* Anthology Acceptance & Other Writing Info *

First of all, I am thrilled to announce that an essay I submitted for the anthology, Cuivre River Anthology, Volume V, has been accepted! More on that at a later date.
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The newest Tiny Lights Sparks newsletter came out today.  Susan Bono is Editor-in-Chief ....extraordinaire! Please check it out, especially the section: Lights Online and then Searchlights & Signal Flares. That's where I submit monthly "answers" to Susan's very curious "questions". I've mentioned quite a few times, too, that anyone can submit their answers and they will be published online. There are no requirements, other than keep it "nice". There is no entry fee, judging, or money award involved, but "Hey...You get to see your work published!" I can't figure out why more of my writer friends haven't sent in some of their scathingly brilliant work!! Also, this month's "Featured Writer" is none other than fellow Missourian and great friend, Theresa Sanders (or Teri as most of us know her!) Why not go to the site and sign up for the monthly newsletter? Tell Susan, "Becky sent me!" ☺

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Welcome to my newest follower!... Betty Henderson, whose blog is Windy Ribbons. Betty's brand new book is just out: From Trash to Treasure; Evolution of an Ozarks Junkyard. Just the title made me curious! I've included the link to High Hill Press, Betty's publisher, where you can read Chapter One, for free! 

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In an attempt to find A GOOD WAY to keep track of the submissions I've sent, PLUS keep track of places I WANT to send my writing to, I typed up a "Writing Schedule", which is similar to the one in Bylines Desk Calendar. Sylvia Forbes, publisher & editor, included a really cute Top Ten Reasons to Buy Bylines Calendar on the website. (Sylvia also came to speak at one of our Saturday Writers meetings and she was excellent.) I hope the writers chosen to be part of the 2011 calendar will be announced sometime soon, because I submitted something and haven't heard yet. Even if I don't make it into the calendar, I'm surely going to purchase one because it is so much more than a calendar. Find out more on the site.
Last of all:  Happy Writing.....and Follow Your Bliss!

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“I began to have an idea of my life, not as slow shaping of achievement to fit my preconceived purposes, but as the gradual discovery and growth of a purpose which I did not know” -- Joanna Field

** Visions of Blissful Messiness **

This is the left front corner of my desk. I noticed it after I uploaded some photos from my camera, which sat on my desk, while plugged into my laptop. I thought it looked so interesting from this angle So, I thought if it looked kinda cool to me....it may also look that way to others!


I wish I could say this is my pile of submissions, but alas...it's mostly junk mail and bills. I have a tendency to ignore that which I do not want to face. But, on top of those envelopes, are some notebooks and calendars which help me with my writing.....and yes, there is ONE anthology submission which I worked on so diligently yesterday afternoon and into the night! I AM writing again! I AM writing again!

(P.S. I inadvertently forgot to mention and welcome my two newest followers: Sandra and DanPloy. Thanks for becoming followers! I hope you enjoy visiting.) 

“If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what then, is an empty desk?" Albert Einstein

** Dogs Rule Day **

Did you know that today, October 9th, is "Dogs Rule Day"?  I didn't until I read it on The Strawberry Mallard. Anyone who knows me very well and/or reads my blog knows that I am crazy about my dog, Tiger. I really do love all animals, but I'm especially crazy about DOGS!!

Pedigree

Click on the pedigree link to see suggestions of how to spoil your dog....as if we NEED any ideas on that??!!... and also how to post photos on their Facebook page!

I'll just post some of my Tiger favorites right here.

ADDENDUM: SATURDAY, 10:20AM

By the way, I know SHE has a boy dog's name, but SHE is a girl!

I guess I should refer to her as "Tiger Girl", or "Tiger Gal" when I post about her! ☺

And to those of you who have already left a comment, please do not fret. I'm only adding this, so the newer readers will know.

                  LAST, BUT NOT LEAST....I COULDN'T GET HER TO STAND STILL!!

I'm ending with 8 quotes today, because I couldn't choose just one!!

My goal in life is to be as good of a person my dog already thinks I am.  ~Author Unknown

Did you ever notice when you blow in a dog's face he gets mad at you? But when you take him in a car he sticks his head out the window. ~Steve Bluestone

Happiness is a warm puppy. ~Charles M. Schulz

Dogs feel very strongly that they should always go with you in the car, in case the need should arise for them to bark violently at nothing right in your ear. ~Dave Barry

I wonder if other dogs think poodles are members of a weird religious cult.  ~Rita Rudner

There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face. ~Ben Williams

My little dog - a heartbeat at my feet.  ~Edith Wharton

I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive. ~Gilda Radner

** Forgetful, Forgetful Not **

I don't think I've mentioned publicly, here on my blog, that I have a terrible short-term memory. It's not just terrible. It's awful, horrendous, ridiculous and downright embarrassing! (Good thing my long-term memory is in great shape...considering the fact that I'm writing my memoir!)

I once forgot to meet a friend for lunch. Yeah....me and food and a friend....I forgot! I even had it written on my kitchen calendar. For some reason, I was really lazy that morning and stayed in my jammies. I watched TV and just lounged around the family room. Around noon, my cell phone rang. When I saw my friend's name as the incoming call, that's when the load of bricks hit me. OMG! What was I to say? I forgot?? I was SO embarrassed, but fortunately this particular friend was very understanding. Whew!

Lucky for me, I haven't done anything quite that bad since. Sometimes, I still forget to answer e-mails, totally misplace notes I've written to myself, miss writing deadlines, forget to enter blog contests, etc. So, if you haven't heard from me in an amount of time that seems etiquettely correct.....please contact me and let me know that I've once again, screwed up.

I'd also forgotten that (most likely due to my low energy level) I can't be on the go for more than one day at a time. (another one of my favorite old sitcoms!) And since I forgot that little fact, the same thing happened to me today that always happens......I had a very busy Monday and Tuesday.....and so today, I was pretty much totally worthless. Ahhh, but tomorrow is another day!

Two Announcements: Welcome new follower Joe Mirakev! Hey Joe, Whadda'ya know?! Joe is a new friend from Saturday Writers. He's a fun guy, and I can't wait to read some of his writings! It appears he's just started his blog, too, so congratulations, Joe!

Speaking of blogs: Another friend from Saturday Writers, Bea Siros, has just joined the blogging world, too! Yay for Bea! (Soon, you'll both discover how addictive it can be. Bwa ha ha ha!)

"Real friends forgive you when you mess up. Superficial ones don't." -- Becky Povich

First of all, thank you to Terri of Artful Afirmations and Patti of Fill My Cup With Beauty for becoming my two newest followers. I am always so thrilled when I see a new face or two! I truly appreciate all of you.

I posted a while back that I gave myself permission to not write, or think about writing my book...for however long it took to get back into The Zone. It has worked out really well. The self-imposed pressure was lifted. My other creative ideas began to creep back into my thoughts. It's been a nice, little "vacation" from writing!

Today, I woke up with the inkling that Today is Almost The Day! I think attending yesterday's weekly Coffee & Critique group had a lot to do with it. I didn't bring anything to read, but just being around my writer buddies and hearing their thoughts and ideas, caused my cooled-down writing desire to begin percolating again!

"You may be able to take a break from writing, but you won't be able to take a break from being a writer." - Stephen Leigh

** Tea Cup Tuesday **

First of all, I'd like to welcome my newest follower -- Michaele Malta! Hello Michaele! I hope you stop by often and enjoy what you see.

It's been quite a long time since I participated in Tea Cup Tuesday. It hasn't been because of lack of interest, or not having a pretty tea cup to share. It's mostly been a problem with my time management skills, or lack there of! But not this week! I'm very pleased to join Terri of Artful Affirmations, and Martha of Martha's Favorites for Tea Cup Tuesday!

This is my newest find! I bought it last week at my favorite consignment store, Garvey Decor, in St. Peters, Missouri. I've purchased a few items there and also sold a few of mine.

At first, I didn't even realize it had a Christmasy pattern. I just loved everything about it.

Notice the scalloped edges of the saucer. Both saucer and cup have gold trim. 

In this photo, I tried to show the crack in the cup. It's in the middle and goes all the way from the top to the bottom. Whoever glued it back together, did a wonderful job. It can barely be seen on the outside. In fact, I didn't even notice it, until I saw it on the inside. I haven't filled the cup with anything to see if it leaks, because I really hadn't planned on using it. I just like to look at it!

I just love the shape of the cup! I don't know the right terminology to describe the "round, poofy" areas!

The stamp says: Royal Albert, Bone China, England.

Flower of the Month Series. Set of Twelve.

"Holly" No. 12

Okay...now to reveal the price I paid for this lovely cup & saucer.....$3.00!

I just looked on Ebay to see if anyone had this set, and what they were going for.

I found 16 of them, most listed under Buy it Now, with prices ranging from $8.99 to $39.99!

I'd say I got quite a wonderful bargain, wouldn't you?!

"If you are cold, tea will warm you. If you are too heated, it will cool you. If you are depressed, it will cheer you. If you are excited, it will calm you." --Gladstone, 1865

** First Monday of the Month **

Every first Monday of every month, at exactly 9:00 am, our town and/or county, does a "test" of our Warning System. You know, those obnoxious blaring sirens that go off when there's a tornado warning.

When one of my grown sons was younger, he was terribly afraid of storms. This lasted for a few years and even interfered occasionally with his school days. Some months, I would be aware enough to warn him that today was Test the Sirens Day, before I dropped him off at school. Even at that, I would practically hold my breath when that horrible noise started up and blasted on and on and on. Would he remember that it was just a test?

To this day, whenever I hear that test siren (or any sirens, for that matter!) I stop for a moment and recall those long-ago years when I was a young(er) mom. Memories wrap around me like a swirling fog, a bittersweet smile comes to my lips and I feel cozy and contented.

"Rainbows apologize for angry skies." ~ Sylvia Voirol

** Sweatshirt Weather is Here! **

The fall temperatures have arrived and I noticed more leaves beginning to change colors.
I had a wonderful weekend. I didn't really do anything special. Just living in the moment, ya know?

I'd like to welcome my newest follower - Joanne Fox! Thanks, Joanne. I hope you'll enjoy stopping by from time to time!

I took this photo a couple of days ago and thought I'd share it.

Right now, I have candles & autumn decor items inside the fireplace...until it's time for wooden logs and fires!

I took a couple of close-ups to show the items on the mantel better, but I haven't gotten them onto my laptop yet. ~ Thanks to Kathy at Oregon Gifts for reminding me I don't need to post any other photos. Clicking on this one, enlarges it, and you can see everything really well. ~

"Listen! the wind is rising, and the air is wild with leaves, we have had our summer evenings, now for October eves!" - Humbert Wolfe