Writing with Friends

Today, I decided to go back to basics with my writing.  I took a new pad and pen outside with a large mug of coffee and my camera.  I can't go out on the patio without my camera.  I managed to write 5 pages of a new story that's been brewing in my head for weeks.  These are the friends who kept me company while I wrote (you can click on the image to enbiggen):

And, this little gal was very irritated that I didn't bring her outside to explore.  I did at least open the windows so the kitties could enjoy the air.  Our weather was pretty much perfect.  Have to enjoy it while it lasts.

©2013 Nancy Horner. All rights reserved. If you are reading this post at a site other than Bookfoolery  or its RSS feed, you are reading a stolen feed. Email bookfoolery@gmail.com for written permission to reproduce text or photos.

Fiona Friday - Sister Love, pt 2 and some other jazz

Since it's Friday, this post must begin with a little continuation of a recent Fiona Friday. This is what happened after the photo I posted last week:

Awww. Adorables! And, here's something else that warms my little heart . . . a gerbera daisy bloom!

I'm thrilled about this little daisy because, till now, I have never succeeded at keeping a gerbera daisy alive long enough for it to bloom, again, after planting. Several buds came close and keeled over just before opening; this lovely pink girl was the first to survive. Another bud is still green but on the verge of blooming. So exciting!

And, here's a crappy but fairly colorful shot of last night's happenings. It took a little scheming because our local newspaper now charges for their web version (and, believe me, it's so not worth the cost) but I managed to at least view the opening page long enough to find out why we lost power for 6 hours, last night. A tree fell. Well, that's not particularly exciting, really, nor is sitting around in an airless house in the dark. But, the pretty flashing lights of the constable's car, Entergy cherry-pickers, etc. were fun to look at:

Next time this happens, I'll take a tripod. I just shot out the car window.

While we were cast into stuffy darkness, I spent my time well. I finished reading When She Woke by flashlight. I actually ran one of my Maglite batteries down to nearly nothing and then switched out with husband, who thinks darkness is just another opportunity to sleep.

©2011 Nancy Horner. All rights reserved. If you are reading this post at a site other than Bookfoolery and Babble or its RSS feed, you are reading a stolen feed. Email bookfoolery@gmail.com for written permission to reproduce text or photos.

Where's Fiona Friday?

I spent 5 wondrous nights away from my kitties, so Fiona Friday was cancelled by default (sleepy traveler, no new photos of cats). This is where I've been:

Charleston, South Carolina!!! I went on a Girls' Trip with Care of Care's Online Book Club and my old friend Cindi, author of No More Bobs. We had such fun! We were welcomed with open arms.

Charleston was warm and muggy. Just about anything and everything you can imagine was in bloom.

We visited churches and graveyards, walked down quiet alleys, soaked in the history and the beautiful sights.

I went on a schooner sail on my own. On a boat with a capacity of 49, there were only 5 of us. I made 2 new friends and took a ridiculous number of photos (most of them awful -- I neglected to change my camera settings . . . oops).

There are so many beautiful little details in Charleston: ironwork, door knockers, garden decorations.

Here's a self-portrait -- Bookfool on a carriage ride! It's probably pretty hard to see me, but I'm wearing pink.

I only finished one book the entire week. Argh. Hopefully, I'll be back to normal reading and posting, soon. The book I just finished, Skinny by Diana Spechler, is a tour book and the tour date is still a few weeks off. So, I may just have to find other ways to entertain you for a while. I hope to be back to visiting blogs, soon, too! Hope everyone had a fabulous reading week!

©2011 Nancy Horner. All rights reserved. If you are reading this post at a site other than Bookfoolery and Babble or its RSS feed, you are reading a stolen feed. Email bookfoolery@gmail.com for written permission to reproduce text or photos.

Some wahoos

I think it's time for a few happy pics, don't you? Wahoo #1 is recent arrivals. I think this is about a month's worth:

Top to bottom:

The Watery Part of the World by Michael Parker - Surprise from Algonquin Books

Skinny by Diana Spechler - from HarperPerennial for review

Chime by Franny Billingsley - from Dial for review

Julia's Kitchen Wisdom by Julia Child - from Paperback Swap

Annie Londonderry's Extraordinary Ride Around the World on Two Wheels by Peter Zheutlin

A Wish After Midnight by Zetta Elliott - from Paperback Swap

The Reconnection by Dr. Eric Pearl - from author's protegee for reading group

In the Shadow of the Cypress by Thomas Steinbeck - from Paperback Swap

Wahoo #2 - A fun pic of Isabel. Love the nice, direct gaze. I can only capture that lovely look if it's bright enough where I'm shooting to avoid flash and the blinding distance-UV light.

Wahoo #3 - At least, it's a wahoo for somebody. I just think it's a happy photo. Wish the water park had been around when my kids were young.

Happy Wednesday!

©2011 Nancy Horner. All rights reserved. If you are reading this post at a site other than Bookfoolery and Babble or its RSS feed, you are reading a stolen feed. Email bookfoolery@gmail.com for written permission to reproduce text or photos.

Sunday Sleet and Snuggles

We spent all day Saturday preparing for a winter storm, in anticipation of potential power loss. So far, it hasn't been as bad as predicted (although more sleet and freezing rain are possible during the night). We've been warm and toasty; the power has flickered but only briefly and no trees have come crashing down. Since church was closed and the mall was shut down, my entire family pretty much spent the day in pajamas. I only dressed for a few hours, specifically so I could go outside to snap a few pictures.

I think the cats had the right idea. It was a good day to stay indoors, sleep a little and snuggle.

©2011 Nancy Horner. All rights reserved. If you are reading this post at a site other than Bookfoolery and Babble, you are reading a stolen feed. Email bookfoolery@gmail.com for written permission to reproduce text or photos.

Photo Friday - Big Snow in Mississippi!!!!!!

Photo break!

That last post was just way too black and white for me, so to break the monotony I have a few photos to share. My son's high school swim team's "official" team photo (for the yearbook) was taken on Thursday. I'm just a Mom with a Camera -- not an official photographer -- so usually the photographers just ignore me when I lurk at their shoulders, taking the same picture that everyone else is paying for. This time . . . well, the pro and I have conversed a few times and he asked me for my swim blog URL. I assume that's the reason he was a little prickly with me. He knows I can actually take a decent photo or two, now. Oopsy.

Anyway, it took him forever to arrive, so while we were waiting the kids occupied themselves. They tossed balls or played cards (that's my kiddo in the middle, dealing the cards, above). Some of them went to the playground to climb, chase each other, play ball and swing on the swingset --all of which was frankly adorable. And, then the photographer arrived and, man. He was snippy! The kids had voted to wear their team t-shirts with jeans rather than their swimsuits, just to avoid standing out in the yearbook as the only sports team members dressed in skimpy clothing. The photographer was peeved. He wanted them in the water. Because he was such a pain, the kids started quietly pulling me aside to ask me to take buddy photos.

Such fun. The coach also asked me to snap a photo of him with the team captains, but I had a slight problem in that the boys' captain wanted to look down. He has these gorgeous baby blue eyes and I could not get him to look up! But, since I know him, I figured he'd laugh if someone slugged him and encouraged the girls' captain to give him a gentle punch. Instead, she reached over and twisted his nipple. Yeeeow!

That was a moment, people. And, of course, I was right. When he looked up, his eyes were wide open and he was laughing. How lucky am I, getting to hang out with this bunch?

Happy Independence Day!!!!

Hey, looky there!

I forgot to do a Wahoo! Wednesday post and I'm only halfway through my review of Just Jane by Nancy Moser, so I had to share this little bit of wahooeyness (wahooiness?). We have fall color!!!! Wahoo! Yes, the grass is still green and this is only a teeny part of the tree, but still . . . cool.

Too tired to write, so you get photos

Yesterday in Vicksburg:

And, today, same time and place (obviously aimed a bit higher):

Ahhhh, much better.

Here's what the flashlight aisle at Walmart looks like, after a hurricane threat:

Hahahaha! I love it! Nobody wants a dinky flashlight, when they're expecting the lights to go out. They bought all the Maglites and lanterns (yep, we own both).

I didn't check out the bottled water aisle, but I'm betting that was stripped, too.

Will try to get to that August wrap-up, tomorrow.

Wish you well,

Bookfool (feeling like a Flat Stanley, which would be neat because you could stick me in an envelope and send me around the world, but . . . maybe not)

Quote by husband: "That can't be very safe."

Yeah, but it was awfully fun.

Sick family; back soon

The whole family has been kind of moaning, this week, so please pardon my absence. We're all sidelined with completely different maladies. Also, we had to go buy a car. Darn . . . debt. Not my favorite. But, I do like the new vehicle.

For your entertainment and edification, a few photos:

The view from Pali lookout ("pali" in Hawaiian, means "the cliffs"):

Hawaiian chickens in motion:

Poppet with evil eyes sent from Turkey by friend Karen:

A random happy photo:

Have finished two books due to being unable to move anything but eyeballs--reviews forthcoming, eventually. I'm working on another post, but am giving up for the day. Coming up: babble. Lots of babble. And, maybe a few pictures and a couple of cool links.

Currently reading: The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens, Who Creamed Peaches, Anyway? by Stevi Mittman, A Hawaiian Reader, Vol. 1, and Neuromancer by William Gibson.

Bookfool, in search of fluffy pillows