I have some hearing-related updates to share in a lengthier blog post, but to keep the creative juices flowing, let’s do another daily writing prompt:
There was a time I may have worried that my list sounded boring, because it doesn’t include any adrenaline-heavy activities, or alcohol, or, idk… hot trends? But who cares? I like living a chill lifestyle. I produce enough adrenaline just reading the news these days.
So here’s my list, in alphabetical order because I’m a real nerd like that:
Feeding the birds
When I was growing up, my mom always had a bird feeder outside the kitchen window and would exclaim with glee when a cardinal or bluebird showed up. I didn’t get it. What’s so fun about birds? They fly away if you try to approach. They poop all over the place. They’re not soft and cuddly.
Well, I stand corrected. Once Dave and I bought our first place, I got a couple of bird feeders for Christmas. We lived on a woody lot, so the feeders were often plagued by fat squirrels, but it was still so neat to see the variety of colors and sizes of birds that would show up.
Now that we live even further out in the countryside, I’ve seen even more variety. And we hear owls in the trees at night!
There is something deeply satisfying about putting seeds and nuts and suet out for the birds and knowing that they appreciate it in their own birdlike ways.
Gardening
I’ve always loved getting my hands in the dirt (technically soil – as my soils professor in college would insist). My current focus is on native plants and re-wilding spaces, which isn’t really depicted in this photo because it was taken at the town gardens, which our local garden club maintains. But it’s me with my hands in the dirt/soil!
Getting creative
I love to draw, paint, write, sculpt, build stuff… ya know, CREATE! In some ways, I feel like I’ve been putting it on the back burner lately, namely my glassmaking stuff, because I just haven’t been able to get back into it since we moved. But I don’t think you have to be constantly producing showy work to consider yourself a creative person. And I know I will return to it at some point.
I create every time I write, even if that writing is in my private journal. I create when I decide where and how to plant a garden. I create when I choose how to decorate my house, or what outfit to wear, or what jewelry to pair with it.
And of course, I just created this blog post!
Storytime
I love a good story. Whether it’s being told by a friend, or in a book or in a movie or a show, I can’t get enough. Storytelling is the oldest form of sharing information, so I guess it makes sense that we’re programmed to receive.
When I was in middle school and high school , I would go into the school library and just pull random YA novels off the shelf and devour them in a day or two. Of course I also had an extensive collection of my own book series: Little House on the Prairie, Nancy Drew, Sweet Valley High and Anne of Green Gables (and the Avonlea books). As a grown up, I still love novels, but I also enjoy history, psychology and (le sigh), self-help books. I listen to a lot of them as audiobooks so that I can still consume while driving and doing things around the house.
I also love a good, well-produced and edited podcast, like This American Life, The Moth Radio Hour… okay so I guess those are radio shows, but you know what I mean. I just want to hear stories.
Wandering about
I love a good wander. Generally this is just a walk or a hike somewhere close to home– sometimes even just wandering about the back yard. Other times it involves a flight to a foreign land, hiking boots and a backpack of snacks!
Uncommon Heather 