Pumpkin coasters

These cute pumpkin coasters were a memory on my Facebook page today. I forgot how much I like them! I think I'll make some more and add leaves this time, as well. 

Exercise and nature aid creativity

I have noticed a direct correlation for myself between exercise and creativity. When I haven't exercised for a while I feel grouchy. I also notice that my ideas don't flow quite as well when writing. Believe me, I push through because I won't let writer's block be a thing that gets in my way. However, when I exercise and take the time to notice the beauty in nature around me I am more clear-headed. I have often worked through a plot problem while out exercising. I have gotten great ideas, as well. In fact, I have taken to carrying a small notebook and pen while out exercising for the purpose of jotting down the ideas that come to me.

Also, does anyone know what the plant in the picture is called? 

Wordless Wednesday: Evening Sky

Teaser Tuesdays: Flirting with Danger by Suzanne Enoch

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by MizB at Books and a Beat. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read 

- Open to a random page 

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page 

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser. 

My teaser this week is from page 37 of Suzanne Enoch's Flirting with Danger:

"Watch your back, Addison. If you're not going to help me, I'm not going to help you."

"Help me?"

"I know things the cops would never have a clue how to find out."

Musing Mondays: Library sale and a new series

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

• I’m currently reading…
• Up next I think I’ll read…
• I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
• I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I can’t wait to get a copy of…
• I wish I could read ___, but…
• I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: What is currently on your TBR pile?

My daughter and I went to the used book sale at our library this weekend. We both came away with several books and big smiles. I added to my Nora Roberts and J.D. Robb collection which makes me happy. 

I also got a few new-to-me books. One of which is called Flirting With Danger by Suzanne Enoch. It was released in 2005 and is the first book in a series. I am thoroughly enjoying the book so far and hoping to be able to get the next four books in the series. 

Crochet flowers

Dewey's 24-Hour Readathon

The Fall edition of Dewey's 24-Hour readathon is approaching! It is being held on Saturday, October 22, 2016. Go here if you'd like to sign up to take part in the hours and hours of reading and commiserating with fellow bookworms!

Friends

We had an unexpected visit from friends tonight. An evening spent with friends is always wonderful!

Amazing painting

This is one of the many amazing pieces of art that was at the mortuary today. My kids and I love this painting! It's colorful, full of music, art, color and feminine at the same time. 

Wordless Wednesday: Sunset

Teaser Tuesday: Eternity in Death by J.D. Robb

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by MizB at Books and a Beat. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read 

- Open to a random page 

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page 

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser. 

My teaser this week is from J.D Robb's Eternity in Death:

"Hand's quicker than the eye," Eve muttered. "He worked as a magician, he's worked the grift all of his life. He offered the blood sample without a blink because he knew he could swing it so it wouldn't match."

Beautiful

Colorful scraps

I'm looking for creative ideas for all of my yarn scraps. 

Home grown

My daughter helped her grandma pick the home grown tomatoes today. She is understandably quite proud of this one. 

Neon

I LOVE the 80's vibe of this neon green and neon pink! 

Smile because it happened

I'm doing my best to stay positive during a difficult time. Funny how the exact right quote from Dr. Seuss shifted my perspective. 

Wordless Wednesday: Wizarding World

The place my kids and I want to visit so much right now!

Teaser Tuesdays: Apprentice in Death by J.D. Robb

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by MizB at Books and a Beat. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read 

- Open to a random page 

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page 

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser. 

My teaser this week is from page 37 of J.D Robb's Apprentice in Death:

The second victim, the obstetrician, the regular. That rink, that time, that day of the week habitual. 

Write every day

"Just write every day of your life. Read intensely. Then see what happens. Most of my friends who are put on that diet have very pleasant careers."

Ray Bradbury

I have been a writer most of my life. Three years ago I decided to take on a challenge called Write Chain. The premise of which is to develop a daily writing habit. The participants were meant to think of each day as a chain in their writing journey. I wrote about my journey in December of 2013 when I had reached 100 days of straight writing. I am amazed, excited and humbled that I have been writing every single day for three years now. 

I will continue with my daily writing. It has become essential to me. I need to write every day almost as much as I need to breathe. I am so thankful that I found that challenge and decided to take it on. My writing has improved in ways I didn't even know it could improve. I've had a couple of short stories published and interest in my novels. I am currently finishing up a novel that I pitched the idea about to one of the well-known publishers. They liked my idea and said write the book so that is what I have been doing. I will finish writing it within the next two weeks. Then I will spend the rest of September and all of October revising said novel. I will submit it by the end of October and cross my fingers hoping for the best.

As of today, I am beginning year four of my daily writing. I'm excited to see where this year takes me on my writing journey.

Never Forget

I was fortunate enough that I visited New York City many times before the horrible events of September 11, 2001. This image is one that I got off of Google but I have one similar to it myself. I took my picture in 1995 and I remember vividly standing in the World Trade Center complex and looking up at the twin towers. It was dizzying and amazing at the same time. I was using a 35 millimeter camera (this was long before we all used our phones as cameras) to try and get the incredible mass of these buildings in one picture. I did it by lying on the ground to get the photo. It didn't even cross my mind that these buildings would be gone someday and I was taking a picture of history.

Believe me, I understand that the loss of life from that horrible day is so much more important than the loss of architecture. I have a queasy feeling as I think about that day and the fear that sat with so many for so long (perhaps even still to some degree) afterward. I still feel sad for all of the innocent people who lost their lives that day - whether in the buildings, the planes, the firefighters, police or those in the Pentagon - and their families. It's for those innocent people and their families, friends and loved ones that I will never forget. I will always honor their memory even as I hope that nothing like this ever happens again. 

Apprentice in Death

I am currently reading the 43rd book in J.D Robb's gripping In Death series - Apprentice in Death. It amazes me how book after book this series stays strong and fascinating! The case in each book is a standalone but the characters grow from one book to the next to the next and so forth. 

The beginning of this book is chilling. It would be at any time, I believe, but with our world the way it is my heart has pounded extra hard more than once while reading this book. If you've never read this series, but wondered about it, I highly recommend it.

Enough said

Good Friends

I am so very thankful for my good friends. They are special and important to me. It's true that we don;t always see each other but we know we're always there for each other and that truly does mean the world. 

Wordless Wednesday: Inspiration for Fall decorating

Teaser Tuesdays: Daughters of the Bride by Susan Mallery

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by MizB at Books and a Beat. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read 

- Open to a random page 

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page 

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser. 

My teaser this week is from page 174 of Susan Mallery's Daughters of the Bride:

Accepting help is an act of graciousness.

Stupid affirmation app, she thought glumly. Now the phrases were getting stuck in her head. 

The more you read...

Goodnight Moon

It's a cool looking moon in a very pretty sky this evening. My husband titled it 'Goodnight Moon' and that made me smile. One, because it's appropriate and two, because it made me feel nostalgic. Goodnight Moon was one of my children's favorite bedtime stories when they were little. I still read to them each night but I miss the baby cuddles with a board book. 

Follow your passion

I really like and agree with this quote. I used it for an Instagram challenge today but want to share it here. as well. This quote speaks to me in regard to following my passion to have a writing career. I would add no matter how many times the individual calls him or her self a fool, too. 

Joy in the simple things

This is a gorgeous fountain in an area where my family used to live. We don't live too far from here now but not as close as we once did. The thing is though, my kids and I LOVE this fountain. It is pretty and tranquil! My kids love to toss coins in here and make wishes. So do I. They make their wishes every single time we pass this fountain and I often do but not every time. 

Anyway, I passed this fountain on my own recently. I was in a bit of a hurry so I didn't dig for coins to make a wish but I did snap a picture. This fountain makes me smile and I know it's the same for my kids. There truly is joy in the small things that become tradition. 

Hello September

September feels like a gift after the brutal heat of August. Of course, it is still hot here but there's hope for cooler weather soon. Plus, it was indeed cooler and even overcast when we woke up this morning! On top of that, it's a holiday weekend coming up so win all the way around! Enjoy your weekend and September!