Wow, Novia!  Sounds like you do need a re-charging.  

I hope you get your day away this weekend.  The festival sounds fun.  I'm looking forward to our Celtic Festival later this month.  

Anyway, I hope everybody has a great day today and a lovely weekend ahead.  

I just found out yesterday that my younger is pregnant so I'll be having my third grandchild in late May!     This will be their first child and we're all very excited.  

Blessings to all in the castle!

Amethystone

I finished writing my book!  Now I just have to draw up the illustrations and find a publisher!  I believe the company I am most interested in, Publish America, has in house illustrators for children books, but I would like to try and illustrate them myself if I can.  

I am a fairly good artist, its just I never drew many children and I have discovered that my little fairies are much harder to draw than adult fairies.  Or maybe its just because I haven't been drawing children for the past 27 years.  The proportions of a child's face are way different from a young woman's.

Also I can't let my stories be illustrated by just any one.  I have seen some of what passes for 'art work' in kids books.  Half the time the illustrations look like they were done by the kids that read the books.  Or maybe I am just to picky, but damn it I worked hard to write these stories and I want the artwork to be as beautiful as the stories are.

The book contains three separate stories so I might could do just one picture per story, like an illustrated title page for each story the way some old fairy tale books were done. I only plan do do one or two pictures for each story anyway, my stories really don't need a lot of pictures to be awesome.

You sound very busy, Novia!  You've got your hands full with your not-so-little-anymores.  Just make sure you take time for you, or you won't be worth much.
Amy, Congrats on the new grandbooboo thing.  I look forward to those days, but not soon (or I'll kill 'em!)
Indigo, great job finishing your book!  I look forward to seeing it on the shelves of my local Barnes and Noble, and then I can say, "I know her!"  I hope you can do your own illustrations.  I'd be the same way.  I don't know if I could let just anyone do them.  You can do it!

I just watched a very peaceful moment!  I had just been outside on the steps and looked out to the grass in front of a neighbor's window.  There was a headless turtledove laying there, out of the way of the walk, the wind ruffling its feathers in a sad way.  I wanted to go over and give it a proper burial, but something told me, "no!  Leave it."  I went back inside and watched out the window for a minute while I played games on my 'puter, and in about ten minutes or so, a big fluffy grey and white keekee crawled under the fence which borders the neighboring complex and padded over very cautiously.  Evidently, the bird was an earlier escapade for the kitty, and he came to claim his prize.  (He was a happy looking, clean, fluffy thing, and I'm pretty sure he belongs to someone!)  He licked the bird a couple of times, and then grabbed him up in his teeth and proudly marched back to the fence.  The last I saw of this kitty, he was trotting, trophy in mouth, across the neighboring complex's parking lot as if he were bringing home the spoils of war which he intended to drop at the feet of some horrified human.  I miss having a kitty.

I think that rather vivid depiction was a GOOD thing there SM LOL

Congrats on the book getting done Indy!!!!!

We have found a house we want that is in out price range.  Ben is going to meet with the Realtor after work to work out a contract and put down the earnest money.  We talked about it a lot last night.  Ben has also noticed lately that house prices were starting to creep back up so we have to act now.  That and most of the cheap houses have been snatched up by investors as rental properties, I think that sort of lit a fire under him and he told me it was time to, quote, "Shit or get off the pot"

The house is a older home, built in the 50s, back when houses were still built solid and meant to last a dozen generations.  And while it looks little on the outside the inside is freaking huge!  The owners before us had started to renovate it before it was foreclosed on so one room has been divided in have and the master bathroom has been converted to sort of a storage area with the water heater placed there.  maybe I am weird but I like all the little extra nooks and crannies that they created.  And it had a metric ton of closets and storage space.

It also had a huge front yard and a family of bluebirds.  You don't see those every day.  The Realtor was late so we sat on the porch and watched them for a while, they definitely lived there,  I counted three.It had a large back yard too.  

It was out in the middle of nowhere, it will be a longer way for Ben to drive to work.  But the neighbor all had old cars sitting in their drive ways (we could barely see them for the trees anyway) and there was a garage across the street so no one will bitch about all of Ben's project cars.  And I think the feature Ben fell in love with was this huge free standing work shop with a roll up garage door.

Ben also said there are a lot of places for me to try and find work.  But if for some reason I couldn't find work we'd have enough room to rent a room out to help cover costs

It needs a few things done to it but mostly it just needs a good scrubbing.  Also when people leave a foreclosed on house they take the oddest stuff, these people took the toilet but you can find free toilets all day long on Craig's List and Ben looked up how to install one, turns out it's easy.

It is approved for a Fanny Mae renovation loan but we decided to do a conventional loan. If we did the renovation loan the bank would come in and decide what needed to be done, including modernize a bunch of stuff we don't need modernized and replace the floor because hardwood warps over several decades so the floors aren't perfectly even any more.  I like uneven floors.  I use to live in a 200 year old farm house that use to be a slave cabin(complete with ghost, but he never bothered us and for the most part we never even knew he was there.) the eccentricities of an old house kinda grew on me.  The renovation would also probably add another 10000 to the loan so we said screw it.

It looks like things are finally starting to come together.  I have finished the writing part of my book and we found a house we like and can afford.  I'll be away from the computer to night So I might not be able to let you all know what happens until Sunday night or Monday morning.

Indigo,
I am so happy for you and Ben and I will be thinking only good thoughts for you as well. �It sounds as tho you have found the ideal home and I believe the two of you have held out with such great patience to find it. �You have had to live in and thru some of the most difficult situations and I admire the way you have worked thru them together. �

Keep talking to each other as you are now and I believe you will be able to keep what you gain. �

Blessings to all in the castle! �It is a beautiful day here in northeast Louisiana and the moon, she is a beauty as she grows to her fullness. �

Congrats Indigo on everything!  Seems like things are really coming together for you (about time, huh?).  I long for the day when I find a house I'm excited to move into.  But first I have to find a buyer for this one, and I am still "on the fence" about leaving this house.  So, round and round and round I go in my head which is completely useless since the house I'm in now isn't selling.  Agh!  I know it will all happen in good time, patience can be a hard thing to practice...

SM, loved the story about the kitty.  Mine are always honoring me with their catches.     It's lovely to be going off for work in the morning and finding a headless woodrat at the garage door, then finding the head on the other side of the car!  Right now I'm longing for a dog to go with the new house I'm waiting for.  I lost my dog to old age just about a year ago and I'm really starting to miss "dog energy".  I suppose the right dog will show up at the right time just like the right house will.  In the meantime I get to practice being comfortable with the state of "in limbo".

Amethystone, the moon was utterly gorgeous here in Central NY last night too.  I went outside and there was the skunk that seems to have adopted me.  (He's here every night!)  So I waited till he was done checking out the bird feeder on the deck and finally tottled off.  Then I went outside and sure enough I hear scuffing and scratching sounds and there's another skunk visiting!  Anyone know a skunk banishing spell?  

Congrats Indy!!!!! (boogie) In due time, good things come to All. (No one ever said in quick time, now did they! LOL)

Acasia, Skunks? Not everyone can say they have totem skunks,!!! (nor do they want to!!!! )

Sorry I been so scarce lately, not sure what's up with me. I'm in the 'I wanna do something, but have no clue what, therefore I shall do not one damn thing', mode.

The other day, I was pondering what it was I 'should be' doing, and couldn't make up my mind, I looked up, and it was 3 huors, yes, 3 hours, later, and I had not moved one single muscle!!!   So, I finally figured out what it was I shoulda been doing, but by then, it ws time for bed, so that was my new gotta thing to do!  

wishing everyone an awesome dreamfilled night.

(bedtime)

Well we are going for it.  There is an inspection that will be done before the loan is approved, Ben told them that he will offer full asking price if the seller will do the work to make it pass the inspection (put in a toilet and stove and touch up out side paint)  We should hear weather the offer is accepted soon.

Went to an out door event with some friends and today but being the moron I am I forgot to put on sunscreen.  Got burned pretty bad.  I didn't even know it until Ben said something, Now I itch! (tanning) And it was overcast all day!  

It was an event in the cemetery where people dressed in Victorian era clothing and vendors had booths set up to sale jewelry and costumes and such.  Not to mention a ton of over priced food.  We bough a picnic lunch instead of buying food.  It was kind of fun.

Wow!  The cemetary? They actually allowed people to set up booths and such?  That sounds like fun!  
Good luck on the house!  It sounds like its a good deal, and you deserve it!  

Ugh!  Its monday.  The beginning of another week.  Well, okay, I should look at it as a privelege, but, man, its hard to get out of bed on Monday!  

Yup, they do it every year.  They also have a Run Like Hell event coming up near Halloween.  Oakland Cemetary

Aloha Everyone!

Novia ~ I hope you had a chance to get away over the weekend for some quality "me" time. Moms are always quick to place others before ourselves. I can relate to being in a "do nothing" mood. I was just thinking the same thing. I've gotten into a horrible routine where I seem to simply sit on my tookus all day...8 hours at the office and the rest of the day at home (in front of the computer in both locations). The weekends...same thing!!! I gotta shake things up and get outside!

Indigo ~ CONGRATS on the house and completing your new book! I hope everything goes according to plan and that you guys are settled in your new home before too long. I am sure you'll be able to draw some excellent illustrations that perfectly compliment your book. You may have to practice those little faces to get them just right but it'll be worth it to know the final product is just the way you wanted.

SM ~ I loved the story you told about the proud little kitten...how adorable. I can only imagine how much joy his parents got from receiving his hard won prize...and for a moment I was thankful my husband is allergic to kitties. If I had my way, there would be at least 3 of them leaving me presents.

Acasia ~ I missed the moon in all her glory over here...it was overcast. Watch out for the skunks...they like you.

Amethyst ~ Congrats on the new grandbaby!

Bad news.  It looks like our offer is going to be rejected.  The bank wants to sale it as is and the FHA loan wont be approved unless the house is in livable condition.  Ben even offered to do the work himself before we close but he cant because it isn't his house.  And if we do the renovation loan it is approved for it could add another 15000 to the house that we can't afford.  It looks like we are dead in the water.  Plus out the $1000 dollars earnest money.

Ben is taking it pretty hard.  He is threatening to send me back to my mother's quit his job and live in his car.  Of course he threatens that every time something bad happens.  The thing is he might mean it if we can't get a house.  He hates this dump and it won't last much longer.  The studs in the walls are rotten from water damage, the ceiling still leaks like a screen door on a submarine even after he put to buckets of tar on it, and let us not for get there is a lovely cat sized hole in the wall of the computer room.

Ever try to give a cat worm medicine with out a syringe or eye dropper?  All kinds of fun right there.  How can we have 4 cats and not one damn syringe in the house?  Ben got tore up a little worse than me.  He was the one who got to hold mischief, I was the one who stuck my thumb between her teeth to pry open her mouth and pour it down her throat.  Oh well, at least she wont have worms anymore.  I think I should give Kimiko a dose too, she has been dragging her butt on the floor.  But I am not about to stick my thumb between her teeth!  Guess I need to put medicine syringe on the next shopping list.

Ben is still real depressed.  He is one the phone with the Realtor trying to work something out right now.