mix and mingle

There’s lots of discussion about what Disney princess movies teach little girls, but has anyone thought about what they teach little boys?

Yes, yes they have.

This article talks about a study done on how Disney Princess movies affect young children, specifically, young boys.  I don’t want to give spoilers but the affect these movies had on boys was exactly opposite of what I thought it would be.

Writers are told to read, read, read. But does what we read matter? According to this article it does. I’m not 100% sold on its conclusions but I will agree that reading ‘good’ writing is better than reading ‘bad’ writing, no matter the genre.  Though why someone would purposefully read something they think is ‘bad’ is beyond me.

On a happy note. We’ve finally broke ground!  In six or so months we’ll have a house again. 

Property

In January I shared a post about lumber jacking on our new property. Well, we're still at it. The paperwork  is almost done and we hope to be breaking ground in a couple weeks. I wanted to show you some pictures of what it looks like in spring.

This is where our house will go, hopefully, in the not too distant future. It's so pretty.

And see this tree?

The Engineer cut it down, but then I de-limbed it, using both and axe and a chainsaw. Not at the same time, I'm not that talented, then I cut it into logs. All by myself. I'm quite proud of it.


We took many of the logs we'd cut and built a nice log shed.

This only shows it half done but was the only picture I could find.  It's a full shed now, with a roof, and stores a few things for us.  Also, all the snow is gone. For now.

In addition to chopping logs and paperwork, we've also been working on mowing down the 'grass' and creating a trail down the hill to the lower part of our property.

It's been a lot of fun and I can't wait to live up there full time.

influence

Life got crazy busy, and since I'm heading out of town next week I'm taking a couple weeks off. I'll see you somewhere in the last half of June.

For your entertainment I'll leave you with this link. Be prepared, you could spend a bit of time there.  It's a series where authors talk about their favorite literary passages and how those influenced their own writing. It's quite fascinating really.

One of my favorite passages is from Anna Karenina. It's the chapter where Levin harvests grain with the peasants. It's been years since I read it but I remember thinking how beautiful and uplifting it was. I'm a much different person now so I don't know if I would feel the same way if I read it now, which is why I'm a little afraid to read it again.  

Do you have any favorite passages that have influenced you?

learning to fail

Last year, before we moved, we had a yard sale. Mini-Engineer decided he wanted to sell something and earn money, too, but he didn’t want to sell any of his own belongings. So he drew a bunch of pictures and offered them to people who came to the sale. For $3 each. Yeah. His belief in his drawing skills may be overrated.

I could have stopped him. I could have told him no. Instead, I let him. Before the sale we talked about how people would be looking for cheap prices, and that they would bargain. Then I stood back and let him try. I knew he would be turned away and rejected. I knew that he would have disappointments, but I also hoped he would have victories. He approached the people on his own, negotiated on his own, though I kept a watchful eye. Some people did buy his pictures, not for $3, but they were sweet and nice and those good points got him through the rejections. Even better, he learned what he can do if he tries, that he can live through rejection, and that he can keep trying after failing.

It was hard to stand back and let him do this on his own. One of the hardest things I’ve ever done. But I know it was in his best interest. I also know it’s a necessary part of his growth. I try to keep this in mind through the query process. This is an important lesson, and hard as it is for me, no matter the outcome, I know I’ll be better at the end of it.

Introducing...

Our new son!

This last week has felt like riding a roller-coaster through a tornado. It has been crazy hectic but oh, so fun.  Sorry to everyone for not visiting your blogs or responding to comments. 

Last Tuesday evening we got the phone call. Friday we started driving (12 1/2 hour trip. Plus bathroom breaks). Sunday we picked him up. And Tuesday we finalized the adoption.  (This is not normal but the state we adopted him from has some pretty easy going adoption laws).  Now we are home and loving it.

Truck Boy is two years old and the sweetest, happiest kid you have ever met.  He is super friendly and will introduce himself to and hug every single person we see.

Mini Engineer and Pretty Girl are adjusting really well.  Tuesday is the first day of school then hopefully we can get into some sort of routine. I'm looking forward to writing time again. 

So, what's new with you?

Turn, Turn, Turn

One thing I have to remind myself of constantly is that there is a time and place for everything.

Just because I used to do it, is no reason that it is a good idea now.  The things I may do now I never did twenty years ago, and probably won’t do in another 20 years.  Each year of our life is different. We have different needs, health, family, jobs, etc.

Looking back and wondering where the ‘me that used to be’ went is no good. That me doesn’t exist right now.  But I exist. And I like myself. I just can’t live by the same hobbies and goals I used to have.  The things that have dropped by the wayside were let go to make room for better more important things.

And that’s all right.

A little while ago I realized that an author I respect was turning 40.  40!  I hope they don’t take this the wrong way but I thought they were older. This person is barely a year and a half older than I am and has at least a dozen books published.  I guess it was a blow to my ego to realize they were so close to my own age, because what have I accomplished? It's come at an interesting time, as The Engineer and I  have been making plans, giving up on some ideas and accepting new ones. A time of flux.

Everyone takes their own journey. Everyone has their own set of crazy to deal with. To everything there is a season and a time and place for everything.  It’s natural for us to compare ourselves to others, to always long for what we don’t have, or haven’t accomplished yet. Striving to make ourselves better is one of the things that make us human. Or maybe one of the things that make us divine. And perhaps that’s why we have to keep reminding ourselves that there is a time and place for everything, and sometimes just being is enough.