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I recently saw a news piece on the declining birth rate in the United States. They were bemoaning the fact that young people didn’t want to have children any more. They only want to make money, travel, and not be tied down. That may be true for some people, but my personal experience is that a lot of those young people have a great deal of faith in the future because I’m still making lots and lots of baby blankets for bouncing new arrivals.

I sat down and started calculating how many blankets I’ve crocheted over the years for nieces, nephews, greats, friends, extended family, and employees. It is rapidly approaching four hundred. I’m feeling a little old when I’m now making blankets for the children of the babies I made a blanket for decades ago.

In the nineteen years I worked at the hospital, I made sixty-three blankets for employees in my department. Early on the creations were smaller receiving blankets but they morphed into crib size covers that matched the paint chips the happy parent-to-be provided me. I was told soon after an employee’s mom and mother-in-law that a bundle of joy was on its way so I’d have plenty of time to make a blanket. I even made one for a baby who wasn’t due until six months after I retired!

I enjoyed making them. Crocheting the familiar pattern was a relaxing thing to do while watching TV in the evening. Double bonus is you can’t snack while working on a project. In the book my staff gave me when I retired, some of my “babies” appeared with their blankets from ten or fifteen years earlier and some toddlers brought their blankets to the retirement reception. It was a wonderful reminder of how quickly they grow up!

I know the blankets are dear to the recipients because I’ve been asked to repair a seven year old blanket and had to retrieve my great great nephew’s blanket from the motel after they realized three hours down the road they’d left it here. When I took it to the post office to mail, the clerk asked what was in the package. I said “my nephew’s blankie”. She laughed. She had given her son’s blanket to his bride to be saying he couldn’t sleep without it after twenty years.

I’ve made other baby things like sweaters, caps, and booties, but I enjoy thinking stitch by stitch about the love I’m packing into each blanket that will wrap around the new arrivals whose parents are brave enough to bring them into this crazy world.

I know there are lots of people dealing with evil and illness everyday. I hope you can feel the love I’m sending to blanket you in peace and that your woes quickly unravel to be recreated into something wonderful. You are loved!

Well…I did it. Not only did I survive my first ever book signing, I had so much fun doing it!

I walked into the local Barnes and Noble on Saturday and they had a table set up by the door with a blue tablecloth on it, that perfectly matched the top I was wearing. On one side of the table there was a lovely bouquet of cut flowers in a stylized Mason jar as the vase. They were from a dear friend in Pensacola with a note saying “I wish I was there to share your special day.” That instantly ratcheted up the delight in my day.

My husband schlepped in the box of books and helped me get organized and get my posters up and everything settled just so. The bookstore event manager–Chad‐-was wonderfully supportive all day. Once I was all set up, he came and took my picture. This is the one my first customer of the day took. She was there was before the official time and I was glad to see her!

I saw people I haven’t seen in forever. I had a friend and her husband and come from an hour away to get a book signed that she bought earlier. I saw former employees and my boss and people from the hospital I used to work at. There were lots of hugs and smiles. And I had my picture taken multiple times–not my favorite thing to do but I got over it. Especially sweet was getting to meet and hug a friend’s mother who loved my book.

It was a great afternoon. I sold books, signed books that people brought in, and even met another Tuscaloosa author. At the end of the day Chad told me I could have the table again when my next book comes out! Yep, as you can see from the table poster my next book is in the works and should be out in 2023. I guess I’ll keep writing as long as you keep buying my books and it continues to be as much fun as Saturday afternoon was! Thank you to everyone who could stop by and special thank you to all of my followers who have provided me so much love and moral support through this journey. Even if you weren’t there in person, I could feel you there in spirit. I so appreciate you!

I’ll take this opportunity to wish you and yours, the joys of Christmas and a bright and positive 2023! Thank you again for the blessing of your friendship and support!

My Mother-in-Law, Ruby, loved to shop and she was an Avon lady too. She was always finding little goodies for herself or to use as gifts in the future. When things went on sale with Avon, she’d stock up so she’d be sure to have the perfect item when she needed it. She would buy something special and “put it away” until later. The problem was that when she needed it or wanted to give the perfect gift she’d bought earlier, she couldn’t find where she had hidden it from herself. She told me the very first time I visited her house that she had a music box for me that played “Somewhere My Love”. She never found it. We didn’t either—even after we had her estate sale over thirty years later.

Over the years when I couldn’t find something that I knew I had or that should be in a specific spot “where I always keep it”, but  it wasn’t, my husband would tease me and ask, “Did you Ruby it?” As I’m sure you can imagine, there were many times when his query was met with less than kindness on my part. I understand how frustrating those episodes were for my mother-in-law.

Recently, I took “Rubying” to a whole new level. We’d been bagging up old magazines to go to recycling after removing labels and identifying information, wading through a mountain of junk mail to harvest note pads  and address labels, and generally decluttering countertops and tables to prepare to bring the plants in off the deck before last weekend’s freezing temperatures.

Last Tuesday morning, we were going to vote and then to the grocery store on the way home. I couldn’t find the grocery list—anywhere! I keep a running list on a 8 ½”x 3 ½” pad provided by our HVAC guy. It “lives” in the middle of the desk in the kitchen. (I’ll confess it’s not the only thing on the desk.) Sometimes I move it to the kitchen table to add sale items to it as I review the weekly ad online and select my e-coupons. Then it goes back to the desk or to my purse (if we’re planning to shop that day). It was not in any of those places. After thirty minutes of searching, assisted by my silent and supportive husband, we gave up and went to vote and shopped “listless” for the first time in forever.

Every piece of paper has been cleaned off the desk, the kitchen table, all the countertops, and the bookcases. No grocery list magically appeared. We’ve been through all the scenarios. Did it get scooped up with magazines and newspapers going to recycling? Or maybe it fell into the trash can with some of the junk mail. Did I put it somewhere I’ve never hidden it away before? Do we have a new poltergeist who takes great delight in making me think I’m losing my mind? The jury is still out awaiting further evidence. Here we are a week later and still no old grocery list. Wisely, my husband consoled me, patted my back, helped me search and clean, and never once mentioned his mother’s name. Hoping all your “things” stay where you put them so you can find them when you need them!

Author news:

November 22 Polly’s List is featured on NN Light’s Book Heaven Snuggle up with A Book. Website: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com There are prizes all month on this site.

Meet the Author on Saturday December 10, 2022 Noon – 4 P.M. Book Signing at Midtown Barnes and Noble in Tuscaloosa AL

All summer long I enjoy watching the bright green, ruby throated hummingbirds flit around our feeder. One swoops in and drinks greedily until another bird appears and chases it away so the newcomer can guzzle the sweet nectar.

They retreat to a nearby crape myrtle bush and perch on a branch blending in with the oval green leaves that are nearly their size. When another bird nears the feeder the camouflaged one zooms out of hiding with tail feathers fully fanned to warn the intruder against sampling any nectar. Frequently, the attacker doesn’t even take a drink–just returns to his secret spot to await the next unsuspecting interloper. It is like watching a mini Battle of Britain on my deck.

They are so busy keeping one another from eating that I wonder how they get enough fuel to provide all their energy. A large feeder will last a week or more at the height of the battles.

Then something happens to dramatically change their behavior. The Hummingbird’s Almanac says it is time for cooperation. They need to tank up to prepare for the long journey dodging hurricanes across the Gulf to their winter homes in Mexico and Central America. When that time comes, you know cooler weather can’t be far behind.

The birds begin sharing with one another. Often every “flower” at the feeder has a long beak inserted in it drinking the liquid sweetness as fast as possible. A large feeder lasts two days or less. You can actually see the little green bodies growing plumper day after day.

Cooperation is in full swing already this year. Toward the last days of their Alabama stay I’ve seen all four slots filled with birds and four birds hovering over them waiting for their turn. It looks like the holding pattern over Atlanta’s airport in miniature.

As blistering hot as our summer has been, I’m not ready for winter yet. This morning it was only in the high 60’s. But the Farmer’s Almanac agrees with my hummingbirds. It’s predicting a little earlier arrival for a winter that’s to be shivery, wet, slushy, and colder than normal. I don’t like the sound of that! Especially not the slushy–you can’t have slush without snow–right? Ugh!!

I’ll leave my feeder up until I don’t see any hummers for at least two weeks. Want to make sure any stragglers are well fed too. Wishing you a sweet ending to summer.

BONUS: Click on this link to see info on my friend, Christy Adams’ devotional for parents coming out Sept 21. It’s available for pre-ordering now.

https://www.spinningromance.com/devotions-for-parents/

Special thanks to all of you who purchased “Polly’s List ” and had such kind words for my first novel. Enjoy!

Earlier this spring another friend and I had lunch at Linda’s house so we could see the amazing transformation she’d completed in her master bath and kitchen. She embarked on a remodeling adventure mid-pandemic so along with the normal stresses of a major project she also dealt with supply chain hiccups and halts. The results are exquisite. Her master bath, in particular, looks like something straight out of a magazine or home make over TV show. As beautiful as the results are, I haven’t the patience required to embark on a project like that. (I’m sure if you listen closely you’ll hear my sweet husband heartily cheering in the background.)

My mother had a strong remodeling gene. She refinished all the hardwood floors in one of our houses and seemed to always find rooms that needed repainting. Probably because she’d worn the paint off by frequent washings. (I didn’t get her housekeeping gene either!)

We moved into an older brick home in town that needed lots of painting. We built on two more bedrooms over the first floor area that briefly served as Daddy’s office. There was only a small dining room so Mother added a eat at bar in the kitchen big enough for six stools. It had two parlors connected by French doors to each other and to the front hall and dining room.

Mother complained that the parlors were too small to be functional for our large family. Her vision was of a great room open to the foyer and stairwell and dining room. She designed a drop down bar that would come out of the hollow center pillar and rest on a wooden wall carving as its leg. It was a clever design. She kept pestering Daddy about getting someone in to build what she wanted. He had a gift for letting the nattering roll off him and out of mind.

After Mother completed all the other projects and Daddy still hadn’t agreed to hire someone for the great room construction, she took matters–or more precisely–took a sledge hammer in hand and began knocking out the wall between the two parlors and removed all the French doors from their hinges.

I can’t say Daddy was surprised when he got home. He didn’t have time for shock. Mother had partially removed a load bearing wall under the upstairs bathroom. It was fortunate she hadn’t finished the job.

After a couple of emergency calls and a late night visit from the professional remodeler, steel I-beams were ordered to keep the second floor in place and the rest of the renovation was planned. The final product included a beautiful stone fireplace and the secret bar in the column. Then Mother rested a while to enjoy the fruits of “her” labor.

Maybe it’s a July 28th gene, that desire to remake things and endure the aggravation of it. Happy birthday, Linda! Happy birthday, Mother–RIP.

Hope any remodeling you tackle turns out exactly as you want and no bathtubs threaten to land in your living room! Enjoy!

The post office’s stamp price increase this week made me think about electronic communications. When I was working, I was always early to work. I could check on the night shift and if I had extra to do I’d much rather do it in the morning than to stay late and miss out on evening time at home. And work in the morning had fewer interruptions than staying late. Some of the pleasant moments of those early mornings were when Daddy’s name would pop up in my inbox. He was an early bird too. Most times his message wasn’t of critical importance, probably a thinking of you message or just talking about life in general but they always started my day off on the right foot. I treasured each one.

Emails have been essential in rounding up my far flung siblings for surprise parties for our parents and for sibling vacation retreats. Now I use it to get the word out to over one hundred people for family reunions. Lately, it’s had pictures and announcements of new arrivals complete with vital statistics.

A lot of text messages are flying around too. I have a text enabled phone but it’s not smart so it take six clicks to type in my first name, if I don’t care about it being capitalized. I have received texted baby announcements too with postage stamp size pictures on my phone. Most recently when the niece who is only eleven months younger than my husband became a great grandmother. That makes my husband a great great great uncle, but he’s decided his handle for that generation will be UG3. He hasn’t signed a deal for a rap album yet, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he did.

The biggest impediment to timely electronic communication is that the devices have to be on. Mine generally are not. These days I only check email about twice a day unless I’m expecting a response to something specific and text messages once a week or less. So if you want to get in touch with this girl just pick up the phone and call my landline…yes I still, have one.

Other updates from my world:

This site is now https for your improved security.

We’re 32 days from P Day, publication of Polly’s List

Check out the new picture on my blog Meet The Author page compliments of my friend Beverly who shot oodles of pics for me to use for promotions. Thank you!

My Reading Recommendations page on the blog is growing almost daily with books I’ve read and reviewed for other Roses from the Wild Rose Press Garden. Lots of talent out there.

Hope your summer is filled with fun, family, and frolicking! Enjoy!

The subject line of the email said, “Worldwide Release Date Notice: Polly’s List “. I was so excited tears started running down my face. My husband no longer assumes it is bad news when I cry over emails. Since last August, he has come to expect that it might be good news related to my fledgling career as an author.

The first line said: “Hello Kim Janine Ligon. This is to inform you of your worldwide official release date of 2022-08-17”. That is only 98 days from today. Let the countdown begin!

So mark your calendars. On Wednesday, August 17th, The Wild Rose Press will publish my debut novel POLLY’S LIST. It will be available both in print and an ebook at your favorite book e-tailer, i.e. Barnes and Noble.com, Book Bub, Goodreads, Amazon, or even direct from my publisher The Wild Rose Press.

About thirty days before publication, it will be available for pre-ordering. I’ll send out a notice when I get confirmation that it is available. Until that happens I can’t set up all my author profiles with those sellers or activate some of my marketing plans. Those last thirty days are going to be busy ones.

I am networking with other Roses, other authors in the Wild Rose Press Garden. They are a very helpful and supportive group. I am reading two novels to review for fellow authors and will be guesting on some blogs around my publication date.

I am hoping all of you will spread the word too on your social media sites, book clubs, friends and family. Please encourage them to sign up to follow me; the more, the merrier!

I can’t wait for you to meet my characters:

Polly: the grandmother who begins everything with a fall…or was it a push?

Mikal: Polly’s widowed young neighbor who discovers the accident.

Will: Mikal’s five-year old son with a fascination for snow globes and dogs.

Rhett: Polly’s pet Basset hound with a knack for showing up almost in time to thwart evil. At least in time to slow it down.

CJ: Polly’s grandson who she raised but hasn’t seen in five years.

And, of course, a supporting cast of others…The action unfolds in a small town in Wisconsin in this rated G cozy, romantic mystery.

In upcoming posts, I will share the cover, back blurb, and an excerpt…stay tuned.

Thank you for traveling with me on this journey. You’ve made the adventure a lot more fun for me. Enjoy!

Recently, we enjoyed lunch with one of my former employees, his lovely wife, and four out of five of his children. They’re well behaved kids who are home schooled and very comfortable around adults. We hadn’t seen them in several years and, as usual, the kids were much taller and more grown up than when last we met.

I love that when you ask youngsters how old they are, the reply is usually almost eight or ten or twelve. I believe you could ask a child their age and even if they turned seven last Thursday, they would reply almost eight. They’re always looking ahead. Some might say they are wishing their lives away. I prefer to think they are having such a good time that they can’t wait to see what the next year holds.

At some point, maybe twenty-one, we stop looking forward to the next age milestone and instead we look for life markers like wedding anniversaries or retirement or Medicare or grandchildren and the like. We’re still looking at an almost, just not a birthday driven one. Maybe we should all slow down to savor the now instead of looking toward the alluring almost around the next corner or over that third hill on the horizon. But it’s hard to change the habit you acquired in childhood.

The dictionary definitions say almost means: not quite, not exactly, not entirely or very nearly. I prefer the optimistic last option. It sounds more hopeful, like it is really going to happen. The odds are lining up strongly on the in favor of side.

Yesterday, I submitted my approval of the final galleys for “Polly’s List”. Now it is with the pre-production team who will assign the publication date. All of that author-speak simply means I am ALMOST a published author and that is something I’m looking forward to. Enjoy!