Project 365 - Days 201 - 220 (and then some)

Summer drums on. Oregon has had a record number of days over 90º. My garden is parched, even watering doesn't help it. I figure the stuff that's meant to be will live, the stuff that doesn't wasn't cut out for this life. With a water conservation requirement from the county, I am not going to waste too much water on frail plants if I don't have to.

What's new? What's wonderful? Nothing much. It's summer. I have retreated like a vampire into the cave of my house. I'm biding my time. Waiting for autumn to come round so I can feel comfortable again.

201/365 - Colours

202/365 - A boy and his monkey out on a
summery day.

 Alex is growing so fast, it's almost too much to bear. Every day there's something new, some discovery, some word, some understanding, and every day he adds another little block to his foundation; and grows closer to being the person he will become. He's smart, he's sly, sometimes a little hyper, he's observant and empathetic. He's compassionate and sweet, and gentle.  He's a beautiful, beautiful thing, and even when I think I'm going to jab myself in the eye with a fork out of frustration, I still am thankful for every moment I have with him. So grateful for that complete fluke that got me pregnant when I couldn't. He is truly my greatest gift.

203/365 - Curtains

204/365 - Windchimes

205/365 - Dessert. It was an evening out
with writerly friends. Great fun.

 I've been trying to focus more on my writing.  I have a wonderful friend who is an independent author, and she makes a living at it. I have decided that instead of breaking my ass trying to find a job at the same pay grade I had before I stopped working, that I will focus instead on my author business. So I've been focusing on writing more, and following my friend's example. She's an excellent guru, and she's always so willing to offer her kindness and assistance. She's gotten me involved with a group of local romance authors (I'm not sure I quite fit in with that genre, but she assures me I do), and I went out to an author's dinner to meet a few. They're all amazing people. I will be participating under my author name in a locally held Author event in September, as well as attending the Rose City Comic Con and the Wizard World Portland Comic Con.  It's going to be a busy few months. I'm trying to finish a book before all this. Keep your fingers crossed that I can!

206/365 - A cute veggie display (dog toys)
at PetCo.

207/365 - Annual ORS Pittock Mansion
Picnic. This lovely sweetheart and her ringlets
made my day.

 The Pittock Picnic is the first ORS Regency event I've attended in a long time.  The anxiety issues crop up. Mostly on the travel part of it, and when there are a lot of people. The threat of rain kept the group to a smaller size than last year, but fun was had regardless. It was so good to be with my friends. They're so healing. All that was missing was Nora.  She and her husband were in a horrific car crash in May, around the time my mother became ill and passed away. They almost died. They've been hospitalized and are at present still in rehab. I'm hoping Nora will be home soon. I miss her.

208/365 - The invaluable snack plate--what a grazer needs. Yes,
the boy likes tart cornichons. He is my son, after all.

209/365 - Alex's sweet ride. He's really starting to be super proficient
on it.

210/365 - I was preparing eggs, and I heard
"Mommie, me!" and I turned around to find
this guy wearing stolen glasses.

211/365 - Toes

212/365 - A ray of sun

 Writing and writing. I go in too many directions sometimes, I need to focus. Will I get this book done? I hope so.

213/365 - Holes

214/365 - I know I take lots of pictures of these guys. But they are my daily
life. I'm a hermit.

 Our dogs were taken last weekend. I let them out on Friday morning at about ten, and they never returned. A day and a half later of tears and fretting, and we received a call from the Clackamas County shelter that someone had dropped them off half-hour before close on Saturday.  We had to pick them up Monday. The whole ordeal cost us a lot of money. We don't know why the portland woman took them, and why she kept them for a whole day and a half before bringing them to the county pound. Whatever her motivations, I wish I could go to her house, ring the doorbell and bitch slap her righteous face good and hard.

215/365 - Warm colours

216/365 - Silk

217/365 - Cake and icing

218/365 - Fresh eggs from the co-op. Dan won't let me get chickens,
so I have to pay five bucks a dozen if I want fresh, organic eggs. ::BOO::

219/365 - Quiltscape. 

220/365 - Mini decoys. I love these. They're small replicas, cheap resin, nothing
fancy, but I still love them. Alex has been rough on them. Two have flaked, chipped
tails.

My most recent project besides the book is the cover. I'm working on a gown for my heroine, and trying to wrangle the contributors for the photo to coordinate a time and date. I will post pics when I can. In the meantime, if you're local to Portland, come and see me and other authors at the Passion In Portland author event, buy some books, get signatures, win swag, have fun. Although general admission is free, you still need to register, so click HERE to do so, and come and say hi! It's on September 12, 2015. Details can be found at the link provided HERE. Tata for now!