It’s the beginning of August and I'd like nothing more than an ice tea out on the deck and a fully charged battery in my laptop. But, for anyone that’s kept up on my posts over the years, August means I’m smack in the middle of our county fair. Unfortunately (or fortunately, LOL) a full-time day job commands time away from my passion for writing. I can’t complain though, as my daughter reminds me, I get paid for playing 4-H all day. There’s a lot that happens behind the scenes all year round, but all our efforts finally culminate in the shining star of our year—the County Fair. All through June and July, contests and exhibitions are held and placement determines a member’s participation in the State Fair. And it’s not all cows and corn anymore. Technology has become a vital component of 4-H with mapping competitions where kids track around town using handheld Global Positioning System (GPS) units. The robotics entries in this year’s Fair use Legos ™ building systems and are programmed to perform simple commands. A favorite event each year is the rocket shoot which was cancelled this year due to the high fire danger across Colorado.
I help coordinate all these events. From maintaining enrollments, to distributing project information, to creating the monthly newsletter, to helping our leaders and other volunteers with issues that arise, there is never a dull moment working in the county Extension Office.
If you want to add a touch of “small-town” feeling to your books, consider bringing back a little nostalgia as a plot focal point. Need help fleshing out the county agent? The folks in the Fair office? Leaders in charge of livestock, shooting sports, mechanics? I’d be happy to help review your characters and scenarios. The county fair is tons of work, but such a blast at the same time.
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| Today I helped ultrasound pigs. Nothing like sharing a cold drink on a hot summer day. |
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| I couldn't find a pig stick, so I grabbed a ring rake to help get an ornery swine back into the pen. |
How about a peek into the lives of some of the Seekers?
Mary Connealy leads a lively life in Nebraska...
In my daily life outside writing I'm a teacher. I teach GED to adult students who've dropped out of highschool. If anyone would like help in their work in progress multiplying fractions I am your girl. I also know what a preposition is, except there are some tricky ones. In my daily life, I live with my very own cowboy hero. My Cowboy is a farmer/rancher with a herd of Angus cattle. We used to have horses but our horse these days is a Kubota, sort of a 4 wheeler ATV only with a bench seat and a back end like a pick-up truck. I think I bring a lot of authenticity to cowboys stories because of my vast cow knowledge. If anyone has cow questions, don't go to strangers, I am here for you!
We all know "multi-task" is Ruthy's middle name...
Diapers, drool, dogs and doughnuts... That pretty much sums up the other side of Ruth Logan Herne! Five days a week she welcomes small, wet-nosed creatures into her century-and-a-half old farmhouse and wipes tears, teaches sharing, wipes noses, teaches silly songs, wipes bottoms, teaches hard life lessons to naughty kids who spill pop on her laptop ($70 to earn, working in the yard) and does a crazy thing called the "Shaky Dance" when serving chocolate milk out of the jug, to make it all foamy, bubbly, delicious-beyond-words. There is no video of Ruthy doing the "Shaky Dance", but thank you for asking!
Sandra is Seekerville's resident athlete...
Sandra Leesmith has may other talents besides writing. Writing is her number one choice of activities, but she is also quite good at pickleball. In fact, she has won two gold medals and a bronze in the past year. Pickleball is a great stress release and good exercise after sitting at the computer all day. To find out more about the sport check out the United States of America Pickleball Association website. There are tutorials and videos of the rapidly growing sport. Pickleball got its name because the creator of the game's dog was named Pickle and he kept stealing the ball. link for pickleball association is usapa.org
Doesn't Myra Johnson look like an equestrian???
Other life???? Is there such a thing? I can't think of anything currently, but here's something I do know a little about: A truly life-changing experience for my husband and me was volunteering at a therapeutic equestrian center for the last seven years we lived in Houston, Texas. When we first began volunteering, my working knowledge of horses was fairly limited, but during that time I started riding lessons (dressage) and eventually qualified to become a horse leader. I also helped with training and exercising the horses once a week. I'm still certainly no expert, but I have several "horsey" friends back in the Houston area who are more than willing to answer questions. The group photo was taken at our Ride-A-Thon fundraiser. As you're looking at the picture, I'm on the gray horse to the right of the lady on the ground with the red fanny pack.
Janet Dean is a "Jacqueline of all Trades"...
I was an elementary teacher years and years ago. I substitute taught for a few years, years ago. I play golf some, bridge some and rubber stamp greeting cards some. I’ve knitted scarves but not sweaters or socks—anything hard. I like to draw but haven’t in ages. I taught Sunday school for almost 20 years at the first grade level. I’m a wife, mother and grandmother, but that’s not a talent. Honestly, I know a little about a lot, but I’m not an authority on anything.
Tina knows how to squeeze 25 hours out of a 24-hour day...
Tina Radcliffe spent many years as an R.N., home health, geriatrics and finally as an oncology certified R.N. She worked as the Director of Nurses of Oral Roberts University Village Retirement Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma and as a staff nurse at City of Faith Hospital and Cancer Treatment Centers of America also in Tulsa. Currently she works as an order entry tech at a large mail order pharmacy in Denver and is delighted she gets to wear pajamas to work (scrubs) and nobody calls 'code blues' where she works.
Julie Lessman lives "on the edge" in her books, and in real-life...
My "other life" includes biking with my hubby. Sure, sometimes we meander level blacktop or gravel paths that wend around lakes or rivers, but sometimes we’re zipping through mud trails or rocky paths where scrapes and bruises lurk, poison ivy or insects, or heaven forbid—snakes and yawning ravines. In some ways, biking reminds me of the writer’s journey because there are always mountains to climb, rocky paths to maneuver and dangerous ravines that can swallow you whole. The scenery is beautiful and invigorating, true, tempting you to gawk, but there’s a trick. Once I started to wobble on a narrow path over a 30-foot ravine, and Keith said, “don’t look down, Julie—keep your eye on where you want to go.” Where I want to go. Mmm … the bestseller list? The Christy Awards? Nope, the best view is the one Jesus saw when the devil tempted him with all the splendors of the world. “To worship the Lord your God and serve Him only,” He said, a lesson this Christian author learns and relearns every day of her life—to keep my eye on Him, not on myself and where I want to go.
Isn't it amazing what a talented bunch the Seekers are, thus dispelling the notion that all we do is sit around drinking quality coffee, eating scrumptious treats and dreaming up wonderous plots, settings and characters, LOL!! There's a lot of living archived among us and we want to share our experiences with you. Use us as research (does that make Seekerville tax deductable??) We're happy to answer questions and offer real-life perspective on careers and plot points that bring stories to life.
Like I mentioned, I'm running around the Fair today, but I'll try to drop in as often as I can. How about sharing your "secret life?" Share your experience and insight, and be included in a drawing for a Seeker ebook of your choice!
