Technical difficulties. . .

Hey, blogger friends and all my wonderful readers!
The last week, I've noticed that I'm increasingly unable to leave comments on other's blogs. I've tried using a different browser as well as logging in several times, but nothing seems to work. The comments are accepted as if they are normally going through, but they never appear.

Since I've been receiving complaints that several readers have no longer been able to post comments on my blog (Kidbits as well as Bookworm for Kids), I'm afraid something is up. This isn't affecting all readers, only some and I'm not sure why.

I hope I can have this problem solved soon. Until then, know I am reading others blogs and wanting to wish you all sorts of things. But the computer world is not letting me.

Bummer.

Celebrate the Small Things

It's that time of the week again—time to celebrate! (I love celebrations, don't you?)

So, what are we celebrating?

Anything. . .everything! Every week, things happen which put a smile on our faces. Although some are hard to forget, others are more passing moments. But it's these small things in life which can make all the difference.

Thanks to Lexa Cain and her co-host, L.G. Keltner from Writing Off the Edge, we can sit back for a second and remember these happy moments.

This week, I'm celebrating. . .


1) Survival of my in-laws! My parents-in-law were run over by a car, while walking past an alleyway. Both are around 80 years old, and we were extremely worried. Luckily, they got out of it with only a couple of broken bones, and only one was bad enough to have surgery. They are staying in the same hospital with their rooms only a couple doors apart. My mother-in-law, is already hopping around more than the doctors like, and my father-in-law is using the time to surf the internet on his tablet. In other words, we're glad it wasn't worse.

2) Starting a new MS! I sent my other MS off to the publisher. . .crossing fingers on that one. . .so it's time for a new story. Believe it or not, first drafts are not my favorite part of writing. I love the new characters, I love diving into their world and experiencing their adventure, but getting those words out one by one is always so hard. I think my inner editor is too picky.


3) My brother received a birthday dance from one of his baby goats! Baby goats are so fun to watch, and this one went into excitement pure on my brother's birthday. Luckily, his wife was quick to catch a snippet on her camera.

And there's still a giveaway running for a very wonderful, nighttime picture book with glistening golden stars AND it's signed by the author. Head on over here to take and peek and enter that.

What about you? What put a smile on your face this last week? See a shooting star? Find a freshly made pot of coffee at work? Buy a new pen?

What are you celebrating this week?

IWSG

It's time for another meeting of The Insecure Writer's Support Group, otherwise known as. . .

IWSG!!!

For anyone who might not know what this is, I see it as a type of Alcoholics Anonymous for writers. Not that we want to stop writing. . .oh no! But writing is hard on the psych. We are a strange group who is often misunderstood, frustrated, down, confused, or so euphoric, we hardly know what to do with ourselves. And here is where we come with all of those doubts, fears, suggestions and words of encouragement.

If you want to learn more, head on over here. 

Alex Cavanaugh's helpers this month are:  Mary Aalgaard,Bish Denham, Jennifer Hawes, Diane Burton, and Gwen Gardner! Thanks guys for all that you do!

This month I have not been able to reach all of my writing goals. I could blame it on my computer, which was on its death-bed for a few weeks, but I also wasn't in the swing of things. So, this month's question fits right in for me.

 How do you celebrate when you achieve a writing goal/ finish a story?

I take time off.
I sit back, enjoy a movie or a book. Or shut the laptop and stroll across my farm. My brain needs a little bit of time to reboot before diving into whatever I need to do next.

Oh, and I don't mind grabbing one shot of Bailey's or a whiskey and just smiling into space, enjoying the freeing feeling that completing something gives.


What about you? What do you do when you hit one of those writing goals or finish up edits or what-nots? Do you go bungee-jumping? Take a few hour nap? Put on those fancy shoes and hit the town?


How do you celebrate?

***

Now, for something completely different. . .

I reviewed a lovely board book over on Bookworm for Kids a couple of weeks ago, and after seeing it, the author, Deb Gruelle, was nice enough to offer a signed copy to me to give away! *squeal*

If you'd like to take a peek at my review, head on over here.

If you'd like to throw in your hat for a chance to win this beautiful book (and it is pretty with shining stars and everything), just say so below and leave your email address or Twitter name so I can get a hold of you.

The winner will be drawn at midnight on March 17th and be announced here on Kidbits as well as over on Bookworm for Kids on March 18th. The winner will also be contacted over email or Twitter (depending on what they leave in the comments) and has 48 hours to claim their prize.

Little print: The author is sponsoring this giveaway. The winner must be a resident of the U.S. and there is no possibility of a monetary or substitute prize. And who would want that anyway? The book is really a treat as it is.

Super little print: Even if you don't have a little child, I bet you know someone who does and would love the treat!

Celebrate the Small Things

It's that time of the week again—time to celebrate! (I love celebrations, don't you?)

So, what are we celebrating?

Anything. . .everything! Every week, things happen which put a smile on our faces. Although some are hard to forget, others are more passing moments. But it's these small things in life which can make all the difference.

Thanks to Lexa Cain and her co-host, L.G. Keltner from Writing Off the Edge, we can sit back for a second and remember these happy moments.

This week, I'm celebrating. . .

1) A new laptop! (This celebration is why I basically disappeared for over a week). Mine has been slowly dying and suffering for months now. First, a shift-key stops working, the fan overheats every now and then, the battery went out a long time ago (it's the 3rd one, and I knew my poor laptop was meeting its end so I didn't buy a new one), a few more keys fell out, and then my 'r' and 't' died along with several numbers two weeks ago. . .*sigh* A slow and painful death. I tried to clean it, but that wasn't the issue. So good-bye my friend! My wonderful son saw my pain and decided to give me an early birthday/Christmas present (for the next 2 years, I told him). So, here I am. . .back and typing again!

2) An award for my review blog Bookworm for Kids! I was ranked 32..33 or something like that and was SO honored and thrilled. I find it amazing that my little 'ole blog. . .which I do for sheer fun reasons with no aspirations. . .is winning so many awards. It's mind-boggling and definitely putting a smile on my face.

3) Done editing a story! Again! This manuscript has seen more edits than cows in my neighbor's pastures (which is quite a lot). But off to a new WIP now. . .greener pastures too?

4) Tons of rain and warmer temperatures! This is a 'farmer' celebration. We've had a long stretch of pretty dry weather. Months and months. This last week held 9 inches of rain, which was wonderful. Combined with the warming sun (around 55-60 degrees now), the grass is shooting up, and I'm having to feed less bales—something my elbows are happy about. Oh, and we got a baby calf, the first of several, I hope. I'm watching those moms out of my window everyday. They've got such huge stomachs that I wonder if they won't burst soon.


And what about you? What put a smile on your face this past week? Catch a ray of sunshine? Stay up all night reading a book? Smell a wonderful pizza?

What are you celebrating this week?