Summer Flowers Brings Summer Writing!

You would never guess that this pretty lady above is just a lowly day lily that you see along roadsides around here. I'd forgotten how pretty the flowers are. This one I transplanted into my little garden along with my daisies--you see it in the background with the "blanket flower" below.

 Here is a new-comer to my garden, the ice plant, a succulent, which loves the sun, but I water it everyday so it doesn't dehydrate.

 And here are more succulents, the "moss rose", which can give you various different colored flowers on one plant, and I love them. I remember my mother planting these in the small area by our backdoor when I was little.

Below is another newcomer. These tiny flowers are a bit blurry because they are so small, but this is Irish moss, and it's very durable as a ground cover. I was shocked to find it at Walmart. It had another name, which escapes me at this time, but I looked it up and found out what it was under the common name--Irish moss.

Other than my gardening adventures, I've been working on my writing. Put ending on second murder mystery, but I know I've got a few little details to add to it, as I keep thinking up things I didn't put into it.

And, I've got the third book trying to germinate, plus something else that's very different for me and it won't leave me alone--a sci fi. I'm not sure if I'll attempt this. I've never written or read one before, so I'm not sure I should write it.

And on that note, the Star Trek bug has bitten me. I can't believe its inception was 50 years ago, and since then, they have made more shows and movies, and are about to release a new show, I believe. Unfortunately, I can't get the channel this will be on, but I've been watching the original show on TV, and "Star Trek, The Next Generation" on line (the ones they let you watch).

Well, as Mr. Spock would say, "Live well and prosper" all you Trekians, and fellow writers. See you when I've another update.

Light At The End of The Tunnel

This is finals week for NIU. As some of you who've visited me here know I drive a transit for a company that serves the college. Months ago, my husband and I determined I'd be able to take the summer off. We'd pay off the truck--and did!--just this past weekend. No more seeing the inside of Fifth/Third Bank. No more writing out a check for over $400 every month. We could survive on Dennis' pay check, for the three glorious months I'd be off. Especially, since he'd had a nice raise in his pay this spring.

I haven't had a full summer off in ages! This is going to be great! Usually, in order to get ready to leave for work by a little after 6:00am, we'd have to rise at 4am. Now, we'll be getting up at around 5am. Dennis' job is basically out his door, so he likes to get going on the mower, or do other things and have an early quitting time.

Me? I'll keep myself busy--somehow (hah!) I've gotten a handle on my woodland garden, in the first section. I've got to transplant a number of plants that need dividing, and there's other big projects I want to do.

Writing, I'm not going to push myself, but that will come as there'll be plenty of rainy days, or later when it's too hot/muggy for me to work outside.

So, I've got 4 more days to drive, and I'm chomping at the bit, so to speak.

Vampire Fans Wanted, Dead or Alive

Ha. Ha. Joke. Get it?

I have been working all summer on the 8th book. I have had this further section written, it seems like forever. A few months ago, probably. I finally got the in between and middle sections written, just today. I've got over 260 pages done in this. I'm not the type who puts some sort of word count per day on myself. If it feels right, I write. If not, I won't force it. All summer I've had things to do, other things to occupy my time, like gardening, and crocheting. I was feeling somewhat burned out back in the spring and just needed to chill on the writing. This was a good plan of action. Each day I did write, I got a little further along. It adds up.

Yep. I've got a birthday coming up (August 27th). I've always hated the date my birthday came on. It was always after school started. In this case, I begin work again, next week--NIU starts back up and I'm driving the big bus again. And Wednesday I'll be on it for 7 hours. Bummer.

But I've been celebrating it all month long by having my first two ebooks of the Sabrina Strong series at 99 cents each.

Vampire Ascending
&
Vampire's Trill

I won't be doing this again. I only turn (60) once in a life time.