Sunday, November 25, 2012

'TIS THE SEASON

   It's a few days after Thanksgiving, so it's the season, right. If you didn't happen to see my FB entry about our Thanksgiving, I'll post one more photo to show you how we transition and tradition from holiday to holiday. After bellies are stuffed and the table is cleared, we make wreaths.


Oops! Couldn't stop here. Have to post a few of the finished wreaths.


and....mine on my "new" old red door that I painted this summer (and the yellow porch ceiling!) As I posted these, I thought of my writing friends. Give us all the same prompt or set of words, and each story will turn out different than the other. All beautiful. All unique.
   Here's another wreath story. This is actually where I was going to start this blog, but  I'm not going to edit or delete the beginning, as I might when I'm writing fiction.
   I mentioned to my husband that I was going to take my clippers and walk down back to clip brush so I could make another wreath here at home. He kindly offered to drive me to the edge of the woods on his "Johnny" to gather the tips. Okay, so this is "Johnny" and I have to show him to you so you'll get the the full image.

He says, "Climb up on it like you would a horse."
Me-"I don't ride horses."  I figured he meant lift high because I have short legs. So I climbed high and sat on the seat. Wrong!
He- "No, get up there like a horse."
Me- You mean there!!!" 
I did...and picture this...Me, straddled on the hood (is that what you call the flat part on a tractor, in front of the steering wheel?) one leg hanging over each side, riding backward!!! Now, that's a picture book illustration, believe me. But there's my three kinds of brush-fir, pine and hemlock. And here's my undecorated (for now) wreath that replaced the twig wreath on our woodshed door. 

Besides this wreath, I have my picture book story for PiBoIdMo (picture book idea a day for the month of November). And this should be the end of my story for today, but the kitten is in the middle of everything and we think he's somewhat tamed the cat that likes no one. Sometimes they even play-sometimes, Grumpy hisses! But this is somewhat of a miracle
as was tonight's sunset...
So, those are my stories for this week. I hope your life is full of lovely tales.

Sunday, November 4, 2012

So Thankful




I feel in my heart that this needs to be a day of thanksgiving. It's been a stormy week. We've all felt some impact fromHurricane Sandy as she roared along the East coast, pounding out her fury, causing pain, destruction, outages and lost homes, but I'm thankful?!?!? You might think I say this a bit selfishly because we here in Maine were spared the brunt, but here's a little list of things that Sandy gave me to be thankful for- 



!. Hearing from friends that were in the direct path of the storm are safe. And you know what, most say that they're thankful! As the power is being turned on light by light, one (Tara lazar) is excited about doing laundry. Imagine! Others are excited about just going home. While others are pleased that they can offer what they have to their neighbors.
2. I never talk politics or about politicians on my blog, and I don't discuss who I might vote for. I don't slam, ridicule or make fun or disrespect any (sometimes I think things and want to shout out at someone else's blog) but I was so thankful to see Governor Christie and President Obama join forces to assess the damages and do what was right for the people of  NJ. 'nuff said

3. I'm thankful to be part of this community of children's writers. We have heart.  
Kate Messner  has a fund raiser going that has lots and lots of great items to bid on...the figures are going up by the minute. I've copied the list here, but please go over to there to find out all about the auction. Doesn't this lit look exciting!

1. Manuscript Critique with Caroline Abbey of Bloomsbury
30A  (I apparently like the number 30 and used it twice.) Release Day Launch Package for your YA/MG Book from InkSlinger PR
Now that you've read Kate's list of prizes, let me say that I'm thinking of you, praying for you, and thankful for all of you. Take care and stay strong.