I ran it through Snapchat and laughed all by myself. đ
family
Whatâs New? (Tuesdayâs Tell All)
Whatâs new?
Is nothing and a lot an appropriate answer?
Well it will have to suffice.
Let me first assure you I am not in a funk nor am I suffering from writerâs block.
On the contrary, potential stories abound!! I say potential because none have made it past my imagination.
In the garden, the grocery store, in front of the television or at a restaurantâŚ.
The list goes on forever.
So this morning as I was rocking and sipping my coffee (without spilling a drop), I asked myself,
Self, why havenât you written a damn thing ??? No new books, not even a short story⌠Not so much as a blog post since April, and by the way you failed miserably at supporting NPM.
I pondered the question while I kept rocking and sipping, listening to the birds, watching the butterflies in the Mimosa tree and waiting for a response.

Finally self answered. Well, (in no chronological order) letâs see...
You got older and slower so multi-tasking got a little harder.

You had a birthday and Motherâs Day that went on for weeks-because you have some awesome ass kids.








You had Covid twiceâŚ

Your oldest brother died and it is still a painful and fresh woundâŚ

You focused on familyâŚ

Remember a large portion of last year was consumed when the home had to be gutted and restored due to the flood after the freeze. And the fishing shack had to have all of the pipes replaced due to the same freeze.
The economy has put a strain on your finances so youâve had to seriously reconstruct your retirement- and even put the fishing shack up for sale.

You chose to spend a significant amount of time mentoring and advocating for others because you know how it can beâŚ
You spend a lot of time âworkingâ at the pond and in the yard and gardens. But honestly you âmeanderâ as much as you work.

Your dog died and you got a new kittenâŚ.


After listening to self for a minute, I said Oookay, and I didnât feel too bad.
But then the selfish self had to wonder⌠am I still relevant? Not that I base my self worth on my writing but⌠you know.
So I typed my name and search-engined myself.
Great. At least I still appear in the www sphere.
But I found a piece of me in a place I had not heard of.
Fnac. F what?
Est-ce que tu parles français
Lord no. But I have been known to fake it.
So, in a nutshell that is whatâs up. Or down.
If you donât hear much from me it is safe to assume I am probably wandering in the woods or on the beach or working on a story even if it is in my head.
Stay well. Be happy.
XoXo
Crazy Conversations (Just Another Dull Day with the Family)
I havenât posted a Crazy Conversations in a long time so here is a short video to make up for it.
Cotton, peas, your friends, your seat, your nose⌠There are a lot of things you can pick. Family isnât one of them.
Disclaimer: Life is crazy, people are crazier and my family⌠well they get the crazy award if there is one. I

Dear, Sweet Tallulah (Fridayâs free for All)
Lay your grammar obsessions aside, let your jaw relax, loosen your ears, take a long deep breath as you let your mind drift to the deep south and listen in to the privy conversation between Maggie and her dear, sweet Tallulah.
Happy #Friday yâall!! đť #SouthernProud




Chapter Eleven
From Book 1 of the Clan Destiny Series
âAre you gonna sleep all day Mizrez Lafont? Best try to git up a bit.â
It was the voice of Tallulah attempting to rouse the exhausted Maggie. She tapped the rail of a lump beneath the bedding and continued,
âIma open these shades now missy, better make yo eyes ready cuz itâs a mighty fine morninâ.â Tallulah warned. Her bedraggled vernacular seemed to come from every direction at once.
Maggie pulled the Egyptian cotton over her face and murmured,
âThank you Tallulah but for the umpteenth time would you please call me Maggie, okay?â
âOkay Miss Maggie.â The drapes flew back and light filled the room. Maggie lifted the cover from her face and squinted at the morning sun.
Tallulah studied the womanâs face which was no more than a shade darker than the snowy sheets. She planted her hands on her hips and stared into the hollow eyes of her mistress.
âMr. Ray is cominâ home today. Heâs gonna be here in time for supper, you gonna tell him?â
âYes Tallulah, I am going to tell him.â
âIs you feelinâ sick this morninâ? I can fetch you some dry toast and warm tea. That was always a help to me and to Mr. Rayâs mama too.â
âYes please.â Maggie strained to sit up and suppressed a gag as she spoke. âThat would be nice.â
When Maggie heard the door shut she scrambled to the restroom, turned the cold water on and splashed her face. The wave of nausea subsided and she raised her head to inspect the figure before her. She hardly recognized the drawn, insipid person in the mirror.
Maggie had been ill since the last night of her honeymoon when Ray carried her from the beach. She barely recalled the long flight home and blamed it on the rum but there was something wrong and she knew it.
The illness quashed her plans to redecorate the beautiful old plantation house. It had been in the Lafont family for close to two hundred years. There wasnât much Maggie wanted to change about the historical mansion, just a few personal touches to make it her own, their own. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Lafont â Ray didnât care one way or the other.
Mrs. Turner had kept her word and came to visit at least once a week, usually staying for several days, though Maggie hardly noticed with most of her days spent between the bed and the bathroom of the apartment sized boudoir.
Maggie wasnât surprised when she noticed her collar bones protruding like bowed timber at the base of her bony neck; after all should could not recall the last meal she had been able to keep in her stomach. Lifting her gown she could see the distinct outline of every rib – then letting her eyes drop she observed the only thing that wasnât recessed was her belly. Her abdomen looked like a basketball had been shoved beneath her flesh. âOhhh god,â she moaned as her emaciated frame convulsed and heaved. Green bile splashed against the marble sink.
âAwe honey child!â Tallulah cried, rushing to Maggieâs side. âLetâs get you back to bed.â
âIâm sorry Tallulah,â Maggie swept a trembling hand across her mouth; âIâve made another mess.â
âDonât you worry âbout that none. Thatâs what Iâm here for.â
Tallulah helped Maggie back to bed and softly washed her face then held the cup steady while Maggie sipped the chamomile tea.
Tallulah was a thick framed black woman who reminded Maggie very much of Aunt Jemima, though she never said it out loud for fear of offending the angelic lady.
âYou have gots to tell Mr. Ray Miss Maggie! You shoulda done told him a month ago. You done let this go too long, way too long.â She fretted, dabbing a damp cloth at Maggieâs face.
âThere is nothing to tell Ray that he doesnât already know. You know how he feels Tallulah â how we both feel about this. Now pleaseâŚâ
Without warning tea colored liquid spewed across the fine linens.
âHe donât know the doctor said you need to be shed of this or itâs gonna kill ya. It caint be he knows and let you lay up here wastinâ away.â The old nurse insisted, talking while she put a fresh damp cloth to Maggieâs neck and replaced the soiled sheet, âMr. Ray is gone all the time, he donât see what I see and when he calls you makes like ever little thang is fine.â
âNature will take its course.â Maggie argued.
âThat it will.â Tallulah agreed, âAnd maybe yo life in the doinâ. Yâall can make another baby maâam.â Tallulah paused to weigh her words and put her hands on Maggieâs gaunt, ashen face, âThey is somethinâ bad wrong with this one precious. I seen thangs like this here before. If ân it lives and you dieâŚâ
âI want to sleep now.â Maggie spoke abruptly to put an end to the conversation and disappeared beneath the cotton sheets.
You better take care of yourself and make sure this baby gets born healthy, do you hear me young lady? The words of her mother ran through Maggieâs mind. It wasnât as if Maggie had any control over it. If she did, if she could will her misery out of existence, the life sucking parasite would have been expelled weeks ago.
Maggie had just dozed off when the rumbling in her gut stirred her. It was not the usual churning she was familiar with and there was no nausea accompanying it. She lay still waiting for it. She placed her hand on her belly and felt it again, a flutter followed by a tiny thump.
Itâs kicking! Maggie stretched out on the bed and exposed her naked stomach. When the flutter started again she could see a slight rise in the protrusion on her withered frame.
âHello in there.â She said quietly. It seemed to respond to her voice so she spoke again. âIâm gonna be your mother little man.â The communication went on for about ten minutes and when Maggie felt the thumps diminish she whispered, âYou go back to sleep now, itâs going to be okay, your mama loves you.â A single tear of relief tickled the corner of her nose and she rang for Tallulah to bring her a full Sunday breakfast.
Tallulah entered a half-hour later with a smile and a tray loaded with soft scrambled eggs, bacon, French toast, grits and juice.
âI never seen you look so good Miss Maggie.â She laughed as the starving mother-to-be inhaled the platter of food and kept it down. âMay be you gonna be alright after all. You and the young-un, yes indeed, may hap.â Tallulah practically danced out of the room with the empty tray and soiled linens in tow.
The fact that she had consumed every morsel without regurgitating bolstered her confidence as well as her energy. Maggie stood beneath the shower-head, stroking and lathering her stomach as she sang nursery rhymes to her unborn child. After showering she realized her endurance was not yet up to par and returned to bed for the best sleep she had had in months.
Two hours later Maggie awoke feeling exuberant and summoned Tallulah.
âWould you like to take a walk with me Tallulah?â she inquired.
âNot looking like you look.â The lady laughed, â`Sâpose I comb them rats outta yo hair first.â Tallulah guided Maggie to the balcony. âYou sit right here while I get a brush and lay out somethun nice for you to wear. You done got so po ainât likely nuthinâl fitcha but weâll make do.â Tallulah chose a light yellow poly blend dress from the wardrobe, laid it on the settee and shoved a brush inside her apron pocket. Before stepping back out onto the terrace she made the bed and turned down the covers.
âHere we go Miss Maggie.â turning Maggie so her back was to her, âLawd child yo head is nappy!â
Maggie didnât bother remarking on the comment. She knew she looked a fright in her current condition.
âHow long have you known the Lafont family?â Maggie asked, as Tallulah stood behind her on the sun drenched veranda brushing out a mat of blond tangles.
âAll my life.â Tallulah answered, âMy Mama was maid to Mr. Rayâs Mama.â
âReally?â Maggie asked in surprise.
âSho nuff and her Mama was employed here fo her. See my peoples was once owned by the Lafontâs.â Tallulah stated matter of factly with what sounded like pride to Maggie.
âWhy on earth would you stay after the abolition â I mean why would your family stay on? Didnât they know they could leave? Did anyone ever say?â Maggie asked, thoroughly intrigued by the information.
âYessum, my mother told me what was told her â that they was no cause to leave. Said the Lafontâs made sure they had money, land and educated um too. Said they always gave um Sunday off and Saturday if need be. Wuddint no beatinâ and rapinâ goinâ on here like in tha other parts I heard tell of. I bâlieve her too cause they paid all three of my sons through college â called it my bonus. I couldnât a got that nowhere else.â
âNo maâam I donât believe you could have. So youâre fond of the family?â Maggie asked.
âLove um like theyâs my own. I got one son is a doctor thanks to Mr. Rayâs daddy.â Tallulah beamed with pride and added, âThe other two boys is teachers. Good teachers too.â
âI bet they are. You must be so proud of them Tallulahâ all three of them.â
âI am Miss Maggie, I really am.â
âSo tell me about Ray when he was a little boy.â Maggie urged.
âWhatâs be you wanna know?â Tallulah asked admiring and grooming the now smooth golden tresses of hair.
âEverything.â
The first memory that came to Tallulahâs mind of the young Lafont conjured cruel pictures. Images of the puppy Ray had found in an old grain silo. Tallulah could not bring herself to tell the ailing lady of how her husband had broken the legs of the tiny cur at every joint and tied its muzzle so it couldnât cry out. She diligently searched her memories for something more pleasant.
The imposition was cut short when Maggie abruptly slouched forward grabbing her waist.
âWhatâ a matter Miss Maggie?â
âIâm not sure.â Maggie replied, straining to speak through the enervating cramp, âCan we go in now?â
âYessum. But you gots to tell ole Tallulah whatâs wrong? Is you hurtin?â
Maggie nodded her head and tried to stand but found her legs would not support her.
âLet me help you.â She said, lifting Maggie to her feet.
âOh lawdy lawd child, better let me carry you.â She swept Maggie up and carried her like a child back into the bedroom, laying her gently on the bed. âIma get some towels â just you lay real still now.â
Maggie pulled her knees toward her chest, a natural maneuver to relieve the unrelenting spasm.
âOh no.â She whimpered, âNo, no, no little baby.â She cried when she noticed the bright red stain on her gown.
âUp here Mrs. Turner.â Tallulah yelled. Maggie lay motionless staring up at nothing as the nursemaid removed the bloody towels from between her legs. âLooks like thatâs all of it maâam.â Tallulah told her.
âGood lord have mercy! Look at all the blood. Tallulah were you able to stop it?â Mrs. Turner spoke frantically as she stood at the doorway and stared at the sharp contrast of crimson against the white bed sheets.
âTha bleedinâ is slowed to nearly nuthin but she ainât with child no mo maâam.â
âAre you sure. Maybe weâd better call an ambulance and get her to the hospital.â
âFor the girl may be, but look here.â Tallulah said, opening a towel for the grandmother to be, âWoulda been a boy by tha looks of it.â
âDear god, that thing is hideous! Throw it away!â Mrs. Turner screamed as the salty rivers ran from her daughterâs silent face.
Get a copy from your favorite retailer here. Google has the series lined up for you here
Merry Christmas World (Happy Holidays)
Ah, Christmas is not over and already I am basking in the afterglow.
I am so grateful (that warm, fuzzy, misty-eyed kind of grateful) for family and friends, the kindness of strangers, Godâs mercy and the gift of Christ.
Our gathering was not as large as we would have liked; a few came down sick at the last minute, more than a few are heeding the âRona lawâ and a couple or so are recovering (without complications) from Covid. Heck, half of us have had the dreaded Covid and (thankfully) recovered.
I do have a very dear cousin in hospital with a respiratory issue; heâs confident he will recover (from whatever it is) but if yâall have a few seconds, send up a good vibe or a prayer for David. We would appreciate it.
These are peculiar and trying times indeed, how about we all pray for one another. đđź
Ok – back to the basking…
I would like to share a little of my Christmas glow with all of you.
A picture is worth a thousand words.

And alas I leave you with a poem.

Round Here
You can’t quite tell it (unless you can smell it) `round here but Autumn has officially arrived.

It’s a balmy 95 degrees today. I have the shades drawn, the AC turned down to 70 degrees Fahrenheit and some sort of orange-cinnamon-pumpkin-fake-cake concoction baking into thin air.
Lord why don’t they make a more comforting smell to compliment fall? Why?! I can hear the atoms colliding in the space around me! Why is this room spinning faster than the earth?
Whew! I don’t know why I’m in such a state. Maybe it’s the fake cake that’s baking. Maybe my hands cramp too much for typing. Maybe I need another nap?
Maybe? The truth is I am rather erratic today and maybe I lied. I suspect I’m in such a state because…
Well… You see…
Deep breath and confess.
I’m nursing a hangover. A post bachelorette weekend party hangover but I can explain.
You see we went to this place and had some drinks…

And then some more places and some more drinks…

I couldn’t stop `em, the girls and the drinks just kept coming…

And then…
Hmm. I don’t remember much after that but I hear we had fun. đ
I know! What the heck?! I must be insane, mad as a hatter to party like that at my age but you know what? I do not regret it. Not even if an unknown photo surfaces. Not even with a hangover. And you know why?
It was a great way to end the summer but most importantly …
sniff, sniff. I wish I felt well enough to write 1000 words.
Because the bachelorette just happens to be my baby girl and I will never [never ever never] be too old nor will I grow too weary to make memories with that beautiful soul.
Guess What? (Friday’s Free-for-All)
Well the kittens I mentioned last month have all found new homes [and new names I suppose] so it is a little quieter around here. I like the quiet but I think I may have a touch of empty nest syndrome.
Itâs not anything like the empty nest I experienced when the last child left home, itâs more like uhâŚ
Shucks, I donât knowâŚ
Like losing your blanket? Kind ofâŚ
Like adjusting to the new furniture arrangement? NoâŚ
Like a new haircut? NoâŚ
Like finding a $20 bill? NoâŚ
Well by the time I find the words I will be over the empty nest thing but speaking of the last child to leave home, guess what?
Sniffles and snorts.
Baby boy had a baby boy this month! Remember when I was trying to find him a wife?
Okay, he didnât have the baby – his lovely wife did but he helped as much as a man can.
Listen, I have to tell yâall I was a little concerned about how much help he would be. Most of us know how raunchy it can get in the final stage of labor. A natural labor. In a birthing center. Yeah!
Well I am proud to say he did just fine and his wife? Daaang, what a trooper! And to look gorgeous through it all? Just wow.
When I rehashed the story for the umpteenth time someone asked, âWere you in the delivery room?â
My are you serious look.
Oh yeah, I was all up in there. Honestly when they asked for privacy I knew they wanted me near them.
Chuckle to self.
When that same someone exclaimed their disbelief in my audacity I just sighed, shook my head and said, âI thought you new me.â
Now some of you will see where a bit of Maryâs character in The Clan Destiny Series comes from.
Hereâs a snippet from chapter 10:
âMaâam you cannot come back here. Not yet.â A strange nurse spoke, stepping in front of the charging mother.
âOh yes I can!â Mary replied as she darted around the woman and into the room where Linda laid clutching Steveâs hand.
âHey Mama.â The laboring woman grunted, âThey let you in? That is great. WhoaâŚ. Here comes another one. â Mary ran to her daughterâs side and took her hand.
âShe has got a hellacious grip, doesnât she?â Steve asked, noting Maryâs fingers had turned a deep indigo color under the squeeze.
âShe sure does.â Mary answered, leaning down to kiss her child, âMy baby girl is strong and little Turner will be strong like his mother.â
âIâm pretty strong too.â The father-to-be replied with a sheepish grin.
âIâm sure you are.â Mary said without looking at him in a tone reserved for children, then with a mature pitch directed to Linda, âWhere is your sister?â
âShe went to see Larry â said she might knock off a quickie in the docâs lounge while they were prepping me.â
âShe was joking, right? I hope she was just kidding. I will go and -â
âNot now mother! For crying out loud⌠dear lord baby Jesus! This is really starting to get on my nerves.â Linda writhed in the bed, twisting and squeezing the hands she held for support. âTell the nurse to check me again and tell `em I have changed my mind â I want that epidural and I want it right now!â
âYou remember she said you were dilated too far for the epidural. We are going to get through this baby. Come on letâs do some breathing, follow my lead.â Steve coaxed, inhaling deeply and exhaling through pursed lips then panting with an odd hiss.
âShut up!â Linda growled. Bearing down she pulled Steveâs hand to her mouth.
âNo, no. Donât bite me Linda⌠let me go.â He pleaded, attempting to pull his hand away until Maryâs free hand made stinging contact with his head.
âYou let her bite you if she wants to! Donât you dare pull that hand away or I swear to God Iâll bite you myself.â
HaPpY Friday yâAll !!
A Year in Pictures
A Look Back at 2018
I wasn’t very productive as far as writing [or marketing] goes but I made a few memories and I ain’t mad about that. đ
Some of the books got a new cover, you can see them here if you’re so inclined, or you can look at a few of my pictures from 2018.
Man that flew by. Oh well…
Hasta la vista 2018, I’ll be back & here’s wishing all of YOU a HaPpY 2019!!
Wordless Wednesday (This is How My Christmas Went Down & IT Was Freakin’ Awesome!)
Tuesday’s Tell All (Clothes are So Overrated)
I do not love shopping but my awesome daughter is taking me [us] on a cruise this fall so⌠I shopped. I do love bargains so the experience was almost enjoyable.
I donât like trying on clothes either so I grabbed a few things off the rack and hurried home. The husband thought it would be wise to make sure the clothes fit before we set sail. Heâs practical like that.
So the amateur model show began…
Yay! It fits well enough and isn’t this a cute little hat?
Double yay! Another excellent guess on size err-um.
By the third change the excitement was waning and so was my patience.
âHave you considered some makeup and accessories?â the husband smirked.
âHave you considered kissing my backside?â I replied through a stress-clenched jaw.
âHow about something with a little more color? Maybe some shoes and a pedicure for those garden toes?â he laughed.
âLord have mercy sweet baby Jesus!” I grumbled.
“What’s wrong ?”
“I look like a red waffle cone topped with peach ice-cream and youâve got my feet at war with one another! â
“Calm down old woman you look good to me.” (That is his favorite go-to line.)
After I changed back into my âdonât give a pooâ daily wear and relaxed I asked the husband if he had been shopping â if he had planned his wardrobe.
âDonât be ridiculous.â He says, âItâs a cruise — cruises are for relaxing.â
âYouâre right dear.â Sigh. âClothes are so overrated. I’ll pack a swim suit and pajamas.â