Adventures in Country Living: Winter Garden

So I know that Spring is blooming up all over. Conversation hearts are making way for Cadbury eggs on store shelves, people are sneezing like crazy (my husband included) and replacing our snow boots with flip flops by the front door has me excited for warmer days. But while California flatlanders (yes, ya'll are called that by people who live in the mountains-- particularily while driving :D) are seeing green things out their windows, we're staring at over a foot of snow and our cars are in desperate need of a washing. If only it were that time of year when we could actually hook a hose up to a water spicket. But anywho...back to spring.

While my yard is a jumble of mud and snow and kids who are covered in, well, mud and snow, I know my summer garden is a long way off. But that only means there's still time to enjoy the winter garden. This is where a greenhouse comes in really handy.

If you're now thinking, "But I don't have a greenhouse."
I'm here to tell you, "Never fear, cuz I don't either."

What I do have, is a simple garden bed built out of 2x4's that's covered with a hinged lid of plastic that surprisingly enough, can handle quite a heavy snow load. Also, it helps to be married to Mr. Handyman *grin*

He built this box for me (upon request...there may have been a little batting of the lashes) and since then, every winter, regardless if there is a storm raging outside, I can brave the snow, pry open that hefty lid and (drum roll please)...Lettuce! Now, they're not huge leaves, granted, but they are tender and just enough to get us by through winter.

I have all kinds. My favorite is the mesclun mix, sort of like the dainty green and purple mixture you see in those plastic boxes at the grocery store. Except this lettuce is never dark and slimy (you know what I'm talking about) because it's picked fresh every time we need it. It stores really nicely in the salad spinner in the fridge and is always on hand for sandwiches and little salads. Come spring, however, I'll be up to my eyeballs in lettuce and my family will not only consume a large salad every single day, but I just might be hunting you down with a bag of lettuce, pleading for you to take some off my hands. Warm weather really works wonders. Do you like my picture? That's my greenhouse...it's puurrty.

Having a winter garden is incredibly easy. The boxes are so simple to build and if you don't live where you get snow, you probably don't even need a box. Just a sunny corner of your yard were you can sow a winter variety of lettuce, spinach, chard and cabbages. And that's only to name a few. There is a surprising number of winter hardy vegetables and the color and freshness are just the ticket for warming the soul as it awaits spring's arrival.

Happy Homesteading!

When Characters Get Distracted

I recently razzed my friend while critiquing her manuscript. During a crucial "the sky is falling" kind of scene, her heroine had a thought that was completely off topic from the urgency at hand. I made a joke in the comment section, "Don't let her get distracted."

About a week or so later, I was editing a manuscript of mine that I hadn't touched in a few months (fresh eyes are always good, right?) As I was working my way through it, dusting away cobwebs, I kept finding instances where I let my characters get distracted. It's such an easy mistake to make. As writers, we are often focused on describing a setting in such detail, we forget that in some instances...no one really cares! Sometimes it just doesn't match the emotion of the scene.

I was editing my way through a crucial--heart wrenching--life altering--world shattering moment, when suddenly, my protagonist noticed a bucket of water in the corner and the line said, "He watched it, suddenly curious why he hadn't noticed it before."

WHAT?! Is he seriously thinking about how he never noticed the dumb bucket right now? I wanted to smack him. Here, O observant one, have a boy scouts badge. I couldn't believe I kept letting my characters get distracted. There I sat, tears forming in my eyes, and the moron was staring into space. Fabulous.

But I had to admit, it wasn't his fault. I'm the one who gave him the thought. Poor guy, I felt bad for being hard on him.

It's never intentional. We don't mean to have our characters throw themselves out of the scene. It's not like they get a text come in or something and say "hold on. I need to answer this." Really, it's just author error. We think we are setting the stage or offering up an interesting piece of information, but unless it pushes the story forward or offers the reader an interesting morsel to ponder, it's just taking up valuable real estate.

In a sense, its almost like a POV (point of view) violation. Of course its not technically head hopping, but is the character seeing that bucket in his moment of deep despair, or is the author jumping up and down, waving her arms, pointing at the stupid bucket and shouting, "Look, reader. I'm so clever! Do you like my carefully placed bucket? Isn't it interesting?!"

Oh, dear. We've got an author on the loose who doesn't know how to keep her thoughts to herself.

Its called author intrusion and it's VERY easy to do. We love to think our characters are beautiful, or handsome or really smart when truthfully, it can only come across if it's seen through the POV character's eyes. It has to be natural. It has to be organic. Otherwise the reader will notice. They're very bright people.


If you're in the villains head, he probably wouldn't be noticing that the wildflowers are in bloom or the softness of the breeze through his dark, greasy hair. He wouldn't think his laugh was sinister. He wouldn't think his thoughts were evil. And he certainly wouldn't think your Hero is debonair. Yikes. Major author intrusion ;)

Photo credit: The Princess Bride, 1987

Mountains and Flowers

I'm in the middle of a long journey. And I've felt stuck in the middle of this long journey for a very...long time. I wanted to share a conversation with God I had in my heart. A conversation that was way overdue.

"What are you doing?"
"Is that you, God?"
"It's me."
Grunting. "Grrr. God, I'm stuck on this mountain."
"I see that."
"No, I don't think you get it. It's a really sticky mountain! Why did you make it so sticky?"
"I didn't make it sticky."
"But its covered in tar."
"Think back to who covered it in tar."
Hangs head. "I think I did."
"I watched you do it, my child."
"Why didn't you stop me."
"You seemed pretty determined to cover that mountain. Did you think it would go away?"
Blushes. "I thought maybe it would help me get over it. The last mountain was too slippery. I kept falling."
Chuckles. "I remember that mountain."
"And do you remember the one before that?"
"The brick mountain. How could I forget? You kept banging your head against it."
Rubs head. "Yeah, it really hurt."
"Why did you do it, then?"
"Because it wouldn't move."
"You want these mountains to move, don't you?"
Plunks down in the grass. "Yes. I don't like these mountains."
"I can tell."
"They're really frustrating. And, God, I pray that you will make them move and you don't."
"That's because I don't want to move the mountain."
"But...why?"
"Because I think there is a lesson to be learned at the bottom."
Grumbles. "I figured you would say that. What if I'm tired of learning lessons?"
Wipes tar from my cheek. "You're tired because you keep wearing yourself out."
"So what do I do?"
Sits down beside me. "I want you to be thankful."
"For the mountain?"
"Yes. And for the time that you've been given. Its precious time."
"But I don't know how to be thankful for that." Points at mountain.
"Have you ever considered planting flowers?"
"Flowers would be easier than tar."
Chuckles. "They would be a lot easier than tar. I don't think the tar makes you happy."
Shakes head. "The bricks don't either."
"So plant flowers. This mountain is not going to be moving just yet."
"But it will someday?"
"It will."
"Are we going over it or under it? Or maybe we are going around it. Can you tell me?"
"Not right now."
"Then....can you at least tell me what is on the other side?"
Squeezes my hand.
"You're not going to tell me, are you?"
Shakes head.
Sigh. "Fair enough."
"Do you believe that I have good things in store for you?"
"I do."
"Do you really?"
"Er...most of the time."
Smiles.
Hangs head. "You always lead me in the right direction, no matter how much I worry."
"But you worry anyway."
"I can't help it."
Hands me a trowel. "Yes you can."
"So you really want me to plant flowers at the bottom of this thing, don't you?"
"It would make the waiting easier."
Takes the trowel. "It would."
"You always try and scramble over these mountains. And you beg them to move. You kicked the last one."
"I think I broke my toe."
Smiles. "Did it make you feel better?"
"No."
"Did it make the mountain move?" Pulls out a flower.
"No."
"Then here. Make the best of your time while I'm working on the mountain."


Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Phil 4:5-7

10 Things You Probably Never Wanted to Know

Brace yourself to be blown away with my utter lack of coolness.

Its a miracle I have any friends.

And by the way, I took this picture out of my scrapbook. I think this one was taken in Ireland. Good times. (sniff, sniff)

Ok. 10 things you probably never wanted to know. Here we go:

1) I love all things Scottish and English and Irish. Give me a kilt, some bagpipes and Ewen McGregor...oh make it Liam Neeson. Oh no. I just can't choose!

2) When I have the time, which is not very often, I watch incredibly nerdy things on TV like Monarch of the Glen and House Hunters International. (ooh, which house will they pick!?)

3) I do not like to fish. I know, that's practically a sin, right? Especially since my husband and dad are fly fishermen. I'd rather sit on the bank and read. Last summer, in Yosemite, I went fishing with my dad. He made me hold the pole as we stood there in the middle of the creek and when a fish (the size of a minnow) jumped on, I threw the pole at him, splashed toward the bank screaming, "Lord have mercy on my soul!" (at the top of my lungs)

4) I am obsessed with yard sales and love to tell people that I only paid a quarter for something. They say, "Oh, I just love that shelf." And I blurt out the cost without thinking.

5) I love old movies. I was raised on films like Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Tammy and the Bachelor. And because my parents have always been worship leaders, my family is really into breaking out into song. We'll be sitting there and simply start singing about them "Sobbin' Women." My husband thinks we are from another planet.

6) I read Nicholas Sparks when no one is looking. There. I said it.

7) I have no sense of direction. Truly. I get lost on my own street. And because of technology, my genius husband is only a phone call away.
Me: "Uh, honey. I can't find the chiropractor in our hometown even though it only has one main street."
Him: "I drove you there two days ago. It required only two turns."
Me: "I know. I just got lost again. And I'm scared and alone."
Him: "Don't be scared, its in the middle of the day. And you drove yourself there yesterday. And you got lost then also and called me."
Me: "Help."

8) I am a complete and utter scardy cat.
If a horror film commercial comes on, I have to close my eyes and plug my ears while my hubby, (Aka Mr. Wonderful) will dive for the remote and change the channel knowing those three seconds might still give me nightmares.

9) OK this is so incredibly nerdy, but I will admit it: I snuck in to see a movie.
.
.
.
.
.
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.
.
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Nanny McPhee 2.
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.
.
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.
.
(But I did have a ticket for another movie.)
And I was not alone. *youknowwhoyouare*
It was rather fun and exhilarating. I should really get out more. :)

10) When I was little, I used to make homemade Library checkout cards and tape them inside all my books. Then I would sit there and check out a book to myself by filling in my name and making a note of it in a little log I created. (Mind you, this is all in my own room. By myself.) Then I would read the book and check it back into the "Library". Oh my gosh. I can't believe I just admitted that.

Have a nice day! Now I'm going to go disguise myself and possibly change my name.

Writer's Block (part two)

So I'm back on the subject of writer's block. (If you missed part one of this duo, check it out here.)

Do you want the good news first or the bad news?

Good news? OK, the good news is that I've gotten over my writer's block. Hooray (cue the confetti)

But now for the bad news: there was no fool proof solution. :( Sorry. I was hoping there would be one, but at the same time, its a little freeing to know that as an author, I wasn't doing anything wrong. This wasn't a problem I needed to fix. It was just a season. A phase. And it worked itself out.

After googling "How to overcome writer's block," I found plenty of sites that had the best 10 ways of moving forward. Suggestions like, get some exercise, have a snack, while useful--weren't helping. Its like telling someone you have the flu and they say "Have you taken any vitamin C lately?"

"Yes, I practically Od'd on the stuff, thank you very much, and don't even get me started on the amount of garlic I've consumed. Oh, you already noticed. My point exactly. "


I just didn't find the advice I was looking for. Granted, I could have dug a little deeper, but I was trying to write, and googling writer's block meant I had reached and all time low.

So, while I've mentioned there were no clear-cut solutions, there were a few tricks that definitely helped get the ball rolling--asking my fellow writing friends for tips and suggestions was incredibly helpful! For starters, I kept it up with the outlining and continued pounding away words even if I didn't end up keeping them.

Also, I cleaned up my writing play list. Old songs just gotta go. If I've listened to them too many times, they tend to loose their, uh, potency. Writers, you know what I mean. So I added a song or two (really great ones, as a matter of fact!) and those helped me break into a different level of emotion. Also, I tried acting out the scene (thanks, Dona). While I felt moronic sitting at my kitchen table, a pretend cup of coffee in my hand, having a conversation with invisible people, that experience pretty much aided in the elimination of lame dialogue :D

Another thing I did, was accept that me and my delete button were just going to have to get along. I knew that whatever I wrote on day one, would be deleted on day two. And whatever got put down on paper during day two...yep...day three pretty munch meant: select all, delete. Ugh. It was a little frustrating, but I knew that eventually, I would come up with a scene that would be, well...undeletable (not a word, I know.)

I've just organized my writing desk and have stumbled upon pages of scratch paper. Scribbly notes. Chicken scratch. Arrows. Happy faces. All the workings of a mad woman trying to pull her way out of writers block. But it truly helped. At one point, I just decided to settle on a tone for a particular chapter, whether it be happy, or melancholy, etc. Then I circled it and branched off from there with dialogue ideas, action ideas, what NEEDS to happen.

This NEEDS to happen thing is a really important one to me. In an overall book...certain things need to happen. Take The Chronicles of Narnia, for example. What needs to happen? The kids need to find hope and joy in their new situation (solution: the wardrobe and their discover of Narnia), they need the chance to make a difference in a situation since they have absolutely no control in their lives or the war (solution: they help to save Narnia from the White Witch), etc. etc.

So as I sat staring at this unfinished story of mine, I often write down what needs to happen. Character A needs to make peace with Character B or Character B needs to pick a fight with Character C because I need some conflict in that particular relationship. Once I know what is needed in a chapter/section and if there is a particular mood I'm aiming for, then the pieces can start falling into place. I typically do this for each chapter and after taking a few moments to mentally go through these basics, I dive into writing. I don't really do any planning beyond this. And I just sort of take the chapter...for a little ride (actually, more often it feels like the story takes me for a ride and I'm just hanging on for dear life as the action unfolds--no wonder this writing thing is so much fun) :D

My point is, that for the most part, it just took being bigger than the problem. I spent some time in prayer, knowing that it would not only clear my head, but help me focus on what was important, including hurdles that had been overcome in the past. And I trusted that nothing was impossible!

I stared writers block in the face and told it to hit the road. And when it didn't listen (grrr) I ranted and raved for a few days (hey, I'm human) before buckling down and hitting the keyboard with everything I had. Write. Delete. Write. Delete. Until finally, victory!

Its such a blessing to be free of writer's block and if (I mean, when) it comes back at me, I'll be a little better prepared, and above all, trust that its all in the Lord's timing and sometimes, feeling helpless is a good thing. Its humbling and a tangible reminder to be thankful for the good times, and to keep the faith in the bad.

Oh yeah, and I gotta admit that the exercises thing kinda helped. I bought myself a gym membership and after a few rounds on the treadmill, things at the typewriter started flowing again. Maybe there's something to that bit of advice after all ;)

Writer's Block (part one)

Tap. Tap. "Is this thing on?" oh, ok, it is.

"Ugh." I have writer's block.

To be perfectly honest, its been a while since I've been visited my this unwelcome guest. And as much as I'd like him to pack up his little suitcase and obnoxious voice, which reminds me each time I sit at my computer and pull up my current manuscript, "You have no idea what you are going to write about." And, "Haha, you've written yourself into a corner."

Grrr. I feel helpless.

So since my 1200 word quota for my mon-fri 2 hour writing session (aka, kids nap time) has pretty much dissipated into digital chicken scratch, I am down to making short notes that look like this:

Such and such character should do this. And this other character should do this. And they should get mad at each other and then it will snow and maybe a stray dog can wander into the story and we can name him Pierre, but this is Appalachia so I should name him Jimmy Hotsocks or something really cool and is it too late to add aliens? Maybe Vampires? How 'bout an Amish girl. No that's been done and I still have no idea what I am going to do in this chapter so why am I still typing and when is my brain going to get back from vacation?

Have I already said Grr? Oh I have? That's right, I'm also repeating myself. Lovely, this keeps getting better.

So now that I've used up the allotted amount of word count to rant, I've decided its time to seek a solution. There are several. 1) continue on because I am a professional and this is my job. 2) seek an alternate career choice. 3) go on a three month vacation to Reykjavik and read all the books I can while snowed in for the winter.

Option 3 would be great, but our vacation fund just ain't up to par for that one.

Option 2 is tempting, I could always become a baker, or a butcher or a candlestick maker, but then again, I have this half-written novel that's just begging to be finished.

Which brings me back to option 1. Sigh. I will be professional about this. It CAN be done.

So where do I begin? The first thing to do is step back and take a deep breath (resisting-the-urge-to-turn-on-a-Yanni-CD) and accept that it is now time to plow through my true options--and figure how on earth I can kick this thing called writer's block.

Brace yourself--this is not a writing course and my methods are probably not perfect or even correct, but I'm a little desperate, so I might as well start small and build from there.

Here's what I've got so far:

I've realized that I need to sort out my objective for the next chapter(or 2 or 3). What do I want to accomplish? What mood am I trying to evoke? What MUST happen to drive the story forward? Who do I want the reader to sympathize with, the hero? Heroine? Villain? Hmmm. Lots to think on.

This weekend, I've spent many moments in my "cocoon" which includes shutting out the world for about three minutes while I listen to music and try to play the story out in my mind. This has been incredibly helpful, yet not quite getting me over this hump. I even tried different scenes with different moods. Sometimes I'd imagine a scene with a love song, other times a tense song or even an upbeat song. Each time, the scene changed in my mind, different words were spoken, different actions and in the end--a different result. Scenes got deleted or added in.

So as I'm wading around in the swamp called writer's block, I've realized that the process is starting to feel a lot like making a soup--a little garlic, a little salt, maybe a sprinkle of pepper. As I tweaked things here and there, making subtle changes to dialogue, etc., the scenes started to become closer to what I wanted them to be. But its not there yet. My pages are still covered in chicken scratch with no quality writing, so my goal this week is to break through these next three chapters and hopefully come out on the other side with a few great scenes that are just what this story needs.

Which is why this is called Writer's Block, part one. I'll let you know what happens on the other end! (And I would love any advice or suggestions on how you deal with writer's block, so please, share away!)

If you're ready for part two...check it out here!

2010 Favorites

Ok. I just lied to you. I know I said this was going to be a list of my favorite things from 2010 but since this is my first year blogging, I might back list just a tad. (Don't worry, I promise not to go as far back as The Chipmunk Adventure movie, that was third grade. Ok, maybe sixth, and now I'm totally embarrassed. Moving on.)

This a list of books and movies that I would not only recommend, but bring a smile to my face on a cold blustery day when one just wants to curl up with a throw, a good book or the remote control.

Books:

Anything by Liz Curtis Higgs. (LOVE her Scottish Series: Thorn in my Heart, Fair is the Rose and Whence Came a Prince. Buy it now. And a box of Kleenex.) Her newest book, Here Burns my Candle, also set in Scotland, is fabulous.


Anything by Susan Meissner. (I read The Shape of Mercy and just finished Lady in Waiting. I'm currently in the middle of A Seahorse in the Thames and its really great. I was hooked by page two and that's hard to do. Susan is so good at what she does. Required: no social life for about two days. And I wish I had thought of this one: Pizza + paper plates= more time to read.) The woman has a gift. I've never read a title by her that I haven't loved.

Under the Tuscan Sun. (It was so much better than the movie. Sorry, Diane Lane. I still really like you. But the book was completely different and oh so good. And considering I got the paperback at a yard sale, it was a very inexpensive vacation. Pick up some Italian takeout or your rumbling tummy will have you clamoring for plane tickets to Italy, ASAP.)

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (Yes I had to check the spelling on that one. It was such a great read. Clever. Heartwarming. Truly captivating and entertaining. Checked it out from the library and upon completion, bought a copy of my own.)

Ok...onto Movies:

Persuasion ( Note the picture above. The version with Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds is soooo lovely. The first time I watched it, I wasn't sure if I liked it--it's a rather slow movie--but, something about that story made me start it over. And after the second time through, I was hooked. The. Best. Love Story. (The book is Lovely.)

Sense and Sensibility (I don't mean to be on a Jane Austen trip, but the girl was good. Really good. I love the version with Emma Thomson, but recently discovered the newest BBC version made for television. Such a beautiful film. (I really want to list Emma and Pride and Prejudice as well, but I will restrain myself. Just know that they are brilliant.)


Lord of The Rings (I could have mentioned this with the books, but I was part of the second generation of Ring fans when the movies came out. I devoured the books during my days of eating lunch in my high school art class with all my nerdy Tolkien friends. You know who you are :) But we had fun. And its still a great flick.)

Robin Hood (The one with Russel Crowe. My husband and I went on a date and being an archer himself, he really liked it. I loved the message of faith and conviction behind Robin Hood's character. )

Ok, I'm sure you're sensing a theme. I'm just the Les Mis and King Arthur kind of girl. Give me a bowl of popcorn, a bubbly drink, and a knight in shining armor any day :)

And I'm excited to see what good reads and flicks the new year will hold!