Heart Of American ~6~

1st in the new digs!!

Holly 

Ellen, What is this TOO EARLY of which you speak?  I mean, can there be such a thing as too early?  I know there can be too late.  Sometimes for me, too late falls in the early evening, so maybe that's technically too early???  LOL  Oh, that's convoluted, but hey, someone has to be an earlybird here!

 Holly 

Cool. <bouncing around on the new furniture trying to find a comfy spot to hang out> Not much new here to report. Just the usual things and enjoying the cooler weather. Thinking the time has come to switch out the wardrobe. How come it seems like I just got done hanging up the summer clothes??? Hmm....

Holly, nothing wrong with being an early bird. I've been doing my sewing in the evenings lately and I get addicted so I've been staying up way too late and haven't been getting up as early as I'd like.

Waving 'hi' to EllenToo. Hoping everything is well with you.

It's Thursday!!  Very cool and lovely here this morning.  Well, more cold.  I'm under a quilt!  Nice!

Ann, I do love my early birdedness!  It's quiet and I love watching the rest of the world wake up!

 Jennifer, So glad you're having fun with the sewing.  I started a new sampler project!  Having fun with it!

 Ellen, Oh, that's nice about Beth's book.  She's a heck of a writer, and a very nice lady!

Okay, tons to do on my chilly morning!

Holly 

Actually,Its-after-11:20am-western-time.I-got-up-bright-and-early-and-started-my-annual

medical-screenings.THe-doctor-requested-a-fasting-blood-draw.I-got-up-early,drank-a-lot

of-water-and-headed-to-the-lab.I-got-my-blood-drawn,ran-a-couple-of-errands-and-returned

home.Now,I-made-business-phone-calls.I've-been-scheduled-for-my-annual-pap

smear-and-mammogram.I've-gone-down-15pounds.I-merely-have-been-doing-more-work

which-makes-me-sweat-at-work-and-eating-the-frozen-dinners-for-lunch-which-have

only-one-serving.Also,I'm-not-working-the-night-shift-but-evenings.So,I'm-sleeping-at-night

instead-for-an-evening-nap-and-staying-up-all-night.

It-has-been-cool-at-night-but-next-week-is-supposed-to-be-back-up-to-triple-digit-temps.

Aurelene

Well, I guess I'll be the group's night owl.  LOL  I usually go to bed at around midnight, wake up at around 8 am and I have to be work at 8:30.  Good thing I work in a casual office and only live 10 minutes from work.   The only time I see dawn is if I've been up all night.

So night owls may not get any prizes for being the early bird but the television is better.  :)

 I had coffee with Pat Pritchard (Alexis Morgan) the other day. She told me about a new BBC series that came out this summer and only had six eposides. Being Human features a ghost, a werewolf, and a vampire, of all things. I admit, that did NOT sound like my kind of show. But I decided to give it a try. I figured, ten minutes in and I'll turn it off. But I loved it! The writing is fresh, the humor is wonderful, and there's a touch of scary tossed in. Great character development, too. In two days I watched all six episodes.(!) If you can find it, give it a try.

 Jennifer F- I would LOVE to see some of your sewing creations! Do you have any posted on Facebook or someplace else?

Ellen Too - I love when a good book keeps me up at night! Like you and Holly and Jennifer F, I'm also an early bird. I'm usually up by 5:00. Six days a week,  I throw on my gym clothes and head for the gym. I don't usually get online until after a shower and breakfast.

Aurelene- Congrats on the weight loss! Smart of you to drink water before the blood draw. I'm told that dehydration makes the blood draw a lot harder to do.

Sandy- Night owls are just as productive as we morning persons. Rock on!

Well, it's a chilly, rainy day here in the midwest, which I'm happy to see so I don't feel guilty about staying inside and writing.  I should have my partial ready to send off to HAR within a few days.  During her last Q&A Kathleen said it was okay to submit unrequested partials.  So any tips? 

Dragging in to the new digs to say hi!  I'm home again from a quick weekend trip (well, quick in that the visiting went fast, but not so quick with the seven hours drives both ways!  LOL).  Lovely time, but exhausted!  Talk to you all tomorrow!

Holly 

 Hey, everyone! Happy first day of fall!!! We're having the most perfect weather today. Sunny, cool in the morning but warm later. Love it!

Ellen Too- Seven sounds civilized to me. I don't think I've ever slept that late. Unless I was sick or sleep deprived.

Holly- Somehow I missed anything about new digs. I know you didn't move. So what's new about your digs?

Holly!! Youmeant the digs here. How funny is that?!

Enjoy the fall days, everyone.

Our second crop of raspberries is coming in. Gotta love that! I pick them just before breakfast, then add to my yogurt or oatmeal. Or i just eat them from the bush.

 I can't believe they've made a movie out of our youngest dtr's favorite childhood book! Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs. The book is such a delight, and I don't think I want to see the movie.

Holly-  Tell you what- I'll eat some raspberries for you.

Hey there!  With the awesome help of Dream and the other amazing folks here at eHarlequin, I’m hosting a 24 hour, drop in party on my message board thread here. Guest authors! Door prizes galore! Bring along your favorite romance hero or heroine to hang out! (Links to your fav hot hero are more than welcome!) As you can see below, the schedule is flexible to folks in all time zones.  Stop by the party as often as you like… there will be numerous guest authors popping in frequently.  Tons of prizes posted throughout the event.  Hope to see you there!

When: Friday, Sept. 25- Saturday, Sept. 26
Time: 8 p.m. ET Friday – 8 p.m. ET Saturday
Where: Here at eHarlequin - follow the link: http://community.eharlequin.com/forums/simply-series/special-author-discussions/catherine-manns-bunker-bash-ending-new-beginning

Link is also posted on my website: http://catherinemann.com or e-mail me with any questions at: catherine@catherinemann.com

Cheers!
Cathy Mann :-)

I was rooting around in our big old freezer last night and found a couple of scone mixes I bought at the Victorian Country Christmas fair last year. I've made a couple and gave away some as gifts, but I'd never tried the chocolate hazelnut scone mix. Sounds yummy, right? Well, I made them first thing this morning and I'm here to say, it isn't good. Not much flavor and not nearly enough nuts and chocolate. Next time I'll make my own, homemade version.

Holly- I remember the Where the Wild Things Are movie. Missed that on purpose, too.

Cathy- Sounds fun! Hope I'm not too late to drop by...

Hey_Ann,

When-a-person-has-scones,aren't-they-supposed-to-have-a-big-cuppa-tea?

Also,aren't-they-supposed-to-hold-their-pinkie-finger-up-while-drinking-the-beverage?

Perhaps-you-didn't-have-your-cup-ready-and-that-is-why-the-scones-needed-help.ROFLOL!

I-have-cups-that-have-a-little-pedestal-under-them.I-set-them-on-the-table-when-I'm

trying-to-have-a-fancy-table-with-everything-matching.Let-me-know-when-you-get-the

next-batch-ready.Perhaps-I-can-use-Holly's-teleporting-computer-and-bring-my

china.How-many-place-setting-should-I-bring?Will-it-be-a-high-tea-for-4pm-or-earlier?Should

we-wear-hats?

Aurelene

Aurelene and Holly! I wish you both could stop in for scones and beverages. We coiuld all raise our pinky fingers just so. La de da.

I have some terrific recipes. This may be a year for making homemade breads, rolls and scones. I haven't done that in years and I'm getting the urge... As long as I don't make too much of a pig of myself. I need to fit into my clothes.

Cookies- Yum! Enjoy.

I want some cookies and I'll even eat some soup   I have to quit procrastinating and take my car in today for maintenance since I put so many miles on it.  I'm thinking I'm going to visit a friend here in Texas and shouldn't go without having the oil changed, etc.  It's been raining here some every day and usually just as I decided to go some place.  At least the drought has been broken even if it was too late for my grass.  It's looking like I'm going to have to resod my yard come spring but so are a whole lot of other people.  The grass in my yard was put down at least 30 years ago so I guess it's time.

Gotta get off here and go or I'll not get anything done today.

I just got back from taking my car in for a checkup and oil change, etc.  I had to get the dealer's shuttle to bring me home and there were two girls also needing a ride.  I am totally surprised the shuttle driver didn't go nuts as they kept changing their mind about where they wanted to be dropped off. He had started out to take them home first and about halfway there they changed their mind so he decided to drop me and the other person off before taking them where they wanted to go.  Before he got me home they had changed their minds again.  I really feel sorry for the shuttle driver.

Rae, My dh would have a heart attack if I turned on the furnace this early!  But I may have a fire in the fireplace tonight!  LOL

 Jennifer, I'm so sorry about your FIL.  Hugs.

Hey, we're playing a game at  http://community.eharlequin.com/forums/cafe-social/what-i-did-summer-vacation  There are prizes!!

Holly 

Thanks Holly and Ann. FIL is feeling better but still has a ways to go until he's back to normal. We're so glad that he's home now.

The rain is here, again. Thankfully yesterday I was able to rake four heaping bags of leaves, get the grass mowed and got the weed whacking done. Pulled out the last of my lawn ornaments and got everything on the porches stowed away for winter. Seems like we just got everything out for summer. <shaking head> Still have some trimming to do and the gardens to strip but didn't have the heart to pull out my flowers as they are still blowing and the hummingbirds are still buzzing around looking for food.

Well, with the rain being perfect excuse to stay inside today, I hope to get some more rewrites done. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

Morning, everyone!  We had a great family reunion yesterday.  It was a busy day, but a lovely one!!  So, playing catch up today!

Ann, thanks for participating in the game!  We had winners today!

 Jennifer, I love being forced to stay inside on rainy days!  We've had a lot of rain here, but it's clear at the moment. We're going to try to get some outside stuff done before it starts up again!

 Happy anniversary, Sandy!  It sounds like a lovely night.  But I'm so sorry about your job.  No matter what the reason, that sucks.  Sending hugs!

Holly 

The weather is crisp and beautiful this morning. Slowly I'm getting caught up on life again. I'm considering entering one or two contests. I haven't entered many this year and a friend highly recommended a chapter contest so I thought I might throw my hat in the ring. It can't hurt, right?

Sandy, congrats on the 20th anniversary. That's wonderful! Sounds like you had a nice time celebrating. So sorry about the job. That's got to be rough. <sending a hug> Just remember where God closes a door, he opens a window. So keep your eyes open for something new, maybe something better.

Holly, so glad you had fun at the family reunion. Haven't been to one of those since I was a kid and used to tag along with my grandparents. Don't think anyone in my family still bothers. So nice that someone in your family takes the pains to plan such a big event.

Rae, so sorry your week isn't off to a good start. Hope you get the water and oven issues straightened out soon.

Okay, I'm off to polish up my opening chapters to enter in the contest. Hope everyone has a beautiful week.

Jennifer