The Odd Characters

You read books, don't you? Ever think about the characters you read about? Here are some I've read (enjoyed and despised!)

The girl bondperson--Stephanie--who's a coward and has a hamster for a pet.

The everyday woman--Annie--who's always thrown into solving mysteries and battles a rebellious drug-using son.

Christy--young and ambitious--out to change the world, who gets sick the first time she sees something disgusting.

What about the girl in Hawaii who has a pet dolphin?

What about Spencer who's suppose to be tough and rough--but has a soft spot for cooking and his pet Pearl?

Read about the older woman who travels about the country in an RV by herself?

Read about the young woman who lives alone in the Alaskan wilderness with 40 some dogs?

Heard about the amateur sleuth who loves mysteries so much she has an all-mystery bookstore and a black cat?

How about the former newspaper man who inherited money, solves mysteries, & insists his cat, KoKo, knows when there's been a murder?

The older minister who runs from his neighbor's interest, but finally marries her in his sixties?

The out-of-work middleager who catsits?

Mr. Scrooge who'd rather freeze than spend a penny?

Little Heidi who gets ill if not in her beloved mountains?

Jupiter's club in a junkyard.

Last, but not least! Tara, who has a pet mouse. Read it? You mean you haven't? Go out right now and demand from your bookstores that they demand from the publishing houses that they demand to print my novel!



Are you a garage (yard) sale junkie? Always looking for something cheap that can be made into something unique, valuable, or resaleable? Found an old table that you love, but on a shoestring budget? Try these hints:1

1) Don't waste your time buying particle-board furniture. Can't be refinished!

2) To refinish a table: Sand lightly, paint an interesting color. Or try some new faux finishes: antique, decoupage, or be inventive with squiggles, stripes, dots, or whatever you like!

3) Found a table with great legs, but top is awful? Buy a mirror to fit the top.

4) Or . . . use postcards, greeting cards, pictures of your family, flowers, or other pictures to cover the table top. Cover with glass for a unique personalized table!

5) Use ceremic tile. Arrange in a mosaic style, grout, use a strip of molding around the edge to keep them in place. Let dry, then wipe the grout with a cloth.

You might decide to keep your "new" table!



Quote:
Good friends reveal themselves slowly, in the shimmer and shadow of living . . .in the years of shared experience.


Blessings.

My forgetful-er

Oh, dear. Did I really forget my own son's birthday?

Not really. Just temporarily. (Grin). I had the card, had the celebration planned (dinner out). Just that the morning was a busy one, so I forgot for a couple (or so) hours. That doesn't count, does it?

Oh, dear. I forgot my purse. Really. We were worshipping a few Sundays ago. Hmmm. Left for dinner at Mother's. Arrived there. And shriek-k-k. I'd forgotten my purse at church. How could that happen?

I forgot to pay a bill, forgot to bring a needed paper, forgot to take care of a responsibility, forgot to call someone, forgot whether we got the mail we were suppose to get, forgot to make an appointment. Oh, dear!

Have I got the first early stages of Alzheimer's? (Whisper: Am I getting old? Shout: Don't any of you dare answer that question!!!!)

Here's a bit of consolation and advice Mother passed on to me: You're way too busy.

Well, I guess. I know it. I feel it. Too much to do, not enough time, too tired. But how to stop? How to give up anything? What to cut out?

Ever find yourself in that position?

I think we need to prioritize our lives. What's the most important for us? What do we value most in our life? Hold on to that first of all. Then move on. No. 2, 3, 4. When to stop is an individual call. Only as individuals can we decide what's enough and whether one more thing will send us over the top.

What can I stop? Give up? I don't really know. I've been thinking about it. Trying to make decisions. When you like most parts of your life, it's hard to decide to toss away something. Writing's my calling, part of me, so I can't give that up. But something has to give. To go. Someday--soon--I'll have to get serious about it.

In the meantime, I'll keep fighting and struggling to reach the goals I've set.

Just hope that you won't soon be reading a lament like this . . . Oh, dear. I forgot my head . . . (just kidding). But sometimes . . . I wonder what will be next?


Ah, is Spring trying to creep up on us? Remember Fairlight and Christy in the book Christy? Climbing the mountain? Talking about spring in April? It's coming, it's coming. Don't despair. But until it gets here . . . here's a few hints for you photography buffs to finish up these cold-d-d days:

1) Safety for yourself. Learn to keep both eyes open while using the viewfinder (the experts do this). Watch for the icy places or unseen obstacles.

2) Use fingerless gloves. Perfect for winter.

3) Protection for your equipment. Freezing weather can cause your equipment to become sluggish and parts to fail. Condensation can affect your film and lenses. Load film in a protected area and keep camera in your pocket till ready to use. Keep extra batteries because they could drain faster. Don't let your equipment get wet. Water and salt are damaging.


Quote:
The greatest pleasure is that which rebounds from hearts that you have made glad. -- Henry Ward Beecher.


Blessings.

Are You Jesus?

Do people mistake you for Jesus? That's our destiny, is it not? To be so much like Jesus that people cannot tell the difference as we live and interact with a world that is blind to His love, life and grace. If we cl aim to know Him, we should live, walk and act as He would. Knowing Him is more than simply quoting Scripture and going to church. It's actually living the Word as life unfolds day to day.

You are the apple of His eye even though we, too, have been bruised by a fall. He stopped what He was doing and picked you and me up on a hill called Calvary and paid in full for our damaged fruit.

A few years ago a group of salesmen went to a regional sales convention in Chicago. They had assured their wives that they would be home in plenty of time for Friday night's dinner.

In their rush, with tickets and briefcases, one of these salesmen inadvertently kicked over a table which held a display of apples. Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they all managed to reach the plane in time for their nearly missed boarding.

ALL BUT ONE. He paused, took a deep breath, got in touch with his feelings, and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned.

He told his buddies to go on without him, waved good-bye, told one of them to call his wife when they arrived at their home destination and explain his taking a later flight. Then he returned to the terminal where the apples were all over the terminal floor. He was glad he did. The 16 year old girl was totally blind! She was softly crying, tears running down her cheeks in frustration, and at the same time helplessly groping for her spilled produce as the crowd swirled about her, no one stopping and no one to care for her plight.

The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped organize her display. As he did this, he noticed that many of them had become battered and bruised; these he set aside in another basket.

When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girll, "Here, please take this $40 for the damage we did. Are you okay?"

She nodded through her tears. He continued on with, "I hope we didn't spoil your day too badly."

As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl called out to him, "Mister...." He paused and turned to look back into those blind eyes. She continued, "Are you Jesus?"

He stopped in mid-stride, and he wondered. Then slowly he made his way to catch the later flight with that question burning and bouncing about in his soul: "Are you Jesus?"

Do people mistake us for Jesus? That should be our desire, should it not? To be so much like Jesus that people cannot tell the difference as we live and interact with a world that is blind to His love, life and grace. If we claim to know Him, we should live, walk and act as He would. Knowing Him is more than simply quoting Scripture and going to church. It's actually living the Word as life unfolds day to day.

We are the apple of His eye even though we, too, have been bruised by a fall. He stopped what He was doing and picked you and me up on a hill called Calvary and paid in full for our damaged fruit.

Ah, so much to think about.



Want to be a success? Here are a few suggestions that can help . . .

1) When you say no, mean it. Don't negotiate.

2) Whether at home, work, or out and about, or even yourself, keep the clutter to a minimum. (Unless you have a designated spot for it! Grin) To be successful, you also have to look it!

3) If you want to be successful, cut the cutesy nicknames. Red, Buzz, Bambi, Doll--okay for near and dear friends--but when it comes to work and with people you're trying to impress, stick to your real name. (I know there are some who make it because and in spite of nicknames--that's usually an exception.)

4) Be serious, research the information you need, prepare.



Quote:
I'd rather be a failure at something I love than a success at something I hate. --George Burns


Blessings.

Friends

Two friends were walking through the desert. During some point of the journey, they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other one in the face.

The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything wrote in the sand, "Today my best friend slapped me in the face."

They kept on walking, until they found an oasis where they decided to take a bath. The one who had been slapped got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but the friend saved him.

After he recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone: "Today my best friend saved my life."

The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, "After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone. Why?"

The other friend replied, "When someone hurts us, we should write it down in sand where winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it."

Learn to write your hurts in the sand and to carve your benefits in stone. They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them.

Take the time to live!

Do not value the things you have in your life, but value who you have in your life!

(Thank you, Margie, for the above story!)



Winter will soon be over, but until we're sure, thought you'd enjoy this gift suggestion for perhaps a friend's upcoming birthday (or hold it over till next year's December/January/February B.D.):


Snowman Soup
1 pkg hot chocolate mix
3 Hershey kisses
1 handful of miniature marshmallows
1 candy cane (or perhaps some mint patties or the round striped mints)
Optional: Include a fancy spoon or a stirring stick
Put items in a mug and wrap with cellophane.

Include this poem:
Was told you've been real good this year
Always glad to hear it.
With freezing weather drawing (or already) near
You'll need a little Snowman Soup.
Complete with stirring stick
Add hot water, sip it slow
It's sure to do the trick!

Watch the smiles!



Quote:
A true friend is one who is concerned about what we are becoming, who sees beyond the present relationship, and who cares deeply about us as a whole person. --Gloria Gaither


Blessings.

Breather

One definition of the word is someone who breathes into the phone receiver.
Another one is a small vent to allow moisture to escape.
The third one is the one I want to write about today.

"A period of easiness between the hard."

Ever feel like you're experiencing the old saying, "When it rains, it pours"? Oh, yeah. Sometimes nothing seems to go right.

I was bemoaning life in general the other day to hubby. Why this, and why that? Looked like something wonderful was happening, but when the total information was found out, it was less than the best situation. (Grit teeth here, enduring!)

Why can't the "breathers" be the two on the ends, and the hard times in the middle? Why is it there's so much aggravation and not nearly enough good?

Or is there?

Maybe it's our discontentment, our warped sense of justice that colors everything "wrong." Maybe if we'd focus on our blessings, or what's good comes from the bad, the bad wouldn't seem to outweigh the good many times.

Maybe the silver lining is silver and is there--if we'd only look. Maybe the pot of gold is out the end of our rainbows, if we'd just have the fortitude to go after it. Is it too easy to see the bad and not the good?

The Oregon climbers came out of a bad situation okay. They did all the right things. The frozen oranges in some states can be squeezed into juice. Not a total loss. Perhaps the early death of a loved one kept him from something more horrible if he/she had lived. What did poor ole Job think when he lost everything? Did he whine, endure his "friends" comments with poor or good grace? Would I have acted a lie if I'd been facing an angry monarch as Abraham did about his wife? Or would I have been as brave as Daniel and his conrads when facing persecution? Am I a wimp? A coward? A whiner? A lazy, self-blinded person who doesn't look for the gold threads among the dark?

Will I continue to get discouraged if I don't have the encouragement I want (and need) with my writing? Can I persevere enough to reach my goals? Will the sandwiched good comments be enough to hold me between the troublesome "No's?" Through the uninterest or the plateaus of my writing?

We'll see.



Many times we see others who suffer. It's hard to know what to say, and many times I feel my words mean nothing. Here are some ideas of what not to say or do (at least from my experience):

1) "It'll be all right." Not to those who've just lost a loved one.

2) To those who've lost a child or a baby: "You have so-and-so." Another child cannot take the place of the lost one.

3) Information about the tragedy that is not asked for or sought after or brought up by the grieving one first.

4) Trying to restrain the sufferer from his/her grieving. Don't cry. Don't wail. Don't do this or that. Let them. They need to know they're not doing something wrong by doing whatever to get past the initial shock. They have to vent. Let them. Agree with them.

5) Don't take at face value anything that's said in during their first initial shock of receiving the news or reacting to it. Most likely, they don't mean it. Some people have to blame someone or something (not that that makes it right) for the hurt they're feeling. Give them time.

6) Listen, listen, listen. That's the most comforting thing you can do.



Quote:
And so, at this time, I greet you. Not quite as the world sends greetings, but with profound esteem and with the prayer that for you now and forever, the day breaks, and the shadows flee away.
-- Fra Giovanni


Blessings.

What on Earth Are You Here For?

Have you ever talked with anyone who just sounds totally hopeless about their life or purpose for being? I suppose most everyone--at times--will feel despondent about accomplishing anything. Setbacks, unfulfilled promotions, rejections, unexpected trouble--they are can force discouragement to settle like dark thunderstorms over our heads.

I heard recently that those who think positive have more chances of reaching their dreams. True? I don't know. But it makes sense, doesn't it?

Think about it. You dream of becoming an author (i.e. {grin}). Do you sit around and wait for that to happen? Nope. You write. You study. You research. You mingle with writers, editors, and agents.

What do you want to accomplish? What do you dream about? What do you doing with your life?

How does one determine if you're doing what you're supposed to be doing? If you're living the plan for you?

One young man I know is intelligent, good looking, spoiled. He has everything going for him, but until recently (and perhaps even now) is wasting his life. He tried college, one branch of the service, and now another. He does say that what he's in is what he always wanted to do. Will he succeed? Depends on whether what he's doing is more important than other things.

I suppose that's why there's so many people who in midlife choose another career. What about those who major in one thing in college, turn around and get a job in another field? What about those who risk it all to follow their dream? Worth it? Who's to say?

When there's that something in your heart that won't go away . . . when something pricks your insides . . . when the knowledge that now's the time to take that step . . . I'd say those are pretty good indicators of what your life is suppose to be. Of which way your life's path should turn.

What about those folks--in spite of everything--don't know, have not a clue, couldn't care less, and/or will never know?

Perhaps some day they will know; sometime it will hit them; or perhaps unsatisfaction with the way their life is going will force them to make life-changing decisions. Perhaps some will continue in a simpler way--like my mother (from yesterday)--who fulfills the role of mother, father, grandparent, everyday person, friend. For them, that's enough.

"Hitch your wagon to a star." and "Aim for the stars." are mottos I try to model my life after.

For me--I need to be an author. Someday.




More hints for your sweetie or just someone special that you want to show respect and love for:

Create your own card; compose a poem or an expression that expresses your (or their) personality.

Create a "recollection collection" scrapbook filled with favorite photos, love letters, keepsakes from special occasions, and cherished mementos.

Made a CD of your favorite songs as a couple including some romantic ones. Wrap it with a red ribbon.

If your friend or loved one doesn't have a green thumb, give silk or glass flowers and plants that last forever. Or . . . give a flowering plant that can be planted in the garden to enjoy year after year.

Personalize a gift (such as a chest, a memento box, etc.) for a man's favorite hobby, something that says "I love you" or "You're a hit" or "Be Mine."

Plan a special romantic get-away surpise for the love of your life. Dinner in a quiet, candlelit restaurant with soft music is perfect!

Or . . . Take some lessons together--skiing, music, cooking, sailing, whatever, just do it!

Enjoy the consequences!



Quote:
A joyful heart is like the sunshine of God's love, the hope of eternal happiness. --Mother Teresa.


Blessings.

In This World for What?

A long time ago I heard my mother say something like this: She had no talents and wasn't very useful in this life. Ha.

1) She's a mother. She did her best. Although I tease her now about some things she did, I believe she loved us and did her best to raise responsible adults. (At least my bros; not sure about me! Grin!)

2) She's a grandmother. Now, to me, this is where she really shines, and I'm speaking from my perspective only and using only my family as an example.

My boys think there's nothing like their grandmother. I tease them that they love granny more than their mother. They just grin. She's there for them. Fusses over them. Worries about them. Mends, feeds, and loves them. Isn't that something special?

3) She's a friend. Besides mine, she has several others that she keeps in contact with, encourages, checks on, prays for. She has a real ministry with these people.

4) She's a friend of God's. She has an intimate relationship with the heavenly father. I feel comfortable in sharing a concern with her.

Useless? No talent? No. I don't think so. Anyone who can be a real mother, grandmother, and friend has certainly accomplished something in their life time.

So that leads me to the title of today's blog: In this world for what?

What's your purpose of being in the world? What's mine? I can't answer for you, but I certainly can give it a shot about mine. Tomorrow, if I feel like it, I'll ramble a bit about that. Till then . . .



Hints:
It's not too late to do something special for someone this month! Try these suggestions:

1) Bake! Brownies, cookies, candy. What's better than homemade?

2) Sav-a-life Wal-Mart! Find some sparkly candles, decorated and pretty ones. Include a nice holder.

3) Pick out a picture frame and place a favorite picture inside. Lovely.

4) Or choose carefully: Wal-Mart has inexpensive live flowers.


Quote:
The good for which we are born into this world is that we may learn to love. --George McDonald


Blessings.

There's Kindness, and Then There's Kindness

Yep. I said what I mean and I mean what I said.

Take Kindness Number One. The person who automatically slaps you on the back with a kind comment about how well you did speaking. Take a second look at that person. See his gaze wandering off across the room searching for the next person he needs to approach? Feel the way your response sort of rolls off him? Hear the way he moves on as if you aren't really that important in his life?

I've seen it.

Kindness Number Two. This one could be worse. The first one above (if you're a sensitive person) can make you cringe. This one is the type to make a person feel stupid.

This comes from the basic selfish person. He may have money (or not). He may be smart (or not). But this person is after something. He passes out his comments or actions because he expects something in return. If that something doesn't materialize, then he's off to better potential for the returns he's after. It may be something as small as a sly comment meant to look like a compliment just so the unwary will rush forward with a gushing sentence or two about how wonderful "sly person" is.

Don't think this happens? Oh, yes, it does. Seen it, heard it. Been taken by it? Of course. I can be as gullible as the next--sometimes.

But then there's that sincere kindness that can be felt and sensed by the spirit. You don't have to hear a lot of flowery words to feel the empathy that radiates from the person who's there with you--suffering, rejoicing. A common feeling that bonds spirit with spirit. Real. Enduring. Heartfelt.

That's the type of friendships to cultivate.



Valentine's Day is almost here. I came across this somewhat dry humorous list of "the way men think." Guys, if you're reading my blog today, check this out. And don't tell me you don't think some of these things. Gals, this will help you realize how a male's mind works. So . . . take heed!

* Shopping is not a sport; and, no, we're never going to think of it that way.

* When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine. Really.

* Crying is blackmail.

* Ask for what you want. Let's be clear on this one: Subtle hints don't work. Just say it!

* We don't know what day it is. We never will. Mark anniversaries on the calendar.

* "Yes" and "No" are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.

* If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one.

* All men see in only 16 colors. Peach is a fruit, not a color.


Quote:
Kindness always blesses the heart of the giver. Whatever you do, do it with kindness and love. Corinthians


Blessings.

Michael and Mary

Michael stands for:
M -- Manly. He stood up like a man when needed.
I -- Interesting. He was young and energetic and unique.
C -- Courageous. He fought for our country and fought for his loved ones.
H -- Helpful. Michael went out of his way to help those in need.
A -- Ambitious. He had some good plans for his future.
E -- Example. His manners and respectfulness, any young person could follow.
L -- Loving. He seldom failed to leave anyone without giving them a hug.

Thank you, God, for giving us this beautiful young person for 21 short years. Yes, we wanted him longer. We wanted to see his success in carrying out his future plans. We wanted to see him develop into a mature adult. We wanted so much for him. But we saw his thoughtfulness, his helpfulness, his love and concern for his family and friends, his courage, his dreams.

We'll always remember you, Michael. You'll always have a place in each one of our hearts. You were special and, we know, loved by the one who created you.

Michael, the bouquet I'd make up for you would include: Some Forget-Me-Nots because we'll never forget you; some red rosebuds to remind us of your respectfulness, our love for you and you for us, and your courage and youth; some Heather to show how protective you always were; and maybe a few blue camellia to remind you that you'll always be a burning flame of memory in our hearts.


Mary stands for:
M -- Magnolia. The beautiful classy flower of our family.
A -- Angel. You were an angel on earth.
R -- Radiant. Happy with your family and achievements.
Y -- Yourself. No pretense. What we saw is what you were. Real.

God gave us a real miracle when he sent you to your parents. Loving and sweet and caring and helpful, concerned about your family and friends, studious. We wanted you to mature, achieve your B.A., marry, and have the babies you wanted. Mary, you were real and one of a kind. There's a special corner in each of our hearts that will only be filled because we can cling to the memories of you and the 21 years we shared with you.

You were a blessing sent from Heaven above, a huggable reminder of God's unfailing love.

Mary, if I were making a bouquet up for you, I'd use the white Magnolia showing us that you were noble and dignitified; a single red rosebud for simplicity, youth, and to show our love for you; some statice to always remember you, a few Lily-of-the-Valleys to remind us of your sweetness; and a touch or two of Forget-Me-Nots to remind you that you'll always be in our heart.



Valentine's Day is in February. To be happy is to share our love. Here are some old-fashioned ideas to make you and yours happy.

Give a hug.
Smile lots today.
Send a card to someone hurting.
Tell your special someone you love them.
Tell anyone to have a good day.
Tell someone you're praying for them.
Buy something little for someone.
Write a note.
Write a poem.
Pray for those you love and those you don't know.



Quote:
I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life. He gave me life that I might enjoy all things.


Blessings. Till next week . . .

You, Me, and the Man Down the Road

Why do things happen in life? Why do we have heartache and hurt and worry?

Now this isn't a theological discussion. I don't know all the answers; I'm rambling.

I don't want it to be me or mine. I don't want to suffer, to see my loved ones hurt, my friends aching.

Why did my niece have to die Friday? Why did my nephew have to die Saturday? Why?

One person said, why couldn't it have been one of the others? I said, but which one? Who wants to pick out which one? Who wants to take that decision upon themself to make? Okay, today you're gone. Tomorrow, I pick YOU. No. Not me. I couldn't pick any of my nieces or nephews. Not my sons or anyone. It's too big, too horrible to face.

Living or dying is hard enough without making decisions that we have no right to make. I don't want the heartache. I'm selfish, I want easy sailing, I want good choices made, happy endings.

But life isn't like that. Sometimes bad choices are made. Wrong actions are done. Stupid words are said. Hearts are cracked. We suffer because of all those things and more. We've got to go on. Got to keep on living and making it one step at a time. Only knowing we have someone stronger than humanity to strengthen us, is what holds us up and steady.



NOTE:

1) I'll probably only be able to blog twice this week: today & tomorrow because of niece & nephews tragic deaths and funerals.

2) Tomorrow I'll be paying tribute to Mary and Michael on my blog.



Got too many magazines and books lying around unused? Here are some suggestions that will put them to good use!

Take to the half-price bookstore and trade for books you want.
Donate to a library.
Sell college books to other students.
Make envelopes with magazine pictures.
Use the pretty pages from magazines to wrap small gifts.
Make collages or do decoupage with them.
Sell them and donate the money to church.


Quote:
Friendship is holding hands and sticking together. "There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Proverbs


Blessings.

Charles Seymour Interview

Hi, Charlie. Thanks for doing this interview. I'm really happy (and, yes, maybe a little bit jealous!) that you are now a certified author.

Caroline: How did you feel when you got the contract? The offer to publish your first book?

Charlie: It was a combination of shock, unbelief, and elation.

Caroline: How long have you been writing? Ever done anything else significant?

Charlie: In the past, I've written a few songs and some poetry, but nothing over a couple of pages.

Caroline: I just wrote on my blog Friday, January 26th, about research for my novels. Do you feel the need to research, and if you do, what kind and how much do you do?

Charlie: Research can help a little or a lot, depending on your subject matter. I love history, so the research that I did was quite fun. I tried to get all of my historical data as accurate as possible.

Caroline: What's the genre you write in? Is that your favorite?

Charlie: Pioneer Western/romance. Anything that has to do with the American west prior to 1900 AD is bound to catch my attention . . . movie or book!

Caroline: Can you explain briefly to my readers why you chose Tate Publishing? What all did you do to send to them? What was involved?

Charlie: I checked out several publishers and got accepted by more than one, but I chose Tate, because I had a good feeling about them. They appeared to be honest and open, they are a Christian publisher, and their overall contractual terms were better. All that I sent to them was my manuscript; from there, they contacted me.

Caroline: What's next on your agenda? Will you develop a series from this first book or move on to something different?

Charlie: I have already started on the sequel to my story and have retained all movie rights. I hope to find a way to have a movie done of the story.

Caroline: Are you planning on obtaining an agent?

Charlie: That depends on how large the whole business ends up becoming.

Caroline: How are you planning on promoting your book? How will the publishing company help you? How can we help you?

Charlie: The company is planning a publicity campaign: radio and television press releases and newspaper stories. There will be some publisher-organized book signings and some personal book signings. Other than that, any word of mouth or internet publicity is greatly appreciated.

Caroline: Where can anyone order your book?

Charlie: It can currently be ordered online at www.tatepublishing.com or if anyone wishes a signed copy, they can order one directly from me by sending a money order for $12.00 to: Charles Seymour
4156 Eastland Ave.
Louisville, OH 44641

Caroline: Want to tell us what the book is about and how did you get the idea for it?

Charlie: The book combines people that I know now, with people who actually lived in 1873. The best example of this is the main character of the book: The young man named Joshua ia actually my son, and the young woman that he meets and eventually marries really is Virginia Elizabeth Grant who was actually the niece of President Ulysses S. Grant.

Caroline: Tell us honestly (big grin): is it hard to write a book? How long did it take you?

Charlie: That depends on if God gives you the story or not. In this case, the story just came out of the blue, I did not know from one page to the next what was coming. I wrote the book in three weeks and had approximately forty hours invested between research and writing.

Charlie, thanks again for your willingness in being interviewed on Sunnybank Meanderings. We wish you much success!

Folks, check out Charlie's book: "The Spirit of the West."



Here are some more frugal, but fun, hints:

Glass Bottles:
* Use a narrow-necked bottle as a candleholder. The wax drips down the side and makes a pretty design.

* Fill a clear glass bottle with small candies.

* Make a bottle into a vase.

* Use a bottle with a wide opening as a change holder or bank.




Quote:
There is an exquisite melody in every heart. If we listen closely, we can hear each other's song. A friend knows the song in your heart and responds with beautiful harmony.


Blessings.

Snowflake Difference

They say that there's not one snowflake alike. Everyone of them is patterned differently. I've never used a high-powered microscope to examine them, but I've heard people do. Remember making those lace doily ones in school? Or using plain paper and cutting out the designs for homemade snowflakes? How many were you able to make or think of?

Why do I like writing, my one brother likes woodworking stuff, the other likes four-wheeling and flea marketing?

Why do I like gardening and my fish pond and my fireplace, others like their farm and horses, while others love the city lights? What makes us different from one another?

Did God have a sense of humor in planning humans that way? Does He laugh when we disagree, in His superior wisdom knowing that getting along would be so much easier if we'd let go of what we think things should be like?

Did God throw a cog in our wheels by creating identical twins just to make us sit up and take notice? Hey, here's a couple people that look alike. How much are they alike in their wants, and actions, and speech?

How boring do you think it would be if we were all carbons of each other. Would we have even cared? Or would we be complaining? "Do you have to do that the same way I did?" "Do you have to choose a fish sandwich because I did?" How quickly would we get tired of all that boring sameness?

What if all the animals were the same? Say, God just made ONE type of animal. Those who right now hate cats would be out of luck, wouldn't they? That old saying, "Love me, love my cat" would really be a statement then! And there sure wouldn't be any use of being afraid of horses or cows, if that's all there was. Wonder what it'd be like having a pet cow in the house? That would probably take some doing to housebreak it, wouldn't you think?

So maybe differences aren't so bad. Maybe learning a little more tolerance for how someone else feels would be a good lesson. I don't have to agree with what you think. I just have to learn that its not my perogative to change your thinking, if you don't want it changed. Your differences from mine is what makes you you.



NOTE: Tomorrow's blog will feature Charlie Seymour talking about writing and his new book: "The Spirit of the West". Make sure you stop by and read what he has to say!



February! Time to think up some hints for that sweetheart of yours, or even a friend, favorite relative, kid, or (big smile) yourself! So let's try this:

Here's another of those Gifts in a Jar idea's. This is for a Butterscotch Brownie Mix (you could probably subsititute other flavors life peanut butter, or whatever. Enjoy!

Layer these ingredients in the jar of your choice:

1/2 cup flaked coconut
3/4 cup chopped pecans
2 cups brown sugar
2 cups flour
1 1/2 Tbsp baking powder
1/4 teasp. salt

Layer in the order given into a wide mouth quart-sized jar. Pack each layer in place before adding the next ingredient. Attach a gift tag, ribbon, or bow. Here's the recipe:

1 qt. jar Butterscotch Brownie Mix
3/4 cup butter or margarine (softened)
2 eggs, slightly beaten
2 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a large bowl, cream the butter, eggs and vanilla.
Add the Butterscotch Brownie Mix and stir till mixture is well blended. Spread batter into a lightly greased 9 x 12 pan.

Bake 25 minutes. Cool in pan. Cut in squares.


Quote:
Like branches on a tree we grow in different directions yet our roots remain as one. Each of our lives will always be a special part of the other.


Blessings.