Hobbies

Full confession: I don’t always read every page of the novel I’m reading. Sometimes I flip to the final chapter. Or I’ll skim through a list of names in a mystery novel to see who’s still alive by page 150. (If my favorite character vanishes, I start slowly backing away – emotionally…

Smartphone photography is often associated with quick and easy snapping away. That’s because you can just walk around, point at something, click – and there’s your photo! I’d like to take a different approach to smartphone…

October is breast cancer awareness month and a reminder to have our mammograms. If you’re unfortunate enough to brush up with breast cancer, you hopefully have a great support system. During the course of my two breast cancer journeys, writing has always been my panacea…

Summer has unfortunately come to an end, and now it’s time to jump into your rain boots, grab your trusty trowel and put those garden beds to rest. While fall certainly isn’t the most exciting time to be gardening, your plants will appreciate…

Paper crafts are a wonderful way to make decorations for your home. This article offers two interesting paper pumpkin designs. Enjoy and share your craft ideas! Vintage Book Page Pumpkins These 3D vintage book page pumpkins are easy to make and add a touch of class to your Halloween decor. When books are damaged and […]

There probably has never been a better time to become a published author. Just 15 years ago, your best chance of getting published meant submitting to traditional publishers and keeping your fingers crossed while you wait months for them to respond with whether…

I first became interested in teaching small children how to write during my undergraduate work as I trained to be an elementary teacher. In the 1980s, the teaching of writing was shifting in a new direction. Influenced by educators like Donald Graves and Lucy Calkins, the focus moved away from rigid rules, drills, and worksheets and toward a child-centered approach.

Finding books to read is both planned and serendipitous. Every day I read the Wall Street Journal. They include a book review, usually non-fiction. On the weekend, they have a large book review section with new publications of a wide variety. I’ve learned to respect their choices given…

Fall is the perfect time to breathe new life into your garden! As the sweltering summer heat fades away, cool temperatures create ideal conditions for a variety of plants to thrive. You can extend your growing season and enjoy a bountiful harvest well into autumn…

Mirrors are more than practical or beautiful. Mirrors catch light and motion. They are interior design objects, magic creators of illusion and space. It is not vain to have many mirrors in your home. No, it is smart! Mirrors „open“ walls for extra depth and effectively…