Monthly Archives: October 2015

October 25, 2015 · 8:41 pm

Road Trippin’

The colorful leaves called from the mountains, so of course, we had to go. Another road trip!

We ended up at a combined event– antiques AND tractors mixed with flea market finds as far as the eye could see. I. Was. So. Happy!

Even more so when I discovered this little find. It’s a Troll House with residents, and for a brief moment I became eight years old again. I used to have one just like this and learned how to make tiny stitches with needle and thread as I created costumes for my trolls using scraps of material from my grandmother’s sewing pile.

Rust is a favorite color and there were piles of things I could look through, almost like a game of I Spy.

And I found a lawn mower that could’ve shortened the time spent cutting the grass considerably.

But although the sights were fun and the smells of the foods was mouthwatering, what I enjoyed most were the unmistakable sounds

of an old “Hit or Miss” engine, and

the buzz of a chain saw, from an artist who was most definitely Happy Creating, too!

Where Are (All) The Ideas?

Ideas are all around if I take the time to look for them. They come from unexpected places sometimes.

And then sometimes, it might seem as though they’re nowhere to be found. Have you ever felt like that?

I’ve just finished reading a book that I’d like to recommend if you are finding you’re in a slump or just need something to propel you forward with your work-in-progress. The book is called “Big Magic” by Elizabeth Gilbert. One of the concepts in the book asks the reader to consider what happens if an Idea comes to visit. It wants to be friendly, to interact with the reader, and if someone is not able to accept it, that Idea will go away and visit with someone else. Quite possibly it feels as though it’s being ignored. That’s an interesting way to look at things, but to me, it explains quite a lot.

I’d like for you to meet Rosie. Rosie came to visit as the result of some chicken trading with one of our neighbors. The other chickens we have wouldn’t accept her, so we had to come up with separate living arrangements. However, Rosie seemed to want to go “walkabout” and every morning, she would meet me in the backyard somewhere, or wander through the pasture to the amusement of the alpaca. She has a three foot vertical leap. She can fly short distances too, which would not bode well for her should she drift or wander too close to the dog enclosure. Rosie is pictured here as she is figuring out how to travel from the top of her chicken coop, over the chicken wire, and out into the yard. She’s smart. I had to readjust that enclosure to keep her inside and safe.

Watching Rosie plants a seed in my imagination for a tiny aspect of something in my writing, because as chickens go, she’s got quite a personality, too.

I’ve just returned from a Southern Breeze SCBWI Writing for Kids Conference in which I carpooled with two of my writer buddies. On the dashboard of the car was this tiny figure, placed there by the driver’s son, as a token of love and remembrance.

A chicken. With personality.
And it’s really kinda cute, too!
What a wonderful thing it can be, for the Creative Universe to send me such a message.

And so today, I am working on character descriptions and plot outlines–putting pen to paper because that’s how the work gets done. Dear Rosie remains as a chicken, without human characteristics, but still, with the personality of a Very Interesting Chicken.

Everything I’ve learned and the inspiration I received at the conference will help to keep me going in a positive direction, too.

Wishing you creative travels on your journey.

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October 14, 2015 · 10:21 am

The Colors of Summer

I love October! Fall brings changes in colors of leaves. They are beginning to tumble around my feet as cooler breezes blow through the pastures.

I’d like to take one look back to the colors nature gave me before letting go of summer.

The zinnias were fairly easy to grow. I dug two short rows beside the green beans and cantelopes we planted out in Big Garden. They must have liked the company because once they started blooming, I had bouquets of colorful flowers in vivid color combinations. My visits to the garden aren’t providing as many vegetables as we had in the summer, but I’m hopeful for fresh flowers at least until the first frost.

What tasty treats these jellies will be! From left: pepper, mint, and “mock” strawberry jellies. The bell peppers and tomatoes (yes, tomatoes!) we grew in the Little Garden. The mint came from my herb garden. Just a couple of drops of green food coloring will help me tell the difference between the two at a glance. But don’t the colors look exciting? Yummy, too.

Happy Creating!

Contemplation

I wonder sometimes if I try to “overthink” things. If I was one to put a lot of trust in astrological readings, I’d most likely say it was because of my Sign. By nature, it says, I tend to be overly cautious.

Nah.

I just like to visualize and get the Big Picture. I like options. Choices.

And then sometimes, I prefer to just jump right in. Like this:

And get all dirty and mess about as I create something new. I do so with enthusiasm. I feel comfortable “writing by the seat of my pants,” and I enjoy a good splash in a muddy puddle as much as any kid.

And then I look for signs; I choose keep my Creative Heart open and receive both ideas and inspiration.

Happy creating, today and every day.

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October 1, 2015 · 5:54 pm

Rolling Up My Sleeves To Get To Work

Fall is in the air and along with this cooler weather come even more creative distractions. Festivals and celebrations abound, and with leaves changing colors in the higher elevations–you know when those mountains call, I feel as though I must go.

I. Am. Driven. To. Distraction.

To celebrate October and to rein my creative self IN, I am making myself a creative promise:

I will Write. I will Draw. I will Create. I will read and make music, attend writing conferences or take classes, and make an extra effort to keep my You-Know-What in this seat working on my current Work In Progress.

There are lots of writers, illustrators, agents and editors who have tips and tricks on how to work through some of the pitfalls of “procrastination,” and I’ve heard many of them speak to this at conferences.

Here’s what I know: I’ve gotta write my book. It won’t write itself. I’m the only one who can tell the story I want to tell. And I really REALLY want to tell this story!