Linda Ford

Here’s a peak inside the mind of a writer. I’m not about to say whether or not this is normal for a writer. I’ll let you be the judge.

1. I sometimes get up in the morning eager to find out what happens in a story then realize–shoot–I have to finish writing it.

2. I laugh at things my characters say or do. As if I didn’t make it up. Though, honestly, there are times when I’m writing and it feels more like I’m a spectator than the creator.

3.I tell my friends about people in my stories as if they are real. (Of course in my mind, they are.)

4. I like having written better than writing. Starting is particularly hard. Every morning I have to fight resistance.

5. Everything is research–a trip to the coffee shop where I watch a young couple not speaking to each other, a walk through a park where I take note of places where it would be nice for a young couple to sit and make up. 

6. The best revenge is making someone who has been nasty the villain in a story.

7. I sometimes look up from writing a summer scene and am disoriented by the fact it is winter outside my window. And visa versa.

So if sometimes I act a little strange you now know why.

I’ve been trying for months (years) to simplify cooking meals so I don’t dread it every day. I’m pleased to say I feel like I’ve made significant progress in that direction.

First, by oven browning large amounts of ground beef, or stew meat, etc. to freeze for the basis of a meal.

Secondly, be deciding at the beginning of the week what I will serve every day. It’s flexible but the worst part of meal preparations is deciding what to make.

One thing one my list of possible meals is soup. Often served with cornmeal muffins, biscuits or fresh whole wheat bread. (Fresh bread. Yum.)

At this site:http://www.simplysoups.com I found the following soup recipe.

Vegetable Barley Soup

Ingredients –

3 cups Cold Water
1 (14-1/2 ounces) can Diced Tomatoes
1 (10 ounces) package Frozen Mixed Vegetables
1 medium Zucchini, quartered lengthwise and sliced
2 stalks Celery, chopped
2 medium Carrots, chopped
1 medium Onion, chopped
4 ounces Tomato Sauce
1/3 cup Regular Barley
2 Vegetable Bouillon Cubes or 4 teaspoons Instant Chicken Bouillon Granules
1/2 teaspoon Dried Basil, crushed
1/4 teaspoon Dried Oregano, crushed
dash Crushed Red Pepper

Preparation:

1. Add cold water, diced tomatoes, frozen mixed vegetables, sliced zucchini, chopped celery, chopped carrots, chopped onion, tomato sauce, barley, bouillon, dried basil, dried oregano, and crushed red pepper to slow cooker.

2. Cover and cook on LOW for 10 hours.

Of course I had to make a number of adjustments. No frozen mixed vegetables so I used beans and peas. No zucchini on hand so I used broccoli chopped fine. I added chopped green pepper and a can of mixed beans (kidney, romano, black-eyed peas). I have an event to attend this afternoon so will come home to a pot of simmering soup. If I have unexpected company I will cook rice and serve the soup over rice with a garnish of grated cheese and chopped green onions.

I’ve actually discovered meal time isn’t the ordeal it used to be as long as I know what I’m going to make.

Without the Internet my week would have been much more boring than it was.

First, the February Charisma magazine came out with a big spread from Love Inspired to celebrate Valentine Day. I have an article in it plus one of my books is included in the ad space.  Cool Check it out yourself. http://strang.imirus.com/Mpowered/book/vstrfil11/i1/p1

Then someone sent me a link for people who like books and bookshelves. Cool stuff. Don’t let the name throw you though a warning–you might find a couple of bad words if you look for them. But why look? Enjoy the books and bookshelves.

http://bookshelfporn.com/

Another cool link came my way. http://www.godvine.com/An-Unforgettable-Version-of-Amazing-Grace-Performed-by-Celtic-Woman-93.html I know there’s a way to post the video directly but technotard that I am, I couldn’t figure it out.

Then from Twitter came this lovely nugget. See my name there as one of the top Love Inspired Historical authors!

Yup. I enjoyed the Internet this week.

I love quotes. I love that a profound thought can be reduced to a few memorable words. I have a number of such saying on plaques and pictures about the house. I thought I’d share a few with you.

From a daughter:

From a friend:

From my sister:

A sign that says what I feel about romance stories:

A sign for my kitchen and my feelings  about cooking:

And a couple about life in general: