Robyn Dolan's Blog, page 4

Spring brings new hope

This year, truly, spring brings new hope. I made these little cuties over the weekend Palm Sunday and even though we’re all grown up here in this house we will be coloring eggs on Saturday and hunting for them on Easter Sunday.

Dad is fully vaccinated and I have an appointment for my first shot. Soon I will make an appointment for the boy’s first shot. I’m not sure I can call him the boy anymore because he is now a young man. The grands are going back to school gradually, and I expect they will be back to school full time in the fall.

Even though I fully plan on continuing to wear my mask, keep distance, and stay away from crowds for the foreseeable future, I look forward to getting together with my dancing friends again maybe next year, and playing in person with my music friends sometime later. Sadly, singers and wind instrument players are spewing all those droplets without their masks so I imagine it will be a while before we’re all comfortable playing together in person again. Somehow strings and percussion don’t have that particular problem. And a solo singer or wind instrument can get away with being the only one unmasked.

In the meantime, the RV beckons, and a few short trips are planned for the next few months. That is if we can find anywhere to camp overnight with all the campgrounds booked like crazy.

Maybe I can even get back to writing again. Spring brings new hope.

The post Spring brings new hope appeared first on Robyn Dolan.

Will Rogers State Beach, California Highway 1

I took dad and Mrs. Susie up to Will Rogers State Beach today just to see something different. Susie needed to get out for a new sniff, and dogs aren’t allowed at the Arboretum or the Huntington Gardens. 

 We packed up a picnic

and stuff we might need for a few hours trip with an elderly gentleman, a lady of “a certain age” and their canine. We thence boarded the vehicle and commenced driving north towards Santa Barbara. No plan, just a mental health day to clear out the cobwebs.

I knew I wanted to take California Highway 1 and get some view of the coast on the drive. Inspiration hit as we got down the road towards Malibu. Some nice parking appeared along the beach that was only $7 now and totally not crowded. At other times when there’s higher demand, it might be a higher price.

It was lunchtime

when I saw the sign that said Will Rogers State Beach. I thought, “okay, wow, this looks really nice and there’s hardly anybody here,” so we pulled in. It was wonderful and relaxing. We didn’t walk very far, just to the bathrooms and back but the dog was okay with that. So was the Dad. It was cold and windy. Otherwise, we would have gone for a longer walk.

We sat relaxing in the car, enjoying our picnic and watching the beach from our front-row seats. See the video on my YouTube channel (link to come). After another short ramble, we turned the car towards home. 

Because I didn’t really plan out the trip, the drive there was a little longer than it could have been. We hit traffic on the way back despite taking the shorter route, which made the journey home longer.

Will Rogers State Beach

is right past the Santa Monica Pier which has a lot of fun things going on. Places to eat, a Ferris wheel, a nice vintage Merry-Go-Round and a lot of other cool stuff. They’re closed on the weekends right now so check before you go. Across the highway from the beach, there are several state and regional parks to explore. There’s Will Rogers State Park and Temescal Canyon that look really good. I wanted to drive through there but we’d already spent a couple of hours and the elderly gentleman and the dawg were ready to leave. Next time.

Meanwhile, I do have some pictures from a previous trip to the Santa Monica Pier which are in the (upcoming) video and posted here.

Normally, this area is crazy crowded with tourists and locals. You can’t even get parking. The traffic is horrible and the people are just so close together. So one good thing about this crazy mixed-up time is that I get to see parts of California which I grew up in, that I haven’t seen since I was really little. Or have never seen because they’ve just been too crowded to enjoy. Consequently, this exploration of my backyard is really wonderful.

The post Will Rogers State Beach, California Highway 1 appeared first on Robyn Dolan.

A Work at Home Routine and Accountability

A Work at Home Routine and Accountability

I have discovered that I don’t really like routine. But to work at home I need it. To get me out of bed and get going. To start my workday. I have worked at home for nearly 20 years but I still have a hard time with my work at home routine. I like to run away. To the beach. The mountains. The woods. However, being forced to stay home more has actually been helpful.

Zoom activities have fostered a music routine. For instance, thanks to other frustrated musicians, I drop what I am doing for 1 hour at noon and join them in a virtual jam session. In addition, this month’s writerly activities focused around NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month, are helping me with a writing routine. I have always lacked consistency. It is hard. I want distraction. I tell my grandson to focus on his class. Get it done and he will have more time to play. I need to tell myself the same thing. 

If you are new to working at home,

realize that you are not alone in your struggles. Along with the delicious sleep-in-no-commute-pajama-days come challenges with internet reliability, interruptions, distraction, and motivation. The good news is, there’s lots of help. Because anyone who works at home goes through this at various points.

I used to blame interruptions.

From my children, whom I was homeschooling. From my dad, for whom I am caregiver. I know that’s not true. I used to blame “being flexible”. “Flexibility” became the routine.

I am finding freedom in bits and pieces. Some things happen in 5 or 20-minute increments. Others are scheduled. For instance, my 1hr of music at noon and 1 hour of writing first thing in the morning. I have not done this on my own. I find I won’t stick to it if it is a solo activity. Because I have to be “flexible”. After our noonish jam session, anyone who wants to posts their participation and what instrument they played. It has become such a happy habit that now I am using NaNoWriMo towards the same end.

The accountability helps. Yes, I do have days that I don’t check-in or my hour starts later or I just play (or write) for 20 minutes. But overall it is working and so am I.

My mental status and attitude are much improved by routine

because I feel productive. Focus on my work. Get it done and I will have more time to play. Or catch up with the housework.

Now that I have scheduled time for music and writing, all the rest is gravy. There is so much more to my particular work than practicing scales or filling pages with words. But if that doesn’t happen, the rest is a waste of time.

The post A Work at Home Routine and Accountability appeared first on Robyn Dolan.

Bodacious Creed by Jonathan Fesmire

Bodacious Creed: a Steampunk Zombie Western by Jonathan Fesmire

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Imagine, if you will, a steampunk version of the old west, complete with zombies, mechanically enhanced beings, and robot technology. Now add romance, tragedy, and rip-roaring action. Bodacious Creed is a rollicking adventure through Santa Cruz at its early California best.

Anna Lynn Boyd is a successful madame with a secret. That is to say, a laboratory under her bordello where she invents technological marvels. Then she sells them to the largest automaton producer in the country.

James Creed is a US Marshall who seems invincible. Until he’s shot dead by notorious outlaw Corwin Blake. Or is he? How had this dead man come back to life? Seemingly stronger, faster, and more deadly accurate?

I’ve tried to like steampunk fiction before without success. Jonathan Fesmire has changed that with his well-edited writing, non-stop action, and fascinating story. Bodacious Creed is a combination of western in the style of Louis L’Amour and horror in the style of Stephen King.

Although the details about Santa Cruz are based on the historic city, some of the modern city and a bit of imagination are thrown in. The setting of the rapidly evolving industrial era and the strong female characters will keep the attention of older teens and adults of all ages. I am looking forward to the next installment in this great series.

Caution for children under 16 years due to adult situations and violence.




View all my reviews

The post Bodacious Creed by Jonathan Fesmire appeared first on Robyn Dolan.

Venturing Further Afield and Update on Jane

Venturing Further Afield and Update on Jane

It has been a while since I posted an update on my current work-in-progress – The Not Jane Austen Dance Society. That’s because there is not much going on – on paper. I have been wrestling with some plotlines in my head and I think they are coming together now. We will see what happens this week. 

I have shut down my Patreon page for now because, well, no patrons. 

The usual difficulties with consistency, distractions, and isolation

that come along with being a work-at-home writer/musician are magnified with so many other people isolating. As much as I dislike crowds and traffic, it kind of goes along with Southern California. So at the same time that I am enjoying venturing further afield, moving right along the highway and getting in and out of places (except the grocery store and the post office, somehow), it feels kind of sad. It’s a vibe that does not belong here. It belongs in my cherished wilderness. 

On the plus side, non-covid related doctor appointments have been easy to come by lately – quite a treat, since usually I can’t even get a doctor’s office to answer their phone. And I have been able to attend to some much needed, but not emergency, dental work. 

As disappointing as it is to forego the occasional evening out,

as much as I miss dancing and playing music live with other musicians, it is much more important to be alive and healthy to enjoy those activities, once this virus is under control.

And speaking of dancing, I have some new videos coming up on YouTube, about upcycling my Jane Austen dress for the St. Nicolas Holiday Ball and the Jane Austen Evening. 

The post Venturing Further Afield and Update on Jane appeared first on Robyn Dolan.

Never Forget

Never Forget

It seems appropriate that I am sitting here with a sore jaw, recovering from dental work, under clouds of smoke and ash that have drifted over my home from the many wildfires here in California.

On September 11, 2001, I was driving home from my graveyard shift at the VA Hospital in Prescott, Arizona. I heard on the radio that an airplane had crashed into one of the World Trade Towers in New York. Then, the second one. In shock and disbelief, I had to pull over to the side of the road. I cried. Then I called my children to hear their voices. I think I only got to talk to one but it set my mind at ease that they were all right. 

I somehow managed to pull myself together and continue the long drive home through hills and forest. The radio broadcast the crash at the Pentagon. And United Flight 73. I told myself that this was on the east coast for now. That my children, who were out in California, were alright. But what if the attacks continued out this way?

With no tv and terrible internet, I could only pray. 

I continued to check updates on the internet and radio. And I continued to cry as I thought about all the people whose lives ended that day. I cried for their families and friends. I also cried for the first responders. The rescue workers. For the way, we, as Americans, united in a common cause of kindness and support.

Every year on this date I shed more tears and say more prayers. 

Today I also cry and pray for all my fellow Californians affected by the wildfires. For all the firefighters, first responders, and rescue workers. For all those on the front lines in the fight against coronavirus. This time we have not been entirely united in kindness and support. But I think we are getting there. As it all drags on, and new disasters take their toll in different areas, I hope we can again become collectively more compassionate, loving, and kind. 

Love is the only answer.



Never forget.

The post Never Forget appeared first on Robyn Dolan.

Taken Away, by Russ Thompson

https://amzn.to/3gMsgCg








Miles is having trouble at home

and it’s spilling over into school. When he gets kicked off the basketball team he’s nearly ready to give up. Can he come to terms with his shame and reach out for help?

In his debut novel, Taken Away, Russ Thompson deals with tough issues in easy language and short chapters. Perfect for struggling readers, teens, and those of us with short attention spans. And plenty of basketball talk.

Like Diary of a Wimpy Kid goes to high school.

Russ is on a mission to write books for struggling readers, especially at the high school level. A former teacher and principal, Thompson has a fondness and compassion for kids who are missing out on the world of opportunity that reading offers. With Taken Away, he cracks the code. This book will help slow readers, English Second Language learners, dyslexics, and kids more interested in sports than school, to improve their reading skills. And it’s suspenseful and entertaining, too!

Homeschooling is another great way to help a struggling learner.

For more info, check out my homeschooling section and this post Also check out my book The Working Parent’s Guide to Homeschooling, available in ebook and paperback from your favorite retailer.

The post Taken Away, by Russ Thompson appeared first on Robyn Dolan.

Is it School-at-home or Homeschooling?

After 3 months of school-at-home, it is still unclear whether schools are going to reopen or continue with remote learning in September. There have even been rumors of the school year restarting in July. 

Some parents and kids can’t wait to get back to “normal” school. Others might be questioning the wisdom of the former status quo. Some might even be wondering about continuing remote learning. 

I don’t call what has been going on during stay-at-home “homeschooling.” This remote learning experiment is unquestionably school-at-home. What does this mean?

School-at-home

is basically an attempt to replicate the public school routine, curriculum, and results but do it at home. This means a set curriculum, textbooks, worksheets, tests, corrections, and even teachers coming into your home on zoom. It is actually more time consuming than what happens in the stix and brix schools because the teacher cannot easily move from one student to the next and get an overview of how effectively they are learning. Parents are not in charge of the school day, so they must be at the mercy of their children’s online class schedule, in order to help them with their school work.

Homeschooling has a much broader scope.

There are numerous ways to homeschool and thousands of curriculum choices. Parents can tailor the school day to their family’s needs and schedule. The curriculum can cover multiple grades and learning styles. Even daily routines can be incorporated into the curriculum. Older children can help the younger ones and all the children in the family can participate in learning projects and field trips. Standardized testing may or may not be required by your state. Unit testing is not necessary as parents can evaluate whether a subject has been sufficiently mastered on an individual basis.

Shameless Plug:

So you’re interested in homeschooling, but you have to go back to work. Yes, you can work and homeschool! In my book, The Working Parent’s Guide to Homeschooling, I share my own story as well as those of numerous other working parents who have made homeschooling work for their families. Check it out on Amazon or https://books2read.com/workandhomeschool for lots of ideas for scheduling, child care, and resources.

Back to our topic.

School-at-home has compelling possibilities. Remote learning can free up funds to hire more teachers to handle smaller classes online. Online resources can replace textbooks and other classroom and lab supplies, freeing up yet more funds for teachers. School buildings and campuses can be repurposed for weekly labs, testing, and small group sessions as well as community meetings and even co-working spaces. Child care can also be provided as necessary for the community.

I don’t have the answers to our current public school situation. We know it’s broken, compounded by the current situation and the random violence that was already happening at schools. But I do think that this is a fantastic opportunity to start making some fixes and bring our educational system into the 21st century. In the meantime, homeschoolers can do just that for their own children. Come along and join us!

The post Is it School-at-home or Homeschooling? appeared first on Robyn Dolan.

Meatless Monday, Friday Fishday, Eco House Challenge

Several weeks ago the Sunday LA Times had a story (by Steve Lopez) about a 101-year-old woman who was inspired by 17 year old Greta Thunberg, to figure out what she could do to help save the planet. Spoiler alert: she convinced her assisted living facility to start having meatless Mondays.

I spent the rest of Sunday (in between glimpses of the Super Bowl) watching Eco House Challenge on Amazon Prime Video. This Australian series (just 1 season?) featured 2 families competing to cut their environmental impact by at least 40%. I really enjoyed their trials, because I’ve been there, too. I could relate to the difficulties of maintaining each little change over the long term. 

In moving from the homestead, to the RV, to dad’s house, I have had to let go of many of my ideals. This weekend inspired me to start enacting new ones. Maybe I can’t raise my meat, milk, and eggs in the backyard anymore, but I can put more effort into raising fruits and veggies. I may not be able to go car-free and certainly don’t want to give up the RV lifestyle. But I can surely cut way back on my use of the vehicles and get more exercise by walking and bicycling.

I already have a nice compost heap

and water the fruit trees and the small patch of grass with the laundry water. My backyard fountain recirculates its water. The goldfish eat some of the algae (not enough!) and the water from cleaning the fountain goes on the container garden, fertilizing it with the fishy waste. 

I have cut out most paper product use –

paper towels, napkins, paper plates – and substitute with washable/reusables. Fairly clean, non-greasy ziplox get washed and reused. I still need to make my beeswax food covers. Clean rags with rubber bands do the trick with most food storage containers, though. Or a clean plate set on top.

I am fairly content with the status of our water and gas usage.

However, the electric bill has been taunting me. Solar panels are very popular around here, but I want to own my system, so “free” panels and installation are not an option and a paid system is too expensive. There are a few other options I am hoping to try.

In the last few years I have been making our diet more plant-based.

We still eat a lot of meat. But I am conscious and intentional about keeping lots of beans, greens, and other veggies on the daily dinner plate. I try to have one soup night and one or two meatless nights a week. Not a meatless Monday, because I usually have plenty of time to cook on Mondays. But Friday, which is more in our tradition as Catholics. And my meatless meals are pretty simple. Usually, veggies paired with rice or noodles cooked earlier in the week, or some kind of soup and salad or sandwich combination.

Do you have your own version of meatless Monday? What little changes have you made lately, to be less consumptive and more sustainable?

The post Meatless Monday, Friday Fishday, Eco House Challenge appeared first on Robyn Dolan.

Get Out of the City

COVID 19 got you feeling like you wanna get out of the city? That’s exactly what I did over 20 years ago and the same basics apply. 

From the time I was eight years old I can remember my dad telling me and mom and grandma stories around the dinner table about growing up on the farm.  Getting up early to milk the cows and plow fields may not seem exciting to most kids and certainly dad was glad he didn’t have to do that anymore, but to me there was a certain allure. 

I always dreamed about having a big, self-sustaining farm. Then I grew up. I got a job, got married, and had kids. I got divorced and got 3 jobs to keep raising the kids. Finally I burned out. I figured there was no time like the present. I wanna get out of the city. So I packed up the kids and moved out to the country. 

I have tended to make major life changes without a lot of forethought or planning. This has its drawbacks, to be sure, but jumping in with both feet also has its advantages. One is that you don’t wait a lifetime to do what you want to do, stuck in a job, and a place that is terribly unsatisfying but for the paycheck. I’m not going to encourage anyone to impulsively quit their job, pack up the car and pitch a tent in the desert, but I will share my story, along with hindsight suggestions for improvement. 

Get Out of the City and Thrive

was written as a guide to making the decision, finding land and setting up your homestead, and paying for it all. In short, concise chapters I show you how I did it and how you can too. This three-book series is available in ebook or paperback from Amazon. Get your copy and start on your new life today!

The post Get Out of the City appeared first on Robyn Dolan.