I’ve been having a really busy summer and fall, keeping one eye on the calendar moving ever forward and at the same time blissfully ignoring it.  All summer I was waiting for August and my trip to Scotland. Then I was pushing August to move so I could leave. Then, once in Scotland and in spite of using my willpower, I discovered that I cannot control the flow of time to make it slow down when I want! And visiting places like this….I really did want time to stop.

Then I was back and out of town again…on what I call my husband’s consolation prize trip — you see he has no love of historical places like I do, so having him accompany me to Scotland would have inflicted needless pain on both of us. So, he stayed home while I ‘researched’ in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.  But he does like cruises — so we went on the Caribbean Princess and visited Bermuda, St. Kitts, Antigua, St. Thomas and San Juan.   This is just one of the lovely beaches where I managed to grab some R&R during our cruise….

Then real life hit and I’ve been running at full speed, trying to stay ahead of life in general, but I’m really looking forward to this week and Thanksgiving.  And, I think it will even be better this year because I’m not having my usual 20-25 dinner guests! I’ve decided to ease back and only have my immediate family so we’re down to about 10 – gosh, we’ll all be able to sit down at one table and the same time!

And, I may be able to have some leftovers (the best part of cooking Thanksgiving dinner to me)! 

I found a really great evil recipe for something that uses leftover turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing — check out the recipe on Food TV –   http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/turkey-balls-recipe/index.html —mmmmmmm!  I’m hoping that there will be extra turkey gravy to pour over these when I make them.

But before I begin to drool, I did want to take a moment and share a few things I am thankful for as the day approaches.

I’m thankful for my family who has been incredibly supportive in my writing life as well as during this last year as I’ve been on a weight-loss program (now you know why I’m craving things like turkey balls! LOL!).

I’m thankful for my friends, especially my writing friends, who have encouraged me during the hectic and dark times and celebrated with me in the good times.

I’m thankful to my editors who have been my partners in this writing experience. . . and thankful that I had the chance, though a much too brief one, to work with the phenomenal Kate Duffy before she passed away.

I’m thankful for my readers who have made all my efforts feel appreciated — through buying my books, visiting my website, posting on blogs (like this one!), stopping in at booksignings, emailing and writing to me.

I’m thankful for my coworkers in my ‘real life’ job for backing me when I need to shift my work schedule or go onto my binges of deadline writing (um…that’s the two weeks before every writing deadline/due date that I have!).

There’s more but I think that’s enough for now….How about you? What are the one or two things that you’re most thankful over this last year?  Post a comment to let me know and I’ll pick a couple at random to win an autographed copy of my July Harlequin Historical, THE CONQUEROR’S LADY,  or my newest book, A STORM OF PASSION, which hits the shelves tomorrow!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

Terri

Terri is also running a website contest to celebrate the release of her first BRAVA romance. Since it’s set in the Hebrides Islands which were ruled by the Vikings at the time, she’s found some cute Viking t-shirts to give away….along with books and some Scottish souvenirs (no, unfortunately not men-in-kilts!). Visit her website at www.terribrisbin.com and click on Contest to enter.