** Fantabulous Friday **

I don't know if you've noticed or not, but I love to use the words fabulous and fantastic (and marvelous!) In fact, I use them quite often, so my title for tonight combines at least two of those words. I could've squeezed a portion of "marvelous" in somehow, but I didn't want a Fabrication Friday! ☺

I really don't have much else to write about tonight, other than to share my feelings of what kind of week I've had. It's been a weird one. Some of what I've learned or experienced first hand, I may blog about later. I'm not sure yet. Please forgive me if I sound mysterious or dramatic, because that's not my intention at all. It just hasn't been my "normal" kind of week, and here I am, late on a Friday night, and the title of my post is Fantabulous Friday. The good has totally outweighed the bad, by far.

One of my firm beliefs is that no matter what the day brings.....it's like the weather: It will always change! And part of that change can truly be controlled by me. I can choose to change my attitude. I can choose to turn around and make a difference. I can choose to let things get me down, or I can concentrate on the wonderful, fantabulous parts of life.

For my quote tonight, I'm going to post something I just heard this morning and it really grabbed me. It will probably end up as one of my main quotes! It's part of the lyrics from a song called "Anthem" by the fantabulous Leonard Cohen.

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in. -- Leonard Cohen

** There's Still Time to Enter Contest **

Hey everyone! Please remember to enter my 100 Word Contest I posted on September 11th. You have until midnight tomorrow (Saturday) night CDT. Come on, give it a try! It'll be fun! NO entry fee, and you just might win. You don't even have to be a "writer". Just look at the photo I posted and write a little story about it, 100 words or less.

And remember, The Ronald is helping to judge. I'm going to print the submissions, without any names listed and he'll read them like that.

You don't know what you can do, if you never try! Join in on the fun!!

"Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little." -- Edmund Burke

** My First Cloche -- Fall Decor **

Hey Everyone, I'm joining Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for her Fall Cloche. This is my very first attempt at decorating, using a cloche. I had never heard of them until I saw summer ones at Marty's beautiful blog!
Definition of a Cloche: Glass bell jar, first used by the French to protect an early garden plant. Who Knew?!

I bought this cloche at Hobby Lobby and the wooden stand at Michael's Crafts.

I think the bird is a pheasant!

The other decorations are from my storage box, plus a couple of new items.

I realize already that I should've staged this much better....pretty doilies, different table, etc. I'm almost embarrassed to post it, but I was so excited about doing this......I promise to do better next time! ☺

* P.S. I forgot to mention that I also bought the beautiful bird at Hobby Lobby. It was one of the 50% items of the week....of course!

AND

* I guess I didn't explain it correctly that Marty at A Stroll Thru Life, posted some gorgeous examples of cloches on her blog, to give everyone ideas on how to do this! After reading everyone's sweet comments this morning, I wanted to make it clear that I would've never thought of this myself!! Please go to Marty's and click on some of the other participants' cloches! Every one of them is unique and beautiful.

"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns." - George Eliot

** It's a Waggish Wednesday **

I just discovered a new word I like! Waggish. Depending on which dictionary or thesaurus you use, it has various/similar meanings, but most are: cheerful, humorous, amusing. I'd say that sounds a lot like me!

Just a few short things this early morning: My blog friend, Mollye at http://mizmollye.blogspot.com/ is having a Clearance Sale on a lot of lovely craft items; lace, scrapbook paper, wallpapers, yarn, rubber stamps, ribbons, etc. If you're at all interested, please jump on over to Mollye's, because, She's A Doozy!

Because of the many comments about receiving a used book as a contest prize, being acceptable, that's what I'll do in the near future. I'll give away one or more of the many books I've already read. Details will follow when the time comes!

NPR Three Minute Fiction Contest  Have you heard about this contest? Click on the link and check it out. If your story wins, it will be read on NPR -- National Public Radio! Wow! Talk about a major listening audience!

I received an e-mail about a Call for Submissions for an anthology (Not Chicken Soup for the Soul). It didn't quite make sense after I got to the website, so I don't want to post it yet. I'll let you know what I find out.

And with that, I say Adieu!

"A good friend is a connection to life - a tie to the past - a road to the future, the key to sanity in a totally insane world." -- Lois Wyse

** It's Monday ... "Car 54, Where Are You?"

Don't ask me where THAT title came from because I have NO idea! It just popped into my head, the way most things do that I write about!  Yeah, I know... scary, isn't it?!

I completed another little task today pertaining to marketing of my book. (I'll be so glad when I won't feel like I'm doing everything backwards...and The Book is OUT THERE!) This was one of the things listed on the "Pre Published - Lay the Foundation" Parts 1 & 2 that I mentioned the other day. Gosh, I wish I could remember where I read that, because I'd love to thank the writer and give her/him recognition. This was #5 on the list: "Invest in a P.O. Box at your local Post Office. You will be mailing promotional items....."etc. I thought that was a great idea and would be much more professional, especially when those checks start rolling in! ☺

I told the clerk I probably won't be getting any mail in it for years and then added, "I guess I'll have to mail myself something", and she just cracked up. I also bought a page of the new Katherine Hepburn 44¢ stamp. What a fabulous actress she was!

Okay... I didn't mean to ramble on so much. NOW, I want to tell you about those 5 books I bought last week at Big Lots. I am so excited about them! Especially because the very first one I chose to read is SO good! I wasn't sure if I'd like it, but I really, really do. It's called "The Midwife: A Memoir of Birth, Joy, and Hard Times", by Jennifer Worth. I also discovered it's part of a series of three or four books, so Yippee! I'll have more to read by Jennifer.

The other books I bought that day are: "Hardly Knew Her", by Laura Lippman. This is a book of short stories.

"The Condition", by Jennifer Haigh. I'm familiar with this author. I read "Mrs. Kimble" a couple of years ago and really liked it, so I was thrilled to find this new novel.

This is "Homestead", by Jane Kirkpatrick. It's a memoir about "Modern Pioneers Pursuing the Edge of Possibility". Sounds intriguing!

And lastly, another memoir, "The End of the World As We Know It", by Robert Goolrick. It's about his life growing up in the 1950's. (Hmmm, that's one of my eras!)

You know what "they" say.....Writers should read the same genre that they write. Or something like that. I love memoirs anyway, so that certainly isn't a chore for me to do!

If I can get myself to part with any of these after I read them, I may include one or more in another contest. Would y'all mind reading used books? I'm pretty sure I know the answer to that!

"Good instincts usually tell you what to do long before your head has figured it out." -- Michael Burke

** September Contest **

It's time for my September Contest! Begins today, September 11th. Ends September 18th at Midnight CDT.

Using this picture as your writing prompt, write a story about this scene, using 100 words or less. (I took this picture in September 2008, when I was visiting relatives in Iowa. It is a garden shop, but you can make it be whatever you want. It's YOUR story!) Only one entry per person, so make it a good one, because instead of a random drawing this time, I'm asking The Ronald to help me choose the best story! You do not have to be a follower. Please e-mail your story and do not put it in the comment section. 

I have set up a separate e-mail account just for contests, so mail your submission to: BecSeptCont53@aol.com

So, what is the prize? I think it's pretty nice, but I'll leave it up to you to decide!

It's these 5 things. They are all brand new and have just been waiting in my "gift stash", for the right time! The kitchen towel has a crocheted button-top for hanging over hooks or knobs. I got it at a craft fair.

One pair of authentic Chicken Soup for the Soul, Comfy Cozy Socks!

This is a cute pink, shabby chic birdie tea-light holder.

This is a Pampered Chef, small serving tongs

This is the back of a tiny (about 1" square) pewter Christmas ornament.

It says: "8th in a Series of Historic St. Charles Ornaments, by Holiday House"

And then: "School House/Collier Cottage 1830"

I bought a few of these a couple of years ago when the series was ending and they were On Sale!

This is the front of this adorable building that still stands today on Main Street in Old St. Charles, Missouri.

Until not too many years ago, it was the site of Main Street Books! I loved to shop there and bought many books, CD's, book marks, note cards, you-name-it! Main Street Books is now located in a much larger store, but it is still on Main Street....just a few blocks down! I still buy quite a few items there. I always try to support small businesses and obviously a book store is one of my favorites!

P.S. I obviously remember what this date in recent history means to all of us. I'm not ignoring it. I just chose to not post anything about 9/11 today, mostly because I knew countless others would. I may at a later time, share some of my thoughts and emotions from that day, and how I feel about it all now.

"Why do writers write? Because it isn't there." - Thomas Berger

** Friday Night Lights **

No, not the television show. Just a random title. Because I have De-Light-Ful tidbits to share!

* First of all, I want to mention Ellie Garratt's competition! Check out Ellie's blog and read all about her exciting publication news. In honor of that, she is having a contest which goes until September 21st. (And if her blog looks similar to mine, it's because we both have the same background...Books!

* When going through some papers on my credenza today, I came across a couple of pages I had printed some time ago. They have very good book marketing info, but I have no idea where I found them! I forgot to include the writer/blogger's name. AND, I have Parts One and Two, of a Three Parter! The title is: Pre Published - Lay the Foundation. Sound familiar to anyone?? Well....today, I did one of the things that was suggested. I joined Goodreads and Library Thing. They are both free. I didn't post much info, but will from time to time, I guess. The important thing is what the author of this article says: "You may not think you have the time, but if you drop in once a week for a few minutes you'll learn the ropes and meet people." ALSO, "Once you have the "go ahead" and your book has its final title, go to Goodreads and apply for an author page. They must approve it, but it's pretty easy."  I loved getting these tips, because although I think I'm pretty good at marketing, I hadn't heard of these and there's always new things to learn!

* Does your keyboard have letters that are practically worn off? Or have nicks, dents or scratches in them? I noticed recently that my laptop has 3 keys which are really nicked, due to my finger nails: "A", "S", and the Left Shift Key. Obviously, I use them a lot! I find it strange that I don't have the same condition on any of the right hand keys. Obviously, it must have to do with the way my fingers hit the keys!

* I have found that since being in The Zone, I almost feel compelled to rewrite 75% of my book! I read some of the older stuff, and think, "Wow, is that ever bad!" We shall see what happens.....At this moment, I'm just going to keep going from where I am! Forging Ahead!

Tomorrow I'll post about the 5 books I recently purchased AND give the details of my September Contest!

"We don't know who we are until we see what we can do." - Martha Grimes

** Every Day is a Variety of Life **

I have so much to do and write about today, but it will have to wait until much later.

For now, I want to share a quote I came across earlier this morning. When I read it my mind went boing!

"It's not who you are that holds you back. It's who you think you're not." -- Unknown