Pacific Coast Rest-Stop

[jostrick]

Yeah I think I might change the jam making from winter to fall and then have the candle making as a winter thing. But I don't know what to do for spring. I don't want them planting anything or doing anything that has to do with a green thump and garden because the mother is a florist and she is always plating and caring for flowers and the kids often get involved so I want these special days to be something different, I was also wanting it to be something outside considering the jam and candle making are inside things.

I live in Washington now so the growing season is different from my days in missouri, but I am still picking blackberries from my siblings bushes even though most shops/roadstands have ended the blackberry season. Pears are really in right now, as well as apples. Picking berries is a unique experience with lots of outdoor adventure...bees, scrapes, ladders falling, branches grasping...if your setting is Missouri, I recall picking wild grapes for jam when I was a kid...and there are some nasty 4 inch thornes in Missouri woods (as my poor foot still bears the scar--it pierced through thick tennis shoes and broke off deep within...took 3 months to get it out! No exaggeration.) Sorry, hope no squemishness (sp?) Planning a trip soon down the Columbia gorge to apple orchards. One thing I did while in Missouri (idea for spring) was bike the Katy trail with friends...course for any season, I loved the antique shopping and little shops for coffee/tea/soup/sandwiches...wish we had more of those out here. So that's it, my two cents...now I really miss Missouri...

[JesusPuppy]

Now now, Bomber.. you know that "Kansas" covers Oklahoma, Nebraska and parts of both the Dakotas. I even saw it on a map once.

And Shann.. I aint afraid of no LOOK. Having met miss Allison in person I can honestly say her "Heart" is twice as tall as she is, and I love her greatly for it.

[JoyAnn]

Yeah I think I might change the jam making from winter to fall and then have the candle making as a winter thing. But I don't know what to do for spring. I don't want them planting anything or doing anything that has to do with a green thump and garden because the mother is a florist and she is always plating and caring for flowers and the kids often get involved so I want these special days to be something different, I was also wanting it to be something outside considering the jam and candle making are inside things.

I live in Washington now so the growing season is different from my days in missouri, but I am still picking blackberries from my siblings bushes even though most shops/roadstands have ended the blackberry season. Pears are really in right now, as well as apples. Picking berries is a unique experience with lots of outdoor adventure...bees, scrapes, ladders falling, branches grasping...if your setting is Missouri, I recall picking wild grapes for jam when I was a kid...and there are some nasty 4 inch thornes in Missouri woods (as my poor foot still bears the scar--it pierced through thick tennis shoes and broke off deep within...took 3 months to get it out! No exaggeration.) Sorry, hope no squemishness (sp?) Planning a trip soon down the Columbia gorge to apple orchards. One thing I did while in Missouri (idea for spring) was bike the Katy trail with friends...course for any season, I loved the antique shopping and little shops for coffee/tea/soup/sandwiches...wish we had more of those out here. So that's it, my two cents...now I really miss Missouri...

It is set in California. Because according to one of my research book it is the state with the highest sales in flowers and the mother is a florist so it was important to me that it was a place with high numbers in the florist business. Also I have had a previous book set there so I had already looked into the area and what it was like. My brother is in Springfield Missouri attending Central Bible College though so that is cool that you're originally from there and now live in Washington like me.

[deejay]

Shopping, maybe? Here in California, the big emphasis is either gardening or shopping in spring. Maybe the MC's mom takes her on a trip to purchase a new flower variety that just became available; during the drive--a longish one--they could talk. When they get to the place where this flower variety is sold, it turns out to be a special event the mom had been planning all along--a tea party, perhaps. The MC not only enjoys the pleasant surprise, but learns something about her mom she never knew before--perhaps there's some connection between the mom and the flower?


I posted this in the Prayer Request thread, under Traveling Mercies, but over the last weekend I was at the Foursquare Southwestern District Women's Conference. In a couple of weeks, the audio of the sessions will be available, as will the photos taken--I'm likely to be in a few shots. So to access these sessions--they're free--go to www.foursquare.org, and look for "Women in Ministry", "Unlocking the Gifts in You", and "The Fierceness of Your Feet". Or check out www.essentialconference.com . You're going to love them, especially the last one, which helped me alot.

[JoyAnn]

Shopping, maybe? Here in California, the big emphasis is either gardening or shopping in spring. Maybe the MC's mom takes her on a trip to purchase a new flower variety that just became available; during the drive--a longish one--they could talk. When they get to the place where this flower variety is sold, it turns out to be a special event the mom had been planning all along--a tea party, perhaps. The MC not only enjoys the pleasant surprise, but learns something about her mom she never knew before--perhaps there's some connection between the mom and the flower?

That is definitely something to think about.

[tonguethaid]

Pup harbors aliens in his basement. I'm a secret alien myself, Kara got hooked on Dr Who because Pup suggested it to her so they have conversations that many can't follow.

The individualist in me squirmed a bit at this. I actually had been watching Doctor Who before, I just found out that Pup also was a huge fan and it was nice to talk about it with someone. (and the individualist in me wouldn't let that go...how silly)

[Sparrow]

I passed the national interpreter certification! Thanks for your support and prayers! Funny timing hearing the results today because I'm having some trouble with one of the classes I'm interpreting right now. Would love prayer for that.

Part of being certified now is a tad scary because now I'll have to be going to workshops all the time to keep up my continuing education credits. Of course I love to keep learning but the weekend long workshops are very expensive and take a lot out of my physically, taking a long time to recover from.

But positives are that I'll get a pay raise at the college and will be qualified to do more types of interpreting work now. I'd like to start interpreting for counselling sessions and volunteer at a Christian crisis pregnancy center. I might do some medical interpreting, too.

[srashmi]

Congrats Amy

[Ms. Barbie]

YAY for AMY!

[Ms. Barbie]

I briefly got to meet up with Leah and her hubby last night at the fair.

It was a working trip for me. Due to certain circumstances, I had to take one of my clients to the fair, along with one staff. I was already tired when I got there about 4:30 pm after working since about 7:45 am. My hips and legs were complaining and I was just about done in, so did not last much longer. Pushing his wheelchair helped me to walk a little longer!

Sorry Leah. I promise we will do something together another time- let me know what's available. October is mostly booked for week-ends now, but may be able to get week-day off.

[Shann]

Pup harbors aliens in his basement. I'm a secret alien myself, Kara got hooked on Dr Who because Pup suggested it to her so they have conversations that many can't follow.

The individualist in me squirmed a bit at this. I actually had been watching Doctor Who before, I just found out that Pup also was a huge fan and it was nice to talk about it with someone. (and the individualist in me wouldn't let that go...how silly)

I am so sorry, I never meant to suggest you weren't an individualist. I had thought you were asking about good shows to watch and Pup suggested Dr. Who so I apologize and come to you on bended knee and ask for your forgiveness

[Shann]

I add my kudos to the mix for Amy but I knew she was going to pass way back when she took the test! I do wonder if your employer might not pay for the training weekends, I know a lot of places do that. If not maybe if you volunteer at one of the places you mentioned, then maybe they would be willing to help cover the costs. But I am doing a Happy Dance!

Hey Barb, so cool you got to see Leah even if just for a bit. Isn't Tim in your neck of the woods too (though from what I understand So Ca has a very long neck so it may not be feasible) but maybe ya all could get together. Sorry to hear about tour pain. Wishing I were there to make it all better though not sure what I could do, you've probably outgrown the let mommy kiss it stage huh? Plus kissing your hips and legs doesn't quite sound right so instead I'll pray cuz I can do that here or there why I can pray everywhere! (((HUGS)))

Howdy to all of you missing links out there and come back in and see us soon!

[JoyAnn]

Okay, so I need the mind of a writer. I am still trying to plot out the series that I am going to be working on in this NaNo and the next few years, because it is a four book series that all run on each other I have to plan it all out as a whole so that I know that is going on in each book when I break it down to plan the books. In the first book the eldest daughter the MC in the first book sees a mystery man at the funeral for her mother. She becomes obsessed with find out with who this man is and it causes troubles in her marriage. When she finds out who he is there is resolution with her husband and she lets this man go. However, I am not sure which idea I have I should go with, I have four options all with their own set of issues and problems and would bring a different resolution for not only the MC but her marriage and even other people. I also want to kind of surprise the readers and the MC at the end when they find out who he is, and I don't want to be cliched or predictable.

Option one: the man is her father, who left her mother when she got pregnant at 17 with Autumn (MC) Autumn has always wanted to meet her father, and has felt very bitter and angry that her father had never wanted her and had never had the chance to meet him.

Option two: the man is her Grandfather, whom he and his wife had kicked their 17 year old daughter when she was pregnant with Autumn and had never spoken to since. And he has regretted it for years.

Option three: the man is guy that had once known Alani her mother in high school and loved her, but never got a his chance and hadn't seen her since graduating. (And I was thinking that their would be a story about something nice that she had done for him, because was picked on in high school)

Option four: the man is a reporter covering the story in the paper and was trying to get with her so much so that he almost always showing up and meddling in her life.

I am leaning more toward one and two, but I think that the firs is cliche and predictable, because a theme that will be running through is her anger and her dad not being there and her jealous that her sister Winter's father has come back and she won't so much as let the man say two words to her. So I think that it being her grandfather might be a little more surprising. Though I think option that has the biggest healing and resolution for the character is it being her father.


And I had planned to have each book be written solely in the MC's POV but now I am wondering if I will be able to do that--I have never written anything this long in one person's POV before--and if there might be more benefits from showing the other sister's mindsets throughout the first year after their mothers passing. rather than the few months that is spent on each in their own books.

Which option do you think is best for the character or the least expected?
Just the MC's person's POV or show all four sister in all four books?

[b24bomb]

Now now, Bomber.. you know that "Kansas" covers Oklahoma, Nebraska and parts of both the Dakotas. I even saw it on a map once.

It sure did...back in the day.

Lots and lots and lots and LOTS of days ago.....

Which option do you think is best for the character or the least expected?
Just the MC's person's POV or show all four sister in all four books?

Ok, here's what I think: Option 4 (the reporter) would have to be really planned out to give the reoporter motivation for pursuing her. Is he going to stalk her? Why? Does she know something (or he thinks she does) that could further his career? Or is he just sick in the head?

Option 3 is a nice thought, but again, what is the motivation for continuing the relationship past the funeral? And where would he fit in after it was all said and done.

You're right that Option 1is cliché, but clichés are clichés for a reason - they worked at one point. You could work the resentment piece because that means conflict, and it's resolving conflict that moves the story forward. It just means stretching your imagination a bit.

However, I like Option 2 with the grandfather myself. BUT here's a thought - why not make him her father's father instead of her mother's father? It could open up that door so that you could still work that piece in about her father and the resentment, but this grandfather would be the reason. Perhaps her father is too ashamed...or what if he's dead and her grandfather just found out about her? Or something like that. That could change her perspective on him a bit, right?

But it's your story and those are just my opinions. I couldn't help answering because it's been a long time since I've written anything and I feel excited just thinking about it now.

And I had planned to have each book be written solely in the MC's POV but now I am wondering if I will be able to do that--I have never written anything this long in one person's POV before--and if there might be more benefits from showing the other sister's mindsets throughout the first year after their mothers passing. rather than the few months that is spent on each in their own books.

And I think you can do it from each MC's POV. It would go a long way to making sure it was each her story and make it easler to keep in her head as you write it. And all four sisters will still be in the stories that way because they all impact each other's lives one way or another, right? And personally, I love first-person POV's.

[srashmi]

Happy birthday, Lauren