N is for Neighbors, Nests, and Notebooks
Posted by lindamartinandersen on April 16, 2016
A Writer’s Playground–a place to find wordplay, writing prompts, reasons to celebrate, and monthly calendar activities for kids and those young at heart “N is for Neighbors, Nests, and Notebooks” by Linda Martin Andersen
This month I’m sharing photos and blog posts from A-Z. I’m excited about trying something new. I hope you’ll stop by often throughout the month.
Check out the participants for the April (2016) Challenge. There are plenty to choose from http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/
N is for Neighbors
Do you live in a neighborhood in the city, country, along the shore, in the suburbs, or elsewhere? My husband and I live down a dirt road in the country, although the road we live off is dotted with motels near the interstate. Where we stay, deer and other wildlife are our neighbors. The closest building to us is a church. We love where we live and appreciate that our human and animal neighbors are good to us. How about you?
This blog post talks about revising your writing by searching for obvious needed changes and ones not so obvious.
Here is a photo of one of our neighboring motels. Is there a need for change here? If so, is it obvious or not so obvious?
N is for Nests
Have you ever found a bird’s nest? Where? Every spring, a bird nest is built on our front porch. Once a bird built in a wreath hanging on my front door. We have found nests in large azaleas in our yard too. One of the most fascinating bird nest stories and video I recall is shared on Mary Livingston’s blog. Learn more about turkey vultures here:
https://sneakingbliss.com/2013/04/22/turkey-vulture-shift-change/
https://sneakingbliss.com/2013/05/14/eerie-sounds-from-the-vulture-chicks/
https://sneakingbliss.com/2013/06/01/down-the-vulture-hole/
N is for Notebooks
Amy Ludwig VanDerwater has a blog called “Sharing Our Notebooks.” Stefanie Cole’s post about notebooks is awesome, plus there’s a book giveaway. Check it out here: http://www.sharingournotebooks.amylv.com/2016/04/stefanie-cole-notebooks-are-important.html
I keep lots of notebooks. Some contain writing tips, some organize health information, and another is a journal of things seen outdoors different days of the year. My goal was to complete a year’s study, but I fell short. There’s always another day. Right?
What “N” words come to mind for you? I hope you’ll share why they’re special to you.
Thank you for visiting “A Writer’s Playground.” Come again soon and bring a friend. Please leave a comment. Remember that children 13 and under need an adult to comment for them. For more fun, sign up to follow my blog. Thank you!
A Writer's Playground 
sarahsbookreflections said
That was a fascinating video of the vultures. They don’t even line their nesting area, but they do seem to keep it pretty clean. Poor dears, they do an essential service for the world and I like to watch them soar, but they sure are ugly.
My N words are neophyte, neat, nifty, near-sighted, nephew and niece. Nicely done, Linda.
lindamartinandersen said
Sarah,
I’m so glad you viewed the vultures nesting. Sounds like you learned some things. Did you notice that Mary Livingston has written and illustrated a book about ugly vultures?
Coming up with niece and nephew is nifty. Good brainstorming! Thanks again for playing!
vanbytheriver said
Love that “not so Red” Roof. ☺
lindamartinandersen said
I’m glad you enjoyed the humor of the motel’s name and roof color.
Bee Halton said
We still live in the British countryside on a Farm but we rent a part of it. We are in the process of buying a house which again will be in the countryside. Just neighbours to the left and the right and front and back are fields. That’s how we like it :-). No, I never found a birds nest but have seen many in trees in front of houses I lived in. There are quite a few at least 13 :-). And I love notebooks. I use them as diaries. Great post Linda!
lindamartinandersen said
Bee,
I am glad you will be able to buy a home in the countryside soon and have the neighborhood arrangement you like. Keep looking for bird nests. And keep using those notebooks as diaries. Have fun. Thanks for the compliment on the blog.
Carol Baldwin said
n is for ….HMmm? New posts on our blogs? I don’t know. I’m too Yawn! Tired at the moment.
lindamartinandersen said
Carol,
Your comment about being tired made me smile. It’s hard to keep up with a grandbaby. I liked “N” is for new blog posts. Good one!
Joan Y. Edwards said
Dear Linda,
N is for nearly, next, nice, nephew, narrow, nifty.
I think your blog posts are nifty!
Celebrate you!
You are very talented in many different ways!
lindamartinandersen said
Joan,
Thanks for the nifty compliment! So sweet of you.
Narrow reminded me of a rock formation called “Fat Man Squeeze.:
Thanks for playing!
Joan Y. Edwards said
You are welcome.
lindamartinandersen said
🙂
Kathleen said
When my daughter was 6 a Robin built its nest in shrubs right outside our porch. Each day we would check on it and she reported what she found to her class. The eggs hatched and we both watched their little beaks moving and the momma bird feeding them. I had never seen that before myself. It was so cool to experience that sense of wonder with her. Thank you Linda for your topics today. They brought back happy memories ❤
lindamartinandersen said
Kathleen, were the robin eggs a beautiful blue? I love that your daughter got to give a daily nature watch report about the nesting birds. I can see you turning this into a lovely picture book. Hmmm….think on it. I’m so glad the “nest” topic brought back happy memories. Hooray! Thanks so much for commenting.
Kathleen said
Yes they were! I’m going to look for the pictures to show my daughter and see if she remembers. Ooh, a picture book idea…I like it😊
lindamartinandersen said
Kathy,
I think you have the emotional attachment to show it well. Maybe you and your daughter can co-write. 🙂
Tracy Campbell said
Two-years-ago we lived on a farm, now we live on the banks of a river whereby neighbors are closer, but they’re great neighbors. Yes, the motel needs a “red” roof, Linda LOL
I have a lot of notebooks I call my journals…journals for devotions and journals for capturing ideas before I forget them and for capturing ideas precious friends send me…you should know what I mean by that, Linda. Grin. 🙂
lindamartinandersen said
Tracy,
I’m sure both places are lovely, but home is the one you are in now. I’m glad you enjoy your new neighbors. I’m imagining your home as warm and inviting, just like you. Yes, my photo does show that The Red Roof needs a little color adjustment, doesn’t it? Tracy, I’m honored to have an idea in your idea notebook/journal. Maybe it will become a marketed idea one day. That would be cool!