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Carol S. Mann
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Bits and Pieces
“He knew everyone had flaws. People fell from grace all the time. But some people fell further than others.” From “Ferrelli’s Fall” (Creek Songs).
Category Archives: Reading
Missing Time
We’ve been living in a surreal world where time has stalled, where a pandemic, sickness, fear, death, heroic health care workers, vaccines, economic hardship, health concerns, and isolation from family and friends have surrounded us. What a time we have … Continue reading
Desert Writers Expo 2020
February 15, 2020, was the Desert Writers Expo hosted by the Palm Springs Writers Guild and the Rancho Mirage Library and Observatory located in Rancho Mirage, California. Forty writers came together to offer their current books for sale to the … Continue reading
Caring for that Complicated Person
In a recent post called “Nurse Ratchet Goes to School,” I wrote about caregiving and going to caregivers’ school, all in an effort to give the best care possible to my husband Tony who will celebrate his 97th birthday on October … Continue reading
Welcome to Quilling
A recent birthday card introduced me to an old art form. It’s called quilling. When I first looked at the card, I thought its design was simply raised. On closer inspection, I found the design was three dimensional and composed … Continue reading
Posted in blogging, Creativity, Finding Ideas: The Creative Process, Inspiration, Looking for Inspiration, Reading, Writing
Tagged birthday cards with quilling, examples of quilling, filigree basket, filigree box, filigree work, Jane Austen, quilling, Renaissance, scrollwork, Sense and Sensibility, uses for quills
5 Comments
Nanook’s Journey
Do you remember the Beanie Baby craze of the early 1990s? These popular little toy animals had names like Chocolate the Moose, Squealer the Pig, and Patti the Platypus. They were stuffed loosely with plastic pellets (“beans”), making them small, … Continue reading
Posted in Inspiration, Looking for Inspiration, personal essay, Reading, Writing
Tagged a muse for writing, Beanie Babies, Comfort, dementia, good luck piece, inspiration, inspiration for writing, legacy, memorabilia, memories, Nanook the Husky, Northern Illinois University, talisman, writing inspiration
5 Comments
“Nurse Ratchet” Goes to School
I haven’t blogged since May 13, 2019. In fact, my writing actually came to a standstill in early March. The reason? My husband’s health began to decline and he entered in-home hospice care in May. He’s almost 97, a WWII … Continue reading
Posted in Reading
17 Comments
The Garden of Ethos
It’s always a time for congratulations when creative associates receive recognition for their work. A fellow member of the Palm Springs Branch of the National League of American Pen Women was recently recognized by NLAPW on its national website. I send my … Continue reading
Posted in blogging, Creativity, Inspiration, Looking for Inspiration, poetry, Reading, Writing
Tagged artist Dianne Benanti, artist Lynn Centeno, Book - All Ways A Woman, community of women, definition of ethos, Ekphrasis, ethos, National League of American Pen Women, NLAPW Palm Springs Branch, Painting - The Garden of Ethos, poetry, women supporting women, writer Carol Mann, writing about art
2 Comments
Valet Wisdom & Writing
The other day while waiting for my car to be retrieved by a valet, another valet who was waiting for new arrivals engaged me in conversation. It was one of those quick philosophical talks about life, its whimsies, its tricks, … Continue reading
Posted in blogging, fiction writing, Finding Ideas: The Creative Process, Inspiration, Looking for Inspiration, personal essay, Reading, short story, Writing
Tagged Atropos, Carl Sandburg, chance, Circumstance, Clotho, Destiny, fate, Greek Mythology, Lachesis, life philosophy, luck, philosophy, The Three Fates, Thread of Life, Valet parking, What controls our fate?, What if ...
7 Comments
Painted Sounds – Writing About Art
Once a year the Palm Springs Branch of the National League of American Pen Women holds its annual program called Painted Sounds. The popular event actually begins several weeks prior when predetermined artists share their paintings online with the Branch membership. Pen … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Inspiration, Looking for Inspiration, poetry, Reading, Writing
Tagged A Quiet Mind, creativity, Desert Hot Springs, ekphrastic poetry, inspiration, NLAPW Palm Springs Branch, Painted Sounds, Poetry Foundation, poetry inspired by art, Renewal of Spirit, Sense of Wonder, Solace, Spa City Paletteers, Watercolor Art, Writing to Art
4 Comments
Written Beneath the Palms 