Monthly Archives: June 2014

9 06, 2014

A Polite Question

By |2014-06-09T06:00:31-05:00June 9th, 2014|Make Me Think Monday|0 Comments

??????????????????????????????I’m sure you know what question I mean.

You’ve probably heard it many times yourself…

“What do you do?”

I wear so many hats – wife, mother, sister, daughter, cousin. It’s hard to zero in on only one to answer the question.

Then I enjoy so many things – playing Pickleball, reading, walking with my dogs, gardening. How do I zero in on a single answer about what I do?

I could answer with one of the many professions I’ve held over the years – teacher, administrator, DAC, antiques shop owner, volunteer. I enjoyed every job I’ve had. It’s crazy to relay all those in answer to a polite, rhetorical question.

I’ve thought about how to answer and discovered that in everything I am or do, there is one common thread. That thread is storytelling.

Like all of us, I share personal stories in social conversations, but I also make up characters and write their stories. Stories, which, in turn, become published, adding the category of author to my numerous professions.

Stop and think about it. We are all storytellers.

As a teacher, I told stories to help my students learn. As an antiques dealer, I told stories about the antiques I sold, and as a volunteer, I tell stories to make others feel comfortable.

Mostly the stories we share are anecdotal. But, it’s important to note that I also make up characters and their stories and I love what I do.

So when someone asks me the question, my answer is “I’m a storyteller,” which, in most instances, provides an opportunity to mention my published books.

I would love it if everyone I told I was a storyteller or those reading this blog went to FB and liked my author page, or bought a copy of my book, but the truth is, doing those things wouldn’t change my answer or what I do.

I’ll always tell stories, no matter what the format.

I am a

storyteller

I’m grateful my stories take written form in bookstores and in libraries. At the same time, I recognize when I’m old and in a rest home, I might not be up to writing.

I am hopeful, however, that I will be entertaining my fat, happy great-grandkids with verbal tales about my scandalous past.

The medium may change, but my storytelling will always be the same. For you see, there’s always a story to tell. And, remember, I have Irish genes so the stories don’t have to be totally truthful.

So what about you, how do you answer when someone asks what you do?

6 06, 2014

Gift for a Mother Hen – Miller Farm Friday

By |2014-06-06T06:00:52-05:00June 6th, 2014|Miller Farm Friday|0 Comments

by Guest Blogger Chicken Wrangler Sara

Our Rachel, Miller Farm Daughter #2, has taken up crochet.

She’s made the standard scarves and blankets. Lately, she has also gotten creative. She has made baby hats with ears to look like panda bears and hats out of her school colors with pompoms on top for college friends.

For Mother’s Day she made me pot holders:

chicken pot holders

These will replace the worn-out ones she and her sister made for me out of the loops and loom many years ago.

We told her if she didn’t find a summer nanny job, she could open an Etsy shop and sell her crochet.

Fortunately, she started a full time nanny job on Tuesday. She’s realized (very quickly) that crafting is not the easiest way to make money.

Meanwhile, I’m happily benefiting from her creativity.

5 06, 2014

Migrant Mother and Her Story

By |2014-06-05T06:00:35-05:00June 5th, 2014|Company's Coming, Guest blogger|2 Comments

By Guest Blogger Jane Carver

If I said the migrant mother in the picture made during the depression, you’d know exactly what photo I’m talking about…

migrant mother photo depression era for 06-05

Though photographer Dorothea Lange couldn’t ask the woman her name, the woman told the photographer anyway. Because she did, that photo will forever immortalize Florence Owens Thompson and her two children.

Like the Mona Lisa, a person looking at the photo can imagine all kinds of thoughts going through the woman’s mind.

Over the years, I’ve imagined her story so many different ways.

Now, more than eighty years after that particular photo was taken perhaps the woman’s story—of sorts—can be told.

Author Marisa Silver has written a story she thinks might have led that woman to be sitting in a migrant camp the day photographer Dorothea Lange came by taking pictures as part of a government project.

Mary Coin by Marisa Silver  for 06-05Ms. Silver named the woman Mary Coin and that’s the title of her latest book published by Blue Rider Press.

It’s a fascinating story of what might have happened that day in 1936.

I believe author Marisa Silver wrote the book just for me, to answer the question I’ve always wondered about.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Jane Carver Judythe BlogJane Carver is a former schoolteacher

a new grandmother, a quilter, an artist, an editor, a dual personality author, writing adult fiction and young adult fiction, and a blogger extraordinaire

Learn more at Ms. Carver’s websites: Adult Fiction or Young Adult Fiction.

Or visit one of her many blogs:

http://janiecarver2011.wordpress.com

http://RomancesByJanie.wordpress.com

http://JaneGracePresents.wordpress.com

http://WritingImagination2013.wordpress.com

Her latest release as Jane Grace:

Janie IntenseIntense (Young Adult Fiction) Sensitive subject but more about the compassion and help received afterward that makes up the story. Nova Dean dreams of going to Nationals in Debate but to do that she must beat Adam Parks and his team. Their rival is intense but not as much as the help Adam gives Nova after she’s raped. Only with his help can she take one step at a time back to a life she can endure. Only with his help are the rapists caught.

Her latest adult fiction as Jane Carver:

ReturnWithHonorReturn with Honor

The death of Jud Longtree’s best friend gives the local police chief reason enough to suspect him of murder. With the help of Lottie Amberville, they use both logic and creativity to find someone who may have murdered more than once.

4 06, 2014

HOPE – One Word Wednesday

By |2014-06-04T06:00:34-05:00June 4th, 2014|one word Wednesday|0 Comments

On Monday, I blogged about my hope of summer’s arrival and how encouraged I was when the only daffodil of the fifty bulbs I planted last fall came up.

Today I offer this wonderful quote from Anne Lamott to encourage you to continue to hope for whatever you’re seeking.

hope

2 06, 2014

Expecting an Exciting Summer

By |2014-06-02T06:00:54-05:00June 2nd, 2014|Make Me Think Monday|4 Comments

daffodilThis little guy popped out of the ground last week, bringing hope that spring and summer will arrive.

It’s about time.

Snowstorms in May were a major shock though our visiting grandchildren thought it was wonderful!

???????????????????????????????

My sister and her daughter from Texas decided to pack their long johns when they came to see us over Memorial weekend after the grandkids left.

Unfortunately, they needed the extra layer. It was cold and rainy the whole weekend.

That didn’t stop my hiking niece and husband from climbing up to 10,000 feet on Sentinel Peak.

hike

Summer folk are returning to town. It’s amazing to watch the RV parks filling and summer homes coming to life.

Last week the exterior painting of our house was finally been completed. ???????????????????????????????Soon, the mountains of dirt from the excavating for the garage addition will become tiered landscaping. Now that will be a much-welcomed sight.

The summer will bring family and friends escaping the heat where they live. Another thing I can wait to have happen. Nothing’s more fun than sitting on the porch visiting.

And, most exciting, I have a book releasing in June.

JM_WLB1_small

Details on official release date coming soon…

We’re off to a tremendous start for the season. So how’s your summer shaping up?

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