Whatcha Working on 2017

A year ago I planned to post about my non-writingendeavors.  Today, in an incredibly timely fashion, I’m going to make good on my promise.

I volunteer on my children’s school PTO as the outdoor chair. Nature inspires me. Sometimes the outdoors inspire me too much, and I go a little too crazy.

Last year I put in a butterfly garden at the school. Because I am wild, I made butterfly metamorphosis stones out of old tiles. This year I added plant signs to highlight the larval food plants and nectar plants. I studied butterflies until I could find butterfly eggs, point out caterpillars, and identify species. (Note to self: must turn this knowledge into a book!)

I have been planting pear trees at the school with *some* success. Last year we lost a tree, but also harvested 4 delicious pears. I see 17 baby pears this year. Yum, yum!! (Note to self: the sweetness of fruit you grow yourself should be in a book!)

Last summer I made and installed tree identification signs on our nature trail. It took a few seasons to identify species- leaves were analyzed, bark was rubbed, and berries were smelled. Good memories of thumbing (carefully) through my dad’s leaf collection when I was little were revived. (Note to self: try to publish that tree book again or maybe use this new knowledge to start a new one.)

Our school has a boring black blacktop. Last spring we painted a map of the US, which was a test in teamwork and fighting the wind. This spring I’m adding a clock, compass, hopscotch, and games. (Note to self: a little bit of paint can brighten up a day. Put in a book?)

I have the joy (and often pain) of being a Girl Scout Troop Leader. I enjoy leading the scavenger hunts and getting dirty looking for bugs. But I also have to go along with tea parties and planning glow dances. Here I am glowing! (Note to self: things look and feel different in the dark. Where am I on shadow book?)

A new, ahem, age milestone is bringing clarity to my trait of hobby-obsession.

I updated my shell collection after a trip to Sanibel Island. (Note to self: you know enough about shell collecting to write a book on this.)

I have also been researching my genealogy and updating the family tree. Some new insights on my heritage have caused me to start calling myself a “European Island Wanderer.” A trip to Iceland and seeing Moana reinforced this sea-loving feeling. I am also half inland farmer, but let’s not focus on that. I got the Ancestry DNA spit test for Mother’s Day! Can’t wait for those results. (Note to self: this quest for self through understanding ancestors is a theme to explore in a book.)

On the writing side, I spent pretty much the whole year working on a non-fiction book which I am really excited about. (Though I am usually excited about books). The year both writing and non-writing has solidified for me how much I enjoy research. It ignites the anal retentive part of me! 

So, there may be more non-fiction work in my future.