Introducing Block Patterns
I recently retired from teaching English, a career that fed my soul for many years. I have taken a C.S. Lewis quote to heart: “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” I am now pursuing my lifelong dream of becoming a published author. Since I spent most of my career helping students craft and hone their writing skills, I decided to train as a book editor to help other Christian writers.
I love reading and writing historical and inspirational romances, but my ten-year-old granddaughter and sixth-grade students inspired me to write a book (maybe a series) for middle school children, which I hope to publish soon. The series has one purpose, and one purpose only: to make children laugh.
If you have a few hours, I would love to tell you about the loves of my life, my three young granddaughters, ages ten, six, and three. Their laughter and innocence bring a special kind of joy to my life.
I have been horse crazy since I was a little girl.
I’ve owned and loved many horses in my lifetime, but Sonny, our Quarter horse, was my favorite.
I have raised and shown horses much of my life, but my work in equine-assisted therapy for mentally and physically disabled children revealed the horse’s remarkable healing power.
Many years ago, while in Wyoming, I discovered the Pryor Mountain Wild Mustang Center, a refuge for wild horses. The closeness of the family bands, a stallion, his mares, and their foals captivated me. I remain steadfast in protecting these beautiful horses, symbols of the spirit of the American West, as do the good people at the Pryor Mountain Wild Mustang Center. Check out their website https://www.pryormustangs.org.
I have loved every visit to the center, but one trip stands out. My daughter and I spotted a small band of mustangs crossing the road and pulled over to watch them. Several mares and a little filly had already crossed the road, but the beautiful palomino stallion stood as still as a statue, watching us from the other side.
When my daughter rolled down her window on the passenger side, the cute little filly in the picture below became so brave and curious that she trotted to our truck and stuck her nose in the window, playfully nibbling at my daughter’s ponytail.
The filly’s mama, a grullo mare, shrieked in terror. The palomino stallion heard her distress and charged the front of my new Dodge Ram truck. He pawed the road and reared several times, only inches from the hood of my truck. He snorted, squealed, and huffed. He laid his ears back, a sure sign that he was angry. I had seen this posturing before when two stallions were about to fight. His come-to-Jesus message was clear: Don’t you dare move or hurt my family. The mare anxiously rounded up her baby, letting the filly know that she was in big trouble.
When the mares and the little filly were safely away from my truck, the stallion gave one last snort to remind me who was boss. Then, he tossed his flaxen mane, crossed the road, snaked his head, and drove his little family to safety.
I lived in the West for several years. My love and knowledge of the West and horses, especially wild mustangs, often provide insight for my inspirational romances. The bond between a man and his horse, particularly in the rugged landscape, adds depth and romance to my stories. I believe Will Rogers said, “A man on a horse is a mighty romantic thing to a woman.” I agree.
Besides reading and writing inspirational and historical romance, I love reading and writing about the South, especially humorous Southern romance. My deep-rooted love for the South, its culture, and its people often inspire my writing.
I come from a long line of fishermen. My Grandpa Mason bragged to his fishing buddies that while sitting in his lap in his bass boat, I reeled in my first large-mouth bass by myself before I could walk. I regret that I have no pictures to prove this extraordinary fishing tale. I should remind the reader that my grandfather was prone to exaggeration, as are all great fishermen.
I fell in love with fly fishing one summer in Creed, Colorado, when I hooked a huge rainbow trout in the Rio Grande. The trout came out of the water at least two feet and took my fly in mid air. It was so big that it broke my line. My fishing guide said that it would have weighed at least five pounds. Alas, I have no picture to prove my story.
I also fell in love with deep-sea fishing in Carabelle, Florida, a small, sleepy fishing village on the Panhandle. Below are some of my catches from the Gulf of Mexico.
If you are a serious fisherman, like I am, with a sense of adventure, I suggest the Shelter Cove Lodge in Craig, Alaska. Check out their website here: https: www.sheltercovefishinglodge.com
The beautiful and rustic lodge is in a remote fishing village. You can only get to the island by float plane or ferry. Because the cove is sheltered by islands, you don’t get the rough sea waters as on many Alaskan fishing trips. I have had many exciting fishing adventures, but this one tops them all.
We caught our limit every day and took home a freezer full of king salmon, halibut, and other rockfish, which the guides cleaned, froze, boxed, and prepared for the flight home. (I love fishing, but I hate cleaning fish.)
The food at the lodge is delicious. The staff members and sea captains go out of their way to make you comfortable and welcome. Not only will you catch fish, but you will also see wildlife like you have never seen before. We counted twelve bald eagles from our lodge window on the first day. We saw whales, including Orcas, sea lions, porpoises, and dolphins every day. Each morning, the mama sea otters paddled beside our boat on their backs with their babies on their bellies escorting us from the harbor.
See my first catch, a salmon, below.
If you get a chance, travel to the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee in early June to watch the synchronous fireflies light up the sky. Amazing! You will need to enter a lottery early to save a spot. Check out the website for the National Park Service to learn more about the fireflies and lottery. https://www.nps.gov.