Color, marvelous peachy color on August 1st! 

       Exploring the garden every morning is like turning the page of a magical mystery.  What is waiting around the next leaf or garden aisle?

       As readers, we want surprises that transfix us, just like the garden does for me.  Today, there was an explosion of color in the radish bed, and the peach leaves were hiding clues to something sweet.  I hope I have collected enough garden energy to fire my verve for the day.  It is hard to leave the garden!  It is so interactive...just like a reader reaching for the next "choose me" read!

      Today, I am striving to come up with story as juicy as these peaches and as zippy and crunchy as my rosy radishes!   I want a reader to bite in and love every morsel!  And, as always, the best day is a creative day!  Time to dig in!

July...sun!
July...hot!
July...rain...a rare miracle in the Pacific Northwest!

Whoosh... what a surprise.  The rain poured down in the middle of our hot and dry July and refreshed the world.  Woohoo! What a time for a fresh start! Dig into those "dry" and waiting creative projects.  A little playing around with ideas, materials and your time will leave its mark or a little magic residue.  Without a doubt it will lead you on to another quest.   Take a walk or hop on your bike and let your subconscious soak up the freshness and get things stirring.  Make some discoveries.  Without a doubt, the rain has left its own magic residue and nature is supercharged once more.  There is something special about that rare Northwest summer rain.  Let it work its magic for you!

If you need some inspiration, here is a book that inspired me last summer: How to Be An Explorer Of The World: Portable Art Life Museum by Keri Smith.

Link to Rae McDonald official writing and art website:
http://www.raemcdonald.com/

Hello SUMMER!

Are you like me, wishing you could capture the sunny and shady colors of green against a blue, blue sky?  Add a breeze to make those greens flutter and you have the makings of sheer magic.  As I ride my bike around the neighborhood and down along the pond, I have been listening for the sounds of children playing.  I am not hearing those voices. Where are the kids?  Are they missing out on the touch of the earth and dirt on their skin?  What happened to lolling in the grass, staring up through the leaves, and romping outdoors.  How are kids getting in touch and touching our outdoor world?  This is their world, the one they hear so much about caring for.

Well, writers, get busy!  Engage them in the magic of "Getting Out There"!  Take them down to the pond, even if it is a drainage ditch.  Invite them into a forest to explore a hollow old tree stump or a meandering stream.  Take them to the beach and let them dive into your stories head first.

And readers, pick up a copy of The Geography of Childhood:  Why Children Need Wild Places by Gary Nabhan and Stephen Trimble.  This marvelous read will bring your youthful memories of outdoor places and spaces bubbling to the surface.  Once you dip into these essays you will not stay caged long.  Get outside and take a child with you!