Just in case

a four a.m. gardening enthusiast shows up. :)

Four A.M. Temptations

Ha! I got you with the post title, didn't I? You probably thought there'd be something racy here but alas, it's just me. Again.

Oh, the early morning temptations? Sure, I'll share.

A lot of you know I rise at the ridiculous hour of...I don't know, maybe three or four a.m. and begin writing. I write, promo, blog, whatever needs to be done, for a bunch of hours before my wonderful husband wakes up. Because after he's awake, I'm all his and writing waits. We've got too much to do for me to spend endless hours at the keyboard. So, I am generally awake by four a.m.

And sometimes I give in to temptation. Occasionally I'll eat a cookie or two, just something to hold me over until we have breakfast. So there, my first temptational confession.

Other times, like this morning, I give in to the lure of poking in to random blogs. You know, the ones that scroll past on the sign-in menu? Such intriguing names, so many undiscovered sites... I'll admit that I often regret checking these out and have seen some truly disgusting things but once in a while, like this morning, I find something that holds my attention. This morning's random blog kept me hostage for ten minutes while I nosed about in someone else's garden. Photos of spiders and cleome, an herb garden, a cascade of something frilly and pink on an ancient stone wall. Yeah, it was right up my alley.

Oh? The name of the random blog? Let's see, it was...um, I think...no, that wasn't it. Maybe it was--well, I've forgotten the name of this morning's four a.m. temptation blogsite. Guess you'll just have to poke around yourself sometime, see what you can dig up. If you find anything interesting, please let me know. After all, I'm sure I'll need to be tempted again sometime soon.

Hey, I wonder... Do you think I'm ever the object of someone's four a.m. temptation? I hope I am. Kind of fun to think of someone sitting in a dark office, munching a cookie, reading about my latest work in progress or upcoming release.

What's in your backyard?

This is what I found in ours this morning. Isn't she a beauty?

Just a fun tidbit...

Since the 3rd of this month, Snowdance is back on the Whiskey Creek Press "Hot Titles" list. I'm so psyched; I honestly didn't expect it to be there for August and now it's back up again in September! Wow!

It's number 2, and has been for the past few days. My volume of short stories, Whiskey Shots Volume 6, is number 6 on the list. Just a great feeling to see my titles there! :)

What a way to head into another beautiful weekend. Got to enjoy these last lingering summertime days while we can, don't we? Here, it's going to be gardening, rowing and eating outdoors. Hope whatever you've got planned brings you pleasure.

Reading?

What are you reading? Really, what book is open on your bedside table? Or desk? Or ebook reader? Because I've just finished reading a great book (for the second time, I'll admit) and am wondering what I'll begin reading next.

Oh? What did I like so much I actually went back and re-read it? The Saddlemaker's Wife, by Earlene Fowler. I'm a huge Earlene Fowler fan. I love all of her quilt books. Benni and Gabe are memorable characters and I am thrilled with each new quilt book release. This book has a very different feel to it than Fowler's other books. It is the story of one woman's journey to her husband's hometown. She goes with his ashes, hoping to put him to rest and move on. She finds she's drawn to the world he's kept hidden from her, and the people he didn't share with her. It is a heartwarming tale. Obviously I enjoyed it--I read it twice.

But the question is what shall I read next? Any suggestions?

For my part, I suggest reading The Saddlemaker's Wife. It pulled me in--twice!

Heaven's Gain

Opera is a big deal in our house. Huge, maybe. There isn't a day that goes by where at least one of the three greats hasn't been heard in our home or our hearts.

Caruso.

Pavarotti.

Bocelli.

My husband is apt to have Caruso playing in his workshop as he builds. Enrico's Nessun Dorma compliments the buzz of the band saw or whine of his drill.

My desk is never without at least one or two Andrea Bocelli CDs on it. I play Andrea while I write, humming along to Sempre O Mai as my fingers move over the keyboard.

And Pavarotti? The great tenor is what we play while we cook, relax on the porch, read, carve, sew--in short, he's the background for our "normal" lives.

I am deeply saddened to learn this morning of Luciano Pavarotti's passing. Yet, I smiled as I read this story. My heart cries to know he has lost his battle with cancer, but it sings as I read about a life well lived.

I'm angered that we still have no cure for the damn disease that claims so many. I wonder how many more years will pass while we grieve, losing those we love to this insidious disease. There's got to be a cure, doesn't there? Somewhere, somehow? Someday soon?

Today our loss is Heaven's gain. Luciano is singing Ave Maria for the angels, while we remember a truly talented man's all-too-short but wonderfully productive life.

Ciao, Luciano. Li mancheremo.

Greener Grass?

I can't resist. My friend Judy in Australia sent this joke and I've been grinning ever since I read it. I don't know why, it's really not that funny but it pushes my buttons. Let's see if it pushes yours, too...

A man was sick and tired of going to work every day while his wife stayed home.

He wanted her to see what he went through so he prayed:

"Dear Lord, I go to work every day and put in 8 hours while my wife merely stays at home. I want her to know what I go through, so please allow her body to switch with mine for a day. Amen."

God, in his infinite wisdom, granted the man's wish.The next morning, sure enough, the man awoke as a woman, without any say about it...

He arose, cooked breakfast for his mate, awakened the kids, set out their school clothes, fed them breakfast, packed their lunches, drove them to school, came home and picked up the dry cleaning, took it to the cleaners and stopped at the bank to make a deposit, went grocery shopping, the n drove home to put away the groceries, paid the bills and balanced the check book.

He cleaned the cat's litter box and bathed the dog.

Then it was already 1 P.M. and he hurried to make the beds, do the laundry, vacuum, dust, and sweep and mop the kitchen floor.

Ran to the school to pick up the kids and got into an argument with them on the way home. Set out milk and cookies and got the kids organized to do their homework, then set up the ironing board and watched TV while he did the ironing.

At 4:30 he began peeling potatoes and washing vegetables for salad, breaded the pork chops and snapped fresh beans for supper.

After supper, he cleaned the kitchen, ran the dishwasher, folded laundry, bathed the kids, and put them to bed.

At 9 P.M. he was exhausted and, though his daily chores weren't finished, he went to bed where he was expected to make love, which he managed to get through without complaint.

The next morning, he awoke and immediately knelt by the bed and said, "Lord, I don't know what I was thinking. I was so wrong to envy my wife's being able to stay home all day. Please, oh please, let us trade back."

The Lord, in his infinite wisdom, replied,"My son, I feel you have learned your lesson and I will be happy to change things back to the way they were.

You'll just have to wait nine months, though. You got pregnant last night."

Thanks Jude! :)

Morsus Diem

Often I am asked how I manage to squeeze so much into a day. Writing, canning, freezing, quilting, gardening...the list goes on and on. I've got tons of interests and, as we all know, there are only so many hours to each day.

"How do you do it?" people ask.

I smile and think, How could I not?

But I've got to admit I've got a little technique I use for squashing things into a day, a Latin-inspired trick.

I get up early. Sometimes very early. While the world sleeps, I write. That way, by the time the sun comes up I'm ready to move on to other adventures. This morning, for instance. It's still dark yet I've been up for two hours already. Working on reworking Vineyard Mambo. This afternoon I'll begin writing my next book, and I won't feel guilty for not working on tweaking VM. Not one bit.

You see, I'll have already put my time in on that manuscript. Get it? A Latin trick.

We all know that "Carpe diem" means "Seize the day." Wonderful credo to live by. Seize the day. Take advantage of every moment alloted to you. Do what you want to do today rather than tomorrow--for who knows how many tomorrows we really have? As I said, a great expression to keep in mind.

I have a few other Latin expressions I live by. Let me share them with you...

Tendo diem. Stretch the day. Well, really, that's what getting up before the rooster is all about. I have to stretch time somehow, don't I?

Basium diem. Kiss the day. And why not? Cherish each day, kiss it as if it were a lover. Who knows how many more times I'll feel the touch of this particular lover's lips on mine? Yeah, I'll kiss each day--hard.

Utor diem. Enjoy the day. Self-explanatory, that one.

Diligo diem. Love the day. Also needs no 'splainin'.

And lastly, two of my favorites. The first so telling of my character, I think.

Morsus diem. Bite the day. Don't let time pass without taking a taste of everything. It won't all be pleasing to my palate but at least I'll know I took a taste. Yeah, I bite the days. Try it, you just may find they're sweeter than you think.

And finally...

Exsisto gratias ago pro diem. Be thankful for the day. And I am. Thankful for every moment of every day.

Now, back to writing. Soon the sun will rise. I'll take a moment to see it peek over the horizon, glad that I've done my Latin stretching exercises and am ready to Saluto diem--Greet the day.

Still a holiday...

...so I'm still playing hooky!

I've heard that there are parts of the country where gardens have flopped this summer. Understandable, given the extremes in weather we've had. Ours? Not flopping. In fact, the gardens have produced such bumper crops the plants are practically tossing veggies onto the lawn in an effort to divest themselves of the heavy loads they carry. We can't pick the stuff fast enough. Of course that means canning and freezing (as well as leaving bags of produce on unsuspecting neighbors' doorsteps!) so part of my holiday hooky day will be spent harvesting. I don't mind, especially not when the sky is that deep cerulean blue I love so much and butterflies waft past my nose on gentle breezes.

No, not a bad gig at all. :)

Hope you're spending your holiday doing something you enjoy!

Snowdance review

Snowdance is an all American gem. A delightfully honest account of one woman’s life from birth to her final days, this is a story that brings forth the full spectrum of emotions from joy to sorrow. The ending is completely unexpected and totally unforgettable.

The part that amazed me most was that this story completely takes place during the span of one day. Elinor Montoya is an elderly woman, home alone, watching a snowstorm from her window. She’s almost one hundred and it seems this may very well be her last day on earth. She sits beside the window, watching the snow fall, and contemplates her life. Using memories and a small box filled with precious letters, she tells the whole story of her existence. Her entire life has been lived in the house where she sits but she’s had a full, rich life. Even at the end, she’s not fearful of death but joyful over the experiences she’s had. Chronicling almost a century of change, Snowdance tells the tale of a life well lived in an ever changing world.

Snowdance needs no artifice, no extra window dressing to make it a knockout. The series of tales that carry the reader through Elinor’s birth to the day of the story are wonderful, endearing glimpses into an American life. Not all the memories this old woman has are happy. Some are painful and there are things in her life that are definite obstacles that she had overcome. Elinor’s fortitude and intelligence are commendable, and along with the love she so freely showers on those around her, make her a remarkable woman. She is a character that comes to life, and the reader is pulled right into her extraordinary world. Using vivid images, with a rhythm that is almost soothing in its steadiness, Ms. Leone weaves a tale of love, bravery and personal integrity that is compelling. Snowdance is an enchanting story. Bravo, Ms. Leone, for an outstanding read!

Reviewed by: Carly

Inspiration in a...

cornfield.

Yep, that's right. A cornfield. Hey, it's Sunday. A holiday weekend--one of the last weekends of summer and I just don't feel like working. I'm having too much fun spending time with family and friends, enjoying the last warm breezes and taking time to smell the cornstalks. That's right, I'm spending lots of time in the garden these days. Everything is ripe and I just can't pick the crops quickly enough. We're bringing zucchini, tomatoes, squash, peppers and loads of other stuff in by bushels. Most of it we're canning or freezing for winter use, but we're eating tons of veggies now.

Getting real creative about how I'm cooking the neverending harvest. Finding inspiration, you might say.

Anyhow, I'm making corn chowder this week. Thought you might want to, too.

Simple Corn Chowder

2 T. butter
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 small carrot, finely chopped
4 ears of sweet corn, kernels removed from the cobs
1 bay leaf
4 cups milk
2 potatoes, peeled and diced
1/2 red pepper, finely chopped
1 t. thyme
salt and pepper to taste

Melt butter in large stockpot over medium heat. Add onion and carrot and saute until carrots are tender and onion is translucent. Lower heat, then add milk, bay leaf, potatoes, pepper and spices. Simmer until potatoes are tender. Add corn. Bring soup to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer again. Cook for 10-15 minutes. Adjust salt and pepper as necessary.

Egads! What a way to start a month!...

...With a smile on my face!

I just took a peek at the Whiskey Creek website and perused the new selections offered. A number of books that look really interesting there--I may just have to find some time to sit down and read a few, if not all, of them. (As if I could help induging in my passionate obsession--reading! Ha!)

While I was there I checked out the Top Sellers for August. You know, the little swirling banner thingy beneath the number one book at the top center of the page? Right, that twirling thingy. So anyway, I clicked on, curious to see who'd done particularly well last month and--I have to say this--I jumped up and down, screeching like a banshee!!

Snowdance is NUMBER THREE on the August Bestseller List!

Oh yeah, I'm smiling. My heart is pounding and I'm absolutely flabbergasted. I had no idea my book was selling so well.

But honestly? I'm tickled! Who wouldn't be?!