Monday Musings

For those of you who didn't know, I homeschool. I decided to look into homeschooling when we had to move before my oldest could officially graduate from Kindergarten in one state, but they wouldn't promote him in the next. He could already read well and do simple math and I worried that making him do Kindergarten over again would make him one of those bored troublemakers I saw when I volunteered at the school.

I hadn't heard of homeschooling, but one of the ladies at my church suggested that we look into it as an alternative. I did tons of research, prayed, and then went to my first homeschool convention. That was an experience! I wandered around looking like a deer about to be hit by a semi most of the time. That was the final piece it took to convince me, though. I wasn't going to be alone. There were a lot of people doing this, and a lot of support available.

We moved a lot the first few years and homeschooling fit our lifestyle very well. We didn't have to worry about changing requirements, curriculum standards, schedules or teachers. We were able to set our own and make sure it worked for our family. The more we homeschooled, the more benefits we saw. No missed work for illness, more hands on work, more field trips, higher test scores ... When we finally settled down we didn't see any reason to stop.

So that's where we are today. One of mine is already graduated. He earned a full ride scholarship in engineering. He's getting married later this month. My other son is in high school, very active in sports, loves to cook, hates algebra, and started school this week.

I look at where I am and then back and have a warm and fuzzy feeling for the red tape that stopped my oldest from graduating from Kindergarten. :o) 

The Friday 56

The Friday 56 is hosted by Freda at Freda's Voice. Visit her blog for the rules and to link up your blog.

Mine comes from the book Veiled Rose which I just started reading.

"A boy climbed one path and a girl, some distance off, descended another, each hoping to meet again and neither certain whether or not to expect such a meeting."

I think it sounds sad and yet romantic. :o)

False Colours

Summary: Something is very wrong, and the Honourable Christopher "Kit" Fancot can sense it. Kit returns to London on leave from the diplomatic service to find that his twin brother Evelyn has disappeared and his extravagant mother's debts have mounted alarmingly.

The Fancot family's fortunes are riding on Evelyn's marriage to the self-possessed Cressy Stavely, and her formidable grandmother's approval of the match. If Evelyn fails to meet the Dowager Lady Stavely in a few days as planned, the betrothal could be off.

When the incorrigible Lady Fancot persuades her son to impersonate his twin (just for one night, she promises) the masquerade sets off a tangled sequence of events that engage Kit's heart far more deeply than he?d ever anticipated with his brother's fiancee who might know much more about what's going on than she cares to reveal...

My Take: They have been celebrating Georgette Heyer's birthday this month by discounting her e-books at both Barnes & Noble and Amazon for $1.99. I took advantage of it to grab a few titles I haven't read yet (just don't tell my husband). :o)

Heyer is like Calgon, Dove chocolates, fresh baked bread and cuddling with my pets -- it's a guaranteed good time that will melt away my stress and make me feel ten times better than when I sat down. She has a wonderful sense of humor and she has fabulous characters! 


I've heard a lot of stories about twins being able to sense when the other is in trouble or pain so this didn't seem like a far-fetched idea to me. It was a lot of fun to see how both (very different) brothers reacted to the situations that came about from their having switched places. I also loved the names and nicknames in this one. I know it may not be considered a major element of the story, but how often do you have a man named Evelyn? I thought it was wonderful to have such unique and historical names. 


You still have a couple days (until the end of August). If you haven't tried Heyer yet, or you are a fan and want to pick up this or another of her novels, it's a great time to indulge. :o)

Quote It Saturday

Quote It Saturday is hosted by Freda at Freda's Voice. Visit her blog for the rules and to link up your blog to participate.

My quote:

Ambition is that grit in the soul which creates disenchantment with the ordinary and puts the dare into dreams.  --- Max Lucado

Dare to dream today. Have a great weekend! :o)

Digitalis

Summary: Step into the boots of a former Marine in this heart-pounding adventure in life and love. Colton “Cowboy” Neeley is a Marine trying to find his footing as he battles flashbacks now that he’s back home. Piper Blum is a woman in hiding—from life and the assassins bent on destroying her family. When their hearts collide, more than their lives are at stake. Will Colton find a way to forgive Piper’s lies? Can Piper find a way to rescue her father, trapped in Israel? Is there any way their love, founded on her lies, can survive?

My Take: Reading any of Ronie Kendig's books is like watching the latest action-adventure blockbuster. I feel like they should come with the standard warning they give you when you get on a roller-coaster: "Keep your arms and legs inside the car at all times and keep your seat-belt securely fastened." lol This author knows how to write an exciting book!

Piper and Cowboy are very sweet together. I liked both of them very much and the way they cared about one another and the problems that caused was ... difficult and yet beautifully done.


The team feels like family and they all have their own identities. Instead of seeming like secondary characters she's written to prop up the book, these are more like people she's met and is just describing on the page. 


I'm a bit behind, but Wolfsbane is already on my Kindle so it won't be long before I'm caught up. :o)

Research and James Bond

If you've read my bio you know that I used to be in the Army. I worked in Counterintelligence. People thought that was a glamorous job and always asked me if I was like James Bond. Hardly. It was mostly paperwork. Mostly. {wink}

Writing is sometimes seen as a glamorous job too. I used to look at the really successful writers and think -- wouldn't it be great to have their lives? They must be able to do the coolest things, have the nicest stuff ... experiences most of us could only dream of.

Some of that is true. They've worked hard for their success and have some pretty cool things to show for it. Every writer does research though and, depending on the project, the process is as varied as the author and the book being written. Nearly every book requires online and library research. The only exception I can think of would be memoirs. In some cases even they use resources to check facts. I read a lot of historical fiction and really admire the work those authors put into getting all the little details right. Many authors travel to settings in their books. Some try activities their characters regularly do - like riding horses.

I have two and a half writing projects I'm working on/researching right now. Two of them are novels and one is a sort of memoir about my journey with fibromyalgia. None of it has been as glamorous as a James Bond movie. lol I have an inspiration board full of notes and pictures, a folder bursting with information I've gathered from various sources, a couple books I've bought and I'm reading to try and make my characters sound more realistic, and I've done several interviews (so scary).


Glamorous or not, every author does research to try and make the final product the best it can be. Speaking of the best -- who do you think made the best James Bond?  ;o)

Quote It Saturday

Quote it Saturday is hosted by Freda at Freda's Voice. Visit her blog to sign up and get the rules. My quote is:


"A person's mind, stretched by a new idea, can never go back to its original dimensions." -- Oliver Wendell Holmes