I have been plagued by computer problems for so long now that I seriously considered holding a drum ceremony and lighting sage-bundles to expel evil cyber-spirits. I was sure the place had to be haunted.
Alas, the Geek Squad guy came on Sunday (yes, Sunday), and banished all the boogey-men. I can post to this blog, get my email and tweet with ease! Hallelujah.
I'm into "Garrett", big time, the second book in my Texas McKettrick series.
Over the long weekend, I made another batch of Boeuf Bourgingnon (sp?) and it was SO delicious. I froze most of it for later consumption and enjoyment. My bread experiment, as I may have mentioned, wasn't great--the loaves tasted okay, but didn't really rise they way they should have. It turned out that, as with so many things I do, I tried too hard. :) Remembering when I last made bread (am embarrassingly long time ago), it came to me that I had used a much simpler recipe. So I bought myself a Betty Crocker Cookbook, like the one I had as a young bride, and sure enough--easy, simple bread recipes. Needless to say, I plan on trying again soon. I'm also planning on trying some special sauces for fish--I love fish, and it's healthy, but let's face it--it's pretty bland without something to dress it up. My nephew, Mike, and niece-in-law, Sara, do marvelous things with tuna, soy sauce and a touch of brown sugar.
I also painted over the weekend--my big 30X30 painting is coming along well. I added green Gallery Glass to the headdress, and it looks great if I do say so myself. I painted a few backgrounds, too. At some point, I will probably put the above-mentioned picture up on my Twitter page.
And now, back to doing what I love best: writing.
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Happiness
Abraham Lincoln once said that most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. I guess the simplest stuff is the easiest to forget.
I've had a lot of great experiences in my life--and there are more to come. Still, I get the most joy from the simple things--the company of my beloved dogs, cats and horses--a book, painting or recipe that works--talking shop with my writer-daughter, Wendy, witnessing a comeback, like the one Whitney Houston is making on Good Morning, America even as I write this. A voice like that one should never be silenced.
I'm trying a new (for me) recipe, and it's quite a process. It's white bread, from a Paula Deen cookbook--I haven't made bread from scratch in YEARS. It begins with a starter, that sits at room temperature for 24 hours, and then for another 12, before I can even start the kneading and rising process, let alone the baking. Look for a picture of the finished product on my Twitter page in a couple of days. :) Lately, I've been posting dog pictures and flowers from my garden. I cut some zinnias today that are so beautiful, I almost can't stand it.
Sister Sally, the non-nun, pointed out that I gave the wrong title for the wonderful Julia Cameron book I mentioned yesterday, and I corrected it on that post, but I want to repeat it. This is an important book and if you're struggling spiritually, or you know someone who is, you need to read it: "Faith and Will-Weathering the Storms in Our Spiritual Lives."
Books. Flowers. Cats sleeping in the sunshine.
It's the simple things, gang.
Tomorrow.
I've had a lot of great experiences in my life--and there are more to come. Still, I get the most joy from the simple things--the company of my beloved dogs, cats and horses--a book, painting or recipe that works--talking shop with my writer-daughter, Wendy, witnessing a comeback, like the one Whitney Houston is making on Good Morning, America even as I write this. A voice like that one should never be silenced.
I'm trying a new (for me) recipe, and it's quite a process. It's white bread, from a Paula Deen cookbook--I haven't made bread from scratch in YEARS. It begins with a starter, that sits at room temperature for 24 hours, and then for another 12, before I can even start the kneading and rising process, let alone the baking. Look for a picture of the finished product on my Twitter page in a couple of days. :) Lately, I've been posting dog pictures and flowers from my garden. I cut some zinnias today that are so beautiful, I almost can't stand it.
Sister Sally, the non-nun, pointed out that I gave the wrong title for the wonderful Julia Cameron book I mentioned yesterday, and I corrected it on that post, but I want to repeat it. This is an important book and if you're struggling spiritually, or you know someone who is, you need to read it: "Faith and Will-Weathering the Storms in Our Spiritual Lives."
Books. Flowers. Cats sleeping in the sunshine.
It's the simple things, gang.
Tomorrow.
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Blog Goblins
According to Sister Sally, who is NOT a nun, she would have you know, I gave you a bad link for my Twitter page. It's:
http://twitter/lindalaelmiller
I am a Twitter pest--I post pictures of my dogs, my flowers and I am considering a shot of my Boeuf-B next time I make it. Which will probably be soon.
My beloved friend and editor, Joan Marlow Golan, is down with strep throat today. Everybody send white light! Get well soon, Joanie.
Today, I'm writing the outline for "Garrett"--I've been working on it for a day or so. Yee-haw! I'm so excited about starting this new book, with a brand new hunky hero and a fiesty lady to show him who's boss. :)
What I'm reading:
"Everything You Need to Know to Feel Go(o)s" by Candace Pert.
"The Real Wizard of Oz"--a biography of Frank Baum.
"FAITH and Will" by Julia Cameron--one of the best books on spirituality and creativity I've EVER read. I've been a fan of Cameron's work since the release of the landmark, "The Artist's Way", and I still use the Morning Pages exercise.
I'm listening to Dean Koontz's "Relentless" on my iPod. Scary and incredibly creative--I'm not sure I can handle the suspense. Koontz is the master, and
http://twitter/lindalaelmiller
I am a Twitter pest--I post pictures of my dogs, my flowers and I am considering a shot of my Boeuf-B next time I make it. Which will probably be soon.
My beloved friend and editor, Joan Marlow Golan, is down with strep throat today. Everybody send white light! Get well soon, Joanie.
Today, I'm writing the outline for "Garrett"--I've been working on it for a day or so. Yee-haw! I'm so excited about starting this new book, with a brand new hunky hero and a fiesty lady to show him who's boss. :)
What I'm reading:
"Everything You Need to Know to Feel Go(o)s" by Candace Pert.
"The Real Wizard of Oz"--a biography of Frank Baum.
"FAITH and Will" by Julia Cameron--one of the best books on spirituality and creativity I've EVER read. I've been a fan of Cameron's work since the release of the landmark, "The Artist's Way", and I still use the Morning Pages exercise.
I'm listening to Dean Koontz's "Relentless" on my iPod. Scary and incredibly creative--I'm not sure I can handle the suspense. Koontz is the master, and
Monday, August 31, 2009
Back in the Real World
Temporarily!
I finished the revisions on "Tate" over the weekend, and pretty much did nothing else. The book has gone to my editor--PHEW--and now she will do her magic.
Today, it's on with "Garrett", the second Texas McKettrick, and Tate's brother.
I'm not sure about the weather--it's cloudy today, might rain. I watered my deck garden anyway, because the tomatoes and dahlias especially seem to need a lot of water. My zinnias are going crazy, and so is my yellow rose bush. It's just bursting with blossoms! I've learned lots of lessons in this my first year of gardening, the primary one being : FERTILIZE! I've been composting for a while now, so next spring I plan to have plenty of good compost to add to the potting soil. My dinner-plate dahlias, down in the flowerbed, are HUGE. I'll get a shot of one and put it up on my Twitter page. www.twitter/lindalaelmiller.com
Later!
I finished the revisions on "Tate" over the weekend, and pretty much did nothing else. The book has gone to my editor--PHEW--and now she will do her magic.
Today, it's on with "Garrett", the second Texas McKettrick, and Tate's brother.
I'm not sure about the weather--it's cloudy today, might rain. I watered my deck garden anyway, because the tomatoes and dahlias especially seem to need a lot of water. My zinnias are going crazy, and so is my yellow rose bush. It's just bursting with blossoms! I've learned lots of lessons in this my first year of gardening, the primary one being : FERTILIZE! I've been composting for a while now, so next spring I plan to have plenty of good compost to add to the potting soil. My dinner-plate dahlias, down in the flowerbed, are HUGE. I'll get a shot of one and put it up on my Twitter page. www.twitter/lindalaelmiller.com
Later!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Blog Challenged AGAIN
Still?
I finally gave up on yesterday's blog--it simply wouldn't post, no matter what I did.
I am a persistent ole cowgirl, but I finally decided it just wasn't meant to be.
I wanted to tell you that I finished "Tate" and I will be revising for the rest of the week, then starting on "Garrett" next Monday.
I took a mental health day yesterday--read, painted a little, and napped a LOT.
I read Jennifer Lauck's wonderful memoir, "Blackbird" (about 5 years after the rest of the world!) and was so taken with it that I ordered her second book, "Still Waters" and steamed right through it. I love memoirs, as I've probably mentioned before. Lauck spent a few years in Spokane, something I didn't know before. I was so impressed by her courage, even as a young child--at one point, her stepmother simply dropped her off at a commune/homeless shelter, where she slept in a big room with all kinds of people crashing on bare mattresses and was expected to help out with meal preparation in order to earn her keep. Her age? Eleven.
She learned to take a bus to and from a church, where she was also expected to work, and got herself to and from school.
The strength of the human spirit constantly amazes and humbles me.
On the other hand, I'd love to get into the boxing ring with that stepmother. How in the world can anyone justify leaving an eleven year old child to fend for herself, and among strangers no less???
OK, I guess I've sounded off enough.
Children and animals are my cause--they are small, they are helpless, and they have so few rights.
God bless them all.
I finally gave up on yesterday's blog--it simply wouldn't post, no matter what I did.
I am a persistent ole cowgirl, but I finally decided it just wasn't meant to be.
I wanted to tell you that I finished "Tate" and I will be revising for the rest of the week, then starting on "Garrett" next Monday.
I took a mental health day yesterday--read, painted a little, and napped a LOT.
I read Jennifer Lauck's wonderful memoir, "Blackbird" (about 5 years after the rest of the world!) and was so taken with it that I ordered her second book, "Still Waters" and steamed right through it. I love memoirs, as I've probably mentioned before. Lauck spent a few years in Spokane, something I didn't know before. I was so impressed by her courage, even as a young child--at one point, her stepmother simply dropped her off at a commune/homeless shelter, where she slept in a big room with all kinds of people crashing on bare mattresses and was expected to help out with meal preparation in order to earn her keep. Her age? Eleven.
She learned to take a bus to and from a church, where she was also expected to work, and got herself to and from school.
The strength of the human spirit constantly amazes and humbles me.
On the other hand, I'd love to get into the boxing ring with that stepmother. How in the world can anyone justify leaving an eleven year old child to fend for herself, and among strangers no less???
OK, I guess I've sounded off enough.
Children and animals are my cause--they are small, they are helpless, and they have so few rights.
God bless them all.
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