Blog Archives
Clutter, chaos, treasures, and weight loss
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Here I am exhausted after another day of digging through the clutter and chaos that is my MIL’s house. We found three huge lard cans filled with old china. I was able to identify the one set as Mojen MJN4. The twenty-two karat gold rim on each item is exquisite. I have no room to store it. Therefore, with the china and few other pieces I am building quite a vanload of items to take to the nearest antique shop.
I’ll have to examine the other set closer to find the identifiers. It was sheer luck that I remembered the first one’s manufacturer and was able to look it up when I got home.
G is finding that our work over at the house has provided another advantage. She lost a pound from all the work we did on Wednesday and is hoping that today’s work has the same results.
Posted in Misc
Tags: Antique china, Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, old china patterns, Post A Day, Writer, Writing
Has your writing become a cliché?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
At times, I enjoy reading cozies but I no longer am fond of the ‘cooking’ type of cozy. I find that when they end a chapter with a recipe that it jars one out of the story. I noticed that more and more ‘cooking mystery’ authors are doing too much of that of late. It destroys the flow for me. I see nothing wrong with putting all the recipes at the end of the book.
The fact is the entire premise has become a tired cliché. This makes me wonder how many other cozy styles have wandered down the same path.
How did Dame Agatha manage to keep her wonderful Miss Marple fresh and believable in all those books? Why is it that I can reread those books many times and still enjoy them and yet some of the more modern writers’ books are a once and done?
I hope that once my books are out there my readers will have the courage to tell me if they grow tired of my characters.
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Writer, Writing
Yes, I talk to myself when I shop
Posted by doggonedmysteries
They say you should never go grocery shopping when you’re hungry. I’m always hungry when I go shopping.
I take my handy dandy little shopping list and try to stick to it. Of course, there’s always those one or two or three items I remember I am out of and they do go into my cart.
“Hmm, chocolate pudding, don’t have any must need some.” Into the cart it goes. “How about eggs do we need eggs? I forgot to put those on the list but I’m fairly certain we are almost out of them.” Eggs go into the cart.
“What the heck is this now? I can’t read his handwriting. Is that White Out? I’m not at an office supply store for heaven’s sake—oh yeah it’s that stuff MT. Dew makes. Okay got it.” I load a carton onto the bottom of the cart.
“Peanut butter.” I snag a jar from the shelf and toss it into the cart. “Crap, do we need bread? I don’t have it on my list. There might be some in the spare fridge.” My cart is quite full by then. “Oh, well if we do need some I can always do a quick trip later.”
Posted in Misc
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Writer, Writing
Yippee the snow is melting!
Posted by doggonedmysteries
You can now see patches of mud and grass in the yard. We still have snow left but at least it is going away. Today we’re supposed to have record warm temperatures so that should melt a lot more off. I’d be VERY happy to see it all gone.
Since we hit 66 degrees yesterday afternoon, I was outside with the dogs without having to wear a jacket. Those of you in the south probably think I’m nuts. However, I have actual blood running through my veins and am quite comfortable. (Okay, I slapped myself for that comment, are you happy?)
The pups loved all the sunshine that streamed in through the kitchen window and they both wrangled with each other to get the prime sunny spot in which to doze.
Y’all have a good day!
Posted in Weather related
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Writer, Writing
Will we ever get finished?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
We were finally able to get back into the MIL’s house to work on clearing things out again yesterday. The snow has melted enough over there that we can park in front of the house. After five hours, my car held another huge load for Goodwill and some treasures for G and me.
We piled five more loaded garbage bags out by the curb. The house looks as though we’ve done nothing. I am beginning to wonder if we’ll ever get all the stuff out of the house before the nursing home takes it.
G and I were so tired when we left we were dragging. I have to go back on Sunday to put out the recycling cans that we completely filled. Then I’ll load my van again. We left stuff in the living room all separated into keep, give to Goodwill, and ask-anyone-if-they-want-this piles. And we only worked on ONE bedroom!
My next magical trick will be to find some strong backs and weak minds to move furniture. I’m bringing a bedroom set, a desk, and a sofa home. (Which means I need to get rid of one sofa bed and a futon.) I don’t love her sofa but it is in better shape than my sofa bed.
Posted in Misc
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Writer, Writing
Scottish Deerhound takes Westminster
Posted by doggonedmysteries
As soon as we saw Hickory walk into the best in show ring DH and I both said, “There’s the winner.” We were right. She was the perfect example of the Scottish deerhound standard. Her movement was breath taking.
Our hearts will always belong to the terrier group, especially Bull Terriers, but we know a good dog when we see one. Hickory stood out a little above the rest of the competition.
Congratulations to Hickory, her breeders, owners, and especially her brilliant handler. Three cheers for the first time ever Westminster best in show win for a Scottish deerhound.
Posted in Dog related
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Pets, Post A Day, Rescue Dogs, Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Writer, Writing
Slow minutes vs. fast minutes
Posted by doggonedmysteries
We all know what these are. We’ve all suffered through the slow ones and wondered where the time has gone on the fast ones. Off the top of my head, here are some examples.
Waiting for a school bell to ring signaling the end of a school day—slow minutes. Watching the clock at the end of a workday—slow minutes. Isn’t this day ever going to end? Waiting for the coffee to heat in the microwave—slow minutes. Coffee, I need coffee.
Watching a well-acted and exciting movie—fast minutes. Is it over already? You sit down to read an interesting book and before you know it a voice asks, “Are you cooking dinner any time soon tonight?” —fast minutes. Oops.
You sit in an emergency room waiting for news, good or bad—slow minutes.
Taking a test, filling in all those little circles before a voice says, “close your books”—fast minutes.
A child trying to fall to sleep on Christmas Eve—very slow minutes.
How about it, can you think of more?
Posted in Misc
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Writer, Writing
I said I’d think about it
Posted by doggonedmysteries
“Aw, please oh please oh please!” My muse pleadingly raised her hands in the air.
“You have to be kidding. You really want me to drag that old book out and work on it?”
“Why not? It’s been years since you’ve even looked at it. I bet you can do a quick rewrite and have it in top form in no time.” She hopped up from the chair she’d sprawled in and patted my shoulder.
“But why?”
“I think people will like your heroine. They’re ready for her now. She’s no angel, she’s tough, her language isn’t very pretty but she has something.”
“I dunno, all those rejections later, I don’t know if I’m ready for more, at least not on that book.”
My muse flopped back into the chair and swung her legs over the arm. “Will you at least think about it?”
“I’ll think about it.”
Posted in My books, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Writer, Writing
I sooo need this!
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Posted in My blog, my garden, Weather related
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Gardens, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Writer, Writing
Escaping cabin fever
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I finally have my car back on the road. We had to buy two new tires to do it but at this point, I don’t care. I’m just happy to have Casper the van up and running. Nothing makes cabin fever worse than not having a vehicle to use and feeling truly stuck in the house.
We couldn’t even put the spare on the van for quite a while with the weather so iffy and all that ice. The day before yesterday a couple of our neighbors helped DH do that. Yesterday morning while I slept, DH drove the van over to a friend’s tire store and had the work done.
I shall go gallivanting today and make up for lost time.
Posted in Misc
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Writer, Writing
Update on the gas explosion
Posted by doggonedmysteries
The news was grim. Four adults and an infant died in the explosion. G and I knew the elderly couple that died in the first house. We’d often walked past and complimented them on their lovely garden. They lived there at least as long as we’ve lived in our homes.
Eight homes were lost in the fires that followed the explosion. Twenty-four homes suffered damage. Having been through the aftermath of a fire in the house next door to us and the subsequent smoke damage our home suffered I truly sympathize with these people.
The town has rallied to make certain these people have support, shelter, clothing, and other needs taken care of at this time. Donations are pouring in and I do hope it is enough. Some of these people were renters and had no insurance. It is heart rending to know that they’ve lost everything.
Posted in Misc
Tags: Allentown Pennsylvania, Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Explosion, Family, Fiction, Gas explosion, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Writer, Writing
Gas explosion rocks the town
Posted by doggonedmysteries
At ten forty-five last night I thought my porch roof had fallen off. The entire house shook. I soon realized that it was an explosion a few blocks from our home. It isn’t the first one this city has had in the 37 years I’ve been in this home.
From the end of our street, you can see a huge cloud of smoke which at three a.m., has yet to dissipate since the houses are still burning. So far, eight homes are lost and sixteen are in danger. Two people are missing. I believe they were residents of the house that blew up taking the others in its wake.
The firefighters are still battling to control the blaze but can’t get in close enough to save the homes because of the live gas lines. Many homes and a high-rise for the elderly in the surrounding area were evacuated.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Gas explosion, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Writer, Writing
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