Thursday, January 31, 2013

A little sneak peek at Whimsey

The folks who live on The Island of Whimsey love to eat, so I've included a few recipes in WHIMSEY: A NOVEL. 

Here's a sneak peek at one of them that you coffee lovers might enjoy - - - http://www.kayewilkinsonbarley.com/

January Photo A Day Challenge - Day 31

Topic of the Day
 
is
 
"Rock"
 
 
 
Photo by Don Barley
 

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

January Photo A Day Challenge - Day 29

Topic of the Day
 
is
 
"Grow"
 
 
 
Photo by Don Barley
 
 
 
 
 
 

Monday, January 28, 2013

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Friday, January 25, 2013

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Whimsey





Keeping up with news about Whimsey?  Well, we have a back cover!  Check it out - http://www.kayewilkinsonbarley.com/





January Photo A Day Challenge - Day 24

Topic of the Day
 
is
 
"Stripes"


 

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

January Photo A Day Challenge - Day 23

Topic of the Day
 
is
 
"Electric"
 
 
 One electric moment of many at the Country Music Awards Show in Nashville this past November.  Watching Blake Shelton accept his award for Male Vocalist of the Year.
 
 

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

A little more about President Obama's Inauguration




Yesterday's inauguration moved me greatly.

After some trepidation four years ago, I have become quite proud of our president.  A loyal supporter.  And I think his speech during the inauguration yesterday was brilliant.  I think it was honest and from the heart.  I believe Barack Obama to be a good man and a decent man.  A man of "true" family values.  A man who lives those values and doesn't preach them falsely.  I also think he wants what's best for this country and if not for a congress determined to make it look as though the president failed, would move us forward.

While I was watching I felt the stirrings of "oh my - gotta write about this!" begin and I realized how much I've missed writing pieces from my heart for Meanderings and Muses.  It's not that I haven't felt them - I just haven't had the time while writing "Whimsey." 

Whimsey is now out of my hands for a while.  I shipped it off to the Ebook formatting company "booknook.biz" which I've heard wonderful things about.  I'm waiting for an estimate now.  After the estimate, I don't know how long the turn-around time is for the Ebook formatted file to be sent back to me, but not too long, I don't think.  Then I'll take it to Kindle Direct Publishing.  So - in the very near future I'll get to see my book in print.  my book.  whew.  That is powerful.  Even more powerful, to me, is that my mother will get to see it. 

So. 

Back to "this" piece.

I couldn't get started.  I was stuck.  "Where do I start?"  How do I put all the feelings I have about this inauguration, this man - our president, into the words I'm feeling. 

Stumped.  I was stumped.

So I got in my car and went to The Gym (that's the name of it - that's why you always see it capitalized.  Don't you love that?).  Immediately, while driving, the words started falling into place.  While doing my work-out it just wrote itself.  And here it is, starting with the piece I posted yesterday.  It's not earth shattering.  It's a small, small thing in the big scheme of things.  But important in my scheme of things.  And I'll be doing some short pieces sharing my feelings here this week.

I find the irony of the inauguration falling on the day we celebrate the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. chillingly appropriate.  I cannot even begin to imagine how the Obama family feels, or for that matter, every black family in these United States.  I like to think Dr. King has been looking down and smiling on the Obama family, proud to see this beautiful family together and happy.  And wishing them well.

As am I.  As am I.



 

January Photo A Day Challenge - Day 22

Topic of the Day
 
is
 
"Corner"


 

Monday, January 21, 2013

The Inauguration

I didn't start out an "Obama Girl," or "Obama Bunny" as a friend of a one-time friend referred to me.  I was, and remain, a huge and very loyal "Hillary Girl."  I didn't think Barack Obama had the experience needed to do the job.

I felt as though some people who had been supporters of Hillary Clinton were being swayed by a charming, charismatic man who had captured the world's attention with the first speech many of us watched him give in 2004 when he did the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention.  I felt like we were being courted.  And while I saw the things others saw in this young man, truthfully, I resented him - I felt like it was Hillary's turn.  I felt as though she had earned the right to be the person nominated as the Democrat's choice.  I thought it was her turn to win.  I believed in my heart she would be our next president after eight years under a president who I felt was a puppet to the vice president, along with special interest groups, and who, in my always humble opinion, just wasn't quite up to the job.  I think Hillary Clinton would have been a good president. I still do.  I hope she'll take another run at it.

But. Barack Obama won.  Pretty soon my Democrat friends were saying, "he's more Republican than Democrat!" 

My Republican friends hated him from Day One. 

Congress?  We're not even gonna go there.  It's too embarrassing.

Me?  I came to admire him and support him.

I watched the inauguration and was moved.  (and fell in love with Aretha's Hat!).
http://www.meanderingsandmuses.com/2009/01/whats-left-to-say.html
http://www.meanderingsandmuses.com/2009/01/whats-left-to-say-part-ii-more-on.html

I watched him dance at the inaugural balls with his beautiful wife and fell in love with him.  What's sexier than a man who is over the moon in love with his wife and can show her and the rest of world during a slow dance?

Four years later I watched him during his second inauguration.  This time, firmly in his camp.  I think he's a decent man - proably too decent to be in the bed of vipers we call our nation's capital.  I think, given some support from congress, he could turn this country around and put us back on track.  Time will tell.

In the meantime, there was no Aretha's Hat for me to fall in love with.  But, oh man, those red coats with the fur collars and cuffs the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir wore?  sigh.  Yeah, I could enjoy the heck out of wearing one of those.

January Photo A Day Challenge - Day 21

Topic of the Day
 
is
 
"What I Do"
 
 
 
 

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Friday, January 18, 2013

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Good Stuff

Remember those "Good Stuff" jars we talked about making for ourselves the beginning of the year? Well, I did it (did you?). And today was one of those special, magical days and I dropped not one, but two, "Good Stuff Notes" into my jar. 

And, here's how it's looking - - -



January Photo A Day Challenge - Day 17

Topic of the Day
 
is
 
"Ready"



"Put me in Coach, I'm ready to play"


 

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Purging

Some of you know we've gone on a "Let's Toss This!" kick at our house.

We've been throwing away and giving away a LOT of stuff - linens, sit-abouts, "stuff!"

I've taken a lot of clothes  -  mine AND Donald's to some local organizations around town.

I do have some things I'm going to try to sell before I take them to some of these same organizations.  Right now I have tops, pants, skirts, a red suit and several pairs of shoes listed here - http://www.tradesy.com/your-listings .  Coming soon will be more of the same plus boots and sweaters.  So, if you're interested do check from time to time - and spread the word, please!

Thanks, much!

Kaye

Whimsey:A Novel

The novel's not quite ready, but the cover art is.

http://kayewilkinsonbarley.blogspot.com/

Take a look!

squeeeeeeee . . . .

January Photo A Day Challenge - Day 15

Topic of the day
 
is
 
"Sheep"



 

Monday, January 14, 2013

January Photo A Day Challenge - Day 14

Topic of the Day
 
is
 
"Parking"
 
 
This is an example of "unintentional parking" - otherwise known as "stuck"
(taken on our road a couple years ago)


 

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Friday, January 11, 2013

Thursday, January 10, 2013