tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-282442592024-03-13T12:05:06.147-07:00Ann MullenAnn Mullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00132164821920296093noreply@blogger.comBlogger129125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28244259.post-59347027626397773192015-01-16T09:20:00.004-08:002015-01-16T09:23:22.441-08:00All Is Not Lost<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iqXF38HC18w/VLlEXd8oDII/AAAAAAAABYI/ziNDnvSZZf0/s1600/buck2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iqXF38HC18w/VLlEXd8oDII/AAAAAAAABYI/ziNDnvSZZf0/s1600/buck2.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buck</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We adopted a Plott Hound from a rescue shelter a few days before Christmas, and we named him Buck. He was four months old and so adorable... but he was also sick. We didn't know it at the time, but he had been infected with the Parvo virus—a terrible virus most dogs don't survive. Yes, he had gotten his shots the day before we picked him up, but it was too late. He'd already been exposed. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We took him to the vet as soon as we realized something was wrong. The prognosis wasn't good. We could have him put down, or we could treat him and keep our fingers crossed. We'd have to give him fluids with an IV, medication, and a whole lot of TLC. So, we did, and all was not lost. Buck survived his horrible illness, and now, well let's just say... it was all worthwhile. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Go Buck! Woof! Woof! </span> </span></span></div>
Ann Mullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00132164821920296093noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28244259.post-7333985289289594632014-12-03T07:27:00.000-08:002014-12-03T07:27:06.208-08:00My Two Dollar Car<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NOBfYdvDiJw/VH8rRbG3N8I/AAAAAAAABX0/64hcewVe7UE/s1600/car.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NOBfYdvDiJw/VH8rRbG3N8I/AAAAAAAABX0/64hcewVe7UE/s1600/car.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1995 Chevy Geo Prism</td></tr>
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My son, Tommy Mullen, was going to sell this car for junk,
so I bought it (real cheap). </div>
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His issues with the car started when he put in the wrong
kind of antifreeze… and then everything else just went downhill from there. The
car sat for a long time. </div>
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I thought the car still had potential. Front-wheel drive. 30
mpg! FWD would be good in the snow, and who doesn’t want great gas mileage? Sure,
it was old, but I didn’t care. I could drive it anywhere, park it anywhere. No
fear. So what if it gets banged up? It’s a two-dollar car. It just needs a
little work. How bad could it be? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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So… my husband, Tom Mullen, worked on it… and worked on it.
Many times, he almost gave up. He cussed at it. He threatened to drive it into South
River. He had other work to do. He couldn’t be spending all his
time on “that piece of sh*t”. But, he persevered, and a year later, the Money
Pit is ready for the road!</div>
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*It still has a small issue with the engine idle, but he’ll
take care of that… eventually. He has other things to do.</div>
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I hear the donkeys calling.</div>
Ann Mullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00132164821920296093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28244259.post-17092589305474414572014-10-13T06:33:00.001-07:002014-10-13T06:42:06.942-07:00Man Socks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ET3w7zGwnNo/VDvSjHGdiiI/AAAAAAAABXk/at8cRnu8fS8/s1600/man_socks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ET3w7zGwnNo/VDvSjHGdiiI/AAAAAAAABXk/at8cRnu8fS8/s1600/man_socks.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Instead of shoes, I always wear socks around the house. I don't know about most women out there, but for me, ankle socks are just too tight, so... I came up with something different. I got this idea when I took a pair of Tom's socks that were ready for the trash bin, and I cut the tops off (so they wouldn't be tight either). This opened up a whole new world of foot comfort for me. Now, though, instead of waiting for Tom's hand-me-downs, I went out and bought a pack of men's socks just for me. I cut the tops off, and now I'm good to go. You should give it a try. Your feet will thank you.</span></div>
Ann Mullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00132164821920296093noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28244259.post-71356454846585836332014-09-05T08:24:00.000-07:002014-09-05T08:24:07.893-07:00I Want To See You<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I hesitate to hook up on a social network with someone if
they don’t have a picture by their name. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know about you, but I want to see who
I’m talking to. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t care what they
look like. I don’t even care if their pic is a basket of fake flowers. I just
need something to make me feel like someone's there. To me, you’re not there if
your image is an egg. If I wanted to see eggs, I’d go have a look at my
chickens. Show me your face. Not photogenic, you say? Me either, but I’d put up
something. Get brave and show the world who you are. If I can post this awful
selfie, then you can come up with something. </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bngGZBEy98w/VAnUZoxh2tI/AAAAAAAABXU/SzoX5kX4OLM/s1600/selfie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bngGZBEy98w/VAnUZoxh2tI/AAAAAAAABXU/SzoX5kX4OLM/s1600/selfie.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Be proud of who you are.</span></div>
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Ann Mullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00132164821920296093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28244259.post-16159168873288097022014-08-22T07:34:00.000-07:002014-08-22T07:34:07.051-07:00Go With What Works For You<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B2jYvnb3ZAU/U_dUFh3uhYI/AAAAAAAABXE/gObrgQmv5ZE/s1600/sable.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B2jYvnb3ZAU/U_dUFh3uhYI/AAAAAAAABXE/gObrgQmv5ZE/s1600/sable.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Right after my books went
live on Kindle, they also went live on NOOK. After several months, I found out
they just weren’t selling on NOOK, so I removed them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I did this because I wanted
to put some of them in the Prime Program/Amazon Kindle and to be able do this,
my ebooks couldn’t be sold anywhere else. They weren’t selling on NOOK, so why
not make a change?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">That’s the way it has been
for over a year and sales have been very good on Amazon Kindle. Then, I started
getting emails from readers asking why they weren’t available on NOOK. Sooo… I
took all but two out of Prime/Kindle and they went live again on NOOK.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Normally, my books sell well
on Kindle, but not this month. This month the sales have been dismal, and to
top it off, only one person has purchased a book on NOOK so far. What does that
tell you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I’m sorry readers, but there
just isn’t a market out there for NOOK. Not for me anyway. Some of my books
will be available on NOOK, including my newest one, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Prey Bites Back</i></b>, but
I’m headed back home to Kindle Prime.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Check out my books:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Kindle:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&field-author=Ann%20Mullen&search-alias=digital-text&sort=relevancerank">http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&field-author=Ann%20Mullen&search-alias=digital-text&sort=relevancerank</a>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">NOOK:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Ann-Mullen?store=ebook&keyword=Ann+Mullen">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Ann-Mullen?store=ebook&keyword=Ann+Mullen</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sometimes you just have to
go with what works for you. I love my Kindle Prime.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sable says hello.</span></div>
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Ann Mullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00132164821920296093noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28244259.post-4677776271785054232014-08-20T09:09:00.000-07:002014-08-20T09:23:01.223-07:00Writing Tips and Old Dogs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vhqg2YjAZek/U_TKFK-VIcI/AAAAAAAABW0/HWjv4GOq4zI/s1600/rose63.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vhqg2YjAZek/U_TKFK-VIcI/AAAAAAAABW0/HWjv4GOq4zI/s1600/rose63.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<![endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I’ve read quite a few articles about how people write, and most say they go by an outline or by their notes. I wish I could say I have a strategy for writing, but I don’t. I just sit down and start writing, letting my mind go where it wants. Sometimes it goes way out into left field and I have to pull it back and rethink the situation. But that works for me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When I start a new book I have an idea of a storyline, but
that’s about it. To me, the most important thing is to come up with a story and
a title that suits the story. Once I get an idea and a title, the rest just
seems to fall into place. A lot of times, the book ends up differently than
what I had planned, but that also works for me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The one thing I do to keep myself on track and not forget to
mention the outcome of a scenario is to make a very brief notation at the end
of the book. Using MS Word, it’s not hard to do. For example, if I have a
character who is involved in a situation, at the bottom of the page I’ll type:
tell about (insert name) and what happened to her/him. Or, if I add a new
character, I’ll skip down and say something like: Shark—tall, muscular, shaved
head, black guy, war scars, snap a neck in a second. When I go back to where I
left off writing and continue, the notation moves down the page.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That’s pretty much it for me. Writing should be fun, not
bothersome.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you have any writing tips, I’d like to hear them. They
say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but I say you can.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now, this old dog is going back to working on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Be Very Afraid</i>. See you on the flip
side.</span></div>
Ann Mullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00132164821920296093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28244259.post-83350962796347421672014-07-24T04:49:00.000-07:002014-07-24T04:49:13.902-07:00Free at Last!<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Tom thought it would be fun to let the donkeys run loose, until it was time to round them up.</span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Perhaps we need a little training in donkey training. Hee-Haw!</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZN7XuAfqL0I/U9DxoNGp_zI/AAAAAAAABVw/UOc5uj0QK-8/s1600/donkeys.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZN7XuAfqL0I/U9DxoNGp_zI/AAAAAAAABVw/UOc5uj0QK-8/s1600/donkeys.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Ann Mullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00132164821920296093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28244259.post-31084900579045403532014-06-21T06:56:00.002-07:002014-06-21T06:56:40.311-07:00A Couple of Good BooksI just finished reading Cold Comfort by Ellis Vidler. Here's the review I posted on Kindle:<br />
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<img alt="" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Nknb6QcaL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-v3-big,TopRight,0,-55_SX278_SY278_PIkin4,BottomRight,1,22_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" id="main-image" rel="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/81RWAjzot-L._SL1500_.jpg" style="display: inline;" /><br />
<br />
Cold Comfort<br />
by Ellis Vidler<br />
5 Stars<br />
I Loved it!<br />
This book grabbed my attention right from the beginning and held it until
the end. I liked the characters Claire and Riley and couldn't wait to see what
was going to happen between them. I wasn't disappointed. Well written without
grammar errors. Being from Newport News,
I've very familiar with the Williamsburg
area, and was impressed with the author's descriptions. I'd recommend this book
to anyone who loves a good mystery. Nice going Ellis Vidler. Can't wait to read
another one of your books.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Comfort-Ellis-Vidler-ebook/dp/B00FXYEA8G/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1403358175&sr=1-1&keywords=cold+comfort+by+ellis+vidler">http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Comfort-Ellis-Vidler-ebook/dp/B00FXYEA8G/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1403358175&sr=1-1&keywords=cold+comfort+by+ellis+vidler</a></span><br />
<br />
<img alt="" id="main-image" rel="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/91kA33sPKbL._SL1500_.jpg" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51cL7-TeHSL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-v3-big,TopRight,0,-55_SX278_SY278_PIkin4,BottomRight,1,22_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" style="display: inline;" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Man On A Motorbike</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">by Marcia Carrington</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">5 Stars</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
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A Trip Down Memory Lane<br />
This is a short story that will make you sad and happy at the same time.
Well written. Good for a quick read and a trip down memory lane for Linda.
Loved it!<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Man-Motorbike-Marcia-Carrington-ebook/dp/B00HNUJ3DU/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1403357712&sr=1-1-spell&keywords=man+on+a+motor+bike">http://www.amazon.com/Man-Motorbike-Marcia-Carrington-ebook/dp/B00HNUJ3DU/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1403357712&sr=1-1-spell&keywords=man+on+a+motor+bike</a></span> <br />
<br />
Check them out and I hope you enjoy! Ann Mullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00132164821920296093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28244259.post-73475392355348498952014-06-20T05:30:00.001-07:002014-06-20T05:41:00.492-07:00Just Released on Kindle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm happy to announce that my next book in the Jesse Watson Mystery series (book #8), <i><b>The Prey Bites Back</b></i>, is now available on Kindle. Read the synopsis and the first few pages to see if it's your kind of book. Murder/Romance/Humor<br />
I hope you enjoy, and please consider leaving a review.<br />
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00L1BYCZG<br />
<br />
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<br />Ann Mullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00132164821920296093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28244259.post-31471056524814474692014-03-10T08:54:00.000-07:002014-03-10T08:54:50.963-07:00Nothing Like Warm Weather<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I like winter and I love snow, but after a few months, enough is enough. There's nothing like a warm weekend, especially if you have animals to take care of and work to do. And around here there's always work to do. Tom's getting ready to build an overhang on the donkey stable—a place where Donkey can hang out when the girls kick him out of the stable. Poor guy has stood out in the rain more than once.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Every time Tom drives the truck in the corral, the donkeys have to sniff it out... and they listen to the music on the radio. I was hoping to see them start dancing, but that didn't happen.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm glad Tom closed the truck door. I was expecting to see a donkey sitting behind the wheel, but that didn't happen either.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-woYirZHHDhA/Ux3cRHzy6OI/AAAAAAAABU4/bt9NE0eijYQ/s1600/chicks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-woYirZHHDhA/Ux3cRHzy6OI/AAAAAAAABU4/bt9NE0eijYQ/s1600/chicks.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I love having chickens running around. Festus the rooster isn't so bad, but Cogburn the other rooster is a terror. *I'm still mad at him, so he doesn't get his picture on my blog yet. He chases me and would peck out my eyes if he caught me. </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">People do eat roosters you know. That's what I keep telling him even though I wouldn't. Nobody eats a pet, do they?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Six baby Silkies in their playpen enjoying the sun. At night they will go inside and stay in a cage until they're old enough to be put in with the other chickens.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ak2hudDicSg/Ux3eB1vPnTI/AAAAAAAABVM/rxeNLRhs3vY/s1600/new_cage.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ak2hudDicSg/Ux3eB1vPnTI/AAAAAAAABVM/rxeNLRhs3vY/s1600/new_cage.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Yep, nothing like warm weather! Looking forward to flip flops, a T-shirt, and a pair of BDUs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hee-Haw & Cluck-Cluck!</span></div>
Ann Mullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00132164821920296093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28244259.post-53918802382607501282014-02-21T04:54:00.000-08:002014-02-21T04:54:48.224-08:00Footprints and a Sock Mop<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">For those of you who live in
my area, you know what a wet winter we’ve had, and if you don’t live near me,
I’m sure you’ve had your share of snow, rain, sleet and messy floors. My floors
are hardwood, so they’re easily cleaned with a damp mop, but what happens when
you clean the floor and then the dog comes inside with wet paws? Muddy prints
are left behind and there goes the clean floors.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I found an easy, cheap way
to keep my floors clean all the time without a lot of hard work. I use my sock
mop! Yes, that’s right! I always wear socks, so when the floor gets damp from
muddy paw prints, I just follow the prints. Then, I toss the socks in the
washing machine and put on a clean pair. It’s easier and less time consuming
than dragging out the damp mop… and my floors stay clean.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">So, have plenty of socks on
hand to always have shiny floors. This is just one more way to make your job
easier.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Thankfully, our donkeys
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Ann Mullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00132164821920296093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28244259.post-34470450713375752252013-12-23T04:34:00.001-08:002013-12-23T04:34:55.484-08:00Heading Home for Christmas Was a Real Trip<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I left home Saturday at 8:00 AM for a three-hour drive to Newport News to visit my family for Christmas, a trip I've made for many years without incident... until this time. This time was a nightmare. First, I missed an exit because of the heavy traffic, so I took the next exit and tried to find my way back onto the interstate. When I got back on the interstate, I was heading in the wrong direction, so then I tried to turn off onto one of those places the state troopers sit with radar. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That was a BIG mistake. I lost control of my car, my brakes locked up, but I managed to come to a stop before running into traffic on the other side of the interstate. Then, my back tire must have snagged something when I pulled back onto the interstate, because a few miles down the road, doing 75-80 in heavy traffic (not knowing there was a problem), the tire blew out. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Fortunately, other travelers must have seen this coming before I did, because I managed to pull off the road without crashing into anyone (or the guardrail). I dialed 9-1-1 and forty-five minutes later, a VDOT crew showed up. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">* I was told to stay in my car with my seatbelt on. That was the worst forty-five minutes of my life. Cars were flying by, and all I could do was pray that nobody crashed into me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The two guys from VDOT helped calm me down, and then they changed my tire! So, I want to give a big shout out to the two angels sent to take care of me. These guys put their lives on the line every day helping stranded motorists. Bet you didn't know that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Thank you guys!</span></b></span></div>
Ann Mullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00132164821920296093noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28244259.post-57126898050688904092013-12-09T07:32:00.000-08:002013-12-09T07:32:01.769-08:00Ice on the Ground and Out of Coffee<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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I got some of the white stuff. Unfortunately, it's ice and not snow. Won't be
building a snowman.</span> Woke up this morning at </span><span class="usercontent">5:00</span><span class="usercontent"> with the lights flickering and then total darkness. Bummer.
Surprisingly, the power was back on after thirty minutes. Wahoo! I hate losing
power, especially when it's this cold. Glad to have a wood stove for heat and
gas stove in kitchen for cooking—not that I like to cook or anything—but I do
like to eat. Stay warm folks, and I hope you don't lose power.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="usercontent">Oh, no! What's happening outside now? Is it
sleeting again? Geez. I'm out of coffee and I'm going to the store to buy some
even if I have to ride one of the donkeys to get there. Oh... that's right...
that's not going to happen. They won't come out of the stable this morning.
Can't blame them. And... they're still mad about that harness thing. <a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=100001496038155&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A0%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/tom.mullen.5055?directed_target_id=0">Tom
Mullen</a> and Andy the farrier put a harness on each one a while back (that lasted
about a day or so), and they'll still snubbing me like it was all my fault.
Guess that's why people call them stubborn asses. If the hoof fits....</span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Donkey—Yeah, that's his real name.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vkpTUbrbfBQ/UqXeuOmt72I/AAAAAAAABS0/2gIZUL_zSuw/s1600/belle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vkpTUbrbfBQ/UqXeuOmt72I/AAAAAAAABS0/2gIZUL_zSuw/s400/belle.JPG" width="400" /> </a></td><td style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Belle, our precious little donkey will be a year old December 17th.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ioOCaNjjvBQ/UqXfZYWVvrI/AAAAAAAABS4/FQIGJ88ScqU/s1600/sable.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ioOCaNjjvBQ/UqXfZYWVvrI/AAAAAAAABS4/FQIGJ88ScqU/s400/sable.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sable</td></tr>
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<span class="usercontent"> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Stubborn or not, I still love them!</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="usercontent"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Hee-Haw!</span></span></span></div>
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Ann Mullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00132164821920296093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28244259.post-30327763998525992352013-11-27T06:05:00.000-08:002013-11-27T06:16:22.789-08:00Something to Make You Smile<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-16H176x8IkI/UpX-mLn_7II/AAAAAAAABSA/VTS3jMSLbqM/s1600/Copy+of+lovable.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-16H176x8IkI/UpX-mLn_7II/AAAAAAAABSA/VTS3jMSLbqM/s400/Copy+of+lovable.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I just love this photo. It warms my heart to see Belle showing love for her mom, Sable. It doesn't get much better than this.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hee-Haw!</span></span></div>
Ann Mullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00132164821920296093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28244259.post-67605477930038097042013-11-14T06:39:00.000-08:002013-11-14T06:39:45.597-08:00How Much Is Too Much?<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It was thirty degrees yesterday, the exterminator was coming, and I had to vacate the house for three hours. So what was I going to do for three hours? Hang around outside? No way. Not only that, but what was I going to do with the dog? I could find plenty of errands to run, but I couldn't go off and leave Coal outside. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I could build a campfire, but it would take a mighty BIG bonfire to keep us warm for that long.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I decided I would take Coal with me (as I knew I would). He's always been real good about riding in a car, so I figured we'd be all right. I could go across the mountain and make a few stops, while Coal waited in the car. Sitting in my car would be a lot better than sitting outside in the freezing cold.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Yeah, we'd have fun and the three hours would fly by! As I drove, Coal sat quietly in his seat, just as calm as could be. What a great dog! He admired the scenery and behaved himself so well. I was really proud of him. Oh, he'd bark occasionally, but that was only when I got out of the car.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coal loved the scenery.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IEVshsTkRaA/UoTZU8y0DMI/AAAAAAAABQs/AN2hUltbdic/s1600/mcdonalds.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IEVshsTkRaA/UoTZU8y0DMI/AAAAAAAABQs/AN2hUltbdic/s400/mcdonalds.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We stopped at McDonald's in Elkton. Coal liked the caboose. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Two and a half hours had passed and we were on our way home, but I had one more stop I wanted to make. I pulled into the GreatValu parking lot, parked the car and then looked over at Coal. I promised him this would be our last stop.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Well... I guess he'd had as much fun as he could take. Yeah, you guessed it—he threw up in the car. (Fortunately, I had covered the seat with a sheet and a blanket.) I cleaned up the mess, patted him on the head, and then brought the poor guy home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">All in all, the day worked out well. Coal didn't freeze to death, and I learned not to push my dog to the limit.</span><br />
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<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Arf! Arf!</span></span></div>
Ann Mullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00132164821920296093noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28244259.post-56602962963636394232013-11-14T05:17:00.000-08:002013-11-15T02:48:00.500-08:00It's a Dog's Life<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">I'm sure everyone's heard that after taking the same medication for a long time, it can stop working. Well, I've just discovered that can also apply to pets. We've used and relied on <span style="color: orange;"><b>Frontline</b></span> to protect our dogs and cats from fleas and ticks for many years, but this year, it let us down. By the time I noticed the dog scratching himself and then found a flea on my sock, it was too late. The cat and the dog had fleas and so did my house!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: orange;"><b>Frontline</b></span> didn't work anymore, so I asked around and found out that others have had the same problem and had switched over to <span style="color: orange;"><b>K9 Advantix II</b></span>. I made my way to the vet and bought some.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">And then, I did what most folks do—I set off bombs (that was soooo nasty and a waste of money).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Two days later, I called an exterminator. Prices ranged from $225 to $295. And then <span style="color: orange;">Brown Exterminating Company</span> called me back and their price was $145! I've used them before (many, many years ago) and was glad when they called back and that their price beat all the others.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">George Foley came out when he said he would, did the job, and charged exactly what he had quoted. I was still finding a FEW fleas like he said I would, but five days later, I was still not flea-free! So... I called him back and he came out again and sprayed again at no charge. He said he wanted to take care of the problem and would do what it took to make us happy—unlike some companies who do the job and move on.<br /><br />So, if you live in my area, give George a call! Don't try to tackle the job yourself. It'll give you a headache.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">B</span></span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">rown Exterminating Company</span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">434-985-8279</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">cell: 434-531-8076 </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></div>
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Ann Mullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00132164821920296093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28244259.post-83504144460026303522013-11-09T05:40:00.000-08:002013-11-09T05:40:21.273-08:00For You This Weekend<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hello everyone out there in reader land. Got a big promo going on this weekend. Get the 1st five books in my Jesse Watson Mystery series FREE. Also FREE, my collection of short stories, LUNCH BREAK SHORTS.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Cozy mysteries. I kill off bad guys and try to make you feel good about it. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Just click <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&field-author=Ann%20Mullen&search-alias=digital-text&sort=relevancerank" target="_blank">Here</a></b> and help yourself to all my free books today & tomorrow, Nov. 9-10.<br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I hope you enjoy! And as always, please consider leaving a review. </span></span>Ann Mullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00132164821920296093noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28244259.post-24069513111412909602013-10-24T08:04:00.000-07:002013-10-24T08:09:21.956-07:00Stop By Sometime<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you're ever in my area, you'll want to check out Noon Whistle Pottery on Main Street in Stanardsville. (Ladies this is mostly for you.) What a treat! Best craft/pottery store I've come across. They have unique stuff you'll love. Here's a picture of me checking out their handmade hats.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eBrwZhD24ss/Umk0BR3pcTI/AAAAAAAABP0/dRt-6ZdD9BY/s1600/hats.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eBrwZhD24ss/Umk0BR3pcTI/AAAAAAAABP0/dRt-6ZdD9BY/s320/hats.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So, come on by and check them out. You won't leave empty-handed. You can't miss the shop. It's a converted, old-time gas station. Pretty cool. huh?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Noon Whistle Pottery</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Main Street</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Stanardsville, Virginia</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">434-985-6500</span></div>
Ann Mullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00132164821920296093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28244259.post-28642656225414656482013-10-21T08:29:00.001-07:002013-10-21T08:29:42.952-07:00Nothing Like Taking A Break<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sometimes you just have to take a break.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Go outside, work in the yard, or play with the kids. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Belle likes to get up close and personal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My friend Danielle Kresky feeds apples to the donkeys.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Tom hung up kale for the baby chickens.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Nothing like going through a bag of clothes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Don't all friends exchange clothes? </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">James Kresky is always ready to help out on the farm.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Tom having a chat with mama Sable and baby Belle. Wonder what they were saying.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Enjoying a day with friends James & Danielle Kresky.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And friends surprise each other with gifts.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Thanks Danielle for the chicken basket filled with homemade jellies. I love it!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Yep, we all have work to do, but we also need a break every now and then. So... walk away from the keyboard and do something fun. You deserve it. We all do. Now I have to make a run to the dump. Some things just have to be done. But after that, I'm going to take a break and do whatever...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Enjoy your day!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hee-Haw!</span></span></div>
Ann Mullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00132164821920296093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28244259.post-28116827713437624712013-09-28T04:38:00.001-07:002013-09-28T04:38:57.872-07:00The Bamboo Mirror by Faith Mortimer<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Bamboo Mirror</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">by Faith Mortimer <b><span style="color: orange;">5 Stars</span></b></span></span><br />
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</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Title: Very Good.</span></span><br />
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</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I really enjoyed The Bamboo Mirror. The short stories were well-written and
each had a good twist at the end. Very refreshing. I particularly liked The Cast
Party. I thought Linda was going to get fired, but instead I was surprised to
find out… well, you’ll have to read the story for yourself. No spoilers here.</span></span><br />
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</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Enjoy the five short stories. They’re well worth the read. Entertaining!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: orange;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Bamboo-Mirror-Anthology-ebook/dp/B005967A26">http://www.amazon.com/The-Bamboo-Mirror-Anthology-ebook/dp/B005967A26</a></span></span></span>
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Ann Mullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00132164821920296093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28244259.post-73777876457985043952013-09-21T17:58:00.000-07:002013-09-21T22:05:19.266-07:00An Extraordinary Read<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ve3cSWChhA8/Uj480gyX__I/AAAAAAAABMk/G9bnHL3PMAM/s1600/luminous.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ve3cSWChhA8/Uj480gyX__I/AAAAAAAABMk/G9bnHL3PMAM/s200/luminous.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A Luminous Future</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">by Teodor Flonta<span style="color: orange;"> <b>5 Stars</b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Title: Extraordinary read! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Teodor’s memoir of living in Romania during the Communist era was so gripping and well told that I could almost feel his pain. I say almost because I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to live the life he has lived. The effect of Communism was brutal, and how he survived at all is amazing. The suffering his family endured was heart breaking, but just goes to show that a family’s love for each other can survive just about anything, even the worst cruelties imaginable. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sometimes I laughed, but at other times I wanted to throw my Kindle against the wall after reading about the way he was treated, the hardships and misery he faced.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">An excerpt from the book (something his father told him) still sticks with me:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">“… a regime that talked to people as if they were stupid or blind, always telling lies, did not have a future. No amount of rifles and bayonets could stop people from rising against it eventually.”</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I was glad his father lived long enough to see the fall of Communism.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A Luminous Future is a very descriptive account of Teodor’s life, and was a compelling read that I just couldn’t put down. There’s too much to this book to summarize further in a review, so I’ll just say thank you Teodor Flonta for sharing your life with us. Your book is one I might go back and read again—something I never do. It was extraordinary. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: orange;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/A-Luminous-Future-ebook/dp/B007DCBN7W/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1379425621&sr=1-1&keywords=a+luminous+future">http://www.amazon.com/A-Luminous-Future-ebook/dp/B007DCBN7W</a></span></span></span> <br />
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</style>Ann Mullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00132164821920296093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28244259.post-48836369758792969832013-09-11T13:11:00.000-07:002013-09-11T13:11:20.654-07:00Let Freedom Ring<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">We Will Never Forget</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">9/11/2001</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ql7ipusKwb4/UjDM0gYUmZI/AAAAAAAABMQ/gzQd8y9gatM/s1600/freedom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ql7ipusKwb4/UjDM0gYUmZI/AAAAAAAABMQ/gzQd8y9gatM/s400/freedom.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">United We Stand </span></div>
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Ann Mullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00132164821920296093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28244259.post-45727743805071648262013-08-30T05:26:00.001-07:002013-08-30T05:26:27.108-07:00Celebrating<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I always visit my mother on her birthday. She lives three hours away, but distance doesn't matter. I'm going to be there to help her celebrate. This year she turned eighty-three. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sister Jan, me, and Minnie my mom</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Happy Birthday and many more, Mom.</span></div>
Ann Mullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00132164821920296093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28244259.post-28902959687272689002013-08-19T05:21:00.003-07:002013-08-19T05:21:46.973-07:00One Always Tries to Get Away<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Never put all your eggs in one basket, or in this case—chicks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">One always tries to get away.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The same can be said for life. Something to think about.</span></div>
Ann Mullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00132164821920296093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28244259.post-65042120787190581292013-08-14T09:56:00.000-07:002013-08-14T09:56:30.224-07:00Seven Chicks Just Waiting<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wt4RfOdCKyo/UguvfdR1TWI/AAAAAAAABLI/q3QHWpC0O1s/s1600/7chicks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wt4RfOdCKyo/UguvfdR1TWI/AAAAAAAABLI/q3QHWpC0O1s/s400/7chicks.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seven chicks to add to the roost.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Tom and I have been trying our hands at hatching eggs, and the outcome has made us very happy. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The first set of incubated eggs only produced three chicks, but the second time around we had seven that hatched. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">*In the pic, the chicks look smaller than they really are, but I'm sure that has something to do with the operator. My camera skills need to be updated, or maybe I just need new glasses... </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My very talented husband has built a second coop to house the ten chickens. The first three are already living in it, and the remaining seven will be ready to move out of their wooden box in a couple of weeks. I'm sure they'll be glad to live in a bigger home and be able to breathe the fresh mountain air.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Rooster Cogburn (who hates me) and our grown hens are Americanas. Their off-springs are beautiful. Thanks, Rooster Cogburn & ladies. I can't wait to see the babies full grown! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">#colormehappy </span></span></div>
Ann Mullenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00132164821920296093noreply@blogger.com0