Book Blurb Friday #5

Lisa Ricard Claro of Writing in the Buff has created this Book Blurb Friday meme. Based on the photo she presents, you write a book jacket blurb using no more than 150 words. Number 5’s beautiful photo cover was taken by Lisa’s son Joey Claro.

This is my most lengthy book blurb yet, coming in at 91 words:

The Sign

The 100 year old tree sits in Obermoeller’s back yard—a private 3 acre spot where there’s only one way in and out. Years after her third divorce, she had forgotten how she begged for some kind of sign if love existed for her.

Obermoeller walked the property daily. Her heart quickened spotting the red flower on her favorite tree. Was this the sign she was looking for? But who could have put it there? Was love lurking around the corner or would Obermoeller find something else in store for her?

Becky's Contest

My friend's having a "blogger" contest, giving away something, by random drawing, among those leaving a comment on her blog giveaway page.

Check it out because if you win and live near me, we can share!

Becky is one of the sweetest gals I know. Come to think of it, I know a lot of sweet gals and guys which makes me one of the luckiest peeps I know!

Oh and speaking of peeps - the reporter Joe Holleman for the Post Dispatch who spoke at Saturday Writers (Becky is President now) talked about posing questions in his column and one was, which do you like better, Marshmallow Peeps or Jelly Beans? Or maybe it was which one could you not live without? For more details about his talk, see Donna's blog or Becky's blog or Saturday Writers' blog or Sioux's blog.

But don't forget the contest.

And my choice: marshmallow peeps but only if they're stale.

A Card to my Dad

Dear Mom,

I came across some cards that I made Dad. I don’t know why I don’t have anything that I made you. And I don’t know how I ended up with these cards either. But here is one of them. I’m posting it because Dad passed 9 years ago today, just shy of his 90th birthday.

I have no idea why I wanted to tell him two jokes as I’m the worst joke teller in the world. Another amusing thing is I refer to Dad as Father and to you as Mother. I don't remember ever calling you Mother or calling Dad Father.

Thinking of you both today.

Snowy Ducks

Dear Mom,

There's a Mallard couple that comes to our pond every year to mate. I saw them doing their thing one morning but it happened so quick I wasn't able to snap a photo.

A few days ago I saw them and tiptoed outside in my green robe (thinking that wouldn't scare them away if I blended in with the natural surroundings) to take a picture. I didn't want to scare them, so I scooted on my belly across the deck until close enough to shoot the photo through the deck railings.

Officially spring here in St. Louis, Missouri by the way (for those not local), it snowed yesterday. I saw the ducks waddling down the hill from the upper pond to the lower pond (guess they thought it might be warmer) and couldn't miss the opportunity to catch them in the snow.

Snowy Flowers

Dear Mom,

Just when I thought I wouldn't be writing as much, I seem to be writing more. Maybe that is the trick. Tell yourself you won't write as much which makes you want to write more.

At any rate, I couldn't let these photos just sit in the file after I stepped outside this morning in my robe because I feared if I waited too long the snow might melt, since it is officially spring.

As a kid, I never did appreciate the beautiful roses that you grew. Ruthie and I planted around 200 bulbs of hyacinth and here are a few... in the snow.

Book Blurb Friday #4

And it’s Book Blurb Friday #4. The creator of this meme, fellow friend blogger Lisa of Writing in the Buff is a great gal. You are to look at the photo, pretend it’s a book cover and write a book cover in a 150 words. I’m the Queen for coming up with some really interesting character names. Check out all my Book Blurb Friday’s and you’ll see: #1, #2, #3. The photo for this book cover was taken by Kathy Matthews of Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy.

And now for Book Blurb Friday #4 in 88 words:

Beyond the Double Doors

Obermoeller could feel the walls closing in on her as she headed toward the double-doors. Each time she stepped through what awaited her on the other side, she had lost a piece of who she thought she was. The transformation took a toll on Obermoeller, and with no end in sight, could she continue? What happened to Obermoeller on the other side, day after day? Did the transformation mask her physically or did it go deeper than that? Are you ready to discover what’s beyond the double doors?

Frogs Singing

Dear Mom,

Yesterday evening we ate outside. The frogs are in mating season and their singing is nearly deafening. I love the sound though. We started looking around the pond and we were amazed at the number of frogs strutting their stuff. What was more amazing - they didn't jump away when I photographed them. These are in the order that I took them, but one of my favorite is the frog showing just his back side.

Can you see the frog in the first picture?

In this picture, notice the ripples of the water. When the frog sings, he vibrates and when he's in the water, the water vibrates too.

I love this shot.

It's hard to see their little heads popping up out of the water.

In the next two shots, I believe they are mating as there are two frogs, one on top of the other.

This little guy I shot from behind and then he turned around for me in the next picture. After that he sang his little heart out, as you'll see in the following picture.

And this fella looked like he had a punk hair do going, but he got a little scared and decided to get behind the rock.

And Mr. Bashful or Mrs. Shy didn't want his/her picture taken so in the last shot, I was in the water barely keeping the camera from getting wet to get a picture of this sweet little thing.

I can't imagine how many frogs are really out there with the kind of noise that is going on... even now in the daylight. Soon we'll have tadpoles--and I mean bazillions of tadpoles. I'll snap some of those pictures when the time comes.

There's a contest brewing

One of my newest blog followers has a contest, so check out: Fireside Park and get all the details.

And thank you to all the folks who follow whether it's public or otherwise, I certainly appreciate it.

Confessing My Big Fat Lie

I almost forgot about the Memetastic Award that the sweet gal Lisa (Writing in the Buff) down South awarded me with and who forced me to lie.

And the lie is:

* Even though I didn't learn how to swim until I was 13, when I was 18 I took first place in a water skiing contest.

Part of that lie is true - I was 13 when I first learned how to swim... err... well really it was how I learned to dog paddle. Now the big fat lie is that I took first place in a water skiing contest. I tried water skiing once and vowed I'd never do that again. I'm not much of a water person and I was sure I was going to die the day I attempted water skiing.

And thank all of you who I passed the award on to for being good sports and going with it. It's been fun to get to know you better - but I also have to remember to look and see what your lie is when you post it!

I think others have given more detail about their truths, so here goes with those:

I did holler at my dad to stop when I saw a boy in a ditch. Maybe my dad saw the kid playing as he rolled down the hill and landed in the ditch. I'm not sure why that memory is so clear in my mind and why I thought the boy was injured or dead, but...

I'm always amazed when I think of my tax return that showed I made $9,000 for the year. I wondered how I managed and even now my kids say to me that they didn't think they hurt for anything. But I didn't have a cell phone, we didn't have cable, or internet, or a lot of other things that people take for granted now... myself included.

An exhusband did burn most of my clothes and other sentimental things when he got angry with me for leaving the house because he was out of control drunk. I was scared and hate to think what would have happened had I stuck around :-)

And finally, yes I did save my little sister's life - although I was the one who caused her to nearly choke to death. She was about 5 and I was a year and a half older. She was crying because I wouldn't give her this ring of mine. I finally did and like a little mother I said to her, "Now don't you put this in your mouth." A bit later she was still whining (okay, choking but it appeared to me like whining) and I went over there and said, "What are you crying about? I gave you the ring!" She pointed to her mouth. I realized she was choking, so my neighbor Jeannie and I carried her to my mom. I don't know why one of us didn't run and get my mom instead of trying to carry her. She was turning blue by the time we got to my mom who then started whacking her on the back, shaking her upside down and then crammed her fingers down my sister's throat and the ring finally came up.

And for some shameless self-promoting, I've started two new blogs: Lynn, What's for Dinner? and Lynn, What's for Dessert? and it's all just for fun (and for me, discipline).

Book Blurb Friday #3

If you’re following me, by now you should have a good idea what Book Blurb Friday is – and this would be my 3rd attempt. Fellow friend blogger Lisa of Writing in the Buff is the creator of this meme. Check it out and play for fun, you’ll be surprised at the outcome – I always am. You are to write a book cover blurb (150 words max) based on the photo. This photo was taken by Kathy Matthews of Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy.

And now for Book Blurb Friday #3 in a whopping 84 words:


Kitchen Madness

Did Obermoeller really think she could surprise her husband for his 60th birthday during his company’s Christmas party? Did she really cook all the food for not only the holiday party, but for the additional 70 people—all under her husband’s nose? Did Obermoeller manage to sneak in all 70 people while her husband was in the other room without him knowing? Yes, yes and yes.

Kitchen Madness will teach you how to pull off the most outrageous parties and still maintain your sanity.

I'm a Big Fat Liar Too!

It seems Lisa (Writing in the Buff) some how includes me in various escapades like this one - awarding me with this Memestastic Award and where I now have to list 4 truths and one lie about myself - and then you fellow followers of my blog must guess which is the lie by leaving comments below. Later I'll reveal what is the lie.

* When I was little and my dad was driving me to a friends house, I saw a boy in the ditch who looked like he was dead. I hollered at my dad to stop, but he kept on driving. I wonder to this day if the boy was dead or not.

* One year when I was a single parent of three children, I grossed $9,000 for the year.

* Even though I didn't learn how to swim until I was 13, when I was 18 I took first place in a water skiing contest.

* In one of my previous marriages, my (x)husband got really mad at me and burned all my clothes and some other sentimental things of mine.

* When I was little, I gave my little sister a ring that she swallowed and nearly choked to death on, but my neighbor and I carried her to my mom who finally got the ring out after my sister had turned blue and I still freak out when little kids put small things in their mouth.


Oh yeah, I'm supposed to pass this award on to someone else - let's see, how many peeps? Five? A lot of bloggers have done this already, so I'll bestow this award on some of my newer blog followers in order that I may get to know them a little better. But if you really don't have the time or don't want to play, it's all good, no worries.

Ellie Garratt
Dominic de Mattos
Margo Benson
Liberal Sprinkles
Madeleine

PS Liberal Sprinkles, I'm sorry I don't know your name! How embarrassing, but I tried to find it and don't see it any where on your blog. It's probably right in front of me and I'm blind. And some of you new followers, give me a link to your blog so I can follow! Thank you!

Funny...

Dear Mom,

I decided after this letter, that my writing to you might be less frequent. All that talk about following your dreams has me thinking I need to work harder in pursuing my goal—my dream. I’ll keep you informed.

I have four books that sit unfinished. I have a complete rough draft for two, and the other two won’t take much to have a complete draft, but the real work is in the rewriting, revising, and editing. It seems as soon as I’m near the end with one story, I start another thinking it will help me finish the last one. I’m wondering if this isn’t just an excuse. Or a deep hidden fear. I’ve decided to work right through the fear—wherever it takes me. Having made that decision, I signed up for the Missouri Writers’ Guild conference, “Just Write” taking place April 8-10.

All—okay, almost all—socializing will be put on hold until after the conference. I have work to do!

It’s funny, I make a decision to do something—especially focusing on my writing—and more ideas come to surface. Even though this makes no sense to me to start another blog when I’m telling you my letter writing will be less frequent, I’ve learned to listen to that inner voice regardless of how ridiculous it seems.

Lynn, What’s for Dinner? popped in my head after a conversation with my friend Kim. It’s haunted me ever since. I’ll be killing two birds with one stone. Wait, that’s really an awful saying isn’t it? I’d never kill one bird with a stone, much less two. The purpose of what I’m doing is twofold: writing and figuring out what’s for dinner. As an added bonus, I’m helping others figure out what to have, if they desire.

There are other What’s for Dinner blogs out there so it’s not an original idea like I had first thought, but mine will have it’s own unique style.

I’m sure I’ve learned to cook through osmosis from you, and I’ll be sharing some of your dinner ideas that I remember when I was little.

Check out Lynn, What’s for Dinner? (lynnowhatsfordinner.blogspot.com). Follow me daily or any time you need an idea about what to have for dinner.

Bon Appetite!

One Year and 41st Anniversary

Dear Mom,

It was a year ago today that I started this blog. Take a look at Forty Years Ago Today. Now another year has passed and it’s 41 years ago that I felt stunned by the news although I knew it was coming unlike Ruthie.

In the middle of the night before you died, Ruthie and I were carried over to Aunt Tish and Uncle Mart’s house.

I had written s a little piece about that morning, then Ruthie and I talked about it. Our versions are different of course. Don’t we all have different versions of the same incident? I told her I don’t remember crying. She told me that she remembers me bawling my eyes out while in our aunt and uncle's house after Dad came in, while she stood watching me, trying to figure out why I was crying so hard. She thought she had better cry too and faked it. She was in total shock not having a clue as to what had happened. Ruthie not knowing makes me feel so sad.

Book Blurb Friday #2

It's clear as you read my book blurbs that I'm not very good at this and so why I continue to torture and embarrass myself, I'm really not sure. This is the first "meme" (had to find out what that really meant) that I've participated in and so I guess I plan to try and do it each week... for the challenge.

What is Book Blurb Friday for anyone who is seeing this on my blog and has no idea? It's my blogger friend, Lisa (Writing in the Buff) who has challenged us to write a book cover based on the photo she posts (this photo is by her daughter, Christina). The book blurb has to be 150 words or less. I almost doubled my word count from the first Book Blurb. Word count this time: 85

For more details about Book Blurb Friday visit Lisa's blog.

Here we go:



Title: Going Places

Every time Obermoeller feels blue, she goes there… to those woods. Napping under the tree as the sun comforts her. She remembers it like yesterday the first time she stood in those woods at age three. What happened to Obermoeller in those woods fifty years ago? And how does she get to that place now as a paraplegic? Find out in Obermoeller’s true story to learn the gift of traveling out of your body so you can go to places that you’ve never dreamed possible.

Follow Your Dream

Dear Mom,

I’ve often wondered if you ever had a dream of wanting to do something other than being a housewife. I’ve asked your sister once if she knew and she was pretty sure that you wanted to be a housewife and that was it. And that’s not bad mind you, as I love being a housewife myself, but I also have other dreams—being a published writer... of a book. Books. Right now I’m settling for plain writer.

What about when you were little? For instance, I had dreams of being a famous ballerina, a drummer in a band like Ringo of the Beatles, and also a pianist. Although I always loved writing letters even back then, being a writer never entered my head. I’m only guessing I felt it took more intelligence that I didn’t think I had. Not that those other dreams didn’t require intelligence, I was just clueless.

But along the way, I found my dreams being crushed and I finally gave in to listening to Dad to become a secretary. As you know he came from the era where women didn’t need a career because they’d marry and have babies. But if one did have to work, then secretary seemed the likely solution, so secretary it was.

Those skills proved beneficial now as a writer—organization, typing, multi-tasking, patience with men. Oh wait, that’s not required for writing or is it?

I have an idea why I didn’t pursue my dreams—couldn’t see beyond to think out of the box. It was easier for me to blame someone else. But I finally woke up and knew it was my responsibility. I decided I wasn’t going to let the same thing happen with my children.

I'd tell them: You have a dream? I'm behind you but you have to work at it, follow it, feed it, allow it to grow. I can't do it for you. No one can make it happen but you. If you want it bad enough, you’ll figure out a way despite anyone or anything. And, do what you love!

I feel like they all are doing just that.

Mom, if your dream was to be a housewife, then I’m happy it was fulfilled. God knows you excelled at it. But if it wasn’t and deep down somewhere you longed to do something else, then a piece of me is sad for you. And that inspires me all the more to fulfill my own dreams.

Something New - Book Blurb Friday #1

My blogger friend, Lisa Ricard Claro - Writing in the Buff - is holding a weekly writing challenge. In 150 words or less, create a title for a book along with a blurb - Lisa provides the photo.

So here is my lame attempt (and in 44 words):

Title: Be Your Own Private ‘Eye’

Why pay someone big bucks to spy for you? Learn what the professional private investigators know. Obermoeller shares her 25 years of experience that will save you money but gives you the same results. And see if someone might be spying on you!

Homemade Gifts

Dear Mom,

This past Christmas everyone in the family made each other gifts. I created notebooks for everyone. Robyn made her dad a collage of photos she had taken that spelled his name. All the photos were pictures of something in our house. She and Logan painted a candle for me with the word HU on it.

My son Casey made—not sure what you call them—plaques that have our initials inked and painted. He created the lettering, along with the design. All the symbols have a certain meaning, which I'm still waiting to have in writing, as I can't remember.

Rita made Casey a braided rug out of scraps of material. She made me a multitude of scarves—one knitted, one out of handkerchiefs, one sewn with lace, one of scrunchy material. Rita made her sister Jessica a miniature hat. Before Jessica opened it, she gave Rita her gift—miniature hats! It was pretty funny. They both had seen these hats at a craft fair and each decided to make one for the other. Here they are sporting their hats.

There’s nothing like a homemade gift, don’t you think?

Rita started a blog and craft business: Egabrag – we turn your garbage around. Mom, if you were alive, I have no doubt that you'd be crafting with your grandkids!

Oh and here I am in my Hoody Footy...