Rose Anderson's Blog, page 39

Challenges of all sorts

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. Today it’s all laying linoleum, regrouting tile, and installing new bathroom fixtures. Talk about challenging.

Speaking of…I’m still doing the 100 Things Challenge on extinct words. I just love stuff like this. I’m a word lover in a family of word lovers. You should see us play Scrabble! Words are symbols for thought, and some words just set my imagination soaring.  If you’re here for the first time, especially if you’re a writer, do scroll back to previous posts on a wide range of symbolism you can use to add dimension to your characters’ world. I might pick up the symbol series again come May. It’s far from over.

If you’re interested in posts where I chat up teasing snippets of my novels, check out the links tab above. They’ll to take you to my satellite blogs. (If you like what you see, I do have a 1st and 2nd chapter sampler for free. See the link below.)  You’ll also find short flash fiction pieces I’ve written that tell complete stories in 100 and 200 words. I’ve said before I’m here to learn the ropes of this business but I don’t really consider myself a romance author, rather, I’m a multifaceted writer who likes writing challenges of all sorts.

Here’s a bit of flash fiction I wrote as part of The Darwin Murders anthology. Click on the cover to get a look inside. The stories are arranged alphabetically by author’s name, so I’m first. My tale is Ester’s Bees. The first time I participated in one of these challenges I was surprised to discover they planned to make a book from the entries. Here is Bump Off Your Enemies. Again, I’m first.

I wrote something completely different as part of the Exquisite Quills Holiday Anthology — a little something some of us put together for the EQ authors. The download is free. My tale is based upon the true story of rural electrification coming to the adjacent farm. The family finally got their electricity Christmas eve in1936 and it lit their tree.  I love storytelling and I’ve collected many real experiences from the elders I’ve met over the years. Such treasures they are.

Come March, I’ll be in The Romance Reviews month long anniversary bash, then on to April’s A to Z Challenge.I’ll be blogging regularly again in approximately two weeks.  That’s the plan anyway.



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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 44 entries to come.

Here’s one for today:

Palmoscopy (noun 1857-1890)

observation of heartbeat or pulse as part of medical diagnosis

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See what’s happening today

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

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

Sample my love stories for free!

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

Coming soon~

Thought cobwebs

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.  I’ll be blogging regularly again in approximately two weeks. Until then, stop by every day for the 100 Things Challenge to bone up on your extinct words. You never know when you’ll need one. 

I’ll also post the occasional writing prompt project on my other blogs. As a matter of fact, I have one up today. I mainly promote my books on my satellite blogs and talk about everything else on this one. If you’re interested in past posts Check out the links tab above. If you like what you see, I do have a 1st and 2nd chapter sampling for free. See the link below.

Come March, I’ll be in The Romance Reviews month long anniversary bash, then on to April’s A to Z Challenge. I’ll be ready. Those cobwebs weren’t only hanging in the corners of my ceiling, they’ve been in my head too! I think up all sorts of things while I clean. So far, I’ve ideas for letters C, H, K, L, P, and Y for the A to Z Challenge. Yesterday, I took a  midday break and was inspired to work on an entire chapter of my magnum opus (see previous posts) Clarity of thought is why I clean house.  Don’t tell my husband. He thinks I do it because I’m neat.  Ha! I don’t think neat and author go together.





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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 44 entries to come.

Here’s one for today:

Weequashing (noun 1888-1902)

spearing of fish or eels by torchlight from canoes

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I recently stumbled across a great group of writers on Facebook and they have weekly memes to write for. Today is Thursday Taster.

http://calliopeswritingtablet.blogspot.com/

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See what’s happening today

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

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

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

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

Sample my love stories for free!

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

Coming soon~

A balmy -20° *sigh*

Do you believe this weather? Last night’s weather report says a slow-moving snow-heavy storm is inching in my direction from the west — some unusual southern jet stream meets polar vortex marriage of misery meaning 5 to 7 more inches of snow on the way. Ugh.

The deep ice-topped snow is so hard on my old puppy. She stumbles, she falls, she gets stuck, she hurts afterward. Today our morning dog walk was met with a breezy -20°. I can tell how sore she is. I know I speak her mind when I say this weather is getting pretty darn old.



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I’ve temporarily cut back on blogging to see to things that need my attention like learning how to re-grout tile. Barringother surprises like crumbling tile grout, I’ll be blogging regularly again in approximately two weeks. Until then, stop by every day for the 100 Things Challenge on extinct words and the occasionalwriting prompt project on my other blogs. To see those, check out the links tab above. Come March, I’ll be in The Romance Reviews month long anniversary bash, then on to April’s A to Z Challenge.



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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 45 entries to come.

Here’s one for today:

Slimikin (adjective 1745)

small and slender

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First Kiss Wednesday!

Over on the Exquisite Quills blog it’s a day dedicated to kisses. In 300 words or less taken from the pages of their novels, authors share their best smackeroos.



Come join in on the fun

http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/

http://eq-recycled-reviews.blogspot.com/Exquisite Quills Yahoo Group

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

See what’s happening today

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

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

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

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

Sample my love stories for free!

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

Coming soon~

Tuesday happenings

As I put my house in order, I’ve temporarily cut back on blogging. I’ll continue a short post each morning to wrap up the 100 Things Challenge on extinct words. I also have a few mini post obligations and writing prompt projects on my other blogs. To see those, check out the links tab above. Come March, I’ll be in The Romance Reviews month long anniversary bash. I should be done cleaning around then. Should be…

If you’ve enjoyed my posts thus far, you’re sure to like April’s A to Z Challenge. So far, I’ve thought up two topics while spring cleaning. Only eight rooms and a basement to go. Who knows what will come to mind!



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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 45 entries to come.

Here’s one for today:

Odynometer (noun 1889 -1893)

instrument for measuring pain

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I belong to a lot of writers groups on Facebook and some have weekly memes to write for.  Today is Tantalizing Tuesday. Come read a timely piece I wrote recently.

http://calliopeswritingtablet.blogspot.com/

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It’s a day to be tickled on the Exquisite Quills blog! In 300 words or less taken from the pages of their novels, authors gather to share a snippet that will bring you a smile, incite a giggle, or make you laugh out loud.



Come join in on the fun

http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/

http://eq-recycled-reviews.blogspot.com/Exquisite Quills Yahoo Group

 

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See what’s happening today

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

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

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

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

Sample my love stories for free!

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

Coming soon~

Working some spring magic?

The polar vortex is back this week. Those poor robins. Perhaps spring cleaning my house will work some spring magic. How often does washing one’s car bring on the rain? lol Ok, I’m shooting in the dark. I just want winter to be over.



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As you can tell, I’ve cut back on blogging temporarily as I put my house in order. I’ll continue to post the 100 Things Challenge on extinct words, and I’ll wrap up my mini post obligations and writing prompt projects on my other blogs. To see those, check out the links tab above. Come March, I’ll be in The Romance Reviews month long anniversary bash. I should be done cleaning around then.

When I return to regular blogging, I may move on from symbols or take it all the way to April’s A to Z Challenge. I haven’t decided. If you’ve enjoyed my posts thus far, you’re sure to like those. My interests are nothing if not diverse.



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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 46 entries to come.

Here’s one for today:

Sevidical (adjective 1656)

speaking cruel and harsh words; threatening

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Wash Line Monday!

Over on the Exquisite Quills blog it’s a day dedicated to clothing. In 300 words or less taken from the pages of their novel, authors can describe what a character is wearing. Come join us today!

http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/

http://eq-recycled-reviews.blogspot.com/Exquisite Quills Yahoo Group

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

See what’s happening today!

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

 http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

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

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

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

Sample my love stories for free!

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

Coming soon~

Funday Happenings etc…

That’s not a typo.

Before I continue with my Funday post…I’ll be cutting back on blogging temporarily as I put my house in order. I’ve made commitments here, so I will complete the 100 Things Challenge.

My pre-made mini posts will go on my other blogs over the next several days. To see those, check out the links below. I’m involved in several writing prompt projects all week long on my satellite blogs, so those will be posted too.

Come March, I’ll be in The Romance Reviews month long anniversary bash. I should be done cleaning around then.

For now, here’s a little something to ponder:



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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 47 entries to come.

Here’s one for today:

Cynicocratical (adjective 1881)

pertaining to rule by cynics

≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈

I’m all over the web with satellite blogs this weekend. If two things are listed for one blog, that’s one on Saturday and one on Sunday. Scroll back to see what you’ve missed.

Seductive Studs & Sirens & Weekend Writing Warriors

http://theancillarymuse.blogspot.com/

Saturday’s After Dark Moments & Sneak Peek Sunday

http://calliopeswritingtablet.blogspot.com/

My Sexy Saturday & Sexy Snippets

http://calliopesotherwritingtablet.blogspot.com/

Set the Scene in Six – Promo opportunity for romance authors.

Stop by my group blog and leave your six!

http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/

≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈

Today we have guest Sandy Loyd.

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

The February contest is on Romance Books ’4′ Us and it’s all about Cupid. Find the little cherub hidden all across the site to win. This month’s contest will have 2 winners who’ll each receive a $50 gift card for Amazon/B&N, then split the remaining prizes (randomly chosen by RB4U). Be sure to check all our pages for news about authors and their books, publishers and their books, and industry representatives. http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈

Several promotional opportunities for romance authors can be found on my Exquisite Quills group blogs. Meet the founding authors and our guests. http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/

http://eq-recycled-reviews.blogspot.com/

Exquisite Quills Yahoo Group

Free to join in each week

Wash Line Monday ~ share your descriptions of clothing in your novel.

Tickle Us Tuesday ~ Share fun and funny snippets from your novel.

First Kiss Wednesday ~ share your best 300 word kiss.

Set the Scene in Six~ share your backdrop or lead-up on Sundays.

Book a spot

The Genesis of a Book ~ share the spark that ignited your novel.

Author Interviews ~ We’re booking late spring now.

≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈

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

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

Sample my love stories for free!

≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈

Coming soon~

No rest for the wicked

I’ll be cutting back on blogging temporarily as I put my house in order. I’ve made commitments, so some things will still get posted each day such as the next 46 days of 100 Things Challenge.

I also have quite a handful of pre-made mini posts ready to go on my other blogs that will get posted over the next several days. To see those, check out the links below. I’m involved in several writing prompt projects all week long on my satellite blogs, so those will be posted too.

Come March, I’ll be in The Romance Reviews month long anniversary bash on my other blog. I should be done cleaning around then.

No rest for the wicked. lol 

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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 48 entries to come.

Here’s one for today:

Crassulent (adjective 1656)

very fat; grossly obese

≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈

I’m still all over the web with satellite blogs this weekend. If two things are listed for one blog, that’s one on Saturday and one on Sunday. Scroll back to see what you’ve missed.

Seductive Studs & Sirens & Weekend Writing Warriors
http://theancillarymuse.blogspot.com/

Saturday’s After Dark Moments & Sneak Peek Sunday
http://calliopeswritingtablet.blogspot.com/

My Sexy Saturday & Sexy Snippets
http://calliopesotherwritingtablet.blogspot.com/

Set the Scene in Six – Promo opportunity for romance authors.
Stop by my group blog and leave your six!
http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/

≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
Today is Author Desiree Holt’s blog day.
http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

The February contest is on Romance Books ’4′ Us ends today!  One last chance to find the little cherub hidden all across the site to win. This month’s contest will have 2 winners who’ll each receive a $50 gift card for Amazon/B&N, then split the remaining prizes (randomly chosen by RB4U). Be sure to check all our pages for news about authors and their books, publishers and their books, and industry representatives. http://www.romancebooks4us.com/
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈

Several promotional opportunities for romance authors can be found on my Exquisite Quills group blogs. Meet the founding authors and our guests. http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/
http://eq-recycled-reviews.blogspot.com/

Exquisite Quills Yahoo Group

Free to join in each week
Wash Line Monday ~ share your descriptions of clothing in your novel.
Tickle Us Tuesday ~ Share fun and funny snippets from your novel.
First Kiss Wednesday ~ share your best 300 word kiss.
Set the Scene in Six~ share your backdrop or lead-up on Sundays.

Book a spot
The Genesis of a Book ~ share the spark that ignited your novel.
Author Interviews ~ We’re booking late spring now.

≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈

Love Waits in Unexpected Places - Scorching Samplings of Unusual Love Stories
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/333971

Sample my love stories for free!

≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈

Coming soon~

Awake, thou wintry earth – Fling off thy sadness!

A short while ago, I stumbled across a group of friendly writers on Facebook and they have weekly memes to write for. Today is Flasher Fiction Friday. Not being a regular on Facebook, I initially put the right picture up on the wrong day. *sigh* Check out today’s bit of flash, then scroll back a few posts to see the first bit I wrote for the same picture prompt. Two completely different emotions. Which do you like better?

http://calliopeswritingtablet.blogspot.com/

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My daughter called to say the first robins have arrived 60 miles away. Those early birds might get more than a worm for their gamble. It’s been a pretty disagreeable winter so far. Who knows what curve ball hides in winter’s mitt. There’s always potential to launch a whopper of a spring storm sometime between now and May. Right now 50MPH wind gusts have been pounding the house since 7:00 last night. The rain made a hard topping of ice on the snow. I was just out with the dogs. Holy cow. The ice crystals hit your skin like a spray of broken glass. Blah, enough already.

To many people, myself included, Robins are the harbingers of spring. I can picture them now, hopping through the new grass listening for worms, their round reddish bellies rocking as they dash from one choice spot to the next. I’m surprised I can picture grass. It’s been ages since I’ve seen any! I figure it’ll be two weeks before the birds actually get to my yard. Spring travels east to west, and south to north. I’m so looking forward to it. That spring song they sing makes me want to throw open the windows and let the cold air in just to hear it. 

To me, the advent of returning robins also means I need to clean. Known as the Annual Purge to family and friends, this is my spring cleaning time. Even my husband’s co-workers ask if I’m doing it again this year. Every nook and cranny, every drawer and closet, every frayed towel and threadbare anything goes. Perhaps I’m a little premature in my plans, given the robins haven’t actually arrived here yet. But early bird or not, I’m restless. Bad weather has kept me housebound, and icicles are starting to act as magnifying lenses on my life. I see the cobwebs and the rust and sense a hidden potato in the pantry ready to turn angry. Winter always forces me to see those shortcuts, incidences of laziness, declarations of a busy life, and inexplicable hording of little items like rubber bands and wine corks. (???) It’s time to sort and organize important things and fix the broken things. It’s a time to discard the unimportant and irreparable. My husband and I are not the same people we were a year ago. Some things just no longer fit the life we’ve built.

So…I’ll be cutting back on blogging temporarily. I’ve made commitments so I need to finish things such as the next 47 days of 100 Things Challenge. Come March, I’ll be in The Romance Reviews month long anniversary bash on my other blog. I also have quite a handful of pre-made mini posts ready to go on my other blogs that will get posted over the next several days.

While I’m knee deep  in domestic alchemy, I’ll be dreaming up new topics to complete the seemingly endless symbol series lol. I’ll also be mentally crafting new books, the A to Z Challenge, and new promo opportunities for authors to take advantage of on Exquisite Quills.  In the evenings when I’m physically dog-tired, I may even read some fiction!  Binge fiction reading and binge cleaning have always gone hand in hand. I’m an informational reader by nature. I only do fiction in batches. When I’ve filled up on it, I might walk away from fiction for a year or more. What an odd thing for a romance writer to say. Proof again I’m not really a romance writer.

In the meantime, if you’d like to follow or friend or just see what else I’ve been up to here and there, please check out the tabs at the top of this blog. My Pinterest page is certainly worth a look-see as I’ve packed it with something for everyone. I also have that free 1st and 2nd chapter sampling of my novels (see link below). Do consider subscribing to this blog for future posts as I won’t be actively advertising it while I’m busy. That all takes an incredible amount of mental juggling and my mind will be on the enormous task at hand. I wouldn’t want to discover I’ve sent all my husband’s socks and underwear, our tax stuff, or the dogs to Goodwill by mistake. 

See you on the flip side. I’ll be infinitely more organized and creative!

Awake, thou wintry earth – Fling off thy sadness!

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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 49 entries to come.

Here’s one for today:

Colaphize (verb 1450-1656)

to beat or buffet

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Today is Author Renee Vincent’s blog day.

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

The February contest is on Romance Books ’4′ Us ends tomorrow. Find the little cherub hidden all across the site to win. This month’s contest will have 2 winners who’ll each receive a $50 gift card for Amazon/B&N, then split the remaining prizes (randomly chosen by RB4U). Be sure to check all our pages for news about authors and their books, publishers and their books, and industry representatives. http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

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Several promotional opportunities for romance authors can be found on my Exquisite Quills group blogs. Meet the founding authors and our guests. http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/

http://eq-recycled-reviews.blogspot.com/

Exquisite Quills Yahoo Group

Free to join in each week

Wash Line Monday ~ share your descriptions of clothing in your novel.

Tickle Us Tuesday ~ Share fun and funny snippets from your novel.

First Kiss Wednesday ~ share your best 300 word kiss.

Set the Scene in Six~ share your backdrop or lead-up on Sundays.

Book a spot

The Genesis of a Book ~ share the spark that ignited your novel.

Author Interviews ~ We’re booking late spring now.

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

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

Sample my love stories for free!

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Coming soon~

I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night

In yesterday’s post, I began the chapter on the Zodiac as part of my symbol series. On a theme, today I’ll touch upon the horoscope — a diagram of the heavens used in calculating births and foretelling events in a person’s life, all by the relative position and configuration of the planets, sun, and the moon, at a particular moment in time.

My first encounter with the Zodiac came when I was eleven. We had just moved to a new neighborhood so rather than playing outside with friends I had yet to make, I tagged along with my dad. At the checkout I saw a publication called the Old Farmer’s Almanac. We bought it and I read that thing from cover to cover. In fact, I read it until it fell apart and had to be held together with tape! Even at that young age, a few things struck me as outrageous. For one, I couldn’t figure out how anyone would know the weather for an entire year.



As a curious kid, I found it fascinating that The Old Farmer’s Almanac was filled with  things like moon phases, rebuses, riddles, animal care, planting tips for gardeners, old time medicines, and the zodiac. Though I hadn’t yet discovered the Greek myths, the zodiac images captured my imagination. How about that Capricorn? Half goat/half fish. And Sagittarius –half man/half horse! I was an Aries. I loved that this book told my fortune and more…

Some of the zodiacal information in the Old Farmers Almanac had roots in ancient practice. The signs symbolized the Labors of the Months a.k.a. the time to do specific work in the year.

For example:

Aquarius = felling of trees.

Pisces = grafting of fruit trees

Taurus = planting

Gemini = scything grass

Cancer = haymaking

Leo= threshing

Virgo = harvesting

Libra = stomping grapes

Scorpio = casking wine

Sagittarius = gathering wood and picking olives

Capricorn = baking in the ovens and butchering

Cool trivia.

The Great Heavenly Wheel and Celestial Mirror

“Though my soul may set in darkness, It will rise in perfect light, I have loved the stars too fondly To be fearful of the night”

~Sarah Williams

Sometime in the 2nd century, at a time in which the science of astronomy worked part and parcel with astrology, the Greek mathematician/astronomer/astrologer Ptolemy wrote his Tetrabyblosa ~ a four-book treatise on these constellations circling the earth. He described all twelve zodiac signs — the same meanings we all attribute to the constellations today.

The stars in the sky and the belt of twelve constellations circling the earth have inspired many interpretations though time. I remember reading once that the Big Dipper was the symbolic representation of all of these and more I can’t recall just now: a bear, a coffin and procession of mourners, a wagon, a cleaver, and a plough. People see what their culture expects them to see. Essentially, turning stars into constellations was a flight of fancy just like dragons and teddy bears are when you see them in cloud formations.

To the Ancient Egyptians, this belt of circling stars was the Nile of the sky. To the Hindus, it was the Eternal Wheel. For Zoroastrians it represented the twelve chiefs of the sun god. To the Akkadians, this was the great furrow left by the bull god El as he ploughed his way across the heavens over the course of the year.

While some felt the sun residing in the configuration of stars was proof of the divine, the Ancient Chaldeans (moon/goddess worshipers) thought it more auspicious that the moon parked itself in the constellations. They were the first to use the term Houses of the Moon. The Ancient Chinese did this a little differently back when their calendars were entirely moon-related. They felt the Moon Goddess rested with a different lover each night, occupying all twenty-eight of her celestial palaces. Speaking of moon goddess, the practice of reading the moon and stars was a traditional occupation of women. As a new, more vocal religion took hold, the goddess moon was eclipsed by a god sun/son. Under this new doctrine, even the zodiac, whose stars had been charting destiny for thousands of years, was seen as the devil’s work. But all wheels turn. We can open a newspaper today and read our horoscope.

The zodiac still uses twelve houses. Example: a baby born in May when the moon is in the house of Taurus would take on the characteristics of the bull and be stubborn, lusty, strong etc.

I found this video that sounds like it’s narrated by Christopher Lee. It’s an interesting and informative take on astrology.

Just for fun

See what your stars say today.

http://www.astrology.com.au/astrology/12-signs-of-the-zodiac/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/horoscopes/

Tomorrow ~ moving on

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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 50 entries to come.

Here’s one for today:

Caprizant (adjective 1730-1736)

of the pulse, uneven or irregular

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Oh writer’s block, thou art a wretched thing. Where is spring when you need it? In an attempt to keep writing beyond the blogging, I’ve been dabbling in flash fiction with word limits. It doesn’t come easy to the Wordie I am, but it’s very good practice for my future plan of writing a book of short stories.

A week or so ago, I stumbled across a great group of writers on Facebook and they have weekly memes to write for. Today is Thursday Taster.

http://calliopeswritingtablet.blogspot.com/

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Today we have guest Author Ann Lawrence.

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

The February contest on Romance Books ’4′ Us is ending. Just two days left to find the little cherubs hidden all across the site to win. This month’s contest will have 2 winners who’ll each receive a $50 gift card for Amazon/B&N, then split the remaining prizes (randomly chosen by RB4U). Be sure to check all our pages for news about authors and their books, publishers and their books, and industry representatives. http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

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Several promotional opportunities for romance authors can be found on my Exquisite Quills group blogs. Meet the founding authors and our guests. http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/

http://eq-recycled-reviews.blogspot.com/

Exquisite Quills Yahoo Group

Free to join in each week

Wash Line Monday ~ share your descriptions of clothing in your novel.

Tickle Us Tuesday ~ Share fun and funny snippets from your novel.

First Kiss Wednesday ~ share your best 300 word kiss.

Set the Scene in Six~ share your backdrop or lead-up on Sundays.

Book a spot

The Genesis of a Book ~ share the spark that ignited your novel.

Author Interviews ~ We’re booking late spring now.

≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈

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

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

Sample my love stories for free!

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Coming soon~

I will look on the stars and read the page of thy destiny

In this week’s portion of the symbol series I’ve been talking about numbers. A language of symbols, numbers are the only language shared by all human beings. There aren’t regional dialects. Number five is always five, a circle is always 360º, and Pi is always 3.14159…. It is what it is.

Because of this universality, it’s easy to understand how math came about as an instrument of trade. I have pouches of apples and you have pouches of acorns. How can we make this a fair trade? If we count what we have on our fingers we’ll be sure it’s value for value. What’s fascinating about mathematics is it quickly jumped from that to the stars.

I’ve said before that math is considered the language of the universe. There’s even a mathematical equation that says it’s highly likely we’re not alone in the cosmos. Because math is constant and true, the likelihood of many inhabited earths in the universe is a yes.  They may not be what we have, but math says there may be life from bacteria to mega fauna to civilizations out there.

Setting math aside briefly, science knows radio waves of all sorts exist. You do too. I’m sure you’ve heard of infra red and ultra violet — two ends of the electromagnetic spectrum. Your microwave uses them, so does your car radio, cellphone, TV, and internet, etc. Amazingly, these waves go out into the universe and will keep going to the end if there is one. The thing is, they not only come from earth and head into space, they come from space to earth. In fact, an assortment of radio frequencies penetrate the earth’s atmosphere. This led to the creation of radio telescopes (essentially large radio antennas) to investigate the different frequencies coming from the cosmos. Given the fact of radio waves, science contemplates communicating with life beyond our world.  Governments around the world have been listening for decades. Learn more here.

Now that I have your mind out in the galaxy ~

Here’s a brief introduction to the Zodiac.

“I will look on the stars and look on thee and read the page of thy destiny.”

~Letitia Elizabeth Landon

The topic of Astrology is huge so I’m tackling it in more than one post. To begin, I’ve read that the first records of astronomy come from the Middle East in the Sumer valley. Some 6000-7000 years ago people started to write down their study of the stars. It was believed the sun, moon, and planet Venus were gods in the sky. Many cultures saw stars as gods in the dome above. Tracking the sun and the moon told you when the four auspicious events would occur (the two solstices and the two equinox) In tracking Venus, they watch the planet draw a pentagram in the sky. This is the reason the five-sided star is a prominent symbol in goddess worship then and now.  It came from the heavens.

Some stars of the night sky not only stood out as brighter than others, they formed recognizable patterns we know as constellations. Big Dipper, Orion the Hunter, Cassiopeia etc. Before long stories developed around the pictures. But there were others pictures in the night sky — twelve constellations that moved in a definite circle and seemed to follow the path of the sun. These were called the Zodiac. The name zodiac is thought to come from Latin zōdiacus which means a circuit. But the Greek word zoad also turns up. Zoad for the way. That might have to do with the circular path involved.

Based upon those early astronomers’ observations, they determined daylight hours would see the sun residing in a different constellation on this circular path each month.  A god resting in a constellation. How auspicious!

Tomorrow ~ What’s your sign?

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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 51 entries to come.

Here’s one for today:

Boscaresque (adjective 1734)

picturesque; scenically wooded

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It’s Wednesday and time for Hump Day happenings.

Hump Day Hook

http://calliopesotherwritingtablet.blogspot.com/

Books Hooks

http://calliopeswritingtablet.blogspot.com/

Horny Hump Day

http://theancillarymuse.blogspot.com/

First Kiss Wednesday

http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/

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First Kiss Wednesday!

Over on the Exquisite Quills blog it’s a day dedicated to kisses. In 300 words or less taken from the pages of their novels, authors share their best smackeroos.



http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/

Several promotional opportunities for romance authors can be found on my Exquisite Quills group blogs. Meet the founding authors and our guests. http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/

http://eq-recycled-reviews.blogspot.com/

Exquisite Quills Yahoo Group

Free to join in each week

Wash Line Monday ~ share your descriptions of clothing in your novel.

Tickle Us Tuesday ~ Share fun and funny snippets from your novel.

First Kiss Wednesday ~ share your best 300 word kiss.

Set the Scene in Six~ share your backdrop or lead-up on Sundays.

Book a spot

The Genesis of a Book ~ share the spark that ignited your novel.

Author Interviews ~ We’re booking early summer now.

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Today is Author Molly Daniels/Kenzie Michaels’ blog day.

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

The February contest is on Romance Books ’4′ Us and it’s all about Cupid. Find the little cherub hidden all across the site to win. This month’s contest will have 2 winners who’ll each receive a $50 gift card for Amazon/B&N, then split the remaining prizes (randomly chosen by RB4U). Be sure to check all our pages for news about authors and their books, publishers and their books, and industry representatives. 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

Sample my love stories for free!

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Coming soon~