Thursday, February 27, 2014

365 Photos Day 58


So a selfie of your leg is not the easiest photo to take. I was showing off my new leg warmers. Over my leggings they do keep me warm. Got a bit dressed up to take myself out to dinner tonight. Tomorrow I really go all out.

TTFN

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

365 Photos Day 57


You will have to look closely between the gap. If you can see it there are deer tracks. They have been going through the yard on either side of the house quite a bit this winter. I can see where they head toward my neighbor to the west and where they are heading to the east. Pretty amazing around here.

TTFN

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

365 Photos Day 56


After I posted the photo of Aunt Maggie and Uncle Charlie I received an email from another Luke cousin. This is Richard Murray Luke who goes by Murray. His grandfather Arthur Luke was my Granny, Bessie Luke Vigus' younger brother. Murray is a traveler and tells me this photo was taken in Portugal. I am looking forward to hearing more from him.

TTFN

Monday, February 24, 2014

365 Photos Day 55



I hijacked this photo. It has in it some people who I considered and still consider my second family. We spent years camping at Otsego Lake. We spent time at each others' houses. When I see them now it's like old home week. The six guys in the back  and the two ladies on the right side are the Radebaughs. I love them all. I miss time with them more than they know. Love you guys.

TTFN

Sunday, February 23, 2014

365 photos Day 54



These are the gates to Fordell Castle. It sits outside Edinburgh, Scotland. Why on earth would I choose this photo? Well, Fordell Castle is my ancestral home. My Henderson family line (my Dad's Mother's side) can be traced back this far. The brothers of the castle were bodyguards to King James of Scotland, but for one. One brother was a scribe who wrote the King James version of the Bible. One of my Henderson cousins several times removed visited Scotland a couple years back and took this photo. So, yes I really am a princess. LOL

TTFN

Saturday, February 22, 2014

365 Photos Day 53


Amtrak is going to offer low cost Residencies for Writers. Yep, you can book a round trip ticket on Amtrak for the price of a blog post or tweets. I am waiting for the details, because you know I am going to apply. Can't wait.
TTFN

365 Photos Day 52



Unfortunately my camera is not fancy enough to have captured the snow falling. This was looking south out my front window yesterday morning.

I also took this one:


This is looking east out my front door. The snow flakes don't really show in this on either. I tried.

TTFN

Thursday, February 20, 2014

365 Photos Day 51


Since yesterday was one of my favorite flowers here is the other one. When I was a little girl my grandfather picked me a stalk of Lily of the Valley and sang the following song to me when he gaven it to me.
    "White coral bells,
     Upon a slender stalk
    Lily of the Valley
    Deck my garden walk.
   Oh, don't you wish
    That  you might hear them ring
    That can happen
    Only when the fairies sing."

I even have them growing under my bedroom window.

TTFN

365 Photos Day 50



This is my photo for yesterday when I had no Internet service. Yellow roses are one of my two favorite flowers. No sure why the yellow ones, just know I love them. As a kid my mom had a beautiful red climbing rose. I just think the yellow ones are awesome.

TTFN

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

365 Photos Day 49


This is the new cover for Out of the Flames. The interior of the book will also change. I think this one better captures the book. Blue Harvest Creative has outdone themselves again.  Look for it sometime this spring in both paperback and ebook.

TTFN

365 Photos Day 48


Although I took this today it is my photo for yesterday. These are the two blue spruce gracing my front lawn. While they look like they are close together, they are not. Between them are my lilacs. The were two feet tall when they were planted in 1990. Hardly seems like they could be this tall.

TTFN

Monday, February 17, 2014

365 Photos Day 47


This is the view from my kitchen table. I have some lilacs to take down. My poor spruce is lopsided from the tree next to it.

Hope maybe I can get more photos later. Before Rex blows in.

TTFN

Saturday, February 15, 2014

365 Photo Day 46


Took this out my bedroom window this morning. Good thing I'm not planning to do any grilling any time soon. It's pretty much buried. I have some brush I need to clean out come spring. Wind had brought down lots of branches, too. It's pretty private. My neighbor whose house is in the background is gone for the winter. She'll be back in May. My neighbor directly behind me is home but I rarely see them. They have a newborn and a two year old to keep them busy. Most of the time I don't hear the road traffic. It's home for now.

TTFN

Friday, February 14, 2014

365 Photos Day 45


This book came about because I had many readers asking if I was writing sequels to my books. I decided to write a three book series. Ha! It has a life of its own. This is book one. Crossing the Line was book two. Sanctuary which will be out sometime in May is book three. Something Borrowed, Something Blue will be book four. There is a book five as yet untitled. Now I have no clue how many there will be. As I said, it has a life of its own.

As long as I am able, I will continue to write.

TTFN

Thursday, February 13, 2014

365 Photos Day 44

Of course you knew I'd get around to food. That is the best lobster I have ever eaten. It came with butterfly noodles and a melon slice. It was half a lobster. Jamie had the other half. First it was put in boiling water, then sliced and cooked over an open flame. Where did we find this? Johns Island in the US Virgin Islands.

We had taken a ferry from St. Thomas to John's Island.  Then we took a bus rid to one of the beaches. While the beach was nice, you had to battle the mosquitoes to get to and from the bus area. We stopped in the market area, did some shopping, had lunch at the Lime Inn,  and changed from wet swim suits to street clothes for the ferry back. All-in-all an awesome day.

TTFN

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

365 Photos Day 43


These necklaces were made specially for me. The one on the far right will be featured in my next Macy McVannel mystery, Something Borrowed, Something Blue. I'm not going to tell you how it figures in, nor am I going to tell you any more about it. I'm just going to leave you to wonder.

TTFN

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

365 Photos Day 42


The face of America's darling. Many of us grew up watching her in black and white movies. Some of us taught our children to love her reruns. Her cute dimples, extraordinary song and dance skills. And oh those curls.


She used her child stardom to become an Ambassador to both Ghana and Czechoslovatkia. She worked all her life to make the world better for people. She will be missed. We lost a good person and a great soul.

TTFN

Monday, February 10, 2014

365 Photos Day 41



Not the best picture, but this is what my manuscript looks like when it's done. This is the miracle book. In November, 2012 I lost the first 13,000 words. So, I restarted in January, 2013. It is now finished. Then I started the edits.

See the red marks on page one? Well, I found lots of things to fix. By the time it finally makes it into book form these should be gone and any other edits will be fixed. Believe me I have work to do yet.

TFFN

Sunday, February 9, 2014

365 Photos Day 40


This is my beautiful granddaughter just about to head to Snow Fest. While they do nothing special for homecoming, they do celebrate in the winter. Yes, this is what 16 looks like. I can only hope she had a good time. Love you, Megs.

TTFN

Saturday, February 8, 2014

365 Photos Day 39


This photo was taken two years ago on my birthday. It was sunny and warm. I was enjoying a walk down the beach. The tide was out. I had gone the inland route this day. I'd walked to the Villa Front Desk to see if I had any mail. Then I walked to the Sanctuary the huge hotel on the island. From there I went down to the beach and walked back to my condo. At this point I am about half way to the path leading to the condo. All in all it was about a 5 mile walk.

Later that night I took myself to dinner at the Fat Hen. It was a wonderful evening. Yes, I'm missing this.

TTFN

Friday, February 7, 2014

365 Photos Day 38



Spanish moss, I find it intriguing. This particular one was in Savannah, GA. In fact, it is down near the waterfront. Don't touch it though. Red fire ants live in it. Their bite is extremely painful and they are hard to get out of the skin. If you ever get bit, you will never forget.

It adds something to the trees although it does not hurt them.

TTFN

Thursday, February 6, 2014

365 Photos Day 37


One of the many things I love about South Carolina are the live oak. This is not just any live oak. This is Angel Oak. It is currently endangered. It is free to go and see. You cannot tell from this photo but there are props holding up some of the branches. You cannot climb on it. The tree is between 300 and 1500 years old depending on what reference guide you use. But it is not the only live oak of importance.


This is the wedding tree located at the Carolina Tea Plantation. Many weddings are held under the tree which is covered in Spanish moss. Not nearly as old as Angel Oak it draws many every year.

I love the live oak and the Spanish moss which gives the trees an eerie look after dark. They are fascinating.

TTFN

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

365 Photos Day 36


Odd photo I know. But some days I just want to look nice. Other days I don't care. I don't remember the occasion for this one. Could have been my niece's wedding. Could have been a book signing. Whatever the reason, even at my age I clean up well.

I don't always just throw my hair up in a pony tail. And on the days it is down, it has a mind of it's own. When I want to look good, I go to a professional.

TTFN

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

365 Photos Day 35


This is me. I read one to three books a week. That doesn't count my own when I'm working on them. If I could I'd read a book a day. Not possible. I'd never get anything done. I have outgrown the days of reading two or three books at a time. Those would be the one I kept at work, the one in my car, and the one next to my bed. Yes, I did.

I am currently without a book to read. I have two choices: 1 buy more books, and 2 hit up the library. My books are for the most part packed away or I sold them in a garage sale. Sad state of affairs.

TTFN

Monday, February 3, 2014

365 Photos Days 33 & 34


The trees are mine. The house is my neighbors. I just wanted to show you ho much snow I have. I didn't think this did it justice. So...
This is where my plow guy has piled up the snow from my driveway. Still don't think it gives you a real idea of how much snow is here. So...
I backed up so I was right in front of the snow pile. Yeah, it's as tall as my shoulder. I so hate winter.

TTFN

Saturday, February 1, 2014

365 Photos Day 32/Book Review


Today's post is a bit different. It's not just a photo of a book. It's the photo of a book I'm going to review. I'm going to preface by saying C. Hope Clark and I have never met. I stumbled on The Writers Chatroom (http://www.writerschatroom.com/)  and she was featured one night. It was a wonderful and educational experience. So, when I was given the chance to read her book The Shy Writer Reborn, I was thrilled. Now for the book review.

The Shy Writer Reborn by C. Hope Clark is filled with important things all novice writers and experienced ones can learn from. I began reading thinking I wouldn't learn anything new. I was wrong. I've learned while I've been told all my life I'm an extrovert...I knew I was not. I also knew I wasn't and introvert. I am an ambivert....a combination of both. Imagine that.

All writers now carry the burden of promotion. Some are more able to stand in front of a crowd and pitch themselves and their books. Others would rather hide in a closet and hope the book sells itself. Ms. Clark is able to give tips on how to overcome the fear of speaking as well as how to find your center and present your best self. 

"...it's frightening having to sell yourself." You bet it is. Go to a book signing and not have your books arrive, yet you are expected to give and hour talk. Be at a book signing and no one shows up. Keep smiling. C. Hope Clark can help you face these. She has a bundle of information on how to 'save' face. 

This is a book I will use for reference for many years. If you are shy or a shy writer, I highly suggest this be a book you put in your library.

TTFN

October Already

 I'm not sure where the time has flown. June was an exiting month. July was a mess. I had a change of medication which caused me to gain...