Celebrate the Small Things: End of Summer Thoughts

Funny how seasonal weather can be invigorating in the beginning and an energy drain in the end. I love the advent of the seasons, don't you? It's a wonderful time to reflect on the next leg of our journey.

Vince and I have one final job before completing this summer's landscaping project, the installation of colored rock over the new berm. If we finish by Friday, I'll post an image. 

Salmon-colored rock over the berm is coming soon. Whew! What a lot of work shoveling dirt and planting everything. The rock garden in the middle and shrubs next to the house were planted by the previous owner. We did everything else. Slowly the gravel is disappearing....

We also planted two new trees, an Amur Maackia and Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry. 
 

Amur Maackia - I love this tree. The leaves look tropical.

Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry. Off to the right....out future deck!

The Serviceberry can only be described as hopeful. It doesn't look like much sitting alone in the gravel, with most of its leaves gone. I'm told the tree will fill out beautifully in time and pictures online all agree, but for now, it's a version of Charlie Brown's little tree. Remember the one with the single Christmas ornament? That's ours!

The serviceberry is a good reminder that all good things (and endeavors) come in due time if we persist. Kind of where my writing projects are at the moment, but I haven't lost hope. I'm attending the the Rivers of Ink writers' conference next month in Richland, WA. I'm excited to learn more about the field, and in particular, the writing software, Scrivner, one speaker's topic.

We passed the following restaurant while driving to Spokane recently, and decided to stop. We now have a new favorite. Check out the neat sculpture in front.

A great place to eat, Ritzville, WA

Across from the restaurant, just off I-90

  

Have a nice weekend everyone!!

Celebrate the Small Things: To join, visit Lexa's Blog for the rules. We post every Friday about something we are grateful for that week. It can be about writing, family, school, general life or whatever. Originated by VikLit, co-hosts are: L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The Edge and Katie @ TheCyborgMom

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The Classics - CLOSING LINES: I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

 
"Only the margin left to write on now. I love you, I love you, I love you." 

(published 1949)







I love the classics and plan to share more "CLOSING lines" over the coming months. Comment if you wish, or read for inspiration. Writing styles were different then, or were they really? 

Sharon M. Himsl

Writer/Author. Blogging since 2011. 
Published with Evernight Teen: 
~~The Shells of Mersing
 

Celebrate the Small Things: A Kayak Lesson and a Good Laugh

Funny thing happened at the dock the other day. It was one of those U-tube moments too, but of course we didn't think to ask someone to record our latest adventure. I have always wanted a kayak and I wasn't about to let age deter me this birthday (I'm usually too practical when it comes to big splurges), but I defied commonsense and bought a two-person kayak online. Vince, being the sweet husband he is, and with nothing better in mind for my birthday, went along.

"Hmm....okay, I got this. Just put the connectors on and pump away."

"Success! Notice the seat behind me."

Okay, onward to the marina we went. At the dock we pushed off full of confidence, life jackets on, and our paddles in perfect sync, "Left, right, Left, right."  

Then...."SPLASH," over we went. We came up laughing. 

Turns out my new kayak isn't very stable for two people. Guess that video online was a bit deceptive, but with one person, balancing was no problem at all. We both took turns paddling along the shore and got thoroughly hooked. Vince's kayak is now on order. I can't wait to get out and explore the shoreline together. We have pelican here and I've been dying to get an up close look. 

Below is a photo of the darling puppy my friend picked up during her visit last month. For you, Birgit!!

"Paddie"

Celebrate the Small Things: To join, visit Lexa's Blog for the rules. We post every Friday about something we are grateful for that week. It can be about writing, family, school, general life or whatever. Originated by VikLit, co-hosts are: L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The Edge and Katie @ TheCyborgMom

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