Good morning, Everyone. It’s a beautiful Sunday morning here on the south shore of Long Island. The yard is about to burst in color. Pour your coffee. Let’s catch up.
If we were having coffee together, I would confess my negligence on keeping up with blog reading, writing and corresponding. In fact, everything has been in a holding pattern. I’ve been under the radar, pushing through the beta readers’ comments and finishing the manuscript. How do prolific writers write brilliantly and be a person at the same time? My process is slow and labored, leaving home and hearth in disarray. The house is a mess, meals are poorly executed, and I am attacking the yard in pieces. But as of last night, I can say I am DONE. I am ready for another round of beta readers. If anyone is interested in being a beta reader for my 42k-word manuscript, PLEASE email me (storiesserved@gmail.com).
If we were having coffee together, I would report that a 20 yard dumpster was filled with my parents’ 50+ year collection of stuff from the crawl space, basement, garage, and attic. My dad hated to throw anything away and lived by the motto “I might need this one day.” Although he proved the statement true in his years of repairing, maintaining and building for the house, cars, and boats, there was a lot of stuff waiting for their “one day”. We sifted through tools and gadgets, clamps and hoses, and pumps and transmissions. It was an emotional dig for everyone. We distributed the necessary and laughed about the absurd. Mom’s flower and gardening supplies have new locations she can access safely. In the end, it was just stuff. Despite the clear basement and somewhat organized garage, Dad’s presence echoes in our hearts and minds.
If we were having coffee together, I would lighten up this post by sharing the story of the deer’s head. A long time ago, Dad came into possession of this deer’s head. It was not his prize stag, but it hung in the den for years. Several times Mom tried to throw it out, only to be thwarted by Dad pulling it from a garbage can and claiming its beauty and value. It sat in the attic for another 20 years. When we pulled it out and brought it to the dumpster, my 5-year-old nephew wanted to pet it. He and his three-year-old brother played with it while we threw everything in the dumpster. It kept them very busy. At the end of the day, the boys somehow hid the deer’s head in bushes. No one noticed. The dumpster was removed a few days later. The deer’s head peeked out of the bush, remaining in one piece for now. Monday is trash day. Let’s see what happens.
That’s about it. Great big thank you to Natalie the Explorer, the incredible host of Weekend Coffee Share.
Be kind. Be safe.
Have a fantastic week, Everyone. Make it great.
Enjoy ❤️. Like 👍. Share 😊.

Schedule your virtual and live Book Club Events and Creative Writing Workshops.
Download FREE Curriculum Connections
If you had purchased a paperback or ebook Daily Bread and/or Becoming America’s Food Stories—Thank you!
Take a picture of you with Daily Bread and/or Becoming America’s Food Stories, and I’ll send you Reader’s Swag and add you to the Becoming America’s Stories Readers slideshow, coming soon! Kid pics are welcomed with parent or guardian permission. Don’t forget to leave a rating and quick comment on Amazon and/or Goodreads.
_________________________________________


“If you don’t cook with love, you have to get out of the kitchen.” Florence Messina
Congratulation for finishing up your latest big writing project. Good timing with the start of the summer season starting to settle in.
The story of the deer head is cute and funny. Thank you for sharing.
Hope you have a great week.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! The boys looked for it, but it wasn’t where they left it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congrats, Antoinette, on finishing your manuscript. Time for a break before you pick it up again. I hope your nephews don’t miss the deer head too much when it’s gone. Have a great week! #weekendcoffeeshare
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! Have a great week.
LikeLike
A big congratulations on completing your latest writing project, Antoinette. That’s a huge accomplishment. I have no idea how writers do this and get anything else done. Keeping up with blog posts alone (while retired) is a juggle enough for me! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks a bunch, Donna. Im not sure how I’m doing this, either. Since my retirement there is more time, but then there is so more to do. Thanks for reading.
LikeLike
Congrats. I often read peoples blogs, see what they’re doing, or just people on Facebook or IG and think how do they do it…lol. I’m sure that was a lot to go through of the things at your parents. Loved the story of the deer head. My dad was a taxidermist and we have lots of stories of the “animals” that passed through our house for him to “stuff”. Even a pet buffalo’s head
LikeLiked by 1 person
Too funny with the taxidermy. Thanks a bunch for reading
LikeLike
I stumbled upon your blog and so happy that I did. I am looking forward to reading your book, which I just purchased, and reading more of your posts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Bernadette. I would lovee to know what you thought of my book.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I will let you know. I just ordered it from Amazon this morning and will probably get it in a day or so. FYI – I got the last copy.
LikeLike
Which book? Daily Bread or Becoming America’s Food Stories?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Becoming America’s Food Stories
LikeLiked by 1 person