Author: Sharon

Snowy Sunday

It started to snow right around 8 am, and it’s still snowing as I type, at 7:15 pm.

Split the day between reading Kin Right, which — I’m about 100 pages in and it’s holding my interest — and locating the top of my desk again.  Order has been restored, and lists have been made.  I have a lot of phone calls to make, because the reason I write is so I don’t have to talk on the phone.  However, tomorrow, I really need to make those calls.  And read Kin Right.

I really don’t have much else to report, except that my editorial team was topnotch.  Here you can see them, editing:

On concluding projects

What went before:

Also, this happened:

#
Saturday. Sunny and warm. I think. I haven’t been out. In fact, I not only slept late, I lay in bed, snuggled with cats, and read my email, so I’m just now getting up and around.

Today’s big plan is to make focaccia and maybe read or maybe… No, I don’t think I’ll write anything today. I do need to do some research but that can maybe wait. Maybe I’ll finish my embroidery project and see how that turns out.

As you can see my plans are firm.

How’s everybody doing today?
#
Focaccia happened.  Yes, it tastes every bit as good as it looks.

#
Had a very strange experience — I can’t get into either Bank of America or Discover to get my statements for monies due in early April, which is only a problem because neither one of those entities sent me a reminder that I had a new bill, and I happened to notice that now that my head isn’t filled up with BOOK.

Discover says that it’s really terribly sorry but it can’t complete “that operation” (which would be logging in) right now. Bank of America, ever charming, says that I phucked up my ID or my password or maybe both? And it might let me in if I give it my social security number, which, err. No.

So! I have two phone calls to make on Monday, lucky me.

In other news, I’m on what ought to be my last four meals from Cook Unity, delivered yesterday. Today, I had the shrimp grain bowl, which was…OK, I guess. I had six shrimp and got bored with them, so I chopped up the leftover ones, and I’ll be having a shrimp salad sandwich for the evening meal.

Also we here in Central Maine are under an Active Weather Advisory and warned to look out for between 3 and 6 inches of snow on the overnight. Honestly, March.

And now? I’m going to go embroider.
#
So, I finished my first! ever! concept-to-finished-piece embroidery project and!

I learned some stuff.

The first thing I learned is that I made this too small, in terms of the current states of my eyesight and the steadiness of my hand. Next time, I WILL go bigger, even if it means I can’t get the whole design inside the hoop at once.

I also learned — actually, I knew this — white-on-white is hard to read. Duh.

But! and most importantly!

I learned that it Can Be Done.

Which means I can Do It Again.

I should report that Tali and Rook joined me in the living room while I finished this up. Rook sat on my lap and didn’t even try to mess the thread. He just kinda curled up and went to sleep.


#
So, that was a nice day off-ish. Tomorrow, I will start to read Kin Right, and will also plan on clearing off the top of my desk — yes, again.

My next embroidery project is a pre-printed sampler — that’s it, just the design. So, my next step, now that’s in the hoop, is to make a yarn/floss card. Which means I need to dig out the Big Bag of Floss. Later.

For right now, I’m going to pour myself a glass of wine and see about making that shrimp salad sandwich.

Everybody have a good evening. I’ll check in tomorrow.

Wrapping up a Thursday

And! The caution tape trick worked for the second day in a row.

Unlooked-for side effect: my next door neighbor saw the tape and got in touch to ask if my door was acting up again, because — caution tape. I explained. I think Chewy owes the cats one more box, so we’ll be doing this again tomorrow, though with different caution tape, because I unfortunately did not hide today’s tape, Rookie managed to tape himself up with (thankfully) the painter’s tape and by the time I caught and untangled him, the caution tape was a loss.

For those following along at home — it looks like the book I’m finishing up now will be scheduled for Spring 2027, month of release to be determined.

Back to work I go.
#
Well. I did finish the WIP. I did not print it out, because I still have some housekeeping to do — notably trying to tidy up the section headers. So, that’s for tomorrow, and then print out and read.

In other news, Google tells me it’s going to snow tomorrow. Wunderground begs to differ, predicting rain tomorrow and snow on Sunday-into-Monday. So, I guess we’ll see.

I had been kinda lookin’ for a day when I could scooch down to an oceanside somewhere, being as I will be shortly be a Free Woman, but it’s looking like the first day without any shenanigans planned is next Friday. Well. I can always finish my poor, neglected glass project.

Or, yanno, bake bread? I could bake bread, people! And — cookies, and muffins, and — Good Ghod — the sky’s the limit, here.

*deep breath*

…a brief break to feed the tiny, starved, and abused kittens I rescued from a Mean Writer Lady who never fed them or brushed them or fed them or played with them or fed them…

I really don’t know how people can be so cruel.

So! Tomorrow Sarah will arrive in the morning, and I will retire to Steve’s office to straighten out the header problem, and then I will make the lunch I had planned to make today, but I was writing, so I ate a TV dinner outta the freezer instead, and print out a book.

And on that note — g’night. Everybody stay safe. I’ll check in tomorrow.

With fingernails that shine like justice

Thursday. Cloudy and cold. Another Chewy box incoming today (Thank you, Chewy, for breaking the Mega Order up into multiple deliveries). Caution tape with affixed message in place across the front steps.

Slept well. Tali was on bed duty last night, and Tali makes for a definite Presence, pressed up against one’s side. She also has a nice, deep purr. Breakfast will be the second half of the Farmer’s Market Asagio Cheese bagel (Note To Self: STOP buying Maine bagels*. You know they will break your heart. Buy bread. Buy cookies, cake, pie. But not bagels. And if you buy rolls, stop expecting them to be hard, even if they look like hard rolls.), with cheddar cheese melted on top, with a side of grapes. Lunch will be black beans, and leftover pork, and, oh, I dunno? canned tomatoes? and whatever spices seem good. I should have leftovers from whatever that turns out to be, so yay.

Today, she said, boldly. Today! I will finish the WIP. I need to buff, polish, and shine the last two scenes, then I will Print Out the Whole Book, and tomorrow, or maybe Saturday, I’ll do a complete read-through. Barring the discovery of any Catastrophic Holes, which this is why we do the read-through, it will be ready to file a flight plan with the tower.

Once it’s gone, I can fall on my face (REMINDER: place pillow before falling).

What’s happening with you today?
_____
*Exception to the Rule: Sunrise Bagels, which requires me to get up early and go out to buy them, but that’s a Me Problem, not a Them Problem.

Today’s blog post title brought to you by Cake, “Short Skirt, Long Jacket.”  Yes, again.

The line’s not cut, and the whale’s not gone…

The cats’ Chewy order, which is large and heavy is due today, delivery by FedEx. I have made what preparations I can.

#
Wednesday. Sunny, windy and cold. As previously mentioned, I have taped caution tape across the front steps with a sign on it for FedEx, so maybe they’ll put the delivery in the garage this time. Fingers crossed.

Another night full of bad dreams and sleeplessness. This is getting to be a habit. Cats are doing what they can but… Firefly is putting in for backup and I don’t think we can get backup, really.   No, especially not a dog.  I think we’re full up. I also think it would be better if the world weren’t, in some places literally, on fire.

Today’s days plan is to occupy the comfy chair in my office and sketch out the scenes that need to still be written to finish the book.

Granting, it’s not much of a plan, but it is my own.

How’s everybody doing?

Dictated to my phone

Today’s blog post brought to you by “The Wellerman,” which I had forgotten I knew, until it came up on a mix, and I started to sing along…  Here’s Nathan Evans singing it for you.

St. Gertrude’s Day 2026

What went before: Still raining, but not pouring. We are this evening expecting, say the weatherbeans, the following: WIND, FOG, FLOODING. Tomorrow, it will be partly sunny, starting out at around 53F/12C and loosing heat throughout the day, until nosediving into the teens tomorrow night, reaching a high of 33F/.5C on Wednesday.

Ah, March. You tease.

The book club has chosen the April book: Theo of Golden, which ought to be interesting, given that the synopsis annoys the ever-livin’ life outta me. It will be interesting to see if the author can win me over.

The Cook Unity mushroom pot pie was so good I ferreted out a recipe so I can make my own once I’m off deadline. Speaking of which — I am now confident of making my deadline, so, yanno, yay.

Also — I beg pardon to those folks who thought I’d written the poem that is my next embroidery project. Indeed, I Did Not, and it’s something that I know so well that it never occurred to me that other people would not have heard of it. The poem dates back to the 800s, and is written in the margins of a book of reflections and/or prayers. Wikipedia can tell you all about it, and give you the other four stanzas, too. Here’s your link.

And that? Is all I got. Except doing the dishes. That I still need to do.

Everybody have a good evening. Stay safe. And dry.
#
Tuesday. Cloudy, damp, and breezy. We have hit the day’s high of 53F/12C as I type, and are headed for 15F/-9C.

Today is St. Gertrude’s Day. Hug your cats.

Today, right about now (7-ish am, Maine time), in fact, is also the sixth anniversary of my arrival at Inland Hospital in Bangor in order to undergo a mascetomy. I was one of the last people admitted to the hospital before it closed in the early days of COVID, and it was a tense couple minutes there at intake before it was decided that Steve could accompany me.

Last night was filled with bad dreams, despite all the cats could bring. I believe this morning may call for coffee.

What’s happening at your place?
#
Well. The cats have made a Chewy order. I’m glad Firefly has a trust fund. I’m drinking that cup of coffee and wondering if the concept of ‘breakfast’ is anything I want to entertain at the moment, or if I’ll just make another cup of coffee and go to work.

Life is uncertain…

Tali’s Natal Day

Monday. Warm and rainy. Today is Tali’s 4th birthday. She insisted that we all get dressed up for the occasion and as you see we have done that for her.

Also included in today’s pictures are the long backyard and my new embroidery project — the very first one I have designed myself.

The plan today, as it has been for a number of days, is to write. I am really almost done. I really wish that my brain did not helpfully remember everything I’ve written as garbage that needs to be rewritten 14,000 times.

So far, Cook Unity has been . . . okay. I only had the one unsatisfactory meal. The butternut squash and lentil soup was marvelous, as was the salmon, yesterday. I have Great Hopes for today’s mushroom pot pie.

It occurs to me that my cleverness knows no bounds, as I had booked a Rest Week at Old orchard Beach the week before Memorial Day, which seemed like a good idea at the time. However, I did NOT have a Middle East war on my bingo card, and now I’m wondering if I should cancel because it’s very probable that I’m not going to have enough gas to get there.

Honestly, this timeline.

So! How’s everybody doing?

Tali’s Birthday Photo Album

PSA

OK, folks. I am behind on everything, and also helpfully experiencing rolling waves of angst.

I am therefore going electron-free in order to ease some of the wear-and-tear on the auctorial nervous system.

Y’all stay safe. Be kind to each other. Feel free to talk among yourselves. Older hands know where the snacks and beverages are — help out the newbies, ‘k?

Later.

Drizzly Wednesday

Where are my Maine Coon experts? I have a New Behavior between Tali and Firefly.

In general, I have a very laid back clowder presently looking out for my interests. They’re even more mellow than the previous Trooper-Sprite-Belle Nexus of Purr-er.

Tali and Rook get into wrasslin, and Tali indulges in screaming Death Threats at the top of her lungs, but it’s clearly just hi-jinks.

Tali and Firefly, though, have been, up until last week, maybe?, civilized and casually affectionate. They snuffle each others ears, Tali licks Firefly’s head if it is presented — which is correct, Firefly being not only the eldest, but has Time in Grade.

But lately, as I say, we have this new behavior. Firefly will be next to me on the couch, or cuddling on the bed, and Tali will arrive. Previously, a check-in (nose touching or ear snuffling) would happen, Tali would settle in an unused section of the human, and all would be well.

However! Yes, we’re finally arriving at the point. Firefly has now three times gone over to Tali after I think we’re all settled in, and grabs her by the back of the neck, like she’s a kitten. Tali, understandably, is offended by this, and vacates the premises, whereupon Firefly either takes her place, or comes back to her previous position, and goes to sleep.

So, I obviously don’t want them to be at odds. Can anybody give me insight into this New Behavior?

Spanish Aunts.
#
Helpful cat is helping

#
So, today’s meal from CookUnity was Mushroom Rice in Butternut Squash. I have no leftovers. Not because it was Amazingly Tasty, though it was OK, but because about half the squash was stringy (Which could be an artifact of its adventure on the road. Or, yanno, not.), and because I hadn’t been expecting, in my “mushroom rice” chunks of walnut bigger than my head.

This is possibly a Just Me problem — I eat walnuts, but I’m not a fan, and IMHO, big hard chunks of anything have no business being present in my lovely, moist mushroom-and-cranberry rice (yes, there were sliced cranberries. Good idea; I’m going to have to try that in my own rice.) The garlicked green beans were perfectly fine.

So, I won’t be ordering this one again. I picked out about half the walnuts, and, as above, quit on the squash about half-way done.

Tomorrow’s meal is defrosting — Dragon Bowl with Grilled Chicken.

All that said — I almost forgot that I have a Zoom class this evening, so I’d best pick my feet up and get some chores done.

I have been editing from the comfy chair in my office today, and all the cats have joined me. Firefly, remains as she was, under the table next to the chair. Tali made several really creative attempts to sit with me in the chair, but just couldn’t make it work, whereupon she retired to Trooper’s box on the edge of my desk. Rook came in so quietly, I didn’t know he was with me, until I got up and found him curled in Sprite’s big fluffy cat ring, where he can keep an eye on me, and still enjoy the warmth coming off of the baseboard heater.