Forest Idylls

The Gateway to the West

Visiting the Gateway of the West, and Arrow Rock, MO.

On The Road

Day 1: Driving from VA to St. Louis. By car, not steamboat, with a celebratory stop at a distillery.

So, what’s going on?

Find out why I am doing a month-long road trip across the country, and how to follow along!

The first order of business once we finally finished the interminable task of unloading the car and setting up the tent was finding firewood before it got dark. I might add that one of the only things I was actually looking forward to during this camping trip was sitting in front of a fire andContinue reading "Camping Practice: Part Two"

Camping Practice: Part One

Have you ever heard of a "practice" camping trip? Yeah, me neither. But my husband insisted that it was necessary. When he first suggested this abominable plan in January, gently noting that I hadn't set foot in a tent in almost two decades and insinuating it might be better to know how to set upContinue reading "Camping Practice: Part One"

Working Up to Success

I know, I know - I didn't post last week. Based on the previous weeks' delays, I have decided that it might be time to move back to an every-other-week schedule for my blog posts. After all, with everything else on the internet, who has the time or energy to read a weekly blog postContinue reading "Working Up to Success"

The Tale of a Beast

I turned and looked at myself in the remains of the shattered glass. It was true. I was a now, officially, a beast. I've been working my way through Gail Carson Levine's book Writing Magic far longer than I am going to admit to. I love it because, although it seems to be aimed atContinue reading "The Tale of a Beast"

One Scene at a Time

Far more often than not, being a successful writer entails just getting your bum in a chair and working, whether you feel like it or not. Technically, I know this, and yet it is hard to force myself to do it. It's just writing. I don't feel inspired. I can always write/edit later, right? OneContinue reading "One Scene at a Time"

Chadwick’s Party

I owe you all a post from Wednesday. I've been sitting here, wondering what to write because, honestly, I feel like I have nothing worth sharing. Not that that is a new feeling, but especially this week, I have even less to say than usual. And, as I was sitting here, curled up on theContinue reading "Chadwick’s Party"

All the Details

I AM SO EXCITED! Okay. I tried typing the opening to this post like five times yesterday and I couldn't figure out a sophisticated, professional way to open it without being boring and still expressing how I feel right now. So, I finally decided to just be honest, even if it looks too sappy orContinue reading "All the Details"