Miscellaneous

I'm a day late and a dollar short this week with my posts. The last week was filled with volunteering and the annual St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Craft Fair. I'm a tole painter as well as flower arranger and decorator of special projects. Last year the fair raised $21,000 so we aren't the typical "little old lady" group. This year's inventory amounted to less than last year so the profit won't be as much. However, it took up three of my days. Tomorrow we'll culminate the event and donate leftovers to nursing homes and other craft sales.

To catch you up on book progress, the Charles Russell book should be in route to the printer soon. I've been working on a Frederic Remington book. Today I emailed the Amon Carter Museum with a list of paintings/sculptures I want to use. Should have done it before writing the manuscript. Actually, I did check their website and found the pieces I wanted to use. Today was a different story. We'll see if they still own them.

My advice is to check before writing. I may discover I've included some items the museum no longer owns and will have to start all over or at least delete some pictures and add others. Hopefully they'll get back to me quickly.

Even though the week provided little writing time, I managed to write two pages of the manuscript and an article for a small town paper on Sunday. The month is almost over - YEA! I'll have more time in November provided our two trips don't interfere. I'll babysit my twin grandsons November 3rd through 6th. Visit a Dixieland Jazz Festival in Clearwater, Florida, Thanksgiving week. Should have an article idea after we visit the Circus Museum and see my husband's father's picture with the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Band.

In the meantime I'll get a head start on Christmas decorating and baking. Since my husband has knee surgery on December 21st and comes home on the 24th, I should have plenty of writing time at the end of 2010 and beginning of 2011.

When I counted up my submission for 2010 last week, I discovered I'd met my goal of one a week. I know many other people submit much more, but that was my goal. Not all received acceptances, however, one included a book. Guess my time was well spent.

What writing goals do you make? Be reasonable. Don't expect miracles. But keep plugging along.