Category: Uncategorized

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Our National Day on Writing in Pike County, Georgia

After our National Day on Writing event on October 20 on the Courthouse square, I wrote an article for our local newspaper and submitted it. The editor also wrote an article and merged the two pieces together. It appeared yesterday in the Pike County Journal-Reporter, and already we have growing interest in the newest writing group to form in our community – Writing Wild!

I’m so proud to live in a community where local writing groups and literary events thrive. There is now a new Facebook page to help publicize the events. Please follow and like the page – Writing Wild – and say hello! Better yet, come to the Open Mic Writing Out Loud event on December 5 at 1828 Coffee Company in Zebulon, Georgia!

We can’t wait to see you, online or in person!

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Featherless Lovebird Haiku

I saw this post online and was fascinated with the charm of this little bird and the fun of saying “featherless lovebird.” It sounds like poetry in and of itself, the way the vowels lilt and the first syllables of each word are accented, just like her name.

I feel compelled to knit her a little winter coat or something and put a warm cap on her head, the kind with the ear covers and a fluff ball at the top. And maybe add a tube of glittery lipstick and some fluttery eyelashes for her Christmas stocking, just for some sparkle. Maybe paint her toenail talons or throw in a pair of thigh-high black leather boots. Surely this little creature must run around freezing all the time. She seems the type who probably crawls in someone’s shirt pocket and marsupializes herself in all that nakedness.

Featherless lovebird?

Like a Mexican Hairless

tiny cat with wings?

According to the numbers on the post, she’s quite the social media attraction!

And it looks like there may be Blondie mugs available, too!

Just in time for Christmas.

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Ryze

Have you had your morning mushrooms?

I’m giving the mushroom coffee a try. For the next thirty days, I’m seeking to improve my gut health and inflammation with this product. I’m learning of the oat wars and the numbers and types of mushrooms offered in Ryze and the claim feuds between all the mushroom coffee companies over which is better, but I’m hoping that somewhere in all of this I can feel less bloated and experience a relief from lower back and hip pain – common woes of women approaching their 60s.

It’s like that wooden walkway in Jamaica when you finish climbing Dunn’s River Falls where all the vendors in their straw-roofed cabanas are holding the very same items and practically getting in fights with each other if you step closer to one of them than the other or try to take a closer look in one direction. That’s what purchasing this mushroom coffee has felt like- keeping my eyes in one direction, picking one, and leaving the store quickly.

If you have any experience with any of these products, I’d love to know about your journey, because Lord help me if I open the Pandora’s Box of truth on this coffee. Making sense of the hype and sorting out all the benefits is tempered by the voice of experience, and I welcome and value yours!

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On Friday Nights

When we aren’t camping on weekends, we like to come home and watch YouTube videos of others sharing their camping adventures.

Here is what we do, starting around 6:00.

  1. Walk the dogs.
  2. Change into pajamas.
  3. Turn on the gas logs.
  4. Heat up pizza.
  5. Pour drinks. 🍷
  6. Settle into the comfy chairs.
  7. Catch up on Randi’s Adventures and Turner Max Adventures.
  8. Refill drinks.
  9. Take YouTube tours of campgrounds and National Parks.
  10. Search for camping hacks.
  11. Walk the dogs.
  12. Refill drinks.
  13. Turn off gas logs.
  14. Transition to bedroom and turn on that TV.
  15. Snuggle in with dogs (assigned spots).
  16. Watch more camping videos.
  17. Put on the Fireplace channel and drift off….without setting an alarm…..
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POG Coins

In my school district, our system gives out silver Portrait of a Graduate (POG) Coins whenever a student demonstrates competencies in various aspects of citizenship and humanity.

Two months ago, six of our humanities students in our ninth grade academy took part in a state-wide presentation through Georgia Tech to share their work learning about poverty and the local projects they took on to address poverty in our community.

This will be our third year working with Elia Moreno of Texas as we move from Aha! to Action! to Advocacy! The first year, we Zoomed with her because of Covid constraints and travel hiccups. The second year, we brought her to our county (I had Covid on the day she came to visit), and this year she is returning in person- today – to stand with the students on our auditorium’s stage and continue the good work that she has helped shape in our rural Georgia county.

Students will enter a time of reviewing their work and then begin the next phase by entering a think tank to create ways to meet the needs of our community. Each year, they bring proposals to local elected officials for feedback on their ideas and suggestions on ways to make good things happen. We are building a community garden and providing food through a backpack program for children and families.

We’re blessed to be part of a community that steps up to help meet needs of others.

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Goal Update for October

At the end of each month, (or beginning), I review my yearly goals and spend some time reflecting on how I’m doing in living the life I want to live ~ a way of becoming my own accountability partner and having frequent check-ins to evaluate my progress. I’m still in the process of revising some of my goals as I encounter successes…..and setbacks. New goals have asterisks for the month of November, when I will report on them in a few weeks. For the month of October, here’s my goal reflection:

CategoryGoalsMy Progress
Literature



Read for Sarah Donovan’s Book Group


Send out Postcards


Blog Daily




I participated in the October book discussion with Sarah’s reading group for Reader, Come Home: The Reading Brain in a Digital World. I’ll participate in the book discussion for Assessment 3.0 this month. Time for reading has been scarce lately, but Audible is a good way to try to keep up the pace when all I can do is multi-task.



I sent no postcards this month.

I continue to blog daily, and the daily writing and reflecting is a wonderful habit for me. I don’t feel complete without some form of daily writing, and the blog is a way of continuing the habit.

I had a Zoom meeting with Ruth Ayers of Choice Literacy about writing for her website. I look forward to spending some time writing about local literacy events.
Creativity

*Decorate for fall





*Create Shutterfly Route 66
I created a surprise ducking of our office. I used tiny ducks left over from my brother in law’s birthday ducking and put them to use in the office, even adding Halloween ducks to the lineup.

I have been trying to get to Shutterfly since July, so if I haven’t accomplished this goal by the end of October, I may give up on this one. Update: I’m giving up on this goal.
SpiritualityTune in to church



Pray!



Keep OLW priority		We have been tuning in to church. With Dad preaching every Sunday in October and a few Sundays ahead of that, it makes the church home hunt take a back seat until my childhood church gets a new preacher, since I have the opportunity to hear Dad.

My car is still my prayer chamber for daily prayer, and there’s so much to give thanks for. I continue my conversations with the good Lord each morning and afternoon.

I’m still keeping my OLW my priority: pray!
Reflection
Spend time tracking goals each month

I’m tracking goals, revising, and considering some new categories as I look at my goal table.
Self-Improvement*Reach top of weight rangeThis is a setback for me this month. I’ve hit major stress and gained weight, despite joining WW. I need to set a firm date and get the mental mindset that it takes to stay on track. I have work to do. Update: every day, the diet is starting “tomorrow.” I seriously need a good mindset to start back. I’m keeping this goal. I need to get on track. Tomorrow.
GratitudeDevote blog days to counting blessingsI begin the days this way and end them giving thanks as well.
ExperienceEmbrace Slow Travel







Focus on the Outdoors


I’ve taken a trip in October to F D R State Park for a Little Guy Southern States Meet Up. We met people who have the same kind of camper we have, and we even signed up for next year’s meet up in Tennessee at Roan Mountain State Park. My brother and his fiancee came for a visit during Fall Break, and it was wonderful having some time together with them.

I’m still focusing on the outdoors with birdwatching adventures and camping. We also built our own fire pit foundation for the fire pit my son gave us for Christmas last year.



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Project S’mores Pie

cool night for s’mores pie

after our chili supper

next to the campfire

family dinner

Sunday evening gathering

sharing old stories

new memories made

conversations under a

starry nighttime sky

Graham cracker crust with marshmallow and chocolate
Baked and then browned on top
Rich and sweet but everyone liked it
Dinner and dessert by the fire
We added Campfire Colors for a dazzling show!