Easter Blessings to All!
Miscellaneous News
A Belated Happy New Year to ALL!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Sorry to have been absent for so long, but between Christmas, a few annoying health issues, some great company visiting, and the start of the New Year, I’ve fallen way behind around TWS! I’m hoping to correct that over the weeks ahead and get back into blogging again. (I’ve missed you all!)
Hope everyone is looking forward to seeing what 2025 brings our way, and fingers crossed that it’s mostly all Good Stuff!!!
Granny says:
“Let’s make it a great one! One for the record books, maybe!”
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Christmas is Coming!
Hard to believe another year has passed. They seem to fly by faster and faster, don’t they? But isn’t it great to be celebrating Christmas again? I look forward to this every year, and hope you are all enjoying the holidays as much as I am. I especially look forward to my daughter and family visiting again (from Colorado), and my son and his family, as well. (They’re only two hours farther north in Florida, but it’s still a treat to have them visit over the holidays.
Have a lot to get done before everyone arrives, so I’ll keep this short:
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO EACH OF YOU!!
HERE’S TO A WONDERFUL 2025, TOO!!
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#Yesterday’sEchoComplete #HeartUpdate
Just wanted to share what I found out at yesterday’s Echo Complete exam. I wish the news were great, but sadly, not so much. Not the WORST possible, you understand, but I definitely have some issues with my heart that will require monitoring and some changes in a few of my activities. Nothing TOO dire, for someone 80 years old who was already slowing down a bit, but I won’t be taking on any heavy physical tasks, nor running in any upcoming track events, or the like.😮 In other words, my heart is still beating, but I have been advised to slow down somewhat on some of my favorite things (like gardening, especially in Florida’s hot sun.) 😢
The good news is, I have been cleared to sit at the computer as long as I like. 😁 Apparently, exercising my fingers on the keyboard is an approved activity, so I can blog to my heart’s content. Also, reading for long periods is definitely allowed, as long as I don’t sit in the Comfy Chair the entire day. 😊
Now this advice came from the gals at the hospital who performed the Echo. I still have to have a consultation with my cardiologist, and she may have some other ideas of what’s allowed and what’s not. We’ll see. But as of right now, I don’t have to worry about blogging, or even WRITING, should I feel up to finishing my WIP one of these days. (Counting my blessings, here! 😉)
As I’ve always said, gettin’ old ain’t for sissies, & you can quote me on that. 😂
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#GuestDayTuesday #JanSikes #ANobleBargain
(Ooops. Sorry … hit the wrong key, but that just means you get to enjoy Jan’s post a day earlier than expected! Happy reading!
A NOBLE BARGAIN
Today’s very special guest is fellow author Jan Sikes, who is celebrating Release Day for her newest book, A Noble Bargain. I know you’ll enjoy reading all about this one, and will gladly help Jan get the word out by sharing where you can.
Welcome to The Write Stuff, Jan, and take it away, my friend!!
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BLOG TOUR STOP #7
Marcia Meara
Thank you, Marcia, for allowing me to take over your blog today to talk about my new release, A Noble Bargain. I’m deeply grateful for your generosity and support!
WHOO HOO! TODAY IS RELEASE DAY!
I’ve already talked some at other blog stops about Rose and Jack being brother and sister. But they have another brother, Harlan, who is the oldest. Harlan is hardened by life, much like their father. Because he is older, he is subjected to a more intense level of violence. As the story progressed, I began to feel sympathy for Harlan and I didn’t want him to be a bad guy. In his heart, he wasn’t. He was a true victim of circumstance. I’ll share a scene that shows how Harlan is left to deal with their father in a drunken state.
EXCERPT:
Rose hurried to get out of her new clothes and into her faded nightgown. A single curtain separated her tiny corner of the house from the kitchen. Jack and Harlan’s cots were a part of the living room, and her father occupied the only bedroom. At least they had indoor plumbing. The house they’d left behind in Hamburg didn’t. She hoped she’d never have to use another outhouse as long as she lived.
What a night.
She fell asleep thinking of Oliver’s easy way of conversing and his mother’s delicious cooking, only to be jarred awake a couple of hours later by a thunderous crash.
Harlan’s voice followed. “Come on, Pa, let me help you to bed.”
“Get your hands off me.” The words came out slurred.
She lay deathly still, barely breathing, waiting for what would come next.
Another thud vibrated the floor. “I said don’t touch me.”
“Just tryin’ to help, Pa. Suit yourself.”
She could picture Jack huddling in his bed, eyes squeezed shut, pretending not to hear. Tears leaked out of the corner of her eyes.
Harlan’s boots hit the floor one at a time, and bedsprings creaked.
She waited. Maybe Pa would spend the night on the floor. Or maybe he’d eventually make it to his bedroom. She hoped for the latter and that he’d sleep late in the morning.
Some things are difficult to write. I could picture the scenario so strongly in my mind when I wrote it. Do scenes like this evoke emotion in you the way they do me? Let’s talk.
UNIVERSAL PURCHASE LINK: https://books2read.com/u/booMQR
JAN’S SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
https://www.twitter.com/jansikes3
http://www.facebook.com/AuthorJanSikesBooks
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jan-sikes
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00CS9K8DK (Author Page)
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#BlueSkiesReturn
I know some parts of the state took some hits and have various levels of damage to deal with, but we were very lucky. No trees down, no debris piled up today, and no damage in our neighborhood that I can see.
It IS blinkin’ HOT outside, though, so I’m staying inside for now. Mark is repairing a section of our stockade fence that went down, but all things considered, we came through Milton just fine, happily! I’m looking forward to cooler weather, for sure, but other than that, no complaints!
Hope all is well with all of you, too?
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#MadeItThroughTheNight
Just a quick note to let you know we made it through the night! Hurricane Milton has now moved into the Atlantic and hopefully will NOT come back to the Sunshine State again. Ever.
We are fine here. Our worst damage was that one panel of our wooden stockade fence blew down in the backyard, and our entire yard is covered with bamboo leaves. No big deal, thankfully. I might be MIA for a few days as we clean up, but it could have been SO much worse, so I won’t complain! Also, VERY happy that we never lost power!
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#HurricaneMilton #MIA Again
Even as I type this quick message, thunder is rumbling outside, and rain is falling steadily. And it’s only gonna get worse overnight. I doubt I will be available for at least a day or two, depending on whether “Uncle Miltie” causes us to lose power at some point, during or after this storm. Hurricane Milton is due to hit us overnight, so I’ll have to wait until tomorrow to see how we fare, but I’ll let you know as soon as possible.
I’m wishing luck to everyone in this storm’s range, and hope we are ALL okay when next the sun comes up! I’m also fervently wishing we don’t lose power, as it is still hot as blue blazes in these parts, and I dread not having any a/c!
But mostly, I just hope we all come through this safely, with no major damage or injuries.
Stay Safe, Everyone!
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#HurricaneMilton #ApproachingFlorida
AAARRRGGGHHH!
Again???!!!
Welp, it looks like Hurricane Milton is going to pass directly over us on its way from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic. (We are almost on the east coast line just a few miles before the storm would head out into the deep blue sea.)
This seems to be a pretty strong storm, too, having reached a Category 5 level for a bit, before dropping back down to a Cat 4. We don’t need it! But then again, who does?
I feel bad for everyone in the path of Milton, including us! As a heads up, I’ll not likely be posting more until this thing has gone on out to sea to die a much-deserved and LONELY death, but I promise to update you as soon as it’s over.
BTW, am I the only one who keeps thinking of this storm as “Uncle Miltie?” (If so, I need to add a few more elderly sorts to my Friends list. 😉😁)
See you on the other side!
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Update on Hurricane Milton
Looks like we are in for it, all right. Milton is predicted to become a hurricane early tomorrow morning, and will be approaching Florida’s west coast (Tampa area) by Wednesday morning. It will then rage its way across the state and out into the Atlantic ocean by Thursday morning, leaving who knows what kind of damage and flooding behind.
We’ve been outside all afternoon, bringing in anything that could become a lethal flying missile (potted plants, statuary, chairs, etc) and have stocked up on several days worth of groceries. Now all we can do is wait and see what happens.
If I don’t lose power, I’ll keep you updated as I can. And if I do lose power, I’ll catch you up when it is restored.
Wish us well!
(Man, I purely HATE hurricanes!)
The Write Stuff 