Brenda Whiteside's Blog, page 104
May 27, 2013
You Don't Know What You Want Til You Have It
MUSE MONDAY
I've missed two Muse Monday postings, but with the hubbub lately I couldn't decide what to write about. Now that I've changed course, I can tell you about my path.
One question writers always get is how/when did you start writing. If you've read my bio you know I started life as an artist, although I'd always loved writing. When I took some creative writing classes after Lance was born, I turned away from painting and started writing short stories. I didn't start out to write romance but the genre found me. Back then, I hadn't read any of the stereotypical romance books and still don't. Romance is a very broad genre, and I think readers realize that now.
There's a saying (and a song) you don't know what you have til it's gone. With me, it's you don't know what you want til you have it.
Once I decided to write a book, I wanted an agent. This was before the eBook revolution and the big publishing houses still ruled the world of publishing. To this day, writers can't get one of the 'big six' to deal with them without an agent. My dream was to get an agent and walk into a big chain bookstore to see my books on the shelf. While seeking the agent, the industry started changing and I ended up publishing with a couple of small houses. I would occasionally go to agent appointments. On my sixth agent appointment, I landed an agent who'd been in the business forever. I was ecstatic. I'd started my three book love and murder series. She said she'd represent me and the series.
Rosette to be published soonMeanwhile, life outside of writing changed. My husband retired and we joined forces with our son and family on the farm. Life inside of writing changed too. The new world of publishing started chipping away at my old dream. I continued writing my series while my publisher shopped it. But I also wrote a short that The Wild Rose Press contracted as a Rosette. It felt good to publish something.
After waiting nine months for something to happen with my series, I reevaluated what I wanted and what I can do. The old style houses, the big guys that still have a lot of influence over the Barnes and Nobles of the world, move slow. And they have their own style and could determine my pace. In other words, have more control over my writing.
With the farm and Frank's retired lifestyle, my goals changed. I bowed out of my contract with my agent. Hard to believe that something I wanted for so long ended up not what I wanted. I'm pretty happy publishing with a smaller house. I write everyday, but I also have farm and family so I can gauge how much time to give each of my loves.
I've missed two Muse Monday postings, but with the hubbub lately I couldn't decide what to write about. Now that I've changed course, I can tell you about my path.
One question writers always get is how/when did you start writing. If you've read my bio you know I started life as an artist, although I'd always loved writing. When I took some creative writing classes after Lance was born, I turned away from painting and started writing short stories. I didn't start out to write romance but the genre found me. Back then, I hadn't read any of the stereotypical romance books and still don't. Romance is a very broad genre, and I think readers realize that now.
There's a saying (and a song) you don't know what you have til it's gone. With me, it's you don't know what you want til you have it.
Once I decided to write a book, I wanted an agent. This was before the eBook revolution and the big publishing houses still ruled the world of publishing. To this day, writers can't get one of the 'big six' to deal with them without an agent. My dream was to get an agent and walk into a big chain bookstore to see my books on the shelf. While seeking the agent, the industry started changing and I ended up publishing with a couple of small houses. I would occasionally go to agent appointments. On my sixth agent appointment, I landed an agent who'd been in the business forever. I was ecstatic. I'd started my three book love and murder series. She said she'd represent me and the series.
Rosette to be published soonMeanwhile, life outside of writing changed. My husband retired and we joined forces with our son and family on the farm. Life inside of writing changed too. The new world of publishing started chipping away at my old dream. I continued writing my series while my publisher shopped it. But I also wrote a short that The Wild Rose Press contracted as a Rosette. It felt good to publish something.After waiting nine months for something to happen with my series, I reevaluated what I wanted and what I can do. The old style houses, the big guys that still have a lot of influence over the Barnes and Nobles of the world, move slow. And they have their own style and could determine my pace. In other words, have more control over my writing.
With the farm and Frank's retired lifestyle, my goals changed. I bowed out of my contract with my agent. Hard to believe that something I wanted for so long ended up not what I wanted. I'm pretty happy publishing with a smaller house. I write everyday, but I also have farm and family so I can gauge how much time to give each of my loves.
May 23, 2013
Cyclone Season on Tortuga Flats Farm
2012 On the plains in Northern Arizona, two families joined forces and began the trials and tribulations of building a small family farm with nothing in the bank but love.
The veggies that got their start in trays in the greenhouse are all in the ground. Now the greenhouse is being utilized to grow herbs.
Lance has a few veggies in there also to see how they do in a more controlled environment.
A layer of shade addedThe sun is pretty brutal here so he added a shade cloth over the greenhouse to help keep the temperature down. Fans blow at both ends in addition to the attached exhaust fans.
The greenhouse just missed disaster two days ago.
The dust devil escapes
A gigantic dust devil
was headed right at us. Lance called me outside in time to see it pick up various debris from two houses over including a couple of large pieces of sheet metal. I ran for my camera, but by the time I had it open and ready to shoot the cyclone hit our neighbor's property and dropped the huge pieces of metal in their backyard. All I was able to snap was the underside of it as it disappeared into the sky.
Blackberry bushesA few blossoms and tons of buds are appearing on the blackberry bushes. With a lot of help, I got them all weeded and mulched. I used grass clippings this year as mulch. I didn't mulch at all last year so the hope is that the mulch keeps the weeds from coming back too strong. Weeding thorny blackberry bushes is painful.
The potatoes have sprouted. Getting antsy about the sweet potatoes. We had
Golden potatoes to beto order them on line and thought they'd be here by now. A phone call to a very dull sounding fellow told me they'd be shipped this week.
The youngest member of the household, my gorgeous granddaughter, continues to grow and amaze. She's so alert and insists on being held in a sitting position most of the time.
RustyThe oldest four-legged creature in the house is now on pain meds. Rusty has joint problems and has been so miserable. He has trouble keeping up with his two younger companions with all his aches and pains. We made the decision to put him on meds and he's a happier old man.
Wild grass that looks like bermuda is our biggest problem so far in the veggie fields. The roots go so deep that pulling it all up isn't possible. Not sure what the solution will be. Organic farming presents its problems.
The veggies that got their start in trays in the greenhouse are all in the ground. Now the greenhouse is being utilized to grow herbs.Lance has a few veggies in there also to see how they do in a more controlled environment.
A layer of shade addedThe sun is pretty brutal here so he added a shade cloth over the greenhouse to help keep the temperature down. Fans blow at both ends in addition to the attached exhaust fans.The greenhouse just missed disaster two days ago.
The dust devil escapesA gigantic dust devil
was headed right at us. Lance called me outside in time to see it pick up various debris from two houses over including a couple of large pieces of sheet metal. I ran for my camera, but by the time I had it open and ready to shoot the cyclone hit our neighbor's property and dropped the huge pieces of metal in their backyard. All I was able to snap was the underside of it as it disappeared into the sky.
Blackberry bushesA few blossoms and tons of buds are appearing on the blackberry bushes. With a lot of help, I got them all weeded and mulched. I used grass clippings this year as mulch. I didn't mulch at all last year so the hope is that the mulch keeps the weeds from coming back too strong. Weeding thorny blackberry bushes is painful.The potatoes have sprouted. Getting antsy about the sweet potatoes. We had
Golden potatoes to beto order them on line and thought they'd be here by now. A phone call to a very dull sounding fellow told me they'd be shipped this week.The youngest member of the household, my gorgeous granddaughter, continues to grow and amaze. She's so alert and insists on being held in a sitting position most of the time.
RustyThe oldest four-legged creature in the house is now on pain meds. Rusty has joint problems and has been so miserable. He has trouble keeping up with his two younger companions with all his aches and pains. We made the decision to put him on meds and he's a happier old man.Wild grass that looks like bermuda is our biggest problem so far in the veggie fields. The roots go so deep that pulling it all up isn't possible. Not sure what the solution will be. Organic farming presents its problems.
May 16, 2013
One More Dream Come True
2012 On the plains in Northern Arizona, two families joined forces and began the trials and tribulations of building a small family farm with nothing in the bank but love.
We bought an RV, a fifth wheel. After all kinds of should we, shouldn't we, what are we doing, how can we not - we decided if not, then when? If not now, then never.
The decision did not come easy but makes sense for so many reasons. First a little history. Many years ago, Frank and I decided we would retire doing the RV thing. We've been shopping RV's for over fifteen years. We wanted a fifth wheel. Then one year, after some financial mishaps, our plan changed a bit. Or at least Frank tried to talk me into changing it. If we were going to be RVers, we'd have to sell it all and actually live in the RV. My resolve faltered. I wanted a home base. We kept shopping, and he about had me convinced when the economy really took a nosedive. The RV dream died with like dreams of many people our age.
Peppers going in the groundBring us up to 2012, when our two families joined together to farm. The original idea had been for us to actually get an RV and only help on the farm if we felt so inclined. It seemed possible if we were sharing expenses. But that was easier said than accomplished without much in the bank (except love). So, we hunkered down under one big roof and carved Tortuga Flats Farm out of the dusty prairie. And it's been rewarding as well as an adventure.
Fast forward to 2013. The other family is growing - I might have mentioned once or twice I have a beautiful baby granddaughter. The crops are more organized and this experiment is a minor success. The idea of creating more space started as a dim flicker in my mind and I let it grow. We looked at adding on to the house or building a guest house. Neither turned out to be financially feasible - close but too scary to take on. Then the old RV idea surfaced. It certainly adds space to the living area and it just happens to be mobile. Frank and I are gypsies
Tomatoes going in the groundat heart. We found what we wanted, they were having a sale, the payment was unbelievably low, we bit our nails, and bought it. Since we will be able to travel more, not be home quite as much, we're trading ends of the house with Lance and Christie. They will have the large end now. This seems fair since there are five of them (counting dogs) and three of us.
Only one minor glitch - we don't have a truck to pull it. We may have been able to maneuver buying a new fifth wheel, but we'll have to go used on the truck. We're shopping and have a car salesman friend on the look out. You might think we put the cart before the horse, but I'm okay with that. We'll get there. I'm just anxious to take our first voyage.
Sunrise over the greenhouseMeanwhile, the potatoes are in the ground as are the peppers, tomatoes and onions. All seeds are planted for various other vegetables. I've seen a few buds on the blackberries. And Frank's declaration a few days ago that we will have no fruit on the trees this year may have been an early prediction. Apparently, a few apple blossoms are just now opening. No peaches, pears, plums or figs. Keeping our hopes up for a few apples. Looking forward to our first RV trip.
We bought an RV, a fifth wheel. After all kinds of should we, shouldn't we, what are we doing, how can we not - we decided if not, then when? If not now, then never.The decision did not come easy but makes sense for so many reasons. First a little history. Many years ago, Frank and I decided we would retire doing the RV thing. We've been shopping RV's for over fifteen years. We wanted a fifth wheel. Then one year, after some financial mishaps, our plan changed a bit. Or at least Frank tried to talk me into changing it. If we were going to be RVers, we'd have to sell it all and actually live in the RV. My resolve faltered. I wanted a home base. We kept shopping, and he about had me convinced when the economy really took a nosedive. The RV dream died with like dreams of many people our age.
Peppers going in the groundBring us up to 2012, when our two families joined together to farm. The original idea had been for us to actually get an RV and only help on the farm if we felt so inclined. It seemed possible if we were sharing expenses. But that was easier said than accomplished without much in the bank (except love). So, we hunkered down under one big roof and carved Tortuga Flats Farm out of the dusty prairie. And it's been rewarding as well as an adventure.Fast forward to 2013. The other family is growing - I might have mentioned once or twice I have a beautiful baby granddaughter. The crops are more organized and this experiment is a minor success. The idea of creating more space started as a dim flicker in my mind and I let it grow. We looked at adding on to the house or building a guest house. Neither turned out to be financially feasible - close but too scary to take on. Then the old RV idea surfaced. It certainly adds space to the living area and it just happens to be mobile. Frank and I are gypsies
Tomatoes going in the groundat heart. We found what we wanted, they were having a sale, the payment was unbelievably low, we bit our nails, and bought it. Since we will be able to travel more, not be home quite as much, we're trading ends of the house with Lance and Christie. They will have the large end now. This seems fair since there are five of them (counting dogs) and three of us. Only one minor glitch - we don't have a truck to pull it. We may have been able to maneuver buying a new fifth wheel, but we'll have to go used on the truck. We're shopping and have a car salesman friend on the look out. You might think we put the cart before the horse, but I'm okay with that. We'll get there. I'm just anxious to take our first voyage.
Sunrise over the greenhouseMeanwhile, the potatoes are in the ground as are the peppers, tomatoes and onions. All seeds are planted for various other vegetables. I've seen a few buds on the blackberries. And Frank's declaration a few days ago that we will have no fruit on the trees this year may have been an early prediction. Apparently, a few apple blossoms are just now opening. No peaches, pears, plums or figs. Keeping our hopes up for a few apples. Looking forward to our first RV trip.
May 9, 2013
Hula on the Farm
2012 On the plains in Northern Arizona, two families joined forces and began the trials and tribulations of building a small family farm with nothing in the bank but love.
Red and gold seed potatoesI'm sure you've heard enough from me about the wind and dust of Paulden. Most of the time, I accept it. Not much else I can do. And most of the time the wind doesn't bother me, but I'll never embrace the dust. Now and then something rides with the wind that really bothers me. Today my eyes are burning so bad I'm having trouble focusing on the computer screen. Too bad the cucumbers haven't come up yet because I understand they're good for the eyes - used on the outside.
Tomatoes still in traysWe got the seed potatoes a few days ago, red and golden. They are sunning by the living room window until they go in the ground next week. Learning how to grow potatoes was one of those REALLY? moments for me. I would never have thought they came from those little root things that pop out on them when they start going bad in your cupboard. We mail-ordered the sweet potato slips as we can't get them locally. Same process. Lance's potato rows are 115 feet long. I think we'll have a few potatoes.
Setting up tomato trellis
We're experimenting with three different ways to grow pickling cucumbers. We intend on making a lot of pickles and relish. Cash crop. They vine and Lance wanted to experiment on which method will have them climbing the best.
Last year, we planted a lot of rows of tomatoes and we let them grow helter skelter with total abandon. That was wild and not too easy to harvest. And remember that wind? If you were reading last year, you'll remember the tangled mess we had after one big blow. This year, we'll train those vines.
Peas are popping!A few rows of seeds are in the ground. This year's improvement of a drip system is working great so far although it does not cure the weed problem entirely. We aren't getting the uncontrollable amount of weeds between rows from flooding. But the rows themselves have hundreds of tiny weeds popping up. Trouble is at this point it's nearly impossible to tell the veggies
from the weeds. Once we can tell, we'll hula hoe those little suckers right
Hula Hoeaway. The hula hoe is like the greatest tool. You can clear tons of weeds and not have to hand pick for hours. Just scrape it over dry ground and voila! Weed-be-gone.
Remember I put out a Quarterly Newsletter about my writing and books. If you'd like to receive it via email and have a chance to win gift cards in July and September, go here to join: http://www.brendawhiteside.com/contact.html#newsletter
Red and gold seed potatoesI'm sure you've heard enough from me about the wind and dust of Paulden. Most of the time, I accept it. Not much else I can do. And most of the time the wind doesn't bother me, but I'll never embrace the dust. Now and then something rides with the wind that really bothers me. Today my eyes are burning so bad I'm having trouble focusing on the computer screen. Too bad the cucumbers haven't come up yet because I understand they're good for the eyes - used on the outside.
Tomatoes still in traysWe got the seed potatoes a few days ago, red and golden. They are sunning by the living room window until they go in the ground next week. Learning how to grow potatoes was one of those REALLY? moments for me. I would never have thought they came from those little root things that pop out on them when they start going bad in your cupboard. We mail-ordered the sweet potato slips as we can't get them locally. Same process. Lance's potato rows are 115 feet long. I think we'll have a few potatoes.
Setting up tomato trellisWe're experimenting with three different ways to grow pickling cucumbers. We intend on making a lot of pickles and relish. Cash crop. They vine and Lance wanted to experiment on which method will have them climbing the best.
Last year, we planted a lot of rows of tomatoes and we let them grow helter skelter with total abandon. That was wild and not too easy to harvest. And remember that wind? If you were reading last year, you'll remember the tangled mess we had after one big blow. This year, we'll train those vines.
Peas are popping!A few rows of seeds are in the ground. This year's improvement of a drip system is working great so far although it does not cure the weed problem entirely. We aren't getting the uncontrollable amount of weeds between rows from flooding. But the rows themselves have hundreds of tiny weeds popping up. Trouble is at this point it's nearly impossible to tell the veggies from the weeds. Once we can tell, we'll hula hoe those little suckers right
Hula Hoeaway. The hula hoe is like the greatest tool. You can clear tons of weeds and not have to hand pick for hours. Just scrape it over dry ground and voila! Weed-be-gone.Remember I put out a Quarterly Newsletter about my writing and books. If you'd like to receive it via email and have a chance to win gift cards in July and September, go here to join: http://www.brendawhiteside.com/contact.html#newsletter
May 2, 2013
Pickles, Pines, Pretty Baby
2012 On the plains in Northern Arizona, two families joined forces and began the trials and tribulations of building a small family farm with nothing in the bank but love.
Trellis for the cumcumbersI strolled around the orchard, main garden and blackberry rows today making notes of what I could take care of over the next ten days or so. My disappointment spiked in the orchard. In May, last year, we had golf ball sized pears on the trees. There is not even a hint of fruit. They bloomed too early and the frost and heavy winds never gave them a chance. A couple of the apple trees show promise. Time will tell.
And it's time to start weeding.
The greenhouse is still not 100% in use. The trays of plants are there in the daytime but at night all trays except the onions are moved into the garage. Tonight and tomorrow night it will dip into the twenties. We happen to be in a cold spot. Last year, we noticed that several times we got frost when the forecast said we'd be okay. Paulden is too small to have our own weather station so we rely on the readings from the south end of Chino Valley, which can't be more than ten or twelve miles away. We bought a gauge that holds the lowest temp in the last twelve hours and discovered we run eight to ten degrees colder than the forecast. That is huge for our baby veggies. The garage is warmer so every night Lance has been carrying the trays to their warm station.
Tonto Creek behind the resort
Ponderosa PineAnother money saver tip for you - sign up for emails from Amazon Local Deals or some other such site like Groupon or Crowdcut. Frank and I just spent two nights at Kohl's Ranch Resort in the pines outside of Payson, Arizona. This is a beautiful resort with full amenities. We got two nights and $25 toward dinner for $129. You
can get deals on everything from painting your house to doughnuts to resort discounts. I get emails daily and of course have to delete them but once in a while something pops up that saves us big time.
My hair is the longest it's been in many years - as a result of ratcheting down the finances. I've been using the local beauty school but even so on an infrequent basis. And less frequently of late because I'm saving to go to my hair lady in Phoenix. I figure twice a year I'll get a consistent cut and color. This next week I'll combine a trip to see my mom, attend a writers' conference and get my hair done. Not a huge thing to report but I did say I'd share the nitty gritty/pros and cons of this experiment. Getting my hair done on a regular basis was a casualty. The plus side is I rather like my hair long again.
Sadi BelleSomething else that is growing besides my hair and the veggies is my granddaughter. She is two months old and amazing. She now smiles frequently, recognizes if someone is a stranger and grabs for her favorite bear. Every morning, I can hear her at the other end of the house "talking" to her bear. She has a voice that carries like her singer-daddy.
Here's a final thought for you - where can you see a thirty-some year old lady in a green tutu and flip flops, a seventy-some year old man in army fatigue pants and Grateful dead tee shirt and a cowboy with long white hair who has a German accent? No not Walmart but certainly at the Paulden Post Office.
Trellis for the cumcumbersI strolled around the orchard, main garden and blackberry rows today making notes of what I could take care of over the next ten days or so. My disappointment spiked in the orchard. In May, last year, we had golf ball sized pears on the trees. There is not even a hint of fruit. They bloomed too early and the frost and heavy winds never gave them a chance. A couple of the apple trees show promise. Time will tell.And it's time to start weeding.
The greenhouse is still not 100% in use. The trays of plants are there in the daytime but at night all trays except the onions are moved into the garage. Tonight and tomorrow night it will dip into the twenties. We happen to be in a cold spot. Last year, we noticed that several times we got frost when the forecast said we'd be okay. Paulden is too small to have our own weather station so we rely on the readings from the south end of Chino Valley, which can't be more than ten or twelve miles away. We bought a gauge that holds the lowest temp in the last twelve hours and discovered we run eight to ten degrees colder than the forecast. That is huge for our baby veggies. The garage is warmer so every night Lance has been carrying the trays to their warm station.
Tonto Creek behind the resort
Ponderosa PineAnother money saver tip for you - sign up for emails from Amazon Local Deals or some other such site like Groupon or Crowdcut. Frank and I just spent two nights at Kohl's Ranch Resort in the pines outside of Payson, Arizona. This is a beautiful resort with full amenities. We got two nights and $25 toward dinner for $129. You can get deals on everything from painting your house to doughnuts to resort discounts. I get emails daily and of course have to delete them but once in a while something pops up that saves us big time.
My hair is the longest it's been in many years - as a result of ratcheting down the finances. I've been using the local beauty school but even so on an infrequent basis. And less frequently of late because I'm saving to go to my hair lady in Phoenix. I figure twice a year I'll get a consistent cut and color. This next week I'll combine a trip to see my mom, attend a writers' conference and get my hair done. Not a huge thing to report but I did say I'd share the nitty gritty/pros and cons of this experiment. Getting my hair done on a regular basis was a casualty. The plus side is I rather like my hair long again.
Sadi BelleSomething else that is growing besides my hair and the veggies is my granddaughter. She is two months old and amazing. She now smiles frequently, recognizes if someone is a stranger and grabs for her favorite bear. Every morning, I can hear her at the other end of the house "talking" to her bear. She has a voice that carries like her singer-daddy.Here's a final thought for you - where can you see a thirty-some year old lady in a green tutu and flip flops, a seventy-some year old man in army fatigue pants and Grateful dead tee shirt and a cowboy with long white hair who has a German accent? No not Walmart but certainly at the Paulden Post Office.
April 29, 2013
Novel Research is Great Fun
MUSE MONDAY
My current work in progress is set in the ranching area around Chino Valley, Arizona. Chino proper is eight miles south of where we have our little family farm, Tortuga Flats. My hubby and I hopped on the motorcycle and explored the golden grasslands and juniper tree habitat where my hero, Mason Meadowlark, ranches. Kind of nice to be so close to my novel's setting for research. I thought I'd share our motorcycle tour with you.
Once we broke the confines of Chino Valley, we took Williamson Valley Road until the pavement ended. I'll be out of town and off line when this post goes live. If you want to comment, I'll be sure to see your comment but a few days late. Hope you enjoy the tour!
(1) Leaving Chino Valley
(2) The wide open spaces
(3) Large homes dot the prairie
(4) Foliage grows heavier
(5) Now we enter ranching territory
(6) More ranching
(7) And more ranching
(8) Land changes
(9) Ranching gives way to farming
(10) Pavement ends
(11) Choices where the pavement ends
The guy I sit behind!
My current work in progress is set in the ranching area around Chino Valley, Arizona. Chino proper is eight miles south of where we have our little family farm, Tortuga Flats. My hubby and I hopped on the motorcycle and explored the golden grasslands and juniper tree habitat where my hero, Mason Meadowlark, ranches. Kind of nice to be so close to my novel's setting for research. I thought I'd share our motorcycle tour with you.
Once we broke the confines of Chino Valley, we took Williamson Valley Road until the pavement ended. I'll be out of town and off line when this post goes live. If you want to comment, I'll be sure to see your comment but a few days late. Hope you enjoy the tour!
(1) Leaving Chino Valley
(2) The wide open spaces
(3) Large homes dot the prairie
(4) Foliage grows heavier
(5) Now we enter ranching territory
(6) More ranching
(7) And more ranching
(8) Land changes
(9) Ranching gives way to farming
(10) Pavement ends
(11) Choices where the pavement ends 
The guy I sit behind!April 25, 2013
Seeds Are in the Dirt! Tortuga Update.
This is not quite half the garden.2012 On the plains in Northern Arizona, two families joined forces and began the trials and tribulations of building a small family farm with nothing in the bank but love.It's getting clo...ose! The irrigation drip lines are going down. Most of the main garden is finished. The potato and squash rows won't go in until we actually plant. Three rows of seeds are planted - carrots, spinach, radishes and - oh gosh, I've forgotten. Everyone is in bed as I write so I can't wake up the hard working farmer to confirm what seeds he planted.
It really is exciting to see the changes between this season and our first season last year. Lots of lessons were learned. My guess is there will be more.
The babies are out of the house - baby veggies. They've been moved into the green house. Unfortunately, the temps started dropping at night after we moved them out. A few have frost bite but I don't think we'll lose them.
Now, and until it warms up at night, they are moved into the garage when the sun goes down. It's a pain because we have quite a few trays and they're getting big. A week or so more and we should be clear to leave them in the greenhouse.
Another new trick this year is planting marigolds in with some of the crops. Marigolds are a natural deterrent for unwanted bugs. And an added benefit is they attract butterflies.
Update on the Tumbleweed Wars. This picture is of a couple of the blackberry rows. Can't see any blackberry bushes? They're totally choked with tumbleweeds. After last weeks big burn, this week was even bigger. We burned four piles as big as the one pile last week. I really hate tumbleweeds. Getting them out of stickery blackberry bushes is really fun. In the process, I took a large blackberry thorn in my ring finger. Since it pierced my glove, it was hard to get out. My finger swelled so badly, I couldn't get my ring off. And it hurt!Lastly, I'm happy to report my baby trees are adding more leaves.
April 18, 2013
Brutal Winds Bring Attack of the Tumbleweeds
2012 On the plains in Northern Arizona, two families joined forces and began the trials and tribulations of building a small family farm with nothing in the bank but love.
Burn tumbleweeds burn!I wish I could capture the wind in a photograph to share. Even the dust blowing doesn't tell the story of how brutal it's been. Lance was sure the greenhouse was going to get uprooted and blown away. He and Frank grabbed everything they could think of to add extra weight to hold the frame in place. We had two days of really high velocity wind and when it was all over, Lance came up with a reinforcement idea that works. We've had two more days of awful wind and all is well. There are still a few finishing touches for the greenhouse before it's in use.
As tall as Frank.We're in the middle of the Tumbleweed Wars. This will go on for at least another month. We no sooner get them all gathered up and burned when the wind comes up and our fences are lined with the scourge again. They look so messy to me. I hate them. And they're stickery.
Apple blossomsIf you've read my blogs from the beginning, you'll know that in our first spring last year I took suckers coming from the bottom of our fruit trees and ended up with fifteen new trees. From what I read, a fifty percent survival rate is common. At the end of summer, I was well above that and pretty dang happy. I didn't know that over the winter they were food for rabbits. Last year, I
Look close - it lives!
never saw a rabbit on our property. I suppose they'd moved out when the place was empty for so long. But they rediscovered us. I thought I might lose most of them. Not so! I started watering them and only a couple are lost to the damage. I think I'll get the fifty per cent survival rate. Although, as I type, we're due for a freeze tonight so not sure what that will do. We're more concerned for our big trees. Could be sad tomorrow.
Straps are now on the greenhouse.
Exhaust fans are in place.
Burn tumbleweeds burn!I wish I could capture the wind in a photograph to share. Even the dust blowing doesn't tell the story of how brutal it's been. Lance was sure the greenhouse was going to get uprooted and blown away. He and Frank grabbed everything they could think of to add extra weight to hold the frame in place. We had two days of really high velocity wind and when it was all over, Lance came up with a reinforcement idea that works. We've had two more days of awful wind and all is well. There are still a few finishing touches for the greenhouse before it's in use. 
As tall as Frank.We're in the middle of the Tumbleweed Wars. This will go on for at least another month. We no sooner get them all gathered up and burned when the wind comes up and our fences are lined with the scourge again. They look so messy to me. I hate them. And they're stickery.
Apple blossomsIf you've read my blogs from the beginning, you'll know that in our first spring last year I took suckers coming from the bottom of our fruit trees and ended up with fifteen new trees. From what I read, a fifty percent survival rate is common. At the end of summer, I was well above that and pretty dang happy. I didn't know that over the winter they were food for rabbits. Last year, I 
Look close - it lives!never saw a rabbit on our property. I suppose they'd moved out when the place was empty for so long. But they rediscovered us. I thought I might lose most of them. Not so! I started watering them and only a couple are lost to the damage. I think I'll get the fifty per cent survival rate. Although, as I type, we're due for a freeze tonight so not sure what that will do. We're more concerned for our big trees. Could be sad tomorrow.
Straps are now on the greenhouse.
Exhaust fans are in place.
April 15, 2013
Evil Makes My Job Fun...Uh-Oh!
MUSE MONDAY
I'm experiencing a new thrill in my writing - the evil antagonist. Everything I've written up to now has had an antagonist, but not like my new crew. Antagonists help create conflict which every story needs. The conflict helps keep those pages turning. But my antagonists have been lacking in true evil. Some aren't even close to mean or truly bad. They create conflict but not out of any purposeful malice.
For instance, in Sleeping with the Lights On, my redheaded Amazon sized stalker is a sexy female. She is daunting for Sandra, and she is certainly a schemer but not the chill provoker like a thoroughly nasty villain. She does wreck havoc and she has a gun...okay, better stop in case you haven't read the book yet.
A drug loving, female manipulator in the form of a famous rock star was the antagonist in Tattoos, Leather and Studs. He does present a problem for Rachael but her life is never in jeopardy.
The Morning After is ripe with misunderstandings creating conflict. Hmmm...no antagonist, just a fun read about love at first sight.
A Rita Hayworth look-a-like and a hormone ridden high school senior are the antagonists in Honey On White Bread. Separately, they create obstacles and general chaos for Claire and Benjamin, but the danger is that of the heart and the happily ever after.
In my soon to be published short, Amanda in the Summer, the antagonist is a friend, a much loved friend. Kind of makes you want to cry. I won't say anymore about that!
So now that I've ventured into truly evil antagonist territory, I'm learning what I've been missing. I'm not sure what it says about me, but I love getting into these guys' heads. My series has a working title of Love and Murder so we aren't talking cozy mystery.
My first bad guy is intelligent but warped. Love has warped him. Oh sure! He thinks so. And to what length will he go for his love? I'm not sure his love would agree with his methods and ideas. He's an older gentleman so the trick is keeping him intelligent but demented. This is like exercise for a writer. Felt ever so good to stretch my ability and learn something for my efforts.
Number two evil doer is not so smart. He's fowl mouthed and down right creepy. I have to admit, I'm enjoying him even more than smart bad guy. His reasoning is exceptionally skewed. The challenge with this young man is presenting is cockeyed reasoning in such a way that the reader buys it, believes it and keeps turning those pages.
In the third book of the series, a woman has intruded into the story to be probably the worst evil in the series. Think Nazi, think no conscience. I'm rubbing my hands together in anticipation already. Bwahahahaha!
I'd love to hear what type your favorite bad guy or lady is. Intelligent? Obnoxious creep? Vamp?
For more about my published works: http://www.brendawhiteside.com/books.html
Please join my Quarterly Newsletter Group to be the first to learn about my next releases and to be eligible for a gift card at the end of April. http://www.brendawhiteside.com/contact.html#newsletter
I'm experiencing a new thrill in my writing - the evil antagonist. Everything I've written up to now has had an antagonist, but not like my new crew. Antagonists help create conflict which every story needs. The conflict helps keep those pages turning. But my antagonists have been lacking in true evil. Some aren't even close to mean or truly bad. They create conflict but not out of any purposeful malice.
For instance, in Sleeping with the Lights On, my redheaded Amazon sized stalker is a sexy female. She is daunting for Sandra, and she is certainly a schemer but not the chill provoker like a thoroughly nasty villain. She does wreck havoc and she has a gun...okay, better stop in case you haven't read the book yet.
A drug loving, female manipulator in the form of a famous rock star was the antagonist in Tattoos, Leather and Studs. He does present a problem for Rachael but her life is never in jeopardy.
The Morning After is ripe with misunderstandings creating conflict. Hmmm...no antagonist, just a fun read about love at first sight.
A Rita Hayworth look-a-like and a hormone ridden high school senior are the antagonists in Honey On White Bread. Separately, they create obstacles and general chaos for Claire and Benjamin, but the danger is that of the heart and the happily ever after.
In my soon to be published short, Amanda in the Summer, the antagonist is a friend, a much loved friend. Kind of makes you want to cry. I won't say anymore about that!
So now that I've ventured into truly evil antagonist territory, I'm learning what I've been missing. I'm not sure what it says about me, but I love getting into these guys' heads. My series has a working title of Love and Murder so we aren't talking cozy mystery.
My first bad guy is intelligent but warped. Love has warped him. Oh sure! He thinks so. And to what length will he go for his love? I'm not sure his love would agree with his methods and ideas. He's an older gentleman so the trick is keeping him intelligent but demented. This is like exercise for a writer. Felt ever so good to stretch my ability and learn something for my efforts.
Number two evil doer is not so smart. He's fowl mouthed and down right creepy. I have to admit, I'm enjoying him even more than smart bad guy. His reasoning is exceptionally skewed. The challenge with this young man is presenting is cockeyed reasoning in such a way that the reader buys it, believes it and keeps turning those pages.
In the third book of the series, a woman has intruded into the story to be probably the worst evil in the series. Think Nazi, think no conscience. I'm rubbing my hands together in anticipation already. Bwahahahaha!
I'd love to hear what type your favorite bad guy or lady is. Intelligent? Obnoxious creep? Vamp?
For more about my published works: http://www.brendawhiteside.com/books.html
Please join my Quarterly Newsletter Group to be the first to learn about my next releases and to be eligible for a gift card at the end of April. http://www.brendawhiteside.com/contact.html#newsletter
April 11, 2013
Forget the Blonde Hair - I Am Indian!
TORTUGA THURSDAY
2012 On the plains in Northern Arizona, two families joined forces and began the trials and tribulations of building a small family farm with nothing in the bank but love.
Have you ever had a doctor ask why are you here with emphasis on the you? Every doctor I've seen at the Indian Medical Center has been anything but Native American, and they didn't give a hoot the mixture of my blood. I had an appointment with my first doctor that was actually Native American, and she didn't make me feel all warm and fuzzy. In her defense, once we got past my explaining why I had the right to be there, she was quite thorough. Maybe I read her wrong. I thank my great grand parents every time I need to see a doctor. I don't know what I'd do without the care I am entitled to at IMC. Certainly this primary care doctor will show her friendly side next time. Or maybe I'll find a way to bond?
Potato RowsThe potato rows are ready. We are a potato family, both Idaho's and sweet. Actually, I think the sweets have it in this household, 6-4. The dogs get sweet potatoes in their daily meals but Frank won't touch them. Potatoes freeze and can well. Our crop last year was less than hoped for thanks to a late freeze and blister bugs. This year, the plants will go in the ground a little later, and we know when to be on blister bug alert. Should be a good potato year.
The drip system arrived and Lance got the major lines run. We'll run
Drip Systemthe row lines as we plant. We have high hopes for this system. If we aren't flooding in between the rows we shouldn't have near the weed problem we had last year. The water will be more direct on the crop. Yea! I really hate weeds.
Drip System LineI managed to clear half the tree wells in the orchard on Wednesday. Wild grass had claimed a lot of territory since the warmer weather moved in. I had less trouble with weeds than grass. The fruit trees are popping earlier than last year. Scares me. We could have a couple of more freezes before June. There isn't much we can do so we've had to adopt the attitude that we're lucky to get whatever fruit we get each year.
The people who lived here before us must not have ever flushed the hot water heater. For the third time in a year, our bottom heating element went
Frank and Lance work on rows
out. We finally got a technician that would talk long enough to tell us why. Well water is great but there is sediment that will collect at the bottom of a hot water heater. If you flush the unit a few times a year, you wash that out. If not, it becomes so clogged it fries the heating element. Frank tried to get out as much as he could but it's pretty solid. We'll see how long this one lasts but it's inevitable. I'm seeing dollar signs.
Tulips have bloomed
Flowers from our Austrian friends, Harte and Uli are coming up.Flowers are blooming. Days are getting warmer. Tumble weeds are getting burned weekly. Won't be long before we have gorgeous sunsets over green fields of vegetables!
2012 On the plains in Northern Arizona, two families joined forces and began the trials and tribulations of building a small family farm with nothing in the bank but love.
Have you ever had a doctor ask why are you here with emphasis on the you? Every doctor I've seen at the Indian Medical Center has been anything but Native American, and they didn't give a hoot the mixture of my blood. I had an appointment with my first doctor that was actually Native American, and she didn't make me feel all warm and fuzzy. In her defense, once we got past my explaining why I had the right to be there, she was quite thorough. Maybe I read her wrong. I thank my great grand parents every time I need to see a doctor. I don't know what I'd do without the care I am entitled to at IMC. Certainly this primary care doctor will show her friendly side next time. Or maybe I'll find a way to bond?
Potato RowsThe potato rows are ready. We are a potato family, both Idaho's and sweet. Actually, I think the sweets have it in this household, 6-4. The dogs get sweet potatoes in their daily meals but Frank won't touch them. Potatoes freeze and can well. Our crop last year was less than hoped for thanks to a late freeze and blister bugs. This year, the plants will go in the ground a little later, and we know when to be on blister bug alert. Should be a good potato year.The drip system arrived and Lance got the major lines run. We'll run
Drip Systemthe row lines as we plant. We have high hopes for this system. If we aren't flooding in between the rows we shouldn't have near the weed problem we had last year. The water will be more direct on the crop. Yea! I really hate weeds.
Drip System LineI managed to clear half the tree wells in the orchard on Wednesday. Wild grass had claimed a lot of territory since the warmer weather moved in. I had less trouble with weeds than grass. The fruit trees are popping earlier than last year. Scares me. We could have a couple of more freezes before June. There isn't much we can do so we've had to adopt the attitude that we're lucky to get whatever fruit we get each year.The people who lived here before us must not have ever flushed the hot water heater. For the third time in a year, our bottom heating element went
Frank and Lance work on rowsout. We finally got a technician that would talk long enough to tell us why. Well water is great but there is sediment that will collect at the bottom of a hot water heater. If you flush the unit a few times a year, you wash that out. If not, it becomes so clogged it fries the heating element. Frank tried to get out as much as he could but it's pretty solid. We'll see how long this one lasts but it's inevitable. I'm seeing dollar signs.
Tulips have bloomed
Flowers from our Austrian friends, Harte and Uli are coming up.Flowers are blooming. Days are getting warmer. Tumble weeds are getting burned weekly. Won't be long before we have gorgeous sunsets over green fields of vegetables!
