Photo Friday: Endings!

endcornWho doesn’t love endings?  Well, okay, if it’s the end of a fantastic book, or if it’s the end of a particularly beloved character (still bitter), or if a relationship is ending, then I don’t like them.  As the great Jane Austen once said, “If a book is well-written, I always find it too short.”

But today’s ending is more in tune with the circle of life.  While it’s true that a circle really has no beginning and has no ending, life does (which makes “the circle of life” something of an oxymoron, doesn’t it?), and now that we’re well into fall, you can see endings everywhere.

Over the summer, my aunt took a picture of the kids standing in front of the corn that grows at the edge of our yard.  She wanted me to get another picture of the boys in front of the corn this fall, but I kept putting it off, and the weather recently didn’t help.

I came home from work one day and discovered that…

Photo Friday: Beginnings

This picture actually features a beginning as well as a middle and an end:

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The top notebook (as well as the draft beneath it) contains my revisions for The Price of Mercy.  I’m just over halfway through the rewrite/revision process, judging by total page count.  Of course, I still have a lot of work ahead, but I hope I’ll be able to start querying in January.  It’s definitely a stronger story now than when I initially queried it a couple of years ago (I still don’t know what I was thinking then).

But the bottom notebook holds a brand new short story that I started working on late yesterday afternoon.  It’s not as fluffy as my usual work, but I hope it’s good.

Don’t forget to stop by Charnele’s blog and check out her beginnings!

(c) 2014.  All rights reserved.

Photo Friday: Seasons change

fallfieldSummer is a thing of the past, that’s for sure.  Though fall officially started nearly two weeks ago, it hasn’t yet felt truly fall-like outside.

That all changed this morning, when I awoke to wind gusts that were approaching 40 mph.  I know the saying is all about March coming in like a lion, but I think it’s true of October, too, especially today.

Anyway, the green fields of corn have been slowly turning to gold of late, and I must admit, the sight always quickens my blood.  I love fall. 🙂

I hope October’s been treating you right so far!  I can’t wait to see what the rest of the month will bring.  In the meantime, don’t forget to stop by Charnele’s blog to read all about the seasons (or lack thereof) in Jamaica!

What’s your favorite season?

(c) 2014.  All rights reserved.

Photo Friday: Favorites

Today is a pretty special day, so I have a pretty special picture to share:

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Five years ago, I married my best friend, and this is one of my favorite pictures from that day.  It’s hard to believe it’s been five years – we’ve packed so much into so short a time, but I wouldn’t trade a minute of it.  We’ve moved twice, added two beautiful boys to our family, and embarked on another remodeling adventure.  I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the next five years, and the five after that, and the five after that…

Don’t forget to stop by Charnele’s blog and check out some of her favorite things!  What are some of your favorites?

(c) 2014.  All rights reserved.

Photo Friday: Stories!

So today’s prompt is about stories.  Quite convenient, really, as I just posted an interview with the main character from The Price of Mercy.

story

Revision work continues.  I got absolutely nothing done on it yesterday, but I managed to eke out a few paragraphs this noon while on my lunch break.  I wish either a.) that lunch breaks were longer so I could get more done, or b.) that someone would pay me to stay home and write all day.

Since neither of those things are likely to happen anytime soon, I guess I’ll just have to keep plugging away a few minutes at a time.  Don’t forget to check out Charnele’s blog and see what stories she’s into.  Happy Friday, everybody!

(c) 2014.  All rights reserved.

Photo Friday: Birthdays!

Today, Bubbles turns eleven.  How in the world is it possible that my beautiful baby boy is suddenly eleven?

Startin' 'em off young FTW.

Startin’ ’em off young FTW.

Since this is his weekend at his dad’s, we had his birthday supper last night: Spaghetti with meat sauce and chocolate cake with chocolate frosting (and the Heath bits leftover from Tuesday night’s Pampered Chef party).  After he opened his presents, we cleaned up and put the boys to bed before settling in for an episode of Star Trek: Voyager.  It was a good night, and I hope his day and night today will be just as fun.

I love you, Bubbles. ❤

Do you have any family traditions surrounding birthdays?  If so, share ’em below, and don’t forget to stop by Charnele’s blog and check out her birthday pictures – you won’t regret it!

(c) 2014.  All rights reserved.

Photo Friday: Party time!

Gotta love a party, man.  In my family, September is full of parties: my grandpa’s birthday is today (he’d be 79 – miss you, Grandpa!), Bubbles’ birthday is a week from today (he’ll be 11 – how the heck did that happen?!), my cousin’s birthday is the following weekend, my anniversary is the week after that (five years sure have flown by!), and then the month ends on my mother-in-law’s birthday.  That’s a whole lot of activity to pack into 30 short days.

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And yet, today’s picture has nothing to do with any of those things.  Today’s picture is all about a party with great friends, thanks to a post I was tagged in on Facebook a couple hours ago.  These three ladies have been my best friends for…well, forever, and I can’t imagine not having them to talk to and laugh with, even if we no longer talk to or laugh with each other as often as we used to do.  Growing up has a way of making that happen, it seems.  And yet, on those rare occasions when we do get together, it’s as if nothing has changed.

Gotta love it.

I hope you all have a happy Friday and a fantastic weekend!  Don’t forget to see what Charnele’s got posted for this week’s prompt!

(c) 2014.  All rights reserved.

Photo Friday: Lasts

I had so many fun ideas for a photo post about lasts.  See, I’ve got this post that’s been incubating for a week now, and it would be a perfect lasts post, but then I thought of this picture:

Oh, Gretchen, how we miss you!

Oh, Gretchen, how we miss you!

This was my last official day of high school.  Graduation day.  Both bitter and sweet, I find it hard to believe that it’s been twelve years since this picture was taken.  I’d love to say we all stayed in touch, but we didn’t.  Well, three of us did, and I couldn’t be more pleased about that.

Here’s hoping I get to see you lovely ladies soon!

Don’t forget to stop by Charnele’s blog and check out her post.  Have a great Friday, and an awesome Labor Day weekend!

(c) 2014.  All rights reserved.

Photo Friday: Firsts

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! 🙂

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Photo Friday: Ball

Bubbles starts fifth grade next week – my how the time has flown!

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He’s suiting up for football practice.  This year he graduates to tackle football (instead of flag football).  Before I know it, he’ll be all grown up and playing in high school.

Don’t forget to stop by Charnele’s blog and see what she’s posted, and have a great weekend!

(c) 2014.  All rights reserved.