Debbie’s Blog
Treasures from My Grandmother
I've been working in my yarn room, sorting through my stash–going through the projects I have lined up to work on and dreaming about others. The urge came after I received a package from my cousin Linda, who mailed me several crocheted projects our grandmother had made. Oh, what a treasure to open that box and lay my hands on the things Grandma had created. As far as I know, I'm the only grandchild who inherited her love of needlework. She died when I was four or five, and this is all I have that was hers. It's enough. It's more than enou
Happy Birthday to Jaz!
It’s my oldest granddaughter’s birthday today. Jazmine Lynn is 17. Okay, stop just a minute. That’s impossible. I was in the room when she was born, and no way . . . Read more
My Path to Writing . . .
Monday morning and I’m eager to get to my desk, but first I have to make a pathway through a sea of dog toys. And since Bogie loves to chase and ‘kill’ his toy bunny, squirrel and lamb, there’s usually a pile of stuffing mixed in with everything else . . . a graveyard of injured toys. Naturally, once he’s designed this obstacle course for me, he leaps onto the sofa and promptly falls asleep. Isn’t that just like a male?
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Eating Well and Losing Weight
I haven’t been able to blog much this week, as I’ve been away at a spa in Texas where they encourage minimal use of modern devices like cell phones and laptops. I’m here with other women authors for health, spiritual enrichment, and weight loss. I’ve been eating really well, but low fat and have actually lost weight. I’ve fallen in love with vegetables all over again! I’ve been setting goals, working on plot ideas, and reassessing things that I want to do for the year. It’s been a fabulous week.&nb
Cold in the South
I know it’s hard to generate a lot of sympathy from those of you who are in our nation’s colder climes, but its very cold here in Florida. We’ve had temperatures dip into the low 30s, and in the Orlando/Ocala area they’ve had a hard freeze. Poor Bogie is so cold he’s sleeping on my lap instead of his usual position at my feet. I’m bundling up and sipping hot chocolate and thinking of heading further south, but we can only go so far!
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Lost and Found Department
Wayne, Bogie and I flew to our winter home and welcomed the New Year here in Florida. I enjoyed the long flight as it gave me uninterrupted knitting time. I worked on a pair of fingerless gloves for my daughter that were originally intended as a Christmas gift. I finished one glove and showed it off to Wayne and the flight attendant and anyone else whose interest I could attract. Unfortunately, I left the yarn on board the plane. I was upset but got little sympathy from my husband who said, “Want to call 9-1-1?” Well, it j
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
This afternoon I’m doing a dessert social at the Victorian Rose Tea Room here in Port Orchard. I’ve done a number of events with this restaurant and gift shop. My daughter, Jody Rose, is the manager there and it’s always a special time. This, however is the first time I’ve done a “Dessert with Debbie.” The Breakfast with Debbie is always nice and the food is wonderful, and I’ve always enjoyed Tea with Debbie, too, but Dessert with Debbie? Now that, my friends is a natural. I don’t know why no one has thought of this sooner Read more
Five Days before Christmas
Panic has started to set in. Five days until Christmas and I'm still working on my cards, wrapping and mailing. What's worse, remember all those fabulous goodies stacked up in our kitchen that Wayne still isn't eating? Homemade cookies, candies, fruitcake. Well, they keep calling my name! While munching on bagels and cream cheese, I'm searching websites for diet plans. Did you know Rachel Ray lost 40 pounds drinking berry juice? I wonder if that would work with hot chocolate.
Christmas Diet
Wayne is on a low-fat diet. He decided he needs to eat healthier–in the middle of December, when the kitchen is crammed full of goodies! We have home-baked cookies and candies galore that my granddaughters and I made for my Christmas teas. Plus chocolates. Lots of chocolates. I was bringing the goodies into the office until my staff told me STOP. So who does that leave to enjoy all these delights? Me! And I can only swim so much to balance all this out. I will support my husband’s decision, but until the first of the yea Read more
100 and Counting!
My Aunt Betty turned 101 yesterday. I called to wish her a Happy Birthday and couldn't get through because she had so many other people calling to wish her happiness on her special day. Besides longevity, my aunt is an amazing woman in many other ways. She was recently written up in the local Aberdeen, South Dakota, newspaper for a volunteer award. All her life my Aunt Betty has given to others. Her award, in part, was for helping the “old people” at BINGO. Yup, I want to be just like her someday.
Sweet Rewards
The Seahawks play tonight on Monday night football, and we’re going to be there. Go Hawks! Did you hear our running back, Marshawn Lynch , got an endorsement deal with Skittles candies plus something like a five-year supply? Apparently, when he scores a touchdown, he rewards himself with a handful of Skittles. It was a practice started back in this high school days with his mom. Read more
A Swimming Tradition
I hosted my annual Swimmers Tea yesterday afternoon. It’s always fun to see what my swimming friends look like when I’m wearing my glasses, let alone when everyone is dressed in street clothes. I get a kick out of watching the guys hold onto a dainty tea cup and balance a plate of goodies on their lap, but they seem to enjoy it as much as the ladies. I’ve been swimming with this same group for more than twenty years. This is another tradition I always look forward to during the holidays. Read more
Christmas Traditions
I’m off with my daughters and granddaughters to see the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Cinderella. Read more
Christmas Author Lunch
I was in Seattle yesterday for our annual author lunch with local writers. Christina Dodd hosted the event in her new downtown condo, and my long-time friend, Linda Lael Miller, made the trip over the mountain pass from Spokane for the party. It’s always fun to gather together, share our favorite recipes (most of which came from a local deli!) and receive updates and business news. I came home inspired and uplifted, and really, isn’t that what friends are for? Read more
How Many Days ’til Christmas?!?
I always feel a slight sense of panic after Thanksgiving. It's less than a month until Christmas. I've barely started my shopping, baking, or thought about my Christmas cards. Every year I swear I'll get started early and breeze through the holidays. Ha! Every year it’s the same thing . . . but deep down I love it. I'm heading off to Seattle to meet a friend and shop and then go out to dinner. Revisions can wait an extra day . . . it’s the holidays, after all.
My Favorite Dessert
I am blessed. There are no two ways about it. In fact I have so many blessings that I keep a tally of them in a book I call My Ode to Joy. Every morning I write down five things for which I’m most grateful, and the list is miles long.
I have a new entry to add today. I’ve been asked to be one of the pie judges for PARADE magazine’s All-American Pie-off. I had to read the e-mail three times to believe they had asked me.
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A Perfect Compromise
Wayne and I have reached a conclusion that could quite possibly save our marriage. We can’t shop at Costco together. He races through the warehouse, weaving the cart in and out of those aisles like a NASCAR driver. I, on the other hand, enjoy a leisurely stroll down the aisles. I come to a complete stop at the book section and often spend as long as ten to fifteen minutes looking at the movies and music offerings. And now that the Christmas goodies are on display, well, I could be in the store a full hour, perhaps longer. Wayne is in and o Read more
Letter from a Reader
If you’ve ever heard me speak, you know I often read comments from letters I’ve received from my readers over the years—comments that almost always bring a smile. I’ve got a new one to add to the list and thought I’d share it with you.
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Dedicated to . . .
I hope no one minds if I brag a bit. My knitting and writing friend, Christina Skye, dedicated her book, A HOME BY THE SEA, to me. This is a follow-up to Christina’s story in KNITTING DIARIES, which was published earlier this year.
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Airport Encounter
Wayne and I flew from Orlando to Seattle last Friday. A friendly woman sat next to me at the gate while we were waiting to board our plane. When she asked me where I was from and I told her Port Orchard, she immediately exclaimed there was a famous writer who lived there. She’d never read any of her books, but she’d just picked one up at the airport. She said it sounded like a good story and decided to give her a try, and wondered if I knew her.
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For the Love of Roses
Wayne forgot my birthday, mainly because I wasn’t home to remind him. I was in Hartford, Connecticut at Stitches East, an amazing knitting conference with an even more amazing market. Market–as in they sell even more amazing yarns! When I casually mentioned what I’d be doing ON MY BIRTHDAY, I could hear the panic in Wayne’s voice and knew the date had completely slipped his mind. I reassured him it was no big deal and that I’d simply purchase my own gift. Since I was in yarn market heaven, it wouldn’t be a probl
Punt, Pass & Kick
Our family was given the opportunity to participate in an athletic event this week: Punt, Pass and Kick, sponsored by the Seahawks football team.
Man Cave vs. Yarn Stash
Wayne has stepped over the line. He “suggested” that since we are remodeling the basement (the basement houses my yarn stash and his wine collection), I take all my yarn and move it elsewhere, preferably upstairs or, even better, to the yarn store. Moving my yarn will allow him to create a man cave. I mulled over his “suggestion” and came up with one of my own–to take all his wine and store it on his half of the bed. All those who agree say “Aye!” Read more
Making Cider
We had apples–now we have cider. But making that cider led to a lot of tired muscles. Even with our grown children, their spouses, friends, and the grandkids' help, Wayne and I woke with sore muscles and aching backs Saturday morning. As Wayne announced, "We're getting old, Debbie." Old, us? No way. But I wasn't fooling anyone as I hobbled around. Wayne spent the afternoon doing what he calls “plotting” (better known as napping—would that plotting were that easy!), and I watched old videos and knitted.
A Truckload of Apples
We have apples. Lots and lots of apples. Dick Coolen, a swimming friend, has 300 apple trees on his property. He picked an entire truckload of apples and dropped them off at the house for . . . drum roll, please . . . making cider. One set of grandkids is coming over tonight to help Wayne and me. I’m cooking dinner and making apple crisp for dessert. I do so love the fall season. Read more