Caleigh O'Shea's Blog, page 28

Where Real and Fiction Meet

We do not remember days; we remember moments. ~Cesare Pavese, Italian poet and novelist

One common question every writer receives is, Where do you get your ideas?

Now, some writers shrug that inquiry off, but I believe the seeker really wants to know.

Ideas are everywhere. It’s finding one big enough to carry an entire book that can be tricky.

Same goes for poems or songs or paintings.

Perhaps what the questioner is really asking is, Where did the idea for this book come from?

Take my debut novel, Unplayable Lie, for instance.

An “unplayable lie” is a golf term for those times when your ball can’t be hit back into play. Maybe you’re behind a huge tree, stuck in its roots; maybe you’re smack dab in a clump of tall grasses or a decorative patch of rosebushes.

There are rules for addressing the situation, but I won’t go into them here.

Because what’s more central to my post is, Where did the idea for Unplayable Lie arise?

Years ago, when my son Domer was just a wee lad, we were golfing at one of our local public courses. We’d completed the first hole and were about to tee off to the south on No. 2.

As he took a few practice drives, I happened to glance to our left, where there was a wide expanse of dense trees, probably to delineate the golf course from the field lying to its east.

And suddenly, an idea took hold. What if a golfer hit a ball into those woods and found a Bad Guy lurking there, instead of just the ball?

The idea wouldn’t go away. It demanded to be written.

So I did.

What made me think of all this is something I read in our local newspaper recently.

The course that sparked my idea will be closing at the end of this year, a national trend brought about by fewer and fewer people playing golf.

It makes me sad that golf is undergoing a decline in interest. I hope it’s temporary, and the sport will have a quick resurgence.

It also makes me sad this particular course is closing. It was convenient for Domer to play a round there when he came home from college or work, and the fees were reasonable, too.

But I’ll always be grateful the idea and the golf course converged that day, and my book was born.

Last Leaf Hanging

Sometimes even to live is an act of courage.  ~Lucius Annaeus Seneca, Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman, and dramatist

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Buffeted by winds,

Rain, sleet, snow, and loneliness.

Tenacious last leaf.

Wordless Wednesday

Give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way. ~American Indian saying

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Wacky Wednesday

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Milton (on left): I’m not moving.

Otis (on right): But I want to go north, and you’re in the way.

Milton: Too bad.

Otis: C’mon, bro, humor me. I’d move for you.

Milton, snorting: Yeah, right.

Otis: Really. Don’t you remember I moved yesterday so you could tightrope south?

Milton: I don’t remember that.

Otis: Well, I did. Now, move!

Milton: Nope. Not happening.

Otis: So how can I get over you to the pole?

Milton: Hm, let’s see. Pole vault?

Otis: You’re kidding, right?

Milton: Guess you’ll have to wait til I decide to move.

Otis: Oh, bother. I’ll just drop to the ground then.

Milton: Wait, there’s a dog down there!

Note: No squirrels were harmed here. Otis dropped to the evergreen, then went on his merry way. Milton left when he felt like it.

Sunday’s Gem — Lapis Lazuli

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. ~Albert Einstein

Mined as early as 7000 B.C. and prized throughout history, Lapis Lazuli is the universal symbol of wisdom and truth, used in jewelry, ornamental objects, dyes, and pigments.

Lapis is a metamorphic rock. True Lapis must contain at least 25 percent lazurite (which gives it a blue color), along with calcite (the white layers or mottling) and pyrite (the gold patches.). It gets its name from the Latin lapis (“stone”) and the Persian lazhuward (“blue”).

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Rough Lapis Lazuli stone. Notice the striping of pyrite (gold) and calcite (white). Thanks to www.demairo.com for the image (sorry, stone is not in stock).

Lapis is the natural birthstone of those born Feb. 19-March 19 and the Zodiac stone of Sagittarius. It’s believed Lapis was the stone referenced as sapphire in the Old Testament of the Bible and is the fifth stone in the breastplate of the Jewish High Priest.

King Tut’s sarcophagus was inlaid with Lapis. Ancient Persia and Pre-Columbian America viewed Lapis as a symbol of a starry night. Long-ago Greeks and Romans used it as an ornamental stone, and, ground into an expensive powder, it produced the ultramarine color favored by painter Michelangelo and the eye shadows Cleopatra wore.

Buddhists believed Lapis brought inner peace, and Catherine the Great had an entire room in her palace adorned with Lapis.

Today, Lapis is a popular gemstone, carved into beads and cabochons. With a 5 on the 1-10 Mohs Scale of Hardness, it’s best to use Lapis in earrings, pins, and pendants, to lessen the likelihood of scratching it.

Afghanistan is one of the world’s leading producers of Lapis, followed by Chile, Russia, Argentina, Pakistan, and the U.S.

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Victorian Lapis Lazuli necklace featuring 10 cabochons in 14k yellow gold in the Etruscan Revival style, circa 1900. Yours for a mere $3,750.00 at www.langantiques.com

Executives, journalists, and psychologists can find wisdom and good judgment by using Lapis. Archeologists and historians, lawyers, inventors, and writers also can benefit by keeping some Lapis around.

On the physical level, Lapis is thought to benefit the throat, ears, circulation, and the nervous system. It’s said to lower blood pressure, lessen insomnia, ease migraine headaches, and relieve skin problems.

Lapis promotes self-awareness and fosters honesty in dealing with others. In the workplace, it attracts success and lasting recognition. It fosters learning and enhances memory.

Metaphysical healers associate Lapis with the Third Eye Chakra (the Brow), which helps us see clearly and understand what we see, as well as remain open to new ideas. Lapis is said to balance the energies of the Throat Chakra, which affects our ability to express and communicate what we think and feel.

Feng Shui experts say Lapis uses Water Energy, traditionally associated with the north area of a room or home. This formless yet powerful and flowing energy assures balance as life unfolds.

Clean your Lapis in warm, soapy water and store pieces away from other jewelry.

Note: The claims here aren’t meant to take the place of medical advice. They’re based on folklore and other sources, and likely “work” best if one’s belief is strong enough!

Worry is Futile

People get so in the habit of worry that if you save them from drowning and put them on a bank to dry in the sun with hot chocolate and muffins they wonder whether they are not taking cold. ~John Jay Chapman, American author

Dallas here.

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How does she manage to catch me mid-snooze??

I know Mama’s been worried about me.

She denies it, of course, but I know. I’m in tune with her emotions, like a good Sheltie should be.

She’s been like a frantic tornado, moving furniture, cleaning out clutter, throwing away excess, donating to charity. Shoot, even the “poor dogs” at the shelter got some stuff.

And on Friday, she hauled me to the dogtur for an exam.

The two of them must think I’m deaf or something because they stood there looking me over, checking everything from teefies to tail. And when they finished, Dogtur pronounced me fit as a fiddle.

Whatever that means.

I guess it must be good because Mama got this big smile on her face and let Dogtur feed me some cookies.

Gosh, Mama, don’t you know it’s worthless to worry? I’m fine, really.

But still there are some changes afoot.

Dogtur told Mama that getting more exercise would be good for my hips. Mama is afraid of taking me outside — in case I poop out and she has to carry me home! — so she asked about the treadmill, and Dogtur agreed.

Seriously, Dogtur? I’ve heard of dogs who regularly exercise on water treadmills but not human ones. I don’t think I’d enjoy being wet much. And there’s no pee-mail to sniff or any other pets or people to greet….

But I digress.

Dogtur told Mama to let me get on it and go real slow, way slower than she goes. And I don’t have to stay on it but a few minutes at a time.

Because I’m not reading or watching TV, you know.

Dogtur said regular exercise would strengthen my back legs, taking some pressure off my arms and shoulders.

I don’t know about the medical stuff, but I’m already plotting how I can make this work for me. I’m a dog who does best with rewards.

And if I have to walk on that treadmill, I’m going to insist Mama give me a cookie afterward.

That should do it!

Fall, Before It’s Over

Fall colors…. so bright and intense and beautiful. It’s like nature is trying to fill you up with color, to saturate you so you can stockpile it before winter turns everything muted and dreary. ~Siobhan Vivian, bestselling American novelist

The estimated peak time for Fall color in Central Illinois is mid-October, but I’ve found that estimate to be off by a bit this year.

Still, all one has to do is get outside — regardless of cold, rain, and the urge to curl up with a good book and a cup of hot chocolate! — and the trees are ready to strut their stuff. Take a look and enjoy!

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The dogwood (below) is a deep shade of plum. Such a nice contrast from its pink flowers in the springtime:

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This, I think, is a sugar maple, hardy for most of the U.S., except the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean areas. Looks like somebody’s got some raking to do:

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I found this interesting — deep purple color in a mostly green tree:

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And this one’s wearing orange:

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So is this one:

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This is one of our late color-changers, but I’ll bet it will be stunning:

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This is a hedge of something called Burning Bush, which puts on a brilliant red in Fall:

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Here’s another house with Burning Bushes:

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These beauties are dressed in yellows and gold; their neighbors had better catch up:

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Here’s another variety of maple, this time in red:

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As you can see, some trees are already dropping their leaves; others haven’t even begun the annual color change:

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I hope you enjoyed our outing. I wanted to do a post like this for Robin’s Walktober, but the colors didn’t cooperate. If we can get past some of this rain, Fall will be a splendid time for getting outside and taking photos!

A Rainy Saturday

The best thing one can do when it’s raining is to let it rain. ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, American poet

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Cold and rainy day

Good for cleaning out closets

Or taking a nap.

 

Note: No, I didn’t take a snooze. In fact, I was a whirling tornado, tackling some cleaning chores too long put off. I cleared away clutter; made stacks to be shredded, stacks to donate to charity, and stacks to be trashed; and I used Monday morning to parcel out my handiwork. I can see this is the tip of the iceberg, but already I feel amazingly free! Eliminating clutter is one of the principles of Feng Shui (the Chinese art of placement to harmonize individuals with their environment).

Walktober 2019

We ought to take outdoor walks, to refresh and raise our spirits by deep breathing in the open air. ~Lucius Annaeus Seneca, Roman Stoic philosopher and statesman

As the days get shorter and the humidity finally breaks, it comes time for the annual Walktober, a virtual group walk organized by Robin of Breezes at Dawn.

The dates for this year’s walk are Oct. 6-19, and the “rules” are simple: take a walk, post about what you see, include some pretty pictures, and link to Robin, who will round up the links so we can all visit each other’s blogs and enjoy walking together.

Let’s go!

This year (because the trees aren’t cooperating with Fall color), I’m taking you to Arthur, Illinois (the Heart of Amish Country), to visit The Great Pumpkin Patch, a working farm owned by the McDonald family who immigrated from Scotland in the mid-1800s. Six generations later (150 years!), it’s evolved into a business of commercial pumpkin production and the preservation of rare gourd seeds.

If you love pumpkins as much as I do, prepare to be amazed!

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Pumpkins … rows and rows of pumpkins

Here, they grow more than 300 varieties of pumpkins, squash, and gourds from more than 30 countries around the world. There are green knotty varieties:

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and white ones:

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and pumpkins on ladders:

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There are pumpkins in stacks:

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and pumpkins in rows:

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The Great Pumpkin Patch has become a popular destination for school field trips, area residents, and tourists. The owners have erected numerous captivating displays, including this Tower of Pumpkins:

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and this Pumpkin Tree:

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and even a Noah’s Ark:

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There are mazes of corn, soybeans, and straw bales, a mild haunted barn to explore, and a restored one-room schoolhouse from the early 1900s. There’s a gift shop, a museum, a seeds store, live entertainment on weekends, and a bakery (where the smells alone are guaranteed to make your mouth water). And there are farm animals like this little goat:

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and a gobbling turkey:

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and a happy llama (isn’t he the cutest thing?!?):

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And there are garden mums … more than 5,000! — like this group of colored beauties:

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and this batch:

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and this “quilt”:

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Have you ever seen a field of pumpkins growing on the vine? The Great Pumpkin Patch is one Linus would consider very sincere:

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I hope you’ve enjoyed our trip. It’s fun to get outdoors and see new things. As we leave The Great Pumpkin Patch, here’s a reminder we were in Amish Country:

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Bless Me, Father

May the blessing of Light be on you, light without and light within… ~Irish blessing

Dallas here.

Guess what? I got blessed!!

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Holy water and prayer book

Today’s the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron of us animals (as well as merchants and ecologists).

When Mama heard her church was conducting a Blessing of the Pets on Thursday afternoon, she suggested we go.

Now I didn’t know about this blessing-business, but I’m always eager to be with Mama, so I agreed.

The first hurdle was getting there.

It was going to be held outside the church, on this large patio type of thing, and you have to climb a bazillion stairs.

Well. You know me and stairs.

I told Mama she’d have to taxi me up and down if she expected me to get blessed.

She said she wouldn’t carry me because we both might go splat on the concrete.

Maybe we shouldn’t even try, she said, and got all sad.

Suddenly, I wanted to get blessed. I figured there might be food involved, and I love food.

I don’t like disappointing Mama.

So Mama came up with Plan B and said I should trust her.

After 12 years of togetherness, of course I do.

Mama hitched up my harness and leash and we took a ride in the car to the church.

We couldn’t have asked for a prettier day — sunny and 70-ish, with a brisk northwest wind that felt good on my furs.

Mama started leading me to the “handicapped” entrance, the one with an elevator going right into the church. Cool beans!

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Me, sneaking through the church to the patio doors

We were the first to arrive, but it wasn’t long before all sorts of pets and their people joined us.

Cats in crates and an assortment of dogs — mostly of the little yappy variety.

Father told us about St. Francis and led us in some prayers. I’d just gotten comfy and was hoping for a snooze, when cold water hit me upside the head!

I’d been blessed and my first inclination was to shake off.

Who knew a blessing meant a bath?

So now Mama says I have to be good.

Fortunately, that’s the easy part!