Six Month Cozy Book Marathon
My first serious journey into writing a Cozy Mystery
Coming Soon . . . Bonnie’s Bones
I have decided that working on the Vancouver Guidebook – is just soooo much work. With soooo little results. And so I’m putting it on the backburner on low and let it simmer for a bit while I pop back into Cozy Mystery writing. Now this adventure may have as little results as the above…
Published a new book! Yes, I did . . .
Consistency is the BIG key to being successful. So, it’s no wonder I’m not. But then on the other hand, I am sort of consistent but it’s more like “years” consistent not day to day. Consistency with big gaps in the middle . . . Explore Vancouver Washington On February of this year I published…
One Year Later . . .
Since it has been almost a full year since I wrote a post on this site . . . and since I am heavily into procrastinating on something else I should be doing – I decided to take an hour break and write a post on this site. No promises as to whether this will…
Book Progress, New Job, Life is Good
Book Progress Book progress hit a snag (of course) when I decided I didn’t know what in the heck I was doing and decided to take more time learning the craft of fiction writing before diving into it. Moving forward with that – but kicking the deadline out the window and it will be done…
I’m writing a book
Writing a Cozy Mystery Since I love to read cozy mysteries and I am now retired with time to do whatever I want – I decided I wanted to write a mystery story. Not sure how I made the decision to “just do it” but I am now on Chapter Two and enjoying every minute.…
Happy New Year – 2021
It’s been a while . . . Been a couple of months since I have given an update. So here I am – checking in to let you know all is well. I have been busily working on my other site, Explore Vancouver USA, finished the family cookbook and sailing through Christmas to the New…
Oh my! It’s already November!
Ecards, Puzzles, Oh my . . . I’ve been busy I tried doing nothing for awhile but that got old very fast. I decided to swing back and pick up the work I had started in 2015 and then again in 2017 and now hopefully with better results in 2020. That is blogging about life…
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…
It may not be your fault
Why results may not be your fault. Strive not to be a success,but rather to be of value.Albert Einstein Making Change work I have been reading a most fascinating book called, Good Habits, Bad Habits – that is helping me to understand how I can make positive changes and keep them. The chapter I am…
One Way to Happiness
One way to happiness “There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will.”Epictetus My Excuse I have been working on my memoir every morning and once I put in two to three hours of writing on that I seem to have…
The only person you can be
Be Yourself The only person you can beis yourselfGINA MOLLICONE-LONG You too? The best memoir books apparently are those in which you can relate to the author. I found a wonderful book called, Scary Close by Donald William that hits those points in a humorous but insightful way. It is about his struggle to become…
The Path to Happiness
Simple Pivot to Find Happiness The path to happiness lies in seeing each failure as a signpost along the journey of life.GIN A MOLLICONE-LONG Successful Failing I found a book today on my computer called, The Secret of Successful Failing. I was searching for a lost file and going through stuff I don’t normally see…
Taking time for meditation
A meditative journey Peace is the result of retraining your mind to process life as it is, rather than as you think it should be.Wayne W Dyer Closing doors and opening the mind A few weeks ago I let my business license go and yesterday I canceled my business account at my bank. Both things…
Enjoy the Day
Enjoy the Day! It’s been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will.L M Montgomery Old Posts of Yesterday I made an interesting discovery yesterday that I could add my posts from previous blogs I did to this one and so I decided to…
72 Wonderful Authors of Detective Stories and counting
Inspirational quote on worry by Corrie ten Boom
Continue Reading 72 Wonderful Authors of Detective Stories and counting
My first Covid haircut
Inspirational Quote of the Day on Aging “ My face carries all my memories.Why would I erase them?”Diane Von Furstenberg Snip, snip for a safety hair cut My hair has been getting longer and longer, a common enough lament from most of us during the last six months while we “shelter in place.” It finally…
We don’t Stop Playing
Inspirational Quote of the Day on Aging “ We don’t stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing.”George Bernard Shaw Keep Playing Today I am late getting the blog out because I just didn’t get started with it. No excuses – just was the mood I was in and I…
Never let the odds
Inspirational Quote of the Day on Encouragement “ Never let the odds keep you from doing what you know in your heart you were meant to do.”H Jackson Brown, Jr. Know in your heart Some people I think do know in their heart what they were meant to do – then there are the rest…
More common than Table Salt
Inspirational Quote of the Day on Encouragement “ Talent is cheaper that table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.Stephen King Did someone say hard work? So I like this quote but I rather shy away from the hard work part. This could be a definite…
This is where your strength lies
Inspirational Quote of the Day on Encouragement “ Be faithful in small thingsbecause it is in them your strength lies.”Mother Teresa Small Things Well today I am having focus and persistence trouble. This is getting to be more and more of a chronic condition. Hmmm. I think I need to stop thinking and just do.…
Everything will work out for the best
Inspirational Quote of the Day on Encouragement “ Sometimes the best thing you can do is not think,not wonder, not imagine, not obsess.Just BREATHE and have FAITH that everythingwill work out for the BEST.”Unknown Have Faith Whenever I was told to “have faith” about something I never found it to be the least bit consoling.…
An Encouraging Word
Inspirational Quote of the Day on Encouragement “A word of encouragementduring a failure is worth morethan an hour of praise after success.”Unknown An Encouraging Word First of all I want to start this blog post with a HUGE thanks for all the people on this blog who have shared so many encouraging words to me…
You Don’t Know!
Inspirational Quote of the Day on Encouragement “Everyone has inside them a piece of good news. The good news is you don’t knowhow great you can be!How much you can love!What you can accomplish!And what your potential is.”Anne Frank You don’t know! I don’t believe any of us will know the good we have done…
The Lord will Strengthen You
“But the Lord is faithful, he will strengthen you2 Thessalonians 3:3 Strengthening – Yeah I need to do this. I am in the process of trying to start strength exercises as I know it is good for staying fit physically as well as mentally and I need both. The problem is following through. Not going…
Don’t Wait
“Don’t wait. The time will never be just right.”Napoleon Hill Don’t wait Well I have to say this quote fits me perfectly as waiting is my least favorite thing to do. I was going to say even with prayer – but actually it’s ESPECIALLY with prayer. I mean if I pray shouldn’t God just get…
Courage doesn’t always roar
“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, “I will try again tomorrow.”Mary Anne Radmacher Courage Love this quote! Because there are a thousand ways we put on our courage coat and rise up to see what each new day is going to bring. For me…
With the New Day
“With the new day comes new strengthand new thoughts.”Eleanor Roosevelt New Thoughts I really do not know much about Eleanor Roosevelt but I do like her quotes. Perhaps it is time to find a biography about her and learn some more. Our library in Vancouver is supposed to open mid June and I think I…
Do what is right
“Do what you feel in your heart to be right,for you’ll be criticized anyway.You’ll be dammed if you doand dammed if you don’t.Eleanor Roosevelt Dammed if you don’t Well I am not sure why this famous quote of Eleanor Roosevelt makes me smile but it could be because I remember my mom saying it every…
In Difficulty lies Opportunity
“In the middle of every difficultylies OpportunityAlbert Einstein Look for the Opportunity I’m sure there is enough difficulty lying around that opportunities ought to be springing up all over the place! Now the trick is to do that mental switch and make the transition. I remember reading somewhere that finding an answer starts first with…
Honor in making mistakes
“A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable but more useful than a life spent in doing nothing.”George Bernard Shaw Making Mistakes I have started working on the book which at this point is more like sitting on a dock and wondering where I’m going to row my leaky boat but at least…
An Invincible Summer
“In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.”Albert Camus Rain Outside – Summer Within I have been driving myself crazy trying to think of a grand focus I could make my blog about. Something that I could live with, grow with and still find enough material to…
Vegan Cinnamon Coffee Cookies
Vegan Cinnamon Coffee Cookies These delicious cookies will have you ALWAYS reaching for just one more! Make the dough and refrigerate for one hour or overnight. 2 Tbsp instant coffee crystals (mix with 1 Tbsp hot water)1 Cup butter (I soften in microwave 30 seconds)2 Tbsp Egg substitute (mix with 1/4 cup water)3/4 Cup Sugar…
Ordinary Days
Gifts from the past I just went downstairs to our storage room to look for something and in one box of my stuff of stuff I found this tiny cardboard box. The minute I saw it I knew what it was and had to grab it and bring it up stairs for my office. It…
Stay at home
Cooking I saw a report somewhere that more people are gaining weight as they stay at home and cook more. Add me to the list! I started baking homemade bread and finding new recipes to try. Some turn out really well and others need help. Yesterday’s cookies which were supposed to be the “Best Ever…
Wild Ones Mahjong
Another Mahjong game The latest Mahjong addition is called Wild Ones. It includes “cute” cartoon birds and animals around the world. You now have three tile options, Ocean, Wild Ones and Flowers. It would be very cool if I could put my games up as an app so they would play better on mobile devices…
Game Changing
Waffle game changed to Word Maker I’ve reworked the “Waffle” game and changed the graphics from ugly brown (my opinion) to softer shades of pinks and purples. I like it better. Plays the same of course but now its just more feminine. Changed the name as well – it’s now called Word Maker. I’m not…
Potato Container Planting
Little gardening goes a long way This year I wanted to plant potatoes and we decided for our needs doing it in big pots would be easy and probably provide enough for two at least for a while. We bought a box of seed potatoes for under $3 at Winco on our last shopping trip…
It’s that “kind” of a day
Kindness makes a marriage I read a nice chapter today in a book of collected writings about kindness that a study was done on what makes a lasting marriage and the underpinning element was “Kindness.” On that score I think Jon and I will have a lasting marriage as he is a very kind and…
New Normal for Buddy & Me
Ho Hum Days I am trying to figure out what is my “non pressure” fun thing to do after quitting my business. So far nothing has risen to the surface except to clean my office and see if that helps. It is still a work in progress but I did rearrange Buddy’s cat tree so…
A New Memory Game
A Garden of Memories My first play time since “officially retiring” has been to create a new Memory Game. I didn’t actually “create” the game – I just bought the code and reworked it. So it’s more design work I guess than anything but it did take me three days to do that! The old…
Brand New Ending
Just quit already Two days ago I got an official letter from the Secretary of the State informing me that my business had been dissolved because I did not send in the annual year end report. If I had remembered that I was to do such a thing I would have but the thought just…
Animation Play Time
Recording in the Sandbox I want to start playing around with creating animations, video bits and perhaps some podcasting. Just some fun stuff as I learn how to get better with all of it. The end result will hopefully help my business but in the meantime I will share my progress here as part of…
Sunshine Helps
Sunshine helps Well, if we are house bound at least it is wonderful to have sunshine. It is streaming through the windows making everything cheerful – even a messy office. Meditations A few days ago I was feeling a bit “in the dumps” with my business and Covid 19 and life in general and I…
He is Risen! Alleluia!
Easter Glory I hope everyone has a beautiful Easter Sunday even if it is celebrated at home. All is quiet at our house – we are staying home except for biweekly grocery shopping (with masks) and a few other outings for necessities. Still taking our daily walks but of course not getting too close to…
Heaven Begins
Heaven begins on the Spot Quiet day. Took a walk early this morning as we were thinking it was going to rain later. Now the sun is out. Oh well. Getting to know you . . . I just wasted some time on Facebook answering one of those – get to know you – survey…
Monday Sunshine
Counting Blessings Feeling so blessed that everyone I know is healthy so far. The fear keeps rising that this will not continue but for now I am grateful. Today the announcement came that all restaurants, bars and many other places are officially closed. The New Normal? Just got back from another shopping trip this morning…
Worry Free Zone Day
Time out from worry I’m taking a day off from worrying about stuff and just having a pray rosary day. Just to get off the “oh my gosh, now what” tread mill. The last two nights I wake up and can’t get back to sleep and the worries drip down like a wet drizzle and…
God Finds Us
“God finds us when we forget about ourselves and live in the present. Michael Leach – Book, “Why Stay Catholic” God Finds Us Okay God, if you are looking for me, I’m here in my office pretending to work . . . Hmm, it rather looks like I’m posting just once a month here. Better…
Kindness in Words
“Kindness in Words creates Confidence” Lao Tzu Kindness in Words I have decided my Mission for the Month is to be kind. In words, thoughts, prayers, reflections and most of all for people who most need it but are the hardest to give it to. If you look at the puzzles below the third one…
Where Have I Been?
““Do things for people not becauseof who they are or what they do in return,but because of who you are.” Harold S. Kushner Life keeps merrily on Today is Wednesday and it’s been weeks and weeks since I have posted but I’m back. I have been working quite a bit on my business and feel…
Happy 2020 New Year
“Give something, however small, to the one in need. For it is not small to one who has nothing. Neither is it small to God, if we have given what we could.” Saint Gregory Nazianzen Day by Day It has been weeks since I have posted here and the reason is because I have been…
Scheduled
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Catholic Quotes 22
“Give something, however small, to the one in need. For it is not small to one who has nothing. Neither is it small to God, if we have given what we could.” Saint Gregory Nazianzen
Catholic Quotes Day 21
“Be at peace with your own soul, then heaven and earth will be at peace with you.” Isaac of Nineveh
Catholic Quotes Day 20
“God loves each of us as if there was only one of us.” Saint Augustine
Catholic Quotes Day 19
“Find new ways to spread the word of God to every corner of the world.”Pope Francis
Catholic Quotes Day 18
“The true way to advance in holy virtues, is to persevere in a holy cheerfulness.” Saint Philip Neri
Catholic Quotes Day 17
“One filled with JOY preaches without preaching.” Saint Teresa of Calcutta
Catholic Quotes Day 16
“It is always springtime in the heart that loves God.” – St. John Vianney
Catholic Quotes Day 15
“He will provide the way and the means, such as you could never have imagined.” Saint Catherine of Siena
Catholic Quotes Day 14
“No duty is more urgent than that of giving thanks.” Saint Ambrose
Catholic Quotes Day 13
“There is nothing small in the service of God.” Saint Francis de Sales Small I like any advice that starts with the word small. Small beginnings, small steps, small actions that add up over time. That’s what I am into now. A change from younger days when I was all for thinking big. Age has…
Catholic Quotes Day 12
Catholic quotes: “Actions speak louder than words. Let your words teach and your actions speak.” Saint Anthony of Padua
Catholic Quotes Day 11
Catholic quote: “The secret of happiness is to live moment by moment and to thank God for all that He, in His goodness, sends to us day after day.” Saint Gianna Molla
Catholic Quotes Day 10
“Teach by works more than by words.” Saint Teresa of Avila
Catholic Quotes Day 9
“A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows.” Saint Francis of Assisi
Catholic Quotes Day 8
Catholic Quote for today: “A man of prayer is capable of anything.” Saint Vincent de Paul
Catholic Quotes Day 7
“Accept – then act. Whatever the present moment contains accept it as if you had chosen it. Always work with it, not against it-this will transform your whole life.” Eckart Tolle
Catholic Quotes Day 6
“Evil draws its power from indecision and concern for what other people think.” Pope Benedict XVI
Catholic Quotes Day 5
Catholic quote: “Hold your eyes on God and leave the doing to Him. That is all the doing you have to worry about.” St. Jeanne de Chantal
Catholic Quotes Day 4
“What you are is God’s gift to you, what you become is your gift to God.” Hans Urs von Balthasar
Catholic Quotes Day 3
Miracles are not contrary to nature, but only contrary to what we know about nature – Saint Augustine
Catholic Quotes Day 2
We become what we love and who we love shapes what we become. St Clare of Assisi
Catholic Quotes Day 1
Do not wish to be anything but what you are, and try to be that perfectly. Saint Francis de Sales
Day 21 of Gratitude
“The best way to pay for a lovely moment is to enjoy it.”— Richard Bach
Day 20 of Gratitude
“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.” Epicurus
Day 19 of Gratitude
Gratitude makes sense of the past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. Melody Beattie
Day 18 of Gratitude
Motivational Quote: It is through GRATITUDE for the present moment that the Spiritual Dimension of Life opens up.” Eckart Tolle
Day 17 of Gratitude
“Gratitude helps you to grow and expand; gratitude brings joy and laughter into your life and into the lives of all those around you.” – Eileen Caddy
Day 16 of Gratitude
“Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.” Eckhart Tolle
Day 13 of Gratitude
“Gratitude turns what we have into enough.”
Day 15 of Gratitude
My book is back from the editor. “If I’m Not Me, Who Will Be.” Very afraid to see how much work there is to do!
Day 14 of Gratitude
“Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude.” Denis Waitley
Day 12 of Gratitude
“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” – Gilbert C. Chesterton
Day 11 of Gratitude
“The more grateful I am,the more beauty I see.” Mary Davis Working on being more grateful I think for me these 21 days of “being grateful” are the structure I need to stay on track. If I just told myself, “Okay, I need to be more grateful,” I don’t think I would have stayed with…
Day 10 of Gratitude
“Gratitude is a powerful catalyst for happiness. It’s the spark that lights a fire of joy in your soul.” Amy Collette
Day 9 of Gratitude
A encouraging quote of Oprah Winfrey with a few of my thoughts on it. “Be thankful for what you have you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” Oprah Winfrey
Day 8 of Gratitude
A few thoughts on this quote, “Train yourself never to put off the word or action for the expression of gratitude.” – Albert Schweitzer
Day 7 of Gratitude
Beginning the day with Gratitude helps us to feel happy. Simple method but it works.
Day 6 of Gratitude
Letting gratitude lift us to think more positively and attract better things.
Day 5 of Gratitude
No matter how many things we want to make us happy, the truth is we have many blessings that we don’t appreciate. Being thankful for what we already have prepares us to be thankful for the blessings to come.
Day 4 of Gratitude
Appreciating where we are at the moment frees us for clear thinking to move toward our goals without anxiety.
Day 3 of Gratitude
A look at how gratitude can heal our past, fill our present and bring hope to our future.
Day 2 of Gratitude
“Joy is the Simplest Form of Gratitude” Karl Barth Living each day with Joy I love this quote, “Joy is the simplest form of gratitude.” I found this quote but I did not really know who Karl Barth was. So I did a bit of teeny, tiny research and found out that he was a…
21 Days of Gratitude
21 days of gratitude. A time to look at all that is good within and without.
Better Things Ahead
Reviewing two books that I love about Eternity. One I am reading now called, Small Miracles from Beyond.
How do you Respond to Change?
“It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.”Charles Darwin Of course there are always exceptions I like this quote and I think it has a lot of merit but immediately after selecting it for today’s quote I thought of some animals like…
Back to the daily
I find it easier to do something daily than once a week. I guess my brain just likes getting into a routine.
A look at the book
And the book continues . . . I am working of Chapter two of book. I start of by telling myself I will write 5000 words and putter out after 1000. But there are still hours left of the day so once I get this done will see if I can talk myself into getting…