The End of Another Month

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It's already the end of another month in 2009. It doesn't seem that long ago when it was New Year's Day.
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I accomplished no where near what I'd set out to do for April. Had a lot of down time though. But-- I did manage to finish up a quilted pillow top for a new pillow for my chair at the sewing table. What is so damn frustrating is knowing that what would have once taken me a weekend to complete, now takes a couple of weeks!
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Enough said; as I do not wish to give my health issues any more power than they already possess.
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I finished reading Hex Breaker, by Devon Ellington, but still need to key in my hand-written notes and then write a proper review. But-- my favoritest character returned to save the proverbial day!
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One of my goals for April was to work with my food dehydrator. Well, I didn't get the first thing dehydrated, but I did do some research on the subject and found an excellent series of videos, Dehydrate2store, by a woman who truly knows her stuff! ANYway, after watching the first few videos, I went about looking for and just purchased [online] the 100cc oxygen absorbers. While I wait for those to arrive, I picked up a case of wide mouth canning jars and laytex gloves. I forgot the lemon juice, but I'm not working with anything right now that requires that kind of treatment.
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Tuesday, I found the first of the season Vidalia onions and have them ready to prep for dehydrating. I also picked up a bag of organic celery hearts. I like to cook with celery salt and thought-- hey, now I can make my own. There's a couple bags of frozen organic corn in the freezer, that I can work with as well. So, I may not have written my article yet. But I'm not shy on research.
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Yesterday, I drove out to the local garden center and picked up a tray of Everbearing Strawberries. Since I can no longer handle gardening in the ground, I though I would try a few hanging baskets. And, this is also something I can dehydrate and store for later in the year. I may pick out a few herbs next month; sage for one.
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Though there's no real excuse for not having written my article about Sprouting, after reviewing a few more YouTube videos, I know what I did wrong as regards the soaking of anything one decides to sprout. I also didn't consider the casings of the chickpeas. Another thing just learned; though not that I saw it as an issue. More on that later.
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I also finished reading through knit & purl ~ 250 stitches to knit, from Interweave Press, and have drafted out my review in a Word.doc. There's the matter of picking up a skein of fingerling weight yarn, and practicing a few new stitches. Just something I would like to include as a sampler in my update.
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Did a little shopping on ebay this week, and won the bid for a basket of rose/gray alpaca roving. This gives me reason to get my antique saxony spinning wheel in better working order. I need to see if it will take one of those new elastibands. More on that endeavor.
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I also picked up a vintage millinery hat frame. The explanation for that purchase will not be immediately obvious, but suffice it to say it goes along with a current work in progress.
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Almost forgot about setting up an Etsy account. I know it's the hottest thing going online for artisans and crafts people. So, I need to study up and determine how best to use it.
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And sad, sad news this week, as regards a local fabric store [in both Dayton & Columbus OH] going out of business. The Stitching Post has been a mainstay in this area for 50-some years, and I couldn't believe it when I received an email about it's Going Out of Business Sale. I figured I could finally take my Viking machine in for repair [end of this month], but now I need to look for another shop for servicing. I loved that store. Due to my limited income [after going on LTD], my patronage fell short. But knowing it was there--- Well--- Very sad day!
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OH! I also changed out my Soul Echoes header; again! I like the texturized background better than the stark white. Let me know what you think.
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That's it for today. I've got laundry to switch out, hang, fold, and/or bring updstairs.
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Blessings

My Little Copy Cat

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I never gave much thought to the old "copy cat" axiom until I brought Lucy and Pearl home from the Humane Society-- what? Four years ago now? They were presented as sisters [and are very good with each other], though I suspect each simply befriended the other and the HS did not have the heart to separate them. I say this because their records show two different birth dates.

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I also suspect it had more to do with them noticing some health issues in Pearl that I will be forever watchful of, and is why the two kittens were adopted out as two for the price of one. No worries! I am quite thankful for both of them. For these last few years, they've truly been my saving graces.

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But! What have I learned while growing up with these two? I now know exactly from whence the above axiom is derived! My Lucy is the quintessential example of a Copy Cat.

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It started when my little tuxedo kitty would dart under the bed to play the kitten version of peek-a-boo. I would say, "Where'd Pearl go? ... Where's my Pearl?" And she would lift her head from under the bedskirt and rush back out. I would then respond, "There she is!"

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Well! It didn't take long for Lucy to follow suit; with Lucy being much the quicker at reappearing upon hearing, "Where's Lucy?" Sometimes I can walk into the bedroom, carrying fresh laundry, and she heads straight away under the bed. She won't come out until I ask, "Where'd Lucy go?"

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I've actually left the room, having forgotten she was under there, and returned to say, "Where's my Lucy?"

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"There she is!"

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There are other examples of copycatism, though the most recent is due to Pearl's fascination with playing feetsies while I'm trying to write. First she sits and scratches at the front panel of the desk. To which I respond by tapping with my foot from this side of the panel. Then we play off of each other, tapping back and forth. Eventually Pearl pounces with both feet and it then progresses to reaching under the desk to grab at my ankle or foot.

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One afternoon I stopped to look under to find the four-footed-furry-person who just snagged my sock was in fact Lucy! And once again, there's my little Copy Cat. In action. One too many, "Pearl! You silly girl!" I suspect.

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That's it for today. I've had three days of running errands [as I can handle only one stop a day] and my back needs a break from this chair.

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SPECIAL NOTE: My review of Hex Breaker is coming soon!

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Blessings

A Writer's Worth

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What would that be, exactly? A fair wage to be sure. But when a writer works freelance, the old mercenary reference [attributed to Sir Walter Scott] does NOT imply a writer's lance (his or her services) is free (of charge).
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Somewhere along the great wide way, to those holding what is deemed a real job, freelancers [understandibly self-employed] are considered casual, irregular, and temporary in their work assignments. Regardless the societal conditioning, the contract any given writer enters into, deserves and warrents proper merit. That means maintaining a fair pratice of standard industry fees for services rendered. And to my understanding they're out there.
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Worth denotes personal value. But worth is also a matter of perspective. And everyone’s worth is gained through the never ending experiences, or the lack thereof, of that which we lovingly refer to as Life. Though I’ve yet to earn any form of living from my writing, I do not intend—if and when the time comes—to sell myself short. But above all, I do not want someone else doing it for me by undermining [whether intentionally or un-] a proven profession.
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I’ve learned, over this past year, there is a burgeoning struggle between the Doer and the Wannabe Freelancers. The Doers know, achieve, and expect their worth. The Wannabes are foolishly taking it all away. A demise not worthy of the loss.
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To learn more about what's going on, click on the statue above and visit Lori Widmer's blog, Words on the Page. Check out the Comments to her numerous posts on the subject matter and find outwhat a writers worth is truly all about.
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Blessings

On the mend again...

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Yes. I've been in recovery mode a couple of times in the last two weeks. More on that later. I just wanted to let everyone know that I hope to be blogging regularly again by next week.
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In the mean time, here's a quick catch up: Working, albeit slowly, on client's details, requirements, payment options, etc., for pending website. I let her know about some of the negative issues with PayPal before she offers it as her only option.
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Reading Hex Breaker, by Devon Ellington. Her dark winged one, whose name I will never in this life time know, stole my heart. Look for a review to appear here shortly!
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Also, as regards a recent Twitter exchange with Kate McKean, I'm giving strong consideration to writing reviews of craft books. Seeing as how I've had my hands into everything from weaving and hand spinning; to sewing garments and accessories, home dec, and quilting; to beadwork, knitting, crochet, wreath-making [I'll stop here], I simply never even considered this might be a niche to be filled.
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Due to my health issues, I took up knitting, early in 2007, to help pass time while in, what I've termed as, recovery mode. I decided, last year, that I needed to look for a book on stitches, and purchased the following last month from Interweave Press. It's from their Harmony Guides series, Knit & Purl. Just paging through, I'm finding it an excellent collection of got-to-try stitches.
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But before I simply write a review, I want to start a sampler to include in my update. And that requires a trip to the local craft store for some proper fingerling weight yarn. So, look for my review to be posted relatively soon.
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What craft and related book might I tackle next? I have a couple of ideas [i.e., polymer clay. And-- I just purchased 25 grams of delicious 100% raw silk hankies. So-- what's the latest book on hand spinning? There's also an interest in papermaking and hand-dyeing with natural ingredients: onion skins, turmeric, beets, dandelion root & coffee--], but I would appreciate readers' suggestions. Look for that opportunity as well.
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Oooo! Remember the Sweet Treats contest I shared a couple of weeks ago? I won the print copy of Lynda Lukow's, Every Heart Has It's Day. So, you might say I have a queue going now! Not going to promise when a review for THIS one will appear, but this one, at very least, I can curl up with on the couch. All too soon it will be too hot to knit.

Created a new Soul Echoes header; but-- will probably tweek it. Too much white space. It needs a little something more. Just not sure yet what it is. What I DID know? It was time for the other one to go! Let me know what you think.
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There's more to update, but my back has about had it for today. So-- I'll save the rest for upcoming posts.
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Blessings

Tuesday's Tip for April 7th

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Remember that nail file I talked about? Well, just as I opened up this editing session, Lucy dropped and gifted another one at my feet; the dark grey finishing file. Yes. She targeted both of them.
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It's official. The crazy weather has just set in. In less than four days, SW OH went from couldn't-have-been-more-perfect 60 degree-ish Spring weather, to tornado warnings [late Sunday afternoon and into the night], and then back down [literally overnight] to freeze warnings and snow. It is currently snowing. Big flakes. Enough to create a light dusting on the ground. And all this extreme up and down is wrecking havoc on my inner ear. This is the time of year I need the air pressure to go one way or the other. And I usually don't much care which!
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An email exchange, which began over the weekend, will hopefully and finally [long story there] result in being able to meet with a friend in order to get her communication website up and running. How soon depends entirely on how I manage health-wise. I did accomplish a good hour's worth of research this morning, looking at and bookmarking sites similar in nature, in order to better suggest her wants and needs.
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I keep adding more items to my Focus for April list, so-- it is likely more fair to consider this as my overall 2009 To Do list. Oh. I have a Word.doc which shows a much greater focus; most of which I've yet to publish here. Or anywhere else for that matter.
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Since I don't have a major following, it's not like today's post would even have been missed, but-- I almost forgot what day it was. And one of those Focus items is maintaining my Tuesday’s Tips and Friday Five Favorites. With that said, here is this week’s health-related tip.
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Clean your keyboards on a regular basis.
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Especially when working in an environment where others have access to public computers, i.e. shared workspaces [1st or 2nd shifts, etc.], training rooms, public libraries, etc. That’s a lot of cross contamination going on. Any given individual knows where his or her own hands have or have not been. But we simply cannot know and/or trust what someone else does.
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Think on the number of times you may have witnessed someone walking back out of a public restroom without having washed their hands. I’ve been there and seen that happen. And was TOTALLY amazed by one executive who did so.
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Swab tests show keyboards are the perfect host of bacteria that is hazardous to our overall health. A recent televised episode indicated women's keyboards were the worst, because women tend to keep food and eat at their desks.
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Certain of our writing tools are too easily taken for granted. A keyboard is one of those things no one truly gives much thought to when they get too busy with or are mired in Life. One merely pulls out the lap drawer, flips up the top, or unburies their keyboard and gets to work.
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So! Pull out a few cotton swaps and the bottle of rubbing alcohol and carefully clean those keyboards and keys.
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Blessings

The Focus for April

I thought this deserved its own separate post. Especially since I've been adding to it the last couple of days.
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For the month of April:

• Draft out notes [possible How To article] of my recent experience with Bean Sprouting
• Diary of a Prisoner blog entries [When Last I Saw Him, Honoring the Dead, The Ancients, & The Day the Music Died]
• This article rekindled my interest in the Day at the Marsh picture book proposal. [Thank you, Lea, for the Tweet & Follow] Lots of CDs to sort through.
• Script Frenzy--REMEMBRANCE
• Maintain: Tuesday’s Tips & Friday Five Favorites
• My annual Earth Day Letter [which still has me- I'm totally clueless. I don't have the first word.]
• How Would You Live ~ Quill of the Heart blog post [an email this morning, went a long way in reviving this one]
• Renewal Journal blog post
• Edit Blogger Bio.
• Knitting book, book review
  

Non-writing-related focus:

• With my next trip to grocery, I want to experiment with dehydrating onions and celery. [This relates to another article/blog post/How To, i.e., bean sprouting]
• Work on building a website for a friend.
• Update Pearls of Wisdom
• Need to add the final finishing touches to the Garden Lantern handbag [to the right] I designed last year.
• Finish reading intro to Knit & Purl, by Interweave press.

I know much of this will not come to fruition. But this does give me a plan from which to work and focus.
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Blessings,

The Friday Five Favorites of April 3rd

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Well, it's the end of another week and April Fools Day came and went with the biggest joke expected yet to be played. The last few days were exceptionally gorgeous, but the thunder rumbled in during the night and the monsoon has arrived. The bird feeders are teaming with activity, and the first of the female Brown-headed Cowbirds finally appeared this morning.
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There's a new Quote of the Month in the sidebar. And what of those two nature-related poems sent out earlier this week? This morning I found they were rejected. I'll assume, for now, they'll be better suited else where. I'm heading off for coffee and to reflect on this month's game plan.
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Today I thought I'd focus on five blog and web posts that gave me serious pause to think. All were found while following My Tweeps!
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#1-- Writing Professional Blog Posts to Improve Content & Readership – How to be better?
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I found something helpful with every tip offered. Where Soul Echoes does help in collecting my thoughts and practicing my craft, I am trusting my entries give people an insight into who I am. I also like to think my perspective brings something new to the writing mix.
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#2-- Monthly Assessment – March
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Lori Widmer’s post helped in assessing I’d accomplished more, last month, than I'd initially given myself credit. I continue to read her blog as it proves an excellent window into the world of freelance writing. With my time management skills having deteriotated over recent years, this helped in my posting an actual plan for the month of April.
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#3-- Marketing and Promoting a Picture Book – One Writer’s Journey
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I suffered several co-workers my extensive collection of nature photos. One commented that I should do a children's picture book, as "there's nothing out there with real photos. It's all artist's renderings." A few years ago I loaded some of my photos, taken one summer at a local marsh, into Slide. As I added captions, it occurred to me that this is exactly what one might look like.
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I found the above post an invaluable view of what I might be in for if I fully immerse myself into A Day at the Marsh.
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#4-- Blogger’s Blogs I’m Following Reading List
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OK. n-n-n-Not so much a specific post, but, with the brainfog related to Rx drugs and Fibromyalgia, I've found this Dashboard feature very useful. And my list has grown by several entries just in the just last couple of weeks. I know there are blog rolls and favorites lists on everyone’s blogs. I avail myself of, and hope to find Soul Echoes listed in any one of them one day. But this particular feature resonates best in my keeping up with everyone. I may not have time to respond, or leave a comment, but maybe with my Friday Fives I can periodically give everyone their due.
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Like today’s charming post at Paperback Writer. Her story brought to mind the childhood memory of the efforts my mother and father took in order to protect a mother dove’s nest and babies. The doors of the old family home garage opened outward similar to how certain closet doors fold open. Think cottage-styled wooden louver shutters. A Mourning Dove started to build her nest in the ‘v’ of the fold on one of the doors that was left open over a weekend's time. Dove nests are surprising fragile so my father pulled out a couple of large cinder blocks and placed them one on either side of the door. The wind alone moved those old doors. That left the garage open to the elements for all the weeks it took the mothering dove to lay and hatch her eggs, and the twin chicks to grow and fledge.
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#5-- My Home page on Twitter.

Again, though not so much a blog or web post, I feel the need to give it fair due. I understand that self-marketing is part of the whole package of the publishing industry these days. Twitter is helping me to better learn the art, albeit one facet, of Social Media Networking. And I am grateful to my Followers. You are my mentors and teachers!

Blessings,

A-n-d they'r-r-r-e OFF!

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Up and down the street, the Ornamental Pears are in full bloom. Even the dandelions are flowering. It’s another beautiful sunny day. A bit nippy though. I opened the window and have a knit throw over my lap and fingerless gloves on while I type. But this morning's local weather report shows a spring monsoon is about to settle in (SW Ohio) for the next week or so. And I've so enjoyed having the windows open!
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I am so grateful to my neighbor for her help in feeding the birds. She is quite able to keep her feeder filled to the brim. I, on the other hand, am no longer able to do so. Instead, I fill the trough with a few scoopfuls of seed, and then sprinkle another few upon the ground, along with the planter-turned-feeder [by accidental proxy] that’s right under the front window. I’m also quite thankful two of neighborhood strays are no longer attacking my birds. Yes! When they’re at my feeders, they’re MY BIRDS! It was quite disheartening last fall, when the mottled tiger cat killed one of the Red-wingeds.
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I was downstairs, in the living room, when I heard the ruckus and scream just outside the window. I rose up from the couch, as fast as I could, and went to see what happened. There, crumpled and writhing on the ground, laid a male Red-winged Blackbird. Blood oozed from a wound to his head. I hurried outside whispering, “Oh no! NO!” I’m not so much mad at the cat. He did only what stray cats do. But MOST of us, keep our cats INSIDE.
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I bent forward and picked up the seemingly small bird. He made no protest. His life force quietly ebbed. Blood trailed across my fingers from the mortal wound. And little by little, his head lowered until his coal-black beak rested gently upon the palm of my hand. He took his last breath, and I felt the beat of his heart— stop. I would hear him sing his arrival at the feeders, no more.
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This season, there are three male Red-wingeds that, well— though one is a Juvenal; his yellow band is still small and a faded yellow, where one is, the other two are not far behind. And I always know when they are here. Their song is quite bold.
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And what, as you might be inclined to ask, is my nail file doing on the floor? Well, 1) I relegated that file, many years ago now, to my design tools drawer. It's quite handy at cleaning up rough edges on man-made beads. And 2) After leaving it out, on top of the work table, Lucy targeted it as the perfect cat toy. Go figure! She carries it around, upstairs and back down, crying like she's just caught one of those rabbit-fur mousies. But what's most special is when she brings it around to the back of the desk and gifts it next to me.

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I'm reminded of the time I stood in the cat aisle of one of the large pet store chains, looking at the wall of cat toys. A very nice woman walked up beside me and said, "I just got a cat. I've never had a cat before. What kind of toys do they like?" I laughed and replied, "Probably nothing you're going to find here!" I then proceeded to help pick out a few basic toys.

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I polished up two poems, yesterday, and sent them off; out into the big wide world. I cannot hold their hands any longer. I also cannot but fret. Will they hold their own? Will they make new friends and/or influence lots of people? Or will they return from their grand adventure with nary a word? No story to tell. Leaving me to wonder where I went wrong?

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Can't worry on that now!
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As for what I can accomplish today? Tuesday's post was rather long, and the time it took to flesh out took a toll on my back. Yesterday I tried to catch up on some reading; blog posts, etc. And today's post is running longer than I first intended. So, I need to take a break from this chair this afternoon. I need to get my legs up and head back. I will NOT be back up here this evening.
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But. After sorting through all of those files last week, I pulled out a few folders and topics to focus on, i.e., notes of my recent experience with bean sprouting; three Diary of a Prisoner blog entries [When Last I Saw Him, Honoring the Dead, & The Day the Music Died]; and yes, I’m actually still considering Script Frenzy. I’m not going to sweat missing the first day out of the gate. But I pulled all of my notes, research, and storyboard cards. Everything is ready. Except for loading Final Draft. I'm not going to sweat that one either!

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So, that should keep me busy on the couch for a while. That and the following.

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For the month of April:

• This article rekindled my interest in the Day at the Marsh picture book proposal. [Thank you, Lea, for the Tweet & Follow] Lots of CDs to sort through.
• Script Frenzy--REMEMBRANCE
• Tuesday’s Tips & Friday Five Favorites
• My annual Earth Day Letter [which still has me- Oy! I'm totally clueless. I don't have the first word yet.]
• How Would You Live blog post [an email this morning, went a long way in reviving this one]
• Renewal Journal blog post
• Update Pearls of Wisdom
• Edit Blogger Bio
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Non-writing-related:

• With my next trip to grocery, I’m going to experiment with dehydrating onions and celery. [This relates to another article/blog post, i.e., bean sprouting]
• Work on building a website for a friend.
• Need to finish the small handbag that I designed last year.

That’s aLOT for me!!!! It's not all going to happen. But this gives me a plan, at least, from which to work. I'd better go.

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Blessings,