Sunday Fun—My New Umbrella

Last night I attended a cocktail fundraiser for breast cancer research and won this fabulous umbrella for making the largest donation.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm actually looking forward to the next rainy day!

Until next time,
Lee

Sunday Fun—Inspiration

Some writers do storyboards and collages for the books they write, and I envy them that. That process has always intrigued me and I've considered doing it but have just never set aside the time.

I do look for things that inspire my writing, though, and I keep various things on and around my desk that help keep me in the moment while I'm writing, help with adding details to scenes, and so on.

So I thought I would share a couple of images I used while writing Firefighter Daddy—specifically Rory's bridesmaid dress and shoes. The dress I had in mind wasn't identical to this one but it was very similar.

Rory's strappy, sparkly shoes, however, were exactly like these!

I think they're gorgeous, even though my feet hurt just looking at them.

And of course Mitch liked them too. A lot!

Happy reading!

Until next time,
Lee

Sunday Fun—Garden Art

Dragonflies are such beautiful and intriguing insects, so when I spotted this metal sculpture while touring a public garden this week, I just had to snap a photo.

I love that it's made from found objects and recycled metal, and I especially love the ball-bearing eyes.

My husband creates garden sculpture as well—here's one of his gorgeous driftwood herons.

I've now added a dragonfly to my wish list for the garden.

Until next time,
Lee

Happy Fourth of July!

Here's how my nieces are celebrating.



Are these not the most adorable pedicures you've ever seen?

I hope your Fourth of July is as happy as theirs!

Until next time,
Lee

Sunday Fun—Spring DIY

My taste in decorating tends to be conservative and uncluttered with calm, neutral colors but an entire room filled with beige and cream and tan can be, well, boring. Which is what my living room was. It needed some accent colors and I finally decided on a shade of turquoise-approaching-teal with smaller hits of green.

I found this desk in a secondhand store—this photo was actually taken while it was still in the store—and my husband painted it off-white.

The desk needed a chair and I found this one on Craig’s List, cheap. One leg was damanged, the upholstery was musty and the stained wood uninspired.

I’ve had this little spindle table for ages, also a secondhand store find.

Here's how the chair and table look now.

I’m really pleased with how well the desk and chair work together, tucked into a corner of the living room next to the fireplace. My husband received the vintage panther lamp as a Father’s Day gift from our kids.

The little table is great with this slipper chair. The duck was rescued from a thrift store and the rattan basket (purchased for a dollar at a garage sale) holds magazines. I’m still putting together a collection of photographs for this wall so eventually it won’t look so bare.

My next project will be some toss cushions made from what’s left of the floral fabric from the chair seat and a coordinating striped fabric.

It's taken a while to assemble all these pieces and it's still a bit of a work in progress, but I'm really happy with the outcome so far.

Do you have a spring DIY project in mind? I’d love to hear about it!

Until next time,
Lee

Sunday Fun—Queens of the Castle

It’s not often that my two cats pose together for the same photo but here they are this morning, sharing the climbing tower. Before I showed up with the camera, they had been watching a pair of crows in the front yard.

The little white-and-grey sweetie on the top level is Lucy and the gorgeous tuxedo cat is Imilie.

Be sure to check back later this week for Tuesday News and Friday Food for Thought.

Until next time,
Lee

Sunday Fun—Happy Pi Day

If you’ve used Google today, you will have figured out that today—March 14—is Pi Day because 3/14 are the first three digits of pi. It’s also Albert Einstein’s birthday, which I think is just about the coolest coincidence ever.

To celebrate, we’re having strawberry-rhubarb pie with “Happy Pi Day” written in chocolate icing. Are you geek enough to celebrate Pi Day?

Until next time,
Lee

Lee’s Cream-cycle

Last month you might remember that I posted a couple of photos of my two bicycles—the polka dot bike my husband gave me for Christmas and the old coaster bike he salvaged.

Here’s the coaster bike before he started to work on it . . .

. . . and here it is after.

I love it!

Gillian, if you see this, you were absolutely right about orange being a great color, and I love the cream accents. Now all I need is a wicker basket, and I’m set!

Until next time,
Lee

Sunday Fun—Lee’s Bicycles

You might remember me telling you that my husband gave me a bicycle for Christmas. A polka dot bike!

Isn’t it gorgeous? And it goes so nicely with my bookmarks!

I finally went out yesterday and bought a helmet and lights and a bell for the handlebar, and took the bike for a spin. The bike still needs a new seat—I want a big, wide white one—but still haven’ t found exactly what I’m looking for.

We also found this old coaster bike, and my husband is going to fix it up for me, too.

Someone added front brakes, which he will remove, and left it out in the rain, hence all the rust. He’s going to clean it up and give it a fresh coat of paint—and this one definitely needs a new seat! I still haven’t decided what color it should be. It’s currently a drab army green, but I’ll definitely go for something livelier than that. Any suggestions?

Until next time,
Lee

ETA:
Click here to see my refurbished coaster bike!

Sunday Fun - How Much Is That Doggie In The Window?

Woof, woof!

Today is my blog day with the Harlequin American Romance Authors. If you have a moment, please drop by and check out some fun photos from our vacation in San Francisco.

Until next time,
Lee

Sunday Fun—Meet Lily

Several weeks ago, while traveling to Susan Wiggs’ writing workshop in Vancouver, I met a delightful woman on the ferry. Her name is Lily, she’s a poet, and she’s turning 94 in a couple of weeks. Lily was on her way to a wedding at which she would be reading some of her poetry.

After a bit of writerly chat, she graciously agreed to pose for a photograph. Here she is, holding my business card and one of my bookmarks, which we both thought went rather well with her outfit.

I especially love her hat. I can’t remember everything that’s on it but there’s a charming little blue and green bird perched right on top. When I'm 94, I'm going to wear a hat exactly like that.

Lily invited me to visit her, so we exchanged contact information and now I’m looking forward to tea with a fellow writer.

Until next time,
Lee

Sunday Fun—What Would You Do...?

If you were at the mall and encountered a group of firefighters signing calendars, what would you do?

I stopped to buy a couple of calendars and have the guys autograph them.

Then, if you were a romance author who had a blog, what would you do?

After having the calendars signed, I decided to take a couple of photographs to post here on The Writer Side.

So I got my husband to hold my bag of calendars, found a good vantage point for taking photos, and before I could snap even one picture...they took off their shirts.

Seriously.

Well, I’m sure you would have done the same thing I did.

I snapped these.






The last one's a little out of focus. I guess my hands were getting shaky.

My husband was having a good laugh by the time I rejoined him, and I was congratulating myself for having such impeccable timing.

The calendar is great, by the way...you can take a sneak peek here...and all proceeds go to charity.

So...to celebrate the July 2010 release of my next Harlequin American Romance—Firefighter Daddy—I’ll be running a contest throughout December here on The Writer Side of Life. Contest details will be posted here on December 5 and the lucky winner will be announced on December 31.

What would you do for a chance to win an autographed 2010 firefighter calendar?

I hope you’ll enter my contest!

Until next time,
Lee

Sunday Fun—Archie

Say hello to Archie. Archie is a BoShih, which is what you get when you breed a Boston terrier and a Shih Tzu.


One ear is perpetually perked, the other flops. His tail is as straight as a pencil and looks as though it’s been dipped in white paint. He's one of the sweetest and most energetic little dogs I have ever seen, he never barks, and although he’s only six months old, he’s already quite well trained.

Archie and his master often play ball on the lawn of a government building where I sometimes do temp work. In this photo, Archie is waiting for his master to throw his yellow ball, which he will chase and retrieve so it can be thrown again. And again, and again.

A visit with Archie always brightens my day.

Until next time,
Lee

Sunday Fun—Let It Snow!

Film sets fascinate me, and I’ve always thought it would be great to be part of a film crew. I’m sure the job has plenty of less-than-exciting moments, but there would also be days when you’d get to turn summer into winter. How much fun would that be?

This week I happened upon a film set in a quaint little neighborhood square where the crew had done just that.

As you can see from the bystanders in shorts and tanktops, it was a lovely late-summer day, complete with snowbanks and a gazebo fit for Santa!

The set is for a TV mini-series called Seven Deadly Sins, starring Eric Close (Without a Trace), Dreama Walker (Gossip Girl) and Greyston Holt (Durham County), and set for release sometime in 2010. I hope I get to see it.

Until next time,
Lee

Sunday Fun—An Evening at the Theatre

Last night my husband and I attended a production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. I’m a big fan of Shakespeare’s work and Twelfth Night happens to be my favorite. I love romantic comedy, and this is rom com at its best, filled with deceit and misunderstandings and, eventually, love.

I do not reviews. I only blog about things I like and I liked this production a lot. Starting with the outdoor theatre, which is a perfect summer venue. The audience settled into the seating area, a gently sloping bit of ground, with lawn chairs and blankets and picnic lunches.

Sitting next to us was a young couple on their first date. On our other side was a young couple eating sushi. They were pregnant, so not a first date.

The main stage was shaded by big old oak trees, and the sparse set allowed lots of room for the sometimes boisterous and slapstick antics of the cast. The white tent beyond the tree was one of the backstage areas.


A nearby outcrop of rock did double duty as the ship that wrecked at the beginning of Act I, Scene II.

The director, Barbara Poggemiller, took some minor liberties with the cast, replacing Valentine and Curio with a pair of Valentinas who attended the Duke and very effectively doubled as sailors, police officers and members of the chorus line.

The cast was varied in both experience and ability. Several of the most prominent and comedic roles were played by well-seasoned pros, and the fledgling actors working with them will surely benefit from their experience.

I was especially taken with the performances of Feste (Wes Borg), a Sir Toby Belch (Chris Harris), and Malvolio (Eric Grace). I didn’t take many photos during the performance, but couldn’t resist snapping a picture of a yellow-stockinged cross-gartered Malvolio.

Here he is, beseeching a stunned Olivia while a most devious Maria looks on. Easily my favorite scene.

As the evening progressed, stage lights replaced sunlight, and then a couple of thunder clouds rolled over the Olympic Mountains and across the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The audience pulled on their jackets or wrapped themselves in blankets while nature added a few special effects of her own.

By curtain call, the sky was dark and the temperature had dropped considerably. I’m sure the cast was ready to take their leave, especially Olivia in her strapless wedding dress, but not before receiving the audience’s enthusiastic applause.

If you live in the Pacific Northwest or plan to visit this summer, treat yourself to the Victoria Shakespeare Society’s Shakespeare in the Summer Festival. They’re also presenting Julius Caesar, and we wouldn’t miss it!

Until next time,
Lee

~~~

ETA:

Oh my goodness! Michael Glover, the festival's artistic director, sent me the follow photos and captions. All photos courtesy of Arial Rubin Photography.

[from the left to the right] Wes Borg, as Feste, mocks Eric Grace's Malvolio as he attempts to council the grieving Christina Penhale, as Olivia.

~~~

Chris Harris [top], as Sir Toby Belch, posses above a horrified John Green [left, bottom], as Sir Andrew Aguecheek who is being terrified by the lovely Alyson Culbert's [Right, bottom], Maria.

~~~

Christina Penhale, as Olivia, has a spark of love in her eye for the dashing young man who, unfortunately for Olivia, is not a man. Marina Lagrace's Viola seems blissfully unaware of this development.

~~~

Orsino, Duke of Illyria as played by Stefan Jonsson [centre] seems weary as only the man who has everything can, by the pool and waited on by the lovely Alina Maris [left] and Christine Mooney [right].

Sunday Fun—Beyond Hideous

Yesterday I was searching an online buy-and-sell website, looking for a vintage coffee table and end table for my living room. The phrase “coffee table” led me to this.

My daughter and I had a good laugh. She said it's probably from the Darth Maul Collection, and then explained that Darth Maul is a Star Wars character, described by George Lucas as "a figure from your worst nightmare."

The resemblance? Unmistakable.

The price? $2500.

I have no idea who is trying to sell this furniture, although I can imagine why. It was likely purchased by a young guy who has since asked a young gal to marry him.

Her answer: Get rid of that furniture, and then we’ll talk.

Until next time,
Lee

Sunday Fun

Moms, if you are honored with a cake today, I hope it’s one like this instead of one of these.

Or these!

Happy Mother’s Day!

Until next time,
Lee

Sunday Fun—America’s Next Top Model

Last week I saw a fabulous pair of rain boots in a shop window. I didn’t dare go inside for a closer look because I knew I would be tempted to buy them. Besides, summer is almost here and no matter how much I want rain boots, I really don’t need them. Not even fun, gorgeous boots that make me smile every time I look at them. Which is often.

I couldn’t stop thinking about the boots, though, so several days later I went back to the shop. They had a pair in my size so I tried them on.

What can I say? Me and these boots? Meant to be.


See what I mean? What’s not to love about red rubber cowboy boots?

They’re from a California company called dav that sells “high fashion for wet days.” Fabulous boots, waterproof handbags, umbrellas, and accessories. Stunning stuff.

Especially these.


The store where I bought my red ones didn’t have the peacock boots, and it’s just as well. I might have been tempted to buy them instead. Or both.

But I’m better off with the red boots. Much more sedate, don’t you think?

Now you’re probably wondering what this has to with America’s Next Top Model. Well, yesterday I met two writer friends for one of our three-hour lunch rituals, and we went to a restaurant that’s right across the street from the shop where I bought the boots. And I had the boots on because it turns out that, to wear them, it doesn’t actually have to be raining.

After lunch, my friends thought they should take a picture of me in the boots. Next thing I knew, we were in the shop and had permission to take a picture of me in their window! Here I am in what is almost sure to be my first and last photo shoot.


Here’s the funny part. People walking by stopped to watch, and many decided to come into the store. A few even asked me and my friends for help finding sizes! Did they think it was a real fashion shoot? Hm. Maybe I could be America’s Next Top Model.

Or not.

I'll settle for a red handbag and umbrella to match.

Until next time,
Lee

Sunday Fun—A Trip to the Dollar Store

I like to keep an assortment of greeting cards on hand, and I buy them at the dollar store because I’m...thrifty. Thrifty sounds so much nicer than cheap, don’t you think?

Although it says “Thinking of You” on the front, on the inside it says “...and wishing you all good things on your birthday.”


I can’t decide if a tool purse is a good thing or not, but this is what my husband is getting for his birthday. The card, that is. I wouldn't know where to begin looking for a tool purse.

Do you shop at the dollar store? What’s the zaniest thing you’ve found?

Until next time,
Lee

Sunday Fun—Boots

I love my boots.

Everyone who knows me knows I am not a fashionista. Give me a pair of jeans, an old sweatshirt and a comfy pair of shoes, and I am one happy camper. But when I found these boots on sale—seriously marked down—I could not resist.

I love the yummy chocolate color, the tassled bows at the back, the heels. Being tall is fun!

Until next time,
Lee