Be My Inspiration
Before I really begin, here's a pre-first-thing. A photo of the entrance to Bindsell City Park across from the Blanco County Courthouse in Blanco, Texas. The pre-first-thing is because I really love this blog template, but I always need to post a square image before any other so that it fits nicely on the opening screen. It's rarely a problem except in certain instances... like this month's blog.
I love going up to Blanco on Saturday or Sunday. It's only about an hour away. But I've never mustered up enough courage to venture down this path. In person, it gives me the creeps.
Now we can move on to first things first (except for the pre-first-thing). Bluebonnet Ballerina is on sale for $0.99 today through midnight Sunday, October 7.
If you missed the pre-order special, now's a good time to get your Kindle copy.
The next item is that while I know it's October and a whole lot of you are pumpkin-spicing everything and anticipating riots of red, yellow, and orange leaves really soon... in San Antonio it's still 90-some degrees. I'm still wearing summer shorts and tops and am either barefoot or if I'm venturing outside, sliding my feet into flip-flops.
We don't normally get a lot of rain, but September was our rainiest September ever - or at least since they started keeping records back in the 1800s. Things are blooming again. Here are a couple of plants and other things that make me smile whenever I look at them.
My sweet fur babies make me smile, too - Wrangler, a Border Collie mix rescue puppy, and Shiner, an Australian Cattle Dog, aka Blue Heeler. If either of these dogs had opposable thumbs, I would be in serious trouble :)
And a dessert that is totally Texas (via Mexico/Central America) - a Tres Leches Cake topped with fresh fruit. Tres Leches translates to Three Milks. This is a sponge cake soaked in evaporated milk, condensed milk, and heavy cream, with sweetened whipped cream spread over the top. And the optional fruit. It is delicious.
Disclaimer: I took the cake photo through the glass of the bakery case at our local H-E-B. I will probably never attempt to make one of these cakes on my own.
Moving on, I'm celebrating an anniversary of sorts. I've been blogging for ten years. I can hardly believe that; it seems like I wrote the first one yesterday. This blog has changed a little since I began, but not a lot, and I think it's time for a freshening up at the Tiki Hut. I need your inspiration!
So I'm officially asking for your input. What would you like to read here? I listed a few topics below, but I'm open to almost anything unless it involves religion or politics. I really do want to hear from you because you're the ones who give your time to read and comment on my words. If you don't see something you'd like to read about here, by all means add it in your comments.
- Writing tips
- Indie publishing tips
- Publishing information
- More about my books
- More about my characters
- More about Texas
- More about me
- More guest bloggers
- Keep the blog the same
- Other
Please respond in the comments or it's always okay to email me at tikihuttime AT gmail DOT com if you would like your thoughts to remain anonymous to other readers.
🔹 I need your help to keep the Tiki Hut fresh for you, so don't be shy! 🔹
Holiday season is arriving as I type. It begins for me in October. All the regular holidays plus a dozen or so family birthdays. I'm always super busy the last three months of the year. This year, while I'll still be around on Facebook and Twitter, I've decided to take a blog hiatus in November and December.
In the meantime... Happy Columbus Day, Happy Halloween, All Saints Day, All Souls Day, Day of the Dead, thanks to all veterans for your service, Happy Thanksgiving, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Winter Solstice, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year! Plus several Happy Birthdays, too!
I probably forgot something.
Please help me know what direction to take with the blog starting in 2019.
I'll be back here on Monday, January 7, 2019.
Comments
We've been really warm here although it was finally cool this morning. I'm ready for real fall temperatures.
More about where you live would be cool.
More about your writing and your world in general. Ummmm, what you're doing now seems fine.
Teresa
I agree with Natalie's comment above. :)
In the "Other" category, maybe some great tidbits you learned while researching that you wanted to use in your books, but you couldn't make it work, yet you think everyone should know about this.
Plus I want to know why that path gives you the creeps.
Ten years? Congratulations.
And like Jody I want to know why that path creeps you out. In the photo it looks inviting.
Love the furry family, and would like to know what books inspire you. Either for their writing or because they get you thinking.
Natalie - If you make this cake, please let me know how difficult it is and how it turns out. You're more adventurous in the baking department than I am!
Teresa - Aww... I'll give them hugs from you :) They're like two two-year olds all the time.
Elizabeth - So smart. The heeler is the family fairness monitor. Nothing escapes him. The border collie is our security expert.
Jody - There's a lot of unused research with every book. I'll have an unending supply of topics, but I'll have to be choosy. I think I'll chat about the path in January :)
Mark - Yes and Yes! Love Halloween.
EC - Our rains are mostly like this. All or nothing. So I always enjoy them. In January, more about the creepy path :)
Love,
Janie
You puppies are cute. You can always blog about animals. I love animals.
We will miss you until January, and I hope you remember to tell us why that path creeps you out! Be well!
Jan - I guess because things are so visual on the internet and all photos are images but an image doesn't have to be a photograph. It can be anything visual. I don't know that, but that's what makes sense to me.
Thanks to both of you for helping give me a direction for the Tiki Hut next year ♥
Ya know, I've been afraid of some really beautiful places too. I blame Pierce Anthony (the Xanth novels) for teaching me that if a path is very easy and beautiful, its a trap of some sort.
Fall is my favorite season, October my favorite month. Eventually I will tire of the rain, but I'm really looking forward to the season right now.
That cake looks delicious. I've got my nose plastered to the screen. I'm dieting - still, not again - and even looking, let alone smelling, is putting weight on my hips. Totally worth it!!
Happy Anniversary and I hope you have a wonderful rest of the year, Carol! *hugs*
Your fur babies are fabulous!!
Wow, that's quite a break you're taking. Sounds rather tempting...
As for your blog, I agree with Crystal. I like the more personal stuff in blogs, so we truly feel like we know each other, ya know?
Have a fantabulous break!
It's warm here in So. Ca. too. Just had a couple 100 degree day but today it's ---ooo a chilly 74. 😂
Julie - I really appreciate your input. After ten years, it's difficult for me to judge.
Jemi - Come to San Antonio and you, too, can taste Tres Leches! My furbabies would give you kisses :)
Crystal - Thanks! I'm going to miss you :(
Susan - Personal appears to be winning the race. Stay cool!
Jo-Anne - You're so funny! You're a great inspiration for me in the way you blog about your family so easily.
I think I'll have to investigate the Tres Leches cake. That looks too good to leave in a bakery window.
Oh, and going into the past...I remember something fun that you did ages ago. It required that we, your avid fans, write a story to go with a picture you posted. Am I remembering that right?
Congrats on your ten years of blogging!
A three-milk cake with fruit on top? Looks very rich.
I think you should resurrect the monthly challenge you had a while back, where you posted a picture and we had to write a flash piece... you know that I LOVE picture prompts!
Take care, Carol!
See you around on face book from time to time..
Lynda - Thanks! The cake is delicious.
Michelle - The cake is rich... but you always want more! I've added the photo prompt to my list :)
Christine - I'm adventurous in some ways, but scary paths is not one of them. Hope you have a great rest of 2018, too!
It just started to get chilly here today. We had been having lots of warm weather- but I think fall is finally settling in.
Enjoy your blog break. Wishing you back a happy every holiday until January.
I love finding out about your books- and I would love publishing tips and indie publishing tips. :)
~Jess