Love, Joy and … Play?

The holiday season is here, and as you traverse all of the to-do’s on your list, don’t forget to add a bit of playfulness to your season.

Yes, that’s right, play. We know it’s the season for love and joy, but did you know that play can help you decrease your stress and feel the joy of the season more?

So for today’s writing, spend a few minutes thinking about a type of play you would enjoy. No one watching, no inhibitions, just the unfettered play of a child.

Now set your timer for 5 minutes and write about what it would be like. What would you do? How would you feel?

Here we go … ready … set … write!

April 1

It’s April 1, and Mother Nature has decided to play a joke on the Pacific Northwest US by dumping 10 inches of snow on the mountain passes… with more to come later in the day.

However, signs of spring are visible here in the valley, promising that the snow will not last… even in the mountains.

How are things where you are?  Is spring in full swing?  Are you already transitioning into summer?  Or are you in an area that is heading into fall? Or is the weather unrelated to what April promises for you?

Take a moment to think about what you want from this April, then… Ready… Set.. Write!

It’s Pi(e) Day

3.14, the day of the endless number. Or … if you have a sweet tooth, the day to celebrate pie.

I don’t feel like I can write a lot about an endless number, except that it is creepy how often it comes up in the world of math and engineering. However, if we are talking about pie, there is quite a lot I could say.

Today, I think my favorite might be Raspberry cream. There is a restaurant here in our town that gets pies from a local pie lady who makes the most amazing Raspberry cream pie.

At Christmas my favorite is Pecan, closely followed by Apple.

What about you? Do you celebrate Pi day with pie? Did you even know Pi had a day? Do you like pie? What is your favorite?

Set your timer and ready … set … write!

Baking Season

Date-pecan scone with words November is Baking Season.

November in the Pacific Northwest brings with it short days, cool (or cold) weather and snow – at least in the mountains. These things make me want to curl up with a good book, a hot drink and favorite baked item (fresh from the oven if possible).

That means it’s baking season. The aroma fills the house and soaks into your senses creating a feeling of home and comfort.

This week’s baking included the Date-pecan Scones in the picture. They are fluffy, tasty and filled with whole-grain goodness that let’s you accept a scone and still feel like you aren’t too far off your health goals. 🙂

What about you? Do you like to bake? What brings you the feeling of home and comfort?

Take a minute to consider it, then set your timer and ready … set … write!

Fall Traditions

Applesauce in jars and applesauce cooking on the stove. What are your fall traditions? KariMolaWrites and you can too!

Fall is a time for change and preparation – the weather cools, the colors of nature turn from green to shades of yellow, orange and red and here in the Pacific Northwest it’s also a time for apples. One of our traditions since we have lived in apple country is to make applesauce every year. And since we live where the fruit grows, we are able to make applesauce from the sweetest varieties – most often Honeycrisp.

There is a little family run fruit stand just down the road from us, and every year we buy several boxes of their Honeycrisp 2nds to make applesauce. Apples that aren’t perfect – have some spots, are a strange shape, or anything else that would keep them from going to the grocery stores. They still taste great though, and mixed with a little lemon juice and cinnamon, then cooked down for a few hours, they make the best chunky applesauce in the world! Okay, maybe I’m a bit biased here, but that is what my tastebuds tell me. 🙂

But what about you? What are your fall traditions? Do you carve pumpkins? Go look at the fall colors? Something else entirely? I’d love to hear about them if you’d like to put them in the comments. But even if you don’t want to share, this is today’s writing prompt. So take a moment to think about your traditions, then…

Ready … set … write!

Who’s Your Neighbor?

I’m on vacation in Baja California right now and am loving the desert flora and fauna. The tropical plants are so different from what we have in the Pacific Northwest, U.S. and the cohabitation of desert and tropical plants is amazing to me.

One of the plants I am enjoying is the saguaro cactus. They are everywhere here. When we drive down the road, it is as if we are driving through a forest of them. There are vines with bright pink or magenta flowers climbing the saguaro … it’s truly beautiful.

One of the saguaro near the house we are staying at is the home of an iguana. Mr. Iguana loves to sit in his doorway and watch everyone go by. It has been fun to get to know this little neighbor and the other animal neighbors near this home.

What about the neighbors near you? Are there chipmunks, or rabbits or other animal neighbors? For today’s free writing, think about your animal neighbors and include them in what you write.

Let your creativity flow and have fun! Ready … set … write!

A Place You’d Like To Be

Where would you like to be right now? A tropical paradise, a ski slope, exactly where you are?

Right now I’m exactly where I want to be, but it happens to be on vacation in Cabo, so I really can’t wax philosophical on being happy where I am.

Take a few minutes to think about where you’d like to be spending your time right now. Then take out your pen and paper (or writing media of choice), and ready … set … write!

Cinco de Mayo

On May 5, 1862, an outnumbered and out gunned Mexican Army fought and won a battle against the French invading army.

Though not the end of the war, the Mexican forces fought valiantly to defend their homeland from foreign rule.

Today, many celebrate this day as a time to remember and enjoy Mexican culture and food.

What about you? Do you celebrate Cinco de Mayo? If so, what does it mean to you?

Set your timers and ready … set … write!

April Flowers

These are flowers from my garden. Some are in full bloom … Rock cress, phlox, lilac and lobelia … while others are budding, preparing for their time of full beauty.

That makes me think of people with potential just waiting to be developed and discovered. Writing practice is one way to develop your writing potential so that when opportunity comes your way, you will be ready to accept it and “burst into full bloom.”

So for today’s writing practice, consider what you are doing to prepare yourself for upcoming opportunities, then write about it.

Are you ready? Set your timer and ready … set … write!

April Fools Day

Do you do anything for April Fools Day? We always play friendly jokes on each other in our family. Garlic in toothpaste, short sheeted beds or other little pranks, but our level of pranks were nothing compared to others that I know.

What about you? Todays writing prompt involves writing about what you do on April 1. Whether pranking or not – how do you spend this day?

Ready … set … write!