Military Romance Author
With the end of another heat wave today, it’s time to celebrate! Before the next one arrives. August may be dog days, but I’m sure cats, parakeets and us people are having hot days right now too.
So lather on the sunscreen, relax, hydrate and pace yourselves. Live like a dog!
Have a great, safe, weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!
Getting out of town is a time to find new places to see and visit old friends. That’s what we did on our beach trip. On the way home we decided to stop by the Alder House III glassblowing studio. It had been decades since we visited, so the time was right.
When we walked into the studio, Treasure was demonstrating his glass blowing techniques and educating the onlookers. We quietly joined the small crowd and realized everyone was listening and learning. Not a piece of tech in use!
He was working on a glass vase and went through the process of firing, blowing it hollow, shaping and adding embellishments to it. Fascinating. From the hot glass to the super hot furnace, his artistry was on display.
After the presentation we wandered the wonderful glass items on display. Three pieces of artwork magically jumped into our hands. We had to take them home.
My friend Kathy started with one bowl and then the matching two pieces in the set also jumped into her hands. We happily packed them up and put them in the back seat with the seat belt on. Precious cargo.
If you want to visit, the Alder House III, it is located a half mile north of Salishan Lodge on Highway 101, at 611 Immonen Road, between Lincoln City and Gleneden Beach at Siletz Bay. The lovely three-fourths of a mile road leads you along the river and through the woods. Literally. There is also Mossy Creek Pottery studio next door.
You can check out their website at www.alderhouse.com They are open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from May 1st through the end of October. The five glass artists make creations for everyone, so don’t be surprised if one launches itself into your hands. It’s a good thing!
Art is for everybody!
Lucky for me, our annual beach trip coincided with the spike in the heat wave last weekend. Fog and drizzle never felt so good! But we did have glorious sun in the morning, then when the valley heated up, the fog came in. Best of both worlds.
Today is a nice cloudy day so I can get some work done outside. But the heat is coming back, so take some tips from our black bear, Takoda, at the Oregon Zoo. He figured out how to beat the heat; bear bathing!
Have a great, safe weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!
We’re dealing with a heat wave here in Oregon, much like everywhere else. So what do our girl elephants do at the Oregon Zoo? They hit the pool! Nothing like getting the beach towels out and having a great day in the water.
Stay cool everybody and Happy Quirky Friday!
Practice water safety!
Yes. Yes it is. When you think you’ve finished a chapter or a book, the editing process really begins. A first draft is just that, a draft. In spray painting prep terms, it might look like a good specimen, but the closer you look, the more cracks and peeling paint you see. This is a good thing.
First you need to assess the situation. If this is the first draft of book chapter one, keep writing! Otherwise you might polish the first draft of the first chapter into nothingness. Any piece of wood or metal can only take so much sanding or polishing before it becomes dust.
If you have a finished first draft of a book, it’s time to take a much closer look and find its flaws. They may be minor or major, but taking off the layers will show you the bones and if major or minor revisions are needed.
Some coarse sanding might be in order, then medium, then fine. Once you have a manuscript stripped down to the bones and not a word wasted, you can paint on the layers of polish, aka paint.
Take your time to round out the fiction world you have created. Bring in multiple coats of paint and words to create a smooth story and paint surface. Allow time in between layers of words and paint to let it dry and show itself.
Then on to final finishing with fine sanding and words to get all the pieces in place, sanded and glowing. One more coat to seal it and then you are good to go.
Whether you are finishing a painting or a writing project, attention to detail and time are key. With each project you undertake, you improve your skills. You find out how you write a book or chapter, not how someone else does it.
The biggest surprise? You never stop learning. With writing or spray paint!
No, it’s not a new Disney ice rink show. It’s how our furry sea otters at the Oregon Zoo kept cool during our heat wave last weekend. Too cute for words! They even chew on the ice. Eddie, Juno and Lincoln are no dummies; ice in their kiddie pools.
Here’s hoping those ice making machines are ready for the next heat wave coming Sunday. Crank up those machines to keep our fine furry friends comfortable.
Everybody else do the same!
Have a great, safe, weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!
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