Did you make it?

Hi all,

All I have to ask is did you make it through the storm okay?  We didn't have any major problems, so I'd have to answer, we did!  Our electricity was off for about fifteen minutes and then came back on.  We have a very small amount of water in the basement and a leak in the bathroom.  So, compared to a lot of people, we had very insignificant damage from Sandy.  My response to her is:  So long and I hope I never see you again!

Today I actually started working on my hand made Christmas cards.  First, I had to clean up my craft room, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to get to my desk.  Lucky for me, I've been putting all my Christmas supplies together, so I don't have too much to dig out.  My hope is that tomorrow I will be able to complete the first eight cards. 

I, also, worked on writing   my new novel.  I had some more notes to type up and as they are just as important as the novel itself.  It certainly beats going back through trying to find out some bits of information which you've already written.

Although I enjoyed my class on marketing, I am glad it's over.  It really left me with very little time to get any other writing done.  Have you been doing anything interesting?  Perhaps you've started some new project.  I'd love to hear about it.  Let me know in a comment section below.

(After you write your comment, please sign it.  Then fill in the two words they ask you to write and click in the anonymous circle and hit submit.  Thanks a bunch.

Sunday, God's Day of Rest!

Good morning to you all,

As usual, the end of the week brings us to a Sunday.  The day we put aside to show our love and gratitude to God for creating this world and giving us a chance to have life.  What will you do today, to give thanks and praise to God?  It doesn't have to be anything long or enduring.  It could be just fifteen minutes sitting quietly in prayer.  I have a fairly new prayer book that I truly enjoy using.  I also love to pray the Chaplet, which is done in song.  I've always loved to sing the hymns at service.  So, spiritual singing is a great way of giving praise to God. 

Later on today my Red Hat Group (The Radically Radiant Red Ladies) will be having a Halloween Party.  We invite our husbands to accompany us.  It's going to be a covered dish supper and then we'll play some silly games.  (We may be old, but we're not dead, yet!)  I am grateful that the storm isn't going to get really bad until during the overnight hours.  We'll all be safe and sound in our own homes by then! 

I've been working diligently on my newest novel, "CraftyCruise" With A Capital "C".  I hope you all will enjoy purchasing it when it gets on the market.  It's the story of seven long time friends and one newer one, who go on a cruise, but not just any type of cruise.  This cruise is a Craft Cruise.  Of course, they find themselves involved in a bit of a mystery while on board.  And, perhaps, a new man for Bonnie!  We'll see what swing I decide to go with on the subject.  So, I guess I'll just keep on writing!

I wish each of you a wonderful Sunday filled with God's goodness.  Stay safe in this storm and don't try to drive through any standing water.  Have a happy day!

Happy Friday!

Hi all,

Well, the weekend is fastly approaching us.  What are your plans for it?  I hope you spend some time doing something creative.  That could be anything.  For me is will be writing and on Sunday, I'll put my creative abilities to work making a casserole for a Halloween party. 

Everyone of us has been blessed with some talent or ability that we do well.  If you haven't figured out what your ability is, then you need to think about what you really like to do.  Usually, it's something that you're good at, or that brings you great joy.  Also, it's perhaps something that you don't get to do often, because you have a busy schedule.  Whatever it is, it's your passion.  Find it, embrace it and do it as often as you can.

Well, it looks like the big storm, Sandy, is fastly approaching us.  Are you ready for it?  Have you secured your porch or patio furniture, by bringing it inside?  How about anything you may have hanging from your porch or in a tree?  I hope that the worst of it bypasses us and it heads more out to sea.  Of course, only God controls the weather, even though we'd like to control that also.

I didn't get much time today to work on my novel, "CraftyCruise" With a Capital "C".  I had to take a quick trip to pick up some gifts for prizes for Sunday's party.  Perhaps later this evening, I'll do a bit of writing. 

I hope you all have a great weekend and a safe time through this storm.
Susan

What's up today? Anything creative?

Hi all,

Well, the weekend is coming at us quickly.  That means Halloween trick or treats and Halloween parades.  I'm not involved in any of those, but we are going to a Red Hat Halloween party on Sunday.  We all bring along a covered dish for dinner.  That means a lot of yummy food for us to consume!

So, friends, what have you been up to lately?  I've been working on my sequel novel to Sassy With a Capital S.  It's going well, at least I think so.  I'm on chapter twenty and it's moving right along. 

I am still hoping that I can get out to snap some pictures of the changing leaves, before the leaves all fall off the trees.  At some time, I'd like to either paint or use another medium to reproduce one of them.  I'd also like to do the same with one or more of my ocean sky pictures.

Whatever you do, do something each day to make yourself happy, to make you feel good about yourself.  That's very important to every one of us.

Back at you later!

Susan

Writing, Writing, Writing!

Hi all,

How is everyone today?  I'm good.  This is the last week for my on-line class and since I'm not interested in making a webinar, I suppose I'm finished with the class.  I certainly learned many new ways to market myself, both on line and off.  It was well worth the money I spent for the class.

Well, you may ask, what am I going to be doing now?  Simple:  WRITING is what I'll be doing with most of my time.  I am definitely going to get going on the sequel to my Sassy With A Capital "S" book.  It's called:  Crafty Cruise With A Capital "C".  I've had so little time the last six weeks to work on it, that I needed to reread what I'd already written, so I could remember where the story was going.  Also, I organized my notes and typed them up so they weren't such a mess anymore.

Because I've been so busy, I haven't had much time to be on some of my favorite web sites.  One of them being:  www.wow-womenonwriting.com .  I also really enjoy www.fanstory.com and www.ezinearticles.com.    I'm expanding my horizons, one might say! 

I made a new recipe today for Gerry and I to taste.  It's a pumpkin tart.  The base is gingersnaps, sugar and butter.  We haven't eaten any of it yet, but I'm sure it will be yummy.  It certainly looks good. 

If you haven't already answered the question I've posed to you, I hope you soon will.  Tomorrow is officially 'hump day' for all you five day a week working folks.  Once you get over the hump, you're on the down side.  Hooray! 

Whatever you choose to do to express your inner talents, keep at it!  Just like I will keep writing and doing creative things.   God bless each one of you and me, too!

What's Important to You?

Hi all,

I hope your Sunday was a good one.  I, also, hope you made an effort to do something to be close to God today, whatever religion you practice. 

What is important to you?  That's the question on my mind right now.  I can share with you that my writing is very important to me.  I have one more week left to my marketing course.  It's been a busy five weeks for me.  I'm not used to be tied down to a time limit much anymore.  I, sort of, work at my own speed and finish when I'm feeling up to it. 

It's been hard on me, but I've enjoyed it.  I don't think I'll sign up for any more classes any time soon, though.  I think I've made some progress on marketing myself and my writing abilities, at least I hope I have. 

Lately, my mind has been going more and more to my Christmas cards.  I hand-make all my Christmas greeting cards.  I get tired of making too many of the same style, so I make about six or eight of many, many styles.  I have so many ideas in my head.  I'm getting excited to get started on them.  I will make around sixty-five or so. 

It means so much to me to bring joy to other people through my greeting cards, my writing and my art work.  It's what I do to give back to God for all the blessings He's brought into my life.  Mostly, for my still being alive today. 

Occasionally I wander why I was given cardiovascular disease and all the problems it's brought me.
I suppose it's because God knew I would be able to handle everything, with His help, of course.  I do try my best, but once and a while, it gets a bit hard on me.  But, I will keep trying, because I really don't have any choice, now do I?

So, I guess I'd have to say that LIVING is extremely important to me!  Being alive to see my daughters become such strong, honest and courageous women, has certainly been a blessing to me.  As well as, having good, honest and loving sons-in-law, means so very much to me.  Needless to say, my six grandsons has surely been one of my greatest blessings.  Last, but not least, is the blessing God's given me, when He brought my husband, Gerry, into my life.  Gerry is my soul mate, my support and my blessing from God.  I'd be lost without him. 

So, to answer my own question, I'd have to say that God is first in my life. My husband and my family are my lifeline.  I love them all so very much.  But, my life starts and ends with God.

Now, it's your turn to answer the question, what's important in your life?
Susan

How to market yourself!

Hi all,

Well, the weekend is almost upon us, once again.  Just thought I'd share some information with you.  The York Daily Record, which is the morning paper, featured an interview between me and Sarah Chain, who works for the paper.  That, my friends, is marketing myself as a writer.    It took me quite a while to catch on to this marketing business, but I think I'm doing okay. 

I posted another article on www.ezinearticles today.  Both articles on that site address heart disease, especially in women.  I don't think many people realize just how many women die from cardiovascular disease every day in the United States.  The statistics frighten me, basically because I have three wonderful daughters, all in their forties.  That's a very dangerous age for women, mostly because women in that age bracket are under so much stress and tension.  Writing   about it is all I can do to educate women about the threat each of them face, every day of their lives.  For example, the symptoms of a heart attack in women,  is very different than in men.  I believe these symptoms are experienced by most women at one time or another, but they just shrug them off.  They say it's just all the tension going on in their lives right now.  How foolish.

If you didn't already know, cardiovascular disease is hereditary and usually runs from mother to daughter or father to son.  If you don't know your parents and grandparents health history, I would suggest that you start asking, today.  Please don't wait another day.  It's that important.

If you'd like anymore information on heart disease, ask me and I'll share what I know with you.
I hope you all have a wonderful and rest full weekend.

Susan

Good news!

Hi all,

Just thought I'd share some good news with everyone.  Today on www.yorkblog.com/books  an interview was posted between Sarah Chain and myself.  If you get a chance, check it out.  Also, there will be a piece in Thursday, York Daily Record on me.  I'm taking small steps to get myself marketed as a Writer, Author and all around creative person.  I hope you will, at least, get to check out one of them. 

Well, my online class is soon coming to an end.  I have one more week yet.  It's been a busy five weeks, but I'm glad I signed up for the course.  I've learned quite a lot from my instructor.  Kudos to her.

Thanks for listening.
Susan

Are you tired?

Hi all,

I was just wandering if you are tired....of doing laundry, of cleaning, of yelling at kids who never listen, of cooking, of having to be everywhere at the same time, of being tired?  Well, I am.  No, I don't have kids anymore to discipline nor do I have to run around like a chicken with it's head cut off.  I do some laundry, but it's just for two people.  I do some cleaning, but not like I used to.  But, yes, I am tired.

Why?  I not really sure.  I have been pushing my mind for the last four weeks with an online marketing course for writers.  I suppose that could be making me feel tired, although it's all mental work.  I'm thinking maybe it's because it gets dark out so early now.  Of course, it has been rainy and dreary a lot lately, so that also could be a contributor. 

Since I got CCHF, I lead a very sedentary life.  I can't do much physically.  Maybe I'm just out of practice for doing mental work.  I hope that's all it is.  I was just laying in bed this morning thinking how in a few weeks it will be completely dark by six o'clock in the evening.  That makes for very long nights.  Maybe, also, it's just the change of the season. 

I hate to see all the bleakness during the winter months.  All the trees are bare and dark; as well as, the grass is brown.  There's very little color on the outside, except for when the flurries come and the snow falls.  Then God blesses us, once again, with His beautiful color, white.  Who could of ever imagined just how magnificent the color white could be!

Well, I need to get moving on my writing  I'm falling a bit behind.  I hope you have a great day and get to go outside and enjoy this nice weather, for surely, it won't last much longer.

Susan

  

What's up with that?

Hi all,
I guess for most of you, today is the end of your work week.  You know:  TGIF  
Wow, since I started taking this online class, I feel so tired all the time.  I guess my brain isn't used to being worked so often.  It seems all I'm doing is WRITING, WRITING, WRITING.  I'm not actually complaining, because I love to write and I'm trying to promote myself and my novels.  I suppose I'm just not used to having to accomplish a piece in a short amount of time.  You know the old adage:  You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink!  So, my question is:  What's up with that? 

Fall surely is in the air today.  It's a bit chilly out there, but I like the change in the weather.  It's kind of nice to grab a sweatshirt before going outside.  I am not looking forward to good old winter and his approach, but there really isn't anything I can do about it.  It's going to come whether we want it to or not. 

We're closing up our camping trailer this weekend.  We have a permanent site at a campground.  I must say that I am quite ready to close for the season.  Since getting Chronic Congestive Heart Failure, I don't enjoy camping as much as I did before my illness.  I can't be out in the heat and humidity or in the cool weather.  But, I thank God that I'm still here to enjoy whatever God puts out there for me to enjoy. 

I wish you all a great weekend.  Try something creative like:  Writing, drawing, or perhaps you could take a drive and snap some photos of the trees changing there colors.  There is always something you could do to express your creative side.

Susan

Are you WRITING or reading?

Hi all,

I hope everyone is having a good week.  Mine has been a bit stressed.  I am learning so very much from my on-line marketing class, but haven't had much time to do any actual writing.   I was having some problems formatting my booklet, Congestive Heart Failure:  Changing Lives, so I could upload it to Kindle at:  www.amazon.com   It took me two days but I finally got it uploaded successfully.  The pictures weren't showing up on the preview, so I don't know what's going on with that.  I suppose I'll check that out again tomorrow. 

I believe that each of us has something that we are very good at, something that gives us a feeling of pleasure and self-worth.  Mine, of course, is being creative.  I write, draw, sketch and make hand made greeting cards.  My the way, I just read in today's paper, that greeting cards are going out of style.  Therefore some of the cards stores, are having money problems.  I just can't imagine a world without greeting cards in it.  Okay, I realize that things are changing, but I'm not so sure that losing the 'personal' touch is a good thing.  I still enjoy writing letters and sending a personalized greeting card to my friends.  They all seem to love getting them, as they're always telling me how special they feel to get a handmade card.  Of course, most of my friends are getting up in years, like me!

I will soon be starting my handmade Christmas greeting cards.  I will be making about sixty or seventy of them.  I get bored doing all the same designs, so I do six or eight of each design.  I'm so anxious to get started.  I guess it will have to wait until I'm done with my writing course.

Feel free to check out my booklet on Amazon.com. 

Still writing, but I love it!

Hi all,
Can you believe it, tomorrow's Oct. 9 already.  I've been so busy with my on-line class, that I really haven't had any time to work on my sequel novel.  I'm still writing, just not on that.  I'm anxious to get back to it. 

I've been so tired lately.  Don't know what's up with that, but I hope I soon start having some energy again.  The short story I wrote for my on-line class is about Congestive Heart Failure and the changes that will occur to your lifestyle.    I think I might have it published as a booklet because it's only about thirty pages long.  Maybe it would be of help to some people who suffer from Congestive Heart Failure.

I hope your week is going well.  Do something creative this week, like writing something, anything, perhaps a letters to someone you haven't spoken to for quite some time.  Or, try something else, sketch something or create a masterpiece from paper, clay, or food.  Bake and decorate a gorgeous cake that you won't want to cut into.  Just do it!

Susan

Writing and the Weather

Hi all,

Well, today is TGIF!  I suppose it has great value to all those who go to work Monday through Friday.  As for me, one day is pretty much like another, except for my daily chores. 

WRITING has pretty much been a part of my days for the last ten weeks.  With the current on-line class I'm taking, I really haven't had much opportunity to work on the sequel to my novel, Sassy With a Capital S.  But, I'm learning some valuable lessons from my class and I'm happy about that. 

I'm currently sitting here, at our camping trailer, on the porch, enjoying the beautiful weather today.  There's a bit of a wind in the air, but I don't mind that.  I know this weather will soon be gone as we prepare for winter's cold and snow. 

I love the change of the season, even though the heat and humidity of summer keeps me indoors; as well as, the cold and frigid winds of winter, do the same.  I'd definitely have to say that the spring and fall are my favorite seasons of the year.  The problem being, that we really don't have much of either season anymore.  It seems like winter goes right into summer and summer goes right into winter.  What's up with that anyways?

 

 

Here's a beautiful reminder of summer, enjoy!

Writing, writing and still writing!

Hi all,

It seems all I've been doing is writing, but that's a good thing!  I had no idea that this online class would take up so much of my time.  I suppose it's a good thing that I have a lot of time, isn't it? 

I am enjoying the class, to say the least, and learning some very interesting new things.  Our assignment this week is to write an ebook.  I'm thinking, write a book in one week!!!!!   Then I find out it doesn't have to be a long book, more like a booklet.  As least that's what I'd call a book that about 25 to 30 pages.  I'm getting there, and that's a good thing.

I'll try to post a link to my ebook when I'm finished with it.  The topic is on Heart Disease, mainly Congestive Heart Failure.  I hope it will be of some help to other people who suffer from this disease.

My books:  Sassy With A Capital S and The Secret in the Claw Feet Box are both available for Kindle, either by purchase or by Kindle Select (borrowing).  Check them out!

Well, I need to keep moving or I won't get accomplished what I like to do today.  Have a good day and try to spend some time reading a novel.  It's good medicine for the soul! 

Still Writing and Learning

Hi all,

I hope you all had a good weekend.  I sure did.  I am enjoying this change in the weather, although I'm not looking forward to the snow and cold weather.

Well, I've spent a good amount of time today on my Writing Lesson for the week.  My instructions are to write an ebook.  Considering I'm to have it done by the end of the week, it's not going to be a long book.  I've decided to title it:  Congestive Heart Failure:  Changing Lives. 

I figure writing a book about heart disease would be a good topic, since it's a disease that's rapidly growing.  Since I have Chronic CHF, I feel I am qualified to write about it.  It took some time to read all the materials my instructor gave me before I could even start the book.

This class is pushing me behind on my sequel to my "Sassy" book, but there's not much I can do about that at the moment.  The class lasts through the month of October, so hopefully by then I can return to my "Crafty Cruise" book. 

I love to write!  But I suppose I'm going to need to find some time to do some cleaning.  I did get my laundry done today, though.  I hope your day is going well.  Have you done anything creative today?