* Microfiction Monday *

It's Microfiction Monday, where a tale is told in 140 characters or less. Thanks to Susan at Stony River for continuing to host this delightful writing challenge. Here is this week's picture and my story to go with it:

"Okay. Listen to my idea. It's for a reality show. My wife here can wrestle with wild bulls."

"Huh? What's a "reality" show?"

If you're interested in joining this little writing party, click on Susan's link above. I haven't participated in quite a long time, and I'm glad to be back. (I came up with 123 characters.)

P.S. Today is Louisa May Alcott's birthday. How many of us immersed ourselves into the lives of Little Women?!

* Sunday Night Random Thoughts *

First of all, I apologize again for neglecting my blog friends. I've been terrible at visiting and commenting, and I KNOW it is definitely something that I can fit into EVERY day! I'm getting closer to having a handle on my time management!! It's a necessity!!

(courtesy: wickedreport.com)

Thanksgiving Day and the entire weekend was truly enjoyable. Food, fun, friends, family and football! Hurray for the Rams' victory today!

I have sold all 10 Thin Threads books, (thank you all so very much!) and have ordered 20 more. I will continue to offer the free shipping anywhere in the US and Canada, until Friday, December 3rd. Please keep that in mind if you're considering buying any. I received an order over the weekend for one that will be a Christmas gift. I was asked to sign it to that person, which I thought was really special.

I actually did get some writing accomplished over the weekend, too. I've got so much going on right now that I feel like I'm.....

 

But, hey.....that's what life is all about, right?! I'm working on completing my book. I'm attempting to submit to more anthologies. I've taken on the position of president of Saturday Writers....I really do like challenges, so I'm definitely up for the part.

And, as the king in The King and I would say......Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera!


"Writing is my time machine, takes me to the precise time and place I belong." -- Jeb Dickerson"

* Can You Say STUFFED? *

Just a short post again today.....

The Ronald and I had a wonderful time yesterday. Since we had our family Thanksgiving last Saturday, we went to our dear friends' (S&B) home for dinner yesterday. We arrived at 1:00pm and a scrumptious meal was served. (I LOVE being the guest and not the hostess!) We sat and talked, watched football on tv, ate some more, sat some more, talked more, etc...you get the idea! A wonderful day!

You can listen to the beautiful Vienna Boys Choir on my blog today. I felt Christmasy and thought their angelic voices would be the perfect music for the day after Thanksgiving.

Now, I'm off to perform many tasks and already know I will enjoy every one of them....because I feel so thankful and blessed! (And yes...a very important, at the top of the list, task is: WRITING!)

(photo from December 2009, but it's cold enough for a fire today!)

"Perhaps the best Yuletide decoration is being wreathed in smiles." -- Author Unknown

* Thanksgiving Day - 2010 *

Happy Thanksgiving!!

** The Thin Threads Books Are Here! **

Yesterday evening that Big Brown Truck drove down my street and I mentally told it to stop at my house....and guess what? It did! UPS delivered my box of books from Kiwi Publishing! I felt like a kid at Christmas time, waiting for and then receiving that most anticipated gift.

I'll sign the books that have been ordered from me and get them mailed as soon as I can. This is the list of names I have, and if I've forgotten anyone PLEASE let me know! Lynn O. Teri S. Kathy M. Sioux R. and OJ G-C. (I feel as if I AM forgetting someone. I should've written all the names on ONE piece of paper!)

Kiwi Publishing is also offering a *special* on the Thin Threads site. Buy at least one book and receive a 10% discount, plus FREE shipping. Those books would ship directly from their warehouse, so I wouldn't be able to sign them. Their offer is good through 12/31/2010.

So, here are the two possibilities:

Order from me, pay full price of $17.95, receive free shipping, and I will autograph and donate $5.00 per book to my local Habitat for Humanity office.

*Order from Thin Threads* pay $16.15, receive free shipping, and I will still donate $5.00 per book. IF YOU DO ORDER DIRECTLY FROM THIN THREADS, CONTACT ME FIRST, SO I CAN GIVE YOU THE DISCOUNT CODE.

After meeting Tara and becoming involved in Habitat for Humanity, I can't tell you how much it means to me to be able to help, even in a small way. There are wonderful stories in this anthology and would truly make a very thoughtful gift during the holidays. And with Thanksgiving being tomorrow, I think all of us who are using a computer and blogging, have a decent place to live.

“The goal of this organization is to make sure that all families have a good place to live. To accomplish that ambitious goal, decent and good housing must become the hearts’ desire of committed and generous people. Substandard housing must become socially, religiously, morally and politically unacceptable.” — The late Millard Fuller, Habitat for Humanity Founder

* No Leftovers! *

Thanks to everyone who left such nice comments about our family Thanksgiving yesterday. This morning, I'm kind of dragging. LOL. We had a great time. The weather was nice enough that The Ronald was able to "play" outside with all the grandkids, which is what he really looks forward to! There were only 10 grandkids this year!! Two of them weren't able to attend!! Not sure when my text post will be, because I'm also trying to get back to writing my book! Baby steps, Joe.....baby steps. ☺

(courtesy: theroguecookie.com)

"I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder." ~ G.K. Chesterton

* It's Turkey Day at Our House *

Today is Thanksgiving....at our house! Over the past few years, as our family grew, we began having holiday get-togethers on the Saturday before the actual holiday. It works out great and none of the sons & daughters-in-law are stressed out about trying to be in multiple places, all at the same time!

As I type this, I can smell the turkey roasting in the oven! Mmmm....have I mentioned that I just love Thanksgiving?! I was up until midnight last night baking 2 pumpkin pies, the green bean casserole, AND a turkey breast! The turkey that's in the oven right now is a 24 lb! We need LOTS of turkey with this bunch!

I stopped to have some coffee just moments ago!

This is my favorite coffee cup to drink from this time of year.

This is what it looks like on the other side.

And this is opposite the handle.

My dining room windows face the west, so there's never good light in it, until around sunset!

Gotta run.....need to check on things in the kitchen!

Hem your blessings with thankfulness so they don't unravel. ~Author Unknown

* Give a Book for Christmas *

♪♫  Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!  ♪♫   

** NOTE: (added 11/19 pm) I forgot to say a little more about the Thin Threads book series. Since I've known about it and have been so close to it for over a year and a half, I think everyone must've heard of it and/or know about it! Here are some words, taken directly from their website:

Thin Threads: a moment, event, setback, crossroad, or encounter that connected you to a person, place or an opportunity that changed your life for the better.


Thin Thread stories are a collection of moments, events or decisions told in personal story form, each showing how the course of our lives can be redirected for the better. The stories encapsulate our human desire to tell our own stories and to read and relate to others through their stories.


So, you can see how it differs from other anthologies. Thin Threads is very unique!


 I am in such a happy mood right at this very moment! I was in my "usual" happy mood when I got up today at 4:00am. (Yep, went to sleep early last night and got a good night's rest.) But, now it is 3:20pm, CST, and I am ecstatic! I just spoke to Stacey Battat at Kiwi Publishing and the new Thin Threads books will be shipping to me tomorrow! This is the anthology that has my story about a woman and her family, and how Hurricane Katrina and Habititat for Humanity, St. Charles County Missouri, changed their lives. Woot!

$17.95 each

I am offering a personal promotion for this book. Whoever buys any directly from me, I will donate $5.00 per book, to Habitat in St. Charles, Mo. AND I will ship them at NO CHARGE, to anywhere in the US or Canada. (sorry, I will have to charge shipping out of the country.)

*These would make lovely Christmas gifts, PLUS you'd be helping a wonderful charity!* 

(courtesy: martha stewart.com)

Christmas again. But this year there was money for presents and lots of food in the icebox and the flat was always warm now. When Francie came in off the cold street she thought that the warmth was like a lover’s arms around her drawing her into the room. She wondered, incidentally, exactly what a lover’s arms felt like. — A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith (pen name of Elisabeth Wehner) (1943)