* WHAT A DIFFERENCE A FEW DAYS/WEEKS MAKE *

I thought I should announce that I am alive and well, 

as is everyone else in my family, both far and near. 

And I pray the same for all of you, 

my wonderful friends both far and near. 

I have nothing else to post. Although I'm a writer,

my impressions of the world we're living in right now

won't come to surface for me to even try to put

on paper. 

I hope to be back fairly soon and hopefully by then, 

our lives will be "normal" again or as some people 

have said, the "new normal," which is a bit

frightening to me. 

Love and virtual hugs to all of you! 

P.S. I wonder how much my cell phone bill would be, 

if I called many of my long distance friends...

especially the ones living in a totally different country!

Wouldn't that be wonderful, though??

I leave you with some quotes and photos. 

...especially if we are forced to stay home!

Yep, that's what my problem usually is!

Sunshine (and warmth) on my shoulders makes me happy!
(and we haven't had either lately...)

Especially during these difficult times....

* HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO MY CANADIAN FRIENDS! *

Hello Canadian friends!

 

I wish you all a beautiful, blissful day.

 

I hope you enjoy some time with family and/or friends.

 

And whether you have a feast or something simple, I hope you remember all the little things in your lives to be thankful for.

 

 

I'm looking so forward to our

Thanksgiving next month!

 

 I can already smell all the amazing aromas  J

 

 

My favorite autumn mug!

 

 

My very first cloche!

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend." -  Melody Beattie
 



 



* Nostalgic Sunday *

It's Time for Another Nostalgic Sunday

Yesterday was our Family Thanksgiving and it was the usual madhouse! Food, fun, family, and a furry-four-legged-family-member: Vern! 

Vern on our walk 11/13/12

Poor Vern must've gotten into some food left unattended, or who knows what....because he got me up three times last night (actually all were after midnight) to go outside. He never gets table food, so that's what we think happened. He was better today!

~~~~~

When I was a child, my brother and I were always given the turkey legs to eat and we thought that was really great. Nobody in our family, including all the grandkids, will eat any of the dark meat. I just hate to waste any food, so most times I'll save it. It's good cut up and used in casseroles and salads. 

~~~~~

This evening, I flipped through my new Country Living magazine. As always there were beautiful design ideas and great gift suggestions. A couple of items I was delighted to see were cotton dish towels with cross-stitching on them;

Page 26 Country Living magazine, Dec/Jan 2013

photo taken by Becky

*Nebraska artisan Ellie Campbell will hand-stitch your initials onto these cream cotton dishcloths, inspired by antique French linens. (froggoestomarket.etsy.com)

~~~~~

and pretty recipe boxes with vintage looking recipe cards.

page 130 Country Living magazine, Dec/Jan 2013

photo taken by Becky

*Nicole Lissenden will paint your monogram on the lid of this bamboo box, which houses her super sweet cross-stitch cards. (minkletterpress.etsy.com)

Ahhh....two of my favorite things are maybe making a come-back?! ☺

~~~~~

*It's also time to announce the winner of Margo's give-away. The winner, chosen by Random.org is........Janel Gradowski! Congratulations! Please e-mail me and let me know which of the two giveaways you'd prefer.*

Writing Contest & Calls for Anthologies

As promised yesterday, I'm sharing some contest information and calls for submissions. I've already mentioned some of these in the past, but want to post a reminder since deadlines are coming up. 

First: Lynn Goodwin at Writer Advice has a fascinating contest with a deadline of October 15, 2012. That's just a little over a month away! Can you believe it? The name of the contest is Scintillating Starts. Isn't that cool? If that doesn't spark your interest, I don't know what will! 

                                WRITER ADVICE ANNOUNCES ITS FIRST-EVER

Scintillating Starts

A new contest from Writer Advice

*Winners will share prize money and have their first paragraphs published on the website.*

~~~~~~

I interviewed Lynn this past March and she shared so much information and "writerly" sites with us. Click HERE to read Part One of the interview. Part Two   can be found on the next day's post. 

~~~~~~

Chicken Soup for the Soul has a call-out for your stories! Click on the link to find out all the details, but until you do, here's a little info:

Lemons to Lemonade - deadline February 28, 2013

Holiday Stories - deadline February 28, 2013

Devotional Stories for Wives - deadline February 28, 2013

20th Anniversary Reader's Choice - deadline January 15, 2013

Raising Kids on the Spectrum - deadline September 30, 2012

~~~~~~

There are many call-outs from Publishing Syndicate for the NYMB (Not Your Mother's Book) anthologies! I'm highlighting FOUR of them below. One for friend Linda O'Connell, one for friend Dianna Graveman, and two for new-friend Pat Nelson!

Linda O'Connell is developing and seeking sassy, snappy, sincere and humorous submissions for, Not Your Mother's Book on Family. Deadline is October 1, 2012! So Hurry!

 http://publishingsyndicate.com/publishing_syndicate/submissions/title_descriptions/family.html 

Dianna Graveman is seeking first-person funny and downright embarrassing submissions for Not Your Mother's Book on Being a Mom. Deadline is October 1, 2012! So Hurry!

http://publishingsyndicate.com/publishing_syndicate/submissions/title_descriptions/moms.html 

Pat Nelson is looking for stories about you and your parents or you and your children for the parenting book and you and your grandparents or you and your grandchildren for the grandparenting book.

Pat is offering a free critique of your parenting or grandparenting story. If you would like to receive one, submit your stories directly to Pat:  PatsStorystorm@gmail.com during the month of September. She will return your story to you with her suggestions. Then, make any desired changes and submit to Publishing Syndicate for parenting, and to PublishingSyndicate for grandparenting. OR you may submit them directly to, without Pat's critique. 

These two books have an Open Deadline as of now, but it's always a good idea to submit your stories early! *

*Welcome to my newest follower, Beth I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you! *  

"I couldn't be me, without you being you, allowing me to be me." -- Becky Povich (said to The Ronald one evening when discussing my writing)

* Merry Go Round *

I've been on a self-propelled Merry Go Round for quite some time. Pushing and striving to accomplish all the things that are important to me as I go faster and faster without really getting anywhere.....just going around in circles.

Writing my memoir is THE most important thing in my life right now. Add to that blogging and my blog friends, my family and writer friends, handwriting letters, reading as much as I can, entering writing and photography contests & calls for submissions, attending writerly functions, trying to keep up with e-mails, etc.

I'm not complaining, really I'm not. I love being busy, but I'm not talented enough to successfully do everything, so what I've been doing is lots of things inadequately. I feel badly that I haven't kept up with reading everyone's blogs, and/or leaving comments. And I haven't even kept up with thanking everyone for the comments left for me.

(photo: courtesy Google)

So, I'm taking another Blog Break to concentrate on my book. I plan on posting Nostalgic Sundays as often as I can, because those will fit right in with my memoir. And if I come up with something that I feel is important to mention on my blog....I definitely will.

Thanks for your understanding, and I truly hope everyone won't forget about  me! (I will keep in touch by e-mail, too!)



"Right now I'm having amnesia and deja-vu at the same time. I think I've forgotten this before." Steven Wright

Thoughts of Thanksgiving

Such busy times, but I'm trying to remember to take deep breaths, relax, and stay focused on what needs to be done...today, the next day, etc.

Such wise words from a little girl.

(courtesy: google)

Have I mentioned we're having our family Thanksgiving THIS Saturday? Since we're a blended family...Yours, Mine & Ours...there's more than the "usual" parents and in-laws involved, so things can get really hectic. We began celebrating this way quite a few years ago and it works really well. I always say, "How many huge Thanksgiving meals can a person be expected to eat in one day?!"


Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, with Christmas a very close second. It's all about family, friends, and food! No commercialism. Every time I think about roasting the turkey, I swear I can actually smell that aroma and it brings such memories.....

(courtesy: google)

 I love to bake pies the day before. This year I'm making my usual two pumpkin pies, plus two apple pies. Oh yeah, and some banana bread with cream cheese frosting. Mmm good!

I make this type of crumble top apple pie and it's so easy.

(courtesy: google)

Welcome to my newest followers: "Ocean Breezes and Country Sneezes" and "Deborah Pucci" and "I'm erin!" I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you!

"Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude." -- Denis Waitley

♪♫ Georgia, Georgia...♪♫

Because of this post, I have only one song on my Playlist today: "Georgia"

In the early 1960's I was introduced to Mr. Ray Charles. It was by way of record albums being played on our big, blonde, wooden hi-fi. (That thing weighed a ton. Saturdays were cleaning days, and I only dusted around it because I couldn't lift it, and besides.....there were records being played on it....mostly Ray's.)


My older sister, Jo Ann, loved his music. I mostly didn't. I was into The Beatles and MoTown. And I swooned whenever I heard Johnny Mathis, even though my crushes were only that....unrequited love.



As I got older, I first learned to tolerate, then kind of like, then enjoy, and finally love Ray's music, whether they were ballads or the ones you just couldn't sit still listening to.

Little known fact: For years, I thought "Georgia" was about a woman named Georgia. ☺


Why am I writing about this today? Because I just returned from the beautiful state of Georgia. Because some of my family and I had lunch at Wolf Mountain Vineyards on July 16th, which would have been Jo Ann's birthday. (It was also my niece Kate's wedding anniversary.) And because Jo Ann loved Ray Charles so much.

For years after Jo Ann's death, I couldn't listen to any of his songs, especially the ballads, without shedding tears. If one came on the radio while I drove to work, I usually changed the station right away. Other times, I felt the need to go ahead and let myself grieve.....Oh, the healing process...

I took this photo from the window of the plane.

Once I got started on this, I wrote more than I'd planned. SO, I promise that tomorrow my post will be about meeting my Georgia Blog Buddies...and the one I didn't meet!

**Oh, and what famous author did I see on the plane to Atlanta......Maya Angelou! I didn't get the chance to speak to her, but she was lovely and stylish and chic and unpretentious.

"How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!" -- Maya Angelou

* More Georgia Info *

All these photos were taken at Wolf Mountain Vineyards in Dahlonega, Georgia.

I'd totally forgotten there was any wine country in this part of Georgia.

The building in the photo below is where they have weddings and receptions.

Although it was a little overcast that day, I still got some pretty good photos. The one below was taken from inside the restaurant, thus some spots and glare in the window.

We were told the family who owns the winery and restaurant live in this beautiful home.

Tomorrow I'll post information and pictures about meeting my Blogger Gal Pals!

AND, here's a little tease for ya...... a famous author was on my flight to Atlanta!

"Friendship is the wine of life." -- Edward Young

♫♪ So Much to Say ♫♪

I'm back from the beautiful state of Georgia. As my title says, I have so much to say about my vacation, but it will have to wait a while. I also have so much to do around the house, and some of it includes writing!

I'm refreshed, revitalized, and rejuvenated!





 North Georgia Wine Country

"More than just yearly rituals in which we connect with friends and family, vacations are also exercises in self-definition. In affording time away from the demands of everyday life, vacations disclose what people choose to do rather than are required to do." -- CINDY SONDIK ARON

** Please Keep Me in Your Thoughts **

We've all heard sayings about not taking life for granted, take time to smell the roses, and we don't know what tomorrow may bring.

The past 24 hours or so have been difficult for me. A very close family member had emergency surgery, and I don't know much else than that. It's something that can be quite serious, though, and I've been really worried and fearful.

I'm sorry if I seem secretive, but I don't want to divulge anything else at this time.

If you'd like, please send good thoughts and wishes my way.
I'll also accept prayers, good karma, peace....whatever you'd care to send....including virtual hugs....(thank you, Karrie!)

Hopefully, I'll have some good news to post sometime tomorrow.

"Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is the special occasion". ~Author Unknown

** Our Family Thanksgiving -- Yesterday **

We've been having our family Thanksgiving the Saturday or Sunday before the actual Turkey Day for a few years. It works out great and nobody has to leave early to go somewhere else to eat again!

I love the aroma of the turkey roasting in the oven. I provide some of the side dishes, and my three daughters-in-law always bring the rest of the usual goodies. Most years, I bake a pumpkin pie or two the day before, but have been known to just buy them at the last minute because I've run out of time, energy or ambition!

This year I decided to really do some baking and have had a wonderful time. Earlier in the week, I baked 1 apple pie and 2 pumpkin pies, and kept them in the freezer. I also saw a picture in a magazine of an adorable "pumpkin" cake, which I tried to  replicate. (The photo is MY cake, not the one in the magazine, but I must say, I didn't do too bad of a job, considering that cake decorating is definitely not my forte'.)

The day was perfect! Gorgeous weather, great food & our wonderful family! Everyone was here, except for Todd who wasn't home from college this weekend. We do hope to see him when he's home, later this week, though!

* There was one minor food "mishap"......I haven't made homemade mashed potatoes in years, and after yesterday, I can guarantee that someone else will offer to bring them from now on. *

Hey, that's one way to get out of preparing something you don't enjoy doing, nor are any good at! ;-)