Tag Archives: Sprinkled Notes

Reading Between The Lines, Will It Change Your Reviews?

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This past weekend I was frazzled. I have a problem relaxing and doing nothing because there is always something to do. This past weekend I forced myself to look beyond my messy house and all the social media promotion with my books to stay home in my comfy chair and read always having a cup of coffee by my side. What could be better relaxation than that?

Recently while chatting with a friend who is an award winning author, we commiserated on the fact we seldom read for fun anymore because we read books by other authors whom we know and support and need to give reviews or blurbs for books. This weekend I chose to read books by authors I don’t know and for pleasure. They so touched my heart I felt I needed to expand on that, especially one book and one author.

The first book I read was by Claire Cook called Seven Year Switch. 51SHxrcNFrL__SX311_BO1,204,203,200_You might recognize her from her book made into a movie called Must Love Dogs. Seven Year Switch focuses on a single mom whose husband left her and her daughter seven years ago and now he is back. I haven’t had that experience in my life but in reading the book I could resonate with her feelings of responsibility and wanting to believe people we love maybe can change. The decisions she made for her life made me ponder the decisions I have or may be making in my life. It was well written and touched my heart.

The second book I read was51956uX0r8L__SX321_BO1,204,203,200_ Hearts On A String by Kris Radish. I have mentioned before that one of my favorite books of all time is Annie Freeman’s Fabulous 51fMB3B6pNL__SX313_BO1,204,203,200_Traveling Funeral. Kris Radish has a knack for putting together strangers and melding their lives over a journey of some sort.  In  Annie Freeman’s Traveling Funeral the ashes of a friend are scattered in her favorite places on earth. This resonated with me because I like quirky things and I have always pondered the end and wondered what I wanted my family to do after I was gone. I have always said I don’t think normal and I feel as if I am a fish out of water having to conform to the way others live their lives because I haven’t found anyone to share the quirkiness with me. This book hit my quirkiness right smack in the face. I have always felt if I knew this author in person we would be good friends.

I downloaded Hearts On A String this weekend and found I couldn’t put it down. I am glad I didn’t read the reviews for this book before I started as I might not have bought it. Isn’t that human nature we look at the bad reviews but not the good and that is also what we hear in our own internal chat with ourselves. But you see, those people that read this book and gave it a bad review didn’t get it. Hearts On A String is about a group of women of all ages meeting my chance in an airport bathroom. Their antics were funny and quirky, which is why I kept reading. It led them through a string of unusual circumstances and through it all they were able to get past their mistrust and share their story with strangers. Haven’t you found it is almost easier to share with strangers because we might never see them again and we don’t have to worry whether they accept us or not? I wanted to meet women like these women.

This book hit what I have been feeling in my life. I have felt like the outsider. I have felt like I had to conform. I have felt like I was going through the motions because no one got who I was or perhaps because I was afraid to uncover what I felt wasn’t accepted. I have felt the weight of not letting go of the responsibility.

We all look for people who have the same likes and interests in our lives because it feels safe. We don’t seek out those who are complete opposites or might shake something up in our lives. I think that is why I liked this book. It brought together five woman who were totally opposite and would never have given each other a chance. Through the rough patches and the ups and downs of the book and the story, they each learned something about themselves, their lives and each other because they took a chance, even if it was unwillingly. This book has heart.

Some of the reviews that were not kind, which I read after I read the book, felt it wasn’t realistic. Obviously some readers just look at plot but don’t take the time to examine the characters. And a book doesn’t need to be realistic to have a lesson.

Reviews and reviewers are interesting because when we read the reviews we forget it is a personal opinion of someone who  might have very different personalities and likes from us. I find movies that are only three stars are the ones I like the best and even some movies which have tanked are my favorites. I am not a big fan of Oprah’s book club choices or many of the New York Times best selling books, yet I am a fan of many Indie Authors and Authors whose names you probably never heard of. The only difference the never heard of authors haven’t been discovered yet. And is a matter of personal taste.

Readers tend to read the books that are shouted about the most when they should be reading the books that receive no press or by small publishing companies that have limited budgets. Book Clubs tend to read the popular shouted about books when they too should be reading the books from authors who haven’t got the backing of the big publishing companies because readers are missing out on some great reads and some great wisdom.

My advice, read reviews with thought but make your own choice. Look for an author whose book you haven’t heard of in the genre you love. And…take a chance outside of that genre too. Reach out and expand your love of reading. And….in your life of friends….expand your choices, you may find those that are opposite of you will bring a flavor to your life that you love.

Wonderfulicious Weekend Whoopie

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Well, it's a start.

Well, it’s a start.

It might seem like a writer’s life should be easy and free of stress because all we do is sit and write everyday, but there is so much more to a writers life and what we do. If we don’t take the time to spread our wings and experience something new it is hard to write, especially if we are not refreshed and replenished.This past weekend my friend Donna, a friend of over twenty-five years, and I decided to have a girl’s weekend and try something new. I would love to share our experiences with you.

Another friend of mine from my high school days by the name of Charlotte Laxen is a watercolor artist. I admire her work and her talent. She was teaching a beginner watercolor class at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum In Chaska Minnesota. Donna and I decided to spread our wings and bring out the inner artist that lives in each of us. Early Saturday morning spring finally arrived in Minnesota, and encouraged by the sunshine, we made the 90 mile trip to the Arboretum. We both were a little nervous because we weren’t sure what to expect.

The setting for the class couldn’t have been more perfect because even in the early spring the grounds were beautiful. Our painting classroom was on the second floor and we could view the arboretum grounds. The class was limited to ten people so it was not intimidating. We quickly bonded and felt at ease with the people in the room and made some friendships that will go on after the class.

We studied the different levels of color on our papers, the different weight of paper, how to use our brushes and experimented with different brush strokes. The classroom was full of laughter and joy. The seven hour class seemed to fly by.  I found another love and realized I have an artist in my soul and it needs to come out. Charlotte also offered inspiration about her life and dreams which inspired all of us going into the future. Now let me clarify, I don’t know that I will ever be good at watercolor but it feeds my soul and that is what is important.

My grandchildren’s mother offered us the use of her home while she was gone. We arrived to find flowers, wine, wine glasses, a welcome note and boxes of chocolates on our pillows. She made us feel very welcome and special.

Of course part of a great weekend is food and we decided  to try places we had never been so we picked Turtle’s Bar and Grill in Shakopee for dinner. I might add at noon we ate at the Arboretum and the food was outstanding. We planned on taking in the movie “Hello My Name Is Doris” with Sally Field after dinner and when we arrived at Turtle’s the place was packed and we didn’t think we would be out in time. We were amazed,not only by our waitress, but by the service. We had our meal within fifteen minutes.

We loved the movie. Sally Field was outstanding. The movie was funny, moving and actually had a good message for what happens in our lives.

The next morning we visited my son and grandchildren and were treated to breakfast and then we continued on to the Spring Arts and Craft Show at Canterbury.  In the three hours we tried some food, oohed and aahed over the artistic people and artwork, which refreshed my creativity and made me want to find a talent and join the craft circuit. Another dream for my life? I ran into my Sisters In Crime friends Jessie Chandler, and Brian Landon and his fiancé.  I need to copy Jessie’s excitement and sales talk. I loved their enthusiasm so much I taped it for a reminder for me.  Of course I bought some of their books.

We couldn’t end our weekend at the Craft Show so we stopped at Mazopiya, a natural foods market in Prior Lake and picked up some healthy food to take home.

Of course our eating had to continue and we stopped in New Prague at the Fishtale Bar and Grill, another place we have never visited. I ordered some soup which name I didn’t know what it meant and couldn’t pronounce, but it was a cream soup with dill and something about a dill pickle and potatoes and green beans in it and it was delicious along with my burger. Donna had the Jambalaya with fish and sausage. Regretfully it was time to travel on home.

However, when we drove into the community of Waseca and past the Dairy Queen we made one more stop. We topped off our weekend with a Chocolate Shake for me and a Chocolate Sundae for Donna. Yes, we probably came home a little heavier and tired but we had a rejuvenating weekend of mind and friendship. In fact we are plotting our next journey into learning something new and trying new places and of course food.

This was our journey and though the way I described it may seem boring, I want to encourage everyone to try something new, take time away to rest and replenish and find that which feeds you. Try something you think you might not like and you may find it is exactly that which nourishes you into tomorrow. You don’t have to be good at it, it just has to feel good to you. You can never go wrong either with a  weekend of laughter and bonding with friends.

My quote from my gratitude journal today: You may be disappointed if you fail but you are doomed if you don’t try. -Beverly Sills

I’m Trying
Friends Forever Learning and Bonding
Authors like to laugh.
Jessie and Brian’s Books
Monthly Menu at Turtles
Memories
Laughter
Old friends connecting
Charlotte teaching.
Well, it’s a start.

 

 

I Believe In Miracles

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I believe in miracles. When I say the word miracle the thought that comes to mind first is a big life changing happening such as what we Christians celebrate on Easter Sunday with Jesus resurrection.

As Holy Week for Christians is being celebrated I ponder what we believe today. When I was a child it was easier for me to believe in the miracle of Easter and miracles in real life. Although as a child I can’t name one miracle I believe happened. Again–think big–life changing–someone coming alive again–miracle thoughts. But I still believed they could happen. I didn’t have anyone anywhere proving to me miracles couldn’t happen. I had faith as a small child does.

Lent and Holy Week as a child still have impact. I knew what Lent, Holy Week and Easter was, and I held it in reverence. There was no debate on whether I would attend the Stations of the Cross and Holy Week services. Even though I protested the length of the Saturday Evening services, which went on for hours, I had to attend the service.

Good Friday afternoons was also a given for services with stores closing for two hours so churches could hold Good Friday services. There was nowhere to go during that time so you went to church. At home we also made Lent a special time and I had no doubt what Easter meant and yes, I had Easter eggs and Easter bunnies but the main focus was on the religious part of the holiday.

These practices remained with me through most of my adult life but this year I feel them failing. I haven’t attended religious services as much as I usually do. Wednesday evening Lenten Services were missed. The outside world intruded on my life, not for any good reason but the fact I let it. In the world we live in my Christian holiday practices are not front and center and it makes it harder to stay true to the things I was taught so many years ago. I must say I feel Easter this year has almost become just a blip on my radar and I don’t like feeling that way.

As I ponder my reaction this year I look around me and wonder what is going to happen years down the road. Will the religious holiday of Easter disappear from our lives? I look around at children and even my grandchildren, and wonder if they truly know anymore the meaning of the reason we celebrate Holy Week and Easter Sunday. Even though children are being raised in the churches, is the little time they now spend in church going to make an impact on their lives?

It used to be communities made accommodations for people to practice their religion. Communities adjusted their schedule for the churches. Now the churches adjust their schedule for the communities so people will come to church. Sunday School and activities adjust to shorter times to accommodate sports schedules and more. If churches didn’t adjust schedules, would anyone attend? Yes we have more diversity in religions but I suspect all religions might be having the same problem.

And so we are back to the question–will Easter eventually just fade away? Will the miracle at the tomb no longer be remembered? Since that was one of the first miracles I was awed by as a child, will my and others beliefs be changed, especially when it comes to miracles? If my recognition of Easter changed this year because of society’s influence on me will my recognition and belief in miracles be changed too? Has it already? I have never seen someone be raised from the dead. Is that perhaps why my celebration of Easter has fell by the way side? Is it too hard to believe the story of Easter? Is it too easy to get mired down by the rhetoric of the politicians, the hate groups, the naysayers and so our belief’s crumble from what we believed as a child. Or if those beliefs were never there or never taught then why would we believe the story about crucifixion and resurrection?

I will tell you why I believe in miracles. I pray for a friend to be healed from a twenty-two year battle with cancer. I ask for a miracle of healing and my friend tells me she already has many miracles because she is still here and still fighting. She has lived to see her grandchildren. She feels she has had her miracle even if she is not healed.

A baby of a relative is born early and has many health problems. The parents consider it a miracle that the doctors were able to save him and he will live a good life. The doctors and modern medicine being brought into their life were their miracle.

I see my Christmas Cactus grow and flower and I see a miracle because I haven’t killed it yet. I see miracles every day. They may not be the earth shattering miracles that we expect but they are in itself a miracle. Had I not been brought up to hear the Easter Story, the way I look at things might be different. Our journey starts with the impressions of our childhood. Will the Easter Story be part of the childhood of the children of today?