Daybook
October
Outside my window: Far off in the distance, across the empty street and up a rocky embankment, purple sage grows with wild abandon, adding a welcome pop of color to a muted gray sky. Up closer, the red loropetalum hedge in the front garden mimics the sage in its exuberance. Later this week, those hedges will be trimmed into tidy spheres. I like them either way, but this is the season for pruning and preparing for winter.
Clothing myself in: brown khaki cropped wide-leg pants and a blue and white plaid button-up. It’s not quite sweater weather here in North Central Washington.
Reading: The Road to Harmony: An Appalachian Childhood by J.D. Ballam (memoir) *If you like Wendell Berry’s writing, this is a book you might like.
Sightlines by Kathleen Jamie (nature writing)
Where Love is Planted by Dawn Kinzer (Christian contemporary romantic fiction) My review: This book has themes of forgiveness and the unconditional love of God, and it's wrapped in a beautiful setting. I loved the descriptions of the fictional town of Meriside, which is in the Pacific Northwest. I also appreciated the detail and the thorough research that went into the main character's job as a horticultural therapist. I found it fascinating. Then, there was the romance between Beth and Tyler. I was rooting for these characters the whole time.
Teaching a Stone to Talk by Anne Dillard (life essays)
Polly: Apron Series Book 1 by Naomi Musch (Christian historical fiction) The Apron Strings series is a multi-author project I’m a part of. Throughout 2024, we will be releasing one book a month, starting in January. Polly is the first one, and it’s so good! I can’t wait for it to be available to everyone. I feel very proud to team up with these authors.
Thinking and thinking: I’m kind of happy that football season is here. The only time I followed football was when my son was playing. However, my husband loves football. For me, while he’s watching the games, I have more time to read. 😀
Pondering:
“You do not have to sit outside in the dark. If, however, you want to look at the stars, you will find that darkness is necessary. But the stars neither require nor demand it.”
― Annie Dillard, Teaching a Stone to Talk: Expeditions and Encounters
Carefully Cultivating Rhythm: It’s new to me, but recently, I’ve begun tapping into church tradition with my Bible reading by using the Lectionary readings during my study time. I read the same passages every day for a week. There’s something from the Old Testament, Psalms, and New Testament. I like the slower pace and that I’m reading the same passages as many other people in the Church.
Creating By Hand: I haven’t been creating much this month in the way of handcrafts. I have a barely started cross-stitch project on my desk that I want to devote some attention to.
Learning lessons in: I started a creative writing diploma program a week ago that will go on for the next couple of years. I’m loving it! Right now, the classes are online. This means a lot of screen time, particularly when I add in the required reading and use my Kindle. Eye strain is real, and it isn’t pretty: my right eye has a big red spot on it right now. I probably need to build in more breaks and get hard-copy books to read. I already use blue light-blocking glasses.
Keeping house: Today was laundry day.
To be fit and happy: Yoga, sauna, walking, golf, weights.
Giving thanks: for a daughter who bakes the most delicious pumpkin chocolate chip cookies and makes the house smell wonderful.
Living the Liturgy: A blessing
“Lord, come to bless us. and fill us with your Spirit. We thank you for the fruit of your Holy Spirit. We ask you to reveal in our lives the love of Jesus.”
Planning for the week ahead: school, prepping for teaching Sunday School, hair salon….
Book Stuff: I finished the first draft of my latest work-in-progress! I plan to let it sit for the next couple of weeks before I begin working on edits. It goes to my editor in January. Then I’ll get it back in February and do more edits, and then it will get a final proofread, then formatting, and then the advanced reader copies (ARCs) will go to early reviewers, and finally, it will be available in September of 2024.
*Thank you to Elizabeth Foss, writer at In the Heart of My Home, for the inspiration and format behind this daybook.
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May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you: wherever he may send you; may he guide you through the wilderness: protect you through the storm; may he bring you home rejoicing: at the wonders he has shown you: may he bring you home rejoicing: once again into our doors.