Should I blog more often?

James Killick's Blog: Five reasons why blogging makes you a better write...: Apparently there's only one reason to write a blog – to build a 'platform', which you can then convert to customers to buy your 'product'. ...

How do you say goodbye to an old web site?

After 14+ years, my first web site, the Callaway County Information Site, is going away. The web archive wayback machine has a copy dated September, 1998, but it was online much earlier as a text only site. The site was originally hosted by COIN, the Columbia Online Information Network. COIN was one of the first community supported networks that provided both server space and dial up connections to three counties in Central Missouri. In recent years, the Daniel Boone Regional Library has hosted Callaway. But now, Callaway information will be integrated into dbrl.org and callaway.county.missouri.org will cease to exist.

I admit to feeling a little nostalgic. Years of my life and mountains of effort went into finding information, designing, and maintaining the Callaway site. For years I worked constantly trying to keep up with the technology: as soon as I mastered one kind of software, another "must do" popped up in its place.

Why do we live in the woods?

Because dogwood blooms surround us in April.

All of these photos were taken from my yard. No matter which direction I turn there is God-given beauty.

What happened to Spring?

We had a few lovely days.

My crocus bloomed. The tulips, jonquils, and lillies were all up and looking fine.

Richard and I took long walks, listening to the spring birds singing.

I made an invitation to my

"Let's Celebrate Spring" party. I ordered goodies for the Easter egg hunt.

Then, on Monday, March 14, we woke up to THIS!

I took pictures as we left the house and on our slow and careful drive to the library. Eight inches on the ground at 8 a.m. and it kept snowing all day long with great big wet flakes that looked like snowballs coming down.

Now - to add insult to injury - the Farmer's Almanac editor was on the news saying the big snow is next

week!

Why do I try to write a novel every November??

National Novel Writing Month is just a few days away. Every year at midnight on Halloween night thousands of writers sit down at their computers and start typing furiously as we try to complete a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. Every year I swear I'm not going to do it this year. And every year, sometime during this last week, I succumb to the excitement and anticipation in the air and on the net. I signed up again this year.

Why did I do that? I already have five unfinished novels from previous Novembers! It would make more sense to finish one of those, or get started on another non-fiction book (the kind I actually finish and publish.)

But nanowrimo.org isn't about making sense. It's about having fun, letting loose, turning on the creative juices and pumping it out as fast as you can! It's exhilarating!

I can hardly wait!

Last year the Fulton group had a kick off party at Pizza Hut. That's me in the middle of the back row.

Why do we wait for a holiday to visit family?

We spent July 4th with my husband's sister's family. It was a lovely long day of visiting, barbecue, and fireworks. What more could you ask? I took a few pictures.

What does the Brainstormer do?

Check out The Brainstormer by Andrew Bosley. Is it art? Is it a tool for writers who need to brainstorm ideas or plot points? Is it both? It doesn't matter, frankly... I just think it's cool and will keep you all busy all weekend!