Friday, June 21, 2013

We went on an Adventure!!!


There is really so much I could say about today... But I'll just tell you the story in pictures. I like to do that {if you hadn't already noticed}.

Today dawned, blue skies, sunshiny, with little puffy clouds like dandelion seeds floating in the sky...

Then this happened:
 
 
The game is on, the pieces are moving. It is a struggle for mastery to the bitter end...
 
 
 
 
Thumbs up to awesomeness, eh?!?!
 
 
 
We build a sand castle. Er, Anna did. I tried not to laugh.
 
 
 
 
The struggle continued... I did not win.
 
 
 
 
 I have so many other pictures I could share. Of us swimming and playing. We had a sand fight, which did not get photographed {for some obvious strange reason}. And we got sunburned. Which is novel. I NEVER get sunburned. Especially in the middle of summer. But normally, I am out in our pool almost every day. This year, we did not get to open it because hail destroyed the liner... So I have been in the sun but not the water. And there is a HUGE difference. Who knew? My skin, I guess... LOL.
 
I look like a lobster. A very girlish lobster, but a lobster nonetheless.
 
I hope I don't peel :P That is nasty.
 
Better head to bed, I have to work in the morning.
 
Night, lovelies!
 
 


Stripes, dots, and...water?


I did another drawing this week!! As I admitted to Jonnah, I finally broke down and purchased REAL artwork paper.

Seriously, I can't believe I didn't do this sooner....


 
 
During the summer, my pups get a pool. I don't, but they do {not fair, at all}... They love it. I'm jealous. ~_*
 
 
Couldn't resist. Just too cute...
 
 
Theys soooo happy..... :D
 
 
 
 
Pretty.
 
 
Pretty.
 
 
Yes, they would, if they were close enough to hear. I pity them. Because they are not.
 
 
Absolute-tootingly true.
 
 
 I do this, LOL!
 
 
I'm in the mood for a laugh.
 
 
pretty much
 
 
:P
And that's how I like it. ~_*
 
 
I LOVE this. Immensely...
 
 
lol.....
And writing epic novels...
 
 
 
 
lol
Never happens. MmHmm....
 
 
lol!!! :) this reminds me of a friend!!!
Totally have a friend who'd do this and pull it off in style...
 
 
hahaha!!!
Well.... ~_*
 
 
I died laughing. Really. I had to resurrect.
 
 
Tomorrow I am going to the lake for the first time since I have lived in Missouri!!! We actually have LOTS of lakes, but this is the most commonly visited. I've been to one other one {I'm not sure the name, Truman, I think}. But, anyhow, I'm going with one of my great friends and my two sis's and it's going to spectacularly fun!!! Yeps. So, anyhow, hopefully there'll be lots and lots of pics from that.
 
 
 
P.S. This was supposed to post yesterday, but blogger had a bug and wouldn't, so my next post will be right away {hopefully} with all our adventure pics!!! :D
 

Sunday, June 16, 2013

When you feel like giving up...



Sometimes it's felt like this.

No, I'm not about to get all sappy on you. I did that already this month. {Was it really June? Feels like it was longer than that. Can you believe how the time flies! :P That post is embarrassing... sorry.}

Today I'm talking about my book {again. imagine that, with my current status on it and all. lol. don't you wish I'd open up Stories in the Mind again. ~_*}

I began this book when I was 13 {barely. literally had my birthday days before the idea popped into my head. but I won't cheat and say any differently}. It was practically a plagiarized, feminized Beric the Briton {G.A. Henty ~ STILL love that book and would recommend it to anyone}.

The idea popped into my head that though there were TONS of adventure books out there written for guys, there were very few targeted at girls.

Well, I have since had my eyes opened. My literature selection at 13 was pretty narrow. We had no access to the library and I had no friends. At all. You know, the ones you beg borrow books off of. And my parents were pretty strict about what kind of books found there way into the house {we bought anything that came in...so if we didn't want to own it...I didn't get to read it...}.

Still, erroneous or not, the idea was birthed and my serious journey began. {I'll be honest. this wasn't my first attempt at writing. I'd been writing for years...just not on this level.}

I remember lying on my belly on the living room floor, stacks of notebook paper sorted and piled around me, scribbling ideas for this book and that book, titles, ideas, and all...

As I said, this wasn't my first project. I was 150 pages into a novel about a girl on the Oregon trail... Not exactly sure where this idea began or what my intent with it was... I might not ever figure that one out. {It's pretty humorous to read, though!}

But this was different. This time, I began a journey that has taken six years to complete.

Yes. Six. :P

I think I wrote about 80 pages in the first two days. For a 13-year-old, that was pretty impressive. Three weeks in, I got the brilliant idea to combine another book idea I had with it to have two main characters.

Three years later I had a novel pushing 700,000 words and 700 pages. And finished{ish...}.

I printed it. {It weighted about three pounds and had to fit into two large ring binder folders.}

And gave it to my Mum and Dad to read.

Six months later they finished it...

All in all...I decided to start rewriting.

Again. And again. And again.

There were times when I pushed it away and didn't look at it for months.

Once I had an {apparently} brilliant idea that I half started {but didn't write down} and then I didn't touch the book for two months. To this day I have no idea where I was going with it, but had to entirely change what I wrote to fit my new plotlines....

Sometimes I got so sick of it I just wanted to quit. Not the book

Writing.

For good.

But I couldn't.

The more I would try to ignore it, the more my desire to write would spring up in me.

And so I would.

Did...

And today we are here.

Book #1 Completed and Copyrighted.

Sent to two beta readers. Two more on the platform. One down.


I look around at it all and I sometimes wonder. What if I had given up? What if I had stopped, decided it was too much work, not worth it after all, and who cares?

What if I had never decided to write?

The idea scares me.

And I am so thankful to God for giving me that tiny-winy idea and growing it into a massive life purpose.

Who knows what I would be now if not a writer?!

So, don't give up. On whatever your idea is. It could be singing, photography, dancing, acting, being a mum, WRITING, teaching, or driving a mail car over the countryside. Pursue it. Keep your ambition high. Don't forget.

Every big idea started with a little one.

:D

Where would I be without you?



Well, I wouldn't be. At all.

Without my father, that is.

Without this crazy, funny, Godly, amazing man I get to call Daddy.

I could rave about him all day. But I know you all think you have the perfect father too {I'll let you live on in delusions. It's not worth trying to straighten you out and make you all disappointed.} So, instead, I will leave you with this picture.

It says all I need to.


 
 

Friday, June 14, 2013

YOU WILL NEVER GUESS!!!


Ice cream, raspberries, and mango delight for everyone!!!! It's time to CELEBRATE!!! Turn the music up high and let's dance. And dance. And DANCE!!!!!!

I have been waiting to do this for months. MONTHS. And today, it happened.

I copyrighted my book with the Library of Congress.

Which means it is now officially and irrevocably...mine.

I AM SO EXCITED!!!!
Yes.
 
 
 
This means my 4 beta readers can get to work and soon {SOON} I will begin querying and searching for a publisher!!!
 

。。。。。
 
This is so exciting.... I can't say that enough...
 
I can't wait to see what happens next now. My family is reading it aloud and I am excited about seeing what my beta readers have to say!!!!
 
Ok, you are all probably rolling your eyes and shrugging away my exuberance. LOL. Hope you all enjoy the rest of your day as much as I do.
 
<3 <3 :D
 



Thursday, June 13, 2013

Photographer Winner Announced


June decided to pop up on me unawares.

New month. New purposes. New fun. New stuff to do.

But right now I must conclude my photography challenge!!!

I waited to announce the winner because I wanted to go get some real paper to draw the prize on. I did that yesterday, so....

The judging team was unanimous in picking a winner!!! {Imagine that! Such a relief. ~_*} So glad I don't have to deal with a bunch of dramatic screaming. Hehehe....

There is only one way to do it...

Jonnah!!!!!!!!


:) soooooooooooooo me......


Because you are such a great winner {:D} and my dear personal friend, you get to have an extra special prize. You do NOT have to pick one of your own photographs for me to draw {unless you LIKE one of them and WANT me to draw that one. You did mention maybe the book one}.




All I need you to do now, my dear, is just pick a picture and let me know! Then I will get right on it! I think it's going to be so much fun!!!!




Sorry this is so short, but I'm going to run...to bed. Been a long day.

Loves!!

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

It might as well be Spring

 

I'm as restless as a willow in a windstorm
I'm as jumpy as a puppet on a string
I'd say that I had Spring fever
But I know it isn't Spring

I am starry-eyed and vaguely discontented
Like a nightingale without a song to sing
Oh, why should I have Spring fever
When it isn't even Spring?

I keep wishing I were somewhere else
Walking down a strange new street
Hearing words that I have never heard
From a man I've yet to meet

I'm as busy as a spider spinning daydreams
I'm as giddy as a baby on a swing
I haven't seen a crocus or a rosebud or a robin on the wing
But I feel so gay in a melancholy way
That it might as well be Spring
<3
 


 

Sunday, June 9, 2013

I got picture happy


Today we had a 40 minute storm. Literally. It grew, blew, and died, right here, over my house. All in 40 minutes.

There was sunshine. And then there was rain and thunder. Then there was sunshine.

But it created something that rarely happens and something I absolutely adore.

The brilliant effect.

That, at least, is what I have taken to calling it.

The whole world filled with vivid fairytale colors.

Most people don't even recognize it. But my eye is trained to notice beauty. I just do. Everywhere.

The only problem is, the camera cannot capture it. At least, not my armature iphone....

Still, I am rather crazy silly happy with these pictures, because they are happy!!!


:D


sparkling sunshine, drops of water from the storm, tall wispy grass....
 
 
my horse was posing after the storm

see (=
 
beautiful rainbow done no credit by my measly iphone
 
 
yes, it's a weed. a thistle at that. what of it? it's purple. and pretty
 
the pic I promised from my time with Noni! this is me and Asa... I sadly did not get one with Noni... hopefully next time. :D pardon the half-smile
 
 
 
yep. pretty glorious
 
 
I am in love with life right now. Had a great talk with my Daddy today, along with God. Just been some good time. I like that.
 
Sometimes, life is just....perfect.

<3
 
At least, God is.
 
 
 
Friend of mine {Joanna} posted this to fb and I just COULDN'T resist. It is soooo funny.
And a little disturbing...
 
 
And now, it is good night, my lovelies!