Blog Archives
No Facebook, thank you
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I have enough things draining my time. The last thing I need is something else. Lately it seems everyone and their brother is sending me ‘join me at Facebook or____, you fill in the blank’ notices. I’m here to tell all of you who have sent me these requests that I love you but no, I don’t want to join.
I seldom chat online any more as many of my friends have noticed. Managing my time has become a difficult enough task. I get giddy if I can get dinner on the table before 6:30 p.m. Dear Hubby never complains although I’ve seen him look longingly at the kitchen when I’m typing away on one of my books.
The only ones who complain if their dinner is late are the dogs. If I don’t start fixing their dinners by 5p.m. I get all sorts of grief from Gavin. He starts by poking me with his nose and if that doesn’t get my attention he barks at me until I look at the clock and realize his tummy alarm has gone off. Thank goodness, Patty stands back and lets him do the bitching although there have been days where she will nudge me a bit too.
Posted in Dog related, Misc, My blog
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, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, 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
My turn!
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Since Gavin wrote the post yesterday, Mom said it was my turn today. My name is Patty; I’m the lovely dark princess in the picture above. Mom says I’m no princess I’m a Peppermint Patty I have no idea what she’s talking about when she says things like that ‘cause I know I’m a princess. Daddy says I am his rescued Rumanian princess. I love my Mommy too but she cleans ears and stuff so I’d rather sit with Dad.
When I went outside tonight, I chased two of those green critters into the pond. They both screamed and hopped so high I thought they were birds taking off. I couldn’t help chasing the first one he was sitting right at the bottom step. I surprised him as much as he surprised me. Halfway to the pond the other one screamed and took off so then I had two of them bouncing green things in front of me. I was so excited! That is I was until they splashed into the pond. I don’t like to get wet so all I could do was try to see where they went. Mom said they hide under the water with the fishes and can stay there for a long time so I should stop looking and come in.
I told Gavin about the green critters that Mom calls bullfrogs. He says he’s heard them scream and splash into the water but never saw one close enough to chase it. I beat him on that one!
Posted in Dog related, 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, 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
We are one step ahead of the squirrels in the great tomato war
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Gavin here, Mom said I could write the blog tonight. Boy is Mom completely ticked off at the squirrels. Tree rats she calls them. While Patty and I were enjoying the AC, it seems that those sneaky critters went and built a nest in her magnolia tree. Then they started stealing tomatoes and had the nerve to sit on her bench by the back door and eat them!
Patty says she could scare them off if only she could climb the tree. We’ve both tried but we don’t have any cat blood in us so it didn’t work. The danged old tree rat laughed at us but then so did Mom. Now that it’s cooler outside we’re patrolling the yard more often.
The tree rat cusses at us from the top of the magnolia. Patty and I pretend we can’t hear him and maybe he’ll come closer.
Dad says it’s time to get out the have-a-heart traps again. He said something about relocating the fluffy tailed rats. I don’t know what relocating means but I growled about it at the squirrel tonight.
Posted in Dog related, My blog
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, 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
Never tell anyone who your tomato overflow person is…
Posted by doggonedmysteries
We planted five tomato plants. The counters and fridge are teeming with tomatoes. I have several neighbors who put in at least a dozen plants, no wonder they have so many.
Our tomatoes are coming in faster than greyhounds after a rabbit and so are all the neighbors’. Neighbors are scrambling to get rid of them and they are all getting the same response, “I already have a ton of tomatoes.”
I’ve made salsa, tomato sauce, and relish. We’ve had so many BLTS that they are coming out our ears. (I’m not complaining I love BLTs.) I have two people I give my overflow to before the harvest fills every shelf of the fridge and my entire counter top. Shhh, don’t tell anyone but my next door neighbor and my MIL are our tomato people. They welcome our surplus with glee. Dear Hubby takes a basket of grape tomatoes and a couple of the Big Boys over to his mom once a week. My next door neighbor has Big Boy tomatoes whenever she desires them.
When other neighbors complain that have no one left to give their tomatoes to I suggest taking them to the soup kitchens.
Posted in 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, Writer, Writing
Will multiple sidekicks work?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
With each book I write, Linnie’s sidekick could be the same. However, I think it might work to use a different one in each subsequent book. I have several characters who are clamoring for the job. In Doggoned Dead, there’s Perry. In Doggoned Bullseye, I think one of the other characters would work better. In Doggoned Bones, her cousin seems to fit the bill.
What do you think? In a series mystery, does it matter to you if the sidekick changes according to the storyline? I won’t mix and match several in one book I don’t think that would work.
Why am I writing a mystery series? I love reading them. I enjoy getting to know the characters. The idea of picking up a book that has a familiar set of characters appeals to me.
Do you read mystery series? What do like best about a mystery series? What turns you off? Come on people, let me hear your opinions.
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, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, 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
We’re having a heat wave
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Oh yeah, it looks as though we’re going to have a heck of one. Today was hot, humid, and too much for the dogs and Dear Hubby. Tomorrow is supposed to be hotter and so on for the next week or so. I don’t mind the heat, but DH and the dogs do. The three wimps will stay inside in the AC as much as they possibly can.
Gavin will only go out if his bladder is screaming. Patty will go out whenever you want her to but she’s at the door to come in, in an instant. They’d never survive living in the south. This is fine with me I have no plans to move south. However, I’d love to send this weather back there where it belongs.
I’m no Southern belle. I’ve lived in the south and I prefer to stay in the north. I love the change of seasons. Sure, I’ll complain about the winter snow but the worst snow and a million bucks couldn’t move me south. Sorry, my southern friends I’m a Yankee through and through and can’t change.
Posted in Dog related, 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, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Heat, humidity, and MS
Posted by doggonedmysteries
We had a couple of days where we didn’t need to turn on the AC. It was nice to have the house opened and all that fresh air. However, the temperature has climbed again, as well as the humidity, and the AC is back on. One of the most unfortunate things about Dear Hubby’s MS is how the warm weather affects him.
He used to enjoy being outside during the warm weather. Now he can’t take it. Only a few minutes outside on a hot and humid day and his legs weaken to the point of collapse. His pain triples and he is exhausted.
It’s during this sort of weather that he becomes most depressed. Yes, he’s on antidepressants. They help some. The pups try to help by doing everything they can to make him laugh. I swear they do. Tonight Patty was hucklebutting it on the couch and had him laughing. Once she’d acquired that reaction, she then jumped up on his chair and settled down next to him. I’ve never seen a more self satisfied look on a dog’s face. Gavin had joined in on her session by racing back and forth from the living room to the kitchen. When she stopped so did he. He crawled under DH’s foot rest for a nap.
Posted in Dog related, MS related
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, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Is there a decent program for my needs?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I just spent way too many hours trying to put together a photo slide show of my cousin’s wedding. Only to find that the program I have on my computer won’t burn the slide show onto a DVD.
If I want to do that, I have to buy the program–well gee whiz, Batman, I thought I did when it was installed in my computer. Yep, it pays to read the fine print.
So, here’s what I’m looking for: a program that makes it easy for me to turn digital photos into a slide show and will burn them onto a DVD. I’d also like to be able to add music to the slide show too.
Any ideas people? Do you know of a suitable program?
Posted in Misc
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, digital photos, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing
Was it idiot day today?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I set my alarm so I wouldn’t sleep the entire day away today. I knew I had to run over to the vet’s office to pick up heartworm pills for the dogs. I think I would’ve been better off staying in bed.
It seems that every idiot in this city was out. As I left my neighborhood, two kids darted out in front of my car from between two parked vans. I slammed on the brakes and singed my headliner with a few choice words.
As I arrived at the first street light, I watched some fool make a right turn on red directly in front of an oncoming car. Idiot number three. I do believe I saw smoke come out of the ears of the driver of the oncoming car who had the right of way. At the next light, a woman, without looking, threw open her door and stepped out of her car directly in front of the car that was ahead of me. We both slammed on our brakes. She had the nerve to glare at the driver.
I wasn’t even halfway to the vet’s office when I’d witnessed idiot number four’s dumb act. By this time, I was considering turning around and going home. Had it not been that the dogs needed to take their heartworm pills today I would have. With only five blocks to go, I continued on my way.
Idiot number five was talking on his cell phone and ran a red light nearly taking out a car in front of me. Yep, I slammed the brakes on again. I think I need a new headliner mine is looking a bit scorched.
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, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
August already?!
Posted by doggonedmysteries
It’s hard to believe that it’s August already. This summer has swooped past at top speed. We were lucky that for the most part the weather was mild. However, that does make one wonder what this winter will be like.
My gardens are now full of marigolds from last year’s seed heads, red sage, purple Echinacea, multicolored snap dragons, and the mums are beginning to bloom. As I dead head flowers, I have a habit of dropping the seeds from all my annuals right onto the ground. I have been lucky to have the flowers return each year. It saves me a fortune since I haven’t had to buy these annuals for several years now.
I spent several hours weeding the pond garden and trimming back the Lizard Tail in the pond. The Lizard Tail is in a pot on a shelf in the pond. It was getting huge and taking up a lot of space both in and out of the pond.
The Koi seem happy that I trimmed back the Lizard Tail but I think the frogs are upset that they lost some hiding places. They’ll get over it.
Posted in My blog, my garden, 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, Koi, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Pond, Ponds, Writer, Writing
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