Karma Corn Craze: The house is quiet... little voices have left the ...

Karma Corn Craze: The house is quiet... little voices have left the ...: The house is quiet... little voices have left the air as I prepare for the Summer after the family visit. Having my niece in the car singing...

Karma Corn Craze: Karma Corn Craze: Surf is up! My brother is on the...

Karma Corn Craze: Karma Corn Craze: Surf is up! My brother is on the...: Karma Corn Craze: Surf is up! My brother is on the road again and ha... : Surf is up! My brother is on the road again and has been kind enou...

The house is quiet... little voices have left the air as I prepare for the Summer after the family visit. Having my niece in the car singing rain rain go away as a rainbow appears for her special birthday party.The sound of my piano being played as I listen with pride at what my grandaughter can do. Family meals and wine poured and popcorn popped. Riding a train to Chicago and taking cabs around the city. Spending time at outdoor concerts or stories told sitting at the kitchen table. The ringing of the slot machine and Brenda's face saying "Now wasn't that fun! Memories made and now I am alone just in from the garden.Hands sweaty and dirt under the fingernails from planting. I have been gathering plants from different cities. As I walk through the garden I hope to point out to future generations the story of where the plant came from and the memories made in the Summer time.

Karma Corn Craze: Surf is up! My brother is on the road again and ha...

Karma Corn Craze: Surf is up! My brother is on the road again and ha...: Surf is up! My brother is on the road again and has been kind enough to let me live vicariously through his latest adeventure! He rented a g...

Surf is up! My brother is on the road again and has been kind enough to let me live vicariously through his latest adeventure! He rented a grass hut in Caba San Lucus Mexico and had a wonderful... truly amazing week! I thought  I would share some surfing pic's as today  I  wish I  could be on any  beach. You turn corners in life and wonder how wonderful would it be to go off by yourself and have this type of adventure.I thank my brother for the life that he continues to let me have a peek into ....

Enjoy a free and fun read today! I am currently writing my fourth book in the series and am so excited about where the series is headed. In the third book, we meet a character that as I was writing I began to emulate. I became as accident prone as my character. It dawned on me that as a writer, we have shadows of ourselves in characters and often do not realize it. I was  accident prone my whole life and with this book I feel I could embrace my kookiness along with my character! I wanted the book to be a fun and light read and mostly to make you smile at a charming  and unforgettable Ophelia Jones!

http://t.co/0w57IDkPoR

Karma Corn Craze: Morningsunlight stretched across the Mississippi d...

Karma Corn Craze: Morningsunlight stretched across the Mississippi d...: Morning sunlight stretched across the Mississippi dancing creating a sparkling picture. Paul stood with his paintbrush in his mouth. On an ...

Morning sunlight stretched across the Mississippi dancing creating a sparkling picture. Paul stood with his paintbrush in his mouth. On an easel in front of him stood a blank white canvas. The paint on his easel waiting a dip from his brush but his hand could not take the brush from his lips. He felt a tear roll down his cheek, but he could not bother to brush it away. How many times had he painted this river? He watched a bird soar overhead musing and in which lifetime he laughed to himself. In frustration, he sat on the wall of the ledge that he was before. He glanced over his shoulder back at the house where everything had started. It was here in which he met his wife. A second tear rolled down his cheek as he realized with a fierceness the raw emotion which was the love for his wife. He pictured her still in bed her hand curled under her cheek, and her hair spilled on the pillow. They had been married one year, and he was now the stepfather to a two-year-old boy.

Paul wiped away the tears and stood up tall putting down his brush. The new family was here on a visit as they had finally received news that the painting that they had been searching for had been located. Tonight they were to all meet at the Villa Medina as old friends and new were reconnecting to finally bring the painting and the mystery home. Paul had decided to wake early and try to begin a painting that he planned to donate to the city. They planned to stay the week and see and reconnect with family and friends. The Villa Mediana had been restored and the caretakers' house in the back had been prepared for their visit. It was just the right size for the three of them. In the small living room suitcases were left unpacked as they had arrived late. They had flown into st Louis rented a car and arrived while everyone slept.

 Paul was restless and had made sure his family was asleep and snuck out of the house with his painting supplies. He knew one person would be awake, and he thought perhaps she would meet him. He dialed the cellphone, and a soft voice had promised to be there in a half hour. Paul put the phone back in his pocket. He sat down and pulled out a pack of cigarettes and pulled one out and lit it. When his wife had found out he was smoking she had been so disappointed in him. They had been walking in Central Park pushing the stroller with their son in the middle. She had not looked at him and said simply that she knew that he was smoking and that he should stop. He had nodded to her and had not stopped. He had become as good as hiding things as she had.

Karma Corn Craze: We watched the first snowflake on October 15th a...

Karma Corn Craze:

We watched the first snowflake on October 15th a...: We watched the first snowflake on October 15th and  Fall began to give way to the much stronger Winter of 2013-14. Snowflakes still fe...

We watched the first snowflake on October 15th and  Fall began to give way to the much stronger Winter of 2013-14. Snowflakes still fell in March and the winds of  a strong  Winter pushes spring back a bit each day. The apple blossoms of last year gave way to a bountiful crop of apples. The tree limb so full my granddaughter stood nestles in the leaves. With winter so unforgiving the tree limb broke and was stripped bare by rabbits over the winter. The winter clean up has begun with leaves, and tree limbs throughout the yard. The strong winds of today kept me from any further clean up. Yet... tonight thunder rumbles and before the sun had set I noticed a tulip sticking through the ground. The bright color of Robins covering the yard that has started to show signs of green. Tonight bring on the rain for yet promises of a bright and sunny Spring!

Karma Corn Craze: Binghimon's Caribbean Kitchen(56 ratings)$ (0-10)...

Karma Corn Craze: Binghimon's Caribbean Kitchen(56 ratings)
$ (0-10)...: Binghimon's Caribbean Kitchen (56 ratings) $ (0-10) ·  Caribbean Restaurant 403 N. 4th Street, Fa...

Binghimon's Caribbean Kitchen

(56 ratings)

$ (0-10) · Caribbean Restaurant

403 N. 4th Street, Fairfield, Iowa 52556(641) 233-0714
Simply have to try this!!!My blog is all about this off the beaten track in Iowa. Check it Out!

Karma Corn Craze: They say a journey is best measured in friends, ra...

Karma Corn Craze: They say a journey is best measured in friends, ra...: They say a journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles. I was lucky enough to go skiing with a group of 20 of the most fun and ta...

They say a journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles. I was lucky enough to go skiing with a group of 20 of the most fun and talented adventure seekers led by Bryce, Sunny and Brian! What an awesome group!! .. we were greeted at the lodge by Craig, Dan, Jeff & crew eager to take us all over, share local secrets, and keep us out of trouble .. I met the kind girl that rescued me from the blizzard, the older man who insisted on helping me carry my bags up and down the stairs chasing trains, the college student, Utah, who took it upon himself to be my interpreter and travel companion for 8 hours on the most hectic day, the Singapore Airlines pilot and his wife having laughs and drinks to ride out worst snowstorm to hit Japan in 45 years, so many nice people helping me at every turn, the smiling faces and waves as I skied thru the streets of town (which if you've never done it, it is way fun) .. having interesting conversations with people from around the world, Finland, England, Poland, Hong Kong, Kiwis from New Zealand, the crazy Aussies ... and the hilarious Japanese cab driver fishtailing the car around the snowy streets and telling jokes "mmmm, comedy", the samurai gentlemen letting me throw ninja stars, and the list goes on ... all I can say is thanks, what a great time!!

My Brother said it best in his account of his trip. He is heading home safe and with a lifetime of memories. I have been blogging his trip and I thought I would give you an update in his words!

Karma Corn Craze: My brother is on his dream trip to the Japanese Al...

Karma Corn Craze: My brother is on his dream trip to the Japanese Al...: My brother is on his dream trip to the Japanese Alps. I find myself anxiously checking my Facebook page for some new picture or tidbet a...

My brother is on his dream trip to the Japanese Alps.

I find myself anxiously checking my Facebook page for some new picture or tidbet about his trip. Today he changed his profile picture showing a picture of a wild snow monkey. The picture brought a smile to my face as I hope it does to the ones that read my blog.

Another interesting event in his post is as follows:

Today I meditated inside a temple built in the year 642. Shoguns and Emperors used to come here when they became weary from the world or the world became weary from them. Inside the temple is the first statue of the Buddha brought into Japan 1600 years ago. This statue caused rifts between the ruling clans, and the temple was built to protect it. It is said that everyone must travel here at least once in their lifetime, no matter how far, to receive the blessing of the Buddha .... so I've got that going for me, which is nice.

Upon reading about that and seeing some of the comments I learned about the meditation and chanting of the words Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. Today I meditated and also chanted the sacred chanting and for now today I am at the center of my core being, which feels pretty serene. Thanks again Bro for leading me down a path!

Karma Corn Craze: In the soft white, powder is a nothingness. A on...

Karma Corn Craze: In the soft white, powder is a nothingness.

 A on...: In the soft white, powder is a nothingness.  A oneness that some adventurers delight in and others merely stare at the picture in absol...

Karma Corn Craze: In the soft white, powder is a nothingness. A on...

Karma Corn Craze: In the soft white, powder is a nothingness.

 A on...: In the soft white, powder is a nothingness.  A oneness that some adventurers delight in and other merely stare at the picture in absolu...

In the soft white, powder is a nothingness.

 A oneness that some adventurers delight in and others merely stare at the picture in absolute amazement. My brother is a skier and one that have experienced some heights and views that I can simply view through his pictures. He began skiing at a young age on a small hill on plastic skis. He moved on to ski and live in Denver. His backyard is now Tahoe where he enjoys the amazement of the powdery slopes as often as he can. He has rented a snowplow and skied from dazzling heights.
 He also was dropped off by helicopter in Kootenays, British Columbia.

 His latest amazing trip will be to Japan. It is a joy to live vicariously through his adventures. I cannot wait to experience the beauty and the awe of his next trip. Your old skiing buddy of many years past is always amazed and proud of a brother who keeps living life with wild abandonment.

Karma Corn Craze: What to do on a below freezing day in January. Thi...

Karma Corn Craze: What to do on a below freezing day in January. Thi...: What to do on a below freezing day in January. This is now becoming a weekly ordeal of having wind chills 30-40 below. So  my first step is ...

What to do on a below freezing day in January. This is now becoming a weekly ordeal of having wind chills 30-40 below. So  my first step is to accept you are truly having a real winter. This winter is a teaser as right before the arctic blast you will get a day where it is 40 degrees. My son encouraged me to go out without a coat. He was in shorts. Simple gestures taunting the elements saying we know better days are coming. My days at the house this winter has a dabble of writing and finding fun stuff on the Internet. I entered ten sweepstakes today. With each click of my fingers I am imagining a trip to an island. My next step is to work out with my old favorite Gilad who specializes in low impact training. (Note yesterday's work out I still feel ) I will work out this time with my son, who will challenge me to the end. I will watch netflix, eat healthy... repeat and wonder if winter is really so bad.

This is one of my favorite winter pictures from two years ago when my Dog was alive and well. This year would of been hard on him so I am happy to report I believe he is chasing rabbits somewhere in a warmer place.

Karma Corn Craze: It is Saturday in the Midwest and we once again se...

Karma Corn Craze: It is Saturday in the Midwest and we once again se...: It is Saturday in the Midwest and we once again see the familar white stuff covering the gorund. Snow that I hoped for in December is now ...

It is Saturday in the Midwest and we once again see the familar white stuff covering the gorund. Snow that I hoped for in December is now just something to make the ground look pretty. The Christmas hustle and bustle is over and it is now settling into getting used to cold weather and warm soups to take the edge off. I took a break from writing the blog and writing in general. I woke up one morning and decided to start into a book I wrote years ago that needs a rewrite. It was sluggish to begin as I am in the January cold. Characters with names but no faces. Jumbled emotions that rise to the surface as I try to began a story that had heart fifteen years ago. I spend quiet moments trying to see the characters and also see if the project is one that I want to pursue. As the days of cold turn to days promising a hint of Spring I'll see if I can create characters from a story that takes place in the Colorado Mountains.