M.J. Fredrick's Blog, page 42

So I Didn’t Tell Y’all About Friday

So Friday morning I was sitting on my couch looking at Pinterest (my friend Susan wants to do a Pinterest project party so I can show her how to do things and I was finding things I’d like to show her) when my mom called. We hadn’t managed to get together yet and she said, “Let’s go today.”

Now neither one of us are last minute people but I said yes. So I RAN to get dressed because she was already on her way. I fed all the animals and she came in to visit Luna-tic. Then we went to pick up my step-dad and their dog Moose and we headed out of town. The plan was to go to the new Buc-ees in New Braunfels, take my step-dad and Moose to their land in the country, eat, then head into the small town of Geronimo, which is on the highway  and has 4 antique shops.

We looked around Buc-ees for awhile and I bought a Texas flag tote/purse that will be perfect for carrying my laptop and Nook on vacation. We got breakfast food and headed out to their land. Mom and I were in the travel trailer settling down to eat when my step-dad poked his head in. He’d found something curled up and wanted us to see.

Well, curled up, what do you think it was? A rattler!! Just a little one, four or five buttons, we counted later, and curled up as flat as could be right next to one of the rocks. It was so still we thought it was dead, but when my step-dad tried to move it with the shovel, well, there it went. He chopped it up into a few pieces and then buried it because we were worried Moose and my uncle’s dog Hope would get it. I was shaking when we went back to eat breakfast.

But then we went shopping. I already had ideas what I wanted–a Coca Cola crate, and maybe some colored glass. At the first stop, I found a Coca Cola crate with the compartments for only $25. The one I’d seen online was $22, no compartments, and $20 shipping! So I snatched up this one. I also found some flour sacks for $8 each, and a burlap sack with printing for $12. Turned out the textiles were 35% off, too. We went to another antique store after that, but as nice as it was, nothing I wanted. The third antique store wasn’t open yet, so we went into Seguin to the Goodwill, where I found a green glass bottle and a wire basket for 99 cents each.

Our next stop was Green Gate Nursery. Honestly, you Texas people, that place is worth the drive. GORGEOUS plants, grown there on site, and GOOD prices. I bought a huge rose mallow hibiscus, the ones that have flowers as big as your face, for $6.50, and 2 portulaca and a lavender plant for $1 each.

THEN we went to the best antique store I’ve ever seen– Glory B’s on Highway 123 in Geronimo. OMG, y’all. Her theme is shabby chic, and she had so many textiles and glass and silver and EVERYTHING. You could barely move in the place, but we were there a long time, soaking it in. I bought an apothecary jar, 2 little bell jars and a small wire basket for $17. (She doesn’t do credit cards, though, something to remember for next time.)

After that, Mom was tired and kinda hungry, so we went back to pick up my step-dad and went to Clear Springs Cafe in New Braunfels. Best. Onion rings. Ever. Great catfish, too. I felt kinda guilty about not eating with my husband and son, but it all worked out

We went back to the land to get the dog, then back to Buc-ees to get Fred a shirt, then home. A fun but tiring day!

Goals for the Second Week of Summer

Big project: paint furniture

Pinterest project: yoga skirt

Get ready for my annual long weekend MN trip–actually mostly packed. Just need to throw in my jeans and charger cords.
Get to halfway point of new book.
Keep up house
Day with Mom
Synopsis/query for cowboy story/submit to Samhain
Clean up couch for Susan.

That should keep me busy!

This Summer Is Kicking My Butt

So, I haven’t written 14K words on the new story. I’ve written 5500. (I did write a short story that was 4400, so I’m not AS behind, and I’ve been revising the cowboy story, too, but…)

I cheated on the big project of kitchen drawers. I cleaned out a deep one that had all kinds of junk, including my son’s baby monitor (yes, the son who will be 21 next month) and the skinny one by the sink. We still have two junk drawers that are quite full, but they will have to wait. I have 13 drawers–2 cooking utensils, 2 kitchen linens, 1 kitchen supplies (sponges and such), 2 junk, 1 barbecue drawer, 1 eating utensils, 1 with flashlights and dust rags, now 1 with baking supplies, and 2 with stuff like trivets and tea lights. This may seem an odd question for someone who has lived in the same house for 13 years, but how do you organize your drawers?

My house is still a disaster. I can’t get the back room the way I want it until the husband and son move the TV cabinet to the bedroom (sans TV). Which means I can’t get the bedroom the way I want it, either. My kitchen and living room are a constant mess with coming in and out and leaving stuff around. The boy will be away the next week, which will cut down on that (and will also make dinners easier–vegetarian stuff is more time consuming). I want to work in the yard, too, and yesterday bought four new plants that I now need homes for. AND my friend Susan is coming for one of my old yellow couches, but it’s been sitting in the garage for almost a year and needs a good cleaning. I will do that tomorrow.

AND I’ve only done ONE Pinterest project–I painted my knife block. It was a lot more trouble than it was worth, let me tell you.

But today the husband is playing in Austin, so no cooking. I’m going to try for 3000 words a day for the next 6 days. That should bring me almost where I need to be.

A New 99 Cent E-Book Sale

Goals for the FIRST WEEK of Summer Vacation–Whoo-hoo!

 

After ten months of being in a room with no window….this is me!

Last night I had the TV to myself because both the guys were out. I watched This Means War and two episodes of Magic City (which I don’t like but JDM is in it, so…) Then I went to bed and finished reading The Next Always by Nora. Loved it!  Also loved staying up so late, lol!

So, this week:

Big project: Kitchen drawers

Pinterest project: paint knife block, yoga skirt and maybe scrapbook paper necklaces

Format  Bluestone 2 for print
14,000 words on new book
Revise 7 chapters of last book
Winery trip with Mary, Mary and Susan
Brother’s birthday party today
Day with Mom
Walk every day.
Cook, and make bread twice.
Clean

 

The sooner I can get in a routine, the better.

My Favorite Day of the Year

This is totally my kitten. I know she loves me, but she likes to lay right under my chin and watch me type. Which means….yes, her butt is always in my face.

Today is my favorite day, for two reasons.

One, I’m on the cusp of summer vacation. It’s nearly here, the hard work is done, just a little celebration with my school family and then it’s here. The whole summer stretched out before me…no time wasted yet, all the possibilities ahead. Projects, books to read and write, places to go….

 

AND I’m starting a new book today, one I’ve had in my head since last summer. I’m still revising my cowboy book–chapter four–but I’m going to write something new at the same time. Very excited.

And we’re back to Alex O as the inspiration

Countdown: Last Day with the Kids–the Fun Projects

On my Pinterest, I have a board of fun summer projects. I’ve been buying supplies for the past month or so, and I’ve made some, and am ready to make the others. I won’t bore you with all of them, but here are some fun ones I want to try.

I want to make a yoga skirt. I tried last year, so I may just deconstruct that one and use the same fabric.

I want to make some necklaces. I bought the supplies from Sun and Moon, and am excited to try them out.

Mom LOVES those garden markers people make by stamping words on spoons. I bought some stamps and we’re going to try it.

I want to make this ruffled knit skirt. Already bought the t-shirts.

These are just some of the highlights. I also found some fabric I forgot I’d bought, and my mom’s friend had her daughter bring me some sheer fabric from Dubai. I’m not sure what I can do with it but I’m looking forward to trying! One thing you can say about me–never bored!

Last Wednesday of School–the Big Projects

I have a few big projects I want to knock out this summer. Some are bigger than others, and I’ll likely be doing them on my own. These are my non-writing goals.

1) Redo kitchen drawers. I have 13 kitchen drawers. One has eating utensils, 2 have cooking utensils, 2 are junk drawers, one’s a barbecue drawer, 2 have kitchen linens….I need to rearrange because I need more space for my measuring cups, etc.

2) Redo laundry room, and part of garage. This will be a big one. I need a new shelf over the area where I hang clothes, I would like to paint the wall, and maybe a shutter to put in there to hang things on.

3) paint furniture. My grandfather made these cabinets out of paneling but they’re quite dark. I want to paint them lighter, and maybe add script or something.

4) redo guest room. Mostly it’s my store-my-craft room. It’s a mess. This is a priority.

Writing:

1) Format the last two Bluestone books for print.

2) Write an entire novel, including edits.

3) Write 2 novellas.

First, revisions on this one!

More Pinterest Hits

I was home all weekend, so tried a lot of what I thought would be quick projects.

First, this sun catcher:

You melt beads at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. My mistake? Using old Marie Callender pie pans, with the name embossed on the bottom. The name came out on the sun catchers! So Sunday I bought disposable ones and remelted. I had to add beads because it was a little wider, and this is how they came out:

Next, coasters made with scrapbook paper. This took a LOT longer than I thought, but I got a little carried away.

For Susan: 

My first effort: (these actually were one of the best. The thinner the paper, the better)

For Baby Brother, since he loves the retro:

Mine:

For another teacher who likes to travel:

This one didn’t come out quite as well–I may mount them in the bathroom instead:

Then the lemon sugar foot scrub. This is a big hit.

(Their picture, not mine)

Then the weathered beach signs. I love these, but also a lot more work than I thought.

Theirs:

Mine: (I couldn’t weather them quite as much)

And the last of the crazy, bleached t-shirts. Hers:

My first:

My second during:

After: (I did NOT think it was going to come out, and it’s not as light as it looks in the picture, but still danged cool!

I have some recipes, too, but another day Any reason why I haven’t been writing?

Summer Rules! (And Jeremy Renner)

I wish I could remember the dream I had last night a little better. All I remember is walking through this parking garage-like structure with Jeremy Renner and we were discussing some kind of case. The next part I remember, I was stuck in a room somewhere, with other people, and I bent down and saw a child’s drawing of The Hulk, and it was some signal from Jeremy that he and The Hulk were coming to save us. That’s all I remember, and now I have a bit of a crush, which surprises me because he’s not at all handsome–short face, weird hair–plus he’s little. I like big guys. Still…want to use him as a hero, but my next hero is Alex O (yes, again) and the one after that is Jensen Ackles. I have a spot in mind for him down the road, though.

Okay. I have rules I follow on my summer vacation to make the most of my productivity.

1) No TV except at lunch and after dinner, unless it’s raining. I used to watch All My Children during lunch, then sew a bit. Not sure what I’ll watch now that it’s gone.

2) Sit outside as much as possible. I bought one of those Off clip-on things so I can do this if it’s not too hot. Last summer was just miserable. So if I can’t sit outside, I’ll sit in my sun room (only slightly cooler).

3) Open the windows as much as possible. Again, last summer it was too hot even in the evenings, but I like hearing the sounds from outside, even the traffic.

4) Write 500 words, clean 15 minutes. This should get me to my goal of 2000 words and an hour of housecleaning before lunch.

5) combine errands as much as possible. I like to run errands early when it’s not crowded. But mornings are my most productive writing times. So the fewer mornings I go out, the more productive I am.

6) Read a book a week. At least. That’s still only 11 books. We won’t talk about my TBR.

7) walk as often as possible. I have a beautiful neighborhood and an obese dog. I need to take advantage of the one and exercise the other.

What do you think? Too rigid? I don’t actually KNOW how to relax, but am afraid I won’t get anything done this summer if I don’t buckle down. I have to write at least one novel and one novella!

Speaking of, going to finish this TODAY!