Finally!

Song of the day: “Total eclipse of the heart” by Bonnie Tyler. That’s a first, I think. It was in my head only a short time, but okay. Something new at least, eh?

Well, I’m way behind, of course. Big brother and I were working on cutting a 1200 word synopsis down to 750 words. It was excruciating, I tell ya. How on earth am I going to fit a 100,000 word manuscript into 750 words? It’s ridiculous. Not to mention frustrating that every single publisher has a different requirement for the length of these things. Grrr.
I’ve got a nine pager, seven, six, five, three, two and now a one. Then I’m not even talking about the pubs that want you to give a synopsis of 250 words, because those should be ashamed of calling that a synopsis. It’s a blurb, for crying out loud.

But anyway, it matters none because I’m an unknown author with way too many opinions than is good for me, eh? Hah.

So yeah, we’re working on arranging that apartment for tenant’s family. The owner is now pondering his options and will get back to us soon…at least that’s what I’m hoping for. Jeez. I never realized that renting was this much of a hassle. But it’s okay. Turns out the relations want to be mobile themselves, so I won’t be needing to pick them up at the airport. They’ll rent a car and find their way themselves. I’ve gotta say that’s it’s an admirable endeavor since neither the apartment, nor we, are all that easy to find. Hah. Everybody chooses their own adventure, though, and since this one will likely only be slightly more work on my part, I don’t mind all that much.

Yesterday I was way too sore for a workout, but not today, thank you very much. Got up in time (well, somewhat on time anyway) and got to work. The warm-up, followed by the actual pounding, kicking and such, until I worked up a proper sweat and got my heart rate up. Gotta say that that cup of coffee that big brother brings up with him doesn’t go awry either. I really need that bit of caffeine to get my jumpstart. *sigh*

There is of course always laundry to do, and the other chores, but of late there is also the dog feeding bit. They’re really loving it, and for the most part it is not so much work that it is annoying. The harvesting takes more than the preparation, actually. But not today. I harvested enough to last us two days, so that should prevent me from getting frustrated about the entire thing. Got this wonderful Filderkraut cabbage today, that had so much excess leaves that there was almost enough for a full dog meal. Hah.
The dogs are in fact liking it so much that little brother’s dogs are sneakily making their way up to where we’re feeding, and nose their way into the pack until they too are eye-deep in the food. Sneaks!

For the past couple of days I’ve still been working on that outside table. It is really damaged a lot, and today I found another part that has to be completely replaced. It is not a bad thing, or anything, but still a little disappointing. I had hoped that putting it back together again would be a piece of cake.

Yesterday grandpa and big brother worked on the kitchen cupboards again, but not today. There just wasn’t time, what with caregiver at her other job and me having to work with tenant to get her ready to go down my terrace. She had thought that it was chilly outside (up there it usually is, and she ALWAYS forgets that it isn’t in front of my cabin) so she was pleasantly surprised when she found it warm and comfortable on my porch.

Worked on adding that scene I mentioned the other day. It was in place and I had to write some “flow” scenes from one to the other before we declared it done. Afterward we went through that synopsis and query letter, checking if everything was still correct, and I ended up reading a full chapter out loud because…well, I felt like it, and I wanted to see if it ran well. It did. Very natural and very…intense, I think.

Today I cooked supper (yesterday big brother made paneer with beets and rice) but wasn’t happy with the results. Sure, the cauliflower was fine, but the Chinese noodles didn’t fall well at all on my stomach. Darn it.

Fetched a new load of rocks for the yard again. Can’t dawdle too much with that, of course, not with all the project looming. Also went to the construction company because we needed grout mortar. Found out that the gate for that fence we’re building arrived this morning too (guessed as much. The owner really isn’t all that socially adapt, so I doubt he would have called about it today. Luckily we had to go there anyway. Finally loaded it, and then took it home to store with the others. Now, at the earliest opportunity, we’ll be heading to the mountains to put them in. Then, after letting them dry for something like four to seven days, we’ll finally be able to finish the fence. Yay!!!

Okay, I gotta go. I’m tired, I’m barely keeping eyes open right now, and with a little luck I’ll manage to send a book out to a publisher tomorrow. Yay.

Bed, Bed, BED!

(Sorry 'bout the title. Couldn't think of anything else...I do want to lay in it, so maybe it's appropriate. I could do with some extra zzzzzs for sure.)

Song of the day: “If you want to leave me (can I come too)” by Bryan Adams. Always makes me laugh, this song.

So what’s been going on…the moment I wonder about it, every single event of the past couple of days slips from my mind. *sigh*
Oh yeah. My bed is as good as ready. Yay! It is downright beautiful…albeit not my personal style at all. Seriously, I am definitely a “real wood” chick, but this is…well, it’s quaint, I guess. Pastel colored panels, like a pedestal underneath a light wood box. I have made pictures, and just as soon as I feel like cheating again, I will post them.

All in all I am pleased with the end result (despite the fact that it is not my usual style) since it basically turned out the way I’d imagined it inside my head. Sure, I hadn’t thought of the exact details but the overall image is there, with only a few hiccups along that way that had to be fixed.
Not bad.

What else? Not a clue…wait, wait…yeah, there’s something. Right. Gardening. There was quite a bit of that. Mostly transplants going on. Seedlings that needed to be put in pots and small plants that could be set in the wild.
The melons were big enough to go into pots. Same goes for the new lettuces, which are still tiny (one inch at most) and so on and on. The tomatoes are rapidly growing. In particular the ones in the greenhouse, which have big clusters of tomatoes swelling gradually.
I did have to replant a zucchini because it didn’t stand the storm (which past, btw) and one of the smaller cauliflowers that I planted the other day, also gave the spirit. This one for reasons unknown.
Snuck a bit of a couple of young carrots while we were at it, and they were absolutely delicious. Seriously, carrots from the shop aren’t that sweet and herby.

Mosha is doing reasonably well. At least she is her usual nervous self coming in my pursuit and screaming when she can’t. I do have to be careful not to let the whole mess get to me, for there are times when I look at her and can’t imagine her not being there anymore without bursting into tears. On the most part her butt annoys her, I think, rather than hurt her. Though pooing appears to be a problem.

Knight II’s tail is doing pretty good, as long as he keeps from licking it. I had to put a bandage on again yesterday, because his healing skin just can’t compete with his big tongue. Jeez, he’ll lick his way to the bone, if I let him. Idiot! *sigh*

Dax’s ear is okay, I think. There’s a crust there, and since he can’t really reach it, it is gradually healing. I clean it once a day and keep an eye on it, but I no longer need to bandage him up every day.

Oh my Gawd, almost forgot. The ticks. They are BACK!!! Aaaargh. Seriously, I am plucking them off the dogs 24/7 again, and they’re driving me insane. They’re small, big, tiny and huge. *insert another aaaargh*

Luckily, the weather is absolutely splendid. Heck, today it is actually hot, hitting the high eighties, maybe the low nineties. Gawd this is going to take some getting used to again. Summer always is.

Yesterday’s lunch were veggie burgers made of old chili mixed with potatoes. It was rather tasty actually, and saw me through the majority of the day.

We got a big batch of earth, seeing as we’re going to need lots of it once we start on the foundation of the house for real. Later today or tomorrow, that is the plan at least. We’ll have to see. But anyway, the soil that we got is good, solid clay, which will have plants grow well once the levels are there and we plant them.
I’m definitely leaning towards the scented kinds, colorful ones as well.

The edit is still going, though not as fast as I would like it to go. The letter is shaping up nicely, though and soon we’ll be able to start sending it out, just to see what the responses are.
Personally I’m enjoying the read. I love the leads. Their sense of humor, and their compatibility. I’m going to have to look for beta readers soon again.

No writing on the new story for the Life series, but there will be time for that later on…I hope anyway.
Well, it is just about time for me to get started on other stuff rather than this wonderful blogging in the shade.