grace grits and gardening

ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

7 Word Reviews: December 2018

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I’m trying something new beginning with my December 2018 Book Reviews. 7 Word Reviews. 

Why?

Because over the past two years, I spent an inordinate amount of time writing my monthly book review blog posts. And I want-need-must spend that time elsewhere. But because I LOVE to read and I still want to recommend books to you, this is the idea I’ve come up with for now.

Writing a 7 Word Review feels like a fun challenge for me—like trying to tell the shortest of stories in the least amount of words. Yes, I’ll continue to provide my favorite quote from each book. I believe this gives you a glimpse into the author’s voice as well as the setting of the story. I will also continue to share my ratings on Goodreads, so I hope you’ll be my Goodreads buddy. I find so many great reads via books my friends add to their “want to read” shelf.

Tip: Adding books to your “want to read” shelf helps authors by making the books more visible to readers.

So here we go…Continue Reading

One Little Word 2019

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One Little Word for 2019

It took me a while to come up with my One Little Word for 2019. I ended the year on a bone-tired note and began to wonder if I wanted to continue blogging at all. (Hahaha, of course I do!) But the truth is I’ve felt drained as of late, mainly because I let outside influences influence me. Seriously, the negative news and dialog can get to a person.

Anyway… If you aren’t familiar with One Little Word, click HERE and read all about the concept from founder Ali Edwards. In a nutshell, you choose a word for the year and rally around that word as inspiration throughout the year. The brain really is incredible. It’s amazing what will happen if you focus energy on the positive.

A single word can be a powerful thing. ~ Ali Edwards

I believe it.

In past years I’ve chosen these words: believe, balance, focus, savor, grow. Whatever I happened to be doing, I’ve made my word part of the equation. And for the most part, my word helped keep me centered, take the next step, and reach goals.

But everything feels different this year. Like I need a restart button. Maybe even a brief timeout to think and reboot.

So that’s where I’m starting.

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The Last Week of December

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2018 in pictures

THE LAST WEEK IN DECEMBER provides a quiet pause before stepping into the new year. The gifts have been given and opened, and we’re back home after five days in Dallas. For me, it feels like a free week, time to mold like Play-doh, to shape however I like.

I use some of my time during this last week in December to review my prior year. I think about the high points and begin to plan for 2019. I compile a few statistics. Without looking back, it’s impossible to know where I am. And this process helps me let go of what’s not working and move forward.

Something I’ve learned as a creative—I have to be willing to take a long hard look at myself, cheer for myself, and push myself into uncomfortable territory… AND, it’s about my entire body of work. Every word, every sentence, every story creates the whole of what I’m trying to do—to be a better writer and speak to a larger audience.

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Food. Farm. Garden. Life.

THANKS FOR READING!