Intentions...

This morning at about 4, my left eye woke me with a burning sensation I couldn't ignore. As I pried my right eye open, and glanced at the clock, it became very apparent I'd better head to the bathroom and check out the problem. Well..I'd forgotten to take the contact out of my left eye. I'm trying the mono-vision thing but I'm still not great at remembering I have a contact in my eye.

Once the contact was removed and soaking in its tiny case, I slipped back into bed and found that even though the sun was far from rising, my mind was awake. For the next hour, I ran through all the things I wanted to accomplish today, Saturday, and my day off. That's always been an interesting term...day off? How can it be a day off when I've crammed it with everything from plotting the new historical novel I thought of yesterday, to cleaning the den so I can enjoy working at my computer, to cleaning house, harvesting the rest of my garden and on and on and on. Could it be, that intentions are nothing more than over obligating ourselves and dooming us to failure?

Enjoy your weekend!

More on a new 'published' writer's journey

Like everyone who loves to write and dreams of selling their work, I struggle with balance between work, family, writing and the other things life throws at us....now that I have a book coming out...I find myself working toward the balance in writing, life and marketing. I have to market, and I really enjoy it, but it's another piece of time I could be spending working on plotting the new historical I started two weeks ago. The time just speeds by when you're updating facebook, your blog, and if you're like me and technically challenged:) it takes even longer!

If you're in the newly published world and have achieved a balance in your life, do what I didn't do...listen to the ones who've been there, who say start your blog before you sell...build your facebook before you sell...I didn't and now I'm juggling everything in a sporadic manner.

Oh well! It will come to me eventually! In the meantime, I'm steaming apples for apple butter, shredding zucchini to freeze for winter loaves of zucchini bread, and updating my blog! Keep going fellow writers! Achieve your dream no matter how hectic it can seem at times. Well, off to can apple butter!

Gluten Free Scones

Gluten Free Scones (My version)
1 1/4 cups Brown Rice
1/2 Cup Tapioca Flour
1 1/2 tsp Cream of Tartar
3/4 tsp Baking Soda
1 1/2 tsp Xanthan Gun
1/4 tsp Salt
4 Tablespoons Sugar
4 Tablespoons Butter
2/3 cup plain yogurt or 1/2 Cup Milk
1 Large Egg, lightly beaten
1/3 cup Dried Cranberries, Currents or Raisins
1 tsp fresh, Orange, Lemon or Lime Zest
A quick squeeze of the juice from the above citrus

Mix all dry ingredients together, add soft butter and work gently until the consistency of small peas. Add milk and egg mixture. When all ingredients are moist, add the dried fruit, juice and zest.

Heat oven to 450 degrees. I use a miniature non stick scone pan, but you can also use a lightly greased cookie sheet, pat the mix into a circle on the pan and gently flatten. When done, cut into pie shape wedges. Bake for 12-15 minutes.
Serves 6.

Very Modern Gluten Free Cornbread

Gluten Free Cornbread:
1 1/4 Cups Cornmeal
1/2 Cup Brown Rice Flour
1/4 Cup Potato Flour
1/4 Cup Tapioca Flour
1 1/2 tsp Xanthan Gum
1/3 Cup Organic Sugar
2 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Salt
2 Large (free range preferred) eggs
1 Cup Milk (I use organic cows milk)
1/3 Cup Virgin Olive Oil

Grease a 9 inch round cast iron skillet (can use bacon grease if from bacon without nitrates or nitrites),
Olive Oil or Butter. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine all dry ingredients. Mix eggs, milk, oil in separate bowl, then add to dry ingredients. Batter should be cake batter consistency.

Bake 25-30 minutes, or until top is firm and edges lightly browned. Serve warm. Cut in 12 pie shaped pieces.

For extra flavor, can also add chopped green chili's and sprinkle with grated cheese.

Hope, Idaho Territory...

 The beautiful view of Lake Pend Oreille, is what Kate would have seen when leaving the Malone's, or when she hesitated while walking to the Malone's to drink in the amazing view.

This spot, with fruit trees in the back ground, is where I imagined the Malone house to set. Of course the gravel road wouldn't have been there, just a grassy meadow.