WRITING TIP & A Recipe Tip
One of the many things I love about the Christmas season is Christmas cards. I like real cards the old-fashioned snail mail way, I like e-mail cards, I really like the animated e-mail cards from the company that has the black lab jumping around in the snow; and this year, I found I even liked the cards that came in the form of Christmas letters.
My aunt, who lives in Ada, Oklahoma, has the best touch with her Christmas letter. She clearly identifies everyone so it’s easy to keep track of whether the people are high school friends of hers or her grandchildren. On the back of the letter are a few photographs, again clearly identified as to person and place. It makes it like reading a little story, and you know how important I think “story” is in your writing.
Now I have to confess that in the past some of the letters I received made me feel like my life was lacking. But there is nothing like a potentially life-threatening health problem to make even the most mundane life seem miraculous. So, while this year I still have no European travel to report, no awards, and no promotions, I am so glad to be here that every pile of dirty snow on the curb, dirty laundry on the floor and dirty dishes in the kitchen sink seems precious. If the sun doesn’t shine, it’s okay with me. If the sun does shine, that’s okay too.
Still, I managed to get a few small things done this year; and I’ll bet you did too. (Maybe yours were large things.) Either way, here’s what I plan to do, and I invite you to join me. Write an end-of-year letter to yourself – for yourself. Maybe you tried a new variety of plant in your garden this year. That counts. Put that in your letter. My friend, Shirley's, elderly inlaws learned to use their Jitterbug cell phone. For them, that counts. They could put that in their letter. Maybe you got the wood rot repaired on your house. That counts. Put that in your letter. I talked to my friend, Shelia, in Wichita Falls, Texas this week. She was happy that she went to New York City, stood in the street, and hailed a taxi, all by herself. She can put that in her letter – as well as her trip to Nova Scotia.
Where do the days go we ask, as we get older. Make writing this letter an annual practice and you will have a record of where the days went. If you are lucky (I now prefer the word blessed) the days went to living – every day. If the sun shines, that’s good. If the sun doesn’t shine, that’s okay too. You’re here. I’m here. Here Is Good.
Recipe
Even I have had my fill of chocolate so here is a quick tip for Deviled Eggs. Not only are Deviled Eggs good as a side dish, I think they make a great quick breakfast – for adults or kids. Cram a couple in your mouth on the way out the door, stuff a mini-bagel in your pocket for in the car, and you’re ready to “work like the devil,” – hence the name, Deviled Eggs. (Yes, I made up that part.)
EASY DEVILED EGGS - (Thanks to Lynda for this tip.)
Put cooked egg yolks from boiled eggs in a zipper top plastic bag. Seal, mash till yolks are all broken up. Add remainder of ingredients, reseal, and keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the bag, squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw bag away when done easy clean up.
For Writing Resources and Calendar, go to www.angelinyourinkwell.com
©2009, 2010 Angel In Your Inkwell®
One of the many things I love about the Christmas season is Christmas cards. I like real cards the old-fashioned snail mail way, I like e-mail cards, I really like the animated e-mail cards from the company that has the black lab jumping around in the snow; and this year, I found I even liked the cards that came in the form of Christmas letters.
My aunt, who lives in Ada, Oklahoma, has the best touch with her Christmas letter. She clearly identifies everyone so it’s easy to keep track of whether the people are high school friends of hers or her grandchildren. On the back of the letter are a few photographs, again clearly identified as to person and place. It makes it like reading a little story, and you know how important I think “story” is in your writing.
Now I have to confess that in the past some of the letters I received made me feel like my life was lacking. But there is nothing like a potentially life-threatening health problem to make even the most mundane life seem miraculous. So, while this year I still have no European travel to report, no awards, and no promotions, I am so glad to be here that every pile of dirty snow on the curb, dirty laundry on the floor and dirty dishes in the kitchen sink seems precious. If the sun doesn’t shine, it’s okay with me. If the sun does shine, that’s okay too.
Still, I managed to get a few small things done this year; and I’ll bet you did too. (Maybe yours were large things.) Either way, here’s what I plan to do, and I invite you to join me. Write an end-of-year letter to yourself – for yourself. Maybe you tried a new variety of plant in your garden this year. That counts. Put that in your letter. My friend, Shirley's, elderly inlaws learned to use their Jitterbug cell phone. For them, that counts. They could put that in their letter. Maybe you got the wood rot repaired on your house. That counts. Put that in your letter. I talked to my friend, Shelia, in Wichita Falls, Texas this week. She was happy that she went to New York City, stood in the street, and hailed a taxi, all by herself. She can put that in her letter – as well as her trip to Nova Scotia.
Where do the days go we ask, as we get older. Make writing this letter an annual practice and you will have a record of where the days went. If you are lucky (I now prefer the word blessed) the days went to living – every day. If the sun shines, that’s good. If the sun doesn’t shine, that’s okay too. You’re here. I’m here. Here Is Good.
Recipe
Even I have had my fill of chocolate so here is a quick tip for Deviled Eggs. Not only are Deviled Eggs good as a side dish, I think they make a great quick breakfast – for adults or kids. Cram a couple in your mouth on the way out the door, stuff a mini-bagel in your pocket for in the car, and you’re ready to “work like the devil,” – hence the name, Deviled Eggs. (Yes, I made up that part.)
EASY DEVILED EGGS - (Thanks to Lynda for this tip.)
Put cooked egg yolks from boiled eggs in a zipper top plastic bag. Seal, mash till yolks are all broken up. Add remainder of ingredients, reseal, and keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the bag, squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw bag away when done easy clean up.
For Writing Resources and Calendar, go to www.angelinyourinkwell.com
©2009, 2010 Angel In Your Inkwell®
