tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44123236142311064442012-02-13T18:47:38.525-05:00ruminations of a struggling novelistfairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.comBlogger2041100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-48665140898205631532012-02-12T15:52:00.000-05:002012-02-12T15:52:16.275-05:00

I wanted to talk about first drafts today... because that's where I am... in my novel and in my life, I think. I wrote my second novel (gee that sounds weird) during NaNoWriMo last November. It's a great idea, for sure, and I think that at times I can be a great writer... but man this draft! I've been trying to get up the courage to edit/re-write the pile of jumbled up copy I produced in November

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-56074218846295003912012-02-07T12:15:00.000-05:002012-02-07T12:15:01.269-05:00

It's Tuesday again... time to talk about Young Adult and Teen lit! Why am I writing a YA novel? That's a question people ask me frequently... after "Oh, you're a writer" comes "What kind of book are you writing?" and then... "why Young Adult?" And my answer is because there's so much more room for imagination! I think my WIP is teetering between middle grade and YA... although mostly that's

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-71818362989756665602012-02-06T21:33:00.003-05:002012-02-06T21:35:13.825-05:00

It's always a good idea to participate on the web... I've been a tentative voice from the beginning... saying things here on my blog where I only have a few followers... and shyly commenting, although I'm getting bolder. Well, I decided I want to expand my reach... I want to join more actively in the conversation of the writers' world in the blog-iverse. So I'm joining in the Rach Writes Writers'

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-83796277162963359302012-02-01T11:45:00.000-05:002012-02-01T11:45:17.748-05:00

I know, I know... 3 posts in 3 days from me... it's almost too much to handle! It's the first Wednesday in the month and I'm joining in on Alex Cavanaugh's Insecure Writer's Support Group. If you're a writer and you have insecurities you would like to share, you should join us... and if you're a writer and you haven't got any insecurities, would you PLEASE share how you came to be so

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-76346568584412250142012-01-31T16:08:00.000-05:002012-01-31T16:10:15.308-05:00

So, my YA post for the week is a cheat, really... it's more about children's literature... and actually, I'm going to let Maurice Sendak and Steven Colbert say it. (Maurice Sendak, by the way... is AWESOME!!!) Best line of this interview "I don't write for children... I write... and somebody says 'That's for children'" I think that kind of writing produces the best books. It's one thing to

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-51481900450517658892012-01-30T15:39:00.001-05:002012-01-30T15:45:08.191-05:00

I thought I'd participate in this new monthly blog hop of Write. Skate. Dream.'s and Imagine Today's. It's a chance to do a little flash fiction writing and oil the gears of my imagination a little. Play along if you will :) Write a Flash Fiction (MicroFiction) piece in 250 words or less about someone who's done something wrong but doesn't have the guts to apologize. Whether they end up

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-4856982702950699252012-01-23T19:27:00.000-05:002012-01-23T19:27:41.524-05:00

Ok, I admit two things. One, I'm 34, and so using the phrase "Remember when..." sort of rings a little hollow. I've done a lot of looking back recently, and talking about former times. I still feel too young to be waxing nostalgic. Second admission... Just now when I typed the title "Remember when..." for this post the song "Crocodile Rock" by Elton John popped into my head and it's stuck there.

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-36076112884104938072012-01-09T10:25:00.000-05:002012-01-09T10:25:20.507-05:00

Good morning Monday. I mean, good late morning... I have been up since before the sun today... attempting the creative life... struggling to stay awake while scribbling morning pages out into the universe... reading my creative inspirational readings... and visiting the Subaru dealership to get the car serviced. Ah Monday. You sure do know how to mix together aspects of life that I wouldn't

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-87601656122678505872012-01-04T10:23:00.001-05:002012-01-05T09:38:03.934-05:00

I've been lurking around others' sites long enough looking at this monthly blog group. It's time to self-identify. I am an insecure writer. There's no two ways around that. So, the idea of this support group is to post once a month with this tag and talk about my insecurities (and hopefully about victories over my insecurities)... and then go around to other writers' blogs and comment/show

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-24381742109722502252012-01-02T10:51:00.001-05:002012-01-02T10:56:59.931-05:00

The Little Prince - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Anthropology of an American Girl - Hilary Thayer Hamann Great Expectations - Charles Dickens Bottlenose Dolphins: Biology and Conservation - Reynolds, Wells, Eide The Wizard of Oz - L. Frank Baum Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass - Lewis Carroll A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth Interview with the Vampire - Anne Rice Anansi's

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-22499889010532907522011-12-29T16:34:00.000-05:002011-12-29T16:34:19.004-05:00

Hmmm... aren't resolutions just wonderful? They're the pinnacle of the race, the epitome of potential, and it's all down-hill from here. The New Year is fast approaching, and I'm pondering resolutions and why we make them... or why we love to break them. Because most resolutions will never be kept. It's part of our human nature, I guess. We love to dream big, to have hope for a bright future full

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-26008678632129250262011-12-21T23:35:00.001-05:002011-12-21T23:49:03.792-05:00

I seriously cannot get enough Who! I've been considering story structure and character development for the past few weeks now... partially in a poorly disguised attempt to avoid editing my NaNovel. Sigh... anyhow, I am currently reading "The Plot Whisperer" by Martha Alderson... the book that Awesome Bess gave me for "winning" a blog contest that she hosted. It's a great book! I love

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-24053862784647048432011-12-15T11:23:00.001-05:002011-12-15T13:18:13.843-05:00

Well, stuck can be a good thing, too, I guess. I finished my NaNo goals and then took a good long break... but now I'm afraid to get back to working on the project. I know I need to, I know I can do it... but I had found something else to distract me. A quilt. I am in the process of making my first quilt! It's really cool... I'm using a pattern and have been sewing madly for days now. It's been

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-37727868993594187082011-12-05T08:17:00.001-05:002011-12-05T08:41:23.939-05:00

So, it's December 5th... I haven't posted in over a week. To be honest, I think I just needed a break from forcing words out of my fingertips and into being. And so I took it. I wish I could tell you that during the last week I read more books and began creative projects... but really I spent most of my time staring out into cyberspace, trying to make sense of the whole last month by reading what

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-87299458131905166172011-11-25T15:38:00.001-05:002011-11-25T15:51:23.116-05:00

As you can see by the badge posted to the right and by the certificate in this post, I successfully completed the 50,000 word challenge for NaNo today! Yay me! Now comes the hard part, though... I need to finish this thing up and get it edited. Eek! I'm pretty excited :). It's something to be proud of, and a creative story line. I hope to be able to share it with you soon! Now I'm going to go

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-68447101763552049102011-11-24T23:39:00.001-05:002011-11-25T00:00:41.046-05:00

It's Thanksgiving Day, 24 November. I'm sitting pretty at 46,726 words on my novel. Yep folks. Today's benchmark is 40,000 and I'm well ahead. I have 3,274 words left to write to reach the 50,000 word mark and "win" NaNo. That doesn't mean too much in the grand scheme of things... and yet, it DOES because I have a novel written! Or I will have in just a couple more days... I mean, even 50,000

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-58473697698640676972011-11-21T09:12:00.001-05:002011-11-25T00:01:26.334-05:00

It's day 21. I made excellent headway at the end of last week and wrote the usual quota of words on Saturday, too, so only writing 600 yesterday didn't really hurt me. I didn't get ahead that much, though, by only writing 600 words. So today's goal is to write to 40,000 words (a little over a 2,500 word count for the day). It's completely do-able since I wrote 5,000 the other day... in 2 and a

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-69097434065718580942011-11-18T13:19:00.001-05:002011-11-18T16:57:55.414-05:00

I'm gonna get there :) Ambitious goal for the day, but I'm already over 31,000, so I think I can do it. In the meantime, listen to this song... theme song for the novel... (lyrics below) **UPDATED** just in case you wondered... I hit 35,095 today... and created a new character. She adds so much depth to the story! And she's just a minor thing... Swim Until You Can't See Land - by

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-3686085068829144092011-11-16T22:26:00.001-05:002011-11-16T22:35:10.443-05:00

I just found this fantastic app on-line called Write or Die by Dr. Wicked. It is a customizable app that lets you pick a word count, a time limit, and consequences for missing your goals and then encourages you to type like the wind and meet those goals. I wrote 4500 words today! First in 500 words in 15 minute chunks, and then 800 words in 20 minutes... I surpassed even my own expectations and

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-22480399067180660052011-11-14T09:15:00.001-05:002011-11-14T09:22:41.156-05:00

"Gus shook his head, like a man waking up from a dream, and headed toward the light, full of joy at discovering that the world was such a wide place and he got to share in it."  

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-33435492213649451292011-11-10T14:44:00.001-05:002011-11-10T17:15:43.454-05:00

*Updated at the end* I'm posting this early... by this evening I will have reached 16,666+ words. I will! I only have 266 words left to write today to get there... and that's after having already written 2,374 words to get to this point. I'm impressed with myself at least, even if no one else really cares :) Yay NaNo and Yay motivation! image borrowed from http://www.cheesebikini.com/2003/08

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-78349333698349233302011-11-09T08:14:00.001-05:002011-11-09T08:17:27.755-05:00

I know I know, we're on day 9 now, but I tried to post this last night and the photos wouldn't load... so... I'm posting it now. And I'm not revising it. You'll just have to deal with it. So it's day 8. Yep that's right... only 8 days in. :) 22 more to go! By this point in the process, if you are keeping a steady pace, you should have 13,333 words written for NaNoWriMo. And I DOOooo! I have

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-3402867179266707492011-11-05T20:35:00.000-04:002011-11-05T20:36:14.624-04:00

It's really not so bad, I guess... but weekend writing can be the pits! Everyone is hanging around and waiting to do something fun... and I have to make my quota. Don't get me wrong, I did it... but boy I was unhappy about it today. I wanted to do ANYTHING else... I even contemplated cleaning the bathroom to get out of writing! Eh... but... 8,374 down and 41,626 to go! I am sure I can do this...

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-58205610865411023852011-11-04T01:40:00.000-04:002011-11-04T01:40:18.100-04:00

I'm happy to say I'm 5000+ words down and going strong. I love "pantsing" this novel, because I'm getting so much more out of it than I thought I would... already! I KNOW! Characters are cropping up and plots that I hadn't counted on... now if I can manage to keep up this very steady pace I'll be pretty pleased. Who knows where we'll end up? Also, I wrote a scene today that really stretched me.

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-42568200284792518972011-11-01T21:20:00.000-04:002011-11-01T21:21:08.716-04:00

Ok, so those cool pictures I posted in the snow? Yeah... We got slammed! There were 8 inches on the ground of wet, heavy snow... and in the trees... and on the wires... The power went out for the second time this year. It was NOT a piece of cake... I mean, we were better prepared for how to handle it than last time, but... (and this is for you California folks who don't know about snow) it's COLD

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-23503075864550898462011-10-29T13:58:00.002-04:002011-10-29T13:59:21.910-04:00

That's the cable wire... we use it for internet... not disconnected, butdefinitely down. We're supposed to get it fixed by 8 pm tonight.  Catch the snowball Tag! Still wondering what happened to the snowball... This year's jack-o-lantern It's still snowing, and supposed to keep snowing all day/night. Eep!

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-35361453188382520892011-10-28T17:36:00.000-04:002011-10-28T17:37:29.711-04:00

I have been listening to this song a lot in the past couple of weeks... it seems to me to be an audible expression of the feelings that have been swirling around in my heart since I found out that my cousin has a brain tumor. It's one of those moments in my life when I wish that I had been raised differently, to have a closer relationship with my extended family instead of feeling alienated from

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-67152005943954674442011-10-27T10:28:00.000-04:002011-11-01T21:21:20.196-04:00

Wow... I just figured out how to put new tabs on my blog... It took me THAT LONG!* Not that I have that much to say elsewhere... but it is nice to be able to point people to my smugmug account... especially since I would like to start drumming up some artsy photography business on the side (on the side of what? hmmm... enigmatic...). Anyhow... look look look look at the top of the page there and

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-36986768798738124032011-10-26T17:41:00.002-04:002011-10-26T17:43:50.584-04:00

Next week, I and others like me will begin scribbling furiously to meet the 30 day deadline of 50,000 words that is NaNoWriMo. For me, this will be one of the most productive months out of the year. I work o, so well with a deadline... something to aspire to... In preparation for that literary frenzy, what am I doing now? Outlining? Pre-planning? Plot-mapping? Oh no! I'm stockpiling books to

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-41469704934636474832011-10-23T02:16:00.001-04:002011-10-23T02:17:58.186-04:00

I'm getting ready for NaNoWriMo. The month of November has been reserved for the writing of 50,000 words of a story that I'm not even sure is that long. I'd like to think it is... I just re-read the tiny bit that I wrote when I had the idea... and it could be good. The characters are distinct, strong... and the basic story line is healthy... Photo credit: Noah Kauffman It's the implementation

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-71387382740334582242011-10-18T02:18:00.000-04:002011-10-18T02:18:18.860-04:00

I think we're going to move here. No really. It's amazing. And we've found that property values are reasonable. And look at it!!! Sexy surfing husband! Red footed Booby Poipu: Spouting Horn If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-21293418035134996352011-10-14T19:00:00.000-04:002011-10-14T19:00:03.654-04:00

Giving the wedding dress a good workout in a beautiful location. Photo credit: Noah Kauffman

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-89705413278292200202011-10-13T00:38:00.000-04:002011-10-13T00:38:02.651-04:00

We are vacationing in Kauai right now and absolutely loving it! Coconut! North Shore: Ke'e Beach There are wild chickens all over the island. We think they are awesome!

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-70095815856784423702011-10-07T17:26:00.000-04:002011-10-07T17:26:14.291-04:00

Here are some more shots from my trip to Yellowstone. I wish I had a more inspiring post for you today, but my thoughts are a little muddled. One of my dear ones is hospitalized right now, and I'm worrying for her, even though I know worrying won't help... but it's all I can do... and on top of that we're going to Kauai on Sunday for 10 days... and all the details that go into making that trip a

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-69163682981282250762011-10-05T18:34:00.000-04:002011-10-05T18:34:04.173-04:00

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-80434048342468844312011-10-01T11:53:00.000-04:002011-10-01T11:53:39.440-04:00

Hey everyone! Just a little reminder that today is World Vegetarian Day! Go out and hug a vegetarian if you can! Ha! In honor of the day, I thought I'd link back to a post I wrote last year about my decision to become vegetarian. I would like to point out that, though I think the spirit of the day is presented a little differently on the World Vegetarian Day website, I am in NO WAY trying to make

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-89392335539841837322011-09-29T23:58:00.000-04:002011-09-29T23:58:27.257-04:00

I mean, geysers are SOOO cool! I spent the last week in/on a super volcano! It's kinda creepy thinking about what made Yellowstone the amazing natural wonder that it is... but millions of years ago, this gigantic volcano exploded, leaving the caldera that forms the valleys, canyons, and peaks of Yellowstone park. The Yellowstone River as viewed from the brink of Lower Falls It was...

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-16900276691181154172011-09-19T10:14:00.000-04:002011-09-19T10:14:37.016-04:00

First, a BIG thanks for all the positive feedback on my little short from last week. I am so thrilled that you all liked it so much! No, I'm not telling who is in the casket... that's a story that will have to wait for another time... like... after NaNoWriMo... Eek! I only have 6 weeks to get my act together on my new WIP for National Novel Writing Month (aka NaNoWriMo). I have a lot going on

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-2921071413841525472011-09-13T11:16:00.000-04:002011-09-13T11:16:03.712-04:00

This is my entry for the Writers' Week writing contest: Just Breathe "You'd be much more attractive if you'd smile more," my mother nagged, stopping in front of me to straighten my collar and brush a molecule of dust from my skirt, which was far too wrinkly to give away any dust or lint. I sucked in a sharp breath of frustration, held it, and counted to three. "It's a funeral, ma," I said,

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-30143827680918007322011-09-12T09:08:00.000-04:002011-09-12T09:08:03.326-04:00

It's Writers' Week over on Suess's Pieces! You should check it out. She's got lots of tips and tricks for writers from other writers! It's going to be an inspirational and informational fun-filled time :) Also, there's a writing contest. Eep! I may actually complete a piece just to be involved. Join me and Emily Suess and stretch your brain a little this week. In other news, I got pretty much

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-35485463810066620852011-09-07T14:20:00.000-04:002011-09-07T14:20:33.746-04:00

Don't ya just love it when you can clear your mind enough to actually hear your thoughts? It's been FOREVER since I attended a yoga class... like, try before Thanksgiving last year... Photo credit: Lori Marois and I've been a little under the weather, recently... and more sedentary than usual... I have been feeling the need for a good stretch. So I mustered my motivation and made myself go to

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-31714292929528733882011-08-31T11:35:00.001-04:002011-09-01T11:48:07.582-04:00

Well, I'm not waiting for it anymore... Irene blew through here on Saturday night through Sunday afternoon... and it's Wednesday now... I think... But Saturday morning/afternoon/evening were a snoozefest! Places were already boarding up and sending people home, so there wasn't much to do. It was dark and threatening rain all day, so we avoided most outdoor activities... We did manage to squeak

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-37409289796213934092011-08-26T09:01:00.001-04:002011-08-26T09:02:33.551-04:00

Is there a book or author that changed your world view? So, I have grown up in a mostly post-Cold War era... I mean, the Cold War was still going on when I was in school, but Gorbachev had already come to power by the time I was in the 5th grade and politically things were moving towards a better peace between the US and the USSR. By the time I was in the 7th grade, Hussein had invaded Kuwait

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-67680685424885283112011-08-25T09:52:00.001-04:002011-08-25T11:13:11.316-04:00

What author set off that spark of inspiration for your current Work in Progress?Strap in, 'cause this story meanders a LOT before I get to the point :) I think one of the things I like about C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkein is their capacity for embracing myth and legend and through that creating something new. As a young reader, I was not exposed to Arthurian legend, although my father was reading

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-69240896505051245902011-08-24T10:01:00.001-04:002011-08-24T10:40:30.699-04:00

What book made you realize you were doomed to be a writer? I've known that I wanted to write since I was pretty young... the current Work In Progress I have going I started in high school and it was heavily influenced by two works I had experienced at a young age. When I was a child, my father used to read to me in the evenings... looking back, I realize that didn't last as long as I would have

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-27168290223470730562011-08-23T09:09:00.000-04:002011-08-23T09:09:43.059-04:00

First things first... I'm a follower, for sure, in this world of cyberspace, but you know what they say, Juliemybird? Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery :) Through my cool blogging friend, I discovered the Spark Blogfest. Because I know you were wondering, blogfests are an awesome way of networking on-line, in this case with other writers who are also on-line. While they can seem

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-86110887373377767052011-08-21T09:28:00.000-04:002011-08-21T09:28:29.941-04:00

It's so much easier to say that sort of thing on the internet than it is in person... for one thing, the odds of my being face to face with Keith Miller, author of "The Book of Flying", are pretty slim... and for another... it's less likely that, when I admit my admiration, you will be able to hear the bottom fall out of my stomach or see/feel the sweat of my palms... thus I keep my dignity, yes

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-82334525007711994462011-08-20T08:49:00.001-04:002011-08-20T08:55:59.328-04:00

Over the past 10 days I drove South (and then North again) to visit family and friends. Noah had to work, so I loaded up the dog and he kept me company during the trip. I saw friends from high school, from my Asbury Hills camp days, and my family. Between driving, visiting, and eating there was little time for blogging. I did, however, manage to take a few photos for your pleasure. Days

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-64098116864012583552011-08-03T13:25:00.000-04:002011-08-03T13:25:43.747-04:00

I know this is a total Proxy project... as Havi would say... maybe it's just downright Avoidance! Who knows? Either way, I hope that it actually helps me move further along towards my super goal of finishing the draft of Novel #1... Wondering what I'm talking about, eh? Well yesterday I rearranged some furniture... I carved out a, I'm calling it a Workbench, in the dining room (my favorite room

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-944178640460924102011-07-27T11:10:00.002-04:002011-07-28T17:17:35.357-04:00

So so thankful to have stumbled  Upon the blog of one Havi Brooks. Mostly I just lurk in the shadows...  soaking up the creative encouragement  that oozes out of every word, reveling in the deliciousness of her working vocabulary  (words like destuckification, biggification, gwish...),  rejoicing in the Aha! moments her blog inevitably leads me to. Ok, so maybe not a perfect ode... I'm out of

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-45525712768782204892011-07-26T12:49:00.000-04:002011-07-26T12:49:05.174-04:00

So progress is progress, right? After a couple of months of shirking, I have finally written a few more pages and I think I can see the light at the end of the tunnel... meaning I have figured out how I want it to end, this WIP (that's Work In Progress for those of you who don't know) I have had hanging over my head for ... well... years, really. It's a mess and whole sections of it will have to

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-40168260218113788702011-07-22T18:30:00.000-04:002011-07-28T14:47:27.945-04:00

So, I decided I should do some self portraits because I, deep down... like the rest of humanity... am narcissistic and who doesn't like to see pictures of themselves...? Really... The thing is, I haven't prepared for a project like that... and really I should be more creative about it... I just pointed  the camera at myself and this is what I ended up with... Scary, really... the pores on my

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-47864551305891965922011-07-14T10:39:00.000-04:002011-07-14T10:39:54.205-04:00

It is the end of an era, and I would be remiss if I didn't post something about Harry Potter today, given the special place those books, movies, and characters have in my heart. I find myself tearing up a bit as I read other posts on the passing of a great age of anticipation... posts in which people talk about growing up with Harry Potter, the books and the movies, about what sadness they feel

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-69372010111392575902011-07-13T17:22:00.001-04:002011-07-13T20:05:58.869-04:00

I have spent the past week being super crafty! I taught myself a few new knit stitches... and taught myself not to put wool in the dryer (oops)... and I brought the sewing machine out again in an effort to organize my knitting supplies a little more. My awesome "Stitch 'n' Bitch" book (bottom left corner of the first photo) has patterns for a few organizational implements that I put together and

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-8785237630509681752011-07-07T13:49:00.002-04:002011-07-28T14:48:30.921-04:00

My awesome friend Aya (sister to my awesome friend Emi) just shared this video on procrastination with me and I had to post it to share with YOU!

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-6285991548410466972011-07-07T11:58:00.001-04:002011-07-07T12:25:17.673-04:00

Oh the ways I can devise to distract myself from my writing goals... This was a project request I got from my aunt, though. Make an 8x8 inch quilt square that represents "us" (Noah and me). I've never made a quilt square before this one... so after some thought on the design, this is what I came up with... Then, because she liked it so much, she asked me to make one with a strawberry on

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-69478791835732159322011-06-28T13:15:00.000-04:002011-06-28T13:15:52.077-04:00

I really do love the summertime. It's warm, it's humid, and everyone seems more relaxed in general. This week I'm a bit sad, because my good friend Lori is leaving for Yellowstone on Friday. After having her live with us for the past 10 months or so, I will miss her presence greatly! But, I'm happy for her. She is moving on, after all, to a job I know she'll excel at and in such a beautiful

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-18634589491575865192011-06-24T13:48:00.000-04:002011-07-07T12:25:56.131-04:00

Well, half a goal at least... I had a paid photo gig this morning. :) I know a woman who needed some product photoing, so I took my tripod and my camera over to her house and she set up a backdrop and had lighting. That was a stroke of luck... I want/need a backdrop and some lighting and perhaps after a few more sessions I will look into that. She sells boot socks for equestrians... so I put

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-55092530472990338222011-06-22T12:45:00.000-04:002011-07-07T12:26:12.168-04:00

It's almost 11 in the morning and I'm sitting in the dark... yes, you read that right. It's dark here this morning as thunderstorms grumble across the countryside. Lori, Tag and I only got a little bit wet as we ended our morning hike through Town Forest... the rain made the woods more magical, whispering on the trees. Tag was aquiver with excitement as squirrels and chipmunks darted across the

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-69650745401757442732011-06-16T18:29:00.000-04:002011-07-07T12:26:32.929-04:00

I have a sickness. It's called "procrastination". I spend far too much time putting things off, not enough time actually following up on ideas/projects/creations... It's Thursday and I haven't posted at all this week! I have hiked every day... and read books every day... and knitted a little and cooked some... and here are some photos I took when I was in the city on Saturday, before it started

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-69584431550525280332011-06-10T08:13:00.000-04:002011-07-07T12:26:44.734-04:00

Heron fishing I love the mornings. Of course, that is probably because I don't have to get up and go to work every morning. I might avoid them then, mornings. But on my own schedule (or more truthfully, on the cats' schedule) I so enjoy rising while the sun is and listening to the songs of the birds as they greet the new day. The water is flat on the pond this morning except for the occasional

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-59506793483362004112011-06-06T09:05:00.000-04:002011-07-07T12:27:08.624-04:00

I've got my mug of coffee. I've got my mood music (this morning it's Ingrid Michaelson and Marie Digby). The laptop is humming. The cats and dog have had breakfast (so as to keep them out of my hair). My goals are listed in a journal on the counter next to me... and I hesitate... The idea of Blogfest 2011 (as hosted by one Bess Weatherby via her own blog) is for those of us willing participants

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-15485649404420531452011-06-02T13:19:00.000-04:002011-07-07T12:24:24.940-04:00

It's nearly here! Blogfest 2011! Are YOU ready? If you're interested, you can find more information here. In other news, I have been both productive and not productive these past days. Lots of baking in the kitchen (quinoa and lentils... a new favorite dish), reading (I am blasting through Harry Potter again... I know I know, but the LAST movie is coming out soon and, as I have stated earlier,

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-43528786670777091672011-05-22T14:54:00.000-04:002011-07-07T12:24:24.940-04:00

Wheeeee! I've got another blog award :) That makes me happy! Why? Because it means people are ACTUALLY READING these posts! Also, it makes me a little stressed... because people are actually reading these posts!!! What must you all be thinking? But enough of that! Now on to the fun part! The award :) Thanks a heap to my friend Julie over at her blog, rosewood pencil box., for giving me this

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-72556273178693480142011-05-18T14:52:00.001-04:002011-05-18T14:54:37.051-04:00

Something has been bothering me the past week or so, and I thought I'd just get it out there... see how other people react to what I have to say. Maybe I'm over reacting, but I'm so over that right now... If you know me very well, you probably know that since I was young I have wanted to be a writer (also, a vet, a dolphin trainer, a horse breeder, a dog trainer, a  missionary, ... this list

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-90651586609772379002011-05-17T17:57:00.000-04:002011-05-18T14:54:51.041-04:00

Stolen directly from Miss Bess Weatherby's blog: "On June 6, 2011, I'm going to post my goals for this summer -- what I plan to get done between June and September while we turn on the fans, avoid the subway platforms and allow New York to fall in a sun-slumber." I'm always looking for ways to move projects forward... to feel like I'm accomplishing something... and accountability/encouragement

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-81232076278076195212011-05-10T11:00:00.000-04:002011-05-14T10:23:32.081-04:00

It's most definitely spring now... almost summer (except that we're a little behind on warming up here in the northeast). And so, of course, I have begun knitting a sweater! (in preparation for NEXT winter...). In all seriousness, I'm actually pretty excited about knitting my first sweater. I have had to overcome several hurdles already... one being that I knit far too loosely for the pattern.

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-60308056231644626472011-05-07T17:28:00.001-04:002011-05-14T10:22:46.488-04:00

We wrapped up our tour of Ireland with a visit to Doolin, stayed at a working farm B&B. It was pretty nice... the walls were paper thin and we had some noisy Americans staying the second night... they had no qualms shouting up and down the hall to each other. Our revenge? When we got down to breakfast we overheard them discussing what the darker of the two sausages on their plate was made out of

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-44096286677987080952011-05-05T12:05:00.002-04:002011-05-14T10:22:46.489-04:00

The Phoenix Restaurant and B&B is in Castlemaine, County Kerry, Ireland, a few miles from the beach along a coastal loop that takes you around the Dingle Peninsula if you let it. When searching for a place to stay in/near Dingle, we came across their website, and it looked too cute to pass up. More than too cute, it was amazing! I didn't realize how much I missed the bohemian atmosphere I was so

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-48592379109355996252011-05-04T12:03:00.000-04:002011-05-14T10:22:46.490-04:00

After a quick stop in Cashel (we were only there one night), we moved on to the Castle du jour, Ballyseedy. Our route took us through Killarney, where we decided to stop and hopefully hike at Killarney National Park. Yeah, not so much. The park is a Park... literally... hiking was not to be had. Some nice paths to meander... and, of course, a castle to view... also, so lovely vistas of County

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-16663414023819400742011-05-02T09:26:00.000-04:002011-05-14T10:22:46.490-04:00

First, because it's always fun to imagine yourself as someone else... This is Hufflepuff Me. And I'm totally considering getting those braids :) Oh yeah... She's hot... she's brainy... she has an owl ! Check it out here! Ah.... :) Now on to Ireland. Our first stop was Cashel (pronounced like Castle... with a lisp). At Cashel we find the Rock of Cashel, a large castle on the top of... well...

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-15577496630810256912011-04-28T12:13:00.000-04:002011-04-28T12:23:40.091-04:00

Who knew I would stay in Loch Ness ever in my life? Scotland is a magnificent place, full of beauty and surprise, and castles. Oh, and Highland cows. I did love the cows. I fear I will sound like a broken record ... the rugged beauty of Scotland stole my heart away. I really can't wait to go back there some day and revel in its wildness and grandeur once again. We hiked in Cairngorms National

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-5199249115755930612011-04-26T15:22:00.001-04:002011-04-26T15:41:10.567-04:00

What can I say about the Orkney Islands? They were just about as magical as I expected... remote and wild, full of lore and history, beautiful and rugged... and largely empty of tourists, which worked out well for Lori and me, because Lori hates people in general and I hate stupid people (which are often found blundering around with tour groups). To get to Orkney we drove north from Edinburgh to

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-51884741523025987702011-04-25T07:23:00.000-04:002011-04-26T15:41:10.568-04:00

The trip is over. I really enjoyed experiencing Scotland and Ireland... but am so very happy to be back home with my loving husband. He's such a heart's companion that traveling without him loses it's luster. Also, I missed the dog. People all during our trip were tramping with their dogs and I wished I had mine with me, too! He adds so much exuberance to a hike :). All in all, it's good to be

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-32182149879102625072011-04-22T04:39:00.000-04:002011-04-26T15:41:10.569-04:00

Back in civilization again... at least as close to it as you can get in Dublin. I'll be home tomorrow afternoon and able to post photos sometime after that, although... I have to edit them... so... it may be a slow process. :) The trip has been grand. Exhausting in parts, but quite enjoyable. Scotland is my favorite. I think the ruggedness of that country just spoke to me in a way that Ireland

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-13363631946523935022011-04-13T13:34:00.000-04:002011-04-26T15:41:10.570-04:00

Sorry, no pictures yet... and I only have 5 minutes left of webtime, so this will have to be really quick. I just wanted to update anyone who reads and/or cares about this blog/me on my trip. Scotland is amazing. It's green and cool and rugged and I love it. I just spent 4 days in the Orkney Islands. What a beautiful part of the world... I can't express in words, although I'm hoping to at a later

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-38989673663041978442011-04-02T09:19:00.000-04:002011-04-26T15:41:01.372-04:00

The past few days we've spent bracing ourselves for another bout of winter, snow predicted, up to 10 inches! My head kept saying "No! It's March! This can't happen!" And luckily for the winter-weary, it did not. Spring has kept it's tenacious finger hold on us. Flurries fell and melted and the sun has returned today to make us warm. Now it's April and I can't believe that I'm planning to go to

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-18973098408400777452011-03-27T18:14:00.000-04:002011-03-28T14:32:37.387-04:00

This amazing bird of prey hangs around our pond. Today I was able to photo him! We watched as he dived down, plummeting into our pond like a missile as he searched for fish... and then Noah saw him catch one and we watched him eat it in the tree outside our kitchen window. Nature is sure gruesome and awesome!

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-60542955810516024362011-03-27T09:56:00.000-04:002011-03-28T14:32:37.388-04:00

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-18514125526495534482011-03-23T11:12:00.000-04:002011-03-28T14:33:18.346-04:00

This past weekend was warm in the Northeast. It would have been lovely to tramp around the countryside discovering all the budding and blooming flowers, hearing the cacophony of singing frogs in the forest. Except, we went to Florida. The trip to a tropical clime was much needed after this long cold winter. We began thawing out immediately, soaking in every ounce of humidity and sun we could

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-48189482117932683692011-03-12T14:57:00.000-05:002011-03-28T14:33:42.970-04:00

I will get over it eventually, I'm sure, but... we just weathered our first Connecticut winter after moving from California... and I'm a little bit excited. :) I love watching the earth wake up after her long dark slumber... it's magical! Today Noah and I took a hike with Tag at a place called Trout Brook Preserve. I brought the camera along because it was such a lovely day. The snow has

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-91097837919070307272011-03-10T16:05:00.001-05:002011-03-10T16:10:29.495-05:00

I haven't written much lately. Apart from scribbling down a couple of lines based on a story that friend/roomie Lori was telling about her high school days (it was just too good to pass up!), I haven't done any substantial creative work in the past 2 months. So much for new year's resolutions... I blame that snotty French child that gave me the crud when we were in the airport smashed together

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-39968835819792482892011-03-09T13:13:00.000-05:002011-03-10T16:09:42.759-05:00

No, I don't have pictures of this barn that I went to today. I thought it might be a little presumptuous of me to jump right into photographing people I just met in the kind of way that I'd like to continue meeting them... it would have been... awkward... In California, until we left 9 months ago, I rode pretty regularly... twice, three times a week. I had my issues with riding... see here. A

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-46466058548676341902011-03-07T09:39:00.001-05:002011-03-10T16:10:00.230-05:00

I woke this morning to find that last night's rainstorm had left me some Mergansers... There are mallards and hooded mergansers to go along with the common ones here, but the common mergansers are new to my experience of our backyard pond. Also, the rainstorm melted a LOT of ice and snow. It's hard to believe that just yesterday there was still a complete layer of ice covering the pond... that

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-59974042435866614412011-03-04T08:50:00.000-05:002011-03-10T16:09:10.611-05:00

This post is for Swaroopa if she's reading... Look! I made Naan! I also made these yummy vegetables to go over couscous in the style of the couscous houses in Paris. It was actually pretty good. I got the Ras El Hanout and Harissa (specific spices needed for the flavor) at Williams-Sonoma. The only other way to get them was to order them on-line, but I'm an instant gratification kind of girl.

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-32226127847278130022011-03-03T08:17:00.000-05:002011-03-10T16:09:10.612-05:00

I have been interested in the current debate going on about eBooks and digital sharing and information, especially as regards libraries and their ability to access and distribute eBooks, etc. I asked my library friend what she knew about this situation, including the current boycott of Harper Collins Publishing (HC has decided that an eBook can only be loaned out through a library a certain

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-35771040940707279742011-03-01T15:02:00.000-05:002011-03-10T16:10:21.179-05:00

I walked a lot this past weekend in NYC. It was cold and rainy the day I went to the Statue of Liberty, so I didn't bring my camera. I wish I had, because she's such a spectacular statue... but I'll have to go back again to get those shots for you. The next day was much less cold and wet. Here are some images from my walk around.

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-10920702645433010932011-02-28T11:55:00.000-05:002011-02-28T12:21:35.423-05:00

I went to the American Museum of Natural History (MNH) in NYC a couple of Fridays ago with my friend Lori and her friend Brian who was up visiting the blustery and slushy city of New York. Like all the museums I have visited in NYC so far, it's right off the Park, so we had a nice walk getting there in the almost 60 degree heat wave that washed over February that week. I saw flowers blooming! (Of

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-57724946369766601862011-02-27T11:39:00.000-05:002011-02-28T12:19:51.356-05:00

I realize I have not posted anything in a couple of weeks... I was waiting for something to post about, and then a week ago I did do something worth posting about... but I've been distracted from being able to spend the time that I need thinking about it. In the mean time (I should be able to spend some time working on that post later today or tomorrow)... here's a picture from yesterday's jaunt

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-35919893912007094372011-02-02T12:49:00.000-05:002011-02-28T12:20:19.912-05:00

I'm cozied up indoors today, during this gross day of winter storming. In my continuing quest to perfect my skill at photography, I spent some time taking photos of the ice on the trees outside... and of the kitties inside. I hope you enjoy. The nameless grey kitty is hard to photo because she either looks terrified or she's in a bad position... but I think Bangs is hardest because

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-53184420010793384422011-01-31T20:20:00.000-05:002011-02-28T12:20:04.812-05:00

I was working in my kitchen/office when a movement caught my eye. I looked up and saw THIS beautiful hawk perching on my bird feeder. Amazing.

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-84000913280454898972011-01-26T13:14:00.000-05:002011-02-28T12:20:04.813-05:00

I think these photos speak for themselves...

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-65810850419233840052011-01-25T10:12:00.005-05:002011-01-25T11:57:34.499-05:00

It's been crazy snowy this winter apparently. I have heard from a number of seasoned New Englanders that this is just not the normal weather we have here. As I look out my window, the snow is softly falling, piling up a few inches on top of the already deep and frozen snow that we have in the yard. And tomorrow we can expect 6 to 12 inches more! I keep thinking that it just won't happen to us...

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-86614925811092681762011-01-23T12:17:00.004-05:002011-05-22T11:00:13.372-04:00

There are 4 duties to perform to receive this award:1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this award2. Share 7 things about yourself3. Award recently discovered great bloggers4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award! THANKS, Leslie. Leslie's blog is an invite-only blog about her adventures in horseback riding, which we used to do together... only 7 months ago.

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-28963416724298997642011-01-18T17:53:00.000-05:002011-01-25T11:55:47.517-05:00

Playing around with a light up spinning top that Las Barbas sent us, Lori and I came up with some cool photos. Took these out the bathroom window before the current icy rain storm that washed away all the frozen sculptures that nature creates out of winter weather... I won't lie to you... it's been a cold couple of days. I look forward to evenings when we need to bake things in the oven,

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-27380533929070048292011-01-13T14:05:00.000-05:002011-01-25T11:58:16.160-05:00

Some fantastic person broke the trail for us this morning... otherwise a couple miles in 2 feet of snow would have been FAR more strenuous. As it was, it was pretty strenuous. But Tag loved it... and it was nice to be outside being active. I took about 80 photos... here are a few :) I love the contrast and the lines made by the sun shining through the trees and onto the snow. My gorgeous

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-35022310987879327142011-01-12T12:08:00.000-05:002011-01-25T11:58:16.160-05:00

We had a winter storm blow through last night. Actually... it's still blowing through. There is still snow falling outside! We've had a foot already... expecting it to round out at a foot and a half before we're done, but it is starting to slow down a little bit now. Earlier when there was a break, and to entertain Lori while she dug her car out of the driveway, Tag and I went out to play and

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-36300926847185715732011-01-09T18:35:00.000-05:002011-01-25T11:55:47.518-05:00

In general I don't like January very much... no matter where I've lived, January is always chilly and wet... and the days are short... making for less time outside, less windows open, and less room to move because of all the extra clothing you have to pile on to stay warm. To be fair, you didn't have to pile on too much extra clothing in L.A... but it WAS sweater season in January, and the days

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-36206739901658034902011-01-09T08:54:00.000-05:002011-01-25T11:55:47.519-05:00

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4412323614231106444.post-68604498392187694922011-01-08T09:48:00.000-05:002011-01-25T11:55:47.519-05:00

We've been home for about a week now... it will be exactly a week at 3 p.m. today. We arrived home to the aftermath of a blizzard, to a world that was slushy and icy, melting and solidifying... the backyard was a maze of trampled, frozen snow. And for a week we have been nursing colds (yes, Noah has one now, too)... and refilling the bird feeder. Tag and I made a couple of slippery hikes, and

fairbettyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.com1