Spring and New Book

Spring arrived a few days early.  Yesterday, the first two calves for this year were born. Here's one of them and her mother:

We raise Shorthorn beef cattle. The best part is that both calves came on their own and my husband (or I) didn't have to "assist."

Today, I was looking at some photos of a friend of mine on Facebook. It made me think up a new picture book story! I spent the day working on the first rough draft.  This picture of my daughter (taken when she was almost three) has a part in the story:

I think I got the editing and formating revisions done for a Mennonite woman's memoir that I have worked on for about one year now. I tried to print it out but there was some "operator error" involved.  I will try again tomorrow. I need to make sure that the document will print if I put it on a disk for her. She'll find a printer who will make it into the actual book.

I've started on the book of Psalms.  Here's one of today's verses from Psalm 19:14
"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer."

It pays to do the dishes...

                                                      


It pays to do the dishes, or take a walk, or doodle, or watch eagles nesting, etc. (Have you seen this webcam of two eagles and their three eggs?  Decorah Iowa Eagle cam  )


I've been trying to come up with a more cohesive arc for the biography I've been working on (it seems) forever. While I had a few ideas that would possibly work, I wasn't really satisfied with any of them.  Then this morning while I was washing the dishes, the solution came to me (at least I HOPE this is the solution).


Why would I find the answer when doing something totally unrelated to writing?  The answer is pretty simple: I allowed my brain to relax and my thoughts to wander.  Some writers, when they get stuck on a particular manuscript will switch to another manuscript for a while. It has the same effect.


My next piece of advice is to always have paper handy so you can jot down your "bright ideas" as they hit you. I keep my iTouch on my nightstand because I frequently get ideas right before I go to sleep (once again, it's when I'm letting my brain relax).


So, if you are stuck on a manuscript, or problem in your life.... go do the dishes!


Verse for the day from Biblegateway:
1 Peter 3:15-17 "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶ keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. ¹⁷ For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil."