Life of the farm

On this Day of thanksgiving, I want to show you a few things I am truely grateful for. Our, little farm.

Dream Big!

I am taking a writing course with Longridge Writers Group. It has been fascinating delving into this world of creativity that I long to be a part of.

My latest assignment is to write an article between 750 and 1000 words. It was supposed to be on the easy side. Not something that took a lot of research. So I did that. But part of the assignment was to read a few articles that came in my handbooks.

This morning, I read an article on how Tom Clancy actually started writing. It was riveting. I couldn't lay it down. He was an ordinary guy, just like the rest of us. In fact, he was an insurance salesman!

They said one of the keys to his success was his talent as a researcher. He did all his own research and had the drive to really dig in and find what he needed. I so admire that. That is the area where I tend to be a little lazy.

Anyway, it just got me thinking. It all starts with a dream. What is your dream? Are you willing to work for it or are you someone who says, "It's just not possible."

I want to make my dream to be a writer come true. It's a long process, I'm finding out, but each time I have a success, it makes it all worth it. I feel it deep in my bones, and that is all it is, a feeling. I know I will make it if I persevere. I don't know that I'll be a huge phenomenon like Stephen King, Stephanie Meyer or those other big names out there, but I know that I will be a published author one of these days. Hopefully sooner than later.

Twilight........again

Well, I saw Twilight AGAIN! Not because I am fanatical about it but because all of my sisters and I have 5, were going and taking their teenagers to see it, and wanted us to come. We met halfway in Ogden at that Lovely theater Larry H. Miller built and enjoyed the movie once again.

I have to say, I liked it much better the second time. I noticed things I hadn't before and there was no expectation, so I could sit back and savor the awesome music and fabulous kisses.

This is definitely a story that gets your blood pumping. There were so many beautiful men and if there is one thing I am good at, it's spotting beautiful men!!

So, my son loved it. Talked about it the whole way home. I did stress the point though, that the relationship Edward and Bella have is slightly skewed and definitely unhealthy, for both of them. But what is good drama made of? Drama!

So here I am, sitting down to the computer in my comfy Levis, and gray stretch top. My feet are relaxed in my beloved Birkenstocks, and I am trying to think up my own version of great drama. Wish me luck!

What have you done?

I found this on Jenny's blog and thought it looked fun. It you want to do it too, just copy and highlight what you've done!


1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the star
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35.Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37.Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67.Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77.Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Green with Envy

I saw "Twilight" last night with a couple of friends. I have to admit, in my opinion, it wasn't fantabulous but I did like it. I liked quite a few things about it. There were also a few things I think could have been better. All in all though, I really enjoyed it. I love a good romance.

The point of this post though, isn't to do a review of the movie. I was actually wondering how many of you other writers out there are absolutely green with envy. I admit, I am. I look at Stephanie Meyer and covet, (a little bit) her success.

I wonder if there is actually another untold story out there that would make it this big and could I actually be the one to tell it? Honestly, I doubt it. But there is another part of me that screams, heck ya!!

Why not? Just because I didn't major in creative writing, have no formal training, know only a few of the rules, and have barely started in the creative art of writing, there is no reason why I can't become rich and famous, right? Now that was an extraordinarily long sentence! What writer out there doesn't long for this kind of notoriety?

As I was chatting with the universe the other day, I begged for this same success. It answered back with, "Why? What is your motivation? Money, popularity? Vanity?"
I, of course, answered, "no, yes, no, maybe. So what?" It put me in my place. But I found myself pointing at Stephanie Meyer and saying, "Well, she has it!" Like a petulant four year old.

Do we always want what we can't have? Or don't have? Is Stephanie Meyer happy in her success or does she wish she could have her anonymity and privacy back? Hmm. Who knows? Anyway. Those are my thoughts on that! Be careful what you pray for. You just might get it. In this case though, I'd take my chances!