There are times when we feel as if she is standing right next to us, or sitting at the table telling us to take off our jacket. I see her hugging her dogs as they climb into her lap, and I see the smile on her face as she held her newest grandchild for the first time.
Read More AbsenceMake your voice heard, vote your conscience. Vote for the two candidates for the senate that will listen to you, work for you and not listen to special interests.
Read More Georgia…Vote!I want to first start out by saying Happy Holidays to everyone. I know this has been a tough year, and it’s not over yet. I wish you all health, happiness and success in the New Year.
Read More Onward to 2021This time of year, it can be hard to get everything we need to do done in a day. The added stress, lack of time, and other factors play heavily into our mindset, causing us to feel overwhelmed.
Read More Hustle and BustleA huge weight has been lifted off of our shoulders. Can you feel it? Over the last few days, I’ve found myself in a better mood, smiling more and hopeful again about the future. We have a long way to go, but I think we will get there.
Read More TransformationThe blue state vs. the red state thing has to end. We should not be fighting each other. We should be combating a virus to save lives. The virus is neither a democrat or a republican, it’s simply a killer.
Read More ReconnectingMoon falls is a majestic area with an incredible waterfall and a relatively easy 1 mile trail. Getting to it is the big holdup here, and we had our issues. Although we had been here before, Google maps took us on a different route than previous and we ended up on a maze of confusing and rough logging roads that took us to a spot above the trailhead. Google announced “you have arrived” but in fact, we weren’t there yet.
Read More Out of the way placesPeople, this fire has been burning for far too long. Let’s put this fire out together. Now is the time. Stand up, speak up, do not stay silent any longer. This is not a time to say “me, me, me”, it’s a time to say “what can I do to help?” We need to come together as the human race. We are all human beings, are we not? It’s our right to peacefully protest to inspire change, and we’ve let this go on much too long.
Read More Unprecedented TimesI know many of you are wondering when the Audible version of Crimson and Amber: Coffee and Emeralds Book Two will be released…
Read More Crossing fingersIt’s funny how life goes along at a livable pace and then something happens to throw everything off. Often, it doesn’t take much to do that, but sometimes it’s big things that take you off track and you fight like hell to get back on it.
Read More Off the Tracks…Okay. That’s me. What about you? What are you doing to pass the time? Tell me of your inventive ways to spend your free time. What is keeping you sane right now?
Please share in the comments below. There are many of us that need ideas….SPILL!!!
Extra credit goes to the person that can identify the gaming controller in the picture above…LOL
No matter where you live, I’m sure if you are reading this, the COVID-19 virus has affected your life in some way. Are you quarantined? Are you an essential worker? I would really like to know your stories. Please, if you have a comment or story to share, leave them in the comments below.
Read More Hows Everyone Holding Up?I write this just as the Oregon Governor has issued a stay at home order for all Oregonians. I was in line at the bank drive thru when it was announced. Well…at least I made my car payment.
Read More Uncertain TimesWhether you’re young or a little older, we’ve all had times in our lives when our heart was broken. A best friend moves away, a parent or sibling or other family member passes away, or a relationship falls apart. All of these things and so much more can cause heartbreak.
Read More HeartbreakWe finally got back out there this weekend! First hike of 2020 in the books. We did a simple trek to McDowell Creek. It’s closeby, and an easy one to start off with.
Read More 2020I’m finally back after taking a break for personal reasons. All is well here now and I’m ready to get back into things.
Read More Hello out there!As I continue to work on book three of the Coffee and Emeralds series, I have also begun drafting a new novel and re-drafting the post-apocalyptic novel that I set aside last year.
Read More New year, new storiesWhen I get anxious, I talk fast, often not making sense or saying things I don’t mean. I can’t think straight when I get this way.
Read More Can’t think straightAs I sit here, hunkered down to do some writing, I am trying also to look ahead at things to come. The last year is in the past and I have much to look forward to.
Read More Looking aheadWarm greetings everyone! I just wanted to wish you all a very happy holiday season and a wonderful new year!
Read More Greetings of the Season!I know this is a tough time of year for everyone. It is for me. I work hard to try to remember my sister, my brother and my parents in a positive light, but the negative of the loss always seeps through. I miss them all. I wish they were here.
Read More Busy time of yearIt’s been so cold here in Oregon lately, and we stayed warm, huddled up on the couch under a blanket watching Dolly Parton’s Heart Strings on Netflix. Corny, I know but man that woman can still sing!
Read More Titles and CoversIt’s hard, isn’t it? Being patient about anything is a chore. Right now, I am exercising patience about several things, some of which I will mention, some I will keep to myself 😁
Read More PatienceWe ventured back to Sweet Creek this past weekend and as promised, I have pictures for you. We didn’t make it in time for the intense Fall colors we were hoping for but it was still a lovely day spent outside.
Read More As promisedI know that most people do, but Saturday and Sunday used to be just days of the week for me. Days to do chores like shopping and cleaning.
Read More I love weekendsHalloween has always been a fun time of the year. Seeing all the little dinosaurs, jedi knights, superheroes and princesses out and about trick or treating.
Read More Happy Halloween!I may not agree with my family, friends and coworkers about everything. How can I? I am my own person and entitled to my own opinions.
Read More I may not agree…Are you a Sarah lover or do you prefer Jo? Other readers tell me they absolutely adore Karen and many have told me how much they love Trevor.
Read More Who is your favorite character?With the impending release of Crimson and Amber, Book Two of the Coffee and Emeralds series on Audible, life has been both busy and stressful.
Read More Here we goIt’s been a few weeks since my last blog post. Sorry I’ve been so absent.Life is so busy sometimes and it makes it hard to find time to do what I need to do.I apologize to my readers for not checking in.I’m still here!
Read More It’s been a whileIt’s been much colder here lately. I find myself snuggling closer to my love to take in her body heat. Fall has arrived and with it comes lower temperatures and the wonderful colors of Autumn in the places I long to visit.
Read More The wonders of Fall, fatigue and an update…Hiking anywhere in the Pacific Northwest is always a refreshing and renewing experience. It doesn’t matter where we go when we spend time in the trees, its always a rewarding and wonderful time.
Read More The PNWIt’s coming really soon! I’m very excited about my producer/narrator, Tristin Rutherford! She’s done a fabulous job. I really feel as if she’s brought the characters to life and I’ve found myself laughing, crying and worrying along with Jo and Sarah.
Read More Sorry I’m late…This Summer has seemed to fly by. I’ve spent most weekends hiking somewhere, have been back to several places and discovered a few new ones as well.
Read More Looking forward to the Fall!I’m having one of those days. I’m struggling so much financially that it’s affecting my work today and I need to rant
Read More I’m ranting…My girl and I went to our local 🌈Pride🏳️🌈 celebration this past Saturday and it was awesome!
Read More In the Zone &🏳️🌈PrideMy day usually starts at 5 am. I get up, write for two hours then get set to go to work. In itself, that can be exhilarating as I progress in my current storyline. Sometimes though, I need to take a break, like last week.
Read More Hello thereAs I continue to write my next book, a dystopian novel featuring strong female characters, I continually step into the present in the USA and it comes through in my words. I really hope this book makes it to the mainstream.
Read More Taking bigger steps…I know it’s been a while since I’ve posted about any hikes we’ve done the past few weekends. We do some type of hike nearly every Saturday and that will continue. Oregon is a great place to do that and we usually manage to find a place that neither of us has been to before to investigate.
Read More Getting outWell, not really. I’m knee deep in the first draft and I’ve already gone off course for the outline I created for my dystopian sci fi novel.
Read More Outlining is fun and easy!Tomorrow July 2nd, my second book Crimson and Amber: Book 2 of the Coffee and Emeralds Series will be released and available on the Kindle app, Kindle devices and Kindle Unlimited. The paperback version is available now.
Read More Tomorrow is the BIG DAY!Out From the Under takes place in the present. A group of strong women are the center of the story, forced to live in an underground bunker and to perpetuate the survival of the human race, at least in America.
Read More Now on to a new series!!Happy Pride everyone! This year at Portland, Oregon Pride I was happy to be able to go with my partner and as usual, Pride NW did not disappoint. 25 years of Pride festivals and they know how to do it right. There were a large number of supporters of LGBT rights present. Straight allies and […]
Read More Happy Pride!Crimson and Amber, Coffee and Emeralds Book 2, is now available for pre-order
Read More Pre-order now available!Pride in Portland, Oregon is happening this weekend and I will be there.
Read More So Close!I’m thrilled to share with you the cover of my upcoming book: Crimson and Amber, Coffee and Emeralds, Book 2! Release is set for later this month!
Read More Cover Reveal!We did a lovely hike to Blue Pool this past weekend. It was a perfect day, sunny with big puffy white clouds in the sky. We ate our lunch and took in nature as we usually do.
Read More Team members needed!Today, I thought I would give you a small taste of book two, tentatively titled Crimson and Amber, of the Coffee and Emeralds series.It’s just a little taste 😃. I hope you enjoy it! Let me know in the comments what you think…I’m not giving much away in this excerpt…sorry 😁~Rae
Read More Excerpt Time.It was a long hike through the trees and the tiny off the grid community of Jawbone Flats, Oregon to Opal Pools. We sat and ate lunch at the spot pictured above and enjoyed the warmth of the day and the feeling of renewal such a day gives.
Read More Learning to GrowI recently arrived at a place in my life where I can see my past more clearly. It’s taken me a long time to get here. I know more about myself. I’m coming to grips with hard things I had no control over in my life (and some things I do) and putting some of […]
Read More Connecting and re-connecting
