Beginnings

Some writing books advise you to begin a story with a bang, to jump right into the action, to "shoot the sheriff on the first page."

I don't do that. I like a more leisurely opening - whether I'm reading a story or writing one. 

I like to invite the reader onto the porch of the story -

Come on up, have a seat, take off your shoes, sit a while . . .

I want readers to feel comfy - 

and to be surrounded by air and light and natural beauty - 

I want to offer readers something worthy of their time - 

So, maybe you will come on up, set yourself down, stay a while . . . mm?

Porch Residents

This birdhouse hangs on our front porch and was first used by finches, who raised their young and then vacated. The chickadees then swooped in and pulled out all the nesting materials of the finches and 'redecorated,' raising this current flock. (Click to enlarge.*)

The nest on top is from a robin who moved in above the chickadees after already raising one brood over a nearby porch light. The robin apparently prefers this real estate for her next brood. The chickadees do not seem amused and occasionally there are squabbles between the chickadees and robins.

I've had to go out there a couple times and ask them to knock it off.

Happy Fourth of July

It's a cool (weatherwise) Saturday here on Lake Chautauqua. Neighbors are gathering firewood for bonfires tonight. Later they will line up flares along the beach for the traditional lighting of the flares at 10:00 pm. The tradition is so well-established that there will be a ring of red flares burning at that hour, outlining the shores of this 20-mile-long lake, and fireworks will be blasting from four or five towns so that you can look in any direction and see the bright displays. 

We used to sit on the dock to watch . . . until a neighbor's fireworks began pinging us on our heads.

Maybe we will sit up on the porch instead.  Sounds a bit less thrilling but it looks quaint and cozy, mm? Well, yes, it is, except for
the bats . . .