I received the Beautiful Blogger award!

On May 10 I received a lovely surprise from fellow blogger Ruth Schiffmann, the blessing of the Beautiful Blogger award!

That’s really encouraging since I feel that I’m not keeping up my blog very well between going back and forth (if you are following my blog you’ll understand what I’m talking about) and trying to catch up on the books I have here to read and review on my blog and elsewhere, along with .. just keeping up.

Have you ever wondered, as I have … when do I get back to my life? Then I realize .. oh yeah! This IS my life!

Enough whining.

THANK YOU to Ruth for this cyber hug. Please pay her a visit at her blog, Out on a Limb.

I don’t know if I can fulfill the rules for this one, share 7 random things about myself, and then pass the award on to 15 other bloggers – that’s the hard part so I am awarding it to 10 instead.

7 random things about me:

A friend recently called me an internet junkie. I think he may be right. And I see nothing wrong with that as long as I am careful about where I go on the Net, get food and exercise, and don’t totally neglect my responsibilities in ‘real life.’
Blessing others is such a joy (blessing) to me. It’s fun to do things secretly, too.
I’m 5’4.5″ (that’s 5 feet 4 1/2 inches) tall. (never forget that half inch!)
When I was a child my eyes were definitely brown, now they are more hazel.
I would love to have a dog like my beautiful Shasta who died three years ago this month. She was German Shepherd/Husky/Wolf and had such personality. I still miss her so much. But I also would like to adopt a Greyhound. Anyone have one?
I enjoy movies, but not horror or gore or ones that are overly sappy or loaded in swearing. I like movies that do not insult one’s intelligence, although some comedies seem to have that as a requirement.
I am starting a list of my favourite words … for no particular reason, I just like them.

I am sending this award on to the following beautiful bloggers:

I hope you visit these great bloggers. Thanks again, Ruth, for this award. 🙂

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings! 🙂

Root canals and the misbehaving Muse

Monday was an interesting day, not at all what I had anticipated.

As the day got closer I became more anxious. My root canal was scheduled for the morning at 11:30. To say I was nervous would be a slight exaggeration. I tried to be calm; I took a 400 mg Advil suggested for the jaw pain I get during dental appointments; I prayed to be calm.

Soon I remembered the herbal remedy I occasionally used years ago when I was singing in a group. My jangled nerves would mess me up so my voice teacher recommended Rescue Remedy, which worked amazingly well. A quick dash to the health food store and I had a new little 10 ml bottle of stress relief. A few drops on my tongue, and before I arrived at the dental office I felt much more relaxed.

I had been experiencing tooth pain for a few weeks, but tolerated the discomfort since I had a regularly scheduled dental appointment anyway. When the appointment came around in late March, it was determined a root canal may be needed. Oh dread! My dentist sent me on to the specialist who does only root canals, and who – I was told – is very good, won’t do anything not required, and is gentle and careful. Okay, that sounded acceptable, so I went along to him a week later. After x-rays and checking the problem, he set up an appointment for me to have a root canal three weeks later, April 23. Also, because of my likely jaw pain he could divide the procedure into two parts if it were to become too difficult for me during the usual 1.5 hours to completion.

I arrived for the procedure but this time he found no reason to do the root canal! He said somehow everything had settled down and he suggested we wait to see if the problem flares up again. Imagine that!

I m a g i n e that.

I’m thanking the Lord for this turn of events. If I do end up having to go through the procedure later, the time will be right.

Now, you may be asking .. what does all this have to do with writing? Nothing. (Doesn’t everyone enjoy stories about root canals, especially the non-occurring ones?) Nothing, unless I can think up an allegory to fit. hmmm

Nope. Nothing.

Unless you think that trying to write when nothing is forming in your mind is like a toothache nagging at you and nagging at you. You need a rescue. You need to go down deep and find the words, the source of the irritation. You need to tunnel into those deeply hidden, elusive thoughts and permit your true ‘writerly’ genius to excel. You need … a mental root canal!

Too over-the-top? Sorry. Let me try that again.

How about this? When–

something hurts, write;
anger surges, write;
lifted up by joy, write;
events sadden, write;
there seems to be nothing at all … write.

WRITE to discover what is concealed there. Write more and continue to write.

Gee, I wish I’d said that … oh, I did! Now to take my own advice – advice given to me, and which I am now passing on to you.

JUST WRITE!

What is your best advice for that absence of creativity, or for the seemingly wordless Muse that won’t quit nagging?

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings! 🙂

PS: The original version of this post (with a different message) can be found on my Scarlet Thread Musings blog on blogspot. http://novascotiaflavour.blogspot.ca/

SPRING has sprung!

Today is officially

A week ago our daughter and our young grandson were across the road flying kites, since it’s a great place for that with the wide open fields on a breezy day. Our little guy was having a great time. He hardly had to move and the kite was lifting off in the updraft.

It’s a sign of the coming Spring. Remember those days? 🙂

Here today it is a glorious 20º Celcius , which is 68º Fahrenheit – and it actually got a little warmer than that where my house is located. We are having an early Spring in Nova Scotia! Hopefully the temperatures will not change back until late Autumn as the buds are beginning to swell on trees and shrubs.

Our daughter, out west in Alberta, says it’s not spring there! At -17º C, (which is 54.6 F if I did the math correctly) all she had to say about it was … brrr 😦 phhht!

So — to anyone, like my daughter, who is still dreaming of warmer weather … I hope it happens soon for you.

In the meantime —

I love Spring! It means that Summer is next and … I love Summer! 🙂

HAPPY SPRING, everyone!

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings! 🙂

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! Have you hugged a leprechaun today?

Today is the day of “the wearing of the green.” It also is my aunt’s birthday, so my uncle brought her for a visit with Dad who is her one remaining sibling. Since she was born March 17, I call my aunt our family’s little leprechaun, always a funny prankster.

On another note: Did you know that Saint Patrick was not really Irish? And Patrick was not his birth name? His real name was Maewyn Succat but he took the name of Patrick when he became a priest — and I’m glad he did; it’s easier to say!

Patrick was born in Scotland in 373 AD, but was captured by raiders when he was sixteen and taken to Ireland as a slave. After six years he escaped by ship, then returned years later on a mission from God at about 430 AD.

Do you know how the shamrock became known as a symbol of Saint Patrick’s Day? Legend has it that Patrick used the shamrock as a visual aid in teaching about the Trinity.

Patrick grew to deeply love Ireland, and as an old man that is where he died on March 17, 460 AD, having fulfilled his mission. If you are interested in reading more about his life, click here.

Even though their history is tumultuous and rugged I love that some of my ancestors came from Ireland and some from Scotland.

Dance a little jig, count your many blessings, and hug a leprechaun today. I did. 🙂

HAPPY SAINT PATRICK’S DAY!

Do you happen to have any leprechauns in your family?

Do you celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day in any way?

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings! 🙂

I love Sunshine & I received the Sunshine blogger Award!

Ever need a little something of encouragement that arrives at just the right time? I do now and again. Thanks to Darlene Foster, on March 1 I was given the Sunshine Award! What a lovely, and appreciated blogger award.

This award comes with the requirement to answer “ten easy questions”, but for me it’s not so easy. I cannot pinpoint favourites very well, but I told Darlene maybe it’s because I like so many things. You’ll see how indecisive I am with naming just one thing.

Now, on with the show —

Of course, the Sunshine Award has some rules:

Include the award’s logo in a post or on your blog
Answer 10 questions about yourself
Nominate 10-12 other fabulous bloggers
Link your nominees to the post and comment on their blogs, letting them know they have been nominated
Share the love and link the person who nominated you.

TEN EASY QUESTIONS

Favorite color: This varies, sometimes pink, sometimes green … or purple

Favorite animal: donkey, elephant, my own dog, – personality is important. 😉

Favorite number: 7, or 4 because I often seem to prefer things to be even

Favorite non-alcoholic drink: ice water with lemon, Rooibos tea, fruity or spicy herbal tea

Prefer Facebook or Twitter? definitely Twitter, I am not convinced about Facebook.

My passion: helping and encouraging others; reading/writing

Prefer getting or giving presents: Giving. Although it’s fun to receive gifts there is so much enjoyment in giving to bless others, especially if it’s a ‘just because’ gift.

Favorite pattern: Snowflakes come in amazing patterns, and frost on window panes can make exquisite patterns

Favorite day of the week: any day of peace in my life – and the rare days I can write and/or read without interruption or other obligations – is a great day. Also, I tend to be reclusive, if possible, to regenerate and think.

Favorite flower: the Mammoth Russian Sunflower

PASSING IT ON:

I hereby pass forward this cheery Sunshine Award to some worthy bloggers whose writing I have discovered and enjoy for one reason or another – even though I don’t get to visit many very often. Give yourself a treat by checking them out.

http://thiskidreviewsbooks.com/

http://deryncollier.wordpress.com/

http://thegracefuldoe.wordpress.com/

http://www.singer-scribe.blogspot.com/

http://www.happybirthdayauthor.com/

http://catherinemjohnson.wordpress.com/

http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com

http://jancoates.ca

http://misscharlottesbookblog.blogspot.com/

http://ishtamercurio.blogspot.com

http://rebeccaberto.wordpress.com/

http://michelledevans.blogspot.com/

And that’s it! Again, thanks Darlene. I will be notifying all the above to let them know of their award. Please visit these wonderful people, including Darlene who can be found at http://darlenefoster.wordpress.com/

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings! 🙂

Did I say Spring? Welcome to Nova Scotia in March

I wasn’t going to write a post today, but something happened that is worth sharing. Something cold, white, and wintry.

Yes, I know that I said Spring was in sight. You can read my post here. The little snow we had was disappearing, then it rained, followed by warming temperatures, then … look at what happened during last night …

Yes, MORE snow! I have a ‘great’ young friend who would absolutely love this. 🙂 It is heavy wet snow, ideal for making snowballs and building snowmen.

For little dogs, on the other hand, it’s not so fun when it comes right up under the belly.

This is Sammy. I didn’t get a photo of him when he first went out, before the snow was cleared a little. He’s so short that he pushed snow. He didn’t leave tracks in the snow, he body-pushed his way through it so that he left one long trail. Funny little guy! 🙂 But he does love to try to run in it.

And then the birds needed some help …

so I refilled their feeders and put out a new ‘birdseed cake’ for them.

Tonight the snow is starting to settle, and it’s turning slippery as it is getting cooler. In a couple of days we will get warmer weather again. Yes, Spring is coming a little at a time.

Winter is so beautiful, but I am a warm-weather person.

How about you, which season do you prefer?

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings! 🙂

If you could do anything on your bucket list, it would be …

I posted this joke once before on this date, but at the risk of repeating myself … What is the only day of the year that is a command?

March Fourth!

It’s a play on words .. fourth/forth .. that is worth thinking about.

This being a forward day, is there anything on your bucket list that you would do, or begin, today if you could? You know .. that list of things you want to do sometime in your lifetime?

I still have not done so much that I have never had the courage to do but wanted to accomplish. But — I am thinking perhaps I should tackle some of those in the next two years. And why not? Well, there are certainly drawbacks, hindrances, that will stand tall against my ability to do them, but there are a few I can work out, I think, some that are easier and less daunting.

Such as? you ask. Well, such as tandem sky-diving, going on vacation this summer and taking in Banff National Park, completing and submitting several manuscripts, getting back into photography in a more serious way. Those all sound like good things to start with, don’t you think?

I won’t even list the things that are less likely to happen and more of a ‘worry’ to me, although I started to write them down. (Okay, I’ll mention one .. learning to horseback ride, but my husband is deathly allergic to horse dander.) It’s probably better that I keep some other things to myself for now. Writing them down is almost a commitment. Yikes!

Allowing fear and lack of confidence to take over one’s life can leave one with regret, disappointment, depression – which is probably anger turned inward because of regret and disappointment, and add to the fear and lack of confidence. It is such a waste of life to fall into those things. If you battle them let me encourage you to step out and away from them, one decision at a time. I am doing it little by little; you can, too. Life is so very short in light of eternity, why let it just slip away unchallenged in the things you have longed to do?

Now I ask you .. If you could do anything in your bucket list, what would it be? What in your lifetime do you really want to accomplish that will take extended effort and maybe mean overcoming some fear to get there? I am very interested in hearing about it; it would be encouraging to me.

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings! 🙂