J.J. Devine's Blog, page 2

Pros and Cons of life...

Good afternoon, everyone!!!

Before I start this blog this is just my opinion and may not be a popular opinion by any means. I have a different way of viewing the world and I am completely aware of this. I also spend a great deal of time watching the world around me without interfering with what is going on around me. So take this blog as one person's view...

Now I will start by telling you where this train of thought came from...

The other day I was at a softball game watching my granddaughter play ball. During the game, with our team in the field, I noticed when I looked over to the dugout the coach was standing there talking on her phone. No big deal, everyone seems to be locked into technology today. From the sidelines another person was calling out encouragement to our girls. I thought back to a time that seems so long ago now...

People used to leave the phone calls at home. They engaged in what they were doing outside of the constant connection. 

When our girls got up to bat, the base ump walked across the field, texting... Got to the base and continued to text as the ball was hit, the play was played and calling the runner safe. How do you know that runner was safe??? Your eyes weren't on the play, they were on your phone...

Don't get me wrong as the wife of a trucker, cell phones have been a blessing when it comes to keeping in contact. However, I look around me and no one disengages anymore. They have some form of technology always in hand, no matter where they are. Siblings playing on their iPads instead of playing with the other children around them. And if they are playing with the other children around them it revolves around selfies and electronic games.

I guess you could say this old lady misses the days of watching children make friends from the kids they meet up with at the parks, ball games, ect. I miss watching the imaginations run wild as ideas pop in their little heads as to what they can do next.

I think that's why I enjoy the young ones gathering at my sister's house in the country. You can't take electronics in the pond, LOL. But you sure can see how far you can jump off the dock into the water, or how fast you can slide down the water slide, or can you jump off that swing and make a huge splash???

I love the exploration of the woods through their eyes. Yes, we do bring our phones for the plant app, because we get a thousand questions of what each and every plant is and what it does, LOL. But, that's one of the pros of this life today. 

Technology makes things easier in this life, but it also makes things disconnect. I watch young girls determine their worth based on what comments they receive on a post, or how many likes they get. Young boys are so engrossed in their games they have little more to talk about when holding a conversation, if you can get them away from their game long enough to have one.

Technology connects us to the world. Yet, it takes us away from the world right in front of us. Our emotions are based on what strangers tell us about ourselves, versus what the people who really know us say to us.

Too much of a good thing can easily become a bad thing...

I love being able to connect to the world and see things I wouldn't normally be able to. However, I also love disconnecting from that world and living in the world around me. Reading a book, planting a garden, just sitting on the porch listening to the birds.

​We all chose our paths. Children mimic us. I am saddened to think so many of today's problems stem from not disconnecting with technology and reconnecting with what is right in front of us. But who am I? Just one old lady trying to live her best life.

Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!








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Sometimes you just have to begin with a vision...

Good morning, everyone!!!

As you can see from the slide show we've been super busy this planting season :) Sis and I sat down with our mother and designed our foraging bags :) We weren't really sure where to begin the process of getting from tarp to bag. This was where our mother came in and made us up a pattern according to our visions of what we were wanting. They turned out fantastic!!! I'm super proud.


We've come up with even more solutions on gardening this year. Over Memorial week we installed an irrigation system, so water only goes to the plants and not all over the garden. Then tonight we laid ground cover between our plant rows and around each plant. Even though pigweed is edible it has a habit of taking over the garden in a big way. So, we prefer not to deal with it :)

I love so much that I feel as if I'm living again. I'm not looking at life with exhaustion all the time, but each day is refreshing and I'm ready to begin whatever comes to mind.

I've spent the last month enhancing my landscaping, helping my sister, and just enjoying life. Something I have to say has been a long time coming. I was starting to feel so worn down and worn out. I can't believe what seven months has done for me internally. I feel as if I have a new lease on life.

Sure, what I'm doing these days is a great deal more physical, but a lot less exhausting. I hope that makes sense. It's strange how life takes twists and turns. Sometimes you think you want something, only to realize you really didn't need it. That's where I am these days. Realizing I'm right where I need to be.

These last several months has given me a refreshment on creativity. I can't believe how at peace I feel within my own soul. It actually caught me off guard because it has been so long since I've felt this way.

I love that within this life all you have to do is envision it and then you can make it transpire in reality. Making a foraging bag, writing a book, or just simply planting flowers in your garden all start out as a vision within yourself.

I think the main reason I enjoy sharing these little tidbits of things is to hopefully help others realize we all have the ability to make their visions and dreams come true. Sis and I sure didn't know a lot about gardening and canning when we first started down this road. Sure, we were raised around gardening and canning, but it's different as an adult than when you were kids.

We learned things, we made and will make mistakes, and we push forward. Each year we come up with new ideas and new projects. We try to plant one new thing each year as an experiment.

You see life isn't about being perfect, it's about not being afraid to try something even if you have no idea what you're doing. The learning process is the biggest part of the adventure. Mistakes are made to be laughed about, so hard in fact, your sides hurt. Let your desires be your guide. Don't let fear of the unknown rule you. Let go and just enjoy...

Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!






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Life teaches every day...

Good afternoon, everyone!!!

Today I am blogging from one of my favorite places, my back porch :) I love springtime out here surrounded by the outdoors and all the spring scents, flowers, freshly cut lawns, and yes, campfires :)

This weekend I had my first really tough night of work since I started there seven months ago. We came into a mess, mass confusion, and normally, we just push through, get done what needs done, and that's the end of things. Well, it didn't work the normal way and one thing I know about myself is when things don't work right my anxiety levels push upward. 

It sometimes gets so bad it puts me in a horrible mood. However, strangely that did not happen the other night. Mind you, even my coworkers felt this anxiety. In fact, toward the end of the night we joked about it. See, we took turns with the anxious part of the night. We problem solved together, we helped each other push through when one of us felt anxious, and we kicked ass. 
Yesterday, I reflected on all of this and realized life has once again taught me something important. 

It's okay to feel overwhelmed and anxious. It's okay to not know how you are going to fix things at first. What's not okay is allowing yourself to unpack and live there. Had all of us decided the night was completely lost and given up we would have never been able to do all we did. Instead, we supported one another (our personalities are very similar, we both like to
find the positive even in bad situations), we worked as a team, and we made the night a success.


I think that was the very first time I started out on high anxiety and was able to end a day with a sense of good accomplishment. 


Sure, we were all ready to go home when our 12-hour night was over. That was a natural reaction to the day. But I did not walk out of there thinking what in the hell, or even have the feeling I never wanted to go back.

Life is a mindset. I'm discovering this more and more as I age. This weekend proved that theory to me in a multitude of ways. I'm grateful for the coworkers I have. They are good hard-working people in my opinion.

This job has taught me so much about myself since I started there. I knew I was going there for a reason, but the reasons for me being there have only increased over my time there. 

I feel at peace in my soul. Something that I have searched for in many aspects of life. It is like things in the entirety of my life are finally just falling into place. I can enjoy a life outside of the workplace without always wondering what is going to happen next in the workplace. I can walk through my sister's woods enjoying all of its beauty without needing to be there to get my soul right and escape from the pressures of this world. 

I've accomplished so much around my house that I've wanted to do for so many years. Strange how that works when you take so much unwanted stress away. 

I've renewed my desire to work on writing again. I renewed my desires to be human again. I've let down my guard again in so many aspects in life because I feel like I now understand where my trust is in this world and where it is not. I don't tell my instincts their crazy now, LOL, and just listen to them. I'm diving into this next phase in life with both feet, embracing the knowledge that life is always about learning, and seeking out what it is trying to teach me. 

Every day I wake up I live for the moment. Whatever the day brings I feel the emotions and let them wash through me. I release what's not good for me and hold onto only what needs to linger.

Life is a learning process...why not treat it as such...

Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!










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In 100 years we will be the history...

Good morning, everyone!!!

I've been mulling over and over another blog topic since I wrote my last blog, then the other night while visiting with my youngest son we came upon a few great topics that got this brain going :)

Life itself is about experiences, ups and downs, chances given that are taken or not taken, the possibilities are endless. Each human experience is a learning experience. We have choices each and every day to make. Some are as simple as what to wear, what to eat, am I going to be productive today? Do I need a day to just let my brain rest? All of these are simply choices we make for ourselves every moment of our lives.

Choices for ourselves are something we have power over. We control what we do, how we react, and ultimately in what direction we allow ourselves to move in. Sure, we can look back on a situation and say, "If I would have just done this or that differently, well, the outcome may have been different, and maybe it would have altered the history of my life as to where I would be today."

I watch so many these days screaming for history to be erased. Why??? Because it hurts feelings??? Because it is embarrassing??? Because it was horrible??? Sure, all of the above. However, it is the emotions stirred from those lessons in history that have brought about changes. I know I know, no one wants you to believe changes have occurred throughout history, but I encourage you to really look into history before you scream, "If it wasn't for this or that, we could be completely different." 

I'm sorry to say, but if it wasn't for the history of mankind and the anger, sadness, and outrage it brought about changes would have never been made. 

Life is evolving. Ever changing. Ever moving forward. What makes this happen is history. 

I love Jane Austin's writings. However, it was her writings that put history in perspective for me. Today, we look upon her works as historical writings. But, folks, when she wrote those stories they weren't historical at all, they were present day. She experiences life in the era she wrote in. One day in the future someone will pick up a book written in this time and fall in love with the unique history of the story. 

A hundred years from today will be history. Someone somewhere will be reading about the things we did in some history book, in some romance novel, or the likes. They will be seeing our mistakes as we see the mistakes made by our ancestors before us.

It will be our experiences and actions of today that will form tomorrow's opinions. Tomorrow's actions taken.


Life is a messy and beautiful thing. History isn't there to be scorned but to help us learn, to help us move forward. Let it be awful in some respects, we need that to learn the why of things and allow our brains to figure out how to move forward into a better future.

Sure, our ancestors did some pretty ugly things. The lessons that came from that allowed people of the times to cry out for changes and change doesn't happen overnight. It is a process in which is only rewarding if you have to work hard to accomplish it. Nothing in this life is free, and nothing in this life is worth having if you didn't have to fight a hard inner battle to make it happen.

These drives within ourselves are not born into us, they are created by us living and experiencing. Convictions can't become strong without a reason. If we have no history to speak of, convictions cannot form, there would be no basis for them.

So, the next time you are outraged by something in history, embrace that deep inner feeling. That within itself is where changes come from. Be ready to take the beating that comes with making significant changes in this world, because change is not easy, nor is it for the weak of mind and soul.

Always remember life is bigger than we are. Will those a hundred years from today see us as strong historical figures to encourage them to continue the fight of humanity? Or will they look back on us and rip apart our mistakes...

Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!






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Sisters real talk...

Good afternoon, everyone!!!

Lately, I've been doing a great deal of thinking both about my characters in writing but also about real life and the relationships between siblings.

As anyone knows who has read my books a great deal of my writing revolves around family. I love families and the dynamics of them.

So, a bit of history here...

I come from a large extended family. Lots and lots of large families within our dynamics. My own family consisted of myself and my two sisters, whom of which between us had eleven children. Now, those eleven children have gone out and populated and last count there have been 17 greats with three of the original eleven yet to become parents and the others still young enough to have more.

So, you see, family is very important to us. 

Am I saying we always get along??? Oh, HELL no!!! Because the original three of us are not only women, but we are also very strong-willed women, very opinionated, very stubborn, and very passionate in life. So, yes, this can make it hard at times for anyone including ourselves.

To outsiders, well, I'm not sure how many outsiders see us. I know many of them have to wonder about us at times, LOL. Because we not only love with our entire being, but we can also fight with our entire being. It's who we are.

We've gone years without speaking. We've gone years with being inseparable. Our poor husbands have a saying, "It's a McIntire girl..." And we live up to that for sure. It takes strong men to not only understand us, but to love us, and we're good with that. Because a weaker man would be swallowed up by us and we're not good with that for sure.


So, when I sit down to write a heroine I think of the women I surround myself with...


A younger sister who not only had her first child at the age of 15 and raised that child to adulthood, but also went on to get married, raise a family, and is one of the most successful women I know being a Nurse Practioner and living her best life.

A middle sister, who started out this life with a bang becoming a very talented and successful hairdresser that people once lined up to get an appointment with. A woman who watched the beautician cut my hair at the age of 13 and said, "I can do that," and started cutting my hair at that ripe young teenage girl. I watch her battle her disease now, with as much gusto and passion as she lived back in the day. Not allowing this disease to overtake her but fighting to live every day. You can't do that and be a simpering female.

Life kicks you, sometimes hard in the gut. But it's your choice how you take those punches. The stock I come from, it may throw us to the ground, but man, oh, man, when we get back up, we come up swinging.

When you come from a family like ours it is very difficult to bring in outsiders who are more like wallflowers than outgoing people. We overwhelm people who are afraid to participate, or just join in. It's not that we are being rude, it is life has thrown some pretty hard punches at us, and we are at an age where we feel like if a younger generation wants to know what's it's like to be a part of our inner circle, then get your ass in where the action is, LOL. 

***WARNING***

Just remember when doing so, be genuine. We sisters run on vibes. We feel what you're not saying. Your actions scream louder than any words you will ever utter to us. We're tough to get along with sometimes but know there's a reason or two for that. We won't push a relationship, not at our age. You want a relationship, wonderful, let's see how we can make that happen. 

I promise however, we don't do one sided anything in this family. We bring you in, we're all in. Just know that, because we expect you to pull your weight of the relationship. 

If we see our children being taken advantage of, well, that will not work for us. Like I said above, we're passionate people. We love our kids, nieces, nephews, and greats with our entire being. The words that come out when we see them being used, well, we're just as passionate in our beliefs that relationships are not only a give and take, but also a unity to work together for a better life.

Don't get me wrong. People may mistake this as being closed minded but it's not. Just like we feel the vibes we see and know what a future of a one- sided relationship can do over time to a person. We love our children enough to not want that future for them, however, we also love our children enough to stop pushing, but stay firm in our beliefs and let them live the life they've chosen. That one is a fine line for us and sometimes a difficult one to straddle. But we do it, because we love our children, even when they aren't so sure we do.

So, you see, when I think of writing a character, I can't think of my females always needing to be saved. I want them to save themselves, but I also want them to know the pleasure of working side by side with someone to make the life they want.


I can't think of a better way to live a full life, without all the ups and downs this life has brought me. I love my family always and forever. I love everything about them. When one or more of our children get upset with us because we've been vocal about their life's choices, I say to myself, "It's okay, they got that passion honestly. They'll be okay, because it's in their DNA." 


Everyone have a lovely day!!!


Blessings to all!!!

Ramblings...

Good morning, everyone!!!

I love my Friday nights. I stay up pretty much all night just to prep for my weekend workdays :) and I also come up with new ideas almost weekly to pass the time. 

This Friday evening I'm making two batches of homemade butter :) and as many blueberry pancakes as the buttermilk I get tonight will make.

I started butter making about a month ago and had so much fun doing it that I try to make it weekly to every other week since it will keep for up to three years. Garden Weed and I even experimented a few weeks ago with it and made some yummy flavored butters LOL. 

It's so simple, you just need heavy whipping cream and a kitchen aid and you're golden :) Salt or no salt, doesn't matter. Make it how you like it. It takes awhile, but with a kitchen aid you can let it do it's thing while you do whatever you wish. Like edit, blog, play around on social media, whatever, LOL. 

My sister made some homemade bread yesterday and sent me the recipe to try because she knows I'm very picky about bread, LOL. Sorta like her being picky about ketchup. We all have our favorites LOL. So, next week on my days off I'll be working on trying out that recipe and also making homemade coconut oil. I'm excited to try those out as well. 

We're prepping for the up and coming growing season :) Yes, it's almost here again and man, I can't wait. That time of year means warmer weather, sunshine, bare feet, and being outdoors. All the things I love. It also means more extended family time, which is also something I adore :)

Next week is also muffin making time. I recently had a Pampered Chef party and man oh man, I got some great stuff :) Mini muffin pan being one of the things I received for FREE :) So, I'm going to be making a ton of mini muffins to put in the freezer for quick breakfasts for the young ones in this big old family. 

I had bought this really cool waffle stick pan from Pampered Chef when my niece had her party and made up two-gallon bags of waffle sticks for the kids already prepping for the warmer months ahead, LOL. Just pull out of the freezer what you want, heat them up in the microwave and boom, instant breakfast :) I love it :) They were a hit with all 4 of my grandkids so I'm sure the great nieces and nephews will enjoy them.

Well, I've finished up what butter I am making tonight, and pancakes are on trays in the freezer waiting to freeze up a bit before being put in freezer bags :) as for me I'm sitting here eating a few of those blueberry pancakes made with fresh buttermilk, eating them with freshly made butter :) and syrup of course :) So, I guess I should sign off of here and eat it while it's hot :)

Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!
 



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I love our family...

Good afternoon, everyone!!!

Last Saturday I texted my sister and told her we should decorate the fence line along the interstate that butts up against her property. Of course (because that's how we roll in this family), she comes back with, "I was just telling my husband that," LOL. So, we checked out the weather, found out Wednesday would be the best day to do something like this. She sent out a message to our family and those who could show up at last minute invitation showed up last evening.

This may not seem like much to others, but it gives my heart wings to see our children, grandchildren, and great nieces and nephews learning what Freedom is all about. 

We don't rely on society to teach our next generations about anything. My sisters and I have been teaching these young ones for quite a while what we feel is important in this life. Like knowing what plants are edible, or medicinal. Like, what goes into growing your own food and preserving it. Like understanding we grew up in a free country and would like for our future generations to grow up in a free country as well.

There is something about the energy when this group gets together. It's like recharging your batteries. Yes, just like any group of people when together, we feed off of one another. However, we have focused on putting an energy together that allows learning and growth.

The great nieces and nephews have given my sisters and I a name, "The Greats," which makes us smile. They know we are always game to take them on a nature walk, answer all their million questions about the plant life, trees, trails, or whatever may come up. We love teaching them how to pick pawpaws or raspberries, then showing them what they can make out of them.

I'm a firm believer in leaving behind memories, not just after you're gone from this world, but after every experience. Children learn by not only example but by the adults in their lives including them in being part of that example. Teaching them, helping them grow, and by all means helping them to understand.

In a world that is so hell bent on sending mixed messages out into the universe, children need that foundation only a family can give. I think that is probably one of my favorite aspects of our family. We take our responsibilities to our next generation seriously.

What started out as getting together as much as possible in the summer and warmer months, has now extended to get togethers for whatever reason in the colder months. These young ones already know The Greats will find a way for anything to be accomplished. They also know, even if we fail, we are still game to try. 

I love the time I spend with this great big family. We figured it up this past Christmastime and found out there are 15 greats and still growing. Yes, our family is quite large, and we know, children are the future. It's not just their parents' responsibility to teach them how to grow, it's ours as well.

Life is an adventure, why not enjoy the ride.

Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!




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Have a Heart: A Beauty in Imperfection Anthology

Have a Heart: A Beauty in Imperfection Anthology
 
All proceeds from the sale of this anthology go to the American Heart Association.
 
Have A Heart: A Beauty in Imperfection is an anthology of ten warm and wonderful short stories. Inspired authors guide you through places you’ve never been, and into worlds you won’t want to leave. The stories within are equally dedicated to celebrating the human heart with all their secrets and powers. From the funny to the frightening, this collection showcases the brave, shadows the broken, and shares the breadth of love, language, and life.
Hope for a Broken Heart by Lisa Bilbrey
Annie and Trent get stuck on in an elevator, on the eve of finalizing their divorce.
 
Cross My Heart by Jami Denise
Chelsea has enough on her plate being a single mother and dealing with her family’s farm. The last thing she needs is for Cody Lawson to show up. If she had it her way, she’d never have to see him again.
They have history, and none of it is good. Their family rivalry has caused enough turmoil over the years, and she thought she’d seen the last of him.
Cody’s back, and he’s brought all their secrets with him. Can they put the past behind them and find that they have common ground after all?
 
Unbreak My Heart by Carrie Elks
Natalie Green has a lot to be thankful for. Her daughter’s new heart. A new chance at life for them both. And the stranger whose loss gives them the greatest gift of all.
 
Falling for the Heartbreaker by Tami Franklin
A deer, a shiny blue Lexus, and a giant sparkly heart… who’d have thought they could lead to love? Years ago, Luke was the boy of Neveah’s dreams, but he never gave her a second look. Now he’s back in town, he’s all grown up, and he’s definitely looking.
 
Open Hearted by Lindsey Gray
Parker and Win reply to the same tweet and a virtual romance begins in the middle of a pandemic. As Parker’s life is thrown into a tailspin, will the virtual pair tough it out together in the real world?

Heartbeat by Sandi Layne
Travis and Amber Hawkins have tried unsuccessfully for the twenty years of their marriage to conceive, to no avail. A final pregnancy test administered when Amber turns forty brings them both shock and — initially — surprisingly negative reactions to the positive result. Will they find their way back to one another before they meet their unexpected child?
Heartburn by Jennifer & Morgan Locklear
Elliot is a fireman in training, and already has the respect of his crewmates, but when they find out that he's writing a steamy romance that uses characters from his own squad, they secretly meet to read his progress.
An apartment fire puts things on hold, and threatens to undo all his work to become a fireman, but with the help of his scarred fire chief, he finds renewed purpose, and some romance of his own.
 
Straight from the Heart by Jeanne McDonald
The universe seems to be against Holly Hart, and she had enough disappointment to last her a lifetime. When she tries to give up on life, life refuses to give up on her. With the help of a new friend, Holly learns a valuable lesson that comes straight from the heart.
 
Conversation Hearts by Perry Noël
LoLo Vaughn, a beautifully broken bakery owner and pastry chef, looks forward to the first fourteen days of February. At least she used to. That’s when her business, La Petite Pâtisserie, in a small Kansas town, explodes with cookie orders. Her conversation heart cookies are her number one best seller. BE MINE, U R CUTE, and BFF are only a few of the most requested sayings on her sugar cookies. They are so popular, she’s featured on the local news every year.
To LoLo’s dismay, she garners just as much attention as her famous cookies. She is ultra-focused on her business, not on romance. This year, though, as a result of a few risqué cookies, LoLo’s special treats spark interest with new-in-town, handsome construction worker, Grant Beckham.
But with stress to meet the holiday demand at an all-time high, and after a drunken night of questionable cookie decorating in her bakery, could the conversation hearts be the last cookies LoLo bakes?
 
Heartthrob by Nichole Rose
When Gage Bronx signed on to play the lead role in a movie filming in his hometown, his goal was to help provide for his sick brother. But a misunderstanding threatens to send his carefully laid plans up in flames with his dream girl/best friend, Troian Alessi. Can this heartthrob convince the girl of his dreams to give him the role of leading man in her life, or is someone waiting in the wings to steal his place?
These authors have created stories from the heart to provide resources and fund heart related research. All proceeds from the sale of this anthology go to the American Heart Association.

Purchase Links: 

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​Angus & Robertson

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Husky mix momma...

Good afternoon, everyone!!!

Something that has been on my mind lately with the weather here in Indiana as it has been is good hearted people trying to be loving and caring, but sadly, uninformed. 

Every year I see so many posts on social media about animals being outdoors in the winter. So many people don't understand what it means to be a husky momma or daddy. So, today, I thought I would give you the downlow on what being the momma or daddy to a husky or husky mix means.

First and foremost, own a good for pets vacuum. Huskies don't just shed twice a year, they shed 24/7 356 days a year. We're not talking a little hair here and there. No, we're talking make a whole grown dog amount of hair every day, all day, all the time. I personally have a large area rug in my living room that is like velcro to this magickal hair, LOL. I could vacuum hourly and still have to empty the container 4 times just for this one area rug.

Huskies have a lot of energy. Now of course my boys are older now, 10 and 7, but in their younger days, they had their moments. If not secured they can and will run until their hearts desire has been squelched and they decide to come home. They can jump fences, slip collars, and wiggle out of harnesses. They can get into places you just have to say, "How???" or "Why???" 

Unless you live somewhere cold, summer is not a husky's friend. They don't like the heat. Mine love camping because there is swimming and air conditioning in the camper LOL. We live in a very old house and don't do air conditioning in our house. We are outdoor people, so our the boys.

Wintertime, now that's a different story and what has brought me to this blog. My nephew has 2 huskies that every year people report him having them outdoors. Fortunately, my nephew doesn't mind educating people on the breed and doesn't get upset by people posting his dogs are outside again. 

It has become a joke in our household as well, when I let the boys out in the winter months. "Hurry up before someone drives down the alley and takes pictures of you being outside."

See, huskies love winter. The colder it gets, the more they want outside. 12 inches of snow, no problem, they love it. The door in your house becomes a revolving one, when your huskies are inside/outside dogs. They are relentless in their demands of being let out. They will paw you, bark at you, howl at you, go back and forth to the door, it is never ending. You let them out, bring them back in, five minutes later they want out again. 

Around here I leave them out for approximately a half hour to 45 minutes. What I would do when my kids were young. But, that is never enough for a husky. If they know it's cold, they want to take in that cool air. They thrive in it. This is their time of the year for sure.

I'm not saying if you see someone's small dog, or short haired dog, freezing outside, by all means say something. Cats, they need heat as well even if they are outside cats. My sister and her husband have some really cool heat lamps they use for their outside animals each winter. And, have them spread all over in different shelters for their outdoor animals. You'd be surprised at how many people in town let their cats run outdoors in this weather. I see it all the time on our outdoor cameras. It makes me sad, people will complain about a husky being out in this weather, but the same people will let their cat stay out in all sorts of weather without proper shelter. If they are going to be outside, give them a place where they can be warm. Heat lamps work great :)

Please be mindful. If you have huskies in your neighborhood and see them outdoors in the winter. Please know your neighbor isn't being cruel letting their babies enjoy this time of year. This is their time to shine. They love laying in the snow or rain. Their undercoats are so thick it takes a lot to get to a husky's skin, trust me, even our vet can't find Shadow's skin through all his hair. 

The next time you are wondering what it feels like to be a husky, be indoors, layer your clothes, put on a heavy winter coat, gloves, hat, and scarf. Then sit down in your favorite easy chair and see how long it takes you to get hot. This is how they feel when we force them to remain inside all the time without any relief. 

Every breed of dog is different. Huskies are very rewarding furbies to have around. They are probably one of the most loving and loyal breeds you will ever have. They adore their people. They are smart as a whip. Easy to house train. They sense your mood and try to help if you are sad or upset. They will give you a lifetime of unconditional love. They take their pack seriously and watch over it with passion. They understand the rules of a pack. Knowing who the alpha is at all times. So, you need to establish alpha status when they are young. They have to walk in front of you when taking walks on leads. They are after all, sled dogs by trade, a tiny fact I learned when I could not get my boys to walk on a leash at my side. Research said they need to walk in front of you to walk on a leash. 

They love 'their' children. My grandchildren have to deal with these big boys all up in their faces whenever they come to visit, because the boys love their kids. Since they're not here all the time, they have to inspect them each time they come to the house, LOL. The youngest granddaughter is very good about this. She pets them while they lick and smell her. Then she lays down with them and curls up with them. She's one of their pack as far as they are concerned. If she sleeps over, I have to put her somewhere they can lay next to her when she sleeps. They have to be right next to their kids at night, watching over them.

I have to say, once again, please, unless you see a husky being mistreated, no food, no water, no human contact ever. Then please, please, just know winter is their time of the year. We're not being cruel by letting them enjoy this time. We are just giving back to them what they give to us all throughout the year. Love and appreciation.

Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!





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Been working on me...

Good morning, everyone!!!

I've been working on self-improvement for the last month or so. Working on getting me back to where I want to be in this life. Incorporating some of the things I used to do all the time and letting go of the things that do not serve me any longer.

I put Cheyenne Bride and Destiny's Price out in paperback in the last week or so. I'm getting ready to republish Into the Darkness and Erui, a short story paranormal. Then I will be working on Passionate Pursuit and get it out there also :) 

The wonderful thing about this new job is I have so much more time for not only writing but also to live my life. My life is no longer about the job but about me, my family, my writing, and the things I love to do. You know, the things before I always felt like came second because work took up so much of my time. I can't tell you how freeing this is. My mind is no longer a jumbled mess, but focused and clear. I'm dreaming again and I can feel the creative juices beginning to flow. I have to keep telling my inner self, slow down, we'll get this, LOL. That's something I've missed terrible over the course of the last few years. 

Now to just get back on a good house cleaning schedule around here LOL. I'm getting there though, hubby and I managed to get our bedroom organized, and some things done in there that we'd been wanting to do for over a year now :) We did manage to finish the bathroom this past summer, :) Now I just need to make some curtains in there. I also want to put up a long shelf in the kitchen to hold my white and red enamels. Every year that collection grows and I've been wanting to make a shelf to display them all properly. So, that is coming for sure. 

Hubby and the oldest son found an old antique ironing board in our attic some months back, so I turned it into a shelf over my washer and dryer. I love it. It's perfect for this old house for sure :)

To me houses have their own unique personality. Mine is definitely old school seeing as it is well over a hundred at this point. I like things that give it that retro/antique look. My sister and her husband found me a beautiful 1936ish white and red enamel kitchen table and chairs that hubby had them pick up for me for Christmas from him. It goes so well with all my vintage pots and pans and other interesting white and red enamels. 

Well, I guess I should hit the shower. I'm expected at my sister's house in a couple of hours and I don't want to go smelling of hot plastic and plastic shavings still falling out of places I may have missed when I washed off this morning after work. It feels so good on Mondays when I wake up and know I have the rest of the week to myself. I just got a great workout from two days on the job, so I always consider that my 24 hour exercise program :) Because I do get a good workout for those two days, but in a good way for sure. :)

Everyone have a lovely day!!!

Blessings to all!!!







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