Yvonnespence

LATEST ARTICLES ( 59 )

• Oops! I'm Thankful Again!

  

  We've been away. We got back late because it was snowing in Geneva, which is not where we were, but our plane came from there. So I'm thankful it wasn't more... Read more

  Posted on 23 February 2014 BOOKS, SELF EXPRESSION

• The Knife

  

  This post is the second in a series about a dangerous situation from my teens. If you haven't already done so, I suggest you start by reading the first two... Read more

  Posted on 18 February 2014 BOOKS, SELF EXPRESSION

• Thankful for Understanding

  

  I had half-finished writing a frivolous post for this weekend's Ten Things of Thankful hop when the video I've posted below turned up in my Facebook feed. Read more

  Posted on 16 February 2014 BOOKS, SELF EXPRESSION

• A Minister’s Son

  

  This post is the second in a series about an incident that happened in my teens. If you haven't already read it, I suggest you read the first post, How I Got... Read more

  Posted on 15 February 2014 BOOKS, SELF EXPRESSION

• The Friday Review: On Writing by Stephen King

  

  I have never read any of Stephen King's novels and as far as I am aware, I haven't seen the film version of any of them either. So you could probably say I'm no... Read more

  Posted on 14 February 2014 BOOKS, SELF EXPRESSION

• How I Got Drawn In

  I am walking home after a physiotherapy appointment; testing out an exercise as I go. It is very simple: I just have to put my arm behind my back, but until... Read more

  Posted on 11 February 2014 BOOKS, SELF EXPRESSION

• Describing the Indescribable (And Why I'm Grateful to Stephen King.)

  

  Sometimes I'm thankful for the small things in life: a cuddle from a daughter, a cat or a husband (I only have one of those, but two each of the others! Read more

  Posted on 08 February 2014 BOOKS, SELF EXPRESSION

• What's Your Scaffolding?

  

  I’ve been editing a story I wrote years ago. I liked the story, but editors didn’t. I tried to figure out what was wrong with it, cut stuff out and tried... Read more

  Posted on 05 February 2014 BOOKS, SELF EXPRESSION

• A Proper Arrangement (Novel Extract for the Creative Buzz Hop)

  

  For this week's Creative Buzz Hop, the theme is excitement, so here's an extract from Drawings In Sand that fits. (I know it's Monday, but perhaps this will... Read more

  Posted on 03 February 2014 BOOKS, SELF EXPRESSION

• Who Are You Wearing? I'm Wearing Me.

  

  I used to work as a fashion designer, so I know a few things about being fashionably late. Heck, I was even late to motherhood, sneaking in with only a few year... Read more

  Posted on 02 February 2014 SELF EXPRESSION

• Burning with Thanks (And The Dress Revealed.)

  

  On Sunday I was grateful for vinegar and soda. Here's why. I put dates in a pan with water and left them to cook. The plan was to use them to sweeten apple... Read more

  Posted on 02 February 2014 SELF EXPRESSION

• Black Parrot Days: When Writing Won't Come

  

  I'm thrilled to announce Writing a River has its very first guest post! Guest Post by Penelope Hart Today's post is by the wonderful Penelope Hart. Read more

  Posted on 29 January 2014 BOOKS, SELF EXPRESSION

• Is Revenge Sweet? Or is Forgiveness Sweeter?

  

  She comes, looking for vengeance, anger in her heart. Bitter. There’s nothing sweet about her. She hisses, lashes out. He cowers, stepping back, shirking and... Read more

  Posted on 27 January 2014 BOOKS, SELF EXPRESSION

• Grateful For Exams? Well, at Least They Are Over - for Now. (Till the Real Ones.)

  

  On Monday I was thankful the last exam was over. Okay, I didn't actually sit any of them, but I did study for one** or two (sort of) and definitely I stood... Read more

  Posted on 25 January 2014 BOOKS, SELF EXPRESSION

• The Friday Review: Mind Over Medicine by Lissa Rankin MD

  

  At first glance it might seem that a book called Mind Over Medicine: Scientific Proof That You Can Heal Yourself has nothing to do with writing. Read more

  Posted on 24 January 2014 BOOKS, ENVIRONMENT, SELF EXPRESSION

• Tips on How to Use Adjectives Effectively in Fiction

  

  Adjectives are like swear words. The more you use them the less impact they have.Is there a rule of thumb for how often we should use adjectives in a piece of... Read more

  Posted on 22 January 2014

• Capturing a Moment of Magnificence

  

  Tuesday's post this week is a delayed Monday post. I'm not quite sure what happened yesterday. The exams were finally over - not my exams, but my daughter's.... Read more

  Posted on 21 January 2014

• A Week of Letting Go and Thanks

  

  For last week's Ten Things of Thankful, I was in frivolous mood, and this week is more contemplative. In last week's post I mentioned a dress I began to make... Read more

  Posted on 19 January 2014

• Dear Grandma, from You to Me - a Review

  

  Today's book review is a bit different to most. I'm not going to tell you about a book I've read, but about two books that I will one day read, and that my... Read more

  Posted on 17 January 2014

• A "Sort-of" Scot Clears up Some Anglo-American Confusion

  

  A large proportion of this blog's readership is American (around two-thirds) so I've decided to do a little to further Anglo-American understanding (Anglo in... Read more

  Posted on 14 January 2014