How will you measure your time this year? My book, Time Measured Out! suggests this question about time? I am starting 2026 with reflection and intention because I always wonder on New Year’s Day. What does this year hold? How will I achieve my dreams? Is my writing authentic? How will I grow as a writer?
Also, today I joyfully joined the Ultimate Blog Challenge. I agreed to writing a blog post every day in January, tweeting using the hashtag #blogboost, posting it on the UBC website, and commenting on 2 other blog posts. Yes, it’s a big commitment, but I did it in November 2021 and had a great experience. I learned new ideas to enrich each blog, so I’m sure I will learn more this year.
From my new poetry collection, Time Measured Out!, here’s an excerpt of one of the poems that displays my usual intentions:
I fashioned this poem after Emily Dickinson’s “I Dwell in Possibility.”
July 26, 2002
I dwell in possibility . . .
It's a rich life Full to the brim. I face it in every question that comes. I move from abundance. I have all I need. I have all I want. What a sweet refuge!
Both formats of Time Measured Out! are available now:
My intention for this year moves away from my five-book poetry series for awhile to a serious topic: the effect of being an incest survivor and the healing available. In 2016, I wrote over 50,000 words of an autofiction, an autobiography fictionalized. The flurry created by the Epstein Files and all of the survivors’ betrayal forced me to return to this book to support the victims. My story illustrates my pain and my healing. So, 2026, I plan to focus on the revision of this book and releasing as soon as possible. Then I will return to my poetry series.
My life in southeastern Colorado overflows with activity this week. It was out with the old furniture and in with the new in my living room in my house there. In the midst of this major change, I have been finishing up the last read-through of my new book and selecting the book cover.
My Old Furniture
The sofa sleeper in the living room at my house in southeastern Colorado sinks down when you sit down. Older people need aid to get up. I have no idea how old it is. In reality, it could be 30-40 years old! So, I had been laboring over how to replace it for several years.
Then last year, my brother bought a new beautiful leather sofa at Woody’s Furniture in Trinidad, Colorado where we shop. So, when I was here in August, I went by the store and got their online store information.
Thinking ahead in Panamá, I looked at their sofa sleepers online and saw their prices. So, I had an idea what I was facing.
Life in a small town, there’s no place to buy something here, so it was back to Trinidad to shop on Tuesday.
Woody’s Furniture Store
We made Woody’s our first stop of the day. When my brother and I walked in the door, we spied to our left a light-colored loveseat. Immediately I said no because of the light color—it would be ruined immediately in the country! I had measured another space in the living room where I had a wicker loveseat that sagged and crackled when two people sat on it, so I was looking.
So, slowly that loveseat became a possibility but I couldn’t imagine a light colored any piece of furniture out in the dusty country. But the size won me over, and I thought, “I can put some throws over it. I can use Scotch guard on it. I like it!” And the selling feature: it was a sleeper!
Then I found a beautiful sofa (not a sleeper) made out of the same material as our rocker/recliners are in Panamá. It appears to be leather, but not. Also, it has recliners on both sides—what a treat!
So, it all worked. And on top of everything, both pieces were on sale, so I ended up paying the same price I would have paid for a sofa sleeper for these two pieces of furniture.
Furniture Delivery on Friday
Woody’s delivered the two pieces and took the two old pieces back—what an advantage. The two young men who delivered them helped place them and explained the features of the sofa. I didn’t realize the sofa has computer charging stations on both ends! What a surprise that was! I always bring all kinds of chargers with me with the electrical plug! No more!
Now Where To Put Them?
I mis-measured the loveseat. It is four inches bigger than I thought, so it won’t go back in the space where the wicker loveseat was. My brother and I have it at an angle now, but I have other possibilities: flat against the dividing wall to the dining room or next to the desk facing the TV.
When the delivery guys set the sofa up, they left it away from the wall so I could fully recline. Also, I need to get a power strip for the sofa’s electrical cable because of lightning storms here, so we left it out, but it takes up more of the space of the living room, especially with the loveseat out more.
When we get the power cord, we will probably move it back some and move it out when I have company.
What a beautiful experience this transition has been.
My brother looked into the dining room and said, “Your cover for the loveseat matches the cow skull Cheryl painted for you.” I looked and he was right!
The cover I found for my new loveseatThe cow skull my niece, Cheryl, painted for me!
Now My Book Life & New Book!
I have such a rich full life! I’m finishing up the last read-through on the layout of my new book, Time Measured Out!, which requires me to look at a .pdf of the print version to see how it appears. I will do that for the e-book version also later, but right now I’m focusing on the print version.
Taking a poll on the book cover of my new book, I received about 40 responses, so first of all—thank you to all that took the time to respond! I really appreciate it.
Most of the people put the number of the book cover they liked and no comment. That’s what I normally do on a poll like this, but some people added their reason for their selection, and a couple people and my husband commented on “the mystery” they felt with cover #1, so I went with it, and the cover designer has already sent the e-book cover back to me.
Next, I received an email from the designer requiring four things:
KDP Paperback cover template (PDF)
Back cover blurb/description (ideally 50-200 words)
(optional) Short author bio (ideally 50-75 words)
(optional) Author image/portrait (must be high-resolution
First
I wondered why he wanted the KDP Paperback cover template because I was having them design the cover, but I realized it gives specific data KDP needs for the cover. I’ve used this company for the last 4 or 5 books, so I trus them.
So, I generated it and it looks like this:
Second
About a month ago, I had the description for the back cover created Bryan Cohen’s Best Page Forwardcompany – See what you think:
Sharing raw moments of love, loss, and joy, this memoir-in-verse invites readers to discover their own quiet strengths.
The pen knew what Larada Horner-Miller’s heart couldn’t say aloud. Collecting her thoughts on everything from the harrowing dawn of 9/11 to light-filled RV treks across desert highways, she used poetry to capture ordinary breaths suddenly split open with grief, wonder, and grace. And as her forties brought amazing triumphs and shattering sorrows, she translated days spent teaching and coyote-haunted dawns into soul-soothing stanzas.
An award-winning poet with more than seven decades of life and three-dozen sober years behind her, Horner-Miller invites you to her kitchen-table memories—where resilience is brewed as strong as morning coffee and saguaros raise silent hymns beneath an Arizona sky. And as she lays out insightful observations of the world in pensive verse, her deeply felt truths offer up a healing warmth.
Time Measured Out! is a candid and inspiring book of poetry, and the second volume in the Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry series. If you cherish reflective verses, vivid travel vignettes, and bold celebrations of self-reinvention, you’ll adore Larada Horner-Miller’s heartfelt collection.
Buy Time Measured Out! to count the beauty of every second today
Third
I sent him a copy of a short biography of mine. So what do you think?
Award-winning author Larada Horner-Miller weaves rich stories across multiple genres, from heartfelt memoirs to insightful poetry. With numerous literary accolades to her name, including Book Excellence Awards recognition, she seamlessly moves between historical biographies, personal reflections, and lyrical verse. Her diverse catalog reflects both scholarly precision and emotional authenticity, drawing from her background in education and deep connections to her southwestern roots.
Last
The designer requested a photo I use for most of my books. Here’s the professional headshot I took years ago and like:
Finally,
My life had a mixture of activities this week: saying goodbye to old furniture, enjoying new furniture and creating a new paperback book. I love it and the variety!
Now you need to buy my book! Soon, I will let you know how you can get your copy, either in paperback or e-book version!
Life in Panama overflows! Finally, we were able to go to the Tuesday Market which we have heard so much about. It didn’t let me down—another full week, and a major birthday celebration!
Monday, September 15
Lin didn’t feel well all week. He had a deep cough and a hoarse voice! So he laid low a lot of the week, but we had errands we needed to do. John, our neighbor took us to Boquete and we walked to Servitechnics and learned how to use their service to receive packages from the USA.
Then we walked to Value Motors and talked to Victor, the owner, about our driver’s license status. We offered to help us get it situated. Then Lin sought out a fellow-Jersey boy, George. We had a delightful time meeting George and he offered lots of information about just about everything a newcomer to the area needs to do! We continued our walking which is a great way to get acquainted with our new town of Boquete. Lin reminisced about doing that when he moved to Costa Rica twenty-seven years ago! You just don’t see the same world from a car driving by!
Then we met John at a ice cream shop. Afterwards, we visited two pharmacies searching for a specific cough medicine and found it.
When we got home, a massive storm covered the area. Our electricity went off a couple times for a limited time, then it went out for a longer time. During this time, we wisely used our time off any devices—we measured windows in the living room. Then we measured possible spaces to add end tables in the living room in a variety of ways. We also measured the area in the kitchen where we want to add some shelves to store groceries and our dishes. The we moved to our office to measure a space for a possible book shelf!
So, I canceled my Zoom Writing Group from New Mexico because of the electricity. Our neighbors invited us out to dinner because the restaurants have generators they use when there’s an electrical outage. We had a delightful dinner at Blanctierra Restaurant. We moved out writing group meeting to this Monday—hopefully, we’ll have electricity!
Tuesday, September 16
The long-awaited Tuesday Market was fantastic! This weekly event spans Tap Out Bar. It includes all kinds of wares: vegetables, prepared ethnic food, jewelry, local artistry and more. Here’s a kaleidoscope of pictures I took.
The vendors are locals, expats and there was one woman from Venezuela traveling through Central America with her jewelry.
After looking at every table, I bought some items, but next week, I will buy more fresh vegetables and who knows what? Yes, it’s an every week event that people support!
Wednesday, September 17
Ruth invited me join her in a trip to David that was a “Girls day Out!” There were five of us: a mother and her two daughters joined us. The main focus of the trip: Ruth wanted to buy the oldest girl a pair of shoes for her birthday that had just passed.
On the drive there, the oldest daughter asked me lots of questions in English—her English is beautiful. Her younger sister doesn’t speak much English. Her mother is learning! What I truly loved about her mother is when I spoke Spanish to her, she gently corrected my verb tense for example. Then when we were in the mall, she pointed at something and asked me what it was in Spanish—she’d be a great Spanish teacher! But she wants to learn English, too!
So, we completed our task then celebrated with ice cream. What a wonderful day it was! When we left them at the house, they gave me a piece of birthday cake for Lin and me—what a kind gesture.
Ruth and I then picked up Lin who had walked to Boquete—quite a feat, so I guess he was feeling better, but the daily afternoon raining would be beginning soon, so he didn’t want to walk home in the rain.
My brother and his elk
I got a text from my brother that he had shot an elk—we love elk meat! As we talked about it, he said we’re going to have to figure a way to get some of this meat to you in Panama!” Lin said the same thing, so I’ve researching—yes, it’s expensive, but I’m sure it will be worth it!
Thursday, September 18
I got up early and went to a garage sale Ruth told us about because they had a bed frame for sell. We bought a teakwood frame for our bed.
Afterwards, we went to the Thursday Market and shopped around. It’s much smaller the Tuesday Market but a fun place to meet new people and try out different foods.
Then later in the day, our landlords picked up our new bed frame for us and helped set it up in our bedroom. They took out the two twin bed frames we had been using, and suddenly our room exploded—we had much more room! The frame came with a mattress, so we just put our mattress on top of it because otherwise we’d be almost sleeping on the floor.
Our bed with the new frame
Friday, September 19
Ruth and John gave us their day—such great neighbors—so off to David we went for three major tasks: open a bank account, buy another dehumidifier, check out drapes for the living room and go to PriceMart (like CostCo).
At the bank, we found out we needed more paperwork to verify that we are trustworthy people, so we have work to do before that happens.
During the week, I bought some supplements for arthritis and a printer at Amazon, but I didn’t understand where to send it. I sent it to our PMB—personal mail box in South Dakota. No, I was supposed to send it to Doral, Florida where a shipping company here in Boquete has connections. First, I felt stupid and Lin didn’t help. Then I checked the progress of it on my Amazon account, and it hadn’t shipped yet, SO I CANCELED IT.
When we went to Panafoto in David to get another dehumidifier for our office, we bought a printer! Yeah! I haven’t had a printer since early in August—the longest I have gone without a printer in my life!
More on Friday, September 19—Lin’s 85th Birthday Celebration
My husband, Lin, had looked forward to celebrating his 85th birthday in Panama, and his wish came true. Our friend, Ruth, suggested we eat at The Rock because they celebrate special events. I spent the week inviting our new circle of friends.
So we gathered at The Rock at 6:00 PM. There were seven of us: Ruth and John, Lorrie and Kenny and Jason, our tour guide turned landlord. Four friends weren’t able to come: Jason’s wife and daughter and Neville and Lawanda. The setting was wonderful—the way it’s designed, it feels like you’re sitting outside even when you’re inside.The food was delicious. The conversation warm and hilarious about moving to Panama and life here.
After dinner, the waiter presented Lin with a plate decorated with “Feliz Cumpleanos” — Happy Birthday in Spanish—and a chocolate brownie and vanilla ice cream. The waiter lit a sparkler on top while we sang the Happy Birthday song to Lin. It was a memorable evening. As we were leaving, they gave each of us a long stick with a huge marshmallow on it. In an outside area, they had fire pits to roast the marshmallows!
When we got to the car, John had a flat tire, so Jason took us home. John and Ruth brought there dog, Noche, because of the thunderstorms. He didn’t like riding the back of Jason’s SUV, but we made it home safely.
Saturday, September 20
I have continued to stay connected to my life in the states in a variety of way. I joined my CoDA meeting on Zoom and enjoyed the recovery talk and my friends.
Then I spent a lot of the afternoon setting up our new HP printer. It seemed connected; the app on my desktop said it was ready but my desktop computer and laptop didn’t recognize the printer. I researched and researched, trying all the suggestions.
Finally, Lin came in and asked me if I needed our NordVPN (Virtual Private Network), so he tried to print off his laptop that the VPN turned on. Guess what? It worked. So I loaded NordVPN on my desktop and laptop and it worked! OMG! That simple!
Sunday, September 21
I attended my church, Hope in the Desert Episcopal Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico via Facebook Livestream. Then it was a wrestling match to get Lin’s football team, the Philadelphia Eagles’ game on Dazn.com, but we did and it worked wonderfully on our TV. So, I thought I was all set to watch my Denver Broncos’ game right after the Eagles’ game. Last week, I bought one week on Dazn.com, but that subscription was still viable for Lin’s Eagles game, but not my Broncos’ game. So, I purchased a monthly subscription to Dazn.com so I could watch it, and I did. Sad ending again this week!
Lin watching the Eagles’ game
Finally,
So, VPN has to be “On” to use our FireStick on the TV to get the American programs we enjoy. Our computers have to have the VPN “On” to print, but to get our NFL games on Dazn.com, it has to be turned “Off!” OMG! What a mishmash!
In the midst of this week, I have been laying out my second book in the five-book poetry series, Time Measured Out! If you would be interested in joining my ARC team for this book, email me at larada@laradasbooks.com and you will receive a FREE .pdf to read ahead of publishing. In exchange for this FREE book, I ask that you write a blurb that I will add to the front of the book and also a review on Amazon and/or Goodreads.
What an amazing adventure we are having as we transition from our traditional life in the states to our life here in Panama!
We went from sick to furnished this week! Amazing what a week will do—the first part recovering and the last filling our house of furniture!
Monday, September 8
John, our dear neighbor, took us to the clinic and we saw a doctor immediately. We both had a flu that was going around. The prescription: a shot in our butts for three days! I had a sinus infection too. So that day went by in a fog because of still being sick.
Tuesday, September 9
Once again, John took us to the clinic for our shots. It burned! Low energy for sure! That night, I blew my nose really hard and something in my ear popped. Then it really hurt! I was afraid I burst an ear drum.
Wednesday, September 10
Thankfully our last shot. She mixed three different bottles together! Afterwards, I talked to the doctor again, and she examined my ear. Yes, I had an ear infection but I didn’t burst the ear drum, thank God! She gave me antibiotics, so I knew I would be on the mend.
Because we were feeling somewhat better, we did go to David to shop more. First, we went to Conway’s which John says is similar to Target and bought households goods. We found a TV stand, kinda of retro looking. I found a computer desk I really liked —Lin liked it too, but they only had one, so we ordered one and kept shopping. For lunch, we stopped at TGIF’s restaurant and had a delicious lunch. Then we went to a lamp store and bought five lamps—one for the living room, two for our bedroom and one for each of our computer desk. After that, we went to another furniture store and found a great desk for Lin and a file cabinet on wheels for me—whew!
Thursday, September 11
This started the delivery part of the week for us of all the shopping we had done. First, my desk came in and our TV stand.
I had a brainstorm. When we were in the last furniture store, they had several desks connected for two people. It was one unit with two desks back-to-back. So, that gave me an idea! Instead of placing our desks along the wall, we put them back-to-back under the only window in the room. Lin can look out and see the back yard where he plans to put bird feeders. I can look out and see the common yard area of the compound we are in. It’s a win-win situation for both us, and we get to look at each other! Ah!
Our desks facing each other
Friday, September 12
We had two deliveries scheduled, so I wondered how they would happen—overlap? Problems with timing? No, one came earlier in the morning with Lin’s desk and my file cabinet. We did position our desks facing each other and love it.
Then the big delivery came a little later: our two rocker-recliners and loveseat for the living room, the kitchen table and chairs and our mattress. This house is small and all this furniture immediately filled it up. The recliners take up a good portion of the living room, but the rocker sold me on the recliner. We may have to renegotiate some extra space so we can move our TV down because the loveseat blocks it a little.
Our Kitchen Set
We chose wisely with the kitchen set—two sides are collapsible, so it fits nicely in a corner.
So, we had to improvise for a base for our queen-size mattress. We’ve been sleeping on twin beds, so Lin pushed them together and the delivery guys put the mattress on top with extra room on the twin bed frames. We plan to have our landlord’s friend make us a base for the mattress, but that will take time. Also, it gives me a step up onto the bed.
Our Queen-size MattressOur Queen-size Mattress
That evening we watched TV from our rocker-recliners, relaxed and enjoying the comfort. Since we got the TV, we had been watching from chairs to a outside table set—my body tired of it pretty quickly.
Saturday, September 13
I reestablished some of my regular routine by attending my CoDA (Codependence Anonymous) meeting via Zoom from Albuquerque, but I had a problem. Apparently because of the ear infection, my hearing hasn’t regained 100%, so I had trouble hearing different people speak. But it was great to see my friends!
Then John and I went grocery shopping at a couple stores in Boquete. It was a fun outing and I’m learning more and more about groceries here.
After my grocery shopping trip, that afternoon I connected on Zoom with three friends I knew in a church in Loveland, Colorado thirty+ years ago. We started this monthly tradition during the pandemic and have kept it up. Again, I so enjoyed seeing my friends and updating them on our health and experience. We also have a wonderful time of sharing our current life experiences, a little politics and what we are reading. Our God is center to our sharing.
During the evening, I shared pictures with two friends in Albuquerque that I had decorated the entry way with years ago at the Albuquerque Square Dance Center. The new board has plans to take the pictures down, and these two wanted the photos. Then I finally had time to work on my new book, Time Measured Out, which is book #2 in my Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry series. I have starting laying it out in Vellum, the app I use to format my books. For the rest of the evening we relaxed and kicked back and watched Notre Dame’s football game.
Sunday, September 14
Again, I used the internet and attended my church in Albuquerque at Hope in the Desert Episcopal Church on Facebook Livestream.
Then I got ready for the Denver Bronco game. But I tackled (no pun intended) a major task we had been avoiding for the time we’ve been here—doing the laundry. We were sick; it seemed daunting; the instruction was in Spanish. For me, today was the day! I worked on the washer, translating the Spanish instruction panel and figured it out. First load started.
Then I tackled (ha, ha) the dryer and figured it out much quicker than the washer. Yahooo! Two weeks of clothes done.
I continued a weekly Bronco season tradition—I texted my girlfriend in Albuquerque during the game who shares my passion for the Broncos. The Broncos’ game shocked me at the end! The Indy field goal kicker missed the goal—yahoo! I ran into the other room to tell Lin. While I was gone, the refs threw a penalty flag which moved the ball up and he made the second attempt! We lost!
Finally,
Sick to start the week, a mostly furnished house now and feeling better! I enjoyed lots of regular life events this weekend. So things are looking up!
I NEED YOUR HELP: My book, Coronavirus Reflections: Bitter or Better? has made it to the second round in the AllAuthors.com book contest. Please go and vote at https://allauthor.com/cover-of-the-month/19939/
