HAPPY NEW BEGINNINGS!

Happy New Year! And thank you to everyone who reads my blog, whether you comment or not, and whether you're a follower or not. I would like to say Thank-You to my newest followers, though.....but I'm not sure who I welcomed last! I'll just include the last six, and that should cover everyone....I hope!  Welcome Anila, loveablehomebody, Karen Pledger, Joyful, Garnet and Pink Apple!

To continue with yesterday's theme of regaining my passion for writing, I'd like to share some other information.

** While Googling for information the other night about "finding my muse", I stumbled across a very interesting blog Image & Verse. Rob Kistner and his wife Kathleen are a multi-talented couple. They write poetry, essays, and short stories. They are also artists of furniture design, collages, various artwork, etc. There are quite a few blogs listed for writing prompts and one for photography. Please visit their blog and find inspiration, as I did!

I contacted Rob to ask permission to post the following poem, which he graciously agreed upon. It can also be found in his archives here: Image & Verse (archives)  (Please do not reprint this anywhere without receiving Rob's written permission.)

Fickle Muse

•
Wee hours,
with the sane asleep,
this poet’s steeped
in conflicted inspiration.


Promptings vague,
I am filled with doubt,
words tossed about
the unyielding empty page.


I start, then stop,
to write, then not,
now clear, then caught
in merciless hesitation.


Fickle muse,
let’s be off with you!
I’ll start anew
when free of quandary’s cage.

…

rob kistner © 2007

Ah....oh, so true! Thank you again, Rob, for allowing me to share your poetry with others.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

** My second piece of information is this: A New York friend, who is involved in the publishing industry, knows of my writer's block angst. We spoke on the phone recently about it and in her desire to help me, she offered a gift that is so unbelievably generous and from her heart, that I'm pretty sure I squealed when she said it. When I complete my book, she is going to take me to lunch..... in New York City!! Woo-Hoo!! I think I was speechless for one of the few times in my life! Can you say "in shock"?? (and don't even think about commenting or e-mailing, asking me who this person is, because I would never divulge her name!...Plus you probably wouldn't know her, anyway, but she is special to me!)

I ended yesterday's post with "Look Out World, Here I Come."

How about...Look Out New York, Here I Come!!

"A friend is what the heart needs all the time." -- Henry van Dyke

Finding My Muse, Once Again

My writing brain finally kicked back into gear yesterday. It's been stuck for so long. I'm consciously aware of some of the reasons.....the hustle and bustle of Christmas preparations, losing Tiger Girl, trying to force a couple of stories for contests and calls for submissions, promoting three anthologies, etc. And then there are those often times lurking thoughts of Who am I kidding? I don't have enough talent to be doing this! etc.

But while cleaning up the kitchen and listening to the radio, the old gears unclenched and I felt my muse returning. It began when I heard Darius Rucker singing. I love that man's voice. He first became hugely successful with the group Hootie and The Blowfish back in the early 1990s. I don't know the story, but somehow he wound up being a country music star now. I say Congratulations! I greatly admire people who reinvent themselves. That's a big part of what I believe about my life.

Encarta Dictionary says this about reinvent: to invent something again, or bring something back into existence, use, or popularity after a period of neglect or obscurity. to change radically the appearance, form, or presentation of something or somebody.

I didn't discover my passion for writing until I was...uh....kind of old! Sometimes I wish I would've discovered it when I was a lot younger.....but things wouldn't have been the same. I wouldn't have the wisdom I have now....what I know about life.....what my life is and has been about. And it took the near death of my estranged father (in May 2001) to trigger those deep, hidden emotions, which flew from my fingertips to my keyboard...and voile'.....a writer was born.

So, I'm getting back to being organized about my writing deadlines and what I want to write about. I've found my muse...again. And I'm reinventing myself, somewhat....again.

And a HUGE Thank-You to Julia Christie for leaving a sweet comment on Tuesday's post which included these words: "...looking forward to a wonderful new year and hearing that your book is finally available!"

How can I not be excited and eager to finish my book, when I read something like that?!

Look Out World -- Here I Come!

"I believe that dreams—daydreams, you know, with your eyes wide open and your brain machinery whizzing—are likely to lead to the betterment of the world."-- L. Frank Baum

* Tea Cup Tuesday *

I'm very pleased to join Terri of Artful Affirmations, and Martha of Martha's Favorites for Tea Cup Tuesday!

(I posted these photos earlier this year, but wanted to show them again now, since it's the last Tea Cup Tuesday in December.)

I bought this darling set at a thrift store for $3.00!

I love the "poofy" parts of the cup!

The stamp says: Royal Albert, Bone China, England.

Flower of the Month Series. Set of Twelve.
"Holly" No. 12

An appropriate pattern to show on this December 28, 2010, Tea Cup Tuesday!

Happy New Year, everyone!

"Each day comes bearing its own gifts. Untie the ribbons." -- Ruth Ann Schabacker

** It's Christmas Day - 2010 **

 

We have a beautiful White Christmas!

I wish you all a warm and cozy day, wherever you are. And as some of my far-away blog friends say, Happy Christmas!

** White Christmas **

I can't remember the last time I awoke on Christmas Eve morning to the sight of falling snow! I truly believe it probably hasn't happened since my childhood. Yes, I've seen quite a few white Christmases over the years, but snow was usually already on the ground.

(Trying to capture the falling snow. Not too bad considering I took this photo from inside my family room.)

(this is obviously our deck!)

(I took this from inside the laundry room)

I realize none of these pictures portray the real beauty of the snow, nor do they show the 3 inches we ended up with. Ah...but again, the battery ran out of its charge so quickly......

Dear Santa, I sure hope you're bringing me a new camera!! ☺

Merry Christmas, dear friends, 2010.

"Close friends become family and family is the true center of the universe." -- Dave Marinaccio

* I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas! *

(google image)

I look at this photo and I feel happy, peaceful, & serene. The beautiful house, decorated for Christmas. The warm glow of the inside lights at dusk. And of course the magnificent, glorious snow!

This is the kind of house I dreamed of living in when I was a young girl. I assumed the only people who could possibly live in such a grand house would be doctors or lawyers and their families!

Although I don't live in a house that looks like this...my house is my home. I feel happy, peaceful and serene inside of it. And I'm definitely dreaming of, and aniticipating.....a White Christmas! (thanks to the weather forecast in my area!)  ** Update: Weather guy on channel 11 noon news/weather predicted a 100% chance of snow and a White Christmas!...and yes, I want all of us travelers to be safe, too! **

~On a side note: I'd like to say a huge thank-you to Robert Brault for his very kind post of December 15, 2010 AND to all his fantastic followers who stopped by...just because Robert suggested it! I'm truly honored and grateful to all of you.~

"Cheerfulness keeps up a kind of daylight in the mind, filling it with a steady and perpetual serenity." ~ Joseph Addison

* It Doesn't Seem Like Tuesday...Again *

The progressive dinner Sunday night was tons of fun, but I was really worn out after everyone left. Part of me just wanted to go to bed and leave the mess for the next day, but the sensible part won out. I turned the TV channel to the Traditional Christmas Music station and sang along. It didn't take long at all and I enjoyed myself while I worked. The dining room and kitchen were sparkly and clean when I came down the stairs Monday morning......

Monday morning.....a week since we said goodbye to Tiger Girl. I still miss her so much, but I'm doing better than I thought I would. Of course, something will happen, or not happen...and then the sadness resurfaces. I know it will just take time......

Time......Just yesterday, I had a feeling come over me that I wished I could throw a lasso over Time and stop it, or at least slow it down for a little while. I've never felt quite that way before and I don't know if it's just because of my age, or the fact that we just lost Tiger Girl, or what.........

What I love about this time of year is all the Christmas music, TV shows and movies. I can't seem to get enough. It doesn't even matter if I've heard or seen something a zillion times.....and sometimes, my favorites are the ones that are so corny......

"You know, it sounds corny, but I believe in myself. And I work hard." -- Arthur Godfrey

* Getting Ready for Progressive Dinner *

I LOVE to have friends over for dinner, but we do it way too seldom. That's one thing I plan to do more of in 2011. My cooking definitely is not gourmet, but at least I can set a pretty table!

Tonight's progressive dinner begins at S's for appetizers, then here for the main course, and on to J's for dessert! (Yes, the table is set for eight. We're not stopping at R's house this year.) I hope all of you have had the chance to participate in one of these evenings. It is so much fun, especially during the holidays...seeing everyone's home decorated so beautifully!

 

More photos later tonight........

Now, I just hope Santa brings that new camera I really, really want! Wouldn't you agree that I need one?!

"If you make it plain you like people, it's hard for them to resist liking you back." -- Lois McMaster Bujold