It's Snowing

It's snowing and snowing and hasn't stopped. I shoveled the back deck for the dogs today, the path to my office and the front porch. The snow was heavier than cement. Hard exercise for an old lady like me.

Then, of course, I wasted the rest of the day...........but I did want to write something on this blog. I hope you enjoyed the Irish blessings.

Blessings one day--snow the next

I'm sitting in my room, watching the snow fall. It's been coming down since 9:30 this morning. At first, it was light and fluffy, but, as the day wore on, the snow grew stronger and began to stick to the ground.

Actually, watching snow is lovely. The sounds of the world are muted. The bare brown of the scenery takes on a glowing white. I think I like snow better than the summer sun that often brings brown grass. Although, I must admit, autumn is my favorite time of the year.

Irish Blessings

Today, a friend of mine sent me an Irish Blessing joke that was done in the same format as the ones I already know. It didn't work for me so I made her check it out at www.snopes.com She found out it wasn't true.......so I sent her some real Irish Blessings.


May ye always have...
Walls for the wind
A roof for the rain
Tea beside the fire
Laughter to cheer ye
Those ye love near ye
And all yer heart might desire

Irish Blessing:
May ye always have work for yer hands to do
May yer pockets hold always a coin or two.
May the sun shine bright on yer windowpane.
May the rainbow be certain to follow the rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near ye.

May the road rise up to meet ye

And may God fill yer heart with gladness to cheer ye.

And my favorite of them all:

May ye rise up to Heaven before the devil knows ye've died...

If any of you Irishmen out there know others, send them on.

My bad

I took a long time to get back to my blogs. Just didn't have the stuff to write. I did watch the Eukanuba and the Westminster Dog Shows and enjoyed every minute. I even watched the Eukanuba one over again yesterday. The English Setter came in second in the Sporting Dogs group and the Scottish Deerhound came in second in the Hound group. Watching it was fun, but it did keep me from writing.

I am making a pledge to myself. I am going to write every single day. I will find the time no matter what else I have to do. There will be no TV, no lying around, no reading--if the writing is not done. I am not saying how much I will write in a given day nor will I mention which novel I will be working on--unless I'm working on it. I have the suspense and the historical.

I spoke to my publisher today and she is waiting for both books. I just have to get a move on and stop feeling lazy and blocked. That's my wish for today and tomorrow as well.

Enjoying dogs

I watched the Eukanuba and the Westchester Dog shows. I loved seeing the Setters strut their stuff. They are so beautiful, I'm amazed that they don't win more often. Their coats always flow in the breezes they creating while tracking down the arena, and their big, old faces are always so sad. I feel they touch the heart of everyone--especially me.

Since I have both the Irish Wolfhound and the Scottish Deerhound in two of my historical novels, I always watch those dogs as well. The Irish Wolfhound in both of the above shows was a gorgeous tan color--so extraordinary. Those hounds just lope around as if they were small horses.

I also have an Irish Wolfhound in my new Saratoga book--which I'm having trouble with, if you read my other blog--Saratoga Winter 1865 is giving me fits. Every time I work on the historical, I get a great idea for my suspense, Vengeance Is Mine. I absolutely don't know which book I'm enjoying more.

A hound

Well, the Irish Wolfhound didn't win his/her group, but a hound won the Westminster Dog Show. The 15 inch hound won the whole bloody thing. Uno, his name, was adorable, barking and howling for his attention. And he knew he had won. In fact, the dogs seem to know when they've won. They're smarter than we realize.

The English Setter came in fourth in the Sporting Group. I didn't tell my two dogs that it hadn't won. Didn't want to hurt their feelings.

Quick note

A quick note before American Idol. Next week I'm going to have an author, who writes books about horses, as a guest on both my blogs. Do stop by..............

The Westminster Dog Show

Tonight starts the biggest dog show in the US. There's the Croft Show in England that is bigger. When I watched the Eukanuba show last week, the Irish Wolfhound was in the top four dogs in the Hound group. It was so exciting to see him stand so proud.

I'm hoping the same dog gets to be in the final seven, which will be shown tomorrow night. Or course, I'll have to watch American Idol's Hollywood session first, but will switch to the dog show as soon as Idol is over. I tend to watch the Sporting dogs, of which I have two, the Herding group
and the Working group.

I find the shows riveting and love to see dogs stride out, so proud of themselves. They seem so gregarious and confident. The dog shows are good TV and worth watching, the ultimate realty show...

Irish Wolfhounds

I don't know what's making me think of Irish Wolfhound. Perhaps, it's the fact that I am using one in my Saratoga Winter 1865. I also used a Wolfhound in my book, Lost Son of Ireland. That dog was a bit different than the one (Zoah) I'm using in the new book.

In Lost Son of Ireland, the dog had been hurt and left by the side of the road by warriors of a different village. He didn't quite trust strangers until some fine Irish men spoke to him sweetly. Then he let them carry him to the village, where the heroine took care of him and helped to get him well. The Wolfhound showed them all much love as the gentle giant he was. I don't want to mention the ending because I would love to have readers read the book itself.

I love animals. Over the years, I have had a black Lab, two pure-bred Collies, an extraordinary mutt (Part chow as evidenced by the black tongue, part German-Shepherd as evidenced by his coloring and part Golden Retriever as evidenced by his body structure and his nature--he was also, the dog of my heart.) and now two English Setters.

Right now, my little girl, Abbey, has severe hip dysplasia and is on pain medication. The past two days, she seems like her old self, cute, adorable and frisky. Barney, the male, is a very serious, self-contained dog, not always sure of himself and he sure does want to please--except when it's time to come back inside and he doesn't want to. The vet put them on medication for arthritis, to be given once a day. Hopefully, they'll both feel lots better real soon.

Wolfhounds and Deerhounds

I just had a member of the Cambridge Writers group send me a URL. for Wolfhounds.
http://www.iwclubofamerica.org/ I went there and the dogs are glorious. They have so much information on the site, I will go back many times. My Zoah, in Saratoga Winter 1865, is an Irish Wolfhound, and, for a big dog, is adorable. I really feel that she is a character in the book and have had several people tell me she steals the scene--which, in a way, is not good, but I guess I'll correct it in the later revisions. Right now, I just love the way I have her--large, gentle but protective if she feels it necessary to be that way.

I used a Scottish Deerhound in Clan Gunn: Gerek. Dubh was a definite character and I found my other characters relying on him a great deal. He had personality and I've had reviewers tell me how much they loved him. I did, too.

Pups

I'm feeling great now that my little English Setter, Abbey, is feeling better. She's almost up to her old style, barking to go out and letting Barney bark to come in. I couldn't believe her snarling at him the other day, so totally unlike her. But each day she feels more like herself.

I got a wonderful note from someone who knows about Irish Wolfhounds. I might contact them personally to find out what they do know. I have an IW in my book, Saratoga Winter 1865. I need more information about their nature. I'm going to the AKC (American Kennel Club) to find out the restrictions or whatevers. Let's face it, you can't have an ugly dog in a book. And Zoah is a real character and I want her to continue. She's only a youngster at the beginning of the book and, as yet, I don't have a specific goal for her.......but I will soon.

Giants

Since I watched and cheered the Giants on during yesterday's Super Bowl, the idea of giants took hold. It made me think of the Giant Causeway in Ireland. The most beautiful cliffs in the world that look out on the ocean. Someday I'll visit.

Of course, all the Celtic men in my writings are giant. Their personalities are bigger than life. They are taller than the average bear and much more handsome. It's a nice way to live, thinking about men like that.

I have always found big Irish and Scottish men to be quite gentle unless roused by injustice. I have found them kind and helpful, good with children for they are great story-tellers and laid-back..........oh well, we'd better not go there. lolololol

I just read a wonderful Google article about Riding in Ireland. I'm going to put the url down but not sure it will work this way. http://travel.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/travel/destinations/ireland/article3287585.ece

I hope I got it all down and you can read the article. Since I love both horses and Ireland and the Irish, I really enjoyed the article.