The love of reading inspired me to be a writer. But since I started writing, I don’t have time to read. It’s a conundrum. When I read, I like to focus–to really give my time to the book and read it in two to three days. Over that last several years, I read a book or two in between deadlines. Since I’m an editor now, I have even less time. I’m caught up on the initial editing bottleneck, and am getting a schedule worked out now to where I have some free time. But since I want to write and read, do craft and home improvement projects, I decided to try reading at night when I go to bed.
I’m a night owl and it always takes me a while to get wound down from my day, so reading is the perfect solution. Since our son is eighteen and can get himself up for work these days, I go to bed at 2 am and get up at 10 am. It’s awesome. Until now, my entire life, I’ve had to get up early and go to bed early. Which is totally against my inner clock. I’ve discovered that if I go to bed at 1 am, I can read for an hour and finish a book in a week or two. It’s not ideal, but workable. For my first experiment with this time schedule, I chose my favorite author, Denise Hunter. My deadline inundated existence kept from starting her latest series. So the good thing about being busy, all three books have released, and I’m getting to read them one after the other instead of waiting months in between. I may start waiting until the whole series releases on purpose in the future.
I loved Book 1, Lake Season. On top of being Denise’s usual toe-curling kiss romance, the hero is an author. An introspective, really smart author who uses a pen name to hide his identity because he’s worried he won’t live up to the suave, debonair heroes he writes. I’m just digging into Book 2, Carolina Breeze and am loving it too. The only thing I don’t like is reading them slowly. But it does give me more time to let the story sink in. Aren’t the beach reads pretty on my seashell bedspread?
So on to all the projects I’ve accomplished between the books I’ve edited. This was an electric fireplace and of course the heater that used to
be in the middle quit working. My husband wanted to chunk it, but I saw a shelf just waiting to happen. He painted it white and put the shelf in per my instructions. Then I dug in my trunk full of fabric and found just the thing to pretty up the inserts. I need to get door handles for it, but other than it’s finished. The books make up my current to be read pile. The shelf is in my sunroom, formerly the screened-in porch, next to my office. Since the room is usable year-round now, I do a lot of my editing there on my trusty laptop. By the way, that’s a B B gun. Our neighbor’s rooster loves to come over here to crow and wake me up. So whenever any of the chickens get in our yard, we pop them and the rooster stays away.
I also got my son’s room painted. At the time, he was working in Mississippi building grain silos and we wanted to get it done before he got home. We made it. I didn’t take any before pictures. But it was a weird green-gray dark color. Now it’s a really light gray and so much brighter. My husband also painted his dresser, which was 80’s orangey oak, now flat black. He was quite pleased with the transformation. He’s home now and got hired at a factory about thirty minutes away. After pouring concrete and building grain mills, he’s ready to work inside, out of the weather. The company he’ll work for makes potato chip bags, has been there for fifty years, has great benefits, retirement plans, and lots of opportunities to move up. We’re excited. Just waiting on his drug test. It’s awesome for your 18-year-old kid to get a drug test and you know in your soul you don’t have to worry about the results. God is good.
Since several of our exterior window shutters were losing slats, my husband has been slowly replacing them
with handmade lattice ones. Which means I have shutters for crafts. The corner table was part of my parents’ first bedroom suite and was at my grandparents’ house for as long as I can remember. I always loved it, so after my grandparents passed, my mom let me have it. It was maple. My husband painted it white for me, except the top and drawer which I stained 
mahogany. It’s in our living room and he made the birdcage light fixture above it several years ago. I wanted something tall on the corner table in the living room. So I made the home sign. The letters are paper mache from Hobby Lobby. I love word signs since words are a big part of my life.
I haven’t done it yet, but I bought a puzzle. I plan on using my handy-dandy puzzle board in my sunroom on the wicker table. When I need a break from editing or have a few spare minutes, you can find me puzzling. This will be an experiment. I confessed last month that when I’m doing a puzzle, I don’t want to do anything else, like feed my family or sleep. I just want to do my puzzle. Hopefully, I can still be productive. If not, I’ll have to put it away. We’ll see.
I plan on doing some sewing next month. But as I mentioned, a book is bubbling to the surface. At the moment, though I have some proposals submitted, I don’t have a book contract. Except for a novella collection to release next September with four other authors through the publishing company I’m part owner of. At the moment, I’m free to write what I want. It’s coming together in my head, an old project that needs to be finished.
What about you? Any crafty projects lately? What work projects are you working on or have you completed? How many books have you read this month? Comment or answer to get in the drawing for my two in one with Jill Lynn. Deadline: Nov 6th.
Award winning author, Shannon Taylor Vannatter writes contemporary Christian cowboy romance and has over a dozen published titles. A romance reader since her teens, she hopes to entertain Christian women and plant seeds in the non-believer’s heart as she demonstrates that love doesn’t conquer all—Jesus does. She gleans fodder for her fiction in rural Arkansas where she spent her teenage summers working the concession stand with her rodeo announcing dad and married a Texan who morphed into a pastor. In her spare time, she loves hanging out with her husband and son, flea marketing, and doing craft projects.
Not a crafty person, but do love a good book and this one looks promising
The 2nd one is really good too, Yvonne. None of Denise’s books have ever disappointed me.
I am going to paint my kitchen cabinets white so I am trying to find the right shade nana the right paint. This will be a big project but I have painted my bathroom cabinets many years ago and they look great. I like what you did with your electric fireplace! I have read 20 books this month. I like to read in the evening because it is relaxing and helps me unwind from a busy day.
Wow Lori, that’s a big undertaking. I love white cabinets. I almost did that once. We had 80’s orangey oak that I hated. But our family room is open to the kitchen and it’s all yellow pine wood so we went with light hickory and it turned out great. I’d love to read 20 books in a month. That would be awesome.
For me my goal for November is to write the largest part of my new story. Last month I have read so much. I think around the 40 books or something like that. I had a week of so that makes the number so high. I love reading new books!
NaNoWriMo. Yay Marilene. If you have any completed books laying around, check out the contests on the scrivenings press website. Somebody will win a book contract and get their book published in June 2021. Wow 40 books. My mom reads that mant a month.
Wow, I am so not a crafty person ,you are very talented!
Hi Paula Marie. Doing crafty things and home improvement projects frees my mind somehow. I often get book ideas or plot while I do something creative.
I like doing hook rugs but haven’t been to hobby lobby or michaels to get one. Will be heading to one the stores next week while it’s still fairly warm out before the cold is back again.
Oh Kim. That’s my favorite store. I could live there. We used to have to drive over an hour to the nearest one. But a few years ago, we got one 35 minutes away. Makes me happy.
I used to do a lot of crafts, but writing kind of took over that time slot eighteen years ago; (Really?!?! Eighteen years???) Like you, I read for about an hour before bed but, for me, that’s 9:30-10:30 pm!
I do things that don’t take long, Valerie. I used to crochet and cross stitch. Haven’t done either of those since I started writing.
I have read many books so far over 75.
Oh my goodness Kelly. Wow. I’m honestly not sure I’d read that much if I could. I like thinking about characters and savoring stories for a few days before I dive into the next one.
Those are such pretty projects you’ve completed, very creative! I’ve been working on some needlepoint Christmas ornaments to give as gifts. I too sometimes have difficulty reading, I think this month I’ve only read 3 or 4 books, mostly short ones.
I have a large trunk full of fabric, Megan. I found that stain glass fabric I used on the fireplace shelf at Hobby Lobby a few years ago. I had no idea what I’d do with it, but it was pretty so I got 2 yards. 3 or 4 books a month would probably be my speed eve. If I had more time.
I love to knit and crochet. I am currently working on a poncho and a blanket.
I used to crochet sweaters, Evangeline. I had one with loops on it. I saw a similar factory made one for 40 bucks in a store recently. Hmmmm.
I’ve read the first two books in that series and LOVED THEM!!! I’m looking forward to getting my hands on book 3! Projects? We repainted the den and my office, and installed flooring in the office – it looks totally different, and I’m still trying to get used to the yellow walls where there was once RED! That’s about as crafty as I get. Now ask me to make an ad using Canva, and I’m your girl! LOL Love the black dresser, and the antler handles are awesome!
I love yellow walls, Regina. My kitchen used to be yellow. But since we tore out a wall and opened it to the family room, I had to repaint. The family room is rustic cabin, so the yellow kitchen didn’t work. I’m planning to paint my laundry room yellow. Our son’s room used to be all camo and hunting. He wanted more grown up but decided to keep the deer antler dresser handles. His room is patriotic now with a red white and blue eagle comforter. I couldn’t take any pictures of other walls without getting political. He has election related banners on the two main walls.
Wow! You do beautiful craft work! The only crafty type of thing I do is embroidery but I haven’t been able to finish the quilt I have almost done for quite a while. Hopefully I can get a handle on the arthritis in my thumb to get back to it sometime. I do love puzzles! I have no space in the house so only do them on the computer now. That’s what I do to wind down now, usually when listening to books. I think I’ve only read 2 books for pleasure this month. I’ve done 5 ARC and if I remember right I have proofread 7. Oh, I am starting a second devotional getting pull quotes from tomorrow. I should have already been working on it but stopped to make a new pie recipe so I could take one to my Daddy for his 86th birthday yesterday. I don’t like pumpkin so when I saw a recipe for an Apple Butter Pie I knew I had to try it! I pulled the applesauce out of the freezer and started cooking it to make the apple butter, making pies the next day. Where Daddy isn’t a cake person and apple is his favorite pie I knew I had to take him one to try!
Hi Deb. My husband and I used to have a flea market booth, so I did lots of crafty things and we repurposed furniture. We did pretty well for a while, but to really do well, it has to be pretty much a full-time job. Our dream is to own one someday. In the meantime, I do crafty things for me, friends, and family. I haven’t started my puzzle yet, but my schedule will slow down next week, so I’m planning to start it then. I’m at the computer so much, I don’t want to do puzzles there and luckily I have a good place to work on one. I might have planned it that way :) I didn’t think about how many books I’ve edited – 2. Which is manageable. One month I did 3, that got kind of crazy. My dad’s favorite pie is bald-headed chocolate. That means: no meringue.
I’m with your Dad! I don’t like meringue. Even whipped topping, it’s okay once in a great while but I’d prefer not to have it.
I’d rather skip the meringue. But I love whipped topping. My favorite pies are the cold ones with whipped topping mixed in the pudding. The easy kind you don’t have to slave over. I love cool fluffy pies.
I have not been working on any crafts lately, but I have been organizing my cabinets and laundry room. I have read 22 books during the month of October.
Hey Judy. My husband put a linen closet in where our furnace used to be. We got a heat pump four years ago when the furnace quit. Since then, it’s just been an empty space until last week. I painted it and he put shelves in. For the first time, I have a place for sheets and blankets. I love it. Our sheets were in the bathroom with the towels and the blankets were stuffed in the top shelf of the closet. That’s a lot of reading. I’m impressed.
I love doing crafty things and look forward to cataract surgery on Monday so then I can see to do them again. I had the left eye done last month. I’ve read 9 books this month.
I’m so glad you’re having surgery, Lucy. My mom had hers done a few years ago. She’s worn glasses her entire life, but not anymore. You’ll be able to read more I bet.
I read off and on through out the day, but definitely for the last hour before bed! That for me is 11pm. I have to start making my Christmas cards! I’ve usually started by now, but I haven’t even decided what I want to make yet. My busy season of selling insurance has started, and it’s going to get even busier next week, so you’d think I’d have planned ahead! It’s so hot still in FL that I just couldn’t! We had a cool day today, our high was in the 70’s, and it’s supposed to be like that tomorrow, too, and then next week, so I think I’ll be able to start working on the cards! I have 5 books that I know of that I’ll be proofreading in November, too, so I’ll definitely be busy!
Wow, Trudy. You make Christmas cards. I don’t even get around to mailing bought ones anymore. I love fall and winter, absolutely hate summer. I don’t think I’d survive in FL. If it’s above 75 degrees, I’m pretty miserable. Of course, in Arkansas, there’s the humidity that makes it feel 5 times hotter. Ugh. I’m loving our 50 and 60 degree days right now.
I made some Halloween cards. I have read 2 books this month. I have been organizing the house little by little. Thank you for the chance. Have a Great weekend and stay safe. God Bless you and your family.
I made Halloween cards once. Invitations for a party when I was about nine. Just crayon drawings on the front, but I remember enjoying it. Two books is about my speed, Alicia. You too.
I’ve read 10 books this month, which is a lot for me, and that’s even while drafting my novel in a fiction challenge! But that also includes two mangas that I read with my oldest son.
I usually don’t read quite that much, but I have been trying to get through all the books I had borrowed on KU so that I can cancel my subscription next month. My husband doesn’t think I read enough to make it worthwhile, and I usually don’t. This month I did, though. ;)
As to projects, I have been getting back into my watercolors. I will be doing a creative challenge every day in November with a FB group, so I have started playing again. I still need to get back to my scrapbooking, too.
Another writer. I hope you’ll check out the writing contests on the Scrivenings Press website, Lila. I love watercolor paintings. I’m a pastel kind of gal. I’ve never done scrapbooking, but I love looking at other people’s books. I know if I started, I’d probably do one book and then stress because my pictures are piling up. I used to do that with getting them in albums. Finally, I started buying those pretty boxes and storing my pictures in them. I’m happy that way. No stress, but it does make it a challenge when trying to find a certain picture.
I love reading. I mostly read at night for alot of hours but will read in the day if my kids are busy or away & my husband is working so I read to relax. I read over 10 books a month always. I have a library that keeps growing lol.
I read to relax too, Amy. And I require a happy ending :)
I’ve read 11 books in October. I haven’t got any projects going but have some percolating in my brain for Christmas gifts. Need to start!! Happy Halloween and have a wonderful weekend!
Hi Kathy. 11 books makes me go wow. I used to make Christmas gifts. I need to get back into that. I need to start too. Whether I shop or make gifts.
My only hobby is reading, though I do the occasional crossword puzzle in the newspaper. I set a goal on Goodreads every year to read 100 books, so far I have 94 done and will start on the next one today. I always exceed my goal :-)
This year, I signed up for a subscription to Kindle Unlimited and have found most of my books through that. I love all the new authors I’ve discovered as well! It seems I’ve been reading more and that’s always a good thing, right?
Wow, Trixi, that’s a lot of books. My mom reads 30 or 40 books in 2 weeks. She’s an avid library patron. I’m glad you’re discovering new authors. Reading more is always a good thing. Definitely.
I’m awaiting my Jane Austen quilt kit. It’s been delayed for several months.
I’ve never made a quilt Denise. I cheat and make comforters. I love quilts. But I don’t have the patience to cut up fabric just to sew it back together :) I’m glad other do though. Did I mention I love quilts?
I enjoy making bookmarks for a hobby. I’ve probably read 5 books in October.
I love bookmarks Linda. I DO NOT dogear.
I’m a night owl, reading until wee hours 🤓 the only problem is I have to work in the morning 😂
Oh wow Natalya. I can’t do that. All the years I worked 9 to 5 and when our son was in school, I had to get up early. If I have to get up early, I have to go to bed early. I’m just now getting to enjoy my night owl inner clock.
I have so much going on with my mom’s health that I barely read 3 books this month.
Sorry to hear about your mom, Sonnetta. I hope she has a turn for the better. At least you still got to read a little.
My Mom took a fall the end of August. She was sent to a rehabilitation center for seven weeks. During that time, we had three rooms painted as well as worked on Fall housekeeping. We are all handicapped so we had to have help getting this completed. My Mom came home in a wheelchair. We had to make the house more wheelchair friendly. There are still boxes, drawers, closets and cupboards to clean out. It is a work in progress. I have only been able to read two books in October.
Sounds like you have your hands full, Debra. I hope your mom’s health improves. With all that, you still got some reading done. I’m impressed.
The crafty gene skipped me! So I read and do scrap booking!
Scrapbooking is pretty crafty if you ask me, Linda. I love looking at scrapbooks. I wish someone would take all my pictures and do them for me. Until then, my pictures live in pretty decorative boxes.
Oh wow Natalya. I can’t do that. All the years I worked 9 to 5 and when our son was in school, I had to get up early. If I have to get up early, I have to go to bed early. I’m just now getting to enjoy my night owl inner clock.