My Kind of New Year's Eve

The quiet kind!

Tonight, I'll be dressed for a party--in pajamas. Guests include my dogs and cats. Refreshments: one cup of eggnog.

For me, New Year's is a reflective time. I like to think about goals for the coming year, and consider all the blessings and challenges of the one just past.

2007 was the year I became one of those people who say, "When Dad died..." Frankly, I'm still getting used to a world with no Skip Lael in it--never going to happen, probably. Dad was 81, though, and he'd lived his life to the fullest. His death was a natural passage, hard for all of us to bear, but not a tragedy. And sometimes, especially when I'm with the horses, or admiring the cherished saddle my 'little' brother, Jerry, tracked down and gave me for Christmas, I know Dad's near.

On another front--my career--2007 was a marvel. I hit places on the bestseller lists that I'd only dreamed about before. My publisher is excellent, and my readers--well, you're the most loyal crew, and I'm so grateful.

2007 saw the building of my barn, and the staff house next door is well under way. The horses came home--that was a very big thing for me. They were safe and well taken care of in the stable where they stayed--around here, we called it boarding school--but I missed them sorely. My heart catches when I look out and see them in the snowy pasture, so beautiful and majestic.

And there were mundane goals, too. I'd gotten behind with the doctor and dentist, and made up my mind to take better care of myself. I achieved that.

What are my goals for 2008? Well, first and foremost, I want to pour even more of my heart and soul into my books. I want them to be my gift to you.

I want to lose some weight and quit smoking.

I want to go back to the big rodeo in December.

Most of all, I want to remember to be grateful for all my blessings, known and unknown. We often think of our known blessings--but what about all the times God stepped in, in His mysterious way, and prevented something we had no clue was about to happen?

I enter 2008 as a grateful woman, and an inspired one. I know a lot of you are carrying tremendous burdens, like Shirley and Jim Morse, and facing them bravely. I may never get the chance to tell you in person, but I can say it here. I admire you. To me, you're the real heros and heroines.

Sundays

I don't normally blog on Sundays, as most of you know. Today, though, I received an email from a reader named Shirley. She's thirty, and her husband, Jim, is dying of brain cancer. I was struck to the heart by her bravery--she said she likes to read my blog because it reminds her that life goes on, and the joy lies in ordinary blessings. What courage!

This blog is for you, Shirley, and your Jim. You inspire me, and I wanted to share that inspiration with the rest of our group.

We're walking with you, sweetheart. Every last one of us.

May God hold you both in the warm palm of His mighty hand.

Still MORE snow

I guess the charm of all this snow could wear off--sometime. :)

For now, it seems magical, maybe because I'm one of those lucky people who don't commute by automobile. Just a hike to the barn, that's all I need to worry about at present.

I was keying in some changes to my October paperback romance, "The Rustler", this morning, and the fuel guy had the unmitigated gall--at least in Sadie's opinion it was gall--to pull in and refill the tank. She barked and barked, in her snug bed in front of the living room fireplace, alerting the entire household to imminent propane delivery. Silly dog. Unlike Yorkie Bernice, who will fling her small body at any intrusion, yapping her fool head off, Sadie prefers to simply sit tight and bay.

Anybody who says animals don't have distinct personalities isn't spending much time with furry folks. :)

Buck, my beloved old horse, is a staid kind of guy, laid back unless trouble comes.

Coco is the leader of the band, and she makes sure every other horse in the stable knows it.

Skye, aka the spotted horse, is beautiful--and vain about her looks.

April is shy and sweet.

Traveler, though gentle, is also stubborn.

ChaCha, my long-haired kitty, is regal and quite officious, willing to show affection only when there are no human witnesses around. :)

And Jitterbug, her sister, is a blabbermouth. Talk, talk and more talk, that's her M.O.

All these critters have one thing in common, beyond four legs apiece and fur.

They are deeply, permanently and completely--LOVED.

The Badge, the Goat, and the Coffee Cup

My good friend, Debbie Macomber, gave me a terrific gift this year--a U.S. Marshal's badge. (My dad was a town marshal--very different from the U.S. variety) I thought it was a very good replica, but I should have known better. When I emailed Deb to thank her for this thoughtful present, an acknowledgement of how much I love and miss my dad, she replied that it was authentic.

Daughter Wendy and her fiance, Jeremy, donated a goat in my name. I love gifts like that--I really DO have mostly everything, and it's nice to know someone in need got something that will make their lives easier. Apparently, a goat produces a gallon of milk per day, and this family will be able to make cheese to sell at the market.

Niece/assistant Jenni presented me with another winner--a John Wayne coffee cup. It's sitting here on my desk now. There's a picture of Duke on the outside, and inside is my favorite quote from him. "Courage is being scared to death--but saddling up anyway." Ain't that the truth? Only a damn fool is never scared--it's how you deal with the fear that matters.

I got another late start this morning--went to the casino last night, and I'm up a thousand dollars--so I'd better get off this blog, push up my sleeves, and get some work done. As my dad always said, "We're burnin' daylight!"

Snow, snow...

And more snow!

The draw is beautiful, and the flakes are coming down fast and furious. Larry is feeding the horses this morning, but I'll be slogging out to the barn later in the day. Horse care is hard work sometimes, but it's a chance to be with them, and enjoy their very special energy, so I love it.

Today, I'll be back to work on "Logan's Return", and reading through the manuscript of my October mass market western romance, "The Rustler."

In the meantime, the first Mojo Sheepshanks book, "Deadly Gamble", hits the stores today. It was out before, in trade paperback, but now it's regular paperback. If you haven't met Mojo, you're in for laughter, adventure and LOTS of romance. The second Mojo book, "Deadly Deceptions", hits the stores at the end of February--and it will be a regular paperback original, too. "The Rustler" will be as well.

In England and Canada, today is Boxing Day. I think that's a nice custom. Plus, it's a day to recover from Christmas. :) As I understand it, the tradition began with the moneyed classes boxing up their clothes and toys to make room for the new stuff and pass the pleasure on to the less fortunate.

Isn't that a lovely idea?