Blog Archives
Thank you Chuck!
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I have to thank Chuck for coming over and getting the furnace at the MIL’s house to run properly. The man is one hell of a great friend! I was afraid we were going to have to call someone in and pay through the nose to have it done.
In spite of disabling pain from breaking his back–not once but twice, Chuck came down, found the problem, and corrected it. Thereby saving us a bundle. (Take a bow Chuck, you earned it!)
Posted in Misc
Tags: Author, Best friends, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, friends, friendships, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, old friends, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
Finding fresh ideas
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Fishing season began today without us. We never go for the first week or so. There’s too many first timers around. After a couple of weeks they soon get bored and find other things to do, which leaves the river banks clearer for those of us who enjoy going all the time.
I look forward to sitting on the riverbank and daydreaming or bird watching while my hook awaits the nibble of a fish. It gives my brain time to relax and that helps stir up the writing urge. Since it’s been a long time that we’ve gone fishing, I’m hoping for some fresh ideas.
I carry a notebook and pen along with me to write down things I see, hear, smell, and even the taste. There’s nothing like the taste of a picnic lunch along the river. Another bonus I’ve found is that there’s never a shortage of characters along a riverbank.
Posted in Misc, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, fishing, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
You have to spend money to make money
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I am here to tell you that it is true. The only way we’ll make a dime selling the MIL’s house is by sinking more into it now. The cheapest thing we’ll do is paint every room.
The most expensive things will be putting tile flooring in the bathroom and kitchen. The toilet and sink need replacing and so does the medicine cabinet. Then we must do something about the back of the house. A deck would be nice but I think we’ll only be putting in steps to go up to the sun porch above the garage.
Then there’s that all important curb appeal. I’ll have to do some gardening over there putting in some brightly colored flowers, which will help the outside look nicer. The handicapped ramp needs power washing and a good stain. There’s a lot of trimming needed on shrubbery in the front and back yards and I know someone who we can hire to do that. If I’m lucky, I can get a discount. The lower areas of the house need new stucco and we already spoke to our neighborhood roofer about repairing the garage roof and inspecting the rest.
All of the above comes AFTER we clear out the house. We’re getting closer to that day.
Posted in Misc
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Home, Home improvement, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
Out like a lion
Posted by doggonedmysteries
At least the flowers are trying to bloom. Goodbye March!
Posted in my garden
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
The treasures keep popping up
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Yesterday we uncovered another treasure. Under a pile of stuff in the basement, we found a first edition James A. Michener ‘Report of the County Chairman’ with a dated autograph. We weren’t really working down there. We took a friend down to check out a few things he wanted to buy.
With the friend’s help, we were able to put Grandpop’s mattress and box spring out on curb for the garbage. This means that one bedroom is almost completely empty. All that remains in there are the dresser and armoire I am keeping and an antique radio that I need to find a home.
We lifted the rug to see what the hardwood floor was like underneath it and it looks to be good shape.
G collected a ton of wire hangers and put them in a recycling bin to go out on Sunday while I worked on garbage detail, and filled several bags. We are making progress!
Posted in Misc
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, James Michener, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
Today and yesterday
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Off again today to do more work on the MIL’s house. We hope to clear another bedroom. Sunday we took down all the curtains except for one window in the living room and about died from the dust. With the curtains gone, the rooms are much brighter. There are blinds to keep nosy neighbors from peering in to see what we’re doing. Unfortunately, we couldn’t take down the curtains in the living room because there are no blinds behind them.
I put ribs in the crock-pot so when I get home we should have a tasty meal ready and waiting. All I’ll need to do is whip up some side dishes.
DH had his MRIs yesterday and we’ll hear about the results when the neurologist let’s us know. After spending that much time at the hospital, he was shot for the rest of the day. Gavin and Patty seemed to sense this and behaved themselves…for a change.
I’d stayed up to make certain he got off okay for his early morning appointment, and to take care of the dogs’ morning routine. Didn’t get to sleep until after nine a.m. and slept until almost three in the afternoon.
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, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
DH needs to relearn how to relax
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Staying up to make sure DH is awake and out to his MRI appointments this morning. His new neurologist feels that he needs them since it’s been a while since he had any done. His first one is scheduled for 8 a.m. and the second for nine. He had trouble sleeping since he knew he HAD to get up. I hope the MRIs prove helpful.
Yesterday he forgot his morning medications and had trouble walking as a result. He told me that once he remembered to take them it wasn’t long before his gait improved.
Saturday, fishing season begins here and I hope to have both of our licenses soon after so I can get him out of the house. He needs fresh air, sunshine, and something to do that he enjoys. He needs to relax. I can set him up at a decent fishing spot, take a power walk, and then join him. I’m picturing many picnics beside the rivers in our future. This is something we haven’t had time to do over the last three years with his mother’s poor health.
Posted in MS related
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
It is colder than a brass brassiere in the arctic
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Dang, it’s 2 a.m. and the dogs want out. It is COLD out there! The pups don’t care they want out when they want out. I need a cup of coffee to take the chill off. This isn’t spring it feels like freaking winter. I’m glad I didn’t put the winter jacket, gloves, and hat away.
I’m also glad we haven’t removed the pond heater yet because I think if had, there’d be ice on it. It wouldn’t be so bad if there were no wind. It felt like below zero out there.
I really, really, really want the warm weather to get here. Now. Not later. (Shut up, Dave. You had your winter now I want WARM weather.)
Time for that coffee.
Posted in Dog related, Weather related
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
Another Sunday of clearing the house
Posted by doggonedmysteries
G and I are off to the MIL’s house again this afternoon. We’re taking along another recycling bin in hopes of getting rid of most of the plastic, glass, and metal stuff upstairs today. No, we haven’t even begun to think about all the stuff in the basement or garage yet. We both dread those jobs.
I am looking forward to the day that we are down to bare floors and get working on the fix ups we need to do over there.
We have some people coming over to check out the electronics—I hope they want them. I have no idea what to do with them.
Posted in Misc
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, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
From where does your inspiration come?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Now that’s a question I’ve heard many times. It isn’t an easy one to answer. My writing inspiration can come from a well-turned phrase in an overheard conversation. It may come from something I see in a newspaper that makes me wonder ‘what if?’
Your neighbor hauls five heavy bags of garbage to the curb. What goes through your mind? My mystery-twisted mind wonders if he cut up a body and is disposing of it.
Scenes run through my head all the time. Unfortunately, lately they don’t seem to make it to my computer. This too shall pass as things settle down around here.
Now it’s your turn. What inspires your writing?
Tags: Artistic inspiration, 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, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writer Resources, Writing, Writing Exercises
I want to be with these two lovely gals
Posted by doggonedmysteries
It’s been a while since I’ve seen all my favorite people and horses. I miss them. These are my cousin’s Arabians. Whenever I visit, I take carrots to the horses every afternoon.
Posted in Misc
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, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
Patty wanted Gavin’s bed tonight
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Poor Patty, since the towel-eating incident she isn’t allowed to have any bedding in her crate. That was a scare and a vet bill I’d rather not have again. Since it was only a year or two ago we still don’t trust her to leave bedding alone.
I put a fresh towel in Gavin’s crate tonight and then I was busy doing something in the kitchen. DH went into the living room to give Patty a cookie but she wasn’t in her crate as he thought. She was in Gavin’s crate checking out the new bedding. She was having quite a good time in there too. We half expected her to steal the towel and take it into her crate. We are betting she had thought about it.
Posted in Dog related
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Crate training, Dead, Disability, Dog crate, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
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