Julia's Blog

Have you ever wondered what kind of first impression you make? I think about that occasionally and then I shrug. Pretty much I am beyond trying to change people’s minds, but I wonder how I look from the outside. There have always been those who hate me, a few who think I am interesting and…

When people think of a writer, I think they think of story building, the fun part of the work. Building characters and setting and recording things in motion. To be clear, that part has its challenges, but it is the easiest part of the writing adventure. Lately I have been formatting. Now it is an…

All too often people make assumptions about married women, they feel trapped or confined, they have to seek permission, or worse they assume that most marriages are troubled. In my case, Shawn and I have been together for more years than either of us were single. We enjoy being together, doing things together, and laughing…

It is always a good idea to make friends with the man who owns the magic wand as far as technology is concerned. This evening I was lucky enough to have Bryon and his wife join Shawn and I for a visit. He is not only is good company, tells some amazing stories, but he…

It is an unfortunate fact of aging that something always goes wrong as you get older. In my case due to heart issues, I have to seriously watch my cholesterol and saturated fat consumption. That does not mean I can’t eat really good food, but most of it I have to make from scratch so…

We ordered from the Amazon pantry to get some foods that are hard to find, but we just adore. Inside the box were those air pockets, dozens of them. The dog may never come out of hiding.

So, if you read my books, you probably can guess I drink tea. I found a new lemon ginger bag that has probiotics that is fabulous when mixed with oranges and black tea. I cut up an orange into quarters and squeeze a quarter into the tea and add the peel. It is very nice.

Have you ever had the opportunity to go to a fish farm or breeding facility for fish? If not, it is really cool to throw fish food to a huge pool of fish anxious and waiting for a snack. Today we spent an hour outside playing fetch with fish. Of course they don’t bring back…

We were lucky enough to rent a house on a small farm so while I write we can watch the working farm. It is a fascinating experience and we spend an inordinate amount of time on the porch, looking out windows and keeping track of all the critters. Mostly what we have here is a…

I typically have patience, at least with people who are trying. Working alongside someone who is struggling is never a problem, but I avoid lines. Or I should say I usually avoid lines. I was behind a young woman, four children in tow, trying to check out her groceries. It took some time and those…

When I hear about someone who is struggling, whether with a death or a tragedy, I usually have a large amount of empathy. After so many years of living, I know what it feels like when the usual types of things happen. However, I have also been very lucky in my life and have so…