Happy September

Lazy days of Summer

A bit of this and that

I do feel a bit like I am playing hooky not sending out a post more often – but tis the way it is for the time being.

My cookbook project is coming along – not rushing to get it done – not rushing to get anything done – but it is getting there.

I am thinking I may try my hand at writing a “Cozy Mystery,” just for the fun of it. Not putting any expectations on it – basically just something to play with in my retirement days. I expect it will take me at least a year to complete so not putting myself in a pressure pot to finish it or do anything at all with it but have some fun with it.

At first it was going to be a plain cozy story but I have decided instead to make it a historical cozy – and have it go back to the late 1800’s here in Vancouver. Since I did a lot of historical research creating my Vancouver Word Search puzzles it is something I can just continue to build on.

Of course I have absolute zero knowledge about how to write a mystery story so I am going at it a piece at a time. I found a great little book called, “How to write a Cozy Mystery,” and I am using that as my guide. It is packed full of detailed instructions to think about, plan and create.

As part of my research I am reading a book that is AMAZING! Army Letters from an Officer’s Wife, 1871-1888. It is free from Amazon if you are interested. The author of the letters writes so well, and describes things with quite a bit of droll humor that makes it a very fun read. Apparently officers wives in those days did not sit in their little cabins making meals and sewing (at least she didn’t). She learned to ride horses western style, shoot, hunt with her greyhound, and entertain a bit with the other officer’s wives and company in a dirt floor cabin with a tarp roof.

I really had no idea it would be such a fun read and I do suggest you give it a try if you have a Kindle. 🙂

I have a 600 page book coming along next week that is called the . . .

The Diaries of Harriet “Hattie” Dillabaugh 1889-1940: Miner’s Delight, Wyoming Territory; Oregon Trail; Chehalis and Olympia, Washington Territory; … Vancouver, Washington; Portland, Oregon

This one I had to buy but I am hoping it will be a good book for getting into the feel of life and times in that era. The book covers 14 diaries of almost daily entries. Fun.

The next two books I want to get – but need to watch my pocketbook and of course my reading pile becoming overloaded include a cookbook from the 1800s and a book about ghosts at Fort Vancouver. I like ghost stories and in fact am possibly going to include a ghost or two in my book.

After all, I can pretty much do whatever I want with it . . . as it’s my play time.

Well enough of this – it’s time to fold some clothes and add a few more recipes to my cookbook. Have a wonderful and blessed day.

Gratitude Moments

If you would like, please add “your” three gratitude moments in the comments. It’s a great way to pick up your day and it’s fun for the rest of us to read!

1. Finding fun things to do
2. Sunflowers are growing! Didn’t expect to get flowers from them as we planted them so late, but they are budding.
3. Very hot today – but so thankful we are not having some of the terrible flooding and fires the rest of the country is dealing with. God bless them!

Puzzle Time

99Puzzle-fun-1

99Hidden Pond

100Reverie

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