Chris Keniston's Blog, page 7
July 15, 2024
How Has Another Week Gone By Already!
this has been a very long week - the hurricane in Houston created some chaos, the house I own in Spring still does not have power - sigh. Thankfully my daughter does have power so that has made her life a little easier.
then On Saturday I went to the races with friends. I love going to the horse races. I was raised near the trotters and that was always a fun and affordable night out - especially since with trotters a long shot always wins at least once. With the thoroughbreds we have to come up with new methods of betting. I look at the horses tongue - if it's hanging out or they're licking their lips - I bet to show (they might win, but they show most of the time!). My goal is to have a good time and maybe walk away with as much money as I came with ! I came close - but missed on the last two races.
Then we have more Travel photos - When you're on the road for almost three weeks - there are a lot of photos to share! After the badlands we finally arrived in Deadwood South Dakota - that's where the booksigning was - the whole reason for the trip! I didn't realize that Wild Bill Hickock was killed in deadwood, so there was a lot of mention of his name as a matter of fact we were there at the annual Wild Bill days.
We did pop over to devil's tower - but if you've ever seen Close Encounters of the Third Kind - then you know what the one big mountain looks like LOL - Especially since I didn't take a picture!
After that was the big signing. I haven't done one in a lot of years and I think I'm going to try and do at least one a year - but I won't make such a big trip of it - I'm getting too old for such long working trips - I loved seeing author friends in person and doing research for more books but boy is that a lot of time in the car driving!
That's it for today - It has taken me hours to get this done - I don't believe my phone has ever rung as much as it has today! Now i'm off to go back to work on Just One Look the last of the Baron books... for now LOL.
See y'all next week!
then On Saturday I went to the races with friends. I love going to the horse races. I was raised near the trotters and that was always a fun and affordable night out - especially since with trotters a long shot always wins at least once. With the thoroughbreds we have to come up with new methods of betting. I look at the horses tongue - if it's hanging out or they're licking their lips - I bet to show (they might win, but they show most of the time!). My goal is to have a good time and maybe walk away with as much money as I came with ! I came close - but missed on the last two races.
Then we have more Travel photos - When you're on the road for almost three weeks - there are a lot of photos to share! After the badlands we finally arrived in Deadwood South Dakota - that's where the booksigning was - the whole reason for the trip! I didn't realize that Wild Bill Hickock was killed in deadwood, so there was a lot of mention of his name as a matter of fact we were there at the annual Wild Bill days.
We did pop over to devil's tower - but if you've ever seen Close Encounters of the Third Kind - then you know what the one big mountain looks like LOL - Especially since I didn't take a picture! After that was the big signing. I haven't done one in a lot of years and I think I'm going to try and do at least one a year - but I won't make such a big trip of it - I'm getting too old for such long working trips - I loved seeing author friends in person and doing research for more books but boy is that a lot of time in the car driving!
That's it for today - It has taken me hours to get this done - I don't believe my phone has ever rung as much as it has today! Now i'm off to go back to work on Just One Look the last of the Baron books... for now LOL. See y'all next week!
July 8, 2024
Are You Tired of My Travels Yet? :)
Catching up on life and responsibilities is coming slowly and I still have several more travel days to report!
Picking up from last week - next stop after Mount Rushmore was the Badlands National Park. I will give a plug here for National Park Passes. As a senior citizen, I was able to get one for only $20. Every park we hit had a $35 entry fee for the carload, but with my pass, we didn't have to pay. It was a huge savings when you consider how many national parks and monuments we visited!
Next stop, Badlands National Park. Now I will tell you, we arrived later in the day because we were told for photographic purposes it was best to go around sundown when the colors are less washed out from the hot sun. So we did. We also opted to skip doing the entire tour around the park and just did the two overlook stops recommended for photography.
After all, let's face it. Anyone who has known me a long time knows I am much more suited to a black tie dinner dance than a hike in the mountains. Even famous mountains! lol. When I was single and would go to watch friends play ball after work, everyone would laugh because I'd show up in a dress and heels. Everyone else went home to change into something 'more comfortable' first. I would laugh that I was perfectly comfortable. I would have loved to have been an adult in the fifties with all the fun dress fashions and the late dinner/ dance parties. But I digress. Hiking in mother nature is not my long suit, and with my heart, it doesn't come easily to me. SO, we opted for two great photo ops and moved on!
Now I will say the romance writing in me- coupled with the no fear extrovert - did approach one couple. Walking up the path from one photo op to another, I spotted a couple leaning against each other just watching the sunset. It was SO sweet. I walked right up to them and apologized for interupting but told them that they looked so sweetly romantic that I would love to take their picture if they'd give me their camera. They thanked me and gave me their phones. I took a couple of photos of them with their faces and then walked behind them and got the sunset - they were great photos. (sorry I don't have copies but, not my camera lol)
But here are my photos!
Kind of cool huh? But you can see why we might feel that eight more hours driving around for more photos of that wouldn't be my cup of tea :)
Though I didn't get any photos - our next stop was the town of Wall - it's a big deal in the tourist world. We drove out of our way to see it - and frankly, I didn't get it. Yes it's a huge drug store, with lots of little shops, I even picked up a couple of small toys for my grand kids, but honestly, I didn't quite understand why so many people feel it's a must see. Have you ever been?
On the family updates - yesterday - my mother celebrated her 89th birthday. I'm going to grumble a little so please bear with me. My mom has alzheimers. Though she's not digressing as quickly as the average curb, she's still got cognitive issues. And of course, can't remember from five minutes ago. She opened her birthday card three times in ten or so minutes and was thrilled with it each time. It's a blessing that she gets to be happy three times but a crime that she hasn't a clue what she's already done. The thing that always breaks my heart is mom is SO healthy - she walks and dances and at Christmas time claimed she was too weak to pick up my toddler granddaughter and then a few minutes later when she spotted my granddaughter putting something in her mouth, Mom jumped up, hurried over, picked the twenty plus pound child right up and started dancing with her to distract her - (throw my arms up) so much for too old LOL. In September we'll all be going to her great nieces wedding, she's going to have so much fun dressing up, dancing, and talking to everyone. Mom is always full of stories (even if they've changed from history) and a true extrovert, fuels on lots of people.
I still don't have a title for my next series or the books but I'm working on it! Did I tell you the first book is going to be a marriage of convenience? Actually, a few of them might be! LOL. - we'll see.
Oh - I didn't mention the fourth of July- we taught the grandpup how to swim! At first Loki wasn't all too sure - we had to really tug and coax to get him off that first step - but once he did - he loved it - he'd swim over to us and then turn around and swim back. Then he'd climb out and walk over to my two friends and shake off in front of them. No matter where they moved to - every time he climbed out - he'd find them and shake off. Have you ever wondered why wet dogs always have to shake off in front of people?
well - at this point - I think you know as much as I do about my life so it's time to say tata till next week!
OH - if you signed up to be notified via email when I post - please make sure that I'm not in your spam folder or that chris@chriskeniston.com is on your contact list so that your email server stops bouncing the emails! thanks much and hope y'all have a GREAT week!
Picking up from last week - next stop after Mount Rushmore was the Badlands National Park. I will give a plug here for National Park Passes. As a senior citizen, I was able to get one for only $20. Every park we hit had a $35 entry fee for the carload, but with my pass, we didn't have to pay. It was a huge savings when you consider how many national parks and monuments we visited!
Next stop, Badlands National Park. Now I will tell you, we arrived later in the day because we were told for photographic purposes it was best to go around sundown when the colors are less washed out from the hot sun. So we did. We also opted to skip doing the entire tour around the park and just did the two overlook stops recommended for photography.
After all, let's face it. Anyone who has known me a long time knows I am much more suited to a black tie dinner dance than a hike in the mountains. Even famous mountains! lol. When I was single and would go to watch friends play ball after work, everyone would laugh because I'd show up in a dress and heels. Everyone else went home to change into something 'more comfortable' first. I would laugh that I was perfectly comfortable. I would have loved to have been an adult in the fifties with all the fun dress fashions and the late dinner/ dance parties. But I digress. Hiking in mother nature is not my long suit, and with my heart, it doesn't come easily to me. SO, we opted for two great photo ops and moved on!
Now I will say the romance writing in me- coupled with the no fear extrovert - did approach one couple. Walking up the path from one photo op to another, I spotted a couple leaning against each other just watching the sunset. It was SO sweet. I walked right up to them and apologized for interupting but told them that they looked so sweetly romantic that I would love to take their picture if they'd give me their camera. They thanked me and gave me their phones. I took a couple of photos of them with their faces and then walked behind them and got the sunset - they were great photos. (sorry I don't have copies but, not my camera lol)
But here are my photos!
Kind of cool huh? But you can see why we might feel that eight more hours driving around for more photos of that wouldn't be my cup of tea :) Though I didn't get any photos - our next stop was the town of Wall - it's a big deal in the tourist world. We drove out of our way to see it - and frankly, I didn't get it. Yes it's a huge drug store, with lots of little shops, I even picked up a couple of small toys for my grand kids, but honestly, I didn't quite understand why so many people feel it's a must see. Have you ever been?
On the family updates - yesterday - my mother celebrated her 89th birthday. I'm going to grumble a little so please bear with me. My mom has alzheimers. Though she's not digressing as quickly as the average curb, she's still got cognitive issues. And of course, can't remember from five minutes ago. She opened her birthday card three times in ten or so minutes and was thrilled with it each time. It's a blessing that she gets to be happy three times but a crime that she hasn't a clue what she's already done. The thing that always breaks my heart is mom is SO healthy - she walks and dances and at Christmas time claimed she was too weak to pick up my toddler granddaughter and then a few minutes later when she spotted my granddaughter putting something in her mouth, Mom jumped up, hurried over, picked the twenty plus pound child right up and started dancing with her to distract her - (throw my arms up) so much for too old LOL. In September we'll all be going to her great nieces wedding, she's going to have so much fun dressing up, dancing, and talking to everyone. Mom is always full of stories (even if they've changed from history) and a true extrovert, fuels on lots of people.
I still don't have a title for my next series or the books but I'm working on it! Did I tell you the first book is going to be a marriage of convenience? Actually, a few of them might be! LOL. - we'll see.
Oh - I didn't mention the fourth of July- we taught the grandpup how to swim! At first Loki wasn't all too sure - we had to really tug and coax to get him off that first step - but once he did - he loved it - he'd swim over to us and then turn around and swim back. Then he'd climb out and walk over to my two friends and shake off in front of them. No matter where they moved to - every time he climbed out - he'd find them and shake off. Have you ever wondered why wet dogs always have to shake off in front of people?
well - at this point - I think you know as much as I do about my life so it's time to say tata till next week! OH - if you signed up to be notified via email when I post - please make sure that I'm not in your spam folder or that chris@chriskeniston.com is on your contact list so that your email server stops bouncing the emails! thanks much and hope y'all have a GREAT week!
July 1, 2024
On to 'the heads' LOL
Hope you're up to it, but here come more photos!
The trip was long and lots of fun. I'd always wanted to see Mount Rushmore and when I finally got the opportunity, I couldn't let it go by. And I can say it did not disappoint. It was just as impressive in person as it is in photographs and on film. It was also interesting how other tourists see it. I was in the hotel lobby chatting with some foreign tourists. They were talking about all the fun things they'd seen; "the heads and the indian" - it took me a few seconds to connect the dots (some days I'm more with it than others lol) and I asked 'you mean the president heads?" and then of course the Indian was the Crazy Horse monument.
The monument was wonderful. We went in the late afternoon, I asked lots of questions and found the history fascinating. I didn't realize that World War II forced it to stop where it is, that the sculptor wanted to do more. Even though it took around thirty years, it's amazing what they accomplished.
For me though, the most impressive was the lowering of the flag. The park rangers invited all veterans and active duty personnel to come down on stage for the lowering of the flag and for the audience to thank them for their service. I was a little surprised by how many people there were on stage, but was so very thankful that there were and are so many people willing to stand up for all of us. The thing that struck me, more than the ceremonial lowering of the flag, than the turning on of the lights against the dark sky, was a single sound.
I don't know at what point of the lowering of the colors that military stand at attention and then salute, but whatever moment it was, I heard it. A loud snap. It startled me, then I realized, it was the people on stage, they'd snapped their feet together and stood at attention, saluting the flag. It was a huge moment for me. I was left in awe. There are no words to thank all those people for what they give up for us and I couldn't clap loudly enough when we were called to thank them.
Another amazing monumental sculpture is the Crazy Horse monument. It's taken much longer, they've been working on it for 70 years, but it was very interesting. The Crazy Horse monument is private, not a national park, but it's won very well and was quite interesting to walk around and learn about the family of the original sculpture who have continued working on it all these years. In the third photo you can see what the mountain is going to look like when it's finished.
While we were in the area, we visited the local town of Keystone. It's very touristy but very western. It reminds me of so many towns in that part of the country, old buildings on either side of a main street with a nice mountain in the background. My friend and I also stopped at one of those old time photo places and took a few photos - no laughing aloud.
Miss Kitty eat your heart out LOL.
I have to admit I don't know how folks get through life without good friends. The whole time we were driving to the book signing, we brainstormed the new series. I've got the plot for the next few books (first one is in progress) and we're still kicking around titles and series name. Who knows if I would ever have come up with it on my own!
okay, that's it for your travel guide of the week LOL. Everyone enjoy your summers - see ya next week!
The trip was long and lots of fun. I'd always wanted to see Mount Rushmore and when I finally got the opportunity, I couldn't let it go by. And I can say it did not disappoint. It was just as impressive in person as it is in photographs and on film. It was also interesting how other tourists see it. I was in the hotel lobby chatting with some foreign tourists. They were talking about all the fun things they'd seen; "the heads and the indian" - it took me a few seconds to connect the dots (some days I'm more with it than others lol) and I asked 'you mean the president heads?" and then of course the Indian was the Crazy Horse monument.
The monument was wonderful. We went in the late afternoon, I asked lots of questions and found the history fascinating. I didn't realize that World War II forced it to stop where it is, that the sculptor wanted to do more. Even though it took around thirty years, it's amazing what they accomplished.
For me though, the most impressive was the lowering of the flag. The park rangers invited all veterans and active duty personnel to come down on stage for the lowering of the flag and for the audience to thank them for their service. I was a little surprised by how many people there were on stage, but was so very thankful that there were and are so many people willing to stand up for all of us. The thing that struck me, more than the ceremonial lowering of the flag, than the turning on of the lights against the dark sky, was a single sound.
I don't know at what point of the lowering of the colors that military stand at attention and then salute, but whatever moment it was, I heard it. A loud snap. It startled me, then I realized, it was the people on stage, they'd snapped their feet together and stood at attention, saluting the flag. It was a huge moment for me. I was left in awe. There are no words to thank all those people for what they give up for us and I couldn't clap loudly enough when we were called to thank them.
Another amazing monumental sculpture is the Crazy Horse monument. It's taken much longer, they've been working on it for 70 years, but it was very interesting. The Crazy Horse monument is private, not a national park, but it's won very well and was quite interesting to walk around and learn about the family of the original sculpture who have continued working on it all these years. In the third photo you can see what the mountain is going to look like when it's finished.
While we were in the area, we visited the local town of Keystone. It's very touristy but very western. It reminds me of so many towns in that part of the country, old buildings on either side of a main street with a nice mountain in the background. My friend and I also stopped at one of those old time photo places and took a few photos - no laughing aloud.
Miss Kitty eat your heart out LOL. I have to admit I don't know how folks get through life without good friends. The whole time we were driving to the book signing, we brainstormed the new series. I've got the plot for the next few books (first one is in progress) and we're still kicking around titles and series name. Who knows if I would ever have come up with it on my own!
okay, that's it for your travel guide of the week LOL. Everyone enjoy your summers - see ya next week!
June 24, 2024
More Travel Pics and a New Book!
Let's get the book business out of the way!
Releasing TOMORROW - and of course available in ebook form now from my website - at a discount LOL - is HONEYMOON FOR SEVEN! the last of the Ummarino sisters finds her match on another fun cruise! Make sure to pick up your copy and of course - tell all your friends! If you follow me on facebook, you can share that page too.
In the works - Just One Look - Devlin Baron gets a surprise of his own and I hope you're going to love it! So far I'm enjoying writing this story, my first ever bachelor auction - we'll have to see where it goes! Fingers crossed! Even though it's listed to release in August, we're shooting for July!
We'll skip over the new series until I figure out a name ! LOL.
Now - more of the trip!
Needless to say there's a lot of driving going on in this trip - From Yellowstone we moved on to Montana! Now I have to admit of all those mountainy states, I seemed to like Montana most. For one thing they have no aversion to cell towers LOL. I 'can' read a paper map, but the GPS is way easier LOL. Idaho didn't like cell towers, and of course national parks like Yellowstone didn't like cell phone towers or internet access! So never losing a signal anywhere in Montana despite the beautiful landscape was really nice!
I've seen a lot of mountains on this trip, and I've seen mountains elsewhere in the world. I've ridden a train through Germany, Switzerland, and the alps. I've been to the White Mountains of NY, the Catskills in NY, the beauty of Lake Tahoe, but Montana made me smile. Expansive land and lots of cute towns with a mountain at the end of Main Street! LOL. And just for the heck of it - a selfie somewhere in Montana LOL.
Tell me if that first shot isn't just breathtaking - that was outside Ennis Montana - it was beautiful. We spent the night in this little town of Livingston - the thriving downtown was so precious and I wish I'd had more time to go from shop to shop and peruse all the things that are hard to find in shops here at home anymore! After this, we hit two old towns that are considered ghost towns. Well, I disagree lol. One Nevada city is the closest thing. Basically they are salvaging buildings from the old west in a museum setting and i was fascinated. I wish I'd come across these old buildings when I first started writing the Construction Cousin portion of the Farradays but you better believe that this trip will be incorporated into the last two renovation books - and who knows - maybe it will pop up later in the next installment of the family saga!
The first photo is me on the front porch of the post office. We were fortunate to have actors on the property in some of the structures, like the school house, and even though the road isn't quite how I envisioned Sadieville, this will help me with future books!
Looking at how small some of these cabins were. Seeing how entire families had to do with so little. All of it was very humbling. Reminds me how after WWII so many families were so very happy to have their little homes with two bedrooms and one bath and even a one car garage no matter how big the family. Eye opening how expectations have changed! The other town, Virginia City, is a true old west tourist town. All the old buildings (I didn't take photos sorry) and lots of events for the visitors. It appears that unlike it's neighbor a bit down the road, this town was real and they've saved it with tourism. At least that's how it looks to me!
Did I mention Montana has no sales tax? LOL. Honestly, if most of the year weren't winter, I could see why folks might want to live in Montana. Though this big city girl would miss her city!
that's it for today's travel log LOL. Remember to pick up your copy of Honeymoon for Seven and stay tuned next week for more Roadtrip News! :)
June 17, 2024
June 17th, 2024
Yep – my travel buddy of twenty years hasn’t thrown me out of the car along the road yet LOL.
This leg of our trip – Grand Teton and Yellowstone. First off when a major mountain road collapses and they flash signs along the way that state – WY22 is closed. I’m here to tell you that this means NOTHING to tourists. We do not know if this means it’s closed before we get to our destination or after, we do not know if there is a detour they will point us to. Myself and a few hundred other cars on the road all were equally confused. In the end, we did have to turn around and take a two hour detour to get to Jackson Wyoming and the Grand Tetons. On the bright side, we had to detour through Palisades Reservoir in Idaho that I found much more astonishing than redfish lake. These shots are of the palisades - so much more impressive in person! Oh and there was a film crew there setting up for 100 people to shoot a chevrolet commercial - who knew it took that many people to film a commercial! And can you imagine spending your day reading a book here!
From this road we moved into Grand Teton - Lovely lovely views - the first shot is of Jenny Lake the second is from a structure on Mormon Row and just for fun - crossing from Teton into Yellowstone we were greeted by this cute little bear crossing the road -just to say hello to us!
Can you believe all of this is one day? Next day we did Yellowstone - I know old faithful is the big deal - but honestly, I was way more impressed with the prismatic pools - darn those colors were amazing! And the Canyon waterfall was pretty neat too!
You're probably tired of all these travel picks but it's been a lot of fun for me crossing off never before visited states in this great country -
If you're looking for book news - reminder is that Honeymoon for Seven is releasing next week - that's really close! Make sure you tell all your friends - next month will be a box set of the first three Baron books coming out and then in August Just One Look the last (for now) of the Baron cousins will be releasing. After that - it's back to the Sweets - though I need a series name still lol, but you remember that from over a year ago, I started that series then switched to the Barons because I'd had book one sitting on my computer for years begging me to write so I did, but now it will be back to the Sweet Family Ranch in Honeysuckle Texas the corn hole capital of the state LOL. I sure hope we have some fun with that one!
Okay my friend is waiting for me because I'm off to the next stop - will post more photos and catch up next week! have fun and remember to cherish every day and look for the little pleasures life has to offer.
This leg of our trip – Grand Teton and Yellowstone. First off when a major mountain road collapses and they flash signs along the way that state – WY22 is closed. I’m here to tell you that this means NOTHING to tourists. We do not know if this means it’s closed before we get to our destination or after, we do not know if there is a detour they will point us to. Myself and a few hundred other cars on the road all were equally confused. In the end, we did have to turn around and take a two hour detour to get to Jackson Wyoming and the Grand Tetons. On the bright side, we had to detour through Palisades Reservoir in Idaho that I found much more astonishing than redfish lake. These shots are of the palisades - so much more impressive in person! Oh and there was a film crew there setting up for 100 people to shoot a chevrolet commercial - who knew it took that many people to film a commercial! And can you imagine spending your day reading a book here!
From this road we moved into Grand Teton - Lovely lovely views - the first shot is of Jenny Lake the second is from a structure on Mormon Row and just for fun - crossing from Teton into Yellowstone we were greeted by this cute little bear crossing the road -just to say hello to us!
Can you believe all of this is one day? Next day we did Yellowstone - I know old faithful is the big deal - but honestly, I was way more impressed with the prismatic pools - darn those colors were amazing! And the Canyon waterfall was pretty neat too!
You're probably tired of all these travel picks but it's been a lot of fun for me crossing off never before visited states in this great country - If you're looking for book news - reminder is that Honeymoon for Seven is releasing next week - that's really close! Make sure you tell all your friends - next month will be a box set of the first three Baron books coming out and then in August Just One Look the last (for now) of the Baron cousins will be releasing. After that - it's back to the Sweets - though I need a series name still lol, but you remember that from over a year ago, I started that series then switched to the Barons because I'd had book one sitting on my computer for years begging me to write so I did, but now it will be back to the Sweet Family Ranch in Honeysuckle Texas the corn hole capital of the state LOL. I sure hope we have some fun with that one!
Okay my friend is waiting for me because I'm off to the next stop - will post more photos and catch up next week! have fun and remember to cherish every day and look for the little pleasures life has to offer.
June 10, 2024
Idaho Anyone?
Am I the only one who thinks Potato when someone says Idaho?
Let me tell you, this city dweller was completely flabbergasted to learn there is so much more to Idaho than potatoes! LOL.
The sights are lovely - there is land, land and more land. Especially mountains and white caps. Of course there's the popular Sun Valley. The town was cute - and we visited the famous Lodge for lunch. It's like a little town within a resort, but I couldn't get excited over the ice skating rink LOL. This native New Yorker finds it hard to beat the skating rink at Rockefeller Center. Now what DID impress me at the lodge - don't laugh - was the ladies room. I have been a lot of interesting places and never seen such a luxurious powder room!
Look at the size of it! (photo 3) and the comfy chairs! Though, who sits in a hotel powder room? LOL. The lighting was low, the woodwork luscious, and the rest of the restroom was just as impressive. Go figure.
There are so many lakes and white capped mountains - even in June. A lot of it reminded me of New Hampshire where my husband is from.
Now one complaint I have for Idaho is they don't believe in Cell towers. lol. Eighty percent of the time we were in Idaho, there was no cell phone, texting, or internet available. The hills are spread out far and wide, and I was very thankful we didn't have any car trouble. I can't imagine what someone would do if they broke an ankle, or caught a virus. Communication for help must be tough. Not in the big cities of course, but there's a lot of Idaho that isn't city!
I can tell you know, I was a little worried running late with Honeymoon for Seven that this trip would not allow me to finish the book by my extended editor's deadline. I am delighted to report that I apparently can type while riding in a car! From Idaho Falls to Grand Teton National park - I wrote in spits and spurts - did the same the next day at Yellowstone - I'll get to that next blog - and even without internet (dare I mention some considerate employee gave me the employee access so I could send my editor the book?) I made it! You will have Honeymoon for Seven, the final installment of the series!
and on that note - It's late here and I need to get some sleep because there's a lot of driving in this huge states!
Thanks for coming by to read - and for telling all your friends about my many series and new books. And don't forget I have cute tote bags and coffee mugs for sale now on my website-
Nighty night!
Let me tell you, this city dweller was completely flabbergasted to learn there is so much more to Idaho than potatoes! LOL.
The sights are lovely - there is land, land and more land. Especially mountains and white caps. Of course there's the popular Sun Valley. The town was cute - and we visited the famous Lodge for lunch. It's like a little town within a resort, but I couldn't get excited over the ice skating rink LOL. This native New Yorker finds it hard to beat the skating rink at Rockefeller Center. Now what DID impress me at the lodge - don't laugh - was the ladies room. I have been a lot of interesting places and never seen such a luxurious powder room!
Look at the size of it! (photo 3) and the comfy chairs! Though, who sits in a hotel powder room? LOL. The lighting was low, the woodwork luscious, and the rest of the restroom was just as impressive. Go figure.
There are so many lakes and white capped mountains - even in June. A lot of it reminded me of New Hampshire where my husband is from. Now one complaint I have for Idaho is they don't believe in Cell towers. lol. Eighty percent of the time we were in Idaho, there was no cell phone, texting, or internet available. The hills are spread out far and wide, and I was very thankful we didn't have any car trouble. I can't imagine what someone would do if they broke an ankle, or caught a virus. Communication for help must be tough. Not in the big cities of course, but there's a lot of Idaho that isn't city!
I can tell you know, I was a little worried running late with Honeymoon for Seven that this trip would not allow me to finish the book by my extended editor's deadline. I am delighted to report that I apparently can type while riding in a car! From Idaho Falls to Grand Teton National park - I wrote in spits and spurts - did the same the next day at Yellowstone - I'll get to that next blog - and even without internet (dare I mention some considerate employee gave me the employee access so I could send my editor the book?) I made it! You will have Honeymoon for Seven, the final installment of the series! and on that note - It's late here and I need to get some sleep because there's a lot of driving in this huge states!
Thanks for coming by to read - and for telling all your friends about my many series and new books. And don't forget I have cute tote bags and coffee mugs for sale now on my website-
Nighty night!
June 3, 2024
Greetings from Utah!
Summer has officially begun for me. I have a dear friend who lives in the Northeast and we try to meet up somewhere once a year to stay in touch. Last year life got crazy and we missed out - but this year it's ROAD TRIP !
We are here in Utah. Started out in Salt Lake City. Though getting here was less than fun. We had - no surprise - crappy weather in Dallas which sent all sorts of planes and crew schedules into a tizzy. Our 9pm flight finally left at midnight. So I did getting writing in at the airport and like a good girl, I wrote on the flight too rather than nap.
We took an all day tour of the Great Salt Lake and surrounding area - Very pretty to be surrounded by whitecap mountains.
here are the pictures so far - Of course, I had to step into the lake - just to see what it felt like. Nothing different - but there was no way I was going in far enough to see how well I floated LOL. The last shot is at heritage park. (I think that's the name)
Anyhow, we've enjoyed the food - though the cooks seem to like spice a bit too much for me - who knew they liked cajun seasoning in Utah LOL. Had to send back the cuban sandwich and couldn't order the reuben because it was made with a cajun roumelade. Who the heck puts cajun seasonings on a reuben sandwich??? Apparently, Salt Lake City !
Okay - I am off to have lunch with author Elana Johnson before we wander about the mall. Then tomorrow - it's on to northern Utah and Idaho. Will keep y'all posted.
And of course, will keep writing!
We are here in Utah. Started out in Salt Lake City. Though getting here was less than fun. We had - no surprise - crappy weather in Dallas which sent all sorts of planes and crew schedules into a tizzy. Our 9pm flight finally left at midnight. So I did getting writing in at the airport and like a good girl, I wrote on the flight too rather than nap.
We took an all day tour of the Great Salt Lake and surrounding area - Very pretty to be surrounded by whitecap mountains.
here are the pictures so far - Of course, I had to step into the lake - just to see what it felt like. Nothing different - but there was no way I was going in far enough to see how well I floated LOL. The last shot is at heritage park. (I think that's the name)
Anyhow, we've enjoyed the food - though the cooks seem to like spice a bit too much for me - who knew they liked cajun seasoning in Utah LOL. Had to send back the cuban sandwich and couldn't order the reuben because it was made with a cajun roumelade. Who the heck puts cajun seasonings on a reuben sandwich??? Apparently, Salt Lake City ! Okay - I am off to have lunch with author Elana Johnson before we wander about the mall. Then tomorrow - it's on to northern Utah and Idaho. Will keep y'all posted.
And of course, will keep writing!
May 27, 2024
Remembering on Memorial Day
Is it wrong to say I'm sad that not many people on my street are displaying their flags today?
There is so little I can truly do to say thank you for their sacrifice to the people who no longer have their family with them because those loved ones stood up to do a job that I could not do. Hanging my flag on Memorial Day seems so little but it's all I know to do.
I have always appreciated the symbolism of our flag. I remember being stranded in a foreign country on 9/11. I was finally able to get a hold of my mother on the phone after hours of not being able to get a phone line. I gave her two orders - call my kids' schools and let them know their mother was not in the air (i was supposed to fly home at noon) then go to my house abd put the flag on our front porch.
In those days, our street was filled with flags. An odd knee jerk reaction, but all I could do to say I love and support this country and those who fight for it.
Our day will be quite calm. No barbecues (don't even own a grill), no running about, no gatherings, I have a book deadline. My husband is a civil war buff and is comfortably in his recliner and reading up on some battle. Seems fitting for this day when we remember those who gave up so much so we could decide if we want to read today, write, swim, or barbecue.
I am winding up details for my road trip to the Wild Deadwood Reads booksigning on June 15th. I know I'm going to forget something, but keep telling myself South Dakota isn't Antartica, lol, whatever I've forgotten I can buy. My current hunt is for a bigger suitcase. Just this morning I got around to seeing if my bigger suitcase is large enough to fit the bookstand - it's not, sigh. So - between writing scenes, I'll snoop around online and see who has something suitable and affordable!
Next week you'll be hearing from me from Salt Lake City. So excited to visit a new state.
In the meantime, enjoy your day and remember Just One Surprise releases TOMORROW!
There is so little I can truly do to say thank you for their sacrifice to the people who no longer have their family with them because those loved ones stood up to do a job that I could not do. Hanging my flag on Memorial Day seems so little but it's all I know to do.
I have always appreciated the symbolism of our flag. I remember being stranded in a foreign country on 9/11. I was finally able to get a hold of my mother on the phone after hours of not being able to get a phone line. I gave her two orders - call my kids' schools and let them know their mother was not in the air (i was supposed to fly home at noon) then go to my house abd put the flag on our front porch.
In those days, our street was filled with flags. An odd knee jerk reaction, but all I could do to say I love and support this country and those who fight for it.
Our day will be quite calm. No barbecues (don't even own a grill), no running about, no gatherings, I have a book deadline. My husband is a civil war buff and is comfortably in his recliner and reading up on some battle. Seems fitting for this day when we remember those who gave up so much so we could decide if we want to read today, write, swim, or barbecue.
I am winding up details for my road trip to the Wild Deadwood Reads booksigning on June 15th. I know I'm going to forget something, but keep telling myself South Dakota isn't Antartica, lol, whatever I've forgotten I can buy. My current hunt is for a bigger suitcase. Just this morning I got around to seeing if my bigger suitcase is large enough to fit the bookstand - it's not, sigh. So - between writing scenes, I'll snoop around online and see who has something suitable and affordable!
Next week you'll be hearing from me from Salt Lake City. So excited to visit a new state.
In the meantime, enjoy your day and remember Just One Surprise releases TOMORROW!
May 20, 2024
Tough Old Broad
It's official - my mother is a tough old broad. We've always known it - she went through a lot of medical issues growing up with a bumb leg. Surgeries, casts, braces and yet most people didn't realize she had an issue. What would be a limp with other people Mom turned into a swagger.
Of course, she also raised me alone in an era where that wasn't the norm. I grew up when most moms were home cooking and cleaning, my mother worked two jobs to provide a good life for me - I owe her a great deal - including my determination. Mom always said where there's a will there's a way and proved it to be true every time.
So, no surprise that even with Alzheimer's she's proving to be a tough broad. We do everything we can to help keep the disease from digressing quickly and much of it seems to be working. No clue what really helps, but we have a cognitive therapist who comes once a week, could be a waste of money, but Mom is worth it. My husband is a prize among men, he takes Mom out to dinner every Tuesday night often with friends - socializing is key. She has a weekly shopper who takes her to lunch and out and about once a week. On top of that we give her Gatorade daily to help with hydration and alertness, and one protein drink to make sure she's getting some nutrition despite her sweet tooth. It all seems to work together as she's now tracking slower than average for digression.
Recently, mom was getting weak in the legs, wobbling and asking for a wheel chair or walker. My first thought was absolutely not so twice a week a personal trainer comes and makes her walk and climb stairs and a few other things to keep up her muscle strength - it's been two months and seems to be working. She's not asking for a wheel chair anymore and she isn't wobbling anymore.
but the latest - she was a passenger in a car crash last week. When I reached her house and took a look at her knee I thought, that has to be broken or shattered or something so I called an ambulance and off to the ER we went. The photo on the left is what I saw at her house, the one on the right was when we reached the ER - I've never seen a knee balloon like this
Even the doctor was a bit surprised - when the xray came back as no fractures or breaks, he ordered a catscan - nothing. Even he agreed - Mom is a tough old broad. So we brought her home, elevated it, iced it, put a heating pad on her back (which was hurting) and the next night she climbed into a high guest bed after we'd all gone to sleep. I had her on the sofa, but apparently she didn't like that. She's going to hurt for a few weeks, but she's walking like nothing and amazes me with every step.
She's stubborn and doesn't like being slowed down. Even with Alzheimer's she's stubborn as ever.
All of this has slowed progress on Honeymoon for Seven, but we're on track to release Just One Surprise next week! Is everyone ready?
Okay - I'm going back to work. hoping to make up for lost words !
Oh - and we're still building the travel plans for June - So far my friend and I are driving through Utah, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and South Dakota. So much to see!
Of course, she also raised me alone in an era where that wasn't the norm. I grew up when most moms were home cooking and cleaning, my mother worked two jobs to provide a good life for me - I owe her a great deal - including my determination. Mom always said where there's a will there's a way and proved it to be true every time.
So, no surprise that even with Alzheimer's she's proving to be a tough broad. We do everything we can to help keep the disease from digressing quickly and much of it seems to be working. No clue what really helps, but we have a cognitive therapist who comes once a week, could be a waste of money, but Mom is worth it. My husband is a prize among men, he takes Mom out to dinner every Tuesday night often with friends - socializing is key. She has a weekly shopper who takes her to lunch and out and about once a week. On top of that we give her Gatorade daily to help with hydration and alertness, and one protein drink to make sure she's getting some nutrition despite her sweet tooth. It all seems to work together as she's now tracking slower than average for digression.
Recently, mom was getting weak in the legs, wobbling and asking for a wheel chair or walker. My first thought was absolutely not so twice a week a personal trainer comes and makes her walk and climb stairs and a few other things to keep up her muscle strength - it's been two months and seems to be working. She's not asking for a wheel chair anymore and she isn't wobbling anymore.
but the latest - she was a passenger in a car crash last week. When I reached her house and took a look at her knee I thought, that has to be broken or shattered or something so I called an ambulance and off to the ER we went. The photo on the left is what I saw at her house, the one on the right was when we reached the ER - I've never seen a knee balloon like this
Even the doctor was a bit surprised - when the xray came back as no fractures or breaks, he ordered a catscan - nothing. Even he agreed - Mom is a tough old broad. So we brought her home, elevated it, iced it, put a heating pad on her back (which was hurting) and the next night she climbed into a high guest bed after we'd all gone to sleep. I had her on the sofa, but apparently she didn't like that. She's going to hurt for a few weeks, but she's walking like nothing and amazes me with every step. She's stubborn and doesn't like being slowed down. Even with Alzheimer's she's stubborn as ever.
All of this has slowed progress on Honeymoon for Seven, but we're on track to release Just One Surprise next week! Is everyone ready?
Okay - I'm going back to work. hoping to make up for lost words !
Oh - and we're still building the travel plans for June - So far my friend and I are driving through Utah, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and South Dakota. So much to see!
May 13, 2024
Life is short - Eat Dessert First!
People say that all the time - well every once in a while one of my dear friends and I do just that.
With my daughter and her kids living four hours away and my mom confused about days and events due to alzheimers, and me on a tight book schedule, my family didn't gather for the day as we used to. My friend and I decided our mother's day treat would be to stop at an old haunt with the best apple huckleberry pie dessert. And of course, we ordered it first! I forgot to take a photo when it was untouched and pretty - but we just dug right in!
After that we came back to my house and watched a favorite old move of mine - I Remember Mama. It's from 1948 about a Norwegian immigrant family in San Francisco circa 1910-20 - I just love so many of the old fashioned values, but Irene Dunne plays a strong mama - the kind I like to write. It makes me think that my love of these old movies is probably what fueled my style of writing and I didn't even realize it. Have you ever seen this movie? If you're patient for limited action and slow moving with plenty of emotion - you should!
PS: Does anyone recognize the long haired blonde in the photo? That is the actress who played Miss Ellie in the famed television show Dallas!
Now it's back to planning a road trip and finishing revisions on Just One Surprise. This book was hard to write. I ran late on my deadline and struggled to find the words, but it's done! Today it is off to the proofreaders - yay!
In between working on Honeymoon for Seven - the book for the third Ummarino sister Ginnie - I'm working out my road trip with my long time travel buddy. I decided that simply flying into South Dakota for the Wild Deadwoods read Booksigning on June 15th was too easy. So we're starting the trip out in Salt Lake City Utah and winding our way through Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, over to South Dakota. I'm seriously excited and just a tad nervous. I run out of energy so quickly with this annoying heart disease, but I think it can be done so I'm going to try! Will keep y'all posted - I guess June will be travel blogs for me ! LOL.
If anyone has any recommendations for must see or must not miss places on this map - share!!
okay - I'm back to work - so much to do - Hope all who are moms had a wonderful day yesterday and see y'all again next week!
With my daughter and her kids living four hours away and my mom confused about days and events due to alzheimers, and me on a tight book schedule, my family didn't gather for the day as we used to. My friend and I decided our mother's day treat would be to stop at an old haunt with the best apple huckleberry pie dessert. And of course, we ordered it first! I forgot to take a photo when it was untouched and pretty - but we just dug right in!
After that we came back to my house and watched a favorite old move of mine - I Remember Mama. It's from 1948 about a Norwegian immigrant family in San Francisco circa 1910-20 - I just love so many of the old fashioned values, but Irene Dunne plays a strong mama - the kind I like to write. It makes me think that my love of these old movies is probably what fueled my style of writing and I didn't even realize it. Have you ever seen this movie? If you're patient for limited action and slow moving with plenty of emotion - you should!
PS: Does anyone recognize the long haired blonde in the photo? That is the actress who played Miss Ellie in the famed television show Dallas! Now it's back to planning a road trip and finishing revisions on Just One Surprise. This book was hard to write. I ran late on my deadline and struggled to find the words, but it's done! Today it is off to the proofreaders - yay!
In between working on Honeymoon for Seven - the book for the third Ummarino sister Ginnie - I'm working out my road trip with my long time travel buddy. I decided that simply flying into South Dakota for the Wild Deadwoods read Booksigning on June 15th was too easy. So we're starting the trip out in Salt Lake City Utah and winding our way through Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, over to South Dakota. I'm seriously excited and just a tad nervous. I run out of energy so quickly with this annoying heart disease, but I think it can be done so I'm going to try! Will keep y'all posted - I guess June will be travel blogs for me ! LOL.
If anyone has any recommendations for must see or must not miss places on this map - share!!
okay - I'm back to work - so much to do - Hope all who are moms had a wonderful day yesterday and see y'all again next week!
