Sept 2016 and I am having a rant- I was scammed trying to do someone a good turn- agghhh. I work as a ghost writer- you write a story and when it is paid for, the story belongs to the buyer. A man from Australia wanted a book done urgently as he had been let down and I tried to help him out- without a proper contract in place. Knocked myself out to finish it by the date he said. What a fool. I won't do that again. As soon as he had the work he never answered an email and has never paid a penny. I am 400 dollars down. However, the story is mine because he never paid so it is now published on Amazon - with a few tweaks. From tomorrow it will be on Amazon at https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=sheila+muckle  I suppose I've learned a lesson . It's a love story with a twist.

In the winter the sun lounge roof leaked- it has taken till now to dry out- my DIY task to sort it and add insulation- bit by bit as I can only work upside down for about half an hour.
Ceiling waiting to be done

The start of the mend

will be painted and edged and new ceiling roses- eventually. In the meantime that wonderful woman Silvia has sent me chocolate from Germany-

 yum yum- forget the DIY-- Thanks Silvia xx

We have a Gordon Setter called Carson who is just too clever by half. He plays hide and see with me- yes properly. Last week I called and called and nothing to be seen. I looked at the bushes and saw absolutly nothing and then spotted two tan feet below the leaves- He was as still as a stone and nothing else to be seen. As soon as I said I has seen him he came out and shook himself. I swear he grinned at me. Today called and called again- nothing. Can you spot the dog in this picture?

The dog run is a bit wild- apologies there. He was right beside the wall of the old garage.

Never moves and really tries it on. Handsome man though. I took him inside when I finally found him and visited the greenhouse. Pelargonium Vancouver centenniel is pretty- foliage and flowers and I just always love the flowers of Peucedanum.

I'm a lonely little orchid in an allium patch, an allium patch, an allium----- Amazingly the wild orchids that were in my garden years ago in Northumberland pop up in the most unexpected places. The seed must lie dormant for years and when the conditions are right, they brave the world again. I just love them.

 Here in Scotland there are a different wild orchid that grows all over the place and even in what used to be the entrance to a driveway and is now my small wild meadow.

The original song was a lonely little petunia and this year I found these jet black ones. Cannot believe it is actually black but it is. The little edged one is pretty as well.

The garden is always a joy except up here when the midges are about- they are just unbearable so I have been inside doing a few reclaiming jobs. My mum's old coffee tale had a marble top that smashed- it had done well for about forty years or so. I had been laminating the kitchen floor and used a couple of left over bits to make a new top.

And then there was my wardrobe- I asked the lady in the shop how much and she suggested £15- wow a bargain and two coats of emulsion later it is white and quite pretty.

Have exhausted myself just talking about all the jobs- must learn to relax like out Pops.

My DIY phase continues and as the terriers had made a hole in the old bedroom door that they could put a head through, I decided to try and replace it. The pine, cottage style door arrived- yes it was a bit heavier than I thought but got it into situ and measured how much would need to come off. I took off three inches with my trusty little electric saw. Easy peasey. The eagle eyed amongst you will have spotted that maybe two inches or two and a half would have been better- hey ho- you have to learn on something.
The old door refused to come off until I prised it off with brute force and a giant srewdriver. I hung the door!! It is not perfect but the handle and catch took me longer than fitting the door itself. Again the eagle eyed will spot the small slit I drilled first before finding where the catch actually should be situated but it works. I was so pleased with myself- went to bed, relaxed and watched a ghost hunting program- I am fond of them. Then about midnight I needed the bathroom, opened the new latch and stepped through. The door pulled itself closed behind me with a noise like ccrrrr. I shot to the bathroom and locked the door. Maybe the door had brought its own ghost. I hear you laughing.
I might be mad but I sleep with five setters and if a ghost or anything else had appeared the noise would have been thunderous. They slept on peacefully having successfully taken over my spot on the bed. --- Still I hung a door- if I can do one I can do all the internal doors- yippee.

My version of Homity Pie is simple and delicious and vegetarian. Use a ready made savoury pastry case to save the chore of making it yourself. Then boil up a bag of new potatoes- I used Tesco Finest. Soften a chopped onion in some olive oil and grate about 150grams of cheese. I used Red Leicester. Mash the potatoes, add onion, oil it was cooking in and the cheese. Mix well and add a dash of milk to make it easier to mix. Pile it into the pastry case and pour on the top about a quarter of a tub of double cream- I use Elmlea long life. Don't mix it in. Cook in oven at about 180 to 200 for twenty minutes or until the top is golden brown. This is the most amazing pie to eat as the cream turns it into a sort of fudgy consistency. yum yum

Wonderful result for Anja, Silvia and Misty- Best in Show and becoming a German Champion on the same day- wow.

This post is just to see if I connect with Twitter

The third book in my Garden Series is called Witch Garden and features Dannyboy the pointer with the sixth sense. Mystery, love interest, dogs and the supernatural. This is the review that Diane J Reed gave the book and she is a best selling author herself.

Hi Sheila--I just wanted you to know that I reviewed your novel Witch Garden! (Love that title, by the way). It was a delight! Here's my review, which may take a while to appear on Amazon (I reviewed it on the US website). Perfect Cozy Mystery For A Rainy Day! Witch Garden by Sheila Muckle is a delightful cozy mystery with charming characters and a gently brisk pace that makes perfect reading for a rainy day, especially if you can get all snuggled up with a warm blanket and a cup of tea. This author brings vibrancy and intrigue to every page, and I found her characters to both loveable and well rounded. What's more, that fact that Ms. Muckle has created an integral canine character (Dannyboy, a pointer), made it fun for me to read this book aloud to my children (which means I read it twice, the sure sign of a good novel!). Of course, the sweet romance between Chess and Spinner hooked me into Ms. Muckle's writing for good, so now I simply must complete her series of books. If you're looking for a novel that has it all--mystery, charm, love, and a fine story--Witch Garden is the one to pick up.

by Sheila Muckle- available on Amazon

Great news from Germany as out friends Anja and Silvia have been showing dogs today. Trueman won his first ticket towards German Champion, Avie was Reserve CAC to the BOB ad Misty gained the last ticket she needed to make her a German Champion. She was CAC and Best of Breed. Wow. The picture is from a little while ago.

I should be writing the next fantasy story for my client but it is one of those days when I would rather faff about on the internet and look out at the pouring rain. Yesterday was glorious. Today Scotland is back to normal.  Another coffee seems to beckon. The dogs are curled up on my bed- five setters and a Parson Russell terrier and I might well join them.-- Except the DIY won't actually do itself. The inner door from the utility to the hallway is to have trim added and the gloss paint applied. Daisymae's head is on my knee so maybe the paint can wait. She is ten years old next week- my little wild child- it seems impossible.

April 2nd. Because we live at the top of the country – just below John O Groats- the delivery times are usually abysmal. In fact some firms won’t deliver here even though we are in UK mainland. I ordered shampoo and conditioner from Katherines Botanicals yesterday afternoon and it arrived today. Hampshire to Caithness- you could not be further apart and still be in the UK. Cannot believe it but have used it already and it was lovely. In fact it has been a beautiful sunny day. The dogs were sunbathing on the decking. Some days things are just fine. Now I have to get back to the writing for a client in USA.

April Fool’s Day- had a trip to Wick to pick up Pom Bears- I know they will come on Tesco’s order tomorrow but I think they put something in them to make them addictive. Ate a packet whilst still in the car. Went to get a blade for the saw that cuts metal but had no luck so had to buy a wood trim for the door step that I will be able to cut. Bought a ‘cheap’ pack of paintbrushes because when I gloss paint, I throw away the brush. Cannot be doing with white spirit and stuff- Then went next door into Poundland and got three for a pound. Resisted the urge to buy plants and had a quick look in The Edinburgh Woollen Mill. They are closing down and the sale says everything must go but the prices were still the same as always. Guess all of the stock will just move to anther store. Dogs were pleased to see me back and are all now fed and quiet again so a coffee and the computer is my treat for a few minutes. Green double hellebores are out in the garden and Primula dendiculata.

1/3/16  DIY continues apace. Have moved on to mending the back door, putting some cladding on the walls and decorating. To get my breath back I sit and do the writing job- thank goodness there is something I can do that does not include moving around. I write for an online gardening magazinewww.gardenerspath.com   which is well worth a quick look and they also have a food online magazine with great recipe and tip ideas at www.foodal.com. I have finished my latest crop of children’s stories for a client in London and my other ghost writing work is ongoing. I keep thanking my lucky stars for the internet. — And for a talented daughter- she makes jewellery atwww.spiritofcolourjewellery.co.uk and sent me some bracelets in black agate, hematite and multi coloured semi precious stones. Good to feel feminine and shed the DIY image. I also have a watch from Tesco. It’s pretty but slips down the arm so I had to add a scrunchie to keep it in place. Still the scrunchie looks quite good as well – silver lining.

29th March 2016 This time of the year is always a pleasure because all of the good weather, gardening weather and anything else you want to do weather is ahead- well unless you want to go snow boarding or something. The dogs can get out for more running and do not come in covered in mud. The new shoots spring forth from the ground and fair weather gardeners like me come out of the woodwork.

Other stuff starts to grab your attention as well and I have laid my fair isle knitting to one side and decided to try laminating floors by myself. Well there were sales at the DIY stores, the whitewashed planking look really appealed to me and I made a stab at the kitchen floor. Light grey was a bit of a daft choice with the dogs but I liked it and it took me about half of the room to work out how to do it. So it was not perfect but I was quite pleased with the result, painted the walls and had some packs left over- the hallway beckoned. Changed the whitewashed look for rustic oak and started on the 24 square yards of hallway. Painted the walls and did the floor in three days- now I was feeling really confident. It looks good but still needs the edges finishing. I have to admit I am knackered. Arms, wrists, legs and back all hurt a lot but back to the other job.

It’s good for your mind to have lots to think about and I am writing for a new gardening magazine on the web- www.gardenerspath.com  Thank goodness that is a job as well as the ghost writing that I can do sitting down.

Now I am considering hanging the internal doors when I have recovered- wish me luck with that one !!!

Now I am considering hanging the internal doors when I have recovered- wish me luck with 

Harris became a Dad- one of the daughters is this little bombshell.