There is no giveaway today, as Mod R should have this week off. I say should because sometimes she will sneakily work anyway. So this is just a life and everything post.
It’s a warm, damp morning in Texas. We are sitting at 60 degrees, and moisture saturates the air, so dense that you half expect the diffuse morning light to start dripping condensation. The house is quiet. I have a pot of Tim Horton’s coffee for Gordon when he gets up. I’m drinking Fortnum and Maison Christmas tea, a seasonal blend with cocoa nibs, cloves, and safflower. It’s delicate and light spiced. I opened Mod R’s Christmas gift early. Who can blame me?
Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. Most of the gifts are wrapped. Kid 2 and I braved the outlets on Friday and then Gordon and I returned on Saturday. It was chaotic and crowded, and after we raided the toy store. It was Toys R Us. I thought they were out of business, but this store just opened and they packed so much into their retail space. It was like the kids’ childhood in a box. Afterward, Gordon took me to outback for an early dinner. I got a ridiculous drink with a stuffed Koala on my straw. Afterward we went to Sams to get cowboy steak for Christmas dinner.
Normally I am not a fan of crowds, but there was something about the churn of people this time that made me feel alive and happy. I might have spent too much time in front of the computer this holiday season. I am not sure how to describe it. I sat at the Outback, watched people and felt oddly connected. It was reassuring.
The groceries for the Christmas dinner are bought. The tree is finally up.
Most of the presents are wrapped. I only have a few stragglers left. Oh and this anonymous gift came.
My money is on my sister (cousin)-in-law. Heh. I should know, but in my defense, so much stuff came to the house.
Jessie Mihalik sent delicious tea. I’m still melting over her new fae romantasy. She read Maggie, and she says that it’s not terrible and that she “white-knuckled it through the last 10%”, so hopefully you will enjoy it when it comes out. Jeaniene, true to her super-villainess form, sent Godiva chocolate, and I got her back by reciprocating with toffee cake. Jean Kwok sent stunning flowers. She has a romantasy coming out with a wuxia flavor and I’m so excited for it. Patrick and Grace Draven stopped by and brought us an enormous cowboy steak. I used it as a practice run for Christmas dinner and it was to die for. Since I’m back on meds, I have very little appetite, but I’ve been circling that steak like a shark. Grace and I chatted for awhile, and I’m super excited for her new romantic fantasy. It’s going to be awesome.
It felt so nice to be wrapped in friendships this holiday season. I felt so comforted. I kind of had a rough time after finishing Maggie – I am not even going to tell you about the recurring nightmares – and all of the conversations I had with friends put me back together somehow.
I am excited for Christmas now. We are mostly prepped. I still have a small project to finish. This year I wanted to do a small handmade gift, but I didn’t get anything knitted. I had a bit of a carpal tunnel flare up, and crocheting and knitting have been slow. So I made custom wax melts.
I think they turned out. I don’t know if they will be fragrant, but my hands smell amazing after all that wax handling. I still have two other fragrances to go. I’m thinking may be red and yellow? I could mix them together into one bottle. Or maybe I will keep them separate. I kept the packaging so, I will just pop them right back into the boxes and wrap them up that way. I was very careful with the temperature, so I hope it works.
I still need to finish some chores and clean the house. But it seems manageable.
I am at once ready and not ready for the new year. On one hand, I had a nice break, but we need to hit the ground running at the beginning of the year if we are going to get Hugh out. And for some odd reason, you guys really loved Puffles. Even Mod R was like, “They are obsessed with Puffles.” We will need to think on that some more. But contractual work takes priority.
And Maggie 1 is massive. We are trying to come out with a title for it, because Maggie the Undying would be an awesome series name. I’m leaning heavily toward This World Will Not Kill Me. I know it’s odd but I like it. And it tells you right away what it is. Maggie 2 will need to be equally massive. ::exhales:: Nope, not going to think about it.
On the game-front, I finally gave Enshrouded a chance. I set it to super wimpy difficulty and built a village on top of the northern Pillar of Creation. I will do a separate post on it. Because of the hand issues, I couldn’t really mine as much as I wanted, so I downloaded a storage world and I periodically raid it for stone and building blocks. I made a crypt for my necromancer and it is hella creepy, so I’m thinking of moving it so it’s not the first thing I see when I port to my base.
Well, my tea is gone, and I need to pour the new batch of wax. Onward!
So glad you are feeling better, the stress of Maggie 1 is over (I cannot wait, the more massive, the happier I am), and that you had friends to help. Thank you for everything you two do for us. We are really lucky.
And Puffles is sooo adorable. Who wouldn’t be obsessed?
+1! Exactly! 🤗
To be honest, haven’t we always been obsessed with Puffles? Or am I projecting? 🥰
No, no, you’re absolutely right, that’s what I was saying. Chapter 1 was posted years ago and Puffles still got mentioned regularly!
Mod R, we caught you! You are not supposed to be working!!
Yeah, Mod R. Why are you on the post? The Horde loves you. However, you’re suppose to be on break. 😝
Have a wonderful holiday season, House Andrews and Mod R. All the tea and treats sound restoring!
I hope you all have a great chistmas and have some nice time off. Happy Holidays!
So glad that you are feeling less stressed. The cowboy steak sounds very interesting and yummy. Friends and family are the best. We had all the grandkids here Saturday for the family Christmas and it was awesome.
Puffles is easy to obsess over!
Have a wonderful Christmas Eve, Day and Yule season!
Happy Holidays House Andrews! Enjoy the break.
The tree is beautiful – hope you continue to relax and enjoy the season!
And yes, Puffles!!! 😄
Happy Holidays to HA, Mod R and the BDH! 🤗
Wishing you all a happy, healthy and restful Christmas. And yes….more Puffles…..pleeaase!😊
I’m currently sipping the Haney’s Nutcracker tea with the Christmas lights on while curled up under a blanket. This is my (very) happy place.
May we all have a fluffy Christmas.
We finally got some snow so it will be a white xmas. Im finishing up work stuff and what is hopefully my final academic research paper. My friends and I hoard all of our gift giving through out the year for xmas so we are doing it today before I head out for the holidays. I cannot wrap to save my life so they will get a chuckle of that
Happy Holidays! and ….Puffles for President!
Happy Holidays to all! Can’t wait to see (read) what comes next from you!
Well one of the best books I read last year was entitled Just Stab Me Now so I think This World Will Not Kill Me sounds perfectly fine.
Have a delightful Holiday and GREAT new year!!
Merry Christmas from chilly central PA. Take care of your wrists.
I’m knitting a last minute hat, since I can’t find the one I made last month.
Sigh.
Dear Ilona,
I wish you, your family, ModR (she is a real treasure, so glad you found her!), and the rest of the Horde the best of holidays.
Yay for friends who support you!
Have an amazing Holiday season! Reading Innkeeper series right now, such fun books! And yes, I love Puffles too!
Just leaving a note here that yes, we are obsessed with Puffles, please and thank you 🙂
I’m glad you got the Christmas Spirit! Merry Christmas to you and the fam.
Now I’m off to google cowboy steak. I have no idea what it is and now I want one.
I had to Google a Cowboy Steak and I think I know them by a different not okay name. It looks delicious.
Also, thank you for for introducing me to Fortnam and Mason Christmas Tea. I ordered some after you posted about it previously.
Friends are magical. I hope your holidays are peaceful and restorative.
I not only had to Google Cowboy Steak (I used to buy them at a farm, and they came with bacon around the steak – I thought that it was the bacon that made it a Cowboy Steak, whoops), but I also had to Google wax melts as well. I learned something today! Happy holiday!
Of course I love Puffles. Puffles is me. Raina is youth and enthusiasm starting out. Puffles is old and creaky but still has something to give and is willing to do it.
Hope you and yours have a Happy Christmas and much delicious meat.
Thanks for sharing a life update— I think your wax melts look lovely.
Best wishes for fabulous, relaxing holidays and a productive new year!
PS. I really love Puffles. I don’t know why but I’m very drawn to the story and characters.
Thank you for just being you. As I age it seems when I meet someone close again after an absence, they are different. I think the change may be me.
This comment was interrupted by an appointment with my PC Physician. He confirmed most of my problems are age related.
Heart murmur, kidneys, eyes and maybe wear and tear in my joints.
My recurring and only nightmares happen after I take arthritis pain killers which are Naproxen derivatives. They are the only thing that kills the pain for me.
I hope you release something soon. I just finished The Edge and Innkeeper worlds. Just started again with the Baylor women. Next is KD.
Merry Christmas to you and the whole BDH.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to House Andrews!
So glad you have had time to enjoy your friends. Happy they helped you recuperate from hard work.
I am such a Christmas person but this year 3/4 of our household is down with illness so we are going to just rest and try to get better.
And all I now wish for Xmas is for this round of Covid not take 4 weeks like my first time in 2023… Anyhow I got the food shopping done before I fell to sick bed so all is good.
Wishing House Andrews in full numbers and Mod R an amazing Holiday season and the same to my fellow members of the Horde also of course! 😁
🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄
Of course we love puffles! And are very excited for Maggie!!!!
Puffles is great but she has to sent him back:(
Maybe the wyvern needs a new home;)
I have some Harney and Sons tea wrapped up for mom and can’t wait to share some with her on Christmas.
Wishing a safe, peaceful and relaxing holiday to HA, ModR and the whole BDH.
I have zero publishing experience, but I honestly really like MAGGIE THE UNDYING as both Book 1’s title and series name. I know of other authors where the first book’s title is also the series name (see Throne of Glass or ACOTAR). But I understand wanting different names as well.
Have a peaceful and joyous holiday!
Merry Christmas, happy holiday, enjoy Saturnalia, Mid Winter blessings.
Thank you for another great year.
🩷❤️🎄
You sound so relaxed and happy!! I wanna say I love this for you, but I was recently told that annoys some people. Instead, I’ll say reading this post made me smile.
Happy holidays to House Andrews and anyone else who sees this and celebrates.
Merry Christmas to you and yours from Springtown, TX!
We had an entirely unplanned Christmas puppy. A fellow tenant at work office was going around last Wednesday with a 3 month old Dobie puppy said they had to get rid of it that night or it was going to the pound. Husband and son turned out to be severly allergic and broke out in hives. We never let a dog go to the pound. She has joined our crew of two boxers, Aussie and Pyrnees mix. She fits right in. We just got the Pyrnees out of chewing phase. She is a rescue too.
Merry Christmas to all.
Your new puppy will have the blessing of guidance from her older siblings!! 💖
“For some odd reason.” We seem to like Puffles “for some odd reason.” It pushes the Mulan button but she doesn’t have to cut her hair off and she already learned to kick ass from her mother. Also, your dog getting old and decrepit is heart breaking. Except Puffles might be old, but he sure ain’t feeble and the automatic smirk that engenders is just…. Lovely. And that’s the first two tidbits. Of course, we are salivating.
I desperately want Hugh or I would be making big Puffles Puppy Dog Eyes at you. This is me attempting to be a good little Hoardite…… What do we call ourselves individually?? BDHers? Hoardian sounds like a musical instrument or someone the Grinch would sneer at. Devourer… oooh, I kinda like that one. This is my Patient Devourer face *flutters lashes*
That said, I wouldn’t say no to the occasional tidbit….
But I am incredibly grateful for the healing powers of friends. I’ve had mine piece me back together more than once. They’re a blessing.
Clearly go the full isekai anime route with super long title. “Weakest to the Very Best; This World Will Not Kill Me” or even add a few more words. lolololol
Merry Christmas. I hope is is a wonderful one for you and your family. I always love your posts.
This post made me happy on every count. Happy winter holidays of every kind, to all who celebrate. Happy reading goes without saying.
So glad you’re finding your groove christmas shopping and people watching.
Onward to a great holiday season and the coming year.
Best of love to house Andrews and Mod R
I also like going out in the crowds before X’mas but only when I don’t have to find anything. I can people watch, hand out mini candy canes to over-tired/stimulated kids and give sympathetic smiles and a “you got this” to the adults. it is a say to enjoy the lights, sounds, and smells without the underlying dread that I still need to get something for the in-laws.
Enjoy your holiday and family. We appreciate you!
Just to cheer the Horde up, I had an email from Graphic Audio – Hidden Legacy should be on sale in April, and the pre-order(s) should be on the site in January 🎉🎉🎉
Of course we’re obsessed with Puffles. We’ve waited ages to see more and absolutely love the story we’ve been given ❤️❤️
Puffles is awesome!!!
Merry Christmas 🎄🎁
Great that you’re starting to unwind! Merry Christmas!
Happy holidays!
I hope you have a very soothing Christmas. Sounds like you’re well on the way to it.
It sounds like 2025 is going to be very busy for you. Please remember to breathe, and have fun with your writing.
I will pre-order anything from you as soon as the notice goes up. And I am nowhere near the only member of the BDH who does this.
Thank you so much for your posts. Happy Holidays to everyone.
yay for feeling more relaxed! Happy Holidays to the Andrews family.
I’m not sure why we like Puffles so much, but I really enjoyed the first chapter when it was posted years ago. When I saw the second chapter I squeeed and thought it might be the first of a weekly serial (<— not me asking for a weekly holiday serial, nope, not at all!). Love you guys and whatever snippets you give us! Cheers to the new year.
I am sitting here with a glass of very nice malbec, reflecting on how this year has been made immeasurably better by the presence of House Andrews in the world. onward to next year, new worlds and old. Wishing everyone a wonderful festive season!
Just finished sipping my Sloane “Heavenly Cream” tea (2nd cup of the day) now. Extended family to arrive from out of province sometime tonight and the house is receiving final touches from DH. Groceries bought, presents wrapped, baking baked… fingers crossed I didn’t forget anything!
I’m so happy you had a chance to enjoy some of the season – it sounds like a wonderful last few days complete with one of the most important things – time with friends and family!
Love Maggie the Undying for a series name! And all the squees for length (don’t think about that now)! I loved the first chapters of Puffles. You know us BDH members, we’ll devour everything you guys write for us, even if we have to w@!t for it!
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Years to everyone!
You shouldn’t have given Puffles such a catchy name. Now it’s stuck in everyone’s head!
I love reading about your happiness. All the best during the holidays for you.