Books and photos

I have finally finished three rugs to go to the lady who gives them to people in need. I had started them before the hot weather hit making it impossible to work with wool. Now the winter winds have arrived since the rain we had, I have been working on them while watching TV at night. I have another two partly done. Good to work on them in winter because they keep the legs warm while working on them.

These are what I do when I'm not writing. Or I need to take a break from work when the muscles begin to complained I've over extended my time for doing the housework, and gardening.

I write 500 word stories which go up on the ABC site. I also add photos for the picture topic.
I also go to a writing group where we learn more to do with writing.
I have written a few novels which I have self-published. I'd prefer to have a traditional publisher. And an agent. Someone who won't try to change my story line.
I can finish the ones I started a couple of years ago. I lost them all when the computer died. I finally found someone who was able to retrieve my lost work. I have to finish the one I'm working on before I do.
I have just finished on "Fighting for her soul".
This is a story about the break-up of a relationship. The woman has a car accident. While in hospital she is guarded by her spirit and an angel. They are there to stop the devil taking her soul.

This book tells of my life. What I lived through growing up. Living in a tent; caravan; shed; all before we finally got to live in a house when I was thirteen. This is written about things I remember of that time. Not written in the true memoir fashion. The book finishes when my mother dies.

This one is about a lady who is picked to help out the Gods. She is taken around the world on a flying horse. She helps families in need. Helps the sick and poor. She tries to bring peace to the world. This was not written with any dislike for one religion over another. Churches are just buildings. My way of thinking does not enter into the story. The idea was given to me while I slept. I just followed the ideas.

As the title suggests. This story is about ghosts. Quiet funny in places. The woman is an author wanting to write a ghost story. She has her agent find her an old house that is suppose to be haunted. The house she moves into doesn't look like a place where a ghost would stay. Too clean. Not falling down. She soon finds out there are more there than she can handle. The family of them begin to take over her life not giving her much time to write. The story is fast moving with not much "padding".

All my stories are written that way. I don't like parts which slow down the story.

I have a few others in my files which I have had a chance to do much with because they were last. Now I have found them.

Some are written for children in mind.

I have to go find the sun. The room where my computer is is freezing. My legs are becoming chilled. Haven't had time to find out the heaters.

Night out

One night on our trip to the Sunshine coast over Easter, We went to Alfie's Mooo Bar and Grill in Caloundra. A great time was had by all. The food was delicious. The service great. And we all got to talk to Alfie Langer, the man who used to play football. Us ladies received a kiss on the cheek and a hand shake on the way out. Everyone else there looked to see why we were getting so much attention. Especially most of us being over the hill. One lady said she wasn't going to wash her cheek. Ever.

Catching up.

I'm trying to catch up on the work I have to do for my writing class. Have taken a spell from it to catch up on some of my blogs. I could do with a nap instead. I'm going to soldier on for a bit longer.

This term we have been working on memory stories. Some of the group are writing their family history. I've been busy trying to finish two project that are nearing the end. The last few weeks, my writing has taken a back seat. I don't have the undisturbed time to write. There are other jobs popping up to be done. I had to write my memory stories for my ABC Open topic. I did them yesterday.

Following is a piece that will go in the last chapter of one of my projects. We had to do a scene from something we were working on. So this is what I wrote.

Dennis stood at the front of the church with Finn by his side.


The priest stood on the step in front of the alter with the bible in his hands.


Stella stood at the entrance to the church. Virgin World, her attendant straightened her train ready for the journey down the aisle. Spirit declined to be a part of the wedding. She entered the church unseen to hide behind a statue to the left of where Stella was to stand.


The wedding march sounded.


Stella and Virgin World, made their way down the aisle. Unaware of trouble. Stella had eyes only for Dennis. The inside of the church grew warmer with every step Virgin World took. She sent out danger signals to Spirit. Stella turned to hand over her bouquet. Her hand hit a solid wall.


She turned to plead with Dennis but the man by her side was Kerry, her disfigured ex-finance. Beside him stood the Devil.


“You have lost.” The Devil laughed.


“No. You have,” challenged Virgin World.


“Grab your bride,” Devil told Kerry. He reached to take Stella's hand. She screamed.


The wedding guests scrambled from their seats to rush from the church.

Australia Day Trip

Time has passed quick.
At the end of last year, I needed about three of me to be at all the places I needed to be.
By the time Christmas came around I was exhausted. I stayed home to catch up on rest to restore my energy for 2015. Did work for a couple of weeks, BUT, the steamy, muggy, hot, weather moved in to zap away what energy I had gained. Even too hot to sit at the computer. Not much breeze. Electrical storms with some rain. The grass is nice and green.
One problem with that. The grass is growing too quick so has to be mowed. Either too hot or wet. So have to chose the right time to attack the grass.

Have been busy working on a novel I started around the middle of 2014. Nearly to the end.

I also pull up one I started...not sure when...to edit and work to finish it.

I had an interview to do with my writing of 500 word stories for the ABC. This was played on the radio a few days later. The voice does change when you are recording. Didn't realize I was the one speaking.
Bottom two photos were taken at the Toad Race.

90th Birthday Party.

Bernice turned 90 years old at the beginning of August. Her family put on a small party for her inviting some family, and friends. Some friends who travel on the same bus trips with her. And past bus drivers, who had taken her on trips.

Here are some of the photo I took.

The three in this photo all have their birthday on the same date - mother, daughter, and grandson. That is why there are two cakes.

Winter Fingers

These are two rugs which I finished recently. The wool was passed on to me from those people not wanting to use it. Each one has been give to a lady who passes them on to people who are in need. I hurried up to finish them while the weather was cool enough to work with such weight on the lap, and not be hot. I had slowed down during the summer months. Now, with the colder months, the writing has slowed because the house is like a freezer. But I have completed the two rugs. I have another one on the go. I am trying to catch up with bits of writing while I have a couple of days of peace. I also seem to have more non interrupted time since I have added my phone number to the "No More Calls" list.

This story is another one I have written for ABC Open.

Winter Fingers


I shivered throughout the night.


The quick change in the weather from hot, to chilly, had all the muscles crying with pain.


In the early hours of the morning, I slipped, shivering, from my cold bed in the search of blankets.


Rivulets of Arctic fire shot up my legs from my feet, when they encountered the wooden, polished


floor.


In the darkness, I opened the cupboard door to grab what felt like blankets, then rushed back to my


bedroom. I shook out each one to dump on the bed before climbing in to try to build some warmth.


Didn't happen.


The chill had settled into my bones.


My feet were like icebergs.


I was still trying to warm my body when my uncle rang.


“I use a thermal blanket,” was his reply, to my complaints. “I only need the one.”


“Yeah,” I thought, remembering where he lived. And the air-conditioner he used to warm his room


before going to bed.


Thermal. The word rang bells.


I had one of those. Somewhere.


I had no intentions of spending another frosty, sleepless night.


I stripped the bed.


After four loads of washing I began my search. Downstairs.


I pulled a striped bag from a wardrobe. Placing it on the bed I zipped it open.


Surprise. Surprise.


No. not the thermal. New blankets still in the package. Never been used.


My triumph faded when I read the size. Queen. Double, I needed.


Not to be beaten. I carried the three packets upstairs.


The mattress had to be turned. With aching fingers I struggled to lift the mattress. Walked it across the base before lowing it to the base.


I set to build my cocoon.


Blanket.


Sheets.


Three new blankets.


New comforter with matching pillowcases.


The over used, shrunk blankets were packed in bags ready to be recycled.


Exhausted. I slipped between the sheets after a warm shower.


Shivering, I couldn't hold the book to read, I cast it aside. Switched off the lamp.


Pulled up the blankets to my ears.


Oh.


What a wondrous haven?


Within minutes I was as warm as freshly toasted bread.


The rising of the sun woke my from a deep sleep. The sheets were hardly rumpled because I hadn't


moved much in my sleep. I put my arm out from the warmth to the cool morning air.


Groaned.


Shivered.


Whipped the covers back into place then went back to sleep.


I'm waiting to see if the fingers of winter that seep through the walls will penetrate the wall of


warmth I have built. With the large blankets reaching the floor, I hope they can't.


Once started on my search I kept going, cleaning, eventually, finding the thermal blankets.


Two weeks of turning out hiding places.


Dusting and moping.


With aching muscles I finished by polishing the stair railings.


The job is completed.

Until I decided to search for another hidden treasure.

Phew!!! Nearly lost the story. I pushed the wrong button. But I found the right one to return it to my file.

Desert Roses

I have changed to growing Desert Roses. (Photo above)
In the past. I liked to grow Cactus.
Due to a disease which go to them I lost all but one. Its just hanging on for dear life. The plant rotted after being covered by some mildew type of fungus.

Now. I'm having fun finding different colours in Desert Roses. I have been collecting them when I have been visiting markets. But there are only some many different colours.

For some reason. I went searching for different colours on the net. Well. Not at first. I searched for another plant I had been trying to find. Searching I found all these different Desert Rose plants. More seeds then plants.

The packets of seeds are arriving. And I'm busy germinating. All have sprouted plants. I just have to wait to see if they flower is the same as the picture I liked.

The above photos are of different stages of the germinating process I have been using.
Once I planted seeds but receive nothing for my trouble. Planting in the soil didn't work. Or I'd been given the wrong seeds.

Then the next time I tried. I had success. I filled a flat plastic container with potting mix. Made a shallow gutter in the middle. About the depth of the first knuckle of my finger. I laid the opening pod face up in the gutter then scraped a little of the potting mix over the top.

What a success. I ended up with over 40 seedlings.

Then. Not wanting to waste money buying seedlings. I decided not to place them in soil. I had read up on different ways to germinate the seed. I put all that together to come up with my own version. I placed water in trays I'd placed on the bench. Sat cotton wool balls in the water. Then I placed a seed on each one.

Surprise. Surprise. Within a few days. The shouts were coming out of the shell. Once they were big enough I planed them into small pots. I have another two trays set waiting. And watching. For the shouts to appear. I've had a 100 percent strike rate so far.

I just have to wait for them to grow to produce the first flower.