Day 7 Photo a Day April, and other stuff

Today's photo took a little more thought on my part. I mean, shadow? really? That could mean so many things. I had visions that would include me having to draw something that I'd then take a picture of, but in some ways, that would be too easy. I'm doing this challenge partly to, well, challenge myself. Increase my eye for composition, color, mood, etc. Not make it up on paper, but use the world around me. Now, off on a rabit trail, that really isn't a rabit trail. You'll see...

We were going to have a *bleep* poor Easter this year. No worries. I had my kids' life to be thankful for (and NO, that wasn't sarcasm. Since my daughter was recovering from having stents put in cuz of mayoturners, which led to discovery of blood clot in her brain that nearly killed her, being thankful I'm not having to worry about my daughter in hospital while home with younger sons is a truth to be grateful for) and they had things to be thankful for. Might have gone down as the worst Easter Evah, but still, they were all alive.

Well, a family friend who knows our situation, brought the boys premade baskets, eggs, & dye kit. So what started out as probable suck turned into fun fun fun LOL Alhough, my 11 yo, got kinda tired of it quickly, my 8yo and I had a blast to the end. Here are some pictures of that:

LOL Sorry about the cracker in mouth, snot nosed kid pic (smeared from cheek to cheek from trying to wipe it while he fights us!), but it's too cute :D He's still got a bit of the runny nose, obviously, but feeling all kinds better! My 3yo actually tried to eat the egg when I first tried to help him LOL why the heck would we put perfectly good eggs anywhere else, right? :D My kids are adorable. (I hear snickers & eye rolls, but I'm the mom, I'm allowed ;-)

So, after the 3yo is safely ensconsed with Daddyo, and 8yo is doing eggs while I take pics (ended up with 80!!!!) I saw the pattern on the ceiling from our chandelier. (Any bells ringing?) I love the pattern and the glow and while admiring it, MY BELLS STARTED RINGING. lol So, I did get a few, I have two favorites. I did one in B&W & one in Sepia (something I learned about the Camera just today after having it nearly a YEAR!) Thank you Photo A Day :P

First one:

I like this one, but it doesn't say shadow to me, so the second one:

Is the one I'm doing for my shadow photo today.

Not much writing yet, will do more tonight, I hope. Had guests all day, dinner, etc. and now have to prep Easter tomorrow, make deviled eggs, potato salad and bread for tomorrow. We are going to the park for a picnic for Easter. However, I'm hoping to sneak words in tonight anyway.

Wish me Luck! Happy Easter!

(Passover, etc. LOL)

Things, and more stuff.

Well, I'm beginning to understand I'll never have a normal life. I kinda wondered when my youngest was born with Dwon Syndrome, but had hoped when my two eldest where on their own, that I'd be able to normalize things a little bit w/ no teens in the house. Yeah, that didn't work out so well. Most of you know the highlights of this last year, which includes medical thing like brain surgery for eldest and marinara sauce on my son's face, and money things like garnishments for the year, so you know, things are not normal around here.

Is it irony that the new remodel in the kitchen would have made it nearly impossible for my son to get burned? I wouldn't have been turned that way to get the ravioli's. One of life's idosyncracies. Or is it subconcious in the way Nate & I designed the kitchen? Neither one of us ever said "making it harder for kids to get burned" as a reason to put anything anywhere. But the stove is about a foot from the sink and already, I've had my 3yo zoom through the kitchen (it's in the middle of the house) not looking, walking, or rather, running, his sock monkey, and bump into me while I was moving boiling pasta to the sink for draining. Since I did not have to cross any long span of floor, This only resulted in me putting the pot on the sink edge to keep from falling/spilling.  Already, the remodel has earned it's keep. But it makes things crazy around here.

It also made us move our living space again, and I did not like it. So after two weeks, we moved the living space around and now I have a real mess. Been cleaning it/spring cleaning it and the rest of stuff. Need to do boys' rooms as well, and get someone to come pick up our malfunctioning refrigerator and defunct dryer. It's going to be super organized because it needs to be.

Went to doctor with my 8yo on Friday to discuss behavioral things and thyroid things. Guess what? We're being referred to Children's Village because she thinks he has High Functioning Autism. So, please forgive the lack of post Fri/Sat as I'd planned on doing one but did research and cleaning instead. I'm feeling a little overwhelmed with the new information, the stress to get this house reorganization done the best way. Usually, I'm like well, if I don't like it, I'll fix it later. But now, we need to do that as little as possible.

Anyone know a good housekeeper that'll work for art?? lol

I have managed to turn in Traincoach of Death (can't remember if I mentioned that) and write 5500 on the Dangerous Journey (which required more research for nautical terms. Geez, trains, boats, what's next? Planes? My poor head has learned a lot in the last two weeks!!!) and I'm going to try to get that done today or tomorrow. So I have time to edit and turn in by Friday. Wish me luck as I have another novel to write, and two more novels floating around in my head screeching to be let out, including the sequel to The Ulfric's Mate (don't you love the cover ;D).

Oh and I'm putting the garden in this week as well. Hope things stay a little calmer this week...

March's Featured Writers

A day late but hopefully not a dollar short, we have March's Featured authors. A little update on last month's featured authors. Kait Nolan has received an agent offer of representation based on her platform. From an agent who hasn't asked her to take her books off the market--quite the opposite in fact :) I don't think it's because I featured her here, although one never knows, but it is because of the principle of the thing.

Not all the authors I featured last month were self-pubbed. That's not the criteria. The criteria is epubbed, which doesn't exclude print publications. What happened in Kait's situation can be found on her blog, but basically the agent loved how hard she's working to build her own platform. :) Congratulations Kait!!!

Today's post is brought to you by the letters, G, and K.

For this month, my first up is LK Gardner-Griffie. I "met" her on twitter through the zombie awesomeness I'm involved in. Let me tell you something, this lady is a whiz and a half. We laughingly-scarily call her The Oracle. Yeah. It's almost not a joke :) She's helpful, and kind. She unfailiningly supports all writers that she sees needs a boost. And volunteers lots of her time to The Zombie Survival Crew, which will be a post for another day :) Her provided bio is after her book links.

Her books are wonderful. I'm ordering mine on Friday :) They're for Middle Grade, if I'm not mistaken. I asked her once about 2 months ago for my 9 yo old who reads above his level. I believe her answer was 10-12 yo level, but she can correct me in the comments if I'm a dunce. I plan to order both in the next weeks for my son's birthday.

Blog: http://www.griffieworld.com


Misfit McCabe - Book 1, Misfit McCabe Series

When Katie McCabe accidentally burns down a neighbor’s shed, she thinks it’s the worst thing that could happen. Boy is she ever wrong. Hustled off to live with her Uncle Charley, Katie struggles with the changes in her life. The only bright spot is making a friend who wants to be more. But the first person she meets is an enemy with ties to her past who believes in dangerous retribution. How far is he willing to go? Katie wonders if she has the strength to survive.

Links:

Kindle version: http://www.amazon.com/Misfit-McCabe-ebook/dp/B000ZVS7WC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1298793994&sr=8-2
Smashwords version: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1087 (9 different ebook formats)

Nowhere Feels Like Home - Book 2, Misfit McCabe Series

Stuck in bed with a broken ankle and reeling from the loss of her father, her home, and life as she knew it, Katie McCabe must deal with her anger toward the town bully and a world that's fallen apart. Being cooped up in the house with Uncle Charley and three overprotective cousins isn't helping. Despite her new family's good intentions, Katie feels like a lonely outsider. Will she ever be happy again?

Links:

Kindle version: http://www.amazon.com/Nowhere-Feels-Misfit-McCabe-ebook/dp/B0030ILXT6/ref=pd_sim_kinc_3?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2
Smashwords version: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/6913 (9 different ebook formats)


Bio:

Daughter to a rocket scientist and an artist, LK combines the traits of both into a quirky yet pragmatic writer. She began to foster her love of writing after reading Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women and discovering she had a great deal in common with the character Jo. The making up of stories, dramatic feelings, and a quick temper were enough for her to know she and Jo would have been kindred spirits. Her love of writing has grown over the years, along with the list of projects she plans to tackle.

In addition to writing, LK holds down a full-time job with an international transportation company as a process and efficiency expert. Her leisure time is spent with her husband sharing a love of music, singing, and college baseball. She writes into the night with the help of her three long-haired miniature dachshunds.




My next guest is Kimberly Kinrade. We met on twitter where I got to be in on the beginning of her love affair with the man who now lives with her. The story is beautiful. I've cried over some of her blog posts and his responses. She's a lot of fun. She's moved from California to Washington and that news came at a dark period in recent times. I smiled and grinned and danced. She's only a few hours away!!

Okay, I'm doing the dance again lol. I'm so excited she lives close. I'll be visiting her when the passes aren't a zone of trickery and death for my little car. Oh and if the tranny doesn't start working better (I don't think it's lack of fluids here, 3rd seems to have gone out) then I will be borrowing a car, I'm that excited to have her around.

If you want your faith restored in the power and magic of love, get this book and read her blog, and the one they started together.


Bits of You & Pieces of Me

A collection of short stories, poetry & essays on life. While each piece stands alone, together the chapters tell the story of an idealistic girl in love with love who discovers the demons of a splintered heart when that love turns violent. Through it all, she climbs her way back to Hope and finds that in the end her True Heart remained Unbreakable.

Links

Author of "Bits of You & Pieces of Me"
“She has learned to love. To fear. To hate. And then to love again. Through it all, she writes.”

Buy "Bits of You & Pieces of Me" on Amazon

smashsowrds: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/47531


AUTHOR BIO: Kimberly Kinrade has been doing the writing thing professionally since she was 18, but managed to sell stories to unsuspecting neighbors when she was 10 and ran out of teeth to use as trade for Tooth Fairy money. (A girl has to fund her life somehow.) She’s a young adult fantasy author in search of the best publishing options for her future work. Author of “Bits of You & Pieces of Me”



http://KimberlyKinrade.com ~ Author, Editor, all around Awesome