congratulations, Ginger!  From the photo, it looks like you’re enjoying the earrings.

Congratulations, Vikki!  I hope you are enjoying the bumblebee kitchen helpers and managed to keep them from being snatched by a certain family member you’d suspected might take a fancy to them.  This sort of thing does happen once in a while.  Just remind that person that subscribing and entering to win is a more honest way to go about getting a First Friday Freebie.

Ginger and Vikki had their names drawn after they commented on the freebie posts as directed in the posts.  I do have to make it just a little tricky each month in order to prevent spam and make sure you’re on your toes and paying attention.. 

You can comment as directed on my post on the first Friday of the month also.  That is all any subscriber needs to do to enter to win.  If you’d like to see other past winners and their gifts check it out here on my Freebies! page.

You can see the original First Friday Freebie offers for the ones Ginger and Vikki won here and here.. 

Not yet a subscriber to Midwest Storyteller?  Hopefully, my freebies, not to mention the stories, recipes and other great content, will entice you to become one – freebies are for email subscribers only.

NOTE:  Subscribe with an email you intend to keep and check the week after the drawings.  This is my only means of notifying winners.  If it isn’t up to date, you may not get your gift!

Computers, tablets, smartphones – they each give this blog a different appearance, but you can easily find the subscription area in the menu under “CONTACT”.  Confirm your subscription when the email arrives.  If you’ve don’t receive a confirmation email, please email me at barb@midweststoryteller.com – it seems that from time to time, a subscription will get “stuck”. 

Subscribers get an email reminder each time there’s something new – like when there’s a FREEBIE on the First Friday of every month.

Comment as directed on the post that offers the Freebie and you’ll be entered to win. 

Freebies help me reach more people.  I need you to help me share all the fun with your friends and family.  When you share on MeWe, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, you’ll give them the opportunity to subscribe and win also.  Subscribing is free.  Freebies are free. 

Just a shameless plug here.  When my soon to be released novel comes out (the first in a three part series), it won’t be free.  Well…perhaps one special copy might just pop up as a First Friday Freebie?  We’ll see!

Coming up on August 4th, you’ll see the new Freebie.  Enter to win that day.  A winner is chosen at random from those subscribers who enter before midnight.  Then, check your email in the days following. 

Smartphone reminders help.

Take a moment make yourself familiar with the complete Freebie Rules by clicking HERE.

Subscribers, be ready to enter to win on Friday, August 4th, 2023.

Enjoy the rest of summer.  We complain about the heat, but as my sweet mother always said, we’ll be wishin’ we had it back one of these days!

Freedom Isn’t Free, But Freebies Are!

~ Midwest Storyteller ~ 7 Comments

If you were new to the United States of America and were given the test you needed to pass to get your U. S. citizenship, do you think you’d pass?

Something tells me I might not get exactly an A+ on that one. I wonder how many members of congress would pass. Oh, well…moving right along…

We can’t appreciate what we have if we don’t know what we have.

I love this quote from a 1988 speech by Ronald Reagan – “”America represents something universal in the human spirit. I received a letter not long ago from a man who said, ‘You can go to Japan to live, but you cannot become Japanese. You can go to France to live and not become a Frenchman. You can go to live in Germany or Turkey, and you won’t become a German or a Turk.’ But then he added, ‘Anybody from any corner of the world can come to America to live and become an American.'”

You don’t have to be loyal to any political party to grasp how important it is to know what is and is not granted to you as a citizen and to appreciate those who have given their lives, their fortune and their sacred honor in order for their dream to be handed down to you.

Now, more than ever, we need to know what we have so we don’t lose what we have. I’ve often made this my July First Friday Freebie in honor of Independence Day and it’s because I want you to physically get your hands on what it means to live in the greatest country on earth – not the perfect, but still the greatest – and to be able to share what that means with others.

U. S. Constitution www.midweststoryteller.com

These pocket-sized U. S. Constitutions are perfect for keeping with you at all times. The book includes the Constitution, Amendments, the Declaration of Independence and list of the signers, an index, a list of significant dates and a page on “Celebrating the Constitution”. I’m including three copies as your freebie so that you can keep on and share the other two with those who need to know what’s granted to them inside these pages.

To enter to win the set of three U. S. Constitutions, all you need to do is “Leave a Comment” on this post, saying, “America, you’re beautiful!”  You’ll need to leave your comment before midnight TONIGHT, July 7th, 2023.

NOTE:  An occasional problem occurs with subscribers not receiving confirmation emails.  Should this happen, email me at barb@midweststoryteller.com so that I can report it and have the issue resolved.

If you are new to Midwest Storyteller and haven’t subscribed, you’ll need to do that before entering to win.  Head to the right sidebar or use the menu to navigate to the “Contact” page where you can fill in your email address and then watch for your confirmation email.

News about my upcoming books, my Life with Smuffy, recipes, freebies, fun things to make you laugh, reviews, creative ideas and even thoughts for you from Phoebe June – they’re all here on the blog so click through the menu and be sure to share with friends and family through all your social media.  They’ll never know about it unless you do.  If you save things on Pinterest like I do, hover over the photo and “pin it”.  Help me get the word out!

On the “Freebies” page, you can see what readers have been winning every month.

A winner will be chosen at random from those subscribers who enter before midnight tonight, July 7th, by leaving a comment which says, “America, you’re beautiful!” 

For the complete First Friday Freebie rules, click here.

Welcoming June with a Freebie!

~ Midwest Storyteller ~ 8 Comments

It’s the season for summertime fun with picnics, barbecues and other outdoor fun.  I’m here to help you brighten up the festivities.

There’s always a freebie offer on the first Friday of each month, so let’s take a look at what June has to offer.

Bumble Bee Kitchen Linens www.midweststoryteller.com

Is it time to toss those grungy potholders and replace them with something a little more cheery?  Maybe it’s just time to put the ones with the bunnies away till next spring.  These kitchen helpers with a bumble bee and flower theme will have your kitchen or barbecue area looking summery and bright.  The bees hum among the soft yellow flowers and gray leaf print.  Included are one oven mitt, two potholders and one drying mat.

By the way, where have drying mats been all my life?  I’ve come to really appreciate these things and use them all the time.  Someday we’ll be telling our children that there was a time when they didn’t exist and things just sat there on a soggy tea towel.  They’ll stare in disbelief, just like when we told them that phones used to be attached to the wall and you had no idea who was calling. 

To enter to win the bumble bee kitchen set, all you need to do is “Leave a Comment” on this post, saying, “I’d bee thrilled to have this freebie!”  You’ll need to leave your comment before midnight TONIGHT, June 2nd, 2023.

NOTE:  An occasional problem occurs with subscribers not receiving confirmation emails.  Should this happen, email me at barb@midweststoryteller.com so that I can report it and have the issue resolved.

If you are new to Midwest Storyteller and haven’t subscribed, you’ll need to do that before entering to win.  Head to the right sidebar or use the menu to navigate to the “Contact” page where you can fill in your email address and then watch for your confirmation email.

My Life with Smuffy, recipes, freebies, fun things to make you laugh, reviews, creative ideas and even thoughts for you from Phoebe June – they’re all here on the blog so click through the menu and be sure to share with friends and family through all your social media.  They’ll never know about it unless you do.  If you save things on Pinterest like I do, hover over the photo and “pin it”.  Help me get the word out!

On the “Freebies” page, you can see what readers have been winning every month.

A winner will be chosen at random from those subscribers who enter before midnight tonight, June 2nd, by leaving a comment which says, “I’d bee thrilled to have this freebie!” 

For the complete First Friday Freebie rules, click here.

Enjoy your summer. I hope to be bringing you more information and fun now that the glories of spring are about to give way to the swelter of the Midwest’s summers. 

Last month’s winner has been notified and will be revealed soon.  We’ve had issues connecting due to the fact that she’s been on vacation. 

Recipe reviews are coming up next!

I Just May Have a Freebie for You Today!  Celebrate!

~ Midwest Storyteller ~ 5 Comments

Have you ever noticed that every day’s a holiday?  The trend in the last several decades is to name days the “National Day of Whatever-Tickles-Your Fancy”.

Well, of course, it’s First Friday Freebie Day and that is enough to get excited about all on its own, but I wondered what else we might be celebrating along with it to make it even more special.  I knew I’d be a day late to get in on winding my hair over my ears like cinnamon rolls and greeting you with “May the 4th be with you”, so I decided to see what else was on the calendar since I couldn’t think of anything. 

There were a lot of things – too many to list here – so I picked a few gems.

There’s good old Cinco de Mayo, so you can have a fun fiesta while you wait to find out if you won the freebie.

National Hoagie Day – you may have to choose between this and the one above, unless you have an appetite like mine.  As a THM coach, I’d say Cinco de Mayo is probably better for you.

Children’s Day – I thought that was every day.

General Prayer Day – I thought that was every day, too.

It’s International Midwives Day and National Astronaut Day – choose your hero or heroine!

It’s Museum Lovers’ Day and Nail Day – get your nails done and then wander around in the museum while they dry.  They won’t let you touch anything anyway.

It’s Tuba Day and National No Pants Day – perhaps if you hold your tuba just right, marching in the parade for this might not be quite so embarrassing?

Choosing from a day buffet like this one can be confusing, but here’s your First Friday Freebie – already chosen just for you!

Leather look Leaf Earrings www.midweststoryteller.com

These lightweight layered earrings will flutter in the spring breeze for you.  Their full length is 3 ¼ inches and they measure 1 ¼ inches at their widest point.  The light neutral color will go with anything you wear and the textures are what make them eye-catching.  The top “leaf” shapes have just the right amount of sparkle and the ones behind have a pebbled leather look and are slit around the edges to give even more of a leafy-edge look.  This is a great find from Factory Connection. 

To enter to win the leaf earrings, all you need to do is “Leave a Comment” on this post, saying, “I promise to wear pants with this freebie!”  You’ll need to leave your comment before midnight TONIGHT, May 5th, 2023.

NOTE:  An occasional problem occurs with subscribers not receiving confirmation emails.  Should this happen, email me at barb@midweststoryteller.com so that I can report it and have the issue resolved.

If you are new to Midwest Storyteller and haven’t subscribed, you’ll need to do that before entering to win.  Head to the right sidebar or use the menu to navigate to the “Contact” page where you can fill in your email address and then watch for your confirmation email.

My Life with Smuffy, recipes, freebies, fun things to make you laugh, reviews, creative ideas and even thoughts for you from Phoebe June – they’re all here on the blog so click through the menu and be sure to share with friends and family through all your social media.  They’ll never know about it unless you do.  If you save things on Pinterest like I do, hover over the photo and “pin it”.  Help me get the word out!

On the “Freebies” page, you can see what readers have been winning every month.

A winner will be chosen at random from those subscribers who enter before midnight tonight, May 5th, by leaving a comment which says, “I promise to wear pants with this freebie!” 

For the complete First Friday Freebie rules, click here.

Enjoy every day in the merry, merry month of May.  Eat Mexican, laugh with a child, remember to pray, thank someone who makes a difference in the world, take a relaxing day off, make some music.  But try, please, to do the majority of these things wearing pants!

I’ll post as often as I can during these beautiful days, but I confess to abandoning my desk in favor of spending most of my time running around outside with Lil’ Snookie (in pants).

Hear That?  It’s the Sound of a Spring Freebie!

~ Midwest Storyteller ~ 6 Comments

I don’t know what your winter has been like.  Maybe you’ve had the worst one on record and had to dig your car out of a snow drift twice daily.  If so, I hate to rub this in, but we’ve been having the mildest winter I can recall in a long time.  I know, I know, this is the Midwest and it ain’t over till it’s over and we have three weeks to go, but this has been glorious for those, like me, who’d rather the season be done away with if we didn’t need it to kill the bugs.

So, as we listen to the spring peepers outside and I watch the tulips stretching their necks all up and down my front walk, let’s celebrate March with a First Friday Freebie. 

Saved by Grace Wooden Cross www.midweststoryteller.com

I almost saved this one for next month as we look forward to Resurrection Day on April 9th, but I just knew you’d be decorating early and this simple confession of faith is definitely something that suits all seasons.  “Saved by Grace” is stamped on this white wooden cross that measures slightly less than 6” X 8”.  It’s a bit distressed and the carved horizontal grooves give the appearance of shiplap.  It is thick enough to stand without falling over easily and also has a hanging notch on the back. Another great Hobby Lobby find that I think most of my readers would enjoy.

To enter to win the “Saved by Grace” cross, all you need to do is “Leave a Comment” on this post, saying, “I live a grace-filled life!”  You’ll need to leave your comment before midnight TONIGHT, March 3rd, 2023.

NOTE:  An occasional problem occurs with subscribers not receiving confirmation emails.  Should this happen, email me at barb@midweststoryteller.com so that I can report it and have the issue resolved.

If you are new to Midwest Storyteller and haven’t subscribed, you’ll need to do that before entering to win.  Head to the right sidebar or use the menu to navigate to the “Contact” page where you can fill in your email address and then watch for your confirmation email.

My Life with Smuffy, recipes, freebies, fun things to make you laugh, reviews, creative ideas and even thoughts for you from Phoebe June – they’re all here on the blog so click through the menu and be sure to share with friends and family through all your social media.  They’ll never know about it unless you do.  If you save things on Pinterest like I do, hover over the photo and “pin it”.  Help me get the word out!

On the “Freebies” page, you can see what readers have been winning every month.

A winner will be chosen at random from those subscribers who enter before midnight tonight, March 3rd, by leaving a comment which says, “I live a grace-filled life!” 

For the complete First Friday Freebie rules, click here.

The painful part about March is that we can’t plant anything yet here.  That’s another six weeks away.  I’ll have Lil’ Snookie begging me for outdoor play and trips to the park way before I’m warm enough to tolerate it.  It’ll come, eventually.  Then, oh, how we will glory in  it!

I have a personal victory to share with you soon, so keep watching.  I’ll post it as soon as I can.

If you still have winter blahs, my “Life With Smuffy” and my “Laugh” pages will jolt you right out of it!