June. The beginning of summer. Also as you can tell from both Fern Brady’s blog as well as my blog, we have been attending Max Regan’s June Writing Intensives. There are two of them that we can attend via zoom. In the good old days before the pandemic and rising gas prices, we could travel to Boulder, Colorado. Oh well. Now I have my writing desk. Doesn’t it look neat and tidy? I had to clean it up to take this picture. The papers are usually much more scattered and the computer is used for both writing and research. The other day I needed a name for a character who is 85 years old. I came up with some of my own ideas, but then I literally Googled something like names for old guys. I had quite the list to choose from before I settled on the name Vincent.
Is your summer as exciting as mine? It’s too hot to go outside. So, I stay inside and try to exercise with video and virtual classes. One time I decided to take a break and watch some television. This is the look I got from my cat, Hannah. She considers herself to be both my supervisor and co-author. . Considering this side eye I am getting, I decided to get up off the couch turn off the television and get back to work. Of course Hannah does take long naps in the afternoon. She is 17 years old and needs her rest. That’s when I sneak out to go to the store for more provisions and a little bit of sunshine. But only a little bit of sunshine because like so much of the nation, temperatures are just way too HOT!
However during one of my brief journeys outside my home, I ran across this pumpkin in a stairwell of all places. I was delighted to see it. Halloween is coming! So, is the spirit of Halloween following me? I hope so and would not be in the least surprised. Just in case I feel like I am having a heat stroke or something, I can remember that my favorite holiday is only a few months away. I did not take this pumpkin, but left him right where I found him. I already have quite a lot of decorations just waiting for the chance to jump into place around my home. Also, I hope Mr. Pumpkin inspires others to remember that there will be an end to summer and fall will be here before we know it!
Now I must get back to writing. The second intensive begins this evening and I have much to do.
Until next time.….….
Be still my beating heart, it has finally happened. The Spirit Halloween Store has opened. Halloween is coming. Really. My decorating has begun. Of course some of you might say I never stop decorating for Halloween. That is true of course, but I do try to be subtle about it from December to August. Actually, I haven’t shopped at the Spirit Halloween Store yet this year. I was there the morning of their opening day. Unfortunately, they didn’t open until that afternoon. Bummer. I left crushed and devastated, but determined to go back.
I also noticed that there are pumpkins for sale at local stores. Another sure sign that both Halloween and Fall are right around the corner. This picture was taken at a local grocery store. Yep, that’s a palm tree in the middle of the pumpkin patch. That’s how we roll with Halloween here in Houston. And I still have my first annual visit to the Spirit Halloween Store to look forward to!