It's #FallWritingFrenzy time! Big thanks to @kaitlynleann17.bsky.social, @lydialukidis.bsky.social & @professoraixa.bsky.social for their hard work putting on this contest! Here's my entry-- go to their blog to read others or search the hashtag! #amwriting lydialukidis.wordpress.com/2025/10/01/f...

I am 99% sure this is the Underwood typewriter on which my mom typed my father's PhD dissertation! Sound up for that click-clack-DING which wins any writer's heart! Cleaning out my childhood home, you sometimes find gems. #writerlife #family #forsale #tomhanks #underwood #amwriting #vintage

This year I won the Maine language teacher of the year award, took kids to Germany, and directed a week long seminar for teachers for which I crocheted 18 fidget pretzels. But the accomplishment I'm most proud of is catching a mid-stream urine sample from Chewie for his vet check. #dogs #dogmom

Saw "Come From Away" at the Ogunquit Playhouse last night and it was just the celebration I needed for the end of the school year AND a wonderful affirmation of human kindness in adversity. Thank you, Gander! #comefromaway #ogunquitplayhouse #livetheater #musicals #teacherlife

Well this was a nice surprise! The business cards for my little sustainability side-gig came in! Aren't they sweet!? #tannenbaumhandwerk #crafting #sustainability #reducereuserecycle

Could not mash "like" on this more!!!

We found the government “waste, fraud, and abuse”.

It probably is a symptom of ADHD that in addition to full time #teaching and part-time #writing, I have a zillion hobbies: I sing, play #piano, play #ukulele, bake, #crochet, craft and make #sustainable crafts like these teacup pincushions...it's all about learning new things and making beauty!

Pari was one of my German students and truly is as sweet as she is on tv. She's as wholesome as they come and totally deserves all the love she's getting. #loveonthespectrum #pari #autismacceptance #mbta

Protests in York, Maine! #HandsOff #protests #protecttheconstitution #50501

Ever since Covid started, a circle at my church called "Reflections" has been sharing meditations and photography. Another one of my pieces/photos went up today - enjoy! #Lent #photography #spring #Easter #amwriting #Christianliving #Episcopal stgeorgesyorkharbor.org/april-03-2025/

Thrilled to be in the winner's circle for @viviankirkfield.bsky.social 's #50PreciousWords this year! I wrote 3 poems and my critique partners recommended this one which was obviously the right choice! Thank you to all the judges for another great year!

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So, the world is a lot, but this was pretty nice: named World Languages Teacher of the Year today at the Maine language conference. (Technically this means I have an EMME!) Grateful to all my colleagues who have helped me be a better teacher! #teacherlife #german #french #worldlanguages #EMME

Okay, this is my newest very very favorite meme.

NON COMPOS MENTIS “It's fantastic, fantastic. He was a smart guy. You know Tesla. First the light bulb and now this. Seems like a modern day Isaac Neutron." www.timesnownews.com/world/us/us-...

I kept forgetting, but FINALLY went in and ordered TWO books for Vivian's literacy initiative. Because the world needs these messages, I've chosen two frequently banned titles: "Tango makes Three" and "Baseball saved us" (about baseball in the Japanese-American internment camps) #50PreciousWords

Alina Habbard posted: NOTHING CAN STOP THIS MAN FROM FIGHTING FOR HIS COUNTRY. David Simon had a succinct 2-word response: “Bone spurs.”

As ever, vociferous thanks to @viviankirkfield.bsky.social for inviting us to the wonderful #50PreciousWords contest yet again. (And thanks to all who judge, comment and participate!) It's such a great exercise and so fun to see everyone's illustrated versions-- keep them coming!! Here's mine:

Cleaning out my childhood home and unlocked a strong 70s/80s kid memory: wee wonderful waterfuls! This was my video game for much of my childhood!

Such a great prompt-- love everyone's lines and it let me revisit some of my favorite unpublished ms like this poem about the Monarch life-cycle: "Beautiful butterflies, fresh from cocoons, Dance in the light of a warm summer moon." #amwriting #PBparty

Don’t buy stuff on February 28. Money’s the only thing these dicks understand. #resist

Wow, first day of winter break, and I did a #PictureBook critique for a friend and wrote THREE entries for #50PreciousWords. Now I need to decide which to submit! #amwriting #poetry #teacherlife #writerlife

Many years ago, I couldn't find a critique group so I started one! Now we're (sadly) turning people away! We moved online when covid hit and are still on zoom but it's a wonderful supportive group not just for critiques but also sharing contest and agent info! #PBParty

This is sort of impossible to say - I revise as I go, constantly changing things. However, I usually do let it sit and come back to it, then run it by my critique group at least once before I would ever think of submtting it. #PBParty

Love Mindy's #PBParty prompts-- reminds me to find the good things....like: 🌟I'm hosting 3 schools in March for a #German Day put on by the Goethe Institute. 🌟After weeks of PT, my injured shoulder is finally improving. 🌟It's a lovely snowy day so I made #cookies -- anxious to decorate later!

Ever read a #PBParty clue with excitement that it might be yours...but also worried that there are too many other manuscripts similar to yours? #amwriting #STEAM

How do I pass the time waiting for results? Aside from being a full time teacher, I try to keep writing, revising and submitting -- and I love crafts, like these art pieces reusing my mom's jewelry! #pbparty #artist #writing

My PB character loves the beach and always gets ice cream in a cone so there's no trash afterward! An edible receptacle is the ultimate sustainability! #PBParty

Somehow I didn't see this post until now, but I'm a teacher on the coast of Maine and entered a STEM PB but I also write humor and SEL. Love #PBParty!

I just got my entry in over my lunch break! What a relief! It's in the hands of the judges now, bless them for this monumental task! Now back to all my other work! #PBParty #amwriting #contests #authorlife #picturebooks

Elon Musk is not a Federal employee or a political appointee. DOGE is not a real department. None of their activities are legal. This is a coup. The Republicans in Congress are willing participants in it. At what point do Democrats in DC get that and start acting like it? It’s not the price of eggs!

Very good advice to find after a day of doomscrolling

I loved doing #Storystorm this year...but I didn't get 31 ideas, just 24. Doesn't matter, I'm still a winner because that's way more than I had to start with! Plus, I was giving midterms, coaching Speech & Debate, and prepping my #PBParty entry. And the world is literally on fire. Do what you can.

Working on my #PBParty entry tonight. I love this story but I am tearing it up a bit to make some major changes that will hopefully make it even better! #amwriting #amrevising

I know I will not mentally be up to amplifying all of this, neither do I want to disturb everyone...but this worries me.

I think about this joke a lot these days.

I cannot WAIT for #PBParty this year! I hope everyone is active on Bluesky because I'm not posting on the "other" site anymore and I really want to connect with more #kidlit authors! Thanks again Mindy (and crew) for bringing this to us as always! #amwwriting

Just because you're gluten free doesn't mean you don't deserve yummy cookies! These are the Mexican hot chocolate cookies from my book: gluten free and just a bit 🔥. They're for the judges at our #speechanddebate tournament tomorrow and they came out perfectly--they even have feet like macarons!

My sister in law and my niece making Nankhatai cookies from my book!! It may not have made the NYT best seller list, but with moments like these I really don't care! #GreatHolidayCookieSwap #cookies #christmas #baking #authorlife

A newborn snowflake falls from the mother cloud and journeys to the ground, nervous and curious about what will become of her and her siblings as she somersaults in the frosty air. #STEM #SEL #BOARDBOOK #Holipit

Torontonians! Help! We're spending a few days in TO over the holiday. Looking for 2 things this trip: a great cut and color and a kids bookstore. I love Mabel's Fables, but what's another good one to try? And where can I get my hair done downtown? #toronto #hairsalon #picturebooks #bookstores #TO

Love this, Debbie!!! Can I share it with credit to you on the Facebook site for #SnowCon, the Maine Gaming convention?

No idea if anyone will even see this post...but I have my mother's jewelry collection and would love to know if anyone recognizes this symbolism: #fleurdelis and scimitar? We have #Shriner jewelry from my grandmother (Grandfather was a Mason/Shriner) but what is this? #jewelry #history #freemasons

I write picture books and teach German, I promise. But I've been on an art kick lately creating gifts for my nieces and nephews with jewelry from their grandma who is in a nursing home. So much fun! #jewelry #art #collage #handmade

Cheers, bluesky friends! It was a stressful week, but we made it! Just picked up my new glasses and my optician is right next to a great Mexican restaurant so Margarita flight it is! #TGIF

Some ornament experimentation - always wanted to try those gumball wrapper chains and this is similar. What do you think-- painted or unpainted? #origami #crafting #christmas #craftmas

I was at a speech and debate tournament all day, and I've got a cold, so I'm going to bed early...and so is Chewie, snuggled right next to me. Love this pup! #dogsofbluesky