Springtime in Arizona

Hello everyone,

Spring is everywhere. Thought you might like to see what's going on out here in the foothills of the Superstitions.

Right after this, Kip licked the baby. Smart husband, put bunny baby out of reach, because he knew Kippy was probably "tasting". Hope everyone gets out and enjoys the weather.

Warm wishes for a bountiful spring,

~~Susan

mixup

Hello again,
I'm not quite sure what happened with the last post, but the last picture of the horses are So Be and Joe then Lil Bit and Sedona and then the NEXT post is a week later. Sometime next week, Joe'll step up in the saddle for the first time. Can we say R-O-D-E-O? Let's hope not. The cowboy is getting older.
Wishing you all a sunny, fun-filled Arizona day (wherever you are) and by all means, a good book to read in the evening. If rodeo is your thing, email me and I'll put your addy in the hat for our quarterly drawing for Best Man For the Job-where Clay Carter and Lee Ann Waters battle it out over how to best train a horse.

Happy Trails,
~~Susan

Reward for Good Behavior

Hello everyone,

So here is SoBe. She's my husband's reward. Isn't she gorgeous? Now she's unbroken, but that's our specialty. We love raising and training horses and it's been a ball so far. We've had her a week now and I want to write Western Romances again. Amazing what new horse can do. :-)

And here is a week later:

Sexy--a new definition

Hello everyone,
I hope everyone had a fabulous Valentine's Day. My husband got me the BEST card with a man and woman on the cover just like a romance novel--you know, in a clinch--exception being he held a broom. Yes! A broom. It was called "The Man Who Could Clean". Writing takes an awfully lot of time and though I love a clean house, I rarely have time to clean like I like. Smart hubby got me the card that makes me think of him as one of the most thoughtful, most wonderful men in the world. I showed it to my critique partners and they all agreed he got lots and lots of points for the card. And he followed up with action--he cleaned while I signed books in Glendale. Check out tomorrow's blog to see how I rewarded him.
~~Susan

Holidays, Birthdays and Resolutions

Hello there,
I hope you've all had some seriously great holidays. It's so cool to get back together with friends and family. Normally work and the day-to-day keeps us apart or limited and around here we just sort of prioritize differently during the holidays.
For one thing, all of my family but me (who had the good sense to be born in the summer) have birthdays sandwiched between November 29th and January 14th. How dare they? :-) So, it's like just one big long party and then you're exhausted. But would we miss it for the world? Nah.
Hubby turned 60 this year (he looks great!) and we had a very nice group of friends here. It's funny how the house always seems plenty big until we have a party. As it was, we had to pare down the guest list (painful) about four times. Good thing the weather was fabulous and so we could be both inside and out. I got Joe one of those chiminea's every one's getting. You know, you all sit outside and stare at the fire and drink great things and talk? I know, a bit caveman, but remember it's the West out here. And it was fitting--give a man a beer and a fire.
And of course, being an authoring crowd, we had to have a signing as well. Our good friend, Chuck Backus PhD, wrote a nice little history on his ranch the Quarter Circle U and so he signed copies for us-yep, right in the middle of the party.
I'll see if I can dig up a few pictures of the party for you and get them up. Now, it's back to work with new resolve and, okay, I admit it, joy.

Until next post,
Warm Wishes for the Very Best Year to You All,
~~Susan

Mecca right here in Apache Junction

Hello there,

Seems like ages since I sat down and put down my thoughts. Winter is the busy season here in Arizona. A little something to start with: I was chatting at the grocery store with a lady from Canada and she said the last time she bought groceries it was back there and she'd been talking with an acquaintance and grousing about the weather. The first lady said, "I am so tired of the weather--wish we'd find Mecca." The second lady says, "Oh we have! It's called Apache Junction!" And that's so true! Really! I saw some of you out here at the Artist's and Author's Gathering at the Superstition Museum, but wish I'd seen more familiar faces. Not to worry though, we had a great turnout. Why? It's Mecca. Gorgeous weather, great books and authors and wonderful entertainment, not to mention the large array of Arizona style gifts in the Superstition Mountain Museum. Gosh this is one of my favorite events of the year. See you next year!

First booksigning of the winter

Come out to our Annual Author and Artists Gatherine on November 1st and 2nd. Share your interest and opinions on numerous topics, have your picture taken while they sign their book for you. Marshall Trimble will be a special guest on Sunday, November 2nd from approx 2:00 pm til 4:00 pm estimated time. This will be a special treat for the museum as well as our patrons. We will be entertained by Baladeer Ted Newman on Saturday and the Will Jack and Hannah Band on Sunday. Wear you dancing shoes or just enjoy people watching. Authors and illustraters attending in alpha order Rachel Bailey Kolb, Jack Carlson and Elizebeth Stewart, Jane Eppinga, Ron Feldman, Rocl Gwynne, Charles Huckabay, Susan Lowell Humphrey, William Johnson, Michael Johnson, George Johnston, Marilyn Natoli, Ted Newman, Thomas Preiss, Phil Reinhardt, John Rosenthal, Jack San Felice, Helen Spencer Schlie,Rosemary Shearer, Hank Sheffer, Dr. Mary Stokrocki, James Swanson, Ted Tenny, Marshall Trimble, Don Wells & Jean Groen and Susan Yarina. Local master leather crafter, Ray Briggs will be bringing some of his finest work to show and sell as well as Artists,designer, musician Cherokee Mangus with her rock art and she loves to sketch our visitors. Please call us if you have any questions or would like to participate in this fantastic fun event. Superstition Mountain Museum - Apache Junction Arizona