Which gadgets bring enjoyment to your day?

There’s much to be said these days about taking time away from the computer, the cell phone, the television…anything that tends to keep you inactive for too long, or which limits your ability to really be aware of your surroundings, or live in the moment of what’s actually going on around you.

Courtesy of Death to Stock photo

I’ve written before about the need to unplug in order to recharge – a funny sort of contradictory statement, but I think many these days would have to agree it’s a good thing to do every now and then.

But lately I’ve been having some fun, not with the normal sort of electronics that might cause an increase in pounds and therefore, tighter jeans, but instead other sorts of gadgets which should help do the opposite.

First, music has always been part of my day. I listen to it on my way to my day job, I listen to it while at the office and again on the drive home. I have specific tastes when it comes to music, but any playlist I put together will tend to have more upbeat songs and I generally care more about the beat than who is doing the singing. If I don’t find myself rocking back and forth, drumming my fingers or tapping my foot, I’m on to the next song. However, I don’t really enjoy upbeat songs where the artist is basically repeating themselves, with a few other words thrown in for good measure. And unless I’m in a particularly bad mood and just want the company of sadness, I tend to skip, or tune out, slow or sad songs; although they will win my favor if they actually have a good beat. In fact, I’m listening to a good one right now…The Other Side by David Gray.

I’ve been using a music app on my phone and I enjoy the large number of songs and types of music at my fingertips. My favorite gadget lately has not only been my cell phone and the music app, but also my new JBL portable speaker. It was a gift for Christmas and it’s one of my favorites. Although I’m still not able to listen to music while I work on my novels, I’ve found that I am able to blog, journal and free write while listening to music. I don’t know that I’ll ever be able to listen to music while working on a novel. It might sound odd, but I’m a bit tentative about using music when I write, as I don’t want the music to have any influence on any emotions on the page. What if a sad song comes on when I’m trying to write about something funny, or what if an upbeat song plays while I’m trying to write something serious? I also don’t want to be distracted by having to skip a song to find a song that might put me in the right “mood.” 

While the cell phone is often the enemy when you’re told to unplug, I’ve used it to focus less on negative social media and more on what helps keep me focused on my intentions. When I made my New Year’s intentions, I wanted to focus on writing, health, self-care, rest/relaxation and family/fun.  Music is fun, it can be relaxing, it can make you happy and it can make you move. 

Not so long ago, I almost gave up on the idea of using a smart phone. I thought I’d just stick with a basic phone and leave it at calls and texting. Now…I don’t think I’d ever want to give up my Android. I found another fun use for it, and that’s to keep tabs on another new gadget I’ve decided to try out: a Fitbit. While the Fitbit seems a bit bulky for my wrist, I’m enjoying this latest purchase a lot. When my New Year’s intentions included walking/moving more, drinking more water, sleeping better, being more mindful of what I eat, and making time for regular meditation/breathing exercises, this little gadget helps me keep tabs on all those intentions, plus some. When I’m writing, I can sit at my computer for hours…without realizing how much time has gone by and without realizing that the only part of my body that’s moved much are my fingers while I type and my eyelids when I blink (and my arm when I take a sip of my coffee). I enjoy the fact that my Fitbit reminds me every hour to get up and move so that I can reach my step count. It shows me how well, or how awful, I’ve been sleeping so that I can possibly begin to make some adjustments. I can easily keep track of my water intake. I like being able to see a comparison day to day on how active I’ve been, what goals I’ve reached and I’ve never been more aware of my heart rate in my whole life. It really is quite a fun little gadget.

I’m getting no kickbacks for talking about these devices I’m using. I just wanted to share because for me, the gadgets that bring enjoyment to my day also give me in return something that makes me happy (music) and which focuses on something important (my health). Regardless of the fact that these items might need to use an outlet at some point, I can’t take away the benefits they provide to me. 

Now, if I only I can find a gadget that will help me write faster!

    

Confessions of a book addict

Hi, my name is Paula, and I’m addicted to books. Reading books, writing books, buying books… 

That doesn’t sound so bad, does it?

I was thinking back to my first love of books and I’m pretty certain it was during grade school when I was allowed to purchase them during the Scholastic book fair. I’d have a set amount to spend, and while I can’t recall what that was, the amount probably couldn’t purchase even one book today. I’d devour the little paper catalog, choosing a book, a poster, and whatever else might not put me over the maximum amount I was allowed. And when I finally received my purchase, it was like Christmas in July…or whatever month the book fair usually occurred.

My love of books since I was a kid has only grown and it might be called an obsession, but I’m sure there are others who have many more books than I do. Right? I’m sure there are. 

But it’s more than books, oh yes, I’m on the lookout for more than just new books to read…I have a watchful eye for new journals, scrapbooks or scrapbook paper, stickers, notebooks, note cards, you name it. Anything paper, I adore.

So the other day, I visited the bookstore with the intention of getting a coffee, but also with the secret hope that one of my favorite magazines was finally available at the store. This particular magazine is made for paper-lovers like me. It felt like I’d been waiting for months for the next issue. Well, actually, I had…as I believe the English edition of the magazine is only printed quarterly. Worse than that, it’s printed in Poland, so it takes longer to finally become available in U.S. stores, which is maddening when I can see the issue is available on the website. Why not just order it online? I wish, but shipping and handling would mean my cost would be more than three times the amount I pay when I buy it in the U.S. And I can’t justify paying $70 for a magazine.

Anyway, I checked the usual area where the magazine is usually waiting for me and…it wasn’t there. Disappointed, I moved away from the magazine rack to stand in line to order my coffee. I almost bought a cookie too, to pacify my mood, but I had to remind myself I’m trying to change my eating habits to include more healthy choices (the coffee doesn’t count – it’s the one vice I won’t give up).

After placing my order, I wandered around to look at some of the other magazines for sale and as I neared the area where I find some of my favorite Yoga magazines other than the one I subscribe to, there it was…THE magazine. 

Hiding in plain sight, but near the fashion and health magazines; not its usual location.

I felt like a kid in a candy store…or like the kid I used to be, gleefully receiving my next purchase chosen so thoughtfully from the Scholastic magazine. 

When life as an adult can feel so hectic, so overwhelming, and so…serious, it’s nice to have moments when something as simple as a book, or in this case, a magazine I’d so (im)patiently been waiting for, can give you a taste of that childish glee many have lost along the way to adulthood. 

Moments like these should be cherished for what they are – little moments of happiness to take pure pleasure in, especially if it brings out the kid in us.

Gimme a break…

When you hear the phrase, gimme a break, it may bring a few things to mind: the memory of an old sitcom, a television commercial about a candy bar, or that instant reaction you have when something just doesn’t go your way.

Or, maybe you just really need a break.

My response to that phrase is mostly the fourth option – you know what I mean? When you feel as if you need a time out - for a whole day or even a whole week - so you can just figure out how to get caught up on everything?

I wrote, recently, about staying focused when it comes to finding a way to reach our goals.  Specifically for me, the goals I’m usually writing about involve…well, writing and my continued journey as a published author. And I also recently wrote about what I did to help myself when it comes to writing so that I can do better about staying on task weekly, monthly and even yearly. But when it comes to other areas in my life: work, home, family, when I can go on vacation again, those too involve goals that require some focus so I don’t get lost in the sea of to-do lists.

But how do we find the time, energy and ability to focus well in all areas and also reach specific goals when it comes to each area?

That is the question of the day.

My focus for the past few months has had to continuously shift from many important areas: the needs of my high school senior who will soon graduate before moving on to college; the needs of a family member who I am assisting as she battles a life-threatening illness; and the demands of a job where hands on deck have been slim and duties far outweigh the available hours in the day. This is in addition to keeping up with a writing schedule, taking care of my family, the house and myself; while making day-to-day decisions we always hope will keep us healthy, wealthy and wise. 

Time management has been an on-going issue ever since I took on a full time job right about the time I also first became a published author, and I will always try to learn new tricks and tips that might offer some benefits. Even going back to some old posts I wrote myself has been helpful…and in reviewing those about time management I came across this one about being productive versus just being busy. Part of that post involved ideas on how to stay on task, including making lists to stay on track. Anyone who knows me knows I love to make lists.  So what I decided to do was to use that idea to begin making lists of the “have to’s” and “want to’s” in my daily life, involving, writing, health, home, and family. Oddly enough, the lists aren’t huge. Some items are obvious and easily managed on a daily basis out of routine while others I could easily accomplish after a little more time in order to form a habit.

However, one list in particular has really grown…and that would be my projects under a “want to” list. 

When I wrote recently about decluttering, I started out with the intention of cleaning each room and removing/getting rid of items I no longer need or want.  But since I started the process, the act has brought on a revelation for me that I’m sure I knew, but just never really saw until I made “the list.” And it was pretty much a ‘gimme a break’ moment. The revelation is that I have so many unfinished projects, with some that began many years ago and I may have kept up with them for quite some time, but I haven’t been able to find the time to stay on course or actually complete them.  Examples include: a scrapbook from our last road trip, organizing photos for the past four years, finishing a quilt out of completed cross stitched patterns, painting a few more ceramic houses to add to my Christmas village, completing a scrapbook for my writing projects and so on, and so on. 

Actually, I could find the time to complete one or two projects, but when there are too many to choose from, it becomes much more difficult to choose wisely from the list while finding time out of the few precious moments of every day. 

This is where my need for a break came in…but taking a day off from life won’t help me shrink that project list without causing me anxiety in other areas of my life, especially since it’ll take more than a day or two. My next task is to narrow down that project list to what I really want to complete, and what I can actually do without completing. Then I’ll pick a project based on its importance, begin from there, and once I finish with one, I’ll move on to the next. Some may take only a day or two while others may take a few weeks since items on my “have to” and other “want to” lists will always come first. 

While this project of putting together a task list to complete these projects wouldn’t be called taking a break, it will eventually give me more time to manage what’s important if I’m able to prioritize tasks, make sense of what’s essential, and recognize what can wait, or what doesn’t need to be done at all.  

The result of this project as a whole should give me the ultimate prize…some extra time to take more breaks and eventually I’ll also be clearing the clutter.  

I hope you also find some extra time to call your own – have a great week!

Summer Projects Underway!

We’re about half way through the month of July and also about half way through summer and it’s definitely been a busy one so far.  Of course, it’s not hard to keep busy because there’s always something to do.  Right now my time is divided between work, gardening and writing, spending time with family…and relaxing or playing in the sun.  

Misty - enjoys hanging out with me when I work in the gardens

I’m still going through revisions on Ties that Bind before I finally hand it off to the editor for review and I really can’t wait until this book is published.  It’ll be the third book in the series and I’m looking forward to the feedback I’ll receive from those who have been following the series from the beginning.  Personally, I know I’m growing as a writer and I believe each book will continue to be better than the last.  I’m already putting together ideas for the fourth book and I can’t wait to begin working on it once the third book is published.

But before that, I’m working on my new short story I hope to also have published before the end of the year.  I joined Camp Nano so that I could commit myself to a certain word count for the month on this new story and while I believe I will reach my word count, I’ll admit it’s been difficult the past week or so to keep up a steady stream of creativity.  It wouldn’t be so difficult if we weren’t having the heat wave of the century here in the Pacific Northwest.  Okay, maybe not really of the century, but it’s hot and muggy…not really our type of weather (and I like it).  When it gets as hot as it’s been, which is about 10 to 15 degrees hotter than normal this time of year, it can be really difficult to make myself stay in place in front of the computer when I’d much rather be outdoors enjoying the weather or avoiding the heat wave my office can cause on its own.

 

But it’s okay.  I’ll get a good start on the short story and because I limited my word count to 25,000 for the month, I’m certain I’ll make my goal.  You may be wondering what this new short story is about…it’s not another ghost story.  At least, I don’t think it is.  Actually, there are some spiritual elements to the story, now that I think about it, but the main issues for the character involve two things.  First, how to deal with a difficult marriage after a tragic loss and second, how to deal with a phenomenon the character can’t quite explain.  The phenomenon involves an element which readers may or may not be tuned in to, and that would be numerology.  If you’ve never experienced the relationship between a number and a coinciding event, you might not understand the concept behind the story, but for those who have experienced the phenomenon involved with numerology (what’s your number?), you’ll possibly understand more about what the character is going through.  Either way, whether the reader believes in numerology or not, has experienced the phenomenon or not, I hope they will enjoy the story I’ve developed as they root for the character to find the truth behind the message before it’s too late.

That’s just a little teaser for you.  I really can’t explain the story any further until it’s ready for publishing.  I might end up jinxing myself and I’m a bit superstitious about talking too much about a story in the works.

Now I’m off to enjoy some more of the wonderful sunshine we’ve been getting.  And I will enjoy the day without guilt because even with the sun coaxing me outside more often, I’m still finding time to revise and add to my word count so that my summer projects will continue to move even closer to completion.  However, while I do enjoy the fun summer brings, I look forward to what the next season holds when my projects move into the next phase and even closer to the hands of readers.       

Until next time, have a terrific day and a great week!

The Crazy Organizational Fiend in Me

June is just about over…just one more day and then we’re moving on into July, where I’ll be busy with a new writing project along with the time I’ll need to continue with revisions on the third novel in my mystery series and also to complete my Series Bible to help me stay on task when I begin the fourth book in the series this winter.

There’s something about preparing for a new project that makes me want to remove the clutter around me.  If I don’t, it will constantly distract me and remind me of the other stuff I need to take care of when I’m not writing.  It’s a distraction I can do without so for the past few weeks, I’ve been very focused on organizing the clutter.

Or hiding it, whatever works best in the moment.

Overall, I’m happy with the progress I’ve made the past few weeks…

I updated my scrapbook so that I don’t have to look at the pile of memorabilia any longer, and I’ll try to keep up with it as new memorabilia needs to be added to the book;

I organized all my scrapbook material so that those items now have a proper home and are no longer piled on my bedroom floor;

I’ve done my best to work around the rainy weather we’ve been having lately so that my gardens are looking nice and only need a little TLC every couple of days to keep the weeds away;

I tracked down items in various rooms that are taking up space but that don’t really have a purpose or that I’m tired of looking at and I’ve put them away to either donate or make use of in some other way;

I finally went through the large stack of school paperwork my son dumped on my desk and I found some good stuff to add to his high school portfolio; and

I even cleaned out the “school drawer” – this is a large drawer in my roll top desk that was completely overflowing with pens, pencils, paper, notebooks, glue, erasers and rulers.  You know, all those school items you tend to buy every year while forgetting how many you had purchased and was still unused from the year before.  I’m now fairly certain we won’t need many, if any, supplies for this next year.

But the biggest task I took on to get organized was my office…I had to do something that I’ve been putting off for quite awhile now.  My writing books and notebooks and other material has been sharing space with all my investigative books and notebooks and other material and I finally realized, I need to let the writing side of my life take over where my office is concerned.  I’ll still use some of the investigative books and other material but a lot of it is outdated or can be stored away or even thrown away altogether.  To be honest, it was a difficult task since I’m shedding what has been an important part of my life for so long.  But as I continue to work on my books, I need to have in my writing space what will keep me focused and inspired. 

Now that I’ve just about organized most of the clutter around me, there is nothing to distract me from the upcoming writing project I’ll tackle during the month of July at Camp NaNo (more on that later), while I also finish with revisions on Ties that Bind.   

Okay, I know there will still be a distraction or two (July 4^th is coming up!), but at least it’s a start!

When will there ever be enough time in the day?

I took part in a speaking/book event recently at a local retirement center and, as always, I thoroughly enjoyed myself.  I had such a good time that by the time my time was up, I felt like I’d only been speaking to the guests for no more than a half hour when it had been closer to an hour and a half.  Speaking engagements still make me nervous but I’m glad to say the fun I have during these types of events has begun to overshadow the fear of speaking in public.  My high school speech teacher would be so proud, even if it has taken a few decades to finally reduce my fear of public speaking.

Anyway, during the event one of the guests asked me how I find the time to write if I also have a day job.

That’s certainly a good question.

Since the day job takes up SO many hours of my week, I could easily find the time to write if I let the laundry pile up, refused to clean and vacuum, never bothered to garden, ignored my kids completely and became a complete recluse in my office at home when I wasn’t in my office at my day job.

But I’m no Emily Dickinson…

And while I do hope to call writing my full-time career some day, I can’t allow the regular side of life to linger and wait for me until I decide I’ve finally reached my goals as a writer.

So, the laundry will get the attention it deserves, because I certainly can’t afford to buy new clothes just to avoid cleaning the dirty ones;

The house will continue to receive routine cleanings while at the same time, be well-lived in.  For anyone who doesn’t like kids or dogs, they shouldn’t expect an immaculate home because I’ll never have time for that;

As long as I have the space available to me, gardening will be my hobby of choice during the summer because it’s one of those physical tasks that lets my mind wander and as a writer, that’s a wonderful thing to make time for; and

I’ll always make time for my kids, and my husband, period.  No explanation needed.  It’s just the way it will always be.

So with the job and all the other stuff life brings, where do I find the time to write?  Some days, there really aren’t enough hours in the day but I find them when I can and so far, as I am now completing my third novel in three years, I think I’m doing pretty well at finding the extra time to write.  There will come a day when I’ll have more time to write but we work with what we have and for now, I’m good with that.

Just Hanging out

This is such a strange time for me, this in-between stage.   I’m in between the completion of one book before I start writing another.  I’m still thinking about my characters as they were but also planning ahead to what they will be doing. 

As much as I want to continue from where the story left off, I just can’t quite get serious about writing again - even though I really want to. 

But it’ll only be a short break while I wait to review the proof of Best Kept Secrets and then I really need to focus on some marketing for the second book before I bury myself in writing the third.  While I wait for the proof to arrive, which may be next week since this is a holiday weekend, I have no other choice but to find other things to do. 

So I’m just hanging out.
 

Even though I said I needed to learn to relax more often, it’s still a strange feeling when I take on the task of just staying put.  After dinner this evening, I was sitting in my favorite comfortable chair, a blanket over my lap and my legs curled up under me as I watched one of my favorite shows, Project Runway.  Unless it has to do with cross stitch or embroidery, I hate sewing and I’m admittedly not into fashion much but for some reason I like this show.  I think it’s fun to watch what the contestants can create when they are given such unique projects with such a limited amount of time. 

Anyway, I haven’t spent regular time in front of the television lately so I shouldn’t have been surprised when my husband teased me from the other room as he asked, “Are you really just sitting there doing nothing?” 

Yeah, incredibly enough, I was just relaxing.  I wasn’t also writing, cross stitching, reading a book, paying bills, organizing paperwork, journaling or anything else I might normally do while I watch television.  Instead, I was just watching television. 

What a concept.

Okay, I’ll admit, I did end up making some chocolate chip cookies while I watched my show but my son made the cookie dough for me…I only had to bake them.  And eat them.  While watching my show.

Still, making cookies and watching television – not something I’ve done a lot of lately.  It’s kind of nice and I’ll take advantage of the free time during the weekend and into next week until I focus completely on reviewing the proof my book.  I’m taking a long weekend for the holiday weekend and while I will hang out and relax during some of the weekend, I’ll probably also use the time to get other projects done so I can focus on writing again without any to-do-list distractions.  What are your plans for the long weekend?  Whatever they are, I hope they are productive, relaxing or just plain fun!

 

Why I think about Halloween in August

Summer, as our kids know it, is just about over.  For some, I guess school has already begun but for us it doesn’t begin until two days after the holiday.  That leaves…let me check the calendar…twelve days left before my youngest has to move on to a more rigid schedule.  Oh yes, he is very excited.

If you believe that, I have a couple hundred books I’d like to sell you.

Every summer about this time I think back on the months behind us and I know it’s been a good summer if I’m satisfied with how much time we actually spent doing what we said we’d do. 

Am I pleased with how our summer went?

Yes, I am very pleased.

Something else that happens to me during this time of year is the inability to ignore a longing for the next season to come.  I don’t want summer to end, really I don’t, but for a month now I’ve tried my best to overlook the onslaught of holiday trinkets and things literally surrounding all the school supplies at the box stores or bulging off the racks at the local craft stores.  Christmas I enjoy, because it’s a fun time of year and all about family, but the months I really enjoy decorating for are the fall season as a whole and Halloween.  And there are lots and lots of fall and Halloween decorations out there.

Check out these little framed stickers I couldn’t pass up…

 

That’s a pencil underneath the frames to show you how small they are.  I do scrapbook but I didn’t buy them for any scrapbook or handmade card.  Instead, I immediately thought they’d make great decorations for my doll house around Halloween.  If you don’t know about my fascination with miniatures, check out this post here. 

The arrival of the school year and the glitz and glamour of new holiday items aren’t the only reason I look forward to the fall season and holiday beginnings.  I also very much enjoy the weather during the change in seasons.  I love the beautiful days we’re having which begin with a chill and which let you sleep easier with a much cooler evening breeze.  We get to enjoy our yard more because we’re working in it less.  The lawn doesn’t need to be mowed as often and the garden is winding down (except for the pumpkins and mine are doing awesome this year!).  The leaves are beginning to change colors and I always look forward to the beautiful photos I can take as the trees show off their glory before shedding their weight for the winter. 

In fact, the leaves are already falling.  Sad, but true.  As I was writing this evening, I kept hearing a noise.  A snap, a crackle…but I wasn’t quite sure from where.  I became certain it must be the deer, using the arrival of dusk to mask their entrance onto our property from the woods and into the yard.  At least three times I stood up to glance out my office window, hoping to catch them either at my rose garden or out by the plum trees. 

But there wasn’t a deer in sight.

Finally, when I heard the snap and crackle again, I glanced towards the maple tree outside and wouldn’t you know it?  The noise I heard were leaves hitting other leaves as they were falling down the length of the tree.  Very soon, we’ll be hearing other noises as the little helicopters fall from the maple trees.  You know what I’m talking about?  The seeds with wings?  They spin continuously as they fall to the ground and are actually fun to watch.  But eventually we have hundreds of them all over the place along with all the leaves.  Oh well, what does fall mean if it’s not for falling leaves?

Speaking of the deer, they are back for more snacks.  I just heard one of them snort outside and I can hear them chewing on the pits of the plums as they eat them.  It’s too dark now to see them though.  They are smart like that.  And pretty much why they eventually get their way.

While I am looking forward to the change in seasons and the holidays to come, I still plan to enjoy what we have left of our summer.  But unlike my son, my summer won’t end just because school starts.  It will end when Mother Nature finally decides it’s time to change her mood.

 

What I would do if I took Summer Break

Sometimes I wish I was a teacher.  Not because I love to teach…I’m more of a nonstop learner.  Not because I completely enjoy being around other people’s children…I adore my own but really can’t imagine entertaining twenty little ones every single day.  And not because of the pay…I’m sure most would agree teachers don’t earn enough for what they do.

So why would I want to be a teacher? 

Summer break, of course! 

Summer break is just two days away for my youngest…and I’m a tad bit jealous.  I remember looking forward to summer break when I was a kid…or a teen, really.  We’d go to the lake just about every single day.  We would swim and ski for hours and the time in the water only increased our appetites, making the homemade fried chicken taste that much better.  Now, as an adult, I have to say my dad was a trooper because he went to work in the woods as a logger every single day and I never heard him mutter a single syllable about how we got to play in the water all day while he slaved away in the hot sun.

Summer as a kid is a treasure but then…you have to grow up.  You graduate, get a job, go to college, get another job, find a mate, get married, have kids, buy a house (but not necessarily in that order)…and eventually, the memory of summer break just fades away.  You remember a time when you had all the time in the world but it’s just a distant memory as you scramble to get out of the house in the mornings so you can get your kids to school before you race to work with only minutes to spare.

But when your own kids are on summer break…those memories of summer freedom come back. The yearning takes hold.  I’m not as much of a trooper as my dad was because now that I’m no longer working for myself, I yearn for the summers when I could set my schedule around my summer plans and spending time with my boys.

If I were able to take summer break, it’s not difficult for me to choose what I would do.  I’d spend more time with my husband and my boys...more time with family, period.  I’d work in my garden religiously and enjoy every single piece of fruit, vegetable and herb with pure delight.  I’d plan more road trips or mini vacations (or maybe a big vacation!) and try to visit with friends or family who live a distance away.  I’d try to get caught up on my journaling and scrapbooking.  Maybe keep the house clean(er).  Read more, sleep more, laugh more and stress less.  And to my heart’s content, I would write, write, write!    

Of course, I can do all those things even if I don’t take the summer off but it isn’t an easy task to do everything.  It just takes more effort, planning and perfectly managing my time (not an easy task these days).  So how can I accomplish most, if not all, of what I would expect to do if I were able to take summer break? 

Simple.  I will take advantage of every moment not held captive by the office job and pretend they are what the summer is made of.  Whether they are enjoyed as a whole or in bits and pieces, savoring the moments and making them count is what a great summer (and life) is all about.    

 

Books: An escape for Adults; an Adventure for Kids

If someone were to ask you the types of books you read as a kid, could you remember?  Generally, you probably could…but could you remember the exact titles of some of your favorites or which books you held dear because they were a special gift?

For those of us who might not remember that far back, here’s where a little thing called keepsakes comes into play.  While I am not a hoarder, I will admit to being somewhat of a packrat but I have a better title for what I am…I am a collector of memories.  I keep anything and everything that will generate some sort of memory for me, good or bad.  It’s probably one of the reasons I got into scrapbooking. 

So the other night I was going through some old keepsakes and I found a bunch of books I kept from when I was a kid.  I won’t deny it made me extremely nostalgic.  Not just for how exciting it was to be a young reader always on the lookout for a new and exciting story but also for the days when I used to read books to my boys when they were small children.  Books are a wonderful escape as an adult.  For children, books are not an escape so much as they are an adventure.  Children get lost in the story because of the wonder and the possibilities and just because the story excites them and makes them feel good.  

Some books are simple, such as these hard bound books I had when I was a very young reader…

Other books are for beginning readers but offer fun as well, such as Peggy & Me, which let me turn the pages to dress both girls in the book differently.  Or my Lolly Elephant book which, if you could actually feel through the computer, you’d discover Lolly is covered with a soft, fuzzy material. 

 

 



At one point, I moved on to Disney stories and a favorite of mine included read-along books with records.  I even had two 45’s!

 

 

 

 

Eventually, I moved up from read-along records to actual paperbacks of some of my favorite Disney stories…

 

Except Run Wild, I don't believe that's Disney.  I even remember when I was really into animals – well, I’m always into animals but there was a time when I adored books about animals and these are a few favorites I kept:

 

Another change in my reading habits began when I loved comics and one I got a kick out of was Spy vs. Spy.  Think of Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner…but not as cute and a bit more devilish.

Of course, my first favorite series was Little House on the Prairie, before I moved on to the Nancy Drew mysteries. 

It wasn’t long before I realized that mysteries were my favorite.  I have no doubt my early interests in mysteries led to my later interests in investigating and now my interest in writing mysteries.

These are just some of the books I grew up with.  It may be hard to believe I still have them after all this time but really, if you know me even a little, you know it’s not very hard to believe at all.  These books are very important to me.  Not only are they a part of my past and how I became an avid reader at such an early age, but they are also a part of my future as the love I found for books back then has only continued to increase as I grow older. 

How about you?  Are you a collector of memories?  Do you still have books from when you were a kid and if so, what types of books hold the fondest memories for you?

 

What keeps the Imagination Fit

When it comes to the imagination, I believe it needs continuous feeding…to keep it fit and free from lack of use.  There are many ways to keep the imagination fit:  reading, writing, puzzles, drawing, painting…take your pick from these or the many other ways you can choose to use your imagination.

While there are many ways I keep my imagination fit, one of the ways I feed my imagination is with writing prompts.  As I began to add to my collection of writing books, I found a book titled “A Writer’s Book of Days” by Judy Reeves.  It has become one of my favorite books when it comes to a mix of sound advice, useful information, great quotes, quirky tidbits about the writing life of authors, as well as writing prompts for every day of the year.

The writing prompts are an odd mix.  As you can imagine, 365 ideas to write about might be a very long list to come up with.  But they are an odd enough mix so as to make your imagination work hard at coming up with ideas when each one is so different from the other.

To give you an idea, here is one example:

Prompt:  “A summer garden”

I came up with: 

A summer garden with dew lightly covering petals and leaves.  Bees, dragonflies and butterflies touch, taste and linger.  The sun rises and tantalizes all it touches with soft warm rays of light.  As the sun rises to its peak, the sunflowers cheerfully follow from their place in the summer garden.  A kitten stretches out on a garden bench, enjoying the warmth of the afternoon sun.  As the day passes slowly and the light begins to fade away, the ground cools, the garden sleeps and soon the summer garden is ready for a brand new day.

Here’s another…

Prompt:  “Nearing midnight”

The moon might be a sliver of light, offering very little comfort on a dark and foggy night.  Or the moon may be full, the evening free from shadows except those cast by the moonlight.  It is a time of quiet as we settle in for the night; it is a time of discovery for the critters who feel safer in the dark.  Nearing midnight we look forward to a brand new day.  Maybe better, maybe brighter, but a new start nonetheless.  As midnight draws near, we may look back at the results of the day behind us and hope to have few, if any, regrets.  Nearing midnight we say goodbye to one day and hello to the next, as to witness the beginning of another new day we can only feel blessed.

What do you think?  Don’t you agree how writing prompts about various subjects can only do good things when it comes to keeping your imagination fit?  Try it yourself…choose a random topic, write freely and see what you come up with.  Here are a few off the top of my head:

What if we had a memory like an elephant?

What is the most vivid dream you can remember?

If you had to trade places with any animal…which would you choose?

What if an alien landed in your back yard and asked you to take him on a road trip?

Hmm, all of those prompts have me thinking…now I have something to feed my imagination as I think of my own answers while I take care of routine chores for the evening.  While I fold laundry this evening, I will especially enjoy coming up with ideas on what kind of road trip I might actually take an alien on.

Think hard, play hard and enjoy your week!

“Resting” is not Required to Recharge

Unbelievably, it’s already the end of April and there are less than two months before the kids are out of school for the summer.  It just amazes me how quickly time can fly by.  Summer is still two months away, which will be here before we know it, but the little sneak peak of summer we’ve had the past few days has done nothing but make me wish that the enjoyable, warm summer days might come sooner rather than later. 

The way time does pass by, I know I’ll get my wish soon enough.  I just have to remember to look up every so often so I don’t miss it.  It’s easy enough to forget to take a breather when my focus is largely on what needs to be accomplished to reach my goals for the future.  I’ve been so busy lately with work, with writing, with my family and all the busyness that family life brings and very recently, I’ve started a new project which will offer a great opportunity for me in my profession as an investigator.  So much to do with seemingly so little time but yet, there are those days when I have to remind myself that not everything has to be accomplished today; there is, arguably, always tomorrow should I decide to just rest today. 

Problem is I have to remember to take a step back, take a deep breath, and know that it’s okay to just relax.  Now, if you really know me, you know my idea of relaxing is not quite the same as what that term means:  to spend time resting.  I’m not very good at just resting.  I’ll always find something to do.  It’s just the way I am and I really can’t apologize for it.

Even though I may not completely relax in order to regroup, refocus and recharge, I do find a way to accomplish those tasks in my own way.  Writing is one way I relax.  So is gardening.  I love to read a good book.  Or spend time with my family.  My dogs are a great distraction and I look forward to the summer months when I can watch them play in the creek.  I am hopelessly into scrapbooking for the sake of keeping organized books for all my memories.  I enjoy road trips.  I also really enjoy taking photographs.  I keep my camera with me every day just in case a photo opportunity comes my way.  You can see things so much differently through a lens and it helps to take note of the details around you. 

If I am able to relax in my own way, I accomplish so much when I’m able to take the time to focus on the details whether I’m taking photographs, putting together a new page in a scrapbook, enjoying time with my family during an outing or even pulling weeds in my garden.  Even as I focus on the details while I enjoy each distraction, it somehow opens the floodgates of my imagination so that I begin to think of new ideas for my books or my characters.  I am then rewarded with the energy I need to regroup, refocus and recharge so that I am able to put so much more into my daily writing and professional goals.   

Of course, the trick is remembering when to work and when to relax…but I'm working on it!

Bird Watching

Bird watching you!

While I enjoy all wildlife, birds are my favorite.  From the smallest hummingbird to the largest Eagle, I am always on the lookout for them and I love to see all the new and returning birds who visit my gardens and bird feeders.  Whether it’s from my front or back yard, while I hike in the woods or even while I drive, I enjoy the sight of any bird that may catch my eye.

Small birds are fun to watch and have great variations in size and color but my absolute favorites are hawks and even more so, owls.  We have owls who return every year and I hear them talking to each other just before and after dusk.  There are two screech owls and one barred, or hoot owl.  It never fails to make me laugh when I hear the screechers talk back and forth and in the middle of that, the hoot owl tries to worm in on their conversation, which falls short of any reply from the screechers.  It is true that the hoot owl sounds like he is singing out the question, “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?”  We’ve never seen the hoot owl but we’ve learned how to hoot at him and he thrills us by responding in return.  A few times the screechers have completely made my day by landing in a maple tree above me, and once on the roof of my shop, as I sit by my fire pit in the evening.  It is a rare sight indeed.  Most recently I had the extreme pleasure of spying a baby owl as it sat at the top of a fence post in our driveway.  I will admit I was in absolute awe.

Each time I get to see any owl, it is a real treat...even the one we accidentally ran over. 

Don’t worry, the story ends well.  Thankfully, the owl did not move as we drove over him because by the time we saw it, it would have been too late had the owl decided to fly.  I encouraged my husband to turn around so we could check on the pour thing and we were pleasantly surprised to see the owl alive and well and still standing in the exact same spot.  Why did he remain there?  Turned out he was standing on top of a mouse he did not want to lose.  He did not finally fly away until I exited the truck to check on him.  Of course, he took the mouse with him.

I also have a favorite hawk I usually spot on my way to or from work.  He is always at the same location above a certain freeway, sitting on a lamp post as he watches traffic go by underneath him.  If I don’t get to see him, I’m a bit disappointed but he doesn’t often disappoint me.  The other morning he offered something new: rather than just sitting on the post in his usual fashion, he impressed me as he sat with his feathers fanned out to his side, showing some of his size I would not get to see unless he was flying.  Whether he was trying to impress, or scare off, another bird or was preparing to fly, it was an added delight to my morning.

Eagles are also great to spot but are not often seen close to our house.  However, we have had a few sightings the past couple of months, with one of the first occurring towards the end of last year.   It was the middle of November, just after my great aunt passed away.  The very next day, in fact.  I was working from home when I saw the Eagle fly right over my front yard just as I happened to look out my home office window.  It’s hard to explain but as I grieved over the loss of my aunt, the sight of that majestic bird made me feel better.

The birds I can do without are the turkey vultures. **Attention:  please be advised this story may be distressing to some animal lovers.** While these scavengers are a necessary part of life, I’ve never liked them after they kidnapped one of my cats, Misty.  I’m not kidding.  She is a beautiful silver cat and I was devastated, not only for the fact that she was gone but for all the horrible thoughts that went through my head as I envisioned what she had gone through. 

However, things do not always end as you might expect. 

Believe it or not, three months went by before we finally found out what happened to Misty.  My husband had left the house to run an errand but he returned only a short time later.  I figured he forgot something but instead, he entered the house holding Misty in his arms.  I was dumbstruck.  In fact, I wasn’t sure I was seeing things correctly.  Maybe it was a cat that just looked like Misty.  But, no, it was her and she was pretty freaked out, to put it lightly.  I checked her over and other than a wound on her head that had not yet completely healed, she was pretty healthy.  My only thought was that she fought for her life, causing the awful-minded turkey vulture to drop her where she must have struck her head.  My husband found her as she was crossing our driveway so she was close by but apparently she had not yet figured out her way home. 

Ever heard of a cat with amnesia?  That was my favorite guess as to why she never made it back home on her own.

Ever heard of a cat with agoraphobia? 

I will say for a fact that Misty had agoraphobia.  She would not exit our house to go outside for a full six months after she was brought back home.  She would go to the door.  She would peer out the door when I opened it.  But after a few sniffs, she would quickly turn around and scramble back into the living room.  And when she finally did venture out?  It was to go out the front door, walk alongside the house under the eaves all the way around to the back door where she would immediately want back inside.  A few months after that, she was brave enough to go outside to the garden area but only if it was to hang out with me.  I’m happy to say she is now back to her old, ornery independent self, and she completely enjoys being outside. 

All the phobias are gone.

But you can bet, every time I see a group of turkey vultures pass over our property, I am checking to make sure I know exactly where my cats are napping.

Writing...Weather Permitting

It’s an odd time of year for me.  It’s this time of year when many of my favorite shows are ending or will soon end, leaving barely anything to watch on TV and the days are beginning to provide more sun, therefore offering more opportunities to play outside.   

I don’t let the television take time away from my writing and I am very thankful for the invention of the DVR so that I don’t have to worry about missing my shows.  I know they’ll be waiting for me when I have the time to view them.  But I have always enjoyed this time of year, when the shows wrap up and take a breather for the summer.  It means less time worrying about how to catch up on my shows and more time available to accomplish other tasks.  I was looking forward to how much more I could write, as this will be my first summer since I began writing my book.

But sunshine is a different factor.  You can’t put off the sun like you can a TV show.  Here in the Pacific Northwest, sun is a delight we do not get to enjoy as often or on our own terms.  When the sun decides to bedazzle us with its warmth and brilliance, especially on our days off from work, we forget what needs to be accomplished indoors for what we can accomplish outdoors, knowing the weather could change very easily over the course of a few days.

Sunshine a wonderful thing, as is the nice, warm weather it brings when you are beginning to wonder whether the rain will ever take some time off.  Today was a preview of the quandary I will soon face during the summer months when I will have to decide between staying inside to write and going outside to work in my garden.  Yesterday was cloudy and it sprinkled off and on all day so I was able to complete my chores around the house before spending most of the afternoon writing. 

I was very happy with the amount of writing I was able to complete.

I was on a roll and I thought I’d accomplish just as much today but…the sun came out to play.

And it was wonderful.

I enjoyed the afternoon in my garden and while I would like to have spent just as much time writing, the garden will not weed itself.  The garden plants will grow or the weeds will grow…I prefer my veggies, fruits and herbs to the weeds.  I especially like the plants that won’t give the weeds a chance to grow, like my rhubarb.

Working in the garden is truly therapeutic while I dig weeds from the soft dirt and add new plants to the old as I listen to the birds sing their songs above me.  I was thrilled to finally break free the table, umbrella and chairs from their winter storage so that I now have a place to sit by the garden while I sip my iced tea.  I especially enjoyed relaxing in a chair at the end of the day as I soaked in the sun and listened to nothing other than the whisper of the breeze, the slight rustle of leaves and the birds as they sang their melodies. 

While the summer months might offer more challenges on when to write and when to work outside, I’m sure I’ll find a happy medium.  One thing is certain; it is days like today that can only provide positive results when time spent outdoors proves to replenish your mind, body and soul.

How about you?  What do you do to re-energize and prepare for the coming week?  Do you ever feel you spend too much time on one task over another?  Or have you found a way to evenly spread yourself between what you need to do and what you want to do?

Simply Sunday

Truth be told, this weekend was not a good weekend for writing.  There was just too much going on…too much to do.  With company overnight both Friday and Saturday, plus yard work, limb cleanup and other paperwork that took priority, I wasn’t able to find any good blocks of time for editing or writing. 

What am I doing now, you ask?  Well, this doesn’t count and I won’t be here long enough to tackle working on my books.

I just wanted to write a simple note to say how simply wonderful a simple Sunday can be.

I enjoy staying home on Sundays.  I love to sleep in, make a big breakfast, drink a whole pot of coffee with my favorite creamer and then have the rest of the day to do whatever it is I feel like doing. 

Today the weather was beautiful so I spent most of the afternoon outdoors.  My time was spent playing around on the riding lawnmower, burning limbs and digging around in my raised beds to see what has already decided to start sprouting.

You may wonder how I view these tasks as simple or even enjoyable.

It’s easy, really, to enjoy sprucing up the yard.  It’s even more fun to start a bonfire.  And I am always in my own little world when I get to play around in my gardens. 

So, yes, this was a great way to spend my afternoon, as I also made quite a few discoveries…

Once I finally cut the grass, I saw little Easter lilies still in bloom at the edge of the yard.  I guess no one told them Easter was over but it was sure nice to see them.

And it was nice to see some daffodils still in bloom.  You might not be able to see it but there is a yellow spider hiding in the petals.  I’m afraid he was a bit camera shy.

In my gardens, I discovered that the Lemon Thyme was completely taking over one portion of the raised beds while my Rosemary and Lavender plants were doing what they could to stake out their claims in the garden.  I consider the Lemon Thyme more like my wild child, always pushing others around and taking control, but I absolutely love that plant.  There is nothing I like better than to rub my hands against the Lemon Thyme…it is such a wonderful smell.

I also found my rhubarb plants were thriving well and already pretty big.  While some eat rhubarb raw and it is also good as a sauce (on vanilla ice cream!), the best use for rhubarb is in a recipe my grandmother gave me for strawberry rhubarb cake.  It is, in my opinion, the most delicious cake you will ever smell or taste.

So while my afternoon involved what may sound like chores, those chores left me feeling accomplished and content.  It is an afternoon like this that reminds me how it really is the simple things in life that often bring fulfillment and joy.

If plants could speak, I believe they would have plenty to say to us but I think this quote by Eric Butterworth is perfect:

“Don’t go through life, grow through life.”

Simply put and well said, I’m sure it’s exactly what the lilies, daffodils, rhubarb and herbs were thinking.  Maybe even the spider too.