A white cathedral

 

February 7, 2021

There are days when events align in magical ways. Today my grandfather would be one-hundred-eleven years old. Today, it's snowing, a wet, clingy snow that turned my woods into a white cathedral. 

My grandparents gave me the piece of ground I built my home on forty years ago. They loved the land and respected it as it provided so much for our family. Food, water, shelter, fuel, privacy, safety, and beauty. The land is a living thing. 

I was up before dawn this morning and settled at the computer. Like so many of us, I have remote controls for all sorts of gadgets and I switched on the backyard floodlights to watch the snow. Keeping an eye on the clock, as soon as I knew the sun, while still hidden by the thick cloud cover, would be above the mountain, Deuce and I went out to take pictures. 

Walking during a snowfall, it's easy to allow the white peacefulness to flow into your soul. The only sounds were those of Deuce's paws crunching through the snow and the calling of the young red-tailed hawk who fledged here last summer and never left. He's claimed my "territory" as his, but I'm sure we can peacefully coexist. If I thought he'd find it and eat it, I'd toss a raw chicken breast his way. Songbirds and squirrels are scarce during a snowfall and he may be in need of a snack. He also likes mice and moles, also scarce at the moment. 

That my grandfather loved this small part of the planet he cared for is not something I question. He did. I know it cost him to hand it over to me and is proof, to those who need such a thing, how well he loved me. Be it strange or not, I spoke to him on my walk through his white cathedral today. His response was all around me, keeping me warm on this cold, snowy morning.

 _*_*_*_*_*_*_

 KC Kendricks

My home on the web- Between the Keys: 

http://kckendricks.blogspot.com

Visit my bookshelf at: 

https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/the-bookshelf-of-kc-kendricks-and-rayne_3.html

Social media links:

twitter.com/kckendricks

pinterest.com/kckendricks/boards

instagram.com/kc_kendricks

facebook.com/kckendricks

Life through the eyes of my black Lab, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce: deucesday.blogspot.com

My country life at Holly Tree Manor: hollytreemanor.blogspot.com

Snips and clips on my YouTube channel: KC Kendricks Between the Key

He and Me

February 29, 2020

Silently it prowls on the mountain, this misty fog,
Blanketing the winter world in stillness.
The trees stand as sentinels, 
unwavering and ghostly,
Watchers across the speeding years,
they can be no less.

Inside we sit, shoulder to knee,
sleek black head resting, eyes alert.
Outside the wet gray squirrels
rummage under his sharp gaze.
Whiskey brown orbs reveal the
dog’s interest, albeit covert,
No better companion could I ask for on this softening afternoon.

Daylight wans else we’d take to the woods
for a walk, and to talk.
He listens attentively to each word I utter,
praise to his beauty among them.
It needs wait for a warmer day to find a
bushy-tailed critter to stalk.
A starless night shrouds the outside world,
but we are content to breathe, he and me.

KC Kendricks

Another productive three-day

July 30, 2019

My third Monday off is history, and I'm pleasantly tired. I dropped back to a four-day workweek so I could have more time at home and do those many things I've neglected for years. My dream for all of my adult life has been to be The Lady of the Manor. 

It's not that working a full-time job has hurt me any. It's enriched my life with people and experiences. But in my soul, I belong happily ensconced on my three-acre "manor." 

There's always something to do at the manor. This weekend just past, we got quite a bit accomplished. I'm grateful the spousal unit is doing well enough to participate. He's savvy with the knowledge of how to manipulate tools to do the work and get things done without the need to use brute strength. That's a good thing. 

• writing time
• blogged
• read a short story
• a load of laundry
• dinner on the patio
• got the deck back on the Craftsman mower
• cleaned up a small pile of sticks along the driveway
• cut up and moved a fallen dead locust tree
• burned the parts of that tree not suitable for the woodstove
• cut down a damaged maple tree and burned parts not suitable for woodstove
• Yellow Jacket nest removal
• a trip to Lowe's
• a trip through the grocery store
• partial cleaning of the shed and trip to the landfill
• mowed the lawn
• watched the NASCAR race
• installed new chair carrier on pickup
• assembled new portable scooter

I'm sure there are a few more things that could go on the list but that's plenty. The point is I happily did or helped to do, all those things. They were the sort of things The Lady of the Manor would do to keep her small estate running smoothly. 

I should have started the three-day weekends much sooner.

KC Kendricks

www.kckendricks.com

And then it snowed

The view ahead on the way home 11/15/18 at 10 AM

November 15, 2018

I've been MIA for the last ten days. It seems like everything in my sphere needed a spin or a brake applied. Just when it seemed I was getting control back, it snowed. A lot. Don't misunderstand me - I like snow days. It's just I've got a lot to do at the moment.

Last week the spousal unit had a consultation at the University of Maryland. His surgery is scheduled for December 14. Happy Holidays, anyone? He'll be there a week and then go to a rehab facility for at least a week. I've promised Deuce ice cream to ease our separation anxiety. 

We've been apart some over the last twenty-five years. He's had other surgeries. He's gone to visit his brothers while I stayed home to take care of the dog. I've attending writing conferences and such on my own. I guess I'm not looking forward to this because of the time of year. I'll be alone for Christmas for the first time since 1992. I think I've gotten used to the man being around. But if it snows for Christmas, I'll be fine. Between the pickup and the John Deere, Deuce and I won't be stuck. 

My work-in-progress languishes. I've not opened the file in two weeks. Perhaps I should be working on it now, but I've decided to pursue those things I can complete this day. With the snow falling, everyone at the day job loaded up what work could be done from home computers and headed out. My four tasks are saved and emailed back to myself to retrieve tomorrow morning. I've updated my checkbook program and taken Deuce for a snowy walk. And since my blog is as much for me as for you, dear readers, I've blogged. 

Now I think I'll take a moment to enjoy a cup of tea and watch the snow fall.  Loki insists he wants to give the snow another look-see. I'll open the door for him and see how it goes. I predict he'll back up instead of step into the snow. He's not a stupid cat. 

Forward we go. I suspect this snow will melt quickly, but it's not a good sign for this winter. I may be blogging about snow a lot. 

KC
www.kckendricks.com

Puppy love

November 5, 2017

Deuce and I took a long walk through the woods yesterday. It was a perfect autumn day for it about 65F with the sun shining. The spousal unit, also known as "Daddy," stayed home to watch our progress on his phone. 

You see, Deuce has a tracker on his collar. His Daddy said he got a good laugh watching the blue line go forward and back, to the left, to the right, and then forward again. 

I walked about two miles. Deuce? He probably covered about five miles. The dog couldn't go in a straight line even for a Griller treat. 

He's a very animated and expressive fellow, our Deuce. We enjoy having him, every day. And I enjoy sharing Deuce through his blog, Deuce's Day. 

He's quite a fellow.

KC Kendricks
www.kckendricks.com

The headless author

October 27, 2017

Having accomplished a bit of writing last evening, I set it aside in favor of organizing photos of my favorite subject - Deuce. I came across this gem from September 2016. Deuce was about nine months old at the time.

I have absolutely no idea why I took this photo. I don't know why I even saved it except I vowed to take a lot of pictures of Deuce. He's probably the last dog I'll have since I want a bit more freedom to travel in my retirement. 

I had my finger on the delete key and then I looked closer. 

Forget the splotchy wet concrete and the dog's dorky ear flipped inside out. 

Reflected in the glass is half of the photographer. I might even say she's got good legs if not for one little problem. 

What the hell happened to her head???

KC Kendricks
www.kckendricks.com

Eclipse 2017

August 22, 2017

Then you flew your Lear jet up to Nova Scotia to see the total eclipse of the sun...Carly Simon

No, yesterday I didn't board the jet and go anywhere to see the total solar eclipse. I only went as far as the sunroom porch. I didn't even get a good photo. I, ehem, appropriated this image. 

That's not to say I didn't enjoy the eclipse. I did. I took the afternoon off work to spend this "once in a lifetime event" with my honey. That made it a pleasant afternoon. We had lunch, complete with an early cocktail, on the porch and then kicked back to relax. 

The time rolled around - between 2:38 and 2:42 PM - and we observed the world around us. The light changed but in no way would I be able to claim it got dark. Deuce sacked out and took a nap (but I'm sure he had his own opinion of the event). All, and I do mean ALL was quiet. No birds singing, no leaves rustling, no squirrels running amok, and absolutely no wind. The only sound was the rooster down the road and he's a stupid bird not long for this world. 

We held a colander up to create little crescents on the deck, which was interesting, but our photos really are a bust. It doesn't matter, at least not to us. 

The important thing was we were able to enjoy some time together doing nothing. That's a real treat in my schedule these days. I spent the afternoon with the most important person in my world, and of course, Deuce . For that, the eclipse of 2017 will be memorable.

KC Kendricks
www.kckendricks.com
www.twitter.com/kckenricks
www.facebook.com/kckendricks

Undeniable by KC Kendricks (new!)

January 14, 2017

**Updated 4/2/21 - the My Sexy Saturday blog hop has been discontinued.**

Happy Birthday to my darling Deuce! He's one year old today. If you're wondering what my pup has to do with my writing, or the My Sexy Saturday blog hop, the answer is EVERYTHING! Deuce is my constant companion, a cheerful presence who reminds me taking breaks and moving to stay healthy makes my writing better. 

He also sleeps beside my desk and keeps me in my chair and writing instead of finding "excuse" chores. 

So you see, he's an integral part of the KC Kendricks machine. 

Now on to the very first My Sexy Saturday of 2017! This week, Deuce and I have seven sexy paragraphs from Undeniable. Enjoy!

*_*_*_*_*

What? Was that an invitation? If it was, Ford was going to be disappointed. Asa had no intention of

hopping back into bed with Ford. He had to stay cool. So far the conversation was going better than he could have dreamed, and Asa wanted to keep it that way. He had a far better chance of getting the answers he needed if he kept his head. Asa got to his feet. “Why don’t you go ahead and get a booth while I close up the office? I’ll be there in about ten minutes?”

Ford stood. “I’ll see you in a bit. Thanks, Asa.”

Asa watched Ford walk away, admiring the easy way the man moved. Landscaping was hard, physical labor and, while Asa was sure Ford had employees, it would be in Ford’s nature to jump in and work beside them when he had no other duties to perform. Back in the day, Ford frequented a gym, so Asa knew the man liked to flex his muscles. It did show.

He snorted to himself as he shut down his computer. He’d worked out with Ford a few times and it wasn’t in his blood. A couple of rounds of golf a week kept him in shape and fit.

Had Ford tossed an invitation to spend the evening with him? Maybe he’d read too much into those words. It could be all Ford meant was he didn’t need to rush off to an appointment. Asa stepped into the quiet hallway and locked the door to the office suite. His evening was unencumbered and, with any luck, it could take some interesting turns.

He slumped against the side of the elevator car for the short ride to the ground floor. What the hell was he thinking? If he was that horny—and he didn’t think he was—he’d do better to go find one of his fuck buddies. He stepped outside into the glare of the afternoon sun and spotted Ford sitting inside the café across the street.

Ford raised his hand and waved once at him. Nope. It wasn’t good when a man lied to himself.

_*_*_*_*_*_

About UNDENIABLE:

With a summer storm threatening to ruin his Friday afternoon, Asa Burton packs his briefcase and bolts for home before the driving gets dangerous. On the interstate, stuck behind an accident, he regrets his decision until he sees Ford Weston standing along the side of the road talking to a police officer.

Ford Weston can’t believe his luck, bad and good. First, his car gets clipped on the tail end of an accident, and then none other than Asa Burton pulls over and offers him a ride home. Coming face-to-face with the biggest regret of his life leaves Ford off-balance. He screwed up with Asa all those years ago. It was his fault the relationship ended.

Asa can’t believe he’s found Ford again, so why is he angry with himself? Could it be because Ford walked out on him without a word seventeen years ago and he did nothing to stop him? Asa’s sure of only one thing – Fate just handed him a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to win back Ford.  

*_*_*_*_*_

UNDENIABLE
Available at:

Amazon US: www.amazon.com/Undeniable-KC-Kendricks-ebook/dp/B01N32NQK3
 iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/book/undeniable/id1191121896?mt=11
 Barnes & Noble/NOOK: www.barnesandnoble.com/w/undeniable-kc-kendricks/1122195739?ean=2940154197066

 Rakuten/Kobo: www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/undeniable-45

 Universal link to additional booksellers: https://books2read.com/u/mBenoR
 Undeniable webpage with excerpt: https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/undeniable-contemporary-gay-romance.html
 _*_*_*_*_*_*_
 KC Kendricks
My home on the web- Between the Keys: 
http://kckendricks.blogspot.com
Visit my bookshelf at: 
https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/the-bookshelf-of-kc-kendricks-and-rayne.html

Social media links:
Life through the eyes of my black Lab, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce: deucesday.blogspot.com
My country life at Holly Tree Manor: hollytreemanor.blogspot.com

twitter.com/kckendricks
pinterest.com/kckendricks/boards
instagram.com/kc_kendricks

Greenbrier Smokey Deuce

February 27, 2016

Meet Deuce! He'll be coming home the week of March 7th.