intensity, originally uploaded by Lizzie~Belle.

I had a nice surprise in the mail today when I got home: I got the check for that photo I sold (to review: a reader wanted to buy a photo I entered in the RAW July contest on boston.com). She wanted a framed, matted 11x14 print, so I researched how much it would be to have it printed (a whopping $2.10 at Staples) and framed/matted (about $15-20 at Michael's), and asked for $75. I have been blessed by generous customers: she sent me a check for $100, saying that she's an artist too (she makes jewelry) and that sometimes we don't value our work the way we should. What a sweetie. She also said she was sorry my photo didn't make the final three in the contest, but encouraged me to keep entering. I love this woman!

(BTW, I entered the August competition too, with a photo I took at the wedding, of the pyramid - the theme is Architecture)

What is especially nice about this is that I'm feeling pretty poor this week, to the point where I was crossing my fingers that I wouldn't need gas before payday. I think I might now be able to afford going to the movies or something this weekend! *g*

The pic above is one I took yesterday at sundown. Isn't it a gorgeous color?

On the writing front, I spent my lunch hour mapping out the characters I have so far. Walking through the cemetery this evening, I grabbed a few last names from gravestones for some of them. I'm getting a few ideas about plotting while I get the characters' voices, and I even know exactly how most of them look. I now have to weave the bits of story that I have into a coherent narrative. I have most of the bits, I just need to make them into something that makes sense! *g*

embrace, originally uploaded by Lizzie~Belle.

Today was a perfect weather day: sunny, low humidity, mid 70's. If I have to take a day off, I don't mind so much when it's a day like today.

I decided to kill two birds with one stone, and went down to Amelia Park, which is right across from Rite-Aid (where I needed to pick up a couple of things). There were lots of flowers, including tons of sunflowers. It's a pretty little park. Check out the post I just made on my photo blog for more floral goodness.

Hopefully this weekend will be nice, too. A three-dayer! And so far, no plans. I hope to keep it that way. I need a weekend to myself; it's been a busy summer. I have a series of stories that are threatening to become a book. I just need to figure out how to tie them all together into something other than a series of stories. Wish me luck!

free bird, originally uploaded by Lizzie~Belle.

I made it out twice today: first, down to the library, and later, over to Grandmothers' Garden. It was breezy and cold, but sunny, and it felt good to get out.

Oh! And I saw what appeared to be the tips of daffodils poking out of the ground at the front of my building! That was cheering. Made up for the ice on parts of the sidewalk.

I've been doing a lot of writing this week, mostly in short bursts like character sketches, and scenes for ideas that have been brewing. It feels good to stretch those muscles, too. :)