Rambling Friday: Snow, Snow and More Snow!

 

A Walk Down a Snowy Lane

It's an Indoor Type of Day

Mush! We're on an Adventure!

One Night at the Lodge

Do you have better titles for these pictures? 

Enjoy! 

Imagination Gone Wild . . .


Snicker.

Don't you just love the names of some books? Here's a few that capture my attention . . .

• "All the Tea in China" a missionary book by Jane Orcutt
• "Reclaiming Nick" by Susan May Warren
  
• "Bayou Justice" "Bayou Corruption" "Bayou Judgment" and "Bayou Paradox" by Robin Carroll. (Anything to do with Louisiana captures my interest!)


• "Along Came Love" by Carrie Turinsky
  
• "The Root of All Evil" and "The Lost Sheep" by Brandt Dodson (love this guy's writing & by the way, I sat under one of his classes at the ACFW conference. Talked with him, too. He is a cool guy.)
  
• "The Winter Pearl" by Molly Noble Bull (look for her interview soon!)


• "Petticoat Ranch" by Mary Conneally
• "In the Midst of Deceit" by Deborah Piccurelli
• "The Guy I'm Not Dating" by Trish Perry


• "Chocolate Beach" by Julie Carobini
• "A Pirate's Prize" by Lena Nelson Dooley (gave me a great critique!)
  
• "Sushi for One" by Camy Tang

I also like story titles like these:

The Cat Who Went Bananas (Lillian Jackson Braun)
The Shadow of Suspicion (Emily Loring)
and lots of Martha Grimes books: "The Old Contemptibles," "The Man with a Load of Mischief," and "A Dinner to Die For."

Then I have a couple of friends who are writing stories. Here's some of their titles:

Jazz Baby (Christy)
Alabama Rain (Lin)
Chasing the Wind (Jam)

Don't those just make you want to dig into those novels?

I'm not much on one-word titles, although that's all the fad right now. Of course, that won't stop me reading, if the book is good.

This is just a scratch on the surface of interesting novel titles. There are so many, who can name them? I guess that goes to show what imaginations we humans have . . . or maybe I should say, we writers have.

What catches your attention?

I love hummingbirds! Here's a few hints to keep them coming!
Pour 4 cups of hot tap water into a large pot or pan (don't use aluminum).

Add one cup of table sugar (No honey or artificial sweeteners)

Stir until sugar has dissolved.

Cover the pan, bring the mix to a rolling boil for 1-2 minutes. don't let the water evaporate.

Cool and pour into well-cleaned feeders.

Notes:

• boiling is not necessary if birds are draining the feeders within 3 days
• red food coloring is not necessary once birds have found the feeders.
• feed extra mix until needed
• the usual water/sugar ratio is 4:1. When weather is hot, cut back on the sugar.

Quote:
A few days ago I walked along the edge of the lake and was treated to the crunch and rustle of leaves with each step I made. The acoustics of this season are different and all sounds, no matter how hushed, are as crisp as autumn air. -- Eric Sloane


Blessings

Where in the World Do You Get Your Ideas?



Huh? The world's filled with ideas. I have people all the time ask me that. E-a-s-y! That's what it is to come up with ideas. At least most of the times.

But one of my v-e-r-y favorite way is beginning with titles. Yep. That's it. I love coming up with, or hearing, or reading, or having it jump out at me . . . a title that sounds like it would make for interesting writing.

Take these suggestions:

Behind Door Number One (or Two, Ten, Thirteen, whatever)
Something Stupid
With Music in Their Hearts
The Jungle Path of Love
Raisins for Racy
Winners Take All
The Double-Minded Heart
A Spider Beside Her
All Fall Down
Really, Wily Willie

When you've got a title, you've got all sorts of possibilities in sight. The moon is the limit. Your imagination can run in many different directions.

What type of book do you think of when you read each of the above suggestions?

Take "Behind Door Number . . .": I immediately think of mystery, suspense. What is going on behind that door? A murder? A crime about to be committed? A detective and his personal life?

But then I can think of several other ways that title could be expanded . . . A love scene? A loving family on a snowy night sharing a meal together? A children's adventure story?

Would it be set in modern days or perhaps in a war-torn era? Would it be in historic New York? Or a country village? A spooky setting in a shabby village near a swamp?

Boundless opportunities.

Then, automatically, I think of romance when I read: Something Stupid, The Jungle Path of Love, or With Music in Their Hearts.

But . . . Something Stupid could be a children's story; a clumsy child who constantly wins the laughter of his peers by his "stupid" mistakes.

The Jungle Path of Love (I've actually started this one; grin) is a romance, but it's more. Missionary adventure with danger, is planned for this gem of a title.

With Music in Their Hearts is similar; romance, danger, history, and war is bound up in the pages of this novel--almost done!

So, if you're thinking of becoming a writer; try starting with a catchy title. Let your mind wander, let your imagination soar, and don't be afraid to listen to everyday conversation or things you read.

You just never know when you'll pick up something . . . interesting -- for your next work in progress (wip) (novel)! And it might be the next best seller. Yeah!




Hints! Hints! Hints! More to do with gardening.

1. Put broken egg shells into a watering can, fill with water and leave overnight. This will extract the nutrients making an excellent and cheap plant feed.
2. When planting morning glory seeds, the package directions indicate that you need to nick each one of the seeds to enhance germination. A quick and easy way to accomplish this is with a pair of fingernail clippers. Then place the seeds on a lightly dampened paper towel, fold the towel over and place inside a plastic zipper bag for a day or so before planting.
3. To get rid of ants, locate their hill and sprinkle a liberal amount of talc powder around and on it. The ants dislike the talc and will move their colony several feet. Just continue sprinkling with the talc until the ants are moved to where you want them. Boiling water poured into/onto the nest also works quite well.

What's the answer to yesterday's trivia question? No one knows? Okay, it was Christopher Columbus. Smile. Didn't research deep enough, did you?

Today: What is reputed to be the oldest city in the world?



Quote:
Though I have seen the oceans and mountains, though I have read great books and seen great works of art, though I have heard symphonies and tasted the best foods, there is nothing greater or more beautiful than those people I love. --Christopher de Vinck


Blessings.