Good evening, everyone!!!

I am sitting here covered head to toe in Peach Smoothie and Earthen Rose.  No, these are not some exotic drinks or cologne, they are paint colors for my stairwell.  Hubby and I began the painting today.  Next weekend the paneling goes up and the staircase will get it's fine coat of fresh paint, :)

Hubby really wasn't so sure about my taste in colors.  In fact as he looked at them on the color sheets, he turned his nose up at them.  However, now that they are on the walls and trim, he has had a change of heart, :)  See this is exactly why I do the picking of the colors and he just grumbles until it's on the walls.

I do believe my next round will be getting the paint for the kitchen.  I'm pretty stoked about my plans for this room too.  Of course, as is normal, hubby will grumble about it and yes, I'm sure he will turn his nose up at the next color choice...

But I did share with him my thoughts for a tiny bit more of the kitchen the other day and he seems okay with that, :)  I have the strangest cabinets in my kitchen.  Like I've said before the house is approximately around 100.  Well, the cabinets must have been built for a very tall woman. 

It was these cabinets that first attracted me to this place 11 years ago.  I fell in love with their unique appearance.  So regardless of what I do with my kitchen, it will always have to accent this unique character of my home. 

I adore creating.  Whether it be on the pages of a manuscript or a wall in my house.  Hell, even in reinventing my own being.  It's in my blood and no matter what it is also part of what makes up my character.  Hubby has long grown used to these whims of my nature.  Thank goodness he's the most accepting man I know, :) 

I also have to say he is one fantastic man for jumping in on some of my hair-brained ideas, :)  We're slowly but surely putting things the way we will want them for when I grow too old to stand on the ladder to reach the high places.  I'm pretty sure none of my children have inherited their mother's whims, :)  Probably a good thing if you ask the right person, LOL.

There's always a sense of accomplishment when one creates.  Once the job is complete, you sit back, take a good look at what you've done, and sigh that sigh of relief.  It was that sort of day around here, even though the job is only part finished.  The just knowing it will be finished over the course of a week or so, well, that's enough for me at the present.

Tomorrow I finish painting the trim work, then it is back to writing for this old lady.  I'm just happy to finally be finding a happy medium in life. 

The oldest son, daughter-in-law, and Little Miss Ava will be moving into their new house in a few weeks.  Miss Haylie will be returning to her rightful home.  The hunt for a new family member will be on the rise.  It will help hubby with the loss of his Haylie girl and besides, it's time I found us a male again.  We've gone far too long without a boy dog in this household.  I just didn't have the heart to find another one when Luke passed away.  But now, after a few years of missing his loving face, I want to find another who needs us just as much as that sweet old boy did, :) 

Well I really should sign off for tonight.  It's getting late and exhaustion is finally setting in.

Everyone have a lovely night!!!

Blessings to all!!!

Good evening, everyone!!!

As you know our household is under construction at present time.  Well we headed back out to Lowes for some expert advice this afternoon.  No sooner do we walk through the doors Bug, the five year old grandson, stops dead in his tracks, his big brown eyes grew wide with amazement, and in an astonished voice, exclaims, "Tools!"

Now please tell me when does a five year old boy start showing signs of becoming a 'man'???  Better yet, WHY does a five year old boy have to start showing signs of becoming a 'man'??? 

Yes, the cashiers about lost it with laughter so hard they almost fell on the floor.  Grandma had to wipe a tear from her eye when he tells me, "No, I'm going with grandpa," when I ask him if he wants to go with grandma to get a cart. 

Goes to show you men and women have very different ideas of paradise.  This child had the same expression on his face his grandfather gets every time we walk through those doors.  The same expression grandma gets when her feet hit the warm sands of a luscious beach. 

Okay, maybe I deserved it seeing as I made them all spend a few minutes in the shoe department of the local Sears store today finding an awesome deal on a pair of boots, :)  But, hey, I had no beef with them spending their time in the tool section of the same store, so doesn't that make us even???

Lady Bug had to look at all the pretty dresses and no we didn't make the boys go with us there, LOL. 

Well I'm back on my feet a bit more today than I was yesterday or the day before.  I slept most of the day away Thursday, okay, so all but a handful of hours was spent sleeping.  Then it was back to the bump and grind last evening, without much of a voice, but made it through without any issues, :)

Today was shopping day, tomorrow is getting the remodeling up and going in full swing, :)  I wanted to start today, but by the time we got home, fixed dinner, answered a few emails...

Let's just say all I want to do now is sit back with a nice glass of Southern Comfort and see if the creative juices begin to flow, :)

Yes, this is my idea of paradise on a Saturday night, :)  What about you???

Everyone have a lovely night!!!

Blessings to all!!!

Good evening, everyone!!!

Kim, if you get a chance to check out the blog today, I posted the pic that's on my phone background just for you, :)

It has been one heck of a day around this house.  I got around and got my running finished up this afternoon, because yes, today was the day the remodeling began.  I spent a good hour ripping carpet off the stairs.  I always hated carpet on the stairs, so hard to keep clean with kids and pets.  The only way to clean the carpets on the stairs was to use the uphostery attachment, and yeah, that takes like forever when you're cleaning what seemingly feels like miles of steps.

So off came the carpet then the task of pulling three dustpan loads of staples out of the floor.  I'm just going to say, when putting carpet down, a staple gun IS NOT THE TOOL TO USE.  Unfortunately, we've actually done the exact same thing when we helped our son and daughter-in-law put down carpet in The Love Shack.  (Long story short on that name, small two room house they remodeled to make liveable and spent a little while living in).

By the time it was time to get ready for work tonight I felt like I'd been hit by a semi.  Thank goodness the youngest son has grown up with my otherwise not so sane ideas and is very accepting of helping old mom out with some of her whims, :)  I told hubby if he wanted that carpet back down, well, he would just have to go dig it out of the firepit where the youngest toted it for me, :) 

Yes, this little idea hit me during the night while I slept.  I awoke with the knowledge that it was time to rip up the carpet off the stairs.  Yeah, I get the strangest ideas while sleeping, hence one of the biggest reasons I write stories, :)  It is nothing to awake at strange hours to fire up the computer and get down the latest dream, or image that came to mind. 

The shower is another place that ideas swim around inside this warped head of mine, :)  If I'm stuck on a piece of writing work, I can jump in the shower or just take a meditative hot bath, and BOOM, inspiration hits and I'm back at it.  This current turn of events on my creative inspirations lately though, I will admit, has to be from all the hours of work I've been putting in outside this house.  (Yeah, the exercise I'm getting now I didn't get before).

Well the grandson just wandered downstairs and is awaiting patiently for this old grandma to come climb in bed.  It's been awhile since he has done this, so I guess I should go cuddle up and get some sleep before my morning hits me in the face.

Tomorrow is an early day for me, but also a day I get to spend resting and relaxing, daughter's orders, LOL.  She's taking me for my biopsy in the morning and then for the rest of the day she gets to be in charge of life in this household.  I know pretty scary, huh?!?  Wish me luck tomorrow that this is just yet another nonsense ordeal.

Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!

Good evening/morning, everyone!!!

Yeah, it's three in the morning again and here I sit, winding down from my day.  We did get that new water heater in yesterday!!!  Yeah, hubby's good like that, :)  We even picked up the paint and paneling for the stairwell we've been planning to do for the last 11 years!!!  Now I just need to get up there and get the painting done so this weekend we can finish it up!!! 

It will definitely seem strange to finally get it done after all these years.  It's time though, really overdue.  I haven't made a firm decision on which room I want to start next, :(  It will either be the bathroom, livingroom, or kitchen and entryway.  I have already picked out the colors and how I want each of those rooms done, but of course with my new found taste in home decorating...

Yeah, all of it is going to cost a little bit more than we have at present, :(  It's all good though, seeing as I'm bringing in some extra money these days, we can finally get a few things finished up that we've been wanting to do. 

I did spend a bit of time surfing vista prints today for promo ideas, :)  I have some pretty good ideas of what I want to do there.  Hubby's not sure about some of my ideas, LOL, but then again he never has been too sure of most of my ideas until he sees things first hand, :)  I honestly think he's still trying to picture how I explained I wanted to do the kitchen, LOL. 

It's been a strange week already.  Not real sure where this little adventure of a part time job will take me, but you know me, I'm game for any new adventures, :)  The only aspect I can see as a downfall at present is me not wanting to get up so early once the warmer weather gets here. 

Winter is fine for sleeping in.  But the warmer weather is something I wait for all year long up in this northern territory.  I crave the outdoors.  I've already started the seed order planning for the up and coming season.  Now, to just get this old body used to this new schedule enough to enjoy the planting season that is right around the corner, :) 

Then there is the pool.  Yep, I plan for it to go up this year.  I know I know, I'm going to have to listen to hubby grumble all summer long, but hey, the grandchildren and I love being able to just jump in and enjoy a day of swimming.  You probably won't find me blogging late nights like this once swimming season comes into play, :)  Yep, we'll be headed to the pool for a late night swim, :) 

Well I guess I should really sign off of here for the night.  I should get a bit of sleep so I can continue my critiquing tomorrow along with some polishing work and....

Keep your fingers crossed I can get back to some new writing too, :)

Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!

Good morning, everyone!!!

I keep telling myself this morning after that slow but sure loss of hot water to cold water shower I just took, that insanity is only a state of mind.

Hubby installed a water heater yesterday to replace the leaking water heater of before, only to find out the one he picked up the other day was worse than the one that was in there, :(  Yeah, the true test of fate on it just happened to be my morning shower, :(  Not good.  I've never slipped back into clothes so fast after a shower in my life. 

Fortunately, we already knew this one would have to be returned already and hubby was already on the scout of a new one during the said insanely cold shower. 

You ask why on earth would you jump into a cold shower???  Well, I just want to say the water was hot for the first minute I was in there. 

Anyway, enough whining, even though we all know I adore whining, :)

It has been an insanely busy last several days.  I finished up my Golden Hearts, started on my critique partners works, started working on the paperwork for the book cover, blurb, two sentences, dedication, acknowledgements, ect. for The Cheyenne Bride, and even met up with my wonderful critique/goal partners on Saturday morning to discuss track changes and talk shop with them, :)

Hubby and I went out with friends on Saturday night for dinner and a movie, :)  We went to see This Means War.  Definitely a cute movie, :) 

I tried a dip recipe that the daughter-in-law and I named Buffalo Chicken Dip, :)  Yes, very very very good.  We even planned a menu around such an amazing dip for a finger food type meal, :) 

This is going to be a week of sitting on edge.  I go Thursday for that biopsy I've been dreading somewhat since I found out I had to have another one.  Not real thrilled and I hate the thought of starting this process all over this year, but gotta do what I gotta do.  I'm trying very hard to keep an open mind and not let this round get me down.  But then, when you've spent the last four days barely moving it's kinda hard. 

The daughter took a few minutes to work some kinks out of my back last night which did help a bit, but I got to remember I'm not as young as I used to be.  Even sitting at the computer has been difficult to manage the last several days and we all know how much I adore sitting at the computer for hours on end, :)

I really should get busy this morning.  I need to get this hair dried so I can warm up a bit, then get busy with some critiquing and some more polishing work.  I've also decided that once I finish another paranormal I've been working on to try a self pubbed route with that one just for the experience of it.  So I believe I have my year in writing planned out pretty good.  Now if I could just finish planning out some other aspects of life, it'd be good, :) 

Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!

Good evening, everyone!!!

Thank goodness I finally feel as if I'm making some progress.  I FINALLY finished up my Golden Hearts.  Something that I've been procrastinating on.  Not that I didn't want to do it, but just finding that few moments to get it done without feeling like I should be working on something else. 

I had to sit myself down and say, "Self, you are NOT making progress in any direction so get busy and prioritize."  Which I did this week and things are now moving in the direction they need to be, :)

I've gotten some good polishing work in on Destiny's Price, :)  Now the GHs are finished I can get to the critiquing for my cps, :)  Something I've been looking forward too for like forever!!!  I will be hitting that starting tomorrow.  Tonight, I have to prepare for work after I visit with my VP for a bit.

Some of the critique partners have decided to get together Saturday for a bit to discuss a few ideas we want to incorporate within our group.  Yeah, another early morning Saturday for me, but hopefully it will pay off and we can enhance our critique group to a higher level, :)

I have to say they finally make a tv station I cannot live without.  ID (Investigative Discovery), all day, every day, true stories right up my alley.  I go to bed with this channel on and wake up with this channel on.  If I'm not careful I could lose an entire day to watching this channel.  I knew no one should have shown me we had this. 

Ah, but anyway, I feel like I'm finally starting to get a schedule that works for me.  I'm not in pjs until time to go to work these days which is definitely an improvement, :)  I'm also getting things done that I just didn't feel like doing the last two weeks, so there is another improvement, :) 

Well I guess I really should keep this short and get off of here for the night.  I haven't even started getting ready for work yet and I need to be out of here in like twenty minutes.

Everyone have a lovely night!!!

Blessings to all!!!

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!!!

I couldn't decide if I should post a pic of a hot hunk wishing everyone a Happy Valentine's Day OR a pic of chocolate, so I decided to do both.  Enjoy the eye candy, :)

I do hope everyone is enjoying their Valentine's Day.  I know it is a special holiday for lovers, but please, let's face it, love is love, right?!?

To my grandson today is Grandma's Day, :)  He says on Grandma's Day you MUST give your grandma lots of chocolate, :)  Can you tell I may just have some influence over this child's thought patterns?  Of course, I have no issues with whatever he wants to call the day as long as chocolate is involved, :)  He always gets my favorite chocolate in the whole wide world too, (or one of them anyway) Doves.  I adore those heart-shaped reuseable tins they come in at Valentine's Day, :)

With the trucking industry being a part of our lives for the last 21 years, holidays are strange events in this household.  If they happen to fall any day other than Saturday or Sunday, well, they are usually celebrated on, yes, a Saturday or a Sunday.  So for me Valentine's Day won't be until Saturday when hubby and I try to catch dinner and a movie. 

Love shouldn't just be celebrated once a year.  In my opinion, (an overactive romance writer imagination) it should be celebrated every day. 

There is the love between friends.  That special place in your heart where only a friend resides.  They understand you.  They make this journey called life extraordinary.  We cherish them as confidants, amigos, and keeper of all our treasured secrets.  They are usually the ones we turn to in times of joys and crisis alike.

There is love between parent and child.  A blessed love that resides within us unconditionally.  They are some of our best friends and even our worst enemies.  They see us for who we truly are, the good, the bad, and the all time ugly, but they love us anyway and we them, (that is when they aren't hating us for taking the playstation or phone away). 

There is the love between grandparent and grandchild.  A more perfect love has never been thought of, invented, or created.  This is where the definition of unconditional, ultimate love was first thought of and defined.  There is no greater bond than a grandparent and grandchild.  We love our children.  We would do anything for them.  Yet, this deepens ten fold when it comes to a grandchild.

Then there is the love we feel toward a mate.  This is a complex mix of emotions that take us to the very heights of all emotions.  We learn acceptance in the strangest ways.  We find the longer we love them, the more we can never imagine life without them.  As this love grows, we become comfortable and secure in that love, knowing no matter what it is always there.  These people, like our children, have seen us at our best, but know every inch of our worst and still adore us anyway. 

Then there are those people we classify as enemies.  Yes, we should learn to love those we have a great deal of trouble not only accepting their lifestyle, behaviors, or even the very air they breathe.  It doesn't mean we have to love them as we love those we deem close, but we should love them for just being.  Everyone is human, and yes, even I, a romantic at heart, has trouble with this aspect of the word love, but it is something I strive to keep upfront in my thoughts.  Keep these people in my prayers each day,  wishing them well in life.  (Maybe some would not put this in the classification of love, but it takes a loving heart [something I strive for] to be able to do such).

So today, on the day set aside to celebrate love, remember all those who love you and you return that love.  But also remember, Valentine's Day can be every day if we choose it, :)

Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!

Good afternoon, everyone!!!

I know I've been way behind on my blogs lately and I'm sorry for that.  Between the head cold and the new schedule I'm not sure I even truly participated in the last two weeks, :( 


I have a ton of things to do today so where am I?  Sitting here at the computer checking email and playing around online.  It actually feels good to finally have a morning for a change, so I'm relishing in it a bit.

We hear today if the son and daughter-in-law's offer was accepted on the house they are wanting to buy, :)  I really hope they get it.  No, not just because they will take their dog home, :)  Actually because they really want this and I hope they get it!!! 

Bug lost another tooth last evening.  Of course he had mixed feelings about this aspect of life.  He likes the money he gets for the tooth, but he also likes having teeth, :) 

Lady Bug was sick during the night last night.  So she wasn't very thrilled either.  Little Miss Ava is also coming off a cold too, so it has been one heck of a last couple of weeks for the humans in this family.

I did have some realites to chew on this last week.  At one time the reality of knowing money is more important to some than actually human relationships would have bothered me to distraction.  It would have bitten me to the core of my being.  I don't know if I've just become calloused in this area or if I am finally learning that this is the way it is, and I accept that. 

I realize I can choose how this affects me, and I chose not to allow it to eat away at me.  But I do have to say, all in all, it does make me sad. 

One thing I've learned about life is, money is not everything.  It is nice to have, but it should never rule who you are or who you associate with.  It should not define your relationships. 

I've had a paycheck sitting here for two days now that I haven't cashed.  It's odd how at one time I would have rushed out to insure that money was either sitting in the bank or in my hand.  I'm in no hurry to even get out there this morning/afternoon to get it done.

Does this mean hubby and I are wealthy people in the monetary sense?  By no means, but I've found these days money is put in a different category than it once was for us.  Our bills are paid, that's what counts, right? 

So I guess when I realized money was what would be the deciding factor in whether or not a person in my life would expand and explore a relationship with me, it gave me a new sense of putting money where it needs to be in life.

One thing those of you who do attempt this writing venture as a future career needs to have knowledge of, you won't come out of the publishing gate a complete success, making tons of money right out of the gate.  You are NOT going to find you instantly have Nora Roberts, Stephen King, ect. status.  You are going to have to work toward any sales success you achieve. 

This means hours at the computer isolating oneself from the rest of the world.  This means you are only as good as your next novel.  This means you may have achieved the published status, but this does not mean you now stop working so hard to achieve that, you work harder to keep it. 

We all dream of having the next Great American Novel.  The reality is, not all of us will obtain that. 

If your writing just to achieve this and not because you love sharing your stories with the world, I'm afraid you are setting yourself up for disappointment. 

Writing is in the blood.  It is something as natural to the writer as breathing.  Does this mean the writer makes no writing mistakes, oh far from that.  It is this drive within us to perfect our writing that keeps the drive alive and well.  Keeps us isolated in the confines of a room, pounding at a keyboard, creating worlds that only our imaginations can bring to light onto the pages of a manuscript.

Unfortunately, not all family and friends can understand this about the writing world.  They view our success as writers as big advances and tons of money pouring in.  A trumpeted up image of the realities of the writing world.

I'm very pleased to finally have my works coming out into the world.  Sharing them with you readers.  Giving you insight into this writer's mind that until now has not been granted to many out there.  I'm not in this for the money, but the stories, the sharing, the giving a reader a moment away from their own reality.  A percentage of all I make will be going toward Domestic Violence Awareness, regardless if the book is a paranormal romance, historical romance, or one directly related to Domestic Violence. 

As I've said in the past, both are a passion of mine.  Both mean so much to me.  So please if the only reason you want a relationship with me the person, please keep in mind, money will not be on the top priority of any relationship with me.  For me friendships go so much deeper than anything money could ever buy.

Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!

Good evening, everyone!!!

It has been such an amazing last few days I am not sure where to even begin talking about it. 

The head cold is still hanging around, errrr, but it isn't as miserable as it has been so that's the plus side to it.  I guess you could say it's bearable now.  At least for this moment.  (You know if I say I'm on the mend it will come back with vengence tomorrow).

I met up with my aunt this afternoon and had lunch.  I so enjoy her company.  She had a rough time of things since my uncle passed and anything I can do to help ease some of this for her, well, I will do.  She's always been a strong woman so I know given time to heal, she will regain some of that.  However, losing my uncle has put a hole in her life that will never completely close. 

They were true love in every possible way.  I will always be grateful that I was blessed to spend those precious hours before my uncle passed witnessing just how deep that love went between them.  This love bleeds over into all the lives she and my uncle touch or have touched.  When she says, "I love you" there is absolutely no doubt in your mind those words are heart felt.

As if spending a few hours with a wonderful aunt wasn't good enough, :)  I received a phone call from my grandmother tonight raving about my last letter to her, :)  We spent a good while talking and I promised to call her in a few days to see how she's doing.  She is probably the only person I sit down and write to that I use snail mail for, :)  Since she's moved from her home I didn't have a phone number for her anymore, so I've been keeping up with how she's doing through another aunt and sending her letters.  It felt really good just chatting with her for awhile this afternoon.

This evening I met up with an old high school friend.  I have not seen her in nearly 30 years (yes, I told you I was old, you doubted me?).  We spent three and a half hours catching up with one another before I had to head out to work.  I so wanted to just sit there and hang out for the rest of the night just chit chatting and not have to worry about schedules.  But we plan on doing this again in a few weeks so that will be fantastic!!! 

It is odd how people come and go out of your life.  From time to time reentering at just the right moment.  I always say there's a reason for everything in this life.  I may not have all the answers to just why these things happen, but at this point in my life I've learned that each relationship is unique and holds some special purpose for just being a part of who you are.

Today was my reminder that relationships are a very personal and wonderful things.  They mold us, help us, they help us see ourselves.  Maybe it's because I've grown older that I have learned to appreciate these relationships so much more than I once did.  Each relationship is different and helps us shape a certain area of ourselves as a whole.  Kind of like a puzzle.  We put one piece here and another one there until we have the whole picture. 

Tonight I feel very blessed to have so many in my life that see different aspects of who I am, and help me to see these qualities within myself.  I'm honored to be a part of their lives as well, and I hope to give back as much as they've given me.

Okay, I better go before I fall asleep at this keyboard.  My backspace button is probably getting worn out, :(

Everyone have a lovely night!!!

Blessings to all!!!

Good evening, everyone!!!

I guess you could still call it evening, right?!?  It's not 3 in the morning just yet anyway.  Sitting here winding down from the night shift and waiting on these meds to kick in before hitting the sack.  Yeah, head cold hell is no fun at all.

We are finally getting off on time!!!  Thank goodness, now this old body can get adjusted to the new schedule I'm forcing it into.  First it was the body aches from working muscles not required to use a laptop.  Then if that wasn't bad enough I have to throw in this head cold for good measure.

Yes, this is a whiney blog...

I think I spent more time sleeping this weekend than living.  Which really sucked.  Hubby and I hit a late night movie, The Woman in Black, on Saturday night.  But that was about as active as I got all weekend thanks to my head feeling as if it wasn't attached to my body.

I couldn't even get excited about the t-shirts group will be doing for the Domestic Violence Awareness the city of Marion is putting on in April.  Yeah, pretty bad huh?!?  All I could think is I hope this cold is over by then. 

Really it's not as bad as all that, I hope I hope, I'm on the road to recovery finally.  I'll know better tomorrow when I wake up and if my head is clearer.  I hope it is, otherwise by Saturday I'm going to be a real bear.  I'm hoping we can be done real early with this job Friday night seeing as I have to get up early Saturday morning to get ready for my drive to Fishers.  I just keep popping the sinus pills hoping eventually this will all be a thing of the past. 

I had some gripes earlier in the day to blog about, but for the life of me I can't recall them now, LOL.  Guess that is best, huh?!?  Yeah, I just wanted to whine because frankly that's the mood I'm in, whiney, :(  This entire house has stayed pretty much out of my way the last several days, because yeah, they know me well enough to know when I'm sick, yeah I'm a mega bitch.  It's just part of my charm I guess you could say. 

Bug has his hearing test in the morning.  Fortunately, I'll be sleeping when he goes.  I so don't envy that hearing test lady by any means.  Bug HATES his ears messed with and he does NOT allow anything in his ears whatsoever.  So yeah, this is going to be fun for all involved. 

I go to lunch with my aunt on Wednesday and then meet up with a girlfriend for getting reaquianted.  We haven't seen one another since we graduated high school.  Yeah, been a good while.  Hopefully at some point in the day that day I can grab a nap too, :)  I'm getting a might bit too old for all these late hours I'm afraid.

Well I guess I should really hit the sack.  The meds are kicking in now and frankly, who knows what I would write, :)  <----- evil grin

Everyone have a lovely evening!!!

Blessings to all!!!