A Moment of Beauty at Filoli Gardens I received the most wonderful email last week saying, with precautions in place, a local historic garden I love to visit (and want to write about some day) was opening this week. You can bet I was there the day and moment they opened with my mask (that makes me look like a gangster) and took a walk through their beautiful paths that twist around the historic home. In case you also need a moment of beauty while on lockdown or as things ease and open in your area (we are at over…
The Amazing World of Gem Photomicrography
What is gem photomicrography? Years ago I was blessed to attend the Gemological Institute of America and learn more about the inside of jewelry. Deep inside. And I fell in love with the dazzling world of miniature inside the microscope. Gem photomicrography is a specialized view deep inside of gems through a microscope – captured in a photograph. Some sophisticated lighting and angles can open up the most fascinating imagery. I’ve written an article about it combined with a devotion for Focus on the Family’s Clubhouse Magazine that is just released in the February, 2020 issue – and here it…
Heart Moments at Nymph Lake
A few years ago, I took my children to see long-time friends in Colorado for a summer visit. It was wonderful getting to walk in the mountains that feel like old friends in the Estes Park area. When I was just out of college, I mentored a group of high school girls through Cru (then called Student Venture) and we fundraised and were able to come to camp at YMCA of the Rockies in that area. So, I have walked those paths several times over the years. Getting to take my children to that special place with dear friends was…
Special Gem Feature: Eiseman Jewels
This week I’m so excited to highlight one of my favorite jewelers in the United States where I worked back in the day as well – Eiseman Jewels. You can find them in Dallas, Texas in a really unique mall filled with art and a lot of local history called NorthPark Center. And don’t miss the links at the bottom of this article for a tour on YouTube and another post with more gems! As a graduate gemologist, I so enjoyed seeing the selection of gems. I asked my colleague Diamond Cutter and wonderful person in general, Andre Vorster, to…
Five Tips for Jumping Back Into Writing
Five important things to remember about jumping back into writing your WIP – work in progress. Perhaps you’re a writer like me and have had some important life-interrupts that have kept you for a period of time from jumping back into your work. Instead of seeing this as a negative, it’s better to look forward and use these tips to shortcut your way back into that writing mindset. Sometimes it can feel like you’re racing snails in your writing pursuits – how do you get a wider perspective and press on while challenges or interruptions are pulling you aside? I’ve…
That Robin Hood Moment
As the school year draws to a close, and summer thoughts dazzle the senses, I wanted to remind any of you teens or tweens who had a less than great year that there is life and meaning and hope even in the worst years. It’s super hard to see this when you’re young, but one of the benefits of getting older is developing a telescoping lens where I can see now that things that really were the hardest for me in childhood have helped me and shaped my life’s directions. Especially with how I handle challenges and adversity. After someone…
Through The Rainbow’s Edge
Spring Thoughts From My Journal It’s been a wet and windy day in Northern California and I’ve been in our new home for just over a year and a half. I’ve noticed in certain conditions, this season especially, dewy rainbows hug our area with the green, sloping hills in the far distance. I’ve been on a Spring cleaning and organizing binge as part of celebrating hopeful new beginnings with my fiction, making ready for dreams to take root. My children are also growing at alarming rates, one popped up a whole shoe size in a month and his voice dropped…
Repost: Actress Amanda McDonough’s Journey From Deafness To A Loud Voice For Change
In honor of #storieswithstephfeb19 – An encouraging friend – When I think of someone inspiring, I consider actress Amanda McDonough and her new book #readytobeheard – How I lost my hearing and found my voice. Amanda and I met at a writer’s conference and I was immediately drawn to her sunshine personality and positivity. It was only when she moved her hands with sign language that I realized she had hearing issues. 🤘🏻 The main character in my middle grade fantasy is hard of hearing, so I felt honored when Amanda shared her story of waking one day to complete…
The Unexpected Dazzling Swim Class
Everyone moved side to side, warming up as dancers before a ballet or jazz class. A few stretched, but mainly tried not to splash their neighbor too much. The music started and was festive with accents from the 1980s. It lifted us all with a can-do attitude. But then they added weights… We all groaned and continued, and laughed. All except a very tall senior person, who I call the General, who was at the back of the class looking serious and sedate. It was my second week back at water aerobics here in the Bay Area and I watched…
Mashka Jewelers, San Francisco
I discovered wonderful Mashka Jewelers, truly a new favorite treasure by the historic area of Fisherman’s Wharf, where seagulls fly high, swimmers brave the brisk waves with Alcatraz in the distance, and fog burns away to reveal historic vessels and blue waters. I was with friends visiting San Francisco at the iconic Ghirardelli Square, the smell of chocolate in the air, when I spotted two of my favorite things— jewelry and books! I was fascinated by the designer’s whimsy and style. I thought I’d take you on a little tour of their showroom. It made me think some of the…
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