Celebrate!

It’s all about celebrations around here this month. Or, as we like to say, “shell-ebrations”!   

In our household, we have my husband and my wedding anniversary and the tortoises turn 17. 

 

Outside our household, we’re sending happy birthday wishes to one teen and…well, let’s just say, one hasn’t-been-a-teen-for-quite-awhile, and also congratulations to a high school graduate and a college graduate. 

 

Even though I’m basking in the joy of it all, I still feel those waves of nostalgia lapping at my toes. Sigh. Where does the time go?

 

WRITING

I’ve got drafts of two stories going. I hope to have one ready to submit mid-month.

 

READING

The novel, Ask for Andrea, by Noelle W. Ihli utterly broke my heart, and The Birthday Party by Shalini Boland took me on a wild, twisting ride.

 

WATCHING

We have lots of things on our To Watch list, but we haven’t really gotten to any of them. We did re-watch – and still loved! - the first Downton Abbey movie. The next two movies will be new to us.

 

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Are you celebrating – big, small, anything at all! - this month? Do you know where the time has gone? Any relatively recent TV shows or movies you’d recommend we bump to the top of our To Watch list?

Inspiration Abounds!

Late winter/early spring is one of my favorite times of year around here. Cooler air and sunshine make it easy to get outside (See ya later, “dreadmill”/treadmill!). Everywhere I look, people are walking, running, riding bikes, playing pickleball and tennis, hanging out with their canine pals at the dog park. Every weekend, there are art shows and craft fairs and garage sales. Oh, and food trucks! And let’s not forget spring training! Yes, there are more people and traffic (I’m looking at you, snowbirds and spring break visitors!) but there’s more energy, too. Life just feels full of color and texture and vitality right now. Inspiration abounds!  

WRITING

I subbed the short story I mentioned last post. . . and received a rejection. Sigh. But I'm not giving up on that story just yet. I'm pretty sure it's still got some life in it. I’ve also got a loose draft of one story and scribbled notes on another.  

 

READING

I’ve got two different kinds of “claustrophobic” reads for you:

The emotional, dread-inducing kind in Adrift by Will Dean. A story that will stay with me a long time. 

And the physical kind in Her Last Breath by Taylor Adams where the characters go on an “ill-fated caving expedition.” That means underground, people. Under. Ground. Enough said.  

 

WATCHING

We finished Season Three of The Night Agent and enjoyed it way more than we thought we would. 

And can someone please explain to me how it’s possible we’re now watching Season 50 – 50! – of Survivor? Where did the time go?! 

 

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Do you have a favorite time of year? What makes it your favorite? Has a recent read left you filled with dread? (In the best way possible, of course!) Has anything made you feel old – or young! – lately?

You Just Never Know

When I was out and about as a kid, I didn’t see much wildlife. Maybe some pigeons and a squirrel or two. Now, when my husband and I go for walks around our neighborhood, we see not only lots of different birds, like sandhill cranes, but also the occasional armadillo, bobcat, raccoon, turtle, and yes, alligator. (And we’ve been seeing a lot more gators lately. Like me, they enjoy basking beneath the Florida sun during the winter.) 

If you had told me, back when I was younger, that I’d one day live in a place where spotting an alligator hanging out on a lake bank was as common as spotting a squirrel running up a tree, I’d have rolled my eyes and went back to playing stoopball. 

 

You just never know.  

 

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WRITING

I’m in the middle of revising a short story. The submission window is tight so I’d better get going. 

 

READING

Totally enjoying Kelley Armstrong’s new book, First Sign of Danger (Haven’s Rock, #4).

 

WATCHING

Pleasantly surprised by Season Three of The Night Agent (Netflix). We loved Season One but Season Two left us wondering if we’d keep watching the series. Glad we gave it another chance! 

 

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Had any “you just never know” moments that have pleasantly surprised you? What’s the most “exotic” animal you’ve seen on a walk? What are you creating, reading, writing lately? 

Here's Hoping

January felt like a looooong month around here. If I managed a creative thought at all, it was like a slow pour of syrup. Only not nearly as sweet.  

But, keeping in mind my “keeping it simple” plan for 2026, I set my fumble fingers to “create” and took an art class, coming away with a not too shabby mosaic flowerpot. While I could’ve done without the grouting part of the project, I did thoroughly enjoy designing and gluing the tiles and doodads to the pot.

 

Here’s hoping for a bright and busy-in-the-best-way possible February!

 

WRITING

Since my writing mojo seems to be hunkered down and dozing with the tortoises, I’ve mostly been playing with a prompt here and trying out a theme there. 

 

READING

If you’d like some chills - of the reading kind, that is! - try A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James. It had me looking over my shoulder more times than I’d like to admit! 

 

WATCHING

We’ve been re-watching Downton Abbey. I’d forgotten how much I enjoy it! When we’re done with the series, it’s on to the three Downton movies, two of them new to us. 

 

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How did January go for you? Is your creativity hibernating? Have you re-watched and/or re-read anything lately?

Keeping it Simple

This year, I’m keeping it simple. 

BREATHE

CREATE

MOVE

READ

WRITE

 

When life feels like a big game of dodgeball, and I find myself ducking out of the way or catching full on what’s hurtling toward me, I hope that shifting my mindset to one of those five areas will make it easier to get back up when I’m brought to my knees by a dodgeball in the gut. 

 

And, as an optimistic realist - or realistic optimist! – I plan to hold onto hope the way I once held onto those notes that got me out of gym class: tightly, and with gratitude. 

 

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How are you approaching the new year? What will you focus on in 2026? Any suggestions for me in any of those five areas?

Happy Holidays!

We here at TSR want to take this moment to say how grateful we are for all of your encouragement, interest and support over the last year. Your comments and your visits are much appreciated.

And we hope we gave you something in return! A few chuckles? Some book recommendations? A creepy-crawly shiver or two? 

We wish you all a wonderful holiday season!

See you in 2026!

It's Not Over Till It's Over

I used to be guilty of saying, oh well, the year’s almost over, why bother trying this or that or the other thing. But a couple of months ago, I heard about the 100 days countdown to the end of the year, and seeing that number made me realize, hey, there’s still a big chunk of time left! It’s not only 100 days, it’s still 100 days. 

As of the writing of this post, there are over 55 days left in the year. So, instead of giving up, let’s get going!

 

WRITING

I’m working on the story collection, a drabble and a flash fiction/short story. This story is a little different for me in that it’s heavy on dialogue, but since that’s how it came to me, I’m going with it.

 

READING

I’ve been on a reading roll lately! 

The Private Jet by Sarah Goodwin - an adventure/survival thriller that will have you turning pages so fast you’ll get paper cuts but that's nothing compared to what happens in the book!

Runner 13 by Amy McCulloch - another survival/adventure thriller that will make you feel like a slacker unless you, too, are an ultramarathon runner racing through the Sahara Desert.

 

The Hitchhikers by Chevy Stevens – will leave you second guessing that road trip you’re considering… 

59 Minutes by Holly Seddon – left me emotionally wrung out in the way only a really good read can. (I received an ARC in a giveaway. Expected publication date 11/18/2025.)

TORTOISES

The tortoises never fail to amuse me. At the vet for their check-up, their very different personalities were on display. They needed to have their beaks and nails trimmed, and while Larry wanted no part of it, Mrs. Larry acted like she was getting a facial and a manicure/pedicure. 

 

WATCHING

We’ve had some good luck lately with Netflix. Two movies – The Thursday Murder Club was enjoyable and The Woman in Cabin 10 was very suspenseful. A limited series – Hostage – was utterly gripping. 

 

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How are you approaching the end of 2025? Have you read or watched anything good lately? Do your pets amuse you?