* NOSTALGIC SUNDAY *

It's Time for Another Nostalgic Sunday

Where has the time gone? It's been four weeks since my previous Nostalgic Sunday, and seven weeks since we moved. Along with the unpacking and deciding what goes where, The Ronald and I have also come across items that we "brought along" that really "don't belong." So....more trips to Goodwill. (I really like the newest one in our area. It has a Drive Up & Drop Off Door!☺)

It's been interesting how I've felt about giving away and/or selling furniture and decorative items that used to mean a lot to me. This move has been much more than just a physical move. It's also been serendipitous.

I've taken time to sit on our deck, enjoying the beautiful trees and flowering bushes as they sway in the breezes.......and the birds chirping back and forth with their loud conversations.....and to almost meditate about life....the past, present, and future. 

And that, of course, brings the memories from the past, and thoughts about my memoir. I still have no definite publication date, but I can assure anyone who is interested, that it WILL be sometime fairly soon.

I've always proclaimed that patience is not one of my virtues, but during the past couple of years, I've learned to at least accept the concept of patience! 

Ahhh, and here's a bit of nostalgia to share!

Seen on the Adair County Free Press facebook page

"My favorite weather is bird-chirping weather."-- Loire Hartwould

* A Waggish Wednesday *

I'm in a silly mood tonight which is usually quite common for me. It made me think of the word "waggish" which I discovered a year or so ago. I looked back through my old posts just now and noticed that not only was it one year ago, it was in the month of September! I used it for two post titles. One on the 15th of September 2010, and one on the 30th.


If you've known me for very long, you know I love it when these ♪♫ Twilight Zoney ♪♫ things happen to me. These Cosmic Sensations. These Serendipitous Happenings. You get the idea.

So, what is my waggish post for tonight. (By the way, "waggish" mean roguish in merriment and good humor, mischievous, merry, droll, comical, and funny.....Pretty much describes me!)

Uh...maybe THIS is why I'm feeling so kooky tonight!

I'm feeling good because I'm writing. Last night I submitted a short-short fictional story for a contest.

AND I'm writing a story for "Chicken Soup for the Soul; I Can't Believe My Dog Did That!" I'm working on a humorous story I began some time ago. It's about our first dog, Rocky. I don't have any digital photos of him, but he looked very similar to Tiger Gal. I would be thrilled, obviously, if the story was accepted for publication!

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


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

* Nostalgic Sundays *

Time is just flying by too fast. If you've read my blog for very long, you've probably seen where I've said something like, "I'd love to throw a lasso around the earth and slow it down for a while....Not stop it. No. Just slow it down."

Today has been a serendipitous adventure. While blog reading and commenting, I jumped from blog to blog, not stopping at every one of them, silly!...and one seemed to lead to another, and I discovered/learned some things about myself, my writing, and my wonderful blog friends. All that magical karma!

I'd like to thank Randi for sharing her thoughts about my book title and our camaraderie through our e-mails.

I'd like to thank Ms. Lou for her post about John Wayne, which led my thoughts to Greenfield, Iowa, which led me back to my book.

And last but not least, I'd like to thank Madeleine for her post about taking a Blog Holiday and getting back to her writing!

And what does all this have to do with Nostalgic Sunday? Writing my memoir. And I'm borrowing Madeleine's idea for a blog holiday because I know it will do me a world of good.

Until I'm back, I'll leave the front porch light on!

"Nothing you write, if you hope to be any good, will ever come out as you first hoped." Lillian Helman





* Thin Threads Continue to Connect *

Late last night I wrote about having an amazing, magical, serendipitous day. (I always think of you, Lisa, when I hear or use that "S" word!) ☺

When I woke up this morning, I realized I can't write about it yet. I need to hold it in my heart a while longer. Then, maybe, I can possibly share it.

**NOTE** My friend, writer, and blog buddy, Donna Volkenannt, wrote a beautiful post on her blog this morning about (what was just) the beginning of my serendipitous day yesterday, which she witnessed and was part of! Please hop on over and read it. Donna said it all much better than I could have! Thank you, Donna. I'm really glad you wrote it and said such nice things about me, too.


I do have a new call for submissions that I can share! Kiwi Publishing has a new book in the works for their Thin Threads Series and they need your stories! It's called Women and Friendship. Doesn't that just have OUR names in it already?! Deadline for submissions is March 1, 2011, so no need to fret about having enough time, especially in the midst of holiday celebrations. No submission fee and if your story is chosen, you receive $100.00.

Please meet: Mary Jones. Mary is a writer and motivational speaker. Mary has her own radio show, does podcasts & TV segments & hosts workshops. I just "met" Mary and she will be working with Kiwi Publishing on this book. I know she will be wonderful to work with! Here's info from Mary's website about Thin Threads:

We invite you to contribute a true story or anecdote that will bring hope and happiness to all those who realize the possibility in each moment. We are looking for personal stories (800-1200 words) that are real, capture the essence of a thin thread event, and evoke an emotion from the reader. Events related to friendship that changed you forever.

Friends hold a deep, special bond and connection for women. We are looking for your story. A story from your heart. A story that will bring a smile or tear to others. For example, the story of how a friend was a lifeline for you, or a story about your life at a time that you realized the power, strength or value of a woman friendship.

I've also gotten to know Stacey Battat really well through our numerous e-mails and recent phone calls! Stacey is co-founder of Kiwi Publishing and is the President and Editor-in-Chief of the Thin Threads series.

I just love the definition of thin threads:"Moments, events, setbacks, crossroads or encounters that connect us to a person, place or opportunity and change our lives for the better." (As I said, those thin threads have really been weaving their magic around and through me lately!)

"Follow your bliss. If you do follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while waiting for you, and the life you ought to be living is the one you are living." -- Joseph Campbell

* A Serendipitous Day! *

♫♪ What a day this has been! What a rare mood I'm in!
Why, it's almost like being in love!
There's a smile on my face for the whole human race!
Why, it's almost like being in love!
All the music of life seems to be like a bell that is ringing for me!
And from the way that I feel when that bell starts to peal,
I could swear I was falling, I would swear I was falling,
It's almost like being in love. ♫♪

Today was such an amazing day. I honestly need to reflect on it some more and then maybe try to write about it tomorrow. It was as if one magical thing after another happened to and/or around me. I'd say there were definitely some Thin Threads moments going on!

"What you need to know about the past is that no matter what has happened, it has all worked together to bring you to this very moment. And this is the moment you can choose to make everything new. Right now." Unknown