Catherine Dougherty's Blog, page 9

Flower or Vegetable?

My husband and I bought our new home a few months ago when there was still snow on the ground, so everything that’s sprouting up in our yard now is new to us. (Yes, spring has finally arrived in NH!) Last week, these funny looking things started growing in and around our perennial garden and I thought they might be a special type of flower. But, as they started multiplying a little too quickly, I remembered…

Fiddlesticks. No, no, wait a minute–I mean fiddleheads. Not a flower, either, but a vegetable.

Is that what these are? (I’m still not sure.)

I know a lot of people eat fiddleheads. A long time ago, a friend gave me some to sample after picking them from the side of a road. I was so afraid to eat them, though, so I didn’t. For some reason, if I don’t plant the vegetable myself (or buy it in a grocery store or at a farm stand), I’m afraid it might not be edible.

I’ve heard that fiddleheads taste like asparagus and I love asparagus (especially broiled with garlic olive oil and sea salt). My vegetarian son and daughter in law say they’re delicious too. Hmmm, maybe I should try them after all.

I don’t know, though. What do you think?

(Again, is that what these are?)

Much Needed Rest & Full Steam Ahead

Much Needed Rest & Full Steam Ahead.

Much Needed Rest & Full Steam Ahead

After moving into our new home in early March, the surroundings were new and my mind was on overload thinking about everything that needed to be done (unpacking, renovating, still working full-time, getting my books available again, etc., etc.). As a result, I was having a hard time sleeping. For weeks, I was awake until at least 2 am, even though I was in bed by midnight. I would stare up at the ceiling wishing I could slow my mind down and get some rest. I even took sleeping pills, but they didn’t help.

Then, about a week ago, my husband mentioned I should use ear plugs like he does. No way! I wouldn’t sleep at all if I knew I couldn’t hear anything (I still use a baby monitor even though my babies are grown and gone). No, I knew that wouldn’t work!

But his suggestion was very helpful because it made me recall that I owned an eye mask. Maybe the effect could be similar to his ear plugs? I had gotten the mask when I went to a Dinner in the Dark event. Could wearing this really help me sleep? I figured it couldn’t hurt to try it out.

And to my surprise, it did work! Who would’ve known that such a simple solution could do the trick?

Okay, so now I’m getting more rest these days and that’s making me more productive. I just finished typesetting in Polyester Pajamas and the trade paperback should available online again in about a week. My second book in Woolen Bikinis will soon follow. If you don’t know, Kindle versions for both of these have been re-edited and are available now.

Plans after that are to get Book 3 out within the next couple of months. (Yes, I’m working on that, too.)

And there are a couple of events this week I’d like to share:

For those of you who live in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, I’ll be speaking at the Meredith Public Library Thursday, April 23rd from 10:30 am until 12 pm. Come and visit if you can!

Also, it’s been a while since I’ve had a free Kindle promotion, so this Wednesday, April 22 through Sunday, April 26th, the Kindle version of in Polyester Pajamas will be free on Amazon.

Full steam ahead!

Better Late Than Never

I almost forgot to have my annual Shamrock Shake last week. I’m so glad that my good friend and co-worker Lori reminded me before it was too late. She bought the shake for me and took my picture too!

Here I am enjoying it. Do I look tired? Well, I am—it’s been a busy year so far.

(I don’t care how many calories are in these things—it was just what I needed.)

Happy Belated St. Patrick’s Day!

Repurposing

Here’s a craft idea that is easy to do and very useful. Take the seat from an old previously caned chair, tack some screen onto the back of it so it covers the open seat area, and add a couple screw eyes and wire for mounting purposes. On the front of the seat, put a few pegs (made from dowels bought in a craft or hardware store) in the top holes and even add a few in some bottom and side holes. These will be used for hanging necklaces, bracelets, etc. As you can see, the screen itself is a great place for earrings.

My husband made a few of these as gifts many years ago and I use mine all the time. We just put it up in our new house today so I thought it would be the perfect thing to share.

I love to repurpose, don’t you? Any unique repurposing idea you’d also like to share?

Labor Pains

In several ways, moving into a new home is like giving birth to a child.

Everyone offers congratulations about the forthcoming new home or child, but don’t warn you about what you’re likely to go through before achieving it (until after you’ve actually done so).
No matter how well you prepare for the special event, you’re never really ready for it.
The process of moving (giving birth) guarantees sore muscles, bruises and sometimes lasting scars.
After it’s over, your life becomes completely disorganized. Old routines go out the window and you have to adapt to many changes.
And there’s a guarantee of at least a few sleepless nights.

HOWEVER, there comes a time when you forget about how much labor was involved in the process and realize (hopefully) the result was well worth it.

Guess what I’ve been doing this past month to explain why I haven’t been blogging lately?

Moving into a new home! (No, not having another baby.)

Bring Home the…

Here’s a tidbit of New Hampshire news for you:

This month, the New Hampshire Lottery released its first “scratch-n-sniff” lottery ticket.

Believe it or not, it smells like BACON!

It’s called I HEART BACON and to promote it, the New Hampshire Lottery is driving a “bacon truck” around and handing out free applewood smoked bacon samples, along with the new scratch tickets.

Think I’m making this up? No way!

Google “NH Lottery” and “bacon” and you’ll find out that everyone is talking about it.

Hey, on another subject, I’m sorry I haven’t been posting as much lately. Besides packing for an upcoming move (fast-approaching), I’ve been busy working on my books so I can get them back online as soon as possible. I’m happy to announce that the newly revised and reformatted Kindle version of my first book in Polyester Pajamas is now available again on Amazon. More coming soon!

(Oh, and one more thing . . . Go Patriots! )

So Far, So Good

This photo is hilarious! It was given to me as a joke one Christmas, years ago, when I wasn’t published yet. (Dreams can come true!) I just came across it.

Right now, I’m packing away many of my collected writings in preparation for the upcoming move into the new house we’re purchasing. It amazes me how many poems, unpublished children’s stories, notes, journals, scribbled ideas, first drafts, etc., I have written and accumulated. Of course, I can’t part with any of it!

My two Jean and Rosie novels are still unavailable, but they’ll be back online, along with the third novel in the series, before the end of March. I’ll be sure to let you know when they are.

Soo…I’ve decided to self-publish after all, at least for now. And I’m building my own team to help me along the way. So far, so good, and today I found out that Pam Marin-Kingsley, the artist who designed the book covers for in Polyester Pajamas and in Woolen Bikinis, will also be creating the cover for in Leather Chaps.

How exciting! I can’t wait to see it and share it with you.

New Year – New Adventures

When the clock struck 12 am and it became 2015, I was fully aware that this year was going to be filled with new adventures, as well as many challenges for me.

First of all, my husband and I have found our new home and will be moving in the next few months. It’s not far away—still in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire—but we’ve lived at our current home for 20+ years. You can imagine how much “stuff” we have to pack or throw away. After we do that, we still have to sell our current home. We’ll be busy, that’s for sure!

Also, my doctor says I have to lose some weight to stay off any medication for my current high cholesterol. Healthy eating and daily exercise routine begins tomorrow. My next doctor’s appointment is in February, so wish me luck.

And what I especially want to share is that my publisher has ceased all publication operations as of December 31st. That means I no longer have a publisher and, currently, my e-books are not available. There are still a few trade paperbacks of both books out there, however, no new copies are being published at this time.

Am I stressed about it?  I have to admit I am a bit, but I’m also seeing this as a new opportunity to move onward and upward in my author journey. It may take a couple of months to get my books available again. I’ll let you know as soon as they are.

While all this is happening, the third book in the Jean and Rosie series is being edited by a wonderful friend and former proofreader. Two other friends have volunteered to read the manuscript and give me their comments and suggestions. It may take a little more time to get it published. I promise you, in Leather Chaps will be worth the wait.

Thank you all for your support these past few years. Like I said, 2015 is going to be full of adventures and plenty of challenges, but I’m not giving up on this wonderful author life. Not a chance!

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year!

(You may be wondering if I plan on self-publishing like many other authors have done successfully. Maybe, although it’s not my first choice. Currently, I’m scouting for an agent and/or publisher to represent me.)

2014 in review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog.

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Here’s an excerpt:

A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 3,100 times in 2014. If it were a cable car, it would take about 52 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.