Blog Archives
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
What do you do with an uncooperative character?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I’m having difficulty with one of my characters. He doesn’t seem to be working as well as I hoped he would. However, the story falls flat without him since he is an important character. Now comes the time either to lose him or fix him. This is not an easy decision.
What would you do if you have a character that doesn’t seem quite right? Do you rewrite him numerous times to fix him or do you continue plodding on with the story and hope that you can go back and fix him later?
I’m not certain if he needs to be meaner or if he’s mean enough but I haven’t quite caught his character. I can’t seem to get into his head enough.
How do you get into a character’s head? I haven’t had problems with this when I write other characters, so why does this one elude me?
I feel as if I’m spending time banging my head against the wall.
Posted in My blog, My books, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Fiction, Life, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
There was no blueberry feasting at our house
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I’ve been hunting up recipes for things to do with blueberries. I’m dreaming that next year we’ll have some to harvest from the bushes. My cousin gave me some much needed information on how to get them to produce. He told me to add peat moss, iron sulfate, and plenty of mulch to the soil around them. Next time I at Home Depot, or Lowes I’ll make sure to pick up what I need.
The bushes looked puny this year and didn’t produce enough fruit especially with the cat bird making raids on the bushes. Danged bird would look right at me, make his mewling noise, grab a blueberry, and fly away. He beat me to every ripe berry.
The only blueberries I had this year were the ones I picked and brought home from my Aunt’s place. The first thing I did was to make us a lovely batch of blueberry pancakes. Next year, if my bushes produce like the ones at my Aunt’s place, I’ll have enough to share with the blasted bird without missing out.
I’m thinking about all this because I have to start now if I want the bushes to be in good shape next year.
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, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
A do nothing day
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Today was a very good day to do nothing. According to the weather reports, tomorrow will also be a great day to sit inside in the AC. I don’t do air conditioned ‘nothing’ very well. I get restless and I want to be outside. Gavin was content to sit with me in the chair and even relaxed on his back alongside me. Patty preferred the couch away from body heat.
Dear Hubby’s mother picked today of all days to ask him to run some errands for her. What the hell? She waits until the hottest day we’ve had so far this year to ask him. I swear she does this on purpose.
Given that this is a do nothing day, this will be a short post too. Tomorrow I’ll spend another day inside in the AC with DH and the pups since it’s going to be hotter.
Posted in Misc, MS related, My blog
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
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
We will have to buy some mulch
Posted by doggonedmysteries
The poor pups had a late dinner tonight and they certainly let me know they were not thrilled it was late. Gavin scolded me as I washed and refilled the water dishes. This ritual marks dinner time in his eyes. Patty ran from the kitchen to the living room several times. There she’d sit in front of her dish stand for a second before returning to join Gavin in sassing me. What does this have to do with buying mulch you ask?
I finally cleared the mulch pile from the driveway today. I moved seven wheel barrow loads of wet mulch. I mulched the entire side garden, half of the garden under the Tulip poplar, and a bit of the back garden along the fence. I didn’t finish until after seven and that’s why the dogs were disgusted with me.
I figure we’ll need to buy about five bags worth of mulch to cover the parts of the gardens that I didn’t cover today. Unless, the neighbor’s son just happens to have another truck load of mulch to get rid of, of course.
Tired doesn’t begin to describe how I feel. My legs burn, my back is sore, but I’m happy. Tomorrow I’ll clean the house…yeah, sure like that’s going to happen.
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, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pond, Ponds, Writer, Writing
Coffee and a good book
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I spent a quiet couple of hours at our local Borders today. I stopped in the café, ordered a large coffee and a blueberry scone. I then sat at a table, read Donna Andrews’ Cockatiels at Seven, sipped my coffee, and munched my scone. It was a pleasant way to spend some time. I needed a break and Dear Hubby needed some alone time too.
Although we love each other dearly, there are times when you feel as if you are constantly tripping over each other. Since I was too sick to go to my critiquing group when they met last, I needed to get out a bit today. One of my greatest pleasures is browsing through the book store, treating myself to a new book, coffee, and a light snack.
Usually I buy more than one book when I stop in at Borders but today was a one book day. The guy at the register knows me, and he almost dropped his teeth to see me buy only one book.
I told him, “I’m getting off cheap today.”
Geez, you’d think I’d slapped his mother with the look he gave me. I’ll be back next Thursday, cut me a break here.
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, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
So it isn’t energy efficient…
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I had a scare the other day. We keep our 36 year old refrigerator on the back porch and it’s great for handling the over flow from the new one in the kitchen. Dear Hubby uses it to stash his Pepsi so we don’t have all those cans taking up space in the kitchen fridge. Well, it seems that it wasn’t cold. All I could think about was what am I going to do without the extra refrigerator? EEKS!
I was upset. We are used to the luxury of two refrigerators. The one in the kitchen isn’t big and there’s no space for a large one anyway. The old fridge isn’t huge either, nor is it energy efficient, but I don’t care. So shoot me. I like having the extra space to put things that need to be kept cold. It’s great for stashing that huge bowl of potato salad I make for summer picnics and for holiday over flow from my neighbors. What was I to do without it? What were WE going to do without it?
Thank goodness, Dear Hubby came to the rescue. He may not be able to do many things as he used to but he was able to get the old Coppertone Sears Kenmore fridge running again. HURRAH!!!
Posted in Misc
Tags: Author, 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
Ahhh, fresh tomatoes
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Our Big Boy tomatoes are beginning to ripen. I picked some today. At that point, dinner became a no brainer, we had BLTs, and they were wonderful! There’s nothing quite as good as fresh home grown tomatoes. We’ve been munching on the grape and plum tomatoes for weeks now. In fact, so have the damned squirrels. We’ve been finding half eaten ones all over the yard.
I’ve been keeping my eye on a couple of huge Big Boys on the vine in the side garden. They are growing to twice the size of the potted tomato plants alongside the house. Those will be one slice a sandwich tomatoes. I guess I’d better stock up on bacon.
I think that next year I’ll plant the same number of tomato plants but I’ll do a pot of a variety of lettuces too. My neighbor did it and it turned out quite nice since the rabbits couldn’t get to it. The Romaine lettuce, that I planted in the pot with the grape and plum tomatoes, has long since gone to seed but it sure was good early on.
We love fried green tomatoes too so we always hope to have plenty of green tomatoes left at the end of the season. Dear Hubby had never had them before he married me. Now it’s something he looks forward to having in the fall.
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, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
The green stalker
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I have a stalker. It seems I can’t weed the gardens now without feeling as though I’m being watched. Yes, that creepy sensation of eyes boring into your back that makes you turn to see who it is. Slowly I turn and, and, and….
GAH! He has webbed feet and a green complexion. It’s Goliath Frog. He’s crept up behind me and is waiting for me to toss him some worms. I can’t go anywhere near the gardens now without his sudden appearance near me. Yes, I’ve told him I won’t kiss him, I’ve already found my prince.
The idea of a stalker frog cracks up Dear Hubby. I’ve had to prove it to him. This man knows that bull frogs are smart — he told me about them using a dead bird as bait for a fly feast. Yeah, I know. How gross!
I’ve seen them stalk and catch starlings. We now have six big bullfrogs and three medium sized ones. However, Goliath makes the five other large frogs look small. I’m hoping that one day we can find tadpoles for the pond that will produce small frogs. I’m tired of relocating bullfrogs.
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pond, Ponds, Writer, Writing
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