winter’s still present-
won’t melt; snow castles are us!
white lemonade fun
go winter by Angie Quantrell
The winter snow melt in our area is unseasonably late. Parents, drivers, workers, gardeners, spring sports players-even school children-are hoping for blue skies and warm temps to thaw the concrete ice mountains and fields of white covering our valleys.
We LOVE snow. But it is time for green and insects and baby animals and flowers.
Snow lemons? Making white lemonade.
Everyone who is anyone has read about the dangers of sitting long hours. Not that a numb backside, crinkled shoulders, and achy knees will kill you, but sitting and being sedentary just might steal your health and shorten the days you expect to be around to do anything.
As a writer, well, sitting at a computer desk, coffee table, work table, research desk, or any other writerly space is sort of a job requirement.
The challenge is how to stand and write but also be able to access (ergonomically) the keyboard or laptop, mouse, and assorted resources and supplies.
Living in an RV adds additional space challenges. Where would I store a standing desk? How could I use the tiny dining table if a portable standing desk were in place? What about the bump between the slide and the RV floor? Do I need to stand on the hump to work at a standing desk?
After literally spending years contemplating, researching, and giving up the idea of a table top desk, I finally threw up my hands after a particularly long (sitting) writing day. I did a quick Amazon search, found the perfect portable standing desk, checked for size for my 17″ laptop, and ordered it. All within 5 minutes.
I should have done that ages ago!
This wonderful office accessory arrived a few days after placing my order. It took me a few minutes to figure out the legs, but after that, I realized what a treat it will be to use my new standing desk.
My 17″ laptop fits securely on top of the adjustable angle table, held in place by a shelf. My mouse and pad rest to the right of my laptop and are also held in place by a softened shelf. If you are looking for one for yourself, this is definitely for a right-handed person. Look to see if a left-handed version is available. Coloring is pretty nondescript, but I’m not in it for looks. Purpose is my main goal. It is neutral in color and is sturdy enough that I don’t worry for the safety of my laptop. It does wiggle as I type, but not the kind of wiggle that tells me it’s going to crash down. I love being able to angle the top of the tray, and my wrists appreciate the easy angle when working.
Storage is not an issue either. This tray folds flat. The two shelves that hold up the computer and mouse are a bit raised on one side, while the folded legs are raised on the back. But I found a perfect spot to rest my new work buddy.
I now have the option to stand and work or sit and work. Hurray!
What took me so long???
Details of my portable standing desk: [Large Size] Neetto TB101L Adjustable Laptop Bed Table, Portable Standing Desk, Foldable Sofa Breakfast Tray, Notebook Stand Reading Holder for Couch [Personal Computers]
You’re welcome.
Happy International Women’s Day!
If you are a woman, be blessed and do not take for granted the gifts, skills, and life you have been given.
If you are a woman, be thankful for your ability to give to and care for others.
If you are a woman, look for opportunities to uphold and support other women who need you.
If you are a woman, be generous with your affections and assistance, energy and engagement.
If you are a woman, acknowledge your capabilities, opportunities, and strengths. Own your faults and take responsibility for your failures. Realize you cannot do it all.
If you are a woman, exude kindness. Treat others as you would have them treat you. Remember you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar. Be nice even to those who are not.
If you are a woman, embrace relationships, both near and far, with family, friends, and strangers.
If you are a woman, be at peace. Love, accept, strive to improve yourself. Delve deep to learn your faith. Stretch to exercise and grow strong.
If you are a woman, rely on God, do not be afraid to trust. Seek and find.
If you are a woman, live to the fullest. Be present in the day. Give focus and attention to those around you.
If you are a woman, rejoice! To be a woman is a gift.
Today, I gave blood at the Red Cross. For women, men, children-whoever needs red blood. Regardless of race, education, income, culture, residence. Because we bleed the same. Red.
Loving with red.
How about you? Did you celebrate International Women’s Day?
commence shoveling!
again, or still; nearly spring-
snow falls quietly
again by Angie Quantrell
Like Groundhog’s Day (the movie), this winter clutches our neck of the woods with the setting of repeat. Some movies have that choice, did you know? Especially for the younger crowd. I didn’t know winter had the same option.
But I LOVE snow! Even as green-starved as I am, gasping for fresh air and spring flowers, I feel giddy with joy when snowflakes dump steadily the whole day and into the night. Despite the need for shoveling, I gleefully glance out the window to make sure it’s still coming down in white blankets.
It is! Sheets, comforters, pillowcases, and blankets of the white stuff. Doomed I fear, according to weather reports.
But today. I shovel. Again.
“What are you praying for, dear?”
“Peace.”
“Your pose is truly beautiful.”
She glanced his way, insect eyes missing no detail.
“What are you thinking of, my love?”
“Appearances.”
“You look ferociously fit.”
She flexed her legs, wiggled her wings. Let him move close.
“How are you feeling, gorgeous?”
“Hungry.”
Poser by Angie Quantrell
I wrote this story in response to Vivian Kirkfield’s #50PreciousWords Writing Contest (50 words total) and a Twitter conversation with @Realistic Poetry about favorite insects. Hop on over to Vivian’s site to read more short stories.
A special thanks goes to Cara Putman for gifting me this copy of Delayed Justice. Thank you!
Delayed Justice
Written by Cara Putman
Thomas Nelson, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., 2018
Amazon Blurb:
She had long given up the desire to be loved. Now she only needed to be heard.
Jaime Nichols went to law school to find the voice she never had as a child, and her determination to protect girls and women in the path of harm drives her in ways both spoken and unspoken. As Jaime, now a criminal defense attorney, prepares to press charges against someone who wronged her long ago, she must face not only her demons but also the unimaginable forces that protect the powerful man who tore her childhood apart.
Chandler Bolton, a retired veteran, is tasked with helping a young victim who must testify in court—and along with his therapy dog, Aslan, he’s up for the task. When he first meets Jaime, all brains, beauty, and brashness, he can’t help but be intrigued. As Chandler works to break through the wall Jaime has built around herself, the two of them discover that they may have more to offer one another than they ever could have guessed—and that together, they may be able to help this endangered child.
This thrilling installment of the Hidden Justice series explores the healing power of resolution and the weight of words given voice. And as Jaime pursues delayed justice of her own, she unearths eternal truths that will change the course of her life.
Why I liked Delayed Justice:
I enjoyed Cara’s clean writing. I appreciated her handling of icky details (this is after all, a thriller). I knew what had taken place, but didn’t have to read pages filled with horrific scenes to get out the other side. My imagination does quite fine on its own, thank you. I loved watching a relationship develop between Jaime and Chandler. I especially liked learning about therapy dogs and Aslan.
There is plenty of growing tension and deep emotions shared throughout the story. I whipped through this one quite quickly, in a hurry to find out what happens in the end.
Two thumbs up!
Find out more about Cara Putman at:
pose, prepare to strike
prayer forgotten, prey in
sight; arbor mantis
hunter by Angie Quantrell
Can you see it? My imagination took flight just as this tree spread its wings in attack mode.
How about you? What do you think about when you hear the word hunter?
The title MAY be a bit of an exaggeration. But welcome to the winter that keeps on giving.
Congratulations! You are enjoying the longest February on record. Technically February is the shortest month of the year, in days, but not in the long drawn-out days of snow-ice-locked cold.
It’s snowing as I type. Skies are heavy gray with a peep of pink along the eastern edge. The landscape is white with bits of black edging from homes, red from the stop sign, and gray-brown from fence posts. White is the dominant theme this winter. Our water resources are sure to be full and overflowing this summer. For that, I am thankful.
I love snow! Really, I do. But. As March edges closer, my thoughts turn to green and bits of yellow and floaty blossoms on trees. Where are you spri-ng? Why can’t I find you? (In my head that sounds like Cindy Lou Who singing “Where Are You Christmas?”)
But today. We have snow. How about one more snow day’s worth of pictures? Come July and the season of sweat, I will bemoan the lack of lacy white.
Celebrate the snow with children everywhere who pray for snow days, late starts, snow play, and hot cocoa.
2019 is looking different than 2018!
Well, February has been looking the same-all WHITE. It has felt like the longest month on record. Which is funny, since it’s the shortest. All of this snow has my brain frozen on repeat, like Groundhog Day (the movie).
I have yet to begin my Word of the Year art project (look here to see last year’s page), but I am adding to my Blessings & Thankfulness Journal. The daily blessings and thankfulness items I add are about my days, but some of the verses and journal decor are about treasure. I think I will add more treasure-themed gleanings and thoughts as I go along.
On the front sides of the pages I’ve been listing the days of the month and then adding things for each day that I feel are blessings or things for which I am thankful.
On the back sides of the pages, I’ve added washi tape and Bible verses. I like the idea of working out my word of the year on the back pages of my blessings and thankful lists. I still want to work on a Word of the Year (Treasure) creative art project, but it is simmering on a back burner, waiting for more time and inspiration.
In the meantime, this is what I’ve done to the cover of my journal. I love the colors! I need to do the back.
Do you have a word of the year? Do you journal? I’d love to see your projects.
The inside cover
layers, patterns mix;
tightly furled, mystery
blankets secret core
mystery by Angie Quantrell
I spied this gorgeous tree and cones during a winter walk. With such fascinating texture, design, and beauty, I just had to climb a snow bank to get close enough and snap a few photos. So glad I did!
What mystery have you seen lately?
Love, Laughter, and Life 