Nita's Inkblots

April 27, 2017 Well, I have been busy -- but not writing regularly on this blog. Things I have been doing lately: Volunteer Library Director at the Gunter Library & Museum. I work five hours every Tuesday evening, 2:30-7:30. During that time I help patrons with whatever, order and catalog books, sort donations, provide a STEM class for 3rd-5th graders after school, develop and expand our tiny Maker Space. I work one Saturday a month 10-2. I spend a lot of time outside the library, going to relevant meetings, keeping up with the profession and books being published, finding activities for the STEM group, planning summer STEM activities, writing grants to help fund this non-profit library. I also write 3-4 articles for our online Friends of the Library monthly newsletter, the Gunter Gazette. I write a local history article, a gardening article, and a Library Update. I am a 20+ year member of Toastmasters International. For a recent Toastmasters Area Contest, I wrote a tall tale and entered the Tall Tale contest. I came in 3rd, so didn't advance. I liked my story well enough that I am finally doing what I once thought I would do after retirement: I'm going to see if I can get it published. I have sent the tale to my foster daughter who is a talented artist. I'm looking forward to her illustrations. Meanwhile, I have joined SCBWI to take advantage of their resources and networking for new writers. I also love to garden. I have several raised beds, the first of which I started about five years ago. Every year I expand a little more. Merrill still does the traditional garden, with large quantities of vegetables for freezing and canning. My small raised gardens are for small quantities that I can harvest and use for meals as needed. I gave one of my plots to my grandson Sean this year. He picked out the plants he wanted at the local nursery, among them, several cauliflower plants. Last Sunday he harvested his first cauliflower. What a proud young man he was -- I think he's hooked on gardening now! I'd like to say I will be blogging regularly, but I don't have a good track record! Goodbye until next time!