Autumn Urgency? Not Yet!

I'm not feeling the fall season yet. Sure, the kids are back in school. Yes, football is back on television. But the temperatures have been hotter (much hotter!) for three weeks than they were in July and early August. I'm feeling more of a lazy-late-summer vibe than the typical autumn urgency.

I know I'm in the minority on this. How do I know? On Facebook I keep seeing references to how many weeks are left until Christmas. *shuddering* And Pinterest is full of fall decorating pins, pumpkin spice recipes, and, yes, Christmas ideas.

It's not that I'm against autumn--I'm not! I love this time of year. Love the pretty leaves sailing down from the trees. Love the crisp air, long walks through the woods, wrapping up in a cozy blanket, slow-cooked chili. Yep. Autumn is awesome.

But let me get out of my shorts first. :)

Have you been bitten by the autumn bug? Please tell me you don't have Christmas fever yet!!

Have a terrific day!

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Did Summer Derail Your Writing Progress?

Has it been weeks since you added words to your novel? Or revised? Or started a story idea?

Is your heart racing? Does a feeling of dread at your lack of progress eat at your stomach?

I know. Whenever I take more than three days off from a writing project, I panic. Let's just say I've been high strung a lot lately! My usual summer writing schedule hit the skids in early July due to new sports' obligations. My daughter joined a runner's group. My son started weight-training. And now that August is here, they both have mandatory cross-country and football practices every morning.

Instead of acting like a normal human being, I had a series of ridiculous thoughts looping around my brain constantly.

I'm wasting my whole summer in the car and I have nothing to show for it!
I should be working on a new plot.
I should be scheduling my day better.
The house is a disaster. Why is the house always a disaster??
Why is there an appointment/meeting/practice every five minutes?
I'm getting nothing done! And I'm not even having fun!

After about a week of that nonsense, I mentally slapped myself. Then I wrote down every writing-related thing I'd accomplished since June 1. I was shocked at how much I HAD gotten done! And knowing I'd completed quite a few tasks gave me the push I needed to start a new project.

This week has been crazy. But I brainstormed character names during a walk Wednesday night. I squeezed in three short sessions of Pinterest searches for the right hero and heroine. I told myself five to fifteen minutes here and there are better than nothing.

Thankfully, I had three full hours yesterday afternoon to relax and work. Did I take a twenty-minute nap? You betcha! Did I work on my new plot the rest of the time? Yes!

Next week will be busy too, but I'm setting small goals for each day. School will be back in session before I know it, and writing will take top priority. Until then? I'm trying to chill out!

Do you get more done in the summer? Less? What season seems to be the best time for you to work?

Have a fantastic weekend!

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Adorableness

Few things make me say "awww" as quickly as seeing pictures of babies or pets. So when I clicked on UsWeekly Magazine's online site this weekend and saw Prince George walking, my heart melted a little. The link above leads you to His Royal Cuteness. :)

Speaking of pets, look at this happy face! Sophie loves summer as much as I do! She's such a fun dog.

Not as adorable...being stung by a jellyfish. My son spent a week in Florida with a good friend, and the first night there was stung by one! Ouch! Thank goodness soaking the sting in vinegar for thirty minutes helped heal it. Phew!



Oh, we have teeny-tiny jalapenos growing in our garden. So cute!!

What adorableness have you come across lately?

Have a terrific day!!

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Mom Guilt in the Summer

Every summer rolls around with me envisioning all the fun things the kids and I will do. Five years ago, I hit on my ideal summer schedule--writing related work all morning, errands and outings in the afternoon. But life changes. The kids change. And I change too.

This summer has proven one thing to me. I am soooo NOT superwoman!!

Move over Brangelina, we have a new power couple, "Mophie!" This is my cousin Lacy and her adorable weiner dog, Mo, Sophie's doggie boyfriend! Aren't they cute? 

The summer scramble started the day after school let out. We packed our car as full as its ever been and drove to upstate New York for my son's week-long baseball tournament. When we returned, we aired out the wet camping gear, unpacked, and headed up north for the day to visit my dad. The next week I caught up on the writing work I'd skipped the previous week. Then another baseball tournament as well as my daughter's running group intervened with my goals. Just when I started to meet my business goals, we headed to Michigan to spend a long weekend with both sets of families.

Last week was major catch-up time with haircuts, shopping, and what-not. You know the drill. You forget how time-consuming errands can be until you have several in one week. No time to squeeze in any of the fun stuff I hoped to do.

Anyway, we all make choices. Because of my dad's condition, one of my choices is to drive the two-and-a-half hours north to visit him about twice a month. I can't always get there, but I try. We also chose to allow my son to join a fall sport that requires summer practices. My daughter has summer practices for her fall sport. This means we're not able to travel at all during the month of August. It also means I'm driving the mom-taxi most weekday mornings in July.

I was feeling too busy, stressed, and guilty. But I'm being kinder to myself, letting go of the mom guilt!

I had to give up some of my fantasies of fun for this summer. That's okay. We've fit a quick zoo trip in. I'll head to the pool or beach soon. If it's not the most exciting summer ever, oh well. My family can benefit from a relaxing, semi-boring season for once!

Do you ever feel guilty in the summer? Like thinking of all the things you planned on doing but realizing there's no way you'll be able to fit them in?

Have a terrific Monday!!

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June Plans

It's June! Sunny, warm, colorful, and busy! We're enjoying gorgeous weather so far, and I hope it stays.

We have so many exciting things going on this month. I'm having a hard time sitting still!

a. I'm revising a book and plan to finish by June 30. Hooray!
b. My hubby and I are celebrating twenty years of marriage this month!! Woo-hoo!!
c. We're heading to Cooperstown, NY for my son's baseball tournament! Can't wait!
d. School lets out this week. Goodbye, 6am wake-up alarm!
e. My daughter signed up to volunteer at the library. Be still my writer's heart!!
f. Sophie, our mini-dachshund, can start taking short walks again.

Those are my plans for June--what do you have coming up? I love hearing about your life!!

Have a wonderful day!!

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Bye, Bye, July

"That beautiful season the Summer!
Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light;
And the landscape
Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood."

 -  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow



Isn't this true? Summer brings out the freshness of childhood for me. Fresh peaches. Sparklers and fireworks. A lazy day by the pool or on the beach. Long days. Long walks. Thunderstorms and humidity. Drizzles and rainbows. Fireflies and staring at clouds.

I always feel a bit sad on the last day of July. We have one month left of summer, and this year the weather was erratic. We had twenty-one days in a row of rain. Last Sunday the newscasters talked of record lows in our area. When it is hot, it's out-of-control humid, and we get severe storms. But you know what? It's still summer! I'll take it. :)

Is July one of your favorite or least favorite months? Why?

Hope you enjoy the final hours of July!

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Need a Vacation?

I need a vacation. It's been a busy, wonderful, hectic year. Yesterday I didn't get out of my pajamas until 12:30 pm but only because I didn't want to lose five minutes of revising time. The deadline I set WILL be met!! It. Will. Be. Met.

Yes, I attacked the emergency KitKat bar in the fridge. No, I do not regret it.

Since I'm unable to sit on the beach at this time, I figured I'd do the next best thing. Watch a video of turquoise waters, boats, sails, waves, and the glorious sky.

Why don't you do the same? Take a few minutes. Relax. Let your soul breathe!

Are you desperate for a vacation? Where would you go if you had the choice?

*Exciting update: My book, New Lease on Love, is a finalist in ACFW's Genesis contest for unpublished writers! Praise God!*

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

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Summer Smells...Good or Bad?

All winter long I anticipate the smell of freshly cut grass. Summer brings such glorious scents, doesn't it? The whiff of watermelon when you slice into it--drool worthy. Or what about roses blooming beside your deck? The sea air blowing across a beach? And let's not forget the delicious scent of burgers searing on the grill.

But summer also brings some not-so-pleasant smells. The humid air ripens the manure of a dairy farm a few miles away. And does anyone enjoy the aroma of Fido when he tromps in after a rainy day? I'm guessing no. Mosquito spray is another offender. I love my DEET, but the smell leaves much to be desired.

A few other favorite frangrances of mine are tropical suntan lotion, any food item at the county fair, chocolate sauce dripping over vanilla ice cream, that slight chlorine scent after a dip in the pool, freshly laundered sheets, and campfires.

What is your favorite summer smell?

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One Goal Friday: June 4, 2010

Today is the last day of school, which means my kids will whip their backpacks onto our living room floor before whooping around the house like rabid wild dogs. I will yell at them to put the backpacks and everything in them away, because if I don't, the scuffed up packs will sit like excess furniture until July.



Do you know what no school means? It means drinking coffee on our porch--in my pajamas. It means a few quiet hours each morning for me to write as my kids snooze. It means a general relaxation blankets our normally busy household. At least until mid-August. At that point, I yearn for full days to write in peace, for the freedom to meet my writer friends for coffee, for separation of my dear children. But for now, I'll enjoy.

It's Friday! Time to set one goal for the upcoming week. It can be related to work, fun, family--anything--just as long as it enhances your life.

Last week, my goal was to be grateful for what I have each day. I had no problem with that goal. All I have to do is look around me and see my terrific husband, my sweet kids, my supportive extended family, and all of the material blessings showered on me. I am grateful, extremely so.

Here are your goals.
Katie: Finish outlining to be ready to write by Friday
Diane: Get on that treadmill
Wendy: Nail the ending
Jessica: Go running twice and figure out how to lengthen category novel to single title
CJ: Settle on date for party and design the inside of invitation
Kelly: Write a detailed outline
Jody: Finish up the substantive edits
Lynn: Complete chapter one of The Artist's Way by Julie Cameron and write about it.
Regina: Finish the website in progress and finish small writing project
Keli: Another 5K words
Jennifer S: Do some research and write a speech for church talk
Cindy: Enjoy the weekend (Happy Birthday!!) and aim for 16K words
Julie: 3 hours of editing
Karen L: Spend more time in the Word
Hannah: Get graduation announcements in the mail
Erica: Enjoy family and company who are visiting
T.Anne: Complete edits and move on
Jen: Lose 1 pound, continue working on index, and start reading No Greater Love by Kathi Macias
Susan JR: Study deep POV, setting, and motivation before making changes
Maria Sondule: Have a good first day of work (Congrats on the new job!)
Tyrean: Start a 365 Days of Blessings at blog, aimed to keep gratitude in the atitude (Great idea!)

As always, these goals amaze me. I hope you all were able to make progress!

My new goal. Hmm... Polish my query and synopsis so I can start querying my latest book, For Barter or for Worse. Yeah, I gagged a little at the thought. But, it has to be done. :)

What one goal will you set this week?

Please leave your goal in the comment section. Newcomers are welcome to participate, and don't worry if you can't stop by every Friday--my blog's goal isn't to add stress but to be a place of support.

Have a fantastic weekend!

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Filthy Fingernails

This June we're talking about the bliss of summer. Now, I know some of you do not enjoy summer. Maybe you live in an area where the middle months are brutal? Well, here in the midwest, summers rock!


I live in an area with four distinct seasons. Winters bluster cold and snowy. Spring is a toss-up--either non-existent or cool and rainy. Fall makes my heart skip a beat. Michigan displays the most gorgeous harvest colors. But summer...

Summer can hardly be described. Three short months of warmth, swimming, campfires, bike rides, and gardening. The temperatures can get high and the humidity soars, but most days can happily be spent outdoors.

We planted our garden this weekend. After a few hours of shopping for plants, fertilizer, and what-not, we turned the dirt over and colonized (interesting word, eh?) everything. Do I love the shoulder straining work of shoveling? Not really, but I love tip-toeing out mid-July for a basket of cucumbers, peppers, and zucchini. My filthy fingernails are worth it.

My current manuscript is almost ripe. It's getting a few final rays of water and sunshine from my critique partners, and then it will be plucked and shopped to editors and agents. My shoulders ached as I honed the plot and weeded the repetitive words, and my fingernails got dirty during the process.

I wouldn't have it any other way.

If you're a writer, do you find the hard work of writing and revising your pages worthwhile? Is it worth getting your fingernails dirty?

I will be in and out all week. Although I won't be able to respond to each comment, I look forward to reading them all!

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