Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  I made incremental progress on editing Garrett's book. It's definitely not as much as I wanted to accomplish but I'm telling myself even a little progress forward is getting me closer to finishing editing the book. 

Motivational Quote:  "I prefer writing to real life...A novel, for example, can be cleaned up, altered, trimmed, improved. Life, on the other hand, is one big messy rough draft." ~ Harlan Coben (American writer)

What I'm Reading:  I finished reading Ode to the Bones by Carolyn Haines last night. It's the 30th book in the Sarah Booth Delaney mystery series. I've enjoyed this series and was sad to hear there will only be one more book before the series comes to an end.

Random Things:   An update on my brother. He had numerous appointments last week for x-rays, an ultrasound, CT scan and with a surgeon's physician's assistant to give him his options. He has an appointment with the surgeon next week to make the decision to either see if they can repair the break with some plates and screws or if it would be better to do a shoulder replacement from the outset because if his arm doesn't heal properly with the plates and screws, then he'll have to have the shoulder replacement anyway.

Random Photo:

                                                    I swear this is so true. 😄 

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related: I've hit the middle of the book. Finally. I'm hoping that I only have about 150 pages more to write. I'm going to participate in Sarra Cannon's Rough Draft Challenge in the month of November with the goal of writing those 150 pages. I'm not sure how much writing I'll get done this week as one of my siblings is going into the hospital Tuesday for surgery and will have to stay 4 to 5 days. I'll be visiting her as much as I can and going to her house daily to take in the mail and making sure her cat has fresh water, food, and litter. 

Motivational Quote:  "Our life is in our hands and it's never too late." ~ Tiffany Brar

What I'm Reading:  I'm reading Independent Bones by Carolyn Haines. I should finish it this evening. I'll start the next book, Lady of Bones, on Tuesday while I'm sitting in the hospital waiting room while my sister is in surgery. 

Random Things:  Are you a tea drinker? I should specify hot tea. I do drink iced tea as well but I like to drink that without sugar or honey. When I drink hot tea, it doesn't seem to have as much flavor as it does cold so I add a bit of honey to it and it helps bring out the flavor. The problem is I'm trying to drink tea instead of hot chocolate because it's healthier, but how healthy is it if I'm adding honey to it? A friend suggested adding a bit of milk to it instead. I haven't tried that yet. Any suggestions on how to bring out the flavor of the tea without adding honey, sugar, or any other type of sugar substitute? Just as an FYI, I usually drink raspberry pomegranate green tea or apple chai tea, or a vanilla cranberry tea. I did just buy a box of gingerbread tea to try as well. 

 

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related: I'm making headway on Garrett's story. It's taking me so much longer to write this book than I originally anticipated. I keep telling myself even a few pages a day is progress and is bringing me closer to the end.

Motivational Quote:  "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt 

What I'm Reading: I started reading A Garland of Bones by Carolyn Haines over the weekend.  This is the 22nd book in the series. There are a total of 29 books published so far so I'm getting closer to the end so to speak, at least until the next book is published. 

Random Things:  It's finally been cold enough to do some baking. I made semolina bread for the first time this past Thursday. It has a tangy taste, not quite as strong a sourdough, but enough to notice. I will make it again, but I think I'll bake it in a loaf pan instead of on a baking sheet that the recipe calls for. The dough didn't rise as high as I would have liked, rising in width instead so I'm hoping it will rise higher in a loaf pan.

Random Photo:

                  Here's a picture of the semolina bread. It looks taller than it actually is. 
 

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related: I still have the occasional cough left from my cold, but am feeling much better. We had a bunch of appointments including an annual vet check up for Mrs. Green and getting our flu shots so I didn't get much written. Considering I already had a cold so early in the fall/winter season, I don't want to risk getting the flu or giving it to my mom so we both got the vaccine. 

Motivational Quote:  "Fear has a very concrete power of keeping us from doing the things that are our purpose." ~ Luvvie Ajayi

What I'm Reading:  I should finish reading Game of Bones by Carolyn Haines this evening unless something pops up. It's the 20th book in the Sarah Booth Delaney mystery series. I'll probably start the next book in the series within the next day or so.

Random Things:  I have a physical therapy appointment this afternoon. I'm hoping it'll be the last one. I'll keep doing the exercises because they are helping but I don't really want to continue with the appointments. My ulnar nerve issue is much better than it was. It doesn't wake me up at night anymore and I rarely get the pins and needles feeling in my last two fingers now. I still can't type for long periods but I'm going to start splitting my writing time up into two sessions so hopefully that will help. 

Random Photo:

The Halloween wreath for our front door. My nephew's wife made it a for us a few years ago.
 

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  Sorry for the lack of a new post last week. I've been laid low by a terrible cold the last couple of weeks.  I've spent a lot of time sleeping and trying to recover but I did manage to write 5k in new words despite feeling like my brain wasn't firing on all cylinders.

Motivational Quote:  "Perspective will either be the thing that frees you or imprisons you. Is it a failure or a lesson? Is it problem or an opportunity?" ~ Isaac Wooden

What I'm Reading:  I just finished reading Sticks and Bones by Carolyn Haines last night before I went to sleep. I will probably start the next book in the series, Charmed Bones, this evening. That book is the eighteenth book in the series. There are twenty-nine books currently in the series so I'm over halfway through. I've enjoyed most of them and figured out who the killer was in about half of the ones I've read.

Random Things: I planned on writing three books this year and I'm still struggling to write the first of the planned three. Between the ulnar nerve issue which slowed my writing pace waaaaay down recently, the compression fracture in my vertebra which also slowed my writing pace earlier in the year, helping my mom more than I've needed to in the past, and now this miserable cold that thank goodness finally seems to be easing its grip and moving on, I feel like this has been a difficult year writing wise. I try not to complain for the most part because I'm very grateful for all of my blessings and for my mom being in relatively good health for her age (she turned 89 this year). I realize that so many people are dealing with serious issues, health related and not, so that's one of the main reasons I try not to complain. I realize how lucky I am and am incredibly grateful.

Random Photo:

This is pretty much how I feel this year has been so far. I'm hoping it'll have a better ending.
 

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related: I managed to write twenty pages of new material last week. It's not a lot, I know. But it is more than I've been able to do for a while now. The physical therapy is helping - I'm getting fewer shooting pains into my wrist and fingers and I'm able to type for longer than 15 minutes at a time now. 

Motivational Quote:  It it doesn't bring peace, profits, or purpose, then don't give it your time, energy, or attention." ~ Morgan Richard Olivier

What I'm Reading:  I'm currently reading Smarty Bones by Carolyn Haines. It's the thirteenth book in the series. I'm thinking I'll finish it this evening as I only have a few chapters left to read.  

Random Things: My sister talked me into entering a couple of raffles for a couple of dollars apiece. I don't expect to win. I rarely win raffles or contests and such but at least my few dollars are going to good causes. The last time I won a raffle, my oldest great nephew was due to make his entrance into the world at any time. That was twelve years ago. 

Random Photo:

                                     A picture of a baby otter to make you smile.
 

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  The writing of Garrett's book is progressing. Slowly, but it is moving forward. The PT for my elbow is helping, so I'm grateful for that. The orthopedist did say that it can take months for the nerve and tendon to completely heal. Considering that and not wanting to do anything to set the healing back, my goal is to get the first draft written asap so I can send it to my editor and beta readers, get their feedback, and made any revisions so that it can be released in early January. 

Motivational Quote: "You don't have to wait on anyone to tell you that you are in this. Start by doing what you can with what you've got, where you are and in your own way." ~ Cleo Wade

What I'm Reading:  I just started Bones of a Feather by Carolyn Haines yesterday afternoon. It's the eleventh book in the Sarah Booth Delaney series. The series is also know as the Mississippi Delta series if you want to check it out. 

Random Things:  It's been cool here - highs in the mid 60's - than it has been. I'm glad to see the 90 degree days go but I'm not quite ready to say goodbye to summer. I love being able to just pick up my purse and leave when I have to go somewhere. I hate having to wear a coat. Then there's having to wear gloves, a scarf, and possibly boots when it gets further into the winter season. While winter might technically start around December 20th on the calendar, it usually starts in mid to late October in my area. I'd prefer a longer Autumn season and a really, really short winter season but it's usually the other way around.

Random Photo:

I was feeling a little down about summer ending so I bought a set of Otter pens to brighten my mood.
 

Monday Check In

Last week...

Writing Related:  Writing is still going slowly. I'm telling myself slow progress is still progress and the story is moving forward. The physical therapy for my elbow does seem to be helping. The numbness/pins and needles feeling isn't as strong as it was and the pain that was shooting from my elbow into my wrist and last two fingers isn't happening as often as it was.

Motivational Quote:  "If you have faith and keep moving on, things will eventually fall in place." ~ Tina Dabi 

What I'm Reading:  I'm currently reading Hallowed Bones by Carolyn Haines. It's the fifth book in the Sarah Booth Delaney mystery series.  There are 29 books in the series so far so I have quite a few left to read. 

Random Things:  I saw a Christmas commercial the other day while I was watching TV. While August, even late August, seems way to early for retail companies to start advertising for Christmas, it did remind me that I need to start thinking about what design(s) I want to use in my holiday cards this year. Every year I say I'm going to start making the cards early. Yet every year it gets to be the second week of December and I'm rushing to get them finished. Starting next month, I'm going to make a concerted effort to make at least two cards every weekend so they will be completed and ready to be mailed by the first weekend in December. 

 Random Photo:

I went to a Goodwill store about an hour away from my home and found this scented candle. I can't imagine anyone wanting a candle that smells like a corn dog...which is probably why it was donated.