Back from Conference

The ACFW conference in Denver was wonderful. I renewed so many friendships and met so many wonderful writers. Also, a few good things happened to me. I would rather not talk about them until I know more for sure. I will tell you I was asked for a full manuscript and two publishers wanted proposals. That is really good.

Debbie Macomber was the key note speaker and she was so good. I learned not to give up, even if someone tells you your book is trash. So far I have not been told that.

I met several writers and authors that I had met at Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers and October Fest. Then I made new friends, one in particular has asked me out to lunch when we are moved. It was a wonderful experience.

The flights coming and going were both bumpy. The weather did not cooperate with me this time. Coming from Atlanta to Tri Cities was extremely bumpy. We were in clouds most of the way both times. I did meet some wonderful people in the airport and on the plane.

It is good to be home and now I have some writing to do and packing and selling a house. It will be busy for the next few weeks. I won't have many spare moments. My bed felt so good last night!

Everyone have a wonderful day.

Watermelons and Other Things

Last year my husband raised a fifty pound watermelon in our yard. It's really a strip of flower bed, but somewhere through the years, seeds have been spit out in that area. Each year we have volunteer watermelons come up. This year so far we have pulled a 53.5 pound one and then the BIG ONE. My husband pulled the largest one yesterday and weighed it. It weighed 65 pounds! That is the biggest watermelon I have ever seen.

The children are coming home this week-end. We will have plenty of watermelon for them to eat. I've never tried watermelon pancakes, but they may be good. I'll try to get a picture of this whopper on in a few days.

The surveyors were out yesterday to survey the farm. I'm anxious to get a printout of it. At least there is progress going on. I'll start packing more after Labor Day. Right now I am packing what we don't need at this time. It is hard to decide what you will need.

I've sent the second chapter of my book to be edited. It is a short chapter and I may need to add more to it. I also made shuttle reservations in Denver to be picked up at the airport and again when I leave at the hotel. One less thing to worry about.

I'm cleaning again today and packing as I go. Next week, I will be packing more. I'm anxious to move and start a new adventure.

Finally

Finally, the final edit is finished for the first chapter on Callie's Mountain. It has been a long time and I now feel good about the first chapter. Sandi Rog has been a big help. I know she gets tired of me making the same mistakes over and over, but I am learning. I think the next chapter will be much better.

This has been struggle. I have worked on that first chapter for a year. The editor I had then changed so much that it was no longer my book. It had her voice instead of mine. I am so thankful that I found Sandi. She understands me and I can talk to her whenever I want to. That helps when I have a question.

Most of our books are packed. We are both packrats when it comes to books. I still have a few out that I have not read yet, but they will be packed away in the next month.

It's hard to believe that I will be flying out to Denver two weeks from Thursday. I am getting very excited about seeing so many of my friends that I haven't seen for a year. Then I am anxious to make new friends. A friend of mine said, "Strangers are friends you haven't met yet." I agree. I have written to so many of the ACFW people and now I will get to meet them.

I am making the last run of spaghetti sauce from our tomatoes. They are almost gone. The Lord has blessed us with a good garden this year. I admit, I complained. I would cringe when another bucket of beans entered the house. We will eat good this winter.

Another Crazy Day

Today will prove to be another crazy day. Last night my husband resigned from work and is now retired! I know we will both feel so much better. Money may be a little tight for a while, but we will adjust. We will also get more packing accomplished.

Today we meet with the Realtors who will be listing our place. I didn't sleep much last night worrying about this meeting. I really don't know why, I've been in the business and I know nothing to fear about it. I couldn't fall asleep long enough to rest well. This will change today. I feel confident about our Realtors. They are honest people. The surveyor will meet with also about dividing the farm in lots. There are so many beautiful building spots and we want to make the best choice for buyers.

We are keeping a couple of acres with the best building spot and the most wonderful view. The children have talked about a vacation home, which would be nice to have a little shack on top of the hill to look at the mountains each day.

Finally, I feel confident about my book. I had been discouraged lately. One year editing three chapters is a little much. My new editor is very encouraging and we have my voice back in it. Callie becomes the sweet, stubborn, determined girl she was in the beginning. I want to do more to chapter two today.

It's rainy here. A good day to get some work done with the packing and the book. I'm excited. Did I say that yesterday?

Change

This morning as I sit at my desk I hear a train in the distance. Most of my life, I have lived close to a railroad track. Growing up I have memories of watching the train twice a day. In my very early years, I can remember a coach car. People would ride to town and back and I can still remember it stopping to let people off.

As time went on our little train station started it's demise. We first lost the turn around. The engine would head into it and mules would turn it around where it would be heading out. I have a faint memory of my grandfather taking me to see that event.

I guess I have always loved trains, the noise of the rumble of the wheels on the tracks, the whistle to remind anyone on the tracks to step off and the sound in a distance of a soothing sound.

This is one sound I will miss. It has put me to sleep many a night and sometimes kept me up. When our daughter passed away, the engineer did not blow the whistle in front of the house to show respect. I doubt if I will ever forget that.

I also remember a night spent in Arizona where the track was right behind the motel. Each time the train went through, the beds shook. I felt like I was in the Lucy segment where she, Desi. Fred and Ethel were being shaken across the floor when the train came through. I don't think we slept much that night, but the air conditioner was so loud that it drowned out the noise of the train. After a while, the shaking put you to sleep.

Change is what makes up our life. Whether it is moving, or living where you are. There is always change. You can do two things with change. You can never forget what happened and live in remorse all of your life or you can accept it as an adventure and enjoy it to the fullest.

News

This should be writing news, but it isn't. It is more on the personal side.

We found a house with four acres last week. Made an offer and the sellers agreed on the price. We hope to be living in Benton, Kentucky before Thanksgiving.

We love the house. Four bedrooms, three baths, large living room, kitchen, family room and a mud room. There is a large pantry with shelves on all four sides. I found more closets than I have ever seen. We're about seven miles from our son and his family. The whole four acres are level. My husband is excited about that. No hills to worry about.

We are very pleased to be close to family. Our daughter is a two hour drive away, so we will be seeing more of them. I'm more excited about becoming a real grandmother. We can have tea parties all the time. It is exciting.

Now the problem is selling our place. We told one of our renter's this morning. I hated to tell them we were leaving. They are good renters. They cried and I cried. They are a sweet couple and I feel like they are part of our family. That will be the hardest part.

Yesterday, my husband made the announcement at church. We had told our closest friends before we left for Kentucky last week. Between Bible Study and Worship, one lady came up to me with tears in her eyes. Another young lady I had taught, couldn't talk to me without crying. I know we will miss these good people, but this is what we need to do.

I'm going to miss the mountains. I have such a beautiful view of hills and fog rising from the river. That is the highlight of my morning. I love to look at the hills and mountains.

Needless to say, I have much to do today. The realtor will be here today to list our place. My house is a mess, but that's all right. It will probably be a mess for a long time. I can't express what this move means to me. I am excited to spoil my grandchildren.

Having problems

This is weird. Since I crashed my computer about a month ago, I can't save Blogspot to my favorites. I try each time I do a blog and it just won't work. Modern technology? Probably is and then it could be me.

I'm very excited the way my book is going. We call it a WIP, Work In Progress. That poor book has been in more progress than the sailing of the Mayflower. I have written and re-written until I am blue in the face. I think it will be working out now. My editor wants me to finish it and I do too. Thanks, Sandi.

We think we have found some property we like. Our wonderful daughter-in-law looked at it yesterday and took pictures. Her pictures are a lot better than the realtor's. It has storage which is important. She said a "huge" pantry. I've never had a huge pantry.

I'm going to look at more on the internet today and tomorrow. There may be something I have overlooked.

I'm still cleaning out drawers. I many pack away some books today. I hate to start packing right now, but it will probably work out best. Plenty to do today and tomorrow. Have a wonderful day.