I was lazy this weekend. I did laundry, played with a two-year-old, we looked at a Cherry Ames Cruise Nurse book together. I painted a new pastel picture, (see above.) Visited with friends, had Sushi with my daughter's friend and sent her off to Paris with a book about writing in Paris.
I painted penquins in a snow storm. But did I write? No. Did I plot? No. Did I get a rejection? Yes. Now I have to incorporate urban fantasy revisions, but I didn't do that either. I guess my brain thinks it needs a break, or I prefer to think, the writing cells are regenerating so that I'm ready to write.
I used a new painting technique for snow with pastel, called dusting. Doing new things will sometimes trigger plot ideas or story direction. Suggestions from an editor gave me ideas about revising another Urban Fantasy to make it better, build a more complete world. So, even when I'm not writing, the cells are working on material to tie in later when I'm putting words on paper (or on the computer.) Nothing you do is really wasted, from watching birds to seeing a child pretend to read a book that is too old for her. That child may read later because she was shown a respect for reading at two.
We spent Christmas Eve listening to 50 MPH wind gusts and watching the fence sway back and forth. Drifts grew at an alarming rate. I've lived in places with wind and snow, but 3-4 ft. drifts, cancelled Christmas gatherings and 14 inches of snow are unusual happenings in Oklahoma City.We stayed in, ate Christmas bread baked that afternoon, watched hundreds of people getting stranded on highways as they ignored the weather people telling them to stay home, do not get out and shop. Then things got scarier as there was a 50 car pile-up on I-40, the airport closed down and all the highways in the metro closed down.When we opened the front door, a three ft drift blocked the way, the car in the driveway was blocked with another drift that size. Felt like I'd ended up back in Nebraska.Yesterday we hibernated and read, watched movies, enjoyed a quiet Christmas. Today, if I can dig out the car, I'll try and make it to the store. Maybe next weekend I'll get writing done. we'll wee how things go. Trying to help my daughter with her holiday depression.
There is something basic or primal about sitting in a warm kitchen, watching sleet and snow outside while you kneed yeast dough for bread. You feel connected to the countless women over the years who have done the same thing.Hopefully not too many people are struggling with a cold kitchen or no kitchen. Listening to the wind I couldn't help but think about settlers on these plains trying to deal with wind, cold and sod houses if they had a house. Brrr.Everyone enjoy your holiday and keep a house full of the scents of christmas as you bake bread, make a dessert with cinnamon. Remember those who came before.
