In the interests of efficiency I have reduced as much as my life as possible to the basics. I want minimal furnishings and ornaments so I don’t have to dust. I want no-care finishes. I want meals that can be made in less than 30 minutes. Yes, I’d be happy if they would invent self-cleaning toilets, windows, countertops and sinks. No, I’m not lazy. At least, not terribly lazy. (I don’t think.)
So I’m looking for desperation dinners–meals made in 30 minutes or less. I’ll go first.
Hamburger/ macaroni dish.
cook 3 cups of macaroni in a pot of water. (use amount of macaroni suitable for your family. This amount feeds 3 or 4 adults)
Meanwhile brown 1 lb. hamburger.
When it is brown add
1 can tomato soup,
1 can of milk
1 can of diced tomatoes
1/2 to 1 cup of salsa.
Drain cooked macaroni and add to hamburger mixture. Heat. Can be served as is or covered with grated cheese (cover and allow to melt). You can sprinkle on green onions if desired. Good served with hot bread and a salad. Good comfort food.
I guess I like to–and need to–reduce my story to a basic structure too–one that includes theme and a beginning, middle and end. Over the years I continue to amalgamate several different methods into something that works for me. I want bullets bits of description. I don’t want details at this point, only a blink of information. Most of all, I need the overall structure and the whys and hows.
(picture of story structure using W plot, theme and a storyboard)
Pretty basic stuff. But it works for me.
Anyone out there willing to share fast meals–especially ones based on beef? Or cheese, macaroni, etc. The more basic the better.
THE 10 BEST THINGS ABOUT BEING AN AUTHOR.
1. I get to work at home.
2. My uniform is whatever I chose-mine is jeans and teeshirts.
3. I set my own hours. I can work 12 hours. I can work 0. (Deadlines exert some pressure, of course, that destroys the perfection of this statement.)
4. Everything is fodder for a story. Warning: Cross me and I’ll make you the villain in my next book.
5. Even when I’m not working, I’m working. Yes, staring into space is working time for writers.
6. Books. I can buy so many books for research. Now if I can just find time to read them.
7. Research requires travel. What more can I say?
8. The worlds and people inside my head sometimes…often….usually make more sense than the real world.
9.I actually get paid to do something I enjoy.
10. There is a whole world of fellow authors out there and they are the most interesting people.
MY FAVORITE BOOK OF ALL TIME.
Today I would like to tell you about my all time favorite book. I have read it probably a thousand times and still enjoy reading it.
It’s called The Piggy In The Puddle, written by Charlotte Pomerantz (Author), James Marshall (Illustrator)
(Available on Amazon and other fine on-line bookstores)
See the piggy,
See the puddle,
See the muddy little puddle.
See the piggy in the middle
Of the muddy little puddle.
Thus begins the book that is good clean fun. LOL. Someone has described it as read aloud popcorn. What a great description of this fun story of a piggy in a puddle. Me oh my. What’s a father pig to do?
I have read this book to most of my kids and all my grandkids. I love reading it. The words roll off the tip of your tongue like honey.
My kids all love it. In fact, my twenty-seven-year-old son saw it recently after I’d read it to some of my grandkids and said it was an awesome book. The best book ever. I totally agree. Check it out. Better yet, buy it for a child, a grandchild, a neice or nephew or neighborhood kid. Buy it and donate it to your local library.
In my opinion, no child (and perhaps, no adult) should miss out on this wonderful reading/listening experience.
Anyone else have a favorite book?
SUMMER SPECIALS
Summer has flown by. Two more weeks and we’ll be into September. Sometimes summer goes by so quickly I almost miss it so I thought I would list my summer specials.
1. Visitors.
I’ve had friends, relatives, kids and grandkids visit. It’s been busy but fun. Here is one of the grandkids who came for a few days.
2. Family dinner.
While kids were here from Colorado, several others gathered to enjoy a family dinner. About 20 of us visited and enjoyed each other.
3. The garden is in full swing.
Yes, that’s the peas that I had to weed in an earlier post. And no it’s not your eyes. It’s the picture that is blurry. Sorry.
4. I went to a family reunion and saw relatives I haven’t seen in years. This is the lovely spot where we gathered.
5. I enjoy my flowers.
6. I finished the draft of a book.
This is my office when I finished. Lots of papers scattered around. I need things at hand when I’m working.
7. I have 2 books coming out this month. See home pages to see what they are.
8. I won first place with Darcy’s Inheritance in the Beacon Contest. http://www.firstcoastromancewriters.com/contest_pub.htm I am now an award-winning author.
I trust each of you is enjoying your summer to the max as well.
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I WON see for yourself. http://www.firstcoastromancewriters.com/contest_pub.htm
NORTH AMERICA’S GREATEST POET
I love research. You learn the most amazing things some of which might make it into a story. Other stuff is just plain interesting. Like visiting the home of Stephan Stephansson’s home near Red Deer, Alberta.
He is considered Icelands greatest poet and according to many soures, the greatest poet in North America. During the seventy-three years of his life, he published more than two thousand pages. In quantity of writings, no other Canadian poet is comparable. The work he produced is considered of the highest standard.
What I found fascinating is that his work is all written in the Icelandic language yet translates so beautifully into English. I’ve been told that is because the Icelandic language is so rich and carries so many nuances that the poems could be translated by several people, end up with different word usage yet still be true to the original. Amazing.
Here’s one of his poem. See how well his words work even though translated.
The long autumn night was approaching the day,
And I in my wakefulness quietly lay.
I stared in the shadows, my mind in a whirl
Attempting the future to measure.
What would my seventh new decade unfurl,
All Sundays of joy and pleasure?
I heard at my doorstep a footstep alight
As soft as the rustling leaves in the night
And I knew in an instant that visitor’s call,
Though darkness might seem to confound me;
No matter what clattering noise might befall
I knew her light footsteps around me.
But fancy has always been part of her style.
She opened my door which was unlocked the while.
I rose from my pillow with gladness and pride,
Her visit was such a rare pleasure.
I figured my strings as she came to my side
With her harp and her crowning treasure.
Stephan was a farmer. He worked hard during the day often composing poems as he worked. An insomniac, he spent many night hours writing. Evenings and Sundays were also used for composing. This is where he worked. 
I am challenged when I learn how dedicated this man was to his craft, his calling, his dream. I honor a man who creates beauty despite hardships.
To Stephan Stephansson
(1853 – 1927 / Iceland)
I hope I can be as faithful and dedicated in my own writing.
THE RAINY SEASON
At school, I learned we have four seasons in our part of the world–spring, summer, fall, winter. As I grew up I learned they could be classified differently–almost winter, winter, still winter, and summer. I learned by observation there were actually two sesaons–6 months winter, 6 months uncertain. However, this year, I think I might have to change my evaluation and call summer the rainy season. Now coming from the desert of eastern Alberta I said I would never complain about rain but….
Not that it isn’t without a certain beauty. I’ve taken so many pictures of the sky this summer that I had to create a file on my computer solely for sky pictures. Here is a picture of a storm approaching.
But even storms must end and after that….
It kind of reminds me of my writing process. I struggle with trying to figure out all the elements. But when the struggle is over, it seems full of promise, like a rainbow. In fact, I feel like I’ve found the pot at the end of the rainbow.
Sometimes the storm is worth the beauty that follows. Just as sometimes (hopefully most times) struggling to create a story is worth the effort.
I’m hoping you are all finding beauty in the weather in your little corner of the world.
Blessings.
(All photos on this site are the property of Linda Ford. Please do not use or reproduce without permission.)