Uncle Glen

Uncle Glen passed away a while ago-he fought the good fight against cancer, but ultimately he lost the battle. He approached his death with a stoicism and courage that I find quite amazing, not too sure I could. Uncle Glen lived a full and interesting life, some tragedy and much triumph. The turnout at the funeral was enormous with a large family section: the Legion was pretty much standing room only! I think he smiled that slight smile he had at the number of people who came to say good-bye. Uncle Glen and I were not close, and my goodness the two of us had a lot in common, but I don't think either of us knew it! He loved his cabin and trap line-I love that kind of thing too. He loved Louis Lamour books I have nearly all of them. OK, he was a dog person, and I am a cat person, but he loved his dog Roxy beyond all reason...it is fitting they will be interred together. He loved his family and the readings at the funeral were wonderful the girls did a really good job. It had to be hard for them. His passing has left a gigantic hole in their live, much like when my father passed away suddenly, and my daughter passed away- I grieved...and I still do. I would ask that NO-ONE tell Corrine or anyone else for that matter that-it's time- they need to move on. When a loved one dies we KNOW we need to move on and put it behind us, but sure don't need anyone tell us that. We don't need to be told -gee it's been 6 months or a year you should be over it by now. Grief takes it's own time-it just takes as long as it takes. It lessens, but never completely goes away. People grieve in different ways-some crawl into a shell, some do not. As a society we are uncomfortable with peoples grief, and often avoid being around the person left behind, not sure what to do or what to say, not wanting to make things worse. In Auntie Corrine's case I know her children will support her all the way and at the same time give her space when she needs it. I guess my point is this-we all need to live our lives as we want and give others the same consideration-apologize when needed, laugh when we can, cry without feeling guilty of our emotions-live with gusto (it's a good word)! Uncle Glen lived with gusto! He worked hard side by side with his wife to provide for his family and they turned out with a good solid work ethic, some with the same quirky sense of humor their dad had, and an appreciation for family and friends.

Here Hear

Here is the thing::: writing books has been put on hold for a while. I have been working on my artwork, jewelry and sun catchers. After one consignment store closed down I have a surplus of dragonfly sun catchers! They truly are beautiful. I was thinking about trying to sell them through greenhouses. A lot of them these days have small little gift shops as a part of the business. Then there is the artwork. I do get some sales through Facebook, but surely not enough! The e-stores have not panned out yet, but to be honest I haven't put too much product on them. I have storenvy, zibbet, etsy, and zaybia has closed. There are tons on places out there to sell work. What I would really like is to sell a bunch wholesale! The jewelry is going to an open house at my sister Gloria Sask's home in a couple of weeks. I will create an FB event, and mention it at Church too, as well as post it. Gloria needs to advertise as well. A pic of the citrine set! www.facebook.com/CanadianArtBeats

Solar Water Heater

Well it has been interesting watching Carl trying to figure out what the best glass is for the solar water heater. Glass is not just glass as I have found out. There is low E, reflective properties, glass filled with weird chemicals...you name it. Black glass is not good, and I would have thought it perfect, heat is what we want, and black glass gets might hot, but alas the reflective property on the inside it not good...the wrong rays are reflected back...or not allowed in at all. It is enough to make ones head explode. Anyway the fact that we need a source of constant hot water for our use and to heat the floor is kind o' necessary. We want to go off the grid and the heater has to be function perfectly...showers and laundry as well as a warm floor are not options!!! This is going to be our summer holiday...making a solar water heater. So, all you campers out there enjoy the summer and may a tree not fall on your tent, or may you not be swallowed up by a raging creek after a freak thunder storm, but enjoy nature in peace, joy and love. Man that sounds like a hippie thing to say! Kumb-by-ya, ya'll!!

Going off the grid

I have decided to take my lumps as a romance auther. It seems the only books I've sold are the ones I've bought myself. My blogging now will concentrate on going off the grid-my hopes, expectations and my fears. What a strange new world Carl and I are entering. I will happily give up things like the dishwasher, there is only the two of us anyway. What about other things-the power sucking things? I washed my hair this morning and then it occured to me-the blow dryer??? Somehow a spikey hairstyle like I prefer just won't be the same if I have to air dry my hair. Is there a mohawk in my future? Maybe shaving my head?? Lord Thunderin' there are a lot of things to consider. Ceiling fans when it's hot outside. Many people think that by living off the grid you sit by a light so weak it's like one candle and do your cookin' on an outside stove or barbeque. I'm rambling a bit, but anyone who know me knows that's me! We already live fairly green, we have stacks of logs drying in the yard, I don't use the dishwasher or clothes dryer, we garden...my how we garden! The romance writing is a thing of the past, I chose the wrong publisher again!! 2 for 2, a batting average the Blue Jays would love to have. So I will update this blog often, it is ever so much more interesting!! Solar water heating here we come!

My artwork

My artwork (a small sample) is available at www.zazzle.ca/canadianagurl
and is on tee shirts, mugs, shoes, aprons, tote bags, mouse pads, etc. It can be customized. Any of my photos or artwork can be put on any article. A wonderful site.

Pickles

My husband loves to make pickles-HOT pickles. It's kind of like writing a book. You start with the ingredients and turn it into something interesting, whether it is a kids 'who dun it' or a hot and spicy romance. I write both...2 sides to my personality?? The book I'm writing now is about a young woman who was training for the Olympics in 2010, in biathlon, and was in an accident that took away the use of her legs. It doesn't stop her though, she still trains for the paralympics. And yes, she falls in love. I have some experience with the wheelchair athlete, as my daughter was in a wheelchair. I can share some insights in the problems that wheelchair bound people face in daily life.

First Blog Ever!

This is sooo wonderful...a blog about writing. I have written several children's books, and two romances. Of the romances one (The Last Atlantean) has been epublished on Midnight showcase, already, and the other (The Brisingamen Necklace) comes out in sept. The children's books have been epublished on a site that I foolishly submitted to and do not get paid...I have submitted one book to several traditional publishers, and so far no go. I am seriously thinking of self-publishing it.
I think I would eventually like to blog a romantic story, one chapter free per month, and maybe a kids story the same way.
I am a cat person, currently owned by four, and three of them love to sit on my lap while I am writing, such a pain, but I love them.