Friday, September 28, 2012

MORE ABOUT DACHSHUNDS FOREVER

Thanks to author Shawn Lamb for tagging me in this fun event.


What is the  title of your book?

DACHSHUNDS FOREVER, Book 3 of THE DACHSHUND ESCAPADES, is awaiting publication.

Where did the idea come from for the book?

I've always enjoyed "translating" what doxies were thinking, so my family urged me to write about it.  Thus, THE DACHSHUND ESCAPADES series was born.

What genre does your book fall under?

Christian fiction

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?


Well, since the main character is a dachshund, I'm not sure, LOL! 

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

If you are a dog lover in general and a dachshund lover in particular, then this is the book for you!

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

I am with a traditional publisher, Oaktara.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?


Several months.  I had started it, then shelved it for a few months because of circumstances, then finished it up in a couple of months.  This book is my longest one thus far, 398 pages.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

There are numerous books about dachshunds on the market, and even some where the dog is the center of the plot, but few that are written from the dachshund's viewpoint.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?


Sarge, the dachshund, has quite a sense of humor--in fact, he delivers some one-liners that readers tell me cracked them up!

Click on the link below to learn about Shawn's books:

Shawn Lamb:  http://allonbooks-thekingdomofallon.blogspot.com/

Monday, September 24, 2012

LEAVE ME ALONE!



"It's Monday morning, and I had a rough weekend.  Leave me alone--I want to sleep some more!"

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

PUNKIN' TIME!




With the approach of fall, my favorite time of year, we anticipate pumpkin carvings, frost, leaves, Halloween, Thanksgiving--well, you get the idea :).

This is one of my favorite doxie fall pictures.  Enjoy!

Monday, September 17, 2012

SUPER DOG!




How very fitting that someone dressed up this doxie as a super hero--because a dachshund, as far as I can tell, pretty much thinks of himself/herself in this way!

DO YOU AGREE, DOXIE LOVERS?

I certainly agree!  Our dachshund Duke is five years old, we adopted him when he was eight weeks old, and I cannot imagine L.B.D., or "life before Duke."  He's playful, stubborn, cute, sweet, loyal, fun-loving, and a chow hound.

What more could we possibly want in a dawg??

Friday, September 14, 2012

BED HOGS EXTRAORDINAIRE





Yes, we dachshund owners/lovers are quite familiar with this typical doxie expression, especially when prompted to "get off the bed."

This is not my dog Duke, although it looks surprisingly like him, down to coloring and expression.  I've seen him look EXACTLY like this when he's ensconced himself on our bed :).

Do you have a doxie "bed hog," too?

Thursday, September 13, 2012

DO YOU LIKE CREAM?



Here's a pic of a beautiful long-haired English cream dachshund.  Looks like this doxie has the "posing thing" down quite well, don't you think?

From time to time, I'll be posting pics of the various types and coat colors of our lovable chow hounds.  I like all of them!

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

IN MEMORY ~ SEPTEMBER 11



IN A BLAZE OF GLORY

My article below is published today in BINDINGS, my publisher's blog in THE CHRISTIAN POST magazine.  The direct link is http://blogs.christianpost.com/bindings/in-a-blaze-of-glory-11860/

Golden yellow . . . burnt orange . . . flaming red . . . the fall of the year is literally a feast for the eyes as trees turn from various shades of green to all those bright hues that beckon us to the mountains, the woods, or even our own backyards.
My family lived in Virginia near the Blue Ridge Parkway for eleven years. Every October, we made our annual trek to the Parkway to view the glorious foliage, and we were never disappointed. Along with the stunning colors, we were delighted with the nip in the air, apple harvests, picnics beside mountain streams, and walks along wooded trails. We often collected those bright leaves to make collages, tangible reminders throughout the year of God’s color palette and His striking creativity in nature’s shapes, sizes, and hues.  



When we were children, I remember all of us joyfully jumping into piles of raked leaves; now, I do not recall why that was so much fun! As adults, I suppose we often think only of the work it takes to get those leaves into piles and removed from our yards. Back then, the fall season was exhilarating—it represented the start of school, frosty mornings, clear sunshine, the anticipation of wonderful holidays to come, and especially the anticipation of snow.

Still my favorite time of the year, fall always evokes fond memories, but also creates new ones. My husband of nearly forty-one years, then my fiancé, returned home safely in the fall of 1970 from a tour in Vietnam. We were married in December of that year. Every fall generates a happy recollection of that memory as we look forward to celebrating another wedding anniversary together. Today, with our children and grandchildren, our family enjoys celebrating birthdays and other anniversaries together in the fall as well. And, even after all these years, I still see young children today having a great deal of fun jumping into piles of leaves!

To me, those gorgeous colors of fall represent nature’s cycle of life—before the leaves wither and fall to the ground, they go out in a “blaze of glory,” painted brilliantly by God’s own hand. We can take our cue from those leaves, realizing that our lives are like tapestries woven by God’s hand as well, but He often allows us to choose our own colors as we make our choices and decisions that ultimately affect the final design.


There are times that dark, somber threads, representing difficulties we face, are woven into our tapestries beyond our control, but the Master Weaver knows what He is doing and wants to create something beautiful with our lives. We can rail against circumstances by attempting to rip out those dark threads which, from our limited view, are mistakes. But we can only see the underside of the tapestry, whereas God looks down on the finished side of the weaving. Those somber threads are actually there to refine, and thus illuminate by contrast, all the colorful elements of these tapestries to make them even more beautiful. God wants to refine our lives, sometimes through trial and difficulty, to make us more like Him, all the while weaving in beauty and texture that we might not totally understand or see at the time.



Let us trust Him with our tapestries—not only with the wonderfully vibrant colors we get to choose, but also with those seemingly improbable dark tones He sometimes weaves into them. Our lives will then manifest a ”blaze of glory” like those beautiful fall leaves—for others to enjoy.




Monday, September 10, 2012

YOU ARE INVITED!

Utility
I am hosting an online Thirty-One Party, which runs until September 29, for our daughter Holly, a Thirty-One consultant. If you aren't familiar with the Thirty-One company, you are missing out!Purses     Leather Medium Purse with Scarf

Click on the link below, or copy and paste it into your browser:

www.mythirtyone.com/holly blinson

Large Utilty ToteOnce there, you'll see various tabs - My Parties, View Our Catalog, Join My Team, Monthly Specials, etc.  Click on the My Parties tab and you'll see my name, and if you wish to purchase something, click on "Shop Now."
Mini Zipper Pouch

5th AvenueSeptember specials are great, so be sure to check those out as well.


Nobody has time to actually attend a party these days, and it is often difficult to make a quick decision about what to purchase.  With an online party, you have weeks to make up your mind :).  And an online party is so convenient for all of us, including Holly and me, since we live in different states.

I can vouch for Thirty-One purses, tote bags, accessories, etc., and many can be personalized, too!  I have a nice purse with my name embroidered on the front, so I never misplace it.

These items make great Christmas gifts as well!  I hope you'll peruse their catalog, even if you don't plan to purchase at this time.  It's just plain fun to look over all the beautiful and practical items.

Holly and I thank you for taking the time to consider Thirty-One!
 Accessories

Dachshund Books for Dog Lovers!

Dachshund Books for Dog Lovers!
Click on the BOOKS tab at the top of this blog

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