More Garden...

I had some more lilies bloom today. My favorite is a Candy Apple red. The others are a dusty rose and white. I tried taking their pictures yesterday, but the exposure was awful. I took these at dusk.

I Love My Garden...

I love to garden. It gives me such satisfaction, and it's cheaper than therapy.

I didn't work in my garden last year, and boy, did I pay for that THIS year! Last year I was grieving. Not only for the loss of my sister-in-law, but for the loss of the eleven, 60 foot trees that my neighbors on both side of our property cut down. They needed to come down, I know that, and I don't begrudge the decisions. But 10 years of hard labor on a shade garden went down the tubes - fast.

This year I'm experimenting with sun-loving flowers. I still have some shade gardens, although they do get sun part of the day. I've been working on my lilies for several years, and I planted my coreopsis two years ago. They're ready to divide, and I think I"ll move some of them to the side of the house next year.

Today I thought I'd share some of my garden that is blooming. I'm expecting hibiscus any day now. If they are showy, I'll share them too. Enjoy!

Stuck! Ugh!

My writing streak has hit a BIG wall today. I've been sitting at the computer for an hour, and I think I've put a sum total of five words on the page. Time to go outside and visit the real world. Take a trip to the garden store and buy some more mulch. Treat the kids to lunch out, maybe go to the pool or see a movie...

I'm banning myself from this chair until after dinner!

AWOL...

Sorry... I've been AWOL from my blog.

However I've been productive - 5200 words in the last 5 days on my new WIP. I'm trying, trying, trying to do 1000 words per day. I've been working mostly at night - between 10 PM and 2 AM. It's hard to write during the day. My daughter, the one who is recovering from the dislocated and broken elbow, is BORED. She is usually active ALL the time, and her friends are also gymnasts. Their fun is to play on their trampolines, personal bars and beam, and try to outdo each other on the diving board at the pool. But daughter isn't allowed to do any of this - yet. Tonight I invested in the Wii Fit. She was so excited! Hopefully it will keep her attention for awhile.

Finally, I've been tagged by Rena. Thank you Rena, for bringing me back from being AWOL!

Sinful Nature

"Sometimes you can learn more about a person by what they don’t tell you. Sometimes you can learn a lot from the things they just make up. If you are tagged with this Meme, lie to me. Then tag 7 other folks (one for each deadly sin) and hope they can lie."

Pride -- What is your biggest contribution to the world?
My ability to knock the ball out of the park!

Envy -- What do your coworkers have that you wish was yours?
Recess duty. I love standing outside with kids in all kinds of weather.

Gluttony -- What did you eat last night?
Chocolate covered aphids. It was an easy and tasty solution to the problem in the garden.

Lust -- What really lights your fire?
Pants that are belted below the butt. There's something exciting about guys that have to walk like penguins...

Anger -- What is the last thing that really pissed you off?
My cat will not stop playing with my hair when I'm trying to read on the couch. So annoying.

Greed -- Name something you hoard and keep from others.
Batteries. The kids don't need all those gadgets to work. Right?

Sloth -- What’s the laziest thing you ever did?
Lazy... hmmmm... who's lazy?

I tag the following 7 bloggers -

1 . Chocolateer
2. Green Girl in Wisconsin
3. Trisha
4. Carrie
5. Sarah
6. Christina
7. Anne

A Contest, A Quote, and Just Because...

A Contest:
Hop on over to Christina Farley's blog to enter a contest to acquire an autographed copy of one of Min jae's books AND a traditional Korean rice paper fan!
How To Enter:
1. Leave a comment on her blog to be entered to win.
2. If you are a follower, you will get an extra entry (please remind her if you are!)
3. Post it on your blog for an extra entry (leave her a note that you did)
Don't worry, she will ship to anywhere in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD!!

A Quote:
“A story should contain at least: 1 belly laugh, 1 honest tear, and 1 gasp.” – Bruce Coville 2004

and just because...
The Worst Best Man Ever

Beginnings

I don't know about you, but I can't get into gear writing a new novel until the beginning is written and satisfies me. It doesn't matter that I've got all of my character sketches complete, my research is complete, that the roadmap is clear, or that details from other parts of the story are flying around in my head. I know lots of writers who start in the middle then work forwards or backwards or jump all over the place. Not me. I'm a linear critter.

I've been struggling with the start of my new novel, probably because I've been closing and moving classrooms, finalizing school paperwork, and otherwise mentally occupied. School ended yesterday, and last night I was finally able to put down the first five pages - and I'm happy with them. Doesn't sound like much, I know, but it makes a big difference in my writing state of mind.

I think I'm ready to take off with this novel - which is a good thing, since I've publicly committed myself to 25k words by the end of June. I need to write 1200-1500 words a day to accomplish this. Good thing it's summer! Only 23,836 to go...