* Gratitude - Optimism - Bliss *

Tons of things are going on in my life these days. Most are wonderful. Some...not so much. But because I stay optimistic 99% of the time, that's how I manage to feel when I fall asleep at night. Optimistic. Blissful. Grateful.

As I dug through mountains of papers in my office this afternoon, I found a page I had torn out of Country Living magazine last November. I loved the display of white dishes, blue and white patterned dishes, and tiny white pumpkins. I'll share the beautiful quote below that appeared on that page.

Welcome to my newest follower, Andrea. I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you!

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life...It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend." -- Melody Beattie

* Nostalgic Sundays *

It's time for another Nostalgic Sunday.

 

This time of year when it begins to be a bit cooler and the sun sets earlier, I get in the mood for good, old-fashioned comfort food. (which is what Aunt Bee prepared every day, I think!) On Friday, I wrote about making meatloaf for Lynn's blog so what did I do today? Bought fresh ground meat! I'll be whipping up a meatloaf dinner today, complete with baked potatoes, and various veggies.

I also have a new chili recipe I'll make soon....in my crock pot. And I have a few casserole recipes to make and freeze for later. Yummy goodness! Mmmm. Is your mouth watering? Mine sure is.

I also have to mention the fabulous Andy Griffith. During my quick lunch today, the TV was on and I came across the movie: No Time for Sergeants. I only watched for about ten minutes, but during that short period of time, I laughed out loud at his backwoods, naive ways, especially when he described trying to take the reading test. There's no way I could explain it and do it justice, you'll just have to watch the movie sometime. ☺

Also, Welcome to my newest follower, Jennifer Shirk. I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you!

Andy Taylor: Opie! Time to come in, son.

Opie Taylor: Aw Pa, just a little while longer... please?
Andy Taylor: Well, OK.
[to Barney]
Andy Taylor: Daylight's precious when you're a youngin'

* I WONDER *

It's time for another I Wonder.  Really? Already??

I feel "kind of old" when I keep talking about how fast time is flying by, but uh...I AM kind of old!☺

So, on to another subject. I just realized a couple of days ago, after a gentle reminder from fabulous friend, Lynn, at Lynn, What's for Dinner?, that it was my turn to be her featured "chef"...and I say that with a fallacious smile. Since I'm not much of a cook (at all!), my recipe is a simple one. Please stop by and see what else Lynn posted about me.

I'm so fortunate that Lynn is one of my home town blog friends. In fact, I knew her before either of us began blogging. She's sweet, kind, funny, and a great writer. She's keeping three blogs at the moment, too. Please check out her two Food Blogs: Lynn, What's for Dinner?, Lynn, What's for Dessert? and her Writer Blog, Present Letters, which is always letters written to a very special person.

My I Wonder for today is: How many of you consider yourselves "chefs"? What are your favorite recipes, both dinners and desserts? (or can you say, "Take Out"?)

Mother's words of wisdom: "Answer me! Don't talk with food in your mouth!"
-- Erma Bombeck

I Love a Story Like His

I'm so happy that Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr. won "America's Got Talent." Although I didn't watch it very often (every time I checked NBC, it seemed to be on), when I heard him sing, I just couldn't believe how beautiful his voice was. Never off key. Always wonderful. And what a story he has...from where he was, to where he is now. He seems grounded and I hope the winnings and the success won't make him forget his true self. Congratulations to the man with a voice like Sinatra's!

"People often remark that I'm pretty lucky. Luck is only important in so far as getting the chance to sell yourself at the right moment. After that, you've got to have talent and know how to use it."
Frank Sinatra

A Winner and Philosophy

* Today feels like Monday. The Ronald and I spent the weekend with friends in their lovely house on The Lake! Got home really late Sunday night, so I was draggin' yesterday. Today my inner motor will be chugging along until it hits high speed!

* The winner of my Give-Away from September 7th....is....drum roll, please!......Carol Kilgore, from Under the Tiki Hut! Carol, please send your address and I'll get your three books mailed right away. Congratulations and thanks for entering!

* Speaking of books, which leads to reading and writing....once again I've put my memoir on the back burner. I'm submitting to more anthologies and entering more contests. Doing so has once again helped with the enormous pressure I've subjected myself to, for so long. I'm also reading more, which I know helps my writing. Also, I will stop posting about whether my memoir is almost finished, partly finished, asking for title ideas, and anything else pertaining to it! Y'all are probably thinking, "Whew, thank goodness!" ☺

* My friend, S. and I ate Chinese for lunch on Saturday. My fortune cookie said: "Life to you is a bold adventure. You can expect greatness if you avoid the great mess!"

I like that philosophy. How about you?

"Eighty percent of success is showing up." -- Woody Allen

* Writerly News *

Have you ever read ReadingWriters or The Verb ezine. I received an e-mail today from them stating that The Verb will come back sometime in 2012, but as Elizabeth Guy put it, it was time to let ReadingWriters go. If you've never read or heard of any of this, just click on the site.

Their contest is still open. It's called The Road of Eerie Writing Contest . Check out the link for that, too. Deadline is September 15th, midnight Pacific Time. Prize is $100.00

There are so many awesome contests right now that I'm trying to write for...and time is running out on some of them. If you haven't tried the The Bartleby Snopes Dialogue Only contest, you really should give it a try. I think it's the most unique and cool contest I've ever entered....mostly because they keep you so informed on your status!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone. I won't be posting until probably Monday, the 12th.

"We are what we believe we are." Benjamin N. Cardozo

* News for Local Friends *

Beautiful Office Furniture For Sale

As I wrote on August 24th, The Ronald and I are going to downsize and move sometime in the near future. 

We'll have quite a few things to sell. A few of those items are in my office. They are gorgeous pieces of furniture (at least I think so!) in the Christopher Lowell Shore Collection, which was exclusive at Office Depot. They're about 5 years old, were professionally assembled, and look practically brand new.

I managed to clean them out sufficiently for "Selling" Photos!

Desk with hutch on top.

Another view of desk and hutch.

Pull-out thingy for key board (and part of chair)

The desk chair. It also has arms, which I had taken off.
We still have them, though.

Another view of desk, hutch, and chair.

Hutch on top of bookcase.
(Only one light bulb in at the moment!)

This is the bookcase under the hutch.

Another view of bookcase and hutch.

All of the furniture is in wonderful shape. Everything is attached (not just a hutch standing on top of the desk or bookcase).

Anyone who is interested, please e-mail me. I'm asking very reasonable prices. Oh, and none of the accessories are included!

"But every house where love abides, and friendship is a guest, is surely home, and home-sweet-home; for there the heart can rest." -- Henry Van Dyke

* Congrats and Give-Away *

First of all, congratulations to everyone who's story or poem was accepted for the Storm Country anthology. That is the book the Missouri Writers Guild put together to donate money to the Joplin, Missouri school libraries.

Now for my contest give-away. As I mentioned in my previous post the only requirement is to leave a comment here! That's it. The one restriction is that only US bloggers can enter. (My apologies to my out-of-country friends!)

Below are the books:

Skipping Christmas: by John Grisham
(hardcover) Cute humorous Holiday book

The Lemon Jelly Cake: by Madeline Babcock Smith
Originally written in 1952. A very charming book!
(paperback)

A Morning Cup of Meditation: by John A. Bright-Fey
Awesome hardcover book for juggling life with meditation!
Also comes with a CD (hardcover)

All three books are in great shape and could even be given as gifts.

Just leave a comment here and I'll choose a winner by random.org on Tuesday, September 13th. **If I receive more than 20 comments, by 20 different people... I know how some of your minds work! ☺I'll choose three winners, and each will receive one book. If I get less than 20 comments, then one person will receive all three books.**



Also, Welcome to my newest follower, Juliann of Daily Snapshot. I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you!

"You will recognize your own path when you come upon it, because you will suddenly have all the energy and imagination you will ever need." -- Jerry Gillies