Shocking Photos: PETA's Secret Slaughter of Kittens, Puppies - The Huffington Post
Now I didn't post this directly on FB because I hate seeing horrible pictures of animals in my feed BUT you should really really read this.These are the people who condemn the seal hunt and meat eaters and pet owners. Donate your money somewhere else.
So its been months since I blogged. Not because I didn't want to be. There has been tons to be talking about. But my poor ole phone couldn't handle it after the excursion down the well. Don't get me wrong I'm happy it worked at all.
Headed into town yesterday evening to get a new phone...I had sort of wanted to hang on till the Galaxy 4 came out but it was not to be. Galaxy Note II instead and its fun fun fun.
Okay so lots of things have been fun lately. Operation Homespun patterns were released. I got to do a live radio interview on CBC. Some Good Market went to Town and is going back Big Time. Oh and there was Land & Sea. Holy bazoly it couldn't be better really.
So fair warning that I'll be back yammering about anything all the time..oh and happy first day of spring...whatever that means here in Newfoundland lol
Note: Thanks to Laurie Legrow for posting this and for helping me promote my book. If you’re in Newfoundland (and near St. John’s) you really owe it to yourself to check out Some Good Market, for some excellent handmade items (and my book) also please check the end for a prize!
Writing Tip: The Importance of an Outline (Two even!)
It is one of those simple things you learn in school early on (at least I did), the importance of an outline for a story. The funny part is that for all my time in high school and university (I have a Masters) I never bothered to do an outline. It was only the past few years when I started writing my book that I finally saw the benefit of it. When you have an idea for a novel/short story/blog post/whatever you just want to go with it, get it down as fast as possible. What I have discovered though is that once you get the first few chapters done you need to come up with a plan, you need to know where you’re going and as the writing continues, where you’ve been.
At first I was content just have an outline which contained four things, chapter titles, dates when the story happened, a brief description of the chapter and of course the chapter order. I found that by always at least having ideas for two or three chapters ahead I had an idea where the story was going and it always gave me something to think about in terms of scenes, characters and the storyline in general. What I’ve discovered though, with the help of my most excellent editor at Penumbra (Pat), is that it helps a great deal also to have a detailed outline. A detailed outline contains all of the above details but also describes briefly every event, small or big, that happens in each chapter. Why go to this level of detail you ask? Consistency, logical flow and evenness of the storyline and characters in your story is something that may be hard to keep straight otherwise.
Two examples from my own experiences: when I wrote my first novel “The Newfoundland Vampire” (available now ) I just had a basic outline. It gave me an idea of what happened in each chapter but with editing and changes I lost track of a couple of things. The sequence of days, while it may not sound important, if you’re going to have your characters follow the regular week that it has to be correct, otherwise readers will become frustrated and taken out the story. Another thing I missed was the time of day that the sun would set, for a vampire novel that’s important. Without a detailed outline I had the sun setting at the wrong time for September and it needed to be changed to October.
More recently while working on book two (tentatively called “Killer on the Road”) I spent a few hours and did an outline for the entire novel. While I’m sure this will change, chapters will be removed, edited and moved around but I have an idea now of where the story will go and a plan. As I complete each chapter I add to the more detailed outline discussed above.
While writing is a creative process, I have found it invaluable to be organized when it comes to writing anything beyond a short story. If you are going to create your own world it needs to make sense and outlines (at least one) make sense to me.
The Prize: You’ve made it this far so here’s your reward. Today (November 22st, 2012) my book “The Newfoundland Vampire” is free on Amazon Kindle. I hope you’ll check it out and if you do read it, I’d love a review. Feel free to get in contact with me through here. Thanks and have a great day/afternoon/evening!
This is the time of year when thoughts for most turn to shopping for the upcoming festive season. For those who make many of the things people buy its the time of year we wonder where the year has gone and how are we going to be ready for all that is coming.
Some tips for getting ready for whichever end of the spectrum you are on (maybe both?):
- Tea is key.
- Its never to early to buy a handmade something from a local craftsperson. Many times if you wait you will miss out.
- Breathe. It will all get done.
- Smile.
And with that out of the way... here is a list of places you can go to buy lovely local somethings! (And I will be at all of them...come say "Hi")
Nov 4 The Little Christmas Fair at The Rocket Room (supporting the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation - Atlantic) Check out Pink Days in Bloom on Facebook
Nov 10 Some Good Market
http://facebook.com/SomeGoodMarket
Nov 14-18 The Christmas Craft Fair at the Arts and Culture Center ( Newfoundland and Labrador Craft Council juried members)
Nov 24 Some Good Market
Dec 1-2 No Idle Hands at the Quidi Vidi Village Plantation
Dec 8 Some Good Market
Dec 15-16 Anna Templeton Centre Tea and Sale
Happy shopping!
Normally when I need to print things I go to the Bay Roberts Public Library. Today o mixed it up because times a'wastin and I wanted to get a wiggle on. Whitbourne Library opened an hour earlier so off I went.
Whitbourne has a small cozy library. My first time there and it was awesome. And lots of kids there too which is double awesome. I was there to whomp up a poster for SGM. In talking to the librarian I told her about my chickens and how they lay green eggs. A few minutes later I heard her telling some of the kids who were there with their poppy. I showed them some pictures of CoCo and Nacho and Onesie and of course the eggs and they were amazed.
The librarian asked me would I come back for an official talk some day about chickens and weird coloured eggs and all the other stuff that goes hand in hand with living in the woods. So that's cool.
Oh and of course I left with books...Greg Malone's biography and the Dictionary of NF English and a geology book amongst others. I know... I know.
But anyways I got my poster done and printed and then off I went to put em up. Almost every little shop, gas station, supermarket and post office in this area...and probably most of rural Newfoundland has a "bulletin board". Its funny. Sometimes its a wall. Or the side of a Pepsi cooler. Or inside a glass case. Or in the window. Or on the office door.Or maybe even a cork board. Some have thumbtacks. Some have pushpins. Some use tape. Some have more rules than others.
People post about all kinds of stuff...and yeah this is ole timey kijiji before there was a kijiji. Three cord of dry wood. $330 Funeral notices. Baby sitters. Knitting Lessons. Church functions. Dances at the Legion.
Has anyone written about this in depth? You know for their folklore masters or something. I find it super interesting.
But it was a lot of stopping and going. Let's see if I remember. Whitbourne: Library, Foodex, Food land. Blaketown Ultramar. Needs in South Dildo. Pitcher's in New Harbour. A little place without a name in Tilton. A-1 Convenience in Spaniard's Bay. Bay Roberts: Me Buddy's Brew Shop, Library, Irving. South River: Ultramar, the Fish Market and the lady who sells flowers and plants. Oh and a random fudge seller and veggie farmer lady.
But I also got yummy bread and chocolate coconut squares from Pitchers and local spuds from the farmer lady. And some phone numbers of farmers that might bring veggies to SGM.
It was some good day.
So yesterday was a beauty of an end to September. Warm and lovely. But you know its fall because you can smell it.
I had visitors yesterday. Which is always a good thing.
First my buddy Diane of fancy cake fame dropped by with her kiddies. Scarlett was kind enough to be my hat model. She had fun crawling around and showing off her new standing skills. She's a cutie. We thought Onesie was going to eat her but we discovered she was covered in rice crispies. Why? Cause she has a big brother who shared his cookie with her on the drive out.
And what a big brother. Sebastian is a little over four and he's a character. He jumped out of the truck with a cheery hi Laurie we came to see the goats! Off he went. He loves those goats. He also loves checking the chicken coop for eggs. He calls it the the chicken poop though. He's a riot. He watches out for his baby sister like a pro. He also likes me holding his two hands and twirling him around and around. He always points out he doesn't get dizzy.
He was checking the coop a lot yesterday and but I had collected the eggs in the morning. I told him it was okay that their weren't any in there. But then he said but noooo Laurie we need them to make pancakes and french toast. Oohhhh now it all makes sense. When I told his mom I did have eggs in the fridge she explained when they got up this morning he wanted pancakes/french toast but they were out of eggs. His response: Let's go to Laurie's and get eggs. So when I brought out a dozen and showed him he was sooooo excited. Really really excited. What a kid!
Later on my buddies Jasmine and Micheal stopped by for a quick visit too. Awesomesauce. Its good to have visitors on The Compound.
So this has been the best summer since the dawn of time. Warm. Sunny. Dry. Very dry. Locals have told me they haven't seen the pond this low in 40 years. I believe it.
This is the driest I've seen it. Its only our fourth summer here but its parched. Every drop of rain we have had has been collected in buckets for flushing. Drinking water is brought in. Over 100lbs those big blue containers are. The furred and feathered get their required ration. Veggies got whatever fell from the sky.
We have dug wells here on The Compound. Three of em. Primary well is in the house and has been dry since early June, I think. The secondary well has been down to less than 12 inches of water now for months. The tertiary well is up in the woods and it has a good bit of water. Getting that water from 3 to 2 or 1 is not so easy.
Now there was some panic a couple days ago when the pump on well 1 went haywire. Thought I'd have to get out the shotgun but it came back. Thank goodness.
Also thank goodness that its still warm and dry considering it could be cold and dry nearing the end of September. Himself gets what shower water ration is available. Why? Because I told him there was a little girl in the pond. Ages ago. But he is hasn't gone swimming since. What a sook. But this means my bathwater is getting cooler everyday. Nothing like hopping in the pond at 6am because Land and Sea is arriving at 9 but at least that was in August. But I'm no diva so as long as the well(s) recovers before the ice is on the pond we'll be alright. I know, but its a good thing I'm cracked and this isn't complainin' its explainin. Snort.
Gotta love the Laundromat. "Still nar drop, maid?", says ole feller.
