From Finn’s Forest #30! #writingcommunity #writerslife #nature #forest #payattention #mountainlion

Welcome to the 30th From Finn’s Forest. I’ve been busy working on editing my new book, “When There’s Only a Christmas Wish.” I get super focused on the edits. It needs lots of editing since it started as a short story and grew.

There was a vacation mixed in that we spent mostly at home, catching up in the yard. We also did a day trip for our anniversary to the redwoods, Bodega Bay, and saw Disclosure Day.

Last week, the washing machine was down, and we needed to make a laundry mat visit. It’s a great place to people-watch. Think we have that fixed, fingers crossed. It required taking the drum out and pressure washing it by hubby, while I scrubbed the bottom part. I’m thankful for those YouTube videos!  What a job, but better than sludge and smelly clothes. Might start eyeing a new washing machine, but with the old design.

I’m not sure if I’ve ever mentioned that we had an aggressive mountain lion in our neighborhood years ago. I know we have them, but we never see them. This one made itself known. One night, our neighbor’s son couldn’t get out of his car; the lion blocked the car door. This was before cell phones, so he slept there, and the mountain lion didn’t leave. It sided me once from behind the trees while I was walking our two dogs. A neighbor’s dog, which we ended up with later because he was determined to be our dog, came to our assistance. Authorities stepped in, I believe. But as I said, we usually never see them until recently.

The last couple of weeks, one has been seen in people’s yards. I haven’t seen it; others have. So, I’m careful going outside.

This morning, I went out to water and feed the birds and squirrels. The bear had visited the night before and knocked over our garbage cans. I caught him on our security camera and yelled at him to leave through the microphone. He did. But the ravens then take over in the morning and spread it all out. I went out to sweep it into a pile when I felt as if I were being watched. Then I heard a twig snap in the forest. I stopped what I was doing and realized there were no birds or squirrels; it was silent. I abandoned the cleanup for later and headed back into the house. For a good fifteen minutes after that, silence continued.

Then, as if nothing had happened, the birds and squirrels returned. I was done going outside for the day. Neighbors have reported this mountain, and they are supposed to relocate it.

These types of events will usually find a way into my stories, even if just the feeling. It can add that story depth or common ground that readers can relate to. The sudden silence makes a character, and the reader is curious as to what is going on. It doesn’t have to be a silent forest. It can be a room that suddenly goes quiet, or kids can’t be heard playing anymore. It alerts the character to pay attention; something is off.

Here are some photos from vacation, including the redwoods, Bodega Bay, and our oldest grandchild, who graduated from high school 🙂

Embrace your inner child in nature and heal your soul, while paying attention! Denise