Karen GoatKeeper's Blog, page 36
July 16, 2014
Panic and Ad Lib
This morning I gave a presentation for the Bunker, MO, Library summer reading program. The chosen topic was flying.
For the last couple of weeks I have been writing down and amending plans. The expected audience was younger school age children. Perfect for an easy lesson about flight.
Lift is easy to show. Tape a wide strip of heavy copy paper to a pencil. Blow over the top of the paper and it rises.
Thrust is easy to show too. Blow up a balloon and let it go. Air shoots out propelling the balloon around.
Weight is harder to do I found. The idea was to use different weights hanging under a parachute. My parachute refused to open consistently.
An activity was practiced. I can now fold seven kinds of paper airplanes.
A wide variety of books were gathered together. Supplies for the demonstrations and activity were ready.
I arrived at Bunker Library. The children were waiting. They were preschoolers.
My plans were too old for them. My books were too old for most of them.
Try not to panic. Try to think, rethink.
A couple were kindergarten age and looked at the flying insect pictures. They tried to understand lift, weight and thrust.
The balloons were a big hit.
I had to fold the papers for the most basic, simple paper airplanes. The airplanes were big hits.
A teacher's greatest asset: the ability to ad lib whenever plans fall apart.
For the last couple of weeks I have been writing down and amending plans. The expected audience was younger school age children. Perfect for an easy lesson about flight.
Lift is easy to show. Tape a wide strip of heavy copy paper to a pencil. Blow over the top of the paper and it rises.
Thrust is easy to show too. Blow up a balloon and let it go. Air shoots out propelling the balloon around.
Weight is harder to do I found. The idea was to use different weights hanging under a parachute. My parachute refused to open consistently.
An activity was practiced. I can now fold seven kinds of paper airplanes.
A wide variety of books were gathered together. Supplies for the demonstrations and activity were ready.
I arrived at Bunker Library. The children were waiting. They were preschoolers.
My plans were too old for them. My books were too old for most of them.
Try not to panic. Try to think, rethink.
A couple were kindergarten age and looked at the flying insect pictures. They tried to understand lift, weight and thrust.
The balloons were a big hit.
I had to fold the papers for the most basic, simple paper airplanes. The airplanes were big hits.
A teacher's greatest asset: the ability to ad lib whenever plans fall apart.
July 11, 2014
Summer Reading Program Speaker
I'm busy reading books on kites. One record setter weighed eight and a half tons! [Yes, it flew.] Another raised a man over a Civil War battlefield so he could report on the battle to the officers below.
Why am I interested in kites? I have been invited to give a program for the Summer Reading Program in Bunker, MO, July 18. I chose the topic of flying. The planned activity is making paper airplanes. Maybe mini kites.
Birds, bats, insects, even some reptiles can fly. People dream of flying. Consider James Patterson's popular series Maximum Ride. Remember Amelia Earhart? Lindbergh? The lines waiting to go up in a hot air balloon.
It's challenging to put together a lesson plan for an unknown number of participants within a wide age range. The topic is fun and interesting. And paper airplanes have lots of possibilities other than annoying the teacher.
Why am I interested in kites? I have been invited to give a program for the Summer Reading Program in Bunker, MO, July 18. I chose the topic of flying. The planned activity is making paper airplanes. Maybe mini kites.
Birds, bats, insects, even some reptiles can fly. People dream of flying. Consider James Patterson's popular series Maximum Ride. Remember Amelia Earhart? Lindbergh? The lines waiting to go up in a hot air balloon.
It's challenging to put together a lesson plan for an unknown number of participants within a wide age range. The topic is fun and interesting. And paper airplanes have lots of possibilities other than annoying the teacher.
July 2, 2014
Value of CampNaNo
Spring and summer are my favorite seasons. Gardening, kids, nature walks and so many other outside activities beg me to participate. Mowing, barn cleaning and other chores need doing.
Writing time suffers.
I know. A writer writes. The butt in the chair. Have a regular writing time and stick to it.
Concentration suffers when breezes laden with flower perfumes drift through the open windows. It suffers when songs of birds, calls of goats and so many other sounds tickle the ears. It suffers when sunny weather is so inviting just outside those windows.
CampNaNo to the rescue.
I do set a modest goal considering the many tasks needing attention this time of year. But even a modest goal needs discipline. And I hate to not make that goal just because I can't make myself sit down and write.
So CampNaNo counters all those outside invitations. It gets the butt in the chair. It puts words on the page. It keeps me in the writing routine.
Thank you CampNaNo.
Writing time suffers.
I know. A writer writes. The butt in the chair. Have a regular writing time and stick to it.
Concentration suffers when breezes laden with flower perfumes drift through the open windows. It suffers when songs of birds, calls of goats and so many other sounds tickle the ears. It suffers when sunny weather is so inviting just outside those windows.
CampNaNo to the rescue.
I do set a modest goal considering the many tasks needing attention this time of year. But even a modest goal needs discipline. And I hate to not make that goal just because I can't make myself sit down and write.
So CampNaNo counters all those outside invitations. It gets the butt in the chair. It puts words on the page. It keeps me in the writing routine.
Thank you CampNaNo.
June 25, 2014
Confusion?
Dora's Story is progressing nicely. I am back to work on Part 5 which is where I was when I injured my hand.
Sharon Smith is editing the book. She is working on Part 2.
Danielle Norris is doing some line drawings for the title pages for each part. She has realized goats are not that easy to draw.
Everything seems to be going smoothly. I seem to abhor such a condition.
I signed up to complete the draft on a third book in the Hazel Whitmore series in July with CampNaNo. Since I will be working with several other people, I won't want to be the one to not reach my 20,000 word goal.
There are a few more days to July. If I really get to work, at least Part 5 will be done. But it seems I will work on one project in the morning and the other in the evening.
When the website commentaries are dumped into the mix, I guess I will be very busy. Hopefully I can avoid too much confusion between the projects. Life won't be dull.
Sharon Smith is editing the book. She is working on Part 2.
Danielle Norris is doing some line drawings for the title pages for each part. She has realized goats are not that easy to draw.
Everything seems to be going smoothly. I seem to abhor such a condition.
I signed up to complete the draft on a third book in the Hazel Whitmore series in July with CampNaNo. Since I will be working with several other people, I won't want to be the one to not reach my 20,000 word goal.
There are a few more days to July. If I really get to work, at least Part 5 will be done. But it seems I will work on one project in the morning and the other in the evening.
When the website commentaries are dumped into the mix, I guess I will be very busy. Hopefully I can avoid too much confusion between the projects. Life won't be dull.
June 18, 2014
Trying to Work
The hand is still stiff but does type again. So I'm back to work on Dora's Story.
It occurred to me previously that I had greatly short changed several parts as stories in their own rights. Part 4 is one of these.
As a result I did some story writing the last time through. This time through is letting the characters become people.
The broken hand is a mixed blessing. It is a disaster in terms of getting lots of things done. It has given me time I might not have taken with this rewrite as I wanted to finish the book.
Perhaps I should make a big notice to keep on my computer: Do not finish a book just because you want to get done. Finish a book because it is done right.
Maybe this time Part 4 will be right. I hope so.
It occurred to me previously that I had greatly short changed several parts as stories in their own rights. Part 4 is one of these.
As a result I did some story writing the last time through. This time through is letting the characters become people.
The broken hand is a mixed blessing. It is a disaster in terms of getting lots of things done. It has given me time I might not have taken with this rewrite as I wanted to finish the book.
Perhaps I should make a big notice to keep on my computer: Do not finish a book just because you want to get done. Finish a book because it is done right.
Maybe this time Part 4 will be right. I hope so.
June 11, 2014
Recovery
The last few weeks have been difficult. I hadn't realized how dependent I am on having two hands. It is possible to get by with only one but it means reorganizing and new approaches.
Finally the right hand is unwrapped again. I can type although doing too much does start complaints.
The hand is temperamental. I can brush my teeth but only half my hair. I can lift a glass of juice but not a bottle. Weight, position and pressure determine what I can and can't do for now.
Am I testing the limits? Of course. Milking is the challenge. One handed milking takes too long. The goats don't like it and kick. The hand will milk but complains. It didn't swell as much today as yesterday. Yes, the wrap goes back on for a time.
But I can type again. Dora's Story is back up on the computer. Mostly I've gone over the Parts I am mostly done with as typing still is a challenge. To date I've gone over Parts 1, 2 and 3. Tonight is Part 4. Then I will tackle Part 5 which is what I was working on.
In the meantime I may have found an editor. Sharon is just starting out as an editor after teaching. I am glad she thought Dora's Story would be a good place to start.
When will Dora's Story be done? I don't know for sure now. But it will get done. I'm glad to be working on it again.
Finally the right hand is unwrapped again. I can type although doing too much does start complaints.
The hand is temperamental. I can brush my teeth but only half my hair. I can lift a glass of juice but not a bottle. Weight, position and pressure determine what I can and can't do for now.
Am I testing the limits? Of course. Milking is the challenge. One handed milking takes too long. The goats don't like it and kick. The hand will milk but complains. It didn't swell as much today as yesterday. Yes, the wrap goes back on for a time.
But I can type again. Dora's Story is back up on the computer. Mostly I've gone over the Parts I am mostly done with as typing still is a challenge. To date I've gone over Parts 1, 2 and 3. Tonight is Part 4. Then I will tackle Part 5 which is what I was working on.
In the meantime I may have found an editor. Sharon is just starting out as an editor after teaching. I am glad she thought Dora's Story would be a good place to start.
When will Dora's Story be done? I don't know for sure now. But it will get done. I'm glad to be working on it again.
May 28, 2014
Disaster Strikes
I hit the side of my right hand. This is the hand I depend on. It broke.
Solitaire is a good way to learn to use a mouse. My left hand is practicing and is getting credible.
I learned to play the piano then to type. I use both hands, all fingers. Now the right hand operates the Shift and Enter keys. The left hand types. It is getting better.
I started getting into some interesting things in that new year. I will get back to it soon. Time is a challenge.
Everything takes at least twice as long to do, if I can do it. Milking is taking most of my computer time now. Mouse and typing practice are taking the rest.
Bones heal. Not soon enough.
Solitaire is a good way to learn to use a mouse. My left hand is practicing and is getting credible.
I learned to play the piano then to type. I use both hands, all fingers. Now the right hand operates the Shift and Enter keys. The left hand types. It is getting better.
I started getting into some interesting things in that new year. I will get back to it soon. Time is a challenge.
Everything takes at least twice as long to do, if I can do it. Milking is taking most of my computer time now. Mouse and typing practice are taking the rest.
Bones heal. Not soon enough.
May 21, 2014
Where Does Time go?
Time is relative. Right now it is flying by at breakneck speed. June is less than two weeks away.
Finally I have my webpage up for Dora's Story. The draft was done a week and more ago but I waited, hoping I could put the cover image on it.
Danielle Norris is working on the line drawings and cover image. She is doing fine, I think. But they are not done.
So other pictures are on the page because it needed to be done and posted. In a way this was fun as I browsed through old goat pictures finding ones showing people, goats and events that helped shape the novel.
Now I need to get the final draft done. There really isn't that much more to do. It just feels like it.
There is this extra year, you see. It wasn't in the original draft. but the year is necessary for the novel's timing to work properly.
A year is a long time. There must be something interesting going on in that year. I wonder what it is? Maybe I will find out tonight.
I hope.
Finally I have my webpage up for Dora's Story. The draft was done a week and more ago but I waited, hoping I could put the cover image on it.
Danielle Norris is working on the line drawings and cover image. She is doing fine, I think. But they are not done.
So other pictures are on the page because it needed to be done and posted. In a way this was fun as I browsed through old goat pictures finding ones showing people, goats and events that helped shape the novel.
Now I need to get the final draft done. There really isn't that much more to do. It just feels like it.
There is this extra year, you see. It wasn't in the original draft. but the year is necessary for the novel's timing to work properly.
A year is a long time. There must be something interesting going on in that year. I wonder what it is? Maybe I will find out tonight.
I hope.
May 14, 2014
A Case of Nerves
I stare at Dora's Story in a sea of nerves. Advertising is out to announce the book's release in June. I'm bogged down in rewrite.
This isn't because I can't get it done. I can.
This isn't because I don't want to get done. I do.
The problem is far in the past. Parents do such damage with their words. Words known now to be false but still not forgotten.
So the nerves have set in. I'm excited and terrified at the same time. Excited to see Dora's Story taking shape.
Danielle Norris is doing the line drawings for the Parts. I get to see them on Friday.
Terror that the book may not live up to my expectations. And the buried memories of not being good enough, not being able to do things right nudge through the brain.
So the nudgings can move to File 13. I'm going to get my book done. I think, no, I KNOW, it's worth the work.
This isn't because I can't get it done. I can.
This isn't because I don't want to get done. I do.
The problem is far in the past. Parents do such damage with their words. Words known now to be false but still not forgotten.
So the nerves have set in. I'm excited and terrified at the same time. Excited to see Dora's Story taking shape.
Danielle Norris is doing the line drawings for the Parts. I get to see them on Friday.
Terror that the book may not live up to my expectations. And the buried memories of not being good enough, not being able to do things right nudge through the brain.
So the nudgings can move to File 13. I'm going to get my book done. I think, no, I KNOW, it's worth the work.
May 7, 2014
Inertia
Spring and all its chores have descended on me. I am out of shape from too much sitting around all winter. The combination leaves me bone tired.
Thinking is difficult when the brain is taking a nap. Unfortunately it does not announce the fact it is taking a nap. The only indication is the difficulty of putting things together coherently.
This is a problem.
I put out advertising for the release of Dora's Story in June.
I have a draft page about the book to go up on my website as soon as I have the drawings from a friend this week.
Three parts are finished and formatted.
And I found a timing glitch - again.
When the brain decides to come off vacation, I will solve the timing problem. I know the solution is easy. But the result must be coherent.
And the clock is ticking. Perhaps I will try getting some extra sleep tonight.
Would that help, brain?
Please wake up soon brain. I need you.
Thinking is difficult when the brain is taking a nap. Unfortunately it does not announce the fact it is taking a nap. The only indication is the difficulty of putting things together coherently.
This is a problem.
I put out advertising for the release of Dora's Story in June.
I have a draft page about the book to go up on my website as soon as I have the drawings from a friend this week.
Three parts are finished and formatted.
And I found a timing glitch - again.
When the brain decides to come off vacation, I will solve the timing problem. I know the solution is easy. But the result must be coherent.
And the clock is ticking. Perhaps I will try getting some extra sleep tonight.
Would that help, brain?
Please wake up soon brain. I need you.
