Rejection... ugly word

I went to a SCBWI conference a few years ago and one of the editors talked on the subject of rejection. She said that if they could talk to every author that submits a manuscript it would be easy to state the reasons they didn't need your lovey story. Don't take it as a rejection of you as a writer, that it's not personal but business. She looked around the room, smiled and said... yes I know that makes all of you feel so much better about those rejection letters. I like to say that every no thanks letter I have to write is hard because I know dreams are wrapped in the submission.
Okay, I got a rejection today. A form rejection, ouch! My dear writing pal, Jana said "Well I just think someone at that magazine needs to get fired. They don't know what they're doing!"
What would we do without friends. Lov ya Jana and Sheila without y'all I would be unable to submit... you know how bad I spell hehehehehe

Sometimes you throw the nuts...

Sometimes the nuts are thrown at you!
Stories are everywhere if you just look, listen, see
My grandson, Kane, told me the sweetest story this weekend. He was at Nana's (other grandmother) when he saw a squirrel gathering nuts... point here, did you know squirrels put nuts under their little front legs and in their mouths... I didn't?? anyway Kane said the squirrel went up the tree and he thought he would help the squirrel by throwing nuts up to him--- sure that is what he was doing!!-- the squirrel throw the nuts back at Kane. Not just one but all the nuts he labored to carry up that tree. Kane said he was a social reject because even squirrels didn't like him... this kid is 10 and with his funny personality and sweet ways (except when he throws nuts at hard working animals) he is far from a social reject.

History is the past but it does help shape the future

I love history but I like to learn about the people that made the history happen. Hand me a person that lived over hundred years ago and I'm like a dog with a bone. I chew on it, bury it for a while then digging it up and go at it again. When you tell me a historical event... Yankee Doodle went to town riding on a pony... here is what goes through my mind... Why was he going to town? Why did he ride a pony instead of a horse? Why didn't he ride in a wagon? Was it a long way to town? Was anyone else with him?... I could go on and on but you get the point.
History is made by people just like me and you.
My husband is keeping history alive. Here are pictures of he Man-Cave.

Give the kids the reins but hold on to a lead line

This picture is of my two youngest grandbabies about six years ago. That is Pride they're riding. Of course, Ella is pointing out the way... got to love that girl for her unshakable belief she knows the best way... and I really don't know were that comes from, must be from her mother's family. Kane wanted to ride... really ride holding the reins. I let him but you see that blue rope around the horn... my hand was on it when I walked beside them. Let those babies fly so they know their limits but be a compass and keep them on track.

It's my Birthday... Party Party!! NOT

I know now why kids want to party so hard for their birthdays... after twenty-five each one gets more like "just another day"
Here is my favorite card so far

The inside says "Or is everybody else getting younger and stupider?"

Well Yes! hehehe

Summer project finished

Well sort of... I set out to piece a charm quilt... each piece different but I put the quilt together a few rows at a time and yes I have a couple of pieces that are the same... ooops
The center part has 900 pieces. I could hand quilt it but I'm going to use it soooo I'm going to get it machine quilted.
Ain't it pretty! I know is should be isn't but ain't sounds more like me :)
I pieced three quilts this summer.

Here is my thoughts about quilts. Quilts are like life. You're born, have your first family (Mother, Dad, brothers, sisters, etc) then you marry, have children, add in friends, life experiences, sorrows, joys, miracles. Now if all those things were different materials and you pieced them together you would have your life. What would your life quilt look like? stunning a work of beauty, dark and sad, bright and full of light or would it be a little of all of these things. My quilt has no pattern or color theme. Like my life, it's full of color and just happened as I lived it. One piece at a time.

August hot weather, back to school, prep for conferences

So what are your goals for August... I'm almost afraid to say because it's like a demon is sent from unfinished goal land to put detours in my way. One goal for the new school year is to go through my books and donate the ones I know I will not read again. The used bookstore at the library gets the adult but I always ask local school librarians if they want my children books. You might want to check with the schools in your area.