Chris Keniston's Blog, page 10

From Our House to Yours

I hope wherever everyone is that they are able to enjoy a peaceful and contented holiday season. 

For the Kenistons it was a busy yet peaceful and fun day. We celebrate both the 24th and 25th in our family. The 24th because that's the way I was raised. We open all family gifts to and from the kids before they go to bed. Then the adults open gifts to and from each other after dinner - The actual family tradition is for adults to do this at midnight, but this generation is too pooped to keep that sucker up!  

Now on Christmas morning the tree is empty for all the Santa presents - and yes - the adults get Santa too!  My mother made sure of that - she loved Christmas (yes she's still with us, but alzheimers interferes with her processing of the holiday). 

I'm not a traditionalist - mostly because I don't like cooking, but I made my annual lasagna and we had coconut cream pie, cherry pie, and a dessert that is sort of like a tres leches creme brulee!  My cousin folded the napkins like Christmas trees - so pretty!  As for the Mr and Mrs Santa Gnomes (i think that's what they are) I had no idea what to do with them when I found them at a garage sale, but they were so cute - and voila - here they are at the table it was so festive!  Now the plan for tomorrow is dragging our sleepy selves out of bed bright and early for Santa time, then a french toast, egg, and bacon brunch, and then I get to see if I remember how to cook a pot roast! Making my ritz cracker mac and cheese - my son in law's favorite - and the traditional green been casserole for my daughter - her favorite - and the there's blueberry pie (my favorite lol) and pumpkin and apple pies too !  There will be lots of down time to watch holiday movies, do holiday puzzles (we're a big puzzle family) and maybe even get in a few hands of cards! All in all - I think it's going to be a lovely if not exhausting day with friends and family alike! 

Oh, and did I mention the adults did Secret Santa Christmas sweaters? LOL - it was way more fun than I expected. Apparently next year it's going to be Secret Santa Christmas pajamas!  And for the record - my 88 year old mom (on the right) can still carry my 25 pound granddaughter - unbelievable what love can help us do! (my son is missing from the photo,  he's home sick with a winter flu, and my grandson at four doesn't appreciate the value of photographic memories LOL)  Wishing the best of holidays to everyone, with my eternal gratitude for your support and kindness. May 2024 be a delight for everyone! 

What a Day!

I kid you not, since 9am this morning I have been trying to write today's blog! 

To fully explain all the day's complications - I need to go back to this weekend. 

My week actually started out pretty well. I have been slowly bringing out decorations and trying to make the house look more festive. I decided I really don't like tinsel on fake trees. Next year we may be going back to a real tree - we'll see. 

Wednesday came along and I had a house full of writers all afternoon - I just love getting together and talking writing and publishing with other authors.  We did manage to work through a little challenge I'm having with the rest of the Baron series.  For your early information - it looks like the next book after Rachel's Just One Mistake will be her sister Leah's book and Just One Family.  After that comes Cooper the engineer, Just One Surprise. Next is Claire the veterinarian, Just One Rodeo. And lastly, Devlin, Just One Look.  All of which are tentative.  I'd love to know what you think?  If you want to see a photo from the gathering, I posted two on my author page. 

More writing away on Rachel's book, more decorating, and it was time to take my mother shopping for Christmas. Christmas was always one of her favorite holidays and even though she has alzheimers and confuses easily, she still loves shopping and gift giving so I thought it was important to take her. The challenge of course is that patience is not my strength, so I invited her brother, my Uncle Gene, to join us - He loves shopping and it was a good buffer.  Here is a photo of the mall Christmas tree - when y'all buy Just One Chance Tomorrow - you'll spot the scene that was based on this photo!  We had a lovely afternoon, bought almost everything Mom needed and I think it went great. ​​Until we got back to the mall parking lot. If you said, the car didn't start - ding ding ding we have a winner.  A mall parking lot on Christmas week is not a good time for a car to die. We couldn't figure it out. Battery dead as a doornail except the occasional clicky noises. Well, I found security, got back in the car, lights flashed and I thought... hmm.  SO I turned the ignition YAY it started. Thank you God!  Only explanation for the darn thing suddenly working. It would have been a nightmare with all the cars, and the bottlenecked traffic to get a wrecker in there never mind reach the front of my car to jump start it! 

so - off to the gas station because I was on zero miles to empty and thought - oh - not enough gas - well - that wasn't it.  Car wouldn't start at the gas station - hubby came we couldn't figure out how to jump start it - a nice stranger stopped to help - he pointed out the battery was corroded - scrubbed it, then said - you have a broken terminal - Oh fun! - so he had to bang on it and push on it but we got the car started - yay! - How kind of that man to stop and help.  On to my house - we have AAA so we called. THey came to change the battery but with the broken terminal it wouldn't start - so he did the bang, push and poke method (lol) and we got it started. I took it straight to the mechanic's with a note. 

All in all - it could have been worse. Come Sunday I had a writers meeting at a friend's house thirty minutes away from me.  As you already know I love meeting with writers.  Only this time, one of them made homemade marshmallows. I have never in my life had homemade marshmallows - WOW - what a difference from store bought! She made apricot and green apple flavors. Frankly, I couldn't taste the flavors but they were to die for anyhow!  By the time I got home Sunday I was so tired - and by the way, hubby loaned me his car - such a sweetie- I was so tired I fell asleep for two hours in the middle of the day - I never do that.  Anyhow, writing away on Rachel's story, I crawled into bed early and fell fast asleep. 

Well - Monday morning comes along and it's blog time, but first I had to do an international zoom meeting over my German translations of the Barons. What I thought was going to be a short meeting went over two hours!  Oye!  All right, back to the blog. Except I get a call that my car is fixed. Instead of the blog, I had to dress (I've learned the city frowns on people walking around the streets in their bathrobes lol) and hike the short distance to the mechanic's. According to my internet - 1.1 mile.  I got there, huffing and puffing, but I got there. Then I happily drove my car home. Except now, it's time to pack up for a dinner date with a dear friend. That shouldn't take long. Yeah, well, when you get two women together who have been friends for over 25 years, and they haven't seen in each other in person for more than six months, dinners do not go quickly. 

I ordered chicken cordon bleu - which for this restaurant was a grilled chicken wrapped in bacon and glazed - I don't remember what else they did to it, but it was delicious!  The little green things are brussel sprouts.  Finally, home and ready to write the blog - except- my cousin and her husband stopped by to surprise me. Great surprise. lovely visit - and y'all got a very very very late blog! 

to run down quickly - the new Barons are coming 
Chase will be here tomorrow - don't forget to grab your copy and leave a review! 
I'm writing away as fast as I can. (dictating more because my wrists are complaining) 
and now I'm off to bed! 

Catch you next week, same bat time, same bat channel LOL (who's old enough to remember that one! ) 

Let's talk junk!

Most all of us have a junk drawer in the kitchen. You know, the one that has nothing to do with the kitchen and everything to do with scotch tape, screwdrivers, bottle caps, scissors, extension cords, birthday candles, you name it - it's in there somewhere LOL. 

I grew up with one and of course have had one in ever house.  Up until my kitchen remodeling - the one that took about a year bit by bit - I had a good size, well organized, junk drawer.  So much so that we build the new island around that drawer! All I had to do was move it from the old cabinet to the new island! 

But - instead of having just one junk drawer - pretty much the entire island is a junk drawer!  Though the Recycle bin may not quite qualify as junk! 

​We'll start with my original and beloved junk drawer and the island view - the traditional junk drawer is the upper drawer in the middle section of the island.  During the island design time, I knew I wanted a recycle away from the trash bins (I have two ordinary trash drawers, one left of the sink for anyone cleaning or cooking, and one to the right of the dishwasher for anyone making coffee or coming from another room (did not want coffee grinds and muck going across the room to sink trash) 

So - First pull out to the left in the island is my trash. I also decided to give the paper towel drawer idea a go which meant what to put underneath - well - since I'm not 7 feet tall and my cabinets reach the 8 ft ceiling, I was going to need a step stool, or two. So the far right pull out has my paper towel drawer, which turned out to be a fast and easy we need new batteries or flashlight drawer (i never could find a flashlight when I needed one!) and the pull out step stool drawer wound up also storing doggie things and a hidden slot for the extra racks we don't use in the oven (each over came with three racks - so not needed when cooking a turkey) . You can just barely see the bottom of the one rack to the right of the dog/ step stool (2) stash!  All of this brings me to what has turned out to be my delight. What to do with the other two drawers? One average size, one deep.  Well, without planning it turned into the back up junk drawer - the extra stuff that has no place in the real drawer.  One narrow stuff and one for deep stuff and please don't ask me why I'm storing a lampshade there - but I am probably because I can! When I can't fiind something odd, I pull out those drawers and usually - there it is !  I strongly encourage multiple junk drawers for any kitchen redesign - it has been a blast. 

Another drawer I didn't take a photo of is the one under the bread box. It's deep and long just like the bread box drawer. I always dreamed of a breadbox drawer so keep the miscellaneous bags of bread off the counter - and I am delighted with it - but - the drawer underneath was empty for a long while. No idea what to put in such a deep drawer. Considered buying another insert for more bread - but one day - tossed a box of boxed cakes in there, then hubby tossed a box of apple pie cakes, and now, it is the official junk snack food drawer. Not chips and things, but containers of brownies, or cinnamon rolls, or snacks like twinkies and such (not that we buy twinkies lol). The kitchen is proving to be a delight even if I hardly ever cook! 

and now - what you have probably been waiting for - my really crummy camera photo of the lights in the front of the house  The photograph doesn't do the light colors justice - the tree is wrapped in multicolor lights not white lights.  This is the first year we have ever done this.  Some of our neighbors have gone hog wild with their lights every year but the most we would do was a wreath with some electric candles in the windows.  This year I am looking forward to seeing the grand kids faces when they pull up! 
That's it for today - remember - one week until Just One Chance comes out - this is probably my favorite book in the series - hope y'all agree! or at least like it LOL ! 

Getting ready for the holidays

I am back in my own little home! 

the week went very well.  We worked so hard to get the project house closer to ready. 

I'll start with my poor back has no idea what I'm up to- lol.  My fingers are wondering why do I keep messing with these little screws.  I am however quite proud that I seem to have gotten pretty good with a drill!  Although it took a while to figure out how to put the darn cabinets together, once we did, I was off to the races (so to speak) assembling away.  The corner cabinets were the most challenging.  And as the photo shows, you can see why my back was complaining. But we did it. 
Pretty cool huh? When you think what the kitchen was like before with the dropped ceiling (why did they do that in the 70s and 80s?) and the dark cabinets and closed off room, the kitchen was pretty icky. It's so much brighter now.  But I freely admit, this is my last project--I am getting WAY too old for this kind of work no matter how much the former realtor in me loves it! 

Now my focus is getting ready for the holidays - because we rearranged the living room furniture earlier this year - we finally the space for the tree by the window. My husband has always wanted to see the tree from the street, but we've always had to put it in the corner. Not now.  Of course - it's just barely up - I'm still moving furniture around a little to see how to accommodate everyone comfortably with the tree! As I was hunting for the house lights - I pulled out a few decorations. Since no one ever wears the Santa hats, they're now decorating the two sofa side lampshades LOL. And my hubby is a Jerry Garcia fan so my mother gave him a custom mug a million years ago. Made sense to put the reindeer headgear my kids used one Christmas for the mug! It will be interesting to see what else comes out of the Christmas closet - but I need to put up more lights as that's what fascinates my grandson and that is the reason for all the fuss, the grands! 

As a little aside - if you look closely at the reindeer mug you'll see a photo to the right. That was my and my grandmother a million years ago, and the framed photo behind it... my grandparents engagement photo from 1930. 
We're also going to tackle... the outside of the house!  It's kind of interesting what we didn't do for our kids but try to do for the grands.  Hopefully the kids will be happy with all the decorations. At least as soon as I figure out what they'll be LOL.  And more importantly, prayers no one falls off a ladder! 

 I have a friend whose house is like a winter wonderland - we once counted something like 17 chrismas trees. They're everywhere - in the kitchen, all the bathrooms, sometimes two in a room. I'm hoping to have a few minutes to take the little ones over to see. ​Do you do up the holidays?

Decisions Decisions

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  We had to skip it this year.  My grands got sick and then gave it to my daughter. I wound up working all day - but progress is progress!  Though I did indulge in Pumpkin pie anyhow! LOL. 

I'm trying to get more walking in. Yesterday we went for a walk at an old golf course.  There were these bushes along the trail.  Anyone know what they are?  While I'm staying with my friend - I have made some new friends - Tiger is a sweet little fifteen year old girl who is usually a bit anti social - you know, a cat lol.  Anyhow - it seems she's taken a liking to me.  I was an hour late leaving the house this morning because she climbed up on my chest and I didn't have the nerve to disturb her! LOL  So - Mitch's story is off to my review team in preparation for next month's release.  It took forever to edit. My editor says that the heroine is the most interesting character I've written.  Has anyone seen the old Bette Davis movie Now Voyager? It's one of my favorites of Bette.  As soon as Gwyneth's name came up in book one, I knew she was going to be much like Bette in that movie. When it releases, I'd love to know if anyone agrees with me! 

With that off, my day was spent at the project house. The floors are in and I'm so excited. It looks SO much better than before!   What I have to decide is what to do with the fireplace.  My tendency is to leave it natural brick, others say I should paint it.  WHAT do you think?  Let me know what you think! 

Busy Week

 ThHow is everyone today? 

This is going to be a busy week for me.  It started Friday, I'm working myself on that project house - in the process of filling nail holes and sanding shelves for all the closets I added to the house. The pantry was originally a small five shelf pantry and it's now a walk in fifteen shelf pantry - and I'm sanding all of them.  Then we have a few new linen closets and a couple of storage closets and I see a lot of sanding in my future! LOL. 

Back to Friday, after a long and tiring day (face it, I ain't as young as I used to be lol) I had dinner with my daughter and her family, then I arrived home to this note and this delicious cupcake for my birthday!   DMy weekend progressed with more sanding and wood filling - SO many shelves LOL. But then I came home to hold the couch down - after all, we don't want the couch floating away! LOL.  So there I am on the sofa, resting my aching back when my friend's kitty comes to visit. Do you like cats? This girl is small but fully grown and just loves her pets.  Do you like kitties, or are you a dog person?  And the weekend ended upon my friends' return with a nice dinner out - I ordered stuff flounder because I'm fond of spinach and crab meat (what it was stuffed with) and boy was I surprised to get the whole fish!  Tasted better than I expected, but I don't remember ever being served flounder with the tail and all. I always expect that with trout.  And for the record - those pistachio glazed carrots were amazing!  So that brings us to this week.  I feel like I'll be sanding shelves forever (and I am using an electric sander) but I'm also fitting in edits for Just One Chance, my editor was not happy with me so I have a lot of work on this one, but hopefully y'all will love it. 

In the meantime, remember what happens tomorrow? Yep! Just One Shot will finally be here. The book I told you that was in many ways inspired by the song "My Girl" by Dillon Scott.  Who went to watch the video? 
Who is ready? Or did you buy your copy early from my website? I'm super pleased with this one and hope everyone loves it! 

​okay- off to go sand some more! LOL 

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Happy Monday

This has been a busy week.  I'm back to driving between Houston and North Texas.  Finishing up that real estate project I started earlier in the year. We had several set backs, but we're making progress again.  I'm rolling up my sleeves to help with simple things that I can do, like painting or sanding.  At the same time I'm working on two books. 

This is a first for me - trying to write two books in two different series at the same time.  Just One Chance, Mitch's book, is at the editors and scheduled for release in December.  Just One Shot - Siobhan's book - is coming out next week and available early at my website for anyone who does not want to wait! (and at a discount too!) 

A little something about Just One Shot - do you know that I often get inspiration for my storylines from songs?  A thousand years ago there was a song "Probably Wouldn't Be This Way" sung by LeAnn Rimes.  Well after hearing that over and over on the radio - it was the spark for the book Hopes' Corner.   Later on, Carrie Underwood's song "Church Bells" gave me the idea for where to take Brooks in Farraday Country.  Between the song and a sad history with a neighbor, I discovered Brooks' heroine.  Though the song didn't inspire the content, while I was writing Finn from Farraday Country, I kept playing Rascal Flatts "I l Like the Sound of That" It just put me in Finn's head a bit and made it easier to find his story. 

So, back to Siobhan and Just One Shot.  Every time I heard Dylan Scott's song "My Girl" on the radio, I could just see Siobhan dancing around making a scene, lol.  So, when I wrote Just One Shot, I played that song A LOT in the background and even used some of the lyrics and scenes from the music video for guidance on the book - yeah - there's a reason they do archery and make s'mores LOL.  Go ahead and watch the music video before you read the book and then tell me if that doesn't remind you of the feisty teen from book one?? !! 

Okay, as I started to explain, this is the first time I'm working on two books from two different series at once.  I'm trying to do Just One Mistake - about Rachel Baron (the restoration architect) - and at the same time, finish the first book of the new Sweet Family series (don't have a name yet for the series).  We'll see if I can track two things at once!  Say a small prayer for me because I want to keep giving you Baron books and then have the Sweets ready for release in the fall of next year - this is the most I've ever pushed myself in a long long time! 

Now I have to share something I find just adorable about my granddaughter - she's almost a year and a half and learning more and more words. It's easier and easier to know what she wants. And she has such a cute little Texas accent when she says "Yeess" lol.  She also is still grasping concepts. She understands the concept of pick me up and put me down, she just hasn't mastered the language.  Regardless of if you're holding her and she wants down, or if she's standing and wants up, she says the same thing: ready?... Up Me Down.  LOL Every time she says that I just laugh like a loon!  Grandkids are way more fun than kids ever were! 

Sorry, no photos today, nothing interesting to share in pictures. Have a great week!  And hope you're not getting soaked like Texas!  See you soon! 

Lists Keep Getting Longer!

This morning I'm going to be short and sweet--why? Because I am on the road again to visit the grands!  You know how much I love that - though I truly wish they were close enough to visit for a few hours at will, but it is what it is. 

I have however been feverishly working to finish Mitch's story  - This one came rather easily because I've had visions in my head of this story ever since the first time Broody Mitch looked out the window lost in thoughts and Eve and Craig brought up Ugly Duckling Gwyneth Van Klein.  I had visions of Bette Davis in Now Voyager dancing in my head - after all - who doesn't love a Cinderella story? 

There are two little scenes left to write and then the project goes off to my editor and hopefully will be ready in time for your holiday reading - oh - and even though it's not a Christmas story - we did throw in a little Christmas tree happenings! 

And for those of you who are aware of my tumble at Targets almost two weeks ago and my sore tail bone - well - it's still sore. I have no idea why bending over hurts, but it does, so - no bending over.  Something fell on the floor; oh well! LOL. And my heating pad and I have become good friends! 

I also had one thing checked off my to-do list that made me very happy. As you know, last time I was visiting my daughter my phone did this crazy light show moments before dying. Which meant I had to buy a new phone - for the record - I hate breaking in new things when they are forced on me (well, except for our TV, turns out I love the new TV more than the old one even if I miss the remote control swivel feature). Anyhow, this dumb phone did all sorts of things I did not like - like beep every time "I" send a text. I know I sent it - I didn't need it to remind me! I hated the backscreen but couldn't change it. I hated having to swipe to see my screen - oooh that drove me nuts lol - I couldn't figure out how to put the new protector on and the list went on from there!  Well, one stop at my local t-mobile and all my frustrations were fixed. I even have a sweet screensaver of my granddaughter to make me smile when my phone rings! 

Oh, and we may have nailed down whose Baron book is next - cousin Rachel. The restoration architect, Devlin, Cooper, and Leah's sister, who we met at the end of Just One Taste.  She's not talking to me very much yet, but it looks like she may have a very handsome contractor coming into her life, even if his brother was her low life ex.  What do you think? 

So, let's try something different,  How Was Your Week? 

Electronic Beeps!

​This was the week of electronic beeps.
 
First was my fridge. We lost electricity for a few hours when the neighborhood transformer did its occasional fritz thing. You hear sizzling and then the lights go out. Well, when we woke up the next morning all was well, except the fridge. Every time I open the door it beeps like when we walk away and leave a door ajar.  Annoying as heck. And I have no clue how to stop it – or if I want to pay for a repairmen to come fix it.
 
Apparently, fate doesn’t want to leave it at that. Next I hear an odd hum coming from my oven. What the heck? Apparently it started when my husband tried to reset the clock.  Now we have no time displaying and the option of leaving it in self clean mode (the hum) OR – yep – let it beep every fifteen seconds.  We can not figure out how to turn the dumb beep off – we tried. Believe me we tried. Finally we did the only sensible thing. Turned off the breaker.  Why not? I don’t cook. We all know that. No Secret. Though I will need it to cook for Thanksgiving so we’re going to have to figure it out soon.  The plan is to turn the breaker back on tomorrow morning (I had too much going on today) and if it doesn’t reset and still beeps- call in the repairman for both beeping appliances!
 
On the bright side – edits for Just One Shot are finished and the manuscript is with the proofers.  It took EIGHT passes with the editor but we think we whipped that sucker into shape.   Have you preordered yet? Just for fun – here’s a little snippet.

     "Hi Mum. You're on speaker." Siobhan’s eyes lit up.
     Though he tried his best to be discreet, Jack couldn't help but watch her.
    "Hello to everyone.” A chorus of hello, hi, and good morning echoed around the room. “Tell me, girl, how was the wedding yesterday?” Her mother’s musical lilt came through the phone.
     A wide grin on her face, Siobhan leaned back in her seat and began recounting the events in more detail than before. With each story of the night, Siobhan’s enthusiasm grew. Practically bouncing in her chair, her smile bloomed and her eyes sparkled. Her love for her mother seemed to energize her every sentence. The same could be said for her mother. Jack didn't listen to the words, but the tone. In every question her mother asked, the pride in her voice couldn’t be missed.
     The delight in Siobhan's voice and her sweet relationship with her mother washed over him. She looked downright adorable. Though he was pretty sure Siobhan would give him an earful if she heard him think that. Grown up or not, her smile was infectious. No way could he watch her excitement and not smile back.
      When the call was over, Siobhan gave a wistful sigh before digging back into her food.
     “Your mother sounds good.” The Governor sipped his coffee with one hand and scratched behind Moon’s ears with the other. Honey’s littermate leaned into the Governor’s leg. Those two dogs were as lucky as the rest of the Baron clan.
      “I worry about her all alone sometimes, but it’s good to hear all is well.”
     And wasn’t that the icing on the cake. Not only did the kid like her mother, she worried about her too.
      "Governor?” Siobhan wiped the corners of her mouth with her napkin. “I was planning to hit the mall today. There are a few things I need to pick up at the camera store. Since I don’t have my car, may I borrow one of the other ones?"
      "I can take you." The words slipped out before Jack had time to think better of it.
     Eyes wide, Siobhan's gaze raced back to his. “You don't need to go out of your way again."
    The way Mitch and the Governor’s attention had whipped around to him, he almost thought twice about his offer, but instead, his mouth kicked into gear before his brain could stop him. "I need to stop at the mall also. Today is as good as any.”
     "Are you sure you don't mind?"
     His gaze casually took in the additional sets of eyes staring him. What the heck, it was just a ride to the mall, he wasn’t asking for the kid’s hand in marriage. “I’m sure.”
    “Then I guess I don't need a car after all." Siobhan pushed to her feet. “Give me two minutes to grab my purse and I'll meet you at the front door."
      Containing the urge to smile back as brightly as she was, Jack nodded.
     Siobhan bounced out of the room, her absence leaving a vacuum. He dared to look at the others at the table. He couldn’t swear to it, but he thought he saw a glimmer of suspicion in Mitch’s gaze. Same with the Governor. Shaking his imagination clear, he stood. He had to be reading into their expressions. Siobhan was just a kid and he was just helping out a friend’s little sister. Walking to the other end of the table, he kissed Lila again. "Thank you for your hospitality."
      "Thank you for rescuing our girl." The older woman smiled up at him again.
     “My pleasure.” Nodding at the Governor, he turned, noticing Mitch was no longer seated. He found Siobhan's brother at the front door, a stern expression directed at him. Jack stopped a few feet from him.
     "Our baby sister thinks she’s all grown up.”
     Jack nodded.
    “Just so we’re clear.”
    Again, he bobbed his head. He knew better than anyone that not all that long ago he was partying hardy with Kyle and the others while Siobhan was still in pigtails and braces. So why had he not let her use one of the other ranch cars?
 
Did I ever mention the inspiration for this book? Every time I heard the song My Girl by Dylan Scott on the radio, I would think of Siobhan.  I actually incorporated much of the song’s lyrics into the scenes.  I hope y’all love it as much as I do!

And now I’m on to Mitch’s book.  I have big ideas for that one and hope I can pull it off. 

Another Week Gone By!

​What a busy week this has been.   As you know, last week started with a second cousin visiting and we went to visit my first cousin in Austin. From there, the tour of Texas continued with a drive to visit my daughter and her family in Houston.
 
Honestly, except for NASA, I have no idea what’s worth seeing in the Houston area except for my grandbabies LOL.  We didn’t have time for NASA but we did do a quick drive through downtown on our way to an afternoon in Galveston.  We went to a restaurant that used to be a favorite of my mom and me.  We both loved the lobster bisque there – always so good. And thankfully, it still was!  I also had shells stuffed with crab and spinach. Tasted way better than it sounds- lol!
 
Then we went for a nice walk on the Strand, the main tourist shopping street of old Galveston. Lots of little shops and a fun place to tourist around. After that we went for a drive by the beach. Ever since my family and I started taking an annual weekend vacation at the beach, I’ve coveted having my own beach house. Of course, that would mean I’d either have to win the lottery (which I always forget to play!) or y’all would have to literally tell a million or two of your friends to please buy my books!  But, just in case, I bought a sign at one of the local shops on the strand to hang on the some day wall!
 
Another day, my cousin made a nice dinner for the family, but first we had to hit the grocery store and I spotted the biggest pumpkins I have ever seen! The photo does not do it justice! 
Now for the book news – are y’all ready for Paige’s story? Because in less than 24 hours it will be available at all vendors! I can’t believe how quickly this series is coming together. Siobhan’s story, Just One Shot is at the editors now, and I’m already working away on Mitch’s story- Just One Chance. So many stories to write!
 
Okay, that’s it for my update on the life and times of Chris Keniston and family LOL – and feel free to let me know in the comments if there things you want to read more of – or less of !