Rose Anderson's Blog, page 9

Autumn’s Light of Hand #FridayFeeling #fridayfunday

Out of the blue, I had a word pop into my head this morning–legerdemain. Its not a common word–rather old and vaudevillian (but then I haven’t been a spring chicken for a lot of years now).

I first came across legerdemain at a Chicago summer carnival when I was a teen. It was written on a huge ratty banner that promised some magician’s act that no longer existed in the carnival. (If you’ve ever watched the HBO show Carnivale, it would have fit right in) The Chicago carnival might have had such a show once, but when I visited it was only scary, rickety rides, rigged BB guns for targets, and sorry-looking games that were next to impossible to win. The wordie I was destined to become demanded I discover what legerdemain meant. I recall it wasn’t an easy find. It comes from the late Middle English legerdemeyn which is a turn on the old Middle French lygarde de mayne which literally means light of hand.

Why did such a word pop into my head? Because I looked out the kitchen window and couldn’t help but notice the leaves are changing. It literally happened overnight. The hazel bush outside my kitchen window was green yesterday and flaming orange today. Light of hand if ever there was. I love the visual magic that does a now you see it, now you don’t transformation on the trees. Especially when they slip into their autumn finery overnight.  It’s a surprise — a gift to the eyes.

Would you believe only the basic mechanics of this leaf-changing wonder are known to science? To get those vibrant red colors we love this time of year, the tree needs a perfect blend of circumstances. A variety of factors figure in to the deciduous tree’s leaf life– environmental influences like temperature, rainfall, and variables of soil nutrients are a few. The most brilliant colors are tied to this favorable mix: a warm wet spring, a moderate summer, and cool and crisp autumn nights followed by warm and sunny days. There’s a lot to this process.

During the fall, leaf veins close and food production begins to shut down for the winter. Deciduous trees need to pump their sap to the roots where freezing winter temperatures can’t harm their delicate vascular system.  Warm sunny days inspire the leaves to produce sugars, but with closing veins there’s no way to send it all to the roots. The anthocyanin pigments come into play when lots of sugars are present in the leaves. This chemical makes the vibrant reds, crimsons, purples, and browns that take your breath away.

One major factor in this summer/fall changeover has to do with the steady increase of night. In the northern hemisphere, our days grow shorter and nights grow longer and colder this time of year. Less sunlight inspires certain chemical processes of the tree to get involved. All through the growing season, a tree makes chlorophyll for photosynthesis and this chemical makes leaves appear green. In the long cold nights of autumn, the chlorophyll production slows then eventually stops altogether for winter. Once the chlorophyll is no longer a factor, the other chemicals already present in the leaves can finally be seen. These are the carotenoids (yellows and oranges). The seasons change from south to north and from east to west, and that means the east coast of the United States gets the colors first. And I love every day of it.

:D

More~

Fall Foliage Hotlines State by State

I’ve placed last week’s character interview at Romance Books ‘4’ Us, under Free Reads in the tabs above. I have several character interviews there. Enjoy!

If you missed me at Author Denysé Bridger’s Fantasy Pages this week,

Read my post here.

>>NEW Releases this Saturday!

Entice Me – a multi-author collection. My story is Heart of Stone

The Changeling – A story inspired by the Scottish ballad of Tam Lin.

>>Coming in November:

We’d Rather Be Writing – a multi-author cookbook and time-saving tips.

Kindle pre-order now. Paperback on the way.

Words worth mentioning for October

Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul.

Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal.

~Ralph Vaull Starr

Today is Author Melissa Keir’s blog day

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

Romance Books ‘4’ Us

The October contest is on! We have $100 in gift cards for Amazon/B&N. Other prizes often include ebooks, print books, audiobooks, additional gift cards, and non-book items.

http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

Wanna Cuttle? #cephdays #ceph14

In 1831, a 22-year-old scientist named Charles Darwin boarded the science vessel H.M.S. Beagle (a refitted 10-gun war sloop), and departed England bound for the Canary Islands and South America. Throughout the 5-year voyage, Darwin kept notebooks and recorded his observations. These he would put in the weighty five-volume set~ The Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle (later renamed The Voyage of the Beagle). In one entry, he mentions the unique qualities of cuttlefish:

“This cuttle-fish displayed its chameleon-like power both during the act of swimming and whilst remaining stationary at the bottom. I was much amused by the various arts to escape detection used by one individual, which seemed fully aware that I was watching it. Remaining for a time motionless, it would then stealthily advance an inch or two, like a cat after a mouse; sometimes changing its colour: it thus proceeded, till having gained a deeper part, it darted away, leaving a dusky train of ink to hide the hole into which it had crawled.”

~Journal of Researches, HMS Beagle Voyage, Jan. 1832

I just love cuttlefish and octopuses. I’m in awe of these creatures just like Charles Darwin was. I even have a Pinterest board just for cephalopods. lol What can I say? I’m a nerdy girl. But I’m not alone in my mollusk admiration. Today sets off International Cephalopod Awareness Days. No kidding.

October 8th through 12th are International Cephalopod Awareness Days.



Ω  October 8 ~ Octopus Day. The 8th to honor those  with 8 arms.

Ω  October 9 ~ Nautilus Night. For the creatures of the Golden Mean

Ω  October 10 ~ Squid/Cuttlefish Day. #Squidturday for species with tentacles.

Ω  October 11 ~ Myths and Legends Day. For Kraken et al

Ω  October 12 ~ Fossil Day. Who went extinct?

Cephalopods are a class of mollusk that includes cuttlefish, octopuses, squids, and nautilus. Would you believe they’re represented in the fossil record dating back 500 million years?

Cephalopod~ from the Greek kephale for head and pod which comes from pous for feet. Head feet? As you might have guessed, I get a kick out of breaking words down to their origins. I have more in honor of the day:

Cuttlefish~ from Old English cudele and Middle Low German küdel , both meaning container or pocket. From the Old Norse koddi meaning cushion or testicle. So that’s where Old English codd pieces get their name.

Octopus~ from the Greek oktṓpous — literally eight-footed —octo for eight, pous for feet.

Squid~ possibly from late Middle English squirten or to squirt. Squid as we know it could be a sailors’ variant of squirt in reference to the ink the animal squirts out. No one knows for sure.

Cephalopod Fun Facts:

There are about 300 known species of octopuses alive today. They are divided into two groups: Cirrina (deep sea species with fins on their heads) and Incirrina (the species we typically envision when we think of octopuses. No fins).
Octopuses exhibit remarkable skill at problem solving and are considered the smartest of all invertebrates.
There are over 100 known species of cuttlefish and they vary in size from just a few inches to over three feet in length. The giant cuttlefish can weigh more than 20 pounds.
As far as scientists can tell, octopuses are colorblind, but they can see polarized light. So can cuttlefish and squid. What’s that exactly? Light has properties of both particles and electromagnetic waves and in wave form has the ability to vibrate in multiple directions. Our eyes see light like this.  Polarized light has these light waves occurring in a single plane rather than multiple directions. The benefit to these hunters of the sea is that nothing can hide from them. That’s my best early-morning explanation. lol And now I’ll go refill my coffee cup.
Octopuses and cuttlefish have specialized epidermis cells called chromatophores that enable them to blend into their surroundings by changing the appearance of their skin. In the video clips below they even appear to take on textures on the sea floor.
An octopus doesn’t have tentacles, it has arms. Tentacles are longer than arms and generally have suckers  at their tips only. Think squid.
When threatened, cephalopods release ink in a cloud to confuses predators and allows time for escape. Like throwing down a smoke bomb!  This ink is sepia. Historically it was used in ink pens. Today cephalopod ink is used medicinally (it’s actually toxic to tumor cells). The ink is also used as a food coloring. That spooky McDonald’s burger with the black bun comes to mind. I wonder if cephalopod ink is an ingredient?

:P

More~

Download a free copy of the Voyage of the Beagle

Anatomy of a cuttlefish

CEPHALOPODS OF THE WORLD – For cephalopod enthusiasts everywhere! This is an annotated, illustrated catalog of known cephalopod species in one free pdf download. Contains just about all you could possibly want to know. 

Top 10 cephalopod stories from 2011 (will make you think twice about eating calamari!)

That was fun. Happy Cephalopod Days everyone!

If you missed me at Author Denysé Bridger’s Fantasy Pages yesterday, I was sharing how the idea for Heart of Stone came about.  We authors all receive that moment of creative combustion. All we need is the spark.  Read Here.

If you missed last week’s post at Romance Books ‘4’ Us, I was sharing an interview with two charming characters from Heart of Stone. No need to go looking for it. I’ve added to a new page on this blog. See up at the top where the tabs are? Look for Free Reads. I have several character interviews there. Enjoy!

Coming October 10th!

Available for pre-order now.

Entice Me – a multi-author collection. My story is Heart of Stone

The Changeling – A story inspired by the Scottish ballad of Tam Lin.

Coming in November!

Available for kindle  pre-order now. Paperback on the way.

We’d Rather Be Writing – a multi-author cookbook and time-saving tips.

(88 authors in this one)

:D I’ve been busy!



Madeline who? As Rose Anderson I write the intimate side of award-winning romance and will continue to do so. As Madeline Archer I write the other flavors of fiction. It might be a sweeter love story, an otherworldly walk in the twilight zone, or something dark…

Words worth mentioning for October

Hope is a risk that must be run.

~George Bernanos

Today’s guest~ Jess McQuaid

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

Romance Books ‘4’ Us

The October contest is on! We have $100 in gift cards for Amazon/B&N. Other prizes often include ebooks, print books, audiobooks, additional gift cards, and non-book items.

http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

Random Acts of Poetry #raopoetryday

Today is Random Acts of Poetry Day. It happens each year on the first Wednesday in October. The day is about painting the world in beautiful words either literally or figuratively. I’m all about painting with words.

If you need inspiration for your own random poetic act, tweetspeakpoetry.com is offering a free pdf of 10 ideas to get you going. I like where it suggests you leave a poem under a random windshield wiper.  I imagine the smile once it’s read. If parking lot sharing isn’t your thing, there’s a hashtag for Twitter and Instagram sharing too: #raopoetryday

I came late to reading poems for enjoyment. I just never got into it in grade school or high school, though I did enjoy Shakespeare’s beautiful sonnets. Because I enjoy poetry now, I’m led to believe that you need to get a little life under your belt to be able to interpret the nuance.  Sitting before my keyboard thinking on notable poems to share with the world today, the first to come to mind is from Elizabeth Barrett Browning. To articulate the nature and extent of a passion isn’t an easy thing to do. Love is a subjective thing after all.

She uses figurative language in How do I love thee?; making a comparison to express the extent of the love she harbors (I presume for Robert Browning). There’s one line that is particularly telling in the nuance: I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach… I love this line. She’s stating her love is at once both physical and spiritual in an almost out-of-body way. I have felt love like this every day of my adult life. Feel the nuance for yourself… 

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways

~ Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.

I love thee to the level of everyday’s

Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.

I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;

I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.

I love thee with the passion put to use

In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

With my lost saints,–I love thee with the breath,

Smiles, tears, of all my life!–and, if God choose,

I shall but love thee better after death.

More~

The Life of Elizabeth Barrett Browning

http://www.tweetspeakpoetry.com/

I’m over at Author Denysé Bridger’s Fantasy Pages today talking about Heart of Stone. Do stop by. I share where the idea for the story came from.

http://www.fantasypages.ca/2015/10/be-enticed-by-heart-of-stone-from.html

Madeline who? As Rose Anderson I write the intimate side of award-winning romance and will continue to do so. As Madeline Archer I’ll write the other flavors of fiction. It might be a sweeter love story, an otherworldly walk in the twilight zone, or something dark…

Pre-order on Amazon!

Pre-order The Changeling on Amazon too!

Words worth mentioning for October

Every man’s work is a portrait of himself

~Jose Ortega Y Gasset

 

Today’s guest~ J.J. DiBenedetto

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

Romance Books ‘4’ Us

The October contest is on! We have $100 in gift cards for Amazon/B&N. Other prizes often include ebooks, print books, audiobooks, additional gift cards, and non-book items.

http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

Oodles of Noodles #tuesdaytreat #blogging

Boy autumn is coming on like gangbusters. The whole feel of the wild lands surrounding my house has changed. It’s busy and expectant now as every creature and plant prepares for the winter ahead. I love this time of year.  I love everything about it: The colors of the turning leaves, the expansive V’s of geese and fowl heading south, the vivid blue of the autumn sky, the muted light that illuminates those morning views  thick with fog.  Like today.

From my vantage point on the hill, the milky fog bank makes it look even wilder and reminds me of the Canadian wilderness. This morning the fog has the look of water. Cool morning fog often hangs just above the pristine wilderness lakes until the sun rises and melts it away. Today I’m on a wild island surrounded by it. Were I to venture outside, I’d find it oddly muted. It’s not that it isn’t as noisy as usual with chattering birds and rustling chipmunks and squirrels, it’s that sound just doesn’t travel far in the fog.  Sound becomes a vignette of sorts– a small sound picture. You only hear clearly the vibration immediately around you.

This is my season. Even my hair changes with the leaves. For the whole of my life people have wondered about this bizarre fact. This particular redhead is naturally the color of a golden retriever. I used to think it was the angle of the sun that caused my coloring to change because light on, or reflecting off, surfaces is the reason our eyes detect colors. However, every year people comment on this mystery both inside and outside the house, during the day and at night. Why I change from coppery golds to deeper reds in the fall, I’ll never know.  Weird.

I love the cool days and frosty cold that sends me to snuggle up against my honey at night. I’m sure he appreciates that more in the cooler months than during the heat of summer. At my age my internal furnace is such I could sleep naked on an ice floe and be just fine. Heck, I’d likely just melt through the ice!

In the fall I want to make soup. Autumn is a soup time of year. Speaking of…I just discovered October 6th is the National Noodle Day!

Oodles of Noodles

Noodles go way back. In 2000, archaeologists in China discovered the Lajia archaeological site. Would you believe they found a clay bowl there with the world’s oldest known noodles inside? Carbon dating puts them at roughly 4000 years old. And they were made of two types of millet: foxtail and broomcorn millet. Wow. Such effort needed to collect those tiny seeds in any amount.

More~

This noodle making clip is fascinating.

The Lajia archaeological site.

http://www.kaogu.cn/en/backup_new/Academic/2013/1026/41371.html

Pasta factory

https://youtu.be/RrCjEydkfD0

This just arrived from my publisher. What a lovely ad! I couldn’t be happier with how this project turned out. 

Madeline who? As Rose Anderson I write the intimate side of award-winning romance and will continue to do so. As Madeline Archer I’ll write the other flavors of fiction. It might be a sweeter love story, an otherworldly walk in the twilight zone, or something dark…

Nine award-winning and bestselling authors took part in Entice Me. The  set is available for pre-order now and releases on October 10th. It’s a steal for 99¢.  Amazon Link

I’m also in We’d Rather Be Writing: 88 Authors Share Timesaving Dinner Recipes and Other Tips. Amazon Link

Words worth mentioning for October

Every man’s work is a portrait of himself

~Jose Ortega Y Gasset

Today is Author Tina Donahue’s blog day

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

Romance Books ‘4’ Us

The October contest is on! We have $100 in gift cards for Amazon/B&N. Other prizes often include ebooks, print books, audiobooks, additional gift cards, and non-book items.

http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

Think it OEUVRE #mondayblogs

OEUVRE: a substantial body of work constituting the lifework of a writer, an artist, or a composer From the French oeuvre meaning work (12th c.) Originates with the Latin opera meaning opus – a labor or work.

Ah blog, I’ve neglected you. But I’ve had good reason. There was a point in the last two months when every iron one writer could possibly have was in the fire.  I even launched a new pen name to allow me to venture into other genres (I really do write everything). So the upshot is, my pen name of Madeline Archer made her debut and many wonderful projects are now out in the world — two by Madeline and one by Rose. All three are available for pre-order on Amazon right now. Whew.

From Madeline ~

The first project was the completion of The Changeling. Many many years ago I came across a Scottish ballad about a headstrong young woman, who, despite her father’s command against it, went to see for herself the knight held captive by the Fae queen. For those of you that don’t already know, the faery of old fables and legends, regardless how cartoon animators have depicted them, were actually human-size. This once noble knight was being held as a tithe to hell for wishes granted. The Changeling doesn’t mirror this tale, it was simply inspired by it. Half of my novels consist of other-world meets real world and this one falls in with the rest. I really enjoy making fanciful concepts fit into real life and feel believable. The Changeling

The second project was in the works for some time– Entice Me is a multi-author anthology by the Authors from Romance Books ‘4’ Us. I was the point person on this project, and while it was a lot of work on my part, I worked closely with a wonderful group of authors and I’m exceedingly proud of what we accomplished. Nine authors, nine love stories of all kinds = one terrific deal at 99¢.  Entice Me

It just so happens that yesterday was my 4th of the month blog day at Romance Books ‘4’ Us and I blogged about Heart of Stone. That’s my story in the Entice Me collection. I won’t go into details here but please stop by. I did a character interview and posted the new book trailer too. I’m sure you’ll find them both enjoyable.

And lastly from Rose–

I’m in We’d Rather Be Writing: 88 Authors Share Timesaving Dinner Recipes and Other Tips. Link

This is another fun recipe/tip book with bestselling and award-winning author Lois Winston. I was in Lois’ last cookbook~ Bake Love Write: 105 Authors Share Dessert Recipes and Advice on Love and Writing. At the top of this page find the details under Other Projects.

And speaking of pages…I’ve refitted and updated my entire online presence — no small feat that! If you’ve been here before, you’ll notice my blog looks different. I have new tabs at the top of the screen. Were you to follow my links page, even my social media presence has been jazzed up visually.  I figured it was time.

This December marks 5 years as a published author. Oh what a journey this has been! From day one  this blog was dedicated to learning. Mine is a profession that constantly changes. The moment you think you know something, it changes again. That’s not an easy thing sometimes. It makes you doubt what you do know and that can immobilize you if you’re not careful. Doubt isn’t good. William Shakespeare nailed it (see below).

I live poised for the next great shift in knowledge needed to survive this endless, and occasionally turbulent, publishing sea. I read up on trends and discarded modes and test the next best things whenever I come across them. Calliope the writer’s Muse would be proud of all I’ve learned. To be honest, sometimes I even amaze myself. Now if only I could figure out how to use my smart phone…
:D

Words worth mentioning for October

Doubt is a thief that often makes us fear to tread where we might have won.

~William Shakespeare

 

Today is Author  Paris Brandon’s blog day

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

Romance Books ‘4’ Us

The October contest is on! We have $100 in gift cards for Amazon/B&N. Other prizes often include ebooks, print books, audiobooks, additional gift cards, and non-book items.

http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

Today is National Storytelling Day!

Go out and hug an author.

 

Something Fun #tuesdaytreat

I have a very busy day today so will just leave you with something fun– two koalas in a dispute. I’ll bet you smile 15 seconds in and again when the videographer shows himself.
:D

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My 100 things will focus on malapropisms and I’ll stick with it until I can’t find any more. I only have a few left! From the French mal a propos (meaning inappropriate). Dictionary.com defines malapropisms as an act or habit of misusing words ridiculously, especially by the confusion of words that are similar in sound.

Here’s one for today:

Weapons of mass production. GW Bush

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Today’s guest~ Author Lynn Crain http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

Romance Books ‘4’ Us

Our August contest starts soon. Prizes can include gift cards for Amazon/B&N, ebooks, print books, audiobooks, and non-book items.

http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

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Attention Authors~ My Exquisite Quills blog hosts six fun and free promo opportunities a week. I’m delighted to say it’s a hot spot with great exposure. Come join in!

http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/

۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞

Love Waits in Unexpected Places –

Scorching Samplings of Unusual Love Stories by Rose Anderson

Download your free chapter sampler today!

Find my novels in ebook and paperback on Amazon and Barnes & Noble

and wherever romance books are sold.

۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞

A Monday Déjà vu #mondayblogs

A headline caught my eye yesterday. Something about why republicans should be afraid to debate Mr. Trump this week.  Yes, afraid.  

Words matter. Take it from me, I’m an author. Well-chosen words can eulogize, sanctify, memorialize, rouse, inspire, sway, calm, and other verbs do even more. Words spoken on media outlets really matter because they’re specifically designed to strike some sort of chord. They’re purposefully chosen to manipulate to achieve a desired response. So that headline got me thinking. Then it made me remember. Here’s a bit of updated déjà vu. Some of it may sound familiar because you may have read bits of it here before.

Monday Déjà vu

If you’re like me, you’re swimming up to your eyeballs in bad news because the media uses it like a cudgel on our sensibilities. From every angle, from every corner of the world, out from under every rock, it seems, they find a barrage of bad news to share with us. It’s usually delivered with a slice of fear on the side. What else can we possibly feel if not doomed?

If you stop to think about this, really think about it, you’ll realize it’s over the top for a reason. You also might find yourself getting angry. I know I do. What thinking adult wants to be manipulated?

Pure and simple –sensationalism sells. Sponsors pay money to news syndicates in the hope their product will be seen or heard about. If people are watching, they’re getting a dose of products for sale along with their fear and anxiety. Yes, exactly that– fear and anxiety. Bad news makes us fear and fearful people stay close to the news. When there’s bad news, people stay tuned to be sure something terrible isn’t headed their way. Staying close to the news keeps us close to sponsor product. The human mind only has to see or hear something three times before it sinks in. I can’t express how insidious this all is. Test yourself. I’ll wager you can recall the slogans of several products right off the top of your head, and recognize dozens more corporate logos at a glance.

Herd Mentality

Herd mentality is a double-edged sword. The roots go back to cooperative hunting– to work together to ensure survival. Today, we’re well-fed and this natural inclination for community-mindedness has been hijacked and corrupted. The daily dose of fear-manipulated news causes our innate empathy and compassion to be sandblasted away. It breaks our moral compass. This is how we get extreme behaviors in society. This is how we get “us vs them” and that leads people to hate and becomes what drives them to find the scapegoat or go on shooting sprees in churches and movie theaters. Before we realize what’s happening, people gather to shout raging obscenities at frightened children at the US border, and horrible picketers at funerals carry signs written with hateful things like your soldier son died because god hates fags. This is also how people come to stand passively by while others are led to gas chambers.

Not all that long ago, researchers discovered that it only takes a minority of just 5% to influence a crowd’s direction. That means the other 95% follow without realizing they are. FOX news has this flock tending down to a science. You see this in the way they dress their female commentators to show bare arms and short skirts (even in January) to add a subliminal sexual undertone to sharpen the watcher’s focus. You hear it in the repetition of rhetoric and precision-placed talking points that read like taglines and slogans. And it’s all done on purpose because sex and slogans work. Now imagine sex and a slogan in context with fear. Who can turn away from it?

Early in August, this same media outlet will choose the five most popular republican candidates deemed worthy of air-time for a primary debate. And to make it a sideshow worthy of big-money sponsors, it’ll have nothing to do with the candidates’ governing experience or what their solutions to very real problems might be, rather it will consist of name blame and petty antics. The winner at the end of the night will be the guy with the most flagrant showmanship.  I already have an idea who that will be.

So here we have the minority of just 5% influencing the direction of other 95%. The serious office of the president of the United States is treated with all the respect of a reality show. What has happened to this country? When the world is such a volatile place right now, is this really who we are? Is it really who we should be?

Here’s a humorous peek at how we’re bombarded with a single talking point. Have a laugh, then imagine they’re talking fear-based talking points instead.

Free speech is a beloved gift in this world. In fact, I’m exercising it here. But the right to wag your fist ends at the other guy’s nose. If bad news has broken the moral compass that says enough is enough, then the fear rules and the hateful herd grows.

“Neither a man nor a crowd nor a nation can be trusted to act humanely or to think sanely under the influence of a great fear.”

~Bertrand Russell (philosopher)

I would think the best way to combat bad news is to be sure good news gets talked about. I’ll leave you with some good news –LOTS of good news. Because it really is out there. Spread the word.

http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/

http://www.pinterest.com/goodnewsnetwork/

http://www.happynews.com/http://gimundo.com/

http://optimistworld.com/

http://greatnewsnetwork.org/

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My 100 things will focus on malapropisms and I’ll stick with it until I can’t find any more. From the French mal a propos (meaning inappropriate). Dictionary.com defines malapropisms as an act or habit of misusing words ridiculously, especially by the confusion of words that are similar in sound.

Here’s one for today:

It will take time to restore chaos and order. GW Bush

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Today is Author Janice Seagraves’ blog day

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

Romance Books ‘4’ Us

The August contest starts soon.  Prizes can include gift cards for Amazon/B&N, ebooks, print books, audiobooks,  and non-book items.

http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

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Attention Authors~ My Exquisite Quills blog hosts six fun and free promo opportunities a week. I’m delighted to say it’s a hot spot with great exposure. Come join in!

http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/

۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞

Love Waits in Unexpected Places –

Scorching Samplings of Unusual Love Stories by Rose Anderson

Download your free chapter sampler today!

Find my novels in ebook and paperback on Amazon and Barnes & Noble

and wherever romance books are sold.

۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞

 

#SundayFunday! & Weekend Happenings #SundayBlogShare

Sundays on my blog are all about wonder and smiles. In honor of mentally kicking back once in a while, Sundays are Fun Days! Each Sunday, visitors will find a fun, interesting, or unusual something here. I’m a nerd with a complex sense of humor and absurd wit. It could literally be anything.

I recently stumbled across a reference to a music house in New Orleans. Intrigued, I found this clip. I’ve mentioned before that I’m a drummer. Holy cow, do I want to go!

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My 100 things will focus on malapropisms and I’ll stick with it until I can’t find any more. From the French mal a propos (meaning inappropriate). Dictionary.com defines malapropisms as an act or habit of misusing words ridiculously, especially by the confusion of words that are similar in sound.

Here’s one for today:

Texas has a lot of electrical votes. (electoral votes) Attributed to Yogi Berra

۞>>>> More Weekend Happenings on my other blogs >>>>۞

My Sexy Saturday & Scintillating Sunday Showcase

http://calliopesotherwritingtablet.blogspot.com/

Weekend Writing Warriors

http://theancillarymuse.blogspot.com/

Have too many weeds? We sure do. I’ve left my wild foods recipes up.

Just scroll back and enjoy. Yum!

http://calliopeswritingtablet.blogspot.com/

Sunday 7

**A promo op for you too!**

http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/

۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞

Today is Author Sam Cheever’s blog day

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

Romance Books ‘4’ Us

The Christmas in July contest is winding down. We have $100 in gift cards for Amazon/B&N. Other prizes can include ebooks, print books, audiobooks, more gift cards and non-book items.

http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞

Attention Authors~ My Exquisite Quills blog hosts six fun and free promo opportunities a week. I’m delighted to say it’s a hot spot with great exposure. Come join in!

http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/

۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞

Love Waits in Unexpected Places –

Scorching Samplings of Unusual Love Stories by Rose Anderson

Download your free chapter sampler today!

Find my novels in ebook and paperback on Amazon and Barnes & Noble

and wherever romance books are sold.

۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞

Light those candles. #saturday

Just a short post today. It’s busy around here.

I woke up this morning thinking about time. It might be because my youngest just turned 30. Marking someone else’s life invariably marks our own. Candles are symbolic of the passage of time. It’s the reason candles top birthday cakes– one for each year of the individual’s life.

Have you ever stopped to think that much of modern life depends on precise time? Think about it. Our transportation system relies upon it, as does communication and media. In fact, many technologies are dependent on super-accurate time: the International Space Station for example.

I know time is important in our linear lives — watching the alignment of the stars told early humans about the seasons changing and gave us an idea on when to hunt and when to plant. But when did counting the nano seconds become important to us and why?  Here’s the beginning of time keeping~

Many years ago, I had a fantastic high school physics teacher. He was one of those rare teachers who taught the topic they loved to learn themselves, and whose curiosity brought the standard study units to life. The crazy thing here was most of the kids in my class didn’t get physics, and certainly not his unusual delivery of it. He was a hands-on educator and we often tried experiments for ourselves that would be considered too dangerous today. In his maieutic way of teaching through questions and answers, he’d start each class by positing a theory followed by a question. This was generally met with blank faces staring back at him. The topics might have gone over most of the kids’ heads, but for some reason it all made perfect sense to me. Perhaps it was his delivery. Two other students in my class got it too. Our interest and questions led him deeper and deeper into the most delicious explanations of quantum mechanics and cosmic time.

We had one such deep discussion in class where he explained the three spatial dimensions to existence. That’s the day I learned time is often considered to be the fourth dimension.

Wrap your head around this.

:D

۞>>>> More Weekend Happenings on my other blogs >>>>۞

My Sexy Saturday & Scintillating Sunday Showcase

http://calliopesotherwritingtablet.blogspot.com/

Weekend Writing Warriors

http://theancillarymuse.blogspot.com/

Have too many weeds? We sure do. I’ve left my wild foods recipes up.

Just scroll back and enjoy. Yum!

http://calliopeswritingtablet.blogspot.com/

Sunday 7

**A promo op for you too!**

http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/

۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞

My 100 things will focus on malapropisms and I’ll stick with it until I can’t find any more. From the French mal a propos (meaning inappropriate). Dictionary.com defines malapropisms as an act or habit of misusing words ridiculously, especially by the confusion of words that are similar in sound.

Here’s one for today:

Her legs suffered from very close veins. Varicose veins

۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞

Today’s guest ~ Daryl Devore

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

Romance Books ‘4’ Us

The Christmas in July contest is winding down. We have $100 in gift cards for Amazon/B&N. Other prizes can include ebooks, print books, audiobooks, more gift cards and non-book items.

http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞

Attention Authors~ My Exquisite Quills blog hosts six fun and free promo opportunities a week. I’m delighted to say it’s a hot spot with great exposure. Come join in!

http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/

۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞

Love Waits in Unexpected Places –

Scorching Samplings of Unusual Love Stories by Rose Anderson

Download your free chapter sampler today!

Find my novels in ebook and paperback on Amazon and Barnes & Noble

and wherever romance books are sold.

۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞

Oh, the dear hands… #fridayfunday

Some people do crosswords or Sudoku to keep their minds sharp as they age. My dad was big on crosswords and we’d do them together. As much as I still enjoy them, my brain-booster comes from mini research trips online. I choose topics that interest me and carve out a half hour or so of my day to add new juicy details to my knowledge base. A life-long learner can’t ask for better than new info. You’ll notice I make many blog posts out of these juicy bits and always share the most interesting links to more for your own brain-boost. One day I’ll compile the best into a nice fat trivia book.
:D

I have a super busy day today so no time for morning research with my coffee.  Instead, I’m putting up an early piece of writing from my days working in historic preservation. I hope you enjoy.

Oh, the Dear Hands…

As time marches ever onward and the eldest pass  on to their next great adventure, what was once common becomes relegated to ancient history or forgotten entirely. To a dwindling number of people, the homely relics of the past can re-create memories of their youth.

Many years ago, I was fortunate to have worked  in a local history museum. It was my great privilege to show the collection to patrons both young and old. Of the latter, they’d often stand in silence for so long, that we curators began to long for our overdue breaks. If one hasn’t experienced this sort of work, let’s just say as rewarding as it is, there comes a sense of relief when the museum closes. Being on all day is exhausting. For me, the greatest perk came when the older visitors spoke of their younger days, back when my carefully labeled antique exhibits were a working part of everyone’s lives.

One day, just before closing, an elder gentleman took particular interest in the collections’ wooden churns and milk bowls. Gazing fondly at the old worn wood, a soft light came to his eyes when he said, “Oh, the dear hands I’ve seen about them.”  It was as if the man had stepped back in time to see those dear soft hands of his loved ones wrapped so industriously around these simple implements. There are many small stories like this one, vivid stories with which people might share the vision of those who have seen and lived what we call history first hand.

On one such occasion, I met a small and weathered old woman whose sparse gray hair was pulled tight in a little bun. There with her family, she rested her eyes upon a little nondescript oil lamp hanging from the wall. Her family members took in the exhibit and chatted among themselves, exclaiming over this and that and commenting on the strangeness of it all. Suddenly, the old woman spoke, “But I can remember…”

We all stopped to listen.

She continued in a small accented voice, barely a whisper, that perfectly matched her size, and told of how as a girl, she had gone with her companions to the threshing barn.  “And there, in every one of the four corners flared a crusie.” She described the young men threshing the wheat. “As they swung their flails up and down, sometimes their bodies were dark against the lamp light, and sometimes the sweat glistened as it ran down their bare chests and arms.” I loved the girlishly appreciative look on her face as she told of the men’s sweat-defined muscles and bare skin bejeweled with chaff. “It was warm in the threshing barn, and there was laughter and singing all about.”

It was then the youthful girlish look melted away from her face. She went on to say that scarcely a threshing barn could be found anymore and that every one of the people she had been there with were now dead or gone away. My betty lamp, her crusie, had brought it all back to her mind. It was here that she said how important it was not to forget those times and things from back then. With that, she smiled at me as if to say thank you for that memory, and left the exhibit with her family.

Take the time to talk with your elders. You won’t regret it.

۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞

My 100 things will focus on malapropisms and I’ll stick with it until I can’t find any more. From the French mal a propos (meaning inappropriate). Dictionary.com defines malapropisms as an act or habit of misusing words ridiculously, especially by the confusion of words that are similar in sound.

Here’s one for today:

Rainy weather can be hard on the sciences.  Sinuses

۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞

Today is Author Cara Marsi’s blog day

http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

Romance Books ‘4’ Us

The Christmas in July contest is on! We have $100 in gift cards for Amazon/B&N. Other prizes can include ebooks, print books, audiobooks, more gift cards and non-book items.

http://www.romancebooks4us.com/

۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞

Attention Authors~ My Exquisite Quills blog hosts six fun and free promo opportunities a week. I’m delighted to say it’s a hot spot with great exposure. Come join in!

http://exquisitequills.blogspot.com/

۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞

Love Waits in Unexpected Places –

Scorching Samplings of Unusual Love Stories by Rose Anderson

Download your free chapter sampler today!

Find my novels in ebook and paperback on Amazon and Barnes & Noble

and wherever romance books are sold.

۞>>>>۞<<<<۞>>>>۞