Good Bye!

Drawing by my daughter Anna (then 7 y.o.), computer graphics by my brother Andrei Lialin

Hello my friends,

This will be the last post in my blog - I feel that it run its course and it's time for me to move on. I'll probably have another web presence in the future, and quite possibly another blog as I do enjoy this form very much. I don't know yet, I'll see how it goes. I want to thank you for a wonderful, joyful journey together! I'm wishing you all the best both in your creative endeavors and your life which is, to me, the ultimate form of art. Imagine, believe and create!

With love,

Natalia

***

Fall's First Steps

Fall was not at its peak yet when we took these photos last week, but there already were stretches of colorful trees here and there, and with temperatures in low 60s and a heavy storm we had last Saturday, we'd better hurry up to photograph Autumnal foliage before it's gone. Fall does not only bring bright vivid foliage though. It offers misty sky, gray water, rust of fallen leaves and  subtle shades of grass. Clear blue sky and thick fog. Nature has it all. Life has it all. Why choose?

Inspiring, Exhausting, Wonderful

One of our most favorite weekends of the year - the writer's conference. We'll have another full day tomorrow. Inspiring, informative, refreshing, reassuring, stirring up so much all at once... If you are passionate about writing and attended a similar event, you know exactly what I mean.  All in all, it's wonderful and exhausting - another reason to wear energizing colors!

Autumn Sunshine

Spontaneous mini photo session in the last rays of sun. It felt very joyous and energizing to wear this monochromatic outfit today. I remember even as a kid I was naturally drawn to yellow, but Mom said very few people look good in yellow, and I would shy away from yellow for years. I do think that lemon yellow is not my best, but this rich golden mustardy yellow, a bit toxic, yet very warm, sure feels like me. 

Sharing is Fun!

I wore this outfit a couple of weeks ago when we visited Edmonds, an adorable town north of Seattle. I LOVE this dress! It is very comfortable and easy to wear, and such a classic, lovely style. Accessorized differently, I can wear it in the 1940s, 1970s, 1980s styles... so many possibilities!

I've been buried with work these days, please don't take my lack of commenting personally. I love you all and will visit as soon as I can. May I also remind you that our wonderful tradition of a monthly short story is continuing and blossoming, and you still have a chance to link a story for the September link-up HERE. We have two stories so far, both are brilliant if I may say so myself - we are definitely growing as writers, both of my link-ups do wonders in that sense. I hope that you, readers, will find your way to this little gem of a creative writing celebration, because the other side of writing (as any art, really) is sharing it with like-minded people - there is no fun in keeping it all to ourselves.

Write and Link #5: As Leaves Turned Yellow

Rowan Leaves and Hole by Andy Goldsworthy (born 1956) (source)

Hello everybody and welcome to the 5th monthly creative writing link-up!

If you are new to my blog, here is what this is all about. 

This is a unique link-up on the web - a celebration of creative writing for everyone who loves it, writers and readers alike. 

Every month, we are given a phrase that participating writers are free to interpret and incorporate in a short story (1000 words or so). The phrase for September is "As leaves turned yellow...". After the writing is completed, at the end of the month, we share our stories with each other and readers who are interested. Anyone is welcome to join in. You can find all writers participants and their stories under the label WRITE AND LINK. I usually open the link-up on the 26th of every month and close on the 1st of the following month, when it's time to start working on the next month's story, the phrase for which I provide at the end of the same post. If you have not had a chance to write a story in September yet, then you still have time till October 1st - so do write and link your story here! I hope that we all have more energy as Autumn begins for both creating stories and supporting each other with a kind word. Here is to a new dynamic Write and Link #5!

Sincerely,

Natalia

The phrase for October writing:

"Do you believe in magic?"

Indian for Two

Here is what happens when two sickies get tired of being housebound, and a new Indian restaurant has just opened in the neighborhood.