A Busy Sunday Catching Up

Good grief. The last two weeks just flew by. How is it the middle of October already? It seems like it was just the 2nd, release day. That was a busy day and week. Then I had visitors for the next week (more on that tomorrow, if I have time). Which means that today was the first day I had to catch up on All the Things. Needless to say, there is still a lot to do (revisions of the second Rider novel are on the agenda for the rest of the evening), but this was what I did today.

Made pesto out of the last of the basil to come out of the garden (a week ago, with the help of pal Ellen). We pulled everything out and put the garden to bed, since the nights are turning frosty, even though the days are still pretty warm.

Pesto-making supplies....it looks like a lot, doesn't it?

All that made three little jars. But still, yum in the freezer.

 Then I Skyped with my friend Kathy (you know, until Skype died on us...I think we broke it talking about politics).

Hi Kathy!

 Then I cleaned the pellet stove, so it was ready to go when things get even colder. Messy job, and tough to do when you can't kneel, but I found a stool that helped. Look how clean!

As a break from that fun, I did some government paperwork for the shop online. (The NYS-45 quarterly form, in case you were wondering. No, I didn't think so.)

No such thing as a day off

Then I used up most of the bumper crop of eggplant (also harvested when we put the garden to bed last week) and made a huge pan of eggplant parm. I guess I know what I'm eating this week...

More yum

 Which I then ate some of, supervised by Magic the Cat.

Hey, I earned that beer!

 Guess who got to be in charge of the remote?

You want to watch WHAT?

Now I have about two hours to spend on revisions before I go to bed. Tomorrow I have an appointment before work at PT and then one after work with an orthopedic specialist, since the knee seems to have stopped improving. I'll try to post some pictures of the week of visitors after I get home, if I'm not too fried.

What did you do this Sunday? And, um, read any good books lately?

Rainy Day Cat Nap

It's been raining here since I woke up, and it rained on and off for much of yesterday. That's good for two reasons: one, we really needed the rain, and two, a rainy day means no gardening or yard work, so I'm likely to get a lot more writing done instead :-)

Yesterday I hit 20,600 words in the new mystery project, writing almost 2,900 during the day. I hope to repeat that today, and also maybe get some jewelry making done.

In the meanwhile, everyone else seems to feel like taking a lazy day

Looks like a great idea, doesn't it? Maybe after I get the writing done...

I hope you're all having a lazy or productive Sunday (whichever you prefer). And a big happy birthday wish to my lovely friend Chris, who is spending hers selling pottery at the Canal Days fair. And not, thankfully, being rained on.

Sunday Spells

My next book, EVERYDAY WITCH A TO Z SPELLBOOK, is coming out in July (*dances with joy*). So I thought I would start giving everyone a little taste of what's in it, by sharing a spell on a Sunday each month.

I know that I--like many folks--am always striving to bring more balance into my life. So I thought I'd start with a Balance Spell. You'll note that each spell has instructions and "Optional Extras." These are tools you can use to boost the energy of the spell if you want to...but they are just that, optional.

I hope that some of you will find at least one or two of these spells helpful. I'm open to requests, too. If there is something you need a spell for, feel free to say so in the comment section. And if there's one in the book, I'll post it an a Sunday over the next couple of months.

Thanks for stopping by for a spell :-)


Balance



Goal: To bring balance to an off-kilter life or situation

Optional Extras: Four items to represent Earth, Air, Fire and Water (for instance, a rock, a feather, a small candle and a bowl of water), one black candle and one white candle

Note: Since this is a spell for balance, make sure your altar is set up in a balanced way. Start by visualizing the imbalances in your life or a particular situation (too much work or stress, not enough love) and picture them being balanced out by whatever you are lacking. If you are too overwhelmed to even figure out what you need, just feel yourself opening up to whatever the gods send in response to your prayer. Then light the dark and light candles.



Earth and Air, Water and Fire

Grant to me my heart’s desire

Balance now my troubled life

Wash away confusion’s strife



Even out the high and low

Gently soothe the ebb and flow

Dark and light in balance be

From extremes please set me free



Calm, serene and peaceful I

With ease and grace my days will fly

As above and so below

Balance to my life bestow



After: Stand up, close your eyes, and feel the new balance within and without. When things get hectic, remind yourself of that balance, but don’t forget to work on bringing in whatever you need to create it.