This week, I had a new paver path installed in the front of the log home here in Central Florida. Each time there is a torrential downpour, a river of water washes down into the home’s foundation and we were looking for a method to divert the flow of water while adding curb appeal and a fresh new look.

It was a big job. The pavers and wall material were delivered the night before and the hardworking crew arrived early Thursday morning and spent the next ten hours installing a path and a wall that looks terrific and serves a purpose. It was thrilling to watch it progress hour by hour.

While the pavers were being installed to make way for the new path, two old warping wooden boardwalks had to be removed. Throughout the upheaval as wood, grass and dirt were scooped up and taken away, and the sound of saws filled the air as stone was cut and shaped, I knew that something beautiful and useful was evolving in the deconstruction, giving this place, an entire new entrance and feel.

There had been a number of delays in getting this work done and coincidentally, I’d signed up for a Live Zoom Presentation with the publishing guru Jane Friedman occurring that day. I knew I could listen to the recording later, but being present during the live event allowed me ask my own questions. It was worth it. Her Paths to Publishing was informative and just what I needed in the moment, although I did have to frequently run off to answer questions of the work crew. 

Two Paths needing my simultaneous attention.

As I’m presently submitting my query and proposal for a memoir, Jane’s direct, accessible and invaluable knowledge was just what I needed for my own path to publication. I’m no stranger to the publishing business. I’ve self-published, been traditionally published and worked with four literary agents, however, it just seems like the industry is getting more inaccessible by the year and writers need to navigate this ever-changing publishing landscape.

While the work crew was busily transforming the front of my home, I was busy inside transforming my approach to my writing that I will share in a later post. 

And just to add to the events of the day, after Jane’s presentation, I continued to work on a landscape painting I’d begun at the beginning of the week. This was a major breakthrough as I hadn’t painted in over two years and once-upon-a-time, I’d worked as a full-time artist for over 30 years. I just couldn’t pick up the brush until last week. 

This coming week marks the birthday of my father. On July 22 he would have turned 98. He passed in April 2023. He was a WWII Veteran, a great athletic coach, exceptional educator with two Masters of Education, and instilled in me a lifelong love of animals. Miss him, and so many family members and I know they are always nearby encouraging me on all paths of all kinds, forward.

 

Have a good weekend, and I hope that you will find yourselves paving your own paths forward in whatever form that takes.