V3 – “Show” and Tell

The reason we went south in the first place was for Rick’s annual trade show, which is held every July in Myrtle Beach.

Rick created a software program to help well drillers manage their business “from estimate through completion of state well compliance logs.” (Let me say all I know about wells is that I probably need one at the cottage.)

I am his willing helper, snagging and holding potential clients and telling them about the program. When I get a break I walk around.

There are lots of trucks.

LOTS of trucks.
This is NOT a PBS trade show. Let’s just say that instead of getting cool swag like DVDs, CDs, autographed books and stuffed animals related to PBS shows you get… well, inflated plastic balls shaped like pumps (I guess you could use it as a beach ball) and ball point pens.

But there are several folks I’ve met I like very much, including Chauncey, one of Rick’s star-users!

But when I left the show… well, that was a different matter!

Early morning at the beach is very quiet.

But then -- playtime!

There is nothing I love more than diving head first into a swelling ocean wave – the force pushes your legs out behind you, buoyant and fluid. I felt like a mermaid, one extended water-creature, moving at one with the sea.

The water is so very warm, and so is the air – so much so that when surfacing, there is no temperature difference! (But we were lucky; not nearly so humid as at other times we’ve been!)

Rick is a "run and leaper," riding the perfect wave!

I smile all the time when I’m there!

I also finished two books, Pattie (Harrison/Clapton) Boyd’s “Wonderful Tonight,” about her life with George Harrison and Eric Clapton and a delightful novel – The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs, which was recommended by Laura at Maude and Mozart and just wonderful.

And of course there were walks on the beach, here looking toward the pier…

And beneath.
Messages in the sand…
That were sadly washed away – not unlike the way things in “real life” are washed away.

There was shelling (those are part of my souvenir packet!)…

Admiring sand castles…
And the colors of the beach – toys…
Colorful umbrellas…

Dashing flags.

Even the colors of the sand and seagrass bring their own calm, though seconds away are the shrieks of laugher as young children dance in the sand.

Dining out was fun too – we especially liked Dirty Don’s.

With a beautiful walk afterwards -- even the evening has its colors.

Leaving the beach was difficult indeed!

But I did get some time in at an outdoor shopping mall, with a wonderful carousel…

And lots of great signs!
Even our little "mom-and-pop" motel, one block from the beach, is colorful.

On Wednesday morning we hit the road for North Carolina… more on that next time!

Remember, anyone commenting on any of the posts marked “V” (This is “V3”) might be chosen to receive my vacation souvenir packet with items from West Virginia, Myrtle Beach, and Banner Elk, North Carolina! Comment on one post or all, to increase your odds!

The packet includes two types of note cards, some rustic color pencils, mini-flipflops that you can use as an ornament or embellishment, a deck of souvenir cards and some shells (not pictured), hand picked up from Myrtle Beach!

V2 – Why Birthdays are Good

We started our vacation with a stop in Cleveland to visit friends and family.

My friend Jane (the ultimate foodie, historian and expert in all things dish-related, among others!) took Rick and I to lunch at a fabulous Chinese restaurant called Ariyoshi as a late birthday celebration for Rick and an early one for me.

The restaurant is located in Cleveland Heights and was simple, elegant and divine.

he walk there as fun, too. I loved this mural on a building near where we parked.

While Rick went to a bike shop (of course!), Jane and I did my birthday presents and there were many lovely things, but I especially loved an autographed book of Doonesbury cartoons!

Then we toured both Jane’s garden …

and her neighbor’s. Does anyone know what these are? I want to plant them.

It was off to the cousins for a cookout/eat-in! A number of us got birthday gifts, as we had late and early celebrants in the group!

Patty received a very tiny easel, among other things!

Bonnie got more than one tote bag!

Rick received author Scott Raab's book of celebrity interviews. The cousins knew him during his Cleveland days.

I loved all the gifts from my cousins, but was especially moved by Cousin Patty’s painting of a wee orange kitten that looked exactly like Gypsy when he came into my life as an abandoned kitten.

Patty is incredibly talented and I hope she starts a blog sometime!

Then it was off to Chagrin Falls for quick sleep (courtesy of these reprobates!) and back on the road the next day.

A fun stop was lunch at the Tamarack Crafts Center, which had an enormous shop featuring all West Virginia artists. (There is something from this place in the souvenir package! Will it be yours?)

After 13 hours in the car, we landed in Myrtle Beach… more about the Beach next time!

(Remember, anyone commenting on any of the posts marked “V” (This is “V2" might be chosen to receive my vacation souvenir packet with items from West Virginia, Myrtle Beach, and Banner Elk, North Carolina!)

Write on Wednesday: Writing for Real

Today’s Write on Wednesday prompt is:

How about you? Do you consider yourself a writer? Do you think blogging is “real writing?” What does it take to be a “real writer”?

In her weekly prompt, Becca began by the dilemma she experienced when people asked her “what do you do?” And, while she writes a lot for her work, it’s not the creative writing or the type of writing that traditionally has given us “permission” to say, “I’m a writer.”

I can relate to this one. When asked what I do, I’m inclined to say “public relations” (in which there is a ton of writing, as any PR person knows), or “advertising and promotion” or just as often “work for a public tv station.”

Unless I’m really nailed down for specifics, I rarely say “I’m a writer and an editor.” (Or, for that matter – relating this to my other key interest, art, do I rarely say “I’m an artist.”)

Do I consider myself one? You bet. I figure I probably write fifty percent of my work hours in one form or another – articles, magazine material, press releases, radio and television copy, pledge pitches, carefully phrased letters, and much more.

So, why don’t I call myself one, straight out?

Probably for the same the reason I have trouble calling myself an artist – although, that’s a little trickier, going back to how one defines art (and craft and hobby… that’s another discussion!)

I’m paid as a writer. A working writer. Sounds cool.

But in my head, deep down, I still think of “being a real writer” as being “Jo” in “Little Women.” A writer has their work published in venues they don’t control. They write books – fiction or non – and magazine articles on tons of subjects; witty essays, helpful information. And they are paid for it by someone else, who has as much power to reject them as to accept them.

But wait! What about those who self-publish books? Are they any less of a writer? (Ah, says my critic – someone buys their work, so their control is limited. Yes, they can publish what they like, but if a tree falls in the forest does anyone hear?)

The labels are making me crazy! Why does it have to be associated with payment or recognition. “I’m a volunteer.” “I’m a homemaker.” “I’m a mom.” Generally no financial payment accompanies these critical jobs – and sometimes the recognition is less than deserved. But does it make the job less important? I think not.

Initially, I thought of the blog as a way to share my art and some experiences, lots of photos, recipes, basically, part of my life. I didn’t really think of it as a writing vehicle, but as a communication tool.

I don’t think that anymore. I really try to look at what I post – it may be a humdrum story with limited interest to fellow bloggers about something in my life. But the least I can do is try to write it well so that those who do me the honor of spending time at The Marmelade Gypsy are reading something written with care and thought.

And working on the Gypsy makes me a better writer, because I actually think about it. No auto pilot here. It may be self-published. But I still have to please an editor who can reject those words – myself.

And I’m finding lately, that this editor can be tough and tender, lenient and strict. She can bubble with energy or fade fast, multi-task or hone in with diligent attention. This editor is making me reach into myself.

I need her.

What about you? (And if you’re an artist, feel free to flip the terms – because heaven knows, not all of us are paid for what we do, and do well!)

V-1: Re-entry is Hard!

Back to the real world, after 10 glorious days away!

We went from sea level… And the beach…
To the mountains!


Listened to the surf…


And rode bikes in the mountains!

Saw my family…

Me with Bonnie, Patty, Mutty, Howard and Kenny, photo courtesy of cousin David!

Howard, Mutty and Jeff

Rick with Patty, Heather and Mark

Rick’s family…

Kathy and Skip with Rick and Me

Good friends...

Jane in Cleveland

Maryanne in Columbia, SC

And even found some vintage glasses and a Feemster slicer (I already have one; had to get another!) at a yard sale! Plus, a $2.00 shower curtain at a thrift shop!

six glasses, $1.25

Feemster's Famous for $1.00!

New Shower curtain: $2.00!

It was a glorious vacation! And we were indescribably happy!
I will be making several “V” posts – or vacation posts over the next few days. Since I missed you all so much while traveling, I thought the least I could do was offer a few souvenirs!

So comments on this post and any marked “V” (this is V-1) will be entered to win my souvenir packet! I’ll post a photo later, but it will include items from West Virginia, Banner Elk (North Carolina) and Myrtle Beach (South Carolina).

Next time: A visit to Cleveland -- then on the road!

Write on Wednesday: Coming Alive

This week's Write on Wednesday asks:

How about you? How do you cultivate creativity in your life? Have you found the things that make you come alive? Are you doing them? Shouldn’t you be?

Boy, does that hit home! This week I've been away -- lazing on the beach, frolicking in the waves -- big, ocean waves! Now, I'm sitting on top of a mile-high mountain. Sea level to mile-high in a short time! TIme to sit on the beach, read books, clear my brain.

I realized as I saw the prompt for this post, that this kind of relaxation is not typical in my life. Is it in anyone's? Do we all run from task to task. Go to work, work incessantly and leave. Pick up the kitchen, mow the lawn, do the laundry, get the groceries... sometimes it's difficult to cultivate creativity when you're on a treadmill of sorts.

(In fact, it would almost be easier on the literal treadmill -- at least you are walking without having to worry about traffic, lights, or what you'll be doing when you get to your destination!)

Yet, I do find myself trying to cultivate creativity whenever I can. I'm sure Rick thinks I'm crazy. Even when it's just the two of us, I like to set the table nicely, perhaps pull together pretty flowers. Sure, sometimes it's to be romantic, but more often than not, it's for the pleasure of creating something lovely and different.

I'm always looking at things. Can I use this thing in a project? Tweak this idea so it works for me? My brain doesn't seem to stop, even when my body does. I "think" phrases. I can't seem to stop looking around me for inspiration.

What DOES make me come alive? Warmth, happy things, The Marmelade Gypsy, of course! Color, color and more color! Laughter. Texture. Beauty. The ocean. And, I'm discovering, the mountains. My lake. Being home. Doing art. My family and friends.

Those things make me come alive. Incorporating them into my work is sometimes a challenge. But I try. On blog, through photography, through art projects, by making things to share.

Check out Write on Wednesday for more great thoughts on this topic, or share your own!

Off Blog, On the Beach!

I am off-blog and on the beach!

I'll be back in early August and will try to check blogs (no guarantees) but probably not posting for a bit!

I'll miss you all!

Write on Wednesday: The Three P's

Today’s Write on Wednesday prompt is this:

So, how about you? What do the three P’s of writing…practice, pleasure, profit…mean in your writing life?

Practice, pleasure, profit? What DO they mean?

I’m paid to write. But it is promotional and PR writing. Fun, fine, I get to work with words. I’m grateful for the job I have and that I get to write. Without that income, I’d be sad indeed! Profit matters.

But it’s also routine. The practice, I think, comes in doing some thing new. Yes, I “practice” being concise (I have to – I tend to write long and I’m a far better editor than writer!).

The blog is new. Only seven months. I practice a lot more than I used to, writing things other than work! Do I carefully craft most posts? Not really.

I write off the cuff. I go back and check for spelling and such, or if I’m being excessively redundant. But basically, I write. I glance. I add photos. I hit “publish.”

Definitely not agonizing, is it?

But I guess that’s where the pleasure comes in.

Becca’s post on Write on Wednesday hit home – I used to do a lot of freelancing and attempted-freelancing (and I wanted to do something where I sent a self-addressed stamped envelope for a rejection notice – WHY?) After writing at work all day, doing it on the off-hours just wore me down, even though it was more or less my own thing.

But my blog. That’s where the pleasure is these days. I see my work – now! I get to write about what moves me, share what matters, when I want (or have time). I make new friends writing in this way, friends I may never see face-to-face, but whose correspondents, comments and lives matter to me nonetheless.

My writing has become an enriching element in my life in far more ways than merely arranging words.

Some posts (like Write on Wednesday) I think about more than others, I admit. But mostly these days, I write for fun.

Speaking of which, it’s time to go have fun away from the computer! Later!

A Good Time was Had by All! (Pie recipe included!)

On Sunday night, Rick said to me, "What I'd really like for my birthday is after my bike ride (there was no question as to whether or not he would participate in the weekly 50-mile-ish bike ride!), my bike buddies could come over for a burger!" (And, of course, have me and the kids there!)

Marshall the troops!

As the guest list grew from about 8 to up to 16, more pasta salad was needed -- Kevin came through!


Greg prepped the burgers!


The riders returned -- burgers on the grill!


Don't forget the chips!


We had birthday pie and cupcakes -- the cupcakes got the candles!


Rick managed to have some wind left in him, even after the ride!


The group shot (most of them!) -- unfortunately, something was amiss with the camera and this was the best of three. (Possibly shooting in the dark?!)


The presents and pix with us, after the crowd left.



And a good time was had by all!

Rick's Birthday Blueberry Pie
(or the way-easy pie, but don't expect it to hold its shape!)

In graham cracker crust put 5 c. blueberries.

Mix: 1 c. sour cream (lowfat is fine)
3/4 c. sugar
1 1/2 t. vanilla
1/4 (or so) tsp. lemon juice and zest

Stir and pour over berries.

Top with:
(I fudge the quantities on this:)

1/2 - 3/4 c. oatmeal
2 T. brown sugar (Heaped and packed -- no mean feat)
1 T. flour (I heap it)
2-3 T. melted butter

Mix and pour over top.

Back 40 minutes at 375. (Put baking sheet under)

More likely to hold shape when refrigerated, but good either way!)