Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  Good writing week last week. I was worried it would be hard to get back into the flow because I hadn't written since the Thanksgiving holiday. It wasn't an issue. I hit the 15,000 (15k) word mark on Saturday. My goal is to be at the 30k mark at a minimum by the end of the month.

Motivational Quote:  "Begin with that most terrifying thing of all: a clean slate. Then look, every day, at the choices you're making, and when you ask yourself why you're making them...find this answer within you: for me, for me." ~ Anna Quindlen

What I'm Reading: I still reading You're the Duke That I Want by Lenora Bell. I didn't have a lot of free time to read last week.

Random Thoughts:  I'm reading up on manifestation and how to manifest things you want to bring into your life. One of the things mentioned is doing a vision board. I've done vision boards the last few years, but never really thought about them as a form of manifestation. I use them as a visual reminder of what I want to accomplish that year. Do you practice manifestation or use vision boards? If you do, I'd love to hear what works for you. 

Random Photo:

                    Mrs. Green looking less than thrilled with her New Year's Day gift.

 

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  I used the week to set up my writing wall calendar where I keep track of the number of words/pages I write per day and what I want to accomplish by the end of each month. I also set up a Kanban board for the first quarter of the year for both writing and personal goals. No actual words written but I'm diving back into Caine's story this week.

Motivational Quote: "We cannot welcome the New Year by holding on to the old. We can welcome it only when we are ready to transform ourselves." ~ Sirshree (Indian spiritual teacher)

What I'm Reading: I started reading You're the Duke That I Want by Lenora Bell yesterday. It's a historical romance and is the first book in the Thunderbolt Club series.

Random Thoughts:  I had very little holiday spirit after Thanksgiving, not wanting to do any holiday shopping, baking, and all of the other things that come with the December holidays. I finally put up our Christmas tree about a week and a half before Christmas, grumbling the entire time. I started to look forward to sitting in the living room with the tree lit up every evening. I even delayed taking it down until New Year's day. After all the decorations were put away and the living room back in order, I found that I missed having the tree with its decorations and twinkling lights in the corner of the room. I guess I had more holiday spirit than I thought. 

Random Photo:

  A poinsettia "tree" at a local plant conservatory. It was much prettier than the picture shows.

What's Up Wednesday

This week...

My Current WIP (Work in Progress): Revised 35 more pages of the second book in the series I'm working on. I'm a little behind where I wanted to be by this week, but am hoping to get a lot accomplished by Saturday.

Quote of the Week: "You mustn't confuse a single defeat with a final defeat." ~ F. Scott Fitzgerald

What I'm Reading: I'm reading Blame It On the Duke by Lenora Bell. It's the third book in the Disgraceful Dukes series.

Random Thoughts:  I can't believe February ends tomorrow. This month has flown by. I'm hoping March goes just as quickly and then the rest of the year can go more slowly. March is usually a long, hard month for me to get through. We're getting closer to spring, yet the winter weather is usually the snowiest of the whole season so the month seems to drag on and on and on with no warmer weather in sight.

Random Photo of the Week:

                                  Mrs. Green finding her own way to keep warm.

What's Up Wednesday

This week...

My Current WIP (Work in Progress): I did so few pages last week that I almost want to say I didn't make any progress. Here's to a better week this week.

Quote of the Week: “Your goals are important. They are worthy, and worth doing well. So invest time and thought into planning for a pace that can lead you to success.” ~ Allie Pleiter (paraphrased)

What I'm Reading: I'm reading If I Only Had A Duke by Lenora Bell. This is the second book in the Disgraceful Dukes series. I should be done reading it by the end of the week.

Random Thoughts: My great-nephew's first birthday party was this past weekend. It's hard to believe a year has gone by since he was born.

Random Photo of the Week:

Mrs. Green likes to sleep in the laundry basket. It doesn't matter if there's laundry in it or not.

What's Up Wednesday

This week...

My current WIP (work in progress):  Our older cat, Petey, passed away on Monday. No writing this week as we deal with the sudden loss.

Quote of the Week: “Setbacks are normal. They will happen. It’s something to accept, along with the responsibility of getting back up and into the game.” ~  Unknown

What I'm reading: I started How The Duke Was Won by Lenora Bell. This is the first book in the Disgraceful Dukes series. It's also the first book I've read by Ms. Bell.

Random Thoughts:  I'm a bit worried about our 2 year old cat, Somebody. He's been walking around crying and looking for Petey. He's not eating or drinking as much as he usually does. He seems very mopey, not his usual playful self. He's not even eating his treats which he always would eat and then want more. He's never been alone, coming right from his litter to living with Petey. I've spoken to the vet and was told that some cats do grieve the loss of a companion. I'm going to give him a couple more days and if he's still the same I'm going to take him in for a check up to make sure he's ok. The fact that he's not really eating or drinking concerns me even though the vet didn't seem overly worried as long as he was eating and drinking even if it's not his normal amount.

Random Photo of the Week:

      Somebody and Petey (he's the black cat) trying to snuggle in a bed meant for one.