Oregon Trail
6 years ago
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
New Yarn
Well I have a picture of one of my projects and my new yarn that was a gift to me from my sister-in-law out in Oregon from her Alpacas and yarn I bought for myself for my next projects for my two older sons at home.
The first photo is of my current project, a hat for a friend in Canada. Then the yarn for my son's hats and then Alpaca Roving which my cat's love to play with... then my new Alpaca yarn in different weights from my sister-in -law's Alpacas.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
My black cats...
I live in a house of four boys, my husband , three dogs, one being my daughter's Boxer puppy then there is Mowgli the Black Lab and Lucy my Australian Cattle Dog. Then there are the cats and two hamsters... One of our cats, Midnight who is black of course we call our 'Vam-cat' due to the fact that he has two very long fangs. He is a sweet cat and often falls asleep on my lap at night and then curls up on the end of the bed. Now as I take a break from writing and listen to music he sits next to me. He is one of those cats that is a talker and greets me when I come home from work or errands. I love dogs and don't think I would be without one as they are my ears but I am a cat person and Midnight and I seem to understand each other. He doesn't have the stunning presence as Bagheera who will stare at you with those gold eyes... Bagh means tiger in Hindi. When he is calm enough I can get near him and pat and talk to him. He is still wild having been ferial. He still is in many ways. He is one of three of the same family that I have taken in. First him, then his sista Mika and now his mother Coon. From the time she was fixed she has put on weight. I mentioned it to my husband and he said it's probably because she has had to fight for everything all her life. Hunt for herself and then for her kittens, I figured she has had about 18 litters in her lifetime... Well now she has food at her disposal but she probably thinks "it may not always be there so I will stuff myself in case some day it's not there. It makes sense. So now how to put her on a diet when I have five other cats...
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Writing, Reading and knitting and dealing with Chaos...
Well the Christmas season here at my house can be very stress-filled to say the least. If it's not chaotic enough add into the mix my daughter missing her flight to Cambodia and trying to get another one at the very last minute... She arrived last night in Phnom Penh so three of my older kids are there for the holidays. My oldest daughter must be very happy. I talked to her yesterday. It was my mid-day and she was still up baking in preparation for her sister's arrival.
December was a very busy month for me work wise. I love both of my jobs that I work during the week time. It's just made it very hard on the days that I worked both then getting home at close to 6pm. If I had it together and had a meal in the crock pot all was well... If I didn't then it was left overs or pizza... So I was left with odd bits of time writing and editing . I felt what I did get done was very good just long breaks in between.
My knitting has been slow and I am working on a present for a dear friend of mine so hopefully I can get done this week because then I have yarn I know is sitting at the PO for my son's hat. He wants it done in Rasafurian colors or the colors of the Jamaican flag.
Reading, the last time I wrote here I was in a funk for what to read. Well I now have an abundance of reading material, mostly historical or Memoirs. I am reading at the moment "Lady Macbeth" by Susan Fraser King and it's fascinating. Was going to read her book "Queen Hereafter" about Queen Margret of Scotland but saw how I really should read Lady Macbeth first. Susan Fraser King paints a very vivid portrait portrait of the lady and her times. As I said before I love Scottish history and it's in my blood since my Great Grand Mother was a Boyd . Her mother was born in Scotland where as her father was a third or fourth generation Scot.
I also find it fascinating due in fact to it being the time period I am writing about but instead of Scotland I am writing about a country in South East Asia and about another equally strong woman who was queen. No more spoilers on my book till my son says so. This is a project near and dear to both our hearts. I was at a Christmas cocktail party of another dear friend and her husband showed me a Christmas card from his ex who was standing at the gate of Angkor Thom which is part of the Bayon and was built by the king Jayavarman VII. He handed me the card and I just got so choked up. I can't imagine what it will be like to actually stand there and see those places in person. Anyway I was standing in the group besides my friend's husband and told them what was in the pictures and Henry said "I sounded homesick." One woman in the group said "wow, you pronounced it all right..." well yea, I lived there for 11+ years. BUT this last year I have lived and breathed that area and the ancient time period of the Angkorian Kings.
I will close this with a wishing all who read a very Happy New Year!
December was a very busy month for me work wise. I love both of my jobs that I work during the week time. It's just made it very hard on the days that I worked both then getting home at close to 6pm. If I had it together and had a meal in the crock pot all was well... If I didn't then it was left overs or pizza... So I was left with odd bits of time writing and editing . I felt what I did get done was very good just long breaks in between.
My knitting has been slow and I am working on a present for a dear friend of mine so hopefully I can get done this week because then I have yarn I know is sitting at the PO for my son's hat. He wants it done in Rasafurian colors or the colors of the Jamaican flag.
Reading, the last time I wrote here I was in a funk for what to read. Well I now have an abundance of reading material, mostly historical or Memoirs. I am reading at the moment "Lady Macbeth" by Susan Fraser King and it's fascinating. Was going to read her book "Queen Hereafter" about Queen Margret of Scotland but saw how I really should read Lady Macbeth first. Susan Fraser King paints a very vivid portrait portrait of the lady and her times. As I said before I love Scottish history and it's in my blood since my Great Grand Mother was a Boyd . Her mother was born in Scotland where as her father was a third or fourth generation Scot.
I also find it fascinating due in fact to it being the time period I am writing about but instead of Scotland I am writing about a country in South East Asia and about another equally strong woman who was queen. No more spoilers on my book till my son says so. This is a project near and dear to both our hearts. I was at a Christmas cocktail party of another dear friend and her husband showed me a Christmas card from his ex who was standing at the gate of Angkor Thom which is part of the Bayon and was built by the king Jayavarman VII. He handed me the card and I just got so choked up. I can't imagine what it will be like to actually stand there and see those places in person. Anyway I was standing in the group besides my friend's husband and told them what was in the pictures and Henry said "I sounded homesick." One woman in the group said "wow, you pronounced it all right..." well yea, I lived there for 11+ years. BUT this last year I have lived and breathed that area and the ancient time period of the Angkorian Kings.
I will close this with a wishing all who read a very Happy New Year!
Friday, December 17, 2010
writing
It's been a busy week with work BUT I have been also editing, and doing research. Tonight I was out at a friend's Christmas party. Now I'm listening to music and going over ideas for my book trailer. I'm listening to the wrong music for it though. Music helps sometimes but this music is not what I should be listening to. Taio Cruz s what is on my ipod at the moment. I love his music, love a lot of different types... just depends on my mood.
Besides researching for my next book I am reading about Queen Margret of Scotland .I'm also reading about Mathilde Kschessinska who was nicknamed 'Little K' by that last Tzar of Russia. She was not only the Mistress of the last Tzar but also his cousin's the Grand Dukes. Later marrying one after the Russian Revolution. She was also the fabled Prima ballerina assoluta of the St. Petersburg Imperial Ballet. Russian and Scottish history are a love of mine and I wish I had more time to devote to it. History I love, Music and reading. Wish I could do all this full time...
Well I'm off here for the night.
Besides researching for my next book I am reading about Queen Margret of Scotland .I'm also reading about Mathilde Kschessinska who was nicknamed 'Little K' by that last Tzar of Russia. She was not only the Mistress of the last Tzar but also his cousin's the Grand Dukes. Later marrying one after the Russian Revolution. She was also the fabled Prima ballerina assoluta of the St. Petersburg Imperial Ballet. Russian and Scottish history are a love of mine and I wish I had more time to devote to it. History I love, Music and reading. Wish I could do all this full time...
Well I'm off here for the night.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Reading and writing and no time
Well it's been ages since I have posted anything on here which is sad but I have been so busy. On my other blog I haven't done any updates either but it's because I have sent in for a copyright for that book too. I am kinda doing things ass backwards I know but I am waiting on word from my son who wants to use my book that I have just finished for a movie so I am taking that book and "The Lioness" and getting them copyrighted.
This month work has been lots of hours, working two jobs during the week and then every other week-end at the little clothes shop in town. So my writing time is shorter which makes me sad but I know it will all even out. Also I am at a point where I can't find something to read. I have a lot of books to choose from but none strikes a chord right now.
I have within my reach literally tried and true favorites from authors like Loretta Chase, Connie Brockway, Adele Ashworth, Jennifer Crusie, Laura Kinsale and the Grand Dame of Romance Kathleen E. Woodwiss.
I have a bunch of Non-romance books coming and sometimes that's what it takes to get out of the funk I am in. Also I have a ton of knitting that needs to be done before Christmas. My two oldest sons at home want hats in red, yellow and green... so hopefully the yarn is in. The knitting needles came in quickly. I knew I was gonna need an extra pair of needles.
So it's not like I am laying around eating bon-bons all day. Most days start at 4:30am and I fall asleep exhausted into bed at various times of night. Just depends on what's going on. Some nights I can get to bed real early, some nights super late.
On top of working 2 1/2 jobs and keeping the house up(which lately I feel I have been failing )I have my daughter's Boxer puppy named Echo who I really should check on. That adds a half hour to my time in the morning of tea making...
So I am here, just too busy for words or pictures of my latest creations in yarn...
This month work has been lots of hours, working two jobs during the week and then every other week-end at the little clothes shop in town. So my writing time is shorter which makes me sad but I know it will all even out. Also I am at a point where I can't find something to read. I have a lot of books to choose from but none strikes a chord right now.
I have within my reach literally tried and true favorites from authors like Loretta Chase, Connie Brockway, Adele Ashworth, Jennifer Crusie, Laura Kinsale and the Grand Dame of Romance Kathleen E. Woodwiss.
I have a bunch of Non-romance books coming and sometimes that's what it takes to get out of the funk I am in. Also I have a ton of knitting that needs to be done before Christmas. My two oldest sons at home want hats in red, yellow and green... so hopefully the yarn is in. The knitting needles came in quickly. I knew I was gonna need an extra pair of needles.
So it's not like I am laying around eating bon-bons all day. Most days start at 4:30am and I fall asleep exhausted into bed at various times of night. Just depends on what's going on. Some nights I can get to bed real early, some nights super late.
On top of working 2 1/2 jobs and keeping the house up(which lately I feel I have been failing )I have my daughter's Boxer puppy named Echo who I really should check on. That adds a half hour to my time in the morning of tea making...
So I am here, just too busy for words or pictures of my latest creations in yarn...
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Thoughts,writing, books, history and fall weather here in Maine...
Well I took the scenic route back from the High School this morning going past the Belted Galaways and down Chestnut Street into Camden rather then Union. The fog was so thick this morning you couldn't see the Islands off the coast. The sky was so low, just like lead... The trees drip from the rain that has stopped for the moment. All the trees are bare, the leaves have been mulched to provide protection for plants and nutrition for the soil for next spring. The weather really is mild right now. It was colder before and during Halloween then it is now.
Books... Sunday at work since there were only three customers and I could only clean and shift stock around so much I read... I read 202 pages of the " Postmistress". It's not a happy book but very thought provoking and gives you a look into the world of the early 40s and the beginning of the war. It made me think and remember a much forgotten(I'm sure) happening, the 'Voyage of the Damned' they called it. It took place in May of 1939 aboard the SS St. Louis. A cruise ship filled with 900+ passengers, German Jews who were trying to escape Nazi Germany. What happened is still discussed and debated but makes for more reading and thought provoking reading at that. Check it out. I googled FDR and his involvment. It raises a lot of questions and I still don't think he is cleared at least in my mind of how he handled it. If you like history google it, read both takes. Those who feel FDR turned his back on those 900. BUT also find some of the articles in his favor.
Well I need to get to work on editing of my book...
Books... Sunday at work since there were only three customers and I could only clean and shift stock around so much I read... I read 202 pages of the " Postmistress". It's not a happy book but very thought provoking and gives you a look into the world of the early 40s and the beginning of the war. It made me think and remember a much forgotten(I'm sure) happening, the 'Voyage of the Damned' they called it. It took place in May of 1939 aboard the SS St. Louis. A cruise ship filled with 900+ passengers, German Jews who were trying to escape Nazi Germany. What happened is still discussed and debated but makes for more reading and thought provoking reading at that. Check it out. I googled FDR and his involvment. It raises a lot of questions and I still don't think he is cleared at least in my mind of how he handled it. If you like history google it, read both takes. Those who feel FDR turned his back on those 900. BUT also find some of the articles in his favor.
Well I need to get to work on editing of my book...
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Thoughts
Well it certainly isn't cold today. When I woke yesterday it was nearly 60 degrees. One week it's wicked cold the next it's balmy...
This month is Write a Novel in a Month OR NaNoWriMo. It started in 1999. I saw it a few years ago for the first time but since I was already writing a book I didn't want to spend the time trying to cram another novel in a months time. BUT the whole idea is a very neat concept. Writing, writing, writing with a deadline of one month and having a story that reaches 50,000. No one reads it. You don't have to worry about spell checks or any grammar or punctuation... just write.
It's funny that the whole idea of writing with no one seeing your work to critique or worrying about mistakes has spawned nearly 60 novels that have been published due to this NaNoWriMo. It emphasizes creativity and the whole adventure of just putting together something and writing but in a months time.
I can say having a deadline works wonders. I am by nature a procrastinator and it really helps to see an end to the tunnel. It moves you ,inspires, prods like nothing else. When I was finishing my book "The Lioness" I was also going to school full time. Trying to finish school papers and then write. I was getting up very early to study and finishing up papers very late to go on and stay up into the wee hours to write and finish the book. It was like a cattle prod after my butt that's for sure.
I will end this little piece with a quote I saw earlier this week that I liked. A quote by writer Dorothy Parker. "This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force."
I like that!
This month is Write a Novel in a Month OR NaNoWriMo. It started in 1999. I saw it a few years ago for the first time but since I was already writing a book I didn't want to spend the time trying to cram another novel in a months time. BUT the whole idea is a very neat concept. Writing, writing, writing with a deadline of one month and having a story that reaches 50,000. No one reads it. You don't have to worry about spell checks or any grammar or punctuation... just write.
It's funny that the whole idea of writing with no one seeing your work to critique or worrying about mistakes has spawned nearly 60 novels that have been published due to this NaNoWriMo. It emphasizes creativity and the whole adventure of just putting together something and writing but in a months time.
I can say having a deadline works wonders. I am by nature a procrastinator and it really helps to see an end to the tunnel. It moves you ,inspires, prods like nothing else. When I was finishing my book "The Lioness" I was also going to school full time. Trying to finish school papers and then write. I was getting up very early to study and finishing up papers very late to go on and stay up into the wee hours to write and finish the book. It was like a cattle prod after my butt that's for sure.
I will end this little piece with a quote I saw earlier this week that I liked. A quote by writer Dorothy Parker. "This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force."
I like that!
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Frost on the Pumpkins
It's a lot like winter this morning. I still tend to go out to drive the boys to school with my flip flops on but my feet are hurting too much so I think it's time to put those babies to bed for the winter.
It was really pretty this morning with frost covering everything and even a bit of snow on the side road after leaving the middle school. It's funny how my son Pat and I notice things together... Like the other morning we were heading off to drop Joe off and as we headed down our street, Mount Battie was shrouded in fog, well all except the top. The optical illusion was the mountain looked bigger and taller then it actually was and looked like it was really rising out of the fog. It all looked a bit menacing. But we slowed down to just stare at it and exclaim over how it all appeared.
I have been knitting quite a bit, a hat a week. Now to start Christmas presents. I now have three hats for myself so that should be more then enough for me for the winter.
One thing that is making me extremely happy is my new refurbished laptop. I found an Apple laptop and for the price of the sale of the compost tumbler I was able to get a nice little laptop. Now I just have to update the writing program and I am back in business. I really am chomping at the bit to write. I do love to read but writing just soothes me like knitting does.
Talk about reading. My bank has an annual book sale for breast Cancer awareness. You donate whatever and are able to get any books you want. Last week I found a lot of board books that I brought into work for the toddlers. Then Saturday I was in the bank to make a deposit before it closed at noon and saw out of the corner of my eye a Kathleen Woodiwiss book. It was "Shanna"
So after making the deposit I went and grabbed the book and went and paid for it. Bob happened to be inside waiting for me and as we were walking out he said I saw another author you like...
I thought " wow he actually pays attention to what I read." It happened to be a Jennifer Crusie book. So I ran back in with Bob in tow and found that book, paid for it and walked out a happy camper.
So with that one old, used book I found my roots... No, not my genealogical roots but my 'Romance' roots. It was Kathleen Woodiwiss who introduced me to Romance. I cut my teeth on her. I have read about how a lot of women would read their Mother's or grandmother's romance books. I had neither ,though I did have quiet the reading appetite and read just about anything down the pike. By 8th grade I was reading 'Summer of 42', 'Valley of the Dolls' to name a couple. Not exactly age appropriate reading material but since my father was not a reader and would give me money to buy whatever books I wanted . I read whatever I wanted, no censorship. After high school and Agatha Cristie I found Romance books at the local used bookstore and boy did I love those stories that just swept you away. Well 'Shanna' is on my bedside stand and I am reading her again. Woodiwiss knew how to write a story and she didn't rush. Her books were large and sometimes it took her a few years or so to finish a story.
So while I wait to get back to my writing I can read and dream of my next edit for my book and what I will do with it.
It was really pretty this morning with frost covering everything and even a bit of snow on the side road after leaving the middle school. It's funny how my son Pat and I notice things together... Like the other morning we were heading off to drop Joe off and as we headed down our street, Mount Battie was shrouded in fog, well all except the top. The optical illusion was the mountain looked bigger and taller then it actually was and looked like it was really rising out of the fog. It all looked a bit menacing. But we slowed down to just stare at it and exclaim over how it all appeared.
I have been knitting quite a bit, a hat a week. Now to start Christmas presents. I now have three hats for myself so that should be more then enough for me for the winter.
One thing that is making me extremely happy is my new refurbished laptop. I found an Apple laptop and for the price of the sale of the compost tumbler I was able to get a nice little laptop. Now I just have to update the writing program and I am back in business. I really am chomping at the bit to write. I do love to read but writing just soothes me like knitting does.
Talk about reading. My bank has an annual book sale for breast Cancer awareness. You donate whatever and are able to get any books you want. Last week I found a lot of board books that I brought into work for the toddlers. Then Saturday I was in the bank to make a deposit before it closed at noon and saw out of the corner of my eye a Kathleen Woodiwiss book. It was "Shanna"
So after making the deposit I went and grabbed the book and went and paid for it. Bob happened to be inside waiting for me and as we were walking out he said I saw another author you like...
I thought " wow he actually pays attention to what I read." It happened to be a Jennifer Crusie book. So I ran back in with Bob in tow and found that book, paid for it and walked out a happy camper.
So with that one old, used book I found my roots... No, not my genealogical roots but my 'Romance' roots. It was Kathleen Woodiwiss who introduced me to Romance. I cut my teeth on her. I have read about how a lot of women would read their Mother's or grandmother's romance books. I had neither ,though I did have quiet the reading appetite and read just about anything down the pike. By 8th grade I was reading 'Summer of 42', 'Valley of the Dolls' to name a couple. Not exactly age appropriate reading material but since my father was not a reader and would give me money to buy whatever books I wanted . I read whatever I wanted, no censorship. After high school and Agatha Cristie I found Romance books at the local used bookstore and boy did I love those stories that just swept you away. Well 'Shanna' is on my bedside stand and I am reading her again. Woodiwiss knew how to write a story and she didn't rush. Her books were large and sometimes it took her a few years or so to finish a story.
So while I wait to get back to my writing I can read and dream of my next edit for my book and what I will do with it.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Autumn
Signs are in the air... thank goodness. I love this time of year. The air is clear, the kids are back in school.The leaves are changing. All signs that we will be hunkering down for the winter soon.
Time for me to start making soups and drinking pots of tea while I write and knit. I got out my knitting for the first time yesterday, didn't get anything done, Joe got out of school too early... well I have to have my bag ready to transport for the moments when I need to keep my hands busy. Last year the boys doctor said to me, with a smile. "Mary, you are a type A..." I looked up from my knitting and said " You think..." :-)
So hopefully this week I finish my book, a project that I am working on with my son Brendan. Then there are two other books with that project. I also have another book in the works that I am absolutely loving. I have to admit, some days it's like pulling teeth. BUT most of the time when I am writing the words flow, characters form and take shape and a story comes out of this gray matter of mine . It's a wonderful process.
Time for me to start making soups and drinking pots of tea while I write and knit. I got out my knitting for the first time yesterday, didn't get anything done, Joe got out of school too early... well I have to have my bag ready to transport for the moments when I need to keep my hands busy. Last year the boys doctor said to me, with a smile. "Mary, you are a type A..." I looked up from my knitting and said " You think..." :-)
So hopefully this week I finish my book, a project that I am working on with my son Brendan. Then there are two other books with that project. I also have another book in the works that I am absolutely loving. I have to admit, some days it's like pulling teeth. BUT most of the time when I am writing the words flow, characters form and take shape and a story comes out of this gray matter of mine . It's a wonderful process.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Burnt Coat Harbor Light
Coming into Burnt Coat Harbor past Hockamock Head. This is where the Sweet Chariot Music Festival is at Swan's Island. Took photos of this light house last year as we came in. The fog was so think you could hardly see it.
Computer problems...
Well I was thinking with the boys out of the house for the week that I would get so much done... That I would finish my book(Well not finish but get a big dent in the rest that is left...) Do a ton of cleaning. The house has stayed cleaner without the boys BUT it's also empty and too quiet.
My computer (laptop) is slowly dying. I am really hoping it will last till I can save enough for a good laptop. It doesn't even have to be a Macbook like I wanted. I will settle for something else just as long as I have something that is reliable.
So with my touch pad dead and now after trial and error with a wireless mouse I am using an old fashion one that is plugged in. So if I want to travel around with my laptop I have wires to juggle :-( Also my A/C adapter is on the fritz. Mind you it's not the orig one and it's only a generic so it's about to give up the ghost... GGRRrrrr. So I sit at my desk that is set up like I want BUT a pain in the butt literally for my butt and back. BUT I have to keep my laptop in one spot or the battery may die... If my computer problems wasn't enough Bob's got a virus and crashed.
On the bright side I have tickets for Bob and I for "The Sweet Chariot Music Festival" We saw it last year on Swan's Island. This year it will be there plus here in Camden at the Snow Bowl. So I am really looking forward to it. Last year the singers and performers went around all the boats and did what they call a Shanty Gam, where they weave in and out of the boats and sing. Then it moves into the old Odd Fellows Hall. This year they have added Camden and Vinalhaven.
So Minus the computer problems all is well.
My computer (laptop) is slowly dying. I am really hoping it will last till I can save enough for a good laptop. It doesn't even have to be a Macbook like I wanted. I will settle for something else just as long as I have something that is reliable.
So with my touch pad dead and now after trial and error with a wireless mouse I am using an old fashion one that is plugged in. So if I want to travel around with my laptop I have wires to juggle :-( Also my A/C adapter is on the fritz. Mind you it's not the orig one and it's only a generic so it's about to give up the ghost... GGRRrrrr. So I sit at my desk that is set up like I want BUT a pain in the butt literally for my butt and back. BUT I have to keep my laptop in one spot or the battery may die... If my computer problems wasn't enough Bob's got a virus and crashed.
On the bright side I have tickets for Bob and I for "The Sweet Chariot Music Festival" We saw it last year on Swan's Island. This year it will be there plus here in Camden at the Snow Bowl. So I am really looking forward to it. Last year the singers and performers went around all the boats and did what they call a Shanty Gam, where they weave in and out of the boats and sing. Then it moves into the old Odd Fellows Hall. This year they have added Camden and Vinalhaven.
So Minus the computer problems all is well.
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