Heather Hamel's Blog, page 15

North Carolina – Day 3

Since I’m behind on the day-to-day activities of our trip…for reference, this was Wednesday. I also want to say that everything turns out OK…

Day 3:

Before packing up our Panther Creek Cabin, we investigated the trail that ran beside the creek. Calling this a trail is being generous. We followed a double set of tire tracks straight up the side of a mountain (literally) until it became less of a wild game path. We decided this couldn’t be the right trail and headed down. Hidden in the undergrowth, we saw another sign labeled ‘trail’.  This one wasn’t much better – we crossed creeks on rocks and fallen logs and used a rope/rotten handrail at one point to make it down a part of the path, but at least we could say we hiked in NC and each only fell down once.

After changing our clothes and finish packing out, we had another white knuckle ride between Cherokee and Maggie Valley. Even with Les’s supurb driving skills, I had to close my eyes a few times in order to keep breakfast down. The first thing we was when coming down in the valley was Ghost Town in the Sky – and nothing was moving. Not a car, person or ski lift. Everything was stopped. When we drove through Monday, everything looked good – maybe they didn’t open until 10. It’s was 10:48..so we drove up to consult the signs.

We started having flashbacks to National Lampoon’s Vacation. We laughed about it for awhile and took as many pictures from the outside as we discussed whether we should try and kill two more days here until Friday or head for home tomorrow since it was supposed to rain – after all, we can sit in the rain and watch TV on our own couch!

 

We decided it would be best to go to our next cabin, relax and think things through. Then Les’s phone rang – it was our neighbor back at home. He told us there were two horses running loose down 13A and didn’t know if they were ours. Wanting to think logically, while my stomach was threatening to explode…Kobi and Sugar had never broken out before – so it couldn’t be ours.

It was…

Nothing make you feel more useless or more vulnerable than being over 400 miles away from home when what could be a catastrophic disaster hits. I’m on my phone alternating between my parents to assess the situation while Les was across the parking lot on his own phone switching between neighbors.

I cannot say thank you enough to our wonderful neighbors who wrangled Kobi and Sugar back to where they belong or this story could have ended differently. As it way, the horses had an adventure and scared the poo out of my parents and me!

With the crisis averted, we tried to salvage as much of the day as we could, found some antique stores and went to a BBQ place called ‘Butts on the Creek’ for dinner before retiring to our other cabin in the Pioneer Village for the night – still undecided on whether to come home or not the next day.

North Carolina (Day 2) – Cherokee

Day 2

Thankfully Les felt better this morning – good thing since we had a full day ahead of us! We headed to what I guess in downtown Cherokee to the Qualla Arts and then across the street to the Museum of the Cherokee Indian. It was one of the best museums’ I’d been to in a long time – and I think that was the longest I spent at a museum, actually reading the exhibits! One of the most fascinating characters was a man by the name of Lt Henry Timberlake, who was not Cherokee, but lived with them for 3 months (among doing other things) and wrote a memoir of his time. There were excerpts of the book in part of the display – talk about a teaser…I can’t wait to settle down with the book!

After that we spent our day running in and out (mostly out) of gift shops – it amazed us how a town that small could support so many shops selling the same touristy junk. Of course there was one that had a bunch of old signs piled beside the building – Les had to ask what they were doing with them and left his card if the owners are interested in selling them. Aside from strapping them to the roof of my little Civic, I’m not sure how we’ll get them home!

 

We went to Smoky Mountain Gold & Ruby mine and tried our hands at sapphire & ruby mining. We went through a gallon bucket and have a nice baggie of what they told us are rubies, some nice size sapphires, and even an emerald. I can’t wait to see how they clean up.

After dinner, where I had my first Indian taco (chili on a piece of fry bread), we ended the day at Harrah’s casino – my first time in one. Les introduced me to slot machines. After walking around trying to find a penny slot that spoke to me –

I found the Mustang machines! Les and I settled in to lose some money. After a few minutes of pushing a button, we had each lost $5 – that was enough for me. I can’t see how people were able to sit there for hours at a time – my patience and lack of attention span sent us hurrying to the exit and the peacefulness of the cabin.

 

North Carolina Bound (Day 1)

 

Day 1

A few days ago, one of my dreams in life would have been to own a cabin in the mountains. After the white knuckle drive to get here – I think I’ll stick to flat lands (or at most, nothing taller than a foothill!)

The drive into Cherokee, was beautiful – or so Les said. I was trying to keep us safe from a wall of rock and away from the drop-off in my little Honda Civic, all the while having large SUV’s ride my bumper and take up more of their lane than I felt I could share. By the end, we arrived safely, but poor Les was carsick. Thankfully he agreed to drive the rest of the time we’re here to avoid the nauseous feeling and my complete nervous breakdown!

Our cabin at Panther Creek was incredible. I had reserved Fancy’s Creek since it was the only one that slept 2. The back deck is amazing. A fast flowing creek runs beside/below the deck and the view is a sheer mountain. The pictures from the porch don’t do it justice – it’s a straight up climb. The only wildlife we saw was a chipmunk drinking from the stream – we searched for more, but with Les’s car sickness we didn’t make it far.

Of course in my mind, it’s a magical place and I’m constantly scanning the leaves and water for any sign of sprites, nymphs, or any other fae creature! Maybe they can alleviate some of Les’s sickness so we can enjoy a day in Cherokee tomorrow.

Kobi’s photo shoot

About a month ago, the amazing photographer Richard Fleming came out and took some amazing pictures of Kobi.

Here are some of my favorites – and yes, it was difficult to chose!

Celebrating Independence Day – Elkton Style

I hope that everyone had a happy and safe July 4th celebration. Around here, it’s usually the ‘safe’ part that’s questioned!

After an uneventful and rainy day, Les and I made sure the horses were tucked away in their stalls & Cuzzin was hiding under the bed before we left for the annual fireworks display held at the country store.

I know I’ve mentioned these before, but it really is such a spectacular showcase of small town Florida, it needs repeating! Anyone who knows what they’re doing shows up in their pick-up truck, mainly so you have a place to sit – but it’s been proved time and again that the trucks are also much more likely to get out of the severe ditches if the drivers have had too many adult beverages.

So, we show up in our truck, but actually remembered to bring chairs this year instead of enjoying the show from the tailgate. We even remembered to bring extra bug spray. We were on the ball. Les parked next to the guy who started at us without blinking as if trying to figure out where to stash our bodies after he killed us, but who also had a truck full of loud, excited children. We’re a couple of vehicles back from a family who wasn’t savvy enough to bring their truck or sit on the trunk of their car, they plopped their chairs in the middle of the road – so every time a car came by (which was pretty often), they’d yell ‘CAR!’ and have to move and give a commentary on each driver’s ability, such as ‘They aren’t slowing down!’ or ‘I don’t think they see us!’ That one was more common once it was dark.

In years past, there has also been some element of danger to the fireworks. Sometimes they fall over and shoot down the road, scattering observers before exploding, misfire or are duds – this year everything seemed to go off without a hitch! Maybe next year!!

With all the festivities aside – thank you to all members of the military who protect our independence every day.

Opinions Needed

When I finished the first draft of Within Emerald Forests, the first book of the four book crypto-zoology series, I was confronted with an issue: titles

Here’s where I need some help. The current titles are plural: Within Emerald Forests, Beneath Diamond Waters, Under Sapphire Skies, and Across Ruby Fields

BUT I’m not writing about multiple forests, waters, skies, or fields -just one per story…

So, would it make more sense to add the word ‘the’ to specify that they are only one, such as: Within the Emerald Forest, Beneath the Diamond Waters, Under the Sapphire Sky, and Across the Ruby Field.

Please – leave a comment with your opinion!

 

My First Scam Alert

While I wasn’t a ‘victim’ of this scam, I still wanted to share my experience:

When my parents (who don’t even live in the same town) returned home from a vacation, they had a message on their answering machine – for me. It was a book company who wanted to talk to me about Murder of Crows. My parents took down the information and sent it to me.

I try to research every company who contacts me to see if it’s legitimate and worth my time.  I happened to be away from my computer when this happened  & only had my phone for research – I couldn’t find anything. Curiosity got the best of me and the number they left had an extension, so I figured they had to be a fairly big company.

I called them.

A woman with broken English had to spell the name of their company since I couldn’t understand what she was saying, and it was Bookwhirl – a marketing company for independent and self-published books. I listened and tried to understand what she had to say. When it was my turn to talk, I asked them how they got my PARENTS contact information since we haven’t lived in the same house for years and I’ve never lived at their current address. She told me their ‘research team’ found me.

I’m not sure what they pay their research team – but anything is too much since almost any mention of my name or my books (they didn’t even know about Kobi’s book) will bring you straight to my website – and a ‘contact me’ tab.

When I started asking questions, she couldn’t get me off the phone fast enough.  After I got home, I searched on their name and the first Google result was “Bookwhirl Scam”.

Real research pays off!

Injuries – All Part of the Game

Don’t panic – all of the animals are fine!

About a month ago, I had my typical butt-kicking lesson with Ashley. After I had time to clean up, I noticed my left tricept hurt. It wasn’t a shooting or blinding pain, just enough to let me know I had done something my body didn’t like.

A few weeks went by and my arm didn’t seem to heal much – certain movements would almost send me through the roof. I decided with summer vacation finally here, and another lesson on the books for this weekend, it was time to get it checked out.

Some how, some way I ripped a tendon connecting the muscle to my shoulder. Not too much I can do for it at this point, except rest it. Oops – not something I’d been doing a lot of, nor with my lesson approaching, planned to do.

When I explained the situation to Ashley, we double teamed Kobi yesterday. She rode first to try and figure out why he didn’t want to move forward (was his saddle pinching him or was he just lazy) & then I hopped up to finish him off with spurs.  We came to the conclusion he’s just lazy & doesn’t understand (yet) that when I’m off work – he has to go to work!

Today is a new day, though, and I promise to let my arm rest so it will heal – as soon as I’m done with my ride!

Equine Body Clipping – 101

Note: Today’s activities (and this blog) could have been avoided had I have done one simple thing: keep up with Kobi’s body/facial clippings!

On Thursday (providing it doesn’t rain), Kobi will have his first visit by a professional photographer, Richard Fleming, who did an amazing job with my head shots a few years ago. I know it’s going to take a few days to get Kobi ready – almost as much work as getting him ready for a show. So I started today…with clipping his whiskers, long eyelashes, and bridle path.

I haven’t used the clippers since I body clipped Jake a few years back, and haven’t used them on Kobi since before then.  What an interesting experience we had today.

He started out curious as I was searching through several pairs of clippers with different blades, trying to find a single pair that would work together and hadn’t rusted solid from being stored for YEARS in an open air Florida tack room.  After finding a pair that worked (sort of), I set to work.

Kobi’s memory wasn’t as good as I thought it would be and the former show horse who let me do this to him every few weeks chose to melt down and sit back. With a change in tactics, I slowed down and enticed him with food rewards. When his connection with the clippers was reinstated, I set to work. The left side of his muzzle was no problem…I wish I could say the same for the right.

It reminded me that when you work a horse, you must do both sides equally as there is something in their brain that doesn’t connect the two sides. To them, everything is a new experience on the other side of their body. There was no talking him off the ledge this time. I moved back to his left side and clipped his bridle path instead.

Not wanting an all out war over the clippers, I broke out a disposable razor to finish the job on the right side of his face. After he realized I wasn’t going to cut his throat with the razor – I was able to finish the job and now have a nice, freshly shaved mustang!

His pampering will continue the rest of the week with coloring his faded mane and tail on Monday and a colored body wash/bath on Thursday to tone down his red spots.

For those of you wondering what I’m going to do with his pictures, I plan to put together a photo album to use at his book signings (since I don’t have a trailer to tote the real horse around with me) & for other promotional things….plus I just want some really great photos of him!

Marketing and Promotion

No one told me when I started my book writing journey that promoting and marketing would be such a huge undertaking.  I’m not sure if anyone had mentioned it if it would have stopped me either, as I believe I can conquer the world!

With two books out, self-promotion is more of a challenge than I ever anticipated. Writing them was the easy part!  Thankfully, I have a wonderful support team surrounding me – my village, as I like to call them.

And thanks to certain villagers, some exciting things have happened and continue to happen. Without the following people supporting me and spreading the word – even less people would have my books in their hands.  Thank you!

Mom and Dad – of course we all need a little help from our parents, but my mom leaves promotional postcards everywhere she visits (and she loves to travel) from Key West to Texas & my dad believes in the books enough to have t-shirts printed! I can’t wait to see what happens on their trip up the eastern coast!

Les – who I got to see in action last night as we were checking out a potential monthly book selling/signing last night. Amazing! At times my introverted shyness kicks in, it’s so good to have someone at my side who can (and does) talk to everyone.

Jean Drayovitch – the amazing & talented artist who’s responsible for Kobi’s cover and the interior sketches.  Not only is she generous with her time and talents, she shares her friends and resources for book events.

Linda Paul – she needs to open a book store! Without her talking up a local teacher/author and being willing to buy and distribute books to friends, family, and schools across the country, many less people would know of Kobi and his story!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who has leant me a hand! And if anyone out there can think of anything that will get these books into the hands of one more person – let me know…reading is a great thing!