New Year's Sundries

I really don't have a clue how 2012 went by so fast. I do know this last week was spent in a haze of cough syrup and asthma steroids. There are two trash cans full of used tissues and a ton of undone projects, but you know, that's okay.

Yes, we're fabulous. And we're going to continue it into the new year. It is not lowered expectations, it is simply accepting that I will never be able to get everything I want to do done in the usually unreasonable time frame I tend to set. That's okay. I will do my best.

This is a picture out our front door the day after Christmas. It still hasn't all melted, which has caused some more delays in getting things done. No excuses, just a realization that we may have to adjust expectations. And that's okay.

I did do some Christmas decorating.

This was a wreath I made with some friends (including one who passed in 2004) that hadn't seen the light of day in many a year. I was pleased I got it up on the inside of the front door, so at least I would be able to smile and enjoy it. That's another thing I want to do this year--enjoy the lovely things I have. I have dishes that haven't been used, art and needlework that's never been displayed and clothes that still have tags on them. What I don't want or need will be sold or donated. I already have a big box of needlework patterns I will never do ready to go to a place that sells for you on eBay. My friends and I have agreed to work on getting an Etsy store up and going and I'll pass the links on to you as soon as we do. This will help fund my covers and promotional expenses.

 BTW, I'm totally in love with Grumpy Cat. I feel like her sometimes and I'm very proud of her owners for making her into the latest thing. Would that I would have the foresight and ambition to capitalize on talent or product.


One of the things I will continue to do in 2013 is transcribe my notebooks. I still have over twenty five blank books that hold scenes, notes from magazines/documentaries/books/etc. and quotes. I've been transcribing them during my lunch hour at work, sending them in emails. The notes are spread over about a dozen flash drives.

At Wal-mart, Big Lots and Best Buy, you can get a 16 GB flash drive for around $10. This is an amazing deal. Just last year, a 32 GB flash was over $300. You can find one for less than $40 now. I ask everyone to BACK UP YOUR WORK! I know of several people who lost whole chunks of work or whole documents when a hard drive crashed or a computer was stolen. Of course, now you can back your work up "in the Cloud." I'm not there yet, but I'm sure I will be soon. Not only will I continue to transcribe my notes, I am determined to figure out the best way to organize them. I've made a start to getting things into OneNote, but I still have a long way to go.

Another step I've made to get organized is this:

A Gateway "netbook" that is my Christmas present. It is a third smaller than my current laptop and a lot lighter. More importantly, it's easier to carry, travel with and bring into work. Before I can use it though, I have to find the information about the security software we purchased before Christmas. So, I have to get organized to get organized. Stop me if you've heard this before....

I think of how many people have never accomplished half of what I have. I have to get my act together and finish the first two of my books.

Another thing I promise to do that's not a New Year's resolution per se, but a necessity, is to eat better and continue to be aware of my food allergies. Eating what I shouldn't ought to has contributed to my recent asthma flare-up (why I didn't have a post on Sunday). This little froggie reminds me of myself a couple days this past week:

I will accept life gifts--like taking it as a sign that the "House Hunters" episode is set in New York City, where one of my characters lives. Here's the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center:

I've been working on a scene in the second series of books of my characters' first Christmas together. Also, one of the people I spoke with at work is a police officer and said, "Copy that" when I asked him to do something. Another character is a state trooper, so I'll work a couple of those into my dialog. Every day, I am given little gifts, coincidences and thoughts, to put into my fiction, enriching it. I just have to remember to listen.

So, please allow me to send to all of you:

Please join me on Pinterest, where I found this vintage card--I've tried to put the link in my layout, but Blogger isn't accepting it. I will try to post more regularly, but my concentration this year has to be on writing. Love to all and please have a happy and safe 2013!

Sunday Sundries--New Beginings

Is not the end. That's the way I'm looking at it anyway and I invite you all to join in the fun. We survived the so called end of the world and we need to look at this as a beginning.

I felt incredibly selfish this morning. I remembered a Christmas when I bought and wrapped coffee mugs for my co-workers. When I gave a package to the department secretary, I asked if she wanted to open it now. She said she would rather not, because she wanted to have something to open on Christmas day. Think of that, please, as you consider your gifts and charity this year. 

So, while I didn't get the Christmas baking done, that's okay. Maybe, I'll do some things tomorrow after I get off work to take in and I do have Christmas day off with my honey and can spend time with my kitties, family and friends. Life is good.

I replaced the scratch pad in the cat toy, so my stripey twins are happy. Some friends:

Some other friends and one of my characters....

Perfect Christmas breakfast for one of my characters:

She loves all things cinnamon and instead of a wedding cake, they have two large trays of cinnamon rolls. This is my prayer today:

This made me laugh. We've been watching some Christmas specials that made me smile.

The same character that loves cinnamon rolls loves Hello Kitty.

Something to think about. But this is what the kitties want:

Finally--probably not even then. I'll have to work until 12:30am that morning, but that's okay. I'm grateful for so many things--especially you all! Take care and relax and enjoy the next week. Catch ya on the flip side!

Sunday Sundries--Home Again Version

Over the river and through the woods...

Actually, we kept pretty much on I-64, but this is what it felt like going through the mountains of West Virginia, at night, in the rain. It was, shall we say, a challenge. But, I needed to see my big brother, because he was going into surgery.

Here I am, with his daughter Cindy and my brother. I got to visit and even helped fix his computer, so he could get on-line.

Ed came through with flying colors. It was great to visit with everyone and other than driving over twelve hours each way, I was glad for the adventure. He's going home in the next few days.

So, let's get back to the fun of looking at funny things to inspire us and our fiction. Ed and I were both serious readers. This made me smile:

My sister-in-law, Ed's wife, was a major influence for my love of needlework. Also, Ed got me started reading science fiction. This appeals to both:

 My sister-in-law had her Christmas tree up and I found these funnies to make me smile:

This was captioned "It's beginning to taste a lot like Christmas." And I've seen this on Facebook from a couple of people:

We had friends watching our cats while we were gone. When we got back, this was what we saw:

Seriously, the "Oh, you're back" lasted only a few minutes, then it was, "Mom, Mom, Mom...."
Speaking of beds, this happened a lot, with me remembering what I needed to pack or put in this bag or that suitcase:

It happens a lot with my writing, too. I have a notebook in the bathroom to scribble ideas that come to me in the middle of the night. I had a lot of strange thoughts, being out of my routine. Sharing family stories, I realized this was true:

My niece would tell a story and I'd finish her sentence. It's a family thing and I worked it into my writing. I was pleased she started writing again too, while we were in the waiting room of the hospital.
Finally, a few more Christmas things:

Yeah, what's up with that? And:

So, you'd better behave, okay? Everyone have a great week and I'll be back with more funnies, promise!

Sunday Sundries--Expect the Unexpected Edition

Getting ready for that holiday thing--we get to go visit family this year.We hadn't planned it, but my brother is having a fairly serious medical procedure, so I wanted to be there. Yes, we'd wanted to spend time working around the house, but instead, we get to have an adventure! I have to look at it this way and I hope you all do too. But, it's doubtful we'll have a tree or do the Christmas baking like I'd wanted. That's okay. We'll plan for next year or maybe do an open house or something in the spring for our 25th wedding anniversary.

Here's a picture of another Christmas a looooong time ago:

My brothers Joe and Ed, with Mom and me in front of a very tinsled tree. Yeah, I was the baby.

I have a scene at the end of my second series of books of three of the five sisters enjoying their first Christmas as wives. A fourth sister will marry her lesbian lover before the end of the year. While I haven't written much lately, I have been keeping up with notes and I have many scenes to share and transcribe. Another thing I was hoping to do this week, but that's okay. What was it John Lennon said, "Life is what happens while you're making other plans"?

Here's a Christmas tree we had up at the house when we first moved in, 20+ years ago:

We haven't had a tree up since we first got the stripey twins. They knocked the tree like this one down within a few hours and broke five "unbreakable" resin and wood ornaments. Doesn't keep me from buying new ornaments, though. I probably have a couple of hundred.

Speaking of:

This was titled, "Adjusting the tree topper." Yeah, right. This is more like it:

This is a tree I put up one year at work:

I have a ton of children's books (I used to run a bookstore and grew up in a library) and I brought a collection of kids' books about cats and Christmas. Yes, my geekdom has sub-categories.

This is a tree from a Writers Guild Christmas party a long time ago. I'm sorry, I don't remember the names of the lady standing with me, but I always wanted to have the kind of house where we could have people over for a party.

Prissy was a Christmas present for my 9th birthday year. She immediately jumped out of Mom's arms and ran up the tree, causing it to topple over. Last year I remember a live tree. Here she is in her later years:

The marble topped chest of drawers is in my garage now, waiting for us to organize the dining room. Another thing we'd planned to do this week, but that's okay.

A picture of me with some Christmas haul. Love the train--Dad worked on the railroad--but I don't remember it. I don't remember the politically incorrect "tar baby" either or why Mom cut out part of the picture. Weird.

Here's one that made me laugh:

Here's a recipe I wanted to try this week, but you guessed it, we'll be doing it later:

CAKE BATTER TRUFFLES

Recipe from: The Girl Who Ate Everything

• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup white sugar
• 1 ½ cups flour
• 1 cup yellow cake mix
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 3-4 Tablespoons milk
• 2 Tablespoons sprinkles

Truffle Coating:

• 16 ounces (8 squares) almond bark (or white candy melts)
• 4 Tablespoons yellow cake mix
• sprinkles


Beat together butter and sugar using an electric mixer until combined. Blend in vanilla.  Add cake mix, flour, salt, and vanilla and mix thoroughly. Add 3 Tablespoons of milk or more if needed to make a dough consistency. Mix in sprinkles by hand. Roll dough into one inch balls and place on a parchment or wax paper lined cookie sheet. Chill balls in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to firm up.


While dough balls are chilling, melt almond bark in the microwave in 30 second intervals until melted. Stir between intervals. Once melted, quickly stir in cake mix until incorporated completely. Using a fork, dip truffles into almond bark and shake of excess bark by tapping the bottom of the fork on the side of your bowl. Place truffle back on the cookie sheet and top with sprinkles. Repeat with remaining balls until finished. {Note: for smoother looking truffles, don't add cake mix to melted chocolate, just leave it by itself}

Chill cake batter truffles in the refrigerator until serving. Makes around 24-30 truffles.

 
Yummy! I think I might try these with other flavors of cake mix, like chocolate or lemon.

So, because I gotta get to going here, I'll have to make this post a little shorter. Everyone have a great week and enjoy being with family and friends!