Welcome, grab a seat and a cup of coffee!

Welcome to Blog Schmog.  Come inside, curl up with me on the pillows here in my window seat.  We will watch the sky and the forest outside, pray and laugh together.  I am a born story-teller (that means I bla bla blab) and enjoy raising four kids with my husband on a small Idaho farm.  Yes I’m wearing a dunce cap!

Long and Short of It:    Short stories, real life stories and Bible study discussions. 

Motherhood Uncensored:  The trouble and triumph of motherhood including  the mud and guts of raising boys.  My little girl provides her own set of fun in these stories.  Join us on Friday’s for Fu-get ABout it or (FAB Friday)

Don’t forget to sign the “guest book” by visiting the What About You  page.

My passion is in encouraging others to follow Christ while looking on the bright side of life. And when we don’t feel the warmth of the Son because circumstances cloud our perspective, I hope to seek together the promises in God’s word until he has made his glory known.  In short I am on a joy journey and hope you will find nuggets that will give you hope and peace through our Abba Father.

Deer in my front yard.

This morning we had a whole herd of deer walk through our front yard. The Thinglets, of course, were thrilled. Loud Kiddington can’t quit announcing it to the world!

Do you remember my redneck tarp barn? This bold little deer walked right in. Say hi to Haylee (the eye injury horse).

Here comes another one from the other side of the house. Can you see the black on her ears?

She walked right past my rig and behind the wood pile to meet up with the first one over at the “barn”.

Here’s the first, with lighter colored ears, who proceeded into the horse pasture, took a bite of hay and went on her way. You can see Mountain Mare’s tail. Click here for a virtual horseback ride into the Idaho mountains.

There were five or six deer that walked through this morning. I’m happy to share with all of you in cyber land! Now go get outside, wherever you are. Send me a picture of your front yard, an unusual sighting or whatever. Link back if you’d like. We can tour eachother’s stomping grounds.

Big Kid or Little Kid

humor, motherhood, funny kids, parenting, life

It’s a sad, sad day!

Why you ask?

Well… my boys have graduated.  They are only eight, six and two and a half but they’ve graduated non-the-less. Each of them has finally reached the age where their nicknames will no longer do. My big/little boys have graduated out of their past nicknames and I will now reveil the new names by which they will be called here at Blog Schmog.

Let the ceremonies begin!

Drum roll please…

Thing One: Dubbed as such merely by the events of his birthorder. Henceforth, he will be called…

Captain Obvious

All was calm and quiet and the bedtime timer had longsince chimed. Upon realization that his brothers were nowhere in sight, Captain Obvious exclaimed. “Well, everyone must have already gone to bed.”

After watching his younger brother conk himself on the head while swinging saloon doors in the bathroom, Captain Obvious pointed out “You shouldn’t have done that.”

Thing Two: Also allotted a name that simply states he is my second born child. Henceforth, he will be called…

Scarfunkle

This has been long in coming. In case you need a refresher course here are a few examples of the adventures we’ve had with Scarfunkle.

He is fearless on his bicycle and never rode on training wheels. He went from a trike to a “dirt bike” and doesn’t just ride. Scarfunkle pops wheelies, skids out and rolls around like a crazy man. Once he crashed so big that he peeled the skin off from his forehead to his chin. We had to avoid public places for weeks while he healed, or get stares of disbelief.

Another day he was jumping mud puddles and determined that wasn’t extreme enough. He decided to jump a huge pit in our yard. Planning to defy gravity, he attempted the long jump, uphill over a hole nearly four feet wide. He put a quarter sized gash in his forehead and received double decker stitches. That day was the inspiration for my family freezer meal at Gluten Free 4 Goofs called Rock Day Taquitos.

Not to mention, he is a ticking time bomb and often throws himself to the ground when frustrated. I wanted to dub him Sir Flops-A-Lot but he would have none of it. He settled on Scarfunkle after flopping when I told him “Chic’s dig scars!” And explained that means “Pretty Girls like you.”

 

Bubba: Once, his favorite name for his Grammies, Bubba has graduated and now says Gwammy. Boo, hoo, hoo! Can you hear me sobbing? Henceforth, he will be called…

Loud Kiddington

Or should we say “Woud Kiddington”? Please click here for a lovely little diddy describing my dear heart, Bubba, I mean Loud Kidington. The name pretty much speaks for itself. This enthusiastic little guy has only one volume. Listen to the song it’s a crack up and quite short!

And Pee Wee? She has not yet reached the age of accountability. I’m sure her day will come. SNIFF!

When boys 1st notice gender differences.

humor, kids, motherhood, parenting, boys

It’s Friday, you know what that means?

FAB as in Fu-get ABout it!

FAB in the “Fabulous I’m getting another cup of coffee before I tie myself to a rocket headed for the moon” kind of Friday.  Is there anyone out there that can relate? 

I sure can. This week it became painfully obvious that my toddler is no longer a baby.

Bubba, bless his little heart, is the only one of my boys that has yet to be banned from my bedroom. As a young mom I remember fretting over when I would need to stop the kids from being around when I was changing or how old they should be when they no longer follow me into public restrooms. I’m fairly modest so it seemed a thought worth planning out. No plan or great revelation ever came of it. Instead, with each of my boys, there came a day when I just KNEW! This week Bubba  (2 and 1/2)  had that day.

He burst in the door while I was dressing. I snapped around with my back to him while I finished covering myself.

I’ve got on dark freckle on my mid back that is just below my bra. I finished with the hook and scolded Bubba for bursting in.

He exclaimed “Mamma, you missed one!”

I’ll let you fill in the blanks! Ha! :]

The darned things kids say.

The FAB Friday carnival started as a way for moms, grandmas or dad bloggers to share the triumphs and trials of parenting and/or life. 

How to Participate:

1.Write a funny, inspirational or encouraging post with or without pictures.

2.Link back here in your post saying something like “Read how others have made lemonade out of lemons here.” 

3.Add your post to Mister Linky at the bottom of my post on Friday’s

4. Leave a comment here so I don’t miss your addition 

5.Visit the others leaving comments and encouragement.

 Lets make lemonade out of lemons!

Random Friday fun – If you could take only one novel to a deserted island what would it be? Your Bible is a given I’ll let ya have that too!

Here is where YOU link up.  You can use any post you like, it does not have to be written on Friday.  That is why it is important to put the post link not your blog link. If you need help with this just ask.  Introducing Mister Linky:  

Need a little inspiration? Look at this view!

I thought I’d share this verse and the view that I’ve been blessed to enjoy this morning. Thank you Lord!

Even though it is still officially winter in the Northwest we have been graced by an unusual amount of sun and warmth. Today I decided to take my study and my laptop to the streets er’ I mean my front deck. I have to tell ya’ my hands are freezing but you’ll see why it is worth it. Enjoy!

It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

Wish you could all be here…

Looks like it’s snowing on Spokane Mountain.

Best Free Map Site & Tell me about your learning style observations.

I don’t know why I take so long to learn sometimes! Until recently when I needed a map for school I would google search and spend the next half an hour trying to find one that would work for the particular activity. When I don’t find what I need or get frustrated for trying I email my husband (at work as a teacher at a local high school). “What was that site again honey?” He reminds me over and over and finally I think I’ve got it.

One of THE best free map sites online is Xpeditions by National Geographic. You need not look any further. I hope now that I’ve taken the time to type it out I’ll finally remember!

Speaking of that sort of thing have you noticed the different learning styles in your children (or yourself) as you work with them in school? Mine? Well, I guess you can tell it’s visual (read it, write it, learn it).

Tell me about your learning style experiences. I’ve got a good one to tell about Thing 2 for another day.

Crochet Dolls

My husband thinks this is the funniest thing…

Can you guess whose is whose? One of these dolls is for my only girl AND the youngest.

Can you say spoiled?

The other dolls ended up going from largest to smallest according to their respective owner. Maybe I should stop while I’m ahead it can only go down hill from here

In case you have any fears that the boys didn’t enjoy their gift as much as my little Pee Wee here is proof.

Oh boy! After putting up these pictures I’m painfully aware of how badly my boys need haircuts. I’m retiring the crochet hooks and headed for a pair of clippers.

Amigurumi Frog

amigurumi, crochet, yarn crafts, frog

I did actually finish the Bubba’s frog for Christmas. Here is the cute little buggar all done. He could probably use a mouth but for a 2 1/2 year old I decided less is more!

Valentine Book Giveaway

Author Kaye Dacus has recently visited Blog Schmog and allowed me to interview her about the life of an author and celebrate her new book release ”A Case for Love”.

She has offered my readers a chance to win an autographed copy. Woo hoo!

So from now until February 14th you can enter to win here at Blog Schmog. Up to three entries per person. Just so you know, the winner will be selected by a highly sophistocated process called T1HIH (Thing 1’s hand in a hat). You will be notified by email and will have to send me your mailing address. Winner must respond in 1wk or the prize will be re assigned.

Here’s how to enter…

1. Comment on this post (don’t forget your email)

2. Blog/Facebook/or Tweet about the giveaway and let me know you did by leaving another comment with the link.

3. Put the button on your sidebar and let me know you did by leaving another comment with the link. If you cannot simply copy and paste the button, here is the code…

<a href=”http://s790.photobucket.com/albums/yy184/jessiegphotos/?action=view&current=pink71-1-1.jpg” target=”_blank”><img src=”http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy184/jessiegphotos/pink71-1-1.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”Photobucket”></a>

Interview with author Kaye Dacus – and a book giveaway!

Christian Romance Author Kaye Dacus has agreed to answer some burning questions (pun intended ) about the life of an author and her newest release.

BIO:

Kaye Dacus is the author of contemporary and historical romances with Barbour Publishing and Harvest House Publishers. She holds a Master of Arts in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University, is a former Vice President of American Christian Fiction Writers, and currently serves as President of Middle Tennessee Christian Writers. She loves action movies and British costume dramas; and when she’s not writing, she enjoys knitting scarves and “lap blankets” (she’s a master of the straight-line knit and purl stitches!). Kaye lives in Nashville, Tennessee, and even though she writes romance novels, she is not afraid to admit that she’s never been kissed.

Can you give us a short overview of your newest novel A Case for Love? I have to say I like Forbes.

A Case for Love is the third and final novel in the Brides of Bonneterre series.

            The Alaine Delacroix that all of Bonneterre knows is the carefully polished image she puts forth every day on her noontime news-magazine program. When her parents’ home and small business is threatened by the biggest corporation in town, Alaine is forced to choose between her image and fighting for the life her family has built.

            Lawyer Forbes Guidry is used to making things go his way. But when he’s asked to take on a pro bono case for a colleague, he’ll learn that he can’t control everything—including his feelings for his new client: Alaine Delacroix.

            Alaine’s only option to help her family is hiring Forbes, but can she bring herself to trust the handsome, disarmingly charming lawyer? And will Forbes Guidry be able to make a case for love before losing his job and family? Can both trust that God will present a solution before it’s too late?

When did you first begin writing? 

 I’ve heard a lot of people who say they started writing stories when they were in elementary school. When I was that young, I wasn’t a writer—I hated writing, as a matter of fact. I made up plenty of stories, but they were acted out with my Barbie dolls or in my imagination as I played outside—other people, other places, other times all came alive in my mind’s-eye and I didn’t mind playing by myself. In fact, I rather preferred it, because then I didn’t have to explain to anyone else what I was envisioning and try to get them to play along the way the story went in my head.

 As an adolescent, I started to read voraciously. My fancy turned to romance novels and by the age of twelve, I was reading one or two historical romance novels a week—mostly YA, but some adult fiction in there, too. These books grew in me not only a love for history, but a love for story telling because they inspired me to write. I wasn’t content with a kiss and a happily-ever-after ending. I wanted to know what happened the next day, the next year, the next decade. So the first writing I ever did was around fourteen years old when I started writing “sequels” to my favorite books. This, then, inspired me to start putting some of those stories that were always running through my head down on paper.

 That experience—realizing I could put words down on paper and express the stories that I’d always had within me—opened a flood-gate; and for the last two decades, I’ve never stopped writing.

What did you do prior to writing?

 Before becoming a full-time author, I was a full-time editor for Ideals Publications/Guideposts for a few years, and for many, many years before that, I worked as a support person (sales assistant, executive assistant) in the retail advertising departments at newspapers in Northern Virginia and Nashville. Even though there’s a lot of stress that comes along with being self-employed as an author and freelance editor, I MUCH prefer setting my own schedules and being able to work in my PJs if I really want to.

At what point did you discover you wanted to make a career out of writing novels, and what kind of hours do you have to keep in order to be productive or satisfied with your progress?

 I first realized that God was calling me to pursue publication when I was in my late 20s—right around the time I mysteriously received a brochure in the mail about the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. I mentioned it to my parents, and because they’d always tried to figure out how to support me in my writing, they “gave” it to me as an early 30th birthday gift. So in April 2001, I went to my first writing conference—and after spending one of the first evenings alone in my room crying because God was breaking through a lot of insecurities and fears, I set out to learn everything I could about the craft of writing and the publishing industry.

 As far as keeping a schedule of hours or setting daily word-count goals, I have to admit I’m really bad about that. Because I’m so deadline driven—but also a lazy procrastinator by nature—I usually end up having to spend several weeks locked inside my house getting a book finished so that I can meet my deadlines. But it seems to work. Some of my favorite scenes are those I’ve written during those fear/adrenaline-fueled days.

What does a day in the life of Kaye Dacus look like?  Please say it includes multiple cups of coffee.

 Hmmm . . . how honest should I be here? I try to be up before 10 a.m. (I know, sounds late, but keep reading). First, I come in and turn on the desktop computer. After that, I put the coffee on and then get ready (i.e., bathe and dress—no makeup, and with short hair, it’s automatically styled as soon as I run my fingers through it after towel-drying it). Then, it’s coffee time! (Right now, Toffee Nut flavored coffee, with a little skim milk and plenty of Splenda.) Breakfast is sausage and/or bacon and/or eggs (have to have my protein in the mornings), which I fix and then take into the office. The first hour is spent checking/responding to e-mails and blog comments, reading other people’s blogs, checking Twitter, and reading Facebook. This hour usually lasts at least two hours. And one more mug of coffee.

 Around 11:30 or so (okay, maybe noon), I get started working, either on a freelance editing job or on galley edits, marketing copy, or actual marketing for my own books (like answering interview questions or applying to speak at conferences or looking for other opportunities for appearances/book signings). My cute UPS guy comes between 2:30 and 3:00 p.m. No, he doesn’t come every day, but at least once a week for various reasons (either pickup or delivery). This makes a good time to take a break, get something to drink (usually fruit-flavored carbonated water) and maybe a snack.

 I’ll check e-mail and all of my social sites again (right, like I haven’t been doing that all day anyway), and get back to whatever I was doing before my break. Between 4 and 5 p.m., the mail comes, so I take another break then and figure out what I’m going to fix for supper—which usually involves taking something out of the freezer.

 Back to the office, now to do a little more messing around than working for another couple of hours. Around 7 p.m., I’ll fix supper. I take a break for a couple of hours to eat and watch some TV.

 Around 10 p.m. most nights, I return to the office and start writing my blog post for the next day. This is rarely quick—it can take me more than an hour to write a post, even longer, sometimes. After that’s scheduled for the next day, I once again check all my social networking sites, respond to more e-mails, answer more interview questions, and then make sure I have the most current version of the latest chapter of my work in progress on my flash drive.

 I try to be in the bed by midnight—which means music playing softly (CDs currently in the 5-disk changer: Lost Season 4 soundtrack; Star Trek soundtrack; Music from Harry Potter; a compilation disk of “Sea-Faring Music” which is theme music from movies like Pirates of the Caribbean, The Sea Hawk, Captain Blood, etc.; and a compilation disk of John Williams’s music), overhead light off, bedside lamp on, and laptop fired up. After re-reading the last few pages I wrote, I write either until I get to a good stopping place (like a great cliffhanger at the end of a chapter) or until I can’t keep my eyes open any longer—usually between 2 and 3 a.m.

 And that’s a day in the life of me. Aren’t you glad you asked? Now everyone knows I have absolutely no social life whatsoever!

What is your favorite Bible verse?

 My favorite passage is Hebrews 12:1-3:

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (nasb)

 To me, this is my Christian journey in a nutshell—I wouldn’t be anywhere if it weren’t for those who’ve gone before me, who now surround me, and who will come after me; I must persevere in the tasks God has set before me—and I can do so only by living on faith in Jesus, who endured so much more than I will ever be asked to go through.

Who is your most memorable character? Tell us a little bit about him/her.

 I have two favorites, for different reasons. The first is Beverly O’Hara, Major’s mother in Menu for Romance. I can’t go into all the reasons why I love her, because that would give away some important stuff that happens in that book, but let me just say she’s what really made that story come together for me. The other one, believe it or not, is Sir Drake Pembroke, the bad guy in Ransome’s Honor (Book One of The Ransome Trilogy). I had so much fun getting inside his head, figuring out his motivations, and getting to do whatever I wanted to do with him (and seeing him get his comeuppance in the end!). The greatest thing about his character is that he’s inspired me to start thinking about a “next-generation” trilogy as a follow-up to the Ransome Trilogy.

I can’t have an odd number of  questions so…On your desk:

            a. What is the most worthless item?

A used Post-it Note.

             b. What is the most priceless item?

Picture of my parents.

             c. What is the most revealing item?

Several different sizes/colors of Post-it pads.

             d. What is the most memorable item?

The copy of Walking on Water by Madeleine L’Engle I’ve read several times since it was a required text for a Creative Writing class—the first class I took when I returned to college in 2000.

Thank you Kaye, this has been fun. Happy writing and God Bless you!

Come back Monday

find out how to win

Kaye’s newest novel

A Case For Love

FAB Friday – and a question for you

FAB as in Fu-get ABout it!

FAB in the “Fabulous I’m getting another cup of coffee before I tie myself to a rocket headed for the moon” kind of Friday.  Is there anyone out there that can relate? 

The Lumberjack’s Wife can! Read her post “Snuggle Time” and link up with your own.

The FAB Friday carnival started as a way for moms, grandmas or dad bloggers to share the triumphs and trials of parenting and/or life. 

How to Participate:

1.Write a funny, inspirational or encouraging post with or without pictures.

2.Link back here in your post saying something like “Read how others have made lemonade out of lemons here.” 

3.Add your post to Mister Linky at the bottom of my post on Friday’s

4. Leave a comment here so I don’t miss your addition 

5.Visit the others leaving comments and encouragement.

 Lets make lemonade out of lemons!

Random Friday fun – If you could take only one novel to a deserted island what would it be? Your Bible is a given I’ll let ya have that too!

Here is where YOU link up.  You can use any post you like, it does not have to be written on Friday.  That is why it is important to put the post link not your blog link. If you need help with this just ask.  Introducing Mister Linky: