Photo Friday: Firsts

August 22, 2014August 22, 20143 Comments

So, last night was Bubbles’ first football injury. He got tackled and landed on the ball, bruising his ribs. Poor guy was heartbroken when the doctor in the emergency room told him he couldn’t play football till his family doctor released him to play, which won’t be till next week at the earliest.

injury

I’m just glad he didn’t break anything – football’s a rough game. And with any luck, he’ll be back at it in time for his first game next weekend.

Don’t forget to stop by Charnele’s blog and check out her firsts! Have a great weekend! 🙂

Photo 365 #14

August 21, 2014August 22, 20142 Comments

My boys love their kitties:

Sometimes, though, they love them a little too much. A couple minutes after I took this, Socks managed to free herself from Cricket’s grasp.

Still, she fared better than Bubbles did today. But that’s a story for tomorrow’s post.

All good things…

August 20, 2014August 20, 20142 Comments

As the old saying goes, all good things must come to an end, and so it is for the Summer Reads Blog Tour. Here to wrap things up is our lovely host, Lisa L. Wiedmeier, with a few thoughts on what has been, for me – and hopefully for you, too – a fantastic time.

Summer Reads Blog Tour

Week Twelve & Thirteen

I keep staring at the calendar to my left, staring at it and wondering where the weeks have gone. Are you doing the same thing? *shakes head* Twelve, almost thirteen glorious weeks of summer have already flown by and in those weeks we’ve had the pleasure of meeting other great authors and hearing a whole lot about what their favorite reads are. When I started planning out this Blog Tour with Sam, we had decided that we wanted to give to you the opportunity to learn about our other author friends, and pass on to you the pleasure of perhaps finding new reads, some off the beaten path, for your enjoyment.

As this Summer Reads Blog Tour winds down…

Photo 365 #13

August 20, 2014August 20, 20143 Comments

Today marks the first day of the new school year, and it’s already been a bit wild.

Between cleaning up after some naughty kitties, tracking down those last few supplies, and chasing little brothers around, it’s been rather hectic. But it’s good to be back in a routine, too.

Here’s to another great year! 🙂

Photo 365 #12

August 19, 20147 Comments

So you know how I said the other day that if there was a better fragrance than fresh-cut grass and fresh apples I didn’t know it? I was wrong.

The one scent that’s better than those is the smell of applesauce cooking on the stove (and simmering in the crock pot, because I made two batches). I took a few chunks out of my thumb and I’ve been on my feet working with apples for the last ten hours or so, but judging by what I was able to taste (which was admittedly little because I burned the tar out of my tongue), it was all worth it. 🙂

It’s release day!

August 19, 2014Leave a comment

InTheRearview-MariaAnnGreen It’s release day for Maria Ann Green’s debut novel, In the Rearview, and I’m super excited to help her celebrate! If you like YA Contemporary, you might like this book – I know I think it looks interesting.

So, what’s it about? Well, in case you missed my last two posts about it, here’s the blurb:

When Meagan’s secret is found out, and she realizes there is no way to outrun her habit of cutting, she tries to work through it, and her depression, before she cuts too deep, making a mistake that can never be undone.

Meagan’s problems aren’t like every other adolescent’s no matter how much she wishes they could be. Hers are worse. They’ve pulled her down into the depths of a depression that is anything but normal. She begins her pattern of self-harm as her depression threatens to drown her. She starts with one cut that leads to the next, and the next. After starting, it’s apparent that there’s no stopping, and Meagan spirals into a dark and cruel world she doesn’t understand. Meagan cuts to feel better, but that comfort doesn’t last long enough, and soon life is worse than it ever was before.

While learning to quit cutting Meagan faces life-altering obstacles and grows up in the process. In the Rearview is a story of pain, loss, confusion, and hope told through Meagan’s poems, journal entries, and a splash of narrative.

Interested? Then keep reading, because I’ve got an excerpt from the book right here:

Photo 365 #11

August 18, 20147 Comments

I woke up to the devastating news that we’ve lost yet another cat.

Calico

This time it wasn’t one of the kittens, but Mrs. Calico herself. A great mama and a fantastic mouser, Calico was one of the sweetest kitties I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. She was apparently out hunting last night or early this morning when someone ran over her near our driveway.

I didn’t say anything to the kids this morning, but they’re going to be terribly upset tonight when they find out. This makes six cats we’ve lost since May (unnamed kitten, Oscar, Freckles, Minnie, Katniss, and Calico all died; it’s seven if you count Patches, who went to a new home), and I don’t think I can take any more of this.

I really hope the boys didn’t let Shadow out this morning, because I’m afraid we might not see him again if they did. He’s very shy and likes to hide – last time we let him out, he ended up stuck in the garage overnight because we couldn’t find him.

Rest in peace, Mrs. Calico, and take care of your babies in heaven.

Photo 365 #10

August 17, 2014Leave a comment

I spent this afternoon collecting apples while Seymour mowed lawn.

If anything smells better than fresh cut grass and fresh apples, I don’t know what it is.

In the Rearview giveaway!

August 17, 20141 Comment

InTheRearview-MariaAnnGreen Remember a while back when I shared the cover for Maria Ann Green’s forthcoming book, In the Rearview? Well, on Friday she announced a giveaway, and I’ve got all the details right here! Here’s Maria to tell you all about it in her own words:

GIVEAWAY PACKAGE STUFF:

*The How: Anyone who buys my book, In the Rearview, in any e-version the first week it’s out, August 19th – 26th, and sends me an email verification (screen shot your purchase confirmation, forward the confirmation email, take a picture of your computer screen – honestly whatever works) will be entered into the drawing to win a pretty cool set of prizes. Send the emails to: magauthorgiveaway@gmail.com

*About In the Rearview: When Meagan’s secret is found out, and she realizes there is no way to outrun her habit of cutting, she tries to work through it, and her depression, before she cuts too deep, making a mistake that can never be undone.

Meagan’s problems aren’t like every other adolescent’s …More details behind the cut.