This is the story of how my accidental writing hiatus turned into an accidental home improvement extravaganza.

But first, a couple of pieces of great news. One, Southern-Fried Woolf is a Semi-Finalist (to date) in Literary Fiction, The Best of Indie, 12th Annual Kindle Book Awards. Huzzah!

The second is something I’ve been waiting for the right time to share. Publisher’s Weekly offers a contest for self-published books through BookLife. The contest is called BookList. (Those who have made it through to the next round will be announced in October, I think. Fingers crossed.) Here is an excerpt from the first reader’s remarks:

…The author expertly depicts the protagonist’s internal struggle, her war between head and heart. The prose here, and the narration in particular, is top-notch. Southern Fried Woolf offers sparkling originality and layers of psychological depth. The author does a superb job of bringing the reader into Briscoe’s head. The unusual juxtaposition of music and literature lends a fresh edge to the storytelling…

I’m blown away! I can’t believe that little freak of a story that took over my life for so long is finding readers, especially since I wrote it for myself, above all. Then for Woolf lovers. And for those who don’t know Woolf, to pull them in, hopefully, to her world. Lily Briscoe, in Woolf’s To the Lighthouse, is this soulful artist who attempts to understand life and society’s expectations with her paintbrush. I get that. And in the end, she has her vision. I reckoned I could have mine too if I sat long enough at the computer. I have.

I’m here to tell you that it takes fifteen years, start to finish, to have some visions. And that’s okay, because once you have, you have. And that’s a trip to the lighthouse worth taking.

SFW took a trip to the beach this summer. 🙂

Anyway…

Bringing Order to Chaos: The Saga of House & Home

The hustle and bustle of our spring decluttering frenzy (and I do mean frenzy; as soon as I started feeling better after my long bout of bronchitis, it was everything out! Out, out, out!) met home projects. What started as a minor touch-up project quickly escalated into a full-blown home makeover, as such things are wont to do. The vision of serene spaces with cozy vibes has become a guiding notion. Between corralling long-forgotten keepsakes and diving headfirst into the world of color palettes, my hands have been busier than my keyboard. (Still trying to figure out what to do with all. our. photos.)

We aren’t finished yet but are trying to complete our outdoor projects in the next few weeks before colder weather sets in. I’m repainting a cool metal outdoors patio set I found at a local antique store so I can create my own outdoors writing area. Take that, cafes that close and break my heart!

Color Me Inspired

Never one to be shy of color, things have gotten even more colorful around here! First up on the transformation agenda was the stand of fence along our carport. Armed with first a scrub brush and then a paintbrush, I sent dull days packing. And oh, the lights we added! They turn evenings into something out of a fairy tale. Who knew a bunch of bulbs could wield so much magic?

Curious about the white pickets at the base of the fence? That’s my attempt to keep the leaves, dust, and trash from blowing in under the fence. I’m always griping about how filthy it is there, and we have to clean it all the time or it looks gross quickly. Here’s hoping it does the trick. I don’t think we’ll really know until all of the leaves come down.

And speaking of magic, let’s talk about doors. Decked out in shades of Grecian blue, these doors unified our street, as most of our neighbors also sport blue doors. (I did not start the trend, only saw it and raised it from a whisper to a yell. LOL.) The photo below is the door in progress, before I finished it. The dark blue is painter’s tape.)

Peeling Back Memories: The Wallpaper Chronicles

Ah, the downstairs bathroom. If you’ve been in our house at all you’ve heard me apologize and complain about how badly it has needed redecorating FOR YEARS. That wallpaper – oh boy, that wallpaper – had stories to tell. The movie Bewitched featuring Nicole Kidman boasts the same wallpaper, and if memory serves, that was set in the 60’s, wasn’t it?! Which came first, the movie or the wallpaper? (That is, was our wallpaper designed in the 60’s and Bewitched merely mimicked an older design, or was this paper a faux 60’s product from the movie? My bet is that it’s much older than the 2005 movie!)

As I took on the challenge of removing those layers of the past, I uncovered a blank canvas. A canvas begging for fresh paint (yellow, thank you very much) and a new narrative. It’s still in progress, but it’s so much closer. No fair peeking yet.

I can’t believe I’m going to show you the wallpaper I stripped, but I have to. It’s so, so ugly! Are you ready for this? (I didn’t put the wallpaper up to begin with, I must say!)

HERE IT IS! UGH!!! Trust me, it was even worse in person, yellowing and curling down at the top.

A Porch with a Twist

While the world was swirling around me, I found an unexpected sanctuary right on my porch. It’s as if a sprinkle of coffeehouse magic landed on it. With a touch of creativity and a sprinkle of personal flair, our porch has become a haven of inspiration. The dunes poster we bought and framed had me clapping for joy – we’ve been talking about getting one for some time. It’s amazing how crafting a cozy nook can ease the pangs of nostalgia left behind by a beloved coffeehouse. (But wait…WAIT! NEWS!)

The Future Unveiled: The Coffeehouse Chronicles

Hold onto your mugs because news is afloat that a new coffeehouse is opening soon, right in the same spot that was once my writing refuge. Will it capture the same spirit? Will it offer the same comfort? Will it welcome writers? Only time will tell, but I’m ever hopeful.

In the meantime, I have been channeling my dearly departed Uncle Jim (also a writer) who once told me after we’d talked for an hour on the phone, “Now get back to writing!” He meant to abandon my lesser project and get back to the page. He was right; he always was. So I’m getting back to writing!

I miss him…I got to see all three of my cousins, his precious daughters, recently, in from Illinois and Texas. They all look so much like him that I just couldn’t help but cry when we talked of him.

Embracing the Beautiful Chaos

As we navigate through this whirlwind of eldercare and emotional tides (so much extended family stuff going on, but we’ve got this, right? Right?…), Barry and I take time now and again to breathe and watch the neighborhood “wildlife.” And what I mean by that is the squirrels, birds, and a few odd cats that wander the streets. They’re still pretty entertaining.

So, as we juggle all the things (as everyone must), I’m learning to dance with the chaos, embracing each twist and turn as part of this beautiful, messy, and utterly unpredictable ride we call life.

Now it’s time to go hang our new bird feeder. It’s a modest one, but I expect it will bring us hours of entertainment and inspiration. At any rate, there’s the dream of that, which is nearly as good, isn’t it?

Warmly,

Drema