Did You Know

Did you know, the etymology research of walrus and waggle, among other W words, in the OXFORD ENGLISH DICTIONARY was done by JRR Tolkien?
Information garnered from 150 Interesting Facts About our Favorite Authors

Tuesday

Tuesday greetings.
The roses are blooming.

The amaryllis has completely opened.

AND...

He looks so innocent when he sleeps doesn't he?

AND...

Another picture from the bro's hospital room.  He had to go back in for a brief stent but he is out and doing fine. Beautiful, huh?

AND...
The HH got me a windspinner. Have you seen them or have them?  They're fascinating to watch.

Got masks? 

I was surprised at the number of people that weren't wearing masks when we made a run to one of the 'essential stores' this weekend. Including the clerks.

AND...
For the frontliners, the stay-at-homers and maskwearers, here's a freebie (where offered).

BLACK OPAL

Thanks to Stacy at Magic Love Crow for hosting me.

Weekend Wishes

Did You Know

Did you know, the phrase "dead as a doornail" originated with William Shakespeare?
Information garnered from 150 Interesting Facts About our Favorite Authors

Tuesday

One of those titmice flew on the porch again. This time with Frank in hot pursuit. I got the cat in and the bird out. Slow learner? I think so. 

AND...
Pictures from the garden. As you can see in the first pic, the weeds are alive and well.

This is the inside of the above Iris.

Sitting on the tool shed.

Our Christmas Amaryllis decided to celebrate Easter instead and opened up Easter morning.

I got a giggle out of this and thought you might too:) Thanks for sharing, Tony.

Pandemic Journal by Tony Ricciardelli

Depressing News 24/7 Turn off that damn TV. Wash my hands My palms smell like lilacs. Wear a mask There’s sneeze-snot in my bandana. Mind the six-feet rule Back off, Jack. Toilet paper Shortage Tear me a page out of that paperback. Empty meat coolers Spam is king. Missing the grandkids Maris is teething. COVID-19 Who started this mess? Close the schools Makes no difference. Work from home Love that Kelly Clarkson show. Take-out only Not gonna happen. Consumers panic Hoarder freaks. Stare into the refrigerator Thought the food fairy may have stopped by. Smile at self in the mirror Creepy bastard. A-symptomatic How the hell would I know? COVID-19 Anybody getting laid, these Days?

A mouthful of chocolate chips I’m on my third bag. Jonesin’ for shrimp and grits A new culinary challenge. Goodbye social life My wife is okay to hang out with,  but . . . Conspiracy theories Blame the Illuminati. Remembering the good old days Looking at old photos and my  H.S. yearbook. Walmart is out of hand-sanitizer Will gasoline suffice? Confusion My colonoscopy has been canceled. COVID-19 Somebody coughed on a cop. Walk the neighborhood Where did all these kids come from? Social Media lifeline Did you watch the Masked Singer  last night? Sext me, please. Bonding with my dogs Love those mutts. Imagining the worst What if I die and they find my porn? Hoping for the best It’s just allergies. Pessimism reigns No baseball this year. I just know it. Thinking about confession Not necessary, I’m just a  low-level  sinner.   COVID-19 Hope I live to write about it April, 2020

Got Masks

Got masks? Did you enjoy Tony's journal as much as I did? What's in your garden?

A freebie (where offered) for the frontliners, mask wearers and stay-at-homers.

Available at Amazon

Did You Know

Did you know, John Adams believed walking ten miles a day would cure the common cold? Cough. Cough. Hack. Hack.

And a huge thank you to the beautiful and talented Jacqui Murray for helping me get the word out on MATEO at her blog today.

Friday's Good Read...Whoops It's Wednesday

Today's my cover release so I'm borrowing the Wacky Writerly Wednesday slot.

Blurb:

A modern day, shape-shifting sheriff.

He’s the sheriff of a sparsely populated county in Montana. His blood brother and childhood best friend is Chief of Police on the Blackfoot Reservation, but they no longer speak. His deputy is a Southern transplant with the body of a high-priced call girl, a voice of honey and a mouth of a trucker. And if that’s not enough, he’s got a secret that would stun those that know him best. Other than that, it’s business as usual for Sheriff Mateo Grey.

 

Preorder Link: https://tinyurl.com/MateosLaw

If you can help me get the word out by a cover or book release on your blog or other media just shoot me an email in the newsletter sign up on the right. Thanks!

Tuesday

More Irises

AND...

Do you ever make memory stones for your garden? I order name plates then glue them to bricks. Since I had the angel kitties I added them to the stones.

AND...
We scored toilet paper and hand sanitizer last week, but it involved getting up at five a.m.  Senior hour is from six to seven Tuesdays at Walmart this month. Given the hour we didn't expect many people to be there. Wrong. Let's just say there's no shortage of seniors in our area.

AND...
Every few weeks a bird flies through the cat door onto the porch. Most of the time we just prop open the door and within minutes they fly out. Friday not one but two came visiting. Luckily Frank and Penny (the dog) were in the house. Faux was on the porch but she's blind and lumbers around like an ancient elephant. Since she'll be nineteen on her next birthday I guess she's entitled. Come to think of it, I've never seen Faux chase a bird, but I'm off topic.
These two were definitely bird brains. They looked like titmice but I could be mistaken.  I don't know how many times they tried to fly through the screen, ignoring the door. Finally, they figured how to get out.  I went out a little later and the birds were all a twitter. The two escapees were probably busy sharing their harrowing tale and preening about how brave they were.

AND...
For the front liners, stay-at-homers, glove and mask wearers, here's a free read (in U.S. and U.K.)

Get it here.

Got Masks

Got masks? TP? Are your Irises blooming? Are there memory stones in your garden?

Hoppy Easter

Blogger Buds.

Hope it's wondrous.

AND...

Thanks, Rockin Ro, for the Easter card. You truly do rock. 

AND...Thanks for the virtual Easter wishes from friends.

Friday's Good Read AND How to Survive Home Schooling

How to Survive Home Schooling

by Tara Tyler

As a mom of a teenager, I have it pretty easy. The boy is self-sufficient. And this allows me to do my work.
Write? I wish! I'm also a high school teacher. In my long career, I've taught, subbed, and tutored all ages, from Pre School through College. So I claim to know a thing or two about kids and educating them.

This online learning is T-O-U-G-H ! In addition to being new, glitchy, and experimental, the worst part is the kids have to manage themselves, with help from their parents depending on how old they are. And parents are figuring out how to take care of their families--do we have enough toilet paper?

So as I stress myself out trying to make this process as easy as possible for my students while still educating them to some degree, I'm giving out some free advice on...

How to Survive Home Schooling:
Make a Schedule. Kids need organization and structure. School was their routine. Now it's Saturday every day--sleep in late, play video games, eat junk, take a nap, live on social media. Mom found a spare minute to make them Do Lessons? Groan, whine, complain. It's hard to make them do things, but parents have to buck up and stick to the schedule. Once the routine is set, it will go much easier. (How do you think we teachers survive at school?)

Be Flexible. Now that you have a schedule, stick to it, but it isn't stone. As a teacher and a mom, I know how rough this situation is. I have loosened on deadlines and become more available for kids. It's okay if they don't get everything done all at once. If you see they're struggling, take a break. We all have to adjust to this craziness!

Rewards. I don't like to say bribes. And if you don't tell them up front--make it a surprise--it's more of a reward anyway. But bribery rewards like treats, a new video game, or some fun, messy activity you find online, can go a long way.

Hopefully you are safe and sane. If your family makes a stronger connection through all this, that's a bonus! Try to see the positives. I hope these simple guidelines can help reduce the stress of Online Learning.
Do you teach? How are you holding up?

PS - Free online books for any who ask!

Recently re-published, BEAST WORLD Series -- Teenage fantasy creatures in high school.

Broken Branch Falls ~~~ Cradle Rock ~~~ Windy Hollow

Tara Tyler has had a hand in everything from waitressing to rocket engineering. After moving all over the US, she now writes and teaches math in Ohio with her husband and one boy left in the nest. She has two novel series, Pop Travel (sci-fi detective thrillers) and Beast World (fantasy adventures), plus her UnPrincess novella series where the maidens save themselves. She's a commended blogger, contributed to several anthologies, and to fit in all these projects, she economizes her time, aka the Lazy Housewife—someday she might write a book on that... Make every day an adventure!

How to find:

website: Tara Tyler Talks
twitter: @taratylertalks
facebook: Tara Tyler -
Author

Instagram: taratylertalks
newsletter: tara tyler news

Did You Know

Did you know, renowned pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. James Goodrich, who separated conjoined at the head twins, received part of his schooling at a community college and was a surfer? I am always proud to hear about folks who have made contributions to society that started out at a community college. Unfortunately, he has recently died from COVID19. RIP

Tuesday

You may have already seen this trailer. I saw it for the first time at Janie Junebug's and loved it. Hope you do too.


AND...
My first Iris to bloom this spring. And it just happens to be the one my daughter and SIL gave me for Mother's Day last year.

AND...The trees are blooming.

AND...
I saw in the writing community, some authors were giving away book reads to offset the stay-at-homes and folks who have lost their means of income. I thought this was a great idea and I'm jumping on the bandwagon. Apologies in advance for the areas where it's not offered as a freebie.

Order here

What's going on at your place? Trees blooming? Irises? Stay safe. Stay healthy.

Sunday Sales

On sale for $.99.

*Please check to make sure the price is in effect before you order.

Order here

"A desperate father searches for answers when his daughter begins seeing things no one else can see."

Order here

"A group of teenagers get superpowers and what do they do? Attempt to save the world, of course."

Order here

"As Sarah Miles drives down Eighteenth Street a stranger materializes in front of her car."
*On sale in U.S. and U.K.