Monday's Musings...

Tonight as I sat mechanically watching TV - my husband said to look out the window at the sunset. I did. I grabbed my camera. This is a sample of the beauty of Arizona sunsets!

I hope you have enjoyed your visit.  :O) 

Friday's Fractured Features... Writing - Hobby or Job?

I've often thought other people have a different sun and moon or something that makes them have more hours in their days than I do... for they seem to get way more done in their writing efforts than I do. This has reminded me of one time when I was at a SCBWI writing conference in Utah where we had classes with a certain teacher throughout the conference... my teacher happened to be LDS Author Dean Hughes. Each day we went to class and he coached and taught us the fine art of our craft. One of the things he said that stuck with me (but I haven't as yet been able to make myself apply) is: he said that each day he got up and showered and dressed for work, had breakfast with family, then went in his den, closed the door and went to work. If you're working from home you have to treat it like a job or you will never get your work completed.
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 Those profound words were re-iterated in a magazine article I recently read. It said, "You can't add more hours to the day, but you can supercharge those you already have. As often as possible, put writing first; before the kids wake up; before you go to work, before you run that errand, turn on the TV, check your e-mail and Facebook posts, or take a break. Putting writing before other intentions ensures you will get it done ...Writing time is work time, and it's as important as any other kind of work. Don't kid yourself that you can write while watching TV, or that you'll get to it after the next phone call. Set yourself up for success by writing in environments that are friendly to your focus. ...explain to family that writing time is 'do not disturb time' unless it's an emergency. Hang a sign on your door. Sit at your computer every day at the appointed time, whether or not you feel like writing... at least 20 minutes a day until it's a habit and you can spend more productive time."
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So in essence if you want to be a published author... you have to treat your writing time not as a hobby but as a profession. You need to put the time and effort into it as you would if you were going to work for a high class company. Hours spent in writing time, in research, in rewarding self for job well done, time for "going home" and leaving work at work, play time, etc.
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Now that I've been reminded of Dean Hughes and the lessons learned I hope to be able to be more productive at following this counsel!
... Joyce

Tuesday's Off Day - New Things...

So I've been trying to be more diligent in my writing and blogging... Today's a day of new beginnings toward that quest. A New Look and hopefully more conscientious about my blogging abilities, capabilities, and write-abilities! 
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I will keep my Monday Musings; Wacky Wednesdays; and Fractured Fridays but I will not try to write on each of those days each week... I'm going to try for one of them a week and if that doesn't work I'll hop to every other week.
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One thing though... don't plan on a lot of writing from me for the next couple of weeks because starting this week-end I will be having our family come in for our Smith Family Reunion... consequently I'll be involved with family gatherings etc.
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Therefore you may ask why I'm starting with New Things today instead of waiting - well simply because I have time today and I may not have it in the next couple of weeks and I want to get it going... so after the 6th of July, when they all go home, then I'll be more apt to be busy with this again.  :) 
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Hence once again stay tuned... and be patient with me.
Thanks, Joyce

 

Friday's Fractured Features-

For the past little while I have been saturated with life's adventures... And I have chewed off all my fingernails! Grrr
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Our 50th wedding anniversary came and went with a fantastic man I'm proud to be married to. We spent a wonderful day. We went to the Temple where we were married 50 years ago and felt at peace and saw some old friends there too. We went and did a little shopping then dinner & a movie.
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Next came our son's wedding & me in charge of making the wedding cake... now that was a project. We got to the building and someone was supposed to be there but we found it locked. I had the cake in the hot car! Grrr. The icing was then too soft and when my husband decided to carry said cake into the building un-aided he messed up the whole side of the cake! I was a bit miffed. But luckily I had brought frosting and tubes and tips to put a semi fix on it.
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Wedding over I had all of the huge white table cloths I had borrowed from a friend to try and get all the stains out of from peeps that were careless in their eating - & they had spills of red punch on them too. I ended up washing them in four loads and did those four loads five times counting the pre-wash cycle, adding up to 20 loads of wash, taking the whole day long to get them spotless white again. Whew!
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Then all table cloths clean and folded I needed to move the box away from my bed (which I had used as my folding table) so I could sleep that night and not bump into said box... bad idea! In moving it I hurt my back!!! I've been two & a half weeks getting my back to settle down so I could move around again.  Grrr
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Now I've been back to working on my novel and feeling decidedly unqualified to be a writer/author so I stopped writing long enough to make a mock up cover to help get me pumped up about my writing again. Now I'm wondering if my title is the best title ever. So stay tuned to Monday and we'll see the solution I come up with.  :O)
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Thanks for stopping by,
~Joyce

Friday's Fractured Features...

My blog followers... you are not forgotten! I've been busy trying to make a picture video for my anniversary and I'll get back to you soon! Thanks following me and your patience.
~ Joyce

Friday's Fractured Features... A Recipe

 

Pasta Sausage Meal

12 ounces of Orecchiette or I used 16 oz. Large Shells Pasta

2 Bunches Broccolini, or Broccoli Florets
2 Small size Zucchini, cut in chunks
9 yellow Cherri Tomatoes, cut in fourths
8 oz. of sweet Italian turkey Sausage, Or I used 16 oz. Jimmy Dean Country Mild Sausage - roll
                      sausage into small balls I used a teaspoon to cut amount.
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
Pinch of red pepper flakes
1 large egg
Freshly ground pepper
½ cup grated ricotta. Or sprinkle with parmesan cheese and Mozzarella
Small sprigs of Fresh herbs cut with scissors into small pieces. (Rosemary, Sage, Lemon Thyme, Spicy Globe Basil, and Mexican Tarragon).
                                           {Underlined ingredients are the choices I used.} 

1.      Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs, adding the broccoli during the last 2 minutes of cooking. Reserve 1 cup cooking water, then drain the pasta and broccoli. (I did this differently - continue to read below.)

 

Add olive oil to this to keep noodles from sticking

Use teaspoon to form balls

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 2.      Meanwhile, roll the sausage meat into small bite size meatballs. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs and cook, turning occasionally, until browned and cooked through, 5 to 6 minutes. Drain on paper towels.

 

roll balls perfectly with hands

My stove cooks hot so adjust accordingly

 

 

 

 



Be careful because Snoopy is waiting for one to drop.

 3.      Pour off any drippings from the skillet, then add the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil, the garlic, red pepper flakes ½ teaspoon salt and the fresh herbs. Cook over medium heat, stirring 1 minute.  (I ran out of room in my pan of noodles so put the herbs, olive oil, garlic, red peppers and salt in my electric skillet and cooked 1 minute then added the zucchini & cooked for about 2 minutes, then added the broccoli. Continue cooking until vegetables are done. I then added the meatballs and pasta in my electric skillet and continued with the egg water.)


4. Whisk the egg with the reserved cooking water in a small bowl, then add to the skillet and stir until the sauce thickens slightly. Season with salt and pepper.

5.  Sprinkle with the cheeses; continue to heat until cheese is

                 melted and serve.

 ~ Hope you enjoy this... my family did.  :O)

 

Wacky Wednesday...

It’s Wacky Wednesday don’t you see,

Time to tell you ‘bout wacky ol’ me –

Spring

By Joyce P. Smith

 

Everywhere there are bees to see,



There are bees in the tree.

 



There are bees on the tower,

 

There are bees on every flower.

 



Bees are in the feeder,
Are there bees on my reader?










Hey there’s a hole way up there high,

"Plug all those holes" I sigh.




 

 

 

I tell you it’s not a drill,
There are bees all over the sill.

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are bees all on the floor,

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are some bees by the door.



 

Oh no, there are bees in the wall!



Lots of bees-  think I’ll bawl



Is there a comb of honey?

I surely wish it were money!

Is honey in my wall?

It shouldn’t be there at all…

Nope, it shouldn’t be there at all!

 

~ Joyce P. Smith