Mid-Week Check-In ROW 80

Time for the Mid-Week check-in at Row 80 – the writing challenge that recognizes we all have lives but still want and need to write.

My goals are listed here for this round and in bold is the progress from the past week.

Writing:

1. Write daily – at least 500 words daily. Yes
2. Write first draft of MG novel “Jack’s Summer” – No
3. Write first draft of  chapter book “Hazel” –No – but did some revisions
4. Write at least one picture book a month Continuing revising drafts
5. Take 2 online writing courses and enter at least one writing contest. – finished “Idea to Story”through RWA
6. Outline two other novels –No 

Editing/Revising

1. Revise/edit “ Catching Love” –No – my push for the rest of the month is on pix books
2. Revise/edit “Love Has No Age” –No

 

Blogging

1. Support my ROW team 2x a week –yes
2. Take part in A to Z challenge – Yes – finished the challenge
3. Write at least 2 other posts weekly besides ROW80 posts.- Yes

 

Reading (I am adding this section this week as reading has been my saviour over the past few weeks!)

1. Read several picture books for study purpose each week – Yes
2. Read 3 books on writing as well as articles –read several articles
3. Read something for pleasure – read 2 novels

 

Personal

1. Create daily – yes
2. Complete 2 online art courses. – working on an Altered Puzzle class; taking part in challenges
3. Follow healthy habits:

~walk 3x a week – No, but working in the yard every day

~eat gluten/dairy free – yes to dairy

~drink 6 – 8 glasses of water a day – 4-5 glasses of fluids

Slice of Life Tuesday

Today we share a Slice of Life – a weekly writing challenge hosted at “Two Writing Teachers”.

Today my daughter and I were finally able to go for the Mother’s Day lunch she’d planned – work and illness and appointments had prevented us from going until today.

We had a lovely lunch and had time to catch up in person.

We talked about my mom, her grandma and I realized that tomorrow is the seventh anniversary of her passing. For my daughter, it seemed a long time ago, but for me, it still seems close.

The first couple of years, I took the day off work – it was just too hard to teach. But time does blunt grief and though I miss her  often, the memories do sustain me.

My mom and daughter

Sunday Check-In ROW 80

Time for Sunday check-in at Row 80 – the writing challenge that recognizes we all have lives but still want and need to write.

My goals are listed here for this round and in bold is the progress from the past week.

Writing:

1. Write daily – at least 500 words daily. Yes
2. Write first draft of MG novel “Jack’s Summer” –No
3. Write first draft of  chapter book “Hazel” –No
4. Write at least one picture book a month –yes for the month, but revising now
5. Take 2 online writing courses and enter at least one writing contest. –working on “Idea to Plot” through RWA
6. Outline two other novels –No

 

Editing/Revising

1. Revise/edit “ Catching Love” –Working on first three chapters
2. Revise/edit “Love Has No Age” –No – will put forward to next round

 

Blogging

1. Support my ROW team 2x a week –yes
2. Take part in A to Z challenge – Yes – finished
3. Write at least 2 other posts weekly besides ROW80 posts.- Yes

 

Reading (

1. Read several picture books for study purpose each week – Yes
2. Read 3 books on writing as well as articles –read several articles
3. Read something for pleasure – read 1 novel this past week

Not sure if I’ve shared this – but lately writing has been more like bleeding!

Mid-Week Check-In ROW80

Time for the Mid-Week check-in at Row 80 – the writing challenge that recognizes we all have lives but still want and need to write.

Yesterday was extremely busy – but not with writing! It came and went. So I am a day late.

My goals are listed here for this round and in bold is the progress from the past week.

Writing:

1. Write daily – at least 500 words daily. Yes
2. Write first draft of MG novel “Jack’s Summer” – No
3. Write first draft of  chapter book “Hazel” –No
4. Write at least one picture book a month Continuing revising drafts
5. Take 2 online writing courses and enter at least one writing contest. – working on“Idea to Story”through RWA
6. Outline two other novels –No 

Editing/Revising

1. Revise/edit “ Catching Love” –No – my push for the rest of the month is on pix books
2. Revise/edit “Love Has No Age” –No

 

Blogging

1. Support my ROW team 2x a week –yes
2. Take part in A to Z challenge – Yes – finished the challenge
3. Write at least 2 other posts weekly besides ROW80 posts.- Yes

 Reading (I am adding this section this week as reading has been my saviour over the past few weeks!)

1. Read several picture books for study purpose each week – Yes
2. Read 3 books on writing as well as articles –read several articles
3. Read something for pleasure – read 1 novel this past week; have several on the go

 

Personal

1. Create daily – most days
2. Complete 2 online art courses. – working on an Altered Puzzle class; taking part in challenges
3. Follow healthy habits:

~walk 3x a week – No, but working in the yard every day

~eat gluten/dairy free – yes to dairy

~drink 6 – 8 glasses of water a day – 4-5 glasses of fluids

Slice of Life Tuesday

Today is Slice of Life Tuesday – a writing challenge hosted at “Two Writing Teachers” – where we share a slice form our lives

It is a sad day when you walk around your yard each morning checking to see that everything is still as it should be.

Sometime late Saturday or early Sunday, someone(s) walked up our driveway, into our side yard, pulled the cover off our barbecue, and even turned on the propane, then left with a flat of begonias I got for Mother’s Day. (we still have threat of frost here in Ontario, so hadn’t planted them.)

It was my hubby who realized they were missing Sunday afternoon. I called the police and filled out an online report. I know the flowers only cost $14, but I felt violated. The idea that a thief was in our yard made me feel sick.

When talking with neighbours yesterday, I learned that several cars had been broken into Saturday night as well. I have actually seen a police car cruise around our neighbourhood the past couple of days.

In the years we have been here, this was the second time we have been robbed. The first was a wiseman from our large crèche we put out every Christmas. Since then, we have mounted them on wood and wired the pieces together.

I always thought of our neighbourhood as safe. But, I guess, there will always be people who seek something for nothing, who can only get what they want by stealing, breaking the law and causing pain to others. Sad, So very sad.

Sunday Check-In ROW 80

Time for Sunday check-in at Row 80 – the writing challenge that recognizes we all have lives but still want and need to write.

My goals are listed here for this round and in bold is the progress from the past week.

Writing:

1. Write daily – at least 500 words daily. Yes, but still minimally each day
2. Write first draft of MG novel “Jack’s Summer” –No –but researching farms 
3. Write first draft of  chapter book “Hazel” –No
4. Write at least one picture book a month –yes for the month, but revising now
5. Take 2 online writing courses and enter at least one writing contest. – working on”Idea to Plot” through RWA
6. Outline two other novels –No – still jotting down ideas and scenes as they appear

 

Editing/Revising

1. Revise/edit “ Catching Love” –Working on first three chapters
2. Revise/edit “Love Has No Age” –No – will put forward to next round

 

Blogging

1. Support my ROW team 2x a week –yes
2. Take part in A to Z challenge – Yes – finished
3. Write at least 2 other posts weekly besides ROW80 posts.- Yes

 Reading (I am adding this section this week as reading has been my saviour over the past few weeks!)

1. Read several picture books for study purpose each week – Yes
2. Read 3 books on writing as well as articles –read several articles

1. Read something for pleasure – read 3 novel this past week (finally finished the Karen Marie Moning “Highlander” series today)

Here’s a quote I have always loved, by William Wordsworth

30 Words Thursday

Trillium

Trillium grandiflorum

Spring flower

Three petals

Usually white

Leaves opposite

Three sepals

Six stamens

Three stigmas

Shade plant

Woodland habitat

Yearly visitor

Ontario’s emblem

Official flower

Don’t pick!

Beautiful wildflower.

These lovely wildflowers actually grow in our shaded side garden. I remember as a child after  moving from Quebec, picking one of these and was told by classmates that I would be jailed. I ran home crying! But I still love these flowers and look for them in woods in the spring.

Take time to check out “Treasures Found” and the other ” 30 Words Thursday” participants.

Mid-Week Check-In ROW 80

Time for the Mid-Week check-in at Row 80 – the writing challenge that recognizes we all have lives but still want and need to write.

Yesterday was extremely busy – but not with writing! It came and went. So I am a day late.

My goals are listed here for this round and in bold is the progress from the past week.

Writing:

1. Write daily – at least 500 words daily. Have to admit – no.
2. Write first draft of MG novel “Jack’s Summer” – No
3. Write first draft of  chapter book “Hazel” –No
4. Write at least one picture book a month Have been revising drafts as I need to have 4 ready for June 1 for critiques – for the writing retreat I am attending in July.
5. Take 2 online writing courses and enter at least one writing contest. – working on “Idea to Story”through RWA
6. Outline two other novels –No 

Editing/Revising

1. Revise/edit “ Catching Love” –No – my push for the rest of the month is on pix books
2. Revise/edit “Love Has No Age” –No

 

Blogging

1. Support my ROW team 2x a week –yes
2. Take part in A to Z challenge – Yes – finished the challenge
3. Write at least 2 other posts weekly besides ROW80 posts.- Yes

 Reading (I am adding this section this week as reading has been my saviour over the past few weeks!)

1. Read several picture books for study purpose each week – Yes
2. Read 3 books on writing as well as articles –read several articles
3. Read something for pleasure – read 1 novel this past week and have several on the go

 

Personal

1. Create daily – yes
2. Complete 2 online art courses. – working on an Altered Puzzle class
3. Follow healthy habits:

~walk 3x a week – No, but working in the yard mowing and weeding

~eat gluten/dairy free – yes to dairy; bread is my weakness!

~drink 6 – 8 glasses of water a day – still can only manage 4-5 glasses

Slice of Life Tuesday

Today is Slice of Life Tuesday – a writing challenge hosted at “Two Writing Teachers” – where we share a slice form our lives

With my husband still recovering from surgery and his kids, who usually help us (at $10 hr), on a bit of a strike, it fell on me to attack the dandelions this morning. I became the designated dandelion slayer.

My husband prides himself on his lawn and he usually spends time each evening searching out those weeds. This year, those pesky weeds are taking over.

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I removed a few last week before a heat wave hit and it was just too hot for me to work.

When I took the weed whacker out, it was broken. So, of we went to Canadian Tire to replace it. This Fiskars tool has a lifetime warranty and it was quickly replaced.

Once home, I grabbed it, a pail for weeds and a jug of grass seed. For over an hour I worked, falling into a steady routine:

Whacker pressed down,

Stepped on

Weed pulled out

Dropped in bucket

Sprinkled in grass seed

Stomped down

On to the next.

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Two pailfuls of weeds and the front lawn and boulevard were clear of those yellow weeds.

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Tomorrow I get to mow. Whippee!

Sunday Check-In ROW 80

Time for Sunday check-in at Row 80 – the writing challenge that recognizes we all have lives but still want and need to write.

My goals are listed here for this round and in bold is the progress from the past week.

Writing:

1. Write daily – at least 500 words daily. Yes, but minimally each day
2. Write first draft of MG novel “Jack’s Summer” –No
3. Write first draft of  chapter book “Hazel” –No
4. Write at least one picture book a month Yes – worked to finish one started a while back
5. Take 2 online writing courses and enter at least one writing contest. – working on”Idea to Plot” rough RWA
6. Outline two other novels –No

 

Editing/Revising

1. Revise/edit “ Catching Love” –Working on first three chapters
2. Revise/edit “Love Has No Age” –No

 

Blogging

1. Support my ROW team 2x a week – yes
2. Take part in A to Z challenge – Yes – finished
3. Write at least 2 other posts weekly besides ROW80 posts.- Yes

 Reading (I am adding this section this week as reading has been my saviour over the past few weeks!)

1. Read several picture books for study purpose each week – Yes
2. Read 3 books on writing as well as articles –read several articles
3. Read something for pleasure – read 1 novel this past week and have started 2 others