Brief Hiatus

 I'll be back next week, Blogger Buds. Be well.

Ketch-up Day

 

Look what I got from CJ. Isn't this great? I love both pieces, but that envelope is especially amazing:) Thanks, CJ:) Much appreciated.

 AND

Critter pics

 

I realize this is short and sweet. We were gone for a few days.  I'll ketch-you-up soon.  Hope all is well on your end.

It's The Weekend

 

Writerly Wednesday AND Did You Know Thursday

 What's your synonym, sentence or definition for:

 Definition: Rearrange

AND 

Did you know, carrots were originally purple?

Source: Carrots were originally purple, not orange. Here's what happened 

 

 

Ketch-up Day

How are you? Have you won the lottery? Written that best seller? Painted that famous picture? Listened to a good band? Gone on a lovely vacation? None applies to me, but here's hoping one does to you:)

Here's how my last week shook down.

How Not To Get Repeat Donors

So, I received a request for money, along with the other six or seven that appear daily, for charitable organizations. If you're in the United States, you're probably familiar with this particular one.  They always send a 'real' stamp along with the donation request.  They've been doing it for years and who can't use a stamp? I saw it  and thought, "Great. I can stick that on my SIL's Bday card. Which I did.  It didn't look like the stamps I'd received in the past, but I figured it was just a forever stamp. Luckily I took a closer look at it before it went out the door.

What the? 

 Yup. It was a real stamp alright. But it was for a penny.  I pulled the request out of the trash and read that the real stamp was only for a penny but the return envelope for my check was for the full amount.  Oh, thank you so much:) You know, some poor smuck--which was almost me--went ahead and mailed their envelope with that stamp thinking it was for the full amount like they've always been in the past.  

Hmm, in my humble opinion,  they might want to rethink their charity drives. 

AND 

I'm taking part in Denise's writing challenge. The idea is to write a short or a poem about the picture she's chosen for the challenge. 

Here's the picture.

 

                                                 Untitled by aarigalangg from Pixabay

Here's my poem:) 

Sam and His Cat

Sam and his cat crept through the darkened forest,

Surrounded by ancient, shadowy oak,

Whose skeletal branches moaned when the wind blew.

Mist hung low, 

Reaching out for the boy's thin, shivering arms.

Leaves cracked and crunched underfoot,

All while he prayed for quiet.

Frightening creatures stared from dead, misshapen bushes.

The night eerie,

Black as his father’s coal bin.

And cold. So cold.

He took one more step.

Heart pounding,

Relief flooded his small frame as he and the cat broke free of the grove.

A smile tipped his lips. Fear forgotten.

Ahead, warmth and light streamed from a small cabin’s windows.

They were home.

AND

The little holly tree. 

 That's about it folks. Did you get a penny stamp? Deluged with charity requests? No? I bet you won the lottery:)

 

  

Weekend Wishes

 

I'm posting on Halloween in the Old West at Cowboy Kisses. If you're in the vicinity, feel free to drop in:)

Writerly Wednesday AND Did You Know Thursday

 What's your word, example or synonym for:

 

My example: He was such a whiffler in college. Always hopping from one major to another. 

 

AND

Did you know, Amelia Earhart worked as a visiting professor at Purdue University?

*What I find  astounding about this is that I worked at Purdue for many years and had no idea.

Six Things You May Not Know About Amelia Earhart | National Air and Space Museum 

 

 

Ketch-Up Day

So,

I decided to hold off changing out my summer purse till the butterflies were gone.

 Surprisingly, they hung around till about a week ago.  I changed out and two days later saw:

 one lone black swallowtail.  My last sighting.

AND

Tis the season

 ALSO

We had our sweet potato buddy over to install this:

 And he brought us this:)  Any ideas on how to fix it?

                                                                Sweet potato

 PLUS

The Harvest Moon as seen from our window. Not the best pic, I admit.

 

LASTLY

 From Illinois

Thanks, Cynthia.

 

 Thanks, Jan.

 It's your turn, Blogger Bud. What's going on in your neck of the woods? Did you see the Harvest Moon? Getting your Pumpkin Spice fix?

 

 

 

Weekend Wishes

  

 

 AND

  

If you have a chance, hop over to Natalie's for the giveaway hop.

http://www.literaryrambles.com/

 

Writerly Wednesday and Did You Know Thursday

 What's your synonym, definition or sentence for?

 A smoke and haze mashup.  

 

AND 

 

Did you know there is a cross between coyotes, wolves and sometimes dogs, called coywolf? 

Source:

Coywolf - Wikipedia 

 

Ketch-Up Day

 

Now here's one I can get behind.

 And speaking of flowers, the mums are blooming.

 

 

AND

TUMBLESTAR, SUNDIAL, GELLER'S FIND,  THUNDERTREE, KEEPER TYREE (US only)  and GWEN SLADE (US only) are available on E for .99 cents during Prime Days in the US and UK, October 7 and 8. 

 

AND 

last but most important of all.....

 You will be missed. 

Weekend Wishes

 

 

IWSG Wednesday AND Did You Know Thursday

 

The first Wednesday of every month is officially IWSG day. IWSG was formed by Ninja Captain Alex Cavanaugh. Members post about their doubts and fears, discuss struggles and triumphs, and offer words of encouragement to others who are struggling.

 

Twitter handle: @TheIWSG  

Hashtag: #IWSG 

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

 

The awesome co-hosts for the October 1 posting of the IWSG are Beth Camp, Crystal Collier, and Cathrina Constantine!
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

Remember, the question is optional

 

October 1 question - What is the most favorite thing you have written, published or not? And why?

As far as readership, Silverhills.  As far as my personal favorite, Keeper Tyree. I like the character. He’s middle-aged, flawed, rough around the edges and a hard man. But he’s fair and he’ll go to the wall, and beyond, for anyone he cares about.

September/October Reviews in no particular order.

* Disclaimer. If I run into an occasional typo, I ignore them and don't factor them into my review.

 

MIRACLES AND GHOSTS PAST by D. L. Finn

This is a delightful collection of Christmas shorts with a twist. In each story there’s a ghost to lend a helping hand.

In THE CHRISTMAS TRAIN MYSTERY a woman’s first step to a new beginning is a murder/mystery dinner train trip.

CHRISTMAS RESCUE~*~ If you read many D.L. Finn stories, you know that somewhere in the book you are going to encounter an animal rescue. This is the story😊

IS THERE A SANTA?~*~ To my mind, of all the wonderful stories, this is the best. The characters are extraordinarily  developed and their emotions pour off the pages as a widower tries to hold his family together at Christmas.

SHE’S HOME ALONE~*~ A young girl must outwit an intruder.

AFTER A WAR COMES CHRISTMAS ~*~ This story centers on civil unrest and is timely considering the unease in America right now.

A GIFT FOR KATIE~*~A woman in need gets an unexpected inheritance and  is unsure whether she should accept it.

CHRISTMAS AFTER LOSS~*~A mysterious soldier throws light on Sheila’s  husband’s unexpected death.

ELEVATOR SANTA~*~Mindy gets stuck on the elevator with an unexpected passenger.

I highly recommend this book of shorts. It’s perfect for the Christmas season. So, grab your cocoa and cookies, put up your feet and enjoy the read.

Available at Amazon 

 

GUARDIANS OF MOTHER EARTH by Zea Perez

These are such sweet stories. And more importantly they impart information to our young people about ecology, and the importance of being a caretaker of the earth. Each story centers around a plant or tree or other forms of nature learning how important they are to the universe and that no matter how small, they can play a large part in saving their own personal piece of the universe. Among the cast of characters are Bon, the bonsai tree, Pitchy the pitcher plant and Venus the flytrap plant. All on a mission to save their homes.

A fun read and a lovely teaching tool with entertaining illustrations.

Available at Amazon 

 

FIRST FROST by Craig Johnson. Book 20 in the Longmire Series.

I love Craig Johnson's writing.  The Longmire Series is outstanding. This story for me was entertaining and had plenty of twists and turns, but it just wasn't quite as good as some of his others. Though, not quite as good, is still heads above many other reads that are out there:)

Available at Amazon 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AND

 

Did you know, the author of  Rip Van Winkle--and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow--Washington Irving, suffered from insomnia? 

 

Sources: 

100 Interesting Facts about Famous Authors – Interesting Literature 

Washington Irving, New York Writer, Sleepy Hollow | Literary Traveler