Half-Baked

Hello, dearies! Today, I have an announcement to make for a friend of mine. Anne-girl from Scribblings is hosting a new blog called Half-Baked! Here's a quick blurb she wrote for it:

Half Baked is a blog dedicated to the art of writing and exploring what goes into a solid story. The blog operates on the principal that most stories are like cake, delicious and scrumptious and all the other cake words that are out there. But just like cake, a story can come out gooey and shaky in the middle, half baked. This blog is meant to help turn awesome ideas into solid, fully baked novels. Stop by ahalfbakedplot.blogspot.com on September first to join in the release party. There will be contests and a giveaway and of course virtual cake.

I don't know about you, but I'm definitely excited about this. Head on over and give it a look!

Liebster Award

Hello, dearies! It seems I've been nominated for the Liebster Award. I've no idea where the name came from or who started this, but it's been floating around for quite a while. The basic idea, as I understand it, is to get to know different bloggers (thus the rule about less than 200 followers). Don't ask me why it's called an award, though. I haven't the slightest idea.

Thank you, Maddie Jay, for the nomination!

source

thank and link back to the person who nominated you

list 11 facts about yourself

answer the 11 questions asked by the blogger who nominated you

nominate 11 bloggers who have fewer than 200 followers

(you can’t nominate the blogger who nominated you)

ask them 11 questions

let them know about the nomination

eleven randoms facts of myself

1) I don't like peanut butter or nuts.

if I do eat peanut butter, I choose crunchy over creamy. I'm also working an acquiring the taste...which has so far been somewhat successful.

2) Clark (from Mind Games) is one of my all-time favorite characters, ever.

3) several of my favorite movies were made in 2002

4) this is supposedly the number of death

Artemis Fowl is both a great character and series

(yes, those things go together. see book seven.)

5) almost all of my friends are pastors' kids

6) I'm in love with cold and ice and snow.

I've skied since I was four (my dad taught me)

and have been down some pretty wicked slopes since then.

I got to try snowboarding once. it's harder but funner than skiing.

and ice hockey is awesome, though I've only played (or ice skated) once.

7) I have yet to see The Book Thief,

which I've been anticipating since first learning of it.

less than a day or two after finishing the book, I saw the movie advertised on the back of a newspaper someone was reading. a newspaper. how appropriate.

I was slightly nervous about it at first (Hollywood. 'nuff said) but everything I've seen/heard so far is nothing but goodness.

8) I'll taste {almost} anything at least once

usually over and over again {not in one sitting} until I can at least tolerate it

9) The Count of Monte Cristo

and here you thought I wasn't going to mention it for Once

10) I don't like the number ten

the word is okay, though

go say hi to Lykan and Lauriloth. they're awesome

11) I'm slightly obsessed with numbers

and words

my answers to maddie's questions

1. Who is your favorite band or singer? I guess that would be the Clark family. Specifically Bro Mike, Mike, and Travis. Mike and Travis are young (teenage) brothers, and Bro Mike is their dad. They sing beaumazingly together. So I made up a word. [get over it] The rest of the family sings, too, but they're my favorite "group."

2. Who was your first fictional crush? (can be movie or book) I've never really had any. Um... many Neal from Once Upon a Time, or Dan from The Shunning. Or maybe Gale from The Hunger Games series. Nah, not Gale. Jack from the Titanic? Or, wait, no, probably the guy from that Hallmark Christmas movie, the one with Henry Winkler in it. (I found it here)

Well, I've at least attempted to answer this one. Next question.

3. What is a cartoon you loved when you were little, but can't stand now? Let's see... Little Bear, Blue's Clues, Winnie the Pooh. I think those are the only cartoons I watched. Oh, and Swiss Family Robinson. I haven't seen any of those in ages, so I don't really know. But back then, favorite to least favorite were: 1) Family Robinson, 2) Little Bear, 3) Pooh Bear, and 4) Blue's Clues.

4. What was/is your least favorite subject in school? Geometry. I love math! Especially algebra. Just not geometry. (It was all remembering numerous theorems and their two- or three-letter abbreviations.)

5. If you had to dye your hair an unusual color, what would you choose? Probably purple. Except that I'm verrrrry picky about that color. There's only one shade I actually like. It's a really dark, rich shade of purple. Inky, maybe. But darker... like shadows. One of the boys in church has a shirt that color, but it's not like I've got a picture of it.

6. Do you grow your fingernails out long or keep them short? Both. I don't exactly pay them much attention. I just let them grow until they get annoying, then clip them. Or sometimes one will break and I'll clip it. So some are short, some are longish.

7. How much makeup do you usually wear? None.

8. What is one song you can't stand to listen to? "Never Ever Getting Back Together", or whatever that song is called. It's by Taylor Swift. It's doesn't help that they put it on the country countdown when it's clearly not a country song. (actually, they're doing that a lot these days...) Okay, rant over. Next.

9. Ford or Chevy? Chevy.

10. What accent do you love to listen to? Aussie.

11. How many (or any) kids would you like to have? None of "my own" (meaning biological). I want to foster/adopt. I don't really have a number. At times, though, I've imagined something like Jo March's house of boys. My preference would be all boys, maybe a girl or two. Maybe. As I said, like Jo. But that's just a preference.

my nominations

ashley g.

[insert title here]

bound and freed

The Pen of a Ready Writer

carly meyer

Books and Etc.

christine / lauriloth

Musings of an Elf

(she just so happens to have already been nominated)

(so I've given her place to...)

alyianna

Anna's Notebook

ely

what can I say?

jameson

Lovely Whatsoevers

miss elliot

Puritan Observer

molly weston

To Write Something Worth Reading

olivia

The Scribbleagonist

rissa

Two Moons

westmoure

Revelations

my questions for you

#1

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where is the first place you'd go? Why?

#2

If you could travel anywhere in any universe (fictional or otherwise), what specific place would you visit first? Why?

#3

Do you have a favorite Bible story/character/verse? Who/what is it?

#4

Would you ever consider eating octopus ink pasta with squid?

(I'm a bit obsessed with this question right now...)

click here to see the original post

{it seems I forgot to add this picture before posting}

#5

Have you read The Book Thief? What is your opinion on it? Favorite quote/scene?

(You may mention the movie if you've seen it, but try to keep the movie spoilers to a minimum.)

#6

If you suddenly found yourself in a do-or-die situation, what would it be?

What single item would you want to have with you?

#7

Quotes are lovely things. I've got an entire blog devoted to them.

Post a favorite or three [for me to use].

(if I use any, I'll link to your post as the source and tell you when it publishes)

#8

What is your favorite type of blog post to read?

{Beautiful People, Stacking the Shelves, ramblings, [original] writings,

character posts...}

#9

What's the first thing you do in the morning, after you attempt to wake up and actually get out of bed?

#10

What is the worst book you've ever read?

#11

Can you swim? Ocean, lake, creek, or pool?

Thanks again for nominating me, Maddie!

•  •  •  •  •

Enjoy, you guys!

{and comment below with the link to your post so I can read it}

Collaborations

Hello dearies!

Just a note to let you all know about an internet friend of mine, Nadd from Revelations. We're currently working on two collabs together:

1. This month's Chatterbox
2. A series of short stories

We'll be posting them one our blogs, some parts on mine and some on his. So go give Revelations a visit, and keep an eye out for our collabs, both here and there!

Barefoot in the Snow

"Though spring has sprung, I'm still walking barefoot in the snow."

                                                                                                         ~ Jessie, 11 March 2014

This awesomely real winter of 2013-2014 has, as you may or may not know, been quite the snow season, unlike the past few winters, so-called.

It started with some snow. Then we got some more. And then we got a huge snowstorm, and then more snow again. It simply kept on coming. It was even forecasted that we'd get thundersnow! As in, snow with thunder and lightning. Which excited me beyond belief, of course, as this particular winter was already too good to be true, especially after the aforementioned preceding "winters." But I mean, can it get any better than snow and thunder and lightning?

My hopes were dashed when I awoke unpleasantly early the next morning (the storm was forecasted to be between 6 and 9) to view the very looked-forward-to thundersnow and, alas, none came. Too good to be true, indeed. There was, however, plenty of snow that day, and so my broken heart was soothed. (Yes, that was a bit exaggerated but I couldn't help it, it sounded so nice.)

I've only just gotten back on the blogger after quite a while. What sparked this sudden rebound was talking with a friend and getting excited about writing again and checking out her blog for the first time in a long time. I must say, I find said blog exquisitely fascinating and also quite captivating. (Also gripping, enthralling, absorbing, engrossing, spellbinding, riveting, arresting, intriguing, compelling. But enough of that, lest I embarrass the poor girl.)

Moving on. To continue with my narrative, there was much snow this winter. Despite it not having snowed in a while now, there is still quite a lot of snow and ice covering yards and driveways, particularly where it was piled out of the way during shoveling exercises. Being thus, though spring has indeed begun to...well, spring, and our driveway has for the most part thawed to gravel and mud, there is plenty of snow left on and in which to walk. 

I, being myself, choose to walk barefoot (as always) on the snow. Simply because I am myself and I love snow and I will cherish its company up until the very last tiny patch of snow has melted.

We had some friends over on Tuesday. They came to crochet. Now, I know how to crochet. In fact, I taught my sisters and my mom how to do it. However, though I'll admit it can be addicting once begun, I'm not a huge fan. Also, I didn't seem to be needed at the time. Meanwhile, Dad has arrived home from work (this is around 2pm) and has since been washing our vehicles. I go down to help. By the time I arrive on the scene, Dad has finished washing his pick-up and has just begun the family minivan.

The point of stating any and all of the preceding paragraph is to say this: as I'm working, I insist on walking only on the frozen snow piles whenever possible. It is spring weather outside but my feet are pleasantly freezing. At times, I do step on the gravel and in the puddles and the mud. While this is taking place, I'm thinking. Obviously. Anyway, something I end up thinking of is what would normally become a Facebook status. What I'm referring to is the quote you read up at the very beginning of this post.

Now, I'm thinking, thinking, thinking. (Of course I'm thinking; I'm a reader, and a reader whose writer's mind has recently been brought again to vibrant life.) All day, I'm thinking. Reading the Anne-girl's blog has put in my head that perhaps I could create a blog and keep up with it.

I already have a blog, you say? Yes, the literature blog. A literature blog is different and easy in that you simply post literature whenever you happen to like it. A movie quote here, an original poem here, a short story every now and then; some song lyrics and short ramblings.

No, I wanted a blog. A writer's blog, to be more specific. Much like Anne-girl's Scribblings. This, Barefoot in the Snow, is what I have come up with.

I know I've been rambling a bit -- okay, a lot -- along the way and I'm sure you're all wondering where I'm going with all this talk of snow and winter. The point is this: I came up with the title of "Barefoot in the Snow" from my quote. It jumped into my head and shortened itself, and it wouldn't go away. Which is okay. In fact, you might say I had a title before a had an idea, and my title needed a blog; as I've said, a writer's blog.

So there you are. My hope is that anyone who has the irritating misfortune to stumble upon this, my soul's internet dwellingplace, shall find something to their liking. Thanks for visiting and I pray you relish my ramblings, however jumbled and disjointed.