Date Night

I had a date with the handsome guy in my life yesterday. He picked me up at 4 pm and we went to Clearwater Beach. We were astounded at the changes being made since we were there all those years taking our kids and their friends there. The hotel we always stayed at was there still. We ate at the Pizza Place there that we often ate at.
To clarify matters, Bill and I weren't actually alone. We took my Little Sister (Big Brothers/Big Sisters), Hanna, with us. Oh, well, we still aren't quite used to being childless even after all these years. LOL Hanna begins fifth grade on Tuesday and she loves the beach so we thought we'd take her for a bit of beach time before school begins. She was so happy; it was a joy just to watch her. We did a sea star sand sculpture with her in the center. She was very happy with that. I forgot my camera though so I am hoping that I can somehow get Bill's photos he took on his camera onto my computer but it's not looking good so far.
Bill showed her how to body surf in the gulf waves and we just sat around taking in the scene of everyone gathering on the pier and on the beach to watch the sun slowly make it's way down to a sizzle on the water. :) It was beautiful even though some cloud coverage obscured the last bit as it disappeared. It was a nice way to put an end to summer for Hanna we though.
Hanna and I sat on the beach with hats on like a couple of old curmudgeon's. LOL I need to get her a younger Big Sister. LOL I have mentioned that a couple times. It's not only that but I'm also gone so much to NC but Hanna's moms and her case manager seem to think it's working just fine.
We had to stop at the beach ice cream shop for a scoop before heading on home across the bridge. All the lights were sparkling from other bridges and the shore and it was a gorgeous sight.
Bill and I love to do this but we do it so rarely. We have to go to the beach more often. I don't care to roast there but to go in the evening to watch the sun set and have dinner at one of the restaurants on the beach is amazing.

Book Mania in Waynesville

I had a very interesting day in Waynesville at Book Mania. Margaret Osondu hosted another year of authors coming to the area for classes, talks, and to bring the author to the area for book signings and one on one time with each of them. I had one on one time with authors I knew and those I know through FaceBook and I was able to meet them in person.


I met authors like Jayne Ferrer, Susan Reinhardt, Dr. Lin Step, Angela Dove, Kathryn Magendi, Barbara Duncan, Bahia Abrams, Mindy Friddle, Rose Senehi, Celia Miles, and so many more I can’t remember all their names.
I was able to hear Angela Dove speak about her book, No Room For Doubt,and the process she went through to write it and I was impressed and I look forward to reading her book. As a matter of fact, I want to read all of their work and all at one time. Guess I’ll have to settle for one at a time and enjoy them that way.
I just love this area and the arts available here. I feel so lucky to be here in the Maggie Valley, Waynesville, and Asheville area.
Now, back to reading Kathryn Magendi’s , Tender Graces. I can hardly set it down; it’s such a riveting book full of characters that I feel I really know.

Girlfriends

Nothing takes the place of girlfriend time. I probably should say women friends or something more age appropriate but girlfriends sounds right to me.
My sister-in-law, Brenda (aka BB) and our friends, Co(aka Colleen), Cat (aka Cathy), Brenda’s sister, Ree (aka Susie), and me (aka DD), got together for several days here at the mountain house. We could definitely be the Ya Ya Sisterhood, but we are trying to find a suitable name for our group. We did think the Poodles would be a good name for us but not all agree so we are still in search of a name.



When we met last year we went white water rafting and stayed here at the mountain house.
This year we just ate, talked, laughed, went shopping, painted pottery at “Let’s Get Fired”and ate some more.
The time we met before this was in Florida and we went to the Strawberry Festival and saw Lonestar, took a tour of Tampa and lots more of the same above…eat, talk, laugh, shop, repeat. We always enjoy spending time together and look forward to our next gathering.
When we went to paint pottery we were sure we’d have fun because we always do when we are together, however, what did blow us away was our artwork on the pottery. Ree was especially impressive. She painted a bowl and it was SO artistic with leaves and flowers painted on. Beautiful! I can’t wait to see them all because I must admit, they ALL looked very good.

When we went to Biltmore Village, we stopped in Blue; a handmade art place that has incredible jewelry and pottery, etc. We met Jack there and he was a lot of fun. He eventually gave Co a free ring and we teased her plenty about it. We were quite a lively bunch and the shop owners appreciated that I think. :)

BB even read a night time story to us. It was an adventure with Walter the Farting Dog. We are one bunch of women who KNOW how to have fun!!! What a narrator BB is; full of emotion and action like a book like Walter needs. Awesome!

What an incredible group of women. I am so blessed to have them in my life. They live close by each other in SC with the exception of me here in NC and Ree in TN, so they do a lot together. They walk for breast cancer research and just for their own good health in SC. It sure would be nice to live closer to all of them. I won’t be greedy though; I’ll be thankful for our gatherings as they are, when they are.

Summer Writing Residency

I attended the Squires Summer Writing Residency in Swannanoa, NC. this weekend. Cathy Smith Bowers was the instructor for the poetry class. I had not heard of her or read her poetry but I’m certainly a fan now. She teaches creative writing at Queens College and teaches workshops.

As you can see the dorms were bare necessities and the whole floor shared two bathrooms;thankfully there were several showers and toilets in each bathroom. My bed is the one on the right. This was an interesting college that is ecologically minded for sure. The meals were tofu and orzo style, vegetarian and one meat choice for those of us who dare. The students have to work at the college for part of their tuition. I thought that was a wonderful idea.


I learned so much simply from seeing how she critiqued my work and those of my fellow workshop attendees. We all critiqued each other’s work after Cathy first critiqued it herself going by certain criteria that she gave us.
The following are things to look for when writing, critiquing, or judging poetry.

1. Feeling – she reads it aloud the first time just to see how the poem makes her feel. If it doesn’t have feeling, she’s not interested in going further. She hears it with her heart before she reads it with her mind.
2. Story – What’s the story?
3. Language – words chosen.
4. Line – How the poet puts the work on the page; words, lines, stanzas.
The idea is to create tension or enhance tension that’s already there in each of these categories as you write.

You start out with an abiding image (not idea) and write everything you can down; directional stream of consciousness that has to do with that image. Then you take that hunk of stone (like Michelangelo) and make a poem of it. Lots of editing and drafts involved to make it into a poem. It doesn’t just happen.

That was her basic message and then in our critiques we used that technique.

I am really glad I went to this residency and I have rarely felt that way. I always love meeting and being with other writers and that’s why I want to go but this workshop really added a lot more.

I had a reading on Saturday night at Sutton Hall and it went well I think. At least people who approached me that night and the next day said my work really touched them. I was on cloud nine and so glad I did the reading. I was so nervous before because I had never given a reading at a college before but it turned out that just the residency students were there, creative non-fiction, fiction, and poetry so I was in good company.

Cathy Smith Bowers said my work touches her. What a compliment from a poet that I really like now. I love her poetry. I would go again if I had the opportunity to. She and another professor from the college she teaches at gives workshops periodically in Black Mountain. She said they wanted to reach people who did not go for their masters in literature or creative writing to get some of the information. Wow, I’m ready.


The first night we heard an author, Keith Flynn, who gave an interesting talk on what he thought was necessary to be published. He said every time there is an opportunity, read your work. He said we writers were an egotistical lot; we felt like we had something to say that was worth hearing. He said we should act like it when we go for a reading. He said there are very few authors who make money from their craft. He said if you expect more than free copies of your book for your work, you are probably going to be disappointed. You might make a few bucks if you sell to a huge journal magazine. Do what you have to do to get published in any publication, that's building your resume so the next one will be easier to sell.

Rich Rennicks is a marketing associate and he told us that even if the author is a very good writer, if he or she is not personable, they won't bother. You have to get out there and sell yourself, sell your work.

Brenda and Becky

 

My sister in law, Brenda and my niece, Becky spent the night here before continuing their trip to Tennessee to see Brenda's Mom, Gladys, who is 93 years old now and more of their family. It's always nice spending time with Brenda and with Becky. They took me out for a birthday dinner (my birthday just keeps going I know.) and we went all out and had dinner at "Butts on the Creek".  

It was fun catching up and we found out that a bunch of people from Florida were in the restaurant and some from Plant City. So many Floridians here take advantage of the cooler temps in the summer. We finished the evening on the deck with drinks and the view as night set.

They got to meet Harley.
  Becky has a Harley, dog not cycle, too. That's where I got the name for my Harley. Harley sure is active and had fun playing on the floor playing keep a way with Becky.

This morning we resumed our talk on the deck with coffee and sunrise over the mountains. The morning was cool but the sunlight fell on us as it filtered through the trees and we warmed up enough to stay out. Brenda brought SC peaches and nectarines and we had a taste before we finally decided to make our move and go out to breakfast.  Naturally we went to Joey's Pancake house and gabbed some more and make plans for future meetings. It was SO good.

As you can tell there was lots of food, talk, food and talk. Love it~

My Birthday

 
This is my social security year. There are a few benefits for the aged. LOL
I had such a nice birthday with so many good wishes and calls from Bill and Jeni, cards and emails and birthday wishes on facebook.  
 
 

Then when I got to knitting class that night, the woman had a surprise birthday party for me. Eunice made some to-die-for dip and we had a scrumptious cakes, hilarious cards, and gifts from everyone. What a great group of women and what fun they brought to my birthday.
Bill met me in St. Simons Island for the weekend. He brought the puppy, Harley, and we had a spectacular time on this island. We had never been before but what a treat it was to discover. We will go back. There are memories of the gazebo, the light house, the ocean and the beach. We stayed at Sea Palms Inn and it was nice, especially for a hotel that accepts dogs. What a clean, lovely town this was, very beachy and so many unique shops and things to do that we never got around to.It was just a perfect place for us and we have some wonderful memories there already. There was even a wedding going on at the lighthoue and that was really neat to see.
Bill went to check out Jekyl Island after we left and he said it wasn't as nice as St. Simons. He also got me some perfume. Jeni and Tom were going to give me my gift when I got home but decided to send my gift to me here so I am looking forward to seeing what that is now.
I didn't take many photos at St. Simons. None really accept the photo of me with both dogs. I hope they will get along and so far it's been OK this time.
Thanks to all who had a hand in making my birthday so special. I am so blessed and I know that. Thank you.

 

 

Knit and Paint

A bit of my life here in NC as far as classes go.

 
 
 

I love knitting classes though I’m still not much of a knitter at all. I love meeting at least once a week with this wonderful group of women. Eunice is the patient instructor and good friend to us all. We have so many laughs and talks, treats and more talks, and of course we learn a lot, too. I decided to do a garter stitch shawl to get gently back into knitting after being away so long. Well, I was convinced I wouldn’t need to ask Eunice a question every five minutes; that I could do this one easily. I tried to start with the help of one of the women there, and then I realized I wasn’t sure what a garter stitch is. We all got a laugh out of my blasphemous statement that I wouldn’t need Eunice this time. LOL We has a great time every time. I go Wed and Fridays there to Yarn Paradise in Asheville. Don’t you just love that name? It is good to get back.


 
 

Then there is the art class in Waynesville with Mark Menendez. It has been a couple years since I was there and it was like picking right back up. It was wonderful seeing Mark who lost his brother in May, whom I also knew. He was my age; another sobering thought. Mark is a great artist but also a great teacher. It’s wonderful being with these people again. Life is good. There’s so much of this in the NC Mountains and you just have to make choices about what artsy things you have time for. I love that about this region. I finished the daisy that came to mind after Jeni’s wedding so I was ready to start on something I have had in mind since Scandinavia. A bike. I’ve never seen so many in one place. Everyone there rides bikes! I also want to paint a scene from Tallinn streets because that was one of my favorite towns. Lots of ideas. I love when this happens after I have had quite a dry spell in inspirations to paint. I’m back in the groove already.