Monday Meanderings #3

Hello, friends. Happy Monday, the last Monday in January already. This year is going to fly by just like all the rest. So, what can we do, but enjoy every moment we are given.

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It’s been raining a bit here, and the moisture is welcomed. We had several days of sunshine and temperatures in the fifties, so it’s time for something different. After all, it is still winter.

We’ve had a crazy sort of week and a far cry from a normal routine. My oldest granddaughter, who is thirteen, loves theater and takes a theater production class in middle school. She had the opportunity to try out for a high school production of Cinderella and was chosen to be part of what they call the ensemble. They only chose two eighth graders, so she was super excited. I saw her on Monday and then didn’t see her again until Friday as she was in rehearsals every day after school until 10 at night.

But the show was fabulous! I got to see it twice and enjoyed every bit of it. The talent of these kiddos is just amazing. Here are a few photos from it. Sorry some of the photos are grainy. The lighting wasn’t the best.

It was SO much fun! It was a ton of hard work, but in her words, “it was worth it.”

Besides that crazy schedule, little sister, Sammy, got her braces off so that was two days of going to the ortho, but she is happy to have them off for a while. She shed a few tears during the process, but then gave me a big smile.

Samantha after getting the braces off.

After much struggle, I managed to get the belt adjusted on my treadmill, so I can start walking again. It was hard, but I worked until I got the belt to sit almost dead center. My goal is to walk a mile to two miles five days a week.

Another thing I did this past week that was different for me, involves a handheld steam cleaner. I borrowed one from my daughter and used it to clean the tile grout in my shower and to clean around the faucets in the kitchen and bathroom. Wowzer! I think I need to buy one of these. It did a fabulous job without any scrubbing. It’s definitely something I’ll do again.

On the writing front, I am 1/3 of the way into A Bold Bargain! Yay! It’s interesting writing about elderly folks. I was shocked when I did the math and discovered these characters were born in the late 1800s. That gives me a whole different perspective on the things they’ve seen come along in their lifetimes. I also needed a physical malady for one of the characters and at first thought I’d give him a stroke. But my sister reminded me they had little to no treatment for strokes back then. So, I dove deeper into research and discovered that a severe migraine could mimic stroke symptoms, even down to slurred speech and the inability to walk. That was what I went with. At least it was a treatable condition.

On the reading front, I am completely engrossed in “The Valley Walker” by T.W. Dittmer. It’s my first time to read anything written by this author, and I can assure you it won’t be my last! I’ll be posting all my January reviews soon. It’s been a great reading month.

Hey, did you know my sister has a new western short story up for pre-order? Well, she does, and having had the opportunity to beta-read this story, I can promise it’s a great read. Take a look!

PRE-ORDER LINK

BLURB:

A mysterious man with one name and secrets that gnaw at his soul.

Creek has a reputation as a gunslinger, a lawless man—one to be feared. So, when an orphaned eleven-year-old girl in this rough border town claims she’s his daughter, it jolts the very fiber of his being. For a man making a living with a gun, he’s not father material in any sense of the word. And he has serious doubts he ever met her mother.

Yet Willa July stands firm. Creek has the mark on his wrist that proves her claim. When she’s taken by a crazed killer from his past, Creek is propelled into a desperate chase. He alone understands the depths of this monster’s evil mind.

Time is his enemy as he races to save her. But if he succeeds in getting the girl back, can Creek tear down his walls and embrace the role he never dreamed possible?


I don’t have to tell you, because you already know, we are living in tumultuous times. So, how can we keep our peace amidst the chaos? It’s a matter disconnecting and focusing on the tiny parts of life you can control, finding that feeling of gratitude for all you’ve been given, then letting go of what you cannot change.

The Tarot Card I got for the week is this one:

The two main words associated with The Star card are hope and healing. It can lift the spirits after a time of painful or violent transformation, and she helps renew your faith and hope in the future. I say we let this card inspire us to get back into a state of creative flow by using all the gifts we have within us. This is a strong healing energy! Sounds just about perfect! Let’s carry this theme with us throughout the coming week.

Have a great week ahead! I have a guest here on my blog this week and looking forward to that. So, stay tuned!

I'd love to hear your thoughts!

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