Sew and Sew

Posted on July 15, 2016 by Paula

The challenge today is to depict a “connection.” With this photograph, I’m showing you how crocheted edgings are being connected to pillowcases. On the occasion of my mother’s funeral, Dad told us five sisters to go through some of Mom’s things to pick out something we’d like. We went through the drawers in the buffet where she kept her large tablecloths and found these edgings which her mom, my grandmother, crocheted. I’m guessing they were done some time in the 60s. She died late in that decade.

I took the crochet work home and cleaned them up because after all that time, they’d yellowed. Now, after connecting the edgings to the pillowcases, each of my siblings and their spouses are going to get a little bit of Grandma after all these years.

They’ll also have a connection to Grandma they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to make.

Chicken Crossing

Posted on July 12, 2016 by Paula

For today’s WordPress blogging challenge, I took a trip down one of my favorite local country roads. This family sells fresh eggs and raises miniature horses. See the colt and its mother? The farm scene isn’t fully captured here and, sad to say, my photo doesn’t do it justice. But in my mind, for a rather busy country road, the scene is idyllic. I could live here.

Schedule for Stuff

Posted on June 27, 2016 by Paula

Here at The Fruitful Life I like to post regular features. I may have started the blog to write about how the Christian faith molds my life. But since I began, I realize the word “fruitful” can mean more than that. I want to live the totally abundant life Christ came to give me.

My interests are many, thanks to God who created me. But to post about everything isn’t realistic. However, you’ll find on this site essays about things I can’t help but share. Reading is a passion of mine. I reeeally enjoy watching movies (even old B&W ones!). So occasionally I feel a stirring and write about those things.

I also have a passion for food, learning more about cooking and baking, and discovering new recipes. Sometimes I’m precise in the process; sometimes I cook ‘by guess and by golly.’ That’s here too.

Below is a tentative schedule for postings on The Fruitful Life. Sometimes I take little vacations or life gets hectic and I have to skip a post. Remember that abundant life? Yep, that’s what happens.

Media Monday Some Mondays will see either a book review or a movie review. Those offerings are strictly my opinion and the reviews may not be for media recently released. I believe that, after reading a book or watching a movie, I may help someone make a decision about whether to try it too. If that’s media which is not so new, it’s okay. I’m often influenced by the reviews–good and bad–that I read. You might even see an occasional mention of music here.

Wednesday is for Faith The middle of the work week has been the usual day when I share something about how my faith instructs all I do. I’ll be the first to say I don’t live the Christian life perfectly. That’s why I so desperately need a savior. Writing about what I believe and using the Bible to explain it helps confirm my faith.

Foodie Friday Friday food posts will be instantly recognizable since they’ll have the word “foodie” in the title. Friday features tips, recipes, ideas you may not have tried, or something heartfelt about how we respond to food and eating. I’m not a professional photographer so bear with me when I post my own picture stuff.

Good News Any Day I decided recently, after some time being involved with social media, that I want to share some good news. “How do I do that?” I wondered. So far, I have a couple ideas. One is obvious: search the Internet. It’s not all bad news out there and we need to hear good news to keep our psyches afloat. Hope buoys us up and knowing people are doing well or ‘doing good’ gives us hope. I’ll be keeping an ear to the ground and either telling the story in my own way or offering links to various good news stories.

And speaking of Good News, please remember that I write from a Christian perspective. Even when I’m not writing about food, I pray what you see here will be seasoned with truth and grace. Just as Jesus offered everything he said and did.

Your comments are always welcome. It would be great to know if you found me on WordPress, Twitter or Facebook, if you care to say so.

Be a blessing to someone today.

Just Keep Writing

Posted on May 6, 2016 by Paula

Whatever you may think of gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson, he certainly elicits reactions. Him and his writing. Recently, I was pointed to a quote by Thompson at a time when he probably was still considering his career. And while I don’t believe in ‘fate,’ I think he’s onto something.

A writer writes because he just can’t not write.

“As things stand now, I am going to be a writer. I’m not sure that I’m going to be a good one or even a self-supporting one, but until the dark thumb of fate presses me to the dust and says, ‘you are nothing,’ I will be a writer.” Hunter S. Thompson

For the past two weeks, ‘life’ and being a little under the weather have kept me away from blogging as I’d have liked to, but writing is never far from my mind. In fact, ideas are always rolling around in my brain like little ball bearings. Next week, I hope to get back to my regular schedule. Thanks for hanging in there with me. For those writers who plug along no matter what, I applaud you.

As for me, once in a while I have to make a pit stop for fuel.

After That Pause…A Page

Posted on February 18, 2016 by Paula

Recently I decided to make my blog more like the website I hope to make it on another day. Including a photo of myself works. Including a ‘follow’ button and links to recent posts also works.

Another page under “Author Stuff” is something I needed. My introduction to myself is short and (I hope) somewhat humorous. It’s my way of letting you know who I am in a lighthearted way. “Published Stuff” is for the people who want to know a little more about the “author” mentioned in that page.

I’ve been writing for ghmsngrg years and this page addition includes information about past and present writing efforts. Sure, I’ve had other jobs. Retail experience in a grocery store, cleaning lady, secretary, bookkeeper, waitress, and proofreader, to name a few. But writing is a career for me, not just a job.

So hover over “Author Stuff” and take a look if you’re so inclined. Thanks for being a regular reader. As always, your comments are welcome.

On Pause…

Posted on February 12, 2016 by Paula

The writer of this blog has an apology and an explanation for my absence in the past few weeks. “I’m sorry” to all of my readers who come by to check in and see nothing new. I’m sorry for myself because posting here enriches my life.

Lately, I’ve been preparing for and recovering from an elective surgery. I’ve also been preparing to move to a new home. In sorting priorities, the blog came in lower on the list.

Next week, when I’m settled into my new apartment, I hope to be back. Perhaps I’ll even share a little about the journey I took with the surgery. There’s actually some funny stuff to tell. Some blessings as well. God is good.

Be a blessing to someone today.

Paula

And the Survey Said…(2015 Top Five Posts)

Posted on January 17, 2016 by Paula

We celebrated the beginning of a new calendar year more than two weeks ago, but I’m playing catch-up.

Life happens.

WordPress sent my statistics for the year with the following posts coming up as the favorites for 2015. The number of hits isn’t important to me so much, but an interesting stat was just where the readers were coming from. Folks from a total of 52 countries logged in.

The Fruitful Life is still finding its way around the blogosphere and still trying to define itself. I’m happy if you’ve found anything enjoyable, encouraging or educational. Stay tuned. This coming year will see more faith-based posts, Foodie Friday fun and some posts related to books and movies.

If you had a favorite not listed here, let me know. Your comments are always welcome.

Top Five Posts of 2015

“Why I Don’t Go To Church”

“Choosing My Battles”

“Why I Go To Church”

“I Can Hear it Now”

“The Intruders”

From Prayer to Popcorn, you chose the favorites. Thanks for reading.

No One Spoke

Posted on November 22, 2015 by Paula

A fellow blogger, Stuart Perkins, tells his stories on Storyshucker. Stuart is an expert storyteller.

Not long ago, he told this inspiring story which includes a sunrise. We seem to be amazed and awed by sunrises and sunsets. Everywhere on social media, people post photos exhibiting the majesty of our sun rising out of or falling into the horizon.

“No One Spoke” is a beautifully told story of a group experiencing a sunrise from a beach.

Click on the link above. I hope you enjoy it.

Ten Things I Can’t Do While Writing And What To Do About Followers

Posted on April 11, 2015 by Paula

Besides re-blogging a post from another WordPress blogger, I haven’t been busy with The Fruitful Life lately. I haven’t any excuses; just a few reasons.

In March, I spent a week in the hospital and when I got home, spent more than a week catching up. (No details; it’s all too ugly). My life had been interrupted by something that, while necessary, was a pain in the neck. That’s not to say, neck pain was why I was hospitalized, but you get my meaning.

When I told a friend how frustrating it was, she said, “I know your personality too. You needed to have everything back in order immediately, didn’t you?”

She knows me well. That’s why I can call her a friend. However, things didn’t get into order immediately. Since I didn’t have Internet for a while and I was locked out of my laptop to boot, I had to go to the library to use their computers. I told you it was ugly.

A Broken Pencil
I thought about getting back to the blog because I hadn’t posted in so long. I even had a couple of back burner articles to post. But it seemed my pencil had been broken and writing got put on hold a little longer.

To tell you the truth, real life just plain got in the way of the writing life. Members of my writers’ group tell me it happens to them too. I just never thought it would happen to me. So here I am blogging again and I have to acknowledge things that I simply cannot do at the same time I’m writing.

1. Work on my Bible study
2. Engage in a hobby
3. Housework
4. Gab on the phone with my son, daughter and grand kids
5. Listen to the Detroit Tigers on the radio
6. Watch that new release movie I want to see
7. Shop for groceries
8. Sit down and pay the bills
9. Cook and eat a meal
10. Sleep

You may argue that some items on the list aren’t necessary for my household to stay up to snuff. To that I say, “All work and no play…”

Is Anybody Out There?
When I got back onto the blog, I noticed The Fruitful Life had nothing listed under Top Posts & Pages. There had been traffic, but not enough to rate, I suppose. Funny. I took a keen look at Twitter and the number of ‘followers’ had done some wild stuff there too.

The surge of emails in my absence let me know I had new followers, but the actual number shown on Twitter didn’t reflect that. I’ve never been that great at math, but something didn’t come out right.

Now, I’m not all that concerned with numbers. It’s why I don’t have a counter on my blog or a notice below the Follow button saying how many people do (follow). The Twitter thing was one of those strange deals I just shook my head over. I figured as far as “followers” are concerned, I needn’t get too upset about it.

Not little old me.

Jesus, the sinless Son of God, lost followers too. Because he said some fairly harsh things and some outright difficult-to-understand things, folks stopped following. (See John 6:60-66) I haven’t used the term “brood of vipers.” I haven’t suggested people are going to hell. Nevertheless, I can’t consider myself in the same league as Christ Jesus.

[As an aside, if I really thought about the lives at stake, I would talk about hell. Gently. Accurately. Truth be told, quoting Jesus’ words about hell for a good reason would be more responsible than misquoting scripture to suit my own uses.]

Anyway, since the blog is supposed to reflect joy in my spiritual journey, I needed to write about this period of not facing the page in front of me. Writing is one of those things I feel very strongly God has given me a talent for and a calling to do. Besides, the writing itself gives me joy.

Now that I’m home and the groceries are bought, the laundry’s done, the bills are paid, I talked to my kids, and I even watched a new release movie, my broken pencil is back in action.

You’re certainly welcome to “follow.”

River Language

Posted on February 16, 2015 by Paula

The elements for today’s Writing 201 poetry assignment:

‘Water’ as the prompt
Haiku as the form
Simile as the device

Haiku takes several forms, with each form defined by how many lines it contains and how many syllables are in each line. This poem takes the three-line 5-7-5 form. I chose a river because I’ve always enjoyed the experience of watching and listening to the movement of a river, whether large or small. There is no obvious simile in this poem.

River Language

Slow river murmurs

secrets to the shore, and in

the reeds, it giggles