The Triumphant Return

Today the pig got to go to the dog park for the first time in over six months.

it was pretty great

Patterns of the Fall

I'm posting two versions of the photo tonight, because even tho' I have a definite favorite insofar as "impactful images" go:

(spoiler: it's this one)

I still thought you should see what it actually looked like out there today:

(still pretty nice)

I took this shot during my daily afternoon walk, and I had to interrupt my mother's story to take it (I so often do- it's the only downside to using my phone as a camera), but I think she'll be pleased with the results.

Anyway, it's day six of NaNo, and I'm holding my own pretty well.  I love that I can tell a marked difference from five years ago in my ability to write huge swaths of words, to just let go of my inner editor and get it on the page.  Turns out the mental muscles for writing benefit from years of practice just as much as any physical muscle does.  It's nice.  And comforting.  Which is a pleasant sensation on a drizzly autumn day.

Commuter

tail light

The Long Walk Home

We have been a one-car household for closing in on four years now.  It was a bit of a scary decision when we first made it, but it turned out to work really well for our lifestyle.  It is a very rare event that it inconveniences either one of us (especially me, since I prefer riding my bike), but it does happen on occasion.

watch out for wolves

I must say, tho', that even when I am "inconvenienced", I don't mind it so very much: I like long walks.  It's just sometimes, when it's after dark, I like them better with my 70lb pit bull along...

My Feet on the Leaf Strewn Path

scuffed leather for scuffed leaves

(no, you're not imagining things: this image does look familiar)

Mulled Over

Can't go wrong with a little mulled cider...

...especially when it's been fortified with the hard stuff

The Muse Focus

It's Offically November, and you know what that means-

NaNoWriMo!

My goal for today was to churn out 5000 words (which I did).  I hope to get another 3-5k tomorrow.  For some reason I'm feeling the urge to really front-load my word count this year.

Anyway, I sat at the table and wrote, and as I did so I kept this close by my side:

purdy

My mother gave it to me years ago: technically it's just a glass fishing float, but I call it my Muse Focus.  That is to say, a Focus for Summoning my Muse.  I have a few items that work for this, depending on what I'm doing (one is a pretty sweet gun belt that belonged to my father), and I think that if they are honest, most authors have something or other that works for them in a similar manner, be it a favorite pen or a certain photo or a pretty rock.  We writers are creatures of superstition and habit: of course we surround ourselves with talismans.