Raining, sunny, cold, hot and humid, that's been our spring. Luckily, I've made the best use of lots of my 'stuck indoors' time by reading. I'd rather be outside riding bike, gardening or shooting hoops with my daughter. But in the end, I'm happy to have finally found some time to tackle the stack of books I've acquired over the past several years. Some books I've come by at writing conferences, some came from family and friends and some are on loan from the Little Free Library boxes around … [Read more...] about Sizing Up
Fish Tails and Fish Tales
Working on a manuscript and story board about a head strong fish. I included a variety of characters for her to interact with. There are different fish tails and fish fins. Dots and stripes, big and small, sleek and strong are included in the mix. Fish That Don't Look Like Fish In a story about the main character eventually wondering where she fits in, why not include members of the fish family who also don't look like they fit in. After all, one is never usually alone in feeling … [Read more...] about Fish Tails and Fish Tales
Snowballs and Snowmen
When I was little, winter was all about snowballs and snowmen. Getting older, it's less about those playful times involving white fluffy stuff falling from the sky. Now it's more about shovels and road conditions. I know, not quite as romantic. Once in a while I have to think more artistically about this barren season. Taking pictures of frosted trees and sculpting or drawing snowmen can inspire that romantic view of winter again. On the most blustery days even curling up on the couch with a … [Read more...] about Snowballs and Snowmen
Uses For Baling Twine
Life on the farm not only takes creativity but also inspires it. You find unique and useful ways to make the most of all that is available to you. This was true of my father who acquired his farm through a rent with option to buy set up. He scrimped and scraped to make the dream of owning his own place a reality. It was also true of us children. We learned to use items in ways that were not always how they were intended to be used in order to keep the place running, as all the latest gizmos and … [Read more...] about Uses For Baling Twine
United In Story
Some days the world can seem so big. Occasionally we feel like we're biting off more than we can chew. Most of the time, to address these feelings, we simply need to take a deep breath and settle in to how we want to present our own story. We all have our own stories to tell. Sometimes it can be hard to find the best way to share them. And it's just as important to listen to the stories of others. I'd been feeling a little overwhelmed by some tasks in my life recently. To quiet my anxiety I … [Read more...] about United In Story