Category Archives: Misc
Casper the haunted van
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Casper the haunted van is still up to mischief. The wipers still go on when I use the turn signal especially when we make left hand turns. Door locks lock and unlock merrily while I drive along. He’s developed a new talent now, when I hit the button to unlock him, he will unlock all the locks except the drivers side door lock. When I stick the key in to unlock it, he then pops the button up before I turn the key.
Casper likes to flatten his tires slowly so I always carry a portable air compressor to keep them inflated. The garage can’t find any leaks. When I took my trip to visit my Aunties and Cousins I told him he had to behave and he did for the most part. He didn’t clown around with the locks or the wipers the whole trip. Although, I did have to re-inflate the tires before we came home.
Posted in Misc
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Friday post mortem
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I stopped in at Borders today for a little ME time. Remember yesterday’s post? Wouldn’t you know it, a mere two doors down from Borders they are opening a Spirit Halloween store. I can’t wait for it to open. They always have great props and costumes.
At the pet store, (I had to get dog food) I almost bought two Halloween hats for the pups. One was a witch’s hat with green hair attached and the other was a pirate hat with black hair. I might go back for them, the only thing stopping me is the pups,—these two don’t like to wear things, unlike previous Bull Terriers.
After the pet store, I picked up a few groceries. I’ve never had to dodge so many misguided carts and stopped in the middle of the aisle people than I did today. People who completely block an aisle and remain oblivious to the fact that other people would like to get past them make me crazy. I hate grocery shopping. I want to get in, get what I need, and get the heck outta there.
I grit my teeth, I smile, I say, ”Excuse me.”
They stare at the shelves.
I smile again and speak louder, ”Excuse me. Helloooo.” I wave my arms to get their attention. “Yoohoo.”
Finally, it sinks in they look at me and say, “Oh, am I in your way?”
“Heaven’s no. My cart has hover capabilities and I can fly it right over yours.” ACK!
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Food, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
A haunting I will go…
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I’ve already started trolling the Halloween sites to check out what’s new in props and costumes. My neighbor and I might not carve as many pumpkins this year as we usually do so I have to fill up the porch somehow. Besides, I’m always up for a hauntingly good time and if we’re going to wow the kids again this year, it’s time to find or build the perfect props. I like to add something new each year.
Every year I do some changes to my costume but it stays somewhat the same. I did see one I think I might buy for a complete change. If I don’t buy the costume that caught my eye there is a fantastic wig I may go for to dress up my old costume.
I can’t help it it’s my favorite holiday. Dear Hubby seems to get a kick out of my delight in my Halloween props. He often brings a few small animatronics home that he’s found just to get me going. After all, they don’t hold up forever and we do lose one or two a year to wear and tear. Now if I can only get him to sit in that cardboard box with the tabletop on it and have his head on the platter…
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Bullfrog glamour shots and garden pictures
Posted by doggonedmysteries
After accepting a bribe of worms, Goliath obligingly sat still for several photographs tonight. He stayed still even with my use of a prop (a one pound coffee can) to show his size. Goliath frog is fat! I then downloaded his ‘glamour shots’ and the garden pictures I took last week. You will find them on our garden and pond page.
The garden pictures are from August. I’m always on the look out for black flowers and foliage. (I have a thing for them.) One of my favorite pictures is of my black elephant ears. We lost our black bearded Iris to the mice a couple of years back and we haven’t found another one to replace it. This year I purchased a couple of daylilies that are quite dark but not black. I like the black flowers and foliage because they make the other colors in the garden pop. They also go well with all the gargoyle statuary. 😉
I did forget to take a picture of our torch wielding gargoyle. Yes, the torch does work. I’ll get around to photographing it one of these days.
Posted in hobbies, Misc, my garden
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Fish, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Koi, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Photgraphy, Pond, Ponds, Writer, Writing
To can or not to can
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I can’t believe it. We’re halfway through our second jar of my Cousins’ homemade jam. The first jar we finished was his raspberry jam what a heavenly delight! This one is sour cherry-raspberry and all I can say is wow. I’m sorely tempted to open all the others to taste them but I will restrain myself and go one at a time. I’m not certain as to which one we’ll try after this jar is empty.
We have a number of choices. There’s the blueberry, the strawberry, the strawberry rhubarb, and sour cherry sitting in the cupboard waiting for us to dive in. My cousin and his daughter make tons of jams for the family every year. Another cousin makes a wonderful salsa.
I’ve also been hoarding a jar of my Aunts’ tomato relish—it’s my last jar.
I’m sorry to say that I haven’t done any canning in several years. I used to make this wonderful tomato pear chutney, a port wine jelly, an apple ginger jelly, and a jalapeño jelly. Dear Hubby misses the jalapeño jelly most of all. I quit canning when my dishwasher died, it was a portable, and we never replaced it because it took up too much room. It had a sterilizing cycle that I used to sterilize all my jars, lids, and rings. It’s too time consuming and too much work without it.
Posted in Food, hobbies, Misc, My blog
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Cooking, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Food, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Lucy, you got some ‘splaining to do
Posted by doggonedmysteries
When Dear Hubby is away hunting this year, if he’s up to going, I have plans. My dear friend and I will clear out what we can from the kitchen, cover my table and chairs, and then we’ll prime and paint those ugly paneled walls. I’ve waited for too many years to have something done with that ugly kitchen.
The floor in there is lovely, the cabinets are too, but there’s this gosh darned ugly paneling on the walls that I’ve put up with for 36 years. This is the last year. I haven’t been able to find someone who, for a reasonable price, will rip down the paneling, tear down the drop ceiling, and put up dry wall. DH can’t do it. The best I can do now is paint over the danged stuff and at least make the kitchen brighter.
Sometimes DH dreads going off on his hunting trip because he knows I’ll have something changed when he gets home. This was his home all his life and other than the ceramic tile my friend and I put in the kitchen the room has remained mostly unchanged. All the changes we made here were because I did them or convinced him that it would look better if done.
He almost fell over from the shock when he came home from work the day I tore down the large doorway between the living and dining rooms, turning it into one large room. He loves it now especially since we also removed the hallway.
Posted in Misc
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Home improvemnet, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, painting the house, Writer, Writing
Hookers, Johns, and night-time photographs
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I know it’s weird that I take pictures of the gardens at night. The whole night-time photography thing started in a strange way…
I live in the center of town in a rather quiet area, slightly off the beaten path. For years, we had a high hedge along the side of yard. This attracted a certain problem. What was the problem you ask? Hookers and their Johns discovered it. At first, I’d let the dogs out and allow them to bark at the strange cars but I began to fear that these people might try to harm my darlings. My tactics changed quickly when one man became confrontational and we had to call the police on him.
After such an experience, you tend to try to find easy ways to move them off without being confrontational. Having a camera’s flash go off several times in their direction certainly does the trick. No, I don’t take pictures of them or their cars but they don’t know this. Should they try to confront me, I can prove that I am innocently taking pictures of my gardens and pond.
I’ve found that when I photograph the gardens at night the colors of the flowers and Koi come up clearer and most natural. There is that deterrent thing too…
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Fish, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Koi, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pond, Ponds, Writer, Writing
The night owl advantage
Posted by doggonedmysteries
From the hours of midnight to 5 a.m., the city quiets down. It’s so peaceful that, on the odd occasion, I can hear the trains from the other side of town. When I’m outside, all I hear is our waterfall, fountains, crickets, and frogs. The occasional siren or passing car intrudes but not too often.
Inside the dogs are snoring quietly and the phone is silent. Ideally, the TV is off. I write. The dinner dishes sit in the sink all rinsed and ready for washing. They will keep for a while.
With coffee close to hand and some inspiration, my nightly post grows. I read the comments on my blog and answer them. I reply to E-mails and my books take on new life. I play with words, phases, expressions, dialogue, and characters. I hope to take my readers on a journey into a good mystery with twists, turns, and a resolution at the end.
Around about 4 a.m., I take the dogs out, do my dishes, and go to bed.
Posted in Misc, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
I keep very strange hours
Posted by doggonedmysteries
My internal clock is different from almost everyone I know. How many people do you know that make potato salad at 3 a.m. for dinner the next day? I just finished making it and put it in the fridge. Do you know anyone who does dishes at 4 a.m.? I’ve been known to do that often. See? Weird.
I also do my writing after 11p.m. I’m never fully awake until sometime in the afternoon. Before that, I live on coffee to jump start my brain. Ask me a question before noon and I make no sense. Probably because I’m still in bed and sound asleep at that time.
I can’t help it. I’ve tried changing my circadian clock but before long, it is right back to where it was before. My mother told me many times I did this as a child. I drove her crazy with it. My dear Aunties have learned to take my crazy hours in stride. They let me sleep until I wake up when I visit. They also know never to phone me before noon and preferably not until sometime around 3 in the afternoon when I am completely functioning.
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
I am a dial up slowpoke
Posted by doggonedmysteries
The clouds hung low and brooding over the city, thunder rumbled. Lightning flashed. My dial up connection went to hell in a hand basket…
One of these days, I’ll get a high speed connection. When I do, I’ll probably be amazed at the difference. For now, I have to stay with the dial up and be pokey. I can’t view videos that people E-mail to me—I keep telling them that but they don’t seem to get it.
As of now, I simply can’t justify paying what they want around here for a high speed connection.
I’ll keep plodding along here at a turtle’s pace while everyone else leaps ahead like rabbits…wait does that sound familiar?
Posted in Misc
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Miscellaneous stuff
Posted by doggonedmysteries
A trip to Borders today gave me some insight into my troublesome character. I did a bit of scribbling in my notebook I hope will turn into another chapter or two if I’m lucky.
After stopping to visit a friend at my favorite store, I went to get a hair cut. Yes, Dave it’s short again but Dear Hubby thinks it’s cute. Why do so many men want women to have long hair anyway? When it’s thick and curly like mine, it’s hot and frizzy in the summer.
We had a very muggy and hot day today so the dogs spent most of it on their favorite chairs snoozing in the AC. I’m looking forward to the storms they are predicting this weekend that are supposed to bring cooler and less humid weather with them.
When I was visiting them last month, my Aunties gave me three lovely Japanese figurines that were my Grandfather’s. I did some research and found out they aren’t just any old figurines. They are three of the Japanese Seven Gods of Fortune. The first one I found is Daikokuten the God of wealth, the second one is Fukurokuju the God of wisdom and longevity, and the third one is Hotai San the laughing Buddha rubbing his belly is supposed to bring good luck. How fun!
Posted in Misc
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
I am not a domestic Goddess
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I hate to clean. Don’t get me wrong, I love a clean house but I hate doing the work to get it clean.
Dusting, oh, I’d rather play with the dogs. Running the vacuum, yuck, it’s so noisy, wouldn’t it be better to sit and read a book? Sweeping, it’s quieter but wasn’t there something I meant to write about? Washing windows? Do I really need to see outside? If I wash the dogs’ nose prints off the windows, they’re back there in an hour anyway. They call it decorating and I tend to agree with them.
Who wants to schlep baskets of laundry down and back up two flights of stairs when there’s gardening to do? I can go outside, pull a few weeds, daydream, and play with the Koi and the bullfrogs. Therefore, the laundry piles up and when I finally break down to do it; I’m at it all day. It’s a good thing to do on a rainy day. I can cuddle with the dogs in between loads. No, I didn’t say dust, vacuum, sweep, or wash windows.
Posted in Misc
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Fish, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Koi, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Pond, Ponds, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
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