tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77804540207582361822024-02-19T02:19:48.714-08:00Sabbatical Musings and AdventuresWelcome to my adventure. In March of 2014, I started this Sabbatical diary intending to take a break from the many crafty things that I had been involved with for years. I explored my writing and finished my first novel. Since then, I have changed course, mostly to writing, and I hope you will join my new adventure if you have even a latent desire to be authentic in your own life.Abby / Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028566281703045829noreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780454020758236182.post-78806449378032810112017-01-23T03:00:00.000-08:002017-01-23T03:00:09.930-08:00"Senior" thought<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">My challenge for you today: How do we love our seniors? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">My mom still lives at home at 88, albeit with my younger brother and family moving in with her this past year--at her request. She still travels, thus this fun picture of my hubby with her, last Summer. </span></span></div>
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My first novel, <i>Unfinished Legacy</i>, was written from the viewpoint of an older woman
contemplating her legacy, in the midst of her daughter's disapproval of her
activities. I know that families have their difficulties. Hopefully they can find a way to love each other, anyway. So it struck me as odd, when a friend said something that made me think: "It's sad how our society warehouses our seniors."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_dx4F-CdS3jJqsPJm18V7BQQcMyrXnd7Ng9lR7SvGlkNhbnGSCEvVIOFjz1X8zdq8jee3K0Ye7OfPIGC140ZdIXF3ZhokoZ_aYHjG6YDkdcvyJW3OXnqLYp7Gx8DqFRd2RXfcMs1LU8/s1600/2534.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_dx4F-CdS3jJqsPJm18V7BQQcMyrXnd7Ng9lR7SvGlkNhbnGSCEvVIOFjz1X8zdq8jee3K0Ye7OfPIGC140ZdIXF3ZhokoZ_aYHjG6YDkdcvyJW3OXnqLYp7Gx8DqFRd2RXfcMs1LU8/s400/2534.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My mom, some of my girlie grands and me!</td></tr>
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I thought about that word-- warehouse-- in regard to beloved seniors. It was an especially poignant thought since, about 10 years back, I worked as a co-manager of a large retirement complex. To be honest, I did see many seniors who rarely received a visit from family. They were seemingly left in our charge to 'entertain', feed and care for, although it was an independent living apartment building, not a care facility. It was a tough job, loving our seniors but seeing so many end-of-life stories that fit into the "warehouse" scenario. Is that what we do with our parents? Do we stick them in a slot and forget them?<br />
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<span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"><b>Just thought it was worth contemplating today.</b></span></div>
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<br />Abby / Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028566281703045829noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780454020758236182.post-25677763387939360372017-01-19T03:00:00.001-08:002017-01-19T03:00:00.151-08:00More Book Cover DesignsI buy many books, mostly these days, online. I only get to look at a thumbnail of the cover, and read the summary of the book, to influence me to buy the book. I do, also, look at the book's rating. But if I am looking for a specific genre, I am not as influenced by the rating as I am the summary. <br />
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Since I am doing research for my own novel's cover, I have been looking at many, many book covers to see how they are set up. I've been thinking about and analyzing what drew me to read each book. Some of these I purchased because I frequently read the author's works, i.e. Beverly Lewis. I like anything that she writes for it's subject matter. All of her works have basically the same cover, an Amish person (or two), her name in large letters and the title.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7TgcZsu1QtKRcBnLeSTH8vW279D0oVV_yvpKhTLl851MG2vNaqV5BpLxWaIjL2VTsNZvd0MlfBfl9QC4T0YKOBtPxqOXhlPJCqIn6KvS8MtzDJXbhFKhwN7uElG7upOK38Oc43IYuksw/s1600/20170118_120710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7TgcZsu1QtKRcBnLeSTH8vW279D0oVV_yvpKhTLl851MG2vNaqV5BpLxWaIjL2VTsNZvd0MlfBfl9QC4T0YKOBtPxqOXhlPJCqIn6KvS8MtzDJXbhFKhwN7uElG7upOK38Oc43IYuksw/s400/20170118_120710.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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A personal acquaintance of mine, Bodie Thoene, has written several books. We lived in the same small burg where our children went to school together, and our families attended the small community church. Anyway, her cover has vignette groups of people in period dress, with her name in even bolder letters than Ms. Lewis' books. Obviously I bought this book because I know Bodie, but the vignettes are gripping as they depict place, turmoil, intrigue, love and passion. <br />
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The third book (above) is inviting as it shows a silhouette walking on a lonely night street. I bought this book, not for the cover but for the intriguing concept of the title and the summary of the story.<br />
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Two other books in my library have pictures of the setting, one a split picture of a wagon train and two women with the title between. The second, a New Orleans street scene in between the title and the author name. <br />
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While <i>Together in One Place</i> rightly depicts what the story is about, <i>Under the Cajun Moon</i>, does not. Ms. Clark's book, beginning with scenes in the city, actually takes you on a mysterious who-done-it treasure hunt romp around Louisiana. Don't get me wrong, I liked the book and have enjoyed several of her other titles but from a strictly visual (cover) perspective, I like <i>Together in One Place</i>'s cover better. <br />
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These are just my opinions, but all part of my own research for a cover design of my own.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Which one would you choose <span style="color: #134f5c;"><i>strictly</i></span> because of the cover? </b></span></div>
Abby / Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028566281703045829noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780454020758236182.post-56811956550881773902017-01-16T03:00:00.000-08:002017-01-16T10:48:34.769-08:00Book Covers <a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/blog/11890257/?claim=nvgdn32gp3k">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>
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I have read many opinions lately about the process of choosing a book cover. Authors talking among themselves about what constitutes an acceptable cover, preferred fonts, and designs that will help readers choose to buy and read the contents. They usually suggest that you have a specialist design the cover of your book. I can understand that sentiment, especially if the author is wanting a full favorable exposure for the work.<br />
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I even see authors post several draft covers--'works in progress' of their cover-- and ask for advice from others as to which one to pick. I, myself, have commented on these posts. <br />
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But I must admit that I am skeptical of having someone else design a cover for my work. My husband designed his own cover, some years ago, but then, he is a designer. Not in the literary field, but a designer no less. He used his own photo as the background for the title, subtitle and author name for the first edition cover of his non-fiction work. When it was later printed by a publisher, the cover was changed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVnu8TxjY7ROw2NiQTBhP4UCBEfX-dMBO3QLvmc4ArxSK4VfGaOhQDLWS1SVXNb1qS-h6HXO9zBeAoQseUj0h2XBYTpgOIKgpQ-6m0KaB6THLNABoXnlRWsATuCd3-N_DGZfg9C_oTKyQ/s1600/20170111_124005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVnu8TxjY7ROw2NiQTBhP4UCBEfX-dMBO3QLvmc4ArxSK4VfGaOhQDLWS1SVXNb1qS-h6HXO9zBeAoQseUj0h2XBYTpgOIKgpQ-6m0KaB6THLNABoXnlRWsATuCd3-N_DGZfg9C_oTKyQ/s320/20170111_124005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Except the fact that the type is too small on the first edition book, I like it much better. It has a "look-into-it" feel, rather than the "deciphering the old" look of the new cover. Just my opinion.<br />
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I realize that fiction covers are a 'different type of animal' than non-fiction covers. So, as to my own fiction cover, I have just started thinking about it. I have looked at dozens of covers but an image in my head has not formed yet. I may choose to use a designer . . . so . . . Wish me luck!Abby / Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028566281703045829noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780454020758236182.post-85552051076361433732017-01-12T03:00:00.000-08:002017-01-12T03:00:03.407-08:00Tharps Log<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Thursday throwback taste of my life:</div>
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Writing some segments for our family foundations/legacy book today. My Facebook feed prompted my writing when a cousin posted a picture of a fallen tree. Rains are pelting California and Oregon right now and the amount of water was just too much for the old tree with shallow roots. It was a huge Sequoia tree in Calavaras County that was a tourist attraction. It had a cut out in the bottom of the living tree, that you could drive a car thru! I'm sure my mom still has a picture, somewhere, of us when we visited there. I was there, with my family as a youngster, but what it reminded me of was another fallen tree in Sequoia National Park. </div>
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I have an old photo taken in July 1959 of that tree--called Tharpes Log--with my mom and my aunt sitting on a log fence in front of the "residence" made of another huge Sequoia tree. The photo is quite old, and you will need to look closely to see the constructed portion with a rock fireplace behind my mom. It's butted up to the base of the fallen tree. I have been in that summer grazing land shelter and found it fascinating! It reminded me of all the happy hours we spent as a family, camping in the summer, and exploring the National Parks. For the rest of the story, you will have to wait for the book to be finished! </div>
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Thanks for visiting today! </div>
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<br />Abby / Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028566281703045829noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780454020758236182.post-29843034468257086362017-01-10T03:00:00.000-08:002017-01-10T03:00:15.255-08:00Author Pseudonyms Just some of my thoughts today-- <br />
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Thinking about the use of a pseudonym for my writing. I know some say that it is better to use just one identity, rather than confuse readers. I know an author who used a name for her early books, which were successful. Then when she had a change of life philosophy, and started writing spiritually themed fiction, she used another name. Most readers love both venues, and don't realize that it is the same author. I have also heard, more than once, about an author's gender being a deterrent to their work, so they chose a pseudonym of a different gender to release their work under. This obviously makes it difficult for personal appearances at book signings! <br />
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Some might wonder about the pseudonym I use for some of my crafting. The double word name, Abigail Jayne, that I have used since 2009, spurs my creativity. It is my way of allowing myself be more creative by 'coloring outside of the lines'.<br />
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It also spurs me to be more than I think that I am. It keeps me in remembrance of two people whom I admire. I love the story of Abigail from the Bible. She was an extremely brave and wise woman, performing incredibly, especially for the time in which she lived. You can read the story for yourself, and watch this woman perform well outside of her cultural norm. Inspiring to me!<br />
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The second name, Jayne, is representative of another woman that I admire, a contemporary one. This woman is a writer that has not published anything yet. She has had stories, even whole books, in her head from childhood and will eventually get them in print. She inspires the writer in me to keep on keeping-on and get it done! <br />
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So, as to using a pseudonym, I really don't know if it will translate over from my crafting to my writing. I like the idea, but . . . we will see.Abby / Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028566281703045829noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780454020758236182.post-47747665483118381402017-01-04T03:00:00.000-08:002017-01-06T10:50:30.043-08:00New Year doin'sAfter a long hiatus, which I will not apologize for as I don't want to go into a litany of excuses; I'm starting up my blogging again--it's just that life happens.<br />
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It's the first week of the new 2017 year, so what have I planned? No resolutions for me. I have revamped my blog header to reflect a more concise summary of what you can expect to find in this blog. And of course, I am busy with research for my second novel, more about that in a later post. Any actual writing at this point is a joint project with my husband. We are collaborating on a small volume for our family, chronicling our separate and joint lives. It's more in the legacy theme, that runs through most of my life lately, considering my first novel's title is Unfinished Legacy, and my second is Unknown Legacy. (I've written about it in a previous post <a href="http://sabbaticalventure.blogspot.com/2016/04/legacy.html" target="_blank">here</a>.)<br />
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In case you don't know me, I believe that what is important for an individual life is not the just the moments that make it up, but the entirety of life as it pertains to purpose and legacy. The journey is what we will leave when the moments are forgotten. I guess you could say I believe in story. <br />
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Well, so much for today's post, I need to get on with transferring some files from my broken computer to my new computer. See ya later!Abby / Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028566281703045829noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780454020758236182.post-48990625546065181262016-11-01T11:16:00.000-07:002017-01-03T11:17:40.141-08:00Writing goals . . . ? As you can see, I have not done well, with my goal of writing for forty days. Life happens. The end of summer and beginning of Autumn is always a busy time for me in regard to crafting. And it shoved my writing to the background!!<br />
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Anyway, I will be back to writing after the holidays in January. In the meantime, here are a few pictures of our recent adventures.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQYaXDzKwDYKkC877nToz0W1CXgQszNxFLGJSNMyGMyP8MQeOuhwCBu85wTjUa-5Qo9EoE4zsm9NlNZzJIxR6MCNWzNXRsiN16emxjeBWjopPqRH7zJseGAris1mhw2PwEpLtpDvRqQmc/s1600/20160616_103330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQYaXDzKwDYKkC877nToz0W1CXgQszNxFLGJSNMyGMyP8MQeOuhwCBu85wTjUa-5Qo9EoE4zsm9NlNZzJIxR6MCNWzNXRsiN16emxjeBWjopPqRH7zJseGAris1mhw2PwEpLtpDvRqQmc/s320/20160616_103330.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trip to Silver Falls</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjklZZREWFIzlJob-t7084caI18UXmSyj-dYrOegmTXXC_OgY1HE5oUoadHtV90VJFYYwZxmiddbTRKlhTGKDBkqdWo66Zkl2ECuFWsGiuvi0irD-dSvXNtIFiCSJYzv0KtLB_AskcWG-M/s1600/IMG_6375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjklZZREWFIzlJob-t7084caI18UXmSyj-dYrOegmTXXC_OgY1HE5oUoadHtV90VJFYYwZxmiddbTRKlhTGKDBkqdWo66Zkl2ECuFWsGiuvi0irD-dSvXNtIFiCSJYzv0KtLB_AskcWG-M/s320/IMG_6375.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trip to the Diamond Peak area of Oregon</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLbsVFCr-E9Qp8NkcxIC4yu7AyUNiyBOj80N80j-czB5nqvYz4B1xo5uZXWDo4jfECrKrQnmmmK7MGuHqVVJLuslEEtNvYYN3z6APGMViBLYZbNMNQKsfAorvhUOyDQP3t0vhnK8oIe2w/s1600/IMG_6381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLbsVFCr-E9Qp8NkcxIC4yu7AyUNiyBOj80N80j-czB5nqvYz4B1xo5uZXWDo4jfECrKrQnmmmK7MGuHqVVJLuslEEtNvYYN3z6APGMViBLYZbNMNQKsfAorvhUOyDQP3t0vhnK8oIe2w/s400/IMG_6381.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rogue River, Oregon portion</td></tr>
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<br />Abby / Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028566281703045829noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780454020758236182.post-28856672330435531122016-05-07T10:44:00.000-07:002016-05-07T10:44:23.961-07:00UpdateDay18--<br />
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Not doing the greatest at this writing for forty days thing. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEHg9tk5mSTgAsaM9aCkXJdNUOq156nLC3hf4ajxMaa6rkJsMm7z6igyc7BX1OmoBtcjf09v4MGSr8-OLl5imVXKU78JD3xUuC1lPGQLz4OjuFd3v7WQC2G6C4ep60nVYqonfMoyXiYvQ/s1600/20160504_173001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEHg9tk5mSTgAsaM9aCkXJdNUOq156nLC3hf4ajxMaa6rkJsMm7z6igyc7BX1OmoBtcjf09v4MGSr8-OLl5imVXKU78JD3xUuC1lPGQLz4OjuFd3v7WQC2G6C4ep60nVYqonfMoyXiYvQ/s320/20160504_173001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Took a mini beach vacation in the middle of this week, (some pictures below). Today is Saturday and I will write more on my novel, and tomorrow is Mother's Day, probably no writing on that day when one has ten kids! Probably will be going out to breakfast, lunch and dinner and taking phone calls the rest of the day! Whew!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipWWm_FdCMO0RISfzUHY7xnxku-Db9x3I5PjRGEUoCu9W9XOd0cxQVW1zB8s7NmQ3Sj_fGUhTHdsClO3q-vavzw7NapcldHJ9v9gSAZYiL5IkE6oLdXSqaRZ9hC8km4I08XU-dCsJQ1QI/s1600/20160504_172559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipWWm_FdCMO0RISfzUHY7xnxku-Db9x3I5PjRGEUoCu9W9XOd0cxQVW1zB8s7NmQ3Sj_fGUhTHdsClO3q-vavzw7NapcldHJ9v9gSAZYiL5IkE6oLdXSqaRZ9hC8km4I08XU-dCsJQ1QI/s400/20160504_172559.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOr3ylwdi9HDBE9FqvUJJzJ-ndLIBpMR6Tx5zE045TniIaGI4tdCZL4rL0VYJCWpsezrd6Cfcsf0QWFqo4FwX9ZO0L7i7FNF_yCIVp3dkIi-NFrwYUN-0QQW7p6ccyHdxatx6HxNuRUM/s1600/20160504_170600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOr3ylwdi9HDBE9FqvUJJzJ-ndLIBpMR6Tx5zE045TniIaGI4tdCZL4rL0VYJCWpsezrd6Cfcsf0QWFqo4FwX9ZO0L7i7FNF_yCIVp3dkIi-NFrwYUN-0QQW7p6ccyHdxatx6HxNuRUM/s400/20160504_170600.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Anyway, I just wanted you to know that I am still trying to keep up with this 40 days of writing. catch me later at the first of next week for more writing. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVg_rO54Wz4s9EwU_-qLNCtlx5hP4Og1qnQjt_bD2592lf0C6b4p9RGyjYdAPHSMldjVi6wPewB5iKfoV8QoxJobn4PrJnxwaNk326GrcR4ZsJxTvS_SjAog_-7RV2-acSkFaV6gdfX7k/s1600/20160504_165158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVg_rO54Wz4s9EwU_-qLNCtlx5hP4Og1qnQjt_bD2592lf0C6b4p9RGyjYdAPHSMldjVi6wPewB5iKfoV8QoxJobn4PrJnxwaNk326GrcR4ZsJxTvS_SjAog_-7RV2-acSkFaV6gdfX7k/s320/20160504_165158.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0c343d; font-size: large;">And have a happy Mother's Day!</span></b></div>
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Abby / Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028566281703045829noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780454020758236182.post-83191307446676421832016-05-04T18:14:00.000-07:002016-05-04T18:14:16.131-07:00R & RWe're off on an adventure today. Rented a cabin at Fort Steven's State Park near Astoria Oregon for some R & R. Ahhh, so peaceful and quiet here (until hubby's car alarm went off accidentally :) Sitting here enjoying the view from the kitchen table over a cup of tea.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1rzTSD_FzgLQ51Malvs9X3YSMFGSwElQ9y4eJguQefXimuwh2uyZjI3XgXvECSeD9JW6iZXX7tP8vV6xc_vBPVHBrg5twmKPmcql2xp56YerM5fXI5dLciuhdwrVdXD4h7Y6l3_sS7cI/s1600/14624099021581580368033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1rzTSD_FzgLQ51Malvs9X3YSMFGSwElQ9y4eJguQefXimuwh2uyZjI3XgXvECSeD9JW6iZXX7tP8vV6xc_vBPVHBrg5twmKPmcql2xp56YerM5fXI5dLciuhdwrVdXD4h7Y6l3_sS7cI/s320/14624099021581580368033.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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A little difficult to get my mobile to post pics, so I'll share more when I get home.Abby / Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028566281703045829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780454020758236182.post-89189459374991180302016-05-02T12:17:00.002-07:002016-05-02T12:17:56.151-07:00Determination <b>Day 13 - - -</b><br />
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Well, I missed posting on Saturday and Sunday, but I did write on other projects, so I feel I am doing well with this writing for 40 days determination. (See first post<a href="http://sabbaticalventure.blogspot.com/2016/04/late-lenten-season.html" target="_blank"> here</a>.) <br />
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It's harder than one might think to follow thru with 40 days of anything. It involves will power! And as I said before staying focused on the final destination--this one being a habit of writing daily.<br />
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So for today's submission, here is a little poem about our new month of May.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI1ok5fdQqry34ACTSVIZbQ8j4-zzryLnNaJ0EfSGaJ82_KoLqQ1RBFljovHIn8Jh5vobC4S_nHwig4TuQMfSIs8bzSpB0zq5KKjycJbjvQMG4HSwuyoS6U85MzsusJBF1jzJA1ZlLSAI/s1600/20140618_115745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI1ok5fdQqry34ACTSVIZbQ8j4-zzryLnNaJ0EfSGaJ82_KoLqQ1RBFljovHIn8Jh5vobC4S_nHwig4TuQMfSIs8bzSpB0zq5KKjycJbjvQMG4HSwuyoS6U85MzsusJBF1jzJA1ZlLSAI/s320/20140618_115745.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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May, traditionally a month of flowers</div>
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brought from the April showers. </div>
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Spring brought us May Day poles </div>
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and garden Easter egg rolls. </div>
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All beautiful symbols of peace</div>
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But our symbols have been fleeced--</div>
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by people who protest in streets--</div>
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too bad they don't choose peace.</div>
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Abby / Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028566281703045829noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780454020758236182.post-31495482305685978362016-04-29T16:30:00.003-07:002016-04-29T16:38:33.315-07:00Legacy<b>Day 10--</b><br />
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Thinking about my writing today . . . my book series on Legacy. Legacy means: anything handed down from an ancestor. I know we don't often think of ourselves as anyone's ancestor, but the truth is, we will be an ancestor to someone, even if we have no kids. We are probably someone's aunt, (or uncle) and so will be an ancestor.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhppqSZY3rYFqM0S568L90QotJkCI5zrAAhhtz-OozBsCqVcZUcmJoU-PwbDNXx3zV_pPgX6x6G2Q1uMvRjVfqc6oPPpP3xiNZAIw48aEbh5ZUd77R0OKbI6Tp-ine4xmMdnuCHQmDUIgo/s1600/Yoder+tombstone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhppqSZY3rYFqM0S568L90QotJkCI5zrAAhhtz-OozBsCqVcZUcmJoU-PwbDNXx3zV_pPgX6x6G2Q1uMvRjVfqc6oPPpP3xiNZAIw48aEbh5ZUd77R0OKbI6Tp-ine4xmMdnuCHQmDUIgo/s320/Yoder+tombstone.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Headstone in the Alden Cemetery - Caddo Co. Oklahoma</td></tr>
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What will successive generations look back on? What do they want to see in their heritage? Will they find you in their history and wonder who you were? Everyone wants to be remembered, don't they? And not be just a name on a tombstone? Isn't that why (albeit, subconsciously) so many of us want to be famous? We want to think that our lives matter for something, or to someone. <br />
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Legacy is the basic premise of my book series. Series titles at this point, are Unknown Legacy: The Severed Branch, and Unfinished Legacy: Abby's Story. Both books deal with what we want to leave behind. One book, in progress, follows several generations to a current legacy being lived out, and the other, finished but not published, a personal legacy of the value of one life. Hoping you will want to read both of them.<br />
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I am today, toying with the third title but it is not set in stone yet. (pardon the pun!) Obviously, not started yet, just in the conception stage. <br />
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Well, better get back to it! Unknown Legacy is calling for a finish! <br />
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<br />Abby / Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028566281703045829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780454020758236182.post-5480593482554857162016-04-28T11:20:00.000-07:002016-04-28T11:20:42.564-07:00Staying Focused on the Destination <b>Day 9 - - - </b><br />
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Yesterday I spent some time writing on my second novel, reacquainting myself with the characters and rethinking my plot and how I am getting to where I want to go with it. (That's what happens when you get in a funk and let things go for a while! You have to re-think! Refresh!) <br />
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I re-read the prologue, and the first two chapters. I added some details and today I will re-read it to see if it is captivating enough for my readers. As I write, it occurs to me that I know where the plot is going, but my reader doesn't. He/she must<i> want </i>to keep reading; I must captivate him with words. I know you who write already know this, so, who am I telling, anyway?! This post is just a little reminder to stay focused and stay in process!<br />
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">Hope you are able to stick-with-it!</span></b></div>
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BTW, for those of you who were wondering, my second novel, will be called <u>The Severed Branch</u>. It is the second in my Legacy series. </div>
Abby / Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028566281703045829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780454020758236182.post-42123961076914743402016-04-27T15:14:00.002-07:002016-04-27T15:19:06.234-07:00Cheery ColorI need a bit of cheering up today, due to some sad news. Usually flowers do the trick! These are on my patio. I love any combination of purple and yellow, although these pansies are sort of magenta. Anyway, these<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm_rgC69-aNDcjdVZiAzA_T5uZQOg7uExiIvhL2x0FH1K8ucybf90_IiwwIjHD5iVlaZNS3zIiHc1dCf3t7pPuNuqWpEjQa2CCj2XKiNs63txzZTgMR1L-QdG392Fdz4LJr9CZ-Ahh_MI/s1600/20160427_144528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm_rgC69-aNDcjdVZiAzA_T5uZQOg7uExiIvhL2x0FH1K8ucybf90_IiwwIjHD5iVlaZNS3zIiHc1dCf3t7pPuNuqWpEjQa2CCj2XKiNs63txzZTgMR1L-QdG392Fdz4LJr9CZ-Ahh_MI/s400/20160427_144528.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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perky pansies are a bright 'hello' anytime I need them. Today, they have inspired me to a new project. What do you think of the combination for some pretty fabric coasters or a patchwork throw pillow for Spring?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJW_xOiUb7iD9yN0914lwo3k6gijguHXr3HC1HBNAS5ikx9IPx9TGTGSuguJ3H9Mu7vxYGkhOrPjjYJkKK7j-kzixzAVle5GDhvcnU4WLYDQ0XRL7R2ru9kgcEAbt6DGzxMSq88iDks2U/s1600/20160427_145626+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJW_xOiUb7iD9yN0914lwo3k6gijguHXr3HC1HBNAS5ikx9IPx9TGTGSuguJ3H9Mu7vxYGkhOrPjjYJkKK7j-kzixzAVle5GDhvcnU4WLYDQ0XRL7R2ru9kgcEAbt6DGzxMSq88iDks2U/s400/20160427_145626+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I am also working on an adjustment to my granddaughter's prom dress. It's a deep shade of purple with sparkles. They look a little yellowish in the photo, although they are clear and silverish. Maybe she will get a corsage that has a bit of yellow in it? Ya think?<br />
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Doesn't color and combinations of color, or just plain flowers, make your day better?</div>
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<b><span style="color: purple; font-size: x-large;">It does mine!</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: medium;">P.S. Besides cheering me up, this post is for the BBA challenge for April. See other posts here. </span></div>
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Abby / Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028566281703045829noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780454020758236182.post-12246643236238079462016-04-26T10:14:00.000-07:002016-04-26T14:57:04.673-07:00Quandary<b>Day 7--</b><br />
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Yes, I know, I missed two days! I said I was going to post everyday for 40 days. I missed Sunday--was traveling a bit, not being in front of the computer (a day of rest from the routine). Then, Monday, I just let the day slip by! So now it's Tuesday and I find myself in a quandary. <br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>quandary dictionary definition:</b> a state of perplexity, a situation in which you are confused about what to do.</span><br />
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What do you do when you can't make a decision? I am reminded from an earlier <a href="http://sabbaticalventure.blogspot.com/2016/04/others-and-myself.html" target="_blank">post</a> of a tip I gave to my readers about making decisions:<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">(Little known fact: "If not 'yes' then it is automatically a 'no', or, Failure to make a decision is a 'No' decision. 'Yes' takes action and is most times hard, where 'No' can stay in the status quo.)</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">So to take my own advice, </b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">I cannot stay in this quandary of indecision. If I choose to stay in my 'status quo' situation, I don't decide to move ahead. I <i>must</i> put crippling fear (fear of what others might think) behind me, and move my feet toward the future. I can do it! My only quandary now is, how do I explain where I want to go? It's kind of like this picture. Going from dry land in the foreground to the mountain top (and might I say, that I have never been to) that is obscured by vapor and clouds. How do you explain where you have never been? Especially if you cannot see clearly thru the diffusing haze suspended in front of the destination? </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">I have a meeting tonight, and I have to make this decision. I must drive on thru the confusion, NO more quandary!</span></span></span>Abby / Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028566281703045829noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780454020758236182.post-23408949459387362482016-04-23T16:14:00.000-07:002016-04-23T16:14:23.803-07:00Kicking Back<div style="text-align: center;">
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Spending a little time today just kicking back. Working in the yard; planted some snapdragons, and weeded the bed between rain showers. I'm catching up on blogs that I like and trying to comment. I love to let my friends know that I was there, not just peeping in the shadows. And I am doing a little maintenance to my online shops. Should be reading a book, but don't have one I am interested in right now. I let my library book expire. Shucks! Will make dinner for my grand boys a little later. <br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What is your Saturday looking like?</b></span></div>
Abby / Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028566281703045829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780454020758236182.post-34926345562646275162016-04-22T14:55:00.000-07:002016-04-23T14:00:12.883-07:00Green?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Ever woken up hearing plink! plink! splash, drip drip drip, coming from the nearby window. Such a soothing sound. So quiet in your darkened room, snuggled under the coverlet. You lie there and listen . . . drip, slash, plink, plink, drip. It begins to have a rhythm . . . (three short plinks) . . . plink, plink, plink . . . (lower pitched) slash . . . (two shorts) . . . plink, plink, (and a plonk) . . . drip. It's been awhile since you've heard rain, such a comforting sound in a dry season.<br />
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In the early morning, you go to the window and look out, looking down on the garden plot. More splash, drip drip drip. This is a promising sound, saying: "Come on! Here we <b><span style="color: #38761d;">go!</span></b><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>"</b></span> . . . it promises things like <span style="color: #38761d;"><b>"G</b></span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>o! Be green!"</b></span> The promise of a future --<span style="color: #38761d;">"</span><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Go! Be fruitful"</span></b>. You hear it calmly rolling in waves of hopefulness. And whether it is a fruitful garden that you want, or it is a fruitful future life, the question today is: Do you believe that things are going to change and get <span style="color: #38761d;"><b>"green"</b></span>? Wondering what that <span style="color: #38761d;"><b>"greenness</b></span>" will look like? Visualizing a new beginning today . . .<br />
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<b><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Can you see it?</span></b></div>
Abby / Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028566281703045829noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780454020758236182.post-68671971484012517212016-04-21T03:00:00.000-07:002016-04-21T03:00:14.877-07:00Others and Myself<b>Day Two: Thoughts about people</b><br />
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I had a discussion with my brother about the nature of humans. I have thought on this subject and have taken it a bit further in discussion with others. We are made up of intellect, emotion and will to form personality.<br />
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These three should be balanced to make a well rounded, functioning personality.<br />
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Some people are not balanced. There are jokes about those who have "a big head" thinking that they know everything. And some of those, that are all about intellectualism, are not emotionally able to handle differing opinions than what they have learned with their intellect, trying always to reason their way out of a differing opinion. Data is important to them, and data only. BTW, IQ measures this mental capacity.<br />
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Some people have no emotional capacity. (There is a whole study on emotional capacity called EQ.) Some have been hurt so badly that they protect themselves and refuse to feel. And might I say, some others have only an infantile capacity to have empathy for others. What they think funny, or even right is the only correct answer--others<i> must</i> feel like they do! It makes no difference to them how others might feel; it may seem to others that they are cruel. I wonder if they have no capacity to put themselves in the shoes of another.<br />
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In regard to the will, some people are not able to make the yes or no decisions of the will that determine their future. (Little known fact: "If not 'yes' then it is automatically a 'no', or, Failure to make a decision is a 'No' decision. 'Yes' takes action and is most times hard, where 'No' can stay in the status quo.)<br />
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Why am I bringing this up, because I am thinking about it. Where am I in each part of my personality? Do I spend an inordinate amount of time honing my intellect with education and ignore my emotional reactions to others? Am I pleased with where I find myself? Do I need to make a few changes? Exercise my will? Where am I headed? For that matter,<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Where are you headed?</span></b></div>
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<br />Abby / Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028566281703045829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780454020758236182.post-50331482738925624392016-04-20T12:35:00.001-07:002016-04-20T12:35:05.724-07:00Late 'Lenten Season' <b>Day One: Purpose of 40 days and nights</b><br />
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Writer's block has to end! I have written a little bit on my second novel, since my last blog post back on February 1st! (Not ready to share about that yet). Now, in an effort to really end my block, I am <i>setting aside a block</i> of time (literally) just for listening to the spirit of inspiration and doing some writing for the next 40 days- sort of like a season of Lent. I know, the Lenten season and Easter is over! "It's late April, of goodness sakes! You missed it! You're <u>really</u> missing it, since Lent is a season of fasting not inspiration!" says the religious person.<br />
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But I am a spiritual person. Yes, the Lenten season, religiously, has been a season of penitence and fasting to remember the suffering of Christ. But I said my 40 days was going to be "sort of like" the Lenten season. Not all 40 day seasons are for subtraction; some, in the Bible were for proving and adding. Christ spent 40 days in the wilderness to be tested. I need to be tested to see if I can write consistently everyday for 40 days! I'm proving myself! <span style="font-size: x-small;"> [2 Tim 2:15]</span><br />
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Also, Elijah spent 40 days and nights in the wilderness <i>resting!</i> He was exhausted from his confrontations with the King, Queen and the people of Israel. He spent 40 days and nights on vacation (traveling to mountain of God--Mt. Horeb) and resting from his usual life. I will be resting and 'vacationing' from my usual routine that keeps me so busy that I don't write! <span style="font-size: x-small;">[Isa 28:12, Mark 6:31]</span><br />
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This blog is about sabbatical events, various sabbaticals that I take from my usual routine. (I seem to not be able to function without some "time outs"! :) Besides, this is how this blog was started; it started when I took a sabbatical back in March of 2014. So, come along with me on the newest of my Sabbatical ventures as I rest, vacation and get inspired to write! It may only be a few words of inspiration, to write about later, but I will write a post everyday--a diary of my 2016 Sabbatical. Enjoy the journey with me!<br />
<br />Abby / Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028566281703045829noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780454020758236182.post-51393103505474957852016-02-01T03:00:00.000-08:002016-02-01T03:00:00.148-08:00Writer's block or embroidery 'block'?Well, it seems that my focus is on embroidery! I just can't seem to sit down and write. I am thinking about it, processing my plot line in my head, but haven't made a decision, so just can't sit at the computer and write! So what do I do with myself? I've been working on embroidery to keep my hands busy. I finished this hoop yesterday.<br />
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(I was introduced to Portulaca, commonly known as moss rose, when I lived in Missouri. I had never known it before then; it's a favorite there.)<br />
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This hoop had been in my UFO bin (unfinished objects) for over a year! I think it turned out nicely, <span style="font-size: large;">but I would prefer to have my novel turn out nicely, instead! </span></div>
Abby / Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028566281703045829noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780454020758236182.post-70581063111794826852016-01-27T12:36:00.001-08:002016-01-27T12:40:03.740-08:00Rain . . . the rainy season . . . .The rainy season is here, and I am still having mixed emotions about my winter purpose much like this photograph of rain drops on my windshield. <br />
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I want to write, I need to write. I have two book projects in the works, but several creative projects are hanging on, almost screaming at me to be finished. Then there are special projects for clients that need to be completed. And I am at a place in my life where I am dealing with changing health issues and need to be diligent with exercise and eating habits, so <i>they</i> scream for attention. Ever been there?<br />
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I bet you have. It will take some introspection and some priority to sort it out. Introspection, to sort thru all the fuzziness, and decision to chose my priority. Priority cannot be chosen if the mind is befuddled, cluttered and fuzzy! So it is time to wipe away the fuzzies and proceed . . . .<br />
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Proceed to clarity of purpose . . . . and a clear view.<br />
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It's a matter of focus . . . . and precision.<br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><b>How's your focus?</b></span></div>
Abby / Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028566281703045829noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780454020758236182.post-4141480732074847192016-01-14T19:43:00.002-08:002016-01-15T18:03:21.582-08:00The 'Seasonal Rhythms' of LifeWhew! The autumn and holiday season of 2015 surely did me in! I was busy like a whirlwind and the subsequent aftermath of chaos took time to recover from! I am finally beginning to feel like my own relaxed self again, getting back to my regular rhythm of tasks! When I looked at the last entry date in this blog, all I could say was "WOW! It's time to write again!" So here are a few words to begin . . . .<br />
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When I was young, embroidered tea towels taught the discipline of daily and seasonal tasks. Embroidered scenes told me Monday was for washing clothes, Tuesday was for ironing, Wednesday for mending etc. Or, they depicted seasonal tasks like Spring cleaning, Summer vacationing, Fall for back to school and getting ready for holidays. Generally we still participate in some of these actions, but my retired lifestyle's seasonal rhythms are a bit different. I have no one in school, and I am free to go on a vacation whenever I like.<br />
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The reason for my Autumn exhaustion and 'no blogging' this past Fall was the seasonal rhythm of my business craft show season, (not to mention a busy personal life with the holidays). The coming Winter season is my time to change gears from arts and crafts--working with my hands--to returning to some serious writing. I am working on a revision of my first novel and hope to finish by Spring. In late March, although I will be still write, I will take a vacation and begin spending my time to be outdoors, taking walks and engaging in photography again.<br />
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I love Spring--it invigorates my creative juices like an Artesian well spring--as the earth blossoms, so hopefully does my creativity! <br />
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/263915391/heart-and-flowers-embroidery-hoop-art?ref=shop_home_active_1" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZI9DM4rWYrND1soY65QgR7mz1o3lvhyozOaU9vvb7CdcRvh0B44jgjxd7Hh-gLwF-lIa6HlRnLDJRkdXB4jPq4f2fo-z40mWijY1JdVkWIIrcNUAOln8TdzYJCv3qgJSdFXRdWz7N5kI/s320/20160114_141319.jpg" width="294" /></a></div>
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Well, I won't go on, you get the idea. I try to write a bit everyday, as a discipline, and this is my start for this season! What does your seasonal rhythm look like? What do you do to make the transition from one season to the next? Hope this Winter season will be a great season for you, regardless of the weather! Abby / Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028566281703045829noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780454020758236182.post-37228989989675393042015-10-23T03:00:00.000-07:002016-01-27T12:15:20.184-08:00Rewriting and Voting!Yes, novel re-writes are hard! What do I scrap? What do I keep? How do I re-arrange? How much do I lean on my editor's input? Do I go a different direction?<br />
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In the middle of my rewrite process, I recently read an article by Steven Gillis that was bluntly advocating that the 'art' of writing is in the 'rewriting'. I'd not thought much about what good 'writing' entailed, until I wrote a novel. I understood 'cut and paste' but not the intricate rearrangement of chapters and chapters of thought!<br />
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Mr. Gillis went on to say that when he taught a university creative writing class that his class assignment was to write a single story. The class would then use the entire semester to do rewrite after rewrite! His article inspired me in my own rewriting process not only in page by page editing, but chapter by chapter finishing. <br />
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I have been living with my novel for quite some time now, on and off since 2010 when the premise caught my attention. It sometimes feels like I will be a 'one novel' author! I am at the point I want to <i>get loose</i> from this first novel and start on my second, but . . . details need to match, the story needs to flow, yet have intrigue. I am still hoping that all this process will lead, at some point, to the conviction that the work is indeed finished. What a day that will be! <br />
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In the meantime, can you take my survey in the right sidebar? It will relieve my mind of one detail, at least for a while. I want your opinion of a possible title to my work. I would appreciate your input! <br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "bradley hand itc"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Please .
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #741b47;"><strike>Vote Now! </strike></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">P.S. Thanks to all who voted, my novel has a title!</span> </b></span></span></div>
Abby / Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028566281703045829noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780454020758236182.post-25435336658041902162015-10-13T10:17:00.000-07:002015-10-22T12:06:20.986-07:00Sensory AutumnAutumn, being my favorite season is easy to write about! My favorite Etsy team has a monthly challenge and this month it says: <span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Fall is in full swing by the time October rolls around. Create something that reminds you of Fall through your senses--visually by smell or by touch. If you prefer, write a post that celebrates the sensory appeal of autumn.</span><br />
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I love when mornings begin to turn crisp with a slight chill in the air. I open my patio door and step out, just to breathe in the brisk atmosphere. Overcast skies don't dampen my spirits!<br />
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Across the parking lot, I see the frost atop the next building, quietly laying there unnoticed by the building occupants comfy within. I see tiny foot prints across the roof marring the frost layer; birds have been hunting their morning's fare, hopping from the rooftop to the pine tree and back again.<br />
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After my steaming coffee is finished, I don my warm jacket and sturdy shoes, setting out for a morning walk, down the parking lot toward the green space. <br />
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Covered in colorful leaves, I almost cannot see the trail beginning, but I have been here often. The crunch under my feet marks the beginning of the path. Down the incline, closer to the watershed, I begin to hear the rustle and peep of a chickadee in the trees. I look up and wonder how many of them I can spot this morning. Are they scurrying to fill their larders for winter or scrambling for the morning meal? I wonder.<br />
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I enjoy the end of a flourishing summer season, the wind-down of all the garden bounty! At the end of my walk, I am inspired to decorate my table, to bring the outdoors inside my small space--grateful for the colors of autumn and the anticipation of the holidays!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Note: this post was done for a <a href="http://bloggingbusinessartisans.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Blogging Business Artisans </a>challenge</span>.Abby / Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028566281703045829noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780454020758236182.post-46863008984576631362015-09-10T17:15:00.001-07:002015-09-10T17:21:52.473-07:00Writer's Encouragment!I've been on a bit of a break--with my writing--and was recently encouraged by another writer's twitter post that I randomly happened to see. It was like a refreshing rain.<br />
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All it said was:<br />
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<i>"I've been on a long break but today I get back to work. And it feels so good!" @JessicaB_writer</i><br />
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It was a simple statement. Factual but poignant for my life. What it said to me was:<br />
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1) She had no regrets about her break. Writers beat themselves up about breaks, or what they call "writer's block".<br />
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2) In the 'here and now', <i style="text-decoration: underline;">today</i> she was getting back to it! Not tomorrow, not next week, nor when she finally got a "round tuit."<br />
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3) And to prompt everyone who read the post, she added her feelings! "It feels so good!"<br />
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Who wouldn't feel encouraged by this short tweet? I did! I told her so. Thanks Jessica! Thanks for a simple statement! I needed it. Now, back 'tuit'! Chapter 4 revision, here I come!Abby / Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028566281703045829noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780454020758236182.post-83889152192995170922015-08-04T11:37:00.001-07:002015-08-04T11:37:44.294-07:00Gather ye rose buds . . .. . . while ye may! Otherwise, you might miss something wonderful! It's summer, the flowers are blooming, the bees are buzzing and the blue jay is visiting my deck! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lantana, Banana Red</td></tr>
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Yes, the height of summer brings lots of things, but it is especially time to get outside for a picnic, dip in the pool or river, or just a nice evening stroll. I tend to stay indoors because it is hot. I am reminding myself with this post that I must gather goodness while it is here!<br />
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(Without an evening forest stroll, I would have missed the delicate lavender in these weed blossoms! Beautiful!)<br />
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<b><span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-large;">Enjoy!</span></b></div>
Abby / Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13028566281703045829noreply@blogger.com8