Bluebirds and Birch trees

 I had the opportunity today to visit the used bookstore just a short drive away from my home. And aside from some handy stocking stuffers, what else do I find but– –a book I'd never thought to find available!  I had read Princess Academy* several years ago when I was struggling for good books to read. (Seems I come by that problem more and more often as time goes on.)  This one was a bit of an unknown to me when I picked it up. I had already read 'The Goose Girl'* also by Shannon Hale*  I can't tell you exactly my first thoughts or opinions on the book, because of the simple fact that I don't remember.  But if my impression three or more years later to finding this available on a bookshelf in a used book store was–Oh my word I can't believe it!!!–then I'd say it's a fairly good assumption I enjoyed it.  For the sake of spoilers or any other present tidbits that might give the story away, I shall simply say this.  If you enjoy ...

 Hello there, Readers!  A brand new month is upon us, and I'm going to be doing my best to write even though NaNoWriMo has finished. With that in mind: it's my goal to try and blog at least once a week, with Sunday being day 1. I know I've tried this before and failed, and a bi-weekly as well. But I ended up worrying too much about what you all would or wouldn't like to read.  In short, I'm just going to post what I know I like talking about. Simple as that. (I don't know why I take so long to grasp simple concepts, honestly :P)  Via another blogger I follow, she said at the end of her blog post that anyone was allowed to say that they had been tagged by her. The fabulous  Hannah Heath !  Let's get started! The Writer's Book Tag: Books I Love, Hate, and Couldn't Care Less About. First Draft:  A book or series that you've never read before. The Mouse That Glowed.  I really should start reading this book. It has been sitting on...

 When I was younger, I used to dress up on a regular basis. When I got older, it changed from dress-up to dressing up, and I used to do it more frequently than I do now–why?–because, why not?  Dressing up for fun without any plans other than wanting to look particularly fine on a given day is something I did when I got new pieces of clothing. I would spend the entire day sometimes, just going back and forth and trying on new outfits just to see what worked, and what didn't.  The act of taking the time and the care of what it was I was putting together was very relaxing, and in a way, I suppose it could be called therapeutic.  Why I have suddenly not done this is for one reason–I became lazy.  I don't have a lot of pictures taken of me, and as a result I usually end up taking pictures of myself on those particular days so I have some decent photographs. Those photos typically end up becoming profile pictures on social media. But for me, the getting ready a...

 Day one of NaNoWriMo has come and gone, and off to a well meaning start! Even though I'm not certain the story I'm writing will need fifty thousand words to reach the end, I'm planning on counting any writing I may get done on the planning or world building for the story I didn't get done before November began.  As it stands, I wrote 1,668 words today, doing my best to not overdo day one–which has happened in previous years.  We'll see how day two goes, as well as story progression. So far I have a decent chapter one, and what I hope to be a good start on the story's main plot.  How did you do today? -Mae/Dreamer

 Hey there readers! Less than 4 hours until NaNoWriMo begins. Hard to believe isn't it?  Already, my plans for NaNoWriMo have changed since earlier this month. While I had originally planned on simply writing down my world building for several stories at once, I've opted instead to work on one solitary story that has only started to make itself at home earlier this year.  I had (once again) planned on pantsing the story (as NaNoWriMo calls it, the act of writing with no plan or outline at all). But once again, the story made itself know in the form of three characters who's names and personal stories came out of that foggy area most stories tend to shroud themselves in.  So, instead of four I'm working on one. And rather than no plan, the inkling of a plot line has decided to make itself known.  I know I don't update regularly, but throughout the month of November I'm hoping to post regular updates on either processes, or different things that happen. Ei...

 I've learned many things from the comfort of my couch at home. I've watched documentaries, seen the beginnings of tv shows that have now blossomed into full thrown mayhem and plot twists. I've also listened to a lot of music, and seen a lot of things around the room that I haven't always taken in before.  Sitting on my couch at home, even though my reasons for being there aren't always great, I always tend to take at least one good thing out of it. Even if it's just a simple sketch.  I wouldn't say I'm resigned to ending up on the couch, or that I'm always comfortable with it. But I've learned to be okay with it. Okay with the fact that, life happens, and sometimes you just can't go anywhere.  And on those days, I slow down. I don't feel the need to rush getting things done, so I turn my mind to other things–the learning things.  I watch documentaries on those days I'm stuck in the living room, because then I know I can learn or...

 To a website near you!  It's almost that time of year again, the scent of paper, ink, and hot beverages is in the air, and that can mean only one thing–NaNoWriMo.  NaNoWriMo may be a little ways off at the moment, but it will be here before many of us realize! The prep for it is underway, or perhaps some of you–like me–have been prepping for it since the beginning of October (maybe even earlier).  Maybe this is your first year doing NaNoWriMo, or you're a returning writer, maybe you've never heard of it before, if you enjoy writing I encourage you to give it a go! That's all I did, now I'm in my fourth year! The motivation for it has largely been helped and encouraged by other fellow writers who have become my friends, and some others that are friends that have become writers!  NaNoWriMo can sound daunting to some, to others it's a fun challenge, it's all in how you approach it.  To my understanding, there are two ways of looking at NaNoWriMo: I...

 You know. I'm not the best blogger. I'm not even a good blogger. I'm not the best writer, and I often times wonder if I'm even a good or halfway's decent writer.  But for some odd reason, I don't let that stop me from making up stories.  You see, I know that this blog isn't much, and it certainly isn't consistent by any means. I have high hopes for it, and maybe that isn't such a bad thing. But every now and then I wonder, I just wonder what it'd be like if it looked like all those other popular blogs that I go to every other day, and I realized–I wouldn't be happy.  Sure, I might be happy in the moment, I'd be popular and have a lot of followers and probably a couple fans, but that's not what I want to do. It's not why I made this blog.  I started blogging because I wanted to write, and I had no other way to do it that seemed to look productive, and I wanted my writing altogether and looking nice and neat in one particular p...

 Hey guys! First off, sorry I haven't gotten to posting that book post/recommendation. It's been a far more picky post than I'd hoped it would be.  But in the meantime–I finished my first knitting project for Fall! (Or Autumn, I call it both, so bear with me on this)  First off, I had been gifted a lovely skein of alpaca yarn that is simply gorgeous, and super super soft! But it's not been worked so much that it has lost all of it's natural fiber look.  I hadn't been sure what to make with it, as it was only a couple hundred yards, and it's not a whole lot of yarn if you're wanting to make something to wear.  Lo and behold, a cowl came across my vision one day, and it seemed a simple enough project. My cowl  Now, unlike most knitters, I didn't knit mine in the round. Not only was it a bit of a pain to try and gauge it correctly on circular needles, but mine aren't the right size for working with this particular skein, which is in the...

 Some might call it re-inventing themselves, others say they're justing finding out who they really are. To be true, I'm not so sure that either of those statements are actually wrong. It all depends on what it is you wish to accomplish.  To re-invent yourself means to purposefully change your self in a manner that you otherwise normally wouldn't do. To change things in a deliberate and meaningful manner.  To find yourself, is to try and explore things until one of them seems right. And to keep on doing that again and again until it seems impossible to find anything more you than you already have.  But do we really need to do that? Do we really  need  to?  Probably not. But we do it anyway. Why, you ask? Well because of this, we're human. We wish to know who we are, we want to know what is it that we're capable of accomplishing even if it's just finding who we are and who we're meant to be.  But for more it is only a hollow pursuit.  ...

 Hey guys! For those of you that love, adore, or even just simply like books, I hope this will be the thing for you!  Books are a passion of mine, they always have been, even during the slumps when it seems impossible to find any good new ones.  But they're also something that never failed to be in my life, from before I can remember, to the present.   Write what you know. Well, what do I know? I know books. I should say, I know of them. Many books far and wide have come and gone in my life, some stayed in a special place in my heart, while others have passed on from memory. But to those that come into my life long enough to stay and read, why those are the ones I wish to address, maybe permanently?  I wish to write about the books I read, perhaps give an opinion or a suggested audience to those who are also in search of a good read.  Now, while I don't plan on doing this often, starting at once every month to get the hang of things, I do plan on doin...

 That's to say, I hope we all are! Who here doesn't like books?  If you said me, well my friend, you will learn.   I don't say that to be mean or creepy, no no no! I say it to say, you don't know what it is you are missing.  My love of books began before I could even read. But the day that I learned how, though, I remember that vividly. I was three years old, and I remember the book that my mom used to teach me how to read. Thus, the family's next bookworm was born. (Have you ever heard the term bookdragon instead of bookworm? It's kind of interesting, but I do love a good classic.)  Books ever since then have accompanied me through time. Good times, bad times, fast times, slow times, busy times and quiet times. All of this, and still it can happen that one can either A) Continue searching for more books, or B) Run out of books that fill you up inside.  'A' happened for a long time, but gradually it seemed that no matter what I looked for or pulle...

 Hey guys! So, I wasn't originally going to do this again, but I recently read three others posts who had been nominated and.... I was indirectly tagged in all three, no joke.  We have  Ruby ,  Remi and Spanner , thanks guys for giving me something to write about!  So, it seems only fair I do it again. I've been silent for months and don't know what to post on here any more. I tried and it just doesn't seem to want to work. So I'm going to answer all the questions that were posed to the nominees, feel free to read them all or not. I don't know when I'll be back on here again.  Alright, up up and away! Guidelines 1. Thank the person(s) who nominated you. 2. Answer the 11(in my case 33) questions sent by the person(s) who nominated you. 3. Nominate 11 new blogs to receive the award and write them 11 new questions. 4. List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award logo on your post and/or on your blog. Ta-da! Time for questio...

What I read this morning -------------------------- Psalm 128 Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 Colossians 1 Colossians 4:5-6

 Here's to hope. The hope that never goes away, no matter how tough it gets.   Here's Hope - Owl City  Have a peaceful night my friends. There's always hope. You're not alone.

 Among many teas that I enjoy, is one from The Republic of Tea: Downton Estate Blend.  Very full of vanilla, and excellent with a bit of cream. Though, I'm partial to adding a touch of honey myself.  If do you happen to try some, let me know what you think of it.  I think it's a rather good tea for mornings when you don't have much else to do that day and are taking the morning rather slowly.

 Nostalgia's not a bad thing, so long as you don't let it take away from your future.

 There's hope. There's always hope. Even when others tell you there's not. There's hope. There's hope my friend for new beginnings.  There's hope for new things. There's hope for beginnings. So don't give up my friend. There's always hope for new beginnings.  Whether it take you far or leave you near. There's always hope for your new beginning. Where will it take you, and what will you do. Even if you don't have the answer, God says, "I do."  Run to Him my friends, as I am learning to. Run into His loving arms. We'll find no better sanctuary.

 On one jacket I own, is a pattern of various stars. Some of them large, others small. While it might not be the warmest or even the prettiest, it's special to me because of those small stars.  I don't know when exactly stars started being so special to me. Maybe it was on one of those days when I realized that compared to somewhere I'd once been, the sky I see outside my window now holds so few.  Was it the day I saw the moon. Or the night the light came streaming through my window, bathing my bed in clean moonlight. The day I saw the full moon with clarity in its pale fullness. Or the night when the pale light eased my fears.  I do not know exactly when the night sky came to be so important to me.  All that I know is, I would not trade it. Not for the glow of the city nor spotlight.  Nothing manmade can yet compare to the serenity of that comforting moonlight as it spills through my bedroom window.

I have a guitar. Have I ever told you that? She's a lovely cherry red, I call her Aurora. Well, I do now anyways. It wasn't until recently that she had a name at all. You see, I wanted to name her something to do with gold because that's the color of her strings. And if it's one thing that school has taught me, it's that AU stands for gold.  AU for gold. Aurora for Aurora Borealis. When I think of the Aurora Borealis, I think of space and how beautiful it is. It's so full of colors that capture the eye and can take you beyond imagination. Words dare to describe the sheer terrifying beauty of space and all that it contains.  Space contains so many stars. Stars that sailors used to sail by. I often now wonder what it would be like to lay awake at night and stare up at the stars. For the night is not as dark as it seems. I wonder what it would be like to lie awake on the deck of a ship as the waves rock me to sleep while I gaze up at the sky. I wonder what it...

 One of the joys about being a writer is that while I may take hours nitpicking over how to spell a simple character's name, whether or not it should have a certain vowel, or perhaps an unnecessary consonant in the middle there. I never forget that no matter how picky we may be with either our grammar, spelling, or even our syntax, that in the end–we still may sometimes write like this in our online/texting conversations: -Oy- -wat?- -noffin.- -k.- We truly can be the best of grammarly people......                                                                                   ..... when we feel like it.

 Sometimes life can catch us unawares. Especially when we least expect it. And while nothing particularly major has prompted this simple realization, it had been the culmination of many different and small things.  It can be hard, when you realize that things have changed. Sometimes so slowly you don't even see once something has been completely turned around, others more quickly.  It's strange to think about, all these simple days going by one by one. So unassuming. And yet, they pass.  Each day passes whether I make something of it or not. Each day goes by and many I don't even realize. Hours slip away until I don't even realize they've done it. Until before long, it's a new day again.  When did this happen, and why? Are hours suddenly shorter or filled less somehow. I doubt that. I believe it is me who has changed. That tends to happen, especially when we least expect it.  When did I get to be this age? How come some things from years ago still se...

 Dear Chapter 1,  Why must you be so difficult? Forgive me if that seems forward. But I really think we have a problem. Your incessant inability to say what you mean, or what would be right to say. Tendencies to dawdle and delay, no knowing what to say. Why, just right now I do believe you enjoy not having any words on your page.  Oh how you infuriate me Chapter 1! You really do. Rewrite and delete, the circle is always the same. Oh when oh WHEN will you let me say what it is that I want to say!  Chapter 1, I know you have a load of possibilities, all wrapped up into one and simple phrase. That first sentence, that first solitary strand of words that so often change the tide. Must you be so picky, with both your words and understanding.  I do have to say, that this is quite possibly the most hardest thing I've ever had to say.  Chapter 1. You are the hardest.  No offers of what should be said or how I should proceed. You have no guidance a...

Sometimes, it's really easy to get caught up in life. Sometimes, so much so that you can easily forget what a lot of us might consider 'small things'. For example; drinking water. I have a bad habit of not drinking enough water, and I don't mean I forget to drink several glasses a day kind of forget, I mean "sometimes I forget to drink a single glass of water a day" kind of forget. I know that, the solution doesn't inlay in drinking down a tall glass all at once, because the body doesn't soak all of the water up like that, most of it might not get absorbed at all. However, sipping, taking time with it, that'll absorb and hydrate the body. For me, I don't seem to be very good at doing that all the time. I don't drink water very often throughout the day, which usually leads me to chugging down a single large glass in the middle of the day or later at night, and that's not a good way to do it. When I thought about it, I realized tha...

 I think that every time my family gets sick, (it goes in a sort of round you see) this is always how the shopping list goes: Orange Juice Crackers  Honestly, it's either orange juice or ginger ale.

 It's not every day you meet a pirate captain. It's certainly not every day that you're asked to go on an adventure with that said pirate captain, either.  But unfortunately for Bartholomew the First, that's just what happened. (Though, asking is an extremely loose term for what happens.) The strange girl only known to him as Captain Bracken, had suddenly landed in his shop one day; quite literally.  Bartholomew Beadsted had just been putting the finishing touches on a particularly picky customer's top hat. It had taken him a full three hours to convince his patron that there was no way he could in fact make the hat fly, without it leaving the mans head. "Then attach a strap you silly buffoon!" The man had cried, waving his arms in the air like a propeller. "What do you take me for? An idiot?"  Bartholomew thought it best to remain silent on the subject. But, as it was, the man had not been satisfied with the strap either. So it was reall...

This short story was prompted by three things, but not all taken exactly.  What is the opposite of a kiss?   Breakfast dates.  Start with a word randomly selected from the dictionary.  -Waffle House- "I know!" He yelled. "If you'd known you wouldn't have gone in there, you idiot!" She yelled back. "Oi, guys, can you two bring it down a notch. My parents are still upstairs." Miles pleaded. Stephan, Avery and Miles along with two dogs and a cat were hanging out in the basement of Miles's parents house. Aside from it being 2 am. and the fact that they were all hyped up on soda's and pizza it had been a relatively smooth night so far. Now all Miles could think about was how the next time they all got together he was making sure he brought caffeine free drinks.  Stephan and Avery were hashing each other out in loud whispers while Miles was nodding off on the couch surrounded by his three pets.  He decided to leave them to it, they...

 Why hello there readers! Have you come to join me today? For on this, the February the seventh, is my two year Blogiversary! To be honest, I don't know what all to include on such a thing as a Blogiversary. But, I've got to start somewhere!  How this all came around on this little blog of mine, was short list, and a rather simple goal. Summer 2015 - A Brief List 1. Learn as much as I can. 2. Be the best I can be. 3. Connect stronger with God. 4. Do the things that have been set in my heart to do! And the goal, of writing one short story for every day of the year. Because, as I said then– "It's impossible to write 365 bad short stories if you write one a day!" (I'm quite certain I'm quoting someone here.) So how did that all go so far? Well, let's see. Learn as much as I can... well, that's quite a lofty goal. But I'll say that I've managed to learn what it is that I've needed to learn when I n...