Kitty Time

Bertie was having a good old time trying to catch the birds that were landing in the stick-on feeder.

Rascal prefers to hang out in the new box fort and watch the birds from a height.

That is when she isn't stretched out in a different kitty space, lazily watching the local wildlife.

We have some very brazen wildlife.

And that is a shared kitty space that goes in and out of fashion.

You must always make some kitty-space or they will make it themselves and that is often a problem. I have a box by my desk where Rascal sleeps most of the morning. Bertie prefers the basket on the shelf, or sometimes the guest chair in my office. There are favorite spaces in every room and almost every week there is a new favorite place that was an old favorite place a while ago. Or maybe the new favorite place was the other's chosen place... It's best not to get involved in kitty-games.

Kitty Time

Two kitties at the windows in the new office. I put a bird feeder outside the window and it keeps the cats busy for hours.

Mallory likes to play whack-a-mole with the birds that come to the window feeder. The birds have learned that she can't get to them.

Watching the squirrel can be so exhausting! Rascal had to lie down, but is keeping an eye on him.

Must be dinner time, because we are all here!

Time for Kitties

I don't have a lot to say today, so I thought I would share some of the latest kitty photos.

Bertie napping

Rascal and Mallory waiting for a treat

Mallory checking out the new bird feeder outside the office

Rascal wanted to run some numbers

Bertie playing jungle kitty.

Stay warm and play hard!

Time for Kitties

I needed a little break so I thought I'd let the kitties take over. They helped me choose their favorite pictures.

Here's Bertie with her favorite toy. Sometimes she wants me to throw the mouse and she'll run after it and bring it back, until she gets distracted and forgets about me.

Here's Mallory lying in wait for an unsuspecting victim. Or maybe it's a kitty time-out.

And Rascal needed to get up close and personal for an unknown reason. (Probably involved cheese.)

And now they're back to work at a busy day of napping, eating, sniffing doorjambs and lying in the middle of the hallway.

And if you missed my Facebook post - my interview with Thrills and Mystery Podcast is up. Click HERE to check it out.

Kitties!

I haven't got much to say, so I thought I'd turn the blog over to the girls.

Mallory has been working out on my trampoline.

Rascal has been helping me with some paperwork.

And Bertie has been keeping an eye on the plants in the sunroom.

As you can see - all very busy.

Sometimes You Need to...

...put your feet up.

Ah the kitty's life, where decisions come down to where to sleep--on the comfy chair or the comfy bed or the comfy couch...

Meanwhile, in the human world...

I've been working on a couple of stories at once this month. Sometimes that happens when I finish a big project. My creativity goes in six different directions. Gleanings is in the middle of line editing, so I'm right on schedule for the October 19 release. Outlining the next book in the Transmutation series went faster than I expected. So I switched gears into a little fantasy story that I've been trying to write for years.

I've dabbled in this world a lot and racked up a bunch of half-finished/half-started stories. I plan to add it to my yearly round-robin of series once I get the other two a bit more established. I started writing this for myself when it was just something fun to fill my time. (Mostly the years I didn't own a TV and pre-internet.) The writing is badly done, but I created an intricate world while I was messing around. That provides me with excellent groundwork to get started.

Sometimes it's really hard to rewrite a story because you are so entrenched in the previous mindset. For Transmutation, I changed the main characters names. That was all I needed to re-envision them, and the story took off from there. The names weren't as crucial in the other work. I wasn't as tied to them. But I needed a jolt to change things up. So I made the main character a woman. In my mind, it had always been a man. And that was what the story needed.

I've started with a prequel novella that may or may not see the light of day. Partly this sets up the character and how she got to where the real story needs to start. And partly it gets me back into this world so I can remember the people and places and magic system and gods and...whew. I really meant it when I said intricate.

Just a reminder that Facade is still 99cents thru Saturday. Grab a copy here.

The Busy Life of Housecats

The day often starts with a nap in the sunroom.

A little music later on.

Supervising the work (and of course any lunch that might involve fish)

Maybe a little filing.

A workout on the trampoline.

Followed by a rest.

Some time for the neighborhood watch.

Before it's time for another nap

Don't Eat the Couch

Do you ever find yourself saying inane things to your pet? Bertie seems to have a liking for stuffing - the pillow kind, not turkey-related. On one end of the couch the upholstery has been ripped open by various cats sharpening their claws and a little stuffing peeks through. Every now and then I catch Bertie licking it. And I end up yelling, “Don’t eat the couch!” It goes along with: “Don’t chew on the chair,” “Don’t swallow the yarn,” and a generic “No biting!”

I think commands to animals need to be short and to the point. I caught my sister trying to reason with her cat. As Rascal was sharpening her claws on the side of the chair, in a conversational tone, Rose said, “We don’t do that on Mommy’s chair.” Needless to say, Rascal did not stop. I suggested she try, “No!” or even “Stop!” I didn’t think a full sentence would do the job.

Bertie is a chewer. She rips apart any cardboard she can get her teeth on, leaving sheds all over the floor. She likes to chew on sticks in the kindling pile. And she had started trying to tear apart the blue rocker in the picture above.

I bought her some chew toys that were made for dogs which she disdainfully batted under the refrigerator. It isn't easy being the servant of a cat.

 

Bertie, Queen of Socks, guards my clean laundry. She's quite possessive. I can't put them away until she tires of them, or abandons her post to go bite something.

Kitties

I thought it was time for an update on the girls.

Bertie has grown quite a bit. I can't believe she'll be 2 years old in May. She still tries to help me out.

 

And Mallory tries to do her best, too.

Rascal prefers a box every time.

 

Sometimes it's a tight fit.

 

And sometimes you just have to put all four paws in the air.

 

Or hang loose

 

So that's the update on the kitties.

 

Book Trailer and other things

First of all:

Lethal Season's book trailer

Please check this out! I think it is really well done. And you will get a chance to hear Alex's wonderful music. I would appreciate any feedback!

And the other things...

Here's a daisy. They are blooming right now. The yard is out of control, but the vegetable garden is doing really well. I picked nearly a pound of blueberries this week, and there are a lot more to come. The peapods and shelling peas are producing wonderfully. My tomatoes are all full of buds and green fruit. This year looks to be an especially bountiful one. And luckily the raised beds aren't demanding too much of my time.

I don't care if the grass gets too long, but the edibles always take priority. So what little free time I have this summer will go to the vegetable garden and fruit trees.

I am feeling a little overwhelmed and it is all my own fault. I want to do this book launch correctly... But I'm making it up as I go. The big publishers buy advertising and set up book signings, things I can't afford to do. So I am posting where I can and trying to make a little noise about this. And since I am making it up as I go, I can't be sure I'm doing the right thing. But the book isn't published yet, so I shouldn't be worrying yet, but...I am. Whew.

And here's Bertie hanging out, watching me work. Whenever I get too crazy, there's always a little cat ready to jump into my lap and demand attention. All three of them remind me that I am just here to do their bidding, and that always puts things in their proper perspective.

Updates on all fronts

First of all...

Our little orphan is thriving. And still trying to help me write. Some days she can be quite a challenge.

The garden is slowly coming back into order. I think it will take me every warm day over the winter to reclaim a garden from the chaos out there now. I've got wild berry bushes taking over the hill, walnut trees that I think the squirrels plant and weeds, weeds, weeds. A lot of work to get done over the next 4-5 months.

My dabbling in genealogy has become obsessive. I have to say that having access to all the information on the Internet is amazing. And the information slowly builds a picture. In some cases tracking one person will give me answers to other questions - like when a son marries and the mother-in-law lives with them. That is one of the only ways to track down a maiden name.

The last census released is from 1940. After that I have to rely on less reliable sources...like Facebook. Although, I have to say that some of the census information is a mess. One bad entry was that the Reis family was listed as Rice. Luckily I had all the names and ages of the kids and wife already, so I knew it was them. Or another time when a Katherine (or Catherine or Kathryn) was listed as Ratherine. It does take some digging. And I am really enjoying it.

My writing has stuttered and stalled around the genealogy. I have not been keeping to my schedule. Maybe it's the change of season, but I just didn't have the energy for it. I have made better progress this past week. And I plan to get back to my schedule of writing every day.

Computer Overload

I got a new computer.

I transferred all the files myself. I am extremely proud of myself for getting that done. Even though it took me two days and a whole lotta grief. I'm still loading odds and ends that I forgot about, like bookmarks.

The new computer has new software. With a learning curve. Things are not where I expect them to be. Some things are gone completely, I think, maybe, but I'm still looking. My picture viewer is different. My Outlook is a monster. I started using Chrome and that's all new too. Sigh.

In other news...

Bertie likes houseplants

Bertie still likes to help me work

Bertie likes to hide.

The black hole of family research continues to eat away my time. I find myself cruising through old newspapers reading stories over 100 years old. It's amazing what you can find. I have discovered that many of my relatives were entrepreneurs. There were a bunch of businesses started - a marble (stone not toy) company, a grocery store, jewelry store and an excavation equipment company.

The search for the relative that came over from Ireland has skidded to a halt. I may need to pay for some of that information, so I've put it on the back burner.

October has been an odd month. I didn't get a lot of writing done, but what I did was more in the way of outlining. It is helping me to see some holes that need fixing. New characters are cropping up and new settings. I'm still putting the pieces together. But I feel like I'm making some progress.

Catching Up

It's a rainy day, perfect for catching up with myself.

I haven't worked on End of the Lines all week. I've been listening to the audiobook recordings for Unintended Consequences. I have to say that hearing it in someone else's voice has me finding all sorts of things to fix. I may have rushed that one a little. I wanted it out of my brain. Other than typos, I don't think I will do any other fixing. I will just acknowledge them as a lesson and move on.

Hopefully, that audiobook will be available by mid-November.

I am still losing way too much time to the genealogy black hole. I am so excited to have found the LDS website. They had Hungarian Baptismal records through 1895, which was very helpful. I found a lot of relatives in there. Now I just need something a little more recent. The language is a barrier. Although Google Translate has worked well enough.

The Irish side isn't faring as well. All civil records were burned up in a fire in the 1920's (I think). That only leaves the parish records. I'm trying to narrow down a town in County Roscommon, but it's a big county.

I won't even mention the garden, which is an absolute jungle at this point.

And the new kitten is doing very well. Although she is still way too rambunctious and bite-y.

So you can see I've had a lot of distractions this month. I am hoping to get back on track with myself this week. I need to allocate time for things and stick to it. Lately I have been sliding past self-imposed deadlines and putting off things that need to be done.

Like getting a hair cut. Which I will do today.

Kitten Update

Our little waif has made herself to home. She is turning the house upside down, terrorizing the older cats and making us laugh every day.

The vet was amazed at how well she's doing. The broken leg is totally healed and Bertie is racing around the house like a flash.

And chewing things up, shedding, sharpening her claws on the furniture... Sheesh, we hadn't planned on a 3rd cat!

The older cats are still hissing at her. Mallory gives her a smack from time to time. Rascal is a little more gentle, just lifting a paw in threat. But she does follow them constantly and has been know to jump an a tail and bite it.

I'm hoping they will get along when she gets a little older and less rambunctious. That's what everyone says.

Fingers crossed.

Just a heads up - the Goodreads Giveaway for Unintended Consequences ends on Saturday.

Shake it up!

I had company last week. Aside from having a nice visit, I got a big break from my routine. Every day we did some sightseeing and shopping and eating in restaurants. Wonderful. I didn't realize how much I needed a break from my everyday rut.

Now don't mistake me, I love my rut. But sometimes you just need to be doing something other.

I looked at artwork, heard some live music, walked all over and had a fabulous massage. When I got back into my comfortable rut I was energized and enthusiastic. Yes!

In other news:

I still have a kitten on the keyboard. She's getting a bit more aggressive about it now.

And I have finally approved the last proof for Unintended Consequences.

YAY!

Please email me if you would like to purchase a signed copy. Click on the tab above for details on the book.

And I am hard at work on End of the Lines.

Whew!

Too many things going on

First of all the kitten. Here's a rather scary-eyed photo.

Bertie was 2lbs at last weighing. She is very tired of the "playpen" and wants out. The first time she scaled the wire to escape, I topped it with chicken wire.

The pen is made of rabbit wire. I don't know who designed this particular brand, but even the rabbits figured out that the upper wire is further apart. I witnessed an especially smart rabbit jumping through the upper part to attack my chard. Bertie is just as smart. She found the one section where the chicken wire didn't come down far enough and squeezed through. More jury-rigging on my part was required. Now she still climbs but cannot escape.

The other cats are not pleased with this little invader. They are acting out in strange ways. Rascal decided she needed to sleep on my printer...until I started printing.

Not pleased to have her nap interrupted.

The print version of Unintended Consequences is coming along. I am waiting for the latest proof to arrive. Maybe today. The audiobook is now in the works. That went faster than expected!

The weather has finally turned dryer and cooler. I have been hit by the late summer garden-ennui. Despite not being able to work in the yard most of the summer due to rain, I don't want to now that I can. Needless to say everything needs attention!

I am having a fun time with some genealogy. I'm building a family tree online with one of those websites that helps you research. It's definitely a time-sucker, so I have to schedule it in and stick to it. I can spend hours looking at the census records and scribbling notes. I have discovered that I had female relatives on both sides that were cigar makers! How weird is that?

And I've been thinking and plotting on the new story. I'm taking my time with the worldbuilding. I want to get some things sorted out before I get too far in and need to backtrack.

Whew. Not enough hours in the day anymore!