I'm REALLY a Writer!

I have been writing my whole life.
From a little girl with Diaries, to my dear Blog.  I have written newsletters, proof for marketing writers, and have always loved writing letters.
For me the words flow better on paper than through my lips.  I can't always say what I mean unless I am writing it.  On print, the thoughts come out, uninterrupted and more how I mean to say what I mean.

I am a reader.  I escaped to storybooks as soon as I could read.  The library was my friend.  Everything about the massive old buildings with the hundreds of books enticed me. I loved every minute spent in the library.  I still do.

I know a few real writers.
I have blogged recently about one of them.  My High School Club Sister, Sherri Wood Emmons  and her two wonderful novels ("Prayers & Lies", and "The Sometimes Daughter"). Her second one is about to be release to the general public and I do not doubt that it will be just as successful if  not more so.

A few months back, Sherri asked me to send her a review of some favorite books.  I gladly did, and to my surprise, she connected me with "Just Women", magazine, and submitted my reviews.  They wanted to use them and printed in their Fall issue a full page!  I can not tell you how honored and thrilled I am!  And I actually got paid for it!!!

 So totally cool!  I feel very proud and validated. I know it's something small to many, but it is HUGE to me.  Sherri truly has made me feel wonderful and I am so grateful.
To my dear Bloggland friend Linda (over at Over The Fence) is it this wonderful every time you write in your column? How exhilarating!

It's Begining to look a lot like Christmas

It started snowing this morning. Chilly too. My most current excuse for not attempting to finish with the lights. (I have gotten the two boxwoods finished & 1/3 of the Magnolia tree).
Trying to finish things up around the home. I got the tree done. I let the dogs see it & Bandit got a little too excited... He won't be allowed back in the living room until after the tree is down.

Our Tree this year, is a mismatch of new and old. It has a lot of old hand-made from the girls, Precious Moments, their favorite hallmarks over the years, as well as this & that's we have collected. The girls use to have their own tree in their bonus room that was always very fun. I have done all home-made, and I have done all white or other themes.

My old glass ornaments go in a fishbowl on the coffee table.  I wish I had thought of this years ago as many have not survived children & cats. Here they are safe and I can see them well.

The mantel is coming along. I love the old Tonka truck that was Sergio's sitting on the hearth. I also love catching him smile at it.

A gathering of Santas. I do love them. In different styles and vintage as well as new.  The two old ones in the center belonged to my Grandmother Peggy & maybe Grandmother Noel prior to that. The one with a light bulb in his nose is so frail.  I never plug it in as the cord is older than I! I remember my parents sitting hit up on the bar when I was young.

Finally the good stuff.  The best Christmas decorations, the ones that I will never part with.  The precious goodies my babies made. These are my favorites.  Some have permanent spot, displayed through out the year.

My dear Blogger friend Linda over at Over the Fence inspired me to share a little of my Christmas cheer. I love how she gives us glimpses. It's like sharing a cup of coffee while enjoying her Christmas cheer.

I still have a ways to go.  But, getting there gradually.

Got some great music on too.  I am playing my friend Brooke's playlist from  Brookie's Cookie Jar . She also has a lovely Blog and always great jams. Gosh... so grateful for my Bloggy Buddies!
One more picture for you...
This is my bed last night @ 2am. Im am actually squeezed in between the cat & dogs, with the rest of me up the pillow side.  With Sergio out of town on business, four of the 6 critters that live with us, like to keep me warm at night!

Love to all♥

Sugar Doll? Me?

My Blogger Buddy Bridgette sent me this "The Fabulous Sugar Doll Blogger Award". Awe! Really Bridgette? Thank you sooo much! You are the Sugar Doll but I love that you sent this to me!
Bridgette has a lovely blog here:
http://bridgettetaylor.blogspot.com/
Life's a Beach
She is a breath of fresh air! A young perspective. An adorable fun girl. I love reading here blog. I hope you will too.

Okay...
Play time! Ten things about me? Okay, let me try:

1. I never have enough time in the day to get things accomplished that I intend.
2. Disappointing others is a big fear of mine.
3. Once upon a time I was "double jointed"
4. Both my daughters are left handed and I suspect I would be too if I I did not learn to write in the 60's, when teachers forced us to use our right hand.
5. I am in the process of forming a Bunco Group of friends.
6. I strongly believe in Paying it Forward.
7. I don't do astronomy, psychic readings or any of this nature since becoming a Catholic.
8. I believe all animals have feelings and thoughts.
9. I think you should always give respect even before receiving it.
10. I rarely think I am good enough, smart enough or liked enough. (I have self-esteem issues).

Passing this award along. Gosh, I don't want to stalk my favorites, I just passed another on to a few Blogger friends. Bridgette deserves this but she already got it. Hmm, Let me think..sorry for the repeating but some are such Dolls I can't resist!

1. Brooke at http://www.brookiescookies.blogspot.com/ She is the sweeties doll I have met in Blogland, gotta send it her way.

2. Mandy at http://www.byrdonfire.blogspot.com/ She too is wonderful and I have enjoyed her blog for quite a while.

3. Lori at http://www.loritimesfive.blogspot.com/ She is just amazing and inspiring! We all love her writings.

4. Rosaria at http://www.sixtyfivewhatnow.blogspot.com/ She is one of the best composed writers I have read. she has a lovely way of sharing her wisdom, her life stories, and wit. She is encouraging and uplifting. I am grateful to have found her.

5. Anne from http://www.justiandmyself.blogspot.com/ My fairly new friend from South Africa who inspires me and educates me too.

6. Linda at http://www.my-over-the-fence.blogspot.com/ One of my original top fives. Linda reminds me of how alike we are yet enough difference to make her interesting and intriguing.

Oh I could go on and on. I love all my blogger friends and am grateful that they entertain me, encourage me, educate me, and love me!

Montetize

New item in my tabs I noticed this morning before writing a posting. "MONETIZE" If you use Blogspot, you have it too. It allows you to have ads on your blog that will pay you for using your space.

Recently, a friend suggested I put ads on my blog to make a little extra cash. I declined, and I hope you will too.

Let me explain.

When I visit blogs, I am interested in the person, the subject, the blog in general. Besides the content of the blog, I love gadgets. I enjoy the gadgets like pictures, music, list, blog followers. I love the profile on the side bar. I love bloggers that change their layouts.

I can count on "Over the Fence", to have seasonal backgrounds bringing new cheer of each holiday. "Willow Manor", lets me know what she is reading, eating, and here current tea."FireByrd", always have the coolest photo at the top of her blog that changes periodically. "Count Your Blessings", & "Musings from the Deep" always share my music interest with great playlist. "Lori Times Five" & "One Foot in Front of the Other" have blog list showing new postings on their favorite blogs.

I have wandered onto a few blogs that have the advertisements. Hate them! They distract me. They depersonalize the blog. They irritate me. Most likely, I wont return to that blog, regardless to the content of the blog. It bugs me that much.

So, you wont be seeing the distracting ads on my blog. Tempting to wave a dollar at me, but not worth capitalism. Hopefully you too will reframe.

Diego!

Meet Diego. He was one of many pets we have had over the years. Annie had a friend who's family raised Hedgehogs and she developed an interest and love for these spiky little critters. Diego was the rut of a litter and was given to her.

Recently I read a post from "Over The Fence". Linda had written a great piece on family pets. If I attempted this, it would be a novel. I have had many, many four legged critters, as well as feathered and reptile buddies. Oh and lest we forget the fish!

Anyway, Linda's post got me thinking about some of the more interesting critters we have had. Having a Hedgehog was always a conversation starter. He traveled to school with Emily & Annie, "worked" with me at Holy Spirit's After School program, and entertained many family and friends.

Diego was a great sport. He would let us dress him up in Barbie hats, ride in Barbie cars, and play in doll castles. The cats & dogs never bothered him. Curious at first, but soon enough understood this little guy has quite the defensive mechanism of curling into a ball, hissing and jerking into evil little stings of his quills. (He is not related to a porcupine, so not he did not spray the quills out, they stung more like cat scratch fever does when you get scratched).

Hedgehogs do not make the best pets. They are nocturnal, therefore, can't stay in a child's bedroom as they play all night and sleep most the day. They also are fragile and not recommended for children under eight, or anyone that is not as careful and patient as we were. Not the most affectionate, yet he tolerated us and live a pampered full life. Diego is no longer with us. He passed away a few years back. Still, he will forever hold a spot in our hearts.