Is there anybody out there?

Hey guys,

 

It's been years since I've been on here, but I'm still writing(and still unpublished), and now I'm curious to see if this is still a viable platform for connecting with...well...anyone.

 

I'm not saying I'll be back to blogging more than maybe once a week, but I might give it a shot if there's any interest in my ramblings(no, I'm not expecting there to be any, lol).

 

For those who might be curious, here's an update:

 

 I'm still a stay-at-home mom. We now have a house of our own, another little person running around, and two crazy dogs. I ended up regulating New Beginnings to the shoebox due to massive plot hole issues and a need to focus on my family. I actually stopped writing for a while, and then in 2017 my current ms Beast(a B&B retelling with a fae twist) exploded out of my pen over the course of eight months of frantic writing. Beast is on it's fourth revision, and I expect to be doing one more revision after this one to trim some of the word count and generally tighten things up before I start querying it. My next book, set in a different world for a totally different story, is already a fourth of the way written and has a sequel waiting in the wings.

 

There's loads more that's happened since my last post, but time isn't my friend this morning, and I'm not even sure anyone out there really cares, so I'm keeping things short and sweet for now. Maybe I'll return to this after all, you never know. Until then, I'm off to get started on the day.

 

 Later, guys.

~H. Hounshell

I want the number of that bus...

Man, I'm getting my butt handed to me this holiday season...

Juggling family messes and holiday drama while chasing a newly mobile toddler is wearing me out. Add my husband changing hours AND departments at work as he gets ready to go back to school for his job...well, let's just say if I was a coffee drinker I'd be seriously considering an IV for the stuff.

Coffee makes me pretty sick though, so instead I'm cutting back on everything I can to allow me to be less zombie-like and more functional. I won't be posting again until the end of January, but once I am, I should be back to a regular schedule until summer. At that point things are going to get crazy again, So I'm not sure if I'll be able to maintain a regular blogging pace, or not. 

I will probably keep posting at my art blog on wenesdays as I'm working on clearing a serious backlog of artwork in my studio. Plus, I'm hoping to bring in a little cash to make things easier for my family while we navigate these next few years of crazy job stuff.

That's not me complaining, by the way. The opportunity and possibilities have me pretty well floored, but while I'm excited to see what's going to happen...I need my quickly vanishing free-time to help keep me level. Art and writing fill that need nicely, but it means I may not have many chances to blog here.

 No matter what happens, though, I'll definitely keep writing. For now, I'll see you all in a few weeks. Bye!




~Sun and Moon

I think I need a map...

Ugh, so many links!


Um, I mean, I'm sorry I've been so absent. You see, I'm working on getting my art blog/site up and ready to go. 

While chasing a toddler.

And trying to find time to write.

Busy doesn't even come close to the chaos of my life right now. It's a good chaos though, so I'm not complaining(even though it may sound that way....sorry), but it means I have less time to blog if I want to have dinner ready when the hubby gets home and still be silly with my little one. 

Priorities are good things, am I right?

Anyway, I'm already running late on fixing dinner and the toddler just woke up from napping. Since my brain is kind of like so much mush after weaving the web of links and posts I need to make my art blog/site work, I'm going to sign off.


Erm, and yes I know it's not sunday, but yesterday was more nuts then usual. So yeah....have a monday post instead.  ^__^




~Sun and Moon

That chaos called life

I'm not dead, just really busy with a mobile toddler who won't let me write for very long before climbing into my lap and stealing my mouse. 

I'm two-thirds of the way through my edit notes, but I still haven't had a chance to go in and fix my plot holes. You see, I've not only had a mobile toddler to adjust to, but a new diet change as well. I've had to go grain free thanks to my body throwing a tantrum if I didn't, and that means a lot of time online just looking for recipes that won't break the bank. I'm getting better, but this running after a crawling kid and making sure all the babyproofing actually works? Yeah, it's a little time consuming.

Anywho, I better get going. It's already noon and I haven't had breakfast yet. There's coconut flour in my freezer, and bacon in my fridge. Some scrambled eggs, "muffins", and bacon sound amazing so I better get cracking while my little squirt is occupied sorting my post-it notes. 

I might even be able to squeeze it in some edits while I eat....hmmm...



~Sun and Moon

Not a cloud in sight....almost

Man, it's been a while...

*blows dust off her keyboard*

I'd love to say that I spent my whole time away from my blog working hard on my book, but I'd be lying. Since honesty is a good thing(or at least that's what I hear...), I'll just come clean and admit I haven't so much as looked at my notes since May.


You see, life has been a whirlwind since that last blog post. I spent most of May trying to get my apartment ready for my daughter's arrival and was shocked when I actually went into labor on time(my family never does...ever). Since I had expected to have at least another week to get ready, this set off a frantic scramble for the things we hadn't had a chance to get.

You know, like diapers. I hear they're kind of important and stuff.

 Anyway, what I'm trying to say is I flaked big time and I'm just now getting to where I can once more think about my story. As I now have this tiny person to take care of, I don't know how quickly I'll get thru the last of my edits. Blog posts won't be back to a regular schedule for a while, and I'll be lucky to wrangle an hour from my day for book work. Is it possible? Oh yes. Will I manage it every day? Heck no, and not because I don't want to, but rather it'll be because some things are more important.

Like my daughter.

So while I will strive to get my edits finished and return to regular blogging, it's going to be some time before it'll be an everyday thing. My poor laptop is covered in dust and tufts of cat hair(thanks, Nikki), and my notes have been brushed off my coffee table so many times that I need to sort them back into some kind of order before I get started. 

It all boils down to the simple fact that iife is messy, especially when you add a tiny human to the mix. I'll be working to rearrange what I can to get back into my groove, but until I manage that you can find me in my comfy, beaten up chair...rocking my daughter to sleep.


Later, guys :)

 

"Babies Don’t Keep"

Mother, O Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing, make up the bed,
Sew on a button and butter the bread.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I’ve grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,
Lullabye, rockabye, lullabye loo.
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo

The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew
And out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo
But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo
Look! Aren’t his eyes the most wonderful hue?
Lullabye, rockaby lullabye loo.

The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow
But children grow up as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.

~ By Ruth Hulburt Hamilton

~Sun and Moon

Remember....

Today one year ago, my son passed away in my womb. He was born sleeping March 25th, 2013 at 3:25am.

Today I remember my little boy and celebrate the new life his little sister has brought me.

Today I would like you share with you my grief, my sorrow, my healing, and my joy.

Michael's foot and hand prints in plaster with my seven month baby belly

Remember the little things, honor the pain, and rejoice in the new delights life has brought you. It is okay to laugh and dance again. Those who have passed would not want you to follow them so soon, or mourn all your days. Live, laugh, and let yourself love....be happy. It is the best gift you can give their memory and their sacrifice.


Remember...


~Sun and Moon

Not MIA...not really...

Sorry about the lack of posting, but I've been neck deep in life messes and edit notes. It's kind of tiring, which is why I haven't been posting.

I'll explain more later, I swear.

Right now though I'm just going to announce that I finally finished chapter sixteen edits. I changed several things, but I think I did okay. Only time(also known as beta readers) will tell. Until then, I'm off to start in on chapter seventeen and get some well deserved rest. The weather might be nicer, but I'm still feeling the need to hibernate.

Later, guys :)



~Sun and Moon

Balance is everything

No, seriously....it is.

And right now, its been a little hard to come by for yours truely. You see, the last few years of working on my book had a kind of forced balance. I decided it would be so annd to hell with anyone who objected.

Yeah....that's not balance and after changing so thoroughly over the past year, I can't ignore the mess it causes. Ignoring the important stuff in life so one can finished hammering out a new chapter or finish a round of edits is not good for anybody. Its bad. Like eating a whole block of chocolate because you can(yes, I speak from uncomfortable experience....it was a BIG mistake I won't make again), it'll come back to bite you worse then you know.

So when I found myself agonizing over starting my writting back up hard core, and keeping the awesome changes in my life from an untimely death, I turned to my husband. He has agreed to be my balance(a.k.a. peel me away from the computer when needed) as long as I will listen when he speaks up(another bad habit I don't miss was me ignoring his requests to take a break and spend some time with him instead of my writing). Thus far its gone well, in part because I haven't been doing much editing thanks to messy winter weather and the paniced shopping it generates at my place of employment, but I'm sure that'll change soon.

Today, infact.

Its a mess outside, but we're nice in cozy here in the apartment with plenty of soft blankets and a cat who is all too eager to warm your lap. Provided you're prepared to pet her constantly while you work(which is why its a good thing she's my husband's cat and prefers his lap to mine). Have you ever tried to type with a cat on your lap? It takes too much skill for me thanks. 

Um, so about balance(which also happens to be a theme in my book....go figure), I guess you could say I'm definetly working on it. Will I manage to do better? For sure. Will it be easy? Probably not, but nothing in life worth having is ever easy, right?.

Right.

Okay, back to work. :)



~Sun and Moon 

Where's my red pen?

Something I've learned over the past few years? 

Life is a lot like writing. 

I mean you can't go back and tighten up the squirrely bits with an edit or two, but its full of twists and turns. It has its ups and downs, humorous moments framed by heartbreaking sorrow and amazing triumphs. I could go on for sometime, but I think you get the picture. 

Life is unpredictable, but wow....what a ride. As a writer, artist, wife, mother, sister, daughter.....friend, I've had this brought to my attention so much in the few couple years. Oh how I wish I could go back with a red pen and scratch out the unsightly bits, the painful and embarrassing, the moments of doubt and bull headed stubbornness where trust and an open mind were needed. I've learned a lot about myself and most of who I am is here to stay, for better or worse.

 Like a book thats been written, peeled apart, edited, and thrown back together a time or six before getting that last smoothing polish, I've been torn down and rebuilt in so many ways. Was it painful? Oh yes, very much so. Would I change anything? Well, I'd be lying if I said no...the passing of my son wrought some much needed changes for the better, but it was so hard to see that thru the pain of lossing my contrary little boy. I see it now and am a better person for it, a better everything.

Like the threads of my life, the threads of my book are finally starting to weave themselves into something a less chaotic. While my new writing pace will likely be slower then molasses in January, it too is better off. Losing such a precious gift as a child puts many things in perspective, from the large to the small. 

I've found new eyes with which to see my story and I'm almost appalled at the stuff I somehow missed trimming on the last go-around. It makes my fingers itch to set it right, but I have to finish this round of edits before I can let myself tackle those wayward bits and trim the excess from my pages. 

Of course, first I need to actually get a move on with said edits. These past couple weeks were busy with my husband's birthday and several other important things, so my writing is being neglected for the moment. That'll probably change today, but for now its all looking a little dusty. And that note, I better go. I can hear my laptop calling my name and there's no time like the present.

 I'll catch you later, guys.




~Sun and Moon  

Another holiday season come and gone....FINALLY!

That's right, I survived. 

Not sure how....

Anyway, I'd like to apologize for the complete silence...I tried, I really did, but family time and sleep came first. I did manage to get finished with the last bits of editing for chapter fifteen, though.

Book three has been blessedly silent, but I now have yet another scene for book two on paper. It needs lots of work, but it's nice to write something fresh. It's also nice to be reminded that you won't get things right the first go around...that's what edits are for. Something I've apparently forgotten as I struggle to finish wrapping up my edits and trim excess word count.

On a happier, but strange note....my number one key and "v" key are working again....and I have no idea why.

Figures.

Well, now that I'm not being squished on a regular basis, I hope to get back into the swing of things. Hope being the key word here, but I should be back to regular posts by the end of this month. If I manage to stay on top of things, I may have edits finished as well and be getting ready to work on book two....which still doesn't have a name.

Okay, in all honesty it does, but I'm not sure if it still fits seeing as things have changed so much in my world building and plot lines.

Anywho...I promised my husband I'd keep this one brief, so I better wrap this one up. I'll be back with very good news in the coming weeks if all goes well. Until then, I'll be picking away at edits and trying to keep the cat from smothering us both in fur(it's a long story, lol). 


Later guys,



~Sun and Moon

 

I'm still alive, just buried

Wow, it's been a while since I was last on here. I almost forgot how to navigate this darned page. 

Unfortunately I'm not back for good. Our internet is still down and while my husband has been able to find a job, it's only a part time one. This means things are still really tight as we stretch things to cover bills, rent, and baby related costs. 

On a lighter note, the whole pregnancy thing is going very smoothly(except for always being hungry...geesh).

I haven't had a chance to sit down and do any writing either. I'm either falling asleep at the computer(or on the couch), or scrambling to some appointment somewhere, or just heading to work. Hopefully this will change soon(as in hopefully I won't have to work anymore soon...). My laptop is getting dusty...>_>


Anyway, I better head out. I'm supposed to be putting together a sale to help pay for my baby expenses. If you're interested in some jewelry or artwork(or know someone who might be), then swing by my DeviantArt page and take a look at this journal. All the profits go towards my baby and my birth costs(I'm birthing at home with a midwife...I'm very happy about that ^_^). 


Well, my husband is ever so patiently waiting for me to finish up things over here, so I'll catch you guys later. Hopefully my next post will have lots of good news and a chapter to share. ;)

Thanks a bunch!



~Sun and Moon

Can I get back to you on that?

Gee, I almost forgot I was supposed to post today. You see, we're right on the verge of finding out if my husband is getting the job we've been rooting for. If he does, everything is going to change.

Scary.

There is a lot a good coming with that scary change though. I'll be able to start writing again(yes, I still haven't gotten back to work on chapter 29...please don't smack me, lol), my stack of art projects will finally start shrinking again, and best of all....I will no longer be working at....my job thingie...>_>

Also, we may end up with a farm in the next two years. How awesome is that?

My husband and I are already discussing our plans, but most of them will have to be put on hold till after the baby. Besides, the fact that I may never have to work another Black Friday again is holding most of my attention these days. I'm refraining from counting down to November until the job is secured, but it's hard to contain my optimistic excitment.

I'll keep you guys posted on the situation as it happens(I might even post on a non-sunday *gasp*). Hopefully by this time next week I'll have nothing but good news to share. If I'm lucky, that good news will include progress on edits for New Beginnings. In the meantime, I'm off to fiddle around with Sims 3 Supernatural and clean my livingroom. The kitchen was tidied up a couple days ago and it would be nice to have a matched set for once. :)



~Sun and Moon 

 

Kit kat bar anyone?

Ok, I was hoping I wouldn't have to do this, but apparently I will. With all the craziness going on at the moment(pregnancy, husband's job search, etc.), I've been seriously neglecting not only my blog, but my writing. That scene I've been fighting with? About ninety percent of it has to go and the rest has to be moved to a different part of the chapter and rebuilt. No joke.

So with all that in mind, I'll be taking a break for the rest of September while I try to get stuff sorted out. In fact, I'll be taking a break from the internet period for the rest of september. Hopefully I'll have a better handle on things when I come back, but right now it's chaos.

And on that note, I better go. I have a pile of work to do and not much time to get it done. I'll miss you guys and I'll see you in october.


~Sun and Moon   

In for a penny, in for a pound

I think I can safely say this has been the most interesting week ever. I'm not sure if that's good or bad, but either way, at least it hasn't been boring.

It all started after I wrote my last blog post. It was late saturday night and I'd been feeling odd for about three weeks or so. I'd get home ravenous and a nap was always an option, even if I'd just woken up a few hours ago. There were other symptoms too, but I ignored them as I struggled to edit chapter twenty-nine and catch up on the mess of dishes in my kitchen sink. I simply chalked it all up to stress since my husband was still without a job and I was picking up extra shifts. I figured that once I got used to all the extra hours, my body would adjust and it would all go back to normal.

Silly me.

A few hours after writing my last blog post I found out my husband and I are expecting our first child in the spring.

Yeah.

My first thought after it all sank in and I had broken the news to my family was that it was going to take a little longer then I thought to write all those books floating in my head. My second thought was that I had about nine months to catch up on my art projects.

All told, I'm going to be really busy over the next two weeks as we get the ball rolling on a number of things(like planning a garage sale to help clean out all the junk in our apartment...geesh). I'll try to post on time, but don't be surprised if I forget.

Anywho, its past time I hunted up some breakfast. There's no sign of morning sickness yet, but an empty stomach still makes me queasy. I'd just as soon not spew on my keyboard, thanks all the same. I might need it later.

~Sun and Moon

Yeah, about that

This is a bit of a rant. You've been warned....>_>



(Enter rant)------------------

Dear Blogger,

I would really appreciate it if you'd get a few things in gear. The first thing that comes to mind is the reply system for comments. Would it kill you to set things up so one knows when a reply is made to a comment thread you're involved in? Preferably WITHOUT having to sign away your email account in payment? Not to mention that it would be nice if my scheduled blog posts actually posted when scheduled instead of five hours later.

Yeah, get on that if you please.

Also, it wouldn't hurt if you could quit trying to get me to try your dandy new "Blogger Interface". The old one suits me fine. Especially since the new one is about as clear as mud. After spending my day dealing with modern day retail woes and hammering out both art and edits for my book...simple is best. Because spending five minutes just trying to find the darned button for one thing or another is not my idea of a good way to wind down for the day. No joke. 

Of course, I understand that these features may already be available and I'm just missing the boat. In which case, a little direction would not go amiss.

Think about it.

---------------------(end rant)



It's been a long week. My husband lost his job last tuesday and I've been doing what I can to pick up hours to make up for the loss of income while he looks for a job. The toll on us both is making itself known and I have never been less inspired or motivated to write. I'm trying, I really am, but you guys are going to have to be patient with me. 

Between one thing and another, I'm still picking away at edits as I try to adjust to crazy hours and handle the stress of hearing yet another company tell my husband "don't call us...we'll call you if we're interested" when he tries to call and check up on his application.

To be honest, it's not as bleak as it seems, but we've never been in this situation before and it's hitting us a little hard. 

Well, on that note I have to get going. I sold my self into slave labor for an easel this past wednesday. It's time to go pay up for the day.


~Sun and Moon   

Happy Father's Day

You've probably guessed by now, but there is no post today on account of it being Father's day. Also, I'm a little worn out from running around and cooking in a hot kitchen. Air conditioning is fine and all, but it doesn't work very well when the window unit is an old one.

Anyway, I spent my day with my husband's dad and had a really good time. He's out of the hospital now and doing good. His helmet is banged up a bit and his jacket is in tatters, but they did their job. He'll be just fine.

On that note, I'd like to wish all the dad's out there a Happy Father's Day. I hope it was a good one. :)

I might be able to post a Wordless Wednesday this week. I have several new artsy things to share and a few more waiting to be finished. For now, however, I'm off to do some editing and play Sims 3 before bed.


~Sun and Moon

I'll take a rain check please

This week has been nuts.Well and truly crazy. Not much of it is good, and what is good is getting buried under the mess.

Where to start?

Well tuesday afternoon I get a text from my husband that Ty, one of the family horses at the farm, had gone down. Ty was in bad shape and my husband was leaving work to help his mom keep Ty on his feet and moving till the vet could get there.

This one doesn't have a happy ending.

Late tuesday night, we found out that Ty had to be put down. He was twenty-nine years old, and he lived a good life with people who loved him. It was time. The autopsy later revealed that if he'd made it through that night, he would've been in a lot of pain very soon. I won't share the details here, but there is no doubt he was already running out of time. We never would have known and at least he didn't have to suffer long, but it still makes it bittersweet.

My husband called the next day off. The loss of a horse he'd known all his life hit him pretty hard. By thursday morning, things were looking up, and then it all hit the fan again. This time it was a phone call, not a text, and he wasn't the only one to leave his shift unfinished.

His dad had wrecked on his bike was in the hospital.

We rushed home just long enough to change clothes and switch cars. Food was grabbed on the way and we ate in the car, something we almost never do. It was an hour drive to the hospital he was at, and when we got there my husbands sister gave us the details.

His dad was hurt bad, but he would be ok. A lot of broken bones and some bad lacerations, but they didn't think he'd need surgery. After staying for about four hours, we head home exhausted and collapsed.

Yeah....it's been a rough week.

I haven't gotten far in edits or artwork lately, not with all the constant craziness, but hopefully that'll change and this next week will be calm and reletively quiet.

I can hope, right?

Prayers for our family is appreciated. I may do a wordless wednesday, but I'm not sure. Right now all I want to do is sleep.


~Sun and Moon

 

Meh

No post today, guys. I was up till around 2am last night helping some folks to shear their new llama(I will try to find pictures...my phone kinda sucks for that kind of thing and I forgot my camera at home), and then went to a family cook out at noon today. There was also a trip to the thrift store, which was fun. However, I am wiped out. All I want to do is play some Sims 3, cuddle with my husband, work on some art, and do some book edits before I crash for the night.

And on that note, I'll catch you later. There may be a wordless wednesday post this week, but I make no promises as the art I'm working on right now is fighting me. 

Maybe I'll post llama photos instead. Hm....>_>


~Sun and Moon         .

Happy Mother's Day

There is no other way to say it: I am beat. 

No, I don't mean I've given up on anything, just that I'm in serious need of some real sleep. Actually being able to eat breakfast might help too. The past couple days have been a mad scramble to get to work on time, followed by a complete and total system's crash at the day's end.

So between my complete lack of energy, and the fact it is Mother's Day today, I think I'll spend the day working on my gift for my mom. That, and scribbling notes and such as I continue to review chapter twenty-nine and figure out what it needs done. It's been a crazy week, and I think I've earned some time with pencils and paints.

In the meantime, I want to wish a happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there. Today is your day and I hope it's a good one. :)

~Sun and Moon

When procrastination is a good thing

Yesterday I was cringing at the idea of posting yet another blog of how I'm stuck in chapter twenty-eight with little or no progress to report. So instead of writing my post last night and posting it this morning, I put it off in favor of Sims 2 and a good night's sleep. After sleeping in for the first time in about a week, I decided to do edits while I ate breakfast. I'm glad I did.

Every now and again, I have these moments when the part giving me trouble resolves itself and everything falls into place. Today it didn't go quite that cleanly, but the fight scene that was giving me trouble? Yeah, it's taken care of thanks to a little perspective from my husband based on his own experiences as a teenager. So now I just have one chunk of drama to resolve and the ending to polish up, and then I'll be done.

That will have to wait, however as today is the first day I've had off with my hubby in two weeks. I might still do more edits today, but the hardcore stuff will have to wait. Besides, I have two sculptures to paint and some merfolk to finish up, not to mention a bit of birthday fanart for one of my online pals to get done. I'll be back to work on edits tomorrow, but until then I'm off to play with paints and pencils while I watch Mythbusters episodes with my hubby and try to keep the cat's nose out of my brush tub.

Later guys,


~Sun and Moon