I found this in the drafts...guess I lost track of it.

Karey White has written some novels and a couple of novellas. I have followed her work faithfully. She writes romances. I escape in romances. Her latest accomplishment is the completion of a three book series. Because I like neat, tidy packages, I was somewhat distraught when I completed the first one, The Husbandmaker- the girl didn't get the boy!! I have known Karey for over thirty years, so I lamented to her (do I say it that way?) over my irritation. She assured me that there were two more books on the way. I read each book on my Kindle the very day it came out. So you can imagine my joy when the third book, The WifeMaker came out on Valentine's Day. Like others, I read it in one sitting. It's a romance, so I won't be spoiling anything when I tell you I was quite satisfied when the boy got the girl. Sigh.
As I considered the romances I like, in novels and movies, I have come to some conclusions. These are my observations and opinions on the subject of romantic stories.

1) Romantic novels would be nothing without pride. Unrelenting, "I'm right", "I won't back down" stubbornness, "cut my nose off to spite my face" pride. And fear. Afraid to feel. Afraid to hurt "again". These are the basis of the conflict that the couple has to overcome to discover their feelings find their true love.
These are truly human emotions. We deal with fear and pride at different levels and in a variety of individual expressions. In my experience, these deeply ingrained attitudes take more than one decision to get over; rather, it takes day in-day out effort to overcome the habits. And then we find another level and expression of pride/fear to face and deal with. That is reality. Funny, I would chose romance to escape, right back to pride and fear. I guess it just seems so much easier in fiction.

2) My particular favorites storylines are boy desparately loves girl, conflict, frustration, girl gets over herself and realizes who has always been there for her-Sweet Home Alabama, The WifeMaker, 28 Dresses, Gone With the Wind, and the like.

I smirk as I type this. In real life, I don't know that it always works out so well. Sometimes the other just moves on. I did. I never pined for anyone that let me go. And once I decided a relationship was over, I never looked back.

In my Spare Time, I Like to ... or What are your Hobbies?

First of all, for many years, there was no spare time. Up, eat, kids (& hubby), drive, work with more kids, drive, kids (& hubby), eat, sleep, repeat. Over and over. I was exhausted, and I don't remember summer.

So I always responded what I would do if I had any. Spare time.

The first hobby I remember is reading. What an escape!!! I ran the prairies with Laura and Caddie. I snooped with Nancy. There were various historic novels. I liked the west, history and mystery. I didn't just read; I was there..."Edonna, it's time to..." "Just a minute, Mother, I'm almost to the end of a page/chapter." And I could never stop when I was supposed to. In junior high, I discovered "Gone with the Wind" and "The Great Brain" series. High school, I "endured" the assigned books. College, I was more distracted, but I know I read some Shakespeare, but not enough, I earned a 'D' in that course. Like I said, distracted. Then I was a mother. With small children. But I still remember going back to Tara for three days as I read cover to cover. The kids survived. I don't do well breaking up my reading. Louis LaMour was introduced and was an icebreaker in talking to Ben. I finally gave Ben the time of day when we discovered the common interest.

I learned to sew, crochet and knit as a child. I took a semester course in floral design. As a young mother, I made clothes for us and decorations for the house. I liked the homemaking meetings when crafts were demonstrated. I decorated with country blue and poultry. Not that I especially liked them but those colors and patterns fell into my lap. I like crafts.
Crafts has expanded to playing with beads, scrap booking, and creating greeting cards. I love to put colors together. I crochet again.
And I don't have time for all of this. So I am putting off knitting and tatting, drawing and painting for some day. Retirement?
I like to garden. And yoga. And cooking and baking. And preserving the produce from the garden or good deals in season.

Peaches put to jam and jars. Joint project with Leticia.

25 # of corn, frozen

Sun-drying tomatoes mostly from the garden

Prom florals

more prom flowers

usually have homemade bread on hand

Birthday greetings with embossing

I'd wanted to make a log cabin quilt since I was 20. This one was completed more than 20 years later.

And I like to go places with Ben.

I find that if I want balance in my life, I do have to spend time creating occasionally.

And there are so many other interesting things to consider. When I have more time.