Thursday, November 28, 2013

Setting the Scales Back

    Happy Thanksgiving from our house to yours. And just remember...


    Please be safe, and happy. I'm thankful for many things. But really I'm thankful for you who come and read these silly rants. Thank you so much. You don't know how happy you make me!

    Do you celebrate Thanksgiving? What is your favorite food? Least favorite? Are there any foods you eat only on this day and no other?

W.P.I.- Did you know that almost three quarters of Americans serve store bought cranberry sauce rather than homemade at Thanksgiving? Or that about 200 cranberries are used to produce each can of jellied cranberry sauce? Interesting, huh? :)

    

Monday, November 25, 2013

My Day in the Sun on The Goddess Blogs

    I'm not one that is brilliant when it comes to technology, so I'm just going to give you the link to one of the biggest blogs of my life. Really, this was a big thing for me. HUGE, as a matter of fact, so go here and see what I'm ranting about...http://thegoddessblogs.com.

    If you don't go you'll miss out on the story of who this man is, and why I'm packing a suitcase!





    That is just a tease. Please go to TGB to read the story and see the rest of the photo's that go with the blog. It was the opportunity of a lifetime for me, I'd like to share wit with you!

Have you had a big day in your life lately? Care to share? Did you cherish it? 






            

Thursday, November 21, 2013

I May Never

Please come visit me on November 24th as I am going to be a guest blogger  at http://thegoddessblogs.com.  Pretty please?

I May Never

    Be a rock star
      But that doesn't stop me from pretending to be one when no one is looking.


    Be one to have their future mapped out perfectly
      But I enjoyed where I've been and look forward to what's ahead.

    Get to 53 followers on the KRW facebook page: http://facebook.com/kellyryanwatson
      But I love the 52 that do follow.

    Give my parents that wedding they planned for their little girl
      But I am extremely happy with that aspect of my life.

    Have the grace and beauty of a ballet dancer
      But I tried for a while when my mother enrolled me in ballet. That didn't last long. 

    Read three books in a week
      But I enjoy one or two. I'm a very slow reader.


    Win the Aunt of the Year award
      But that doesn't mean I don't love my nieces and nephew fiercely.

    Be able to do people impersonations
      But I can do some pretty good bird calls.

    Have the right words at the right moment
      But that doesn't mean I don't have the words.


    Be a NY Times best seller
      But I'm going to try like crazy.

    Travel to far ends of the earth
      But I am fortunate enough to have traveled quite a lot.

    What about you? What might you never...? Will you visit The Goddess Blogs Sunday?

W.P.I. - The following are some general garden care ideas that may be of good reference this fall. Before temperatures go below freezing, disconnect outside water sources, drain hoses, and store indoors. Sharpen and oil tools. Store all unused herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers, and chemicals in original, labeled containers. If cardboard containers have become wet, consider disposing of the product. Avoid storing chemicals in unmarked plastic or glass containers because it’s too easy to forget what they are. Check expiration dates on products to be sure they’re still viable.

    

    

    

Monday, November 18, 2013

Guest Blogger

    I have some big news! 

    BIG!

    EXCITING!

    OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME news!

    It involves http://thegoddessblogs.com     (Some of my favorite authors blogging daily)


    And

    What am I talking about? 

    *Clears throat*
    
    I, Kelly Ryan Watson, will be guest blogging on the Goddess Blogs. SQUEEEEE. And I will be blogging about the man in the above picture.

    Details are to come. It looks like November 24th will be the big day, but I'll let you know. Right now I'm nervous, excited, and drooling. It's very hard work researching someone so... spectacular! ;) 

    Will you please come visit? 

    
    

Thursday, November 14, 2013

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like...

            Have you noticed that nearly everywhere you go it has taken on that… festive look? I’m not talking about the Giving Thanks look either. I’m talking about the It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas look.

            Every year the push for Christmas gets earlier and earlier. I noticed one box store put decorations out at least three weeks before Halloween. I recall the days that retailers would at least wait until after Halloween. Heck, I can almost recall when they were put out more near Thanksgiving. I miss those days.

            Don’t get me wrong. Christmas is my favorite holiday. I've searched the radio for any station playing Christmas music. And, I’ll admit, I've been watching the seasonal movies on the Hallmark channel. It is helping to get me in the spirit. Very slowly.

            My neighbors have decorated outside. Driving down the road at night their house is lit up so bright it could be seen from space. Okay, maybe that is an exaggeration, but not much. I’m holding off for now.

            This may be the first year I haven’t rushed Thanksgiving. I want to enjoy it more. Sadly it has become the forgotten holiday. I don’t mind looking at lights and decorations, but for the first time in a very long time this house won’t be decorated until after turkey day.

            It got me thinking…


Do you mind retailers selling Christmas decorations and stuffs earlier and earlier every year? Is there any way to stop them? When do you bring out the decorations?

Weekly Planting Information- I found a fun plant fact for you today! Did you know that archaeologists have uncovered evidence that grapes were grown to make wine about 8,000 years ago in Mesopotamia (today's Iraq), although the ancient Egyptians were the first to record the process of making wine about 5,000 years ago.

Monday, November 11, 2013

Salvaging the Script

            Revisions for Book 2 are slow going. I have a love/hate going on with my editor. Sometimes I think she’s nit-picking. Other times I know she’s trying to push me to be more explicit or to change something. I know she’s coaching me, and I know I’ll be better for it, but I have to change myself to do this. One thing is I have to get over myself and my belief that everything I wrote was good, and nothing needed to be changed. So I’m sucking it up and moving forward. J

            As I move forward I concentrate on one comment she made in the middle of the book. She suggested maybe I change the main character’s occupation, and made a suggestion. As soon as I read it that imaginary light bulb went on over my head. Originally I wanted the heroine, Autumn, to run a bookstore. That thought didn’t go with what I wanted to portray though. I needed her to be doing something else. And through my editor’s comment I have figured it out.


            Without giving too much away I wanted it to look like Autumn took over a business of her husband’s. A bookstore is a wonderful idea, but I want something a little more… alpha. I needed it to be something she wouldn’t be so comfortable doing. That way, in the end, she could get herself back on track with her occupation of choice, not one that was somewhat forced on her.

            Now I’ll start the research. I’m diving into a world I know very little about, but I’d love to know more of. I’m researching a world of salvage, restoration, and repurposing. There is a television show on the DIY network called Salvage Dawgs. I absolutely love the show and cannot believe some of the pieces they create with items they salvage. People are crafty, that’s all I can say. Really, can you picture making a couch out of a bathtub? (See following pic.) I can’t. How about a wine rack/bar out of a piano? This research is fun.
From Salvage Dawgs/Black Dog Salvage.

            My editor’s comment was maybe making the business more of a furniture restoration shop. I’m just taking it one step further. I originally didn’t think the occupations were a big part of the book, but now that I am diving into research and changing parts I realize it was a bigger component than I thought. It plays more into my original thought process, and I am happier with this path.

            Now… I need a name for the business.

Have you ever watched Salvage Dawgs? Are you crafty or creative with old furniture? Could you help me out if I had questions about what to create out of an old clock? What would you name a salvage/repurpose/restoration business?

(I’m seriously open to all suggestions!)


Thursday, November 7, 2013

Walking and Plotting

            Amazing things happen when you go for a walk.

            This is something I have learned recently while staying in a city that is very walk-able.  Each morning I got up and took the dogs for their jaunt. The crisp air hit my lungs and seemed to awaken me quicker than coffee. My blood circulated, invigorating me.  I could feel my mind spinning plots. The dogs seemed to even have more pep in their step. No matter what time I took them out there always seemed to be someone else out with their four legged friends.

            I’ve featured my dogs on here a couple of times. They are two spoiled rotten Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. I originally saw the breed on the television show Sex and the City. After that I had to have one. Then one wasn’t enough and we got another. J One thing I realized in the city was that there were quite a few Cavaliers. And once one owner saw another conversations quickly started. I met Cavalier’s named Bea, Taylor, Sera, Sophie, and Dempsey. Each one’s cuteness brought a smile to my face.

            I mentioned earlier that when I walked my mind spun. While in Savannah I had the opportunity to work on my revisions for Book 2. There are times though when my mind gets stuck. Those times I would get up, leash the dogs, and head out.

            Once I ended up in Forsyth Park. I sat on a bench by the fountain and took in the scenery. My mind chugged along with thoughts about something I am changing in my book. Suddenly I realized there was a couple getting married right in front of the fountain. It was the couple, a photographer, and someone performing the nuptials (possible justice of peace?). I smiled to myself and thought how cool it was.


            After the newlyweds were on their way I got up and headed to the other end of the park. I stopped and let one of the dogs sniff around. There was an older man on a bike heading for us. But he stopped behind me. I slowly turned and looked at him. He smiled and said, “Now that dog is cute. But that one is even cuter.”

            That started a conversation between us that lasted at least fifteen minutes and him giving me a lead on a story waiting to be written. A story about a local Savannah boy who grew up, moved to England, and ended up marrying Royalty. None of his friends really kept in touch after the lad moved to England. To make a longer story short he also told me of someone pretty well known (business man) who, if I wrote the story, would most likely put it on film. It seems this business man is a film maker also. He said, “Could you find someone to fund you to go to England and research?” A grin crossed my face. Heck no I don’t have anyone to fund me, but the thought alone made me smile! As we departed each other he asked my name and laughed when I told him Kelly. “I should’ve known with that red hair!” His name was Egan. Hmmm. I think we had a meeting of Irish minds there.

Sera and Sophie with Alexis and Savannah.
            That meeting led to another with a kind woman who had two Cavaliers. Those cuties were named Sera and Sophie. We ended up walking through the park together talking the whole time. When asked what I write I smiled and told her Romance. She looked at me and laughed. “I love it! And I love how your cheeks just turned bright red!” She promised me that she would give me a totally honest critique if I wanted, at any time. 

            My “little” plotting session walk in the park took over an hour. But I met two people who made me laugh, and who, if we were to spend more time together, I would call friends.

            Yes, I love that Savannah could be considered the City of Cavaliers. I also love that those people were so friendly and accepting.

Do you go for walks? How do you clear your head? Do you have pets?

W.P.I. - Don't waste those fallen leaves. My single biggest job this time of year is rounding up all of my and my neighbor's leaves. As they say, one man's trash is another's treasure. My neighbors are glad to let me take their leaves off their hands. They break down rather quickly and are a very good way to add organic amendments to my beds. They also pull double-duty, serving as that important layer of mulch over the winter.
           

            

Monday, November 4, 2013

New Addiction

        I have a hobby that is slowly becoming an addiction. Like anything that I feel may be taking over my life I'm trying to control myself. Again, at least it is just a hobby and not anything destructive to my body. Spending the past week in Savannah and not being on the internet much has made me realize I can control myself. I think. What is taking up my time most nights? Pinterest. 

        I've been on Pinterest for a while. Sometimes I really get into it. Sometimes it seems I don't bother with it. Those days haven't happened in a while. I'm not one of those that pin a ton of recipes, or clothes, or homey type stuff. No. I have an array of things I pin. Recently I started a couple new boards. One is entitled Eye Gandy. Since he is the next hero I will write (one day) I have a plethora of pics of David Gandy. One of the latest I've pinned is this...


        I've also started a board entitled Reading Funnies. These are pins mostly about books, or reading, or being nerdy. They are basically pins that bring a smile to my face. Here is an example of one of the latest...


        One person has rocked my music world recently. The first time I heard the song Royals my hair stood on end. The singers voice was phenomenal. It made me turn up the radio and listen close. Then I wanted to hear the song over and over again. When I heard the lead singer was only 16 tears came to my eyes. She is already incredible. I can't wait to listen to her for years to come. Here's my latest pin onto Favorite Singers...


And here's a link to the video. For those of you who haven't heard her I urge you to give her a listen. I don't think you'll be disappointed. Then maybe you can help me to describe her voice...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlcIKh6sBtc

        For those of you who come here often you know I like ink, er, tattoos. I started a board entitled Ink. This is one of the latest pics I've pinned that people seemed to like...


        I also recently started a board simply called Fall. Autumn is one of my favorite times of the year. On this board I pin pics from pumpkins to ravens to this...


        I have various other boards from birds, to favorite books, to Ireland, to hunks who could be heroes in my books. Come on now, we all need visuals, right? And since I am a romance writer I also have a board that has several pics like this...


        So there you have it. My new addiction. If I'm not working, or writing, there's a good chance you can find me on Pinterest! Well, in moderation! Oh yeah, you can see my hobby world here: http://pinterest.com/kellyryanwatson

Do you do Pinterest? Did you like the song Royals? What are some of your favorite type boards on Pinterest? How do you control possible hobby addictions?