Nice Doggies...

When there is a pack of hungry wild dogs (coyotes) outside your door, and you have a dachshund who will need to use the bathroom soon...

Oh, the pleasures of living in a secluded mountain valley.

Snow+Freezing Rain+Rain=Icicles

Oh, the loveliness of weather that really shouldn't happen. This morning I woke up to find snow on the ground and freezing rain falling from the sky. As the temperature rose it turn to freezing rain and now the roads are slushy, soon to turn icy and Super Bowl Sunday parties are dicy. The bushes and trees are being weighed down by icicles and it reminds me of the pretty pics you put on your desktop. You know, the ones like these:

So pretty, but I think it might be a bit to heavy. 😟 The bushes look ready to snap.

 

HSSI-Horticulture Summer Summer Institute

So, while I was searching around for horticulture scholarships, I stumbled upon a summer camp at North Carolina State University. Although I could go to Virginia Tech (eww) I am not entirely sold on the idea and NCSU is only three hours away from the family. Of course, I have been very hesitant because I am not sure if I will like the campus/Raleigh any more than I like Blacksburg. I feel like God is being like, "Tada. Here you go. You decide."

A little on HSSI, so you know why in the world I am so excited. Here's a link: http://www.growforit.org/programs/detail/HSSI

There are a few existing problems though:

1. Living Waters is July 15-21, and this camp is the 8-13. Luckily, both camps are in NC, though on opposite sides of the state. Which leaves me only a day to rest and laundry problems. The solution to this may be to visit a friend of ours, Clay McClean and his wife, Mary, who live in the middle of the state. Maybe we could ask to do laundry. 😉

2. I have to get accepted in order to go to the camp, something that might not happen because I have not been very active in my pursuit of horticulture. Mostly because of finances.

3. It costs $550 to attend, with the down payment being $150. The reason I listed this last is that I feel like God is really calling me to this program. And there are scholarship programs/payment plans. I would be paying for it myself this time. 

Please be praying for me, and that if God wants me to pursue this camp, he will open the doors (or windows, you never know) that would make it available to me.

Super/Red/Blue/Blood/Lunar Eclipse. Just look at the Moon.

So tonight several things are going to happen to our moon.

1. It is going to be full for the second time in a month. The first one being on Janurary 1. Ironic, right? This scientifically classifies it as a blue moon.

2. It is going to be a Blood moon. In slang terms that means that it is going to be HUGE and really really bright. 

3. There is giong to be a total lunar eclipse. Unfortunately for some of us, we won't be able to see the full thing, but the idea is still pretty amazing. 

4. This is the first time in 150 YEARS that all of these things happened in the U.S. at once. needless to say, I have definitely geeked out a bit on this particular topic. I will be watching.

Between Days. Literally.

So, what am I doing at almost twelve in the evening/morning? I'm looking up how to make more convincing characters, of course. Because my brain, when it comes to the worlds of possibilities I've opened up with this new plot line for Aesop's story will not shut up. So, thus I am worried about creating not only believable characters but strong and convincing ones. Here are three good articles that I've read. Everyone has, and is, entitled to their own opinion. 

1. https://thewritepractice.com/how-do-you-build-a-strong-character-in-your-writing/ 

2.  http://www.writersdigest.com/writing-articles/by-writing-goal/write-first-chapter-get-started/hooked-on-a-feeling

3.  https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/writing-strong-characters/

Getting Back To The Purest Heart

Working on the cataclysmic moment when the story truly begins Aesop's adventure out of Eutopia. Rewrite number 3...

A Beautiful Day in The Hood

It's sunny, sixty degrees, and there are just a few small clouds floating around. Oh, and a wind advisory. Of course.