Thrillers, Romance and True Stories

by Diana McCollum

My favorite female authors are Nora Roberts, she is so prolific and in so many genres, Paula Brackston her witch stories have always intriqued me. Both these authors have great dialogue, are very descriptive and have a great understanding of language.

Paula Brackston wrote "The Winter Witch".  In this story the witch who is young Morgana is cursed and lost her voice as a child. No one knows why. She marries and runs the household with a bit of magic. How the author does this is amazing.

Until the curse is broken towards the end of the book, she has never spoken a word. This was a fascinating read. Examining how to keep the reader interested with no dialogue.

I also enjoy thrillers by C.J. Box, William Kent Krueger and Paul Doiron to name a few.

At night I only read romance historical, regency or contemporary. I read for a 1/2 hr to an hour. Then I'm out for the night. If I read more thrilling books I would not be able to go to sleep!

I go to the library twice a month and choose a non-fiction book as I like to read true stories also. I've read Katie Couric, and Jane Goodall recently. Both I highly recommend and so interesting.

I think as writers we all enjoy books to read!

What are some of your favorite books and authors?

Have a great day!

Airport Kindness

 by Diana McCollum    

A while back I was flying from Bend OR to Sacramento, CA. From Bend to Portland OR passengers were asked to put their carry on luggage on a baggage cart as the smaller jet didn't have overhead compartments. So easy, peasy.

Arriving in Portland I picked up my bag from the baggage distribution center, and proceeded to go to the next gate. 

I had to go down to the next floor and the escalator was not working. My carry on was large and heavy. it did have wheels so I could roll it arround from place to place.

Escalators wahen not working have very tall steps. I am a short 5'1" person. I stood pondering what to do as the elevator close by was out of commission.

A very nice young man asked if he could carry my overnight bag down the escalator for me. I said yes. What a kind person he was for doing that. I didn't ask him he just took it upon his self to do it.

I got on the plane and couldn't lift the bag into the overhead compartment. Another gentleman saw me struggling and took it from me and stashed the bag in the overhead compartment, and got it down for me when we landed.

On the trip back home to Oregon I was blessed with two more kind gentlemen.

I try to smile and open doors for people. I always talk to the waitresses, store clerks, and compliment them on earrings, clothes or hairdos. It makes their faces light up that someone noticed. 

As human beings we should always be kind to one another. Kind, gracious and courteous are good actions to incorporate in our daily lives.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!

What do Puzzles, Painting and Crocheting have in common?

by Diana McCollum

First off I take a break from technology. Put my phone in my purse or another room, turn off the tv and shut down the computer. 

I do put my phone in my pocket if I'm taking a walk or working in the flower bed. And I do use the computer if I'm doing a YouTube exercise or yoga video.

Sometimes I put on instrumental music. I can listen to it while I crochet, work on a puzzle or paint. Doing things with my hands such as crocheting or painting really relaxes me. 

(current puzzle I'm working on. There must be 100 pieces of just the bear, and it is hard)

I forget about my stress and concentrate on what I'm doing. Those are my three best go to relaxers.

(took some watercolor classes over the holidays)

Now I practice the tecniques at home.

Outside I enjoy going for a walk and getting some fresh air along with exercise that I do 3-4 times a week and I try to be in the moment. Watching as squirrles scurry across the sidewalk and up a tree, listen to the birds singing,  and stopping and sitting on a bench to just listen to the wind in the trees.

I'm a much happier and relaxed person when I include some of these things in my daily routine.

What is your go to relaxer?

Happy, happy holidays!!!

 by Diana McCollum

Happy Holidays! I love this season! The Christmas lights, music and goodies to eat. We bought a giant tree this year to go in our open beam living room. This will probably be the last year for a giant tree. All the family is coming on December 28th for our family get together and celebration. 

I'm still undecided if I'm having a turkey this year or stick with tamales and mexican sides. We did the tamales the last couple years and I thought a change might be nice. Plus, I love turkey dinner leftovers.

I took all these pictures around our house. I enjoy decorating for Christmas, except climbing the ladder to decorate the tree. Hubby decorated the top 1/3 or the tree on a very tall ladder.

Enjoy the pictures and leave a comment about what you are serving for the holiday dinners.

And I'll leave you to enjoy our Christmas Cactus that are blooming profusely this year. Let me know what you are cooking for your Holiday Dinner this year. 

Peace, Gratitude and Calm

• "You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us. And the world will live as one.” ― John Lennon

Musician  John Lennon was always hopeful for a world where Peace was the norm. He and his wife Yoko protested for peace in a peaceful manner. 

The world is not at peace now. So much conflict, death and anger envelopes our world.

As members of this world we can only start with ourselves. We can be grateful for what we have, and who we have in our lives. We members of planet Earth should seek out peace, gratitude and clam. 

If  you are at peace with yourself you are a step ahead of the game. You can not force peace on another person, but you can show by example what a peaceful nature looks like. Perhaps it will rub off on negative people.

We may not be happy about certain things in our world/society, but the counter to that is to find what you are grateful for. When you look to the sun the darkness falls behind.

There is always good in everyday. Focus on the good in your own life. Be grateful for family, community, home etc. Keep a gratitude book and jot down a few things each day you are grateful for. This helps me feel better. I am grateful for so many things.

If you are not in a calm place try a few of these tactics.

1) deep breathing

2) If you have an aquarium spend five minutes watching the fish swim.

3) Pets-take your dog for a walk. spend some time petting the dog or cat.

4) 5 mins of aerobic exercise-walking even around your house, but better outside.

5) Help a neighbor or friend this will make you feel pleasure and connection.

6) Meditate or yoga

Having a Calm mind will bring peace to your life and happiness will find you. 

I love this quote on happiness. I had to read it twice to get the meaning. 

"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.” —Oscar Wilde

What do you do to restore calmness and peace to your life in troubled times?

(All pictures taken by Diana McCollum)

Autumn

by Author Diana McCollum 

There is no time like autumn. Colorful leaves dressing up the trees, pumpkins on front porches and decorations for Halloween gracing the front of homes in anticipation of trick or treaters.

I always decorate my porch. We live far from other homes so we're lucky if we get 4-6 trick or treaters. But that doesn't matter, I still love to decorate and it brings a smile to my face when I walk up to our front porch.

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Sunrises seem to be more spectacular than other times of the year

We get more visits here from our neighbors, the turkeys.

Fuit on trees can still be found.

I can't forget the flowers of fall, one of my favorites is mums.

I hope you all enjoy autumn as we slide past Halloween and Thanksgiving and into winter.

What is your favorite thing about autumn?

(All pictures taken by Diana McCollum-in and around Paradise, CA)

The Joy of Autumn

Autumn. A time of soups, pumpkins, Halloween and leaves changing. A beautiful and welcomed time of year.

Enjoy these pictures and I'm wishing you all a joyful autumn.

I make soups all winter long out of our pumpkins.

Fun and games at Halloween time!

Get out and enjoy the fall weather and the gorgeous changing leaves! It's good for the soul.

My front porch. I love decorating for Halloween, even though we don't get trick or treaters.

The contrast of yellow leaves and blue sky is so pretty.

My mums.

The other side of my porch with my witches broom hung up.

Always fun to go to the farm for pumkins too. Love the animals there.

Our deck off the bedroom. Enjoying a mocktail with the vampire pig.

Have a wonderful autumn and Happy Halloween everyone!

Living My Best Life

By Diana McCollum

We are lucky. We, my husband and I, live in a small flourishing community. We have a large loving family, a lovely home, and beautiful yard.

We hope to live out our days here. With the increase in fire insurance and taxes there may come a point where we can't stay here any longer. (less income since we retired).

That is the worse thing about retiring. Stretching Social Security and the pension from my husbands Union work.

BUT until that point we are enjoying our retirement. My husband is gardening and building structures in the yard. I am taking painting classes, colored pencil classes which I've always wanted to take but didn't have the time. I work on my book too.

I stop and literally smell the roses everyday. My husband build me a rose trellis and planted a rose garden for my birthday this year.

I plan on living a long time yet. We have great grand children with another baby on the way. I hope to stay healthy and able to live long enough to see them grow up.

So twice a week I go to senior exercise and balance class. I walk in the park 4 times per week and we eat healthy mostly plant based meals.

So my thought on the future, I will continue living a healthy lifestyle. I will continue seeing family as much as I can. I will continue with a happy and joyful outlook on life.

Do you do any exercising on a daily basis?

(all pictures are mine, except the last one is from Deposit Photos.)

Favorite Commercials Elephant and Heart Warming!

 By Diana McCollum

I think it was about 10 or 15 years ago when I started seeing an animated elephant dancing through the jungle.  The dance tune was music only and the elephant was adorable! I'll never forget the ad which was for GE, General Electric .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saZFCxrirpU

The next favorite commercial was from Dignity Health. There are two that come to mind. One an older gentleman is on one side of the street and a little girl is on the other side of the street. She does a little dance and then waits while he copies her moves. And back and forth they dance. So sweet!

The other Dignity Health is a boy about 8 years old giving a signed baseball to his grandpa. The grandpa asks why are you giving this to me? and the boy says I hit a home run and because you've taught me everything I know about baseball. The grandpa is in tears and hugs the boy. Very heart warming

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Bh2JGMr-5Y

Dignity health Human Kindness ad 

Grandmother signs hello to baby, very touching

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QtqQIHMUTs

Enjoy!!

Have a wonderful rest of summer!!

All video credit goes to YouTube!

(Elephant picture free stock Shutterfly)

Something new every day!

 by Diana McCollum

This year we've planted a lot of flowers and vegetables in our yard. Early mornings when it is cool I like to meander on the gravel paths and check the flowers and vegetable gardens. My husband always plants dahlias they are some of our favorites. When we moved in here 3 yrs ago, there was just a lawn and dirt out back. 

back yard

Area desert before we developed

Now these areas look so much different.

There are flowers and vegetable gardens.

This area we now call Rubble Butte. We have different kinds of catus and a fire pit, mounds of rocks.

The garden areas are developed too. With some in the ground gardens and some in grow boxes.

Bouquet from the garden

Peas, beans, squash and roses!

Kitchen garden-green onions, radishes, lettuce herbs etc

It's been a joy to watch seeds sprout and blossoms bloom. 

And I had my first fresh salad with lettuce, radish and basil from my garden. Tomatoes are coming along but not ripe yet, egg plants have set and we have a few growing. Only blooms on the squash, melons and watermelons.

Those are the new things I look for each day as I water the plants. Blooms, new growth, tendrils and new sprouts.

Do you have flowers or vegetables you enjoy?

HAPPY SUMMER(I know it's not here yet, but soon!)