inspirational quotes

Creative Seeds: The Stuff That Makes Me Curious

| Coleen Patrick

office space inspiration

 This is my office. The clean side. 

 Thank you to my friend Karen McFarland for tagging me in her post about Inspiring Spaces!

So, I write in my office. My office has books, pictures, quotes, and so many writing utensils you might believe I’m preparing for some kind of apocalypse. Well, the kind of apocalypse where one is not SO preoccupied with survival that they may like to sit and write, or doodle, for a bit. (Perhaps, a creative apocalypse?)

Oh and there’s some ladybug stuff in my office. Because ladybugs inspire me too.

But then there’s the creative inspiration outside of the office.

The stuff that makes me curious.

creative seed grows tree quote

A tree grows in Vermont.

 

And maybe plants a creative seed.

Tulip Poplar Monticello_opt

 

Centuries old Tulip Poplar log on Saunders-Monticello Trail in Charlottesville, VA

 

I love the kind of curiosity that leads to the funny

poop curiosity appalachian trail _opt

That’s dear hub checking out the poop on the Sawmill Run portion of the Appalachian Trail

 

I told him it was poop (aka wild animal scat) but he didn’t believe me. 🙂

 But I understand wanting to take a closer look at nature.

bee yellow flower_opt

An Appalachian Trail bee

 

praying mantis on porch

A praying mantis on my porch

 

Oh and I got a curious kick out of the kids at the park who were fascinated by my hub The Fisherman

fishing curiosity_opt

They had A LOT of questions about fishing.

 

Oh and there was some brain sprouting at my son’s school.

It was Family Weekend and I attended a geology class and while I’m sure that the subject is fascinating I couldn’t get over how note taking has changed in twenty years.

college classroom_opt

There were more electronics than paper and pen. Trees will be happy, but how will people survive the creative apocalypse?

 

Family. I find a lot of inspiration with my family.

mom son and fro yo

And sometimes in a little Fro Yo. Why not?

 

What’s inspiring your work this week?

Happy Monday!

Climb Every Mountain with Courage (and Cookies)

| Coleen Patrick

 dreams thoreau_opt

Three years ago today I crossed the bridge from blog reader to blogger.

 

covered bridge between Vermont and New Hampshire

Cornish-Windsor covered bridge, Vermont (and New Hampshire)

 

I was scared, but I had a plan when I published my first post, There’s No Place Like the Prairie.

I wanted to create my author-ly space here on the internet (aka author platform),

A place to hang my quirky creative brand hat

not that I could define it at the time

baby Coleen Patrick bonnet_opt

Mini me wearing one of my first quirky hats 

 

Oh and I didn’t have expectations

or, if I did, I didn’t know what publishing my thoughts, my books, my photos (hey an audience that doesn’t require a family room and a slide projector!) would actually feel like.

Some of my 1,095 Hey I’m a writer! days were pretty awesome

flower garden Trapp lodge_opt

Flower garden at Trapp Family Lodge (the family that inspired The Sound of Music!!)

Stowe, Vermont 

droopy flower rain_opt

Others, kinda droopy. Seriously.

 

I like how Kate over at 4amwriter summed up the droop-tastic feeling:

“The bottom line, I discovered recently, was that I never told myself what I would do when I got rejections. I knew I’d get them. What I didn’t know is that they’d lay me out flat. And because I didn’t set myself a specific battle plan, it was easy to turn tail and run.” ~4amwriter

 

Enter courage (well, after some tears, some dessert, and a perusal of the classifieds).

Trapp Lodge Vermont_opt

The Trapp Family lodge in Stowe, Vermont makes an impressive first impression.

 

Okay, so courage doesn’t always make a dramatic entrance. Some days courage is one word, one tiny doodle, one smile.

And some days it’s just not quitting.

The creative life needs courage.

Our heads are not just in the clouds, we’re weaving fluffy, silver lined couture garments.

Right?

Yeah. Vulnerability is NOT EASY.

In fact, the image from my blog that has been pinned the most is this one:

pinterest courage quote

 

Oh and my mom’s cream cheese cookie recipe is not trailing far behind.

Some of you may have guessed barns.

red barn Stowe Vermont_opt

Barn nestled on mountain overlooking the village of Stowe.

By the way, thanks to Clay Watkins for tweeting me about his own barn finds!

 

But I’ll take courage and cookies (and supportive friends like YOU).

They’re great companions for climbing mountains.

 

Stowe Vermont mountains_opt

Even if you can’t quite make out the mountain. Yet.

 

Climb every mountain, 
Ford every stream, 
Follow every rainbow, 
‘Till you find your dream.

~Rodgers & Hammerstein, The Sound of Music

 

How are you mustering courage, or climbing mountains? Or just tell me your thoughts on cookies. I’d love to know.

Happy Weekend!

 Coleen xo

 

Photo Essay: The Time Machine on My Front Porch

| Coleen Patrick

love who you are owl drawing

kindergarten and first grade G

first day school photography

first day of school photography ideas

 

photography ideas first day of school

first day of school photography idea

school photography ideas

first day school photography ideas

K through senior photography ideas

 

For more proof of my porch time machine, check out my daughter in last year’s post: The Quickening: From Baby to High School Graduate in Sixty Seconds.

happy graduation

Now I’ve got two happy graduates. 🙂

What’s your best advice for graduates?

Happy Monday!

 

 
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A Road Trip: Thirty-Four Sweet Hours

| Coleen Patrick

inspirational virgil quote

This weekend we took a quick road trip to Washington D.C.

Somehow we packed three or fours days worth of touring into 34 hours.

DC road trip

We practically had monuments coming out of our ears.

We left home at 9 am on Sunday morning, drove about 100 miles, and then stopped for brunch at The Diner in D.C.’s Adams Morgan neighborhood.

If you’re gluten-free, I highly recommend the pancakes. YUM.

My guys want you to try the tater tots.

brunch Adams morgan

Tater tots are good for your taste buds.

After pancakes, bread pudding french toast, and a veggie Reuben, we walked to the National Zoo.

Note: The ape house is NOT good for your nose.

gorilla yard national zoo

After mouth breathing my way through the ape house, I’d opt for a day outside too.

We walked A LOT. In 34 hours, I clocked 47,000 steps on my pedometer.

That’s about 20 miles.

tortoise D.C. zoo

I’m moving a little slower today.

Luckily there was plenty of sustenance.

Top Chef Mike Isabella Graffiato

Top Chef alum Mike Isabella’s Graffiato is a fun food adventure.

And that night we had a relaxing moonlight trolley ride around D.C.

Old Town Trolley tours washington d.c.

This was a fitting way to spend Memorial Day weekend.

Memorials in D.C.

The next morning we walked to the National Mall and toured the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.

American History car dealership

My son will be waiting a long time to get a car loan at this dealership.

But waiting is not so bad.

We waited in this line at Georgetown Cupcakes (yes, we also toured Georgetown!)

Easy wait when this is at the end of the line:

Especially because the chocolate lava cupcakes were gluten-free.

Then, home again, home again, jiggety jig.

But not before we picked up a souvenir.

D.C. souvenir

How did you spend your weekend? Do you have a favorite tourist spot?

Happy Tuesday!

Strength: It’s In There

| Coleen Patrick

strength and sprit

finish strong

finish strong

strength of spirit

jump into ocean spirit

spirit determination run

Strength. It’s in there.

 

Family. Friends. The pretty cool inspiration in the world around me. Coffee. 🙂 These are just a few of the things that keep me going strong.

How do you tap into your inner strength? 

 Happy Monday!

 

 

 

Whittling the World Down to a More Manageable Size

| Coleen Patrick

Susan Orlean The Orchid Thief

 

Lewis Ginter botanical gardens

 

flower against sky

 

world is full of possibility

 

dandelion close up

 

Dogwood trees macro

 Do you know what kind of bug this is??? 

It looks like a praying mantis, but it’s about the size of a nickel. What do you think?

Bugs and flowers aside, my daughter came home for a visit last week, so I’ve also been happily focusing on family. 🙂

 

What are you taking a closer look at lately?

Tell me, I’d love to know!!

family R C

HAPPY MONDAY!

 

 

 

 

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Brave as a Dancing Chicken

| Coleen Patrick

braver stronger smarter_opt

 

Sometimes I’m a chicken.

In college, I actually narrowed down my choice of majors to those that didn’t require public speaking 101.

Bawk.

 

quaker steak chicken mascot

 

 

That chicken with the big grin is my 14 year old nephew. In public, he’s mostly a quiet kid.

But it’s interesting what happens when you put a quiet kid in a chicken suit.

 

 

Braver than he thinks? Maybe.

I could’ve used a chicken suit a couple of weeks ago when I spoke on a panel about the creative life during an SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators) event.

At least just to start out. 🙂

 

 writer's panel SCBWI_opt

Because I was having an out of body experience nervous. I can’t really remember anything I said, but hey, I did it.

(I’m pretty sure I spoke from the heart , it was practically in my throat anyway).

I was also nervous about the authors fair and book signing. But that turned out to be fun.

 

meeting authors

 

I met national book award winner, Kathryn Erskine. She’s super sweet. She signed a book for me and then even came over to my table and bought one of my books!!

 

book fair_opt (I just realized I picked a table next to the fire alarm. Panic much?)

 

The book fair wasn’t so scary. Writers (and readers) may be a quiet bunch, but everyone was friendly.

 local-authors-fair_opt

Sharon Rainey, Richard L. Towers, Nancy Hannan

 

I chatted with authors. I signed some books. I’m pretty sure I didn’t squawk or bawk once.

I’m braver than I thought.

Even without a chicken costume.

 

How are you feeling brave (or strong, or smart) this week? Would you have more courage dressed in a chicken suit? Tell me in the comments, I’d love to know!

Happy Monday!

 

 

Let the Light In (or Dance Like a Mystic)

| Coleen Patrick

 ice cracking_opt

Is it spring yet?

Okay, maybe not. But after historically cold temperatures for the last two weeks here in central Virginia (and six and 1/3 snow days that shut down the city cancelled school), I got a tad excited when I saw the ice melting on the ponds at Byrd Park.

 

 

 Byrd Park birds on ice_opt

Pond gulls

(probably not their scientific name)

 

Amy Tan writing quote

 

…the stuff I brought home on my shoes. 

 

Bird watching Richmond VA

 

Or, if there are TONS of birds, feel free to dance like a mystic.

 

Spring is coming (eventually)!

 

What inspiring things are happening in your neighborhood? Also, do you think birds’ feet get cold on that ice? ( This last question is from my husband.) We’d love to know what you think. 🙂

 

HAPPY TUESDAY!

 

Coleen xo

 

 

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Spinning Time into Gold or Carpe Snowman

| Coleen Patrick

J.M. Barrie quote

 

How to spin time into gold

 

You will need:

your time

snow

a baby carrot

chopped dates

a few Tic Tacs

and whatever else your heart may desire

 

1. Dig fingers into snow and let the fun begin!

2. Toss aside any pine needles, brown leaves, and the voice in your head questioning why you are spending precious time making a snowman on a weekday morning

 smiling snowman

 

 3. Give your snowman a minty Tic Tac grin. 

 

snowman smile

 

4. Be sure to grin back

 

melted snowman

 

4. When snowman melts, ignore the I told you so voice smirking in your head because

the time passed anyway

and yet you found a way to keep it with you.

 

 

What time are you spinning into gold this week? 

Happy Monday!

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