Welcome
readers, writers, authors, and bloggers!
We’re glad
you’re here. For the seventh time this year, it's the First Wednesday of the
month when we celebrate IWSG Day, in the form of a blog hop featuring
all of the members of the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Founded by Alex Cavanaugh and fostered by like-minded associates, IWSG is a place to
share the fabulous views and exciting news that occurs along our fascinating
writing journeys. Pull up a chair and join us!
Our awesome co-hosts for this
month's posting of the IWSG are:
Pat Garcia, Victoria Marie Lees, and Louise – Fundy Blue!
This week
begins “Air-Conditioning Appreciation Days” There may be a few more
participants than normal this year. For the time being, I envy those who live
near water ;-)
It’s “World Watercolor Month” Do you have a favorite artist? Besides Van Gogh, John Singer Sargent is a favorite of mine. Especially The Loggia, Vizcaya 1917. I can imagine a cool breeze wafting across the terrace as waning rays of daylight are captured in a suncatcher.
A couple of
weeks ago, I counted over thirty ongoing wildfires in my state as daily
temperatures inched ever closer to record highs with no rain in sight. I
couldn’t help but wonder how all those tent-city dwellers across town were
keeping cool. Not a good time to invite so many visitors, if you ask me.
Since it’s Tell
the Truth Day, I will. We were anxious to make good on plans to get out
of the sweltering heat for a while. Monsoon, years overdue, refreshing, and
typically thrilling, arrived three days before we left. Wouldn’t you just
know it? It seemed a bit of it followed
us, as it rained or remained overcast, here in the woods, clear through the 4th
of July. Just when I think nature has fully astonished me, it tosses
something new my way. For example, that fireball that zipped along a utility
line and hit a house down the way - without setting the forest on fire. That was yesterday. Today, cable and internet
are intermittent so I hope I can get this post out on time tomorrow.
Of late I’ve been doing my best to curb excessive usage of the word “just” as in simply, merely,
or barely. Can you tell? I had no idea how often I use the word.
This month, the IWSG optional question asks what would make a writer stop writing. The very thought
of such a thing makes my heart stop long enough to ponder the possibility of
writing from the great beyond. Now that could be fun :-)
As time is
of the essence this morning, I’ll leave you with one (more) burning question: How
would you describe a radish to someone who’s never heard of such a thing?
Happy
Writing!
I hope you're able to get out of the heat and away from the fires. It's hard to imagine how people who are homeless can contend with it all.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you're someone who will never stop writing.
Hi Natalie!
DeleteWe made it to the woods - and back!
I can't imagine ever not writing ;-)
I sometimes wonder about writing in the afterlife too, Diedre. I occasionally reread Tolkien's "Leaf by Niggle," and I find it moving and comforting. Perhaps we do perfect our creative struggles after this life. Here in Colorado, we've dodged a lot of the heat that's been plaguing the country. We've had some wonderful cooling monsoon rains as well. I would have loved to see that fireball. I saw one rolling along the street during my childhood that I never forgot. My favorite watercolor painter is my mother. She didn't have much time to paint until the end of her life. I have only one of the few paintings she did, but it means the world to me. It's a painting of Double Arches in Arches National Park, a special place we shared together one summer's solstice. Happy writing in July!
ReplyDeleteI love "Leaf by Niggle"! A perfect summary of many of us, I suppose. Including your favorite watercolor artist. How wonderful to have her work to cherish.
DeleteHave a lovely July!
Wildfires are a scary phenomenon of nature. Hope you don't sustain too much damage.
ReplyDeleteRadish: A round, red and white edible root with a peppery taste.
Thankfully, there were no on-going fires where we went. But the devastation we drove through was heartbreaking.
DeleteAn edible root sounds almost tempting ;-)
A fireball? Wow! That is crazy.
ReplyDeleteCrazy scary! Followed by eerie, momentary silence so infused with electricity that even the dog wore a buffalo cape as she tried to squeeze under the sofa ;-)
DeleteHowdy, dIEDRE ~
ReplyDeleteI lived in Phoenix for 20 years, and I remember how when I first moved there, and for maybe five to possibly ten years, the monsoons arrived almost every afternoon during the early Summer months, just like clockwork.
But the last ten or fifteen years that I was there, the monsoons had become dern-near completely extinct. And yet people were still yakking about "the monsoon season". I used to ask them, "What?! Am I the ONLY person in Phoenix who seems to have noticed that 'monsoon season' is a thing of the past? Isn't ANYBODY here awake?"
My favorite artist is Edward Hopper. But if we're talking strictly about watercolors, John Pike is certainly amongst my very favorites.
>>... "How would you describe a radish to someone who’s never heard of such a thing?"
A radish (more precisely written as ra'dish) is a contraction of the words rare & dish, and it means: an exceptionally beautiful woman.*
*Source: the book 'Little-Known Literary Lies' by Stephen T. "D-FensDogG" McCarthy
Hi Stephen! Watching clouds gather and darken each afternoon was an actual pastime around here. I'm thrilled to see it happening once again.
DeleteJohn Pike is indeed a master; each painting an invitation to join the scene.
A rare dish? How original! Where do I find this book of "Little-known Literary Lies"?
It looks as if the temperature is on the way UP again, so once again I'm watching for smoke. This is not much fun. Radish: a red bulb that makes your mouth itch when you bite into it.
ReplyDeleteTemps are rising here, as well. While we currently are not threatened, distant smoke has bleached the blue right out of the sky.
DeleteI believe those red bulbs are crisp and bitter little apples that bite you back ;-)
Just stopping by to enjoy your post this month. I think it will be a long and hot summer, one that will bring respite when the season changes. I'm already dreading the smoke, for the rains have been stingy. Radish: a tiny red globe of a vegetable that zings when you put it in your mouth. May you always find the words to tell your stories!
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by, Beth! I'll take the heat as long as it promotes monsoon ;-)
DeleteA tiny red globe that zings is an apt description.
Gosh, having the ability (or not) to always find the right words could certainly be a game-changer.
Have a pleasant summer!
Gosh Diedre, we've been having too much rain where I am in Pennsylvania. Sorry to hear of all the fires in your area. Be careful and keep Cool if you can.
ReplyDeleteI love artists who create art that looks like the scenes they are painting or drawing. I can't do that. My daughter can. It's very exciting. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful post. All best to you!
Too much rain? We'll take any you can spare ;-) Sounds like you have lots of creativity in your family. Wonderful!
DeleteHappy summer!
As much as I try to resist, I've been having to turn on my AC for a few hours each day. My wife starts getting in a bad mood when the house gets too hot and I sure don't want that to happen. Hopefully our next electric bill won't be too high.
ReplyDeleteArlee Bird
Tossing It Out
It's amazing to hear that you have the option to resist using AC! Ours runs 24/7 around here. That is, unless the power goes out...
ReplyDeleteStay cool my friend! Can't wait to hear about your summer travels ;-)
Hi Diedre - the heat is just awful and setting off all manner of dangerous aspects of life. So glad you were able to get away briefly. I hope that the temperatures abate somewhat for you all.
ReplyDeleteI certainly will have trouble not blogging - so yes not writing would be fairly troubling. Cheers Hilary
Hi Hilary!
DeleteNow that storms have become more frequent it has cooled down considerably - thankfully!
There are daily flood advisories, but it's good to see the wildlife stepping lively again ;-)
The woods were a wonderful respite. A squirrel had great fun taunting my daughter's beagle; who takes being a beagle rather seriously - ha!
On my way to check out Kazungula Bridge!
Diedre,
ReplyDeleteI hope all is well with you and yours. The heat of summer continues. August is our hottest month here in the Tennessee Valley. By the time September rolls around, we'll be more than anxious to see the calendar flip over. The fireball incident sounded scary. What was it from, a wild fire or lightening charge or what? How would I describe a radish? A radish is a bitter tasting pale red thin skin and white on inside vegetable which I do not like. Some people like adding radishes to their salad or cole slaw but as you might have guessed I wouldn't add this veggie to anything. :) Thanks for dropping by to cast your vote in my August 1st BoTB. Keep cool and stay healthy now!