Happy Monday, One and All

Bernice and I have already been out for our morning walk--her usual walker, Jenni, is visiting her Grandmother--and made sure there were no unwelcome critters hiding out in the culverts.  This is Bernice's main job in life, and she takes it serously.  :)  If she doesn't protect us from the wild turkeys, incessantly plotting their dastardly uprising, who will???

I mostly read my manuscript on the weekend, but also did a little work on artist trading cards, etc.  I'm making some new collage papers, too, a technique I learned in an art book.  Fun but messy.  :) 

Deb is still here--she leaves tomorrow--and what a job she's done on the craft room!  Amazing.  There are surfaces.  The floors are visible.  It's incredible.  :)

We paid a too brief visit to my mom yesterday--don't see her often enough.  It was rainy out, but today you'd think we were on a different planet--bright blue sky, sunshine, the works.  It's almost springy, even with the chill, but there is a polished-copper glow to things that says autumn.  Glorious.

My spirits are high and I'm ready to finish reading my manuscript (the changes need to be in tomorrow) and get back to "Big Sky Mountain".  :)  I will admit, though, that watching Debbie and Nicole and now Chris do all that work makes me tired.

That's the news from Spokaloo.

Reading

Today I'm reading through the edited version of "Big Sky Country", so I'm taking today off from the blog.

Have a wonderful weekend.  I'll see you on Monday

Peacocks and Deer

A neighbor keeps peacocks, and the big birds wander all over the place, with apparent impunity from coyotes, etc.  This morning, we had one serenading us from down in the draw for upwards of half an hour--the thing sounded like it was being killed, so I called over to Mary Ann and Larry's, concerned.  Mary Ann, who lives just a little closer to the peacock place than I do, chuckled and assured me the sound was normal.  Even the deer were a little thrown, I think--there were five of them, standing in the clearing, still as stones, listening.  One was a fawn, partly grown.  When the peacock wasn't crowing, Bernice was barking, so we had a little dog and bird show going for a while there.  The deer did not seem at all concerned that they would be attacked and brought down by a Yorkie.  :)

It's another lovely day, both here in Spokane and in Parable.  Guess we're getting rain tomorrow, but, hey, that's tomorrow.  I'm concentrating on Right Now, which is pretty darn good.

And that's the news.

Still Walkin' On Sunshine!

I'm loving this wonderful weather--what's not to love about sunshine, fresh air, blue skies, and greenery on all sides?

I finished "The Kitchen Counter Cooking School" (Kathleen Flinn) and enjoyed it very much.  Now I'm onto "The End of Normal", a memoir by Mark Madoff's widow.  Of course you already know that the infamous Bernie Madoff, Mark's father, ripped off billions and almost crashed the stock market--pretty scary to think one person could do that, practically single-handed.  I can't help sympathizing with the plight of this young mother and her children, though, because they too were victims.  Still, I think I'll listen to something a little happier on the next go round--one I'm particularly looking forward to is Kevin Sorbo's new book.  I've met Kevin, since he played Chance in my one and only TV Movie, "Last Chance Cafe", and he's not only seriously cute, he's nice. 

I was hoping to catch Debbie Macomber on QVC yesterday, but somehow I missed her.  Drat! 

I have work to do, so I'd better get at it.

And that's the news.

Another Beautiful Autumn Day

This lovely, lovely weather is so heartening for me.  I just love it.  (I'm working on learning to love snow, too, as the TV people say this is a la Nina year.)  :)  Today, though, I'm in the moment--recent losses have reminded me how precious NOW really is. 

I'll be making a trip up to Toronto soon, to meet with my fabulous publishers, the Harlequin people.  Lots of exciting stuff going on, career wise, and I always enjoy the visits.

The D.I.E.T. is becoming a L.I.F.E.S.T.Y.L.E instead.  :)  Honestly, it's so easy, and the food is very good.  I get variety without having to page through cookbooks, buy ingredients, and throw something together.  (I will be making my Beef Bourg. for Christmas dinner, though.)  I have a ways to go yet, in terms of pounds, but I'm confident enough to wear jeans again, and that's a nice feeling.  I'm a foodie at heart--never miss "The Splendid Table" via podcast and I'm listening to a book called "The Kitchen Counter Cooking School", and enjoying the process vicariously.  (Much lower calorie intake that way.) Besides writing and my pets, my passion these days is art, of the mixed media type. 

Today is a writing day--I'll be spending most of it in Parable, Montana, with Hutch and Kendra, the new story people.

And that's the news from my kitchen table for today.