April 20, 2008 by Kelly.

I received an update on the Avocet my son and I helped rescue early last week. Apparently the clavicle wasn’t broken, but there was a fracture in its wing. Since there are two bones next to each other there, the good bone will act as a natural splint and it should heal in a few weeks.

Rather than bring the bird back to the golf course where it was too exposed and out of its natural migration path, it was taken to Great Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge in northwest Oklahoma. This refuge has non-public areas and many Avocets nest there. To read the full story, check out the Tulsa Audubon Society’s page.

(The rescue has also been mentioned at the Ducks Unlimited website and the Tulsa World.)

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April 15, 2008 by Kelly.

I just had the privilege of assisting (ever so slightly–I took photos) with a bird rescue. I’d noticed an American Avocet hanging around the pond at the local golf course, so I contacted the Tulsa Audubon Society and let them know. Today, on our way home from piano lessons, my son and I saw people at the pond trying to catch the bird. We stopped to see if we could help. The gentleman who lives across the street had a really good dog who also assisted. Here’s a few photos…

The Avocet is now being cared for by a veterinarian who specializes in rehabilitating wild animals.

Thanks go out to John Kennington, current President of the Tulsa Audubon Society, and Gail Storey, Vice-President.

And, of course, a special thanks to Zoe for her help in rescuing the Avocet!

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April 14, 2008 by Kelly.

I can now say I’m writing for my church. We joined the weekend I wrote the post about writing blindly.

If you’d like to visit the site, and download the devos, you can do so by going to ArrowHeights.org and click on The Daily near the bottom. I pray you’ll be blessed, and that God will speak to your heart, as you read!

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April 12, 2008 by Kelly.

I found this on my friend Tara’s blog and wanted to give it a shot. So, here are my One Word Answers…

You’re Feeling: Happy
To Your Left: Window
On Your Mind: Writing
Last Meal Included: Beef
You Sometimes Find it Hard To: Decide
The Weather: Cloudy
Something You Have a Collection of: Garfield
A Smell that Cheers You Up: Citrus
A Smell that Can Ruin Your Mood: Perfume
How Long Since You Last Shaved: Hours
The Current State of Your Hair: Disheveled
The Largest Item On Your Desk/Workspace Right Now (besides computer): Printer
Your Skill with Chopsticks: Beginner
Which Section You Head to First In the Bookstore: Bibles
…and After That?: Nonfiction
Something You’re Craving: Chocolate
Your General Thoughts On the Presidential Race: Scary
How Many Times You’ve Been Hospitalized this Year: Zero
A Favorite Place to Go for Quiet Time: CoffeeShop
You’ve Always Secretly Thought You’d Be a Good: Librarian
Something that Freaks You Out a Little: Blood
Something You’ve Eaten Too Much of Lately: Chocolate
You Have Never: Sky-dived
You Never Want To: Sky-dive

Ha! That was kinda fun! Really made me think. I like that.

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April 10, 2008 by Kelly.

I just remembered that I’m supposed to send some sample writing prompts to Brandy Brow. I’ll have to get to that tonight. In the meantime, I thought I’d share with you something that I do to spark ideas for articles.

I have a subscription to Better Homes and Gardens magazine, and my husband gets a woodworking magazine or two. When I need ideas for homeschooling, home organizing, or writing articles, I find one of these magazines and change the blurbs on the front cover to reflect my area of writing. For example, the March issue of BH&G has just a few words on it:

• Refresh Any Room
• Quick Spring Touches
• Easy Furniture Updates
• Comfy Up a Family Room
• Organize a Bath
• Our Happiest House
• Style in a Snap

From those, I get:

• Refresh Any Subject
• Quick Internet Searches
• Easy Filing Ideas
• Comfy Up Phonics/Reading
• Organize Your School Room
• Our Funnest Fieldtrip
• Community Service Made Simple

I’ve started a file folder where I keep the covers of magazines for future reference. I’m sure it will be one of my most-used files!

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April 5, 2008 by Kelly.

I’ve agreed to do some writing for the church we’re attending. The problem I’m coming up against is that I have no idea what I’m to write. I should be getting an outline within the next few days. They’ve asked for a devotional-style article about Moses. With nothing to go on besides that, I’ve been contemplating the phrases they’ve used to promote the series this will be for. I’ve taken each phrase (there are six of them) and attached them to a different part of Moses’ life. It’s flowing well, actually. I anticipate having a total of five devos when I’m done. It’s a challenge, but it’s been interesting as well. I hope to get it finished and printed tonight, to take to church tomorrow so they can tell me how they want it changed.

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