Blog Archives
What makes me smile?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
To hear DH laugh or see him smile brings one to my face and heart. Gavin and Patty playing or squabbling will make me grin. There’s talking to my Aunties and cousins, always a way to put a smile on my face.
Writing makes me smile. Reading a well-turned phrase makes me smile, and then causes me to gnash my teeth, jealous I didn’t write it. Hearing Lenny deliver a great line in Law and Order reruns—Geez, I miss that man’s talented deadpan delivery, may he rest in peace.
More things that make me smile are having a dear friend drop by to visit over coffee. All the fabulous friends I’ve made online.
My yearly writer’s conference—great friends, good food, good wine, a little bit of me time, and wonderful conversations.
Halloween.
Comments on my posts.
What makes you smile?
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
Some who write say:
Posted by doggonedmysteries
“Sit your butt in your chair and write.”
Oh, if only it were that easy.
DH and the dogs vie for my attention especially at mealtime. Four in the afternoon Gavin starts to bug me. He pokes me with his nose, he stares at me, and he bows and barks. Patty dances and sings back up.
“It’s not time yet.”
“What’s for dinner?” DH asks.
“It’s not time yet. Can’t you see I’m trying to work?”
“Oh, I thought it was later.”
“That’s why you have a watch and half a dozen clocks around the house. So that you know what time it is.”
“I figured the dogs knew.”
“The dogs can’t tell time.” I reread what I wrote while he was talking. Hmm, not bad…and then my character can—
“Well, can you tell me what we’re having anyway?”
Typing frantically before I lose my train of thought I snap, “Food, you’ll like it.” I look up and brakes squeal—the train crashes.
I sit back, look heavenward, and the house adds its two cents by waving cobwebs at me from odd places.
Tags: Author, 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
And so begins another year
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I heated a tiny personal pan pizza, opened a small bottle of champagne, and toasted in the New Year alone. This was a first. DH usually celebrates with me.
However, DH had had a rough day, he was in bed and sound asleep by ten. We had a meeting at the nursing home about his mother’s care in the afternoon. After finding out the nursing home had his mother on a full code, we talked to them about putting a DNR on her. This was not an easy decision. We’re both certain that she wouldn’t want to have special measures taken to revive her at this point. We’d discussed this amongst ourselves for years. It’s a quality of life thing. She’s barely there mentally now. She knew all too well how important quality of life is and she, loving her independence as she did, would be rather pissed if any other decision were made and her life prolonged at this stage.
Yesterday was the third anniversary of my mother’s death. It was not a happy day in this house. The day kept reminding me that all of my immediate family is gone. I do thank my lucky stars that I have aunts and cousins that love me and keep in touch.
Posted in In memory of..., 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, New Year, Novel writing, Nursing home, Old age, Writer, Writing
Have a Happy New Year!
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I won’t be posting from now until January 2, so I figured I’d wish you all a Happy New Year now.
If you’re drinking, don’t drive, or, at the very least, please have a designated driver or call a cab. Stay safe I’ll see you all in 2011.
Posted in Holidays
Tags: Author, 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, Writer, Writing
I hope you dance
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Too often, as we grow older we forget the joys and dreams of our youth. I feel it’s time for me to recapture those feelings. Anyone else want to join me?
I’ve taken to dancing with the pups every afternoon. Gavin and Patty love it. It’s undivided attention from Mom. I put on some favorite music and grab some dog cookies and we dance. We dance for the fun of it. We dance for the joy of it. We dance because it makes DH smile. We dance because we can.
It’s not fancy dancing as you see on some of those dancing dog and people videos. It is plain Jane foot tapping silly dancing. Mostly we leap about and act like idiots but it is fun for all of us. It is certainly a lot more fun than going out in the cold.
As for dreams, well I’m still working on my books. I won’t give up them. I only need to have more hours in the days so I can finish them.
Remember to keep the joys and dreams alive. Maybe you too will dance.
Posted in Misc
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Mother Nature gave us a big break
Posted by doggonedmysteries
We were lucky we only got a little over two inches of snow while the major portion of the storm hammered south and east of us. A couple of places in NJ had 28 inches of snow. I’m glad we don’t live there.
It won’t take long for the snow we have to go away. The forecast for the coming week claims rising temperature climbing to fifty degrees by next Monday. Can you say yippee? I sure can.
We did get wind and lots of it. I swear we’ve had more wind this year than I can remember having over the last thirty plus years. At least it’s cleaning the dead wood out of the trees, which is something I hadn’t done this fall.
Neither Gavin nor Patty like the wind or the snow and are quick to be about their business outside. My poor wussy pups. They will be happy when things warm up later this week.
The new heater for the pond is working well, we have very little ice, and that is only where our Pan fountain is running at a weak trickle.
Posted in my garden, 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, Snow, Writer, Writing
Isn’t it spring yet?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Okay, Christmas is over, can we stop with the TV specials and Christmas carols now? After all, they began back in October, and to be honest, I am completely, utterly, and thoroughly sick and tired of them.
We have snow and wind, and more snow. It’s cold. Cabin fever is already starting.
As of now, I am looking forward to Saint Patrick’s Day and spring. I have had enough winter weather in only two days to make me wish for March and the promise of spring.
I am ready to dig in the garden and plant things. I want warm sun and fresh air.
Posted in Holidays, 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, Snow, Writer, Writing
Are you a bad weather survivalist?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
As we on the East Coast batten down the hatches and prepare for our first blizzard of the season, some of us still hold out the hope that the storm turns seaward. Well, at least those of us who are sane do.
The idea of an oncoming blizzard sends some people into a strange frenzy of activity. They panic and become bad weather survivalists. They crowd into the grocery stores.
I know these people. Although they have an unopened gallon of milk in the fridge, they dash to the store to buy five more along with tons of other things they already have. Heaven forbid they don’t buy out the store on paper products.
We have these storms all the time and it may take a day or two for the streets to get plowed but plowed they get. Stores have their lots plowed privately; their doors open ASAP, they want to make a profit.
We’re more of the keep things on hand so we don’t have to make panic runs sort. I hate to shop and shopping in crowds of bad weather survivalists is almost as bad as shopping on black Fridays. I refuse to do it.
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, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Snow, Writer, Writing
Bingle jell pups
Posted by doggonedmysteries
A little after midnight I picked up the leash and the sleigh bell collar. Gavin danced to the front door eager to be off. Patty tried to push ahead of him but I told her she had to wait her turn as I put the collar and leash on him.
After nine years of doing this, Gavin knows our route and he strutted down the street with bells a ringing. He kept to a fast pace, no leisurely stroll for this dog he was all business. An elderly couple got out of their car and wished us a Merry Christmas.
Once we returned to the house, it was Patty’s turn to take another direction. She was as excited as Gavin had been to do her part. We stopped and hid behind a car when I saw the door across the street open at the sound of the bells. I could hear an adult telling the kids inside they’d better hurry to bed because that had to be Santa out there. Squeals of delight followed and then the door closed. Patty and I stepped out from behind the car and continued our jingle bell walk.
Once back in the house, the two dogs leapt about begging for the cookies that they’d earned giving their very special Christmas present to the neighborhood.
Posted in Dog related, Holidays
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Christmas, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Gift, Holidays, Home, Jingle bell, Life, Love, Merry Christmas, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Santa, Santa Claus, Writer, Writing
T’was the night before Christmas…
Posted by doggonedmysteries
That whole business about not a creature is stirring doesn’t hold up in this house. Gavin and Patty will play dogs gone wild sometime after midnight as they do every night lately.
We don’t have a fireplace so there aren’t any stockings hung by the chimney with care.
It isn’t unusual to hear a clatter outside since we do live in the city. You won’t find me leaping out of bed to see what the matter is. However, I may leap up from my desk.
The only sleighbells ringing will be the ones on the dogs when I take them for a late night walk around the neighborhood.
You all have a Merry and a Happy!
Posted in Holidays
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Christmas, Christmas Eve, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Holidays, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Santa Claus, Writer, Writing
Quick, easy, and very tasty no-bake cookie
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I thought I’d post one of my favorite and easiest cookie recipes today. They taste somewhat like a chocolate macaroon.
Aunt Violet’s unbaked cookies
2 cups of sugar
1 stick of margarine (must be margarine butter makes them too soft.)
½ cup of milk
Bring to a boil in a saucepan, mix well so sugar dissolves—cool slightly
Mix together:
1 cup of flake coconut
3 cups of quick oats
4 teaspoons of cocoa
1 teaspoon vanilla
Add all at once to the sugar mixture
Drop by spoonfuls on waxed paper, let set until hardened.
Posted in Food
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Cookie, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Food, gifts, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Glad I wasn’t the only loony outside in the cold
Posted by doggonedmysteries
At two forty one a.m. dressed in a heavy coat, scarf, hat, gloves, and winter boots, I stood outside to watch the lunar eclipse. For a while, I thought I was the only idiot outside in the freezing cold and windswept neighborhood. I stood in my driveway sheltered from most of the wind thinking that all my neighbors had more sense than I did. However, I wasn’t going to miss this. The sky was perfectly clear.
While going inside for another cup of coffee I heard a voice. My next-door neighbor’s son had a camera aimed out their front door focused on the astral show. After I refilled my coffee cup, he joined me outside. It was nice to have company with which to share the event.
We talked and watched the sky. He saw a meteorite streak by to the south but I missed because it my eyes were focused on the moon in the west. His mother came home from her night job and joined us but only for a little while. It was too cold for her.
Posted in Misc, Weather related
Tags: Astronomy, Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, Lunar eclipse, Moon, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Winter solstice, Writer, Writing
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