Insecure Writers Support Group and a Surprise

My tomato plants keeping me company

Tomato plants need sunlight, water, love and attention. Small seedlings grow into rich green foliage with flowers that turn into fruit, and with the proper support the plants continue to grow. Sometimes I like to think of stories as such. Each story is a wonderful addition to a garden rich with ideas to share. As a writer it is our job to give our stories the ability to grow and the support that they need to carry the fruit and share the harvest.  The Insecure Writers Support Group is also much like this, so this month I would like to give this group some sunlight, water, love and attention.  Remember that we are all part of this garden and by sharing and supporting each other; the fruit will only be sweeter.

My two sons met each other for the first time yesterday. Two peas in a pod, and my family garden is doing quite well. Tell me how does your garden grow?

I feel so tiny! Me and my sons, together for the first time.

Have a wonderful 4th of July for those who are celebrating it today!

Stinky Pink Snails-Gibberish!

Minnie is once again ready for some Gibberish fun.  All around her the music of summer is playing, the nights are sunny and the roses are in full bloom. It is party time! Want to party with Minnie but don’t know how? You can check out the rules HERE-

"Escargot is just stinky snails feet!"

You have all week-end so put on your silly hats people, and help Minnie create a story that makes no sense... yet does... Come back on Monday to see what Minnie has done with your creative brains...

Extended deadline so more people can play. I will post the results once I see there is enough of a story to finish.

 

So here is Minnie's start to some gibberish fun:

Stinky Pink Snails had formed an army in the Bee-Fairy's garden and with weapons dipped in….

Have a great week-end but do try to stay away from pink snails. Looking forward to seeing how this story plays out, like Minnie I am not a huge fan of snails in my garden or on my plate.

Summer Days

View from our terrace on a nice day, which I am hoping for many of this summer

It is going to be a busy summer for me. My sister-in-law who lives in Australia is visiting her family here in Larvik this summer. My other sister-in-law who lives in Canada is also visiting, and one week from today my son is coming to visit and meet his family for the first time. As many of you already know, I visited him for the first time last October. Now it is his turn to cross the Atlantic and visit us here in Norway. He has already met his sister, who traveled to Denver last year, but he will be meeting his brother and my husband for the first time. I just wanted to let all of you know that because I am busy preparing for his arrival, and his eventual visit, my blog posts will not be regular. I will still be blogging and posting pictures whenever I get the chance, and Minnie has a game of Gibberish still planned for this Friday. Have a wonderful week every one, and don’t forget to check back every once in a while to see how our family reunion turns out. 

Are you getting any exciting company this summer? Do you have any travel plans?

Weeding through the Kitchen

You promised me a rose garden!

Something or another put me in a deep sleep and when I awoke much later than I am used to, my body felt like it had taken a trip through the garbage disposal. A tiny bite on my hand that wasn’t there yesterday could be the cause. Too much sun and sweat while working my way through the weeds of what used to be my beautiful garden could also be the cause. Renovating our house has cost my garden dearly. The other day we spent hours putting our outdoor sitting area together. When we were done and finally sat down with a cup of coffee to enjoy our handiwork, the view of the garden suddenly became clear. 

Living outdoors

What had happened to my beautiful garden? For a couple of years now, I have been in denial. When we started building an extra addition on to the house, trees were cut down, the bushes and flowers that survived were moved, and the lawn was replaced with gravel and building materials. Weeds and creepy crawlers took over what little was left! There is no way I want to relax in a weed garden, so it is time to tackle the unwelcome invaders. 

Runaway Garden

Weed Attack

Wouldn’t you know that with my elbows up to weeds full of unseen spiders, snakes, and insects, I am taking the easy way out today when it comes to making dinner? What's for dinner Mom, that’s right; it is left-over time. We have been eating a lot of Mexican food lately so I am taking all of it, putting it in a big pan and calling it Mexican casserole. Chicken, rice, beans, spring onion, corn, bell peppers, jalapenos, garlic, salsa, tomatoes and a dash of extra seasonings. What is so great is that this tastes good warm or cold. Serve it with some good bread or tortillas and not only is the fridge cleaned out but a good and easy meal is ready when you are. May not look so pretty, but it tastes amazing. If you don't like your food too spicy, sour cream on the side, does the trick. NEVER throw away left-overs, unless they start to crawl around by themselves. Usually everything you have eaten for the past 5 days can be stuck together in a casserole or on a pizza.

Mexican Casserole

Enjoy your week-end everyone. Have you been ignoring your garden? How about left-overs, what do you do with yours? Next Friday, Minnie and her Gibberish, so make sure to come back and play!

Eye Spy "End of Days"

Eye Spy is on a rather unusual journey today. Feeling a bit out of place as a panther suited in pink instead of black, Eye Spy finds itself in a strange world full of magical and often dark places.

 

Roland Yeomans has once again spun a tale that takes the reader on an amazing journey full of adventure, mystery, and lore through the love/hate and friendships we feel through his characters.

 END OF DAYS was first published as BEST OF ENEMIES on May 12, 2012 but the cover and title were soon changed after complaints that the cover to BEST OF ENEMIES was insulting and demeaning to women, which was never the authors intent. Ever heard the saying, "Never judge a book by it's cover!" We all know that the cover and title to a book is VERY important. Still, no matter what cover or title Roland uses, I am a huge fan of his and of his work. His strange, off the wall characters have spell bound me once again. 

This time Roland takes us to a unusual school run by the Sidhe in the hurricane Katrina devastated french quarter of New Orleans. It is up to Alice Wentworth, a Victorian ghoul, a group of misfit students and human teachers to stop the "End of Days." Mythology and Folklore set in the Gothic stained pages of this book is a true pleasure to read. To find out more and to get your copy GO HERE

To quote a line from the book, "A dreamer is one who only finds her way by moonlight, and her punishment is that she sees the dawn before the rest of the world." Roland Yeomans is a dreamer who writes for other dreamers such as myself.

Have you read any of Roland's books? Have you been to his blog? If you would like to get a visit from Eye Spy's Pink Panther let me know.

Choosers of the Slain

It is Monday and you should be nice and relaxed from the week-end. You should be fit for a fight and ready to take on another week. My daughter is taking her final exam today in Norwegian and I am sure she will slay it. She is a fighter and has worked hard to finish High School. That is something that can not be taken for granted here in Norway. So today I am thinking about women who fight hard to get what they want and since it is story day, my choice falls on the mighty Valkyrie. 

In Norse mythology the choosers of the slain are called Valkyries. They are a team of Warrior maidens on horseback led by feisty Freya and her cat drawn chariot.

If you are a handsome warrior strutting your stuff on the battlefield, watch out for 40 raving beauties on flying horses descending upon the pitch. The Valkyries shriek, howl and cause total confusion. Why? Because they can grab any warrior they fancy, and take him away. There is only one rule; the bewildered  champion must be dead first. So you must fight for your life, because if you fail you could be scooped up by one of these mighty and deadly beautiful Valkyrie's and then swooped off to Valhalla which is the Heroes Heaven.There you will be forced to feast,drink gallons of mead, and fornicate all night. Sounds horrible doesn't it? 

If there is a heaven, what do you think it would be like? Do you ever feel like a Valkyrie? I often feel that way once my husband gets me angry enough.

What's for Dinner Mom?

Me the Mom Bee reading "Just Nonsense" by Melynda Fluery

The week-end is here already and as you can see I am very busy reading my kindle. So if you ask me what is for dinner you are bound to be disappointed.. Mom is staying out of the kitchen today so make yourself a sandwich. That's right, I don't make dinner everyday. Tonight I am going to a summer concert to listen to my husband sing. No he is not in a band, although that would be cool. He sings in a choir. Mr tough guy, body guard, fireman also known to many as "Saw-man" sings in a choir during his free time. 


Maybe I will get lucky and get some of this on video, so if there is no video here now come back later for some entertainment. In the mean time enjoy your week-end! Tell me, what are you having for dinner tonight? Do you go out to eat a lot? Do you always make dinner? Do you wish you had a hat like mine?

Rakkestuten Blandakor-"What do you do with a drunken Sailor?" Sorry about the sound quality, but hey....Not bad for a phone...