Thursday Night Update

Don't forget my Give-Away ends tomorrow night at 8:00 pm, CST. If you haven't already left a comment on Monday's post, please go check it out.

 * It is now 8:15pm Friday night. I just did Random.org for my give-away, and the winner is........Clarissa Draper!! Congratulations! I'll e-mail you to get your mailing address. Thanks to all who entered!



This Saturday, the 11th, is my wedding anniversary. The Ronald and I will be celebrating 29 YEARS of wedded bliss! Where HAS the time gone? A story I wrote about our happy marriage was accepted and published in "Chicken Soup for the Soul; Love Stories" (2007). The title of it is "Through the Years."

This coming Sunday I plan on having another Nostalgic Sunday post. Last week I didn't get one ready because of the Super Bowl. ☺
 

Two announcements concerning writing:

1) If anyone would like to receive a card or letter from me, just send your mailing address to me via e-mail. I'm having a wonderful time participating in the Month of Letters!

2) This afternoon, in just a short period of time, I wrote over 1,000 WORDS in my memoir! THAT is something to cheer about for me. I usually struggle with just a few words, so today was monumental. I hope I'll keep on going.....

(all courtesy of Clip Art)

* One last thing. I plan to begin replying to your comments by e-mail. That way it's not necessary to check back here to see what's been said. That should save a little time for all of us....and I think we're always looking for ways to do that! *

“Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors for you where there were only walls” -- Joseph Campbell 

* This 'n That on a Wednesday *

Yesterday was Coffee & Critique day. Every Tuesday morning from 10:00am to 12:00 noon, a few of us local writers get together for....you guessed it: Coffee (or whatever drink of choice) and Critique. We meet in a cafe and most times stay for lunch as well. This is the only critique group I've ever attended, but from hearing about others, I know it is a quality one. We are an "open" group. No requirements or invitations. We do have some Guidelines. You bring something to read if you want, but you aren't required to. No one gives unkind remarks. We're there to give suggestions and advice. I am positive I have become a much better writer since being part of this wonderful group. And you know how we writers are. We love being around each other, talking about writing. We "get" each other. And boy, do we have fun!

I found The Cutest To-Do List at Jenny at The Modest Peacock. She shared it on her blog. Click on the link:  http://themodestpeacock.blogspot.com/2012/01/thought-id-share.html 

I printed one copy at home and took it to Kinkos and made 10 more. (I didn't want to use up all my color ink.) Each page is one day. I've tried making my own To-Do Lists, but they've never worked. This one just fits me. It even reminds me to drink my 8 glasses of water a day...which is something I've never done!

This is what I saw when I looked out my windows this morning!

 We've had barely an inch of snow all winter, which is so different from the last few winters. The two photos with the plant on the window sill were taken from my kitchen. The other one is in my neighbor's front yard.

My alloted blog time is over now, so on to other tasks! Thanks for stopping by and please don't forget my give-away. (See Monday 2/6 blog post)

"Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things." -- Robert Brault (http://www.robertbrault.com/)

* Time for a Give Away! *

It's been WAY too long since I've had a Give-Away. I finally got a few things together and here they are.

 This is a packet of three file folders, still in the package.

 This is a very pretty book mark. The picture doesn't do it justice. It's a very sturdy one, still in its package, too. The colors are hard to describe. I'd say it's brown/burgundy with gold designs, a dark brown tassle, a dab of peach/pink colors, and two little plastic "gems" at the top. The sentiment is:

Dream. Dreams are what make the stars sparkle and the moon shine.

Also, the shabby chic birdie doesn't look as cute as it is, either. It's pale pink and has a glass insert for tea lights.

 These are two hard cover "Tea" books. They're about 5" x 6" and are brand new.

This is the group picture.

All you have to do to win is be a follower and leave a comment. That's it! I'll choose the winner by random.org on Friday night at 8:00pm, CST. Best of luck to everyone, and feel free to mention it on your blog, as well.

* It is now 8:15pm Friday night. I just did Random.org for my give-away, and the winner is........Clarissa Draper!! Congratulations! I'll e-mail you to get your mailing address. Thanks to all who entered!

"A friendship can weather most things and thrive in thin soil; but it needs a little mulch of letters and phone calls and small, silly presents every so often - just to save it from drying out completely." – Pam Brown

* Hodgepodge *

Tonight's Blog Menu: Hodgepodge!

This Week's Happenings

I entered a local art contest, in the photography catagory. I didn't win anything, but below is one of my entries:

I received (still!) some ideal birthday gifts from a dear friend this week. Below is one of them:

Awww...look at the books, growing in the garden. And the sentiment inside the cup.

I'm doing pretty well in the "Month of Letters Challenge."

(courtesy: Clipart)

I'm writing quite a bit: memoir chapters and/or calls for submissions. (This is an old photo. My desk hasn't looked like this in a LONG time. I've now taken over our dining room table...for a while!)

However your week has been, I hope you've managed to enjoy a few simple things; whether it was watching the Sunset, going for a walk, or drinking from a favorite cup!

 Welcome to my newest followers, The Elephant's Child, Jo's This and That, and Karen W. Berner. I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see. Thank you!

 

 

 

“Some people have a wonderful capacity to appreciate again and again, freshly and naively, the basic goods of life, with awe, pleasure, wonder, and even ecstasy.” -- Abraham H. Maslow

* GROUNDHOG DAY *

(This is a repeat from a 2010 blog post, with just a couple of tweaks. I LOVE this movie and it just seems appropriate to repeat it, repeat it.....ba-dum-dum!)

And now, a few words and photos from one of my favorite movies: "Groundhog Day", starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell.

"Okay, campers, rise and shine, and don't forget your booties 'cause it's cold out there today."

"Do you ever have déjà vu, Mrs. Lancaster?"
"I don't think so, but I could check with the kitchen."

"Hey now, don't you tell me you don't remember me 'cause I sure as heckfire remember you."



"NEEDLE-NOSE NED?...NED RYERSON?" ..... "BING!"

"IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL! ..... LET'S LIVE HERE!"

(photos courtesy imdb.com and archive.dailypicture.net)

Welcome to my newest followers, Laura, Jenny and Teresa. I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see. Thank you!

"Love is the answer. Shine on us all. Set us free. Love is the answer." -- EMI Music Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

(P.S. I know this song isn't used in the movie, but I love the music & lyrics. Bill Murray's character is finally set free, when he realized love was the answer.)

* Nostalgic Sundays *

It's Time for Another Nostalgic Sunday

I'm very excited about today's Nostalgic Sunday, because it pertains to Handwritten Letters!

If you've been reading my blog for quite a while, you know how I feel about the lost art of handwritten notes and letters. Yes, I love technology and the wonder of it all, but isn't it delightful to receive some snail-mail that isn't a bill or junk mail? You open up your mailbox and there's an envelope with your name and address written on it? It's from a friend or relative and it's not even Christmas or your birthday?? Fabulous, dahhhling!

I first learned of this from my sweet friend, Lynn, over at Present Letters. Lynn not only writes letters, but she also makes lovely note cards! Check out her blog. Here is what Lynn said about herself on her profile: "My favorite form of writing is epistolary - I love hand writing letters to people. I also love to cook, garden and do anything creative."

After reading her blog post about The Month of Letters Challenge, I searched and found the website for it and immediately e-mailed Mary Robinette Kowal, telling her how much I loved her idea and that I AM IN. I told her she would be one of the first I wrote to and she replied that she would, of course, write back to me.

So, if any of you would like to receive a handwritten note from me, please e-mail your address to me. (Don't include it in the comment section, unless you want the entire world to know!) If you don't already know my e-mail, it is listed in my profile info.

If YOU want to join in, just grab the participant badge and post it on your blog.

I may not be able to write and send one every single day in February, but I'm certainly going to try. I won't feel like a failure if I don't, because it will be fun and rewarding, no matter what.  

"To send a letter is a good way to go somewhere without moving anything but your heart." ~ Phyllis Theroux

"What a wonderful thing is the mail, capable of conveying across continents a warm human hand-clasp." ~ Author Unknown



Poetic Song Lyrics....Not!

** This is a rerun of my July 25, 2011 post. I just came across it again and it made me laugh. Hope it brings you a smile or chuckle, too.

~~~~~~~~~

While driving to the grocery store this afternoon, with my list of fruits and veggies to buy, the following words popped into my head. I've mentioned before that I am not a poet, and don't y'all know it, as you can see below:

(Hint: Sing out loud or in your head to the tune of ♫♪ Back in the Saddle Again. ♫♪)

I'm back into salads again.
Burgers & fries won't make me thin.
I saw some gorgeous clothes at
the mall last week.
I must fight this war on fat and win.

(courtesy google)

Chorus:
I'm back into salads again.
Lettuce & broccoli are my friends
Also low cal dressing will help
Try to get rid of my chin(s)
I'm back into salads again.

(Forgive me Gene Autry!)



"The two biggest sellers in bookstores are the cookbooks and the diet books. The cookbooks tell you how to prepare the food and the diet books tell you how not to eat any of it." -- Andy Rooney

* Finding My Bliss *

This evening I needed a break from my usual activities of watching TV with The Ronald, blogging, e-mailing, and more recently trying to force a story out of my head that just wasn't happening. In fact, earlier this afternoon, I got a migraine headache, probably due to the stress I've been putting on myself. I decided it was time for a change in my routine, so here's what I did to reclaim my bliss.

Remember the beautiful flowers and "birthday cake" The Ronald gave me for my birthday on January 6th? I finally got around to baking that cake and he said it was delicious! (Don't worry, I'm sure I'll be having a slice or two.)

Then I took some pictures of a salt and pepper set I bought at Hobby Lobby last night. I "sort of" collect them, which means I don't have many. These just shouted at me to buy them and they were 50% off, so what could I do?! Just looking at them makes me smile from ear to ear.

Aren't they just adorable?? So cute and funny, and with beautiful spring colors! They remind me of cartoon characters from long ago.

And The Ronald and I played Scrabble this evening, which we haven't done in ages. I had all the weird letters: Q, Z, V, and Z. I trounced him, too, which hardly ever happens.☺

It was a very good evening, recapturing my bliss!

"Who could be so lucky? Who comes to a lake for water and sees the reflection of the moon." -- Rumi