Poetry Month, Blogging, Springtime...

I've really been missing my blogging friends, so this weekend I plan to visit a few of them. Maybe I'm wrong, but it feels like Facebook, Twitter, and such have replaced blogging for many people. For some, it's a financial decision because their blogs were an extension of their online business. For others, it's just a matter of setting different priorities. For me, life has just been busy and complicated, so I don't sit down to write much.

In Idaho, we're finally getting some warmer days. Today is a mix of sunshine, a little rain, and perhaps a thunder storm moving in later. My white tulips just opened up, the red are already gone along with the hyacinths. Each morning there are bird songs to enjoy. One of my favorite sounds is the call of the mourning dove.

Poetry month is coming to a close soon. I feel uninspired today, so here is one I wrote a few years ago. Perhaps it will bring back memories of your childhood. I hope it at least makes you smile.

Taking Flight

My feet push against the earth

Higher, higher

The swing takes me up

To blue sky and then back again

Toes striking the soft, dusty brown earth

Pushing, pushing

Reaching for the sky

Imagination taking flight with the seagulls,

The robins, the wild geese

Grandma calls, “Dinner”

Releasing the chains I fly through

The air for an instant

Then feet connect firmly with the ground and

I go running back to reality and the mundane

© 11JAN2010 ajjahner

Until next time...

Voices...

I'm sitting here with my coffee and reflecting on the voices I've been hearing. Yes, they're all in my head! Characters talking, stories begging to be told, imagination running amok! The one thing I didn't spend enough time on over the summer was my writing. Intentions were high, but motivation was at an all time low. I spent a lot of time visiting with my sons, watching Formula One racing on the weekends (a new obsession of mine), sorting through boxes of keepsakes and old photos (I have hundreds), chatting on the phone with friends, sipping coffee, napping, reading... almost anything but writing!

I intended to blog at least once a week. I intended to work on my book. I intended to completely organize and redecorate my home. What is it they say about good intentions? Never mind...

Vintage Sunflower Botanical, compliments of Dawn of The Feathered Nest

Today is a beautiful September day! Time for a fresh start as we head into autumn! Have I told you this is my favorite time of year? Of course I have! It always feels like a time of beginnings to me. Though I'm in, what many might define as, the autumn years of life, it seems appropriate for me to look at this as a time of beginning. I will get serious about my writing. I will read more and take better care of myself. Three things. I can start with three things!

You're wondering why this feels like a time of beginnings to me? I think it has to do with school. New pencils, crayons, paper. New classmates and teachers. Then there were the school clothes and shoes! All new! A clean slate! So we would begin again.

Well, enough for today! The voices are telling me to move on to my other writing. I promise I'll return soon, with more of my ramblings! Joy to each of you!

© 09Sep2016 ajj

What Is Going On...

I was so certain I'd posted about a week ago. Before that, I'd somehow locked myself out of my Blogger and Google accounts. Is this a foretelling of things to come? I certainly hope not!

Things at my home are much the same. I've still been working my way through some old family negatives I purchased at an antique store. A lot are blurry, or just boring, as most family photos are. Occasionally, I'm finding a little treasure! I remember seeing a few photos of my grandmother which were owned by another relative. There was never much hope of getting copies, but I now have the negatives! I was so thrilled!

These pictures would not have been important to anyone but a child or grandchild, and it's a miracle they weren't tossed into the trash by the dealer. They aren't unique, my grandma holding her first grandchild, a graduation, a family trip; nothing of value to anyone except family. It makes me want to go through my own photos and negatives, to consider whether there are any which would mean something to other family members or even friends. If you're like me, you probably have hundreds of photos. Mine are mostly stored in photo boxes and many have not been viewed in a long, long time. Organizing my own photos is my next big project.

Unless I do something silly, like locking myself out of blogger again, I'll be back very soon! Wishing you a beautiful day!

Friend Connect...

I've still been using Google Friend Connect, and just spotted an update which says it's really going away for blogger. I'm not sure how I'm going to be able to follow my favorite blogs. I need to make a master list, I guess, and try to check in now and then. I feel like I'm slipping quickly behind on technology changes. I'll have to ask my sons if they have any recommendations.

My "joy" theme is struggling a bit today. I've been too preoccupied with computer issues to find my moment. I'm getting ready to head out to the mailbox, maybe there will be a surprise waiting for me. I feel a little "joy twinge" just thinking about that!

Until tomorrow...

Writing Again...

Over two years ago, I decided to give up on my writing dreams. Life just seemed so complicated. I didn't have the energy to invest. I have an odd assortment of short stories and the beginnings of a couple of books. One in particular, was close to my heart, but somehow it seemed to slip away from me.

The past few weeks, I've had a renewed urge to write. I've dabbled a bit more on this neglected blog. I've revamped the files on my computer, placing the writing folders in a more orderly set up. Everything but actually sitting down and writing, until today.

For the past couple weeks, I've been haunted day and night with old story ideas and a few new ones. My dreams have been full of people I've never met and crazy stories that are begging to be told. After another night of restless dreams, I got up today and began by reading through the chapters I'd written. The spark was still there. I did a bit of editing and refining, and then it was time to start typing. I'll admit, I didn't get more than a few hundred words, but it felt so right to be working on it again!

I love writing! I love stories! Whether I am ever published, is not the question. The question is, why haven't I been doing what I love? Life is just too short too set aside the things we love, the things we are meant to do. So, I will keep writing! I'll try to keep you updated on my progress, as well as sharing a few thoughts and stories with you once in a while.

Leaving you with this thought... Find your dream and follow it!

© 12NOV2015 ajj

Just Checking In...

First of all, I'm hating the new blogger layout!  I have a hard time adjusting to new formats, so I feel lost right now.

Secondly, does anyone know how to stop following a blog?  I tried to figure it out, but can't seem to make any changes.  I have decided if I am not inspired, uplifted, connected by friendship... maybe it's time to stop following.  Especially if there are things that I find uncomfortable.  Everyone has the right to post about anything they want, and rather than complain or rant in their comments (which I find that a lot of people do), I'd rather just quietly slip away.  If you know how to do this, please let me know.  I just can't seem to find the right "button" or place to do this.

Life has been hectic.  My family is still working through the loss of my father-in-law.  PJ made another trip with his sister to take care of things at the house, etc.  I'm continuing to work on organizing my home, and trying to plan a graduation celebration for my youngest.  He actually received his diploma in the fall, but we were waiting until good weather so that family could come.  He has been accepted into a very good college and will be living there, starting in August.  I am going to feel a little lost with both sons gone from home.  I do have a long list of new hobbies I want to try, and maybe even take an online course myself, so I plan on keeping very busy.  Even doing that, I know it will be a huge adjustment for me!

I've missed all of you!  I still don't have a new computer, but have this little laptop I bought from MJ. It's a little Apple, and I'm still learning how to use it.  I hope to be blogging more consistently before long!

Wishing you peace...

A New Look...

I have admired so many of your blogs since starting mine.  I finally decided to try an entirely new look!  I was visiting a new blogger, Karen of Todolwen, and I noticed how pretty it looked.  In the upper left-hand corner was the name of the designer, Itkupilli, and it said "Free" so I had to check that out!  You all know how I love a bargain.  Free stuff is even better! 

If you're thinking of dressing up your blog, visit Itkupilli by clicking on the photo link on my sidebar.  You can also get there by clicking on her name in the upper left-hand corner of my blog.  She has all kinds of free backgrounds, plus she posts easy to follow instructions on her side bar.  I am a slow learner for many of the blogger features, but hers was very easy for me.  Just take it one step at a time.

I am also playing with my photo blog, Nita Jo's Photos.  I used the "blog widening" instructions provided by Donna, of Cottage Days and Journeys.  I haven't finished tweaking it yet.  I'm not happy with my Tippy Kittycat photo in the larger size, so I'm looking for a new photo for the header.  I have hundreds to rummage through and it's going to take me a while.  I am excited to experiment with the new size. 

Now, all I need is someone out there to help me create an email newsletter template.  I have tried to find something that I can copy and paste into my email.  I don't want to send it as an attachment.  I have created the newsletter on a "Publisher" type format.  The photos and Logos will not paste!  I even opened up two different email accounts, just to see if they would accept my document.  I am looking for a free, or dirt cheap, "help" site.  Do you know of one?  I would prefer not to have to create a web site to get this done.  Can you help?

Two Years of Blogging...

Today I celebrated two years of blogging.  I had been having a hard time each year when mom's birthday came around.  It would have been yesterday, the 22nd.  Two years ago, I decided to put my energy into something new... something that would be a positive for me.  I decided to start a blog.  It was one of the better decisions I ever made. 

I have found the blogging community to be friendly and supportive.  I've made some amazing friendships that would have never come about any other way.  I've met people from Texas, Wisconsin, Arkansas and as far away as Australia... all over the States and all over the world.  My little blog has expanded my universe.  It's also enabled me to keep old friends and family up to date with what's going on in my life.

These days I am rarely sad when I think of my mom.  I have borrowed from her sense of optimism and love for life.  My Mary Engelbreit calendar has a quote for each day.  The quote for mom's birthday was "I am here to live out loud!"  It made me laugh.  Such optimism!  That's how my mom lived her life.  You can see it in her picture... even her eyes are smiling!  I'm going to keep working at "living out loud"... not hiding when things are hard, or sad, but facing it all head on.  Life is too good to let it pass by unnoticed!