AND THE WINNER IS...

Again, a reminder,

This is NOT a picture of DIANA, MARY OR MELINDA!

Or anyone else we know...At least we don't THINK so!

And now ...

The Winning Caption!

(They were all so good, it was really a tough decision.)

Congratulatons, Chris Eldin!

--Diana

www.dianablack.net

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WOOF CAPTION NEEDED: Say "Cheese?!"

Before anyone asks,

This is NOT a picture of DIANA, MARY OR MELINDA!

Or anyone else we know...At least we don't THINK so!

(It's not YOU, is it?)

Anyhoo,

leave your idea for a caption in the comment section.

Oh, there are going to be

some good ones! We can just feel it...

--Diana
www.dianablack.net

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The Red Dress Diary Entry #17: Living On Easy Street

Things are starting to settle down a bit after our June 14th wedding, and I am amazed at how easily I am adjusting to being Mrs. Tom Lyons. I can still recall how difficult the transition was for me in 1968, when that nineteen-year-old college girl became Mrs. Sid Bailey.

Now I am not so emotional and don't sweat the small stuff like I did when I was younger. We are both better at going with the flow, and have more flexibility with our schedules. And maybe this relationship is more relaxed in part--because we are too old and lazy to fight! Or maybe that is called "older and wiser." We also don't have the financial burdens and responsibilities that we had in our first marriages. In addition, expectations are more realistic this time around. All of these factors have enabled us to live on Easy Street!

So there you go--just one more advantage to being over fifty. Love, marriage and life are all easier!

Melinda

Writing From An Empty Nest

Margot Finke is an Aussie transplant who writes mid-grade adventure fiction and rhyming picture books. For many years she has lived in Oregon with her husband and family.

Gardening, travel, and reading fill in the cracks between writing. Her husband is very supportive, though not interested in children's books . Their three children are now grown and doing very well.

Margot didn't begin serious writing until the day their youngest left for college. This late start drives her writing, and pushes her to work at it every day. Margot said, "I really envy those who began young, and managed to slip into writing mode between kid fights, diaper changes, household disasters, and outside jobs."

WOOF: Having put off your dream of writing for so many years, if you had it all to do over, would you begin writing at an earlier age?

Margot: As the Aussies say, "Too right I would, mate!" I would find a way to fit writing in-between kids, husband, cooking, gardening and breathing.

WOOF: What advice do you have for those empty nesters out there who believe it's too late to "follow your dreams?"

Margot: It's never too late. All you need is a bit of talent, a strong will, stick-with-it-ness, and LUCK. Sending the right book, at the right time, to the right publisher, is my idea of luck. Of course being a famous pop star helps. So does knowing someone who knows someone in publishing. Join SCBWI and go to all their conferences - network with other writers, join a critique group, and listen to the wisdom of visiting editors. Read children's books. Join a couple of great online writing lists, and eavesdrop on the vast amount of writing information that flows through them.

WOOF: How has writing for children benefited your life as a WOOFer?

Margot: One thing I have as a WOOFer is TIME to write. And these days, I not only write, I do a lot of professional Manuscript Critiques. Sometimes I am swamped with them, and it's like the old (pre -WOOFER ) days, only now it's not kids and husband gobbling my time, it is critique clients wanting their manuscripts returned. That old refrain, "will I ever find the time to write" still echoes through my head.

WOOF: Besides writing, what is your passion?

Margot: Two new and utterly delightful grandkids, gardening, and reading, reading, reading. Travel too, if we have the time.

WOOF: Passions many WOOFers share, Margot! Would you also mind sharing something funny you've noticed about yourself as a direct result of aging?

Margot: I find myself feeling closer to my mother - she has been gone for many years now, but her wisdom has begun to resonate loud and clear - like a drum beat! One of Mum's gems I have come to appreciate:

"If you get up in the morning dear, and feel really terrific, don't look in the mirror - it will spoil everything!"

Fairdinkum, mate, she was right!"

Margot's latest rhyming book is "Rattlesnake Jam" - Guardian Angel Publishing - Illustrated by award winner Kevin Scott Collier. Available in both soft cover and e-book format.

This fun romp follows Pa catching rattlers, and Gran, as she cooks up her yucky green rattlesnake jam. But Pa's longs for rattler pie. Can he get Gran to bake it for him? ** Reluctant reader friendly! See Trailer Here

She also writes "Musings" - Where children's writers can find great writing help. To read more about this author and her books, go to: Margot Finke Website

As an extra bonus, Margot will give away FREE AUDIOS reading from her "Wild and Wonderful" rhyming series, to 2 people who comment or ask questions, after reading this blog interview! So, make you comment, now!

Margot, you've been a complete delight! Thanks, so much for sharing your love for writing and the passion for persuing your dream.

Mary Cunningham - Milkbone

Mary Cunningham Books

Janet Grace Riehl and WOOFer Power!

Janet Grace Riehl is an all-around creative WOOFer having made the rounds of every discipline in the arts: writing, visual art, music, acting/storytelling, and dance. Since 2006 her work has mainly focused on writing and publishing. Her most recent project is "Sightlines: A Family Love Story in Poetry and Song" that extends the written work in "Sightlines: A Poet's Diary" into the realm of sound.


ELDER POWER LOVES COLLABORATION:

Janet Grace Riehl’s Village Supported Her Dreams Publishing a book! That was the dream I pursued all my life and in my 50s, I made it a reality. A few years later at 60, I expanded the print version into an audio book. It took bliss, yes—that is to say, it took vision and passion. It took effort, yes…old-fashioned sweat, guts, and tears. And perhaps most importantly, it took a village; yes, a team of collaborators. It was the village that made it possible to see “Sightlines: A Poet’s Diary” into print in 2006 and in 2009, produce “Sightlines: A Family Love Story in Poetry and Music” in a 4-CD album -

Sightlines: A Poet's Diary
Sightlines: A Family Love Story in Poetry & Music

For the book I was mainly on my own, but I had a mentor by my side only an email away. When I needed something, amazingly, a friend would appear at my doorstep--if only for 15 minutes--to help me.

For the audio book, my team expanded to include my father; a blogging buddy, who led me to her son-in-law, who became the sound-cum project manager; my legal guy for licensing and copyrights; a poet friend and blogging buddy who read the intro…and now the 20 bloggers helping with this Internet tour. I was the team leader, but what a team! They smoothed the way and kept me from falling into the ruts I hadn’t realized were in the road.
Why is collaboration a natural tool for Elders?

• We are often not as arrogant (or as blissfully ignorant?) as we once were and more open to working with others. It allows us to blend strengths and offset weaknesses so that we don’t have to learn whole new set of skills.

• Knowing that we can count on others relieves some of the pressure and makes our dreams seem achievable.

No matter what your dream is, know that you can achieve it if you don’t hesitate to use your Elder Power to call your collaborative village to your side. It can be as close as your kitchen table or your Internet connection.

Thanks, Janet for giving us your secret of Elder Power, or as we say around here, WOOFer Power!

As a bonus, if readers click here (this will take you to the top post on Riehlife) and comment on the video, they'll be eligible to be chosen in a contest raffle.

In addition, click on this link, http://www.riehlife.com to sign up for a 10-minute audio download of poetry and music from our new audio book, "Sightlines: A Family Love Story in Poetry and Music."

Read more about Janet Grace Riehl July 20 on Bookland Heights

Visit Janet's next Blog Stop - Janet's Jargon


Mary Cunningham - Milkbone
Mary Cunningham Books

Buy WOOF: Women Only Over Fifty Today!

I Present to You Mr. and Mrs. Tom Lyons

What a great little family wedding we had! I proudly wore my red dress and Tom sported a matching red tie. My sister decorated our neighborhood clubhouse with Tyler, Texas grown red and white roses (where we live and the rose capital of the United States). Tom made our beautiful wedding cake and his daughter Amanda decorated it. My twelve-year-old niece Simone was my lovely attendant; Tom's daughter Amber was the "music coordinator;" and my sister-in-law Becky Bailey was the "official" photographer.

Our sweet, simple non-traditional ceremony was followed by a reception that almost 100 people attended. I could not have asked for a more perfect day. I may be well over fifty, but on June 14, 2009, I felt like a young, blushing bride and the luckiest woman in a red dress in the world!

Melinda

Weight Loss...No Waiting!

There's that one question. The one WOOFers LOVE to be asked.

For some of us it's been a while since we've celebrated with a super-sized hot fudge sundae (extra sauce and nuts) upon hearing those glorious words.


But WOOFers Club is happy to announce there are five simple things that you, yes, YOU, a WOOFer on the edge of her bathroom scale, can do to ensure, before the day is out, you'll be asked, "Have you lost weight?"

#1. Stand in front large buildings. You'll look teensy-weensy and your ego will touch the sky!

#2. Visit a national monument.

And take lots of pictures!

#3. Relax in nature near

mammoth objects like

redwood trees and lighthouses.

#4. Participate in a sport that

generally uses a blimp.

#5. Um...Let's see...

Okay, four, FOUR simple things you can do (Even better! We were thinking FIVE was one too many anyway...er...)

Please leave comments as you use these techniques. Let us know the glowing results of your efforts!

Oh, and by the way, "Have you lost weight?"

--Diana

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They all made us howl, but...

We had to pick one

...and here tis!

Thanks for all the great

suggestions...

We'll do this

again in a couple weeks.

Next Friday, stop back

for a Red Dress Diary

entry... AFTER the big day!

Till then?

Have a

Happy 4th and...

BUY WOOF!

--Diana