Fact or Fiction: Can you spot the difference?

I'm pretty lucky to consider both Camy and Squirl (Cheryl) among my closest friends. And this week, I get both of them in my house. Can the world stand the three of us in one city all at once? Can my family sustain us all under one roof? Only time will tell.

Each day, you'll be treated to posts from Camy, Cheryl and I. Some of what we tell you is fact. Some is fiction. If you can spot the fiction, we've got some prizes for you.

Camy's been here since Thursday, and we've been having a great time. She's working on revisions for her latest Love Inspired Suspense proposal, and I have to say, it's great. I'm working on critiquing it now. 

What have we done so far?

Thursday, after I picked her up from the airport, we went to tea with my kiddos. Great food, great fun. We also bought some yummy loose tea to drink back at my place. 

Friday, my hubby took the kiddos up to the mountains for a camping trip, and Camy and I drove to visit her friend. Camy was especially eager to milk the goat. And yes, she really did milk the goat. The best moment was when we were sitting on the porch, waiting for our iced tea. A loud animal noise gets our attention, and Camy exclaims, "Wow! It's a chicken!" I started laughing and said, "no, that's a turkey." We look, and there it is, Camy's first real live turkey. Yes folks, Camy Tang is a city girl through and through.

After our very nice visit, we drove into Boulder, walked the Pearl Street Mall, trying to find yarn shops that we'd searched online. Sadly, none of them existed anymore, so we stopped by a chocolate shop, got a chocolate, then went to a tea place to knit and drink tea. Afterwards, we drove to another knitting shop on the list, and that one DID exist! Sadly, we got there just before closing so we didn't get to completely enjoy it. So we went home, ate, drank more tea, wrote, and talked.

Saturday, we drove around Denver and visited some more knitting shops. Camy spent a scary amount of money on yarn (Allie Pleiter would be proud), and I bought a couple things as well. We came home, knitted, drank more tea, wrote, talked, and ate... um, we should probably not discuss what we've been eating, because we need to stop! 

Today, which is Sunday, but okay, is technically Monday, we worked some more, then Camy took me to tea at the Brown Palace Hotel. Wow! Then, we walked around Downtown Denver, went dress shopping, visited another tea place, and came home. We've had more tea to drink, talked some more, worked some more, and will probably knit some more.

Anyone seeing a pattern here?

So, for the person who spots my fiction, in honor of our tea drinking ways, I will send some of the lovely tea we've been drinking, and a copy of Camy's latest book, Deadly Intent, to enjoy while drinking it.

Dream

I would say a NYC kind of girl would not be "eager" to milk a goat.  Maybe curious about milking a goat, but not eager. LOL

If I was in the story, it woulnd't say "got a chocolate," it would say, "got a whole lot of chocolates."  And then I wouldn't be drinking tea and knitting, I would be snarfing chocolate.  So that part looks a little suspicious to me.  The part about calling the turkey a chicken I believe.  I once referred to grouse as a fish. 

That since Cheryl isn't here yet to say no, we're going to add the not yet won prize to today's prize... are you better at finding today's fiction? Today's prize is yesterday's prize plus a handknitted scarf from Camy.

Today was not a very exciting day. My hand was really acting up, so I couldn't do a whole lot. Plus, I was up late last night dealing with a now minor, but then major, computer emergency. So I was tired and groggy. 

I had a doctor's appt for my hand and Camy stayed home to work on her blog tour. Camy downloaded all of this month's Love Inspired Suspense books because she prefers to read them on ebook, and she started reading them while I took a nap. After my nap, we had lunch (leftover pasta- Camy really likes my pasta!).

Exciting stuff, right? 

Then we went shopping... very mundane, almost too boring to comment on, except that Camy bought a cute pair of shoes on clearance at Target. They had lots on clearance, so if you like shoes, get to Target. (They should totally pay me for that.) After shopping, I got the ribs ready and baking for BBQing. Camy helped. With my hand in this brace, I have no use of my thumb, so she helped me get them out of the package and into the pan. While the ribs cooked, I read and Camy knitted while listening to audio books. She's making a super cute scarf for her agent. She started it yesterday and it's already almost done!

I think one of the best things about being friends with a fellow book nerd is that we can just sit around reading all day and it still be a pretty good day! 

On tomorrow's agenda... we finally get to pick up Cheryl at the airport. I can't wait!!!

So spot the fiction and you win!

Dream

You say Camy downloaded all of THIS month's books.  BUT Camy's book is one of this month's books, so why would she download her own book?  Plus, aren't the downloads available a month ahead of time?!  I'm gonna guess she downloaded NEXT month's books (August, not July).  He-he-he-heee!!!

Rachelle, you're close but no cigar! I really did download all the July Love Inspired Suspense ebooks. And KS, she really did read while I knitted. It was very relaxing. :)

Camy

I didn't think about listening to a book together!

And no, that doesn't mean you get the prize.

Squirl is having a hard time logging in, so I get to post again...

Today's adventure...

We all (except Cheryl, who had to catch a plane), had a semi lazy morning, and then Camy and I dropped my children off at my FIL's house so Camy and I could have lunch with a friend at The Cheesecake Factory. Very yummy! We were actually good and had salad combos. Then, we picked up the kiddos, took them home, and went to the airport to get Cheryl.

Cheryl's airplane story is that the flight attendant told them that the use of oxygen is strictly prohibited during the flight. After a bumpy ride and changing planes, she did arrive safely in Denver. We picked her up, and raced to the library because I needed to return an overdue book before it closed. Ever the romantic, Cheryl spotted a cute couple on the grass pre-kiss that we thought would make the perfect novel cover. That job accomplished, we went to Hobby Lobby for knitting supplies. Camy needed pins to block the scarf we talked about yesterday. And of course, who can resist the lure of yarn? So we all picked up some yarn and went home.

Camy and Cheryl took pity on my poor injured hand and made most of our dinner- BLTs, leftover baked beans, and salad. Despite my tiny kitchen, it was so fun preparing a meal together. Camy took care of the bacon, Cheryl did veggies, and I made the drinks. After dinner and the kitchen was mostly picked up, we headed to the dining room, which has become writer central. We each have a spot at the table, and hubby couldn't resist snapping a picture. Which I was going to post, but my card reader isn't reading, so we'll save that for another day.

Find the fiction and you will win some tea, Camy's book, a scarf, and Cheryl's book....

Camy had just bought a bunch of yarn so I will say the fiction is that she bought more. I can believe she bought other knitting supplies but not more yarn? Although, as a former craft department manager, I know that those addicted to knitting could buy yarn every day of their lives and still say they need a different colored skein than what they already have. However, Camy is just visiting so she will need to pack her purchases and she has to be thinking about the space it will take in her luggage, unless she plans on shipping it home. hmmmmm. Nope. I'll stick with my guess that she didn't buy any more yarn. 

Ellen, true story about the oxygen. The flight attendant got flustered, realized her mistake and said that smoking was prohibited and went into the oxygen mask spiel.

Rachelle, we did catch them pre-kiss, as well as mid-kiss and post kiss.

Kim, you're on the right track, but not quite there yet. Camy DID buy more yarn and used it to knit me a beautiful scarf. Yep, done already. Impressive, eh?

Okay, I'm off to find an alpaca farm for my visitors...

Maybe you went somewhere beside Hobby Lobby to buy knitting supplies including yarn?

I give up! I guess I can't tell fact from fiction.

So Cheryl didn't do the vegetables??????

Rachelle is correct but if not, Camy only bought more yarn. She had everything else she needed.

Got so excited last night about FINALLY!! giving away a prize that I didn't post our Wednesday adventures. Ah, what can I say? We were having too much fun! That's okay, I'll post yesterday's adventures now and today's adventures tomorrow and then I won't mourn not having Camy and Cheryl here as much. This evening, I sent them away to a retreat and will pick them back up on Sunday. I can't go, since I'm not a published author. *sniff sniff* Such things make me really want to be one so I can get all the time with them I can. :)

Now for Wednesday's adventures...

I actually got up early because I had an acupuncture appointment for my hand. Ugh. Then it was race my girls to dance class, and finally slowed down enough to throw together some leftovers for lunch. The great thing about Camy and Cheryl being here is that I got to leave my kids with them during my appointment so I didn't have to deal with a bunch of needles sticking out everywhere on my body and kids running around. I guess I just can't escape needles.

When I came home from all of my running around, Camy and Cheryl were hard at work. If nothing else, you have to admire their work ethic. Camy had a proposal due and Cheryl had some other thing she's working on, so in between play, we got quite a bit of work done. :)

We spent the afternoon hard at work. Yes, even me. We took an afternoon break to head to my favorite tea spot, INTea, which has an amazing selection of loose teas. We sat, drank tea,  and chatted for a while, then headed to the grocery store to pick up some food for dinner for my family as well as a couple other necessities. Believe it or not, Camy and Cheryl ate ALL of my carrots. Yes, carrots.
I tried stocking up on writerly foods, but those two were so good! I
also picked up some more bread and cheese. If you're into cheese, you've got to try mushroom brie. Whoa... so good. We'd gotten some earlier in the trip and scarfed it.

So... hands down... best conversation of the day. We had just pulled up to the hotel to meet a friend for dinner, and a Chris Tomlin song was playing on the radio. I made the comment that I'd told hubby that when I die, I want that song as well as a song by Todd Agnew played at my funeral. Which led to a discussion amongst us friends about our funeral wishes and how we want it done. Friends don't let friends have bad funerals. As it turns out, Cheryl wants to be cremated, but her hubby doesn't want to cremate her, so as her friends, Camy and I made the solemn vow that when Cheryl dies, we'll rob her grave and get her cremated.  The joke for the remainder of the night was that Chris Tomlin inspired us to become grave robbers. Ironically, the t-shirt Cheryl wore had something to do with a true friend being a person to hide the body...

Dinner was great, aside from the fact that it didn't do so well with our insides. The conversation- completely awesome. The friend we met was a great gal, and it was so nice getting to know her better. After dinner, we passed a yarn store that hadn't been on our list. It was closed, but we made note to come back the next day. We headed home, and YES! worked some more. I'm telling you, Camy and Cheryl are machines! 

We were good, though, and because we knew the next day was going to be full of excitement, and we had lots of plans, we went to bed early around midnight. And yes, compared to the other nights, that was early.

Tomorrow, I will share the tale of today's adventure. So much fun! 

And, for the observant person who figures out today's fiction, I have a copy of Camy's book. .

Dream

I don't think they ate all your carrots!

Yes they really did eat all the carrots.

However,we did not  go to bed early at midnight. We actually stayed up about as late as we had been, and went to bed around 1:30.

Ellen, email me with your snail mail addy at dream.eharlequinhost@gmail.com and we'll get your prize out!

Congrats Ellen I am glad you won!

A sad sad day today without my precious Camy and Cheryl. So let's take a look at yesterday... spot the fiction and you'll win a copy of Cheryl's book. :)

Yesterday, we got up way too early. However, we had a date with an Alpaca farm. After much searching, I found one right by my house, so we got an appointment to visit. 

Loved, loved, loved the Alpaca farm. I wish I could figure out my downloady thingy to share pics. I'm going to have to have hubby help me tomorrow. They are such friendly animals. We stood in the middle of the field, and they just surrounded us. My kids loved them. I think we all came away wanting a pet Alpaca.  Trust me, folks, we have all sorts of Alpaca dreams now. Don't be surprised to see an Alpaca book in the future. Oh, and the farm manager was totally hero material. 

Then, we went back to my house for a few minutes so Camy could get her manuscript ready to mail. (I TOLD you we were working!!) Then, we headed out to meet my best friend for tea. For those of you who were around eons ago, we went to the House of Windsor, which is a tea shop we went to about five years ago when ACFW was in town. We gathered all the Steeple Hill board folks and went for tea. We even played pass the baby and passed my now five year old around. So much fun! Not only was it a great trip down memory lane, but I love that they got to meet my best friend, and everyone got along well. I think we're planning a research trip to England now. The owners of the tea shop have a rental house in England. We'll hire my friend as our research assistant. All tax deductible, you know. :)

Then, as you may recall from the previous day's yarn store discovery, we stopped by the yarn store and visited with the very friendly staff. It was actually the first yarn foray with my children. One stayed in the car with Cheryl, and the other came in. She discovered a Barbie knitting book, and I have visions of spending the rest of their childhood knitting Barbie clothes. Fortunately, Camy took pity on her poor friend who tries to knit but isn't nearly as talented, aka me, and promised to knit a couple of Barbie outfits for the girls. Not only did Cheryl stay in the car, but she'd brought her laptop to get some work done. Not only did she actually write, but she taught my daughter the world's most annoying song. May we remain friends long enough for me to return the favor.

Finally, the sad part of the day. I brought them back to my house to pack for their retreat. I drove them downtown to get checked in and ready for their retreat. The best part of leaving them, if there could be a best part, was that Robin Caroll and Margaret Daley also went to the retreat, so I got to hug them and catch up. 

The good news is that I will be seeing them again tomorrow. We're meeting for dinner, then they'll go back to their hotel for the night for the end of the retreat, I'll pick them back up Sunday, and we'll have Sunday and Monday together again. Can you stand the excitement?

Hey strangers, I was late with the first couple days, on time for the next but it wasn't there, LOL and missed yesterday. Talk about timing!

Okay, my answer is this - I don't believe Cheryl used her laptop in the car - I think she used her Alfi or Alphi or however you spell it.

I should have been clearer on the pass the baby thing... It happened five years ago, when the now 5 yo was a baby. :)

And yep, she really did use her laptop.

As for the alpaca farm, it really is close to my house, I pass the turnoff for it at least twice a week! Though in my defense, you can't see it from the main road.

Try again...

Well, when I first read about the manager of the alpaca farm being 'hero' material, I was going to pick that but then I thought you wouldn't put that here if it wasn't true in case his wife read this.   And I still think that, but it would've been a good guess, eh? :)

Anyway, my answer for this round, is - I don't believe Camy would bring her whole manuscript to your place for mailing. She would do it from her own home.

And I'm really sorry they're leaving you Danica, because it sounds like you all had a wonderful time and if I were the jealous type, I'd be quite envious of you all. Thank goodness I'll be seeing you all in Sept.

Now that brightens up my day!

I had so much fun with Chery, Camy, Danica and Robin. We went to Cheesecake Factory on Saturday night and had our picture taken at Writer's Square. How appropriate is that!

Margaret 

Cheryl didn't teach your daughter a really annoying song.