** Patchwork Path Books **

Hey Everyone! I am SO excited to share the news that I received a story acceptance yesterday evening! I was reading my incoming e-mails on my Blackberry, and noticed an e-mail address I didn't immediately recognize. I wondered who it might be as I clicked to open it. The first words were, "Congratulations! Your work has been selected for inclusion in...." 

I think it was at that point that I literally leapt off the couch, yelled to my husband, Ron, and started the Happy Dance.  "My story got accepted! My story got accepted!"

(Ron took this picture of me eight years ago, on my birthday. I was already doing The Happy Dance then, but I don't remember why. Probably just celebrating another day of living...♪♫...♪♫

I also intend on being this goofy when I'm well into my 90's!)

Isn't it funny how life works? Not too long ago, I wrote about receiving a rejection and then this comes along.

I almost didn't even submit the story, because I wasn't sure if it "fit" what they were looking for, but at the same time, it seemed like it might. So, I sent it, because what's the worst that could happen?!

*Note: I discovered that my blogging buddy, Bookie/Claudia, also had a story accepted in the exact same book! Yay! Congrats to Claudia!!*

All you "newer" writers, who've never submitted anything yet.....go for it! Send something, somewhere! There are so many good anthologies, contests, magazines, etc...just waiting for your unique writing!

This one is for a newer anthology; one of the Patchwork Path books. This one is titled: Patchwork Path: Treasure Box. Publication date is November 2010. Check out their website because they have other Calls for Submissions going on, too. One in particular is Patchwork Path: Mother's Life. They're looking for favorite mom memories. Deadline is June 30, 2010. Also, they do pay $50.00 per story!

"If you don't like what's happening in your life, change your mind." -- Dalai Lama

** Tea Time Tuesday at Lady Katherine's **

It's Lady Katherine's Tea Time Tuesday

I don't have an entire table setting, nor do I even have any food to go along with my tea set. But Lady Katherine was kind enough in past months to invite me to join along, so I'm doing that again today.

This is an adorable little set I bought years ago from one of those "Home Decorator" parties that women hosted in their homes. I don't remember the name of it, at the moment, but this was not their typical item, and must've been available for a certain period of time.

They are miniature in size. The cups and saucers are attached and are approximately one inch high, and the cup is one and a half inches wide (at the top). The tea pot is about 3-1/2 inches high and the tiny lid actually comes off.

They appear to be crocheted out of heavy white thread and are highly starched....thus keeping their shapes!
I especially fell in love with them, because in addition to my love of tea pots and tea cup sets, they reminded me so much of some starched knick-knacks my grandma used to have in her curio cabinets....one being, in particular, of a crocheted high heel shoe!

I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

** Microfiction Monday **

Welcome to Microfiction Monday, from Stony River where a picture paints 140 characters, or even fewer. This is my 2nd Microfiction Monday. It's fun and challenging. Go to Stony River and join the crowd!

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

This is so embarrassing. Just keep your head down, pretending to read from your prayer book, and maybe he'll get up and go away.

** Winners of Book Give-Away Contest **

Good morning everyone! Drum roll please.....
The three winners of the book contest are:

1st    Chatty Crone  -- set of Magic School Bus books

2nd   Sarah Whitney -- set of Judy Blume books

3rd    Mizz Mollye -- set of various titles


I tallied up all the comments and doubled the ones that met the requirements, etc....put the number into Random.Org and voile'......We Have The Winners!

Then I read through the comments again, as to who requested what set of books, and that's how I arrived at the above conclusions.

I've already heard back from a very excited Mizz Mollye!

Congratulations to the winners and thanks to EVERYONE who participated. I'll surely have another contest next month.....and I already have some good ideas for the prize(s).

"Oh, magic hour, when a child first knows she can read printed words!" -- A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, 1943

Contest Winners To Be Announced Later Today

Hey Everyone! It's been a busy weekend and I've been away from my computer most of the time. And, since it is 12:45 am, I'm a bit tired.

Later today, after I hopefully sleep soundly for a few hours....I'll tally up all the comments from the book contest, and announce the winners! Thanks, and nighty night! Zzzzzzzzzz


"People who say they sleep like a baby usually don't have one." -- Leo J. Burke

   (or, in my own words.....a sweet old dog who wakes you up at least once, almost every night, to either go outside (thank you very much!)....or just seems to want some company!)

"No wonder I'm tired all the time! I'm too old to have a baby in the house!" -- Becky Povich

** You've Got a Friend **

I heard a while back that Carole King and James Taylor are touring together, and I thought What a scathingly brilliant idea is that?! She's a fabulous song writer and singer, and he's a pretty good singer and had some hits with songs which Carole wrote!☺  (St. Louis is one of the cities on their tour and I really hope to get tickets!)

Whenever there's a conversation with or about Carole King, her album "Tapestry" is always discussed. It came out the year I graduated from high school.....1971. (yeah, I'm that old!) I bought that album, (one of a few I actually purchased, because I usually just bought 45's). I think all my girl friends and millions of others, bought that album that summer. We played it over and over and over. It was the soundtrack of our lives.

And so, in honor of Carole King, her album "Tapestry", the summer of 1971, AND... my high school graduation, I share this picture with you. (Hey...notice my goofy face! It's the same look in my Profile Picture...only 39 years ago...and different glasses!! Guess I haven't really changed that much, huh?!)

"....ain't it good to know, you've got a friend." -- Carole King

P.S. Don't forget to scroll down and leave a comment for my Book Give-Away!

* Ray Sorensen, Maria Sorensen, and Me Part 2 *

I was digging through some of my various boxes of old photos last night....(I am not at all organized when it comes to my photos!)....when I found these. I spent a couple of weeks in Iowa in September of 2008. I visited my brother and sister-in-law first in northern Iowa, and then my cousins in Greenfield. This is when I actually met Ray and his wife, Maria. (I had heard of him for years, and about his painting of The Rock, and other murals in the town.)

I'm the one on the right, in case you can't tell....the one having a very bad hair day and looking as if I'm wearing a maternity top!! Acckkk!! Believe me, if I had a better picture of myself with them, this one would not be posted on my blog!

Aren't they just the cutest couple? They look like they're 16 years old!! This was taken inside their newly opened studio.

This is what The Freedom Rock looked like in 2008. Every Memorial Day, Ray repaints it with different patriotic images and sayings...honoring the military, both past and present.

So, in little over a week, there will be new images, on both sides, and actually all around the rock. It really is impressive.

** Ray was interviewed on the Fox Channel yesterday morning, and you can watch the video on the Sorensen's blog.   He was intervied via satellite from the TV station in Ames, Iowa. BUT, they left out the best part....that The Freedom Rock is right outside of Greenfield, Iowa!! It seemed to me as if they implied it's near Ames, which is about 100 miles away.

"I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him". -- Abraham Lincoln

** Hey, I Know This Guy!! I Know This Guy!! **

(photo: courtesy of Redbook Magazine)

Ray Sorensen - Winner of Rebook Magazine Husband Contest

This good looking young man just won Redbook Magazine's "Hottest Husband" Contest!

Ray (Bubba) Sorensen and his wife, Maria, live in Greenfield, Iowa. If you've known me or read my blog for very long, you know that the very small town of Greenfield holds a special place in my heart. My parents and grandparents were from there, and although they are all deceased now, I still love going back to visit. I wrote a weekly column for the newspaper there (Adair County Free Press), for the past two years, until I just recently went on hiatus to complete my book.

I met Ray and his lovely wife, Maria, the last time I was in Greenfield. They had recently opened their photography and art studio and proudly showed me around.

I knew of Ray's painting, though, for a few years. He is famous for painting The Freedom Rock outside of Greenfield on a two-lane country highway.

You can learn all about Ray and Maria Sorensen on the three links above.
Oh...and his prize for being the winner??...a trip which will finally be their honeymoon!

“It's not true that nice guys finish last. Nice guys are winners before the game even starts.” -- Addison Walker

(P.S. Please don't forget to scroll down and leave comments for my book give-away!)