Laurinda Wallace's Blog, page 10

Dog Days

When the thermometer rises in July and August, the Dog Days are here. Ever wonder why the string of hot, humid days belongs to the dogs? It comes straight from ancient Rome. The Romans believed that the sultry days of summer were caused by Sirius--no, not your satellite radio, but the star in the sky. It was all connected with the dog star, Sirius rising at about the same time as the sun. These days ran from July 24-August 24. They actually sacrificed a brown dog at the beginning of time period to appease Sirius, which did absolutely no good, of course.

While the simultaneous rising of the sun and Sirius is no longer true--it has to do with the equinoxes and other science stuff, the Dog Days have come down through the centuries, recognized by the Church and secular society alike.

Dog Days were identified as evil days when "the Sea boiled, the Wine turned sour, Dogs grew mad, and all other creatures became languid; causing to man, among other diseases, burning fevers, hysterics, and phrensies." according to Brady’s Clavis Calendaria, 1813.  It was really just time to come in out of the sun and have some lemonade for heaven's sake.
Clancy - Hot on the Trail
The official Dog Days have been moved around by kings and other authorities, but if you live in the Northern Hemisphere, July and August are usually hot and rainfall may be a little scarce. So, in recognition of the canines rise to power at this time of year, the weekend columns will be dog related. This also goes along with Family Matters, and Haley, Gracie's intrepid black Labrador. 

As one who's vacuumed her share of black and yellow dog hair from furniture, clothing, carpets, and vehicles, I've picked up a few things--more than hair. Labs have been part of our family for over 20 years and I've done a little show obedience, therapy dog work, and some other canine things. I hope you'll enjoy the Dog Day columns. We're starting a little ahead of Dog Days--there's so much to talk about!

And if you haven't gotten your copy of Family Matters, now is the time for a summer mystery.

The Writer's Bookshelf

It used to be a ten-pound dictionary and a thesaurus by your side when you put pen to paper. The Encyclopedia Britannica was also necessary for research. Probably a trip to the library was on the list too. You'd need more reference materials of some sort.  How times have changed!

I can do it all from my laptop as I type this blog. However, there are some books you should have in your personal library to help hone your writing skills. You may want them on your Kindle or other device, but when it comes to some reference materials, personally I like to have real live books to look at, mark up, and spread out over the table.

1. Dictionary - you still need one, but www.dictionary.com is easy to use.

2. Thesaurus - the one at www.dictionary.com lives side-by-side with the dictionary. Very convenient.

3. The Elements of Style by Strunk and White. So MUCH in such a little book.  E.B. White is the co-author of this classic on grammar, composition, and writing style. Indispensable! You remember E.B. White - Charlotte's Web, of course!

4. Grammar book. The one on my shelf is Essentials of English by Hopper, Gale, et al. Doubtless, my editor wishes I would refer to it more often. Punctuation can be confusing at some junctures--comma or semi-colon. Do you know which to use? Are you splitting infinitives? e.g. 1. She decided to quickly walk to the store or 2. She decided to walk quickly to the store. (1.contains the split infinitive)


5. For fiction writers, an informative book is Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Browne and King. From dialogue to point of view to character development, this book teaches you how to tell the story succinctly. The book also has exercises which reinforce the chapter themes that are helpful.

6. Style Guide - The Chicago Manual of Style is a must, which is online. www.chicagomanualofstyle.org. I also have The Little Style Guide to Great Christian Writing and Publishing by Goss and Goss. This style guide is cross-referenced with the Chicago Manual of Style and is extremely helpful with Bible studies and Christian writing in general.

7. Specialty books - Depending on your genre, you'll want books that are bona fide resources on the topic. Wikipedia ---probably not. When writing Bible studies, two or three commentaries, a Bible dictionary, and a good study Bible are essential references to have on hand. Many are online, so your shelves don't have to be  jammed with dusty research tomes. Two of the best sites are www.blueletterbible.org and www.biblestudytools.com.  

A series of books - Howdunnit has volumes of crime information, from poisons to how crimes are solved. If you write mysteries, these handy references can help you construct a killer crime.

There you are! A quick list for writers old and new. If you've been pounding a keyboard for any length of time, you probably have your own favorites. And some that have been mentioned may be dog-eared copies on your shelf. Write on!

Overtaken by Weeds

Excerpt from Gardens of the Heart - available at Amazon.

I walked by the field of a lazy person, the vineyard of one with no common sense. I saw that it was overgrown with nettles. It was covered with weeds, and its walls were broken down. Then, as I looked and thought about it, I learned this lesson:  A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber. Proverbs 24:30-34 NLT
The lawns of the old Georgian-style house swept down to a fieldstone wall by a quiet country road with a. Brilliant pink rhododendrons banked the foundation of the house. A formal English garden with an elaborate bird bath graced one side of the lawn. Sounds beautiful, right? It was, at one time. The gardens were sadly overgrown with weeds, the once lovely brick paths almost erased by encroaching grasses. The rhododendrons were lanky and unhealthy from neglect. The stone was crumbling, leaving gaps in the wall that surrounded the property. Somewhere along the way, the owner of the property began to give up on maintaining the beauty that had taken so much work to establish. Although there were still glimpses of faded glory, most of it was gone.
Solomon observed the same thing in the vineyard of the lazy person. By neglecting the work in maintaining the vineyard, the person had lost income from the crop. He was also on a path to poverty by ignoring the stewardship of the vineyard and most likely other areas of his life.
God expects us to be good stewards of the earthly things we've been given – homes, jobs, possessions, money. If we begin neglecting one area, it won’t be long before we think other areas require too much effort to maintain, and before long, resources become rundown or lost. We aren't to worship or put these things in place of God, but we do need to recognize them as gifts from our Father. We need to show our appreciation to Him and do our part to maintain, improve, and increase what we've been given. It requires time, effort, and perseverance. Sometimes we need help in managing the blessings. Has your life been overtaken by weeds? Are your finances in a mess? Is the lawn unmowed? Are dishes piled in the sink? Are you overburdened with activity that keeps you from being a good steward of your blessings? Begin today to show your appreciation to your generous Father by caring for all that He’s given you.

Happy Father's Day!

Fathers get a bad rap in TV sitcoms. They're usually just another child underfoot in the house and Mom has to take care of the kids and manipulate her husband into quasi-adult behavior. Study after study shows that dads are a big deal in the home. Daughters learn their value from the male perspective with a man who protects and loves her sacrificially. Sons learn how a real man behaves in this confusing world.

Real dads aren't wimps. They're men who aren't perfect and make plenty of mistakes, but they don't run out on their families. Ask any social worker and you'll find out that many of the problems with teens and younger children are because there is no father in the home.

"A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society." -- Billy Graham, Christian Evangelist

 "The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother." 

 -- Theodore Hesburgh, Catholic Priest and President Emeritus of the University of Notre Dame

 I was blessed with a father who was and still is one of the good guys. He worked hard to support us, took us to church, played with us, taught us to shoot and fish, and some of our family adventures make great stories to tell to our grandchildren.

You appreciate your parents more when you're a  parent yourself. Kids don't come with an instruction manual and you can have days when being shipwrecked on a uninhabited island is ideal. Good dads gird up their loins and go home, get down on the floor and play with the kids.

I'm grateful for a husband who's also a great father and for a son-in-law who is as well. Now that we're sitting back from parenting duty, we're watching Steve and Megan raise our grandsons. Glad they got the twins and we didn't. Listening to Steve's testimony at their church a couple of weeks ago on their experience with the birth of the boys, makes a mother-in-law's heart just about bust.(I'll refer you to the December Miracles post for the story on their birth.)

L to R
Megan, Emily, Chris, Steve
Austin, BraydenSteve is definitely one of the good guys. He's a godly example for his sons, loves his wife, and Steve is committed to his family for the long haul. It's not an easy job. It takes courage, commitment, and sacrifice. There are lots of good dads out there---more than there are bad ones I'd hazard to guess. I hope you've been blessed with a good one like mine.

Happy Father's Day, Dad! Thanks!

Rose’s Red Pen: Why Use an Editor?

Has this happened to you? You’re reading a mass market paperback or a best seller on your e-reader, and you stumble over a typo.  How did that experience make you feel?  Me too.  As a writer, you want to transport your readers to another world, not yank them from it feeling irritated that no one cared enough to make this right. 
Rose CiccarelliCaring about your readers may be the single best reason to use an editor, but there are others as well. Cold readers are crucial to honing your work, and an editor is the ultimate cold reader¾who not only possesses a set of keen eyes but also LOVES to read, and has probably read a lot.
An editor sees what you don’t¾the missing words, misspellings, and errors in punctuation and grammar. We all miss our own mistakes because our brains fill in the blanks. We see what we thinkwe wrote, not what is actually on the page. At the most basic level, an editor is a proofreader, taking care of all the nuts and bolts and niceties. Editors make sure that a character named “Sue” on page 10 hasn't become “Sheryl” by page 96. They help writers avoid triteness traps, whether you open like Snoopy with “it was a dark and stormy night” or describe a character’s “constellation of freckles” on her cheeks.
More substantively, editors check for flow and organization. Does this story have an arc? Does this chapter belong here? What about this passage or this sentence? Does it make sense? Is anything missing? Editors also analyze your characters.  Are they acting consistently or just following the demands of the plot? Do they grow or change in believable ways? Do they have unique ways of expressing themselves? Does this line of dialogue fit with this character?And when problems are pointed out, an editor can help you fix them by making suggestions or brainstorming with you to find solutions.
Finally, an editor is your advocate. An editor invests in you and your writing and really wants your work to succeed.  Beyond your family and close friends, an editor can be your number 1 fan.

Dry and Thirsty

After living in the desert for a decade, I've learned a true appreciation for rain and water in general. We haven't had rain since February and it's bone dry. Until the monsoon rains start, hopefully in a couple of weeks, hot and dry weather will reign. The flowers are stressed; they wilt easily and leaves dry around the edges. There just isn't enough humidity to help. The drip system is now running every day. Real rain is the only answer. Once that soaks into the ground, plants will grow furiously and the roses will look great again.

Ramsey CanyonKing David knew the value of water and he knew the desperate thirst of being in the desert without enough water. He'd been a fugitive, hiding in caves and living off the land. But his thirst for God trumped the physical needs for water. In Psalm 63, he cries out for his spiritual thirst to be quenched.

 O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! Psalm 63:1-3

Soul thirst. A parched and dry heart. Weariness that comes from the onslaught of the world's demands. The only answer to that kind of thirst is God. Time in His Word and on your knees. Once we catch a glimpse of how absolutely wonderful God is, we want more. He gives us unfailing love, protection, shelter, and He never lets us go.

Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely. Psalm 63:7-8. NLT

Thirsty?  Soak up the life sustaining rain of God's presence. The weariness, anxiety, sorrow, and anything else that has dried up your soul will be replaced with His joy. It's not a one time event, or just when you're in trouble. It's everyday living with Jesus.

Jesus replied, "If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water."

"But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life."  John 4:10, 14 NLT

Barbecue Season

It's officially here according to the thermometer at Casa Wallace. Summer is blazing a trail through the desert right now. June is the hottest time of the year, which entices the monsoon season to finally show up. With summer comes barbecue time.  Steaks, burgers, chicken, you name it, we'll grill it to keep the heat of the house. Veggies are great too. The smell is my favorite summer air freshener.

Every region has its own particular flavor for barbecue. Arizona is famous for that mesquite flavor. I haven't discovered THE Arizona barbecue recipe since we're greatly influenced by Texas. Smoked, slow cooked with a tomato based sauce, and fallin' off the bone, the ribs are finger lickin' good.

We're lovers of Memphis barbecue, especially Corky's which is famous for its dry and wet seasoning. The dry rub is wonderful with a little kick to it. It's good on any meat, just rub it in, let it sit a spell and grill. Memphis elevates barbecue to divine heights during the Memphis in May celebration which has the prestigious contest for the best barbecue. The competition is fierce, the recipes, the wood, and methods of cooking are all carefully guarded secrets. Who knows what espionage goes on during this event.

If you head for the Carolinas, vinegar based sauces dominate and pork is the meat of choice. Each region is confident that it produces the absolute best darn barbecue you've ever had. And if you follow Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives with Guy Fieri, you've seen it all and wished you were Guy's tasting assistant as he samples the vast array of smoky meats available across the country.

From Jungle Bistro.com
But, now I come to the hometown favorite and classic Cornell Marinade which is peculiar to New York State. Introduced to this many years ago by the late, master barbecuer, Dick Wing, his slowed cooked chicken was the taste of summer. The vinegar based marinade was liberally slapped on chicken halves with a broad brush and grilled over coals until it was perfection. Dick with a bandanna tied around his forehead, glasses steamed up with vinegary mist, basted each chicken with military precision. It was that Air Force pilot training, I'm sure. Dick's Chicks were sought after for the big East Koy get together on the 4th of July. As you might guess, the chicks were in demand for a lot of other events during the summer. I'm glad he gave me that marinade recipe a long time ago, so we can still enjoy the summer treat on our own grill.

Here it is for those who may want to try it themselves:

1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup vinegar
2 t. salt
1 1/2 t. poultry seasoning
1/2 t pepper
1 egg

Whisk up until well mixed.  Marinate chicken pieces for a few hours and then grill. Baste with the marinade throughout the cooking time. Happy grilling!

Summer School for Writers

This week I'm introducing a monthly summer column that will be written by Rose Ciccarelli of Rosebud Communications. When I finally decided I needed a professional editor for my books, a good friend (thanks Connie) introduced me to Rose. It's scary to hand over your baby a/k/a book to a stranger and give them permission to whack away at it. There's also a sense of relief that someone who doesn't love you (your adoring fans - family  and friends), will give you an honest evaluation.

Rose will be addressing topics on why you need an editor, dialogue, and character development in June, July, and August. I have to say that working with an editor has made me a better writer. She's pointed out my bad habits (still working on them), patiently points out cliches, repetitive language, and other writing pitfalls. Rose also tells me when a chapter needs to disappear or a character needs more development or somehow the character's name changed. Yikes!

As an indie author, it's vital to have a professional editor before you publish. Those who edit and proofread their own books have the same problem as the lawyer who represents him or herself. While writing is a solitary pursuit, the product needs a team with many pairs of eyes going over the manuscript. I am blessed with a group of great friends who willingly give up their time to read my stuff. Competition is tremendous in the book industry. Indie writers are everywhere and readers are leery of putting out their plastic for the unknown author. If we ever expect to compete in the marketplace, the books we produce need to be professional and polished.

Of course, you can make your book free, but that won't produce the desired results if you hand out a book ridden with typos, bad grammar, and a weak story. I've downloaded a few of them, and I certainly won't download anymore by those authors. The distractions of a poorly edited book only irritated me. If you really believe your book is ready for the public, then it's worth the investment of money and time for it to be properly vetted. It doesn't need to cost you a fortune either. You'll find reasonable editing and proofreading resources at my website.

So, you're invited to join me on Fridays throughout the summer for helpful columns geared for writers of all sorts. Writing is a craft--an art that only improves with practice, practice, practice. I hope you enjoy our summer school. Welcome to Rose's Red Pen.

On the Way to an Accident

Recently a motor vehicle accident happened right in front of me. While sitting in the right hand turn lane, the car ahead of me pulled out and hit a vehicle that was going through the intersection. The SUV driver and passenger who were not doing a thing wrong, were broadsided. Fortunately, the driver was able to keep some control. The SUV bounced, tilted, and amazingly stayed upright. The driver found her way to an area off the shoulder out of oncoming traffic. The other driver, who caused the whole thing managed to land her vehicle about 30 feet from the other. A law enforcement officer was right behind me in line, so he responded immediately to the scene.

PhotobucketHave you ever witnessed an accident? It really does unfold in slow motion. You know the outcome is going to be bad and there's not one thing you can do about it. Then it's suddenly over and now the consequences have to be dealt with, not only by those directly involved, but many others.

How quickly we make wrong decisions! The driver in front of me was at the intersection for only a second or two before she pulled into traffic. I wondered after witnessing the accident what the driver was thinking as she sat on the shoulder of the road in her crumpled car. Was she blaming herself or the other driver? Maybe she was on her cellphone and was distracted, or maybe she was just plain impatient. If it had been me, what would I be thinking? Our first reaction or instinct is to protect ourselves. Survival.

There are a couple of observations that I drove away with that day. First --pay attention to what's going on around you. Don't be distracted by the unimportant and through carelessness ruin your day and someone else's. It only takes a split second to harm whether it's with our words or running a red light. Second --Don't be in such a hurry. I'm so guilty of this one many times, just ask my husband. If the offending driver was late and just trying to beat the SUV, she was really late after her bad decision.

If you make enough bad decisions over a period of time, the habit can be hard to break. Your life may begin to resemble a wreck on the side of the road. You also involve innocent bystanders and any passengers that are with you. But, you can change. However, that's a decision you'll have to make. God gives us so many opportunities to leave the wreckage we've made, and get back on the road.

Find great driving instructions in Romans 12. Following them will keep you on the right road. Verses 1-3 below are the introduction. Reading the whole chapter--it's only 21 verses is worthwhile. This  short chapter is really a handbook for daily Christian living--practical and doable with God's help.

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Romans 12:1-3 NLT

So as that old Greyhound commercial says, "Leave the driving to us," move over and let the One who never makes a bad decision get in the driver's seat.

The Heavens Declare

Shooting star -Bing.comThe night skies in Arizona are amazing! The Milky Way in during the winter months is really milky and the massive roadway of stars sparkles in the cold air. It's easy to get lost in the beauty of that declaration of God's power. Often, meteorite showers travel through, spraying trails of stardust, and lone shooting stars are not uncommon. Of course the day skies are just as spectacular. Double rainbows that stretch between mountain ranges, thunderclouds piling up over the Huachucas with lightning slashing through the air to the ground.


The advantage of the West is the absence of those beautiful, huge trees that block much of the sky Back East. Unobstructed views and dark nights are a real advantage to taking in the sights. This past week while standing on the patio enjoying the twilight in the western sky, I noticed a triangle of what looked like three stars. It was something I'd never seen before and wondered if I'd been missing it every evening. When the perfect triangle appeared again against the dark red of the last glow of the sunset on Monday evening, my trusty husband immediately looked it up on his Ipad. Sure enough, it was one of those amazing sky events with three planets visible to the naked eye for just a few days in the early evening. Mercury was the top of the triangle, Jupiter was the bottom left, and Venus the bottom right of the three sides. The link below will give you an idea of what we saw.  My little camera was inadequate to capture the patio view, but there is a good photo at this link.

http://earthsky.org/tonight/planetary-trio-mercury-venus-jupiter-at-dusk-may-27

Those beautiful sky gifts given by the Creator lead me back to the Scriptures that define what that part of creation is all about. King David wrote in Psalm 19, Nebula - UW Madison

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day, they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.  They have no speech; they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the world; their words to the ends of the earth."

They are also a reminder of the great God who not only created everything, but continues to sustain it in such an orderly fashion. Nothing is random or out of His control. He makes that clear when He questions Job (Job 38:31-33) about the constellations that we still enjoy.

"Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades? Can you loosen Orion's belt? Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear with its cubs? Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up God's  dominion over the earth?"

The prophet Isaiah had this to say:

"Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing." Isaiah 40:26.

The triangle in the sky was no accident or random positioning of planets. It was all planned and executed by the One who made heaven and earth. I thoroughly enjoyed His work. Take a look at the night sky this week. What a display! What a Creator!