damn you google

I delete because this is idiotic.

writing

Survived Thanksgiving.

Took a look at a few more houses but nothing is lining up yet.  I am not sure how long it will take to get our house sold.  We are thinking about taking it off the market for the rest of the winter so it will come up fresh with no days on market in the spring.  Its just very disheartening to have the house on the market for two months and only have one showing.  I have gotten to the point of not keeping the house in as ready of a state for a showing as I should.

Not only that but now I am worried that once we get a house with some acerage I won't be able to make any money as selling the veg/fruits and animals from it.  I am probably just being paranoid but I don't know what kind of market there will be where ever we end up because our price point is so low and the land requirements are so high.  Yet at the same time I know everyone has to eat so hopefully they will want what I have to produce.

Been working on the first school story.  I think the beginning has a better hook to it now.  I am wanting to tighten up the plot but as I am reading through it I am not seeing much I can do, granted I am only a third of the way through the edits.  So far most people that have read it enjoyed it, but they aren't professional editors or agents though.

I need to start outlining the third book in the series.

But for now ... off to chop wood.

Happy Thanksgiving

Hope all have a good holiday.

Mom and Dad are coming up today and we are going to terrorize the poor real estate agent and try and look at some houses.

Turkey day is at Aunt Karen's as usual.  Look forward to seeing people there.

Then more chaos and running around seeing people.  I think Dad's side the next day and on the weekend we will get together with Rob's family.  And then - collapse.

Anger

Dear Santa,

I want a conceal and carry permit and a revolver for Christmas so I can shoot back at stupid children who shoot paintballs at the windows of the car when I am driving down the road.

I can't say for sure if it was a paintball but it hit hard enough on the rear driver side window when I was on the rock road so make me think a rock had hit the window or a tire had blown or something.  By the time I glanced back and saw the goo on the window, and realized the car turning down woodson, with some fucktard staring out the window at me it was too late to cut across two lanes and still make the turn on woodson.  I think if I had time I would have come unglued and ran them off the road.  I would have totaled the car but at least I would have gotten back at them for attacking me for no reason.

And that is what really irks me - the no reason behind the hit.  It would be different if I had cut them off or something but they had come up alongside me on a fairly empty street just to do this.  Dumb asses could have caused an accident or broken the window.

anger.

scared

Scared of what people will think of me or what I create, and therefore who I am.  Scared of failure.  Failing to create something worth enjoying.  Scared of people trying to get something from me for nothing, for no other reason than to be selfish and mean.

So be brave.  Have gumption.  Try.

Push beyond the thought that people are out to hurt you, that even if you give them the very best they will try to get you in trouble and take everything else you have.

This isn't the same fear that a parent has for an ill child, or a soldier has while facing battle, but it is a fear that everyone has, and probably should have.

And some people succumb to that fear and let it rule them.  Some people don't have the physical capability of handling that fear.  Sometimes the brain's chemicals aren't properly balanced and the fear turns into something there is no possible way of facing.

And then sometimes.  Sometimes there are people who do know you and do care about you that reach into that dark corner where you have hidden and drag you out.  So that you are forced to share yourself, exposed in the light of day.  And whether or not the sharing goes well, it is the simple fact that people cared enough to drag you out.

And that is something you should relish in.

Thank you pickle relish.

It is cold

Cold horrid fall and winter.  How dare you take the warmth and long sunny days.  How dare you take the leaves and the flowers.  How dare you make me turn on the heater.

*Mother Nature flexes muscles, wiping out northeast*

Right you are!  *backs away slowly*

No go

Well the bank went with another offer on the house we were looking at, and actually I am ok with that.  I didn't want Mom and Dad in any sort of financial pinch for that house and they might have been until we sell this one.  Besides if I can find a property already partially set up with some outbuildings and fencing for the right price it means I can get to work filling those acres with a garden and livestock sooner.

And Dad bought me a tractor.  Mom is frustrated over the spent money.

I know he is doing what he thinks is best and perhaps in the short term a tractor would be better.  But in the long term I want a team of horses to do most if not all of the things I would want a tractor for.  Simply because I know a horse will start on a cold morning without any ether or warming etc.  I know if a horse throws a shoe how to get the work done without it, unlike if a tractor's tire goes flat and there is no quick way to fix it.  I know what to do if a horse comes up lame, and don't have the first clue as what to do if a tractor won't start.
I know horses eat all the time and a tractor only needs fuel when used, but at least with horses most of their 'fuel' can come from the land they live on.

There are the old ground driven farm devices that can still be found and some three point implements can simply be towed behind a fore cart.  And if there is something that must have a PTO I would prefer having an engine mounted on the fore cart to power it.

On another note ... I just emailed off my story to an 11 year old.  I am not sure how wise that was but her parents assured me she was allowed to read it.  Now all I have to do is wait for the scathing reviews .... hehe.

Voted

Hope everyone voted.

It was a chilly overcast day here with intermittent showers.  The neighbors were having their roof redone and it is now covered with a tarp until the weather clears.

I have officially switched into cold weather mode.
Crochet, writing and other indoor activities are taking precedence.
I enjoy being outdoors, so long as I don't have to be constricted by too many layers of clothing.

Going to start trimming the first school story book I suppose.  It is one of my better works but it wasn't planned out and so the story kind of wanders.  I don't think it will take much for it to tidy up.  At least I hope not.

I hate to change the beginning since that was the hardest part for me to figure out in the beginning: introducing people to the world I would be drawing them into, but I suppose a little more excitement might help with explanations to follow.  I will see what I can dream up.

Apple bread

Got this recipe from the in-laws and made some for the "pumpkin fest"(late halloween) party.  To quote: "This is Oh My God stop the wars and get some of this bread, good"

I mis-read the apples and thought it said three apples and not 3 cups but I had put in 5 apples because that is what my mother-in-law told me (and gave me from their picking trip).   

Follow directions exactly! Mix the wet and dry ingredients in separate bowls for best results.

Ingredients

• cooking spray or Criso
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
• 3 cups apples - peeled, cored, and chopped
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 2 cups white sugar
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Prepare 2 loaf pans (8 1/2x4 1/2-inch loaf pans) with cooking spray or Crisco.
2. Mix flour, baking soda, salt, walnuts, and apples in a large bowl. Whisk oil, sugar, eggs, and cinnamon together in a small bowl; add to flour mixture and mix until just moistened. Evenly divide mixture between prepared loaf pans.
3. Bake in preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 90 minutes. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.