Mailbox Monday - August 10

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

Well, isn't this turning out to be a fun year? A pandemic, protests, elections, wildfires, earthquakes, hurricanes, tropical storms, and more. Which end is up? Thank God for Mailbox Monday or I might not even know what day it is.

Tropical Storm Isaias visited us last week. No power or internet, downed power lines and trees, and my arbor fell into the garden. It yanked up my grape vine and squashed the tomato plants. Yesterday, I worked on returning it to some form of normal (a dangerous word to use this year). I also planted some new seeds. I never stress over what I get out of the garden in the fall, because I consider it a blessing when I get anything--especially as we head into the cooler months.

Next weekend I hope to do some cutting back of tree branches and plants along the perimeter. 

My real and virtual mailbox were busy this week thanks to some books I ordered and one that I am reviewing. 

I saw this one on Facebook. It came with a few other free e-books I wanted to look at, so I paid the $9.95 shipping.

Do not be fooled by all these gardening books. I have absolutely no idea what I am doing. I can't even say I am learning as I go. I plant things and pray a lot. 

Charlotte Hubbard asked me if I would review the first book in her new series. I jumped at the chance since I love her books.

Since I follow James Scott Bell on Amazon, I received a $5.00 off coupon to buy one of his select titles this weekend. I also had credits from other Amazon orders, so I picked up both of these.

That's it for me. I hope you had a fun mailbox. Wishing you a blessed week.

Mailbox Monday - Dec 9

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

Only a few more weeks until Christmas and my trees aren't even decorated. The kittens might have something to do with that.

The lights are now up, but they bit a bulb off last night and wound up locked in the crate until we found it.

This is the first thing that happens when I enter my bathroom each morning.

I can honestly say we have never had cats like these.

In the mailbox this week an Amish fiction collection arrived.

I also borrowed these two from the library. Not that I have had time to crack them open.

That's it from me. The work and personal schedule will get hectic by Wednesday, so we will see how much reading I get done. Hope you have a great week.

Mailbox Monday - Nov 18

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

Well, we are 10 days away from Thanksgiving. I think I'll play host this year. Last year we were away at my brother-in-law's place. I'm eager for turkey and all the fixings. How about you?

Last week was filled with appointments and I was elected as an officer of the REALTOR® Association of Pioneer Valley. I also sat on a panel with other longtime members to speak to a group of new REALTORs.

Photo credit: RAPV

What an exciting career choice this has turned out to be. I never expected to be so in love with what I do, and becoming part of the leadership team has brought with it so many rewards.

With a clean office, I feel more productive. I spent the weekend showing a house or two, mailing out marketing packets, and holding an open house.

The more exciting part of the weekend was the Fall Dance Show at Wilbraham and Monson Academy. The Lil' Princess has been on the dance team since last year. This group of talented teens always puts on an amazing show. During dress rehearsal, one of the team captains injured her ankle, which meant these kids had to learn new parts a day before the show. If the teacher hadn't told us, we never would have known.

 Photo credit: Bill Wells, WMA 

Lil' Princess on right doing splits

In my reading world, I'm trying to catch up on the dozen or so books I still owe reviews on. In my mailbox, I found this little gem to help bring me into the new year and the goals I am setting for myself.

What was in your mailbox? Any seasonal titles this week? 

Mailbox Monday: August 3

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles, and humongous wish lists.

Would someone please tell me where the summer is going? By this time next month the girls will be in school. How scary is that?

Another busy week in my real estate world: signed up three new buyers and managed several showings. Might have another sale coming soon. Fingers crossed.

This is a book that was gifted to me as a prize from a reading challenge. This concept fascinates me.

Second Editions: Revised with some new material gathered through 13 years of teaching these concepts at writers conferences. ------------- Want to bring characters to life on the page as vividly as fine actors do on the stage or screen? Getting Into Character will give you a whole new way of thinking about your writing. Drawing on the Method Acting theory that theater professionals have used for decades, this in-depth guide explains seven characterization techniques and adapts them for the novelist’s use. You’ll discover concepts that will lead you to understand and communicate the motivation and psychology of all your characters. These highly effective techniques will help you: ~ create characters whose distinctive traits become plot components ~ determine each character’s specific objectives and motivations ~ write natural, meaningful dialogue that moves the story forward ~ endow your characters with three-dimensional emotional lives ~ use character motivation to bring action sequences to exuberant life ~ write convincingly about any character facing any circumstance.

So, what was in your mailbox?