All posts by NewEngland_Muse

I'm a traditionally and self published author. I write in the genre of children and YA at the moment but working my way up to adults. I'm a sports loving, photo taking gal who loves to sing/dance to my own enjoyment. I love to laugh even at myself. I am also owned by 8 birds and 2 hamsters, and yes they know it. :)
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Guest Blog: My turn

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Today I will be guest blogging at a friend’s website. Her name is Carlyle Labuschagne  and she is awesome.

Check it out

http://tinyurl.com/3drb3e6

The above guest blog has been moved to make room for others. So here is a copy.

 

I’m a member of 2 book clubs. The first I joined 2 years ago- it’s run out of a local library. The main reason for me joining was to become more social and meet people.

It meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 10:30am. The time was a selling point for me. The first time I went was a little scary for this group had been meeting for a little over 4 years. All of the members are over 50, while the majority are over 70. So I am not just new, I am also the baby.

 

The 2nd group is one I started for my women’s group about 18 months ago. At first the ladies would suggest books but now it is up to me. This is a win win for I get to place books that I want and need to read. Again I started this group to meet new people. The age is 45 years old and younger. We meet the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month. I do take a break during the holidays in December but if I take to long I will get calls asking when we are starting up again.

 

By all appearances the only similarities between the two groups is that we are all avid readers. However, if you dove in you would find a lot more. We are all willing to read outside the box, outside our comfort zone, and just plain read and discuss a book. We don’t always stay on topic and we never leave without having a good laugh among ourselves. The morning group always has lunch afterwards while the evening crowd brings food to the meetings. Anyone walking by would see a collection of people enjoying a book and most importantly each other. A sense of serenity just seems to fill the room. It does not matter what age, race, gender, political background or where you are from, you are welcomed. A simple book can bring all of that together and bring people together from all walks of life in just one room. The troubles of our lives or the world for that matter is forgotten- even if it is just for a little while.

 

More people should entertain this kind of social activity. For when I leave both groups and head home, I will start chuckling at a joke that was said. I will note down a piece of advice that was mentioned. I will have an inner sense of peace that I want to enjoy for as long as possible. My week is normally hectic, like most anyone’s week, so I treasure these hours . I am grateful for my book clubs.

 

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Guest Blog

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Today I have a special guest with me, Martin King.

He will be guest blogging for all of us to enjoy. His contact information will be at the end of the post.


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The great outdoors, the child’s playground. Where I grew up, we lived in a house on the very edge of Mother Nature. Country lanes, farms, fields and rambling hills ran for miles. Life was one great big adventure. And as such, the flora and fauna provided much to entertain us.

Do you remember sticky stuff as we used to call it, or perhaps sticky buds? It was that green stringy, plant stuff that stuck to your clothes. You would sneak up behind your mates and chuck it the back of their jumper. But then this is the best bit, when they realised it was there and pulled it off, it left behind millions of tiny green balls that took forever to pick off.

And there were rosehips, or more commonly known among our youthful ranks as ‘itching powder.’ Yes those harmless looking red capsules contained those little furry seeds that you could chuck down someone’s back. Then you would watch happily from a safe distance as they writhed around in the middle of the road.

What about cuckoo spit? That white spit stuff you would find on long grass. Inside were those little tiny hopping bugs. If you tried to touch them, they would spring away. Talking of grass, do you remember walking along a country lane and plucking the small grains off in your hand and through it up into the air? Or using a blade of grass to make the loudest noise?

Near our house were these plants that produced white berries. I don’t know what they were called, but we used to squeeze then and they would make a pooping sound. There are so many others too, like hunting conkers and making daisy chains, blowing dandelion clocks and throwing sycamore helicopters.

If you put a buttercup under somebody’s chin and it turned yellow, it meant they loved butter. Making perfume from mashed up rose petals, I guess I could go on and on. No doubt I have missed so many. The joys of nature provided many magical moments!

These blogs are all about fun and sharing. Thank you for reading a ‘#100blogfest’ blog. Please follow this link to find the next blog in the series: http://martinkingauthor.com/blog/7094550076

Ramblings

My Office

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This is my office. It is not big or fancy, but I am making it work.

On the far left you will see a rosary, cross and picture on the wall. This set has been in our family for 5 generations, my grandfather passed it on to me. It is all made by hand and it means a lot to me. My bookcase houses a combination of resources, supplies and inspiration. You would also see the books that I am in the process of reviewing for various authors.  Also included, one would see the books I have to read for my 2 book clubs, one of which I  run.  One shelve houses some of my lighthouses, colorful stones and shells.  Other  books included are for my research, reading pleasure and writings.  On the right are my cockatiels. They are normally let loose 95 percent of the time. The norm is one will be on me or on my keyboard at any given time. But they are my relaxation and stress release mechanism. What you don’t see are the many bookcases that surround this room.

I do have two doors I can close when I need the quiet. I know it is not much but  for the moment it’s ok