Who never...?

 Children like to play a board game named "Guess who". The game is played with two boards full of faces  and with the players secretly choosing one character and then give each other details in order to find out who is the other player character. One will say "with black hair" so you put down all faces who don't have black hair, then the other will say "blue eyes" and you put down the ones without blue eyes and so on... the winner is the one who finds out first who the other player's character is... you get the gist.

  https://youtu.be/a76UPzU2VXM

After I started hanging out on Nora Roberts' inspired forums and blogs I noticed a pattern of "finding out" who could play Nora's characters... since our prolific writer has several movies made based on her novels, with the last being on Netflix, the bruah is always immense with "nothing like" "how dare they"  because let's face it actors are human whereas readers see Nora characters as someone (more) divine, and Nora knows it:

And I must say I am also guilty of thinking of a person who could be - at least physically - that Nora hero or heroine.

🎭 Let the "Nora Guessed Who" Game begin 🎉

And I decided to share with my visitors who I imagined as The MacGregor:

Scott Neeson, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

photo by Alan Light, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Georges Biard, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Do You Own a Cat or Does a Cat Own You?

 

Switching off lights as she went, Shelby climbed the stairs to the second floor.

The cat leapt nimbly from his perch on the windowsill, stretched and padded toward her.

When Shelby came in, dinner wasn't far behind. The bird fluffed her wings and began to

gnaw on her cuttle-bone.

"How's it going?" She gave Moshe an absent scratch behind the ears where he liked it

best. With a sound of approval, he looked up at her with his one eye, tilting his head so

that the patch he wore looked raffish and right. "Yeah, I'll feed you."

All the Possibilities

________________

EDG 543, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

One could argue whether a cat ever has an owner—having had a few, I rather felt owned.

 

 Treehugger

Cats are thought to have a more profound mind than is thought.” They know where you are, they know what you are doing, and they know they will get what they want.”

"You Are The Reason"

Damn it, he was here, waiting for her.

As the sun set, he braced his elbows on the steering wheel and rested his head in

his hands. That was just what he was doing, he admitted. Waiting for her. And he

wasn't waiting to have a rational conversation, as he'd tried to convince himself

he was over the past weeks.

He was waiting to beg, to promise, to fight, to do whatever it took to put things

right again. To put Morgana back in his life again.

He closed his hand over the stones he still wore around his neck and wondered if

he could will her back.

Captivated

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The sight of her stole his breath. He'd driven through the night, through the morning, 

all the while trying to image how he would feel when he saw her again. 

For once his imagination had fallen far short.

The Perfect Neighbor

It’s National Book Month — Give Your Reading Spot Some Love

He wanted nothing rigid or forbidding about
the room. Between the two tall windows he'd set a huge, festive, 
ornamental lemon tree in a brass pot. A gift from his parents. They
always knew what suited him best, he thought, smiling 
as he trailed a fingertip over a glossy leaf.
He'd already arranged the seating area. A long, take-a-nap sofa 
in cheerful blue, a pair of wide chairs, low tables that invited the
occupants to put up their feet and relax. Naomi had helped him
choose the lamps, he recalled—the charming die-cut tin shades, the
romantic globes—on one of their shopping forays.
The stately pewter candlesticks that graced the mantel were 
heirlooms, housewarming gifts from his grandparents. 
The bronze-colored
mums that stood in a Wedgwood vase between them 
had come out of his own garden.
There was a great deal of himself in the room, Ian realized. 
And pieces of those he loved.


~Ian~
@MacGregor Grooms 

__________________

Photo by Kustom Home Design - Browse sunroom ideas

Let these cozy nooks and light-washed corners inspire you to make your reading space special

HOUZZ

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Her next choice was the library, which she

thought of as the main artery of the heart.

Morrigan's Cross

Lighthouses in all their windswept beauty and grandeur

The lighthouse was a wide sphere of white, solitary and strong

 against the elements. Perhaps it was worn and a bit weather-beaten

 in places, but it held a simple power that remained timeless and real. 

It seemed a good place to shelter from any storm.

All the Possibilities

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From California to New Zealand via England, the world's most Instagrammable lighthouses in all their windswept beauty and grandeur

•  Though they no longer need a keeper on-site, many lighthouses are still in use as navigational aids
•  Some have been turned into museums and even boutique hotels with hard-to-beat views
•  The USA is home to more lighthouses than any other country and here we present some of the most striking

DailyMail

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And the way the lighthouse stood there, solid,

indomitable. The whitewash was faded here and 

there, the concrete blocks pockmarked

with time and salt spray. That only added to

 the humanity of it. Man’s strike for safety

against the mercurial sea.

There would have been times the sea

 would have won, Gennie mused. 

Because man was fallible. 

There would have been times the 

lighthouse would have won. 

Because man was tenacious. 

Pitted together they spoke of harmony, 

perseverance, sweat, and strength.

One Man's Art

You should start a sit-spot routine

She gave him his moment while she scanned the woods. Birds called, a

musical lift accompanied by the rat-a-tat of a woodpecker hunting for lunch. The

sun through the filter of young leaves cast a dreamy light.

It would brighten as they walked, she knew, and the view would open to the

hills. She loved looking out from the high ground, studying the rise and fall of

the land. And here, in soft light and shadow, with the birdcall and the mutter of

the stream, the splashing dog—here, she thought, was more home than the

house.

The Witness

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Spending time in nature has proven health benefits, and this habit will help you reap those positive rewards

Half an hour ago, as I walked into my beautiful little oasis located just a five-minute walk from my house, I was carrying the weight of a overly long to-do list and drafting emails in my head. My stomach and shoulders were tensed and my brow was furrowed with full force, though I didn't really notice because my mind was elsewhere.

But as soon as I arrived at the creek bank, I forgot all about what I wasn't getting done and what was being asked of me in my day.

Mother Nature Network

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She rode for the loch. It was an indulgence, right or wrong, that occasionally she allowed herself. 
Whenever time allowed, she went

there to sit on the bank and dream a little. And remember. 
It brought Brigham closer to her. As close, Serena knew, as he would ever
be. He was gone. Back to London, where he belonged.

Now spring was here in all its glory. Flowers waved in the gentle breeze, 
trees were ripe with green, green leaves. The sunlight dappled

through, making pretty patterns on the soft path. 
Young deer walked through the forest.

By the loch the ground was springy and warm, though the water 
would be frigid for weeks yet, and would carry a chill all through the

summer. Content from the ride, she lay on the grassy 
knoll to read a little, and dream. 
It was solitude she had wanted, and it was serenity she found.

Rebellion 

Is Your Snowblower Ready for the First Big Dump?

Snow buried the East Coast and caused school-age children to dance with joy. 

Hard winds blew down from Canada and brought bitter cold. 

Pipes burst, cars stalled, and streets turned to ice rings.

The brave or the determined crowded the shopping centers and malls to 

hunt for Christmas presents, to ponder bright wrappings and ribbons. 

Holiday cards arrived in the mail, and kitchens smelled of baking.

Boston shivered, shoveled out, and watched another six inches of snow fall.

Bundled in layers against the cold and armed with a snow shovel, Laura 

trooped out to clear the driveway. The sunlight bounced off the white ground 

and stung the eyes, so she tumbled a pair of sunglasses out of her pocket. 

The chill air bit her cheeks, burned her throat.

She couldn't have been happier.

Laura @ MacGregor Brides

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It could happen in October or it may happen in January. Depending on where you live, the season’s first big snowstorm could be just days or weeks away. But no matter where you live, now is the best time to get your snowblower ready for the season’s first blast of snow.

It takes about an hour to get your gas-powered snowblower ready for winter. 

Family Handyman

This Drone Video of Autumn in New England Will Lift Your Soul

Autumn had taken over New England,
with its exceptional style. Trees roared with color, 
and as they passed their peak, the air took on a snap
 that hinted slyly of winter.


Julia @ The MacGregor Brides 

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Everyone has heard about the incredible leaf colors that blanket parts of New England and the Midwest during autumn. But to actually see the red, yellow and orange leaves glowing like embers along hilly landscapes, around glassy lakes and dappled among harbor towns is another thing entirely. 

HOUZZ

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It was balmy early autumn, perfect New England weather, 
with the trees just beginning to hint at the wild color to come 
in the evening
light of a slowly deepening sky. 
When he got home, he promised himself, he was going to 
take a glass of wine, sit on his back porch
and survey his kingdom.

Ian @ The MacGregor Grooms

Real-Life Neighbor Nightmares You Won’t Believe

Maddy sniffed again and caught the rich, dark scent of coffee. "Where did you get it?"

"Oh, I borrowed a few scoops from your next-door neighbor."

Wine bottle in hand, Maddy drew out of the cupboard. "Not Guido."

"Yes, Guido. The one with the biceps and large teeth."

Maddy unearthed two glasses. "Chantel, I've lived next door to him for years and I wouldn't exchange 
a good-morning with him without an armed guard."

Dance to the Piper

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CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=550419

So you think you have some crazy neighbors? We scoured reddit for these 30 real-life neighbor nightmares—some of which may make you rethink just what makes someone a crazy neighbor.

Family Handyman

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Preston didn't regret his actions. Not for a minute. He calculated his studied rudeness 
would keep his terminally pert neighbor with the turned-up nose 
and sexy pink toenails out of his hair during his stay across the hall. 
The last thing he needed was the local welcoming

committee rolling up at his door, especially when it was led by a 
bubbly motormouth brunette with eyes like a fairy.

Damn it, in New York, people were supposed to ignore their neighbors. 
He was pretty sure it was a city ordinance, and if not, it should be.

The Perfect Neighbor

Best Fall Foliage

The first thing Serena noticed during the drive from the airport were the trees. It had been

some time since she’d seen oak and maple and pine touched with fall. It was barely

September, but the feel of autumn was in the air, with all its strength and colour.

Playing The Odds

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By muffinn from Worcester, UK - Chattahoochee Nature Center - 

fall light through the trees, CC BY 2.0, 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=32292280

Leaf peeping season is finally here! 

And there are plenty of postcard-worthy destinations to see the most colorful and scenic vistas across the country, from New England to the Oregon coast. 

Here are 7 of the best from sea to shining sea. 

PEOPLE

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Autumn had taken over New England,

with its exceptional style. Trees roared with color, and as they passed their peak, the air took on a snap that hinted slyly of winter.

Julia @ The MacGregor Brides

Things Your Neighbors Want You to Stop Doing

"Nobody saw anything, nobody heard anything." Ben leaned against the side of his car and

drew out a cigarette. They'd been doing a house-to-house all morning with the same result.

Nothing. Now he took a moment to study the neighborhood with its tired houses and

postage-stamp yards.

Where were the busybodies? he wondered. Where were the people who stood by the windows peering through openings in the drapes at all the comings and goings? He'd grown

up in a neighborhood not so different from this. And, as he remembered, if a new lamp was

delivered, news of it ran up and down the street before the proud owners could plug it in.

Brazen Virtue

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By Caspar David Friedrich - Photograph Own work User:Szilas, 

Taken in 28 April 2007, Public Domain, 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5213605

It's not big deal to you, but your neighbors are rolling their eyes!

family handyman

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The harsh sound of his buzzer made him swear as he felt himself sucked back into that empty room. He considered snarling and waiting it out, then weighed in human nature and decided the intruder would probably keep coming back until he dispatched them once and for all.

Probably the eagle-eyed old woman from the ground floor, Preston decided as he started down. She'd already tried to snag him twice when he'd headed out to the club in the evening. He was good at evading, but it was becoming a nuisance. Smarter to hit her face-on with a few rude remarks and let her huff away to gossip about him.

But when he checked the peephole, he didn't see the tidy woman with her bright bird's eyes, but a pretty brunette with hair short as a boy's and big green eyes.

From across the hall, he realized, and wondered what the hell she could want. He'd figured since she'd left him alone for nearly a week, she intended to keep right on doing so. Which made her, in his mind, the perfect neighbor. 

The Perfect Neighbor

Signs Your Cat Is Secretly Mad at You

"I wonder just what he'd do if he were really crossed. He doesn't appear to have a temper. 
Cats usually don't until they're pushed too far just that one time, and then they're deadly." 

All the Possibilities

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By Paulo rsmenezes - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10599332

15 Signs Your Cat Is Secretly Mad at You

MSN

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Nijinsky growled.

"Since I'm the first up," she said, casting the cat a rueful glance, "I'll have the shower first." 
She arched her brows at Nick. "You can make the coffee." As she darted into the bath, 
she called over her shoulder, 
"Don't forget to feed the cat."

Dance of Dreams

Theft-Proof Your Home

Most people had no idea how vulnerable they were while they dreamed in their beds.

Laura @ TheMacGregorBrides

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By Jjw [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], from Wikimedia Commons

Tips to make your home more burglar resistant without spending a fortune.

The Family Handyman

Beautiful: Ceramics Masters doing their work

The wheel hummed. The clay spun, succumbing to the pressure of her hands, 
yielding to the unrelenting demands of her imagination. 
She formed a thick-walled ring, pressing her thumb in the center of the ball, 
then slowly, very slowly, pulled it upward between her thumb and fingers to form
 a cylinder. She could flatten it into a plate now, open it into a bowl, 
perhaps close it into a sphere, according to her own pleasure. 

She was both in control and driven. 
Her hands dominated the clay as surely as 
her creativity dominated her. 

All the Possibilities

Ian @ MacGregors

_____________________

_____________________

The afternoon sun poured into Megan‟s studio. 
She was oblivious to it, and to the bird song outside the windows. 
Her mind was focused on the clay her hands worked with,
 or, more precisely, 
on what she saw in the partially formed mound.   

Less of a Stranger 

For Now, Forever

He remembered more than the accident now. 
He remembered Anna leaning over him, talking, reassuring him as he was being wheeled on a gurney down the hospital corridor. 
He remembered the fear he'd read in her eyes, 
and before he slipped into unconsciousness, his one moment of blind, naked terror 
that he was being taken away from her. 

Oddly, he thought he remembered looking down at himself from somewhere
 while doctors and nurses scrambled around. 

Then it seemed he'd been sucked back into his body, 
but the sensation was too vague to pinpoint. 

For Now, Forever

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By Alexander P Kapp, CC BY-SA 2.0, 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=13670612

WHAT DOES DYING FEELS LIKE?

They found that even five minutes after a person's heart stops beating their brain cells, or neurons, may still function.

But a wave of 'spreading depression' marked the moment that these neurons shutdown before their final, irreversible death.

DAILYMAIL

Reasons to Love March

 It was beautiful. Though she had loved the farm, the forest and the rocks of her native Massachusetts, she found the land even more glorious in its variety. Why, when she had left home, there had still been snow on the ground. The warming days had left icicles gleaming on the eaves of the house and the bare branches of the trees.

But now, in the south, she saw the trees greening and had left her cloak unfastened to enjoy the air through the carriage window. In the fields there were young calves and foals, trying  out their legs or nursing. In others she saw dozens and dozens of black field hands busy with spring planting. And it was only March.

In from the Cold

@MacGregors 

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(almond blossom in my garden)

16 Reasons March Is the Best Month

MSN