Feb 17, 2012
Yup. I’ve gone and done it. I signed on to Pinterest.
You can find me here.
At first I resisted. It’s just another way of being distracted from other things like television and Angry Birds…
Until my facebook friends starting linking up. Every time they Pin, it posts. I was seeing some mighty cute pictures!
When I first saw Old Blue, as I’ve affectionately named the Cooper’s Hawk, I decided I wanted a way to track all the birds that come to my yard. That’s when I really got into Pinterest: I created my “Birds in the Yard” board.
And along the way, I discovered some other Board ideas: awesome crafts. Dream Home ideas. Recipes. Recipes! But my favorite board is my Writer’s Retreat: ideas for my dream writing center, whether a room addition, a weekend retreat, or a vacation. Any place that would get the Muse dancing.
Needless to say, I’m hooked. Err, Pinned.
And very excited. And you, my beloved blog readers, get a special treat. The wagon-garden pictured here is now on Pinterest. I hope it inspires many, many gardeners and yard decorators. My beautiful sister in law did this to add color to their yard. It’s even more lovely in person. She’s so creative that way! So I asked her permission to “Pin” it, and she agreed. She’s nice that way!
Beautiful, isn’t it?
Are you on Pinterest? What Boards are you especially proud of?
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Feb 17, 2012
New Inklings Press is the name of my new company. My new company. My. Company.
wow.
I have a business license. A bank account. A binder to keep every bit of important paperwork. My website will be up and running within a few days. And today the local newspaper is running my Fictitious Business Name.
How. Awesome. Is. That?
I am now licensed to publish, edit, write; and get paid for it. Of course, these business steps didn’t enable me to be able to do so. I’ve been doing those things (minus the actual publishing) for quite some time now.
But it has given me a push.
A great direction.
A stinking huge neon sign that screams
YOU ASKED FOR IT. YOU GOT IT!!
Since I lost my job last July, I’ve been… well… let’s just say I don’t beautify myself like I used to. But all that changed when I filed for my business license.
Now I have a public purpose again. I have a reason to wear my red blouse and make-up. And it feels good getting Dolled up. It reminds me that I’m worth Dolling up for. Even if there wasn’t a company. Even if there wasn’t a Cookbook or Devotional Study or Poetry.
I’m worth the nail polish. I’m worth the coffee. I’m worth every ounce of effort that I pour into typing each day, reading each night, and observing every tiny detail I can.
A year ago I didn’t have a blog. Now I have a blog. A writing partner. A writing group. A company. A host of ideas. A website. A business.
I chose the name New Inklings Press to give homage to that great writer, C.S. Lewis. In the 1950s, he and J.R.R. Tolkien were part of a writing group called the Inklings. They used to meet in a booth in an old English pub. Since Megan and I do our best collaborating over a Denny’s lunch or Starbuck’s, I floated the idea of calling ourselves The New Inklings. She loved it!
It suits us. She loves Lord of the Rings the way I love Narnia. And we work well together. Their writings carry a Christian theme. So do ours.
Having the company gives me permission to keep doing what I love doing: Write.
And I have more on that subject, but you’ll have to wait til tomorrow. For now, I have a story to tell.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Feb 16, 2012
You remember that snowstorm I’ve been waiting for, for a few months? The one that was supposed to hit by Christmas? And again in January? But somehow managed to do nothing except spread lovely rumors of winter white?
Guess what…
We got snow!
There had been much talk about inclement weather for days now, but nobody really believed anything would happen. Several times this winter, any forecast of snow came and went without so much as two flakes. So knowing what the “experts” were calling for didn’t really make it, well, real.
I checked Weather.com, Weatherbug.com, accuweather.com, noaa.gov, and the local news channels. Every one had a different story. Snow in the mountains. Local rains. Lots of wind. Maybe snow. Maybe no rains. Lots of wind.
So when they said “snow”, I really envisioned . . . nothing different.
But, as it turned out, not only do we have snow, but it started about six hours earlier than anyone predicted. Yesterday morning the prediction was for a “dusting”. Last night, the snow level forecast dropped and the prediction became “up to an inch” [Hey, it’s the desert, okay?! An inch of snow is pretty nifty out here!!]. By this morning, one of the forecasts predicted an even lower snow level, and one to three inches possible. But it wasn’t supposed to start until this evening.
At noon, we saw the clouds blow in. And when I say blow, I mean blow.
Like Winnie The Pooh and the Blustery Day blow.
Even in winter, it’s unusual for our skies to turn dark. But darken they did, and quickly. The winds came up rapidly and I made plans to run my errands sooner rather than later. After five friends’ Facebook statuses (say that five times fast, I dare you!), made mention of snow within three minutes of each other, I knew it was time to head out.
I called my mom to let her know I would be out and about, would she like me to run errands for her too? (Awww, I know. I’m a good kid.) We talked about the impending storm and as soon as we hung up, I noticed the first white flake. I called her back. “I’m leaving now,” I decided. It took me less than five minutes to change into a warm sweatshirt and pull on some wooly socks and my shoes. As soon as I backed the car out of the garage, I took the picture you first see up above. From dry ground to this in five minutes. Now that’s a speed record!
I ran errands, picked up Dot from school (no driving lessons today, sorry!), and we made it home. It was like driving through a Muppet’s pillow fight. Thick, large, wet, whiteness dropping from the sky at an alarming speed. Visibility was down to 1/8 mile or less.
So here it is a mere five hours later than when I started out. The downfall has temporarily ceased, but every forecast now is saying we’ll get anywhere from four to eight inches of snow tonight! Eight!! Now that’s a snowstorm!!!
By the time you read this, I could be buried under an avalanche. Or, more preferably, drinking a chocolate martini by the fire while working on Chapter Two of the first book.
But in order to get to Chapter Two, I need to finish Chapter One. Which is what I’m off to do now. So if you’ll excuse me, I have some other writings to tend to.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Feb 15, 2012
Well, I did not spend it wishing upon a star or over a well.
I took advantage of being under the weather with this weather, and I stayed home and worked. Full of imagery and oxymoronic statements, aren’t I?! Yes, it was a fun wordy work day today.
I had work stuff relating to the new company, the cookbook, the first devotional/study, the blog, and general stuff around the house.
My mom gifted Dot and I with movie tickets so after school this afternoon we finally saw “The Woman in Black”. I was going to do a movie review, but I really don’t want to spoil it for anyone. So instead of a review, let me just say that if the trailers interest you at all, you have got to see this movie! Daniel Radcliffe does such an amazing job that there’s no hint of Harry Potter in his character.
When we came home, I immediately got to work again on this blog post. My three cats were so excited to see me, I’d been gone all afternoon. As I type this I have one at my feet, on at my right hip, and one taking over my left arm and keyboard. Which makes typing a bit difficult, but today’s all about L-O-V-E and I’ll take it from these great friendly felines. Dot’s two cats are around here somewhere, too.
This photo was taken a few days ago, but you get the general idea.
Dot’s on the sofa doing her homework. Sometimes Little (the Fat Cat) sits with her but tonight she was with me.
Now I’m going to take care of my Castleville Kingdom, check out my friends pins on Pinterest, and start the last story in the Narnia series. I’ve been delaying reading the story for a while, because once I’m done with this story, I’m done with the series. And that makes me sad. It’s given me a lot of inspiration for the book series with Megan. That makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. (You’re smiling at that phrase, aren’t you?!)
And that’s about all the love I can handle for one day. Happy Day after Valentine’s, everyone!
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Feb 15, 2012
You aren’t unafraid. But you stand up in spite of it.
You aren’t all powerful. But you try with all your might.
You don’t have all the answers. But you never stop learning.
You aren’t impenetrable. But you don’t let weakness keep you down.
You can’t fix everything. But you never stop trying.
You can’t see the world. But you see your part of it.
You can’t protect everyone. But you protect the ones you can.
You fail sometimes. You fall sometimes.
Your secret identity is often exposed and you are often mundane.
You aren’t God.
You aren’t Superman.
You aren’t Iron Man, or The Green Lantern or even 007.
But you come pretty close.
You’re human. And you set a really good example.
Because you try to be better.
And you are.
You’re my hero.
Thank you.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
