A Word to the Wise

Just a note of caution...

Remember how I admitted to blasting the roof off the house with my music while Hubby was out walking?

I forgot to turn the volume down when I clicked the stereo off.

Let's just say his feet left the floor when he turned it back on and got hit full force with Aretha Franklin's "Chain of Fools."

Pretty funny to watch, actually, the feet flying off the hardwood.

Not so funny? His attitude the whole hour following his encounter, when he waited for the ringing in his head to stop.

Just thought I'd pass on the handy household tip...

Have a nice day!

From the Pages today

Today's Author Interview over at From the Pages is with PL Parker. PL dishes about her writing life and what she's working on now. Also, she's offered a copy of her novel Riley's Journey to one lucky commenter.

Why not take a peek? Just follow the link in the sidebar!

Monday, Monday

I wonder how many of you are old enough to remember hearing that song on the car radio? I mean, not on an oldies station, but when it was a new release.

Music on the mind, here, brought about by a Saturday afternoon walk. Not mine, but Hubby's. Let me explain...

Saturday was beautiful in our backyard. Sunny, warm (all right; it was only warm-ish but we were happy it wasn't snowing) and with all the promise of spring most of you began to see weeks ago. Not one for staying inside when the skies are blue, Hubby decided to take a walk to the meadow and back.

Me? I stayed inside and caught up on some paperwork. Oh, and I opened all the windows. And I...well, I turned on the stereo. Loud. Really loud.

Usually Hubby and I are in the house together, so we play music we both enjoy, a sort of melodious compromise. It works. But when he's out?

Mwah ha ha!

I blasted stuff he tolerates, but doesn't love. I won't name names, but "Monday, Monday" was tame by comparison.

Yeah, I love living in the country. The birds, bunnies and foxes don't care what I play. And I know they won't look at me funny and wonder if I really Can't get no satisfaction or if R-e-s-p-e-c-t is something they really need to find out about.

I hope today is sunnier than Saturday, and that Hubby decides to take an even longer walk, because I've got a playlist calling me.

What about you? What sort of music really makes your heart beat fast? And do you blast it? Or are you more subdued?

Happy Monday!

Happy Easter!

Just Because

I just love crocuses. They're so brave, poking up through the cold ground. On a church lawn near here there are hundreds of them blooming. We saw it a few days ago, and of course I didn't have my camera with me. I'm hoping to get back to see them again early next week. If I do, I'll take a few shots to share with you. Until then, these made my morning walk very pleasant.

Hope you have a nice Saturday!

Here and There

Yesterday was one of those ordinary days that was so good it kept me smiling all day long. There wasn't any big occasion connected with the day (unlike Monday, when we celebrated our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary) but it felt like every time I turned around there was something pleasant on our path.

Of course, I took a couple of photos to share the day with you.

We stopped in the local Agway to pick up bushel baskets. Last week we bought starter potatoes, which I plan to put in the ground this weekend, so the bushel baskets are a necessity. Why? Because I've got a plan for them that goes hand in hand with the starter potatoes. More on that another time. Now, I want to show you what we saw in the Agway.

Aren't they adorable?

It was sooo hard not to bring them home with us.

Look at these darling chicks!

So soft and fluffy!

I wanted these too but

we left them in the store.

I took a little walk when we got home.

Every day there are new crocuses to admire.

The daffodils are plumping up, so they'll

be along any time now.

We've got a pair of ducks on our pond.

I love watching them swim around.

So peaceful, and so pretty.

Sorry the photo isn't better.

They're a bit skittish so I don't get

too close.

So, you see, yesterday wasn't a red-letter day but it was wonderfully pleasant from beginning to end.

I hope your day was a goodie, too. And I hope you're getting set to enjoy the weekend!

Spellbound

"How about some grilled veggies with dinner? I'll toss 'em on the grill, then sit on the deck while they cook. It's nice out there...maybe you'd like to come out, too. What do you think?"

A grunt is his only answer.

A patient man, he tries a second time.

"So, that's a 'yes', right? You do want me to grill the veggies? Maybe some eggplant. Peppers and onions. A zucchini--definitely a zucchini, right?"

No answer.

He sighs, then heads to the kitchen. After a few minutes, he returns, and sets a glass of iced tea on the table beside her.

"Thirsty?"

"Hmm?"

"Are you thirsty?" When she lifts her gaze, he raises his own glass to his lips. Swallows, then smiles. "See? Yours is beside you, on the table." He nods, then smiles when she picks up the glass and takes a drink. "Good. That's a step in the right direction, anyway."

She snaps the book closed. "A step? What're you talking about?"

Grinning, he points at the book in her lap. "You're been under a spell for the past three hours. I don't think you moved an inch. What is it that's got you so hooked that you don't even realize what's going on around you? And aren't you getting hungry? You didn't eat any lunch."

Now that he mentions it, my stomach is kind of empty, she thought. Pushing aside the book, she stands and stretches. Her back feels kinked and her shoulders hurt, but it's all worth it.

She takes his hand and pulls him toward the kitchen. "Come on, I'm hungry."

As they walk away, he glances back at the book. Heart and Soul. It's finally forgotten on the sofa, but he knows it won't be long before her nose is buried again.

Better fire up the grill--fast.

Program Note

Just a reminder that today's author interview over at From the Pages is with Mike Ryan.

Mike is an interesting guy, and a very talented author. He's graciously offered a print copy of his latest book, Grapes For A Guinness, to one lucky commenter.

Why not stop by and take a peek? Ask a question or two if you'd like. I know Mike wouldn't mind answering them. :)

Happy Tuesday!

Champagne Time!

Just breezing in this morning... I can't stay long because it's a Big Day here at our house. And I do mean a Big Day.

We're celebrating! That's right, celebrating! A day of fun followed by a night of...well, you get the idea. There will be dinner out, champagne, toasts and lots of kissing. A happy day in our house, one of our favorite days of the year.

Hmm? Oh! Sorry! I didn't tell you what makes this day so special, did I? My bad!

Today is our wedding anniversary. That's right, it 's the day we celebrate the whole two-shall-become-one, till-death-do-us-part thing.

I love this day. Really, really love it.

So, how many years do you think Hubby and I have been celebrating this day? Come on, take a guess! You "know" us from visiting here, so you must have an idea. Do you think we're celebrating our first wedding anniversary? Or our hundredth? Somewhere in between?

Do you have one day of the year that really jazzes you? Which one, and why? I may be flying out the door, but I've still got an enquiring mind.

See you tomorrow!

Possibilities

I think a big part of my love of writing comes from the idea that when you write, anything is possible. There are no boundaries other than those your mind imposes. At the stroke of a finger, people dance, laugh and love, journeys are undertaken without fear or even despite chilling terror and, maybe the most important thing for me, is that happy endings are guaranteed. I like that, the guarantee...and when I write, that's not only a distinct possibility, but a probability.

It doesn't take much for me to begin to consider new possibilities. I see stories in little things, silly things, things that are all around us here at the farm.


Love the colors on the petals of this closed crocus. Don't they remind you of the swirling layers on a ball gown? And if we've got a ball gown, then there's got to be a lovely lady wearing that gown...and you know that if there's a gorgeous woman there's got to be some hunky hero just waiting to twirl her off onto the dance floor...

See? Anything's possible.


I'm always amazed by the stuff the winter's freeze pushes to the soil's surface. I found this piece of blue glass in one of the flower beds. Don't you just wonder whose hand held this last? And where there's a hand, there's a story.

See? Another possibility.


I was so excited to find this hole in a big old maple tree on our property. The tree is up in the forest, so really the hole could be anything. No one would ever see what goes into it...or what emerges. Could be a porthole to an alternate reality. Maybe there's a tunnel that leads into the hillside. Who knows? It could even shelter an ordinary owl--an owl who flies off to someplace interesting. Someplace exotic. Someplace where there's a story just waiting to be told.

Yeah, that's one of the things I love most about writing. Anything--and I do mean anything--is possible. It doesn't get much better than that.

Springtime at the Farm

Finally!

Spring has come to the farm, and we are jazzed!

Yesterday afternoon Piglet, Hubby and I took a stroll

around the grounds.

We saw some fabulous things.

I thought I'd share a couple with you.

I hope you enjoy them as much as we did.

I don't know what this sweet little flower is,

but it's poking out of the spring garden bed near the big barn.

The pussywillows are beginning to puff out!

And look--we've got crocuses!

No Fooling!

This morning I put this in the mail.

Yep, real happy here. Real happy.

So, now you know how I spent March. I've got plans for April, too.

What about you? Any plans you'd care to share?