Rose Anderson's Blog, page 36

The oak sleeps in the acorn

We walked our 5-acre yard yesterday looking for those things we needed to take care of before the weather gets too hot and the mosquitoes make  yard work impossible. We’ve decided to plant an oak grove –100 trees. To anyone interested, Arbor Day is coming on April 25th. Here are some resources for free or almost free trees for you to plant.



http://voices.yahoo.com/get-free-trees-plant-arbor-day-24131.html

http://www.givetreegifts.com/free_trees

I’d like to remark upon the weather for the last day of March. We’ll hit 64° before the rain comes in with high winds.  The temperature is high for this time of year by about 15°. Unusual weather always makes me nervous. I have that tornado phobia, you know. (see previous posts) I read this recently: According to Severe Weather Expert Dan Kottlowski, “We expect a normal to perhaps an above-average amount of severe thunderstorms over the Central states during May and June.”

I find that prediction odd. They expect a “normal to perhaps an above average amount of severe thunderstorms”. It seems rather all-encompassing, doesn’t it?  Expect a bad but perhaps good day.  Expect a tasty but perhaps a bland dinner.  Just odd.

Remember when seasons came in fours? Spring and fall had very particular weather. Jacket weather. The sun was warm but the air was cool, and skies were vivid blue. Even the air smelled different between the seasons. Fall was redolent with burning leaves and spring had that damp loamy smell.  Winter was about three months long and summer only lasted as long as school was out. Speaking of school… Today is Bunsen Burner Day.

I thought you’d want to know. lol

Tomorrow the A to Z Challenge begins! I’m ready.  :D

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I’m ready for a busy April! I’m nowhere near done with my spring cleaning. Bad weather, old dog therapy, old me aches and pains, and more bathroom repair snafus than we could have imagined made the whole process crawl. Be that as it may, the job goes on. My goal for completing indoor work is Easter week.

Coming this week ~

Tuesday I’ll be blogging full bore here with April’s the A to Z Challenge. Topics will mostly cover fascinating aspects from history with a few science wows thrown in for good measure.

Thursday begins 10 days of wild foods recipes on my satellite blog. http://calliopeswritingtablet.blogspot.com/

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I’m in the home stretch for the 100 Things Blogging Challenge. For nearly 100 days, I’ve been posting from my chosen topic: Words on the Verge of Extinction. There are 12 entries to come.

Here’s one for today:

Historiaster (noun 1887-1894)

petty or contemptible historian

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See what’s happening on the blog today

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

The April contest is on and this month we’ll have 3 winners! Grand Prize winner gets a $50 gift card to Amazon or B&N. The other winners will split the remaining prizes of a gift card worth $10 and many ebook romances. http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

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Download your copy of my free 1st and 2nd chapter sampler.

Love Waits in Unexpected Places - Scorching Samplings of Unusual Love Stories

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/333971

.

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Bucket List

Bucket List (noun)

A list of things one wants to do before dying. From the phrase kick the bucket

When I was a child my dad and I had a newspaper ritual. The Chicago Tribune came to my house in the morning and the Daily News arrived early afternoon. On Sundays we’d divide the papers between us — he’d take the front page and car sections and I’d take the “funnies” and the sports page. We’d read our sections quietly then we’d switch. One day when it was my turn to have the news section, I discovered something wonderful.

Down near the town of Braidwood Illinois, about a two-hour drive from home, 300-million year-old fossils were discovered.  I carefully cut the article from the paper and showed my dad. I wanted to go find fossils. He said no. I asked why and he explained that I couldn’t just go pick them up off the ground, I’d have to dig and people wouldn’t want me digging on their property. I kept that newspaper clipping for years because one day I would go look for fossils and no adult would tell me no. I didn’t know it at the time but I’d put the first item on my bucket list.

This past Saturday I went to that spot near Braidwood Illinois to find fossils. And it only took me 48 years to get there!
:D

The fossil location is considered Lagerstätten. That means the deposits of fossils are extraordinarily rich and complete. The word literally means lode places e.g. mother lode. There are some amazing Lagerstätten deposits around the world. The USA has a few, Mazon Creek (the area I visited yesterday) and California’s La Brea Tar Pit among them.

So yesterday’s trip was grueling. Dad was right. You can’t just find them on the ground. We trudged through brush and mud and climbed high slippery hills to dig them out of the spoil piles. These piles were left from coal mining that ended in the area many years ago. At one point I went rolling down a steep hill and stopped only by grace of a fallen tree in my way. Someone had to be the comic relief. Aside from discovering newly emerged ticks on us at home, it was a wonderful day. I sure feel the aftermath of the experience today.

Together my husband and I found about 30 accretions …rounded rocks that might have fossils trapped inside. These rocks will be frozen and thawed and frozen and thawed until they eventually crack open. If we’re lucky we’ll have front and back views of ancient flora and fauna. We have plans for them even if the accretions turn up empty. Before we married, we dreamed about building a stone fireplace with special rocks and fossils embedded between the field stone. To that end, we’ve collected stones from all over the world — boxes full. We even have a chunk of the Berlin Wall that will be added to the rest.  We’re an interesting pair, he and I. lol

I’m very happy with the ferns. I was planning on posting pictures of my fossils but this morning I find my camera’s batteries need to be replaced. Here are nice examples of what fossil hunting turned up. We have three ferns that didn’t have to be frozen and thawed. Picture them set into a stone fireplace.  Who knows what the smaller nodules will give us. Maybe a Tully Monster or a jelly fish!

Anyway, it’s off my bucket list. Had that childhood dream been encouraged, I might be a paleontologist today. In retrospect, nah…I’ve far too many interests to ever have been nailed down to one. Now I have to figure out what I want to do next before I die. I’ve already done spelunking and have taken hang-gliding and repelling off the list. That was for the 20-year old me who thought she was immortal.  I’ve done whitewater canoeing but not rafting, so there’s that. I also toy with the idea of running a zipline. I’d likely break something now.

;)

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I’m ready for a busy April! I’m nowhere near done with my spring cleaning. Bad weather, old dog therapy, old me aches and pains, and more bathroom repair snafus than we could have imagined made the whole process crawl. Be that as it may, the job goes on. My goal for completing indoor work is Easter week.

Coming this week ~

Tuesday I’ll be blogging full bore here with April’s the A to Z Challenge. Topics will mostly cover fascinating aspects from history with a few science wows thrown in for good measure.

Thursday begins 10 days of wild foods recipes on my satellite blog. http://calliopeswritingtablet.blogspot.com/

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I’m in the home stretch for the 100 Things Blogging Challenge. For nearly 100 days, I’ve been posting from my chosen topic: Words on the Verge of Extinction. There are 13 entries to come.

Here’s one for today:

Keleusmatically (adverb 1885)

imperatively; in an imperative mood

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See what’s happening on the blog today

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

We’ll soon have a new April contest on our website. http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

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Download your copy of my free 1st and 2nd chapter sampler.

Love Waits in Unexpected Places - Scorching Samplings of Unusual Love Stories

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/333971

.

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Two words today

I’m having a very busy day today. There will be no post tomorrow because I’m off to do something I’ve wanted to do my entire life. I’ll post pictures on Sunday. Today, find two extinct words.

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Another 100 Things Blogging Challenge! For 100 days, I’ll post something from my chosen topic: Words on the Verge of Extinction. After today’s double, there are 14 entries to come.

Here’s one for today:

Drollic (adjective 1743)

of or pertaining to puppet shows

And one for tomorrow:

Epalpebrate (adjective 1884)

lacking eyebrows

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I’ve temporarily cut back on blogging for my put-my-life-back-in-order spring cleaning — a project known far and wide as the Annual Purge. Thanks for stopping by even if there isn’t much new to see. I have no time for blogging right now, but the extinct word of the day is updated daily.

Starting next Tuesday I’ll be blogging full bore with April’s the A to Z Challenge. Topics will mostly cover fascinating aspects from history with a few science wows thrown in for good measure.

Coming soon to my satellite blog ~

For ten days in April I’ll be participating in the Authors in Bloom blog hop over on http://calliopeswritingtablet.blogspot.com/ . This blog hop is all about showing other facets of an author’s life. One of the more unusual things I’ve done in my life with this man of mine was lead wild foods programs for Chicago’s Field Museum. For this event I’ll be sharing my recipes. I hope you stop by. You may have delicious ingredients waiting in your backyard. :)



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I’m currently participating in The Romance Reviews’ Anniversary party. My particular part in the contest is over, but the celebration runs until the end of the month and there are a lot of prizes to be had. See what I have up on my newest satellite blog:

http://ifollowthemuse.blogspot.com/

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See what’s happening on the blog today

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

We’ll soon have a new April contest on our website. http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<< ۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞

Love Waits in Unexpected Places - Scorching Samplings of Unusual Love Stories

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/333971

Download your copy of my free 1st and 2nd chapter sampler.

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Hey Joe

A short post today. My husband has half the day off and we’re working on the house. Depending on which way the wind is blowing that could be a good thing or a bad thing. Coincidentally, a rather fierce storm is blowing in as I type this. I expect an interesting day. lol

Anyway…People who know me well know my nom de plume is actually my middle name. I spend more of my life going by Rose than by the name my eldest sister bestowed upon me. Several blog posts ago, I discussed names as symbols. My Rose is twice that — a nod to a baby born with red hair and a nod to my mother’s best friend Rose. I’m little Rose.  :)

I bring up names today because today is National Joe Day. Seriously — Joe Day. Who thinks this stuff up? Today is the day to call yourself something else. Just for today go by the name of Joe or by the name you’ve always wanted. For kicks, when you order a cup of coffee, ask for a “cup of Joe”.

Fun Facts about National Joe Day

Here’s a site with Joe Day recipes and a crazy assortment of Joe-related things. This is just so weird…

http://www.squidoo.com/nationaljoeday

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Another 100 Things Blogging Challenge! For 100 days, I’ll post something from my chosen topic: Words on the Verge of Extinction. There are 16 entries to come.

Here’s one for today:

Rupography (noun 1838)

art of taking impressions of coins or medals in sealing wax

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I’ve temporarily cut back on blogging for my put-my-life-back-in-order spring cleaning — a project known far and wide as the Annual Purge. Thanks for stopping by even if there isn’t much new to see. I have no time for blogging right now, but the extinct word of the day is updated daily.

I’ll be blogging full bore in April with the A to Z Challenge. Topics will mostly cover fascinating aspects from history with a few science wows thrown in for good measure.

Coming soon to my satellite blog ~

For ten days in April I’ll be participating in the Authors in Bloom blog hop over on http://calliopeswritingtablet.blogspot.com/ . This blog hop is all about showing other facets of an author’s life. One of the more unusual things I’ve done in my life with this man of mine was lead wild foods programs for Chicago’s Field Museum. For this event I’ll be sharing my recipes. I hope you stop by. You may have delicious ingredients waiting in your backyard.  :)



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I’m currently participating in The Romance Reviews’ Anniversary party. My particular part in the contest is over, but the celebration runs until the end of the month and there are a lot of prizes to be had. See what I have up on my newest satellite blog:

http://ifollowthemuse.blogspot.com/

۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<< ۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞

See what’s happening on the blog today

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

We’ll soon have a new April contest on our website. http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<< ۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞

Love Waits in Unexpected Places - Scorching Samplings of Unusual Love Stories

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/333971

Download your copy of my free 1st and 2nd chapter sampler.

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Watch with me one hour

As my bio states, I write all sorts of things from children’s stories to historical non-fiction. The goal for my romance writing is to help buy a nice piece of land for my husband to retire on. That ground will also become wildlife habitat. Beyond that purely selfish dream of doing something wonderful for a wonderful man, I’ve dreamed of using my work to support various causes.

Here’s a run-down:

My first books were created for my children. The stories revolve around a bunch of frog friends who live in our yard. After expenses, the plan has always been to give half of the income from those books to prairie restoration done specifically to aid grassland herps — those reptiles and amphibians: snakes, lizards, turtles, frogs, toads, and salamanders, my children loved so well when they were young.

My youth books on the Underground Railroad will have a portion of the profits earmarked for the continued restoration of the marvelous old house I helped restore and wrote about. 

For my still-unnamed magnum opus (see previous posts to learn about that big labor of love), the plan has always been to create an endowment with whatever monies I might be blessed with after expenses.  Many many years ago, my husband received an endowment from an environmental organization. I was captivated by such a concept. There was great honor in receiving it, even though it wasn’t much dollar-wise. However, to a young family with every dime spent before it was made, the money was a very big deal at the time.  I learned you don’t need much to start an endowment. Things like this can simply be a years’ worth of interest off money in the bank. If the magnum opus has a measure of success that would allow me to create such a thing, each year I’d give grants to people doing good things for the environment, for animals, and for people in need.

Why? I’ve been a supporter of environmental issues and social causes since becoming aware the very first Earth Day in 1970. I love this planet. Supporting it any way I can is just who I am. I’m forever signing petitions and making calls to public officials, and I belong to more than one organization championing wild places and the plants and animals that live in them, as well as for people in need around the world and at home. Had I more funds, I’d do more. Funds, or lack thereof, keep a lot of would-be activists on the sidelines.

The reason I’m mentioning all this today is because this is the day to tell people that the last Saturday in March, this coming Saturday, is Earth Hour. Today is a heads-up notice for participation three days from now. 

Earth hour was started in 2007 by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to show that lots of people working together could effect great change. Across the planet, even doing something as simple as turning off lights for an hour is amazingly positive and saves a LOT of fuel. People around the globe in many countries are joining in for collective power down, and you can too. Turn off your lights and unplug from 8-9:00 pm, and do get yourself some soy or beeswax candles. Burning petroleum candles and lamp oil creates its own environmental hazard.

Though Earth Hour started as an annual event in which many people worldwide turn their lights off on the last Saturday in March, it’s become much much more this year…

This year for the first time, Earth Hour offers crowd-funded opportunities to effect great change. http://www.earthhour.org/  These projects are year-round. My few dollars will merge with millions and reforest, reseed, clean, restore, and protect the rarest of the rare. How infinitely cool is that?

What else can one person do?

If you’re interested in getting started in activism but your funds can’t support it right now, consider click sites. The Animal Rescue Site is a click site that donates money to shelters and all you have to do is click on the site once each day. Click on the other tabs there to do even more good.

http://theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/clickToGive/ars/home

Free Rice is a similar site that donates bowls of rice to the world’s hungry.

http://freerice.com/

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Another 100 Things Blogging Challenge! For 100 days, I’ll post something from my chosen topic: Words on the Verge of Extinction. There are 17 entries to come.

Here’s one for today:

Aeipathy (noun 1847-1853)

continued passion like an unyielding disease

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I’ve temporarily cut back on blogging for my put-my-life-back-in-order spring cleaning — a project known far and wide as the Annual Purge. Thanks for stopping by even if there isn’t much new to see. I have no time for blogging right now, but the extinct word of the day is updated daily.

I’ll be blogging full bore in April with the A to Z Challenge. Topics will mostly cover fascinating aspects from history with a few science wows thrown in for good measure.

Coming soon to my satellite blog ~

For ten days in April I’ll be participating in the Authors in Bloom blog hop over on http://calliopeswritingtablet.blogspot.com/ . This blog hop is all about showing the many facets to an author’s life. One of the more unusual things I’ve done in my life with this man of mine was lead wild foods programs for Chicago’s Field Museum.

For this event I’ll be sharing my recipes. I hope you stop by. You may have delicious ingredients waiting in your backyard.



۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞

I’m currently participating in The Romance Reviews’ Anniversary party. My particular part in the contest is over, but the celebration runs all month long and there are a lot of prizes to be had. See what I have up on my newest satellite blog:

http://ifollowthemuse.blogspot.com/

۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<< ۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞

See what’s happening on the blog today

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

We’ll soon have a new April contest on our website. http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<< ۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞

Love Waits in Unexpected Places - Scorching Samplings of Unusual Love Stories

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/333971

Download your copy of my free 1st and 2nd chapter sampler.

۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<< ۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞

Things unending

Would you believe I woke to snow on the ground? At least an inch. The temperature here with the wind chill will be a balmy 15° today. I swear this is the winter that wouldn’t leave.

Speaking of things unending, the bathrooms are now down to the last of the sealing. Good grief what a project filled with twists and turns. All that’s left after the tub and shower sealing is installing new light bulbs, oiling the cabinets, and general clean-up.

I found a nifty tool that fits on the tip of the caulk tube and it guides and smooths as you go. It makes the task marginally better. I loath caulking. The caulk gun is made for larger hands than mine so working with it doesn’t come easy. I have a steadier hand at it than my husband does, so this falls to me. Blah.

My new mantra:  This too shall pass.

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Another 100 Things Blogging Challenge! For 100 days, I’ll post something from my chosen topic: Words on the Verge of Extinction. There are 18 entries to come.

Here’s one for today:

Sinapistic (adjective 1879)

consisting of mustard.

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I’ve temporarily cut back on blogging for my put-my-life-back-in-order spring cleaning — a project known far and wide as the Annual Purge. Thanks for stopping by even if there isn’t much new to see. I have no time for blogging right now, but the extinct word of the day is updated daily.

I’ll be blogging full bore in April with the A to Z Challenge. Topics will mostly cover fascinating aspects from history with a few science wows thrown in for good measure.

Coming soon to my satellite blog ~

For ten days in April I’ll be participating in the Authors in Bloom blog hop over on http://calliopeswritingtablet.blogspot.com/ . This blog hop is all about showing the many facets to an author’s life. One of the more unusual things I’ve done in my life with this man of mine was lead wild foods programs for Chicago’s Field Museum.

For this event I’ll be sharing my recipes. I hope you stop by. You may have delicious ingredients waiting in your backyard.



۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞

I’m currently participating in The Romance Reviews’ Anniversary party. My particular part in the contest is over, but the celebration runs all month long and there are a lot of prizes to be had. See what I have up on my newest satellite blog:

http://ifollowthemuse.blogspot.com/

۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<< ۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞

See what’s happening on the blog today

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

We’ll soon have a new April contest on our website. http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<< ۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞

Love Waits in Unexpected Places - Scorching Samplings of Unusual Love Stories

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/333971

Download your copy of my free 1st and 2nd chapter sampler.

۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<< ۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞

Houdini Day

I have a busy day but I just had to take a little time this morning to give a nod to a legend. In case you didn’t know, today is Houdini Day. Born Erich Weiss sometime in the early 1870′s, he took the stage name Harry Houdini in tribute to the renown French magician of the Victorian era — Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin.

My first exposure to Houdini was in an old Tony Curtis movie. I loved that movie. When I was a kid, whenever it would rerun on TV, I’d be right there in front of the screen. In my youth there was also a popular TV show called The Sixth Sense. The show’s bizarre episodes were written around some real unexplained tidbit. The presented facts naturally got me interested in mysterious things. It also renewed my interest in Houdini because the movie bestowed extra sensory perception on him. I did a little research of my own and discovered that was all Hollywood glamorizing.  Harry Houdini was just a talented magician who understood redirection and illusion and had a knack for marketing. It didn’t make him less fascinating to me.

One of the more interesting things I learned about this showman was his belief in “It takes one to know one”. Because of Queen Victoria’s prolonged mourning for her Albert, death was in vogue in Victorian society. In fact, a whole death industry sprang from it and some of the stuff was pure baloney (and a blog post for another day). Houdini’s mastery of illusion set him against fraudulent psychic mediums who used their own form of smoke and mirrors to pull a fast one on people seeking to reconnect with loved ones who had passed on.

During his psychic medium debunking campaign, he set his sights on renowned Spiritualist Mina (Margery) Crandon and proved her a fraud. Prior to this revelation, Houdini was good friends with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a man with deep beliefs in Spiritualism who also believed in Crandon’s psychic abilities.  Their friendship ended. No one likes to feel the fool.

Here’s an interesting clip about Harry Houdini.

Happy Houdini Day! I wish you a day of magic and wonder.

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Another 100 Things Blogging Challenge! For 100 days, I’ll post something from my chosen topic: Words on the Verge of Extinction. There are 19 entries to come.

Here’s one for today:

Quadrimular (adjective 1664)

lasting for four years

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I’ve temporarily cut back on blogging for my put-my-life-back-in-order spring cleaning — a project known far and wide as the Annual Purge. Thanks for stopping by even if there isn’t much new to see. I have no time for blogging right now, but the extinct word of the day is updated daily.

I’ll be blogging full bore in April with the A to Z Challenge. Topics will mostly cover fascinating aspects from history with a few science wows thrown in for good measure.

Coming soon to my satellite blog ~

For ten days in April I’ll be participating in the Authors in Bloom blog hop over on http://calliopeswritingtablet.blogspot.com/ . This blog hop is all about showing the many facets to an author’s life. One of the more unusual things I’ve done in my life with this man of mine was lead wild foods programs for Chicago’s Field Museum.

For this event I’ll be sharing my recipes. I hope you stop by. You may have delicious ingredients waiting in your backyard.



۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞

I’m currently participating in The Romance Reviews’ Anniversary party. My particular part in the contest is over, but the celebration runs all month long and there are a lot of prizes to be had. See what I have up on my newest satellite blog:

http://ifollowthemuse.blogspot.com/

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See what’s happening on the blog today

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

We’ll soon have a new April contest on our website. http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

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Love Waits in Unexpected Places - Scorching Samplings of Unusual Love Stories

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/333971

Download your copy of my free 1st and 2nd chapter sampler.

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Canine laughs

Just some dog laughs for today. It’s not an official Funday post, but both of these made me laugh when I saw them so I’m sharing. This first clip shows a dog with his chewie and how he feels about another dog coming to take it away. Wait a minute…

Irreverent dogs

This trend is called Dog Shaming. I have two dogs in my family. Believe me, they have no shame. Still, they enrich my life. I love them regardless of their idiosyncrasies.  :D

http://pansypanda.com/30-naughtiest-dogs-youll-lol-when-you-find-out-what-they-did/  (for some reason this link wasn’t working. It is now.)

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Another 100 Things Blogging Challenge! For 100 days, I’ll post something from my chosen topic: Words on the Verge of Extinction. There are 20 entries to come.

Here’s one for today:

Nerterology (noun 1800)

study relating to the dead or the underworld

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I’ve temporarily cut back on blogging for my put-my-life-back-in-order spring cleaning — a project known far and wide as the Annual Purge. Thanks for stopping by even if there isn’t much new to see. I have no time for blogging right now, but the extinct word of the day is updated daily.

I’ll be blogging full bore in April with the A to Z Challenge. Topics will mostly cover fascinating aspects from history with a few science wows thrown in for good measure.

Coming soon to my satellite blog ~

For ten days in April I’ll be participating in the Authors in Bloom blog hop over on http://calliopeswritingtablet.blogspot.com/ . This blog hop is all about showing the many facets to an author’s life. One of the more unusual things I’ve done in my life with this man of mine was lead wild foods programs for Chicago’s Field Museum.

For this event I’ll be sharing my recipes. I hope you stop by. You may have delicious ingredients waiting in your backyard.



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I’m currently participating in The Romance Reviews’ Anniversary party. My particular part in the contest is over, but the celebration runs all month long and there are a lot of prizes to be had. See what I have up on my newest satellite blog:

http://ifollowthemuse.blogspot.com/

۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<< ۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞ <<<<۞

See what’s happening on the blog today

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

We’ll soon have a new April contest on our website. http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<< ۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞ <<<<۞

Love Waits in Unexpected Places - Scorching Samplings of Unusual Love Stories

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/333971

Download your copy of my free 1st and 2nd chapter sampler.

۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<< ۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞ <<<<۞

An unforeseen project

If you’ve been stopping by my blog, you’ll know I’ve been knee-deep in home improvement and the assorted mania that goes with it.

Upon discovering the bathroom sink was a ticking time bomb, we have no option but to replace it. I’m left to wonder how porcelain sinks from 100+ years ago manage not to rust through while my 30-year-old fixtures are crumbling into dust. It must be the properties of the iron.

So with this new and unforeseen project, the comedy of errors begins anew. We’ll finish this bathroom today if it kills us. If not, I’m thinking we brick over the doorways to all three bathrooms and use the outhouse. It’s a two-seater.

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Another 100 Things Blogging Challenge! For 100 days, I’ll post something from my chosen topic: Words on the Verge of Extinction. There are 21 entries to come.

Here’s one for today:

Pocilliform (adjective 1846)

shaped like a little cup.

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I’ve temporarily cut back on blogging for my put-my-life-back-in-order spring cleaning — a project known far and wide as the Annual Purge. Thanks for stopping by even if there isn’t much new to see. I have no time for blogging right now, but the extinct word of the day is updated daily.

I’ll be blogging full bore in April with the A to Z Challenge. Topics will mostly cover fascinating aspects from history with a few science wows thrown in for good measure. I have a healthy sense of wonder. I promise your imagination will fly with mine. :)

My imagination is already flying and I haven’t written my posts yet! What a wondrous world.

Coming soon to my satellite blog ~

For ten days in April I’ll be participating in the Authors in Bloom blog hop over on http://calliopeswritingtablet.blogspot.com/ . This blog hop is all about showing the many facets to an author’s life. One of the more unusual things I’ve done in my life with this man of mine was lead wild foods programs for Chicago’s Field Museum.

For this event I’ll be sharing my recipes. I hope you stop by. You may have delicious ingredients waiting in your backyard.



۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞<<<<۞

I’m currently participating in The Romance Reviews’ Anniversary party. My particular part in the contest is over, but the celebration runs all month long and there are a lot of prizes to be had. See what I have up on my newest satellite blog:

http://ifollowthemuse.blogspot.com/

۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<< ۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞ <<<<۞

See what’s happening on the blog today

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

We’ll soon have a new April contest on our website. http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<< ۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞ <<<<۞

Love Waits in Unexpected Places - Scorching Samplings of Unusual Love Stories

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/333971

Download your copy of my free 1st and 2nd chapter sampler, I write what I’d like to read so my stories are rich in realistic/historically correct dialogue and factual information. My multidimensional characters are the sort you’d welcome into your home to share a cup of tea or a beer. Pssst… I wouldn’t open the door to the villains…

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Guests

Ah spring. I’m so happy you’ve arrived. It’s good knowing the seasons have officially changed even if the weather hasn’t yet caught up with the plan.

The mountains of snow are a quarter of the size they were a few weeks ago. Thaw has revealed all sorts of things some good and some ghastly. Lots of sticks too. My old puppy wanted a stick the other day. Even in her dotage she wanted it. Labs are bred to have OCD. Their obsession to retrieve something, anything, is what makes them fine hunting dogs. She was wearing herself out trying to pull this frozen stick from the snow. Thinking I’d help, I kicked what I assumed was melting snow and learned the hard way that it was actually a mountain of solid ice. I do believe I’ve broken my big toe. lol

Ya gotta laugh or you’d cry.

I’d planned to finish all the assorted calking and sealing today but that means bending this toe. We’re expecting rain today. The toe confirms this. In fact, the toe is adamant about it. I might just take the morning off and put my foot up.

I had to walk the dogs on their leashes yesterday. My toe was shooting daggers of pain up my leg. Ouch. I don’t normally leash walk them but we had strangers in the labyrinth. My husband and I have always felt if people found our labyrinth and walked it, they were meant to. An hour passed and they were still in the labyrinth. The pups couldn’t wait on these people to leave. Dogs are all about their schedules you know. The little dog is like a clock. She knows what time it is and woe to you if you forget it. You’ll be herded and pushed around the house until you get back on the clock. The old dog could easily go anywhere… inside or out. She really doesn’t think about it anymore, so I have to. Hence the schedule.



Anyway…as I limped my way around the yard I saw up close what an ugly post-winter mess it is. I saw a single snowdrop off my front porch. I normally have bunches but I think the winter’s polar vortex was too much.  My bower roses took a winter’s beating too. And then there’s the damage from the deer…

We’re surrounded by habitat and in it we have five distinct groups of deer living at five key points around my house. Of the five, we have “yard deer” — front yard deer and back yard deer. The yard deer are the deer that treat the small space we occupy in this vastness like it’s theirs. They have no respect for our hostas and gardens, and I can count on both hands the fruit trees we’ve tried to grow and eventually gave upon. Deer have always been a presence here. Tracks even suggest they walk around the house and peer through windows.

One morning several years back, I got that goose walked over your grave sensation that I was being watched as I stood pouring myself a cup of coffee.  I turned to the patio door to find a doe with her sticky wet nose pressed against the glass watching me. She pretended she’d just come to eat the sunflower seeds I’d left out for the birds. This was a very odd-looking doe with her wide flat head and short thick neck. A facial deformity or perhaps genes from a deer park escapee had given her a head that looked more like a roe deer than a white tail deer. Compare the deer above to this one.

<<< In profile, her head was shape like a jug.

The next day Jughead came back with her daughter. Two days later she returned with her daughter and her younger twins: a little buck we called Bucky and another little doe. They came back often until little Bucky started growing his antlers, then he stopped visiting. Jughead and older daughter were regular visitors for three years and then Jughead was gone. The daughter returned once more, then she too had moved on. Perhaps bored with watching us.

The signs around the yard tell me the deer have been on the patio again eating last summer’s dried hosta leaves and peering into the house. It makes me wonder if they’re Jughead’s descendants or just some other rude animals.

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Another 100 Things Blogging Challenge! For 100 days, I’ll post something from my chosen topic: Words on the Verge of Extinction. There are 22 entries to come.

Here’s one for today:

Antipelargy (noun 1656-1731)

reciprocal or mutual kindness; love and care of children for their parents

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I’ve temporarily cut back on blogging for my put-my-life-back-in-order spring cleaning — a project known far and wide as the Annual Purge. Thanks for stopping by even if there isn’t much new to see. I have no time for blogging right now, but the extinct word of the day is updated daily.

I’ll be blogging full bore in April with the A to Z Challenge. My list is growing. Only K, X, Y, Z left. Topics will mostly cover fascinating aspects from history with a few science wows thrown in for good measure. I have a healthy sense of wonder. I promise your imagination will fly with mine.  :)

My imagination is already flying and I haven’t written my posts yet! What a wondrous world.

Coming soon to my satellite blog ~

All authors have non-fiction lives outside of their novels. I certainly do. That’s why I haven’t been blogging much. For being a shy wallflower, I’ve done some pretty strange things in my life. Most of these I lay squarely at the feet of the interesting man I married. You might say he’s the outboard motor on my life’s boat.  lol Were I to list them you’d see things like fire-walking and old house restoration, black-powder competitions and meditation, French Intensive gardening and pounding bronze on a forge, Reiki and wilderness canoeing. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. It appears I’ve lived several lives simultaneously!  :D

For ten days in April I’ll be participating in the Authors in Bloom blog hop over on http://calliopeswritingtablet.blogspot.com/ . This blog hop is all about showing the many facets to an author’s life. One of the more unusual things I’ve done in my life with this man of mine was lead wild foods programs for Chicago’s Field Museum. For this event I’ll be sharing my recipes. I hope you stop by. You may have delicious ingredients waiting in your backyard.



۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞<<<<۞

I’m participating in The Romance Reviews’ Anniversary party. My particular part in the contest is over, but the celebration runs all month long and there are a lot of prizes to be had. See what I have up on my newest satellite blog:

http://ifollowthemuse.blogspot.com/

۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<< ۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞ <<<<۞

See what’s happening on the blog today

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

Check out the newest contest on our website. We have Leprechauns to find! Our March contest will have 5 winners with one Grand Prize Winner: $50 gift card for Amazon/B&N. Other prizes will be split randomly among the remaining 4 winners. http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<< ۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞ <<<<۞

Love Waits in Unexpected Places - Scorching Samplings of Unusual Love Stories

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/333971

Download your copy of my free 1st and 2nd chapter sampler, I write what I’d like to read so my stories are rich in realistic/historically correct dialogue and factual information. My multidimensional characters are the sort you’d welcome into your home to share a cup of tea or a beer. Pssst… I wouldn’t open the door to the villains…

۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<< ۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞<<<<۞ <<<<۞