ABOUT



See the Good

 

Welcome, I'm Carole West.

I'm on a mission to "see the good" and "be the good." I'm offering words of hope, a place to unwind that is centered on simple living and goodness.

But if we're going to be friends, I should begin by first telling you a little about myself...


My home is in the countryside of East Texas with my husband Robert and our dog Kramer.  Our surroundings are simply the best because they inspire my writing, art and lifestyle.

For me writing began through journaling then one day I dove into blogging. I remember the first time I clicked publish, it was like a window of new opportunities.  

Years later, in 2014 I launched the Garden Up Green blog and what a ride.  During that time, I started freelancing for several national magazines which led to publishing books about raising quail and gardening. 

Things were moving quick and public speaking followed where I taught workshops for Texas Home and Garden. After several years of traveling to the city I decided bringing those classes closer to home was a better fit.  

It was a crazy time; my growth was explosive and just when I thought things were getting quiet Hometalk flew me to New York City for one of their planning sessions.  I had never traveled to the east coast and it was an amazing opportunity.

I mention these details because I am a believer anything is possible.  Someone once told me I could not be a freelance writer until I was found… “I sat there for a moment and thought, but I’m not lost.”

Then in the summer of 2020, I made a bold decision to take a break and shut everything down. In one click it was all over.  




My Return to Blogging

The break has been interesting and busy. We moved from NE Texas to East Texas where I discovered swamp country is my paradise.  From there my husband and I contracted our own home; that was a "challenge" of a lifetime. 

My return to blogging surfaced shortly after our move with a message to see the good.  Now more than ever, I believe we also need to be visible and be the good.

This time around I created a broader writing path that represents real life, my watercolor art and making things happen. My activity is the heartbeat behind my writing organized in four categories. 



Gift Sharing

I believe that sharing our God given talents is vital to a thriving society.  We all have multiple abilities; these gifts mold who we are in addition to telling our story.  

What a lot of people don't know about me is that before all this, I left a floral career to stay home and raise our children. Those years were important, they were busy, we homeschooled and the memories are a treasure. 

But I must say my best years have been spent with my husband Robert. Everything we have experienced and do is rooted in love.  His support and belief in my abilities encourages me daily.  

To say I have been blessed would be an understatement and friends, I'm just getting started.  My hope is you recharge when reading and seek to implement the goodness I share.  

There's one last thing, don't forget to grab your free eBook below.  -Carole