One word.  Mosquitoes.

The only good thing about the recent drought was the lack of the little bloodsuckers which inhabit my yard.  Then the rain came, preventing us from cutting the grass, and now you can’t go outside without getting eaten alive.

Don’t like it.

In fact, I absolutely hate it.  I’m having to spray sticky repellent all over me and the kids just to take the dog out to do his business.   Number one item on my dh’s Honey Do List–fog the yard.

Here’s the cover for FEELING THE HEAT, my November Blaze.  One word–YUMMY. 

…but I did bring home the ribbon.  

I had a wonderful time in Dallas and enjoyed meeting up with seldom-seen friends.  I’m excited about getting back to work and, as soon as I catch up on a little sleep, I’m going to jump back into my WIP.  I *did* get to bring home my November cover–which is BEAUTIFUL, btw–and will post a picture as soon as I unpack the camera.  (Bags are still packed, I’m afraid.)

Anyway, I hope everyone had a nice weekend in my absence.  Give me a shout-out if you were at the conference as well.

Too much to do, not enough time! 

I’m leaving for Dallas in the morning for the RWA conference.  (It actually started today, but…  ) Anyway, I stil have to get my nails done, hair done, pack, pick up a few little things that I need.  Shoes for my RITA dress, diet Mt. Dew for the room, some sort of cool hair clippy-thing, a better pair of black earrings.  And the list goes on and on.  Today is the last day of Vacation Bible School, with the big Avalanch Ranch Round-up and Supper tonight.  I have to get the kids things together, pay bills, make sure the dog is taken care of, etc…  So it’s not just me I have to get ready–which is enough–but the fam, too.    I’m exhausted already.

But I will get to see Harry Potter with Precious and a couple of other huge HP fans and that will make it all worthwhile.  

It would also be nice if I could win a RITA.  Will let you all know how that goes when I get back…

This morning I’m feeling a little nauseated, which isn’t good because I leave for Dallas Thursday for National conference and still have lots to do between now and then, the most important of which is get my hair done.  Never let it be said that I don’t know my priorities.

Anyway, my to do list fills a page and frankly, “Get Sick” isn’t anywhere on there.  I am hoping that this blah feeling is from getting up too early.  Daughter had work-outs at 6 this morning, so I left my cozy bed at 5:30 to get her up and take her to the school.  I’d taken the kids to see Ratatouille last night–after an exhaustive but ultimately futile search for a new RITA dress–and it was late before we got in.  I am telling myself that that’s what’s wrong with me.

It has to be.

Ahem.  So.  That’s all I’ve got today, people.  I’m whining and isn’t even Wednesday yet.

Well, it’s happened.  I am no longer waking up before the sun rises and have actually started–

GASP!

Sleeping until 8:00AM.  (Which you will notice because I feed the dog, then blog before I take him out.  What can I say?  I am a creature of habit.    )

On Saturday I actually slept until 9:00.  Of course, I’m staying up later because I know that I don’t have to set an alarm so I’m sure that’s no small part of the reason I don’t want to drag my rear from the bed in the mornings.  Nevertheless, there is something so satisfying and well, decadent, about sleeping late.  It was one of the things I looked forward to most out of summer vacation and my kids seem to be of the same mind.  Granted I have a little ulterior motive in letting them sleep late–if they’re sleeping they’re not fighting.  (Someone tell me this will pass.  Please.  Even if you have to lie.  I NEED to hear it.)

So…what’s is/was your favorite part of summer vacation?  Sleeping late?  Sleep overs?  Big breakfasts as opposed to the poptart you ate in the car on the way to school?  (Wait.  That might just be my kids….)  Anyway, share.  Inquiring mind and all that.

**I left my glasses in the bedroom and can’t see, so this post is probably riddled with typos.  I’ll fix them later.  Probably.

This is me inside the courtyard at Kilchurn Castle, my favorite pile of rocks castle.  That’s part of a turret behind me.  I considered standing on top of the turret, but then decided I’d better not due to the fact that I am clumsy and graceless.  

By now I’m sure you’ve noticed that in every picture I am wearing the green jacket.  That’s because a.) it was cold and b.) the jacket was waterproof and c.) I didn’t bring a different coat.   Thus my trip to Scotland has been dubbed The Green Jacket Tour.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Too much chicken, ribs, corn salad, potato salad, squash casserole, chips and dip, iced cookies, ice cream and Millionaire Pie.

But it was all VERY good.

We’ll resume whining tomorrow.   Hope everyone has a happy and safe Fourth.  Please remember our troops and say a little prayer for them and their families.

Also, feel free to post your favorite Fourth recipes in the comments. My people are getting a bit tired of the same old Rhonda fare…

1.) Why a banana peel would be in my daughter’s underwear drawer.

2.) Why Q-tips never make it into the trash can and always wind up on the floor.

3.) Empty soda cans in the fridge.

4.) Remote control in the pantry.

5.) Shoes in the corner of every room, but never in that mystical place called  a “closet.”

6.) Oodles of empty shampoo/conditioner/soap bottles in the kids’ bathroom.  (Note to self: work on the if-it’s-empty-THROW-IT-AWAY rule with lazy, unconcerned children.)

What about you?  Any baffling things happening in your house during this summer vacation?