Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Too Cute To Discipline
 Now that we are down to only two kids at home, I've begun to notice how incredibly spoiled and bold our overgrown puppy, Cowboy, is. His mother (Tootsie--on the right) is always under the radar (unless you have a frisbee in your hand, then she goes psycho). Ninety percent of the time, though, she is curled up in some corner sleeping, only too happy to greet you when you enter the room, then return to her slumbers.
Cowboy is another story. I think because he is the baby of the family, he is suffering from the "I'm too cute to discipline" syndrome.
 For example, the other day, I walked into the girls bathroom and found him in the tub--for no apparent reason whatsoever than, perhaps, it provided him with blessed relief from the heat. But still. The bathtub? That's just, yuk. I mean, the girls have to bathe in there! Did I make him get out? No, how could I? He's just so cute.
Then, I got out of my shower, went into the bedroom to make the bed and was greeted by this:
Now, I thought that was cheeky until I got the bed made, walked in later and found this:
 Did I make him get down? Of course not. I rubbed his tummy like any good mommy would do! Still, I've started to notice more and more how spoiled he is. I've also noticed his favorite spot seems to be right by the pantry. He stands there because on the other side of that door are doggie treats that, clearly, someone has been rewarding him with if he stands there long enough looking cute and irresistable. Wasn't me. I've got him on weight control dog food. I'm not about to give him treats. But somebody is or he wouldn't camp out there. (Okay. So I give him treats sometimes. But, I mean, I hate to see him stand there all that time for nothin'!)
 Then, we had a thunderstorm come through the other night. Cowboy is very afraid of storms. He shivers. He shakes. He whines. Looks like now, he gets on my furniture and right up into Papa's lap where he can find the comfort and reassurance he needs.
I know. It's a dog, for cryin' out loud. But, what can I say? Oh, have I shown you pics of his first birthday party? He wore a party shirt and everything. Remind me to do that.
posted by Deeanne at 11:55 AM
Monday, August 28, 2006
What A Day
 The kids computer has been in the shop 3 times in the last two months. We just got it back yesterday, spent 2-1/2 hours loading virus protection, applications we'd lost, etc. Then tried to use it and it didn't work. Aaaaargh!
So, this morning after a teleconference, I went to the gym. After that, I took the PC back to the computer repair place. While I was there, my husband called and invited me to lunch . I accepted (even though I was still in my gym clothes with no makeup and no comb).
I pulled into a parking place at the restaurant and hit the car beside me (my front left bumper hit his back right fender). No one was around. You have no idea how badly I wanted to back up and park somewhere else. But, I didn't. I left him a note. Went inside and told my husband this was going to be one *really* expensive lunch.
Came home and started answering emails. Finished this really long one that required a bunch of reference numbers I had to look up, hit "send" and then *my* computer froze. Lost the email and all the stuff I had looked up.
I'm tellin' ya ... it's been one of those days. I'm still in my gym clothes. Still with no makeup. Still haven't combed my hair. And my husband just called to say he's on his way home. I'm thinkin' hot dogs for dinner.
For now, though, I'm just gonna shut everything down, put my pjs on and start fresh tomorrow!!
posted by Deeanne at 4:01 PM
Friday, August 25, 2006
Beverly Lewis
 My dear friend and fellow Bethany House author, Beverly Lewis, has been nominated for a Quill Award in the "Best Romance" category for her book The Preacher's Daughter. These awards are reader driven, so I wanted to encourage everyone to vote for Bev. Click here to see the nominees. Click here to vote.
This particular book of Bev's appeared on the USA Today Bestseller List, was #1 on the CBA Bestseller List, and was not only given the highly coveted Starred Review in the Library Journal, but was also selected as one of the Best Genre Fiction of 2005 by the Library Journal (only 5 Christian titles were included on this list).
The Preacher's Daughter introduces Annie Zook, the 19-year-old daughter of an Old Order Amish preacher, who wants to please her parents and her community, but a hidden passion stands in the way. It is the first book in the Annie's People series and I highly recommend it if you haven't read it already.
Don't forget to vote!
posted by Deeanne at 10:42 AM
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Them's My Dress Boots
 Well, you've asked to see my boots, so ... here they are along with my rodeo duds and my big, silver buckle. I quit wearing a cowboy hat years ago because it messes up my hair. I know, a sacrilegious statement if there ever was one. But there you have it.
I have a black leather jacket with fringe as well, but I forgot to include it in my photo (seeing as it's summer and all). I love my boots, though, and wear them no matter what season it is or what event I'm going to. I've worn them to formal events with my skirts and to outdoor BBQs in my jeans.
If you are thinking to buy some, don't skimp on your purchase. Poorly made boots are about the most uncomfortable thing in the whole wide world. Mine are handmade right here in Texas by Lucchese, Inc. who've been makin' boots since 1883. Other reputable boot makers are Rocketbuster USA, Stallion, and Liberty Classic. When you first buy them, you have to wear double layers of socks and rub leather softener on the boots until they conform to your feet. After that, they are pure heaven to wear.
Guess that's all folks. Yippee-ki-yi-yah!
posted by Deeanne at 11:54 AM
Monday, August 21, 2006
Contest Winner
 Well, last month's contest winner couldn't be coaxed into sending us his picture. Seems he was too busy. I'm not sure I believe him, though, I can't imagine why he would be squeamish about having his photo plastered on a romance website, can you??
Anyway, his name is Mike and I feel like I can harass him a little because he happens to be an online buddy whom I will get to meet for the first time next month at the ACFW convention. He's from Tennessee and he thought my dog's name was Zoie (as did most everybody else).
The questions was:
What is the name of Deeanne's female border collie?
Here's how you voted:
51% voted for Zoie
27% voted for Cowgirl
12% voted for Tootsie
8% voted for Princess
2% voted for Baby
The answer is: TOOTSIE
Now, let me give a little disclaimer here. We acquired this dog when she was one year old and so her name came with her. We didn't choose it. When she had puppies and we decided to keep one, I thought we should name the puppy "Pop." (You know ... Tootsie & Pop?) But no one else in the family thought that was as clever as I did. So, as you may recall from last month's contest, he ended up with the name Cowboy.
So, now you have been introduced to the whole family.
The new contest is up. This month's question is:
What TV celebrity emailed Deeanne to express how much she loved A Bride Most Begrudging?
Click here to vote and enter!
posted by Deeanne at 3:01 PM
Friday, August 18, 2006
The Girls Go To London
 Greg took the girls with him on a business trip to London. Well, sort of. The three of them flew into London. He got them settled in a hotel, bought them some bus and subway passes, took them on a quick tour of the town, then headed on to Norway and Scotland where his meetings were.
After a week of meetings, he--obviously--stopped in London, took them to a show and then they all headed back home the following morning. The girls had a list of what all they wanted to see. Three of the six days were scheduled for "shopping." Greg was so exasperated.
But, they still managed to hit the highlights: Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Kensington Palace, The Eye, the Tower of London, Speakers Corner, Hyde Park. Shopping wise, they went to Harrods, Oxford Street, Regents Street, Carnaby Street, and Portobello Road.
One day they had some extra time, so they decided to get on the next bus that passed by and see where it took them. They ended up passing some great looking shops, so they disembarked and ... went shopping! Ha!
The picture above is when they went to feed the birds. The girls were not expecting the birds to be quite so up-close-and-personal. The videos they took of this were so funny. Our 19 yr old squealed the whole time she was feeding them. The 17 yr old (above) settled down once she got over the shock of it all.
For more photos from their trip, go to my scrapbook and scroll down to "Girls in London."
posted by Deeanne at 10:19 AM
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Me & Meg
 Meg Moseley and I have been critique partners for over two years. I first met her on an online writer's discussion board that was facilitated by an editor at Bethany House (who a few weeks later, offered me a contract for Bride). So, Meg was with me when I made my first sale and when I plotted out Lady and wrote it chapter by chapter.
She did the same for next summer's title, Courting Trouble, and in exchange I critiqued three of her manuscripts chapter by chapter--all of which are fabulous and will be available for your reading pleasure as soon as the editor God has designed for Meg offers her a contract! I discuss daily with God my impatience in waiting for this event. But, as always, He has His own timetable and doesn't seem to kowtow to mine. ;-)
When I went to the RWA convention a few weeks ago, Meg and her husband picked me up at the airport for our first face-to-face meeting. We spotted each other in the crowd immediately and didn't stop talking from that moment on.
Her man is just as sweet and handsome as they come and indulged us while we both sat in the backseat chattering away while he sat in the front driving! The photo of us was taken at the dessert reception after the Rita Award ceremony where we abandoned "networking" for chocolate covered fruit and our own company.
Y'all, of course, know Meg from her comments here on my blog, but I wanted to let you meet her face-to-face, too. I will get to see her two times next month. In mid-September we're meeting in Atlanta, renting a convertible and then driving to Asheville, NC where we will be immersed in an intensive writer's retreat. The following week we will be at the ACFW event in Dallas where Bride is up for Book of the Year. Can't wait to see her again! Til then, y'all give Meg a big ol' howdy, for me. Ya hear?
posted by Deeanne at 7:32 AM
Monday, August 14, 2006
Does It Ever Get Easier?
 Our 19 year old left yesterday for her second year of college. Instead of staying on campus, she elected to share an apartment with three other girls. Greg took her up there in July with an old couch of ours, an old breakfast table of Grandma's (no chairs) and to assemble a loft bed we'd bought her. So, yesterday she reminded us the big stuff was done. She didn't think she needed us to help her move-in. She could do it on her own.
Beside the backdoor she lined up bags and bags of her most treasured possessions--a Dumb & Dumber DVD, a box filled with about 20+ pairs of shoes, her favorite pillow and her teddy bear. She would have some assembling to do yet when she arrived--a small bookshelf, a table to use as a desk and a chair. And as she stuffed some of Greg's tools into her car, she assured us she could do it.
  I think what kept us from insisting on going was that she planned to caravan up with her boyfriend and his dad. We knew they would see to it that she got moved in safe and sound. And they did. She called last night to say she had arrived safely and everything was in the apartment and assembled.
 Two gone, two still at home. But those two at home spent the night with their friends, so the house was quiet and empty and ... a bit forlorn. I think I'm a little more deflated this year than I was when our daughter first left home last year. Last year, I was excited for her to start on this new adventure. But she still needed me to help her check into the dorm and get her room all decorated and moved in. I saw where she was going to be living and had assured myself of her comfort and safety.
This time, I haven't even seen her apartment. Have only met one of her roommates. And this time she's more grown up. Has more confidence. Enough to say that she didn't need me to come with her--she could do it by herself.
And so we take another step. Toward releasing our young to the wilds. I thought it would be easier this time around.
posted by Deeanne at 10:49 AM
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Exciting News
We just found out that A Bride Most Begrudging has been nominated for Book of the Year in the Long Historical category by the American Christian Fiction Writers Association. Winners will be announced in Dallas next month.
The Lord is so sweet to offer me encouragement just when I'm needing it the most. Thanks be to Him and congratulations to all the other nominees.
posted by Deeanne at 7:55 PM
Monday, August 07, 2006
Waterskiing Fun
 Well, we had a great week of boating, waterskiing, and tubing in South Carolina. (And I see from last week's comments that while the cat was away, the mice certainly played! Ha!) The weather was hot, but beautiful. It was a bit of a bittersweet week, though, because it was our first vacation without all the kids.
As you recall, our 18 year old left the nest last July and, boy, did I miss him during our vacation. It's amazing how the family dynamics change when somebody isn't present.
Still, we had good times. I have posted the photos on my scrapbook page. Scroll down to the "Waterskiing Vacation" category for all the pics with captions.
It's great to be home again!
posted by Deeanne at 4:05 PM
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