A displeased goose who wanted a kerfuffle! kerfuffle. (n) Informal British word for a commotion or fuss, especially one caused by conflicting views. I come from a long line of Brits. And my mother said the word kerfuffle to me throughout my childhood. “Don’t cause a kerfuffle!” “Stay out of the kerfuffle!” “Stop that kerfuffle!” […]

Dictionaries have always been one of my secret loves. (And thesauruses too!) My obsession started early as I’ve been in love with words as long as I can remember. Somewhere along the way in my childhood, someone gave me an old hardcover Pocket Oxford Dictionary. It was navy blue and fit perfectly in my hand.  […]

When you’re stuck about what to write and you feel completely devoid of creativity? Here’s a simple suggestion that doesn’t cost a penny. Find something you have on display, or that you use daily. And, then write about the secret story it holds. If you were invited to my house for coffee, you’d probably notice […]

I first heard the two-hundred-year-old Scottish phrase, hurkle-durkle, when I visited Scotland for the first time in my 20s. The lovely little B and B my friends and I stayed at, Mrs. Henderson’s Bed and Breakfast, was a welcome relief from the pouring rain we’d traveled in for days. My tiny room was beautifully decorated […]

This gorgeous painting by Ramon Casas, After The Prom, 1899, certainly captures how I’ve been feeling lately. I’ve been dealing with a writer’s worst enemy. But my husband expressed it best a few days ago. “I’m not motivated to go to my karate class today,” he said as he poured our morning coffees. “I’ve been […]

Look at these chickens! This lovely 1916 Gustav Klimt painting, Garden Path with Chickens, always makes me smile. Klimt is famous for many works, including The Kiss, which I had in my living room in my late twenties. Klimt obviously loved women due to how generously and soulfully he painted them. However, I think he […]

“My idea of a great day is to work on a project, have something good to eat, and maybe do a little thrift shopping too,” said my aunt who was the queen of creativity. She loved to try new recipes, create with her hands, and find the beauty within the ordinary. She taught me the […]

Do you feel you must wait for inspiration to strike before you can write? It’s time to let that go. When you allow yourself to just write for the pleasure of it and not weigh yourself down with lofty expectations? Writing becomes a hell of a lot more fun. And the best way to start? […]