Paula B. Puckett

I use my cell phone for so much more than having conversations. 

The kids said, ” Mom, when you figure out how to use it, you’re gonna LOVE this phone.”

I won’t go so far as to say that, but I will admit to it having a few very useful functions.  

I use the camera as a visual note-taker. I keep it in my pocket when I go for walks in the woods and it’s like shorthand for writing.       

Way out in the back of the yard are some very interesting residents, pictured here, and while it is true that you can write about what you KNOW, you can also write to discover things you’d like to learn more about. 

These cars have their stories, too.  I just need to discover what that was, is, or will be. And after the research will come the writing to bring those stories to light.  

Happy creating!

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! 

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!

My local newspaper has a weekly section devoted to Things To Do for members of the community. Sometimes it’s a concert, or the mention of an exhibit at a local museum, college or something “downtown” on the historic square. 

I usually gravitate towards the activities which are free, instructional or open to the public. There’s so much free stuff out there to DO if you really look for it, and I find that people who are open to sharing what they know creatively open my eyes in unexpected ways. 

So I jumped at the chance to attend a workshop slash meeting to learn even more about one of my favorite instruments: the dulcimer. I have three–two are pictured here–along with a variety of other stringed instruments in my collection. Most of them I can actually play a little, but when the opportunity arose to attend a session with folks who actually DO play, well yes. I went. 

 I knew no one in the room when I got there. The group leaders gave us history, demonstrations and then encouraged us to “noodle around” on our own with the sheet music provided. 

Looking all around the room, I could see that no two instruments were alike. Likewise, the playing style(s) of individuals while on their own were different. So when we came together to play the song, we stayed together–mostly–to learn something new. As we return home we can use that new skill to create something unique. Oh, and now I have a few new friends.  

I couldn’t help but find a parallel to that in my writing too, so as I’m noodling around on this Work In Progress, I’ll do well to remember that it will be my style, my voice and my POV that will make my writing become alive. 

Happy Creating!

I’ve had plenty of opportunities to work on a great many projects, and some of them actually get completed! Here are a few examples: three handwoven scarves made from handspun yarns. One hand knit hat, also created from handspun yarn. 

 I’ll call it “research” for my current writing Work-in-Progress. I spun the yarns. I made the hat and scarves, too. 

I demonstrate hand spinning in public and talk about alpaca one day a week. Sometimes I’ll meet another fiber crafts person and we’ll talk about yarn. When I visit the Farmer’s Markets, I have a chance to purchase fruit or vegetables that we aren’t growing for ourselves. There is SO much to taste at a Farmer’s Market. The colors in the vendors’ booths are delicious, too!

It’s not that I procrastinate too much and don’t get anything accomplished. 

It’s just that there’s SO much that catches my creative eye, and I want to sample some of it all, you know?

Happy creating!