Autumn = cozy & Nostalgic for some.

BARKERVILLE OLD GOLD RUSH TOWN AND MY DAD Summer 1966

 NOSTALGIC PHOTO OF MY DAD & AN OLD STAGE GOACH: HISTORIC TOWN OF BARKERVILLE

I’ve begun tweaking my blog hoping to improve the content and the layout as I learn. Suggestions are welcome.

Dawne Groves, an instructor at Whatcom Community College, encourages bloggers to make posts interesting.  In addition to that wisdom, during the 2015 Chanticleer Author’s Conference In Bellingham, WA  a corporate marketing expert, Steve Lundin,  offered a unique approach on ‘Branding for Writers.’ He said, “You are your brand.  Write about what excites you. And then you’ll connect to people who are excited about the same things.” (I’m not giving advice to writers here.)

This sounds like fun to me. Before fiction writing kidnapped me, many things fascinated me. Now I continue to search for time to get back to some of them.

• Drawing, watercolor painting, knitting, making cards, music, reading
• Travel to Scotland, Pioneers & their history in Canada & the US
• Organization, Healthy Food & good recipes, what is GMO?
• Obesity & weight loss surgery, Being assertive & informed when needing Health Care

Next Sunday I’ll post a survey asking blog visitors & subscribers “what interests you.”  I might eventually have a page for writers, & a page for those who want to read about other things. Or you can read both.

Those who look forward to Thanksgiving with loved ones &/or friends, enjoy! Those who can spend a quiet time with a good book, a movie, a hike, enjoy also! Every day is special.

EXERCISE TO PREP FOR THE DAY

This should get me going on this Northwest Pacific rainy gray day. Puff puff.  Notice there’s a mattress and a pillow right next to the bike.

How about you folks? What primes you to hit your day running?

AUTUMN MEMORIES

The color of Autumn

FAMILY DUCK HUNTING RITUAL  IN THE FALL.

 I clamored to join the hunt every other weekend.  Mom, Dad, my two brothers and I would drive from our home in Sparwood, B.C and head for my grandparent’s  wee house in Claresholm Alberta. Gravel roads back then in the 50’s, winding through the Mountain Pass and then into the Alberta harvested wheat fields.

Wish granted. Dad let me join the hunt.  When he hauled me out of my makeshift bed at 4:00 AM I thought “What have I done?” The gas heater in my grandparent’s wee house hadn’t kicked in yet. I shivered with the cold.

Dark outside. Gravel pinging on the underside of the car. Then bumping along  tire-rut trails. The headlights shining on the ground frost. Once out of the parked car,  I struggled to keep up, climbing over frozen grain field furrows and stubble. Reaching the slough, we hunkered down between weeds and browned grasses for cover.   My father sat me on a frozen mud clump. “Wait until I tell you to shoot.”

Ha. I didn’t worry about killing anything. I was too cold to move.

But the best part? Feeling like the only folks in the whole world awake at that hour.  Seeing the sunrise. The sound of the ducks flying, their wings flapping in rapid-whispers. Being with my family.

I  joined the hunt twice. Then finally admitted I wasn’t much of a boy.  From then on, I hung out in the cozy kitchen with Grandma.  No contest.

Wishing you all a great harvest season, and great memories.

Music to Quicken the Heart

Music for the Heart          

Music to Raise the Heart

Review of Historical Romance “Traitor’s Curse”

Beth Trissel, Author, gave me an advance copy of “Traitor’s Curse” in exchange for an honest review.

’Traitor’s Curse” is a well written and refreshing read, full of :

incidents,

intrigues,

intense loyalties,

innocent dupes,

loves

hatreds

and dangerous spars against evil schemes.

The adventures both disrupt and intensify a developing romance centred in the Southern United States, following the War of independence against Britain.

The supernatural interventions mixed with foreshadowing are well done and believable in the story, whether or not we question the ghostly possibilities & curses … and they keep the reader turning the pages. The rapidly developing love story carries with it some inner turmoil in matters of belief and trust, but the gripping external conflicts are laced with danger and evil intent. The story draws the readers into the midst of the fray. And keeps them there.

I readily recommend this novel, “Traitor’s Curse” to anyone who wants to settle into a captivating read created by Beth Trissel, as she weaves her knowledge of the South, herbs and history into this enjoyable love story.

NaNoWriMo Here we come!

Time for the Harvest

At 4:15 PM today I decided to do the NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) in which the target word count is 50,000 by the end of November. No bright ideas came to mind … blank slate there today. Sigh. So I did no planning, and will write freestyle anything that comes to mind., trusting the creative center of my thinking process. I titled the manuscript “Harvesting the Soul.” I’ll pluck out memories and work with them, musing along the way, what they might signify. Something likely only interesting to me.

The advantage to this process shows a writer what they can accomplish if they will “just write” and not edit, to get the first draft of their story done. I very much need a refresher course on that process!

This challenge attracts thousands of writers world wide.

TECH AMATEURS: NEED ABILITY TO CHANGE PLANS

Last green of summer

What I accomplished today had no relationship to my “do list” … and everything to do with my failed internet connection.  Called support, reset the modem, worked fine on my PC, iPad, etc. but Mr. i-Mac crossed his arms and said “NO WAY.”  (Yes I’ve decided my Mac is a man … good company most of the time, but can try my patience, smile) Modem guy didn’t know Macs so I fiddled around and fixed the WiFi signal.  How great is that?

But I wouldn’t remember how to do it again.  Sigh.

Expecting fabulous friends from Tennessee to arrive momentarily after their long long flight.  Excited beyond words.  Bye for now.

Autumn refreshments

MUSIC AS FOOD FOR OUR EMOTIONAL SOULS

Our Garden Rose

I’ve been in a  pensive non-productive mode for a while, but music has always been a powerful

Site from one of the Beaches Deception Pass, Washington State

emotional trigger in my life. This one is a favorite. The words can be transposed to many of the emotional events in our lives, in our writing, and in the ways of life in this world. Enjoy if you have the time.

Andre Rieu “Don’t Cry For Me Argentine”

BLOGGING AGAIN

Some of you may know that I deleted my website quite a while ago because of hacking.  I didn’t want to risk taking the time to research a solution just in case my subscribers might be attacked. You all were my first concern.

Finally I’m ready to try the world of websites again, and am fiddling with hostgator, but haven’t yet discovered how to set up a new website.  So  I’m dipping my toes back into the cyber-water by posting on my old original blog.  Waving at anyone who sees this after so long a time!

I’ll share a photo or two about the most exciting thing that happened to me in 2014.  My daughter Lori and I went to Scotland for two weeks.

Scottish Clearances

Photo of title of the statue

Scotland Highlands

Pipes & Rieu Playing Amazing Grace

This video speaks for itself.  Take 3 minutes and drink it in.  Have a great weekend, all.