I’m just popping in to share a puzzle! It’s a fun one. Sometimes, I have no theme for my daily blog, and I head straight to my favorite stock photo site for inspiration. Based on my history, they present me with pictures they hope I’ll purchase. My history must be wild because the options I had today… :

I settled on this image, an illustration that makes me wish I wrote kids’ books. Or that I could find a grown-up version of this illustration for something more…adult-ish.  So fun! I hope you enjoy it! Happy Saturday!

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, tell me what fantasy story/series, whether book or movie, you’ve enjoyed recently!

Hey there! Today’s the last day before school starts. The last day to sleep in. I rose lazily at 7:30 and drank my coffee on the back porch with my daughter. We talked about the 11-year-old and how hard tomorrow’s going to be for her. We’ve been trying to get her to go to bed earlier, but my dd caught her after eleven last night on her phone with a friend. Yeah. Tonight, the phone gets taken away, and she can stare at the darkness until she falls asleep. Maybe I’ll make sure she swims twice today to tire her out. LOL

Anyway, here’s a brain game to exercise that gray matter! Enjoy!

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, solve the puzzle, then give me suggestions for themes for future memory games!

It’s Saturday! The last weekend before the kids start school. What have I been doing? Enjoying at least one daily swim—the pool temperature is still optimal! Puttering through some housecleaning and organizing. I’ve been toodling at work, mostly editing during the mornings. When I need to rest due to fatigue, I curl up with my two cats on my recliner and watch TV. Yesterday, I started rewatching my favorite Sherlock Holmes version, the one with Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch. It’s been a few years, so it feels brand new. If you’ve never watched it… Well, it’s pretty fabulous. I rewatched Hidden Figures the other day. I just love that movie. I do love ones based on true stories. One of my all-time favorites is Temple Grandin—another recommendation for you. The 11-year-old and I are obsessed with Cynthia Erivo and recently watched Harriet together. She gave it her stamp of approval! 🙂 If you have suggestions for other biographical movies we should try, let me know!

Anyway, I’m rambling. You’re here for the puzzle and the contest, right?

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, solve the puzzle, then tell me who he is. Is he a hero or a villain? What made him the way he is?

Today’s going to be packed! This morning, in just a few minutes, actually, I’ll head to my semi-annual checkup with my cardiologist. I don’t expect anything alarming to happen there, just a check to make sure my meds are still doing their job. This afternoon, the high schooler and middle grade girls will be attending Open House to get their schedules, meet their teachers, and get any last-minute supply lists. My dd should have that covered. She keeps a large plastic bin of pens, pencils, glue, notebooks, etc., just as a matter of habit because they always need replenishing. The 11-year-old may be meeting with the band teacher. We have to make arrangements to obtain a clarinet for her. Yes, she’ll be a band nerd, and she’s looking forward to it. (I played clarinet, too!)

Anyway, I have to grab my purse and get out the door!

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, let me know if you have school supplies to purchase, and if the list of things I have in the puzzle sound about right. If you have suggestions for more items we should get, let me know!

UPDATE: The winner is…Margaret!
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This is the last day of my mini-vacation. 🙁

The visit has been lovely. We’ve shopped. We’ve eaten lots of great food. We’ve had many, many laughs. We swam! Tomorrow morning, we’re packing up and hitting the road to get back home. I’ll miss my sister, niece and nephews, but I’m ready to sleep in my own bed.

I’m holding up well, though I do have a nagging backache that my daughter thinks was caused by laughing so hard when I fought the floatation device in the pool on the first day. Sounds like something that would happen to me.

Anyway, I’m going to do the most with the time I have left here with sis. I think we’re hitting Hobby Lobby and maybe Outback Steakhouse today. The 11-year-old sure perked up when I mentioned that possibility. I need a cup of coffee and to get moving this morning, so I’ll leave you with another puzzle.

The picture, when you finish it, will be me when I get home tomorrow. For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, solve the puzzle, then tell me what you’re doing today!

UPDATE: The winner is…Diane Sallans!
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I’m visiting my sister at the moment. We arrived yesterday and already we’ve had some great laughs—mostly at my dignity’s expense.

Yes, the trip exhausted me, but I didn’t head straight to a bed to nap; I soldiered on because I didn’t want to miss a thing. My niece and her boys joined Elle, my dd and SIL, a couple of our girls, and I for the afternoon and evening. We went to a pizza joint with retro pinball machines then came back and spent time in the pool together. I provided the entertainment while trying to get my fat a$$ into pool hammock chair. I needed lots of help to get myself balanced. Imagine beached whale/half-drowning, lots of sputtering while we were all dying laughing.

Anyway, I’m ready for another exhausting, happy day.

I’m sharing my favorite photo of my sister and I, playing dress-up when we were kids. For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, solve the puzzle, then share a memory from your childhood!

UPDATE: The winner is…Beckie!
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I have a huge To Do List today. I have work to finish for another author, a myriad of chores to complete, and I need to pack for my trip. Since packing is on my mind, and I couldn’t think of anything else to load my puzzle with, that’s today’s theme! Yay for you, right?

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, what would you add to your packing list? I can already think of one I left off—my laptop!