** TEA CUP TUESDAY **

Okay.....it appears as if Blogger has repaired the "comment" problem. It still doesn't show the correct number of comments at the very end of the post, but when you get into the comment section, it does.
*Does that make any sense at all?!*  3:00 pm CDT 7/6/10

It's "Tea Cup Tuesday". I'm joining Martha's Favorites and Terri's Artful Affirmations and Lady Katherine's Tea Parlor. Thank you so much for inviting me to share my tea cups!

I'm truly excited to show one of my recent finds at the Antique Mall near my home. I think this particular set is so unique. First of all, it's not pink! It's a lovely golden yellow, on a white background, trimmed in gold.

Also, the edges of both the cup and saucer are slightly scalloped, which adds even more beauty, I think.

The "back" side of the cup has just the one flower bud .

And the Pièce de résistance is....................photo below.............

THE BOTTOM OF THE SAUCER STILL HAS THE "KRESGE" PRICE TAG OF 49¢

Isn't that hilarious?? I think if I were the owner, I would've removed that before I attempted to sell it! How many of you are familiar with the old Kresge stores?? We had them in St. Louis when I was really young. They were similar to Woolworth's.....kind of a small discount/department store, before there were K-Marts and such. (I think the same man, Mr. Kresge, also owned K-Mart.)

I paid $4.99 for the set, but I would've paid a lot more, just because I loved the old-fashioned price tag!!

"The mere chink of cups and saucers tunes the mind to happy repose." -- George Gissing

** Copious Calls For Submissions **

Recently I mentioned that I wanted to post several Calls for Submissions. I usually stumble across various websites and don't remember how I even landed there. This morning I took the time to go through one of those sites, which posts tons of magazines. The main site is: Bella Online; The Voice of Women. It lists magazines from A to Z, with a little something for (almost) everyone.

Every now and then, with these types of sites, there are sometimes errors in the URLs listed, or the publication will no longer be around. Then I usually check the name in Google and see if I can find it there.

I have checked all the ones listed below, scanned the submission guidelines, and read that they are paying publications. Some also are looking for photography submissions. During my "speed reading", I tried to catch any words that might hint that the site could possibly be offensive to anyone, so hopefully I did a good job! I didn't bother with any that only paid something like $10.00 per article.

As always, I am not affiliated with, or being paid anything for listing these sites. I just do it out of the kindness of my own heart!!  ☺

http://www.iluvcats.com/writguidfori.html


http://www.animalnetwork.com/cats/writer.asp


http://www.cricketmag.com/pages_content.asp?page_id=6


http://www.freelancewriting.com/guidelines/pages/


http://www.guideposts.com/angels


http://mybusinessmag.com/about/guide.php


http://www.nationalgeographic.com/traveler/writer-guidelines.html


http://www.ohiomagazine.com/Main/WritersPhotographerGuidelines.aspx


http://www.oklahomatoday.com/site/editorial/editorialGuidelines.aspx


http://www.oregonquarterly.com/guidelines.php


http://www.romantichomes.com/  (I couldn't find a "writer guidelines" on this, but maybe y'all can!)


http://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/about/submission-guidelines


http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/guidelines/writers.aspx


http://www.spiritledwriter.com/guidelines.html


http://www.edweek.org/tm/index.html


http://www.thebark.com/content/submission-guidelines


http://www.threepennyreview.com/submissions.html



** Also: Two Anthologies Accepting Stories:

http://www.chickensoup.com/form.asp?cid=possible_books


http://patchworkpath.com/index.php/story-calls


(I'm a little partial to Chicken Soup for the Soul, since I've had stories published in their books!!...AND just recently had a story accepted by Patchwork Path for an upcoming book of theirs! )


"The writer is only half a book. The reader is the other half." -- P.L. Travers, author of Mary Poppins

* It's Microfiction Monday *

Welcome to Microfiction Monday, where a picture paints 140 characters, or even fewer. Every Sunday evening, Susan at Stony River posts her own 'microfiction' inspired by a photo or illustration, and invites us to do the same.



Here's this week's picture, followed by my story for it:

They heard cell phones won't work on the high seas. They tested it while still in the harbor, since that would definitely be a deal breaker.

(Coming in at exactly 140 Characters! Woot!)

** Independence Day 2010 **

My blog buddy, June Freaking Cleaver posted a really thoughtful, well written birthday greeting to the USA. Her views are pretty much the same as mine, which I find really cool, but I'm also a little ticked that I didn't think of her idea first!

I suggest that everyone who reads my blog, jump on over there and see what June had to say. Hey, I've already given you the link....so there's no excuse not to! Leave June a comment if you'd like, and tell her "Becky sent me!"

*Disclaimer: I didn't get paid anything for this! Ms. June is not paying me or bribing me in any way! Just thought my friends would enjoy reading it! : D

(One more note: My son, Scott, seems to be doing better. I've decided not to post any new information about him for awhile, since his condition seems to change daily. Please keep him in your thoughts.)

(photo: dol.sd.gov)

Happy Birthday, America.......

"My mother thanks you, my father thanks you, my sister thanks you, and I thank you." -- Jimmy Cagney, playing George M. Cohan in the film: Yankee Doodle Dandy.

** It's A Mother's Intuition **

Remember my last post? Sure you do, because it was just last night. Remember how I said I was still concerned about Scott's recovery and possible infection? I just had that Mother's Intuition feeling and I couldn't shake my fear and anxiety.

Scott had a cat scan this morning and it showed he had some abscesses. He was sent to the ER, where he spent quite a bit of time while various medical people came in and out, asking questions, etc. Finally he was given an ultrasound and then admitted to a room. A specialist was supposed to see him and go over everything, which hadn't happened yet when I left. I was there from 1:00 to 4:30 this afternoon. I felt so bad for Scott, too, because he looked so thin and frail. He's lost a lot of weight, and no wonder since he's been mostly on IV's for 2 weeks, with no real food.

Not sure what happens next, but Scott was ready for me to leave. I think there's a couple of alternatives about what can be done and I'll sure be relieved when I find out what will be done. Maybe I'll finally be able to really breathe those sighs of relief sometime next week.

So, I'm asking again to please send those good thoughts, well wishes and/or prayers...whatever works for you.

I was going to post some info about contests and calls for submissions, but that will have to wait for another day.

* Wow...It's July 1st Already *

Happy July 1st! My son, Scott, did indeed make it home last night! I thought he looked good, (except for being too thin) especially considering everything he's been through and the long flight home, etc. His company flew him home first-class and he said that helped considerably. (I think he said his seat was kind of a recliner, which may be standard for first-class international flights.)

He saw his doctor today and has to go back tomorrow for some tests, so he's still not out of the woods yet. I'm still concerned about his overall recovery and possible infection, etc. So, please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. (I told him last night how many of my friends, blog friends, writer friends, relatives, etc. had asked about him and were keeping him in their thoughts. He was genuinely touched.) In honor of Scott's return back home, I only had one song on today's play list: Home Again, by John Denver....seemed rather appropriate!

I was so excited to see my 70th Follower today: Then the unbelievable happened. Follower #71. Thank you so much to Belle and TK for being the two newest "Blissful Becky Followers"! This definitely calls for another Give-Away! I'm not even sure if I had one in June. I think the month may have flown by before I realized it. Well, I certainly will not forget to have one this month. I already have some pretty good ideas, too.....and NO, you won't be required to swing on a trapeze in 1950's bathing suits!! I just felt the need for a funny picture or two.....

When I was young, I loved watching the TV show Hazel. I thought Hazel was a very kind woman, and a great maid. I thought her cute little bedroom, off the kitchen, was just perfect, too. What else could a woman want?!

The last couple of years, I've been lamenting: I need a "Hazel"!!  I just can't seem to keep up with everything anymore...especially spending so much time writing and blogging!!


"But, my dear, I knew when I was a baby what I wanted to do, and I'll tell you, kiddo, if you don't do what your heart tells you, you'll never be real." -- Shirley Booth

** Tidbits on a Tuesday Night **

Hey Everyone! I'm a happy mama tonight, because Scott is coming home tomorrow night!!  I heard about it from my daughter-in-law earlier today, and then he called me this evening. We talked for 19 whole minutes this time! Woo-hoo!
His plane is scheduled to arrive here at 6:15pm. I wanted to go to the airport, but will stay with Scotty instead. After he walks into his house, and I can hug him, I think I'll be able to breathe again......heavy sigh...

Have you noticed the "She Writes" button thingy on the right side of my blog? I haven't really gotten into it that much, being busy with all this blogging, you know, but they do have a lot of things going on that look well worth looking into. All you have to do is "join", but there is No Fee. It is nationwide. In fact, I was invited to a local get together this evening, celebrating the First Anniversary of She Writes. (I wasn't able to attend, but I hope to meet up with the local ladies sometime soon.) So, you can see it's a new organization, geared toward women writers. I'm particularly mentioning this tonight because they have a fantastic contest, beginning today and ending sometime in August. You do have to be a member, so jump on over there and sign up.The contest is called the Passion Project.  (*disclaimer: I'm not getting paid or anything for this. I just think it looks like a good place and great contest for us writer-gals!)

My last tidbit of the evening: One of my friends' husband was the lucky recipient of a colonoscopy yesterday. When I replied to her e-mail, stating that "everything went great".....my response was, "So glad the invasion of his private parts went well!! :)
Hey, I like to do all I can to spread cheer and laughter around the world. Maybe someone would like to use that as a title to their book or screenplay....You have my permission. Although, you could mention my name, too.

Labels: appendix, emergency, England, Scott, Stonehenge, Summer Solstic
"My feet are completely flat, but for most of my life they were still shaped like feet. Now, thanks to bunions, they're shaped more like states, wide boring ones that nobody wants to drive through." — David Sedaris (When You Are Engulfed in Flames)

** It's Tea Cup Tuesday **

Happy Tea Cup Tuesday, hosted by Martha and Terri. I'm also joining Lady Katherine for her Tea Time Tuesday. Although Katherine's posts are more about elegant table settings, I like to join her because she invited me!

My tea cup today is a darling, demitasse size cup. I think it's just adorable and has a beautiful pink floral pattern. I chose to show it, not only is it pretty, but it's special to me because it was given to me by my friend Lynn over at Present Letters. It was one of those "for no particular reason" gifts that don't come along that often. Lynn knows about my joy of tea cups and when she was antiquing and saw this adorable set, she said she just had to buy it for me! AND, she even got me 2 sets that same day! The other one is a miniature and it is darling, too. Thank you, Lynn, so much....for your friendship, kindness and thoughtfulness. I hope you can begin to blog again soon. I really miss your letters.

The bottom stamp says: Made in Liling China, with Chinese lettering.

* I'd also like to add another huge Thank-You to everyone who's been so thoughtful and kind about my son, Scott. I won't be able to truly breathe until he's safely back home. *

 * Oh, and one more thing. A friend from high school is having a kidney transplant today at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis. Please keep Dee in your thoughts and/or prayers. *

"Your friends will know you better in the first minute you meet, than your acquaintances will know you in a thousand years." -- Richard Bach