My little 9-year-old Chihuahua, Lady, can tell time. I haven't the faintest idea how she does it.

Anyone that knows Chihuahuas understands that they can be very loud, or "yappy". Gratefully, we've been very fortunate with ours, as she only barks when she believes someone to be at our door. Or, when she's expecting my husband to return home.

Since my husband started his new hours, he's been getting home at approximately the same time every day. Our dog has become used this, and now every single day, between 3:30 pm and 4:30 pm, she is extra sensitive to sounds.

Is mine the only dog that knows how to tell the time? Are your pet's meal schedules on an internal clock? Tell me!

Today, my third novel, Love and Deceit, is FREE to download on Amazon!

These are the links:
US  http://amzn.to/2qnCgHR
UK  http://amzn.to/2qfoKqv
CA  http://amzn.to/2oTGbMc
DE  http://amzn.to/2pcMxsx
FR  http://amzn.to/2pu3fUH
IT  http://amzn.to/2oQxPEa
NL  http://amzn.to/2qflONn
BR  http://amzn.to/2oTJyCD
MX  http://amzn.to/2qnzYbp
IN  http://amzn.to/2pq8LWn
AU  http://amzn.to/2qnsBAP
JP  http://amzn.to/2oQloYW

If you don't yet have your eBook copy, today's the perfect day to grab it! 

As you all very likely know, today was the solar eclipse. As a person that has very little forethought for things like this, I waited until the last minute before preparing for the event. My husband had created the cool tube chip container viewers on Saturday, and I made the cereal box viewers this morning.

I invited my mom to join us, and as soon as the eclipse started, we walked the half block to the nearby park/field and hunkered down. They aren't in the photos, but there were a bunch of other families that had gathered on the field to watch, as well. 

My kids were interested for a short while, but soon became more entertained by running and wrestling on the grass (it's the only green grass for miles, as the summer sun has dried everything up). 

Below, are some of the photos that I took today. 

I hope you all were able to get a glimpse (safely)! Happy Monday!

Almost every weekend, Hubby, the kids, and I go grocery shopping. It's a bit of a gong show trying to take four young children to the store every week, but even with their constant whining and begging for every bit of junk food they see, we've made it a bit of a weekend tradition. This weekend was no different.

As many of my followers will by now know, I recently discovered that I'm allergic to gluten. Making the adjustments for a household with five gluten eating people, and one gluten-free person has had its challenges (and several cross-contamination issues), but I believe that we've handled it well. I've spent so much time making sure that the ingredients that I buy are gluten-free, and I've done quite a bit of smelling of my husband's delicious-looking gluten-filled food ("Can I smell that?"), but I haven't truly considered that this is a change for life.

​While I was walking through the grocery store's junk food aisles this weekend, I looked at the many treats that lined the shelves, and suddenly realized that there were several of my favourites that I will never be able to eat again. I'd known for about eight or nine months that I couldn't eat gluten, but it had never occurred to me that I would never again eat a Ferrero Rocher (my favourite chocolates). I could never again eat my kids' leftover grilled cheese sandwiches, waffles, or half-eaten Kit Kat bars.

My reaction to gluten is severe enough that even an antihistamine doesn't "fix" the pain, so until there is a cure for allergies, I won't ever have some of my favourite treats. I have, however, found some lovely--and delicious--options. 

I realize that this is hardly an important issue, and likely irksome for many, but it's become a reality for the Champagne family, and I felt like sharing.

I'm working on some other posts that are soon to come. I've been absent for a little while, due to summer trips and finishing Book 8, but I promise to post more frequently from now on!

Happy Sunday, everyone!