Blog Archives
Big city wild critters
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Wild critters wander this big city at night. At least they do around my neighborhood. Tonight I had a skunk trot along behind me as I walked into my back porch. You’d better believe I closed the door quick. He was within two feet of me. I’m so glad he didn’t spook and spray. That would not have been fun. The dogs would’ve barked at me for days. Dear Hubby would’ve laughed his assets off while handing me tomato juice and a bucket. I would’ve been mad as hell because I’m wearing my best jeans.
A couple of weeks ago a neighbor had to kill an opossum who had somehow managed to get his teeth stuck in the wire fencing that’s beside their house. The critter was truly stuck. He didn’t want to kill it but there was no way he could free it easily. As it was, he had to cut the fencing to get the critter off it.
We’ve seen deer, raccoons, and hawks of all sorts, tons of rabbits and squirrels, ducks, Canadian geese, wild turkeys and even a pheasant or two near our home. DH says that when he was a child they had foxes roaming about. I think the only wild critter we haven’t seen in our neighborhood is a bear. We are NOT out in the country. We are smack dab in the center of Pennsylvania’s third largest city.
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, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Pond, Ponds, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Evolving into a water creature
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I may be a Pisces but I don’t want to turn into a fish. When I woke up today, I thought I saw the beginnings of webs growing between my toes. I checked myself in the mirror for fear I may have some rudimentary gills erupting too. Is that moss covering my north side? Am I growing mold? Scifi or Darwin? You decide. All I know is, I want at least a week straight of sunny weather.
Since April, we’ve had 43 days of rain. Yes, I said 43 days of rain. It’s no wonder my yard is a swamp. When we actually do have a day of sun everybody stops, looks at the sky, and wonders if we should make a sacrifice to Ra. I forget what does the sky look like without clouds?
Farmers around here are worried that we are getting too much rain. I know if we had more sun I might have more green tomatoes on my plants but with all the rain a lot of the blossoms have dropped off the plants. I’m glad that some tomatoes had time to set, but at this sunless rate, they may never ripen.
Posted in Misc, My blog, my garden
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, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Pond, Ponds, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
The blank page
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Here I go again. I stare at a blank page on my screen wondering what I’ll write to fill it. I type in the chapter number. I hit the enter key twice, and then tab. Hmmm, do I begin this one with dialogue? Maybe I need to set the scene first. I scratch my head, adjust my chair, walk to the kitchen, and pour another cup of coffee. Sitting in my chair again, I stare at the monitor. My brain screams, “Type something you idiot!”
The quick brown fox…. “Not that. Quit playing around and get to work.” Delete, delete, delete. The air smelled of…of…hmmm, what did it smell of? Was it night? Day? Delete, delete, delete. When he sat up, the strong odor of gasoline assaulted his nose. He moaned. “You’re getting warmer.” Funny. Ha ha. Delete, delete, delete.
The side of his face felt warm, sticky, he knew it was blood. His brain hammered against his skull in time to his heartbeat. At least he had a heartbeat. “I should’ve known better than to follow the dame into a dive like that.” But, she was all curves and….All right now we’re getting somewhere.
Posted in 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, Fiction, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
No nip, tuck, Lasik, or Botox for me
Posted by doggonedmysteries
It seems that most of the commercials on TV are to promote remedies for growing older. Some are surgical and others for make up to cover up. What’s so gosh darned wrong with showing your age? There’s beauty in those crows feet and laugh lines. There’s experience behind them, joys and sorrows that only come with growing older.
Yeah, without my glasses I’m as blind as a bat. I know several people who have had Lasik done and of them only one who didn’t have any problems afterwards. I think I’ll keep my glasses. Sure, I could have a tummy tuck, my boobs made perky, and lift my face but I’m happy with me as I am.
Botox my forehead? No thanks. I’ll keep my wrinkles. I’ve earned them. I want to be able move my eyebrows and show some expression. You can’t do a Groucho Marks imitation if you can’t move your eyebrows. Egads, I’ve seen those Botoxed faces and frankly, they scare the hell out of me. Shades of the Stepford Wives. I don’t want to be a Pod Person.
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
We’re getting close to breaking a record
Posted by doggonedmysteries
In June of 1947, a record was set here; 18 inches of rain fell that month. As of earlier this evening, before it began to pour down by the buckets again, we had 13 inches of rain. The month is barely halfway over. At this rate, we’ll be setting a brand new record and I’ll be building that Ark I mentioned in a recent post.
I have a bag of grass seed I’d like to spread over a few thin areas of grass in the yard, but I can’t, it’ll all wash away and my next door neighbor will have my lush lawn, not that she wouldn’t appreciate it. Heck, she’d probably dance for joy. After all, she has all the rich soil from the old vegetable garden that used to be on that side of my yard. Over the years, it’s managed to wander out of my yard and move to hers, leaving us behind, so why not my grass seed too.
Now I think I’ll go measure and saw a cubit or two of gopher wood, gather up some nails, locate some canvas, and find a hammer. Happy sailing everyone.
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, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Pond, Ponds, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Someone stole summer
Posted by doggonedmysteries
It is 51 degrees outside right now and it was only in the mid 60’s today. For heaven’s sake, it’s June! Who stole the summer weather? Where has the warm weather gone? Global warming? Not here. It’s more like Global cooling. This has to be the coolest, wettest June we’ve ever had. Normally we are running our air conditioners at this time of year because it’s too hot for Dear Hubby without them.
Our electric bill should be nice without the use of the AC. But, gosh darn it I want to sit outside in the evening without the need for a light jacket or an umbrella. I like summer. I enjoy sitting out by the pond at night.
I was talking to one of my cousins the other night. He says that they are (in Upper Western NY State) having mosquito problems this year. He told me he just came into the house from the horse pasture and had to walk through clouds of over-sized bloodsuckers. I must remember to pack my mosquito repellent when I go visit them. And from the way it sounds, I’ll need the giant economy sized container.
You know you’re dating yourself when you can remember playing in the DDT spray when the mosquito sprayers came through. Yeah, it’s a wonder that our generation survived.
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, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Giving your readers some credit
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Tonight, I got into a discussion with another mystery writer. (Dave) We both got on a tear about writing too much description. You know the saying, “if you show a shotgun in the first scene then you need to use it somewhere in the story.” I want to believe that my readers have a brain. I want to believe they don’t need a description of every item in a room and so does Dave.
Do you want to bore your readers to tears? You don’t need to tell them that the rug was seven by ten, had a paisley swirl pattern in green and maroon, with a tan border all the way around, and purple fringe at the two ends. That is unless, of course, the rug is a major character in your story.
Don’t tell them (or me) the entire back story of a minor character in twelve paragraphs. Is it important that Harry played with Penny when they were toddlers thirty years ago? Or, can you leave that detail out, because it doesn’t have anything to do with the plot?
Do you absolutely need to tell the entire history of the trolls in your world if they appear but once in the entire book?
Today’s readers want tight plots, fast action, less description, and more involvement in the story. Not an easy thing to deliver I grant you. However, it is something to keep in mind when you are laboring over a description, putting in tiny details that aren’t important to anyone but you.
Posted in My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, comedy, Craft of writing, Doggoned, Fiction, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Mindless Monday
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I think I’ve lost my mind. Sometime while I was getting the dinner dishes done, cleaning Gavin’s ears, thinking about my dentist appointment tomorrow afternoon, and trying to figure out what to post tonight, my mind wandered off by itself and hasn’t returned. I’m betting it’s going to be one of THOSE days when I wake up.
We had sun so I worked in the yard again. The ground is so wet that it made weed pulling easy. We had such a pounding rain last night that I had to tie up some of my flowers and trim others back. My Cranesbill was completely flattened and looked as though someone had placed an anvil on it. I had to trim that way back. I was glad I’d taken the time to trim back my huge baby breath plant a week ago or it would’ve been flattened too.
If it rains tomorrow, I think I’ll curl up with a good book after I get home from the dentist and relax.
Posted in Misc, My blog, my garden
Tags: 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, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Pond, Ponds, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Building an Ark in the basement ala Gibbs
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Lately we’ve had so much rain that I’ve been thinking it’d be a good idea to build a mini Ark in the basement. I wonder if I could get some tips from NCIS’s Gibbs?
“Hey Gibbs, I think it’s time to build an Ark.”
Gibbs throws me that baleful look he’s so good at giving. “”That’s 300 cubits by 50 cubits. Your basement won’t hold it. And for heaven’s sake don’t ask me what the hell a cubit is.”
“Okay, so I didn’t mean a full sized Ark I meant a mini-Ark. It only needs to hold Dear Hubby, me, and the dogs.”
Gibbs whacks the back of my head. “Next time say what you mean.”
I rub my head and glare back at him. “So where do I buy gopher wood?”
“You don’t.”
“Will you at least help me with the plans?”
“I have other plans. I’ve a murder to solve. Make your own.”
“But, I’m clueless.”
“So am I, but I’ll solve the crime. Will you build your Ark?”
“Hold on, I’m getting a clue.”
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, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Fish, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Pond, Ponds, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Commando trained weeds take over the gardens
Posted by doggonedmysteries
We actually had sunshine today. What a lovely change from the last several dreary, rainy days. The pups were ecstatic about being able to go for a walk, so was I for that matter. We don’t walk a long distance but we do it at a brisk pace. Both the dogs and I are panting when we finish.
After the walks, I was in the gardens weeding for hours again. Geez, I can’t get ahead of them no matter how hard I try. They must be commando trained. I get one area weeded and those darned weeds sneak over to another one and laugh at me. They can’t grow that tall in such a short time, can they?
My leather gardening gloves have holes in the finger tips I guess it’s time to buy some new ones. I can’t use those cotton ones because we have some prickery weeds that can bite through them.
After a day of weeding, I can tell I’m getting older. My knees, hands, and back ache. At least that’s the only time I feel my age.
I added some pictures to my pond and garden page today. I took them the other day in between rain storms. I hope you enjoy them.
Posted in Dog related, Misc, My blog, my garden
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, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Pond, Ponds, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Writing with your senses
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I’ve been re-reading my Tony Hillerman books for about the hundredth time. That man sure could paint scenery and put you into it with his words. As writers, we sometimes forget to use all the five senses when we’re writing. Sure, we can write scene after scene and use one or two of the senses, but we do forget there are five we can utilize.
In one paragraph, Hillerman could make you see, hear, smell, touch, and even taste the surroundings he created. I envy his skill and strive to sharpen mine.
I keep a paper hanging by my monitor and written on it are these questions, what does the character see? Hear? Smell? Feel? Taste? It’s a constant reminder to me to utilize the senses to draw my readers deeper into the story.
I find that all my favorite authors manage to draw me in by use of the senses. Whether I’m reading mysteries, fantasies, or suspense novels it’s the use of the common, the simple things one forgets to use, that draws me in the fastest.
What draws you deeper into a story?
Posted in My blog, My books, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
The great robin rescue
Posted by doggonedmysteries
First, let me get this straight. I don’t like heights. I don’t like to climb ladders, cliffs, or tall fire towers. I occasionally will still climb trees but I feel more secure in them than I do on a ladder.
Today when I took Patty out I heard a fluttering in the top of the magnolia tree. I didn’t think anything of it. Then I took Gavin out and heard it again. This time I looked up. There, high in the tree was a robin dangling on a string from a small branch. I’m a real softy when it comes to creatures in trouble but for the life of me, I couldn’t quite figure out how I was going to save this bird. He was awful high up in the tree.
“Hmm, ladder? Oh, crap I hate ladders and Dear Hubby is asleep so I can’t ask him to stand there and hold it steady for me.”
The poor bird flapped frantically.
“Okay, I’ll get the ladder.” I dragged the step ladder off the porch and climbed up to the top. Knees shaking, hands sweating. “No way I can reach you. Now what? Broom?” Climbed down the ladder. Climbed back up the ladder. Tried the broom—not even close. “Well, crap. Maybe the long pole branch cutter.” Long, poled, very, heavy branch cutter that could easily knock me off kilter. Don’t forget I’m also a klutz. There I am with the long pole balanced against a tree branch so I can climb the dreaded ladder. The robin is still dangling and watching me with trepidation. I slowly make my way up the ladder, reach for the cutter, and haul it up. Next comes the hard part. (As if all of this wasn’t difficult enough.) I now have to extend this 8 foot long, very heavy pole with a cutter on the end up above my head and try not to hit the now panicking, wildly wing flapping robin.
My plan was to cut the small branch as near to his foot as I could. (If I didn’t over balance and fall off the ladder.) I eased the cutter closer to the crazed bird. I hooked it onto the branch and suddenly the bird was flapping downward. I hadn’t cut the branch but somehow managed to clip the string. I eased the cutter down to the ground, rested it against a low branch, and climbed off the ladder. I was glad to be on solid ground, though from the way it looked not nearly as glad as the robin. Once he caught his breath, he shot out of the yard like a red and brown arrow.
Posted in Misc, My blog, my garden
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, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
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