Monday Moments - The Power of Saying Good Morning

A Monday Moment from Still Moments Magazine

The Power of Saying Good Morning

There’s something beautifully simple about the words Good Morning. It’s a small greeting, a tiny gesture, yet it carries a spark that can shift the tone of an entire day.

When we say, Good Morning, we’re doing more than acknowledging the start of a new day. We’re offering a moment of connection. A smile. A bit of kindness. And that energy doesn’t just lift others; it lifts us, too. It’s a reminder that positivity doesn’t have to be loud or complicated. Sometimes it’s as gentle as a greeting shared between neighbors, coworkers, or even strangers passing on the sidewalk.

Starting the day with positivity sets the tone for everything that follows. Whether it’s a quiet cup of coffee, a walk with the dogs, or diving into a busy schedule, choosing to begin with warmth and optimism helps us move through the day with a lighter heart.

Take a small moment today to say Good Morning to someone else, and to yourself. It’s a small phrase with a big impact, and the perfect way to begin a new week with intention and joy.

Cardinal Puzzle

Last week, I finished another puzzle. In the spring, while shopping for groceries (they had puzzles in a small bin) I bought this puzzle of a female and male cardinal. This completed puzzle is beautiful! 

But now that I've finished that puzzle, what to start next?

My options are: a very difficult 1000 piece puzzle my daughter gave me for my birthday, or a diamond art of a male cardinal sitting on a branch in a cherry blossom tree. The decision isn't that hard. I love birds and cherry blossom trees, so I started the diamond art last night. 

A Patch of Shade

I missed International Dog Day yesterday, but it's dog day every day in my household, lol. So, while I may be a day late, I thought's I'd share a photo of my boys.

It's been very humid this week, and sometimes it's too warm to go out after lunch, but on this particular day, the heat was tolerable. I grabbed a book, and the dogs followed me outside. I set my chair in a small patch of shade, and it didn't take long before my boys joined me.

Date Night

My husband and I finally planned a date night. We've been busy with property maintenance and small house renovations, and somehow the summer is almost over. We were overdo for a dinner out, so we made a plan to go out last Saturday. The day was cloudy, but because the temperature was mild, we sat outside at one of our favorite lounges. We started off with drinks. Mine was appropriately called 'Dreaming of Vacation' with rum, pineapple, and coconut. Then my husband got a club and I had the lounges' signature pizza with bacon, roast chicken, and pineapple.

What a delicious meal! I didn't finish my pizza, but I took home two pieces to enjoy for my lunch the next day. We keep saying we need to go out more often, but sticking to that promise gets pushed aside by too many other things. Life is busy enough, so we have to put aside time for us...and date night more often.

Dee's Deliberations #6

The dreaded to-do list seems to get longer each day, and sometimes I do feel like I'm climbing a mountain to get everything done, only to have something unexpected added to the list. But, like Dee, I'm climbing that mountain with a bit of humor...or at least trying to. Now, if I could find my flip-flops, but I think I left them at the bottom of the mountain, and I am not going back down to get them. :-)

Monday Moments - Believe

A Monday Moment from Still Moments Magazine

Believe

Belief isn’t only for the big, life changing moments. It’s for the quiet ones, the foggy Monday mornings when you’re trying to get yourself moving. It’s for the small decisions no one sees, the ones that shape your day long before anything dramatic happens.

Believing in yourself is a balance. Choosing to trust your own voice when doubt tries to speak louder. Remembering that you’ve already made it through harder days than this one. And giving yourself permission to grow, even when the steps feel small.

Take a small moment today and let “believe” be your anchor. Believe in your ability to handle what comes. Believe in your worth, even when you’re not at your strongest. Believe in the simple truth that you are becoming someone braver and more you. You don’t need perfect conditions to believe in yourself. You just need to begin.

Writing a Synopsis

With my story complete, I'm hiding in my office today and working on writing a synopsis. For me, this is the worst part of the writing process. How do you sum up your story on one page? I thought a synopsis had to included details from chapter to chapter, but after doing a little research, it's not chapter by chapter, it's all about key elements in the story. I have an outline completed and need to fill in the blanks...unfortunately, it's those blanks that leave me blank. :-)

Reading Room - The 23rd Midnight

My book review on The 23rd Midnight for Still Moments Magazine.

The 23rd Midnight

James Patterson

May 2023 

Detective Lindsay Boxer put serial killer Evan Burke in jail.

Reporter Cindy Thomas wrote a book that put him on the bestseller list. 

An obsessed maniac has turned Burke’s true-crime story into a playbook. And is embellishing it with gruesome touches all his own. Now Lindsay’s tracking an elusive suspect, and the entire Murder Club is facing destruction. 

Between The Pages 

23rd Midnight is a fast paced, compelling addition to the Women’s Murder Club series. The story grabs your attention from the first chapter and doesn’t let go. Patterson and Paetro deliver a tense, emotionally charged plot as Lindsay confronts a chilling copycat who’s using Evan Burke’s crimes as a blueprint for new horrors. Maxine Paetro’s contribution continues to elevate the series. 

The stakes rise sharply when reporter Cindy becomes the target of a dangerous stalker and ultimately goes missing, pulling the entire Murder Club into a desperate search. This installment stands out for the way it deepens the emotional connection among the characters, highlighting how personal the danger feels when one of their own is at risk. A gripping read that blends suspense, heart, and intense storytelling. 

Rating: 5 Stars

Saturdays - The End

I am so happy to share the news that last night, I reached The End of my manuscript!

I started 'Saturdays' in 2015 - eleven years ago. I created a note book with story details and characters. Then I got lost in Redford Falls, and didn't find my way back to Saturdays until the summer of 2025. But even then, another story grabbed my attention. Finally in April 2026, I picked up that notebook again and made new notes. I then opened the file on my computer and my fingers have been typing ever since. Last night, I finished the story!

I'm excited and sad...and even scared. 

I'm excited because I finally finished this project that has been screaming at me for eleven years. 

I'm also sad because I've spent the past four and a half months with these characters. How do I say goodbye? Or do I? <wink>

And I'm scared of what comes next. The writing is finished. The story needs a quick edit to cross all the Ts and dot all the Is, but now I need to decided on publication. What direction to I take with this manuscript?

Thankfully, I have plenty of time to be excited, sad, and scared. Right now, I'm just going to celebrate typing The End.

Dee's Deliberations #5

"Summer body? I'm just aiming for 'didn't melt today'."

Summer was once my favorite season, but the past few years, the humidity gets worse and ruins what could have been a beautiful day. The humidity is so thick, you can't be outside longer than a few minutes. The dogs want to go in the yard, but they just lay there panting. The plants are not happy, and the trees in the area already have leaves falling because they are brown and shriveling.

I still love summer and I would never wish it to be over, but I would be grateful for a little less humidity before I melt. 

Monday Moments - The Power of a Smile

A Monday Moment from Still Moments Magazine

The Power of a Smile 

Some days feel heavier than others. Sometimes you wake up carrying more than you’d like, and the world feels a little dimmer around the edges. But even on those low days, there’s a small, quiet thing that can shift your mood. A smile. 

A smile is uplifting. It’s a tiny spark that can brighten your own spirit and ripple outward to someone else. When you smile at someone, they often smile back, and in that moment, you may have made their day just a little better. It’s a simple exchange, but it matters. 

Take a small moment today and smile. Think of something or someone that makes you happy—a memory, a person, a place, a dream—and let that feeling rise to your face. Share a smile with the world. You never know who needs it.

Escape The Heat

Escape the heat this summer with Cherry Red!

Over stepping the platonic-only rule is as dangerous as fire and ice swirling into steamy combustion.

Fake Dating - Romantic Comedy - Summer Vibes

Fire & Ice - Fire Fighters - Ice Cream

https://www.amazon.com/Cherry-Red-Darlene-Fredette-ebook/dp/B0CYNY67XN

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/MP6y22YCWE4

Lazy Dogs

It's been a while since I shared a photo of my boys, so just this morning I took this picture. 

I did say boys as in plural, because there are two lazy dogs. Keefer is stretched out at the bottom, and at the top...lying on the wicker loveseat...is Rambler. There's a comfy dog bed to the right, but he prefers the loveseat. And he loves resting his head on the pillows. Is he spoiled? No, not at all, lol.  

Concert News

My daughter loved the Jonas Brothers when she was in her early teens. She had all their CDs, a poster of them on her wall, and watched Camp Rock several times. So, when she heard they were coming close to our area, she asked if I would go with her. I only knew the songs I heard her playing all those years ago, but knowing this band was her childhood crush (especially Joe), I couldn't say no. We ordered tickets and reserved a hotel in the area so we wouldn't have to drive hours after the concert. 

The day finally came, and we went to see the Jonas Brothers. We had seats on the side because we knew the floor would be packed and that's way too many people for me. My daughter was a complete fan girl, reliving her childhood. She even had tears in her eyes when they walked out on the stage. I was so excited for my daughter, and happy to see her have so much fun. And I will admit, the Jo Bros were awesome in concert. They put on a great show.

A great weekend spent with my daughter that created new and special memories for us.

Dee's Deliberations #4

"I'm not old, but I am at the age where if something starts after 8pm...

I'm definitely not going."

I couldn't resist posting this quote for Dee because it's totally true. If someone called and wanted to get together after 8pm, forget about it. Truth be told, I would graciously decline even if it was 7pm, lol.

Life is busy enough, so 8pm is when relaxation mode kicks in.

Monday Moments - Choosing Joy in the Aftermath of a Busy Weekend

A Monday Moment from Still Moments Magazine

Choosing Joy in the Aftermath of a Busy Weekend

Weekends have a way of sweeping us in a whirlwind of plans, errands, family time, and the kind of busy joy that leaves us both fulfilled and a little worn out. It’s easy, come Monday, to focus on how fast it all went by or to dwell on the things that didn’t get done.

But Monday isn’t meant to be a recap of what slipped through the cracks. It’s a fresh start. A clean page. And it deserves better than tired thoughts and quiet frustrations. Let Monday be a reminder that progress isn’t measured by perfection. It’s measured by joy, effort, and the simple fact that you showed up.

Take a small moment to celebrate what did happen over the weekend. The laughter. The small victories. The tasks you tackled. The moments you enjoyed without rushing. Those are worth carrying with you. Everything else can wait until next weekend.

The Excitement is Building

I'm running a little late today...even though I was up early. We've been under a heatwave all week, and by mid-morning the temperature is stifling. I usually walk my dogs early anyway, but the past few days we've been out the door an hour earlier.

However, after our walk, I did some story research. I also fixed a scene that I thought about just as I fell asleep last night, because that's when most of my good ideas hit, lol. Then I had to read over the two chapters I wrote this week before sending them to my beta readers. I'm a perfectionist, so I like to send then my chapters as clean as possible.

This leads me to the explanation of the above graphic. I am so happy to share that I have reached my word count writing goal and have surpassed it! As well, I only have two chapters left to write and this story will be done. Yes, I said done! And as the graphic states, I am scared because writing this story has been a lot of work and I'm not sure what I'll do when it's done, but I'm more excited about finishing it, so that me - and my characters - can take a breath and a well-deserved break. The excitement is building as I reach The End.

Reading Room - 22 Seconds

My book review on 22 Seconds for Still Moments Magazine.

22 Seconds

James Patterson 

May 2022 

SFPD Sergeant Lindsay Boxer has guns on her mind and only twenty-two seconds until she loses her badge—or her life. 

There’s buzz of a last-ditch shipment of drugs and weapons crossing the Mexican border ahead of new restrictive gun laws. Before Lindsay can act, her top informant tips her to a case that hits disturbingly close to home. 

Former cops. Professional hits. All with the same warning scrawled on their bodies: You talk, you die. 

Now it’s Lindsay’s turn to choose. 

Between The Pages 

22 Seconds by James Patterson delivers exactly what fans of the Women’s Murder Club series crave: a high stakes thriller that refuses to let go. The storyline is fast paced and engaging, showcasing Patterson’s trademark ability to hook a reader from page one and hold their attention through every twist. Joe’s expanded presence added welcome texture. The novel’s pace is relentless, its twists well timed, and its characters as engaging as ever. Another strong, entertaining entry in a long running series that continues to deliver. 

Rating: 5 Stars

Dee's Deliberations #3

Can you relate to Dee's dilemma today? I definitely can. 

There are too many times I should 'get stuff done' but the book is just too good to put down. I just finished James Patterson's 22 Seconds (part of the Women's Murder Club series), and I flew through that book - it was that good. And yesterday, I started The 23rd Midnight. I'm hooked on this series.

However, I have a manuscript to finish, so I have to 'get stuff done' and then I'll reward myself by reading a few chapters.

A Fresh New Look

Yesterday was a holiday, so no Monday Moments post from Still Moments Magazine. And Dee's Deliberations that I usually share on Tuesdays, is running a day behind, so stop by tomorrow to catch up with Dee.

Today, is the reveal of my blog's fresh new look. I redesigned the banner. Still the same name, but a few tweaks to make it stand out.

The old banner...

The new banner...

The text on the left of my banner is an actual page clip from Twist of Faith. TOF was the first book I wrote that was published, and it's also one of my favorites. While TOF isn't currently available, it will get a rebirth very soon.

The artist in me couldn't resist adding the pen with the ink drip. I think it adds a nice finishing touch to my new banner...and because I'm a writer and artist, the pen and ink are descriptive symbols.

 I just thought of something...I should have added a paw print...maybe next time.

My blog posts and labels are still located on the left sidebar, but scroll to the bottom where you'll find a dedicated section for my books and one for my art. And I updated the top labels: "Author" and "Artist" with short bios for each one.

I might make a few more tweaks, but for now, I really like the new look.