Memoir Seminar

I am scheduling another writing seminar specific to memoir writing.Taking a memory/story that dwells in one’s head and transferring it to printed copy can be a formidable chore. Capturing your unique story in writing is not easy. Yet so many stories deserve to be told.

            In a few short hours, I will give you the tools to capture that moment in time effectively and mold it into a story that begs to be read. Perhaps you want to record a family history to be cherished by your descendants or you have a personal story you want to share with the world, whatever your reasons for needing to document your memories you want them to be appreciated because each and every one has a story worth telling.

However, telling it effectively and well is often missing. This seminar will highlight the basic skills and tools needed to begin to craft a compelling account of your cherished or dramatic memories.In an information-packed 4-hour session, I will outline how to craft a memory into a story that weaves a tale worth telling. I will be presenting this seminar on Saturday, May 16 from 10 am to 2 pm at Sobey’s Community Room, 6315 Hazeldean Rd., Stittsville- cost $35. Reservations are required as I only work with small groups. For reservations and more information call 613 489-3624 or email Molly at 4klondikemom@gmail.com

Spring forward

Well folks, I simply have been negligent in posting and here is why. I couldn't figure out how to set a link on my emails. That's my story and I am sticking to it. Obviously I did find out how and so here I am.
Winter totally grounded me. Being trapped in anything with a -degree in front of it is down right nasty. I sat huddled near my fireplace with my laptop. The good news is I did get my book to a publisher, sold several stories and kept most of you up to date with Facebook. All that said, I managed to escape last week and am sitting looking out the window at glorious sunshine over New Orleans. You need to know that this will be a quick post because I am headed poolside to soak up the rays - got to get as many as I can before booting the roads north. New Orleans is proving to be a great experience. Traveling with my friend Jess, is always a good experience except this time she nearly blew it. We headed for the swamps to see alligators etc. The tour started with a warning that all bananas were to be left behind. Big laugh on our part. The trip through the bayou was amazing where trees wore moss like a veil. We did see alligators - 4 of them. We saw egrets, hanging moss, snakes and the biggest surprise of all - swamp pigs. I had no idea there were such things. The tour guides tossed marshmallows to them so they came right up to the boat. The colony consisted of 22 pigs and about 12 were out to greet us. On returning to land our boat broke down and we had to abandon ship - well transfer to another really, but abandon ship is more creative. At which time it was revealed that a banana on board was considered bad luck because a ship loaded with bananas had

sunk there. Jess meekly pulled a banana from her backpack admitting she was at fault. Laughs all around.

We toured the flea market where colourful carriages lined the street waiting for tourist riders, the French Quarter where we refreshed with a cold beer while looking out at balconies draped with flowers

and the Audubon Zoo where we saw numerous animals that were endangered species like the whooping crane.

 New Orleans is full of wonderful experiences and since we still have two days to go - I expect we will experience more fun and what is so much appreciated - more sunshine.

Back again

            Spare time, whatever that is, has not been a part of my life for some time. That would explain why I have been so negligent at posting to my blog. The trunk of my car is ever ready with stock to unload at craft markets (Christmas is coming) and between markets, I’ve been promoting child sponsorships for World Vision, writing press releases and singing with the West Ottawa Ladies Chorus (Christmas is coming) and traveling down the road to visit my relatives. Not only have I neglected my blog, but my writing as well. Today, I vow to devote at least two hours a day to writing. Well, doing press releases is writing, isn’t it?

            My novel is ready to go to press but finding a publisher and/or agent is frustrating and time consuming, believe me, I have tried. I have decided to self-publish with intensions of hitting the ebook market. Through Kickstarter, I have undertaken to try and find people who might be interested in investing in my new and first novel. Frankly, it is a donation however it is a way to be involved in launching a new venture. Writing a novel takes hours and hours of work and over a period of years, I have invested creativity, time (over two years) and money for editing and proof reading. So shamelessly, I have reached out to try and interest supporters. To view my project go to:  https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1480403550/when-secrets-become-lies 

            Sometimes one has the opportunity to be among a group of amazing people. Yesterday, I gave a workshop on writing memoirs at the North Grenville library. What a dynamic group I had! They were attentive, asked great questions and bonded with each other. When I give a workshop, I’m always intrigued by the wealth of personal experiences and stories waiting to be written. To all at the workshop – get writing, your stories need to be preserved.

            

Mornings

Some mornings you wake up and the world invites you to a new and exciting day and sometimes you have to force yourself to ease one leg after the other out from beneath the covers. This week has been a combination of both. The coldest summer week ever recorded for this area was not only damp, grey and cold but a catalyst for dampening one’s spirits as well. Every joint in my body has been complaining and I’ve even had to light the fire to take the chill off my usually cozy room. But this morning sunshine beamed in the window and promise of a warmer day has me planning to clean and mow.

   Regardless of the weather I am fortunate that in this active household there is always something to amuse or entertain me. One would be the newest member of our family a grey tabby cat—barely beyond kitten stage. I have a bird feeder right outside my window and watching small, big, colourful, drab feathered creatures arrive, eat and leave is one of my small pleasures. I have one I call The Phantom—it is a grackle but one with character. One side of its face is off-white! The Doctor, the cat, (named by the children as per Doctor Who) is poorly named and should be known as The Hunter. She is a great catcher of mice. However, she has not quite reasoned the concept that there is a pane of glass between her and the feeder. At least once a week out of the corner of my eye, I spot her slinking along the tiles, ears tight to her skull eyeing birds at the feeder. Slowly she lifts one foot after the other along the floor careful to get onto the sofa out of the sight of her prey. I watch with a smile as she stalks, her fur dancing as her body quivers in anticipation. Then WHAM she attacks and bangs right into the glass. The blue jays have figured this out and I’m sure they are smiling too.

   This morning was so cold my regular visitor to the pond, a great blue heron, was hunkered down shivering. All I can say is I’m happy I have fleecy slipper to keep my feet warm.

The Year of the Snake

Not that I actually want it this way, but my days are filled with lazy hours spent lounging in the garden room devouring books—slim books, thick books, good and bad books. I’m not lazy—just lazing after I’ve finished searching the employment ads, sent my resume to anything that sounds like I could do it, put on my running shoes and power-walked miles, puttered in the garden, harvested the crop and prepped packages for the freezer, made sure the house was presentable (me too) and planned my meals. I know this seems like a lot but I am usually ready to recline by early afternoon—book in hand. I know, I know—I should be writing and you’re right but the chaise and stories call and it is summer after all.

I do write and have received confirmation that another of my pieces has been chosen for a new edition of Chicken Soup for the Soul. This makes four now! I Can’t Believe My Dog Did That will be launched August 19 and I will follow suit on the 23^rd. Which brings up another topic—I have decided to rent space at the North Gower Farmers Market from August through to October 11. I will be selling (at least that’s the plan) my books, including Chicken Soup ones, and canvas prints of my photos. I will do my book launch there—check out their web site to find what time. Right now, I have the display of my photos set up in the office and getting reactions wherever and whenever I can—so far so good. So if you live within distance come out to the market and say “hey”.

Since it is the year of the snake I thought you might enjoy seeing one of my visitors to the garden - see him?

Finding treasures

Clever me ducked out between rain showers and headed off for my morning hike on Monday. There was am soft gentle breeze that turned into, what my mother called, an English mist then without warning about 10 minutes from home, the heavens opened and I was soaked from top to bottom. I arrived back at the farm house to see my son-in-law racing for the house in the same wet condition. Ah well, it’s only water. Because it was cloudy and grey, my camera was not with me. Of course, I spotted two new species of new wild flowers so yesterday morning, camera slung around my neck, I headed off with purpose.

            So here’s the thing—when you’re out in the desert chasing wild flowers and nature calls, you simply tuck behind a scruffy monkey tree and take care of business. When you are in Eastern Ontario nature still makes her demands (especially when I drink several cups of coffee in the morning)—so one ducks into the dense bush and does the balancing act stance while holding the crotch of your jeans at a safe distance to remain dry and at the same time swat insistent mosquitoes attacking an exposed butt. Oh yes, I’m scratching. But I did get some great photos—not of my butt—flowers. The yellow orchids had exploded and waved their curly banners above glossy bulbs AND I found water iris along the road. I have seen them in the forest but never on the roadway. The forest trail is still under water from incessant rain storms so impassable for walking. So you can well imagine how delighted I was to find this treat yesterday. Exotic, aren’t they?

The service berry and buckthorn were also in bloom so I was able to capture some decent shots of them.

            I have undertaken to deal with some of my vast storage of photographs and slides from a different era (thanks to digital they no longer collect in boxes on shelves). I threw away hundreds, had a few good chuckles, shed tears to see lost friends and pets and found memories I had long forgotten. My intent is to compile a memory book for my oldest boy who turned 50 this year. Can you imagine? So for the next week or so, I will be converting a collection of pictures to digital.

Wonders of Spring

Warm sunny days, mixed with sudden downpours, have returned the curl to my hair. With that exception, the humidity is definitely not my best friend but the gardens are loving it—lettuce up, spinach peeking through, zucchini sprouting and rhubarb ready for picking. I am eating tons of asparagus, cooked and raw, and giving away as much as I’m eating. It’s amazing how many spears one plant produces. Having successfully thwarted the garden gobbling, free range chickens, I am looking forward to a steady supply of fresh veggies all summer. They, the chickens, however, have turned their attention to my hostas that are now in shreds.

The roadside is alive with blooms and the wild and tame apple trees are glorious in full blossom. The air is sweet with their scent and the lilacs are making ready to overpower them. I don’t have miles of desert trails to hike but do manage to power-walk every morning trying to maintain the muscle and increased breathing gained over the winter. Every day brings new surprises as I see new wild flowers, false Solomon Seal, yellow orchids and a few I have to get out the books to identify. A very social cardinal usually greets me half-way along and calls to me while it keeps me company always careful to hide deep in the foliage of the trees. I do catch glimpses of him as he flits from tree to tree. We carry on quite the conversations.

My birdfeeder is busy with wrens, sparrows, chickadees, junkos, blue jays and the odd woodpecker. Our kitten—the great hunter—slyly creeps across the floor, leaps on the couch with her tail twitching and attacks the window, always optimistic that she will have bird for dessert. Since she is not allowed outside, I doubt it!

As I ease into a daily routine again, I find I need more to occupy my time and mind. I am, however, reading voraciously and enjoying watching the ducks on the pond as I lounge on the settee in my garden room. Life is good.