Detached Feet

Walking through last week’s white fluff several inches deep (a foot deep in some places) to reach a feed trough, it occurred to me that I did not quite feel attached to my feet. It seemed they had a mind of their own, though luckily, they had a mind to stick with me and go where I was going.

At the time, I thought, “Out-of-body experience.” That isn’t quite the right description. It’s more of a detachment.

I found I didn’t mind it. I’m familiar with the feeling; it happens all the time. With vestibular migraine, my ear doesn’t quite connect to my brain in the right way. There’s also a nerve that connects from ear to knee. Thanks to my ear and that nerve, when I experience a trigger like sudden bright light or a moving crowd, my knees can buckle or my feet land akilter while walking.

So when I experienced that in the snow, it was a lot more fun than if I had had a migraine.

Character, Home, writing

Layers

There’s a lot more I can say on all of these things, and more will come. But for now, a couple of briefs:

Last week, Jeff and I celebrated our first anniversary. This week, the nightmarish calving season ended with another nightmare as a cow I was given for Christmas lost her calf and twisted her hip after the difficult birth; our dog, Toby, was put to sleep Wednesday night; and my grandmother is in hospice care at home.

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“Life comes in such layers of grief, joy, and mundane.”

Character, Faith, writing

“Vedette”: A Short Story Now Available

In September and October, I wrote a couple of blog posts on how I’d written a story for a contest after losing a very special sheep, the ewe that brought the rings down the aisle at my wedding. I had her in mind as I crafted the tale.

Agricultural Communication

Audio and Video Memoir Order Form Now Up

Just a short post for now…. At the end of February, I announced that Root 61 Communications is now offering … Continue reading Audio and Video Memoir Order Form Now Up

Adventure, Character

Nearing the End of NaNoWriMo

According to the official National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) counter, I’m 17,693 words behind today. If I wanted to write 50,000 words to win NaNoWriMo, I need to write 24,351 words over the next four days, which is 6,088 words per day.

The good news is, my own personal goal for NaNoWriMo is writing 1,000 words per day: 30,000 total. I am about 4,400 words away from that goal. Reachable!

This has been a much different experience than my previous attempt four years ago to participate in NaNoWriMo. That year, I only made it to 1,500 words. I let many other activities get in the way.

This year, I wanted to develop a better writing habit. Continue reading “Nearing the End of NaNoWriMo”

Character

Why I Write

I once was told in a comment to a blog post,

“Sometimes…when I read your words…I feel like I’m existing in your soul for just a moment in time.

I like it.”

For years, the thought scared me. Someone could see inside me, just because I wrote something down. The vulnerability of it was frightening.

But as I continued writing, I began to understand that I was practicing an art. Continue reading “Why I Write”

Adventure, Character

Ditch the Plans: Notes from a Conversation with a Screenwriter

I’ve been gushing about the show Granite Flats to anyone who will listen (which mostly means, I post things on Twitter). It’s a spy thriller set in the 1960s in a small town in Colorado, and it follows three young detectives who, despite the sheriff’s admonition to stay safe, investigate and discover a KGB spy’s hiding place in his basement. The stellar cast includes Christopher Lloyd, Cary Elwes of The Princess Bride fame and Parker Posey. Season 3 is only available online (and will be on Netflix soon) and I’ve been immensely enjoying the episodes.

Here’s the first tweet I wrote about the show: Continue reading “Ditch the Plans: Notes from a Conversation with a Screenwriter”

Adventure, Character, Faith

Blogging About the Blog: Some Life and Writing Updates

Evie the farm dog sure has grown! — Evie the Farm Dog sure has grown since the last time I posted pictures! She likes the snow.

After having a rather vague “About” page for over a year, I decided to update it. Several new readers have joined me on this journey, so thank you and welcome. So here’s my story.

Substitute teaching, writing and helping out on the farm have been a good combination for me so far. I have been able to rest as needed, and as a result, I am doing much better than I was a few months ago in regards to health. I’ve made some positive life changes as well, such as:

Continue reading “Blogging About the Blog: Some Life and Writing Updates”