tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61731914699383894382024-03-14T05:14:48.784-04:00KATHRYN MAGENDIEKathryn Magendiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863595228298349863noreply@blogger.comBlogger595125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173191469938389438.post-90248848750420755482012-01-01T10:07:00.000-05:002012-01-16T07:54:38.212-05:00New/old Beginnings: I've moved(back); come follow!<a href="http://kathrynmagendie.wordpress.com/">CLICK HERE TO REDIRECT TO WORDPRESS BLOG</a><br />
<br />
I'm back to my original, first blog, y'all. I've imported my posts and your comments, and am working on making the <a href="http://kathrynmagendie.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><em>new space</em></a> friendly and comfy. Unless blogspot blogger admin becomes cranky, I will keep this blog up, because . . . just because, one never knows, do they? :-D haw! <br />
<br />
I do sincerely hope you will come on over and join in. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://kathrynmagendie.wordpress.com/"><strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">KATHRYN'S BLOG REDIRECT: CLICK ON THIS LINK</span></strong></a>Kathryn Magendiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863595228298349863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173191469938389438.post-25861393147261302012011-12-30T08:40:00.003-05:002011-12-30T08:40:41.306-05:00Moving my Blog back to my old Stomping Grounds & BelleBooks Linky loveWelp, yesterday my blog went bye-bye. A notice popped up that my blog was suspended and there was no explanation other than the link I clicked on that read how I could be seen as spam or did something that was against their rules.<br />
<br />
Of course, it was a "glitch;" I wasn't spam and didn't do something against their rules, and they had my blog up again by today.<br />
<br />
However, I've decided to return to my <a href="http://kathrynmagendie.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">former blog</a> where I don't have to worry about that happening. It felt really weird to be suddenly suspended as if I did something wrong even though I knew I hadn't, but I felt rather oogly about it, as if I had dirt on my hands or something.<br />
<br />
My old stomping grounds used to be under the window spaces blogger and sometime about a year or so ago it was formed into wordpress- I kept that blog but rarely posted to it. Yesterday I fiddled around with it and am trying to spiff it up for my move there. <br />
<br />
I will leave my blog here with a redirect link - I don't want to delete a couple of years of my life I've had here! Lawd no! I may import my posts over there, if it works out all right, and in that case, I don't know if posts stay in both places.<br />
<br />
I hope y'all will follow me on over there! I plan to make it easy as I can to follow the blog and leave comments - soon as I figure out all the whatevers and such and sos - feel free to email me if you have any problems.<br />
<br />
Okay, y'all come on over! It's still under construction right now and I've changed the look of it several times (I may upgrade to Pro so I have more to work with), but I hope to have it 'finished' over the weekend - lawd.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://kathrynmagendie.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Kathryn's Wordpress Blog</strong></a><br />
<br />
And since today is linky love day, I will do as I planned and link to <a href="http://www.bellebooks.com/default.asp" target="_blank"><strong>BelleBooks/ Bell Bridge Books</strong></a> and their authors. This will be my last Linky Love here on this blog.<br />
<br /><a href="http://www.bellebooks.com/default.asp" target="_blank">BelleBooks/Bell Bridge</a> books has been wonderful to me and I adore them. Their authors adore them. And, there is something for everyone to read. I want to give them a big Shout Out today.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bellebooks.com/shopcontent.asp?type=For%20Writers" target="_blank">BelleBooks/BBB page for writers</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bellebooks.com/shopcontent.asp?type=Our Authors" target="_blank">BB/BBB Authors</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bellebooks.com/shopcontent.asp?type=Aboutus" target="_blank">About BB</a><br />
<br />
They made my dreams come true. Three published books and a novella later, and another book on its way in the spring (<em>Family Graces</em> probably will be the title of the last in the Graces Trilogy), foreign rights (Russia so far!), ebooks, print books, audio books soon to come - I just can't say enough things about them. They are a dream to work with and respect and love their authors. Go BB/BBB! Check them out, and as their site says - there really is something for everyone.<br />
<br />
Now - y'all come on over and help me to feel at home in my new/old blog home.<br />
<br />Kathryn Magendiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863595228298349863noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173191469938389438.post-86830074117103839012011-12-28T09:01:00.001-05:002011-12-28T09:07:09.079-05:00Stop. Sit in your chair. Open a word doc (or pull out pen and paper) and Begin<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">We not only have holiday company for a few days at the little log house at Killian Knob, but I am up against a deadline, or two! The post below is a repeat post from 2009 but bears repeating. And it applies to more than just writing!</span></em><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YVsiV14XNK4/TvsgM5EM_HI/AAAAAAAAJxE/PJdOx7qclnI/s1600/rnt_header_new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="39" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YVsiV14XNK4/TvsgM5EM_HI/AAAAAAAAJxE/PJdOx7qclnI/s320/rnt_header_new.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">As for me, I am right now doing some last minute edits on the final Graces novel in the Graces Trilogy. The contract is signed. A date of March/April is planned for its release, and as well, </span><a href="http://www.bellebooks.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bellebooks/Bell Bridge Books</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"> is re-doing </span><a href="http://www.kathrynmagendie.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18&Itemid=15" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Secret Graces's</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"> cover so that all three Graces Sagas bookcovers are similar, so they look like a trilogy (I had a lot of mixed letters/comments on the original cover for SG-some hated/some loved). I can't wait to see what SG and the third Graces novel covers will look like - I still become excited; I still am giddy about it all</span></em><span style="font-size: x-small;">. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57adhWyguuc/TvsiFAuZbpI/AAAAAAAAJxo/s-gPqMQVC9o/s1600/Belle-BellBlogHeader.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="54" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57adhWyguuc/TvsiFAuZbpI/AAAAAAAAJxo/s-gPqMQVC9o/s320/Belle-BellBlogHeader.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">And as well, </span></em><a href="http://www.roseandthornjournal.com/" target="_blank"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rose & Thorn</span></em></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em> will go live January 15 - we are busy preparing the winter issue</em>. <em>My New Years Holiday will be busy, but in a good kind of way</em>.</span><br />
<br />
So now - <br />
<br />
What someone wrote in a comment one day: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You know all that is what kind of halts me
in writing. It just overwhelms me and then I block. I like blogging because I
have the feel of freely writing. I guess it is a bit of a quirk</i>.” <br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Never never never never never never never never never never
never never never never never NEVER NEVER NEVER let anything stop you from
writing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">if this is what you want to do
and you are ready to discipline yourself to it</i>—no one else on this earth or
beyond should stand in your way: no advice from well-meaning writers, no rules,
no nuttin’. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OSSQgfptcco/TvsgYW1nRoI/AAAAAAAAJxQ/DdzVCco2K9k/s1600/bird+book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OSSQgfptcco/TvsgYW1nRoI/AAAAAAAAJxQ/DdzVCco2K9k/s1600/bird+book.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p>Trust me when I say that if you really want to write a
novel, or stories, then you must practice your craft and the only way to
practice is to just sit down and write. As you practice, you will figure out
what works for you, what your “voice” is, what your “tics” are, what your
weaknesses and strengths are, what delights you and urges you on and what
frustrates you and makes you want to stop writing. You will find out your own
personal style of writing in both how you write and what you write.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p>But listen! If you are happy writing blog posts, what is
wrong with that? If you write a successful blog and people come to your site
and leave happy interested comments, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">are
you not a success</i>? Are you not writing for an audience who loves coming by
and seeing what you have written? </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p>When I began writing <a href="http://www.kathrynmagendie.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4&Itemid=4" target="_blank">Tender Graces</a>, I didn’t have a clue what
I was doing; I didn’t even know how to write dialogue! But I had desire. I had
discipline. I had want. I just wrote and wrote and wrote and wrote and things
began to come clear as to my own style and voice and what made me feel
comfortable. I wrote 200,000 words and most of those had to be trashed or
re-cast or fiddle-dee-deed, but, boy did I have fun, and boy did I learn much
about what kind of writer I’d be. I was writing for an audience of one: Me.
That is free-ing, let me tell you!</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p>Don’t let the “rules” or advice of others stop you or scare
you or make you feel as if you are somehow lacking if you don’t write in a
certain way—just write and in the writing find out who you are, what kind of
writer you are, what you love to write, and how you will write. I can’t stress
this enough. Find what makes you happy and do it. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p>If the writing feels strained and you want to back away from
it, then find out what is hindering you: Are you writing for someone else? Are
you listening to too many writers (like me!) give advice and it confuses you?
Are you straining towards something that isn’t meant for you?</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p>Stop. Sit in your chair. Open a word doc (or pull out pen
and paper) and Begin. Just have some fun, see what comes out. Who cares if you
have <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">so-just-very-little</i>; who cares
if there are many <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">adverbs and present
participles and dangling participles</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and
similes</i> and blah blah blah blah—how will you know what you want, or where
you want to go, or how far you will take things, until you sit down and begin?
How will you know what makes you happy until you write it without restraint?</div>
<br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I had to get to a
certain point in my writing before the advice I read made sense</i> –Hear that:
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I had to know how to sit down and write
and find out what kind of writer I’d be before all the “rules” began to make
sense</i>, and only then could I use them, manipulate them, have fun with
them—and I’m still having fun, and I’m still learning my craft—there is always
room for growth, never become complacent even if you are a best-seller. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lw7ahEgFBcs/TvsgGej8zmI/AAAAAAAAJw4/SHiHG1A5nD0/s1600/scroll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lw7ahEgFBcs/TvsgGej8zmI/AAAAAAAAJw4/SHiHG1A5nD0/s1600/scroll.jpg" /></a></div>
You all would laugh your arses off if you could see some of
my first attempts at writing stories. So what? I laugh too! Haw! But I also see
how far I’ve come, how much I’ve learned and how much more I can learn. Lawd, even some of the <a href="http://www.kathrynmagendie.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6&Itemid=6" target="_blank">works I've had published</a> I want to go in and change the heck out of them!<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Sit. Breathe. Tune out the voices. Have fun. And, write how
and what you want, and where and for whom you want. Be sincere. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Dig it out from the you that is uniquely you.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
See y'all Friday for Links Day! Hope you are having a wonderful holiday.</div>
<br />Kathryn Magendiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863595228298349863noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173191469938389438.post-2738202246628970412011-12-26T11:25:00.002-05:002011-12-26T11:25:56.448-05:00Photos/Video: Hopes for you & Happy New Year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TSqp05J-b6A/TviaQUplVaI/AAAAAAAAJuU/JyuAKyxCrfY/s1600/DSC09993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TSqp05J-b6A/TviaQUplVaI/AAAAAAAAJuU/JyuAKyxCrfY/s1600/DSC09993.JPG" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-84TS2tKObBg/TviaRUK4WAI/AAAAAAAAJuc/iSvIRf07l7Y/s1600/DSC09983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-84TS2tKObBg/TviaRUK4WAI/AAAAAAAAJuc/iSvIRf07l7Y/s1600/DSC09983.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-shpJg3-gSj0/TvicpDjXINI/AAAAAAAAJwE/pIaXPKwzxlc/s1600/DSC09999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-shpJg3-gSj0/TvicpDjXINI/AAAAAAAAJwE/pIaXPKwzxlc/s1600/DSC09999.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Hope your Christmas/Hannuka/Holiday Celebration is/was lovely and bright<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sYeL0B9NUPs/TviaZ8qy7hI/AAAAAAAAJuk/Dn8OPkml49A/s1600/DSC09999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sYeL0B9NUPs/TviaZ8qy7hI/AAAAAAAAJuk/Dn8OPkml49A/s320/DSC09999.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dGTC6FbPzuM/Tviaa4xvxdI/AAAAAAAAJus/aDRpphD9qFE/s1600/DSC09968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dGTC6FbPzuM/Tviaa4xvxdI/AAAAAAAAJus/aDRpphD9qFE/s320/DSC09968.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g2kUa6_Lop4/TviacQzEOyI/AAAAAAAAJu0/NnZ3kMofzWE/s1600/DSC09962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g2kUa6_Lop4/TviacQzEOyI/AAAAAAAAJu0/NnZ3kMofzWE/s320/DSC09962.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HT4E55cKfxM/Tviad7vH6PI/AAAAAAAAJu8/cUSiFIm1Oso/s1600/DSC09973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HT4E55cKfxM/Tviad7vH6PI/AAAAAAAAJu8/cUSiFIm1Oso/s320/DSC09973.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KJ6UhsrFXpE/TviagST3YEI/AAAAAAAAJvE/3yEqh3tsB2A/s1600/DSC09982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KJ6UhsrFXpE/TviagST3YEI/AAAAAAAAJvE/3yEqh3tsB2A/s320/DSC09982.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Hope your travels were safe and beautiful and brought you to where you longed to be<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7Stj84myL3o/TvibR8i_inI/AAAAAAAAJvY/dvl_98p7Yw4/s1600/fletcher+family+favorite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7Stj84myL3o/TvibR8i_inI/AAAAAAAAJvY/dvl_98p7Yw4/s320/fletcher+family+favorite.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jOJX_SITqG8/TvibW7fP39I/AAAAAAAAJvk/lvnIljrMCu4/s1600/DSC09745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jOJX_SITqG8/TvibW7fP39I/AAAAAAAAJvk/lvnIljrMCu4/s320/DSC09745.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kZBX53AoDpE/TvicGt5vTOI/AAAAAAAAJvw/WFR3a_aJ2hc/s1600/DSC09967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kZBX53AoDpE/TvicGt5vTOI/AAAAAAAAJvw/WFR3a_aJ2hc/s320/DSC09967.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1RTp9ShSXU4/TvicHYLKS4I/AAAAAAAAJv4/0tkweTtKz-E/s1600/DSC09964.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1RTp9ShSXU4/TvicHYLKS4I/AAAAAAAAJv4/0tkweTtKz-E/s320/DSC09964.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ROxu8eMAHgE/TvidHzaiGHI/AAAAAAAAJwY/dAtq3oJqqMo/s1600/DSC00075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ROxu8eMAHgE/TvidHzaiGHI/AAAAAAAAJwY/dAtq3oJqqMo/s320/DSC00075.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5loh0Uxdnfg/TvidJXqUMJI/AAAAAAAAJwg/2AuFa79nNQU/s1600/DSC00073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5loh0Uxdnfg/TvidJXqUMJI/AAAAAAAAJwg/2AuFa79nNQU/s320/DSC00073.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Hope you spent time with friends and family - even if it was via Skype or Telephone, mail or email . . . or even social networking!<br />
<br />
And finally . . . to all of you whom I in one fashion or another or all of the above love, respect, admire, and am exceedly grateful for, I wish you a . . . <br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Zw1vvGYHQBw" width="420"></iframe>Kathryn Magendiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863595228298349863noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173191469938389438.post-22345358215657105142011-12-23T09:40:00.003-05:002011-12-23T21:45:45.419-05:00Holiday Linky Love & Last Day for Sweetie deal<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rhdss4IX5KY/TvSOLElptpI/AAAAAAAAJsA/FsAuYE42Ym8/s1600/DSC09981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="377" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rhdss4IX5KY/TvSOLElptpI/AAAAAAAAJsA/FsAuYE42Ym8/s400/DSC09981.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">South Louisiana - LSU Lakes - Birds as Ornaments flocking the trees</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
For the holidays, here is some linky love. I'll be back to "regular links" next Friday, but for today, I am posting those I happened upon this morning that had a holiday theme. I didn't come across any with any other holidays besides Christmas, and if I had, I'd link to them as well - so if you have a different holiday tradition than Christmas, link it in the comments and I'll update my post! <br />
<br />
Despite my Grinchy post below, today I am feeling full of holiday cheer - and no, not because of vodka *sigh* oh, I still have not received my <a href="http://crystalheadvodka.com/welcome" target="_blank">Crystal Head Vodk</a>a -- I want that skull *laughing* to help my cheer along - dang it all! :-D<br />
<br />
Then, there is the annual posting of the link for my <a href="http://vagabondagepress.com/81201/V1I7SS11.html" target="_blank">Moonshine & Santy Claus</a> - a quirky Santy and menopausal appalachian woman story, published by Vagabondage Press. And how interesting to see my bio then when I was 'in the query process' - well, dreams do come true, y'all *gratitude* <br />
<br />
I love this blog - full of Appalachian everything and always positive: <a href="http://www.blindpigandtheacorn.com/blind_pig_the_acorn/2011/12/appalachia-through-my-eyes-christmas-folklore-1.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BlindPigTheAcorn+%28Blind+Pig+And+The+Acorn%29" target="_blank">Blind Pig and the Acorn - Appalachia through my eyes - Christmas folklore</a><br />
<br />
Michelle Teacress has a short video that made me tear up - *still sniffling* - it struck my heart: <a href="http://michelleteacress.blogspot.com/2011/12/coat-story-of-charity.html" target="_blank">The Coat: A story of charity</a> - it will warm your heart.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P44RSw38ohA/TvSPPJFKKsI/AAAAAAAAJss/yveNSuwinMs/s1600/DSC09990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P44RSw38ohA/TvSPPJFKKsI/AAAAAAAAJss/yveNSuwinMs/s320/DSC09990.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">saw this in South Louisiana near LSU - laughing! love it -you can't see the picture of the LSU coach Miles in that shiny square:-D</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Speaking of charity - Every year I do <a href="http://www.toysfortots.org/" target="_blank">Toys for Tots</a>, and as well, I do the Angel Tree (look for those Christmas trees with "ornaments" hanging that have information on children you can purchase clothing and toys for), and another place I like to give memorial gifts on behalf of my brother, granny, and now my father, is <a href="http://blog.nathanbransford.com/2011/12/3rd-annual-heifer-international.html" target="_blank">Heifer International</a> - I'm linking you to Nathan Bransford site, for he information there and an incentive. These are the things that take me outside of myself and remind me what this season is about: giving and charity and loving and remembering. It's especially for the children. You may have your own charities, but if not, these are wonderful places to think about giving. But, yes, people need us all year round, no matter the season - however, during the holidays, harder times are oft-times more keenly felt.<br />
<br />
And the <a href="http://kayespenguinposts.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Pudgy Penguin</a> has on his santy suit (so cute) and is having a book give-away. Even if you don't enter, just a look at that penguin makes a smile.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-biOus_XeYkU/TvSO9GPtuBI/AAAAAAAAJsM/BYdhNSLzU3k/s1600/sweetie.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-biOus_XeYkU/TvSO9GPtuBI/AAAAAAAAJsM/BYdhNSLzU3k/s200/sweetie.png" width="132" /></a></div>
And, last time I'll be mentioning my book like a used car salesman (no offense to any car salesmen *laugh*), but it's the <em><strong>last day</strong></em> of the One<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sweetie-ebook/dp/B004C44OUW" target="_blank">-Week Deal at Amazon where SWEETIE</a> is discounted for this promo. (Firefly Dance, the anthology, is on that same deal.)<br />
<br />
<br />
Happy Holidays, whatever you celebrate. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!<br />
<br />
<br />
And now, I will leave you with an oldie but goodie - Christmas Lights Gone Wild <br />
<br /><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/rmgf60CI_ks" width="420"></iframe>Kathryn Magendiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863595228298349863noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173191469938389438.post-67916423791663707012011-12-21T10:07:00.001-05:002011-12-21T10:12:23.035-05:00All those whos in whoville and their noise noise noise! Am I a Grinch?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xvJ8PpYxgzE/TvHzucg38sI/AAAAAAAAJrc/RTFMFczLsVc/s1600/gr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xvJ8PpYxgzE/TvHzucg38sI/AAAAAAAAJrc/RTFMFczLsVc/s1600/gr.jpg" /></a></div>
I fear I am turning into the Grinch. You know, scowling
about Christmas commercialism and all the Whos in Whoville’s noise wearing on my nerves.
What’s happened to me? When Christmas was always the most perfect, most
wonderful time of the year? Somewhere along the way I’ve let some kind of
magic go, some kind of beauty of the season. I want it back. Lawdy be, can you
help me? How? you may ask. Well . . . I’m open to suggestions. Perhaps: leave me Christmassy
comments that enlighten and lighten? Email me cute Christmas cards? Post wonderful
holiday thoughts and send me the link? Then my heart will grow umpteen sizes too big and I'll be full of Christmas Cheer - whoop!<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p>I want to look forward to decorating the tree with glee and fiddledeedee. I want to
inhale the scents that come only this time of year - spices and sweet and fresh. I want to gasp at the wonders.
I will have no child running in breathlessly to tear open gifts, for my son and
granddaughter are many miles away in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Oregon</st1:place></st1:state>.
Maybe that’s part of it, too—my friends and family are far from me. Oh, I hate
whiners! Whos in Whoville and all that noise, noise, noise! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JfIM_XfUlt0/TvHzwaGgjTI/AAAAAAAAJrk/1E8-IY1Ve4I/s1600/gri.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JfIM_XfUlt0/TvHzwaGgjTI/AAAAAAAAJrk/1E8-IY1Ve4I/s1600/gri.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
What do I want for Christmas this year? I want that spirit
to come back with a big Bam-a-lammo. I can’t force it, so I’m asking you all,
anyone of you at all, to help me find that Christmas-Holiday Doodledeedahday. I know
it’s somewhere. I must have just misplaced it in a corner, under a pile of
sweaters, in the sock drawer, in the hollowed out tree, behind the dresser,
under the couch . . . somewhere, it’s here somewhere. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p>There is a Christmas special on <a href="http://www.mylifetime.com/" target="_blank">Lifetime television</a> where this jaded
book editor hates Christmas and is grumpy and yada yada the same old; but, as I watch it, I tear up a bit, as if I am seeing parts of myself in this
woman. Thing is, at the end of the movie, I know she’ll have found what she is
missing—will I find it along with her? Gee, I hope so. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p>I think perhaps I will need to do something different,
something to take me outside of myself. Yes. That's it. Outside of myself. And, I’ll keep searching those
little corners and places for that old feeling—I just know it’s there. It rises
up and quickly flies away just out of my grasp. Maybe you’ve seen it? Floating
around, my <st1:place w:st="on">Holiday</st1:place> Spirit. If you do see it,
grab hold of it and bring it back to me, and for that, I’ll be filled with
gratitude.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C79CjONMn9U/TvHzx69PpVI/AAAAAAAAJrs/vpiDf3nVUd4/s1600/grinch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C79CjONMn9U/TvHzx69PpVI/AAAAAAAAJrs/vpiDf3nVUd4/s1600/grinch.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Perhaps I’ll fly like the hawk over a jeweled city of
holiday shine and there I will find what I need . . . yes, right in Whoville. Yes. There it is . .
. just ahead.</div>
<br />
<br />
------------------------------------------------------------<br />
Now, off with my bad elf-self, and I'll see you all on Friday with Linky Love.<br />
<br />
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
(and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sweetie-ebook/dp/B004C44OUW/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&qid=1324479859&sr=1-1" target="_blank">SWEETIE is doing well in the Amazon weekly deals</a> - Friday is the last day to find it at this special before it goes back to its regular price - same with Firefly Dance. Thank you all for your support! Hmm, that's something to be grateful for this holiday season! - MY READERS! *heart is starting to grow* After this promo is over, I won't be mentioning it as I have been - you know how I like my "car salesman-free zone" here *laughing* :-D )<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M3uSL6syMks/TvH1wGEtoSI/AAAAAAAAJr0/qcebk9PQeq4/s1600/sweetie.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M3uSL6syMks/TvH1wGEtoSI/AAAAAAAAJr0/qcebk9PQeq4/s200/sweetie.png" width="132" /></a></div>Kathryn Magendiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863595228298349863noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173191469938389438.post-11336461113160044592011-12-20T09:27:00.002-05:002011-12-20T09:28:13.211-05:00Where'd Monday go? Discombobulation abounds. No photos/videos: Bad KatMorning y'all. I'm late with my Monday post - I have been out of town to South Louisiana to visit family and friends. It was a quick trip, but here it is Tuesday morning and I don't have my photos/images/videos! *Bad Kat* I even woke up in my iron bed in the little log house in the cove at Killian Knob thinking this was Monday. Lawd.<br />
<br />
So pardon my lateness and zippity do dah diggity didn't do-it-ness as I unpack and unwind and decompress. I will see you on Wednesday with my regular blog post!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vjpP5FNte6U/TvCaiYmAlfI/AAAAAAAAJrU/t4vXDqchesQ/s1600/sweetie.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vjpP5FNte6U/TvCaiYmAlfI/AAAAAAAAJrU/t4vXDqchesQ/s200/sweetie.png" width="132" /></a></div>
By the way, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sweetie-ebook/dp/B004C44OUW/ref=zg_bs_157053011_29" target="_blank">SWEETIE</a> is inching up the "Amazon Kindle Best Seller List" - she's at this moment no 29 in literary fiction. I'd love to see her head up to No 1 of course *haw!* but even the top 50 is very nice. THANK YOU for your support. She'll, Sweetie that is, will be on this "Amazon Weekly Deals" for a mere .99cents until Friday and then it's over and she's the regular price. (Firefly Dance is on that same deal.) Appreciate all of you. <br />
<br />
See you Wednesday!Kathryn Magendiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863595228298349863noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173191469938389438.post-42059437346853710892011-12-16T10:00:00.000-05:002011-12-20T09:28:42.608-05:00Linky Love - Blogger Community<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4VM4Jdm6pRA/TujZ0KutzVI/AAAAAAAAJrI/ca4E6KAlrao/s1600/DSC09963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4VM4Jdm6pRA/TujZ0KutzVI/AAAAAAAAJrI/ca4E6KAlrao/s320/DSC09963.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Time for links, y'all! And today's links are from the blogger community.<br />
<br />
And a big Thank You to blogspot Blogger for making it easy to open links to a new page - at last! yay!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://jessicanelson7590.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jessica Nelson BookingIt</a>. Whenever I see her profile photo, it makes me smile. There is a sweetness about Jessica and it comes out in her blog and in her comments she leaves.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://dianeestrella.com/?p=7706" target="_blank">Diane Estrella "That's what I'm here for</a>" has a fun Christmas quiz going on. She also reviews books and products, and her energy bounds off her blog page.<br />
<br />
I have a new Blogger friend whose blog I am exploring - <a href="http://fromsarahwithjoy.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">From Sarah, With Joy</a>. And "joy" does describe what I've experienced stopping by her place. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://positiveletters.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0068cf;">Hilary Melton-Butcher</span></a> has such an interesting blog "Positive Letters . . . Inspirational Stories," chock full of information on things you don't realize you longed to know until you get there, and Voila! She's told you all about something so interesting, you leave feeling smarter and more wordly.<br />
<br />
I laughed when I watched <a href="http://checkerboardsquares.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Carolyn V's "Checkboard Squares</a>" video on Zombie Love - and I HATE zombies . . . ungh - but danged if I couldn't get that song out of my mind. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.readerunboxed.com/" target="_blank">Reader Unboxed</a> - it's all about books and reading and it's the sister site of Writer Unboxed. I love both of these blogs, and am a member of Writer Unboxed, for which I've linked to before.<br />
<br />
Folks, if you haven't stopped by <a href="http://1johnbord-blog.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">John Bord's Ink Spots</a>, then slip on over there. His writings are starkly beautiful, and he's just a nice guy to boot. Sometimes he writes of social issues and whether I agree or do not, I always leave his blog thinking.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://colbymarshall.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Colby Marshall Spittin' out words like a llama</a> is quirky and fun, and, ohhh!, I do believe she has a form of <a href="http://synesthete.org/" target="_blank">synesthesia</a>, so that makes her my new "writing interest" - I want to study her, for I have a character who will probably be in my next book who has synesthesia. <br />
<br />
Click on over to <a href="http://thekitchenbitchponders.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Eryl at The Kitchen Bitch Ponders</a> . . . because she's just cool and I like her and I love that title, too.<br />
<br />
And finally, last one for this Friday's Linky Love is <a href="http://titusthedog.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Titus the Dog</a> - I have two of her poetry collections and have ordered the latest. The words are gorgeous and profound, yes, but, the covers are exceptional as well. <br />
<br />
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rd5s1KAY5zs/TujY02KgvAI/AAAAAAAAJrA/aV_nbBlVFwQ/s1600/sweetie.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rd5s1KAY5zs/TujY02KgvAI/AAAAAAAAJrA/aV_nbBlVFwQ/s200/sweetie.png" width="132" /></a></div>
As an aside - I am writing this on Wednesday because I have to unplug all of Thursday and perhaps into Friday. However, from what I understand, beginning on <strong><em>Saturday the 17th is the </em></strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sweetie-ebook/dp/B004C44OUW/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2" target="_blank"><strong><em>Amazon Kindle Promo for Sweetie</em></strong></a> (and as well for the anthology The Firefly Dance). Sweetie, and Firefly, will be priced by Amazon for $.99 for one week only - through the 23rd. After that, it goes back to regular price. So, there you go, a Christmas Kindle Book Promo. Thank you for your support - without my readers, my writing is lonely and unloved :-D .<br />
<br />
<strong>Just found out this, apparently </strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sweetie-ebook/dp/B004C44OUW" target="_blank"><strong>Amazon has Sweetie</strong></a><strong> and FD at <em>.99cents </em>instead of what I thought! lawd! wow. Far as I know, just for the week still. Firefly is priced the same.</strong><br />
<br />
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><br />
<br />
See y'all on Monday!Kathryn Magendiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863595228298349863noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173191469938389438.post-18330078122641522712011-12-14T08:43:00.000-05:002011-12-14T09:06:27.073-05:00Finding the Rest of Your (life) Story - Don't Give Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0aPZQqfg5ns/TuihNTC14RI/AAAAAAAAJqg/kOKOEU2sdlI/s1600/Blanchard_Caves_-_Arkansas_%252813%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0aPZQqfg5ns/TuihNTC14RI/AAAAAAAAJqg/kOKOEU2sdlI/s320/Blanchard_Caves_-_Arkansas_%252813%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
As my brother and I left <st1:place w:st="on"><a href="http://www.ozarkgetaways.com/blanchard_springs_caverns.html" target="_blank"><st1:placename w:st="on">Blanchard</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Caverns</st1:placetype></a></st1:place>
on our Odyssey trip, one of the tour guides called out, “Watch out for deer.
They come out this time of the evening.”<br />
<br />
It wasn’t ten minutes later, as we carefully drove along an
unfamiliar road in the soon-to-be-coming dusky dark, that I saw a deer by the
side of the road and said, “There’s one; be careful.” We passed the
deer without incident, both laughing at how we were just warned and then there a
deer was.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p>A few miles more, and I saw her. She darted out quickly and
in the time it took me to open my mouth and yell, “Watch out!” she’d already
ran right into Tommy’s truck. The sickening sound of WHAM! against metal, and
our cries of “Oh no!”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Tommy said, “I can’t go back. I just can’t.” The stricken
look that formed his features into grief must have mirrored my own.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p>I said, “I know, Tommy. I understand.” </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Yet, despite our words, he’d already slowed to
pull to the side of the road. We both knew we couldn’t leave a suffering
animal. We’d just lost our father and the thought of dealing with death of any
kind caused our faces to fall into folds of worry and sick and sad. And if she was suffering, what could we do? How to help her? The Odyssey
had barely begun and already we were ready to call it <em>Done</em>. It was all too
much. Too much. Too much. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> T</o:p>ommy looked into his rearview and said, “Hey wait! She’s
up! She’s running into the woods.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“That means she’s probably okay. Oh I hope so. And Tommy,” I
said, “even if she’s not, we can’t go searching for her in unfamiliar woods,
especially with dark coming soon.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p>“Yeah, I know,” he said. And we went on our way down that lonely
darkening road. The night tainted, unfamiliar. Grieved. It felt as if Tommy and
I were the only humans left in the world. Visions of the beautiful animal hurt
in the woods pummeled my thoughts. I know Tommy was feeling that too.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oYhoe9Q55To/Tuih5EbedfI/AAAAAAAAJqw/fh94VzkTE5I/s1600/DSC09987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oYhoe9Q55To/Tuih5EbedfI/AAAAAAAAJqw/fh94VzkTE5I/s320/DSC09987.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
We drove in a silent dark that became a deeper dark, nothing around except for a smattering of farm houses here and
there far back from the road. Then, at last! There! Lights in the distance. We soon came to a gas-station
and stopped to fill up. As Tommy went inside, I looked around, trying to
gauge my bearings, feeling disoriented and exhausted. There were a few men
standing around but they didn’t look approachable. Another woman filled her
car, but she had an angry expression. I felt uncomfortable there, as if I were
an interloper upon their space and place and time.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
A young woman pulled up to fill her tank. Her friendly face calmed me, so I made my decision and walked up to her, “Excuse me,” I
said, “But where are we?”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
She laughed, and told me. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Is there a hotel nearby?”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
She laughed again, then said, “Not one you’d want to stay in, that’s for sure.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p>At my stricken look her face softened. “Hey, look. You can
go to Hardy. It’s a little town but it has a couple of decent hotels. And!” She
smiled and said with mock excitement, “it has a Wal-mart <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and</i>
a McDonalds!”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p>“Sold!” I grinned at her, then said, “Thank you so very
much.” </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p>“No problem. Drive safely. There’s some construction on the
way.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
We followed the woman's directions and soon Tommy and I were checked-in to
a hotel. We set out to the McDonalds for salads and to Wal-mart for a few
supplies. Our moods were lighter, our faces lit in relief. I told Tommy I wished I'd have thought to ask her name, for she didn't know what her kindness meant to me, and to my brother.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The next morning was bright and beautiful. Tommy and I prepared
again for our Odyssey, our faces as bright and beautiful as the morning. “Off
we go!, I cried, “into the wild blue yonder!” We laughed, speeding off to the
next adventure.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mk_gKHyBAZg/TuiiQoMuWJI/AAAAAAAAJq4/gUGVsK2Drzs/s1600/DSC09992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mk_gKHyBAZg/TuiiQoMuWJI/AAAAAAAAJq4/gUGVsK2Drzs/s320/DSC09992.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p>I often think <em>what if we’d have given up because of that evening
we were so tired and sad and distraught?</em> I think, what if we’d have consulted
technology and sped our way to an interstate where everything is <em>The Same</em>,
given up the discovery we had been so excited about—the old back roads using
only our sense of direction and a paper map. I think what if we’d have said the
trip was too hard, and we were too tired and disoriented and defeated. We’d have missed the
<em>Rest of the Story</em>. We’d have never known the days ahead of that evening. We’d
have slapped the face of the evenings <em>before</em> The Deer & Lost in the Dark
incident, when everything was about that discovery.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p>Everything doesn’t have to be easy. Everything doesn’t
always go our way, or the right way. Everything we do has ups and downs, has
disappointments and successes. It’s when we decide to keep going, to let the
dark times teach us to reach out to someone, and to find The Rest of The Story, that we
live the life we were meant to live—one <em>well</em>-lived.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong><em><o:p> </o:p>Will you give up? Or will you drive through the scary dark to a friendly face, right into the bright and beautiful to find The Rest of Your Story?</em></strong></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>Kathryn Magendiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863595228298349863noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173191469938389438.post-68412809013815345542011-12-12T08:50:00.000-05:002011-12-12T08:56:51.112-05:00Time for Video/Photos No/Few Words: Jingle Dogs Reunion & Secret Places & etcMorning Y'all! Time for video/photos no/few words!
Now this is just silly but it still made me laugh:-D
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3jQZWcymqw0" width="500"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GuiaAHXi9g8/TuYFWd9CqvI/AAAAAAAAJpA/SUJWL9hJ78M/s1600/DSC09963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GuiaAHXi9g8/TuYFWd9CqvI/AAAAAAAAJpA/SUJWL9hJ78M/s400/DSC09963.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Secret Place - this made it into the SWEETIE novel *shhh* very secret</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tn8uQBnry1w/TuYFXIAuNpI/AAAAAAAAJpI/ROwnacBtvYk/s1600/DSC09964.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tn8uQBnry1w/TuYFXIAuNpI/AAAAAAAAJpI/ROwnacBtvYk/s400/DSC09964.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What I can see on way to Secret Place and where Sweetie and Melissa sometimes ran to hide</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-za9abgqyBnQ/TuYFX_3tmiI/AAAAAAAAJpQ/FihzRNxfNSk/s1600/DSC09965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-za9abgqyBnQ/TuYFX_3tmiI/AAAAAAAAJpQ/FihzRNxfNSk/s400/DSC09965.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">close up</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FFs2sVSNcZc/TuYFZLXM_hI/AAAAAAAAJpY/FNcPRkWUCv4/s1600/DSC09966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FFs2sVSNcZc/TuYFZLXM_hI/AAAAAAAAJpY/FNcPRkWUCv4/s1600/DSC09966.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ice crystals in the grass</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-meZbYDfmdIM/TuYFZ1ceMyI/AAAAAAAAJpg/oL_9NSzAgPA/s1600/DSC09968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-meZbYDfmdIM/TuYFZ1ceMyI/AAAAAAAAJpg/oL_9NSzAgPA/s1600/DSC09968.JPG" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Izy3k2v9T58/TuYFbK8wxtI/AAAAAAAAJpo/BTYrTxTfok0/s1600/DSC09969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Izy3k2v9T58/TuYFbK8wxtI/AAAAAAAAJpo/BTYrTxTfok0/s400/DSC09969.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jTNG7FbRHFI/TuYFcMPPomI/AAAAAAAAJpw/hE9d-5n1qNo/s1600/DSC09978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jTNG7FbRHFI/TuYFcMPPomI/AAAAAAAAJpw/hE9d-5n1qNo/s1600/DSC09978.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mushrooms on a log</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t0tLGQJ2BF4/TuYFdAiZV5I/AAAAAAAAJp4/GfVG76TLXSk/s1600/DSC09979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t0tLGQJ2BF4/TuYFdAiZV5I/AAAAAAAAJp4/GfVG76TLXSk/s400/DSC09979.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--ULfjZLLWbA/TuYFeK0pDBI/AAAAAAAAJqA/5cex1EKqMaU/s1600/DSC09983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--ULfjZLLWbA/TuYFeK0pDBI/AAAAAAAAJqA/5cex1EKqMaU/s1600/DSC09983.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">wasp nest in our Christmas tree - we have "nature things" and regular ornaments - our tree is on the porch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xAJ6zn1-0Po/TuYFfdDzVzI/AAAAAAAAJqI/JBCzk2WqZYA/s1600/DSC09993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xAJ6zn1-0Po/TuYFfdDzVzI/AAAAAAAAJqI/JBCzk2WqZYA/s1600/DSC09993.JPG" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b_1UXUp_AuQ/TuYFgciRyWI/AAAAAAAAJqQ/yHE3P-ns944/s1600/DSC09999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b_1UXUp_AuQ/TuYFgciRyWI/AAAAAAAAJqQ/yHE3P-ns944/s400/DSC09999.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Not Quite Fat Dog" Jake helped decorate by looking cute</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pbJBR-6RL_Y/TuYFhD7exTI/AAAAAAAAJqY/M3P5Ng4Zjpk/s1600/DSC00002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pbJBR-6RL_Y/TuYFhD7exTI/AAAAAAAAJqY/M3P5Ng4Zjpk/s1600/DSC00002.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the christmas decorations made shadows which kept the frost in same pattern -at Lake Junaluska<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Kathryn Magendiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863595228298349863noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173191469938389438.post-22014304952243056212011-12-09T09:03:00.001-05:002011-12-09T09:45:22.332-05:00Friday Linky Love in this wonderful Community of Bloggers we are!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tg82kaZ61aE/TuIalsWf1cI/AAAAAAAAJoo/il6skD6Wr9Y/s1600/DSC09745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tg82kaZ61aE/TuIalsWf1cI/AAAAAAAAJoo/il6skD6Wr9Y/s320/DSC09745.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">bffs are wunnerful - in blogland too!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Yes, folks - I am back to three days a week posting, after months of wailing and gnashing my teeth over my deadline I thought I'd never make (of course I will and the final in the Graces Trilogy will be out in a few months!), and after my father's illness and passing - oh how wonderful you all are and were for supporting me, and for your understanding I am appreciative. <br />
<br />
Which takes me to how much of a community Blogger Land is, and why I have missed my thrice-weekly posting, and my visiting your blogs. What a wonderful community of people there are out there in Blogger Land!<br />
<br />
Friday is Linky Love day, so here are a few offerings. As always, I invite you to tell me about any gooey noughty goodness you find out there so I can share it - yes, even if it is your own site. <br />
<br />
What brought me back to excitement over my blog? Why <a href="http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Kristen Lamb's blog</a> and her book "Are you there blog, it's me, Writer." I've mentioned Kristen before, but she bears mentioning again if this whole Social Networking thang has you beating your head against the wall (as the bruises on said pea-head of mine will attest).<br />
<br />
I was curious what would happen if I clicked on "Next Blog" - something I never think to do, and it brought me to <a href="http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Simple Woman's Day Book</a> blog - where "thoughts of those who are focusing on simplicity...beauty of the everyday
moments." Looks interesting, so I think I'll check it out further. <br />
<br />
Jan O'Hara is one of the blogs I miss visiting regularly - she makes me laugh and think and giggle and go "hmmmmm." <a href="http://cherrytart.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Miz Tart at Tartitude</a> is wunnerful. <br />
<br />
I have also missed the <a href="http://sandarastraveljournal.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Amazing Voyages of the Turtle</a>, Sandra Leigh's blog about her travels here there and yonder. She is amazing.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://jodyhedlund.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Author Jody Hedlund</a> always has interesting and informative posts for writers. I learn a lot about myself as it pertains to my writing life from these posts and sometimes find I am writing much too long comments! lawd!<br />
<br />
Hungry? Like to "pass a good time" with music and food and a really nice person down in the Louisiana Swampland? Then visit Ma<a href="http://cajundelights.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">rguerite at Cajun Delights</a>. I lived in South Louisiana many years and her blog reminds me of the food and fun and people there.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://catbirdscout.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Deb Shucka's blog "Catbird Scout</a>" is another for whom I have missed reading regularly - her intimate, poignant, and beatifully-written blog never ceases to amaze me with just how lovely a person, and a writer, Deb is. She's also an editor at our <a href="http://www.roseandthornjournal.com/" target="_blank">Rose & Thorn journal</a>. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://lifescherryontop.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Anita from Life with a Cherry on Top</a> is one of those quiet blogs that doesn't announce itself and make a lot of noise, just as Anita herself is! But I adore Anita and her blog. Visiting her makes me feel calmed and warm and toasty.<br />
<br />
Another of our Rose & Thorn editors is <a href="http://somethingshewrote.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Janna Qualman over at Something She Wrote</a>. We both stumbled upon Rod McKeun's poetry books and that makes me smile. She is also one of those quiet writers who doesn't shout out, but she should!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://terri-treasures.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Terri Tiffani's blog is titled "Inspirational Writer</a>" and that is just what she is, which is why she has such a loyal following, and I've missed reading her blog.<br />
<br />
And there are many more - and I will be linking to those in the coming Fridays. <br />
<br />
Ah, feels good to be back, y'all!<br />
<br />
You all have a wonderful weekend!Kathryn Magendiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863595228298349863noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173191469938389438.post-70095731087977960702011-12-07T13:06:00.001-05:002011-12-09T09:44:43.193-05:00The Sheldon Cooper in Me<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-emMA5b3nIj8/Tt-w1G1GZpI/AAAAAAAAJn0/8rXRHxI95ro/s1600/300px-Sheldon_amy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-emMA5b3nIj8/Tt-w1G1GZpI/AAAAAAAAJn0/8rXRHxI95ro/s1600/300px-Sheldon_amy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sheldon cooper & me -okay, not me *laughing*</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Sometimes when I'm watching The <a href="http://www.cbs.com/shows/big_bang_theory/" target="_blank">Big Bang Theory</a>, I have this
semi-uncomfortable feeling that I am oft-times too much like Sheldon Cooper. That I
understand too much of what he says and does and it makes perfect sense to me,
so that while I, and the studio audience, are laughing, I am also going,
"Um . . . wait . . . we are laughing because this is a bit of the
ridiculous . . . and so I am a bit of the ridiculous.” Teehee. <br />
<br />
<br />
I know I have tics and weirdness and "ways I must do things." I
know when I go into a hotel room, I first put down my luggage on a wooden
surface and not on the floor in the case there are critters there hiding just
so they can crawl into my luggage and snuggle in for the trip home. And then I immediately
walk to the bed, lift the covers, and check out the sheets and the mattress. If
I am in a <a href="http://hamptoninn1.hilton.com/en_US/hp/index.do?WT.srch=1&pSearch=true&searchdef=2142504&k_clickid=04d885a1-d6c9-91e8-4bbd-00004071608d&002=002%3D2142504%26021%3D614298&006=8097181110&007=Search&008=&009=e&011={QueryString}&012=hampton%20inn" target="_blank">Hampton Inn</a>, which is where I try to stay because they sanitize their comforters and they are white--which shows everything!--I mostly feel I don’t have
to remove the bedspread, but if I have to stay where there is one of those
colorful bedspread, off it comes! Colorful bedspreads are made that way to hide
stains and other icky nasty. The sheets best be white without any stains—stains
will send me into apoplectic fits of <em>EWWWWWWW</em>. The mattress check is for signs
of critters. And, to make things more weirdly embarrassing: during the middle
of the night, at around 2 a.m., since that’s when an article said certain
critters come out, I have to shine a light under the covers to make sure no
critters have sneaked up on me and are feasting on my wittle legs. Well, so
far, so good, I’ve not had to go screeching into the hotel hallway as if my
hair’s on fire.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWl4cGpJ_Xw/Tt-wzkBoZ5I/AAAAAAAAJns/eT6BIMBTBe0/s1600/200px-Sheldon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWl4cGpJ_Xw/Tt-wzkBoZ5I/AAAAAAAAJns/eT6BIMBTBe0/s1600/200px-Sheldon.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
My place is at the left end of the couch. When company comes, I hurry to sit
on that end, because it is My End; however, if someone beats me to it,
unknowing that this is My End, then I will toss and turn upon the other end of
the couch; I am displaced! I am uncomfortable –ungh! Ungh! I would never say
anything to the displacer but as soon as they go home, I pounce upon My End of
the couch and nestle it back to its former Me-ness. I have a few moments of, “It
feels weird because someone else has been here,” which I must quickly overcome
so I can enjoy My End again. Huhn.<br />
<br />
I have rules about food. I’m not much of a meat eater, but when there is
Meat Food prepared, it must be eaten within a certain amount of time. Usually
about two days, preferably one. Yes, this is so. GMR will eat meat or
meat-dishes a million days after it has been prepared, but not so I! I imagine
it is spoiling almost immediately, growing nasty crawling critters, and souring,
and I just will not eat it. Meatless food items may stay a little longer in my “I
will eat this” category, but there are more Food Rules—I will not get into this
right now, but they all make sense to me. erk.<br />
<br />
When I shake a stranger’s hand, my hand tingles afterward. Because I begin
to think, “I wonder where that hand’s been?” And the thought grows and grows
until my hand tingles and I am just so <em>AWARE</em> of my hand! Sometimes this happens
even if it is not a stranger and for this I can only ask for forgiveness. No
one will ever know, because it is only me who can feel the critters crawling
all over my hand. Ungh. Ungh. Sometimes this may be my “People Radar” going off—the
radar that tells me <em>something ain’t right</em> about a person and I am taken aback
by the force of those feelings, and sometimes it’s because I am just Weird.<br />
<br />
Sometimes when I’m walking, I will step on a root or bump or something
elevated in my path. Say I step on it with my right foot. Well, then the left
foot begins to feel cheated. It wants to step on something elevated. I try to
ignore it, but eventually, I give in and make sure I step on something elevated
with the left foot. Sometimes, just to be mean to my left foot, I will step on
something elevated numerous times with my right foot and say, “HA! THERE! Try
to control ME will you! hahaha!”<br />
<br />
Shall I go on? Well, I shall not because I’m of the belief that you must
leak out your crazy a teeny bit at a time. Let people become used to it. Lull
them into a sense of how they think you are quirky and slightly sweet and
loveable, and then they accept all the crazy-arse stuff you throw at them
without blinking an incredulous eye hardly one bit, hardly.<br />
<br />
<strong><em><o:p> </o:p>What about you? Have any quirks you want to share?</em></strong> <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<em>PS - As an aside - whenever I find out there is going to be a "Special Promotion" for my books, I always want to let y'all know they are coming. From around December 17th until 23rd, The Firefly Dance and Sweetie will be on a special Amazon Kindle promo. I believe they are pricing them for $1.99 for just that time. A head's up - in case you are interested. You all know I get all irkity talking about my books because I want this to be a "car salesman free zone" :-D haw! But, dang, this is a deal! Later y'all.</em>Kathryn Magendiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863595228298349863noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173191469938389438.post-60083629758037263092011-12-05T09:03:00.001-05:002011-12-05T16:13:32.840-05:00Images, few words - You Go Girl Accomplishments I should be "proud" of instead of whining about what I haven't done. Huhn!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.kathrynmagendie.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4&Itemid=23" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RlP9Xtc6NXU/TtzO-NewoPI/AAAAAAAAJnM/2_Pj1rEamZM/s320/tgraces.jpg" width="213" /> more about Tender Graces</a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.kathrynmagendie.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18&Itemid=15" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sa5gkPTy__E/TtzO_52M1fI/AAAAAAAAJnU/lkHSRvAN90w/s320/sgraces.png" width="207" /> More about Secret Graces</a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.kathrynmagendie.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18&Itemid=15" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fk2k47c-DHk/TtzPBGueYaI/AAAAAAAAJnc/FD_9Jnmcbdc/s320/sweetie.png" width="212" /> More about Sweetie</a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.kathrynmagendie.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29&Itemid=24" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SaNN0gIST2M/TtzPDuGWHbI/AAAAAAAAJnk/58Tph_k1F8g/s320/firefly.png" width="213" /> more about the Firefly Dance</a></div>
<br />
Well, you all know I rarely put stuff up here on my blog, or anywhere else, about my books - but over the last weeks I've been all whiny - thinking about what I have NOT accomplished. Then, this morning, I slapped myself upside my head and thought, "Hon; dear; look at what you HAVE accomplished." And among those things are these. I'm taking today to give myself a "you go girl." <br />
<br />
Along with those novels, a novella, and a novel to be released in March, I've written and had published poetry and essays and stories and photographs - have I stopped to think, "Hey . . . cool!" or have I thought, "Yeah but . . ." or "Don't talk about your stuff because it sounds like bragging and that's UGH and unseemly" . . . <br />
<br />
Those Yeah Buts and other admonishments are sneaky lil stinkers, aren't they? Huhn.<br />
<br />
What about you? What's your "you go girl/guy" moment(s)?<br />
<br />
see you Wednesday!<br />
------ -- sometime later in the Magendie Little Log House in the cove at Killian Knob------<br />
<br />
PS! - y'all - I'm laughing because ever since I posted this I've wanted to take it down. I really do not do well with talkin' bout my stuff . . . ungh ungh! . . . haw! Dang . . . *kat looks at the delete key - considerrrrrs -- connnnnssssiiiderrrrrs -- * :-DKathryn Magendiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863595228298349863noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173191469938389438.post-90888821546821918462011-11-30T10:09:00.001-05:002011-11-30T10:22:46.255-05:00Pushing Through the Pain for What we Desire<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zr7kmA_qI8Q/TtZIRjimf9I/AAAAAAAAJnE/md41_j2NaS0/s1600/DSC00253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zr7kmA_qI8Q/TtZIRjimf9I/AAAAAAAAJnE/md41_j2NaS0/s320/DSC00253.JPG" width="320" /></a>“It’s almost eight miles, Kat,” he says. The morning is
chilly, but the sky is a deep blue, too blue to be atmosphere and must be
instead something tangible, touchable, bending in at the pressure of my hands
as I press. Around the corner, I hear the creek rushing. I shoulder my pack and
say, “Let’s do it.” The trail lollipops through the woods—meaning, we start out
and end on the “handle” of the lollipop, and make our way around the outside of
the “sucker” part. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WDtQMIstEM8/TtZHwUX-QmI/AAAAAAAAJmk/wx1DpoJW7-w/s1600/DSC00017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WDtQMIstEM8/TtZHwUX-QmI/AAAAAAAAJmk/wx1DpoJW7-w/s200/DSC00017.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
We follow the creek a while, then begin the incline. I munch
nuts and fruit, and drink the water I’ve brought. It’s silent save for our
breaths. At the end of the steepest climb, my right leg begins to complain; I
ignore it, move on. We round the top of the lollipop and make our way down. The
decline is easier, but the terrain is rougher—the trail narrows, we step over
slippery rock, climb over a giant fallen limb from a tree that looks a thousand
years old. The pain in my right leg is expanding across my lower back and to my
left leg; I ignore it. We come to an ancient tree that reaches forever into the
sky, its trunk as wide as <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Texas</st1:place></st1:state>,
and there’s a hollowed out space that I slip into. I stand inside its walls,
and make up a story about a woman who hides in a tree so no one can find her,
until she wants them to. I reluctantly step out of my sanctuary.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c-lZfUZFaPg/TtZHyQry1sI/AAAAAAAAJms/rxDLZj8I4To/s1600/DSC09994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c-lZfUZFaPg/TtZHyQry1sI/AAAAAAAAJms/rxDLZj8I4To/s200/DSC09994.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
We come to a sign that reads: .8 miles to the trailhead. It’s
been hours and we’re hungry for the wine and cheese we packed. But the pain screams
loud now. I hold my head high, pretending, so no one would know I’m hurting
this bad. But, by time we are to the trailhead, I can no longer hide it; I’m
limping, and my lips are pulled in a grimace. It’s another “lil’ piece” before
we make it to the bridge that leads back to our car, and by then my limp is much
more pronounced, my lips pressed, my teeth gritted. But I don’t care; I’m
<em>exhilarated</em>. I hiked the entire lollipop, and it was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sweet</i>! Once in the car, my grimace turned to a grin, I
say, “When can we do it again?” </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IWVnXSJtbaE/TtZHzHYHEgI/AAAAAAAAJm0/qZLVbiB7D10/s1600/DSC09996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IWVnXSJtbaE/TtZHzHYHEgI/AAAAAAAAJm0/qZLVbiB7D10/s320/DSC09996.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Sometimes we just have to push through the pain to be where
we want to go. Sometimes the painful struggle is worth it if we appreciate what else is
going on around us--if we see what we long to see and do what we long to do and be who we long to be. Sometimes there is just pain and that’s
just how it is but there’s much more to the experience so that the pain doesn't completely define us, but as well, the journey to where we want to be.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Thanks for the day,
Mother Earth, Father Sky</i>.<br />
<br />
What pain will you push through for what you love or desire or where you want to be? Will you say, "It was worth it and I'll do it again?" or give up before you complete what you desire?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e4sqGiJWF50/TtZH1UMDv-I/AAAAAAAAJm8/y6xkQe71Xb4/s1600/DSC09981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e4sqGiJWF50/TtZH1UMDv-I/AAAAAAAAJm8/y6xkQe71Xb4/s320/DSC09981.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>Kathryn Magendiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863595228298349863noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173191469938389438.post-88278861674034403392011-11-28T09:48:00.001-05:002011-11-28T09:54:51.003-05:00Photos/Videos - Pisgah & strumming the ipad<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="215" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4kUFsJuu_bA" width="320"></iframe><br />
<br />
I wanna iPad . . . :-D<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bDo4Mvj8dYA/TtOfWyoxZNI/AAAAAAAAJk8/DN1S7f2QFIA/s1600/DSC00003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bDo4Mvj8dYA/TtOfWyoxZNI/AAAAAAAAJk8/DN1S7f2QFIA/s320/DSC00003.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cold Mountain from Pisgah Tower</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lZfB3wiR3Mw/TtOfYg2D2LI/AAAAAAAAJlE/X_4x5XThrsQ/s1600/DSC00011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lZfB3wiR3Mw/TtOfYg2D2LI/AAAAAAAAJlE/X_4x5XThrsQ/s320/DSC00011.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">tower perspective, Mt Pisgah</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ddXRCZGvNdU/TtOfZgFEAbI/AAAAAAAAJlM/YaD0zdiVwZc/s1600/DSC00012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ddXRCZGvNdU/TtOfZgFEAbI/AAAAAAAAJlM/YaD0zdiVwZc/s320/DSC00012.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">enlarge pic to see where Boopmobile is parked :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AXNUHIUrC5w/TtOfbQvR7YI/AAAAAAAAJlU/zZmcXif6OGI/s1600/DSC00018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AXNUHIUrC5w/TtOfbQvR7YI/AAAAAAAAJlU/zZmcXif6OGI/s320/DSC00018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wRjnNs66rLA/TtOfeUg7nhI/AAAAAAAAJlc/0Xkk4XlFqkE/s1600/DSC00017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wRjnNs66rLA/TtOfeUg7nhI/AAAAAAAAJlc/0Xkk4XlFqkE/s320/DSC00017.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">on the Pisgah trail</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1WI9lfQP6nw/TtOfgF1HyOI/AAAAAAAAJlk/4QqerYtPens/s1600/DSC09978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1WI9lfQP6nw/TtOfgF1HyOI/AAAAAAAAJlk/4QqerYtPens/s320/DSC09978.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">on Parkway to Pisgah</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SQihnP32cic/TtOfiM9fB9I/AAAAAAAAJls/e2xsH23bu6E/s1600/DSC09966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SQihnP32cic/TtOfiM9fB9I/AAAAAAAAJls/e2xsH23bu6E/s320/DSC09966.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">looking glass rock in shadow</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u5Q8AXARSSI/TtOfi_kmKOI/AAAAAAAAJl0/li2TLh7L7uk/s1600/DSC09981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u5Q8AXARSSI/TtOfi_kmKOI/AAAAAAAAJl0/li2TLh7L7uk/s320/DSC09981.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a cool accident with the camera</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xomNmHt3uwg/TtOfkQKciBI/AAAAAAAAJl8/xIiW0lbpAQg/s1600/DSC09999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xomNmHt3uwg/TtOfkQKciBI/AAAAAAAAJl8/xIiW0lbpAQg/s320/DSC09999.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from Pisgah trail</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uuaii6edv_I/TtOfosiMPuI/AAAAAAAAJmE/aLAZwMoaA7o/s1600/DSC09987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uuaii6edv_I/TtOfosiMPuI/AAAAAAAAJmE/aLAZwMoaA7o/s320/DSC09987.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GLsSF4QH4ek/TtOfqnquzzI/AAAAAAAAJmM/T8ehshVnwV4/s1600/DSC09996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GLsSF4QH4ek/TtOfqnquzzI/AAAAAAAAJmM/T8ehshVnwV4/s320/DSC09996.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZTZKKgQaY8M/TtOfscx1H4I/AAAAAAAAJmU/On24Wj2wZEM/s1600/DSC09995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZTZKKgQaY8M/TtOfscx1H4I/AAAAAAAAJmU/On24Wj2wZEM/s320/DSC09995.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pisgah trail</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>Kathryn Magendiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863595228298349863noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173191469938389438.post-7218171232318188112011-11-23T07:37:00.001-05:002011-11-23T12:02:54.187-05:00State Parks and Thanksgiving & The Great Cornbread vs Bread debate!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v4guG8vFVsQ/Tszs_dTQIWI/AAAAAAAAJjc/JIDRV5aqMgo/s1600/DSC09950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v4guG8vFVsQ/Tszs_dTQIWI/AAAAAAAAJjc/JIDRV5aqMgo/s320/DSC09950.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dupont State Park </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
No mistake in this house I love a good cornbread dressing. GMR loves my cornbread dressing, too, as does most anyone else who eats it. GMR is from New Orleans, and I am a West Virginia HillWilliam who lived a lot of her time in the deep south and who had a Tennessee Daddy and an adoptive mom from an Arkansas farm. My mom always made cornbread dressing. I ate it as a child growing up; I watched her make it and learned from her as I grew up; I took up that tradition.<br />
<br />
GMR, however, prepares Erster Stuffing . . . or for you who aren't New Orleans born or haven't lived in or been to South Louisiana, that's Oyster Stuffing (he does call it dressing, but I refuse to *teeheehee*). This stuffing is made with Bread - no cornbread. Not a touch. And it has critters in it - oysters. What the fiddledeedee?<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IcyiRCfz7Gw/Tszs-ZaDAUI/AAAAAAAAJjU/4rwtpEVjVXE/s1600/DSC09943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IcyiRCfz7Gw/Tszs-ZaDAUI/AAAAAAAAJjU/4rwtpEVjVXE/s320/DSC09943.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">dupont state park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So each Thanksgiving, I have an informal but rabid poll about this. What do you eat/prepare in your house at Thanksgiving (or during the holidays)? Is it WONDERFUL MAGICAL SUMPTUOUSLY DELICIOUS Cornbread Dressing. Or is it nasty soggy bread stuffing with maybe some snotty-looking critters in it? (*haw*)<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bAtKOciP9Oc/Tszs8IdJM_I/AAAAAAAAJjM/6t9Qnm27rVM/s1600/DSC09929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bAtKOciP9Oc/Tszs8IdJM_I/AAAAAAAAJjM/6t9Qnm27rVM/s320/DSC09929.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dupont State Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
I want to wish you all who observe to have a Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy your families. Hug each other. Tell each other you love one another. Make the moments count. If there is any time at all to be mushy and to build broken bridges and to talk about gratitude and family and friends, well, now is surely that time. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1Q_0NSwAPTw/TszuEVquIrI/AAAAAAAAJjs/o-6WENuVpQk/s1600/DSC09990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1Q_0NSwAPTw/TszuEVquIrI/AAAAAAAAJjs/o-6WENuVpQk/s320/DSC09990.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cataloochie valley as seen through the barn</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S2pYytN21sY/Ts0mj7YZqNI/AAAAAAAAJks/JTywOOhmF3I/s1600/DSC00033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S2pYytN21sY/Ts0mj7YZqNI/AAAAAAAAJks/JTywOOhmF3I/s320/DSC00033.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from waterrock knob on parkway</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c90ScAOnFFA/Ts0mqpQKuMI/AAAAAAAAJk0/eR5wmDDkGkM/s1600/DSC00030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c90ScAOnFFA/Ts0mqpQKuMI/AAAAAAAAJk0/eR5wmDDkGkM/s320/DSC00030.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from water-rock knob parkway</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Today, I bake my cornbread and we'll have a slice when it's warm from the oven - there's always plenty left over for my dressing. I'll bake my pecan (puh-cahn!) pie and my pumpkin pie, as well. GMR is brining the turkey (this really does work quite well), and he will make his erster stuffing (what-<em>EVER</em> --laughing--), and whatever else he will do ahead of time. I am lucky to have a GMR who loves to cook, but also who cleans up along-side of me so I don't have to do it all alone. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xNAXvBLnKh0/Tszs7G-hyHI/AAAAAAAAJjE/Y8Mnhqj2FIU/s1600/Blanchard_Caves_-_Arkansas_%252813%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xNAXvBLnKh0/Tszs7G-hyHI/AAAAAAAAJjE/Y8Mnhqj2FIU/s320/Blanchard_Caves_-_Arkansas_%252813%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blanchard Caverns</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7SbhYcvZ_8k/TszswkckU6I/AAAAAAAAJi8/8X5LEpnvKBM/s1600/Blanchard_Caves_-_Arkansas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7SbhYcvZ_8k/TszswkckU6I/AAAAAAAAJi8/8X5LEpnvKBM/s320/Blanchard_Caves_-_Arkansas.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">blanchard caverns</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
99% of photos here on my blog are taken by me. The two cavern photos were not taken by me, but by my brother Tommy, from our Odyssey round-about from Texas to North Carolina, and they do not do these caverns justice much as he tried--they are just too majestic and awe-inspiring to fully capture in the dim light--<a href="http://www.ozarkgetaways.com/blanchard_springs_caverns.html" target="new">Blanchard Springs Caverns in Mountain View Arkansas</a>. In the caverns, it was as if some ancient civilization, or aliens, created the "sculptures." I'll have more photos later, I hope. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera with me (I rushed to Texas so quickly, I didn't grab it), but my brother did, so as soon as he can upload all the hunnerds of them from our Odyssey :-D I will share some more with you. (Our first State Park stop was <a href="http://tendergraces.blogspot.com/2011/11/silly-ole-kat-at-petit-jean-state-park.html" target="new">below</a> at Petit Jean State Park).<br />
<br />
The photos of waterfalls above are from our own WNC <a href="http://www.dupontforest.com/" target="new">Dupont State Park</a>. And two below I took from the train ride my brother and I took on the <a href="http://www.gsmr.com/">Great Smoky Mountain Railroad</a>.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z0L23HrfXCY/Tszyv0VD2DI/AAAAAAAAJkU/xY3XX08tNUA/s1600/DSC00034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z0L23HrfXCY/Tszyv0VD2DI/AAAAAAAAJkU/xY3XX08tNUA/s320/DSC00034.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from train (great smoky mountain railroad)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B6Nmzj5xXug/TszyzthdNiI/AAAAAAAAJkc/hp4WiSzUyd0/s1600/DSC09988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B6Nmzj5xXug/TszyzthdNiI/AAAAAAAAJkc/hp4WiSzUyd0/s320/DSC09988.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
With GMR's friends, I also visited <a href="https://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=0h&oq=cataloochie&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4DKUS_enUS289US289&q=cataloochie+valley" target="new">Cataloochie Valley</a> (photos above and below) and <a href="http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/v.php?pg=116" target="new">Water-rock Knob at Blue Ridge Parkway</a> (above). These are places, here in WNC, that GMR and I go frequently and never tire of it and are always awe-struck.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0A1Lsr5QiQ4/TszuCKIkYmI/AAAAAAAAJjk/K21bk7gVGtM/s1600/DSC00061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0A1Lsr5QiQ4/TszuCKIkYmI/AAAAAAAAJjk/K21bk7gVGtM/s320/DSC00061.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cataloochie valley from trail</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
We also visited Max Patch and walked a bit of the Appalachian (AppaLatchun not AppaLayshun) Trail.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B9PAsWrHmtE/Tsz1AZf5w3I/AAAAAAAAJkk/8Qm9xgAAMUQ/s1600/DSC00049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B9PAsWrHmtE/Tsz1AZf5w3I/AAAAAAAAJkk/8Qm9xgAAMUQ/s320/DSC00049.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I am awe-struck at the beauty of our parks and parkways. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
And, how grateful I am for our National and State Parks. They are truly a national treasure that we oft-times can take for granted. Think of them when you go on vacations - many can be "right in your back-yard." They do so need our love and support. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-If7G-behXkU/TszuNsrfhEI/AAAAAAAAJkE/ItyDDWYeV94/s1600/DSC09974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-If7G-behXkU/TszuNsrfhEI/AAAAAAAAJkE/ItyDDWYeV94/s320/DSC09974.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a-C8U98v8K4/TszuIzyXyJI/AAAAAAAAJj8/HyZ63_Sa82E/s1600/DSC00085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a-C8U98v8K4/TszuIzyXyJI/AAAAAAAAJj8/HyZ63_Sa82E/s320/DSC00085.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">turkeys at Cataloochie Valley- they won't be eaten, at least by humans, lawd!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Happy Thanksgiving! I am grateful for all of you. *Blowing You All A Kiss*Kathryn Magendiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863595228298349863noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173191469938389438.post-3908462650574133432011-11-21T08:34:00.001-05:002011-11-21T09:05:25.559-05:00Gratitude - photos, few words<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dOvJScqV5po/TspURcIGQxI/AAAAAAAAJg8/hUhwiJuOaR0/s1600/Mike%252520%2526%252520Kathy%252520Snellings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="314" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dOvJScqV5po/TspURcIGQxI/AAAAAAAAJg8/hUhwiJuOaR0/s320/Mike%252520%2526%252520Kathy%252520Snellings.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
There was a time when my big brother and I had not much of anything. For we were right on the edge of not even having a family, for my brother and I were to be scattered upon the winds to who knows where, separated. <br />
<br />
Even when we found sanctuary, we were pretty poor. But we had a bed and we had a roof over our heads even if it was raggedy (but always clean), and we had a dad who wanted us and a brand-new 'stepmom' who wanted to adopt us --and she later did (along with our other brother who'd later come). So I have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.<br />
<br />
Family, friends, place, home, shelter, love, work, You All. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J-w1_lWAi7M/TspUgeRlVzI/AAAAAAAAJhE/z6J3ZqfsECY/s1600/norah+k+in+granny+kat%2527s+shirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J-w1_lWAi7M/TspUgeRlVzI/AAAAAAAAJhE/z6J3ZqfsECY/s320/norah+k+in+granny+kat%2527s+shirt.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sAwZqFEv3vY/TspUmexXHTI/AAAAAAAAJhM/ghT4T6Qq59c/s1600/DSC09280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sAwZqFEv3vY/TspUmexXHTI/AAAAAAAAJhM/ghT4T6Qq59c/s320/DSC09280.JPG" width="273" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XS18rAexAjM/TspU1S107qI/AAAAAAAAJhU/Az2RJV9jBic/s1600/DSC09745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XS18rAexAjM/TspU1S107qI/AAAAAAAAJhU/Az2RJV9jBic/s320/DSC09745.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ePySZ4WREfw/TspU-JF7JUI/AAAAAAAAJhc/j7wKIiFoKO0/s1600/DSC00074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ePySZ4WREfw/TspU-JF7JUI/AAAAAAAAJhc/j7wKIiFoKO0/s320/DSC00074.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J7zk4CTOtQM/TspVLgjt5aI/AAAAAAAAJhs/0ONBia6HxC4/s1600/Eugene%252CJohnny%252C++Ruth%252C+Michael%252C+David%252C+Kathy%252C+Tommy+Snellings+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J7zk4CTOtQM/TspVLgjt5aI/AAAAAAAAJhs/0ONBia6HxC4/s320/Eugene%252CJohnny%252C++Ruth%252C+Michael%252C+David%252C+Kathy%252C+Tommy+Snellings+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-802UdLrf8cE/TspVV7zCjCI/AAAAAAAAJh0/aCWeCNHYcYM/s1600/fletcher+family+favorite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-802UdLrf8cE/TspVV7zCjCI/AAAAAAAAJh0/aCWeCNHYcYM/s320/fletcher+family+favorite.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WX8rBscTmDs/TspTeTQElvI/AAAAAAAAJgE/926yGliGBRY/s1600/DSC00014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WX8rBscTmDs/TspTeTQElvI/AAAAAAAAJgE/926yGliGBRY/s320/DSC00014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pt-fqI1WQcM/TspTkzoxG3I/AAAAAAAAJgM/ayKgChKsivM/s1600/DSC00021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pt-fqI1WQcM/TspTkzoxG3I/AAAAAAAAJgM/ayKgChKsivM/s200/DSC00021.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MWoxAq6bBKo/TspTm1cfbAI/AAAAAAAAJgU/m54zvQLa_Ao/s1600/DSC09995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MWoxAq6bBKo/TspTm1cfbAI/AAAAAAAAJgU/m54zvQLa_Ao/s320/DSC09995.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Re8IHqHFe7Q/TspWaCSuyDI/AAAAAAAAJh8/iWPWSBpjUK0/s1600/DSC09236-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Re8IHqHFe7Q/TspWaCSuyDI/AAAAAAAAJh8/iWPWSBpjUK0/s320/DSC09236-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aa-qQd4qKQY/TspWcjrbOZI/AAAAAAAAJiE/VLBLDYllzZg/s1600/DSC09256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aa-qQd4qKQY/TspWcjrbOZI/AAAAAAAAJiE/VLBLDYllzZg/s200/DSC09256.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8eO3tdpZ4vk/TspXFEJjgsI/AAAAAAAAJiM/1VIsREdUfGs/s1600/DSC05866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8eO3tdpZ4vk/TspXFEJjgsI/AAAAAAAAJiM/1VIsREdUfGs/s320/DSC05866.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1ne7g4UgykI/TspXT3zrBeI/AAAAAAAAJiU/nMclY-rKbjQ/s1600/bryce+et+al.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1ne7g4UgykI/TspXT3zrBeI/AAAAAAAAJiU/nMclY-rKbjQ/s320/bryce+et+al.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4kcOr2aVknE/TspXt0OG6_I/AAAAAAAAJic/qxa3-7DLYdc/s1600/late+spring+2011+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4kcOr2aVknE/TspXt0OG6_I/AAAAAAAAJic/qxa3-7DLYdc/s320/late+spring+2011+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yIeyWppsV_Q/TspYvQmiWLI/AAAAAAAAJik/4xur9h9PV-4/s1600/DSC00104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yIeyWppsV_Q/TspYvQmiWLI/AAAAAAAAJik/4xur9h9PV-4/s320/DSC00104.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9uK1rrUDUoM/TspZXmIj8ZI/AAAAAAAAJis/RcAmfkjxXfw/s1600/johnny+and+rae.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9uK1rrUDUoM/TspZXmIj8ZI/AAAAAAAAJis/RcAmfkjxXfw/s320/johnny+and+rae.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qcb5KRIwBz4/TspZqFeqxdI/AAAAAAAAJi0/bfaWrDdLwOE/s1600/mike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qcb5KRIwBz4/TspZqFeqxdI/AAAAAAAAJi0/bfaWrDdLwOE/s200/mike.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
(and more family and friends, who I'd love to post pictures but don't want to without knowing if they'd want me to do that here on a public blog - She-Laughs and all . . . *smiling*)Kathryn Magendiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863595228298349863noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173191469938389438.post-9969102553545607642011-11-16T11:56:00.001-05:002011-11-16T12:23:38.810-05:00Another unflattering photo of me (haw) and linky love<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m97SJVCHFG8/TsPmdlQgLQI/AAAAAAAAJfo/YWz7aHZyQv0/s1600/Petit_Jean_%252872%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m97SJVCHFG8/TsPmdlQgLQI/AAAAAAAAJfo/YWz7aHZyQv0/s320/Petit_Jean_%252872%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silly ole Kat at Petit Jean State Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://www.petitjeanstatepark.com/" target="new">visit Petit Jean State Park's website</a><br />
<br />
I wanted to write up about my brother's and my odyssey from Texas to North Carolina, taking the back roads, visiting State Parks, etc., but I'm still trying to catch up. I hope to have something written up next Wednesday, as I really want to talk about things we saw, and to talk up the State Parks, who need our support!<br />
<br />
You know, I don't know how many unflattering photos of myself I have put out here on my blog, but one day I'm going to try to gather them up and post them all *laughing* - I mean, have I no vanity? I guess not . . . haw. You can even see them in my gallery above . . . teeheehee.<br />
<br />
Today I'll leave you with some links, including the one for Petit Jean above.<br />
<br />
Can't remember if I've ever mentioned <a href="http://litstack.com/" target="new">LitStack</a>, for the love of all things wordy.<br />
<br />
And <a href="http://fridayreads.com/" target="new">Friday Reads</a>: Read Share Repeat.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.readerunboxed.com/" target="new">Reader Unboxed</a>: By Readers For Readers, and a sister of <a href="http://www.writerunboxed.com/" target="new">Writer Unboxed</a>.<br />
<br />
If you haven't already, and I think I have mentioned her before but she has a whole new thing on novel structure and etc for all you writers out there, then head to <a href="http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/" target="new">Kristen Lamb's blog</a>. She talks a lot about social networking, too, and how to make it work for you better/smarter- and you don't have to be a writer to benefit from that - I have ordered her book about blogging so maybe I can derive some tips on how to spruce up this place, for it's feeling a little stale, ain't it folks? :-D.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oops50.com/" target="new">OOPS50</a> - A sharing blog for women over 50 - just discovered this blog by visiting the Farmer's Market in Asheville.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://karenselliott.wordpress.com/2011/11/12/the-%e2%80%9cpaint-the-writer%e2%80%99s-wagon%e2%80%9d-contest-2/" target="new">Karen Elliott</a> is having a "paint the writer's wagon" contest - signed copies of <em>Tender Graces</em> and <em>Secret Graces</em> are one of the prizes, but as well she has a gift card and the Hunger Grames books(not signed, but still), and those two prizes ain't nuttin to sneeze at so I danged ole promise it won't hurt my feelings if you choose one of those *grin*. <br />
<br />
There has been a lot of talk and all about book lending on Amazon through <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/prime" target="new">Amazon Prime</a>. I don't know what to think about it and as an author I sometimes have to just let all that flow around me and see "what will be," and as well, I trust my publishers, BelleBooks, to do what they must do to protect their authors and their business, and to sell books and etc etc. I do know BB has a temporary deal they had to fight tooth and claw to make sure we were protected and as far as I know, <em>Tender Graces</em> and <em>Sweetie</em> are on that Amazon Prime program for what may be a limited time - and I say "may be" because seems some books, as I've read about on blogs, have been put there without permission - I don't know. I live in the Land of Confusion where many others live as we walk around with stunned expressions and go "ungh; ungh?" a lot.<br />
<br />
Would I really like for my books to be in many many bookstores and libraries across the land? You bet I would! Are they in many many bookstores and libraries across the land? No. You can ask for them and they will order them, but they aren't readily there in some places, and sometimes people expect things to be There, Right Then. This is why Amazon becomes so powerful to/for/with small press publishers and their authors - because our books are physically there and digitally there and can go anywhere to anyone at a quick click. I have more to say on this, but I'll leave it at that for now.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.roseandthornjournal.com/" target="new">Rose & Thorn's fall issue</a> went live while I was in Texas. I hope you all will go by and take a look, read, let us and the authors know what you think. Our Guest Author is Daniel Wallace of Big Fish fame, and we have plenty more good stuff from writers and poets, and from our guest artist. We appreciate your support.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XfY56EfFYic/TsPxSebv6kI/AAAAAAAAJfw/nO7J7LsL9OM/s1600/DSC09968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XfY56EfFYic/TsPxSebv6kI/AAAAAAAAJfw/nO7J7LsL9OM/s320/DSC09968.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aNMo4_C95Dg/TsPxUJncwbI/AAAAAAAAJf4/uv14MMe0YNw/s1600/DSC09970.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aNMo4_C95Dg/TsPxUJncwbI/AAAAAAAAJf4/uv14MMe0YNw/s320/DSC09970.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Almost forgot! GMR has art up at the <a href="http://www.haywoodarts.org/" target="new">Studio 86 in Waynesville</a>. Including his "Red Dog" paintings (except he has Red Dog in French and I forgot what it is :-D). If you are in the area - stop by and see all the artists' works. October 19-November 12, 2011FREE. Artist Reception: November 4, 2011 from 6-9pm. Or if you like the Red Dog, he paints them with your fave team on the tag.<br />
<br />
<br />
As always, visiting those vistors who leave a comment and a link is lovely. I know we are all busy, but I hope our blog community remains and grows. It can be such a wonderful source of information and contact with people all over the world. Yes, so can Facebook/Twitter, but our blogs take Our Selves just a little bit further.<br />
<br />
That's enough for now. I once again want to thank you all for your support and love. To know of all these kind acts truly helped me through this, and my family as I shared with them your thoughts.<br />
<br />Kathryn Magendiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863595228298349863noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173191469938389438.post-85007747423096089332011-11-14T08:38:00.001-05:002011-11-14T08:57:23.315-05:00Thank you card, Photos, no words . . .<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#3,0,0,0" height="325" width="525"><param name='SRC' value='http://www.regards.com//images/Thankyou/thankyou_bird_rc.swf'>
<param name='loop' value='false' />
<embed src='http://www.regards.com//images/Thankyou/thankyou_bird_rc.swf' pluginspage='http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' width='525' height='325'></embed></object><br />
(. . . for all your thoughts, comments, mail, everything over the last weeks of my father's illness and then passing)<br />
<br />
From Water-rock Knob, Blue Ridge Parkway:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZQbwlVONhHw/TsEZuf7IiHI/AAAAAAAAJcI/wur22yp8bns/s1600/DSC00011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZQbwlVONhHw/TsEZuf7IiHI/AAAAAAAAJcI/wur22yp8bns/s320/DSC00011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1Ms3VlBjQns/TsEZw7LLHtI/AAAAAAAAJcQ/RqmuuRy_Mg0/s1600/DSC00009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1Ms3VlBjQns/TsEZw7LLHtI/AAAAAAAAJcQ/RqmuuRy_Mg0/s320/DSC00009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UR8YKwCOZLQ/TsEZz1LKBbI/AAAAAAAAJcY/niPIBWxaS0M/s1600/DSC00024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UR8YKwCOZLQ/TsEZz1LKBbI/AAAAAAAAJcY/niPIBWxaS0M/s320/DSC00024.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n6-LbwlUahE/TsEZ1wzUhHI/AAAAAAAAJcg/8Hu6Us5KrNk/s1600/DSC09970.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n6-LbwlUahE/TsEZ1wzUhHI/AAAAAAAAJcg/8Hu6Us5KrNk/s320/DSC09970.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v7OAOX1JvMs/TsEZ3RxtmjI/AAAAAAAAJco/te7DmEpBTzs/s1600/DSC00015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v7OAOX1JvMs/TsEZ3RxtmjI/AAAAAAAAJco/te7DmEpBTzs/s320/DSC00015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--E3ZX5afpNc/TsEZ4iLu9LI/AAAAAAAAJcw/QoUy0koGu_E/s1600/DSC00042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--E3ZX5afpNc/TsEZ4iLu9LI/AAAAAAAAJcw/QoUy0koGu_E/s320/DSC00042.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Full Moon & Flying Squirrels from our Porch
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-54IXMEAI7lA/TsEaN5J19oI/AAAAAAAAJc4/GWKO7D2mgmE/s1600/DSC09968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><br /> </a> </div>
<img border="0" height="240" nda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-54IXMEAI7lA/TsEaN5J19oI/AAAAAAAAJc4/GWKO7D2mgmE/s320/DSC09968.JPG" width="320" /><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mkQOXNykuy8/TsEaQ7CZ6PI/AAAAAAAAJdA/vJow6mBbvkw/s1600/DSC09964.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mkQOXNykuy8/TsEaQ7CZ6PI/AAAAAAAAJdA/vJow6mBbvkw/s320/DSC09964.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--jDPD7kD3YM/TsEaT_WBIXI/AAAAAAAAJdQ/u94sc5hHyHw/s1600/DSC09978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--jDPD7kD3YM/TsEaT_WBIXI/AAAAAAAAJdQ/u94sc5hHyHw/s320/DSC09978.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
Cataloochie State Park Misc:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l4eYtVFSjws/TsEax7PqCxI/AAAAAAAAJdg/Rn00cFiBiI8/s1600/DSC00002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l4eYtVFSjws/TsEax7PqCxI/AAAAAAAAJdg/Rn00cFiBiI8/s320/DSC00002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r8TZ9lA0Wnk/TsEa1N_2FzI/AAAAAAAAJdw/PA9ykOaEbi8/s1600/DSC00013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r8TZ9lA0Wnk/TsEa1N_2FzI/AAAAAAAAJdw/PA9ykOaEbi8/s320/DSC00013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TkRreCJzd7w/TsEa8TXaGRI/AAAAAAAAJeA/zOg1VLXqYNc/s1600/DSC00056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TkRreCJzd7w/TsEa8TXaGRI/AAAAAAAAJeA/zOg1VLXqYNc/s320/DSC00056.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_kC5t_MJI30/TsEbOx5JT_I/AAAAAAAAJeY/QUnez5PYB3Q/s1600/DSC00062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_kC5t_MJI30/TsEbOx5JT_I/AAAAAAAAJeY/QUnez5PYB3Q/s320/DSC00062.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f2OfxqSz6io/TsEbSxfY0CI/AAAAAAAAJeo/GvaZ-WbSBo8/s1600/DSC00095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f2OfxqSz6io/TsEbSxfY0CI/AAAAAAAAJeo/GvaZ-WbSBo8/s320/DSC00095.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cnMP-p6iWPo/TsEbmt5ipCI/AAAAAAAAJew/Z_nRX8Gey6Y/s1600/DSC09976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cnMP-p6iWPo/TsEbmt5ipCI/AAAAAAAAJew/Z_nRX8Gey6Y/s320/DSC09976.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Chubby Buns Squirrel at our feeder:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HDmEf5OJxU4/TsEbwWjcojI/AAAAAAAAJe4/VLg3wgycdwE/s1600/DSC00110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HDmEf5OJxU4/TsEbwWjcojI/AAAAAAAAJe4/VLg3wgycdwE/s320/DSC00110.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ADrVAwBpUFY/TsEbzF9yR3I/AAAAAAAAJfA/KUYOk1XkpsM/s1600/DSC00113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ADrVAwBpUFY/TsEbzF9yR3I/AAAAAAAAJfA/KUYOk1XkpsM/s320/DSC00113.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AjdN7bbAcFM/TsEb0giA9hI/AAAAAAAAJfI/wqr_zdqfPvo/s1600/DSC00114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AjdN7bbAcFM/TsEb0giA9hI/AAAAAAAAJfI/wqr_zdqfPvo/s320/DSC00114.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
copyright regards.com <a href="http://www.regards.com/">free ecards</a> - click here to send this <a href="http://www.regards.com/EGM.cfm/14657-EMB">free e-card</a>Kathryn Magendiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863595228298349863noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173191469938389438.post-7885995584160547822011-11-11T09:18:00.001-05:002011-11-11T09:24:08.046-05:00Helping another author to FLY: Jessica Bell<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aHMUAmaUMG8/Tm9pgLZGU1I/AAAAAAAABNA/DYCjxuCkVk8/s1600/Melody+Hill_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aHMUAmaUMG8/Tm9pgLZGU1I/AAAAAAAABNA/DYCjxuCkVk8/s200/Melody+Hill_front.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Morning Friends! Y'all know I rarely rarely tout my books (though should I be? That's a question I often ask myself!) but when I can, I do love helping out another author to tout his/hers! <br />
<br />
I've never tried this kind of promo as she is doing, and again, I often wonder if I should be - laughing - oh well, I suck at promo, don't I? *grinning*<br />
<br />
I loved the song on Jessica's trailer, and if the rest of the cd is as good, and I expect it to be (and I'll be finding out for myself by obtaining my own copy), then Jessica is on her way. GO JESSICA!<br />
---------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><span lang="EN-GB">Today is <b>THE </b>day to help <a href="http://www.thealliterativeallomorph.blogspot.com/">Jessica Bell's</a> debut, <place w:st="on"><a href="http://www.stringbridge.com/"><placename w:st="on"><b>STRING</b></placename><b> <placetype w:st="on">BRIDGE</placetype></b></a>,</place> hit the bestseller list on Amazon, and <b>receive the all-original soundtrack</b>, </span><b><i><a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playlistId=465313522">Melody Hill: On the Other Side</a>, </i></b><span lang="EN-GB">written and performed by the author herself, <b>for free</b>!</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB">All you have to do is <b>purchase the </b></span><b><span lang="EN-US">book</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></b><span lang="EN-GB"><b>today </b>(paperback, or eBook), November 11th, and then email the receipt to:</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><i><br /></i></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #0b5394;"><i><b>jessica.carmen.bell(at)gmail(dot)com</b></i></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><b>She</b></span><b> will then email you a link to download the album at no extra cost!</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">To purchase the <b>paperback</b>:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/String-Bridge-Jessica-Bell/dp/0984631747/ref=sr_1_1_title_1_p?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1320037590&sr=1-1">Amazon USA</a></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">To purchase the <b>eBook</b>:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/String-Bridge-ebook/dp/B005Y48DF6/ref=sr_1_1_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1320037590&sr=1-1">Amazon USA</a></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/String-Bridge-ebook/dp/B005Y48DF6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319370801&sr=8-1">Amazon UK</a></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span lang="EN-GB">To listen to samples of the soundtrack, visit <b><a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playlistId=465313522">iTunes</a>.</b></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB">If you are not familiar with <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on"><i>String</i></placename><i> <placetype w:st="on">Bridge</placetype></i></place>, check out the book trailer:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Rv-hRMA0kqQ" width="425"></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US">Rave Reviews for <i>String Bridg</i>e:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mKVVrpavlxE/TqKnrXV1FAI/AAAAAAAABQs/282SkoYU99E/s1600/String+Bridge+final+cover_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mKVVrpavlxE/TqKnrXV1FAI/AAAAAAAABQs/282SkoYU99E/s320/String+Bridge+final+cover_front.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US">“</span><span lang="EN-GB">Jessica Bell’s <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">STRING</placename> <placetype w:st="on">BRIDGE</placetype></place> strummed the fret of my veins, thrummed my blood into a mad rush, played me taut until the final page, yet with echoes still reverberating. A rhythmic debut with metrical tones of heavied dark, fleeting prisms of light, and finally, a burst of joy—just as with any good song, my hopeful heartbeat kept tempo with <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Bell</place></city>’s narrative.</span><span lang="EN-US">” <b>~ Kathryn Magendie, author of <i>Sweetie</i> and Publishing Editor of <i>Rose & Thorn Journal</i></b> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">“Poet and musician Jessica Bell's debut novel <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on"><i>String</i></placename><i> <placetype w:st="on">Bridge</placetype></i></place></span><span lang="EN-GB"> </span><span lang="EN-GB">is a rich exploration of desire, guilt, and the difficult balancing act of the modern woman. The writing is lyrical throughout, seamlessly integrating setting, character and plot in a musical structure that allows the reader to identify with Melody's growing insecurity as her world begins to unravel …</span><span lang="EN-GB"> </span><i><span lang="EN-GB">String Bridge</span></i><span lang="EN-GB"> is a powerful debut from a promising writer, full of music, metaphor, and just a hint of magic.” <b>~ Magdalena Ball, author of <i>Repulsion Thrust</i> and <i>Sleep Before Evening</i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">“</span><span lang="EN-GB">Jessica Bell is a brilliant writer of great skill and depth. </span>She doesn't pull back from the difficult scenes, from conflict, pain, intensity. She puts it all out there, no holds barred, no holding back. She knows how to craft a scene, how to develop character, how to create suspense. This is an absolutely brilliant debut novel. <span lang="EN-GB">I look forward to reading her next novel, and next and next.” </span><span lang="EN-US"><b>~ </b></span><span lang="EN-GB"><b>Karen Jones Gowen, author of <i>Farm Girl</i>, <i>Uncut Diamonds</i> and <i>House of Diamonds</i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
</div>Kathryn Magendiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863595228298349863noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173191469938389438.post-62298781111449042422011-11-09T09:02:00.000-05:002011-11-09T09:06:53.138-05:00Saying goodbye to the dying without expectation<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fXvRS2fUvLs/TrqGJqkfW7I/AAAAAAAAJY0/t_UzrQ97rY4/s1600/scan0023a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" ida="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fXvRS2fUvLs/TrqGJqkfW7I/AAAAAAAAJY0/t_UzrQ97rY4/s200/scan0023a.jpg" width="196" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">looking at daddy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The living place pressures upon the dying—even if both are unaware of the dynamics of this dance while it is occurring.<br />
<br />
So many times I walked into my father’s hospital room and at the times he was awake and aware, I wore “Expectations” as a heavy cloak. Oh, at the time, I didn’t recognize this state of Expectation. This hanging in mid-air with the thought he’d somehow catch me in his arms and hold me close and say, “It’s all going to be okay.” After all, he’s a daddy, right? And I’m a daughter, right? That is how it should be, right?<br />
<br />
I thought we’d look at each other and in our eyes were all our years behind us that we’d share some secret laughs and cries about, but we’d forget the regrets and hurts. And then our eyes would change slightly and all the years ahead of us that we weren’t going to ever have again would display as poignant gleaming but no tears allowed to fall, for that would be too much too much—my father and I, eye to eye, heart to heart, moment to moment, together, one person for just that speck of time as we communicated through time and space our Last together.<br />
<br />
I didn’t get what I wanted. Instead, my father went about the business of his dying in his own way. I couldn’t understand all those ways, and at times I was shamed at my frustration, my restless standing by his bedside, searching him out, waiting, watching for The Moment—you know, like in the movies, right? Where there is this struggle between how things were but as the final moments slip away, there is the connection and all is understood and there is some kind of resolution that has the audience dabbing their eyes, and then the death arrives but the connection has been made, so there is no Expectation lingering.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qFS_V32JIWQ/TrqHpdNB3qI/AAAAAAAAJY8/FpXUkqDtLJk/s1600/Eugene+Snellings+%252338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ida="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qFS_V32JIWQ/TrqHpdNB3qI/AAAAAAAAJY8/FpXUkqDtLJk/s200/Eugene+Snellings+%252338.jpg" width="121" /></a></div>
But Real Life isn’t always like the movies, now is it? Real life brings us surprises and tosses and turns and slaps and disappointments along with the wonders and beauties.<br />
<br />
My father had his own Expectations and needs and desires and struggles at his end. Perhaps he didn’t see the need for that Last Connection I so sought. Perhaps he thought we were done, that we’d had our say, that we were just fine. Perhaps he knew I’d be okay. Perhaps he was unaware of everything but the need to breathe and Stay until he knew there was no staying—and then, it was a private thing between him and death. Perhaps he was remembering his youth and how strong he was. Or, perhaps he gave the eye to eye to the one who needed it the more.<br />
<br />
Just as in life, there are things we children seek that we may never find. We can always be that little child staring up at our fathers, waiting for them to heal the wound on our knee, and they, well, they can’t see the scraped knee, for they are too tall, and their eyes are on other things—non-fatherly things, bigger things, things that have nothing to do with something that is so large and complex to us while invisible or tiny to them.<br />
<br />
Once we brought him home, I held his hand almost continually at that last of his life, afraid to leave his beside, keeping a finger on his pulse, whispering everything I had to say into his ear, believing he heard me, seeking out the resolution I so craved. I also slept by his side the night before he died, finger glued to pulse, thinking he may awake, suddenly turn to me and tell me everything I needed to hear—even if I didn’t know just what that would be.<br />
<br />
He didn’t wake. It was a one-way conversation. He slipped away and no holding onto his hand would keep him with me. No Expectations would hold him to the earth.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
It was only in my at last facing this Expectation that I was able to let it go. Let him go. Let him be who he was in his life and in his death. The dying did not change him, and why would I expect it to be so? He was the man he’d always been. He loved me, and was proud of me, and really, after all, was there a need for that eye to eye moment of poignancy, of saying goodbye in the way I Expected? Instead, there is only the letting go by accepting what is and ever was between my father and me.Kathryn Magendiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863595228298349863noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173191469938389438.post-49478602659954387362011-11-07T08:58:00.001-05:002011-11-07T08:58:24.501-05:00*looks around, blinks in the Killian Knob sunlight, sees you all, smiles at you*<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RWlU1WZInbc/TrfjFXtWMGI/AAAAAAAAJYE/nHr9UM8STz0/s1600/DSC09996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RWlU1WZInbc/TrfjFXtWMGI/AAAAAAAAJYE/nHr9UM8STz0/s320/DSC09996.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Good Morning Friends. <br />
<br />
I'd hoped to have photos of the Odyssey my brother and I took here there and yonder, but since we only had his camera, I will have to wait for them. He was on his way home to Texas and hit a metal pipe - all the gas poured out. Luckily, he'd stopped at the Arkansas rest stop and that's when he discovered this, instead of when flying down the interstate where I shudder to think . . . *can't think of that!*<br />
<br />
From last Monday until Friday, we were in: Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, a teeny bit of Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, and North Carolina. We did every bit of our travel from a map -- no GPS, no mapquest, nothing but state maps and our sense of direction. We took a lot of back roads, and saw some beautiful country-side. More later.<br />
<br />
So, today, as I still am settling in and finding my legs from all that has happened, I will leave you with some photos I took yesterday of the lingering fall colors from a hike on my mountain at Killian Knob. <br />
<br />
Once again, I am so appreciative of your thoughts for my family and me in the illness and then loss of our father. I read every one. All of them. Thank you.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CBZ9Bm6VyUM/TrfjG7MESVI/AAAAAAAAJYM/urqsxo3JCSs/s1600/DSC09979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CBZ9Bm6VyUM/TrfjG7MESVI/AAAAAAAAJYM/urqsxo3JCSs/s320/DSC09979.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E8cGjbgzfig/TrfjIo2cXpI/AAAAAAAAJYU/FZHOY4j0Ybk/s1600/DSC09984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E8cGjbgzfig/TrfjIo2cXpI/AAAAAAAAJYU/FZHOY4j0Ybk/s320/DSC09984.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p63_c0iRJUc/TrfjOjshNnI/AAAAAAAAJYc/gOeVPSTpalw/s1600/DSC09992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p63_c0iRJUc/TrfjOjshNnI/AAAAAAAAJYc/gOeVPSTpalw/s320/DSC09992.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UTfvU_HbujI/TrfjRtAC4-I/AAAAAAAAJYs/7jrkRmQSx0Y/s1600/DSC09988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UTfvU_HbujI/TrfjRtAC4-I/AAAAAAAAJYs/7jrkRmQSx0Y/s320/DSC09988.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nT8MafNRkMc/TrfjQGKLMOI/AAAAAAAAJYk/NWQ3Bq_CNGU/s1600/DSC09987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nT8MafNRkMc/TrfjQGKLMOI/AAAAAAAAJYk/NWQ3Bq_CNGU/s320/DSC09987.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Kathryn Magendiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863595228298349863noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173191469938389438.post-2127390986726052562011-11-02T11:48:00.000-04:002011-11-02T11:48:38.052-04:00Odyssey . . .<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jqd8IOZkEM4/TrFlFRyTIaI/AAAAAAAAJXs/i8NJTgiw1hI/s1600/scan0024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jqd8IOZkEM4/TrFlFRyTIaI/AAAAAAAAJXs/i8NJTgiw1hI/s320/scan0024.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daddy and me</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
From my Facebook Page-- My brother and I are on an Odyssey of sorts, left Texas and headed in a northwestern direction, then we'll go in a north or southeastern direction where he will eventually take me back home to NC and he'll go back to TX. We will visit one place that has special meaning regarding our dad. But for now, we are in Arkansas somewhere. It's as if we are nearing the event horizon of a black hole, there's that place where time seems to stop, even if it hasn't really. I am so appreciative of all of your thoughts/prayers/mail/everything. Off we go again soon. Will be back again later. ♥ <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ALGwfq7JWtg/TrFlk_JSmeI/AAAAAAAAJX0/ACoACUak_9Q/s1600/Eugene+snellings+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="306" ida="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ALGwfq7JWtg/TrFlk_JSmeI/AAAAAAAAJX0/ACoACUak_9Q/s320/Eugene+snellings+8.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">one of my favorite photos of my dad </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>Kathryn Magendiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863595228298349863noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173191469938389438.post-68545846392601876142011-10-28T12:19:00.000-04:002011-10-28T12:22:01.370-04:00To My friends . . . My father ....My father passed away last night with his family surrounding him. <br />
<br />
I was here in Texas for three weeks as you know, returned to my cove for a couple of days, and then flew back here on Monday. We bought him home from the hospital to hospice care at his home on Wednesday- he was so happy to be home. <br />
<br />
He knew of all of your thoughts and wishes and prayers and comments and emails and etc. I told him, and we read out loud what you all were saying so he could know how so many people where thinking of him - on twitter and facebook and here and all over this old earth people were thinking of my father - this I will never forget and will always be grateful.<br />
<br />
Thank you. My last weeks, days, and hours with my father are something I will treasure forever. <br />
<br />
I will return as soon as - well, you understand - a little time and I will be back. <br />
<br />
I am blowing you all a kiss.<br />
<br />
I want to tell you of my dream, though - I can't help to tell about it because I feel it means something even if only to my brain doing something to give me comfort - but I was lying with my dad in his hospital bed yesterday early afternoon or evening while he was still here but slipping away from us, and I fell asleep and my head was touching his head and I was holding his hand and right before I woke, I had a dream of a beautiful horse flying into the sky - up up up it galloped into the sky - and there was blue, either the sky or the horse or both - and I thought "oh how beautiful, how lovely" and then I woke and I had the most peaceful feeling - I cannot describe this peaceful feeling, but it was through my entire body, and I felt in a daze from it. It was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen and felt.<br />
<br />
Thank you all, my friends. You just being "here" and "there" means more than you know<br />Kathryn Magendiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863595228298349863noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6173191469938389438.post-41326856118880946282011-10-24T09:52:00.000-04:002011-10-24T09:53:21.516-04:00Photos: No Words - fall in the cove; after "Peak" is still vivid<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qMkPiZLJY9w/TqVsxyL80tI/AAAAAAAAJVk/IpPYc_QYK4M/s1600/DSC00005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qMkPiZLJY9w/TqVsxyL80tI/AAAAAAAAJVk/IpPYc_QYK4M/s320/DSC00005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YyZbe6_w2Ik/TqVszcn7FxI/AAAAAAAAJVs/HAEwz-uwy5Y/s1600/DSC00007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YyZbe6_w2Ik/TqVszcn7FxI/AAAAAAAAJVs/HAEwz-uwy5Y/s320/DSC00007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qt37qmE0RYg/TqVs1IRo8SI/AAAAAAAAJV0/3gLIMG9oJbs/s1600/DSC00008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qt37qmE0RYg/TqVs1IRo8SI/AAAAAAAAJV0/3gLIMG9oJbs/s320/DSC00008.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bV4Qlf61zAY/TqVs2MAiPmI/AAAAAAAAJV8/aiiSQZSZorQ/s1600/DSC00009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bV4Qlf61zAY/TqVs2MAiPmI/AAAAAAAAJV8/aiiSQZSZorQ/s320/DSC00009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-laaUSXU4AZM/TqVs4ApWQJI/AAAAAAAAJWE/5XzpDKpNOkU/s1600/DSC00010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-laaUSXU4AZM/TqVs4ApWQJI/AAAAAAAAJWE/5XzpDKpNOkU/s320/DSC00010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Aqo6cd4bpmU/TqVs593l_AI/AAAAAAAAJWM/sM0qfkkK5sk/s1600/DSC00011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Aqo6cd4bpmU/TqVs593l_AI/AAAAAAAAJWM/sM0qfkkK5sk/s320/DSC00011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z6yIqVnUGRI/TqVs7DPH7PI/AAAAAAAAJWU/bLmzsIJJKbQ/s1600/DSC00012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z6yIqVnUGRI/TqVs7DPH7PI/AAAAAAAAJWU/bLmzsIJJKbQ/s320/DSC00012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NnerpIf1RQE/TqVs8tEdDlI/AAAAAAAAJWc/Mj5qxKEvfHs/s1600/DSC00014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284" rda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NnerpIf1RQE/TqVs8tEdDlI/AAAAAAAAJWc/Mj5qxKEvfHs/s320/DSC00014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PFugl5eenNM/TqVs-FtBMMI/AAAAAAAAJWk/XxAZt9_iyiU/s1600/DSC09962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PFugl5eenNM/TqVs-FtBMMI/AAAAAAAAJWk/XxAZt9_iyiU/s320/DSC09962.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OonsT9b-K-8/TqVs_Aic71I/AAAAAAAAJWs/eym7GBMxe50/s1600/DSC09963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OonsT9b-K-8/TqVs_Aic71I/AAAAAAAAJWs/eym7GBMxe50/s320/DSC09963.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QDfFlg5E7Bc/TqVtCZJt8yI/AAAAAAAAJW0/CC8CdYtX97s/s1600/DSC09968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QDfFlg5E7Bc/TqVtCZJt8yI/AAAAAAAAJW0/CC8CdYtX97s/s320/DSC09968.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1LlgBAsg5rE/TqVtFdLRLmI/AAAAAAAAJXE/tn-3XyOOcfk/s1600/DSC09994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1LlgBAsg5rE/TqVtFdLRLmI/AAAAAAAAJXE/tn-3XyOOcfk/s320/DSC09994.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4PdQM68CjGk/TqVtG60LTKI/AAAAAAAAJXM/oxyJvnvU4ew/s1600/DSC09996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4PdQM68CjGk/TqVtG60LTKI/AAAAAAAAJXM/oxyJvnvU4ew/s320/DSC09996.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cYHwgRkRpAM/TqVtH-JPIAI/AAAAAAAAJXU/JGLx96BrISw/s1600/DSC09999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cYHwgRkRpAM/TqVtH-JPIAI/AAAAAAAAJXU/JGLx96BrISw/s320/DSC09999.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Kathryn Magendiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12863595228298349863noreply@blogger.com8