Writing, Writing, Writing

I have been writing for years and years and years.  It all began in grade school, writing for a small newsletter.  In junior high, I received my first byline--on a story in the school newspaper.  The love of writing continued in high school, where I was on the staff of the school paper--the South High Confederate.  In college, I majored in journalism and worked on the Colorado Daily.

After graduation, the writing continued. I was an intern for the Longmont Times-Call, I wrote for  church newsletters and edited the Episcopal Church Women's page in the Colorado Episcopalian.  When we began RVing, I decided to blog about our life.  Then I learned I could have the blogs printed in a book.  Just look at the stack!

The blog books are filled with color photos, so they became our scrapbooks.

                                                   

About three years ago, I began working on writing the stories of my life. John had already been attending the life story classes here in our winter resort home. When he published his own life story, he encouraged me to do the same thing.

Here I am, holding the proof copy of that story, Not What I Planned:  Even Better.  I am so excited to get it done!  I can add it to the stack.

When I wrote in my blog about completing the print version, Gumo commented he would read it when it came out in the Kindle version.  Guess what, I did it!  Not without a struggle.  That format requires a different format.  You can see both versions for sale on Amazon in this screen shot.

Bloomin' Beauty

There is beauty everywhere in the Arizona this year.  We have had rain and the cactus is gorgeous!  What a bright spot amidst Covid-19, quarantines and shelter in place orders.

The Argentine giant cactus blooms have started to open.

Prickly pear are loaded with buds and blooms.

I'm not sure of the name of this one but I know there will be either flowers or new growth soon.

Even the non-native plants are loving the warmth and putting on blooms.

These look like very small sunflowers.

The runoff wash near our entrance gate is full of yellow flowers.

There are so many things we can't or shouldn't do right now, but here in Arizona we can go outside and enjoy God's beauty in creation.

What's Going On?

The world has been turned upside down.  We are all practicing social distancing and staying home.  But our personal lives here in Superstition Views really haven't changed much.  When we are here in our home for a long time our focus always changes.  We don't to places because we have already seen most everything in the Phoenix area there is to see.  We don't go out to eat very often.  And we don't take part in the activities here in our resort.  The only thing closed that really affects us is the locked door of the exercise room.

Also, we try to grocery shop less frequently--buying everything we need for a week or so at a time.  We don't want to be around others more often than necessary.

Oh yes, my hands are cleaner than then have been since I had a newborn in the house.  Also, I am using copious amounts of hand lotion to combat the frequent hand washing.

So, what are we doing?  John has been working in our shop.  Right now he is constructing this intarsia picture of a barn and cattle.  The cutting phase is about half-done.

He made these two scroll saw pictures representing the two states we spend time in.  They will be hung in our Airstream trailer.

Before everything in our resort was shut down, I learned how to do lapidary--shaping rocks for jewelry.  After learning how to use the machines, I bought these two slices of rock.

I have made them into three pendants for necklaces.

I have also finished writing the book of the stories of my life.  I have sent it to the publisher(Kindle Direct Printing on Amazon) and am waiting for a proof copy to arrive, hopefully tomorrow.  After I make the necessary changes, it will be ready to publish.  That is exciting.

While I have been busy at the computer, John was busy in the shop--cutting out scroll saw sayings like this--"I can do all things through Christ."

He also make this sign to hang on the front of our trailer when we are staying in RV parks.

Unfortunately, John fell 10 days ago, injuring his elbow and tearing some ligaments nearby.  It doesn't stop his work in the shop, but it does hurt when he tries to bend his elbow or lift something heavy.  It is getting better each day.