While I'm chatting, the neighborhood kids are starting to walk to school. I really can't believe how fast time has flown. In fact, Austin started his senior year at UK and Jack started his junior year at UC. Unbelievable how old EDDY is! Haha! We had a family get together and I mean aunts, uncles, cousins, cousins once removed, second cousins...and three of my boys went to Nicholasville with us.

Over the course of our time spent together this weekend, I asked all four boys what they considered their childhood home.  Every single one said a house that we ONLY lived in for only FOUR years! We've been in our current house for almost 8 now. We moved here because they went to the neighborhood school and I was in six car pools.  They said it was because they had long nights outside running around and playing. When we moved to our current house, they were practically driving and then off they went....

Which brings me to yesterday...Eddy and I have been thinking about downsizing. Of course I LOVE my she-shed and my pool, but I hate cleaning this big house and five bedrooms.... So we went house hunting. We want something very secluded and private. We will add a pool and that at the new place. LOW AND BEHOLD... We found a gem! Four acres of beautiful country, creek, and pond plus cute little bridges and look at this guard rail on the road with the awesome flower box!!! Those are TREES growing in the flower box. This is one of the many bridges to the property.  Y'all! I literally went by the house so much. We would look at one and then go back to this one. The house was built in 1910! It's a small white clapboard house and it had yet to be listed on the MLS.  Y'all!!! Again...I drove by the house so much, the OWNER came out and stopped me the last time! He said he's been seeing a little red Fiat driving by so he though he'd come out.

If you think this cute guardrail is adorable...you should've seen the rest of the property! Amazing...until...I saw the house. Oh my stars! Yeah..um..NO!  There were mannequins with wedding dresses on. I was a tad bit creeped out but really there was so much work to be done, that I'm not into that. I guess we will press on and probably end up building something on some property to fit our needs.

We spent the rest of what Labor Day we had left enjoying our pool. It ain't so bad here. I guess I'll just keep swiffering! Rowena sure did know how to spend her day off! I also was tweaking the plot for Stamped Out. I have to say that I LOVE LOVE LOVE creating new series and I think the Mail Carrier Cozy Mystery is going to be really fun! I hope you preorder your copy!

A MYSTERY writer at the NCAA Basketball Tournament . . . a lot of killing going on!

I keep getting questions about NKU and my ties to the school. First off, I got my second degree from Northern Kentucky University after I'd gotten married and had kids. BUT my first degree is from the University of Kentucky, which I LOVEEEEE that school too!

Jack, my youngest son, is the manager of the men's basketball team at NKU. He's got a lot of responsibilities and a full time student. We love watching him do his thing at all the games. I'm super proud he's also on the Dean's list and holding down a full time job. He is paid from this and he's learning a lot on how to be a great coach after he graduates. 

As you can see, as a mother, I'm very involved. Eight years ago NKU (before us) was in a different league and they switched, making them a division one basketball team. By NCAA rules, they have to be in the league for five years, even if they do win their conference title, before they are eligible for the NCAA tournament, AKA the BIG DANCE! This is everyone's dream. 

It's like the Oscars for basketball. 

The first year, three years ago, when NKU had met its eligibility, we made it to the big dance. We played UK! No joke!! That put me in a horrible spot! I bleed blue, only. . .my baby comes first. So...now we root for both, but mostly NKU because now we have season tickets and we travel with the team. 

NKU ended up winning their conference again this year, giving us an automatic bid to the big dance. I knew I had to go even though our chances were slim to winning. My mom, sister and I set out to Tulsa, Oklahoma on a road trip with our tickets in hand. 

All the fans met at a lot Tulsa bar where there were free food and drinks along with the NKU pep band and cheerleaders. It was a lot of fun before the game.

Then....the game....

Yes we lost and I was so proud of them, but I have to say that my murderous mind was a foot!

Especially when the gentleman and his friends, who were in their 70's, were sitting behind me. He politely asked me about NKU and who was my son. I told him. He smiled and said that we were the underdog. He was right.

Here is when I played over and over in my head how I could kill him...

He tells me that he wasn't there for the team we were playing, but he was going to root for them anyways since I was pulling for the underdog! Then he rooted against us! I couldn't believe it. 

Here is the scene, we played Texas Tech and they are closer to Tulsa than Kentucky! The arena was full of Texas Tech fans and only about FIFTY NKU fans. This man wasn't even there for Texas Tech and he was old enough to know better or at least be nice. 

Yes...I will kill him in a book...maybe the next camper one!!

Needless to say, NKU was very excited we even got to the big dance and hopefully will go further next year. But it sure was fun even though we lost. I'm very proud of them!!

Spoken like a proud mama! 

Who are you rooting for in the NCAA basketball tournament? Or not even watching? Leave a comment to win a Tonya Kappes DESERTS, DRIVING, & DERELICTS audio book!

See ya next Monday!

xoxox

T.