Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Snow, More Snow, Writing, and a Good Read

It's snowing here in southwest Ohio. Lots. We don't have as much snow as they do farther north and east, but it's enough. This is what is looks like right now from my back deck, and it's supposed to keep snowing for the next 24 hours.





I'm very tired of gray and snow. This is what I'm looking forward to. It's a nice reminder that the world does have color!



Everything has shut down in Cincinnati and the surrounding communities -which means my kids and I have a snow day! The four best things about snow days?
1. No school for me (says the teacher!)

2. My house gets a deep clean -I love it when my house is picked up, cleaned and things are where they're supposed to be. Not an easy feat with teenagers in the house. It relaxes me, and I find I can enjoy a good book or write without guilt. If there are chores left undone, they inevitably find their way into my thoughts when I'm trying to write. It's best to get them done first.

3. I have lots of time to write, blog and read -I've started writing a new novel, and it's so much fun! I love it when the ideas start flowing and the story is fresh and new. I've written a rough summary and started my setting and character sketches. Last night I finished chapter 2. Today I tackle chapter 3. I'm aiming for 700 - 1000 words on the days I teach, and 1000+ on the days I don't work. I'd like to have the first draft finished by the end of spring break. That would give me all of May and through the summer to revise and get ready for submissions. At least, that's the plan...

4. I can scrap everything and READ! I've had GRACELING, by Kristen Cashore, posted as my current read for a quite a while, but I didn't get an opportunity to start it until this past Sunday. I love it! I've got several hours set aside this evening specifically for GRACELING.

I've a turkey in the oven and a to-do list to tackle. After that, uninterrupted writing time. WOOT!

10 comments:

Bish Denham said...

Oh BRRRR! Looks beautiful, but I'm just not a cold weather person. A friend of mine lives in Arlington, VA, has been buried for several days, and it looks like will continued to be buried. I'm not envious of either of you. But at least you are able to do some things you want, particularly working on a new novel!

Nora MacFarlane said...

My husband and I have discussed moving south when daughter graduates high school. Neither of us tolerate the cold well anymore. I would want to live somewhere that still has seasons though. We were in Orlando for Christmas this year, and it just didn't feel quite right not so have a little crisp to the air.

We've got 9 measurable inches on the back deck. We're expecting 3-5 inches more...

Brenda said...

We have 22 -24 inches here from our weekend blizzard and it just started snowing again...and they are calling for 10-15 more inches...argh...

I'm sooo tired of snow!

Kelly H-Y said...

Sounds like you're accomplishing lots! And, the snow looks gorgeous ... I have a similar shot of our outdoor table from last year! :-)

Kelly Polark said...

It sounds like you are accomplishing things AND taking some good time to read on your snow day! We had lots of snow today but still school...my kids are so hoping for a snow day tomorrow!

Ruth Donnelly said...

My daughter got a snow day today, but I had to go to school--how is that fair? (another teacher here, lol!)

Christina Farley said...

Just reading your blog makes me all happy. Sounds like you are having a great SNOW DAY! Have you ever read that picture book? It's cute. It's by Jimmy Fallon.

Oh, and Hello Snow by Hope Vestergaard is cute too.

We might get snow here in Seoul tomorrow. Here's to crossing fingers!

Anonymous said...

This is such a good time of year to write--I'm in the throes of revisions with my clean house and clear schedule;)

Anonymous said...

Nora,
I'm a producer with Your Livable Garden radio show. Tomorrow we're taping our Romance in the Garden show and I'd love to do a telephone interview with you, have you read one of your garden-inspired poems and then talk about how gardens inspire you...would only take 10-15 minutes. We tape between 10 am and noon, CDT. Please email me asap if you're available, livablegarden@gmail.com...I'll give you my cell number and we can go over everything...thanks for your consideration!!!

Nora MacFarlane said...

Ohhh, Brenda - You can KEEP your snow totals over there in your state.

Kelly H-Y : The deck table is within reach of the kitchen door without sticking toes into the snow. We stuck a ruler into it this morning. We've got 13 measurable inches and more coming Sunday.

Kelly - I hope they get their snow day! My daughter had a blast in the snow.

Ruth: How come your kids got off but YOU didn't? Are you in different districts? My poor daughter used to have to come to school with me when that happened. Now I teach in a rural and hilly district. We get off fairly often.

Christina: I have read SNOW DAY! It is cute! I ended up not writing, but I buried myself in GRACELING. It was a terrific read!

Green Girl: Send your clear schedule over hear! Mine's going to swallow me next week.

Your Livable Garden: Thanks for the invite. I'm sorry I got it too late!