Happy New Year! Tonight I watched the sunset over the Pacific Ocean and I am happy to report that the first day of 2019 ended with spectacular colors! I’m taking it as a sign that 2019 will be a year…
Choosing Our Thoughts Can Make us Happier
I’ve started a new thing, where I choose inspiring quotes to share on Mondays. Because Mondays can feel a bit overwhelming, and I can always use a little motivation. This quote, about choosing our thoughts, caught my eye this week.…
A Little Rodeo Research
I’m starting to write a series about a small town rodeo so I really want to spend some time at rodeos this year. I haven’t been to a rodeo in ages! Last summer I was determined to get to a…
A Perfect Start to Summer
Saturday was windy and today is grey, but yesterday we had gorgeous warm weather. Perfect for a party and thankfully, the parents of one of my son’s friends organized exactly that. A Harry-Potter-themed birthday on the banks of our local…
A Snow Trip with Kids ~ On a Budget
My husband and I love the snow. The first year we were together, we bought season ski passes to Heavenly Valley, a huge resort in Lake Tahoe, and drove there from the San Francisco Bay Area almost every weekend to…
A Moment of Flowers
This past week, we had a moment of flowers. After storm upon storm, we had a few dry days… and flowers rose from the mud! I have no idea why. It wasn’t warm, or even very sunny. But for one…
Stormy Weather
Last week we had the most wonderful stormy weather. The words ‘wonderful’ and ‘stormy’ might sound a bit odd when used together, but we were in a drought. Serious drought. For what seemed like forever! And now the reservoir that…
Return to Marker Ranch Playlist, Part 2 – Keith Urban Concert
If you read my previous post, about the playlist for my July book, Return to Marker Ranch, you’ll know that the post ended with me heading off to choose an outfit for the Keith Urban concert. My sister’s boyfriend, an…
Finding Romance Before the Crowds Arrive
I walked the dog near the beach this morning and snapped this photo. To me, it’s very romantic! Why do I think an empty beach is romantic? Because I have this love of busy places – when they’re not busy.…
Happy Accidents (in the garden)
This past year has been a busy one. Busy with my son, busy with writing my Sierra Legacy series, busy with all the usual mama chores and home projects. But somehow none of those projects included the garden, so things…