Finding Time to Blog

Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden to-do list grow?
With silver bells, and cockle shells, and pretty maids all in a row.

Is your to-do list like mine? It just seems to get longer and longer, and at the end of the day I can only cross off one or two things. And I’m not even writing down the things I need to do every day, like filling and emptying the dishwasher, making dinner and doing laundry!

My never-ending to-do list

Every once in a while, when a friend learns that I write a blog, they ask, “Where do you find the time?”

I really don’t have an answer to that question. I wish I had a set writing time; a time when I sit down and just write. I write when I have a few minutes here and there. If the kids are watching T.V., I try to write. Or when they are at school, I try to sneak some writing into my day. I publish my posts at odd times and on different days. I’m never consistent. I’m always “working” on a new post. That doesn’t mean I’m sitting at the computer all day, typing away furiously. If only I had the time! No, I just walk around in the grocery store, thoughts about my next post swirling around my brain, taking up the space that’s meant to remember to buy MILK. Usually, those posts sound much better in my head than they look written down.

The reason I make time for my blog is because it has become one of my passions. And so I was delighted to get together for a cup of coffee with one of my friends last night to talk about my passion: blogging. She is an author and a middle school teacher; please go check her out! Her new blog is here: AJ Cattapan, and you can also find her on Twitter: @AJCattapan. AJ and I are both avid fans of Anne of Green Gables; so I was quite jealous when I discovered that AJ’s header was a photo she had taken on Prince Edward Island!

The laundry is still not folded, but now…I can cross off “Blog Post” on my to-do list. What’s on your list? (Please add “Go follow AJ!” 😉 )

signature

Book Nook: Storytime with Tomie dePaola!

A Book Nook is long past due here at Lemon Drop Pie! I’ve written about Tomie dePaola before, as he is one of my favorite authors and illustrators. When I was teaching second grade, his book The Art Lesson was in our reading series. After reading The Art Lesson, my second graders would each write a letter to Mr. dePaola, and I would mail them to his publisher. A couple of weeks later, we would receive a class set of bookmarks and a personalized letter from Mr. dePaola. My students loved hearing back from a real, live author!

Tomie dePaola is still writing and still drawing, and he’s still connecting with children in the classroom. All you have to do is read Tomie’s blog, and you will see pictures drawn by children who love his books. (I was even mentioned once in Tomie’s blog — I have gushing book nerd potential.)

Through Tomie’s blog, I found a wonderful resource for parents: Barnes and Noble Storytime. During January, you can hear Tomie dePaola read his book, Strega Nona. Other months have featured authors such as Jan Brett (The Mitten) and Judy Viorst (Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.) Just click “See More Storytime Videos” under the video of Strega Nona, and you can view other books read by the authors or a celebrity reader.

The girls have watched Strega Nona a couple of times now, and if you visit us, you just may hear someone saying “We must protect our town from the pasta!” in a dramatic voice. I would also be remiss if I did not mention the lastest honor Mr. dePaola has received: the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award! Congratulations, Mr. dePaola, from this gushing book nerd!