Curtiss Ann Matlock's Blog, page 18

Be Brave–You Can

I had a disappointment. It made me think about where I am going in my life, and how tired I am that most everything seems hard. I wanted it—this one thing—to be easy. I was so certain that it would be. A part of this was certainty that I was following what God would have me do. And, admittedly, because I felt I had done a good job and I had paid my dues. I had dreams of everything going my way and smooth sailing down the open road.

But my expectations have been dashed, and I am feeling batter...

Happy 2018! New Book, New Camper, New Purpose

Happy New Year, Dear Reader Friends!

We are full into it now. People back to work, some want to, some don’t. Some already have their trees down, decorations all cleared away. I wish. Our children don’t go to school for another couple of days here, and I’m glad. I like to ease into this new year.

I think of you now out there, maybe like me, snuggled in warm clothes and a blanket, with a dog beside you, all of us letting go of yet another year— saying goodbye 2017, with a mixture of sadness and...

Me and My Travel Trailer, Episode 4: The Hitch

For those of you who noticed I changed the title of these camper trailer posts, I did so because of getting a bit of odd messages, which may be connected to the use of the word widow. That’s a whole ‘nother subject.

A woman on a Facebook group recently posed the question: Can a small statured woman handle the camper by herself?

This is a question I had at the beginning, too. I am a small woman. The fact does give one pause, at least today it does. For most of my life until now, I never gave i...

The Widow’s Travel Trailer–Episode 4, Backing Up

[image error]Yesterday I brought ‘Little Lucy’ home from the dealer, where she had undergone warranty work for a number of factory-related issues. I arrived happily in my backyard with high confidence. I had once again traversed the highway without incident, and while I knew it would take me time to back her into the carport, I had two previous successes to boost me on this score. I knew I could do it again, and once again I needed to do it alone, as no one was there to help me. I also needed to be a litt...

The Widow’s Travel Trailer Desire, Episode 3

Maiden Voyage they call it—the first trip in the new RV. My first trip ever in an RV. I was a mess trying to pack the camper and cover all the basis not only for travel, but for the house and pets I would leave. What if I forgot something? What if I caused the house to burn down, the trailer hitch to come undone, the brakes to fail?

[image error]I’m sitting here at Bay Breeze RV Park in Gulf Shores, Alabama, on Mobile Bay side. I have a pleasant sense of stepping back in time to a tourist court of the Fif...

Tips for Easy Gluten-free Living

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Available on Amazon

Yesterday, within the space of an hour, I had two people I care about ask me about living gluten-free. Since this month marks the sixteenth anniversary of my coping with celiac disease, it seems appropriate to write a new post summing up much of what I have learned throughout these years.

Three Main Points:
Don’t Panic with a celiac disease or gluten-intolerance diagnosis. Slow down. Learning is going to take a while, but even with mistakes you are going to feel better imm...

The Widow’s Travel Trailer Desire, episode 2

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Me and my dream: a Gulfstream Vintage Cruiser 19ERD, Woody edition.

There I am in the above photo, the red carpet treatment provided by RVs Unlimited. The people there made it all a great deal of fun, and at one point I realized: It has been a long time since I have had such real fun.

I  was given a thorough orientation on the travel trailer. Keep in mind I am a total newbie, and such is my nature that I ask all manner of questions for no better reason than I like to learn everything in the w...

The Widow’s Travel Trailer Desire

I credit (or blame, depending on the view) both Lucille Ball and my writer friend Cait London for the fact that I decided to buy a travel trailer.

[image error]Have any of you seen the movie The Long Long Trailer, staring Lucille Ball and her husband Desi Arnaz? It was a hit of the 1950s. So much so that a version of the travel trailer used in the movie actually became a best seller for a while. Of course I am not old enough to have seen the movie first time around, but I have seen it on TCM reruns. My hu...

Trying to Have a Life Here…starting with a book sale

Summertime, and school is out. My grandson is here with me daily, a source of delight, laughter, and often the refrain:  “I’m so bored!” I found him lying in the middle of my bed, watching gaming videos on his phone. I requested he feed the chickens when he got a chance. His response to this was:  “I’m trying to have a life here.”

That produced gales of laughter in me, because as a writer, a mother, grandmother, daughter who has care of her elderly mother, a homeowner, I thought: “I’m trying...

Three Bestselling Ebooks on Sale for Mothers’ Day!

Hello, lovely readers!

In honor of Mothers’ Day, three of my bestselling e-books have just gone on sale in Kindle Store. Each rated 4+ stars.  The perfect last minute gift for the mother, sister, or friend!

On Sale only today through Sunday.

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Meet Mary, a widow long lonely, who discovers the man and life of her dreams…

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Ruby Dee D’Angelo came blowing up the dusty ranch road and into the lives and hearts of the Starr men…

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The marriage bed was empty, the vows gone hollow. But love cannot let go.

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