First Novels

I am taking an advanced writing course this semester.

Yesterday, I finally sent in the first chapter of my first novel. I have written some short stories, memoir pieces and other small works but this is my first attempt at something big...

I am a little nervous waiting to hear back from my professor.

What I have enjoyed most is sharing my writing experiences with my daughter. When I started writing I was having some difficulties with the creative part. I find that writing creative non-fiction comes pretty easily to me, but fiction is much more difficult. To help me with my creativity I asked my daughter to help me by playing a character sketch game. In our game, we take the first person we see and tell who they are. Name, birthdate, where they live, hobbies, job, family, where they are going...whatever comes to mind. I find it much easier to be creative when I have something concrete to start with. We have come up with some pretty fun stories and we have had a few good laughs on the drive to school.

A few weeks ago I went to a used book sale and picked up an old book for my daughter...

Inside the front cover is an inscription that reads...Love to Gail, From Mum and Dad. For fun the other night I asked my daughter "Who is Gail?". In the past two days, she has written three chapters of "Gail's story". She has three pages of short character sketches for all of Gail's friends and family. She has been researching on the internet to discover what life was like in the 40s and 50s. She knows almost everything about Gail and is writing her story in the first person. Her story is really good. She is only twelve. She has inspired me to write more.

Our conversations have really helped me get to know my characters and I have learned that knowing your characters makes writing fiction just as easy as non-fiction. I'm not sure if my novel will be any good when it is finished, or what grade I will get or if I will ever get published; but, the time I have been spending with my daughter is something that I am so grateful for and will never forget.

Where will U go next?

As we were loading up our Uhaul preparing to leave Vancouver in December, I walked around the side of the truck, smiled and had to take a picture...

I wasn't sure how long we would be in the Okanagan or exactly where we would be in a year. We have moved so many times in the past 14 years (9 times to be exact ~ 3 provinces, 2 cross country moves, and 2 cross province moves and that also included a 5 year stay in one house).  Everytime I look at this photo I am not sure if the attitude of the quote is a curious...here comes an exciting adventure kind of question or if it is just mocking me.

This week I have been wanting to unpack all the boxes of items that are not really necessary to our day to day lives; all the well loved "luxury items" that have not been used in awhile - primarily a lot of dishes, books and craft/art supplies. I have been looking around the rental house desperately wanting to paint/change light fixtures/rip out carpet, etc. but I can't. My internal "must be time to move" alarm has begun to ring. This is usually where I start packing up essentials, and dreaming of a place that I can make my own, that looks and feels the way I want it to. Where I can be surrounded by all the stuff I love, where I can get organized and finally settle down a little. Maybe even get a pet for the kids.

Our intended move to Nova Scotia this summer is not working out the way we planned. We are all getting a little restless...

Instead of packing up and looking for our next new place to live...

I registered my youngest son in Kindergarten at the neighbourhood school for September and my hubby has been talking to the landlord about painting the house...

I'm feeling a little out of my comfort zone, but interested to see how this adventure turns out.

Fresh, Local Beef

Today I had a very fun, informative and unusual day.

My dad raises cattle and I was lucky enough this year to split a steer with my brother. Today, I was invited to watch the butcher cut and wrap our beef.

This guy was huge! Each quarter weighed in at over 275lbs...

I love getting beef from my dad. I watched this steer out in the field many times and I know that he had a relatively happy life. I know that he was drug free. I know the fields he grazed and was raised in.

He was a little fattier than normal because he was 2 1/2 (my dad usually has his steers butchered at 2). But, he was hung for about 3 1/2 weeks and he looks delicious.

Now, for many people, four and a half hours watching someone cut meat may not be considered fun; but, I loved it.

I loved seeing how each cut of meat came off the animal and I loved being able to choose the cuts I wanted while looking at the piece of meat. 

I loved choosing the unusual cuts and making the butcher do a bit of extra work that he usually doesn't have to do.

While watching I kept thinking about how my kids were really missing out. They would love to watch and see how we get our meat. So I took over 200 photos so they wouldn't miss out on anything...I am very grateful for digital cameras!

While watching, my hubby and I discussed all the many ways we would cook our beef...

we became very hungry.

This year, I am hoping that I will be able to not only eat in season, local (and organic when possible) but I am also hoping to store up enough food for winter so that we can continue to eat great, flavourful food all year long! Starting with my year's supply of beef...I am off to a great start. Although, I think I think I may need to buy a second freezer...

Farm days...

I am behind again...but I wanted to share the fun we had on earth day at Pilgrim's Produce Organic Farm.

Our kids favourite booth was Cottontail & Co. selling rabbits "Dead or Alive - Preferably alive!" There was quite a line-up here of kids wanting to hold a bunny...

Even my hubby was tempted to bring one home...maybe next year. Although I am very tempted to purchase a few in the not alive category...very tempted...

The kids also loved the baby chicks from Rosebank Farms - pasture raised poultry.

I was really excited to find a local source for pasture raised chicken! I think I may need to buy another freezer...

The kids loved the animals but couldn't find a way to convince us to bring any home... not that it would take much to convince us...we just need to find a place of our own where we can bring them home to!

I loved seeing the greens...I am SO ready for our local produce season to start!

I was really happy to see the first blossoms of the season...

We loved wandering around the farm...

and enjoying the entertainment offered. We left smiling and a little sad to leave - longing for a farm of our own.

We were cheered up again this week-end with the opening of the local farmer's market and the start of the local asparagus season.

We filled two large bags with delicious local produce which should tide us over until next Saturday.

I need to find more opportunities to visit farms as we are all getting restless and needing a farm fix a little more frequently than usual. But, for this week...daily roasted asparagus is keeping a smile on my face!