• Home
  • About me
  • Triggershorse demystified

triggershorse

~ Random musings of a thoroughly lived life

triggershorse

Monthly Archives: November 2015

Retired and reading

25 Wednesday Nov 2015

Posted by momfawn in Book reviews, Louisa May Alcott Reading Challenge, Reading Challenge 2015

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

David Baldacci, Eden's Outcasts: The Story of Louisa May Alcott and her Father, John Matteson, Louisa May Alcott Reading Challenge, The Christmas Train, True Blue, Wish You Well

The past three days I have gotten out of bed, moved to the couch, and read until the book I had started earlier was finished.  Yesterday’s book was The Christmas Train, by David Baldacci, a sweet little story about a cross-country adventure by train at Christmas.  As such things often happen, this very ordinary train trip ended up being anything but, and the spirit of Christmas prevailed.

Later in the day I started True Blue, also by David Baldacci.  This thriller kept me in suspense right up to the finish, with enough plot twists and turns to make me dizzy.  Whether you admire cops or not, this will keep you engaged.

And somehow I forgot to count the first David Baldacci book I read (several weeks ago), Wish You Well.  David Baldacci is one of my brother-in-law’s favorite authors, and he sent me a box with quite a stack of his novels included.  Wish You Well is the story of two children who go to live with their grandmother in Appalachia, and how they learn to care for each other under overwhelming circumstances.

One more that I read and reviewed, but didn’t count, was Eden’s Outcasts:  The Story of Louisa May Alcott and her Father, by John Matteson.  I read that during the Louisa May Alcott Reading Challenge earlier this year, and reviewed it here.

Reading Challenge 2015 book count:  31/50.

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Need and generosity

23 Monday Nov 2015

Posted by momfawn in Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Foodlink of Tulare County, generosity, holiday meals, needy students, Oval Park - Visalia, Pinkham Elementary School - Visalia, St. Paul's Episcopal Church -- Visalia, Visalia Emergency Aid

Last Friday morning several of us from St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Visalia visited Pinkham Elementary School, continuing a tradition that began seven years ago when we began partnering with them.  Each Thanksgiving, as well as each Christmas, St. Paul’s provides several student families with not only enough food for a holiday feast, but staples and ingredients for several additional days’ meals.  It is a treat for us to shop intentionally for these families and then to deliver the food to school for them.

The custodian who was helping us unload the groceries was new to us, and unfamiliar with our routine.  As we were making the last trip from our cars to the teachers’ workroom, he made a comment that really made me think.  “It is too bad there aren’t as many generous people as there are poor people,” he said.

I really think there are.  The difficulty lies in pairing up the generous people with those who need help.  When I am downtown and see a homeless person stretched out in Oval Park, using his or her belongings as a pillow, I can safely assume that person needs help.  But driving past Pinkham School, located in a middle class neighborhood and looking quite prosperous, how would I know that there were hungry children trying to learn in those classrooms?  And yet nearly every teacher knows of at least one family that is hanging on by its fingernails, trying to make ends meet.

It is incumbent upon us to search out people who need our help — not just at the holidays, but all year long.  We don’t individually need to re-invent the wheel; there are agencies who can readily identify those in need, and have systems in place to help people without destroying their privacy.  But we, as individuals and congregations, need to do our parts.

Write out a generous check to FoodLink of Tulare County to help feed the hungry.  Better yet, call them and ask how you can volunteer to sort food or fund raise.  Donate food to Visalia Emergency Aid.  Offer to work in their warehouse during distribution times.  Take part in the Crop Walk Against Hunger in the spring, or the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning.  Encourage your house of worship to be involved with the poor in our community, not just in overseas missions.

The need is there.  The generous people are there, too.  We simply need to act.

 

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Kicking back

22 Sunday Nov 2015

Posted by momfawn in Book reviews, Reading Challenge 2015, Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

book reviews, friendship, Nickolas Butler, Shotgun Lovesongs, Wisconsin

Today I have been a slug.  As usual, I awoke several minutes before my alarm was to go off, but this morning instead of letting it go through several snooze cycles and then waking the girls for church, I simply turned it off and let them sleep.

I started reading Shotgun Lovesongs by Nickolas Butler a week or so ago, a page or two here and there.  Then last night it grabbed hold of me, and I stayed awake too long reading.  It demanded to be finished today, so I moved from my cozy bed to the living room couch and continued reading.  I was totally captivated by this sweet love story, told in alternate chapters by the five main characters who grew up in a small Wisconsin farming community.

I am always pleasantly surprised when a male author gets properly into the head of his female characters, and Butler did this so very well.  My favorite character shifted as the story progressed, and I’m still not sure which one I ultimately loved the most.  But the key to the tale is how much they loved each other — childhood friends, rivals, lovers, buddies, neighbors.

I highly recommend Shotgun Lovesongs.  Give yourself the gift of time to read it. (By the way, it is now after 1:00 p.m. and my Fitbit reads 207 steps.  Definitely slug status.)

 

Reading progress so far:  27 of 50 towards my 2015 reading challenge.

 

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

NaNoWriMo continued

17 Tuesday Nov 2015

Posted by momfawn in Close To My Heart, NaNoWriMo, Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

card making, NaNoWriMo, procrastination, progress, Second Saturday Scrapbooking

Yesterday I bemoaned my lack of writing progress for the NaNoWriMo challenge I accepted earlier this month.  The end goal is to write a 50,000 word novel in the month of November, and there is a lovely web page where participants can track their progress (if they are making any, that is).

I have really only worked on my novel four days this month (including this morning).  I am living Judith Viorst’s statement that “You can have it all, just not all at the same time.”  I wrote this morning because I was supposed to be working on cards for tonight’s Helping One Woman dinner.  And I think in order to write, I should be “supposed to be” doing something else, which I will put off by writing.

Anyhow, The NaNoWriMo webpage has a progress tracker for writing, based on  the word count I post each day.  And according to their figures, I am in a world of hurt!  My progress goes something like this:

Your average words per day:  270

Words written today:  1271

Target word count:  50,000

Target average words per day:  1667

Total words written:  4599

Words remaining:  45,401

Current day:  17

Days remaining:  14

At this rate you will finish on:  May 4, 2016

Words per day to finish on time:  3243

Lifetime Achievement:  Total NaNoWord Count:  4599

Two statistics on this list really jumped out at me:  “At this rate you will finish on May 4, 2016” and “Lifetime Achievement:   4599”

Not only do I have a ridiculously long way to go, still being 45,401 words short, but I have also written 4599 words more than I had on October 31, 2015.  I may not –no, probably will not — finish 50,000 words by November 30, 2015.  But I have started, and am gaining momentum.

Now, if you will excuse me, I need to go make some greeting cards for tonight.

Thanksgiving card created for Second Saturday Scrapping workshop last weekend.

Thanksgiving card created for Second Saturday Scrapping workshop last weekend.

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Burnout/restarting

16 Monday Nov 2015

Posted by momfawn in Family, NaNoWriMo

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Burnout, fresh start, NaNoWriMo, projects, rain, restarting, routines

I’m tired!  I didn’t realize until my kids got back from their trip how truly tired I was…and I had forgotten that, when you are responsible for the safety of small ones, you really don’t completely sleep.  But now they are back, the weekend is over, and we are settling into our weekly routine.

I just went through my closet and pulled out the remaining clothes that have become too large (hooray!) for me, and the nicest ones are slated for a consignment store in town.  The rest will go to Rescued Treasures.  I once again have “breathing room” in my closet.

Yesterday’s lovely rainstorm has passed, and the weathermen say we received up to a third of an inch in some areas.  That seems rather puny compared to other areas of the country, where several inches of rain may fall in a single storm, but for central California it is huge.  Thank God for blessed rain!

My writing for NaNoWriMo is pathetically behind, but I am getting back on track today.  No more excuses, no more falling asleep at my computer the moment I sit down.  I’m making progress again.

Whatever projects you have on tap, I wish you progress (or a re-start) today.  Happy Monday!

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Home alone

09 Monday Nov 2015

Posted by momfawn in Family, NaNoWriMo

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

granddaughters, NaNoWriMo, single parents, time alone

I’m really beginning to appreciate how precious “alone time” can be.  After having my granddaughters to myself now for three days (minus my time at work, when sweet relatives cared for them), I took them to school, then came home realizing that I had three hours ALL TO MYSELF!

Then, of course, came the conundrum:  Do I hustle around working on projects and/or housekeeping, or do I simply give myself permission to veg?  Or perhaps I should tackle some of the NaNoWriMo writing I have been neglecting?

Not even being in the mood to make a decision, I started the second load of laundry for the day, turned on HGTV (in the living room, so I can only hear it), and sat down to play “catch up” with FaceBook for a bit.  Now a walk is calling me; I generally walk at night after work, after the girls are in bed, but can’t do that with no other adults at home.

By the time I get back from my walk, this load of clothes should be dry and I can start Round #3 of the laundry wars.  What next?  Who knows.

Kudos to those single parents out there who do this on a daily basis.  My heart goes out to you.

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Home alone

06 Friday Nov 2015

Posted by momfawn in Family

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

adventure, finding new horizons, Home alone, Oregon, travel, Washington

Well, Day #1 of Grammy and Girls:  Home Alone, has ended (for the girls, at least) successfully.  They stayed with their cousins while I worked tonight, and had a delightful time.  When I brought them home, we called Mom and Dad to say “goodnight”, and they were asleep less than five minutes after prayers.

I’m thinking about doing the same thing.  Morning came VERY early today, as Georgia and Nick hit the road shortly after 6:00 a.m.  They are safe and off the road in Oregon, and Georgia was raving about how nice everyone was, and how beautiful the country is.

Sweet dreams, weary travelers.

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

NaNoWriMo

01 Sunday Nov 2015

Posted by momfawn in NaNoWriMo

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

50000 words, memoir, NaNoWriMo, novels

Today marks the beginning of NaNoWriMo — National Novel Writing Month.  And I have accepted the challenge to write a 50,000 word novel this month.  If you do the math, that comes to about 1667 words per day; a far cry from my usual blog postings.  But I’m going to give it a go and see what happens.

I will probably share snippets along the way, but tonight I am bumbling and fumbling to get the whole thing started.  So although I will check in with occasional progress reports, it may be awhile before anything sees the light of day.  Think good thoughts!

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 1,627 other followers

Recent Posts

November 2015
S M T W T F S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930  
« Oct   Dec »

Past Posts

  • Home
  • About me
  • Triggershorse demystified

Archives

  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • September 2018
  • May 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • May 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • August 2011

Blogroll

  • Discuss
  • Get Inspired
  • Get Polling
  • Get Support
  • Learn WordPress.com
  • WordPress Planet
  • WordPress.com News

Blogs I Follow

  • Heart of a Southern Woman
  • Anxiety and Liz
  • The Littlest Woman: The Life and Legacy of Lizzie Alcott, the Real Beth March
  • Growing the Ball Family
  • Anne Boyd Rioux
  • A World
  • Runaway Nuns and Leprechauns
  • lillian the home poet
  • the journey to six
  • Raising My Rainbow
  • Jennifer Lee Schwartz
  • ~Plucking Of My Heartstrings~
  • LorryJones
  • Laura's Crocheted Gifts
  • That’s So Jacob
  • Lifeline
  • The Dystopian Nation of City-State
  • Kim L Hine
  • Taking it up to Sixty . . . and Beyond
  • Taggle Talk
  • Melanie Ritchie
  • Photo Fun With Fawn
  • Dean Baker's Poetry and Songs
  • Aberrant Crochet (TM)
  • pieces of me
  • Project Prose
  • DotedOn
  • Leonard Durso
  • Beautiful Life with Cancer
  • meredithexpat
  • Susan A. Royal
  • Riley Amos Westbook
  • two worlds.one soul
  • Natural Expat
  • writing in airplanes
  • Book Lover Reviews
  • Storiform.com
  • GIANLUCA'S WORLD
  • The 365 Poetry Project
  • what's poppin'?
  • Inside Out and Wide Open
  • Book Hub, Inc.
  • Dawn 4 Dinosaurs
  • Weeknight Whimsies
  • Words Of A Journey
  • blurbabble
  • 300 stories
  • Leukemia Fire
  • the mint vintage
  • One Rambling Mind
I Voted

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Heart of a Southern Woman

A snapshot of life one blog post at a time.

Anxiety and Liz

Sufferer of anxiety, depression and emetophobia. Romance Author, Mental Health Advocate and Avid Upcycler.

The Littlest Woman: The Life and Legacy of Lizzie Alcott, the Real Beth March

Growing the Ball Family

Please join us on this radical journey of pure obedience!

Anne Boyd Rioux

Author Website

A World

named

Runaway Nuns and Leprechauns

lillian the home poet

rejuvenatement - not retirement

the journey to six

Raising My Rainbow

Adventures in raising a fabulously gender creative son.

Jennifer Lee Schwartz

Publishing My Cancer Research Journey at 16

~Plucking Of My Heartstrings~

Blogging on a variety of things that pluck at the hearts' emotions & more

LorryJones

Motherhood and Lifestyle blog

Laura's Crocheted Gifts

Handmade gifts for every budget

That’s So Jacob

random thoughts 'n things from the life of jacob

Lifeline

Book reviews, writing, and so much more

The Dystopian Nation of City-State

A cruel, futuristic vision created by science fiction authors James Courtney and Kaisy Wilkerson-Mills. ©2013-2016. All Rights Reserved. All writings available through Amazon.

Kim L Hine

She's off on another Tangent (digressing suddenly from one course of action or thought and turning to another) it's a "Kimmy" thing..

Taking it up to Sixty . . . and Beyond

Taggle Talk

A happy, self-indulgent space where I write things for YOU to read! These things I write about include life, travel, first world problems, myself and other people. Sometimes I try to be funny, but mostly I'm not.

Melanie Ritchie

Illustrator, Designer, Scrapbooker

Photo Fun With Fawn

Home of the Unicorns and Rainbows CTMH Team

Dean Baker's Poetry and Songs

A Canadian poet, his poetry & other works

Aberrant Crochet (TM)

For the OffBeat World...

pieces of me

Project Prose

Exploration through writing, photography and art

DotedOn

wishing for a really long and very happy ending

Leonard Durso

"Literature is language charged with meaning." Ezra Pound

Beautiful Life with Cancer

Discovering the Gift

meredithexpat

Susan A. Royal

If you could read my mind

Riley Amos Westbook

A fantasy Author with too much free time on his hands that likes to Support Indie Authors.

two worlds.one soul

my journey through this mysterious world we call home and a world many people do not see or understand

Natural Expat

Living Naturally, Anywhere

writing in airplanes

Poetry © by Daniel von der Embse. Most every poem I write starts out in flight. Some of them land safely. Some of them crash.

Book Lover Reviews

Read. Read. Read. Just don't read one type of book. Read different books by various authors so that you develop different styles by R. L. Stine

Storiform.com

“Everyone who is seriously involved in the pursuit of science becomes convinced that some spirit is manifest in the laws of the universe, one that is vastly superior to that of man.” - Albert Einstein

GIANLUCA'S WORLD

The 365 Poetry Project

what's poppin'?

For those about to read, I salute you !

Inside Out and Wide Open

I write to taste life twice.

Book Hub, Inc.

The Total Book Experience

Dawn 4 Dinosaurs

Middle-age Reconstruction

Weeknight Whimsies

Written by the Wild, Wondrous and Wacky Kat & Jo

Words Of A Journey

From Past to Present the words of a journey will make or break

blurbabble

literature. film. babble. yes.

300 stories

A continuing mission to produce flash fiction stories in 300 words (or less)

Leukemia Fire

A mom's journey with her daughter's Leukemia

the mint vintage

Inspired by a mint colored kitchen.

One Rambling Mind

Sometimes lunatic, other times confused, always rambling. Names are changed to protect the innocent and the guilty.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • triggershorse
    • Join 1,627 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • triggershorse
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: