Ghosts and cookies

I'm trying to write my book again. I've decided it's too hoity toity to call it a novel, because really, who am I fooling that I could write a novel. It's a ghost story and I want it to be historically accurate to the time period and place. So I've been trying to find some books about Iron Ore mining, having babies in the early 1900's, and late Victorian architecture. Mostly I am looking at pictures on the web of Queen Ann style Victorian houses and that is amazingly fun. And its a great way to say I'm researching before I actually write. I have tried out several starts to the story; writing it in first person - not sure I like that, writing it from the past and present - going back and forth in each chapter, and jumping right into quirky characters finding their way through life that just happens to be in a haunted house. And honestly that just feels hokey. "They" say write what you know, but I want to explore this story I've had in my head for 3 years now. It's totally made up - not anything I know. Well I know the area I'm setting the story and I know about suddenly owning your first house. But my house isn't haunted and I'm not living in a Queen Ann Victorian. And then I torture myself wondering what the heck I would do with the book anyway once I've actually written something I like. Send it to...where? I'm sure thousands of people send in mediocre transcripts of 'novels' every day to publishers. But I am getting way ahead of myself. I haven't even finished more than two chapters. Just venting, free writing usually helps me get past a block and why not publish it in my blog?!

Sigh, maybe we'll go make more cookies.

Here's what we made day before yesterday. I sent three dozen of them to work with Mark so I wouldn't eat them all. Recipe is in Cook's Country magazine. Might be able to find it on Cook's Illustrated website; Peanut Blossom Cookies.