UPDATE: The winner is…Loretta C. Rogers!
*~*~*

All but two gifts are bought. So, that stress is over. Now, the family and I are settling into the last days of school before the holiday begins. We haven’t started bingeing on Christmas movies. Hopefully, we’ll have time for one today.

In the meantime, the weather is dismal. Not nearly cold enough and rainy. So, the last leaves are still clinging to the trees, the grass is brown with patches of green. The horse and goats love that. The forecasts aren’t hopeful for a white Christmas.

So, the image I chose today is lovely, eerie, and wintery—just so I can get into the mood of the season. I think I need to stock up on hot chocolate and gingersnaps. Something to help fuel the holiday feel.

I love that so many of you seem to be enjoying my Christmas Advent giveaways on Facebook! We’ll keep it up until Christmas Eve!

In the meantime, for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, solve the puzzle then offer your suggestions for holiday movies to watch. My daughter leans toward Hallmark Christmas movies. She vetoed the Krampus movie—and I don’t dare mention my favorite, Die Hard. So, any other suggestions will be appreciated!

UPDATE: The winner is…cindy!
*~*~*

I’m up early to get ready for the Christmas craft sale today! I’ll post this blog and go jump in the shower. Even if it rains, and that puts a damper on folks turning out for the sale, it will be fun! I always shop the other vendors, and the venue feeds us really, really well. I can’t wait for the homemade chili!

In the meantime, solve the puzzle! Then tell me whether you have any homemade holiday decorations you treasure for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card!

Psst! And don’t forget to head over to my Friends page on Facebook to enter the Advent contest!

UPDATE: The winner is…Rachelle Lerner!
*~*~*

I had a late start today. Why?

1. Last night (this morning?), I was up from 2 AM to 6 AM due to insomnia. Then, I slept until 8:30 AM. My dd woke me because…
2. We committed to taking the 10-year-old on a shopping adventure—translation: a garage sale, the dollar store, and then the flea market.

I’m so tired now I’m yawning while I’m writing this. As soon as it posts, I’m taking a nap!

Your Saturday challenge, should you accept it, is to:

Solve the puzzle then tell me what sort of treasure you would love to find for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card.

Background

UPDATE: The winner is…Wendy Vest!
*~*~*

My daughter and I made the shopping list last night. She cooks the entire dinner every year all by herself, and she looks forward to it every year. I can’t imagine liking the prep. She even has a To Do list that tells her when to start what, with notes about how to make everything. She refines it every year. And the dinner is always amazing!

We have the turkey (we always get a 12 or 13-pounder because we hate having more than a day or two of leftovers). Then there’s creamed potatoes, mac ‘n’ cheese, pea (instead of green beans) casserole, bread dressing, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, dinner rolls, a tray of olives, pickles, etc., and I can’t remember what else. Oh yeah, pies (pumpkin, chocolate, key lime or lemon meringue)!

So, to celebrate the prep and the “preppers,” solve the puzzle and tell me what your favorite Thanksgiving dishes are for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card!  

UPDATE: The winner is…Tara Leavitt!
*~*~*

I have a lot of people to thank for their service on this day, starting with my late father who received recognition at his graveside. I thank my sister, Elle James, my brother and my nephew, who all served. Service is in my DNA. I had uncles who served in WWII, luckily all returned. I’m sure your families have their own heroes as well. So, a shout out to all who served! If you get a chance today, thank a veteran for their service.

Saturday Puzzle-Contest

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, tell me whether you have a family or friend you’ll celebrate today.

The winner is…Cara!

And yes, the figure is Frank Poole from 2001: A Space Odyssey!
*~*~*

Yesterday, I received my latest Funko Pop! figurine. Yes, I collect these, too. (Yes, I’m that big of a nerd!) But I only collect figures that mean something to me. So, who could this little guy be? Play along with me…

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, solve the puzzle then tell me the name of the movie the picture represents, and if you want to go a step farther, tell me which character in the movie is represented by my new Pop! figurine!

UPDATE: The winner is…Diane Sallans!
*~*~*

This is a reminder that my current call for submissions for the next Boys Behaving Badly Anthology is drawing near. I’m considering pushing out the submission date to accommodate writers but want you to keep this challenge in mind. Follow the link to learn more about what I’m seeking. These anthologies are always fun!

The link:  Call for Submissions

The Saturday Puzzle-Contest

Since “secret identities” are on my mind today, I chose a very pretty picture of a possible heroine in such a story! I have to choose a theme for my own story. It’s raining outside. It’s been raining a couple of days now and there’s no end in sight. The temperatures are warm for this time of year, but I’m at last ready for the cold to arrive. This picture feels “fall-ish” or maybe even a little “Christmas-y”—it’s the colors, I guess. Enjoy it!

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, tell me what sort of secret identity story you’d like me to write. Have fun with the challenge!