Other Things Archives - Seams Like a Story

February 17, 2025February 16, 2025

The Lemonade Stand

When life gives you lemons…

The news wasn’t good. The the world we live in seems to be in a constant state of crisis these days. Facts mingled with falsehoods make it difficult to discern the truth. For many months, I’ve had my head in the sand. When I finally emerged, I found the sand was shifting beneath my feet.

Besides that, I’d just returned from a trip to Chicago to visit my mother. My family is facing some challenging days ahead.

I needed to take a walk and clear my head, reset my mind, try to find something, anything positive to focus on. Cue the weather. It was a beautiful February day in Arizona. Cobalt-blue sky (No, the above photo is not filtered…that is the actual sky color as seen from my backyard) with temps in the mid 60s.

When life gives you lemons…

a box on a wooden bench with a sign that reads: Lemons, Help yourself

The box was empty. I was glad someone had taken all the lemons. This is citrus season in Arizona, and the neighborhood trees are heavy with fruit. If the harvest isn’t picked, it falls to the ground and is wasted.

I’d just reached the neighborhood playground when a young, tousle-haired boy (about kindergarten age) came running up to me.

“Want some lemonade?” he shoved a green plastic cup towards me.

“Oh, well…I didn’t bring any money with me, ” I said.

“That’s OK! You can have it for free!”

I followed the boy to the shelter house where four other children were gathered around a picnic table set with a pitcher and more of the green cups. One of them held a makeshift sign fashioned from a piece of salvaged cardboard. “LEMONADE $1.00” was scrawled in thick black marker.

An older boy poured me a glass and it was delicious! I asked if they’d made it themselves.

“Yes!” a girl said. “We saw this box of lemons and they were free and we decided to make lemonade and we squeezed the lemons and put in some sugar and water and now we are selling it!”

“We saw a lot of people taking a walk and we thought it was kinda hot outside and people would be thirsty and would want some lemonade!” The older boy said.

“I’ll tell you what. This lemonade is so good, I’m going to finish my walk, then I’ll stop by my house, get some money and be back.” I said.

A Lemonade Moment

I finished my walk with a smile on my face. Back home, I got $5 and returned to the lemonade stand. “One dollar for each of you,” I said. “Wow! Thanks!” The older boy grinned and put the money in a plastic bag that had a few other bills in it. As I was leaving, the little guy I’d first met was running up to a woman checking her mailbox. “I don’t have any money with me,” I thought I heard her say. I’ll bet she goes in and gets some. How could she resist?

So here’s what I’ve decided. I’m going to find one thing each day that makes me smile and warms my heart, a lemonade moment, to help me remember to take time to replenish my mental, emotional, and physical energy. I’m going to need it, maybe we all are, for the days ahead.

Threads of Thought

Have you had your “lemonade moment” today? Share it with us! Let’s start a lemonade moment movement!

Meet the Author!

I’ll be signing books at the 2025 Tucson Festival of Books on March 15 from 1:30-4:30. Not local? No Worries! Find your copies here!

February 3, 2025February 3, 2025

Hummingbird Drama

Its all happening in your backyard!

a hummingbird sitting on a shepherd's hook above a feeded — A female hummingbird guards her territory

I’ve been reading Amy Tan’s latest book The Backyard Bird Chronicles, a beautiful collection of her journal entries and her own breathtaking drawings of the birds she has observed over many years in the backyard she has curated for them. Tan, author of The Joy Luck Club, The Bonesetter’s Daughter, and the Valley of Amazement, to name just a few, says that creating this journal was very different than writing a novel. In her words “Creating The Backyard Bird Chronicles was pure fun, spontaneous, a bit of a mess, come what may.”

I think this is a marvelous testament to living a creative life. By working on something entirely different, a writer taps into a wealth of creativity that will spill over into future works. Reading her book has inspired me to take a look at my own backyard birds.

The author holds up a kindle version of Amy Tan's Backyard Bird Chronicles. — I have the book on Kindle, but read it as a hard copy to get the full effect of her colorful drawings.

I’m not a bird expert, but armed with my National Geographic Field Guide to Birds of the Western North America, I did my best to try to identify the actors in the drama that played out in my backyard last week. (Also my pictures aren’t great…the hummers are elusive subjects, hardly ever sitting still , but forgive me and feel free to correct me if my identifications are wrong.)

The Drama Begins

A young female hummingbird, perhaps a Costa’s, has been guarding her territory around our saguaro-shaped feeder. She’s made a good choice. The feeder is near a series of dense, high shrubbery in a corner of our yard that offers protection and possibly a nesting site. When our daughter was visiting one spring, she saw a hummingbird nest there. The female hummer sits on the shepherd’s crook and surveys her surroundings, chasing after any who dare enter her domain. I notice the feeder looks empty. When I take if off the hook, she zooms past with a zing resembling a tiny light saber sound, then circles back and stares at me face to face.

“Hey, its about time you refilled that. And make it snappy, I haven’t got all day, she seems to say.” Off to the kitchen I go, where I’ve prepared a fresh batch of nectar, one part sugar dissolved in four parts water. When I return, she circles where the feeder should be, dashes off while I hang it back on the hook, then resumes her guard duty. This time she sits in the neighbor’s grapefruit tree where she can see the saguaro feeder and the secondary feeder around the corner, outside my office window.

The Plot Thickens

By now, I’ve returned to working at my computer. Purple Floyd comes to visit the feeder just outside my window. He’s close enough that I can get a good look at him. I’m pretty sure he is a Costa’s. His bright purple head is iridescent in the morning sun and he has a very distinctive white cheek. He is a regular at my office feeder. I named him Purple Floyd because of his purple cap, and when he bends his head to drink, a few feathers stick up in back making him look like a rock star.

But Wait…!!!

The female has spotted Floyd and ambushes him in a surprise attack! For several minutes they zig and zag around my garden. She is relentless, and in the end, chases the poor guy away. Zooming back to the grapefruit tree, she doesn’t even stop to drink at the feeder she just conquered. For now, she’s content to have established her dominance.

Later, Purple Floyd returns to the feeder, but he doesn’t perch on it. Instead, he hovers, takes a few quick sips, and takes off. He wants to avoid another confrontation. For now anyway, the garden returns to its normal state of equilibrium and I return to work, thankful that I’ve had such drama added to my mundane morning.

Cameo Appearance

Ha! Look who showed up in the garden just as I was finishing this post. I guess this guy or girl will have to wait for his/her own story. Beep, beep! Is there a coyote in the neighborhood?

Threads of Thought

Now it’s your turn. Spend a few moments, or more looking at the birds out your window, or go for a walk in the neighborhood or woods. Journal some notes, take some photos, maybe even a sketch or two. Who knows what you will come up with!

photo of the cover of Until Italy: A Traveler's Memoir. Bright turquois cover with a wild yellow suitcase travel items exploding from it

And speaking of adventure…I’m happy to announce that Until Italy has been selected to be featured in the 2025 Tucson Festival of Books! I’ll be in the Indie Author’s Pavilion on Saturday, March 15 from 1:00-4:00. See me there for a signed copy, or get your copy here!

July 15, 2024July 15, 2024

Adventures in Thrifting

a bowl, notecards and a book : thrifted treasures — Thrifted Treasures

thrifting. Verb: shopping for or buying used goods especially at a store that specializes in secondhand merchandise.

thrifting. Purpose: to find and purchase things you didn’t even know you needed.

thrifting. Fun: experienced alone or with a friend, an enjoyable way to spend a morning.

My friend E and I go to lunch every month or so to catch up and discuss our current writing projects. Last week, we decided to mix things up and meet at a local thrift store before lunch. An “artist date.”

According to Julia Cameron in her book The Artist’s Way, an artist date is a block of time especially set aside and committed to nurturing your creative consciousness. I was long overdue for some inspiration. What treasures would we find?

We arrived shortly after the store opened and the checkout line was already backed up to the housewares section. A sign proclaimed it was “Christmas in July” and all holiday merchandise was half off. Many shoppers had their arms full of decorations, gift wrap, and holiday nick-nacks.

Except… One man shifted from foot to foot as he waited in line, trying to balance two large, orange, gasoline cans in his hands. (The kind you use when you run out of gas and have to walk to the gas station. )Hopefully they were empty. I’m sure there are laws. I’d found my first story and I hadn’t even started shopping yet!

E stopped to look at a display of Christmas cards, boxed in original packaging. As it’s over a hundred degrees here, I’m not in the mood for Christmas. I moved on.

A Portuguese bowl painted with colorful stripes and playful fish caught my eye. It reminded me of Dr. Seuss…One fish, Two fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish. It had to be authentic because the hand printed tag taped to the bottom makes it so…and a bargain at $12. But I don’t need it . I said as much to E. “Ok, but its really cute,” she said. I walked away and continued my search.

Things that ended up in my basket:

Three blank journals, unused. (But wouldn’t it be fun to find secret notes in them? There’s another story idea!)
Three packages of vintage floral notecards. I wasn’t surprised to see them at the thrift store. Most messaging is done via text or email these days, but I still like to send notes or include them with gifts.
A pristine copy of Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within. The copywrite is 2005, but I could tell it had never been read. The cover was still tight and there are no notes, highlights, or coffee stains. Perhaps the original owner already knew everything about writing, or thought they wanted to write, but never got around to it. This will be a good addition to my writing library.
A red, t-shirt type dress was in my basket temporarily. I had high hopes it would be a good addition to my travel wardrobe, but after I slipped it on in the dressing room, no. A definite no. Seasoned thrifters know you win some, you lose some.

E had her hands full too. On the way to check out, the Portuguese bowl I didn’t need called out, “Pick me, pick me! ” I couldn’t resist. This was my favorite purchase of the day. It prompted me to make a nice crisp summer salad for dinner that night, inspired a blog post, and makes me smile.

As it turns out, impulse buys, those things you weren’t looking for but tug at your heart, are the best part about thrifting! Something is waiting for you out there!

Threads of Thought

Are you a thrifter?

What’s the best thing you’ve found at a thrift store?

What do you currently own, that needs to go to the thrift shop?

2 Books, Out of the Crayon Box: Thoughts on Teaching, Retirement, and Life...and Until Italy: A traveler's memoir

More adventures are only a click away!

for my author’s page click here

February 26, 2024February 26, 2024

The 52 Hike Challenge Begins

holding a patch that reads :52 Hike Challenge

January 1, 2024. Christmas was over, the kids and granddaughters were on their way home. Post-holiday lethargy had set in and I was mindlessly scrolling through my phone when an ad for the 52 Hike Challenge caught my attention. I thought it might be a fun way for my husband and I to get out of our routine, get some fresh air and exercise, and spend time together.

“Hey, would you like for me to sign us up for this?” I showed the ad to Ed.

“Sure, why not?”

The 52 Hike Challenge

Why not?! One hike a week for 52 weeks. The “Official rules” state that your hike should be at least a mile outdoors. You may start the challenge anytime during the year. My personal goal is to seek new adventures and try to do 52 unique hikes, although there will most likely be repeats. So far we’ve hiked in nearby state and national parks, a Sandhill Crane observatory, a reclaimed wetlands preserve, and a converted railroad trail. All have been 1.5-2.5 miles with easy terrain.

Note: If you’re interested, there’s a link in the “Threads of Thought” section at the end of this post. I am not affiliated or sponsored by the 52 Hike Challenge. The site will direct you to several “Packages”, that include various perks, but I signed up for the free version that included a free hike tracker. I purchased a 52 Hike Challenge patch separately. (Because who doesn’t love an official patch?)

Going the Distance

To log the milage of each hike, my son helped me download the Strava app on my phone. This is an excellent resource , but it took a hike or two to figure it out. Looking back over one of my first hikes, I noticed that I’d neglected to turn the app off and it continued to track me walking around my house and running errands for many days. (weeks?) It recorded the hike as 135.52 miles with a maximum speed of 60 miles per hour. I should delete it, but it looks rather impressive. I’m keeping it up for a while. Actually, my mph is very slow, much to the annoyance of others we sometimes hike with. Blame it on the fact that while hiking I’m stopping to take pictures and…

Write the Hikes

So here’s how my brain works: I’m a writer, can I write the hikes? Yes, of course! I try to take a journal, or record some impressions once I get home. I record the date and distance, and who we hiked with. A recent hike inspired a poem. The world is full of stories and poems if you know how to look for them!

And then, my brain said…I’m a sewist, so what if could…

Quilt the Hikes

I dashed off to the quilt shop to buy bits and pieces of fabric, then a friend helped me cut out lots of triangles. I’m not a quilter, but I had so much fun with my friend’s rotary cutter and she helped me figure it all out mathematically. The plan is to earn a triangle for each hike. I’ll sew these together into squares, then fashion a wall hanging at the completion of the challenge. Sounds ambitious, but this keeps me motivated to see how the quilt grows.

We’re two months and eight hikes into the Challenge. So far, so good, but the year is young. Will we complete the challenge? Stay tuned!

Threads of Thought

Live creatively! “There’s a time for certain ideas to arrive, and they find a way to express themselves through us.” (Rick Rubin)

Are you inspired by nature? Go for a hike!

http://www.52hikechallenge.com

BIG NEWS! Out of the Crayon Box is going to the 2024 Tucson Festival of Books! Look for me at the Indie Author’s Pavilion on Saturday, March 9, 1:30-4:30! or get your copy here: http://amazon.com/author/debravandeventer

February 8, 2024February 8, 2024

The Timekeepers

The Lost Art of Clock Repair

the front of a shop with the name "Ye Olde Clock shoppe" in red letters

The name of the shop gives the first clue you are traveling back in time. Four months ago my husband dropped off a clock at Ye Olde Clock Shoppe. Ed is not a clock enthusiast usually, but this timepiece has sentimental value. He purchased the clock in Switzerland when he was a student studying abroad, and had it shipped back as a gift to his parents. It moved from place to place, resting atop various shelves and side tables, never running properly, then stopping altogether. When Ed’s mother passed away this spring, we became the keeper of the clock .We’d almost forgotten about the repair shop until we got a call. “Your clock is ready. You can come pick it up.”

Although the shop appears to be an ordinary place of business set between others in the shopping center, once you open the door you enter a world where time tics and tocks–stands still and moves forward. In the dim light I see half dozen Grandfather clocks guarding the door, making it nearly impossible to approach the counter. The walls are packed with scores of cuckoo clocks–their hands still and their whimsical characters silent behind shuttered doors. Past the counter are shelves and shelves filled with clocks of all kinds waiting their turn to come back to life. More clocks create a maze on the floor, making passage through the shop difficult. Thoughts of Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley run through my mind and I am expecting a clock wizard to appear when I ring the bell for service.

And indeed, a woman with long gray hair, a long skirt and shawl, and wire-rim glasses walks from the back room to greet us. When Ed gives our name, she heaves a large black ledger onto the counter, scrolls through several pages, then taps our name with a bent finger. “Yes, yes, the Anniversary Clock. She’s a beauty. I’ll get her for you.” And she disappears into the back room. After several minutes, she carries the timepiece gingerly through the clock maze and eases it onto the counter.

She takes her time to tell us about our clock and how to care for it–how to make adjustments when it runs fast or slow. “You only need to wind it once a year…that’s why they call it an Anniversary Clock” she informs us.

And this is where the wizardry happens. The clock runs all year on the force of the pendulum–four golden balls that rotate, left and right, by centrifugal force. No batteries, no electricity, no internet connection. Of course it’s science, not wizardry. But what minds figured out how this works–how the minute hand and the hour hand move with surprising accuracy? It’s the timekeepers of the world who are keeping this lost art alive. The tinkerers of tiny parts, levers and gears.

The shop has a tremendous backlog of clocks needing repair, as there are few left who understand the craft. They are a dying breed, these horologists, in our high-tech world. While we are waiting, a woman comes in to complain. “I brought my clock in two weeks ago! Why isn’t it done?” A product of our “I want it now Amazon world”, she doesn’t understand it takes time to make time.

As we finish up, the wizard woman wraps our clock with great care. “Keep her steady, hold her on your lap on the way home.” And so I do, as if I were carrying a newborn on my lap. Once home we place it on the shelf we’d cleared in the living room, so we can enjoy it. We’ve made a few adjustments– a few minutes too fast, then too slow–she’s sensitive. But what a joy to watch. The pendulum moves silently around, back and forth at the perfect pace, and the hands keep time in sync with the rhythm of the Earth.

Here’s to the timekeepers of the world.

a glass domed clock with golden ball pendulum

Threads of Thought

Do you have a clock story to share?

How to you keep and measure time? By your phone, Apple watch, Fitbit, digital, analog? How has this changed in your lifetime?

Time has a different quality to it now that I’m a writer. Learn more about my transition from teaching in Out of the Crayon Box, Thoughts on Teaching, Retirement, and Life http://amazon.com/author/debravandeventer