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While photography has become a primary passion, I first started blogging in order to explore (and contribute to) The Land of Blog via the written word. As I began devoting more and more of A Sawyer’s Daughter to showcasing my photography, writing was put on the back burner. Heck, it wasn’t even on the stove anymore after awhile. I’d started participating in photo challenges and over time, my photography skills began to improve. I loved (and still love) taking – making! – photographs. Along the way, my enthusiasm and sometimes urgent desire to share my photos and everything I’d seen and experienced, the places I’d been, the quirky things I’d discovered – all of this, now instead – comprised the bulk of what I was posting on my blog.

Now that I’m retired, however, writing has become once again more of a priority. I’m not only writing more now (my own daily journaling, responses to WordPress’ Daily Prompts as well as 682 Things to Write About, a book of writing prompts, which is great fun!), I am also READING about writing, reading inspirational prose related to writing and reading more of what others are writing – about writing. And I’m finding it to be pretty heady stuff. Learning about plot and character development and setting and point of view is getting me pumped up – again – about writing!

Last week I walked by an older woman sitting on a bench watching young children at play in the park. As I continued to walk, an idea for a story took root and that’s what I’m working on now. Where this thing ends up remains to be seen but for now I’m intrigued with where it’s going. I find myself thinking about this story character throughout the day even when I’m not working on it, outlining questions in my mind (and on paper) about how old she is, what her history is, the dilemma she’s facing and how she chooses to deal with it, if indeed, she does at all. I get in a groove once I start writing and it just flows. Occasionally, I’ll stop, put the pen down, remove my glasses and take note of my surroundings or get up to stretch my legs or complete some chores around the house. I could be wrong but I believe this is exactly what writers do! And I think I like it…

So for now, I’ve decided to add writer to my repertoire to keep company with that of my other monikers, that of photographer and blogger. A person can (and should) do that, you know: Decide Who You Are and What You Want To Be. Not bad work if you can get it!

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Wondering if anyone else out there owns each of these same games.

ALSO: Any fun Game Night traditions in your families you’d like to share? What other games have been a huge success? Any that didn’t quite hit the mark?

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It’s been raining pretty hard today (although the skies do appear to be clearing – finally!) and I don’t know about you but I think some bright colors of nature’s finest makes for a welcome diversion….

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Robins seem to enjoy sitting in our diminutive (but growing) locust tree in the backyard. A few years ago, I hung a jewel-toned metal remnant from a battered whirligig – one of those decorative spinning devices that was no match for a strong wind storm a while back – on one of the lower branches, close to the one where the robins like to perch. It’s a pretty addition to our lovely tree and I always hate to part with anything, no matter how small or insignificant, that makes me smile. There is a robin’s nest under the deck, just shy of twenty paces from our tree, and I am left to speculate that Mama Robin see this little bejeweled spot as her sanctuary, her respite from the demands of robin motherhood.

The bright green, almost fluorescent young leaves look so fresh and new, like everything come spring. Surely they must entice my red-breasted friends with the same capacity for joy as whenever I catch a glimpse of our tree looking out our sunroom window.

We planted the locust the first year we lived here; however, for a number of reasons we’ve had to relocate the tree twice since that initial planting. To say that it hasn’t exactly thrived would be an understatement. We jokingly refer to it as our Charlie Brown tree. It has been, however, in its current location now for about seven years and is finally, finally exhibiting new growth, new shoots and sprouts that make my heart happy each spring as it continues to display more form, more fullness, a more pleasing shape.

Oh, and that green! Is it any wonder the robins love it so?

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My sister had tipped me off quite awhile ago about this tiny little county park not far from where she lives. I’d tried several times to find it but it remained elusive until I finally asked her for step-by-step directions to its location (at the end of a dead end gravel road). And it did not disappoint! The winding trail, through deep woods, crossed several small bridges – darling enough in their own right.

But then….

There, in the midst of this small, relatively unknown county treasure, I discovered a suspension bridge much to my delight! It even creaked and swayed a bit as I crossed over to the other side. How cool is that? Their website describes the park as follows:

“Zo-El, a 10-acre woodland, features a winding trail that climbs to the back of the park, crosses a long suspension bridge and then descends back to the trail head, affording the hiker a beautiful stroll through a lovely woodland park along with a picnic ground.”

A beautiful stroll, indeed. Made. My. DAY!!