the wedding turtle

Posted on April 25, 2013 by is there any more pie?

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Yep, the ol’ wedding turtle is still hanging out by the water fountain.  He can’t believe the wedding was almost a year ago.  He’s been wearing that bow since June 16th and it’s still lookin’ good.

Maybe the turtle isn’t a “he” but a “she”.  Maybe pink is her favorite color.

Maybe she’s hoping there will be another wedding.

Uh……..no.  Neither Sarge nor Son #2 is dating anyone special right now.

But I think I’ll let the turtle leave her bow on.  Everyone knows turtles like to dress up and party hearty.

Stylin’.

Posted in rhode island | Leave a comment

patience

Posted on April 24, 2013 by is there any more pie?

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There is no such thing as Spring in Rhode Island.  I remember a few from my distant childhood, but in the past thirty years or so? No Spring.  It will be cold until one morning we will wake up and it will be summer, with 90% humidity and a little fog thrown in for good measure.

Yes, these are pictures of my tulips.  And yes, they will bloom eventually, despite the cold weather.

I am losing what little patience I have waiting for them, though.

Hurry up, tulips!  I need color!  And sunshine!  I need to pack up the winter clothes and paint my toenails hot pink!

Posted in rhode island | 2 Comments

the darkling

Posted on April 23, 2013 by is there any more pie?

Guess what I just ordered!  My good friend Carolyn Haines has a new book out.  Hurray!  Carolyn writes very scary books…and very funny books (the “Bones” series)…rescues animals…teaches writing…and is one of the most interesting and kind women I’ve ever had the pleasure to know.carolyn

THE DARKLING

You can read more about it  HERE.  From Amazon:

R.B. Chesterton is the pseudonym for Carolyn Haines, who was the 2010 recipient of the Harper Lee Award for Distinguished Writing, the 2009 recipient of the Richard Wright Award for Literary Excellence, and the 2011 RT Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best Amateur Sleuth. She is the author of more than sixty books in a number of genres. She is an assistant professor of English at the University of South Alabama where she teaches fiction writing.

For more info on Carolyn’s animal rescue organization, click Good Fortune Farm Refuge.

Carolyn and I met at a writers conference in San Antonio over twenty years ago.  We joined a day trip of horseback riding, bbq lunch and a roping show outside of Austin, and then the two of us visited the Alamo.  We’ve had some good times in Alabama, New York, New Orleans, Mississippi, Boston, Concord, Colorado and Rhode Island…including a memorable evening at the House of Blues and a weekend at a metaphysical conference in upstate New York.

One of these days I’ll talk her into joining me in Austin for a little tequila and a lot of music.

Soon, I hope.

Posted in books & music, friends, lake | Tagged , | 2 Comments

new episode of river monsters tonight!

Posted on April 21, 2013 by is there any more pie?

I can’t wait for another fishy mystery.

My French Friend Janou sent me this picture:

Erik Johansson photography/Impossible Images

Erik Johansson photography/Impossible Images

Thank you, Janou. I absolutely love this!

Posted in lake, River Monsters | 2 Comments

a yoga pose a day…

Posted on April 21, 2013 by is there any more pie?

I came across this series recently and thought I’d share.

http://www.youbeauty.com/body-fitness/meditation-yoga

I’ve been reading a lot about anxiety–especially “creative anxiety”–lately and have vowed to fight it with meditation, walking and any other stress relievers I can find.

Here’s the book*** that is helping me meet my next book deadline:

mastering creative anxiety

To read more, click Mastering Creative Anxiety, by Eric Maisel

***recommended by my Writer Friend Sharon, of the pink-socks-lawnmower blog post, the same woman whose plane was hit by another plane while she was waiting to take off from Boston and go to Scotland, and whose chocolate addiction is the stuff of legends.

Posted in writing | 3 Comments

prayers for boston

Posted on April 16, 2013 by is there any more pie?
photo by Nancy Lane/Boston Herald

photo by Nancy Lane/Boston Herald

Boston is less than a two hour drive from us, and even faster by train–a quick trip from the nearby Kingston Station to downtown.   Monday was Patriot’s Day, a huge holiday in Massachusetts and, with the Boston Marathon, an especially festive time in Boston.  It’s a big family day, something special.  And right next door.

My heart goes out to all of those affected.  I can’t imagine the grief and pain and shock.  I see the images on television and I can’t believe this has happened once again in our country.

I pray they get the bastards who did this.

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mellow yellow

Posted on April 15, 2013 by is there any more pie?

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Posted in rhode island, secondhand stuff | 2 Comments

proud to be a husker

Posted on April 14, 2013 by is there any more pie?

GO BIG RED!

Check out this touchdown at the spring game last week:

And for the story behind the story:

Posted in lake | Leave a comment

sneak peek

Posted on April 12, 2013 by is there any more pie?

The baby quilt is almost finished.  I’m still hand-stitching the binding down, but that’s a minor little chore done while watching tv.

I sewed for 11 hours straight on Sunday.  My idea of heaven!!!!!  I took over the dining room area, plus the kitchen island.  I turned on the “River Monsters” marathon, set up the ironing board, spread out all of my tools and went to work.  Banjo Man happily stayed in the basement.

I can’t show you much, because it’s a gift and I want to keep it a surprise.  The baby is on his way and I’m carrying the phone around the house with me and waiting for the good news.  I don’t think I’ve ever finished a baby quilt before the baby was born and I’m hoping this means I’ve become more organized as I grow older.

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Posted in friends, quilting | 1 Comment

lighting up

Posted on April 11, 2013 by is there any more pie?

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While planning the birthday dinner for my mother and my daughter, my mother casually said, “I’ll bring the cake.  I have a special cake topper I bought a while ago and didn’t get to use, and I thought it would be fun.”

Me:  Okay.

Mom:   It turns around and plays Happy Birthday.

Me:  Okay.

Mom:  I can’t remember where I bought it.  Maybe Hallmark.

Me:  Okay.

Mom:  I’m not really sure how it works.

Me:  Okay.

My first clue that this was not going to be a demure little reusable spinning cake topper was the warning:  Do not use near anything that can catch on fire.

Fair enough.

Second clue:  Light the center with the enclosed long wooden stick.  Use horizontally or you will burn yourself.

Good advice.

Check out the flame on this little sucker.

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As the center flames burns, it lights the outer petals’ candles.  Then the magic happens:  the flower begins to turn and music plays “Happy Birthday”.

It was very exciting, in a bungee-jumping-thrill-seeking way.  Nancy wanted to get the fire extinguisher, just in case.   Banjo Man bravely made sure all the little candles were lit.  Son-in-law Mike wanted to know how it worked.  Mom wouldn’t tell anyone what she paid for it.  And I desperately–and unsuccessfully–tried to figure out how to use the video recording feature on my new camera.

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If you want more excitement at your next birthday, click here.

Posted in family, food | 3 Comments