My Blueberry Picking Adventure and What I Took Away from it (Besides the Berries)

Nature, at it's finest, is when it produces produce- At least I think that. I know,I know, there are more things to Nature besides the yummy fruit, but hey it tops it. Organic, for me, well... you can't come any closer to organic than to pluck the fruit yourself (not using pesticides plays a factor too-I know) but let's carry on.

This past Saturday, my husband and I and four of our kids went to a local farm and picked some blueberries. We did it twice last year and this was our second time this year. We're going again next Saturday too. Love it. Fun, you get to pick and eat and get great berries at a reasonable price. We're also helping support a local farmer. You just can't beat that.

We went early, before eight, the morning so far was cool and the kids were in a picking mood. Yes, there is a picking mood. Kids have to be in this such mood or you get this- "Mom, I'm hot." or "Mom, my legs are tired." or better, "Mom, the grass is itchy and my bucket won't fill up fast like yours and I don't like the bucket tied around my waist, so can you carry mine for me. Look you can tie it right here next to yours..." It goes on.

And I still love it all. And yes, I would do it again.

Why?

I smile.

I would do it again because regardless of the whining, the itchy grass, the heavy buckets or even the biting bugs (not a problem so far, I remembered the spray), I'd do it again for the quality of time. Life gets busy sometimes. Or maybe we just let ourselves get too busy. Life is as busy as we let it. It also can fly very fast if we let it do that too. So moments like this. Berry picking moments like this, I savor. I savor it like garlic butter on a nice piece of steak that you don't get to eat very often because you are a mother of six plus one and so you are always too broke and can only eat steak about twice a year. Hamburgers are our finest otherwise and that's ok too. I've got a lot of fine memories over hamburgers.

Memories. Key word. Memories are the best. They are those special stories planted in our heads to savor like that nice piece of steak covered in garlic butter to enjoy over and over whenever we want and not just two times a year. (I really am OK about eating steak two times a year, it's just funny to reference:0) Get pictures of those memorable moments and it gives visuals to it. Plus it's fun to look back in time. It also comes in handy for later, much later when your memory starts to fail you. I recommend keeping a journal. Writing those stories down to share with the grand kids later. I cannot go on enough about how much I loved hearing the stories my parents and grandparents shared with me in their lives before me.

Memories are important and you don't have to go on the most supreme adventures or go broke to create a memorable moment. A cardboard box, scissors and a permanent marker has built a few great memories for my children and who would have believed it?! It's not what you spend or where you go, its how you use that time. That's what matters. Not everyone can do the theme parks. Not everyone can afford the vacations twice a year. And that's ok. People were making amazing memories before those kind of vacations or parks. Go somewhere local. Go to the beach. Go to a park. Go to the pool. Just go somewhere together.

Going blueberry picking with my family, I not only created a memory, got my pictures (cause I just love taking pictures of my family:0) and gained some juicy berries, I got that togetherness. I slowed down our lives just a little and got to spend some quality time with the ones I love. Family is  essential to a quality of life. Humans are not meant to be alone and no family isn't just blood related. Friends are family. The craziest of friends make the best type of family.

So get together with someone you love and go blueberry picking. Or not. It's your memory:0)

Thanks for dropping by!

Zombies Invade London!!!

 

Extra, extra, read all about it: Zombies Invade London!

It has been thirty years since the Voodoo Queen plagued England with the zombie disease that has since swept the world. Humans have had to learn to function around them while the dead kill innocent people. The government continues its efforts to try to contain and find a cure for the problem.

However, by the cover of night, a man who was born half zombie and half human known only as Aeron, roams the streets in search of protecting the upright citizens from the flesh eating creatures. One foggy evening Lucille Knight becomes one of these people, Aeron’s interest is instantly peeked. A woman who gets upset with him for saving her life? What is wrong with her?

But Aeron will have a little competition when Miss. Knight meets Lord Garrett Ashdown, the son of Earl Thomas or a man better known as: The Inventor. A man who builds automatons for the direct purpose of killing zombies; mysteriously understanding their blood and the way they sense humans.

Lucy is taken by the masked man known as Aeron and the equally mysterious Lord Garrett. With one concealing his true identity and the other hiding a ghastly secret, she doesn’t know which one is less dangerous. What secrets do Aeron and Garrett keep from Lucy? Will Miss. Knight be able to be with the man she chooses when she learns the awful truth?

It is still unclear. And the current edition isn’t spilling the beans just yet…

Author Bio:

My name is Esther Wheelmaker and I am the author of the upcoming series, Zombiepunk. For now my background is going to be my little secret. However, at times I may let little bits out here and there.

Let’s face it…everyone likes a girl with alittle mystery.

Every Monday you will find me here speaking about the zombiepunk books and what’s going on in my world of writing. Some will be informative and some will be me bragging.

On Wednesdays I will be updating you on Steampunk music, movies and events. Then on Friday you will get all the juicy gossip on the London elite; the people in the zombiepunk books. It’s going to be a good time had by all.

Hugs and Corsets,

E.

Guess what! There is a  pre-buy option! Just click HERE to go there and look on the right hand side.  

Give the series your "like” here on Facebook

Visit the author's page on Facebook

And Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/estherwheelmake

 

Anna Kippling Series -My YA/Teen Fantasy read…the author’s thoughts on her readers

Yesterday as I was typing away, lost in Anna’s wonderful adventure, I could not help to feel excited as the third book- The Stones was nearing completion. I then also felt a bit sad… this now meant only one more adventure with Anna before her story would be finished.
Anna’s story has not been a quick one for me. I have now reached 4 years since her start and have loved every minute of it. Of course there are other stories waiting in line, but so far none as long as Anna’s. She’s not just a character to me. She’s my friend, my daughter ( even if my oldest is 13) and a little of her is me. Her reaction’s, her personality and her love mirrors mine. For me, I say many of my characters have a little of myself inside of them, even the bad ones… only a little (I devilishly smile).
I would think every author feels sad when their story is finished. Their connection in the struggles, the achievments, the love, the hurt and every other kind of emotion felt by those characters leaves an imprint on us. Even just the little ones. I would think as each story is told, a little of me has grown, improved and appreciates those experiences. Even if fictional.
To share your story with others, is the best part. All the work and emotion put into it, has now become more than just a one woman (man) experience. The story has now become the reader’s. I appreciate my readers and their reviews. I enjoy sharing as much as writing Anna’s adventures and am giddy as I watch her audience expand.
An author is not an author without a reader. Well let me restate that… an author is not a known author without a reader. Most authors would always write regardless, but our readers bring our books to light. Readers play a very important role in this industry, just as an author does. Not just because of the roalties they bring us from our sales (for many of us, there is little to none) but because of the joy it brings to us as they read our works and then selflessly pass the word along. Word of mouth plays the lagest role in bringing an author’s book (s) to light.
As income does help employ us, it is not the sole drive. The reactions of our readers is. When a reader writes a review (they are appreciated) and raves about our story, it lifts our spirits and drives us on. When an author recieves a poor review, it does put a damper in our spirits, but never puts us to an end. For me I would say as much as no author loves recieving poor review (s), those reviews do inspire us to do better. At least the respectable ones.
So my dear readers, all readers. Do not be afraid to leave your review, it means alot. You do not have to be a professional nor do your reviews have to be long. A simple star rating means alot. A few words with that helps alot. We like your imput, it helps us to know what readers look for and what they like about our stories. Your imput also helps other readers know about our book , gives them confidence in taking a chance on it.
I am new to being an “author” and my books are far from well known. Keeping a day job is a must and reviews are a need for me. As they are slow in coming, which is to be expected, each one that comes is greatly appreciated. It helps me to know if my book was enjoyed. When you find me on FB or Twitter and take the time to tell me how much you enjoyed them, it lifts me to cloud 9. Your kindness in taking the time to leave a review is a gesture above and beyond.
So to my readers now, the ones who may have just stumbled upon me. Your wondering, who the heck is A.D. Duling and who is Anna Kippling? My apologies for my rudeness. Go to www (dot) adduling (dot) com and get to know me and my dear friend Anna. Want to experience her adventure… click the link below and enjoy the free read!
The Key- #1 of the Anna Kippling Series-http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/96533

R,
A.D.