Weebles Wobble....

...but they don't fall down.  If you said those words after reading the title, you probably are having flashbacks of the camper, airplane and cool car, too!

I remember playing with my weeble wobbles as a kid. I would place my weeble wobble family in the camper and pull them around my house...and around & around. Wish I had all that energy now. The kitchen floor was the perfect speedway for my weeble wobble car; tissue boxes, pots and pans completed the obstacle course.

Today, many educational experts may discuss the importance of play as building creativity and learning to share. I believe weeble wobbles have taught many children an important survival skill. How, you ask?  Just remember, when  life gets a little crazy- you may wobble, but you'll never fall down.

Dreams

Shortly after a relative had passed, I had a dream and she was in it. I remember seeing her so vividly and feeling a calming presence. My body seemed to float towards her and her spouse, who is also deceased. As I came closer, she looked at me and smiled. She said, 'It's so good to be home.' After she spoke those words, I woke up. I recall feeling happy and at peace with her death.

I recently read a book by Theresa Caputo, 'Is There More to Life Than This'. She discusses how dreams of our deceased are really our loved ones communicating with us. Do you believe our loved ones can communicate with us after they die? Have you had a similar experience?

Last House That Pa Built

What is so interesting about DeSmet, South Dakota? Why are you driving all the way out there? Don't you have anything better to do with your summer vacation?

These questions were asked many times over as I planned a road trip to DeSmet. I had planned the trip for months, but it really began when I was eight years old. In the 1970's, a television show called 'Little House on the Prairie' captured the hearts of many, including mine. It made me wonder about our country's history, the mid-west and the power of writing our thoughts on paper.

What if Laura Ingalls never wrote about her childhood? Would we cherish that time of our history? Would the last house that Pa built still be standing?

The house is standing...thousands visit every year....and the admiration for the Ingalls family continues.

Discovering Home

The first day of summer.  My bags packed and a new Jeep ready for a cross-country drive.  I had six weeks to roam America from the Atlantic to the Pacific.  I saved most of my Army paychecks the past two years for this adventure. It had finally arrived.  I signed my exit papers at Fort Bragg and never looked back.

My plan was no plan. If I saw something interesting, I would stop and explore. The country seemed new to me; like I had never noticed the blue sky, corn fields and small towns with quaint eateries & welcoming residents. The Blue Ridge Parkway led me to the plains of Iowa and Nebraska. I started to crave the mountains again- which meant only one destination...Colorado.

Entering Durango, I rolled down my window. I heard the Durango-Silverton train blow its whistle, as the tourists settled in their seats. The train ride that brings you closest to what Heaven must look like. That's what the hotel manager told me, as I was registering for a room.

A ticket in my hand, I boarded the train and found a seat by a window. I prepared my camera as the train began to move. The town of Durango quickly disappeared. The train passed by waterfalls & mountains covered with blue spruce trees. The land seemed untouched, except by God's hand. And then, it appeared.  I lowered my camera and rubbed my eyes to insure the view was real. A cabin in the distance, surrounded by open fields on three sides and mountains on the fourth. 

I would not make it to the Pacific Ocean on this journey. Someday. For now, I was home.

Update on 'Legacy of Grandpa's Grapevine

Lighthouse Publishers have passed on 'Legacy of Grandpa's Grapevine' with the reason of a 'memoir-like' fictional story does not fit their typical published genre. My little story will be sent to publishers in the New Year. I am confident someone soon will fall in love with the Manciano family, as much as I have creating them. "You have to come to your closed doors before you get to your open doors...What if you knew you had to go through 32 closed doors before you got to your open door? Well, then you'd come to closed door number eight and you'd think, 'Great, I got another one out of the way'...Keep moving forward." Joel Osteen

Book Review: 'The Rancher's Second Chance' by Davalynn Spencer

     On a snowy New England weekend, I had a strange experience. My house was clean, the dog was sleeping and I had completed my writing tasks by early Saturday afternoon. I said to myself, 'Now what do I do?'  Hmmm... read a book!

    After spending the past few months using Facebook to help build my platform and researching what other authors do, I remembered a few author websites that really peeked my interest. One in particular was author Davalynn Spencer. As a New England girl who has traveled out west a few times, I fell in love with the area at first sight.  The west has great scenery, charming people and a value system that puts family & good friends above all else. Davalynn's country website and posts on Facebook caught my attention.

     I researched a few of her books and decided to download 'The Rancher's Second Chance'.  I made myself a cup of tea, plate of cookies and snuggled under one of my favorite blankets on the couch. As my dog, Maggie, found a comfortable spot beside me and the snow began to fall at a steady rate, I began to read the first chapter.  The story immediately makes you fall in love with Laura Bell. She not only is trying to start a new life on her own, but trying to do so while looking good among many embarrassing mishaps. We've all been there ladies!

     Davalynn Spencer has a unique way of sharing the male and female point of view & insecurities each sex has- and getting it right! I also loved the bit of knowledge gained about cattle ranching and living out west. Without giving away the ending, I want to know more about Eli and Laura Bell. So Davalynn, how about a sequel?


   

Technical Difficulties

Sorry for the lack of blogging on my website the past few months. I had some website issues, but all resolved now. 

I did post a few things on Facebook. I found the immediate response interesting and educational.  People I have never met would click like, share or comment. I asked a friend why she responded to my post on Facebook, but never added a comment to my website. Her response, 'It's just quicker on Facebook.'

I guess my agent was right- people like quick, to the point and pictures. If I blog using a list- even better! So, here it goes:
1. Book is still being read at Lighthouse Publishers.
2. I will have shorter blogs in the future.
3. Picture of my buddy-