Like most of the area, we had a doozy of a winter storm here yesteday. Snowed pretty much all day, with lots of wind and drifting. The official snow total here is 13.5″, but I think we got a bit more up here on the hill. The dog was rather unhappy about the whole affair. He doesn’t like snow or rain. He is not overly fond of the cold, and he really does not care for snow being blown in his face. Add to that the field where he usually does his potty business was snowed in and he couldn’t get to his usual spots, and he was less than pleased with the whole affair. Which made me less than pleased as well, because he wasn’t exactly speedy about choosing new spots. At least they ran the snowblower into the field and cleared a nice big spot today.
It is still quite cold out there, with wind chills in the below zero numbers. It looks like the weather may ease a bit early next week, and we may get some rain. And by easing, I mean we will get into positive double digit temps, possibly hitting 30 F. It will feel like a heat wave! (Sort of.)
We were off to CT on Sunday for a chili cook off. Chief Judge and Scorekeeper, of course. This is the now pretty much annual Chili For Life event that targets a local person who needs a little extra help. It’s been done for an injured veteran who needed housing help, a little girl with cancer, and this year, for a boy with seizures. It’s a pretty low-key event and is a positive thing to start off the new year.
I am in the end stages of the latest cold. Still stuffy, but I feel at least decent and have some energy back. What I hate about the end of a cold for me is the scratchy throat. I get these dry feeling patches in the back of my throat that cause coughing fits. Nothing seems to help except just coughing through it. It’s not fun, but at least I know we’re heading for the wire.
A whole week into the new year, and really, it mostly feels like the old one. At least to me. Not much has changed drastically, and that is fine with me. I hope it at least stays like this. Although I would not refuse an up trend, either. I hope your new year has started well!
(The picture is from last year, but that’s pretty much what it looked like this year, too!)
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Available now and on sale at Smashwords from December 25, 2017 to January 1, 2018:
After five years away, Kaili is coming home for the ceremony to install her sister as head of the family business. When an old rivalry threatens the family, Kaili and her partner need to use all their skills to save the sisters’ lives. Learn more here
A collection of six short fantasy stories set in varied worlds of magic and mayhem. Learn more here.
A short novelette set in a dystopian Earth after the final environmental collapse. Sam is a genetically engineered chameleon who may hold the key to mankind’s survival. Learn more here.
In a world reeling under the effects of severe climate change, food shortages are common, and arable farmland is scarce. Unscupulous distributors like Beni Oligowma take advantage of the shortages for their own gain. When a promising new technology for growing food even under the harsh conditions is unveiled, grocery store owner Frank is determined to see that everyone is able to benefit from the results, not just the Benis of the world.
Feed My People is a short story, set in a dystopian science fiction world, and is free. Learn more here
Demon hunters Johnny and Cerise travel to the small town of Carroll Fork where they find a demon-possessed thrift store, a sweet old lady who is more than she seems, and an army of underworld inhabitants. Can Johnny and his trusty yo-yo save the town from a devil of a problem?
Five and Daemon, the Yo-Yo Files #1, is a short novelette in an urban fantasy setting, with elements of the supernatural and humor. Learn more here
Things have been quiet. No demonic possessions, no otherworldly intrusions, nothing. And then Lucifer shows up in Johnny’s living room, claiming that two archangels are missing, and something is definitely not right in the heavenly- and other- realms. Saying he has nothing to do with it- this time- he asks Johnny and Cerise to help him find out what’s happening, and who is behind the disappearances. While they are trying to do just that, Lucifer is devilnapped by a larger-than-life serpent. He manages to get a clue to Johnny before he disappears. Johnny and Cerise are left to puzzle out the disappearances and try to find the missing angels. Oh, and stop what could mean the ultimate destruction of pretty much everything.
Snake’s Alive, the Yo-Yo Files #2 is an urban fantasy novelette with elements of the supernatural and humor. Learn more here.
And So On... 