A Good Time Was Had by All

I'm back, as the old saying goes, like a bad penny.  :)

I flew over to Seattle on Monday and soon connected with my good friend Debbie Macomber at the beautiful Four Seasons hotel, where we dropped our bags, had a quick lunch, and lit out for Nordstrom.  :)  We both came out with lovely black raincoats, very nearly a match--our tastes have always been very similar. 

We did a little more power shopping, then decided to take in a movie.  We finally chose "Like Crazy", supposedly a romance, and settled in in the nearly empty theatre for a good time.  Lucky we didn't hold our breaths--this movie didn't have a plot, as far as we could tell, and the height of the excitement was the hero building a wooden chair.  I don't normally pan other people's creative efforts--I know, after all, how much work and heart goes into a project--but this one is an utter waste of an hour and a half of your life, which you will never get back.  If it comes to a theatre near you, move.  That said, we had a fabulous time, because we have fun wherever we go.  :)

Next morning, we headed to a nail salon down the street from the Four Seasons--Macomber is hell for fancy fingernails--and while I was waiting for her, I had a pedicure.  I took a picture, intending to tweet my feet (I'm a poet), but instead wound up leaving my phone behind in Debbie's car.  Fortunately, she's overnighting it back to me--thank heaven I didn't leave it at the nail salon, because nobody there speaks enough English to work out a solution.  :)

After the manicure/pedicure adventure, it was on to a smash of a Christmas party, with many of our long-time author friends, all smart, successful women.  It was a pleasure to talk shop and catch up on what everybody's been doing, and don't even get me started on the delicious food.  (Barb, I need the recipe for that chocolate/peanutbutter candy.  Or maybe it's better to just have one piece per year.  :))

I flew back home last night, and imagine my surprise and delight to find Bernicie right outside the gate, with Jen, waiting to greet me.  (We were prepared to swear up and down that she's a seeing-eye Yorkie if challenged.)  The Christmas tree is up, and there are lights strung around the railing of the back deck--very cheery.

I'm recovering from all that fun today, and throwing myself straight back into the book first thing tomorrow.

That's the news from my kitchen table, my friends.

Better Today

Except for what is probably a touch of stomach flu, I'm much better today.  Yesterday, I wrote a scene in the new book and finally caved in and called it a day.

Thanks for lending a cyber-ear--it's nice to know you're out there, though I do feel bad for whining.  I guess the song is right--even cowgirls get the blues.  :)

Then they get back on their horses and ride.

Weather is rainy, but the temperatures are mild, so plenty to be grateful for, now and every day.  I truly love my life, my kinfolks and many friends, my critters and my career, and certainly my country.  For all her troubles--and when have there not been troubles?--America is so blessed, like her sister, Canada. 

Thanksgiving will be quiet around here, but nonetheless sacred for that.  No big dinner, no fuss--after all, we're planning a MAJOR fuss at Christmas and besides, two turkeys in three weeks is too much for me.  If you're gathering with friends and family, savor the together-time.  It's ever so precious.  If you happen to be parted from loved ones this year, make somebody else smile.  I promise you'll feel better.

I won't be going out on Black Friday--I do the majority of my shopping online these days.  The tree goes up that day, though, and I'm looking forward to that.  It's so cheery to sit and admire the lights and the shining ornaments, each one with a memory attached.  It will be a busy season--I'm making a quick trip to Seattle on Monday to attend a party with Debbie Macomber and a flock of good friends--and of course there's the big rodeo coming up soon.  That's always fun.

May you and yours be blessed, during the sacred season and all year around.

I Still Miss Someone

Maybe it's the approach of the holidays--which promise to be joyous this year--but I'm sort of teary today.  I miss my beagle-dog, Sadie.

I miss my friend Dale, and I miss my dad.

Yes, it hurts, but even as I cry, I'm smiling at all the precious memories.

Love the ones you're with, my friends. 

Love the ones you're with.

Letting It Snow

As if I could make it stop.  :)  It's quite beautiful, actually, but I'm not sure people who don't work at home, as I do, would agree. 

Bernice and I did take our walks, wading through the white stuff, on both Saturday and Sunday.  It was a slog for me--no plowing has been done yet--but Neecie-bear found a tire track and hit her stride right away.  It was so cute, the way she trotted along--pranced might be a better word--and when she encountered deeper snow, she did that hop-plunge thing dogs are so good at.  This morning, she stood on the deck with her head back, lapping up the flakes as they fell.

The food in Toronto was truly excellent, but, as expected, I am very glad to be back on the plan.  Looks like my weight stayed the same, which is good.  :)  My goal was simply to have a good time on the trip and to enjoy everything about it, and I did, without going overboard.  (Well, there was that extra glass of wine---) :)

I spent the weekend relaxing and keeping warm.  I'm reading Sue Grafton's new book, "V is for Vengeance" and enjoying it tremendously.  I've been with Kinsey Millhone since "A"--I love her dry sense of humor and her resourcefulness.  What's not to love about a gal who kept a pair of pantyhose under the seat of her Volkswagon and wriggled into them when she needed to dress up on the spur of the moment?  I think her dress was wadded up in her handbag.  :)

Note the jacket I was wearing in the picture I posted yesterday.  Would you believe I bought it on QVC?  :)  Love the Bob Mackie jackets.  Since it had horse spit on one shoulder when I got home from Toronto, I popped the thing into the washer and dryer and now it looks as good as ever.  The price was right, too.  Gotta love it.

Today, I'll be writing away.

And so it goes.

In Toronto

Still a ways to go with the D.I.E.T., but feelin' good!!!