What did you do this summer?

I admit that I have been absent from Wizzley more than I should have been, but 2016 has been a bear for me.  It got me wondering what is keeping the many familiar faces away from this wonderful site? 

Or maybe you are here, but silent.

I put my house up for sale in April, and spent the months before that selling, packing, having yard sales, etc. to whittle down my belongings.  I sold the house fast, and then packed up for the 3 day nightmare trip to my new homeland - Florida.  At the present time I am searching for a house and then I will have to move again.  Can't wait.

That is what I've been up to.

Wow Pam, that is a big change, my most positive thoughts are with you.

I have been writing books for Amazon, I finished a cheesy Romance novel and three children's books.I am currently working on a thriller I find to be fun and interesting.  I have really been enjoying writing. I have wrote a few new blogs, other than that I have been loving this beautiful summer, gardening, walking 5 miles everyday, went to a craw fish boil, and many other parties to which I traveled a wee bit. 

My daughter graduated high school and so we have been visiting school 

How exciting Katie!  All that writing - in one summer???? If I look up your name will I find your books?

My son also graduated high school this year.  He will be attending Full Sail college here in Florida which was nice to coordinate with our move!

Good for you... 5 miles a day!  I bought a treadmill and do 2 miles, but will admit not every day.  

It's good to see you here, I miss the way Wizzley used to be.

The really bad winter in Maine a few years ago undid many of the improvements we made to our old and ramshackle farmhouse. Like putting on a new roof and installing windows. So we redid them this summer. To save on the costs, we did them ourselves. So I have been learning how to use a nail gun this summer. 

I am looking forward to writing more at Wizzley now that we have a secure roof over our head.

Digby_Adams: 08/18/2016 - 10:55 AM

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The really bad winter in Maine a few years ago undid many of the improvements we made to our old and ramshackle farmhouse. Like putting on a new roof and installing windows. So we redid them this summer. To save on the costs, we did them ourselves. So I have been learning how to use a nail gun this summer. 

I am looking forward to writing more at Wizzley now that we have a secure roof over our head.

Digby, 

I was in NH for that winter and it was very bad.  Sorry to hear you had to do so much work.  I hired someone to fix the damage (leaks) inside from my ice dams, then paid for a new roof that summer!  You have my sympathy.  Last winter was a pretty easy one, which I was so thankful for.

I'm not real happy about living in Florida, but at least I won't have those problems to deal with.

I did a 5-week tutoring and supplemental instructor job at my local university, which was nice, but I'm glad it's over.

I also have been doing a lot of ecological restoration work.  Basically, around the start of this project I published this page, which explains part of the philosophy behind what I'm doing.  I've taken a stretch of wild area along this trail behind my apartment complex, owned by the city, and working with them, I'm removing as many invasive plants as I can, and also getting native plants established.

What's exciting is that I've been able to get all the native plants free!  I have gone around and talked to local homeowners and businesses and their landscapers, and I watch flower beds for "weeds" to come up, but I know how to ID plants, so many of these "weeds" are actually native wildflowers.  I then come in and dig them up, saving the gardeners time, but also getting free plants...and this way I know that the plants are from a local wild population, contrasting with nursery-grown plants.

So the planting is doing fantastically, it's teeming with bees and butterflies and lots of things are in bloom!

cazort: 08/20/2016 - 10:07 AM

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I did a 5-week tutoring and supplemental instructor job at my local university, which was nice, but I'm glad it's over.

I also have been doing a lot of ecological restoration work.  Basically, around the start of this project I published this page, which explains part of the philosophy behind what I'm doing.  I've taken a stretch of wild area along this trail behind my apartment complex, owned by the city, and working with them, I'm removing as many invasive plants as I can, and also getting native plants established.

What's exciting is that I've been able to get all the native plants free!  I have gone around and talked to local homeowners and businesses and their landscapers, and I watch flower beds for "weeds" to come up, but I know how to ID plants, so many of these "weeds" are actually native wildflowers.  I then come in and dig them up, saving the gardeners time, but also getting free plants...and this way I know that the plants are from a local wild population, contrasting with nursery-grown plants.

So the planting is doing fantastically, it's teeming with bees and butterflies and lots of things are in bloom!

Wow, that sounds awesome!  Quite the endeavor, but worthwhile to beautify your neighborhood.

I finally finished my part of a math book, differential equations, that my friend asked me to work on with him.  I also taught at the college.  It limited my Wizzley work, so I have some catching up to do.

Besides going to two weddings, my niece in July and my Son in August, I have been trying to cope with the allotment, as Britain's dire Summer has been great only for weeds. I represented the garden society at an event yesterday. So reading, writing  and gardening, that's what I do in retirement.

frankbeswick: 08/29/2016 - 11:05 AM

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Besides going to two weddings, my niece in July and my Son in August, I have been trying to cope with the allotment, as Britain's dire Summer has been great only for weeds. I represented the garden society at an event yesterday. So reading, writing  and gardening, that's what I do in retirement.

What's going on in Britain this summer?  In the northeastern US there is a drought, and it's been much hotter than usual.

Hi Pam, nice to hear from you, I really wanted to talk to you.

I have left wizzley in December 2015, it was just not working and after adding hundreds of posts and earning no money there was no point in being here, I just have my account here still. 

I am working on zazzle more (thanks to your motivating posts). I have also started my own blog and I write only there. Thankfully the posts which I have moved from wizzley to my own blog have started seeing money so I am really happy that I made the right decision.

Good luck to you in finding the new house. Hope you get settled soon.

Pam,

Exciting for your son, and yes if you search K.L. McMurray you will find latest romance novel.  Search katie mcmurray amazon books for my children's series. I have more works in progress than published BUT I am working on it and learning as I go. 

Sorry to take so long getting back, I traveled a bit.

@younghopes... well you have to do what you have to do.  I'm happy that the blog is working out for you.  I'm still trying to figure out what works best for me, but I do make money here through Amazon.

Zazzle has evened out for me, and I'm striving to find a way to once again raise that income.  It used to go up and up, but no longer.

I've found a house and will be moving in October.  I hope it will be the last move of my life!  I'm ready to settle down and am getting too old for this stuff. 

It's so good to hear from you.

Best wishes with your endeavors.  I'm sure I'll see around the net.

@ Katie... thanks for the info, I will check it out.

dustytoes: 09/07/2016 - 10:33 AM

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@younghopes... well you have to do what you have to do.  I'm happy that the blog is working out for you.  I'm still trying to figure out what works best for me, but I do make money here through Amazon.

Zazzle has evened out for me, and I'm striving to find a way to once again raise that income.  It used to go up and up, but no longer.

I've found a house and will be moving in October.  I hope it will be the last move of my life!  I'm ready to settle down and am getting too old for this stuff. 

It's so good to hear from you.

Best wishes with your endeavors.  I'm sure I'll see around the net.

 

@ Katie... thanks for the info, I will check it out.

Thanks Pam :)

dustytoes: 08/18/2016 - 08:14 AM

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How exciting Katie!  All that writing - in one summer???? If I look up your name will I find your books?

My son also graduated high school this year.  He will be attending Full Sail college here in Florida which was nice to coordinate with our move!

Good for you... 5 miles a day!  I bought a treadmill and do 2 miles, but will admit not every day.  

It's good to see you here, I miss the way Wizzley used to be.

 

Ditto Pam, A BIG fat ditto, That is why I am committing to contributing to the written content, adding  a few new articles on a regular basis in an attempt to help with fresh content and bring life back to our nice little corner of the net.  It is great that we are still here and holding on!!!  I am grateful to have Wizzley and imagine it going strong for decades and then some...

Katie, I am also updating my pages here and adding new products - especially my Zazzle pages.  

Now that Z has "collections" it's better to link straight to an entire collection, so I have to change all that here. ***Anyone who does Zazzle, may want to think about that.***

It's to easy to create a page here, but I have to get the writing motivation - which seems to hit me all at once for about a day...   I'm not a writer at heart!

dustytoes: 08/17/2016 - 11:00 AM

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I admit that I have been absent from Wizzley more than I should have been, but 2016 has been a bear for me.  It got me wondering what is keeping the many familiar faces away from this wonderful site? 

Or maybe you are here, but silent.

I put my house up for sale in April, and spent the months before that selling, packing, having yard sales, etc. to whittle down my belongings.  I sold the house fast, and then packed up for the 3 day nightmare trip to my new homeland - Florida.  At the present time I am searching for a house and then I will have to move again.  Can't wait.

That is what I've been up to.

 

Moving is a HUGE task, I love Florida, I wanna move there one day, love warm weather.  My most positive thoughts are with you imagining you find the perfect home just for you.

Moving is a HUGE task, I love Florida, I wanna move there one day, love warm weather.  My most positive thoughts are with you imagining you find the perfect home just for you.

Thanks so much Katie.  You are very sweet.