I'm Still Here

I want to apologize to everyone for the simple fact that I haven't been posting here as much lately. To be honest, I just don't know what to write about. Nothing much has been happening, school is going fine. I have been trying to think of posts to write, but nothing is coming to mind - and to think I call myself a writer, LOL!

The weather has cooled off considerably. For a week or so, recently, we have had beautiful temperatures reaching upwards to 20 celcius! The last few days have been seasonal however, with temperatures in the lower digits - anywhere from 4 to 8 celcius I believe. We still don't have snow, but I'm not complaining. I'm sure we'll get our fair share of it sooner or later.

I got a wonderful compliment from my writing teacher the other day. We had to hand in the thesis and outline of our next essay (which is to be an expansion of one of our shorter paragraphs that we have handed in previously - we do not use any sources for this, just our own thoughts, etc.), and on the bottom of mine she wrote that I have real talent and a strong voice. Wow. I never expected that.

I wondered, at first, if she wrote something like that on everyone's outline/thesis, but then I realized she's not like that. If your writing is no good, she wouldn't lie about it. She might try to write something encouraging like "with improvement, you could become a great writer" or something like that - you know, put a little positive in with the negative/constructive criticism. I mean if something doesn't make sense, she'll let you know. If your grammer is rotten, she'll tell you to pay attention to it...things like that. She's not mean about her editing and critiquing, but she won't falsely lead you on; that is something that doesn't help any writer. Writer's need to be told the truth or else they'll never improve.

I tell you though, after reading that comment I am inspired to keep writing for sure (not that I was planning on giving it up or anything). I've got an idea for a little "article" I'd like to write and maybe submit to Christian Women Online. I wouldn't get paid, but if they accepted it and put it in their online publication, that would be some exposure and something else I can include in my resume. We'll see how it goes though; I need to write the thing first.

So, that's all for now. Hopefully I'll have something better to write soon, something more God-centered, God-focused. Have a Christ filled day!

Check Out This Post

Please go over to one of my online knitting friends' blogs. She is a wonderful Christian lady and has posted her testimony. Warning: bring Kleenex!

Knitting and Praying

In Memory...

In Memory of Our Veterans (click the title of the poem to learn more about Lt. Col. John McCrae, MD)

In Flanders Fields

By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army

IN FLANDERS FIELDS the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Happy Tuesday!

I know I haven't been keeping up with this as much as I should (same as with reading other blogs). I am just waiting for something exciting to talk about - but things remain boring. But at least they remain, right?

School is going fine, though I still am not enjoying the children's lit class I'm taking. I am loving the Effective Writing and TESL classes though, so all is not lost.

I am still loving the flute lessons (sorry, but no sound bite yet - I need to get better before I let anyone hear me play, LOL). The teacher told me last week that when we learn something, particularly an instrument, we tend not to really notice improvement ourselves. We think we are still struggling along or that we haven't made any improvement. He said, though, that he can hear a lot of improvement in me and that he can tell I am practicing. To be honest though, there are some days when I don't get any practice in. Most days I do practice, and it is generally for at least half an hour. I am still trudging along with trying to get those high notes - they can be hard to reach. I do great when I'm practicing at home, but when I get in front of the teacher and try to do them for him, I mess up a lot. I told him this and he said that is really normal and happens to everyone.

We had our first real snowfall of the season yesterday. Thankfully it didn't amount to much over a dusting. By this morning though, it was melted away. Tomorrow it is supposed to go to +10C so there is no chance of snow. It'll feel like summer after the last little while of chilly weather we've had. I'm not complaining though. It just saddens me that I can't go barefoot anymore. On the plus side, I get to wear my hand knitted socks I've made this year. I only have 2 pair to wear so far (all other pairs were made for others and have typically been children's size). I have one more sock to make of my third pair for me though - just have to get working on it.

Anyway, that's all for now. Don't want to bore people to death, especially since my readers have dropped off (or at least commenters) since I haven't been writing as often lately. Feel free to check out my knitting blog, Kitten Yarns & Crafts or my writing blog, Ink Scrawls as there are usually updates there - at least on the knitting one.

Have a Christ filled day!