Tag Writing

Christmas Movies… It’s that time of year!

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It’s that time of year again. YES, when the Hallmark Channel starts showing Christmas movies. You need to have a tissue box close by for some of the shows. Then with other movies you can talk your heart out with other viewers, because the story line is S-L-O-W.

This past weekend, I saw on LIFETIME, “Reba McEntire’s Christmas in Tune.” It came out in 2021. I’m not sure how I missed it a few years ago. There was a lot of advertising around it. Well, it was during COVID. If you like country music, you’ll like this one, great songs.

Oh, and John Schneider, the main actor with Reba, he’s from the The Dukes of Hazzard days. I had no idea he sung country music too. So, the movie’s storyline of husband/wife country singers, who have been separated for 15 years, getting together for their daughter’s Christmas Charity, where old feelings are rekindled is a cute one.

Here’s one of the songs from the movie…

Have you started watching any Christmas movies? Which ones do you enjoy?

Happy Holidays!

Walking: Gardening – Observations

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Do you have funny thoughts when you are walking? I went to visit a friend. We were walking the neighborhood. As we were talking, I stopped, giggled and had to take this picture.

I’ve always enjoyed gardening. Trimming the hedges, raking leaves, etc. I saw this bush, and immediately wished I had my gardening sheers with me. All those funny shoots sticking out, needed trimming.

Further on our walk, we came across this gigantic sunflower. Isn’t it amazing?

All alone, it grew so tall in such glory. There is a daintiness in this sunflower’s stance too.

There is beauty all around us. We just have to slow down to see it.

Have a great weekend!

November, Writing month – NaNoWriMo -> Love it or Hate it?

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Day 1–> November 1st —> NaNoWriMo starts!

Are you IN or OUT? People have different opinions on this. If you don’t know what NaNoWriMo is, you can visit the website for details. Basically, every year for the month of November you challenge yourself to write a novel of 50,000 words.

Some people like this structure and sense of writing community. Others feel like they are being handcuffed and their creativity goes out the window. Suddenly no words, no ideas come to them.

I have mixed emotions about it. Do I need to put more pressure on myself for a month? I don’t think so. So, this year, I’ll be monitoring some conversations, but going solo. Who knows, I might just hit 50K!

Are you participating? Do you find value in this? Met other writers?

Do you say Fall or Autumn?

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I have a question. Is it Fall or Autumn?

My daughter had lived in Ireland for a few years. She went to College there. When it was September to November, she would say, “Isn’t FALL beautiful.”

To which an Irish friend would say, “You Americans always try to simplify things. It’s Autumn, not Fall. You see leaves FALL from the trees and you say it is FALL.”

So, I ask you… WHERE did the word Fall for Autumn come from?

Weather – When the storm comes in…

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We can all sense a storm coming in. The wind starts to change, the clouds come in and THEN our IPhone’s go off. Flash Flood Warning Alert.

That’s what happened this weekend. I was close to Lake Michigan, stopped by the Lake and saw this incredible view of the dark clouds slowly moving in. I had to be quick to get the photo.

The waves were rather calm for the storm that was coming. Even so, I sensed from the dark clouds looming over head and the way the temperature felt that I had to take cover. A tornado could form in this type of storm. While I was mesmerized by the colors of the Lake and the dark clouds, I had to find shelter.

In the end, the storm came, pounding rain, then after a short period the sun came out. Yes, the bright sun as if a storm had never come through our town…

Interesting find at the CAR WASH!

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My car was in desperate need of a car wash. I had parked my car in a nice shady spot. I was so proud of myself for finding such a good parking spot. Well, a few hours later, I was mad and horrified to see these massive bird droppings all over my car. I couldn’t even drive it. I had to clean my windshield off first. So, my great shady spot turned out to be the worst spot ever.

Fast forward to the car wash. My car needed vacuuming. As I got out of my car, I looked down and thought I saw a penny. The car wash is a perfect place to find all sorts of things on the ground. This object was so dark blending in with the pavement that I had to look twice.

Sure enough, it was a penny. Look how interesting though, it had a hole in it. How in the world did that happen? This penny had been through a lot. So old and beat up, I can’t even see the date on it.

My next thought went to, “Find a penny, heads up, you’ll have GOOD LUCK!” I did find a penny, heads up, but it had a hole in it.

Does the hole nix the “Good Luck,” I was supposed to receive? BIG question!

If only pennies could talk! I’d be interested to know what happened to him.

Gardening… The Artichoke!

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I just wrote a lovely post about this beautiful artichoke. Guess what – WP crashed, post GONE! For some reason, the “save draft” wasn’t working well. Early morning tech issues OR the Universe wasn’t keen on the post I had written, wanted me to START OVER! LOL

So, as my creative thought process has now disappeared, I will say… I was in California this past weekend. I went to Half Moon Bay by the ocean. It was wonderful to smell the fishy salty air and hear the fog horn. I used to go there a lot.

While walking on Main Street, I came across a gardening center and saw these artichokes. I don’t eat them much and always wondered how they grew. Now, I know. Seeing them makes me want to give them another try. I was reading that they are a good source of fiber.

Any artichoke lovers out there? What tips do you have to share on peeling / cooking them?