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Photo by Angie Quantrell @AngieQuantrell |
Pink puffs perfectly poised to produce
pretty pearls of poetry.
warmed by sun’s long days
life-giving nectar drawn up
to the sky; beauty
By Angie Quantrell @AngieQuantrell
Pink’s all the rage. What’s on stage in your area? Let’s have a picture show celebration!
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Monet expressing her cat-ness yes, I am Gray Queen royal bed and rest doth call stop bothering me |
by Angie Quantrell
I was happy to read a stack of 10 books to my 4-year-old granddaughter. This only worked because baby brother was fast asleep. Sister loves books.
Today, sister had another task for Nana. After busily writing on paper, she handed me her story.
“Nana, read this to me.”
You can imagine I was a bit challenged. So I asked her to read it to me.
Khloe: I can’t read.
Me: What is it about?
Khloe: Uhm, Lava Girl and Shark Boy.
Me: Ok. Once upon a time . . . Lava Girl and Shark Boy went on a picnic. They went swimming. They had a fun time. The end.
Khloe: No, you’re not done yet.
Me: They had a flat tire and had to fix it.
Khloe: No.
Me: What else?
Khloe: (whispering to me) They help other people!
Me: Oh! Lava Girl and Shark Boy helped some people who had a flat tire. They helped fix the tire. Then they enjoyed their picnic. The end.
Khloe: (smiles and nods) Ok.
That was only the first story. She had another waiting in the wings. Nana was on call as storyteller.
I am pleased that she loves stories, writing, reading, and words. Literacy begins long before they reach school.
Home. What a big word.
Home is . . .
where I reside
the body I wear
the spouse I adore
my family of love
the animals I adopt
the nature that surrounds me
the future I hope for
my faith that centers me
friends who nuture me
fellow writers who encourage me
the city of my residence
the state and country of my belonging
the planet I inhabit
Home is a big word.
What does home mean to you?
blank pages stretch on
imagine, dream, plan, journey
possibilities
Angie Quantrell 2016
How To Become A Successful Blogger: Part 2 – How To Create A Pingback
Source: How To Become A Successful Blogger: Part 2 – How To Create A Pingback
Great video on how to create pingbacks. Thanks, Hugh!
I’ve been playing this morning.
For quite awhile, I’ve been trying to figure out how to add text to my images, as I’ve seen so many other talented photographers and writers do. Using my computer programs has given me a total of zero successful moments.
But thanks to Sue Vincent and her post “Looking good -10 simple tips for adding images,” I have now found an online program that helps me add text to my images. Thank you, Sue!
I chose an image I took in the Napa Valley. Of course, these grapes could have been growing in my own Yakima Valley, as our vineyards are abundantly heavy with weighty vines each fall. But the Napa picture was right on the computer, waiting for some attention.
I used pixlr.com/express/ as my first foray into visual + words experiment. This program is quite simple to use and the options are wide and varied. Best of all? FREE.
Oh, I do believe this is just the beginning of playtime for moi.
Today as I began 2016 by working on a deadline, I had plenty of help.
Too much help, in fact.
This one, Mabel, jumped up right after sister, Monet, left.
I sense a new year trend in my office.
What work? You are doing that?
Move? You want me to move?
Fine. I will sit over here. I’ll just watch my sister.
Mom, what is in the basket? Can I get in the basket? Let me chew on some things in the basket.
What book? You need this book? I’m sitting on it . . .
And so went the day. There have been times when my mind was so focused, I didn’t even see or hear the approaching kitty until she leapt in the middle of work. This was especially troublesome when her paws were wet and a touch muddy.
We have new S.O.P.
(standard operating procedures)
1. Be prepared at any moment to quickly and calmly gather all ready-to-mail papers in a pile and remove them from work counter.
2. Try very hard to hear the tiniest pitter patter of kitty claws on the wood floor. This will give warning of impending assistance on the work desk.
3. Give loves. This allows kitties to purr, shed fur, and roll around on paperwork. This also encourages kitties to vacate the project zone in a timely manner.
Paws up to 2016!
May your year be fulfilling, joyful, and overflowing with peace.
And may your clothes always bear fur from the administrations of 4-legged children. For that means you have provided a home to loving pets.
Happy New Year!
Blurry white buckets
Silently build pristine hills
Mystery mountains
~ Haiku, by Angie Quantrell 2015
This is what I am writing about now.
But I am distracted by this happening out my window.
Snow, lovely, snow!
Somehow snow and Phoenix do not mix.
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| The completed manuscript with sources, sketches, and documents |
This is what I’ve been up to. Instead of blogging.
There is not much time left in my days (weeks, months) after planning, writing, editing, printing, sourcing, compiling, emailing, packaging, and mailing this baby.
Oh, yes. This is my baby. The first half of a 12-month activity book for preschoolers and missions has been delivered (emailed and mailed) to my faithful preschool resource team at Woman’s Missionary Union.
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| The completed manuscript package and its twin – the emergency copy that can be mailed if the PO loses the original |
Now they get to do their huge part.
And I will continue on with the above steps for the second half of the book.
The writing life is grand.
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| A glimpse of the chaos that is my office, including desk, side table, and floor |
Love, Laughter, and Life 