J.J. Devine's Blog, page 34
June 8, 2017
Enjoying the springtime day...
Good afternoon, everyone!!!I'm not the only one who enjoys my back porch in the warmer months. So do the grandchildren. Last evening we had a dinner of grilled hot dogs and French fries eaten at the table on the back porch of course :) This morning we've been out here since we got up.
We had babies robins born the other morning. So the grandkids are just thrilled watching the momma come back and forth feeding her young. Then there were the nightengales and mourning doves. They did enjoy their songs. They've yet to see our hummingbirds who stop in to grab a drink from time to time. But the day is still young.
The youngest son announced this week he is getting his own place. It does feel strange having all your kids grown. This next phase of life will definitely feel quite strange but will also be a learning experience. It won't be for a month or so, but as I know, this time will go by fast.
I guess my next remodel will be the upstairs. That will keep me busy this fall for sure :)
It's been rather enjoyable since getting my back porch ready for the summer months. Hubby got me a porch swing that we will be putting up this weekend, so there will be some rearranging going on in the next couple of days because I want this at one end of my porch and that end of the porch just happens to have my grill and deep freeze sitting on it :) Hopefully I have most of the hard work done before he gets home tomorrow evening :) But for today, I am enjoying the grandkids.
Three are playing chess right now and one is down for naptime. So, this grandma is writing this blog and playing mediator when things get too spirited.
I guess I should get my hair washed and put something on besides pjs. That's the perks of grandma's house, you get dressed when you want and just enjoy being a kid :)
Everyone have a lovely day!!!
Blessings to all!!!
June 4, 2017
Growing older...
Good evening, everyone!!!With today being my oldest grandchild's birthday I've had some time to think about life in general lately.
Growing older has never really bothered me much at all. Why should it? Growing older is a part of life. Helping my parents clean out the house they've lived in for forty-seven years I guess has also stirred up not only memories but also reminders I am growing older.
11 years now I've been a grandmother. Before that I was a mother. Before that I was a daughter. The one area of my parent's home that even resembles that of yesterday was the garage, which the men folk cleaned out the other day. As more and more of this area of my childhood reappeared in somewhat the manner in which it used to look I could still see the water skis (no longer there today) in the corner of the room. I could envision the area where my friends and I once had our record player, beat flashing light, and chairs. The pool table sitting in the middle of the garage, we'd skate around it sometimes when we got home from skating on Friday nights.
You could almost hear The Bay City Rollers album playing loudly against the memory. The laughter, the secrets, the fights... it was all there in the open spaces of the almost empty room.
Flash forward several years later...
To the house I live in now.
At one time this house too was filled with children of all ages. Laughter, secrets, and yes, fights too. I swear this house should have come with a revolving door. My oldest two were teenagers when we moved into this big two story 100+ year old home. Music blared from the upper floor just about anytime of day or night. My youngest just a kindergardener.
There was never a doubt you were in the land of the living back then. Always surrounded by sometimes more people than one could bear. And there were days, yes, there were days where I wondered if all the insanity would ever end. If I would ever have a peaceful moment in time where I could just relax.
Flash forward a few years later...
The quiet is sometimes deafening. Sure, I have all the time in the world to do me. No one around to bother me. No fighting. No carrying on. Well, unless you consider my furbabies these days who do enjoy a nice romp through this big old house.
This time of night used to be my breath of fresh air from a hectic day. A time after the kids had gone to bed and the house began to quiet down somewhat. Today, it's not like that. I have done my job as a mother and that time is over.
I delve into my work as a means of warding off the quiet that surrounds me these days. Some days I realize quiet can almost be maddening. Other days my salvation.
I'm pickier these days on who I allow into my world. Because I'm at this place in my life where I'm growing older and only want real or true surrounding me.
I relish in the time spent with the grandchildren, because I get a glimpse of what it used to be like having their parents as young ones.
I've lived long enough and fought often enough in this lifetime to know I no longer have room for hate, or anger, or any other negative emotion. Because I've also lived long enough to realize life may seem long, but the years fly by faster the older you get. Especially when you look back and see where you've been and where you are today.
One moment you're a kid, the next you're a grandmother.
I guess that hardest part of all of this but also the most enjoyable part, is seeing your children venture into this world. Growing up to become the adults you envisioned they would be one day. Making their own lives in this great big world. Their time is spent where it should be, with their children, helping them grow into the adults they will one day become.
Growing older has it's perks, but it also has it's moments also where you sit on the sidelines and watch quietly the fruits of your labors past. Sometimes its a lonely place. Other times, just a time of reflection.
I only hope this enlightenment of growing older is something that in the end allows me to become a better person. Someone who is accepting of what each day forward unfolds.
Growing older can be a lonely place for sure, but it can also be a time of solitude that allows deeper inner work on self. Which I firmly believe is what the good Lord has in mind. He brings chaos into our lives to prove to us we can survive anything. Then gives us peace to reflect and become closer to our spiritual self.
Everyone have a lovely night!!!
Blessings to all!!!
June 2, 2017
It's been a long week...
Good morning, everyone!!!It has been one long week. I've had so much to get done in a short amount of time, but I managed to get it all done. Each time I have a week like this, I tell myself, "You should have started on this earlier." Then of course I procrastinate and tell myself, "Oh you have plenty of time."
Yep, I'm my own worst enemy. There is always something I have put off that needs done. But that is part of my charm I guess LOL.
The boss is going to be gone most of next week at the day job, so I've been trying to think of everything I need to ask her before she leaves and isn't available to answer my questions. I want to get to the point where she can take a vacation and I'm not bugging her about this or that while she's trying to relax away from the day job. So, inquiring minds want to know, LOL, and yep, I ask a ton of questions to the point I am sure I drive her insane some days.
I did manage to get my back porch summer ready the other day. Hubby worked on getting the big chairs we took out of the house off of it along with the endless boxes that were just tossed out there over the winter months. So then I finished things off by putting things away and cleaning it up for my summer use. So the last two evenings we've had dinner out there and spent a good deal of time just relaxing out in the fresh air. I even finished my power point on Herbs and Writing sitting at the back porch table. It's my favorite place to be in the nicer months. Hubby is talking about putting a tin roof on it this year. Which I will dearly love :)
I am definitely feeling the week I've had this morning. I had one of those, "I don't want to get out of bed," moments this morning. Then I remember tomorrow I don't have to get up at 4 a.m. and I'm okay with that :) Next week it's all 2:30 a.m.s so I should be thankful for the extra sleep this week :) At least the weekend I can sleep in for a few :)
The weekend is packed full of exciting things also. Writing meeting Saturday. Birthday party for the grandson Sunday. I'm supposed to make the cupcakes for Bug's birthday party also. So I'll be trying my hand at making a baseball bat and baseballs :) We'll see how that turns out :)
Well I guess I should sign off of here before it's time to hit the shower and start this day.
Everyone have a lovely day!!!
Blessings to all!!!
May 31, 2017
Another month almost over...
Good morning, everyone!!!Well May is almost over and June will be here tomorrow. Time just flies by doesn't it?
It's been an enjoyable month, however, with retreat, spending time with the grandchildren, and also enjoying the beauty of my sister's new place. I was able to get in some new word count on my story, edited another story, and also began preparing my talk for Saturday. Along with all of that one of the other employees and I painted the building at work, reorganized our cooler, back rooms, and gave the entire store a spring cleaning.
It's been a busy month for sure. Now, I'm looking forward to some summer fun. Camping when possible. Being outdoors as much as possible. Just enjoying the up and coming months ahead.
These too will go by all too fast I'm sure, but at least I can enjoy them while I can :)
This coming weekend is going to be a busy one. With my monthly writing meeting and the oldest grandchild's birthday party. At least hubby is home this year and has taken the rest of the week off to enjoy being home for a change :) We've got plans to get some things done around here that are much needed. Then hopefully camping will be on our agenda from here on out :)
Can you tell I need some nature time? LOL.
Well, I should get busy on a few other things before it is time to get ready for work.
Everyone have a lovely day!!!
Blessings to all!!!
May 30, 2017
Getting closer to my weekly goals...
Good morning, everyone!!!I finished my edits for my story in The Lake House last evening and if you're really interested in knowing a little something about it, then at the end of this blog you will find a small excerpt :) I know I'm a procrastinator and honestly, they didn't hurt one bit :) But, I wouldn't be me if I didn't put things off.
I've got a nice outline going for my Herbs and Writing talk for Saturday. Now I just have to finish putting it together and get the power point done and set up the agenda for our monthly meeting.
So today after work my plans are to finish up my housework (not a whole lot there but a few things that need done) and then get back to work on the Herbs and Writing talk.
I'm pretty sure there is not enough time in a day to accomplish everything I want to accomplish in a day, but each day brings me closer to the goals I set for myself. I want to get the things out of the way I have to get done so I can get back to Unfinished Business. It's driving me insane I haven't worked on that since retreat, but priorities come first and sometimes that sucks :)
Remember My Name (my story for The Lake House) is a bit different than I normally write. Even though it is a paranormal, there's no witches and vampires or werewolves. This one is demons and destroyers. If I have a mind to, it will also have a follow up storyline, but that is future, and only if I decide to continue with it. Right now my focus is to get this story out for our anthology and get Unfinished Business out. Then I will be working toward getting Destiny's Price to all of you along with Passionate Pursuit and maybe just maybe Darkness Brings Desire. I've been stalling on Destiny's Price for a few reasons, but after talking to some of my readers I really think it's time.
Okay, I should get you my excerpt for Remember My Name and get busy. I've got a lot to do today :)
Everyone have a lovely day!!!
Blessings to all!!!
He threw his hands heavenward, “And you call yourself a seer!”
“I call myself a demon destroyer.”
He reached down, retrieving her sword, thrusting it in her hand. “Then kill me. If you believe in your heart, I am no more than some demon to be vanquished then by all means put me out of this misery I have endured for fifty years.”
He stretched his arms outward, standing perfectly still just inches from her. “Go ahead kill the demon you believe I am.” He yelled into the fast approaching nightfall.
Erui raised her sword. Her hands trembled, barely containing the heavy weapon. His earlier words rang out in her ears. Misery I have endured for fifty years. All too similar to her own period of grief.
“Who are you?” Her words barely audible even to herself.
Pain cried out from his soul, adding to her bewilderment. Remember my name. His words weren’t spoken aloud, but her heart heard them as if he’d screamed.
“Kill me, Erui, please.” Anguish lined the words he begged, loud enough for the world to hear.
She lifted the sword once again.
May 29, 2017
One more early early day...
Good morning, everyone!!!One more early early day this week then I go back to my normal schedule until the weekend :) Then back at this schedule the following week :)
I did take some time out yesterday to hang at my sister's for a little while last evening. As you can see from the picture above the kids all seemed to have a great time swimming and boating.
It's good to see so many people enjoying the lake house :)
Today I will pay for taking a few hours off :( I have to get my edits in for my lake house story, then finish preparing my talk on writing using herbs. Hopefully there will be time to get back to work on Unfinished Business. I uploaded my program for Scrivener the other day along with Scapple so at some point I need to get my stories uploaded to my new programs. Which means that much closer to getting them published :)
Wish me luck today :) There is a ton of work to do at the day job this morning, then back home to get so much finished up with my writing job. Somewhere along the line I should also go to the store and clean this house a bit. But one thing at a time and the first thing is the day job :)
Do I regret taking some time off yesterday? Nope not one bit. I needed some relaxation time.
Well it's that time of the morning, I better get my butt in gear and get this day started.
Everyone have a lovely day!!!
Blessings to all!!!
May 28, 2017
Morning coffee and other jabbers...
Good morning, everyone!!! Yes, I know it is early. It's one of those very early work days for me again today :) Yes, I'm on my second cup of coffee to help motivate me into being ready for anything :) Funny how a liquid substance can have that sort of power over a person.
It was a long week last week. Preparing for image at the day job was definitely draining. I believe I spent more time at work than I did at home all week. The first three days after retreat were spent at the day job coming home pretty much to grab a nap before heading back in to work for my normal shifts. I was so impressed with our entire staff for pitching in, working toward image. Everyone did an amazing job.
My day off was spent enjoying the grandchildren and having fun with them. We were outside early in the morning to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. I love this time of year for sure :) They seemed to enjoy the time at grandma's too :) I'm looking forward to summer and summer fun with all of them :)
It's getting to that time of year also where I'm looking forward to some camping trips. I can't wait to leave the real world behind for a few short days to hang out in the wilderness for some much needed R&R. I've been getting closer to having Unfinished Business ready for publication and a little time away from the real world does help those creative juices flow :)
I've also been putting together my talk on herbal remedies and how they coincide with writing. It is turning out much different than I expected it to :) However, it is the aspects I find most helpful when using herbs in writing. I just have to iron out the rest of the details and then it should be good to go.
Well it is almost time to throw on the work clothes and get myself to work.
Everyone have a lovely day!!!
Blessings to all!!!
May 23, 2017
I'm calling CRWA Retreat 2017 a success!!!
Good evening, everyone!!!Once again Michele and Jeanne put together a magnificent weekend getaway for CRWA!!! There was writing, chatting, drinking, and relaxing for all :)
I was able to get in 10,000 words this weekend and move my story forward in such a way that I am anxious to get back to it :) Which I will here in a few days after we get image under out belt at work. I left my couple in a real interesting position ;) So it should be fairly easy to get back to business :)
There is just something about these ladies that make my soul smile. We've been together since before any of us were published. We've helped one another by being there for each other throughout this process of learning to write, edit, and publish novels. We've given each other encouragement when one or more of us has been down on our writing ego. We've celebrated with one another as we push the mark and move forward in this career path.
Each one of us is different from the other. We all write in different styles, genres, and voices. However, we all know the struggle it is to make a story work.
I think what I love the most about all of these women is we're soul sisters for sure. We get one another and there is nothing more precious than that in life. The real world often times gets in the way of our writing worlds, yet, we all look to this as a challenge that only makes us stronger.
So how does a CRWA retreat go??? Well, simple. Be yourself. Bring your pitch in for food. Bring your laptop. Bring your drinks (alcoholic and non). And most importantly, bring your support and knowledge. There are times the house is noisy with laughter. There are times all are so quiet you could hear a pin drop, other than the poundings of the keyboards of course. There's no assigned anything. You pick your bed. You pick your writing spot or spots as the weekend goes on. This year I wrote in a few different places, at the table in the kitchen, sitting on the floor by the fireplace, on the front porch, on the enclosed porch, and on the back deck.
Time for meal prep, no problem, whoever is up to it pitches in to put it together. Clean up, no problem there's a dishwasher and everyone puts their dishes in. Bedtime, whenever you feel like it. It's all up to you.
Good conversation, you can have as much of this as you like. Brainstorming, if you're stuck, there are always a few people around to help you over the hump. No one judges if suddenly you're as quiet as a mouse and disappear to write another scene. No one judges if you suddenly need someone to converse with.
Life is simple at retreat. What makes it the best, however, is enjoying retreat with the most amazing authors I know :)
Everyone have a lovely day!!!
Blessings to all!!!
May 17, 2017
Preparing for the up and coming camping season!!!
Good morning, everyone!!!If there is one thing we enjoy each summer it is camping. There is just some things in this life that feed your soul and camping does it for us :)
We love the solitude and peace that comes from being outdoors. We love the smell of a campfire. However, we also love the comfort of camping in our camper. Because yes, we've reached an age where tent camping just doesn't cut it for our old bodies any longer, LOL.
The grandchildren seem to enjoy these adventures as well. So this summer grandpa and I have planned a fun packed few days of just us and the grandmunchkins :) Shadow and Bear will most likely get mad at us, because for those few days they get to stay home with the youngest son. But, grandpa and I want to focus all our attention on these four little people for just a few days :)
So we went on a hunt for an exciting adventure and tossed around a few ideas. Then we came up with a great plan we believe. So Jellystone Park won the award for fun and adventures this year. Grandpa and I are really excited to share this with them. So many fun things to do and so much to keep us all busy.
Last evening hubby and I began the process of getting the camper ready for the season. I've made my lists of things that need to go in the camper for the summer. I checked the towels both bath and beach, to ensure we had plenty for our summer fun. Rearranged my cupboards for more practical use. Dust mopped the floors and prepared them for mopping (yeah, I'll have to do that again before mopping, LOL). Loaded it up with the new goodies I've purchased over the winter for the grandkids :) Now, I'm ready to start washing the sheets, preparing the blankets, and getting things set up for our first outing :)
I can't tell you how exciting this is for us. We enjoy the time we spend in our little home away from home, even if it is just in the backyard from time to time :)
Do you have something fun in the summer you enjoy???
Everyone have a lovely day!!!
Blessings to all!!!
May 16, 2017
Retreat is coming!!!
Good morning, everyone!!!The countdown has begun!!! Just four more days until RETREAT!!! I can't wait to get together with all these wonderful ladies and enjoy our weekend!!!
In the past we've met up at a quaint little place called Crop-A-Doodle-Do. We were schedule to meet up there again this year, but they sold the place :( It was perfect for our needs and such an amazing place. But changes in life come around and this too has changed.
This year we're meeting up in Brown County. We've rented a cabin there and of course it isn't really about the place it is about the company we will share :)
There is just something about getting together with others writers that give the creative juices a jump start. What's even better is it is not only for an afternoon, but for an entire weekend.
People don't realize just how vital this aspect of the writing life is. But, coming together with other writers, discussing writing, every day life, and just being together is something truly energizing to the writing spirit.
You get together with people who truly get you. People who understand what it is like being a writer and trying to live in the real world at the same time. People who understand that balance of real life and the writing life.
This once a year getaway with my writing friends helps me in so many ways. It rejuvenates me in my writing world. It pushes the mark in my creative juices. It also reminds me of the dreams I have for being a writer and what those dreams are and mean.
Each year I look forward to getting together with these wonderful ladies for our weekend away. Just to get away from the hustle and bustle of the real world for a few days and live in those creative moments.
I came down with this spring cold a few days ago. Which has zapped my energy. Thankfully, I picked up a script last evening that I am truly sure will help get this behind me in plenty of time to help me make the most out of my weekend away!!! Just the first dose has helped greatly!!! I really need for this to work if I am going to get myself back on track. I am NOT a good sick person for sure LOL.
I have so much left to do to get ready. Such as pack my stuff, remember what all I want to take with me, make my eternal lists for the weekend LOL. I'll get there for sure.
I'm picking up a few ladies to ride together to our blessed retreat!!! I can't wait to get this party started and all of us to enjoy one another's company!!! It's time to rock the 2017 CRWA Retreat!!!
Everyone have a lovely day!!!
Blessings to all!!!
