Sabbatical Adventures begin . . .

Sabbatical Adventures begin . . .

Monday, June 29, 2015

Story Prompt?

On our recent vacation,  we took a cruise in Alaska.  We were watching iceburgs float by from our balcony, when we saw this one.  



Look more closely . . . as we did.


Looks like a seal had a fish meal on the iceberg!  
Using this as a photo prompt,
what story could you come up with????

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Love Chocolate?

How about a flower that is chocolate colored?
Alaskan native plant:  Chocolate Lily (AKA Indian Rice)


We saw these in the coastal areas of Alaska, They are a perennial herb, called Fritillaria camschatcensis that have bronze-to-brown flowers in spring. The stems reach 16 inches, commonly used as food for native peoples.  Bulbs have many small bulblets – resembling rice grains – surrounding the main bulb, thus the name Indian Rice.

Just thought you might enjoy an interesting flower fact today :)

Monday, June 22, 2015

I thought I was not a writer!

When I was a little girl in elementary school, (thought you might enjoy seeing how I used to look!)


I distinctly remember that I could not write stories, nor could I spell.  I had long since decided that I could not write by the time I left 6th grade!



When it came to creative writing,  I remember sitting at my small desk in either 3rd or 4th grade, we had been asked to write a story.  Spending most of the allotted time agonizing for ideas, and thinking about what to write, (Sometimes I still have this problem!  You too?)  I would look everywhere around the room to see something that would hopefully spark an idea.  After wasting all my time, I would turn in a paper with, maybe, one line written on it.

As it turns out, it was discovered that I am dyslexic.  It manifested most in my reading.  Everything would get turned around in my brain, and I would read "saw" as "was" etc.   Reading slowly trying to discern what I was seeing,  I never really finished a book.   Mostly I "improvised" on every book report that I was required to do, reading a little of the front and middle and then reading the ending to get by.  I still experience a reversal of letters when I type fast, I have to check my writing carefully. Thank heaven for spell check!



Today, I write constantly, although I can't say that my mind is always full of stories, but I have acquired a system whereby the stories do flow, once I start.  That's the way it happened, with my first novel, it sort of 'flowed' from my mind and, nearly, wrote itself!  ;) (Of course you know, that is an over exaggeration, since writing is mostly hard work and discipline!)

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Little Stones

From time to time, in my blogging, you will find the title "Small Stones."  These are short written passages -- "a polished moment of paying proper attention" -- not really poetry, but succinct thoughts that convey a single thought. It was originally the brain child of Fiona of River of Small Stones, to give credit where credit is due. Although I am not an advocate for her cause, nor do the views expressed by her blog coincide with my views, but I participate, because I love the exercise of choosing something each day, connecting to the world around me, and taking the opportunity to write about it.  I may not publish it, but it is a great discipline for writers and good practice.   

(BTW---I originally started writing these in my other blog, atticreflections.blogspot.com. and after a while started putting a picture with them, as I love photography too! If you visit there, click on the Small Stones tab at the top of the home page for previously published 'stones'.) 

Now, you can follow my little babbling brook of words over the little stones entries here in this blog from now on. I am re-naming them 'Little Stones'.  They will be interspersed with my other posts, and after I have a few, you could always type "Little Stones" in the search box to find them.  The first one in this blog:


Traveling seaward
over the waves,
I see blue 
transformed to white.

Mind wandering,
as peace floods,
My heart transported
I am calm - lp