Valerean

I've reached the last page of my desk journal (the messy thing on the right) so it's time to break in a new one (the one with the handsewn cover on the left.) Although this working writer's daily jots are a bit cryptic, and probably not very interesting, I thought I'd give you a peek inside. My desk journal is a hold-all catch-all and allows me to store bits and bobs from my personal life as well as my work life. I started this one back in Spring 2024, when I was still tracking my word goals by hand (I do that with Excel now.) That's what's on this page, along with a note about what state produces the least toxic rice (California) and an address for Trader Joe's in Orlando, which we visited for the first time that week. I was building our emergency pantry that spring, and deciding what sort of rice to buy for it. My NDA means I can't show you all the notes, research jots, sources and such for work, but here's another page with some p...

Two hundred and fifty years ago, a bunch of ungrateful upstarts forming a baby government passed a radical document that was, in its essense, a request for their country to not longer be under the rule of King George III and the British Parliment. There were thirteen established colonies in their country at the time, mostly filled with criminals, religious extremists and people who fled their native lands to come there for other unsavory reasons. I imagine it was a lot like early Australia, minus the kangaroos and crocodiles. You could call them the riff raff and that would be kind. The radical document contained 27 specific problems these guys had at the time with King George III's specific behaviors in regard to this little nothing of a country; all of them inflicted without the consent of the criminals, extremists and other unsavory folks. It was like a long-distance impeachment. It was their wish for freedom from oppression. It was also for the time completely audaciou...

With all the bad news and worry of June behind me, I'd like to focus on my creativity so I can get through summer with some peace and calm. Other than my calendar project I've done no quilting, so I am going to try and coax myself into making the dragon print quilt I talked about back in May. I need to reorganize my yarn stash so I can find specific colors and weights (I want a dedicated shelf or holder for bulky most of all.) This is going to become summer cleaning project #1. I'd like to write some poetry, not to work out my angst but to remember to celebrate the beauty in my life. Time to try this! It's not so much that I need more to do as it's a time when I'm (usually) happiest during the year that I want to enjoy. All the bad news and reasons for worry will be still there whether I angst or not. So why not be happy?

Our nephew has moved out, so we're empty nesters again, but next week my favorite person will arrive for an 18 day visit. After that it's back to being empty nesters. I've gotten used to cooking larger meals and doing more housework this year, so it will be another adjustment down, then up, then down again. By August I'll have less to cook, clean and launder, but more demands in other areas. We're heading into the most dangerous stretch of hurricane season, and I take that and our readiness very seriously. My guy and I now both need to have surgery. I am already having issues with my insurance changeover this month. Those are the big problems, along with the logistics of dealing with all the usual small ones. The older I get, the less comfortable and eager I am with multi-tasking and problem solving. I think, I'm old, I'm tired, and I just don't want to deal with it. So I put it off. This is the attitude I need to work on, as procrastinati...

After all the fails in May, I started June by making a scrap basket out of four thrifted partial yarn skeins in pretty shades of blue. I made another star blanket in five days. I repaired some wear holes on another Vera Bradley purse by patching small doilies over them. After getting off to a difficult start, I stuck with and crocheted this blooming flower throw (which is really just another star blanket.) I made a drawstring pouch for my new dice set. I finally finished crocheting the Azalea scarf I started back in May. I hauled out my rusty cross stitch skills to make a house warming gift for my nephew. I crocheted a bulky yarn throw in a weekend from the Make in a Weekend pattern booklet. I crocheted a pepperoni pizza purse. This bejeweled gathering basket was my very first attempt at weaving with art yarn. Finally, I completed the June tote for my calendar project, which is an ode to the beginning of my favorite season: Summer!

I invested in both books of Rachel Gillig's Shepherd King duology because 1) it supported my favorite indy bookstore, 2) I wanted to try a new-to-me author and 3) I haven't read any gothic fantasy (actually I didn't know there was such a genre, so there's my excuse.) The author seems to be extremely well educated, working as a teacher and an artist before trying her hand at the Publishing biz. Orbit did a great job with the cover art. The books are hefty. I guess those are the positives. I did read the first book up until page 113, which was a deliberate extra effort on my part. When I don't care for a novel, I rarely go beyond thirty pages. Life is too short to waste on books that leave me cold. So I feel that I did give the author a pretty fair chance to engage me and convince me of her universe. The story did not, alas. While the characters were obviously, painstakingly crafted, none were sympathetic. Out of boredom I found myself rooting for a w...