So the reason I haven't been on here since my last post about the pumpkins is because my Internet decided to take a vacation from ME! I've had my son come on over several times to try and fix the nefarious offending thing... but alas I'm still having problems with it allowing me to view my stuff! Sorry for the inconvenience it may have caused... I'll get back to you when the silly thing gets well. :O(
Hope you all have a Happy Holidays! ~ Joyce
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Christmas Projects...
As I sit here crocheting potholders for my daughter's Christmas present - I realized that this is a nice Christmas activity for anyone that can crochet even a little bit. So I decided to share with all of you. Here are the instructions:
.
Crochet Pot Holders
.
I like to use a solid wool color yarn and a variegated color of mixed fibers that are less likely to melt with excess heat like cotton or acrylic with wool mix, etc. It works best if yarns are close to the same weight so one isn’t way thinner than the other. I’ve made them over the years with all cotton and I’ve made them with all synthetic and I’ve made them all one color, but now prefer the two color with wool and mixed fiber ones. The Yarn I mostly like to use now is: Patons Classic Wool- black; and Red Heart- Fleck, for instance, in varied colors; one skein each.
.
I use a size G/6 hook. Chain with first color: 47 for approx. 8½ inch square potholder (depending on how tight you crochet). Chain 41 for a smaller potholder and 51 for a bigger one. You get the idea – odd number for smaller or larger ones; start by using first color.
.
I like to use a solid wool color yarn and a variegated color of mixed fibers that are less likely to melt with excess heat like cotton or acrylic with wool mix, etc. It works best if yarns are close to the same weight so one isn’t way thinner than the other. I’ve made them over the years with all cotton and I’ve made them with all synthetic and I’ve made them all one color, but now prefer the two color with wool and mixed fiber ones. The Yarn I mostly like to use now is: Patons Classic Wool- black; and Red Heart- Fleck, for instance, in varied colors; one skein each.
.
I use a size G/6 hook. Chain with first color: 47 for approx. 8½ inch square potholder (depending on how tight you crochet). Chain 41 for a smaller potholder and 51 for a bigger one. You get the idea – odd number for smaller or larger ones; start by using first color.
.
Continue First color: Single crochet (skip the first chain stitch) around both sides of the chain making a circle: o - Crochet three complete rows around of the first color – making a total of a six row strip.
.
Second color: Tie off with a square knot in yarn to first color, just past the curve in the six rows leaving approx. 1½ inch thread. Single crochet the second color around to starting point, plus a couple stitches to form a triangle at ends. Double crochet same color around once, then single crochet around ending at edge where the triangle is forming. Tie off with first color again in a square knot leaving a 1½ inch thread.
.
First color: Again single crochet around six rows; tie off with second color as above.
.
Middle Second color: Double crochet around once, ending just past the triangle that’s forming at the ends.
.
Tie off with first color then single crochet around six rows.
.
Top second color: Single crochet around once; double crochet around once, then single crochet around once again ending each row just past the triangle making it a full triangle; tie off with first color as above.
.
First color: Single crochet around three times making a total of 31 rows counting double crochet rows: Chain 12 to make hanging loop. Measure yarn loosely three times length of finished rectangle for sewing shut… cut off.
.
Turn rectangle right side out now – leaving all tied off ends inside of rectangle. Now pull sides of rectangle together forming a square instead of the rectangle, with 12 chain loop at top. Tie off loop and continue to close the hole with crochet hook and “sewing” the long measured yarn through each side. Tuck/pull remaining ends inside the potholder with crochet hook.
~Done~
Continue First color: Single crochet (skip the first chain stitch) around both sides of the chain making a circle: o - Crochet three complete rows around of the first color – making a total of a six row strip.
.
Second color: Tie off with a square knot in yarn to first color, just past the curve in the six rows leaving approx. 1½ inch thread. Single crochet the second color around to starting point, plus a couple stitches to form a triangle at ends. Double crochet same color around once, then single crochet around ending at edge where the triangle is forming. Tie off with first color again in a square knot leaving a 1½ inch thread.
.
First color: Again single crochet around six rows; tie off with second color as above.
.
Middle Second color: Double crochet around once, ending just past the triangle that’s forming at the ends.
.
Tie off with first color then single crochet around six rows.
.
Top second color: Single crochet around once; double crochet around once, then single crochet around once again ending each row just past the triangle making it a full triangle; tie off with first color as above.
.
First color: Single crochet around three times making a total of 31 rows counting double crochet rows: Chain 12 to make hanging loop. Measure yarn loosely three times length of finished rectangle for sewing shut… cut off.
.
Turn rectangle right side out now – leaving all tied off ends inside of rectangle. Now pull sides of rectangle together forming a square instead of the rectangle, with 12 chain loop at top. Tie off loop and continue to close the hole with crochet hook and “sewing” the long measured yarn through each side. Tuck/pull remaining ends inside the potholder with crochet hook.
~Done~
.
.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Author Tina Scott of totallytina awarded me the lovely blog award. Thanks for thinking of me Tina! It's taken me a while to get it posted but I appreciate your thoughtfulness in selecting me.
In order to accept this award, I have to share seven random facts about me. Here they are in no particular order:
(1.) I've been married to my sweetheart for forty-seven years.
(2.) From that union we have seven children and twenty-three grandchildren.
(3.) I paint oil paintings, sew & crochet and have written and directed a play.
(4.) I started writing poetry years ago, then children's books, but am now working on writing a two-part suspense/romance novel.
(5.) I'm a licenced beautician (retired).
(6.) Besides Arizona, where I was born, I have lived in Anchorage, Alaska; Spokane, WA; Torrejon, Spain; Umatilla, OR; Hermiston, OR; Willamina, OR; El Centro, Calif; and now Maricopa, AZ.
(7.) I have two dogs, Daisy & Spidie; a cat named George; and five fish - Plat, Plat JR, Greaystokes, Frankie & Gordo. (Two fish, Bugs & Cali died and became plant food.)
Below is a list of seventeen other lovely blogs. I hope you'll take the time to visit each of them.
1. www.cottoncandy4thesoul.blogspot.com (Jennifer Griffith)
2. www.karendupaixwrites.blogspot.com (Karen Dupaix)
3. frespafan (Anna Arnett)
4. blogs and blurbs (Cindy R. Williams)
5. www.myliteraryescape (Andrea Smith)
6. 365babystepstovibranthealth (Heather Horrocks)
7. anwa (ANWA's Founder & Friends)
8. chilly'sworld (Chilly)
9. DonnaHatch
10. SarahM.Eden
11. hauntshaven (Joan Sowards)
12. aviewfromtheothersideofthehill (Laurie LC Lewis)
13. mydeartrash (Laura Lofgreen)
14. www.RachelRager
15. www.theblessingsoffamilylife (Valerie J. Steimle)
16. www.whenIgetup (Tamara)
17. www.writerinthepines (Marsha Ward)
Now in order for all of you seventeen lovely blogs to accept this award please do the following:
copy, cut, & paste the above award and put in your pictures folder. Then paste in preferred design format of your blog. Answer the seven random facts about yourself and post 15-17 new blogs that you think are deserving of the award on your next blog... wallah, you're now a lovely blog recipient! Congratulations!!!
In order to accept this award, I have to share seven random facts about me. Here they are in no particular order:
(1.) I've been married to my sweetheart for forty-seven years.
(2.) From that union we have seven children and twenty-three grandchildren.
(3.) I paint oil paintings, sew & crochet and have written and directed a play.
(4.) I started writing poetry years ago, then children's books, but am now working on writing a two-part suspense/romance novel.
(5.) I'm a licenced beautician (retired).
(6.) Besides Arizona, where I was born, I have lived in Anchorage, Alaska; Spokane, WA; Torrejon, Spain; Umatilla, OR; Hermiston, OR; Willamina, OR; El Centro, Calif; and now Maricopa, AZ.
(7.) I have two dogs, Daisy & Spidie; a cat named George; and five fish - Plat, Plat JR, Greaystokes, Frankie & Gordo. (Two fish, Bugs & Cali died and became plant food.)
Below is a list of seventeen other lovely blogs. I hope you'll take the time to visit each of them.
1. www.cottoncandy4thesoul.blogspot.com (Jennifer Griffith)
2. www.karendupaixwrites.blogspot.com (Karen Dupaix)
3. frespafan (Anna Arnett)
4. blogs and blurbs (Cindy R. Williams)
5. www.myliteraryescape (Andrea Smith)
6. 365babystepstovibranthealth (Heather Horrocks)
7. anwa (ANWA's Founder & Friends)
8. chilly'sworld (Chilly)
9. DonnaHatch
10. SarahM.Eden
11. hauntshaven (Joan Sowards)
12. aviewfromtheothersideofthehill (Laurie LC Lewis)
13. mydeartrash (Laura Lofgreen)
14. www.RachelRager
15. www.theblessingsoffamilylife (Valerie J. Steimle)
16. www.whenIgetup (Tamara)
17. www.writerinthepines (Marsha Ward)
Now in order for all of you seventeen lovely blogs to accept this award please do the following:
copy, cut, & paste the above award and put in your pictures folder. Then paste in preferred design format of your blog. Answer the seven random facts about yourself and post 15-17 new blogs that you think are deserving of the award on your next blog... wallah, you're now a lovely blog recipient! Congratulations!!!
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Book Review of: Wrong Number...
This summer while I was in the mountains camping I got to spend a lot of my time reading. One novel I read was: Wrong Number by Rachelle J. Christensen.
.
With this book, Wrong Number, Rachelle J. Christensen had the ability to grab my interest at the beginning of the book and keep me captivated until I turned the last page. In fact I liked it so well that I read it a second time.
.
Wrong Number is a story about a pregnant young woman named Aubree. Running late for work Aubree finds that she had forgotten to charge her cell phone during the night. When she rushes off to the office with her husband‘s phone, and answers a call that inadvertently was sent to her husbands phone by accident - little does she know of the tragic and life changing events that such a simple act will bring.
.
Rachelle J. Christensen’s book, Wrong Number is a book with suspense, romance and twists and turns in the plot that keep you riveted to your seat.
.
In Wrong Number, before Aubree Stewart knows what’s happening, she is whisked off by the FBI to the witness protection program. Sequestered and kept from family and friends, her name and identity are changed. She gives birth to her 1st baby all alone and in a hospital where she doesn’t know what to expect or even if she’s safe.
.
During her time in witness protection, Jason a young FBI agent, works hard to teach her how to protect herself and now that of her daughter. When all leads into her case seem to go nowhere, she wonders how hard they’re trying to solve her case. How is it that the bad guys always seem to know where she is? Then one fateful day she hears a voice on TV that sends chills down her spine. She soon realizes there must be a leak in the FBI and she doesn’t know who to trust. She decides her only path to safety is to take her life into her own hands. She then flees the safe-house on an adventure and race for time and life.
.
Rachelle J. Christensen has done a great job with this book and made me want to keep on reading. I kept wondering if Aubree would fall for Jason, the young agent, or someone else she meets along the way. Will the bad guys find her and kill her and her baby or will the FBI finally figure out who’s behind her death threat and save her from the bad guys and herself?
.
I highly recommend Wrong Number to anyone that likes a good mystery. Congratulations Rachelle J. Christensen for a well written book.
.
.
With this book, Wrong Number, Rachelle J. Christensen had the ability to grab my interest at the beginning of the book and keep me captivated until I turned the last page. In fact I liked it so well that I read it a second time.
.
Wrong Number is a story about a pregnant young woman named Aubree. Running late for work Aubree finds that she had forgotten to charge her cell phone during the night. When she rushes off to the office with her husband‘s phone, and answers a call that inadvertently was sent to her husbands phone by accident - little does she know of the tragic and life changing events that such a simple act will bring.
.
Rachelle J. Christensen’s book, Wrong Number is a book with suspense, romance and twists and turns in the plot that keep you riveted to your seat.
.
In Wrong Number, before Aubree Stewart knows what’s happening, she is whisked off by the FBI to the witness protection program. Sequestered and kept from family and friends, her name and identity are changed. She gives birth to her 1st baby all alone and in a hospital where she doesn’t know what to expect or even if she’s safe.
.
During her time in witness protection, Jason a young FBI agent, works hard to teach her how to protect herself and now that of her daughter. When all leads into her case seem to go nowhere, she wonders how hard they’re trying to solve her case. How is it that the bad guys always seem to know where she is? Then one fateful day she hears a voice on TV that sends chills down her spine. She soon realizes there must be a leak in the FBI and she doesn’t know who to trust. She decides her only path to safety is to take her life into her own hands. She then flees the safe-house on an adventure and race for time and life.
.
Rachelle J. Christensen has done a great job with this book and made me want to keep on reading. I kept wondering if Aubree would fall for Jason, the young agent, or someone else she meets along the way. Will the bad guys find her and kill her and her baby or will the FBI finally figure out who’s behind her death threat and save her from the bad guys and herself?
.
I highly recommend Wrong Number to anyone that likes a good mystery. Congratulations Rachelle J. Christensen for a well written book.
.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
A Joke For The Day...
Hey sorry it's been awhile since I posted last... my eldest brother had throat surgery again and he's been here at my house convalescing. He was released from the hospital with a feeding tube still through his nose into his stomach. So I've been helping care for him... consequently - no computer time. :O{
.
My sister told me a joke the other day that I thought I would share with you...
.
How do you tell the difference between a male Chocolate Bunny and a female Chocolate Bunny?
~
~
~
~
~
~
When you bite into it, if its head is hollow its a male. :OD
.
Have a great day! ~Joyce
.
My sister told me a joke the other day that I thought I would share with you...
.
How do you tell the difference between a male Chocolate Bunny and a female Chocolate Bunny?
~
~
~
~
~
~
When you bite into it, if its head is hollow its a male. :OD
.
Have a great day! ~Joyce
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Yup!
So, see what I mean? I read that last post today and wish I hadn't posted it!!! It makes me sound like I'm a total gossip, which I am NOT!
.
It's just that SOMETIMES I say things that I wish I hadn't... Including the last post!!!
.
.
It's just that SOMETIMES I say things that I wish I hadn't... Including the last post!!!
.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Did-ja-Ever???
So I was sitting here a-wondering... did-ja-ever find yourself talkity-talking about stuff you wished afterward that you had kept your ridiculous mouth shut about?
.
The question now is: To label or not to label... "Private"; "Secret"; "Not for anyone else's ears"; "Can you be trusted not to repeat this?"
.
It seems like the older I get, the more of a jabberer I get! I mean unless someone tells me specifically to keep it a secret (which, by the way, I'm able to do quite well) I find myself sometimes divulging things I wish afterward that I had kept to myself!
.
I've decided that I need a little-me-people on my shoulder to tell me, "Self, are you sure you wanna say that?" or "Self - this is really interesting stuff, but is it necessary to repeat?"
.
But then, maybe its our neighbors fault... I mean he comes over here regularly and sez, "You got any neighborhood gossip?" Of course we never do, but just the idea is then ingrained into my little pea brain. Like who cares - right?!?!?!???
.
Or maybe its because I'm a writer and I pay attention to things people are saying and I practice using them to see how they sound??? "Maybe I can use that in my novel." Humm now that's food for thought, maybe that's it by jove!
.
Yup... Did-ja-Ever???...
.
.
The question now is: To label or not to label... "Private"; "Secret"; "Not for anyone else's ears"; "Can you be trusted not to repeat this?"
.
It seems like the older I get, the more of a jabberer I get! I mean unless someone tells me specifically to keep it a secret (which, by the way, I'm able to do quite well) I find myself sometimes divulging things I wish afterward that I had kept to myself!
.
I've decided that I need a little-me-people on my shoulder to tell me, "Self, are you sure you wanna say that?" or "Self - this is really interesting stuff, but is it necessary to repeat?"
.
But then, maybe its our neighbors fault... I mean he comes over here regularly and sez, "You got any neighborhood gossip?" Of course we never do, but just the idea is then ingrained into my little pea brain. Like who cares - right?!?!?!???
.
Or maybe its because I'm a writer and I pay attention to things people are saying and I practice using them to see how they sound??? "Maybe I can use that in my novel." Humm now that's food for thought, maybe that's it by jove!
.
Yup... Did-ja-Ever???...
.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Oh My Gosh!
Oh my gosh I can't believe it's been so long since I posted on here! I am alive - although some day's I wonder about that...
Here are two pictures I took of the sunset with the neighbors flag in the foreground. Something about the flag standing stalwart in that setting does something to my allegiance! AND the grandeur of an Arizona sunset... well what can I say - here is proof of that, even though a meer snapshot doesn't do it justice.
.
A funny thing happened yesterday...
I was at the clinic getting therepy on my feet - yes I'm still having problems with them (its been a year). One of the girls there was talking about doing target practice during the week-end and how when the shell ejected it came back at her and burned her chest, she was hopping around trying to get the hot shell off of her with the pistol still in her hands. I started laughing and asked her if her last name was Smith. :O)
.
It reminded me of one time when our family were all at our house in Willamina, Oregon celebrating the 4th of July. The kids were all setting off their fireworks in our driveway - only problem is that we had our chairs set up there watching the town fireworks that were a short distance away.
.
What's the problem you might ask? Well the problem was that one of the fireworks came flying at ME! I jumped up and started hopping around trying to get the burning thing off of me. My whole family LAUGHED at me! When I went in the house to take my clothes off because something was still burning my skin... I took off my jacket - it had a hole in it. I took off my shirt - it had a hole in it. I took off my undershirt - it had a hole in it. I got to my bra - it had a red ember on it burning a hole in my NEW bra and burning my skin too!!! So this is just one of zillions of things like this that happen to our family... Smith curse or blessing - Which?
.
Here are two pictures I took of the sunset with the neighbors flag in the foreground. Something about the flag standing stalwart in that setting does something to my allegiance! AND the grandeur of an Arizona sunset... well what can I say - here is proof of that, even though a meer snapshot doesn't do it justice..
A funny thing happened yesterday...
I was at the clinic getting therepy on my feet - yes I'm still having problems with them (its been a year). One of the girls there was talking about doing target practice during the week-end and how when the shell ejected it came back at her and burned her chest, she was hopping around trying to get the hot shell off of her with the pistol still in her hands. I started laughing and asked her if her last name was Smith. :O)
.
It reminded me of one time when our family were all at our house in Willamina, Oregon celebrating the 4th of July. The kids were all setting off their fireworks in our driveway - only problem is that we had our chairs set up there watching the town fireworks that were a short distance away.
.
What's the problem you might ask? Well the problem was that one of the fireworks came flying at ME! I jumped up and started hopping around trying to get the burning thing off of me. My whole family LAUGHED at me! When I went in the house to take my clothes off because something was still burning my skin... I took off my jacket - it had a hole in it. I took off my shirt - it had a hole in it. I took off my undershirt - it had a hole in it. I got to my bra - it had a red ember on it burning a hole in my NEW bra and burning my skin too!!! So this is just one of zillions of things like this that happen to our family... Smith curse or blessing - Which?
.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Fighting???
So I don't know if I've told you that I've been fighting with my feet. No silly, not literally fighting as in boxing! But in the way that I don't like them hurting all the time, so I try to figure out how not to hurt. Tuesday last week the doctor gave me some totally ugly - totally not cool black braces to wear when I'm doing a lot of walking... I look like a dork with them on - like an old grandma lady who can't walk!!! Oh wait, I AM AN OLD GRANDMA LADY WHO CAN'T WALK!!! Sheesh :O0 Plus they are not so comfortable to wear.
My husband got a handicap sticker for our car and I even happily had to use it when I went shopping the other day because my feet were hurting so bad. Even though I was totally justified in using the handicap parking space... I felt like a fraud! "People are going to see me getting out of the car and wonder why I'm using that space." So when I got out of the car I hammed it up pretending to be worse than I was... but then how can you be worse than not being able to take a step without pain shooting through both of your feet? So justified indeed... even though I don't feel like I should be old - I guess I am. Getting old is for sure not for sissy's!
So to keep off of my feet as much as possible hoping that lack of use will help them heal, I've been doing crochet potholders with my feet propped up. No silly, I wasn't crocheting them with my propped up feet, but with my hands while my feet were propped up... crocheting with my feet would be very difficult indeed but with them propped up at the same time??? No I'm flexible, but - I'm not quite that flexible!!! :O)
Well - back to my crocheting potholders... Have a great day ~ Joyce
My husband got a handicap sticker for our car and I even happily had to use it when I went shopping the other day because my feet were hurting so bad. Even though I was totally justified in using the handicap parking space... I felt like a fraud! "People are going to see me getting out of the car and wonder why I'm using that space." So when I got out of the car I hammed it up pretending to be worse than I was... but then how can you be worse than not being able to take a step without pain shooting through both of your feet? So justified indeed... even though I don't feel like I should be old - I guess I am. Getting old is for sure not for sissy's!
So to keep off of my feet as much as possible hoping that lack of use will help them heal, I've been doing crochet potholders with my feet propped up. No silly, I wasn't crocheting them with my propped up feet, but with my hands while my feet were propped up... crocheting with my feet would be very difficult indeed but with them propped up at the same time??? No I'm flexible, but - I'm not quite that flexible!!! :O)
Well - back to my crocheting potholders... Have a great day ~ Joyce
Friday, June 10, 2011
Oops Here's the pictures:
Here are pictures it wouldn't let me post before. Willow Springs Lake Campground, AZ:
Yum, yum!
My friend Charlie:
At the Phoenix Zoo:
Me & 2 Grandsons & our Monkies:
oops! 2 for 1
Hope you enjoyed the show. :O)
My friend Charlie:At the Phoenix Zoo:Me & 2 Grandsons & our Monkies:
oops! 2 for 1 
Hope you enjoyed the show. :O)
~Joyce
Wahoo.. I'm here again, jiggity jig!
So this is the scoop: This gal (namely me) got sick and while sitting around trying to recuperate I read and read and read. Yep six or seven books got read during that time and little else. Then one thing after the other and I haven't gotten to do the book reviews of those books... but never fear I will eventually get to it.
Then our daughter Lisa graduated from College with honors... that was quite the awesome event (they even had soft chair with back in the stadium for us to sit on - wow, nice!) Pictures:
Over Memorial Day week-end we usually go camping (My sister, myself & family). This year we decided that I needed to go up early in order to save the good spots for us to have room for the family members to put up their tents. I left home on May 23rd picked up my daughter and off we went up to Willow Springs Lake, AZ. We got our tents all set up and the winds started and Tonya and I just about froze to death that night. My sister lent blankies to Tonya and we got though Tuesday night not quite as frozen... but still not comfy. We came back down to the valley for my granddaughter's graduation from High School and grabbed some more bedding and off we went back up to our adventure. After that the nights weren't quite as cold but we were not allowed to have campfires as usual up there due to all the dry conditions and the wind. We finally gave up and came home on Monday 30th. Lesson learned... May is still kinda chilly for tent camping in the Arizona mountains! If yer gonna go - go better prepared to keep warm & for no campfires!
Now don't think this experience has soured me from camping... I LOVE CAMPING! So it takes a lot to get me to not want to be up there. My nephew was totally impressed with me last year (he's off on his mission this year) because he had never seen anyone actually cook on the campfire grills. (Yes, I'm a very impressive gal. LOL)
Here are a few camping pictures for your enjoyment:
Then our daughter Lisa graduated from College with honors... that was quite the awesome event (they even had soft chair with back in the stadium for us to sit on - wow, nice!) Pictures:
Over Memorial Day week-end we usually go camping (My sister, myself & family). This year we decided that I needed to go up early in order to save the good spots for us to have room for the family members to put up their tents. I left home on May 23rd picked up my daughter and off we went up to Willow Springs Lake, AZ. We got our tents all set up and the winds started and Tonya and I just about froze to death that night. My sister lent blankies to Tonya and we got though Tuesday night not quite as frozen... but still not comfy. We came back down to the valley for my granddaughter's graduation from High School and grabbed some more bedding and off we went back up to our adventure. After that the nights weren't quite as cold but we were not allowed to have campfires as usual up there due to all the dry conditions and the wind. We finally gave up and came home on Monday 30th. Lesson learned... May is still kinda chilly for tent camping in the Arizona mountains! If yer gonna go - go better prepared to keep warm & for no campfires!
Now don't think this experience has soured me from camping... I LOVE CAMPING! So it takes a lot to get me to not want to be up there. My nephew was totally impressed with me last year (he's off on his mission this year) because he had never seen anyone actually cook on the campfire grills. (Yes, I'm a very impressive gal. LOL)
Here are a few camping pictures for your enjoyment:
Monday, May 9, 2011
Funny Stuff...
This week-end my sister and I went to Salt Lake City for the LDS storymakers Conference and Whitney Awards dinner. This award dinner is to authors, like the Oscars are to actors.
.
Now the funny thing is that when packing for the Whitney Awards dinner (a fancy affair) I searched my closet for something dressy enough to not make me feel like an ol' farm girl (which I am) and something that I haven't out-grown (which is almost EVERYTHING). I found a glitzy gold blouse that I wore to a fancy affair once before, but I couldn't find the skirt I wore with it so I went and got a fancy pair of slacks and modeled for my husband and he said he liked them really well. Long story short - I went to press said slacks and forgot to check the setting and put iron marks all over the slacks! Grrr!!! Going back to the closet I found and tried on a fancy dress I've kinda grown out of - but decided it wasn't TOO tight and stuck it in my travel bag, grabbed a slip and pantyhose to go with it. The shoes I thought I still had that I bought with the dress were missing so I grabbed a different pair that sorta matched but weren't quite as fancy. Oh well, you can only do what you can do.
.
Getting dressed the night of the Whitney's the slip I had brought hung below the skirt! So fancy dress with no slip. Then the pantyhose couldn't be worn with the shoes, because they had a toe divider. So fancy dress with no slip AND no hose. I put on my make-up perfectly. I fixed my hair as good as you can when you have the natural curls like I do. I put on my gold necklace and got two pair of earrings - putting one of each in my ears I asked my sister which pair looked best. When we got to the Hotel where the Whitney's were being held I realized I had on only one earring, I had forgotten to put the other one back on! So here I am at a fancy dinner in a fancy dress with no slip, no pantyhose, and only one earring on! I had no pockets so I couldn't take the earring off for fear I would loose it and it is very sentimental to me - so...
.
I took my camera with me to take cool and amazing photo's of the fancy affair and when I sat down I decided to start my photo session with a picture of the salad and dessert that were set out so beautifully on the table. I took out the camera and took a lovely pic of the salad. I then zeroed in on the yummy dessert sitting there begging me to take a bite, click I took a picture and beep my camera battery went dead, I had left the case in my hotel room because it wasn't matching anything. So, end of photo op!
Some days everything goes perfectly and some days they don't!
~Joyce
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Thoughts and Quotes...
Going to Church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.
.
I like this quote because I can apply it to almost all walks of my life. I can change the words a little and wallah I have a complete new thought. For instance:
.
Having a painting on your wall doesn't make you a painter any more than having a half finished one on your easel for over a year.
.
I mean like does it really - right, huh. I like to tell people I paint but if I'm really honest with myself I should ask myself "when?" even though I have quite a few on my walls as do each of my seven children - its been since 2008 that I actually finished one. What's the definition of a painter or artist anyway? - Right?
.
Or the one I'm working on now: Having a story half written on your computer doesn't make you an author any more than having a bookshelf.
.
- Right? I can say I'm writing a book and I'm a writer but until I get one published - I'm really not an author... DANG!
.
So with that thought I leave you to go work on my writing... my goal is to one day FINISH this! :O}
.
~Joyce S of Tumbleweed Lane
.
I like this quote because I can apply it to almost all walks of my life. I can change the words a little and wallah I have a complete new thought. For instance:
.
Having a painting on your wall doesn't make you a painter any more than having a half finished one on your easel for over a year.
.
I mean like does it really - right, huh. I like to tell people I paint but if I'm really honest with myself I should ask myself "when?" even though I have quite a few on my walls as do each of my seven children - its been since 2008 that I actually finished one. What's the definition of a painter or artist anyway? - Right?
.
Or the one I'm working on now: Having a story half written on your computer doesn't make you an author any more than having a bookshelf.
.
- Right? I can say I'm writing a book and I'm a writer but until I get one published - I'm really not an author... DANG!
.
So with that thought I leave you to go work on my writing... my goal is to one day FINISH this! :O}
.
~Joyce S of Tumbleweed Lane
Monday, February 28, 2011
Wow, What a Week-end...
This week-end I attended the fantastic ANWA Writing Conference held in Phoenix at the Crowne Plaza hotel. We were greeted then handed a great tote to carry all of our writings, notes, and supplies in. We then settled back to learn, learn, and learn. It was an incredible week-end.
.
It started off Friday with a workshop given by the lively Elana Johnson, a skilled query authority. She gave us great tips and hands on help with queries and pitches. I even sat down and wrote one for my novel. Whoop, whoop, hooray! Elana was an energetic presenter and there was no snoring found anywhere in class. Great class that went on into the next hour after dinner. My pitch? You want to hear my pitch? Wow! Okay, okay but I'm warning you this is just a rough draft, it still needs to be tweaked. Okay this is what I wrote: "Suzanna Delrio has witnessed the burning and subsequent death of her husband. Now she fears her children will be left orphans, when she begins being terrorized by a stalker." So what do you think... would you read it?
.
Chris Stewart gave the keynote address on Saturday morning. He filled us with story after story about how he got into the writing business - from Air Force pilot to author. He is a talented man. I truly enjoyed his comments.
.
This year the organizers of the event invited two national agents and one LDS editor. Any writers could have signed up before hand for a nine minute pitch of their work to any of the three. In addition, after classes on Friday we went to a meet and greet where the presenters/attendees hung around and ate chocolate with the said agents and editor. I met and greeted people mingling around but didn't approach the editor or agents that were in animated conversations with others. I now kick myself for the lack of courage to join in those conversations. I'm too timid for my own good! I need to learn how to get some back-bone. In fact that's one of the things one of the agents said, "why didn't more people approach her? Why weren't we mingling and getting to know them?"
.
One thing to help us with our courage or to keep us awake, (I'm not sure which - although I had no trouble keeping awake) during the classes on Saturday - they had bowls of chocolate sitting there for us to partake of. Yes, CHOCOLATE! :O) "Oh my goodness do you have no command over your own arms and mouth?" I wondered... didn't stop me though. :O}
.
The other classes I attended were all great as well. I loved the class by Kirk Shaw, senior editor at Covenant Communications. His class was about finding the right publisher/agent and convincing them that you are right for them. He talked about how an author narrows down the best option for their manuscript and proving they're a good fit for the publisher/agent. Do we shine in personality and the way we present ourselves? If your publisher/agent is called by the media and asked if you can appear on Good Morning America or Jay Leno, etc - would we be able to do that or would he have to tell them no. If we did appear would we not only embarrass ourselves but our agents too? I teach - I've taught classes at Church most of my adult life, including Seminary and haven't embarrassed myself yet, but going on a national TV show? I can honestly say I'm not sure - something I certainly need to work on if I want to get published for sure. If I can't go up and talk to people that I don't know at Church, how would I measure up nationally?
.
Probably the most anticipated, dreaded and valuable aspect of the conference were the Pitch Sessions. I sat in great anticipation and nerves along with my sister as she pitched her book to Kirk Shaw and ended up getting a request from him for her full manuscript. Fantastic stuff! When all is said and done, I wish that I had gotten my pitch prepared and signed up to pitch my book to Mr Shaw also. Shame on me, but I didn't know before this conference that you could actually pitch a book that wasn't finished yet. Yes, that's right - it didn't have to be a complete manuscript for them to ask for the full manuscript. They didn't want you to send it out to them the very next day anyway. I could have had even up to a year to send it to them and they would have happily taken it for consideration. WOW! Shoulda, coulda, woulda!!!
.
Last but not least, I will end with this: I ate Waaaaaaay too much chocolate this week-end. Here I am trying to lose some flubber and I'm popping chocolate morsels into my mouth at every opportunity. Sheesh!!! Do you have NO control woman?
.
... Joyce
.
It started off Friday with a workshop given by the lively Elana Johnson, a skilled query authority. She gave us great tips and hands on help with queries and pitches. I even sat down and wrote one for my novel. Whoop, whoop, hooray! Elana was an energetic presenter and there was no snoring found anywhere in class. Great class that went on into the next hour after dinner. My pitch? You want to hear my pitch? Wow! Okay, okay but I'm warning you this is just a rough draft, it still needs to be tweaked. Okay this is what I wrote: "Suzanna Delrio has witnessed the burning and subsequent death of her husband. Now she fears her children will be left orphans, when she begins being terrorized by a stalker." So what do you think... would you read it?
.
Chris Stewart gave the keynote address on Saturday morning. He filled us with story after story about how he got into the writing business - from Air Force pilot to author. He is a talented man. I truly enjoyed his comments.
.
This year the organizers of the event invited two national agents and one LDS editor. Any writers could have signed up before hand for a nine minute pitch of their work to any of the three. In addition, after classes on Friday we went to a meet and greet where the presenters/attendees hung around and ate chocolate with the said agents and editor. I met and greeted people mingling around but didn't approach the editor or agents that were in animated conversations with others. I now kick myself for the lack of courage to join in those conversations. I'm too timid for my own good! I need to learn how to get some back-bone. In fact that's one of the things one of the agents said, "why didn't more people approach her? Why weren't we mingling and getting to know them?"
.
One thing to help us with our courage or to keep us awake, (I'm not sure which - although I had no trouble keeping awake) during the classes on Saturday - they had bowls of chocolate sitting there for us to partake of. Yes, CHOCOLATE! :O) "Oh my goodness do you have no command over your own arms and mouth?" I wondered... didn't stop me though. :O}
.
The other classes I attended were all great as well. I loved the class by Kirk Shaw, senior editor at Covenant Communications. His class was about finding the right publisher/agent and convincing them that you are right for them. He talked about how an author narrows down the best option for their manuscript and proving they're a good fit for the publisher/agent. Do we shine in personality and the way we present ourselves? If your publisher/agent is called by the media and asked if you can appear on Good Morning America or Jay Leno, etc - would we be able to do that or would he have to tell them no. If we did appear would we not only embarrass ourselves but our agents too? I teach - I've taught classes at Church most of my adult life, including Seminary and haven't embarrassed myself yet, but going on a national TV show? I can honestly say I'm not sure - something I certainly need to work on if I want to get published for sure. If I can't go up and talk to people that I don't know at Church, how would I measure up nationally?
.
Probably the most anticipated, dreaded and valuable aspect of the conference were the Pitch Sessions. I sat in great anticipation and nerves along with my sister as she pitched her book to Kirk Shaw and ended up getting a request from him for her full manuscript. Fantastic stuff! When all is said and done, I wish that I had gotten my pitch prepared and signed up to pitch my book to Mr Shaw also. Shame on me, but I didn't know before this conference that you could actually pitch a book that wasn't finished yet. Yes, that's right - it didn't have to be a complete manuscript for them to ask for the full manuscript. They didn't want you to send it out to them the very next day anyway. I could have had even up to a year to send it to them and they would have happily taken it for consideration. WOW! Shoulda, coulda, woulda!!!
.
Last but not least, I will end with this: I ate Waaaaaaay too much chocolate this week-end. Here I am trying to lose some flubber and I'm popping chocolate morsels into my mouth at every opportunity. Sheesh!!! Do you have NO control woman?
.
... Joyce
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Did You Know...
Did you know that one hour of vigorous house cleaning will burn 145 calories? YES 1 hour! Did you know that ten minutes of doing Jumping Jax will burn 108 calories? Yep, amazing isn't it? So if I could, I would do thirty minutes of Jumping Jax at a grand total of 324 or better yet do sixty minutes at a grand total of 648 burned calories... that's right - I said "If I could". I can barely get ten minutes in and that ONLY if my bladder is EMPTY! Sheesh!!! - old lady syndrome :O{
.
So beyond doing the exercising and house cleaning I have set up on my computer a spreadsheet- it gives a place for my meals, snacks, etc and how much and what I eat and the calories for each and then it adds them up for me daily. The spreadsheet is for a month at a time. It also has a column for the exercising I do each day and how many calories were burned at days end. No not normal day's calories but the ones burned with planned exercise. I've found that when I know exactly what I'm putting in my mouth and how many calories it has- its easier for me to watch what I eat... so here's to loosing some of this flubber and feeling good on top of that! Yippeee...
.
Yes, I realize its going to take a long time for me to do this - its not an overnight remedy (darn) and that I'm going to have to make myself work out, even when I don't want to, in order to be successful - but I have a goal and a time-line for that goal- so I'm hoping I don't get derailed.
.
Ok - drum roll... stay tuned for the earlier mentioned contest, it will appear next week AFTER the ANWA Writing Conference I'm leaving for tomorrow...
.
L8er - Joyce
.
So beyond doing the exercising and house cleaning I have set up on my computer a spreadsheet- it gives a place for my meals, snacks, etc and how much and what I eat and the calories for each and then it adds them up for me daily. The spreadsheet is for a month at a time. It also has a column for the exercising I do each day and how many calories were burned at days end. No not normal day's calories but the ones burned with planned exercise. I've found that when I know exactly what I'm putting in my mouth and how many calories it has- its easier for me to watch what I eat... so here's to loosing some of this flubber and feeling good on top of that! Yippeee...
.
Yes, I realize its going to take a long time for me to do this - its not an overnight remedy (darn) and that I'm going to have to make myself work out, even when I don't want to, in order to be successful - but I have a goal and a time-line for that goal- so I'm hoping I don't get derailed.
.
Ok - drum roll... stay tuned for the earlier mentioned contest, it will appear next week AFTER the ANWA Writing Conference I'm leaving for tomorrow...
.
L8er - Joyce
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Didn't die and go to Heaven...
Wow all you marvelous people out there that have been sitting on pins and needles waiting anxiously for me to come alive - be restored from the lost- or that thought I had died and gone to Heaven... I'm Once Again Here! Yippee...
.
So many things kept me from posting... sick, computer didn't want to work, gone, computer crashed once again!, went to Texas and so many number of things that I can't name them all, so please, please don't ask me to - but I'm here now.
.
So first thing is that I want to report - I DID GET BRAVE and submitted the first Chapter of the novel I'm writing to the First Chapter contest at the Storymakers Conference which I'll be going to in May! Wow, I'm so brave it gags me! :O}
.
Another wowie for me is that I finally decided to figure out what's made me look the way I look! Well I already knew - yum, yum - but I'm now trying to do something about it! Dang do I still get Chocolate? Isn't that the staple of life??? While I was in Texas I asked my daughter-in-law to help me loose some of this flubber... she took me down to YMCA gym and off we went on the treadmill and she taught me how to use it. All these years I always thought you got on set a walking speed and walked, and walked - never breaking a sweat mind you! With Donelle's help I've learned that I actually know how to sweat... never thought I could unless I was in 115 degree weather. Now I know better! WOW can I sweat!!! Yep I know it's not lady-like, but when you're at the gym - who cares?!?!?! Well, with two weeks of a lot of hard work and sweat at the YMCA I've lost... drum roll here... 2 whole pounds, yes two pounds, two weeks - two pounds! WHOOP, Whoop!!! LOL I'm not giving up yet though! I'm home now and have a treadmill of my own, a bike, a boxing bag, and all manner of equipment... wish me luck. :O)
.
So stay tuned tomorrow and I'll tell you more of my plan AND a contest I'm going to hold! Yes that's right a contest... everyone likes contests -right?!?!? L8er....
.
.
So many things kept me from posting... sick, computer didn't want to work, gone, computer crashed once again!, went to Texas and so many number of things that I can't name them all, so please, please don't ask me to - but I'm here now.
.
So first thing is that I want to report - I DID GET BRAVE and submitted the first Chapter of the novel I'm writing to the First Chapter contest at the Storymakers Conference which I'll be going to in May! Wow, I'm so brave it gags me! :O}
.
Another wowie for me is that I finally decided to figure out what's made me look the way I look! Well I already knew - yum, yum - but I'm now trying to do something about it! Dang do I still get Chocolate? Isn't that the staple of life??? While I was in Texas I asked my daughter-in-law to help me loose some of this flubber... she took me down to YMCA gym and off we went on the treadmill and she taught me how to use it. All these years I always thought you got on set a walking speed and walked, and walked - never breaking a sweat mind you! With Donelle's help I've learned that I actually know how to sweat... never thought I could unless I was in 115 degree weather. Now I know better! WOW can I sweat!!! Yep I know it's not lady-like, but when you're at the gym - who cares?!?!?! Well, with two weeks of a lot of hard work and sweat at the YMCA I've lost... drum roll here... 2 whole pounds, yes two pounds, two weeks - two pounds! WHOOP, Whoop!!! LOL I'm not giving up yet though! I'm home now and have a treadmill of my own, a bike, a boxing bag, and all manner of equipment... wish me luck. :O)
.
So stay tuned tomorrow and I'll tell you more of my plan AND a contest I'm going to hold! Yes that's right a contest... everyone likes contests -right?!?!? L8er....
.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)