One of those days

We all have 'em, those days that just don't seem to gel no matter how hard we try. I've had 'em. You've had 'em. As I said, we've all had 'em.

Conversely, we've all have wonderfully flowing, everything-falls-easily-into-place days. You know the ones. The sun seems brighter than usual. The air smells sweeter. Every task requires less effort. Each moment seems like it shines.

I had one of those days yesterday. I woke to the winds of change, remember? We did have branches down in our yard. Tomatoes were blown clear off their plants. It sure made harvesting them interesting! I've never reaped tomatoes from the lawn but at least they were all unblemished. The silver lining, I guess, to having a crop blasted off the vine! But the wind, which persisted all day long, was an added attraction to a day that was...perfect.

We had breakfast on the back porch. The sun was shining and it was breezier than usual but it didn't matter. We enjoyed pancakes with blueberries still warm from the sun sprinkled on top.

Then, we spent some time in the gardens, rescuing crops that had been buffeted through the night. Like I said, nothing was much worse for the wear.

And yesterday afternoon I began writing something new. It began like a dream and snowballed. I love the feeling of fingers flying over keyboard. Honestly? There are few things I like more than bringing what I see in my mind to life on the screen. Days like yesterday make up for the ones when writing requires much more effort.

Not a bad Monday. In fact, it was a great day in every respect. I'm hoping the breezy influence lingers long enough to finish the story I began yesterday. I've already got a destination planned for it, and am anxious to finish writing...then send it off on a gust to, hopefully, find a good home.

What about you? How did your Monday go? I hope it was a good one.

Happy Tuesday!

Blowin' in the wind

If you live in the northeast there's a good chance you heard the wind last night. Actually, it's still blowing hard outside my window and it's nearly daybreak. Through the night from time to time I heard sharp cracking sounds. I suspect when it's light out we'll find we've lost some tree limbs.

Now normally wind wouldn't make its way into a Monday morning blog post--no matter how hard it huffed and puffed! But kept me awake through the night, insinuated itself into my dreams and placed its blustery self right smack-dab in the center of my plans for the story I'm going to begin writing this morning.

So here we are, talking about wind.

What had been the opening scenes in a historical love story are still the opening scenes in a historical romance...but with a twist. Now instead of our heroine making an uneventful, contemplative journey aboard a small vessel she's going to have a much stormier trip. This poor woman may even find herself stranded for a time with--you guessed it--the handsome boat captain himself.

Oh? The other passengers? I have a sad feeling they all drown. Hey, don't blame me. It's the wind's fault. Really.

Before the wind's arrival we had a relaxing weekend here on the farm. We hiked through our freshly mowed meadow, fed the fish in the pond and lazed away our Sunday afternoon reading in the shade. We had a great time...and I hope you did, too. How did you spend your weekend?

You wanna call it what?

Titles.

The bane of this writer's existence. Well, not really. But they definitely give me a headache. A big one.

I'm almost done writing a book that has no title. Really. I kid you not. This book, which went easily from chapter 1 to just a few pages shy of the end is responsible for the scowl on my face. I loved writing it, enjoyed watching the characters evolve and their situation solidify. I had fun with it, but now that it's coming to crunch time I'm stumped.

If I didn't intend to submit this thing, its being title-less would hardly matter. But I can't very well submit it with the working title, can I? No, I promise you, I most assuredly cannot. Why? Well, uh...all right, I'll admit it. The working title is...well, it's just not appropriate. Not witty or catchy. Not...well, it just won't work, that's all.

Excuse me? The working title?

*sigh*

Well, as long as you don't tell anyone... The working title of the book is WIP PB. See? I told you it wouldn't wash. Work in progress Palm Beach is neither witty nor catchy, and is sure to scare away a publisher.

The good thing is that while WIP PB is still unnamed, brainstorming titles has given me a few good ones for upcoming books. And I guess it's a good thing that WIP PB flew from head to screen. Too easily, almost.

This weekend I'll contemplate the list of possible titles I've got for this book because by the end of next week it's going to be out of here. And I'm going to be working on the next book, using one of the titles that wasn't a good fit for this book.

What about you? Have any weekend plans?

Have a nice weekend! :)

Have you noticed?

The flowers all seem exceptionally gorgeous this time of year?

Bigger? More alert than usual?

Doesn't this zinnia look like it's waiting for something?
Someone, maybe?

Gladiolas bloom.

Beg to be picked.

Every bed of cosmos is overflowing.

Morning glories are...well, glorious.

Don't even get me started on the sunflowers!

They all stand at attention.

I love these. So friendly looking.

This field of sunflowers is near our house.
Every year I think we should plant a field like this.
And every year I enjoy this one instead.
Maybe next year we'll plant our own.
Maybe not.

I grew these blanketflowers from seed.

Don't they look like they're waiting?

Watching?

Wondering?

Huh.

Maybe they've seen this.

Maybe they know what's just around the corner...

*sigh*

Where did summer go?

Never forgotten

September 11, 2001.

From New York magazine.

Pick a day, any day

Scented with apples, cinnamon and berries, the steamy air in the kitchen swirled when he walked in. Even with the exhaust fan roaring, the room felt as full of flavor as a homemade pie. He stopped and stared at the rows of canning jars on the table and countertops. Then, a grin.

"Busy this afternoon, were you?" A top on one of the dozens of jars pinged and he arched a brow. "Very busy?"

She lifted the final jar from the boiling water bath and deposited it on the counter. There. The day's work was done. Satisfaction swept over her as she twirled the dial and wiped her brow all in one efficient movement. The kitchen was closed for the day.

"Just a little," she answered with a small, albeit tired, smile. "And you?"

Running a hand through his touseled hair, he shrugged. "Just cleaning up the workshop some. Getting things moved so when the wood for the family room floor is delivered we'll have somewhere to put it."

"We're getting that next week, right?"

"Looks that way." He paused. Looked around. "So...what's for dinner?" He covered his head with his hands as if he expected to be slapped with the dishtowel.

A smile playing on her lips, she retrieved three small covered cups from the fridge, along with two bottles of iced tea. She handed them to him, waiting while he arranged everything so nothing would crash to the floor. Silently she grabbed a couple of knives. A jar of peanut butter. A towel-wrapped bundle from inside the oven.

"What's that?" he asked, motioning toward the bundle.

"Bread. I made it this morning before I started the preserves. And in your hands...strawberry jam, blackberry jam and spiced apple butter. Leftovers that wouldn't fit into the canning jars. So," she walked across the room and, using the only two fingers she had left, opened the back door. "are you ready for a picnic?"

He followed. "You bet I am."

"Good," she said, laughing as she dashed out the door. "The last one to the dock's a rotten egg!"

And the date would be?

Hi all! Yes, I know it's Tuesday and my summer schedule calls for only Monday, Wednesday and Friday visits with you. But now that it's September and the leaves on the trees in my backyard are starting to turn orange, yellow and red already it feels sort of fall-ish so I thought I'd begin showing up on Tuesdays and Thursdays, too. Besides, I miss you all on the days I don't show up. Weekends? They're still hit and miss. :)

Well last Thursday the first shipment of Legal Tender arrived. *You can order it here if you're interested. Or email me and we'll arrange for a signed copy to head your way.*

Friday morning I sat down with the list of kind folks who'd pre-ordered signed copies, a stack of manila envelopes and my favorite pen. I love signing books! A half-hour later I had a pretty good-sized pile of envelopes ready for the post office.

The names on the list were dwindling. I pulled a book out of the box, opened it to the first page and began to write. Out of habit, I dated the page. Then, I stared at what I'd written.

Hubby was in the kitchen so I hollered from the family room. (Why get up when sound travels so well?) "Honey?"

"Hmm?"

"What month is it?"

A head appeared in the doorway. He wrinkled his brow. It was apparent he thought I'd finally lost my mind. "September. It's September. Why?"

Uh oh.

"And that would be the ninth month of the year, right?"

His brows pulled tighter. "Right. The ninth month. Why?"

I glanced down at the page in front of me.

8/5

"Uh, no reason." I smiled, knowing full well I'd signed most, if not all, of the first wave of books using the wrong date.

Welcome to my world.

Have you noticed?

Have you noticed that somehow the world pretty much gives you what you need, when you need it? I've realized this before but it's one of those things I just sort of forget...until it happens again. Has it ever happened to you?

As you know, my dad went back to Florida last week after a wonderful extended stay with us. We loved, loved, LOVED having him here. So sending him home? It was hard. Really hard. I've got to admit that although I'm generally a happy, smiling, cheerful sort I was bummed after he left. Really bummed.

To be quite blunt, I was pretty sad. In a blue funk. Really not wanting to see anyone, talk to anyone or do much of anything besides spending time with Hubby and Piglet. Not normal behavior for me, that's for sure. But there you have it.

Almost instantly after we got home from the airport I sat down with my laptop, opened a new document and began to write a new book. Easily started, flowing well and doing exactly what I wanted it to do: it kept me from thinking. From dealing with anyone aside from the characters on the page. From missing my dad.

Well, almost.

I thought I'd figured it out, found a way to get past missing the man we'd love to have living closer to us.

Apparently the world was smarter than I. It gave me what I really needed. A bucketload of what I really needed.

Funny thing, that. The world knew what was best and sent it.

What was it? One of the most important powers in the world. Contact.

From here and there long, newsy emails. Friendly faces, even if on a screen. A card from a friend who lives on the other side of the world. No particular reason for the card; simply one of those "just because" cards. I needed it more last Thursday than on any holiday, believe me. And Saturday a package. An unexpected kindness from a newer friend. I'll tell you, it just made my day!

I needed the human touch, the very thing we were missing so desperately. It came, and I appreciate it more than words can say. While I'm not over missing my dad I'm well on the way to feeling more like my old self. Hubby, too. And Piglet, although she's still searching the farm for Grandpops.

This has been a rough week but the kindness of friends and family, and the world's willingness to send what we most needed, has helped us so much. We're getting back to "normal" here. :)

I suspect the next time you're feeling a little down at the mouth the world will send what you need, when you need it, too. At least I hope it does. I think it will...really, I do.

I'd just like to know how the world knows what to send. Any ideas?

Me? I'm not going to dwell overlong on the mysteries of the world. I've got a book to finish!

Have a great Monday!

Rainy Saturdays

When I was a kid I despised rainy Saturdays. What kid doesn't? Now I smile when I see rain in the weekend forecast. Especially now, when we're fully into harvesting and the rest of it. A rainy day? You know what that means, don't you?

No vegetable picking! Yay! No bushels, baskets or bunions. (You don't get bunions from veggie picking--at least I don't. I can't speak for everyone, mind you. But it fit...the whole "b" thing, you know? So...bunions.)

Still, there's a lot of freezing and canning happening here. I'll be doing more today but so far this week I've made:

blackberry jam,

bread and butter pickles

and tomatoes. Lots of tomatoes.


And because rain is in the forecast, I figured I'd bring a few flowers.

Happy Saturday ! :)

Green Acres

We're full into harvest time here at the farm. Every day we haul bushels of produce from the gardens into the house. There, we either freeze, can, eat or give away what we've grown. It is a busy time, but fun and exciting, too. There's a lot of hard work involved but it's all very satisfying.

Here are some photos of some of what we're picking.

Some things, like this gourd, are easy to identify.

Tomatillos.

From the watermelon patch.

These are soooo sweet!

We've been eating a lot of blueberries...

blueberry pie...blueberry crumble...

blueberry muffins...

trust me, a lot of blue food is being served

at Casa Leone!

I love the way onions look fresh from the soil.

Hot, hot, hot!

Other things are not as easily identified...

Any ideas?

He: "What's that?"

She: "Um...melon? Squash?"

He: "There are a lot of them. A lot."

She: "Lots of melons? Loads of squash?"

Ah, now that's something I can identify!

All sorts of eggplants beginning to come out

of the gardens.

My favorite veggie, btw.

Yours?

Growing corn.

Does it get any more majestic?

Melons. We've eaten a bunch of these already and

they are sweet enough they could almost pass for candy.

Really!

From our home to yours, wishing you a wonderful weekend.

:-)

Proximity

The last night. No amount of wishing, foot-dragging or thought-pushing could change the fact.

With three matching sighs, they gathered the pinochle cards and stuffed them into their box. They'd each won a game tonight. A good way for the last games of the year to work out.

She stood. Stretched. Then, she walked over to the French doors and looked up. "Dad, have you seen the stars?"

The men had already crossed the room, headed for the kitchen. They stopped when she spoke.

"No, I haven't. How are they?"

"Bright. Lots of them tonight."

"Go take a look, Pop. I'll turn out the lights."

The lights grew dim before the room became full dark. She turned, her gaze catching their profiles in the large room. Her husband stood by the switch. Her father, who had begun walking back to her before the turn of the switch, stood stock-still in the center of the space. Knowing instinctively he'd lost his direction, she took a step forward.

"Stay there. I'll come get you." When she reached his side she put one hand on his nearest shoulder. Then she slid it down his arm and clasped his warm hand in hers. "Follow me, Dad. It's just a few steps."

"Want me to turn the lights back on?"

"Nope, we've got it," she called over her shoulder.

When they reached the doors they pressed their faces against the glass, looking out and up. The sky seemed dotted with thousands of tiny points of light. For a moment no one spoke. Then, from the darkness, a sigh. This time, not a sigh of regret but one of wonder.

"Beautiful, aren't they? We don't see this in Florida...too many lights."

"It is incredible," she agreed. "Our own lightshow, every night. So pretty...hey Dad, isn't that the Big Dipper? Over there, just above the hill?"

"Um...no, I don't think so. It's..." He leaned down a little, craned his neck sideways. Pointing, he said, "over there. To the left. Do you see it?"

She followed his lead, bending lower and twisting her head to the right angle. There. He was right. "I do. It's beautiful, isn't it?"

"Mmm, it is."

They stood shoulder to shoulder for a few minutes. Their breathing syncronized and a sense of peace washed over them. This was something they knew how to do. The first time she'd watched the stars he'd held her in his arms; now she guided him.

Finally he said, "They look so close, don't they?"

"They do."

"So close, yet so far..." He sighed, shook his head and put his arm around her shoulders.

Like New York and Florida...so close, yet so far.

Legal Tender Release Day!

Hi. It's me. Piglet. I'm taking over the blog this morning because, quite frankly, my human's busy. Can you believe it? She's caught up in spending every minute she can with Grandpops before her goes back to...huh. Where is it he's from again? Hmm...warm, sunny, the place where they grow oranges and alligators (don't know what an alligator is, exactly, but I know they've got 'em near Grandpop's house)...spot that's the center of a hurricane sandwich (not sure what a sandwich is, either)...oh! Right! Florida. The grand-paternal human is heading back to Florida this week, so my parental human is eyeball deep with last minute things. Getting his laundry done. Packing his suitcase. Smiling even though she's sad he's leaving. You know. Stuff.

*sigh* So here I am. Called to action. Pressed into writing this blog post.

Would've been nice if I'd had some notice, some time to prepare. But you know how humans can be. Stand-offish. Finicky. Unpredictable.

What's a cat to do? Suck it up, I guess. Then, back to sleep. I need a nap. All this hurricane jabber, getting ready to travel and good-byeing has worn me out. First, though, I've gotta tell you the big news...

Legal Tender releases today! Available from Whiskey Creek Press, it's a love story with a ghostly twist. A little mystery, some smooching and a bond that just won't go quietly to the hereafter.

Interesting. If you're a human.

Me? I'd rather read about birds. Naps. Cheese slices.

I guess you can't please everyone, so if romance and mystery is your thing, Legal Tender is the book for you. But be forewarned...there aren't any cheese slices in the story. Not even a wedge.

Buy it here.

I'm hoping Sarita will be back on Wednesday. If she's still busy with Grandpops, I'll be here to chat with you. I have a feeling it might take her a few days, maybe even a week, to find her footing once her dad heads home. She's going to miss him. A lot.

But don't worry. I'm already thinking about what we'll talk about next time we visit. Believe me, I've got some good ideas. But first, a nap.

Have a nice Monday!

By the way, how do you feel about mice? Lots of gray, fluffy mice? Hmm?