Walks with Bogie
Bogie and I have been going out for a walk every morning. We have our own route, winding around the neighborhood. It isn’t nearly as hot in the mornings here in Florida as it gets in the afternoons. We’ve made good friends along the way. Bogie especially likes it when he meets up with Tommy and Molly, the two dogs who live across the street. (He thinks Molly is hot stuff!) We’ve also run into a few rabbits and lots of squirrels. Bogie ignores the rabbits, but he lets it be known if he wasn’t on a leash those squirrels would be g Read more
Snakes, Dead or Alive?
Bogie and I were out for our walk early yesterday morning when we saw a dead snake in the road.
Lovebugs
We’ve been invaded with lovebugs here in Florida. Trust me, there is nothing romantic about these small black flies. It is their habit to attach themselves to one another, and they are everywhere. The male is smaller–about one quarter of an inch–and the female is bigger, about a third of an inch. Last Saturday I was at the local farmers market and had to leave because walking around was impossible. I kept waving my hands in front of my face. This infestation happens twice a year in Florida, spring and autumn, but it’s never been Read more
Happy Birthday, Jenny Adele!
Today is our daughter, Jenny Adele’s, birthday. It’s a biggie for her because it has a big, fat zero in it. She was feeling a bit uncertain about hitting this landmark. To ease the transition, she, her husband, and their best friends traveled to Florida to share this time with her father and me. We’ve had a blast, shopping, touring, eating meals out, and simply enjoying being together. Every birthday is special, but the ones when we can be together are even more so. Read more
Happy Mother’s Day!
I have a break in my tour so I can spend Mother’s Day in Port Orchard. Today my daughters accompanied me to the signing in Redmond, WA—what a great time it was, despite the rain we had on the way home! Tomorrow we’re planning a big family BBQ—rain or shine. Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers!
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On the Road
I’m getting to be a real trooper with this road travel. The stop in Tallahassee was a wonderful event at a farmer ‘s market. I enjoyed looking at the produce and had a hard time not buying any of the beautifully displayed vegetables. (I couldn’t take any with me!) I did have a good time visiting Wooly Bully, the local yarn shop. Of course, I bought yarn!
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Feeling Worlds Better
I've always been something of a drama queen, or so my husband tells me. Plus, I have a low pain threshold. The combination of the two sent me to the hospital yesterday with the absolute assurance (on my part) that I was dying. As Wayne was driving me into the local ER, I was giving him a list of instructions on what he needed to do in the event of my demise. Well, to make a long story short, I survived the ordeal, am feeling much better and shall live to write for yet another day.
Debbie is Ill
Debbie has taken ill and doctors have asked her to cancel the first two stops on her upcoming book tour (Vero Beach Book Center and Hagen Ranch Road Branch Library in Delray Beach). Stay tuned about news on Tallahassee and further stops.
Happy Easter!
Wayne and I are in Port Orchard with our family. We’ve been busy stuffing Easter eggs for our annual grandkid extravaganza. My daughters and I are cooking, baking, shopping and . . . enjoying all the goodies! It’s so good to be with family and to celebrate the resurrection of our savior. Happy Easter, everyone!
P.S. Video of one of our Easter egg hunts is on my Facebook page, with Bogie stealing an egg!
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Easter with Family
This is a red letter day for me. I finished my book STARTING NOW, which will be released as a hardcover in 2012, and I’m packing my suitcase for Easter in Port Orchard. Wayne and I fly out of Orlando on Wednesday and will be spending the holiday with our family. (Think Easter Egg Hunt and a huge family dinner!) We arrive back in Florida on Monday. Then on Tuesday I start my tour for A TURN IN THE ROAD in Vero Beach. Read more
Church Signs
My daughter and her family were visiting last week. Knowing how much I enjoy church signs, Jody purchased a book for me on the subject. Leafing through the pictures I picked out a few of my favorites to share with you.
We need to talk . . . God
Honk if you love Jesus–text if you want to meet Him
Don’t wait for six men to take you to church.
Don’t give up. Moses was a basket case
Free trip to heaven . . . details inside
Aren’t these just plain fun? Read more
Fresh Veggies
Wayne and I have been eating a lot of fresh vegetables lately. We signed up with a local farming group called Veggies of Vero and an assortment of veggies is delivered to our doorstep every week. It sort of forces me to plan the meal around that week’s selection, which is a good thing. Last night I fried up some green tomatoes.
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Sweet Sixteen
I was present at her birth when my first grandchild, Jazmine, was born. From the moment I first held her, Jazmine and I have had a special bond. Jazmine turned 16 this January and I’m so proud of the young woman she’s become. In a moment of weakness and pride I told her I’d take her anywhere she wanted to go, and she said, (gulp!) New York city. So we waited until spring break, and took the birthday trip this week.
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True or False?
One of the following statements IS TRUE. Can you choose which one?
1. Wayne has left me for another woman half his age.
2. I’ve given up writing forever and am moving to New Zealand to start a new life.
3. James Cameron just picked up my latest novel for a huge blockbuster movie costing millions and millons of dollars.
4. Oprah wants to write a feature article about me for her magazine.
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My Dog
Wayne and I are dog lovers. Before Bogie we had Peterkins. I picked Peterkins out of the litter; I house trained him; I took him to the vet ; I fed him . . . and he was Wayne’s dog. He followed Wayne everywhere. He loved Wayne and sort of put up with me.
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Florida Down Pour
It rained all day yesterday. If you haven’t seen a Florida rainstorm you wouldn’t know what I’m talking about. One would think that, living in the Pacific Northwest, Wayne and I would be familiar with rain. (I saw a T-shirt once that claimed those who live in Seattle don’t tan, they rust.) Well, here’s the truth of the matter. Seattle gets less annual rainfall than New York City. What Seattle does have is the drizzle factor. All I can tell you is that after yesterday I know what real rain is. Read more
Nine Fingers
I ct my idex figer ad ca oly type wit 9 figers. It bled a lot ad hurt like te dickes. I leared my lesso. Badage comes off tomorrow. Read more
Flamingos & Swimming Pools
I have a small confession to make. My daily exercise routine has been hit and miss ever since I was sick earlier this winter. Yesterday I took action. My friend, Lauren Chapin, and I, decided to join a gym. I’m excited because Jungle Gym has a lap pool, and swimming is my favorite form of exercise. We also signed up for Pilates classes. We start next week. and I can hardly wait. By the time I’m on tour I should be looking good . . . okay, I might be able to stand on one foot like a flamingo.
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Back in the Saddle Again!
It took the “Miracle Worker,” aka the Computer Repair man, two days to get my computer up and running at full speed again. By the time he finished I was so grateful I would have paid him almost anything. I’m doing my happy dance–I can write again! My characters are cheering and so am I. Read more
Tomorrow
Tuesday morning I was anxious to get to my computer. The story was flowing through my mind and my fingertips were itching for my keyboard. I bee-bopped down the stairs to my office, turned on my computer, and brewed myself a cup of coffee. When I returned to the office the computer screen was blank. I stared at it a few minutes, pushed every button I could think to push, and still it remained blank. I called Wayne to come help. Nothing. I made a frantic call to the computer repairman. He couldn’t come until late afternoon.  Read more
Cooking with Gas
We're out of gas. Natural gas, that is. The tank went dry just as I was about to take a shower. No gas means no hot water and I'm long past the days that I appreciate a cold shower. I could blame Wayne for this as he's the one in charge of seeing to these things. However, if I did that he might not be so willing to take me out to dinner tonight. You see, I won't be cooking with gas, either!
Birthday Celebration in Naples
Wayne and I are off to Naples, FL tomorrow afternoon. Our Arizona friends, Joan and Bob McKeon, are visiting their daughter, Kelly, and her family to celebrate Kelly’s birthday. Wayne and I are joining them for the festivities. Joan is an amazing knitter and crocheter, and I’m inspired every time we have a chance to get together. Sunday afternoon we’re driving to St. Read more
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Although all four of my grandparents were Russian/German immigrants from Odessa, near the Black Sea in the Ukraine, today I’m Irish. I’m wearing a green shirt, green shoes and green jewelry and tonight Wayne and I will be dining on corned beef and cabbage. Read more
Brotherly Love
My brother, Terry, his wife, Cheryl, and their family are visiting this week from Kansas City. If you’ve ever heard me speak, you know that my brother unwittingly played a major role in my publishing career. He is responsible for my very first sale. The year I was in the 8th grade my brother and two of my cousins copied my diary and sold it to the boys in my class. Read more
A Writers Den
While in Florida I have a home office where Bogie positions himself close by while I write. It’s nice and comforting to have his warm body snuggle up against my toes. He brings in his chew toys and his bones and amuses himself when he isn’t napping. It wasn’t until I brought in a friend to show them my office that I realized what had happened. My office resembles a dinosaur dig with no less than 10 bones littering the carpet along with his fuzzy friends and chew toys. I hadn’t even noticed that my Bogie had completely taken over my office! Read more