Michele Ashman Bell grew up in St. George, Utah. In fourth grade her teacher wrote on her report card that she had a tendency to daydream and would probably do well with creative writing. Her love for books and learning about people and places has helped her make her teacher’s prediction come true. Michele is the author of many books and Christmas stories. She is married and is the mother of four children, and a grandma of one. Aside from supporting her children in all of their many activities, she loves to travel, do research for her books and eat chocolate.
MICHELE: We have a tradition in our cul-de-sac to get fireworks (the legal kind) and set them off in our circle. All the neighbors come out and sit on the curb and light fireworks. The little kids run around with sparklers and the big kids (aka Dads) do the fireworks. It’s a lot of fun and it’s a neat way to spend time together as neighbors and friends.
We usually avoid Disneyland/Disneyworld like the plague during the busy season, but the only time we can go anywhere together as a family is the end of August, so we are going to brave Disneyworld. Even if we’re standing in line for hours at least we’ll be together, right?
Strawberry Salad
1 lg bowl spinach ( I love spinach, if you don’t use your favorite greens)
1/2 package bacon cooked and crumbled
Cashews
1 sliced purple onion
1 cup sliced strawberries
15 fried won tons cut into strips (I also use fried flour tortillas)
2 tbs. red wine vinegar
3 tbs. sugar
1/2 cup oil (good quality)
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup strawberry jam ( you can substitute with blackberry or raspberry or boysenberry jam)
- Abish: Daughter of God by K.C. Grant
- TRAPPED by Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen
- The Road Show by Braden Bell
- Awakening Avery by Laurie Lewis
- Courting Miss Lancaster by Sarah M. Eden
- Summer in Paris by Michele Ashman Bell
- Hometown Girl by Michele Ashman Bell
- Alma the Younger by Heather (H.B.) Moore
- Queen in Exile OR The Guise of a Gentleman by Donna Hatch (winner’s choice)
- The Silence of God by Gale Sears (book or audio- winner’s choice)
- Dangerous Connections by Julie Coulter Bellon
- Critique of three chapters (up to 30 pages) from Nichole Giles
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10 Responses to “Hometown Girl by Michele Ashman Bell – Countdown to Summer 2010”
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The first of Michele's books I read was Summer in Paris–which I loved. I'm really looking forward to this one!!
I think Michele's books are awesome. I love the first butterfly box book. My favorite kind of firework is the sparklers. The loud sounds of fireworks is not my favorite thing. They are very pretty thought.
I enjoyed the first book in this series (A Modest Proposal) and am looking forward to the second butterfly box book. I may also have to try that recipe-sounds yummy.
When we first moved to our neighborhood we watched the fireworks that our local high school did as a street. We would have a bar-b-q and then set off the small fireworks ourselves. Now they have moved the fireworks to a different school, so we need to start a new tradition.
I love Michelle's book and am excited to try that tasty sounding recipe! We also get together in our circle and do our own fireworks with the neighborhood kids. Later we can see several big park and stadium shows from our own deck. It's nice to avoid all the crowds :)
We like doing our own and watching small town fireworks.
Our favorite is the tanks and ground bloomers!
We always do some fireworks with my family every year, and we usually go to West Point, or Clearfield's fireworks in Utah. It's so fun to just be with family and have a good time playing games and waiting for the fireworks to begin. My kids love it!
I cannot wait to read hometown girl :) As for the fireworks question… I don't have a particular favorite, but I love to watch them now as opposed to when I was younger :) My family always goes to my aunt and uncle's house where we have a barbeque and then later set off a couple fireworks of our own and then sit in the backyard and watch the Morgan city fireworks
We have picnic & fireworks with my in-laws. I invited everyone out to my house because it's bigger and closer where the rest of them live.
But, they said,"No, it's traditon." The little kids keep running out to the road. I think we should just need to make our own traditions.(If only I could convience my husband.)
I really liked the sparklers we had when we were kids.
We go to the fireworks in West Point every year with my family! We also do some at home too! The 4th of July is my favorite, my kids love it too!
chaleese@comcast.net