Big Picture Thinking!

I got this cool idea the other day. In the shower. I always think better there. Maybe my brain muscle is attached to my sinuses. I get stuffy and need to clear them out so I can think straight.

Anyway. The radio station in town does a secret sound contest. Sweet hubby wanted so bad to win it the other day. He knew exactly what it was - and he was right! We all got up early, dialing our phones to try to get through. Everyone and their dogs were up dialing, too. So, no, he didn't win. But it did give me a sweet idea.

I thought it would be fun to give a little test today and see how many everyday items you can identify. I'm just going to post a few pics, but see if you can tell what they are in the close up view. Then you can "Read More" and see the actual items. Good luck!

Picture A

Picture B

Picture C

Z is for ZZZZZzzzz ...

I think I mentioned before that I have a habit of talking for my dogs. You can check out my explanation about that HERE. I talk especially for my older dog, Marcie. What can I say? She's calmer and has more expression than the overgrown puppy. Captain is all-movement all-the-time. A "man" of few words, as it were. But Marcie's expressions are priceless.

She makes for a great indoor dog, especially in a homeschooling environment. She'll pay attention when someone goes into the kitchen, but unless

V is for . . .

Vessel

I have a poem that I wrote decades ago, during a time when I actively tried to have my poems published. (Sold one! For the back of a bulletin, and I got a check for $10!) In those days, I wanted so badly to write, but

Out of Control

A stubborn young woman is so obsessed with her hobby that she can't see the threat that stalks her every move.

The controlling ranch owner tries to rescue her and manipulate everything and everyone to his way of thinking.

Only God could bring together such difficult people in a dangerous land.

Mary Connealy has revealed

Weekender

Weekend-spiration

I'm so enjoying my mornings lately. No, I'm NOT a morning person, unless you count the hours after midnight. But my mornings have been successfully highlighted for the last two weeks with a Bible study. It's not that I don't regularly study, just not in the morning.

I'm the type that sets her alarm for the latest possible time and then slaps the snooze button at

Awarded . . .

I'm so flattered to win the Versatile Blogger Award, bestowed by Christy LaShea from "At Split Ends." And she's a red-head which makes it that much better!

Winners of this award follow simple steps to sharing it with others.

1. List seven things that folks might not know about you.
2. Pass the award on to seven new bloggers and let them know.
3. Thank the blogger who gave it to you.

Okay, I'm game. (Not gamey!) Seven not-so-well-known things about me:

Bowing for the Beagle

Sweet-baby Marcie is almost 13 years old.

Humor can be a way of life for some people. I have been doubly blessed with many avenues of laughter; the stories from my mom and brother, the dry humor of my dear hubby. Even my kids, nephew and dogs get in on it. Yes, I said dogs. 

I speak for my dogs. No, I’m not an animal rights activist although I’ve been known to stop for a stray beside the road, and temporarily house a run-away until the owner could be found.  And I’ve even housed a cat before – I don’t even want to start in on cats! But that’s not at all what I

Unravel the Mystery of Grammar!

I love my critique group. Like superheroes they open their laptops and design wit and wisdom through every line! With their help, I will avoid the neon signs marking novice writing and glaring amateurish errors. Here's what I learned just last night:

• Make every word count.
• Keep statements turned toward the positive side.
• Cut up three-line sentences.
• Start sentences with intention.
• End with strong words.
• Avoid using pronouns to begin or end sentences.
• Avoid using it or this anytime
• Avoid repeating words - oops.
• Use a comma before the word "and."
• Don't apply quotations marks outside of dialogue - oops, again.
• Action verbs intensify sentences.
• Eliminate passive, helping verb usage with -ing words following.

Checklist gold, the expert suggestions from this group confirm one major truth.

 . . . I still have a lot to learn!

What suggestions can you add to the list? What grammatical tidbit wormed it's way into your noggin lately?

S is for

Seasons. Oh I love this time of year. It seems like the world explodes into color while a chill starts refreshing the days and cooling the nights.

It reminds me of the seasons of life. I'm not talking about
the four of them, childhood, active years, passive years, and old age (whatever that is). I'm talking about recurring times in our lives, both physical and spiritual, when we go through

Freezing Point Hits the Spot

Elizabeth Goddard's new book, Freezing Point certainly gave me chills! The romantic suspense, set in southern California, surrounds undercover agent, Jesse Mitchell, who poses as an ice sculptor. His task is to find out who is smuggling things in shipments of ice. The case becomes complicated when a new investigative reporter, Casey Wilkes, arrives at his place of business to interview him and create a human interest story based on an ice sculpting contest he enters. Dealing with the article and keeping his cover is hard enough, but adding a stalker from Casey's past turns complicated into catastrophic.

Ms. Goddard weaves the details of her stories in and out of so many knots, it's hard to believe how they could ever be unraveled and tied up neatly, but she has succeeded in the past, and she succeeds in this book by Love Inspired Suspense.

There are so many things to like about this story. It moves

Faith Readers' Weekly

Weekend-spiration - Am I Up to the Challenge?

This week, I embarked on an online Bible Study with ladies from all across the country. It's sponsored through a sight called Good Morning Girls and my group is a Facebook group of Homeschool moms. Over the next 12 weeks, we will take a walk through 1 John. Have you seen

For Times, They Are A'changing

There's quite a buzz going on about Wednesday's Facebook format change. I'm beginning to think that the designers have their end-goal set up, but they know that making such drastic alterations would be overwhelming. So they space out their little changes along the way. Sort of like eating an elephant one bite at a time. Hoping for only minor squabbles and expecting irritation to die down quickly, they step their way from one design to another.

It reminds me of that word game - get from warm to

Break Out the Pom Poms!

Done.

Oh that word - like sweet melodies or cascading water whispering peace against anxiety.

After four months of writing and five months of rewriting, I actually called it out and sent away the final copies of my novel to a group of beta readers.

Breathe.

It's like the time when I watched my handsome boy sing his first solo. Glad, anxious,

Fragmented

It has come to my attention, that fragments, such as they are, can be perfectly acceptable. In professional writing. I've seen many examples of it. One word sentences. Other short expressions that, while they don't have clear subjects or predicates, stand alone as a complete thought.

How many fragments could you count in the first paragraph? I'm no expert, but

Interview with Author, Jody Hedlund

Author, Jody Hedlund

Today you're in for a treat with a visit from Author, Jody Hedlund! 

I've gotten to enjoy a few treats from this amazing lady. The first was when I happened onto her blog, FULL of ideas, advice, and insight into the writing and publishing biz. I've learned so much!

The second treat was when I decided to take the plunge and read a historical fiction. I hadn't read anything historical since Jane Austen's books started being made into movies, but that was over a decade ago. I chose Jody's debut book, The Preacher's Bride and learned that I like historicals! Who'd have thought?

The third treat was getting to prepare for this interview. I've gotten the chance to know a bit more about Jody and have enjoyed peeking into her world. But the book itself was the biggest treat of all. Okay, so I LIKE

The Doctor's Lady - Pure Delight

9-18-11 Update - After re-evaluating some of my reviews, I wouldn't change a thing on this one! It is an amazing book!

View the trailer for this book - short, and very well-done! 

The Doctor's Lady by Jody Hedlund, isn't quite a PURE delight, despite my title. It also proved insightful,

Weekend-spiration - How to Study

I was asked recently how I studied my Bible. Truly, I struggled with this for decades before I hit on a couple of  things that really helped me.

The first was the variety of Bible Study books that are available. I don't much go for the types of studies that focus on overcoming difficult environments or horrible childhoods. I didn't deal with them, so they don't really speak to me. Instead,