Tree Frogs and Other Things

Good Morning World!

That is how I feel this morning, it is a bright, sunny beautiful morning where I am and the birds are singing and chirping, the crickets are making their noises along with tree frogs and the like, I don't know about where you live but out here in my yard, you can literally watch the grass jump with baby tree frogs. They are everywhere, the kiddies don't usually have to go far or look very hard to catch one for a minute to check it out.

They have been watching them grow for a few weeks now, first they were just teeny little baby frogs, not much bigger than say maybe a fingernail (and not a long one either), now they are about an inch long and 3/4 inch high. They are so cute!! I am sure they will be the source of many noisy nights to come!

It seems the only time it is truly quiet around here is the dead of winter, not many birds then, mostly woodpeckers, nuthatches and a couple of cardinals,... all the bugs and frogs are gone or sleeping thru the cold. .then it is really quiet at night.

 Now in the summer it is noisy 24 hours a day, what kinds of noises depends on which bug, bird or frog is awake. We like listening to them, my son and I. We try to figure out which direction and what animal or insect is making the loudest noises.

If you know how to listen, you can tell when rain or storms are coming too, the birds and bugs along with a few other signs from our animal friends will tell you. Most of them get really quiet when a storm is coming, even the birds seem to all find a place to go. And if they don't and they stay at the feeders and such during a rain shower, it usually means the rain will be around a while. I guess they figure if the rain is going to hang around they will just go on with their usual business.

Usual business, that brings me to blogging and writing, I believe I have the blogging regular thing figured out now, I need to post in the morning, before things get going and get busy around here. If I don't then most of the time I don't get back to the computer until late at night and by then I just don't feel like writing.

 One of my short term goals is to blog daily. Maybe nothing but a few lines and or a picture, but getting it done daily. I have found that when I blog it really gets me in the mood, so to speak, to write and I need to get better disiplined about writing if I ever want to get my book finished!

 I don't really know what the problem is, I have the outline written, I have a good idea how the story will progress but when I think about sitting down to write... well it's like sometimes my brain just refuses to think about it. I sit there staring at the story and I wind up going back over what I have already written and doing a little revising and editing but little additional writing.

I am hoping that by blogging more regular, that I will also write more for the book. I have also joined a writing "club" online at http://www.writing.com/. They have loads of advice for newbie writers (how can I be a newbie, I ask, when I have been writing all my life!), writing prompts to have fun with, as well as other peoples work to read and review. All things designed to help build strength and knowledge in writers. I see how others are just shooting out loads and loads of stuff out and have massive portfolio's and I wonder where they find the time to do it all. I love to write, but I do have to be in the proper mood, I guess to dig the stories out of my brain and get them on paper.....well okay, not paper yet just a computer screen.....but you know what I mean.

And speaking of writing, I think I have done enough for now, I don't want to get long and boring, it seems I have lost one follower :( and I don't want to lose anymore!! I was quite disappointed this morning when I logged on to find that I had lost that follower. I don't know really how I had 11 different people interested in what was happening in my little corner of the world but I did, and now I only have 10, so I hope that I don't run off anyone else! Haha, that includes you!!

I hope everyone is having a fun filled summer!
Until next time,
Deb~

Chapter One Complete

Well, after reading a hundred times or so, (and I'm not kidding a bit either), and adding and editing I think I have the first chapter of something complete.

 I say the first chapter of something because I am almost afraid of the pressure and obligation of saying I am writing a book.

 I have written poetry and short stories a lot throughout my life although not anything recently. I like to think I am a pretty good writer although you really can't tell from most of the rambling posts on here. lol.

Anyway, I feel pretty good with the first chapter and I can't wait to find out where the story goes. Or for that matter what kind of story it turns out to be. I really have no idea.

It just started the other day, not the story but the process, with me cleaning out some old computer files and laughing over some stuff I had forgotten about. It is amazing after a couple of years to go back and look at stuff saved and forgotten about.

I came across an old file called decent story material. I remember a few years ago, I thought about writing but only scratched out what I thought were good ideas at the time and haven't looked at since. I also found one page of about 3 paragraphs that captured my attention when I read it. In fact when I first read it I thought someone else had written it! Then I remembered writing it a few years ago and when I read it one more time and thought about it for a few minutes the ideas just started flying and that hasn't happened for me like that in a really long time.

So I won't say I am writing a book, although I have always wanted to.I will just say I am writing chapters of a story that will be however long it turns out and maybe, just maybe someday I will write a book.

So how is your day going?
Until next time
Deb~

Hello blog friends, I know, I haven't been around for a while. Well, really I have been around, I admit it. I have read other blogs a few times and commented on a few but tho' I thought about blogging not only was I going thru a smidgen of writers block, I just couldn't make my fingers hit the keyboard....

What my fingers have been busy with of late is patterns and material and thread and the like. I took my son and for spring break we went for a few days visit to see my mother and sister who live about and hour and a half away. It was nice to get away from things for a couple of days, but my son and I are glad to be back home.

 Anyway, back to my story. While we were there my mother bought me an early birthday gift (my birthday is next month)....a new sewing machine! I am so excited. I haven't sewn in years and I am thrilled to be able to start making things again. So when we returned home it was off to the fabric store and wally-world to gather the needed accessories. (good scissors, pins, pin cushion etc.) I got a pattern for a simple sundress for my granddaughters, and one that I can make pants and shorts for my son from. I must admit tho' I was in complete sticker shock at the prices of material these days!!

So today was the day for me to actually sit down and start to sew again. It has been quite a few years since I have been able to sew and I found myself with a seam ripper in my hands a lot. I have learned now that I need to contain my excitement a little and slow down, and things will be much easier. Oh, and I wound up not starting with either pattern today, I made myself a caftan out of some material that I had been saving for just that and I used one I already have for the pattern, so I spent most of the day just creating the pattern.

I did get started however and tomorrow all I have left to do is sew the sides and the hem and it will be complete. I will post a pic when it is finished. Next I think I will make Bubba some pants. They are elastic waisted, since he still has trouble trying to fasten buttons and zippers. He has finally mastered most snaps except the really big, tight ones. The pants are really easy to make and he will love picking out the material he wants me to use. Although I have to watch out, he fell in love with fleece this winter and almost insists in wearing the fleece pants he has 24/7!! In fact when we were fabric shopping he asked if I would get some fleece and make his pants with that and he was disappointed when I told him his fleece would be going into the winter clothes bag soon!

Sooo, I have been busy with lots of things just not really blogging. And the couple of days that I sat down to post something and then couldn't get my thoughts together was frustrating. I haven't dealt with that issue for a while. And I don't like it very much at all. what do you do when you can't figure out what to write?

Oh and lastly the Cilantro that I planted in the window box is sprouting! Only 2 sprouts so far but it is nice to be growing things again!

Okay, I feel better now, I have written my post and gotten you all caught up with things in my neck of the woods and now I think I will go read a book for a while, until next time....stay safe!
Deb~