Saturday, June 28, 2008

Berries for Sunday breakfast


These are from the garden of a friend who lives in Berkeley. Cream and sugar?

16 comments:

Nancy P said...

G'morning, everybody. It's a GORGEOUS day here in the KC area.

I'm continuing on with my book, from where I left off when my puter quit. Thank god I actually *like* to write in longhand/notebooks. More of that today, plus coffee with The Newly Retired Katiebird.

How's with you?

Anonymous said...

I've kept a paper journal for more than 25 years. I love the feel of the mechanical pencil in my hand as words parade across the page.

I don't do any of my actual writing there, except for maybe trying out a bit of dialog or phrasing and re-phrasing a key sentence or two.

It's hard to imagine that War and Peace and Bleak House were written with quill pens! John Updike says that he writes all of his fiction with pencil and paper first. I've heard of other writers who do so as well. I know it gives me time to think, but in bursts of inspiration I'm glad to have a keyboard where I can get great quantities down fast.

Nancy P said...

Hi, Paul. Do you actually use a pencil, and not a pen? I can imagine the pleasure in that, though now and then I come upon a pen that feels deliciously smooth rolling across a page.

I started writing a lot in longhand in the middle of my 10th book. It has been so freeing and enjoyable, though it doesn't always appeal to me. Often, I, too, want the speed, etc., of a keyboard. Of course, there are also those *!%#$*%# "well-filling" periods we've talked about on this blog, when pens won't stay in my hand and keyboards slide out from under my fingers.

Anonymous said...

I always use a mechanical pencil (with .05 black lead) when I write in my journal. My daughter tells me this is too impermanent and that I should use ink, but that will never happen.

When I am made king, all legal documents will have to be signed in blue ink (will gel pens getting preference). People can use whatever they want for their other scribblings. I'll be a benevolent despot.

Nancy P said...

It's so funny how these aesthetic (and other) details matter. I just this week learned that apparently there are a fair number of people who, when adjusting the volume on things, will only leave it on even numbers. In their benevolent dictatorship, all dials will read: "2. . .4. . .6. . .etc."

In *my* benevolent dictatorship, all legal documents will be no longer than one page. Signed in blue gel ink, as per the Minister of Pens.

Jen said...

Hey, nice berries! ::wink wink:: I was able to pluck a ripe strawberry from my backyard planter this morning but I put it my pocket while I was finishing watering the garden, and of course forgot about it, and it was mushy when I found it a couple hours later. :(

I still write almost all of my draft work longhand in mechanical pencil.

katiebird said...

mmm.... Berries. :)

I found a place outside of town where people can go to pick berries. I'm thinking of doing that later this week.

I LOVE all berries.

Thanks for sharing your bowl, Nancy.

(waving at Paul and Jen)

Nancy P said...

Morning, Winking Jen and Waving Katiebird.

I have the house to myself for a few hours. Love it. Must have, now and then.

katiebird said...

Have a great morning Nancy, it sounds fun.

Kelly McCullough said...

Morning all,

If it were not for computers, I would not be a writer. My handwriting is at best barely legible. I can print at great speed because I had to learn to do so that I would be able to read my own notes in school, but it is neither pleasant for me a good way organize my thoughts.

Anonymous said...

Mmmm, berries.
Have a wonderful visit over coffee.
And a splendiferous day to all.

Family Man said...

Good morning everyone.

While I was in the military I had to write technical reports at first by hand. The average was about 20 pages on yellow legal paper. Of course your first draft was never accepted. It has to go through at least four higher ups and each time you had to re-do it as they wanted. Needless to say, I used to get cramps in my hand from writing so much.

Once we got computers it was like going to heaven. Now of days I'll type it long before I'll ever write it.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Sunday.

Anonymous said...

When the "new" Thoreau book Faith in a Seed came out some years ago, there was a section in the back showing his handwriting, which was indecipherable to my eye. The person who transcribed all of that gibberish was a hero.

Larry Kollar said...

I'll often draft FAR Future episodes on paper, always during a lunch break from work. For whatever reason, I've found that Johnny's Pizza is the place for me to write. I'm not sure if it's the food, the ambience, or what. There's this one particular secluded table in the joint where I like to sit, but I've written equally well sitting at a window.

Today, I'm fighting a fever and rejoicing at the rain coming down. The blackberries are starting to get ripe, maybe just a little earlier than normal. I'll get a couple gallons over July 4 weekend.

Nancy P said...

Hey, Kelly, Family Man, and Anonymous. Far? Be well. Peggy Lee is the only one who's supposed to have a fever.

Tomorrow, champagne for breakfast. That'll cure what ails ya. If it doesn't kill ya.

boran2 said...

Hope you enjoyed your berries. Good night all!