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Writer’s Retreat
This week a friend and I went “off the grid” for a mini writer’s retreat. We stayed in one of these cute little lakeside cabins. It was a productive time. We both worked on our books, brainstormed with each other, and enjoyed probably just a tad too much off-topic chit-chat. The weather was pretty blustery, though the sun was out…
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Quiet Times
During the summer months I look forward to having my morning quiet times on the deck just outside the kitchen. It is shady and cool there early in the morning. The breeze rustles the aspen and fir trees along the fence. The chickens cluck contentedly. The dog sniffs around the yard to see if anything has changed overnight. The cat…
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Goldtown Adventures – review
Fellow homeschool-mom Susan K. Marlow’s new book series for kids, Goldtown Adventures, has launched! Badge of Honor is an exciting historical novel for kids. It takes place in the waning days of the California gold rush, as seen through the eyes of 12-year-old Jem. There is still gold to be found (small amounts, anyway) if one is willing to work…
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The Eldorado Courier
My grandparents and their children moved away from Eldorado, Oklahoma in 1958. Many of our relatives still lived there, so my grandparents had a subscription to The Eldorado Courier (pronounced “Elda-ray-duh Coo-yer”) to keep up with the happenings in their hometown. Sometimes Grandmother would include a clipping from the Courier in a letter to Mother when I was growing up. When I…
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Writer’s Retreat
I’m not sure I dare admit that I spent this past weekend at a writer’s retreat, because then I would have to admit that I’ve officially started my novel. That’s exciting for me, but very scary at the same time because, you see, if I start it, I have to finish it, right? And if I finish it, you’re probably…
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Writing
You know how I’ve said for awhile that someday I’m going to write a book? Within the last couple of years I have set some specific goals for myself in that regard, and I am very excited with the progress I’m making. It may not seem like much, but the baby steps are better than just wondering if I ever…
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Ozark Back Roads
Tuesday afternoon’s route took us winding through the Ozarks from Arkansas into Missouri. It was a gorgeous afternoon, sunny and warm like we never see in Idaho in March. We opened the sun roof and enjoyed the fresh spring air and the rolling hills. (We can’t bring ourselves to actually call the Ozarks mountains.) Wednesday morning was cooler and overcast,…
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Families Writing
My mother saved a few of my school papers, as all mothers do, I suppose. It’s interesting to see my little-girl handwriting, but to be perfectly honest, spelling lists and mimeographed worksheets are kind of boring to look it. My mother also saved letters. Boxes and boxes of letters. Now those are fascinating to me. They give a glimpse into relationships and…
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There and Back Again
And so I guess you’re probably waiting to hear how my trip home was, aren’t you? After my oh-so-colorful experience of taking the Greyhound bus to Seattle (and then on to Tacoma) on Thursday, I can’t say I was especially looking forward to repeating the experience on Sunday. I was to catch the bus at 8:00 a.m. in Tacoma and…
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Writer’s Conference
All my life I’ve had an inclination to write. Before I could even read I would sit at the kitchen table asking my mother to spell the words for me so I could write letters to my grandmother. When I finally learned to read and spell I expanded my correspondence to include several pen pals during the course of my…
