It has been a long time since my last blog post. I have been very busy finalizing things for my latest book release, “Rachel and Sammy Learn About Trees” and starting to market it, as well as my first two, “Rachel and Sammy Visit the Prairie” and “Rachel and Sammy Visit the Forest”.
If you have read my previous blog posts, you know that I usually write about natural things that jump out at me, usually on my long drive to and from work. Sometimes things literally jump out at me, and those instances inspire me. This morning, as I turned south on a county blacktop that I take almost daily, I noticed a large low flying bird that almost touched the railroad bridge that I was ascending. Since this portion of the road requires concentration, if I am to avoid veering off the railroad bridge and landing on the tracks below, I was unable to thoroughly enjoy my look at this majestic bird, but I could see that it was one of my favorite larger birds, the Great Blue Heron. This heron was heading toward the borrow pit lake that was excavated to construct the railroad bridge. At first glance, you would expect this bird to be gangly and awkward, but if you have studied a Great Blue Heron as it flies through the air or perches along the edge of a creek or other water body, this bird is actually quite graceful and enchanting. The unusual bluish-gray color of this heron adds to its beauty, and I always cherish a view of this bird, since I’ve noticed that Great Blue Herons tend to avoid humans.
Just a few miles later, I saw another animal I don’t often see. Coyotes are common to the area, and I sometimes hear them howling during nighttime hours but rarely see them. This blond beauty dashed from the grassy roadside right in front of my car before I had a chance to notice him. Fortunately, the coyote was running quickly, and my car missed hitting him. In a slit second, as I watched the coyote safely run to the opposite side of the road, I realized how graceful this animal was and would never have considered a coyote to be described as graceful before that moment.
Yesterday, on my drive to work, I drove by a farm field, where through my work as a Resource Conservationist, I have worked with the landowner to install conservation practices. Looking out my window at his farm, in a blink of an eye, my next book title came to me as clear as day, “Rachel and Sammy Learn to Conserve”. Just a few seconds later, all the ideas that have been inside my head for the last several months came together into a rough outline for my next book. It was an amazing experience!
There are many days when I dread driving 40 miles each way to work, especially with the price of gas, the commute time, and winter weather. However, some of my best ideas have come from my daily drive, so I consider myself fortunate to have time alone to really think and let my ideas flow.
Clearing the Fog
Finding my way one foggy day
As I drove my daughters to school, my younger daughter kept commenting about the fog and how she couldn’t see where she was going. I told her that the fog would be even thicker outside of town, and that I wasn’t looking forward to driving 40 miles to work in dense fog. Fog makes driving conditions dangerous, as visibility is severely limited. After driving several miles in the fog, I become mesmerized and start to lose my sense of direction and balance. Even though I have driven the same roads to work thousands of times, they are harder to maneuver under foggy conditions. This morning, I drove over a hill, the sun was shining, and the fog suddenly cleared. Thinking that I would have easier driving the rest of the way to work, I enjoyed the beauty of the bright sun shining through the fog and hitting the heavily frosted trees and plants along the roadside. However, a couple of miles down the road, the fog was thicker than before.
Our daily lives can be foggy. Sometimes we are surrounded by circumstances that weigh us down and make it hard to see the important things. When the fog clears, everything that has been troubling us is put in perspective. I have been feeling rather foggy about my books lately. My books are about plants and tend to sell better in spring, summer, and fall. Winter is a slower time for sales and book events, but that time is still important for marketing and arranging spring and summer programs. Since my third book, “Rachel and Sammy Learn About Trees” is still in production, I am trying to finalize it and look ahead to its release and promotion. I am taking a few last minute tree product photos to include in the book, and the fog has literally been a problem. I need to take a couple of outdoor photos of wooden structures, and the fog and cloudy weather does not help the situation. I am hoping that soon the fog will clear, and I can march on with finishing the tree book and successfully promoting all three of my books
Moments of Inspiration
One day at work, I was talking to a farmer about his waterway project. The farmer noticed “Rachel and Sammy Visit the Prairie” and “Rachel and Sammy Visit the Forest” books sitting on the counter. We sell these and other nature books at our office. The farmer told me that he enjoyed drawing as a hobby, and he offered to show me samples of his art. Having known this man for the 18 years that I have worked for the soil and conservation district, I had no idea that he was interested in art and did not know what to expect. A couple of minutes later, he came back into the office with several printed note cards that showcased his artwork. My jaw dropped in amazement, as I looked at the beautiful pencil drawings of native birds and barns. To my untrained eye, they looked very detailed, professional, accurate and realistic. Having worked with this person over the years, I have always known him to be a nice, quiet, and humble man, and when we talked about his art, he still exhibited all of these qualities, but I could see that he was not only proud of his work but happy to be able to share his special talent. It was a touching and inspiring moment.
The next day, I had another inspiring moment. After dropping my daughters off at school, I headed to work. The highway was busier than usual, so I was paying extra attention to driving. However, I looked up and noticed a regal bald eagle perched high in a tree near a creek. The eagle seemed to be keeping an eye on cars as they commuted to school and work. Even though bald eagle numbers have increased, and it is more common to site these beautiful birds, it is still a rare treat for me to encounter a bald eagle. You used to have to drive to the larger Mississippi or Illinois Rivers to catch a glimpse of these graceful birds, but we are starting to see more and more of them near the smaller creeks and streams. I only had a brief look at this majestic bird, but it was enough to make me feel awed and optimistic.
After a busy holiday season, I am trying to get back to work marketing my books and need all the optimism I can get. I am determined that 2012 will be a very successful year. I continue to work on promoting my first two books and am very excited that my third book, “Rachel and Sammy Learn About Trees”, is nearing completion. I will be busy setting up events and work on other ways to promote all three books. I enjoy working on my books, because they contain most of my favorite interests: writing, photography, nature, and education. I hope that readers will enjoy reading and using Rachel and Sammy books too!
The next day, I had another inspiring moment. After dropping my daughters off at school, I headed to work. The highway was busier than usual, so I was paying extra attention to driving. However, I looked up and noticed a regal bald eagle perched high in a tree near a creek. The eagle seemed to be keeping an eye on cars as they commuted to school and work. Even though bald eagle numbers have increased, and it is more common to site these beautiful birds, it is still a rare treat for me to encounter a bald eagle. You used to have to drive to the larger Mississippi or Illinois Rivers to catch a glimpse of these graceful birds, but we are starting to see more and more of them near the smaller creeks and streams. I only had a brief look at this majestic bird, but it was enough to make me feel awed and optimistic.
After a busy holiday season, I am trying to get back to work marketing my books and need all the optimism I can get. I am determined that 2012 will be a very successful year. I continue to work on promoting my first two books and am very excited that my third book, “Rachel and Sammy Learn About Trees”, is nearing completion. I will be busy setting up events and work on other ways to promote all three books. I enjoy working on my books, because they contain most of my favorite interests: writing, photography, nature, and education. I hope that readers will enjoy reading and using Rachel and Sammy books too!
Oh Deer!
With Christmas quickly approaching, references to Santa’s reindeer are common. In my neck of the woods, it is also common to encounter deer of a different variety, White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus). When I was younger, it was rare to see white-tailed deer roaming the countryside, but fortunately, numbers of this native species have It has been a long time since my last blog post. I have been very busy finalizing things for my latest book release, “Rachel and Sammy Learn About Trees” and starting to market it, as well as my first two, “Rachel and Sammy Visit the Prairie” and “Rachel and Sammy Visit the Forest”.
Just a few miles later, I saw another animal I don’t often see. Coyotes are common to the area, and I sometimes hear them howling during nighttime hours but rarely see them. This blond beauty dashed from the grassy roadside right in front of my car before I had a chance to notice him. Fortunately, the coyote was running quickly, and my car missed hitting him. In a slit second, as I watched the coyote safely run to the opposite side of the road, I realized how graceful this animal was and would never have considered a coyote to be described as graceful before that moment.
Yesterday, on my drive to work, I drove by a farm field, where through my work as a Resource Conservationist, I have worked with the landowner to install conservation practices. Looking out my window at his farm, in a blink of an eye, my next book title came to me as clear as day, “Rachel and Sammy Learn to Conserve”. Just a few seconds later, all the ideas that have been inside my head for the last several months came together into a rough outline for my next book. It was an amazing experience!
There are many days when I dread driving 40 miles each way to work, especially with the price of gas, the commute time, and winter weather. However, some of my best ideas have come from my daily drive, so I consider myself fortunate to have time alone to really think and let my ideas flow.
Posted on on May 18th, 2012 in Recent Posts | No Comments »
Light the Way
During this time of year, the weather can be unpredictable and variable. But, shorter days are constant in the autumn. This morning was a typical Monday. After a busy weekend, I was tired, and I had to drag myself out of bed. Wanting to start the week off right, I woke up in time to go for a run. I was tired and groggy but knew that I would be full of energy after my run. I walked outdoors and noticed that we had some rain after the thunder I heard in the wee hours of the morning. But, the clouds were gone, and I had a perfect view of the moon and stars. The moon was a small crescent, but I could see the outline of the full moon in the background. While I only know a couple of constellations, I could see both of them, lined up near the moon. At this point, I was glad to be outdoors to enjoy the peaceful and beautiful morning.
After rushing to get myself ready for work and my daughters ready for school, we were on the way to school. I was dropping my younger daughter off at her school, when I noticed how beautiful the morning was. There was low lying fog, but the sun was shining brightly through it. The sunlight glistened off the damp grass, and the trees, resplendent with their fall foliage, were amazingly pretty. The colorful maple trees planted around the school were bursting with autumn colors. Many shades of red, orange, and gold were very vibrant, with the sun shining on them so intensely. The oaks were just as pretty, though in a more subtle way. The heavy duty leaves were colored in browns and tans, but the sun was hitting the moist leaves in such a way, that the leaves’ shiny sheens were obvious.
As I drove to work, the beauty of the day surrounded me. Living in Illinois, the landscape is not as beautiful as areas that contain mountains, lakes, oceans, or other natural wonders, but there is pretty scenery, if you look closely. As the fog continued to burn off, and the sun rose in the sky, the contrast of light and color was not as vivid.
On my drive home, I was in for another treat. As the late afternoon sun shone on leaves, the colors almost leapt off the trees. There was something about the light on that beautiful Monday. I started my day with the light of the moon and stars and later enjoyed the morning sun and fog. I ended my day with intense sun from the west hitting the leaves, as I drove north and eastward toward home. I’m sure that if I had been outside for the sunset, I would have seen another beautiful site.
I saw this gorgeous rainbow on my drive home from work later in the week, and it’s another example of nature’s beautiful lighting. The rainbow’s rays were very bright and were even reflecting off the damp ground.
After rushing to get myself ready for work and my daughters ready for school, we were on the way to school. I was dropping my younger daughter off at her school, when I noticed how beautiful the morning was. There was low lying fog, but the sun was shining brightly through it. The sunlight glistened off the damp grass, and the trees, resplendent with their fall foliage, were amazingly pretty. The colorful maple trees planted around the school were bursting with autumn colors. Many shades of red, orange, and gold were very vibrant, with the sun shining on them so intensely. The oaks were just as pretty, though in a more subtle way. The heavy duty leaves were colored in browns and tans, but the sun was hitting the moist leaves in such a way, that the leaves’ shiny sheens were obvious.
As I drove to work, the beauty of the day surrounded me. Living in Illinois, the landscape is not as beautiful as areas that contain mountains, lakes, oceans, or other natural wonders, but there is pretty scenery, if you look closely. As the fog continued to burn off, and the sun rose in the sky, the contrast of light and color was not as vivid.
On my drive home, I was in for another treat. As the late afternoon sun shone on leaves, the colors almost leapt off the trees. There was something about the light on that beautiful Monday. I started my day with the light of the moon and stars and later enjoyed the morning sun and fog. I ended my day with intense sun from the west hitting the leaves, as I drove north and eastward toward home. I’m sure that if I had been outside for the sunset, I would have seen another beautiful site.
I saw this gorgeous rainbow on my drive home from work later in the week, and it’s another example of nature’s beautiful lighting. The rainbow’s rays were very bright and were even reflecting off the damp ground.
Rachel and Sammy Learn About Trees
As I write this, I am traveling with my family north to Wisconsin. I can’t believe that my last blog entry was written two months ago, while I was also on the road to Wisconsin for our summer vacation. Normally I update my blog more often, but I have been busy trying to wrap up my third book, Rachel and Sammy Learn About Trees.
Although I had already completed the manuscript and submitted it the publisher for review before we left for our trip to Wisconsin in August, I continued to work on fine tuning the story. I began taking photos for the book last autumn, but I decided to take more photos of summer leaves and fruits. Now autumn has arrived, and I have taken advantage of this year’s beautiful fall tree foliage to snap even more photos. As green leaves change to beautiful shades of gold, orange, red, and purple, it is tempting to try to capture hundreds more photos of this earthy rainbow of colors. But, trying to stay on task, I really only have one more photo to take for the book, and then I will be finished.
Kalpart has started the illustrations, and as always, I love their beautiful and realistic illustrations. They help teach children about the plants featured in the books but are awesome to look at without even reading the text.
Before I wrote the tree book, I thought I knew quite a bit about trees. As I reviewed other resources to help me better explain and double check what I had written, I learned more about trees, right along with Rachel Raccoon, Sammy Skunk, and the entire school class of new furry characters.
I have been a nature lover for years and enjoy observing plant and wildlife. As I travel the countryside looking for perfect tree examples to photograph for the book, my eyes have opened even more, and once again, I have learned more about trees while taking photos for the tree book. Whether I am scanning trees as I drive to work or already standing next to a tree holding my camera, I am seeing details I never noticed before.
That is my wish with Rachel Raccoon and Sammy Skunk books – to have readers notice things they never noticed before. Once children start to notice the earth’s beauty, they will hopefully grow to appreciate nature.
Rachel and Sammy Learn About Trees is set in the autumn, and it should be ready for release in the spring of 2012. But, the information and photos included in the book are pertinent any time of the year. I hope that you will enjoy reading it as much as I loved writing it and taking the photos for it.
Although I had already completed the manuscript and submitted it the publisher for review before we left for our trip to Wisconsin in August, I continued to work on fine tuning the story. I began taking photos for the book last autumn, but I decided to take more photos of summer leaves and fruits. Now autumn has arrived, and I have taken advantage of this year’s beautiful fall tree foliage to snap even more photos. As green leaves change to beautiful shades of gold, orange, red, and purple, it is tempting to try to capture hundreds more photos of this earthy rainbow of colors. But, trying to stay on task, I really only have one more photo to take for the book, and then I will be finished.
Kalpart has started the illustrations, and as always, I love their beautiful and realistic illustrations. They help teach children about the plants featured in the books but are awesome to look at without even reading the text.
Before I wrote the tree book, I thought I knew quite a bit about trees. As I reviewed other resources to help me better explain and double check what I had written, I learned more about trees, right along with Rachel Raccoon, Sammy Skunk, and the entire school class of new furry characters.
I have been a nature lover for years and enjoy observing plant and wildlife. As I travel the countryside looking for perfect tree examples to photograph for the book, my eyes have opened even more, and once again, I have learned more about trees while taking photos for the tree book. Whether I am scanning trees as I drive to work or already standing next to a tree holding my camera, I am seeing details I never noticed before.
That is my wish with Rachel Raccoon and Sammy Skunk books – to have readers notice things they never noticed before. Once children start to notice the earth’s beauty, they will hopefully grow to appreciate nature.
Rachel and Sammy Learn About Trees is set in the autumn, and it should be ready for release in the spring of 2012. But, the information and photos included in the book are pertinent any time of the year. I hope that you will enjoy reading it as much as I loved writing it and taking the photos for it.
Sun Shining on Shagbark Hickory – Taken at High Cliff State Park in Wisconsin
Rachel and Sammy Take a Vacation
After working for several months to complete the rough draft of “Rachel and Sammy Learn About Trees” and then spending weeks editing the story, I was happy to finally send a preliminary draft to my publisher. Although I will continue to refine the story to make sure the book’s information is correct and easy for children to understand, I can now concentrate on finishing up taking photographs and selecting the ones to be used in the book. It feels great to be finished with these steps.
Now I am ready to take a vacation. My family and I are headed north to spend a few days in Wisconsin. I will still be on the lookout for tree photo opportunities, and I will be talking to a couple of gift shops about carrying my books while we are sightseeing. But, I am ready to relax with my family and enjoy beautiful scenery and weather.
Living and working amongst the relatively flat corn and soybean fields of Illinois, it is always refreshing to visit our neighboring state. Although our destination is only a few hours away, Wisconsin seems like a world away from Illinois. With majestic Lake Michigan to the east, Lake Superior to the north, and the mighty Mississippi River to the west, America’s Heartland lies in the middle of the state. A panorama of pristine towns, rolling dairy farms, lakes, forests, and other natural wonders stretch as far as the eye can see.
I have always loved traveling, whether it is a quick trip to Wisconsin or a long trip to Europe. There is so much of the world to see and experience. I enjoy everything from hiking in state and national parks to sightseeing in large cities. It is wonderful to live in Illinois, in the midst of rural America, but I never tire of traveling to new places or going to places I have visited several times.
It is my hope that children and families who read Rachel Raccoon and Sammy Skunk books can use them to visit a local natural wonder, such as a prairie or forest. Rachel Raccoon and Sammy Skunk books are also available nation and worldwide, and for children who may be reading the books in a different region of the United States or in a different country, the books help readers learn about nature a world away.
Pictured are my daughters and me, checking out the merchandise at the North Shore Concession Area at Devil’s Lake State Park in Wisconsin.
Now I am ready to take a vacation. My family and I are headed north to spend a few days in Wisconsin. I will still be on the lookout for tree photo opportunities, and I will be talking to a couple of gift shops about carrying my books while we are sightseeing. But, I am ready to relax with my family and enjoy beautiful scenery and weather.
Living and working amongst the relatively flat corn and soybean fields of Illinois, it is always refreshing to visit our neighboring state. Although our destination is only a few hours away, Wisconsin seems like a world away from Illinois. With majestic Lake Michigan to the east, Lake Superior to the north, and the mighty Mississippi River to the west, America’s Heartland lies in the middle of the state. A panorama of pristine towns, rolling dairy farms, lakes, forests, and other natural wonders stretch as far as the eye can see.
I have always loved traveling, whether it is a quick trip to Wisconsin or a long trip to Europe. There is so much of the world to see and experience. I enjoy everything from hiking in state and national parks to sightseeing in large cities. It is wonderful to live in Illinois, in the midst of rural America, but I never tire of traveling to new places or going to places I have visited several times.
It is my hope that children and families who read Rachel Raccoon and Sammy Skunk books can use them to visit a local natural wonder, such as a prairie or forest. Rachel Raccoon and Sammy Skunk books are also available nation and worldwide, and for children who may be reading the books in a different region of the United States or in a different country, the books help readers learn about nature a world away.
Pictured are my daughters and me, checking out the merchandise at the North Shore Concession Area at Devil’s Lake State Park in Wisconsin.
Path to the Prairie
Summer in Illinois can be a beautiful time. As I write this, I am sitting on my front porch, and the weather is perfect. The sun is shining, a light breeze is blowing, and the temperature is around 80 degrees. Summer is a busy time, but because the weather is warmer, and the days are longer, we try to spend as much time outdoors as possible (unless it gets too hot and humid!). As I watch my daughters grow and play, it brings back many memories. The girls have been spending their evenings flitting around the yard, trying to capture fireflies. While visiting my parents recently, my niece was also visiting. The girls were running around the yard trying to catch butterflies, and my younger daughter was watching cardinals and other birds that were feeding and nesting in the yard and mentioned that cardinals are her favorite bird. My older daughter loves blue jays, and I am excited that at their young ages, they can recognize the birds, both by sight and sound. I think that it is great that they actually have favorite birds!
As summer progresses, so do the plants in bloom in the prairie. Even my small backyard prairie patch is full of interesting plants and colors. Spiderwort has been blooming for a few weeks, and Butterfly Weed is now in bloom. This vibrant orange milkweed is a favorite of many. Larger prairies and prairie plants growing along roadsides are a rainbow of color, and the warm season prairie grasses are growing like crazy.
When doing book readings and programs, I have switched from reading “Rachel and Sammy Visit the Forest – A Guide to Spring Woodland Wildflowers” to reading “Rachel and Sammy Visit the Prairie”. I collect plants from my backyard prairie to show children, as we read about the plants highlighted in the book. Children love to take a closer look, touch, and smell the plants I bring, and hopefully they will remember some of the plants. Later this summer, I have book readings and programs scheduled at prairies, where I will be leading children on prairie hikes.
Summer is the perfect time to take “Rachel and Sammy Visit the Prairie” outdoors. The book is a great tool to help children learn more about plants and identify some of the more common prairie plants.
As summer progresses, so do the plants in bloom in the prairie. Even my small backyard prairie patch is full of interesting plants and colors. Spiderwort has been blooming for a few weeks, and Butterfly Weed is now in bloom. This vibrant orange milkweed is a favorite of many. Larger prairies and prairie plants growing along roadsides are a rainbow of color, and the warm season prairie grasses are growing like crazy.
When doing book readings and programs, I have switched from reading “Rachel and Sammy Visit the Forest – A Guide to Spring Woodland Wildflowers” to reading “Rachel and Sammy Visit the Prairie”. I collect plants from my backyard prairie to show children, as we read about the plants highlighted in the book. Children love to take a closer look, touch, and smell the plants I bring, and hopefully they will remember some of the plants. Later this summer, I have book readings and programs scheduled at prairies, where I will be leading children on prairie hikes.
Summer is the perfect time to take “Rachel and Sammy Visit the Prairie” outdoors. The book is a great tool to help children learn more about plants and identify some of the more common prairie plants.
Hiking with Rachel Raccoon and Sammy Skunk
With the advent of spring, I have been busy with several book events. I have been showcasing my more recently released book: “Rachel and Sammy Visit the Forest – A Guide to Spring Woodland Wildflowers”. Because the plants featured in the book are blooming, I have been doing book readings, educational programs and used the book to lead Spring Woodland Wildflower Walks. I am glad to be so busy promoting my books, and I like to think that I am helping children learn more about nature, or at least become exposed to it at an early age. It is my belief that when people, young are old, are exposed to something, they will start to notice it more. In the case of nature, once one is aware of nature, I hope that people start to take better care of it.
Ironically enough, even though my own two daughters have been very involved in the book process and have hiked the tri-county area with me to gather photos and information for my books, we only recently used my book, “Rachel and Sammy Visit the Forest” outdoors on a nature hike. We have read the book indoors several times, but since the book is also intended to be a junior field guide, it is fun to take the book outdoors, and let Rachel Raccoon and Sammy Skunk teach us about plants.
One warm, sunny, Sunday afternoon, I took my younger daughter on a nature walk, while my older daughter stayed home to recover from the flu. My daughter was so excited about going on a hike that I had to convince her to let me finish my coffee, before we headed to the woods. She asked me which book we needed for the hike — the prairie or forest one. I told her to select the forest one, and she ran downstairs carrying the right book. Since she has not yet learned to read, I was impressed that she picked out the right book.
Even though it was a little early to see many flowers blooming, we managed to see a few in bloom and others that would be blooming soon. Of the fifteen plants in the book, we saw delicate Spring Beauties, hearty May Apples, unusual Dutchman’s Breeches, pretty Purple Trilliums, graceful Wild Geraniums, and striking Blood Root. At each clump of plants, we read the corresponding page from the book and looked at the plants’ features. I know that there are several more plants that will be blooming next time we take a nature hike, and hopefully both my daughters will join me on a walk to identify wildflowers.
Hiking in the woods is a peaceful activity on a Sunday afternoon. I enjoy spending the time with my daughters and love showing them the beauty of nature. I am glad that I have written books that can be used to help other children learn more about nature, and I hope that others enjoy reading and using them as learning tools.
Ironically enough, even though my own two daughters have been very involved in the book process and have hiked the tri-county area with me to gather photos and information for my books, we only recently used my book, “Rachel and Sammy Visit the Forest” outdoors on a nature hike. We have read the book indoors several times, but since the book is also intended to be a junior field guide, it is fun to take the book outdoors, and let Rachel Raccoon and Sammy Skunk teach us about plants.
One warm, sunny, Sunday afternoon, I took my younger daughter on a nature walk, while my older daughter stayed home to recover from the flu. My daughter was so excited about going on a hike that I had to convince her to let me finish my coffee, before we headed to the woods. She asked me which book we needed for the hike — the prairie or forest one. I told her to select the forest one, and she ran downstairs carrying the right book. Since she has not yet learned to read, I was impressed that she picked out the right book.
Even though it was a little early to see many flowers blooming, we managed to see a few in bloom and others that would be blooming soon. Of the fifteen plants in the book, we saw delicate Spring Beauties, hearty May Apples, unusual Dutchman’s Breeches, pretty Purple Trilliums, graceful Wild Geraniums, and striking Blood Root. At each clump of plants, we read the corresponding page from the book and looked at the plants’ features. I know that there are several more plants that will be blooming next time we take a nature hike, and hopefully both my daughters will join me on a walk to identify wildflowers.
Hiking in the woods is a peaceful activity on a Sunday afternoon. I enjoy spending the time with my daughters and love showing them the beauty of nature. I am glad that I have written books that can be used to help other children learn more about nature, and I hope that others enjoy reading and using them as learning tools.
Beautiful Blood Root
Gobbling up the Great Weather!
Last week was my daughters’ Spring Break. Since they were not in school, and it was my day off from work, we drove to my Mom and Dad’s. The weather was cool, but with only a slight breeze and bright sunshine, the day was perfect to work outdoors. Luckily, we went to the right place. On a late March day during the middle of calving season, there is always plenty of work on my parents’ farm, and I obediently followed my Dad from chore to chore, doing what I could to help him. My daughters enjoyed spending time with Grandma.
On the way home, we drove just a few miles away to the quiet and peaceful town of Bishop Hill. Once a communal settlement of Swedish immigrants seeking “Utopia”, it is now a town full of history and quaint shops. We stopped at my favorite shop, The Colony Store, which sells a variety of Swedish imported goods and other unique items. We dropped off a fresh supply of “Rachel and Sammy Visit the Prairie” and “Rachel and Sammy Visit the Forest” books for the store to sell.
After making that stop, we sped along our favorite country roads, until we got closer to home and turned onto the infamous “Whee Hill Road”. Having had many deer episodes on this road, I am always alert when driving on this scenic, but very hilly, road. While I have noticed wild turkeys in the fields that are adjacent to the road, I have never seen more than a few at a time. But on this beautiful spring day, we saw an entire flock of wild turkeys, and what caught our eyes were the several turkeys that were strutting around sporting their full plumage. What an impressive site that was! It was my older daughter’s suggestion to try to take a photo of the birds. Not wanting to discourage her idea, I scanned the area to make sure it was safe to back up my car and snap a photo. I questioned the feasibility of going to this effort to get a photo, since I have had previous experience trying to photograph wild turkeys, and the turkeys were always able to outrun and outmaneuver me. Sure enough, by the time I jumped out of the car, camera in hand, the birds had begun to scatter. I was able to take one photo, which is included with this post.
I was excited that both my daughters were so interested in the turkeys. Even my younger daughter, who always seems to be looking the wrong direction during wildlife observation encounters, was able to view the turkeys. I think that the best way to teach children about the natural world is to first get them to notice it. While it is hard to ignore a flock of wild turkeys parading through a field, sometimes you need to take a closer look to view nature. I like to think that getting my girls involved in writing the stories and taking the photographs for the Rachel and Sammy children’s books that I write, have helped my girls to develop an appreciation of nature. Of course, going to Grandma and Grandpa’s farm to watch the new calves run and play on a beautiful spring day, is another great way for my daughters to experience the wonder of nature!
On the way home, we drove just a few miles away to the quiet and peaceful town of Bishop Hill. Once a communal settlement of Swedish immigrants seeking “Utopia”, it is now a town full of history and quaint shops. We stopped at my favorite shop, The Colony Store, which sells a variety of Swedish imported goods and other unique items. We dropped off a fresh supply of “Rachel and Sammy Visit the Prairie” and “Rachel and Sammy Visit the Forest” books for the store to sell.
After making that stop, we sped along our favorite country roads, until we got closer to home and turned onto the infamous “Whee Hill Road”. Having had many deer episodes on this road, I am always alert when driving on this scenic, but very hilly, road. While I have noticed wild turkeys in the fields that are adjacent to the road, I have never seen more than a few at a time. But on this beautiful spring day, we saw an entire flock of wild turkeys, and what caught our eyes were the several turkeys that were strutting around sporting their full plumage. What an impressive site that was! It was my older daughter’s suggestion to try to take a photo of the birds. Not wanting to discourage her idea, I scanned the area to make sure it was safe to back up my car and snap a photo. I questioned the feasibility of going to this effort to get a photo, since I have had previous experience trying to photograph wild turkeys, and the turkeys were always able to outrun and outmaneuver me. Sure enough, by the time I jumped out of the car, camera in hand, the birds had begun to scatter. I was able to take one photo, which is included with this post.
I was excited that both my daughters were so interested in the turkeys. Even my younger daughter, who always seems to be looking the wrong direction during wildlife observation encounters, was able to view the turkeys. I think that the best way to teach children about the natural world is to first get them to notice it. While it is hard to ignore a flock of wild turkeys parading through a field, sometimes you need to take a closer look to view nature. I like to think that getting my girls involved in writing the stories and taking the photographs for the Rachel and Sammy children’s books that I write, have helped my girls to develop an appreciation of nature. Of course, going to Grandma and Grandpa’s farm to watch the new calves run and play on a beautiful spring day, is another great way for my daughters to experience the wonder of nature!
A Family Experience
At my house, four people try to share the same computer. My two daughters enjoy playing on a few websites. My husband rarely gets a chance to use the computer, as I am usually using it for book work, when I am able to borrow it from my daughters. So, there is a constant battle for computer usage.
My older daughter became an avid story writer and illustrator last summer, when she wrote what seemed like hundreds of American Girl and Webkinz stories in notebooks. Now, my older daughter is using the computer for her writing and has written a series about Halloween witches. Her current project is a non-fiction piece featuring American presidents. Living in “The Land of Lincoln”, she is especially interested in President Abraham Lincoln.
While I began writing Rachel Raccoon and Sammy Skunk books shortly after my older daughter was born in 2003, it is now apparent that my older daughter enjoys writing books for me! I am happy to see that she enjoys reading and writing so much, and her art skills are very good too. Both my daughters are interested in the books that I write. We eagerly awaited the receipt of new sketches and illustrations for the books. The girls are always contributing ideas for future books, and my daughters walked with me on several hikes to photograph woodland wildflowers for “Rachel and Sammy Visit the Forest” and tree photos for the upcoming “Rachel and Sammy Learn About Trees”. They listened to drafts of “Rachel and Sammy Visit the Prairie” and “Rachel and Sammy Visit the Forest” over and over, as I read them aloud after every re-write. So, my girls have been involved in the writing process and have accompanied me to several book related events and book errands. A great side effect of my daughters being so involved in the book production and marketing process is that they know how to identify the plants featured in the books. That is, after all, what the books are meant to do!
I love that my daughters are so interested in my books; it makes all the hard work worthwhile. When the print proofs arrived for both books, we were so excited that we could barely open the cardboard package. Not only were beautiful and educational books waiting inside the packages, but the books were particularly special, as they were truly a family production. When I hear about families taking my books on nature hikes in prairies and woods, I am thrilled that the books are being used as they are intended. But I know that within my own family, the books are also helping my girls to learn about the whole book writing, publishing, and marketing process. Even if my daughters do not grow up to be writers, they are still experiencing something very valuable.
Posted on on March 15th, 2011 in Recent Posts | 1 Comment »
Soil & Water — Getting Back to the Basics
This morning I was whizzing along in my car on what my daughters and I call the “Whee Hill Road”. I was on my way to the annual Land Improvement Contractor Seminar. Since it was an early morning breakfast meeting, and I was responsible for having food ready, I was in a hurry. Whee Hill Road is an appropriate name, because it contains several hills that can make your stomach feel funny. As I flew over one dip in the road, I slammed on my brakes, when I came upon not one, but five, white-tailed deer. The items I had in my car went flying, but at least I was safe, my car was in one piece, and the deer managed to escape. Since I have already had three unfortunate incidents with deer within two years, I am paranoid of deer encounters. As I recovered from my near miss, I thought about how my three other deer accidents were on the way home from work, and this one was on the way to work. Since I work in the field of conservation (when not writing Rachel Raccoon and Sammy Skunk Educational Children’s Books), I think it is ironic that I have had so many accidents with the wildlife that I work to protect.
The Land Improvement Contractor Seminar is an event that we started several years ago to provide training to the contractors who install conservation practices on agricultural land. In Illinois, we usually receive abundant annual rainfall, and precipitation the past couple of years has been higher than average. While water is necessary, sometimes water can cause damage in the form of soil erosion, if too much water comes too fast, and the land is not adequately protected. At work we survey potential conservation practices, finalize designs, and complete ever-growing paperwork pertaining to the project and accompanying contract. The land improvement contractors use earth moving equipment to install the soil conservation practices that we design. Stabilizing soil helps to keep the land fertile for growing crops that are used as food, fiber, and fuel. If the soil is kept in place, it stays out of the water, so water quality is also protected. Soil conservation practices, such as a grassed waterway, may provide wildlife habitat. So, the deer I saw earlier in the morning may also benefit from the conservation practices that we help to get “on the ground”.
I always enjoy the contractor seminar that we plan and host. It takes a lot of work to provide this program, but the event is worth the effort. The seminar gives us a chance to meet with contractors and update them on the latest conservation programs, ever-changing rules and regulations, and provide technical training.
While treating soil and water natural resource concerns may not sound very exciting, it is necessary to sustain life as we know it — to provide clean water, safe food, and many other things that we use every day. Soil and water resources are the foundation for almost everything, and you, me, or Rachel Raccoon and Sammy Skunk books would not exist without these important basics.
The Land Improvement Contractor Seminar is an event that we started several years ago to provide training to the contractors who install conservation practices on agricultural land. In Illinois, we usually receive abundant annual rainfall, and precipitation the past couple of years has been higher than average. While water is necessary, sometimes water can cause damage in the form of soil erosion, if too much water comes too fast, and the land is not adequately protected. At work we survey potential conservation practices, finalize designs, and complete ever-growing paperwork pertaining to the project and accompanying contract. The land improvement contractors use earth moving equipment to install the soil conservation practices that we design. Stabilizing soil helps to keep the land fertile for growing crops that are used as food, fiber, and fuel. If the soil is kept in place, it stays out of the water, so water quality is also protected. Soil conservation practices, such as a grassed waterway, may provide wildlife habitat. So, the deer I saw earlier in the morning may also benefit from the conservation practices that we help to get “on the ground”.
I always enjoy the contractor seminar that we plan and host. It takes a lot of work to provide this program, but the event is worth the effort. The seminar gives us a chance to meet with contractors and update them on the latest conservation programs, ever-changing rules and regulations, and provide technical training.
While treating soil and water natural resource concerns may not sound very exciting, it is necessary to sustain life as we know it — to provide clean water, safe food, and many other things that we use every day. Soil and water resources are the foundation for almost everything, and you, me, or Rachel Raccoon and Sammy Skunk books would not exist without these important basics.
Snowy Oaks
One gloomy afternoon, I was driving home from work along a road I have driven on hundreds of times. Fine flakes of snow were falling, and a hill covered with white oak trees caught my eye. I have noticed the trees before, but that day, their graceful beauty was exceptional. The dark silhouettes of the leafless, rounded-crowned trees were in stark contrast to the white snow. The oak trees on the hill were spaced several feet apart, giving them plenty of room to “branch out”. The oaks looked peaceful and gorgeous, and I stared at them for several seconds.
Because I was driving on a state highway, I thought I should start paying attention to the road. As I turned my eyes to look straight ahead, a huge red-tailed hawk swooped directly in front of my windshield. Red-tailed hawks are carnivores with a wingspan of up to four feet, so as you can imagine, I was a bit startled! I usually notice hawks perched on posts or trees along the side of the road or soaring in high in the sky, not flying in the middle of the road. Sometimes nature’s beauty is subtle, like oak trees on a hill, and sometimes nature gets in your face, like a hawk flying in front of your car.
I have driven by those trees countless times, but there was something about the way the trees looked that day that mesmerized me. I believe I was drawn to the oak trees because I have been doing a lot of thinking and planning for my third book, Rachel and Sammy Learn About Trees. One nice thing about only having started to write this book, is that the ideas are flowing, and it is still early enough that the book is literally a blank page! I can’t wait to have more time to really dig into writing this book.
Not only am I excited about writing this book and seeing my words come to life though Kalpart's realistic illustrations, and my own photographs, but I think this book will be a wonderful tool for teaching children about trees. There is much diversity within the world of trees, and there are hundreds of interesting tree facts, so it will be hard to choose which items to incorporate into the story. I look forward to sharing more about my next book in future blog posts.
This is an example of a lovely snowy oak tree, though this photo was taken on a different day and in a different location than the trees mentioned in this blog post.
Because I was driving on a state highway, I thought I should start paying attention to the road. As I turned my eyes to look straight ahead, a huge red-tailed hawk swooped directly in front of my windshield. Red-tailed hawks are carnivores with a wingspan of up to four feet, so as you can imagine, I was a bit startled! I usually notice hawks perched on posts or trees along the side of the road or soaring in high in the sky, not flying in the middle of the road. Sometimes nature’s beauty is subtle, like oak trees on a hill, and sometimes nature gets in your face, like a hawk flying in front of your car.
I have driven by those trees countless times, but there was something about the way the trees looked that day that mesmerized me. I believe I was drawn to the oak trees because I have been doing a lot of thinking and planning for my third book, Rachel and Sammy Learn About Trees. One nice thing about only having started to write this book, is that the ideas are flowing, and it is still early enough that the book is literally a blank page! I can’t wait to have more time to really dig into writing this book.
Not only am I excited about writing this book and seeing my words come to life though Kalpart's realistic illustrations, and my own photographs, but I think this book will be a wonderful tool for teaching children about trees. There is much diversity within the world of trees, and there are hundreds of interesting tree facts, so it will be hard to choose which items to incorporate into the story. I look forward to sharing more about my next book in future blog posts.
This is an example of a lovely snowy oak tree, though this photo was taken on a different day and in a different location than the trees mentioned in this blog post.
One Thing Leads to Another
If you have tackled a home improvement project, you know that things are rarely simple, cut, and dried. Once you start a project, it is like opening a can of worms. One thing leads to another, and soon, half your house is torn apart, and it will take time and money to get things completed the way you envision them.
We recently began work on our dining room. Connected to the dining room, by a large, shared doorway, is the room we use as a study, and we are working on both rooms concurrently. My husband is known for his thorough planning and has started attacking problem plaster areas that have had water damage and were patched or covered with paneling or drywall. Since we are hiring someone to fix these areas, my husband also started ripping off old paneling in the downstairs bathroom, that shares a leak damaged wall and ceiling with the study. Once you start work on a bathroom, even our small, half-bath, you know how much time and money can be involved. One thing leads to another, and simple projects turn into complicated ones. While I hope for happy endings with our century old house renovations, I know that everything is life is connected.
I find this to be true in the case of writing and promoting my books. I tend to start with an idea, and the idea usually blossoms from something simple into a full-blown concept. But sometimes having too many ideas and interconnections can lead to being totally inundated! For example, I have a list of book marketing items that I pursue as time allows. But, the list is never ending, as I am constantly getting new ideas and adding to the list. This is a good thing, as you can never have too many outlets and ideas to pursue to make your books successful. However, sometimes I think it would be nice to tackle my to-do list and be done with it! As I follow through on getting my books into new venues, and in talking with other people during this process, new ideas are sparked, and more items are added to my list.
It is the same with writing the books. In the case of taking pictures for my next book, Rachel and Sammy Learn About Trees, I began with a list of ten items to photograph. While spending beautiful fall days snapping photos of leaves, bark, and entire trees, the ideas began to grow, and soon I had hundreds of photos, and the book began to write itself in my head. Now if only the book would write itself into my laptop! While I have a general outline, I know that it will be a huge project to research, fact check, and write about each tree item I plan to include in the book. Organizing and selecting photos will be another big task. I also have a few more photos that I must finish taking this winter and spring. Incorporating additional characters in my third book is one more facet to ponder. The format will also be a little different than Rachel and Sammy Visit the Prairie and Rachel and Sammy Visit the Forest. While I know that the end result will definitely be worth it, it is overwhelming to think about at times, just like marketing of the books, and completing home improvement projects. But the important things in life are worth the extra effort and work that is involved!
We recently began work on our dining room. Connected to the dining room, by a large, shared doorway, is the room we use as a study, and we are working on both rooms concurrently. My husband is known for his thorough planning and has started attacking problem plaster areas that have had water damage and were patched or covered with paneling or drywall. Since we are hiring someone to fix these areas, my husband also started ripping off old paneling in the downstairs bathroom, that shares a leak damaged wall and ceiling with the study. Once you start work on a bathroom, even our small, half-bath, you know how much time and money can be involved. One thing leads to another, and simple projects turn into complicated ones. While I hope for happy endings with our century old house renovations, I know that everything is life is connected.
I find this to be true in the case of writing and promoting my books. I tend to start with an idea, and the idea usually blossoms from something simple into a full-blown concept. But sometimes having too many ideas and interconnections can lead to being totally inundated! For example, I have a list of book marketing items that I pursue as time allows. But, the list is never ending, as I am constantly getting new ideas and adding to the list. This is a good thing, as you can never have too many outlets and ideas to pursue to make your books successful. However, sometimes I think it would be nice to tackle my to-do list and be done with it! As I follow through on getting my books into new venues, and in talking with other people during this process, new ideas are sparked, and more items are added to my list.
It is the same with writing the books. In the case of taking pictures for my next book, Rachel and Sammy Learn About Trees, I began with a list of ten items to photograph. While spending beautiful fall days snapping photos of leaves, bark, and entire trees, the ideas began to grow, and soon I had hundreds of photos, and the book began to write itself in my head. Now if only the book would write itself into my laptop! While I have a general outline, I know that it will be a huge project to research, fact check, and write about each tree item I plan to include in the book. Organizing and selecting photos will be another big task. I also have a few more photos that I must finish taking this winter and spring. Incorporating additional characters in my third book is one more facet to ponder. The format will also be a little different than Rachel and Sammy Visit the Prairie and Rachel and Sammy Visit the Forest. While I know that the end result will definitely be worth it, it is overwhelming to think about at times, just like marketing of the books, and completing home improvement projects. But the important things in life are worth the extra effort and work that is involved!
Black and White Amongst Shades of Gray
My last blog entry described how beautiful things looked on my drive to work one day. But, that was before the snow melted. This week, as I drove to work, I thought about how ugly everything looked. What little snow remained was full of dirt, and everything seemed dull, drab, and shades of gray and brown were prevalent. Today’s drive seemed especially gloomy, as the weather was cold, cloudy, and very windy.
On my drive home, the scenery was much the same. However, as I crossed a bridge at the Spoon River, I looked up and saw a huge bird soaring my way. While I enjoy birding, I am not very good at it. I squint at tiny birds with my nearsighted eyes, while the birds flit and fly from place to place, before I can even focus on them. But this time was different; I know that locally there are only a few birds of the size of the bird I saw today. As I drove closer, I looked up and saw Black and White among the shades of gray. I saw a bald eagle!
While bald eagle numbers have been on the rise for several years, and these eagles have even been taken off of Threatened and Endangered lists, I still get excited when I catch a rare glimpse of these graceful and majestic birds. We live about an hour from the Mighty Mississippi River and just a few minutes away from the Illinois River, where bald eagles, especially in these gloomy winter months, are more commonly seen. But, I was driving near a river that is much smaller, and bald eagles tend to prefer larger water bodies. Bald eagles are making themselves known more and more in our area, and it makes me feel very optimistic and proud. Not only do I feel a sense of patriotism as I see our national symbol flying, but I feel a sense of wonder at these awesome creatures.
My younger daughter, who is five, was in the car with me, and I thought about how when I was her age, bald eagle numbers were gravely low. My daughter doesn’t realize how lucky she is to live in a time when we begin to frequently see an animal that was once close to extirpation in our neck of the woods.
While the Rachel Raccoon and Sammy Skunk children’s books that I write contain main characters that are very widespread animals, and the native plants that are featured in the books are relatively common ones, I am still trying to educate children on the beauty and importance of nature. I feel that if people can appreciate the familiar plants that they are more apt to see on a regular basis, they will be even more impressed when they run into a plant or animal that is rare. Any way you look at it, the black and white usually stands out amongst the shades of gray.
On my drive home, the scenery was much the same. However, as I crossed a bridge at the Spoon River, I looked up and saw a huge bird soaring my way. While I enjoy birding, I am not very good at it. I squint at tiny birds with my nearsighted eyes, while the birds flit and fly from place to place, before I can even focus on them. But this time was different; I know that locally there are only a few birds of the size of the bird I saw today. As I drove closer, I looked up and saw Black and White among the shades of gray. I saw a bald eagle!
While bald eagle numbers have been on the rise for several years, and these eagles have even been taken off of Threatened and Endangered lists, I still get excited when I catch a rare glimpse of these graceful and majestic birds. We live about an hour from the Mighty Mississippi River and just a few minutes away from the Illinois River, where bald eagles, especially in these gloomy winter months, are more commonly seen. But, I was driving near a river that is much smaller, and bald eagles tend to prefer larger water bodies. Bald eagles are making themselves known more and more in our area, and it makes me feel very optimistic and proud. Not only do I feel a sense of patriotism as I see our national symbol flying, but I feel a sense of wonder at these awesome creatures.
My younger daughter, who is five, was in the car with me, and I thought about how when I was her age, bald eagle numbers were gravely low. My daughter doesn’t realize how lucky she is to live in a time when we begin to frequently see an animal that was once close to extirpation in our neck of the woods.
While the Rachel Raccoon and Sammy Skunk children’s books that I write contain main characters that are very widespread animals, and the native plants that are featured in the books are relatively common ones, I am still trying to educate children on the beauty and importance of nature. I feel that if people can appreciate the familiar plants that they are more apt to see on a regular basis, they will be even more impressed when they run into a plant or animal that is rare. Any way you look at it, the black and white usually stands out amongst the shades of gray.
A New Chapter
One morning, as I drove to work, I was amazed at the sunrise’s breathtaking beauty. The bright orange reflected on the crisp, white snow and through the patchy areas of low lying fog. As I continued driving, the sun rose higher in the sky and became more golden, and it shined through the windmills that dot the gently rolling countryside. During my journey to work, I have plenty of time to ponder life. I find it very peaceful to drive or hike through pretty scenery, and it is a good time to do some serious thinking.
When one year ends, and another begins, I review the current year and look ahead to the New Year. I have been doing my transitional thinking even more this year. My co-worker’s retirement was effective December 31st, as were several other colleagues around the state. Chapters are closing, and new ones are beginning. Even though I write picture books and not chapter books, it is still fitting that I use the word “chapter”. It has been a goal of mine for several years to get my first children’s book published. In 2010, I had not one, but two books released, and it was very exciting! The first book was several years in the making, while the story for the second book was written last winter and spring, and I took all the photographs last spring. While writing the books and getting them published were wonderful achievements for me, I also needed to get busy working on getting the books to actually sell. I had a lot to learn about that whole process, and I am still working on ways to promote and sell my books. It has been an excellent and rewarding learning experience, though at times frustrating. I still have a long way to go with book marketing, and I am trying to plan for 2011 and prioritize my goals.
In addition to continuing with marketing and promoting Rachel and Sammy Visit the Prairie and Rachel and Sammy Visit the Forest, I am hoping to start writing my third book, Rachel and Sammy Learn About Trees. I spent several weeks last fall taking photos for my new book but need to organize my photos and begin writing the story. It is a very exciting time, and I really love the whole process. I appreciate the support from everyone who has listened to me talk endlessly about my books, and I especially appreciate the help that family, friends, and others have given me. As 2010 ends, and 2011 begins, I am very excited about the opportunities available in 2011, but I know that I have a lot of challenging work ahead of me, if I am to accomplish my goals. I wish everyone a Happy New Year!
Beautiful sunrises help me to continue my journey!
One morning, as I drove to work, I was amazed at the sunrise’s breathtaking beauty. The bright orange reflected on the crisp, white snow and through the patchy areas of low lying fog. As I continued driving, the sun rose higher in the sky and became more golden, and it shined through the windmills that dot the gently rolling countryside. During my journey to work, I have plenty of time to ponder life. I find it very peaceful to drive or hike through pretty scenery, and it is a good time to do some serious thinking.
When one year ends, and another begins, I review the current year and look ahead to the New Year. I have been doing my transitional thinking even more this year. My co-worker’s retirement was effective December 31st, as were several other colleagues around the state. Chapters are closing, and new ones are beginning. Even though I write picture books and not chapter books, it is still fitting that I use the word “chapter”. It has been a goal of mine for several years to get my first children’s book published. In 2010, I had not one, but two books released, and it was very exciting! The first book was several years in the making, while the story for the second book was written last winter and spring, and I took all the photographs last spring. While writing the books and getting them published were wonderful achievements for me, I also needed to get busy working on getting the books to actually sell. I had a lot to learn about that whole process, and I am still working on ways to promote and sell my books. It has been an excellent and rewarding learning experience, though at times frustrating. I still have a long way to go with book marketing, and I am trying to plan for 2011 and prioritize my goals.
In addition to continuing with marketing and promoting Rachel and Sammy Visit the Prairie and Rachel and Sammy Visit the Forest, I am hoping to start writing my third book, Rachel and Sammy Learn About Trees. I spent several weeks last fall taking photos for my new book but need to organize my photos and begin writing the story. It is a very exciting time, and I really love the whole process. I appreciate the support from everyone who has listened to me talk endlessly about my books, and I especially appreciate the help that family, friends, and others have given me. As 2010 ends, and 2011 begins, I am very excited about the opportunities available in 2011, but I know that I have a lot of challenging work ahead of me, if I am to accomplish my goals. I wish everyone a Happy New Year!
Beautiful sunrises help me to continue my journey!
Stop, Look, and Listen!
Stop, Look, and Listen to the World Around You!
Oftentimes our lives get hectic, and we rush from place to place without noticing our surroundings. Or maybe we get so used to our everyday surroundings that we don’t pay close attention to them. Either way, we are missing out on great opportunities! I grew up on a farm and played and worked outdoors throughout my entire childhood and still love being outside. However, it wasn’t until college, when I began to study biology, that I really started to become aware of and learn the plants that are native to our area. Now, as I drive my 40 mile commute to work, I stare out the windows in appreciation not only at the acres of corn, soybeans, hay, and other crops, but I notice the fields of restored prairie, roadsides with native plants growing, small woodlands, and other natural areas. My native plant radar is so good that I notice and can sometimes identify plants, as my car whizzes by (driving the legal speed limit, of course!).
Some of our native plants are quite common, while others are rarely seen. Even when looking at common native plants, I am amazed every time I see them, especially when I observe them closely. I can hike through the same prairie or woodland several times and never grow bored. The variety of plant and animal life is astounding and can be enjoyed by everyone. I especially love pointing out fascinating things to my young daughters, answering their questions, and watching them learn.
With more and more native habitat being converted to other land uses, it is essential that we not only start paying attention to our surroundings but also begin to appreciate them. I write my Rachel Raccoon and Sammy Skunk children’s books with several goals in mind. Writing these books combine my love of writing, photography, nature, and education, and I hope that after reading my books, children will start to notice the world around them, even if they don’t remember all the information in the books. It is through my love of writing that I also try to pass on to readers my love of the environment. Rachel and Sammy Visit the Prairie and Rachel and Sammy Visit the Forest use entertaining dialog, beautiful photographs and illustrations to teach children facts about nature. If people notice the beauty of nature, they will eventually start to understand not only nature’s splendor, but the benefits of our natural surroundings.
Whether you are walking down a crowded city sidewalk, gardening in your backyard, or taking a hike in a pristine natural area, take every opportunity to Stop, Look, and Listen to your surroundings!
Even in bleak, winter landscapes, if you look closely, the frozen beauty will surprise you!
Stop, Look, and Listen to the World Around You!
Oftentimes our lives get hectic, and we rush from place to place without noticing our surroundings. Or maybe we get so used to our everyday surroundings that we don’t pay close attention to them. Either way, we are missing out on great opportunities! I grew up on a farm and played and worked outdoors throughout my entire childhood and still love being outside. However, it wasn’t until college, when I began to study biology, that I really started to become aware of and learn the plants that are native to our area. Now, as I drive my 40 mile commute to work, I stare out the windows in appreciation not only at the acres of corn, soybeans, hay, and other crops, but I notice the fields of restored prairie, roadsides with native plants growing, small woodlands, and other natural areas. My native plant radar is so good that I notice and can sometimes identify plants, as my car whizzes by (driving the legal speed limit, of course!).
Some of our native plants are quite common, while others are rarely seen. Even when looking at common native plants, I am amazed every time I see them, especially when I observe them closely. I can hike through the same prairie or woodland several times and never grow bored. The variety of plant and animal life is astounding and can be enjoyed by everyone. I especially love pointing out fascinating things to my young daughters, answering their questions, and watching them learn.
With more and more native habitat being converted to other land uses, it is essential that we not only start paying attention to our surroundings but also begin to appreciate them. I write my Rachel Raccoon and Sammy Skunk children’s books with several goals in mind. Writing these books combine my love of writing, photography, nature, and education, and I hope that after reading my books, children will start to notice the world around them, even if they don’t remember all the information in the books. It is through my love of writing that I also try to pass on to readers my love of the environment. Rachel and Sammy Visit the Prairie and Rachel and Sammy Visit the Forest use entertaining dialog, beautiful photographs and illustrations to teach children facts about nature. If people notice the beauty of nature, they will eventually start to understand not only nature’s splendor, but the benefits of our natural surroundings.
Whether you are walking down a crowded city sidewalk, gardening in your backyard, or taking a hike in a pristine natural area, take every opportunity to Stop, Look, and Listen to your surroundings!
Even in bleak, winter landscapes, if you look closely, the frozen beauty will surprise you!
Prairie Beauty – No Matter What Time of Year
As I write this, I am surrounded by white snow blowing about under blizzard conditions. Lucky for me, I am sitting indoors watching the swirling of white, rather than tromping around outdoors in it. For most of the year my backyard is usually vibrant and full of life. The yard is a rainbow of color, with a variety of trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, herbs, and my precious prairie, planted in it. However, everything is currently buried under a blanket of snow. My prairie plot, which is a haven not only for the plants that reside in it, but also the furry critters, birds, butterflies, and other insects that buzz with activity around it, looks like a decrepit weed patch. But, I know better. I know that in a few months spring will arrive, and the prairie will be teaming with color and life. The winter months are an important part of the plants’ lifecycle, with prairie seeds requiring cool weather in preparation for spring germination. Prairie plants’ extensive and deep roots ensure survival during extreme and ever-changing weather patterns. My love of prairie is captured in my first children’s book, Rachel and Sammy Visit the Prairie. In this book, I hope to convey how beautiful and interesting the plants are that grow in a tallgrass prairie and pass this knowledge on to children, in hopes that they will grow to pay attention to and appreciate their surroundings.
Prairie vegetation was once dominant in the state where I live, the Prairie State of Illinois. I have always imagined how early settlers felt as they crossed the wide prairie expanses that once covered two thirds of Illinois. Later in the growing season, some of these gorgeous grasses and forbs (prairie wildflowers) can grow well above six feet tall, depending on conditions. Very few trees would have dotted the landscape, so it would be very easy to get lost in the unfamiliar prairie meadows.
Right now, it would even be easy to get lost in my backyard prairie patch, with all the blowing snow. Presently, the prairie is subtly beautiful, and when I think about how it will look in the spring and summer months, I know that it will be worth the wait!
Snow Prairie
Butterfly Milkweed
Spiderwort
The snowy December prairie photo will look much different when its plants start blooming in May, and these photos of Butterfly Milkweed and Spiderwort were taken in this same prairie last June. These plants are a couple of my favorite early summer bloomers, and these are two of the twenty beautiful prairie plants featured in Rachel and Sammy Visit the Prairie.
Prairie vegetation was once dominant in the state where I live, the Prairie State of Illinois. I have always imagined how early settlers felt as they crossed the wide prairie expanses that once covered two thirds of Illinois. Later in the growing season, some of these gorgeous grasses and forbs (prairie wildflowers) can grow well above six feet tall, depending on conditions. Very few trees would have dotted the landscape, so it would be very easy to get lost in the unfamiliar prairie meadows.
Right now, it would even be easy to get lost in my backyard prairie patch, with all the blowing snow. Presently, the prairie is subtly beautiful, and when I think about how it will look in the spring and summer months, I know that it will be worth the wait!
Snow Prairie
Butterfly Milkweed
Spiderwort
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