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Literaryfollies Blog

2024

12/31/2024

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Extreme weather. Friends and family gatherings. Portillo's (where I enjoy plant based hotdogs). Many new online friends and membership groups. Saying goodbye. A Haunted Woods Walk. The corn maze. A presidential election. "President Musk?" Drones. Orbs. Fog. Growth. Surprises. Understanding. Discoveries. 
And Pantone's color of the year goes from Peach Fuzz to Mocha Mousse. 
Writing prompt: What stands out for you of 2024?
Writing prompt: If you could invent your color of the year for 2024, what would it be?
Writing prompt bonus: If you could invent a color of the year for 2025, what would it be?

Today I am grateful for my wonderful new Ninja food processor and all the delicious smoothies I can create!
Today I can give from my heart: A yearning for deeper understandings about the way I know about myself.
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#writingprompt #2024 #change #understanding #peachfuzz #mochamousse #Pantone #2025 #drones #fog #YouTube #hello #goodbye #family #friends #gatherings #Portillos
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Sloppy Joes, Sloppy Sloppy Joes, Sloppy Joes

12/27/2024

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Remembering cherished times from long ago when my son told me he was making meatless sloppy joes for his dinner tonight.
Our friend Palak was always a vegetarian, and when we would visit my grandmother back in the 1990s, she would often make sloppy joes and she always made a meatless variety for Palak to enjoy. Which was basically the sloppy joe "sauce" on a bun, with or without cheese. Palak loved them. 
We change recipes to suit our taste, and make family traditions more fitting as we grow and change.
Writing prompt: Which family recipes have you changed as you've changed?
Writing prompt: Do you think your diet will change in the new year? What changes might you  make?

Today I am grateful for sloppy joes memories
Today I can give from my heart: purchases of things from people I enjoy supporting
And I can't think of sloppy joes without remembering Chris Farley and Adam Sandler's 'Lunch Lady Land' (video below) 

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#writingprompt #sloppyjoes #tradition #Grandma #Palak #recipes #meatless #lunchladyland #AdamSandler #ChrisFarley 
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Happy Boxing Day, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa!

12/26/2024

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It's raining this morning as we bask in the afterglow of one of the biggest holidays of the year. It's always a big of a downer as we adjust back to the ordinariness of our every day lives.
Chin up, New Year's eve is next week. 
What is next up in your agenda? Have you been assessing your 2024 year?
Writing prompt: Overview of the seasons of 2024: winter, spring, summer fall, and winter 2024 beginning
Writing prompt: winter 2025 predictions and perhaps thoughts on strategies?

Today I am grateful for the thoughtful Christmas gifts I have received
Today I can give from my heart: the gift of health
A wonderful Christmas eve walk in the woods.. Just enough snow on the ground to give the sunset a Christmas feeling.. 
Happy Hanukkah and Happy Kwanzaa as well!!  Or Happy Chrismahanukwanzakah!!
Christmas and Hanukkah begin on the same day this year, an event that has only occurred four times since 1910.
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#writingprompt #Christmas #Hanukkah #Chrismahanukwanzakah #Kwanzaa #BoxingDay #2025 #2024seasons #woodswalk #snow #footprints #rain 
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Santa's On His Way

12/24/2024

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Official NORAD Santa tracker which seems to get better every year.
https://www.noradsanta.org/en/
​I've been thinking about the two or three must do chores that need to get done today, I'm also thinking about the big events of the past year.. I think of the weather extremes we've made it through, the wonderful visits with family who came from far away, losing my beloved Snooks, and the new YouTube channels that offer wonderful support and connection, and the best news of all: of our family expanding!!!
I will be adding to this list through the next week, and charting a plan for 2025.
Writing prompt: The best and worst of the year? (We could say 'the most challenging,' but doesn't that expression water things down sometimes? We might need undiluted emotions and expressions)
Writing prompt: Plans, a rough draft of how you'd like 2025 to be?
Today I am grateful for Santa's return! He brings hope, to everyone, doesn't he?
Today I can give from my heart: passing on the season's blessings

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Also a great favorite of mine to watch today: Umbria Italy live webcam of St. Francis' Basilica. The tree is lit up right before Christmas eve, and there is a creche and light display at night. 
#Writing prompt #Santa #Norad #2024 #2025 #connections #yearinreview #accomplishments #weather #family #YouTube #writing #newfriends #sayinggoodbye #Snooks
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Boots Squelching

12/22/2024

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I like watching movies and TV shows with the captions on. Especially British shows or shows where there are strong accents and I might miss something. I bet you can name the Christmas classic fun film where this image is from. It might be just the thing to get you in the Christmas mood today.
Also, I've noticed a virtual fireplace trend. Look for those on YouTube, also Netflix. Wouldn't it be great if they had fun themes like 'Santa's Workshop' or 'Cookie Baking' so that those fun activities were going on near the fireplaces?

Writing prompt: Where do you look for inspiration?
Writing prompt: Can you discover a new creative outlet today, or this week?

Today I am grateful for my convalescing kitty feeling better.
Today I can give from my heart the gift of patience.
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#writingprompt #bootssquelching #Captions #HomeAlone #Christmasfilm #MacaulayCulkin #CatherineOhara 
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'...The Dark Defines The Light'

12/18/2024

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The title of this post is from a Brene Brown quote: '...The dark does not destroy the light; it defines it...' There is more to the quote, but this is the part I like the best. Something else I remembered this week is that in our self talk, it's more helpful to phrase things like this: "How did I get to be so successful?" and "How did I find the solution to that?" make it specific to your situation, of course. How did you...
Tomorrow morning is the Winter Solstice, 3:21am central standard time (or CST) ( or the Summer Solstice to our friends across the globe) (I always have to google 'are we in CST or CDT?')
(note to self: 'How did I get to have such a great memory?') 
Writing prompt: Have you celebrated the Solstice in the past?
Writing prompt: Are you in the mood for a new tradition for the changes of the season?

Today I am grateful that I am an eager work in progress
Today I can give from my heart even more understanding and empathy, while being stable in myself 
#writingprompt #wintersolstice #SuzySnowflake #HardrockCocoAndJoe #GarfieldGoose #BlastFromThePast #winter
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Christmas Prep

12/17/2024

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I have been in full Christmas mode this week.. Boxing up packages and taking them to the post office and the UPS store. Mostly everything is on it's way, although I still have two or three boxes to send - things that will probably arrive during 'Christmas week.'
Doesn't quite feel like Christmas though, does it? Something is different this year, like everything else we are still in a 'holding pattern.' So, let's hold on then, until it's time to take action again.
Writing prompt: Do you need some grounding? How are you holding up?
Writing prompt: Are any of your Christmas traditions coming to your rescue?

Today I am grateful for it all fitting together, and finding/creating the perfect gifts
Today I can give from my heart: To seek the truth
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#writing prompt #Christmas #gifts #giving #HomeAlone #Seasonsgreetings #presents #MerryChristmas
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Reading and The 'Books Unbanned' Program - Free Access to Banned Books

12/15/2024

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What books did you first read? I remember when we would take home - they must have been catalogs - of books that our parents would look through and then would order books for us. Some time later - weeks? - the books would then be delivered to our classrooms, the teachers handing them to us for us to take home. I remember being very proud that my mother ordered a lot of books for me, at least one time..
I was in second or third grade..  Books like Clifford the Big Red Dog, The Witch Next Door, Curious George, Madeline, Georgie the Ghost (I wonder if I can remember any more..)
Writing prompt: Write about early books that influenced your life
Writing prompt: Teen memories of books you loved or hated or one that impacted you

Today I am grateful for a mother who although severely neglectful in many ways, did do this for me..
Today I can give from my heart: the love of reading
The following libraries have joined Books Unbanned as crucial partners in defending and expanding the freedom to read.
  • Boston Public Library
  • LA County Library
  • San Diego Public Library
  • Seattle Public Library
And the Brooklyn Public Library: https://www.bklynlibrary.org/books-unbanned
Apply for a Teen eCardWe invite individuals ages 13-21 to apply for a free BPL eCard, providing access to our full eBook/audiobook collection as well as our learning databases. To apply, email [email protected]
  • Library Bill of Rights: ALA affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that these basic policies should guide their services.
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#writingprompt #books #reading # story #freedom #learning #1960s #BannedBooks #LibraryBillOfRights 
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Speaking of Food..

12/14/2024

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I was thinking about sugar and how I have gravitated to using healthier sugars: maple syrup, coconut sugar and date sugar...
I have a distinct memory from when I was three or four, and our neighbor Jackie gave me a strawberry dipped in sugar. This was something I had never tasted before. I remember I was sitting on her cement step, in her backyard and she gave me a strawberry that had been dipped in sugar. I was not alone, I think my older brother was there with me, he would have been five at the time.
It's interesting how certain things imprint themselves in our memories.
Writing prompt: What are your earliest food memories?
Writing prompt: How have your food preferences changed over the years?

What is your idea of 'comfort food?'
Today I am grateful for: the abundance of food available to me
Today I can give from my heart: The gratitude of each moment
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#writingprompt #sugar #wordprompt #food #strawberries #berries #earlymemories  
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New Diets, New Foods, New Ingredients

12/11/2024

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I attended a library program last night called "Cooks With Books" and this month's theme was soups. The librarian who organizes these is Kelly, who is one of those people whose enthusiasm is inspiring and invigorating. This is the leek and potato soup, I especially loved the coconut "bacon" garnish made with coconut flakes flavored with coconut aminos, maple syrup and paprika and toasted gently in an oven. Delicious!!
Writing prompt: Favorite recipe? Have it evolved over the years?
Writing prompt: Favorite mealtime rituals?

Today I can give from my heart: Observing newness. Seeing things with "new eyes"
Today I am grateful for things that are nourishing 

https://www.essential-kitchen.com/​
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#writingprompt #soup #ayurvedic #pitta #dosha #vata #kapha #diet #coconut
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  • Home - Start Here
  • Literaryfollies Blog
  • DIGITAL ART
  • GIFT BOXES AND SEASONAL PRESENTS
  • KATHARYNE SHELTON, PUBLISHER ROCKET CREATIVITY + PUBLISHING HELP
  • PERELANDRA CENTER FOR NATURE RESEARCH
  • FREE OFFERS & DOWNLOADS
  • EMPOWERMENT TOOLS TO HELP YOU GROW
  • BIOAGE BIOSUPERFOOD FOR HEALTH
  • MY MOON JOURNAL
  • STENO NOTEBOOKS FOR HOME, OFFICE & THE CLASSROOM
  • MERRY CHRISTMAS JOURNALS/PLANNERS
  • HAPPY NEW YEAR JOURNAL/PLANNER
  • HELPING ANIMALS
  • WRITING PROMPT JOURNALS
  • GARDENING JOURNALS AND LOVELY LADIES
  • MOM/SHOWER/BRIDAL
  • LOVE, FRIENDSHIP, FAMILY, BRIDE, GROOM SPECIAL JOURNALS
  • BRIDAL BOUTIQUE
  • HOME & GARDEN & PETCARE
  • JAN & FEB 2018
  • NEW! JANUARY 2017 PUBLISHED
  • CHILL! JOURNALS & JOURNALS FOR GUYS
  • NEW! FEBRUARY 2017 PUBLISHED
  • MARCH/APRIL 2018 PUBLISHED
  • 'FOR MY COUSIN' JOURNALS
  • NEW! DEC 2017 PUBLISHED
  • NEW! SEPT/OCT/NOV 2017 PUBLISHED
  • NEW! AUGUST 2017 PUBLISHED
  • NEW! JULY 2017 PUBLISHED
  • JUNE PUBLISHED
  • NEW! MAY 2017 PUBLISHED
  • NEW! APRIL 2017 PUBLISHED
  • NEW! MARCH 2017 PUBLISHED
  • Journals for webinar notes
  • Inspiration, Blessings & Prayer Journals
  • INSPIRATION AND POSITIVE THINKING
  • Especially For Poetry
  • /WINTER / HOLIDAY / GIFT / SHOP JOURNALS
  • AUTUMN HOLIDAY FUN JOURNALS
  • Nature cover journals
  • Nature Cover Journals 2
  • Beautiful journals
  • NEW! DECEMBER 2016 PUBLISHED
  • FUN COVERS JOURNALS & PLANNERS
  • MY ELF STORY JOURNALS
  • Family & Friends
  • Basil_And_Josephine_ Featuring_Awkins_the_Parrot_And_Box_Turtles
  • Gildedstrumpet_artworks_/_Brown Bag Specials
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