Puppy

Children with New Puppy

The grandchildren got a new puppy. 

They'd been hoping and dreaming and wishing.  

Look at these faces.

Lucky children.

Lucky dog.

Bliss.

Catching Bats and Ideas

I took this photo last night at sunset, trying to capture the bats flying just below the branches, black flashes silhouetted against the lake. There were about a dozen of them zinging back and forth.  I took six or seven photos in quick succession, sure that I had caught them, but I don't see them now.

When I am in book-writing mode, I often try to capture quick flashes that flit through my mind–a scene, an image, a snip of dialogue–but sometimes they elude me, like the bats. I know they were there, but where have they gone?

Quilling

I've just discovered quilling. Please, please do not let me become addicted.

Check out this 40 second video:

http://vimeo.com/15033988

Writing Day

We've had a week of rain after a dry spell, and the roses in the garden are loving it.

In the shower this morning, the next two chapters of current work-in-progress revealed themselves to me.

Just like that.

All that pausing for paws (last blog) and flowers and what-not, watered by the shower, must have nurtured the story.

Writing Pause for Paws

I'm working on a story.

I'm sitting dutifully at my desk and my fingers are tapping out words.

Out of the corner of my eye, I sense something waving at me.

Squirrel.

Having a picnic on the deck.

Making a bigga mess.

What was I doing
What was I thinking
Where was I . . .?

Why It Takes So Long to Write a Book

Sure, there are the normal things like cooking, cleaning, laundry, errands, doctors, dentists, children, spouses, friends, family that need attention.

But then, also: there is the pale moon framed by branches

and

the flowers waving

and 

beckoning

and so

you have to stop

and pay attention

right?

On the Desk, Part Two

More things on the desk . . .

Above, the essential computer plus a couple lucky turtles.

Dozens of family photos . . ..

Flowers from the yard (these are Rose of *Sharon*) 

in Ikebana vase

Mini-dark-chocolate Milky Way

Camera

And oh yes, the manuscript-in-progress:

66 pages of rough draft prose

And observing me and my desk is this squirrel

three feet in front of me

eye level.

Is your desk near a window?