Category: writer

Posted in art, authors, birds, book, Christine Valters Paintner, Family, health, monks, Physical, prayer, quote, season, Spiritual, summer, weather, write, writer

What’s Your Summer Story?

Posted on by deannagreensandgardenart

I joined a summer book club called Summer Art Club. I found the group through Substack. A small group of creatives meet together for an hour on Sunday evening via Zoom for a 12-week journey. We are reading The Artist’s Rule by Christine Valters Paintner. It’s about nurturing your creative soul with monastic wisdom. Thus far I really enjoyed the chapter that covers the sacred rhythms and the seven traditional praying hours for creative renewal. I love the nuggets of pure gold in this book as well as the sharing with this group of women.

“I want to live my life in healing rhythms that honor the limits of my body, the pleasures of rest, and the delights of play.” ~ Christine Valters Paintner

As I look out the atelier’s front window, I see the fat little hummingbirds make repeat returns to the two front yard feeders for more sugar water. My husband is trying to keep up with these hungry hummers. The children’s book Little Green by Keith Baker explains the repetitive nature of these little birds. In Missouri the ruby-throated hummingbirds come to us late spring and fatten up over the warmer months before leaving us in October. Their homes are in the warmer climates. Migration with the warm weather is in their nature, part of their story.

What’s your summer story? Are you zipping along with your days minding your own business, attending to your job duties, family matters, vacation, or your health? Are you in status quo or planning for or making a big change in your life? Me, well, two or three mornings a week I am zipping along with culinary work at the local senior centers closest to my home. With my writing I take on new contests, challenges, and projects. These fill my afternoons and some evenings. One of my recipes is featured in the July issue eMerge Magazine. A poem of mine is the 2nd place winner in a contest with the local writers’ group, Saturday Writers. I am writing short articles for The Hope*Writers magazine.

Family is a part of my husband and I’s everyday life in one fashion or another. A long weekend vacation is in the plans for late August. After these steamy humid days, the destination will need to be for someplace cooler. I am hoping to get to a lake soon, even though it will not be my favorite place which is Island Lake in Minnesota. We keep hoping to return to this northern haven from my childhood. Meantime, my kinky hair gets clipped up off my neck, and sundresses and thongs are my summer attire.

In regard to my health, I am trying to make positive changes. Eating healthier with loads of vegetables. I have been lacking regular cardio exercise for some time. I get weightlifting in with the heavy commercial pans filled with food enough for 100 – 130 people. I do stretches with an online program. But when I was at my healthiest in my adult years, I went swimming at least two days a week. This was 15 – 18 years ago. So, I have returned to the pool this month. I aim to keep this part of my weekly routine at least two days a week until the end of time, my time that is. I cannot afford not to. I only have this life to live. I am praying for long healthy days and years ahead.

Posted in accept, arthritis, author, book, book, challenges, daughter, death, Elisabeth, embrace, Emotional, faith, Family, friend, God, grace, grandson, hands, health, Holy Spirit, Jesus, journal, joy, lesson, memoir, mind, pain, Physical, quote, Rachel, scripture, sorrow, Spiritual, strength, strong, truth, wisdom, words, write, writer

Truth Be Told

Posted on by deannagreensandgardenart

The year 2025 goes down in my journal as a seesaw year. Up with the birth of my great-grandson and the completion of my memoir, but down with my physical health and the loss of loved ones. This up and down effected my emotional and spiritual vitality throughout the year. Last year I wrote a series of haikus for a writing challenge and entitled the mini book Balancing the Seesaw. One haiku I capsulated with these words … “Joy for the moment, casting all cares aside, swinging to the heights.” True joy isn’t just for a moment. I learned much as I had more to surrender to, look at the truth and embrace it, and glean wisdom from on high. Health has been my main challenge, and the death of friends and another family member was just about too much. Yet God showed Himself faithful as always. I have worked through this difficult year gaining strength in many areas of my life. Emotions can sometimes deceive. The Holy Spirit continues to guide me and those I love like my daughters, Rachel and Elisabeth. Step by step, day by day. Grace abounds.

Pain speaks loudly when the body isn’t functioning as it should. I had to listen to my body. In March began a string of many medical tests, x-rays, and exams. I have lumbar and cervical discs misaligned as well as arthritis found in almost every joint x-rayed thus far. For years we believed I had osteoarthritis but this autumn the pain source was diagnosed as the autoimmune type of arthritis, rheumatoid (RA). I am one of the rare ones whose blood tests do not show RA, but the x-rays and MRIs showed plenty of arthritic damage. Physical therapy and medications have me continuing to work in the kitchen of the local senior center, but with limited hours. I will cut back my hours even more starting in January. The medical reports referred to my hands as “deformed”. Through the years my hands have faithfully served me and my efforts to serve others. These appendages just cannot do what they once could. At first the truth was heart-wrenching, but I am working through the reality daily.

“The joy of the Lord is my strength.” ~ Nehemiah 8:10

The truth be told I am still learning to be the owner of my own joy. Over the years many hobbies have been a source of joy to me, most requiring the use of my hands. Sewing, crafting, gardening, cooking, and then writing in my more recent years. While at the Clarksville Writers’ Conference the keynote speaker and author, Margaret Renkl shared, ” I refuse to quell this joy.” She encouraged the listener, “learn to pay attention by writing, painting, drawing.” My writing has become so essential to my everyday living. I have become attentive to what others would call “small matters.” My writing will continue, if need be, through voice-activated writing. Over the years, history has shown people with severe deprivation still find joy. It is a mindset. My mind is set on “the joy of the Lord is my strength.” I find joy and will continue to find joy despite it all by the grace of God.

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” ~ 2 Corinthians 9:8

Posted in blessings, color, creative, flower, God, heart, humble, memoir, passion, People, Physical, provision, purity, quote, royalty, season, Spiritual, thankful, warm, write, writer

In The Pink Reflections

Posted on by deannagreensandgardenart

These past few days have been a mixture of memories and enlightenment as I continue to write my memoir. Original poems, short stories, and recipes collected in one place. I am thankful and humbled by all the experiences I have lived with some incredible people. My Father God has blessed me beyond measure. Surely, I am having in the pink reflections.

“Pink is a beautiful color, because it is one of the colors that the sun makes at twilight and in the dawns.”
~ C. Joybell C.

Pinks, purples, fuchsia, and orange melt the evening skies this month. Fuchsia painted the night sky when the Northern lights came to us on May 5. Varied shades of pink roses, peonies, and wildflowers bring color to the yards, fields, windowsills, baskets, and vases. The warm weather season’s clothing and linens shout pink, the color between red’s passion and white’s purity. My heart.

My favorite is the brightest pink color, fuchsia. It evokes feelings of happiness, excitement, romance, maturity, assurance, acceptance, safety, self-confidence, and achievement. It’s warm red characteristics can have a comforting effect, promotes relaxation, intuition, and reflection. Fuchsia represents femininity, creativity, luxury, royalty and wealth.  All provisions from God.

Posted in art, atelier, battle, blessings, challenges, Christian, corner, creative, eyes, faith, garden, gardener, gift, give, God, heart, Holy Spirit, husband, mind, passion, path, prayer, road, share, time, walk, words, works, writer

Round The Corner

Posted on by deannagreensandgardenart

“Still round the corner there may wait a new road or a secret gate.” ~ J.R.R. Tolkien

Hard work can be disguised in a hobby. Passion and interest can occupy one’s attention, energy, and time. One starts on a project of great detail. Maybe a cup or two of coffee or tea to keep the momentum going. Then 5, 6, or 8 hours later you are scrambling for a bite to eat and cannot believe what time it is. This is how it has been with baking, gardening, birdwatching, crafting, reading, and writing for me. New brain pathways travelled, mysteries are discovered, prayers said, challenges are overcome, and beauty is found in whatever has been created.

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” ~ Thomas Edison

Still round the corner awaits another adventure. One that God has placed in my life, your life. A path waiting to be uncovered and walked on. There are bends and forks in the road, and the Holy Spirit is our guide and protector. With eyes of faith an atelier at the cottage here or elsewhere is in the making. A place designated to work on these projects the heart has passion for. A place of our own to create and bless others with God’s gifts. What is around your corner?

Posted in art, art, author, bible, book, book, community, Family, gift, God, life, quote, sacred, scripture, truth, wisdom, words, write, writer

Words

Posted on by deannagreensandgardenart

Words are everywhere, even “in the land of elsewhere”. While attending a writer’s conference in Clarksville, TN I went inside a quaint gift boutique and ran across the cutest tags and cards from artisans at In The Land of Elsewhere. Online I read about the artisans, a family in Texas who have the quintessential family business using the gift of words and their artistic talents to design one-of-a-kind paper goods. Back to the writer’s conference, the theme for the two days was “the gift of writing in community”. I felt like I was “in the land of elsewhere”, and discovered I need others to continue this gift of writing. Many presenting authors shared their tidbits of wisdom. I went away with a list of books to read. I learned much being with a group of fellow writers.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God …”

~ James 1:5 NIV

Other word obsessions are found in those web-based games Words with Friends and Wordle and in blogs, magazines, and with the multi-media. Centuries of rhetoric scholars such as Aristotle have shared their words of persuasion. Books, books, and more books. I cannot be everywhere, but with a book I can be somewhere. There is one book, the Holy Bible with its many versions is my #1 source I take heed to, God’s inspired words for you and me. Sacred words. I bought a new bible a few months ago and hope to study it and meditate on these words every day until I die. The Word brings me closer to my Creator and Savior, and a guide for this life.

“Your Word is a lamp to guide my feet and light for my path.” ~ Psalms 119:105 NLT

Posted in Blog, brother, color, cousin, day, death, Family, feelings, flower, gift, give, God, grace, health, hope, Jesus, mother, Mother Mary, People, quote, renew, sad, scripture, season, sinful woman, Spiritual, woman, Women in My Life, words, write, writer

More Pink Days

Posted on by deannagreensandgardenart

What color is your day today? I perused my photos on my cell phone to recall my year. Pink was the pronounced color for this year, with blue a close second. I lost five family members in 2022; two uncles, an aunt, a cousin, and my younger brother. Those were blue days and weeks. The feeling of sadness overwhelmed me at times. But pink, a color synonymous to healthiness, optimism, innocence, and hope overshadowed those days. My hopes are that pink reigns mightily in 2023.

Pink isn’t just a color, it’s an attitude!

Miley Cyrus

I found myself surrounded with clothing in pinks: dusty rose, cerise, salmon, blush champagne, pink lemonade, bubble gum, magenta … scarves, gloves, hats, dresses, blouses, fancy britches, bunny costumes, accessories …

I am lured to chaise lounges, couches, and chairs dressed in pink.

Nature shows off her pink hues … the winter skyline, spring trees, summer blooms, and autumn grasses.

Date nights, anniversaries, holidays, vacations, and entertainment venues staged in magenta and bubblegum pinks with warm sunshine and waterfront breezes bring a renewed glow …

Strawberry lemonade and tea party pink cookies make any day a special occasion …

The grandeur ladies and Mother Nature placed in my life feed my inner child and I gather myself by writing words in poetry, blogs, and short stories…

This last month of the year I decorate our tabletop Christmas tree with vintage Shiny Brite ornaments from my parents’ collection and love the nostalgic greeting cards sparkled with white and pink splendor, those precious childhood memories flood my senses…

Remember the reason for this holiday season … every season … and use that gift God gave you to share with others in 2023.

Posted in book, children, editor, Emotional, faith, fight, heart, life, mother, prayer, quote, silence, soul, vulnerable, warm, Warrior, woman, words, write, writer

Wordsmithery

Posted on by deannagreensandgardenart

It all started with words scribbled in a journal 40 years ago as a young mother, excited and overwhelmed at the same time with my new role as a parent of a little one. I have kept a journal since. It is not a locked diary like as a pre-teen, as my words are an open book. I keep no secrets. I write my heart and eventually some words come out in blog form, poetry, and short stories. A few weeks ago, I was contacted by Flapper Press to request an interview for an article in their newsletter. Included in the interview were three poems I wrote about various topics that have stirred my emotions regarding the basic human need for warmth in the winter, a woman’s vulnerability, and Ukraine’s fight for democracy. I submitted these to the Flapper Press editor, Annie prior to the interview request. Read Annie’s write-up for more details.

Flapper Press

I return to pen and paper or the other form of word processing, a laptop computer as the need arises. Which is just about daily. Wordsmithery has become a way of being for me. Playing “Word With Friends” or Scrabble, daily use of the online dictionary, and reading are all a part of my obsession with words. As a child my mother would tell me to pick up a book and read. No one has to encourage me with that anymore. Now I am a wordsmith by necessity. “I am a poet and didn’t even know it”. I believe that is an old saying that has rung true to me as an adult. This quiet soul has words welling up to share. Many words. With prayer and faith let them be His words.

“So give me Words to speak, don’t let my Spirit sleep.”

Aaron Shust
Posted in age, anxious, art, body, change, community, connection, crazy, creative, Family, garden, God, health, heart, Holy Spirit, home, hospitality, house, Jesus, job, life, listen, live, Martha, Mary, nourish, People, quote, renew, resources, rest, scripture, season, sin, soul, stillness, time, walk, words, works, worry, write, writer

A Day In A Life Of This Retired Martha

Posted on by deannagreensandgardenart

People ask, “What do you do with your day now that you are retired?” I have always said I will never completely retire. I may not get paid for my labor but will always find a project or two worth working at. I am semi-retired at this time of my life. In June 2021 what I retired from was multi-tasking 5 or 6 days a week. My body and mind had enough, literally my heart and my doctors were telling me to slow down. My employee wellness job with the local government kept me overly busy with 4 or 5 projects at a time, an income not reflecting what I did for over 4,000 employees and 2,500 retirees. Since retirement from full-time work, I ask the Holy Spirit to fill my days with what God deems worth my time, resources, and energy. A person’s value or worth to this world is not based on how much income they bring in. Value is placed on what God says is worthy. I know worth is found through Jesus, who died on the cross for my sins and yours, because of His love for me and you. I believe most people have a “Mary” and a “Martha” side to them. I have been a “Martha” by necessity since 8 years of age and have to allow the “Mary” side to come out more. That is the side where my soul gets refreshed and my writing plays in the script. When I allow myself plenty of time to reflect, the words flow. For me at least one day out of the week, it is a steady stream.

“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and upset about many things, when only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the better part, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:41 & 42

My hobbies of gardening, cooking, crafting, reading and writing provide several projects, but not all at the same time. Each day is different than yesterday. Those daily routines of making the bed, laundry, meals, bills, and quiet time, are consistent. I am attempting to make brisk walks or lap-swims a regular part my life again without making it such a regiment, just a natural flow in my day. I started working a wellness-related job, but just 1 or 2 days a week. That’s enough multi-tasking for me. Developing and teaching culinary classes at the local community college is limited to just 2 or 3 classes a month. This summer I took on work with senior citizens in our community through an organization called Papa. Using an app, I sign up as needs arise, assisting with household chores for 1 or 2 local women in my community during the month. Recently I signed up to bring meals to our pastors twice a month. Then one weekend a month Dean and I rent our vintage home through Airbnb, a good reason for a thorough cleaning before and after the rental weekend. This allows tourists a quaint home to stay in for the weekend while visiting our historic town. I know what I like when Dean & I travel and try to make our home just that for others. We recently have made “super host” status. My newest art craze are button journals. I design those and attempt to sell them through a local hand-craft boutique. And there is our big family with all those social events such as birthdays, weddings, and anniversaries in the mix. So that is the day in the life of this retired Martha, never the same each day. I am not retired from life and enjoy living a Mary life more and more each day.

Posted in book, creative, explore, friend, God, grace, health, house, husband, job, life, love, mind, quote, rest, season, sick, words, write, writer

One Word for 2022

Posted on by deannagreensandgardenart

The first full week in the New Year had me at my primary care and eye doctors for annual check-up appointments, after-the-holidays bargain shopping, two meals out to catch up with friends and family after the holidays and finishing the manuscript of my first poetry chapbook. The second full week, well, did I tell you that COVID continues to be rampant? Apparently so much so that my husband and I finally acquired the virus after it has been around the world a few times the past 2 years. We are thankful that our symptoms thus far have been very minor, like a bad head cold. Naps, more naps, and plenty of hot herbal teas have been our regiments. And of course, quarantining.

Staying home in isolation is not too difficult for me. I am retired from full-time work and have no cooking classes to teach until February. My husband works remotely most days of the week and has been strictly home this past week working quietly between his naps. Our first snow of the year fell this weekend, definitely another excuse to stay indoors. Enjoy watching the birds feed from the window. Reading, writing, and homemade soup making have been my occupations this past 2 weeks. As I go in and out of sleepiness, words ebb and flow like a river stream. Perfect timing to finish my second poetry manuscript, the newest edition of the first but photos are included. Both manuscripts are now submitted to two different publishers.

While words flit in and out of my mind, one word “explore” has stuck with me, and I adopted for my 2022. My New Year’s goal is to explore. So instead of singling on one action in one aspect of life such as losing 20 pounds or exercising 5x times a week, I have an action word to cover the many dimensions of my life. I will explore God’s grace in my life, I will explore new authors and books to read, explore new writing and teaching opportunities, explore healthier recipes, explore antique bargains, explore new plants to grow for garden art projects, and explore new ways to show God’s love to my family and friends. Filmmaker Joss Whedon has said “Write it. Shoot it. Publish it. Crochet it. Sauté it, whatever. Make.” Create. Make. “Just do it” as Nike coins their brand. So, what is your word for this new year? This 2022 is your year, and mine!

“Write it. Shoot it. Publish it. Crochet it. Sauté it, whatever. Make.”
~ Joss Whedon
Posted in change, day, faith, Family, God, grandchild, health, life, prayer, quote, rest, trust, write, writer

Soar Above And Through

Posted on by deannagreensandgardenart

This summer brought change, several of them. I retired from my full-time job right into culinary day camps to teach, a week of writing camp for myself, multiple family gatherings, grandkids and grand dogs staying over, moving furniture and home goods, and prepping my mother’s villa for the real estate market. Life isn’t rosy even in retirement. I have had some adjustments to my new job demands. My per diem job requires a devotion and creativity to lesson plans, and with timeliness. Making more time for writing is still a challenge. That week away in June to write and recipe development was so nice. Hard to capture those moments in my home, but discipling myself to keep to pen and paper most days. The house still needs repairs, loved ones’ bodies and souls need healing, and more of Jesus in our lives. Good news, my PVCs have subsided. The meds and part-time rather than full-time employment have been key as well as prayers.

Where is life going? It is a question I ask often. I am a planner, but I must rest in God’s plans, not my own. Faith. Trust. In God, not myself or others. While I have launched into this new season, I spent part of July in quiet, just not doing anything some days. In these contemplative hours, I considered where I have been, and then where life is going for my loved ones and I. I cannot dwell here very long as I begin to think things too much, try to figure out God. I simply need to pray, trust that He is caring for me and my loved ones in every minute of our days. “What wings are to a bird, and sails to a ship, so is prayer to the soul,” Corrie Ten Boom has said. Soul, fly and sail through this busy month of August, soar above and through all the unknown and unanswered details with God’s guidance. Father God be with me.