POSITIVELY whoosh

 by Mauverneen

Transition

Why does time seem to go so fast these days? When you're a kid, time drags. "Christmas will never get here".  As an adult it's "Oh pfft, already!?" While we still have a few weeks to go, it's less than a month away. I'm so proud of myself for starting my shopping, but I know there are people out there who were finished in July. Some people have their trees and Christmas decorations up. Sigh. Too early for me. I wait until at least December. But then, mine is still up after almost everyone else has taken theirs down. I've also rearranged my living room so I'm not sure where I'm going to put the tree.

One thing that seems to be going on forever however, is that darn turkey. I'm sick of eating turkey. 

Autumn around here was wonderful, it did last a good amount of time. Then we got zapped with some January weather, but now, it's Autumn again. Until tomorrow.

Another thing that went quickly was this morning's coffee. I made the usual amount, but somehow, it went too fast, now I'm brewing a second pot. (which I sometimes do but it's never as good as the first one and I usually end up not drinking it) The donut went fast too. I think there may still be another one. 

Which brings me to Positively Tuesday. It's Tuesday - again. The week went by so quickly. I hope it didn't go so fast that none of us remembered to be positive. But, here we go again. Have a POSITIVELY Great week! 

As always, words and photos are my own, and require permission to reprint.

However, feel free to share the blog in it's entirety. In fact, I encourage it!

Interested in photo prints? Contact me! maureenblevins@yahoo.com

See more photos at http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-mauverneen-blevins.html

Available at Amazon.com or request it at your favorite bookstore!

POSITIVELY GIVING THANKS

 by Mauverneen

It's Thanksgiving week. I've been busy cleaning, menu planning, and generally preparing for the Big Thursday, like a lot of people. Everyone will find something to be grateful for on Thanksgiving Day - at least I hope so. But why wait? What are you thankful for TODAY? 

My goal when I started this blog was in the hope that just one day a week, we could avoid complaining. I hear so much all around me. And yes, I do my share - maybe more than my share. But Tuesday? No. No complaining. So what if you've got to clean the house? You have a house. So what if you have to do all that cooking? And shopping? Be positively grateful that you can! I know, I know, it sounds trite and preachy, but if you think about it...

I'm looking forward to hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year. I'll bake pies the day before (as always), and relax the day after. What do I enjoy most about Thanksgiving? Apart from being with family and friends, I will enjoy the smells - not much smells better than sautéing the onion and celery for the stuffing (yes - I make my own). And then the wonderful aroma of the turkey cooking. I don't know why the whole neighborhood doesn't smell like turkey in the oven - after all, everybody is cooking the same thing. Do you think if we all cracked the window open a bit.... but then I can just picture the Bumpuses dogs hanging around my back door. Now THAT would be something to complain about!

In my house, I cannot leave food on the table and the chairs pulled out. Somebody I know would be right up there the minute my back was turned.

So, today, I'm Positively looking forward to Thanksgiving. May you all have a wonderful week! 

As always, words and photos are my own, and require permission to reprint.

However, feel free to share the blog in it's entirety. In fact, I encourage it!

Interested in photo prints? Contact me! maureenblevins@yahoo.com

See more photos at http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-mauverneen-blevins.html

Available at Amazon.com or request it at your favorite bookstore!

Positively Official

 by Mauverneen

Well, it's Positively Official - I'm an author. Kind of scary to think about in some ways. I need to wrap my head around this new title I've given myself. I already had people ask me if I'm working on another book. Actually, I am, but for now... oh my.   

I promised I'd keep you updated on the book's progress. My proof copy arrived and looked good. I was happy with it. So I ordered a bunch. If you're local, I no doubt will carry a few copies in my car wherever I go, so if you want one, just ask! If you're not local, but want one, please do go to Amazon, or request the book from your local bookstore - they can order it for you! 

My local writers group - WriteOn Joliet puts out an annual anthology and our official release party is December 8th, from 6 - 8:30 pm at the Black Road Public Library. Not only will the new anthologies be for sale, but several of the published authors from that group will be there with their books! This year, I get to join them. If you're from Joliet, and able to, please join us that evening. The Book and Bean Cafe in the library has wonderful sandwiches, dessert, coffee, and hot chocolate - the perfect place to grab a snack or a drink before heading inside to visit with the authors. Books make wonderful gifts, and supporting your local authors is good karma all around!

Ok, time to get my head out of the clouds, my feet on the ground, and my hands dirty. In other words, back to work. The house needs cleaning, the garbage needs to be taken out, the dogs walked, the gutters cleaned... 

As always, words and photos are my own, and require permission to reprint.

However, feel free to share the blog in it's entirety. In fact, I encourage it!

Interested in photo prints? Contact me! maureenblevins@yahoo.com

See more photos at http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-mauverneen-blevins.html

Positively Elected

 by Mauverneen

I do NOT want to get into politics here. And I won't. But I do want to acknowledge that today there are elections. So go vote. 

It's trite to say it is a privilege, but it is.  It is one of the best expressions of freedom we have. Just think about how life would be if that were taken away - if we had no vote, if we had no voice. In some places, if you do raise that voice, you can get thrown into a cell, or shot. 

So vote, and allow others their vote. We may disagree but so what? The right to vote was a hard fought battle, from the time this country asserted independence, through suffrage, through racial suppresion. I remember my grandmother, an immigrant to this country, being on the phone before election day, coordinating rides to the polls. Not many women drove back then, so someone was there to pick them up and take them to the polls. Immigrants - they knew the value of their vote. And they were proud to do it. 

So, vote by mail, vote early, or vote on election day. Just Vote. And don't ever take it for granted.    

                                            

As always, words and photos are my own, and require permission to reprint.

However, feel free to share the blog in it's entirety. In fact, I encourage it!

Interested in photo prints? Contact me! maureenblevins@yahoo.com

See more photos at http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-mauverneen-blevins.html

Positively November

 by Mauverneen

November 1 - hard to believe. The year has gone by quickly. Today is a new start of sorts for me. My aunt's house that was up for sale (she passed away in August) sold and was closed yesterday - October 31st. So, that means no more trips to the house to check on things, sell off pieces of furniture, clean up, haul usable but unwanted to Goodwill. I think I called all the people I need to to turn off utilities, insurance, etc. 

Now I need to switch the focus to my own house. I have lots of my aunt's belongings here that still need to be sorted - photos mostly. But that will be a good winter project. I just took my dogs out and it is a beautiful morning! The sun is shining, the fog is lifting, and the colors are eye-popping. I really should take my camera and go for a ride through the park. Who knows what wonders await there? 

Oh, and my proof copy of my book should arrive today. I'm not really excited, more nervous, I think. I hope the set up looks ok, I hope the colors are fine, I hope - well, for all the things any author hopes for when their book is done. One hopes there needs to be no more tweaking and that one hasn't wasted one's time. I'll be checking out the window for the delivery, and then checking the front stoop in case I missed it. If it looks up to snuff, I'll break out a bottle of champagne, order some copies to have on hand, and let out this deep breath I've been holding in. 

So here's to November! May it be a good start to a new chapter. For everyone!

As always, words and photos are my own, and require permission to reprint.

However, feel free to share the blog in it's entirety. In fact, I encourage it!

Interested in photo prints? Contact me! maureenblevins@yahoo.com

See more photos at http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-mauverneen-blevins.html