Thursday Thirteen

I am having trouble coming up with a topic, so we'll have to go for an eclectic Thirteen.

1. The wind is whispering to me like a swan's trumpeting today. I hear my name on the breeze as I watch the needles on the blue spruce prance and dance. Blue skies, cotton-candy clouds and green leaves on the oaks in the far fields seem to say, "Anita, come to me."

2. A bear ran across the farm about a week ago. He was being chased by the cows, who are not friendly with bears in the least. It was a pretty big bear. Unfortunately I had no camera with me.

This bear was in the alfalfa last year.

3. Bluebirds have set up housekeeping in a post with a hole in it along the back fence. I discovered it the other day when I was tossing out some old bread for the birds. I will be trying to take pictures of the bluebirds now, but so far have been unsuccessful.

4. This is my favorite Bible verse: Psalm 121. I will lift up mine eyes. It is also the motto of Hollins University, where I went to college.

This is the Cocke building at Hollins.

5. Bugs have been particularly hard on my roses this year, and the "safe spray" I have been using as a pesticide is not working.

One of my roses.

6. My allergies have been particularly fierce this year. Last night I was visiting someone and began itching all over. I never did figure out what I was allergic to.

7. The best books I have read this year so far are The Girl Who Fell From the Sky by Heidi Durrow and The Help by Kathryn Stockett.


8. I have a huge backlog of books to read and I read at least 50 a year. Sometimes I think I read far too much and should stop reading entirely, but it seems I can't do that. I love my stories.

9. My birthday was Tuesday and I have been celebrating for several days. My husband took me out on a spur-of-the-moment weekend and my friend took me to lunch on Tuesday. Next week another friend and I will go to lunch to celebrate both our birthdays.

10. Because I am now another year older, I have been pondering the concept of time a lot. My friend gave me a wonderful clock which has words instead of numbers.  It lists 12 things to make besides money and includes magic, friends, love, time, and dinner. I actually have three clocks on the wall in my office. Two of them are working but one needs a battery.

11. The things on my desk include Writing Magic by Gail Carson Levine, a tube of Arnicare, a wrap for my wrist, several sticks of sugar free gum, and Guide to Fiction Writing by Phyllis Whitney.

12.  Other things in my home office include a Xena: Warrior Princess action figure (complete with raised sword), an autographed picture of Charlie Sheen, and a four-pack of Christmas Coca-Cola, which is about 15 years old.

13. Final thought: if it ain't pretty or nice, you probably don't need it or want to hear it. Rid yourself of the negatives and then see what is left. It has to be something good.



Thursday Thirteen is played by many people; you can see the list here. Check out Alice Audry's blog for her list of Thursday Thirteens that she likes (I am on it - thanks Audry) for recommendations.