The spiraling of a geranium seedI apologise, I'm being a rotten blogger at present. Network connections that are doing a startling imitation of a Jack in the Box, not feeling too well and the prospect of two huge manuscript rewrites have stunned me into a frenzy of inactivity. Add to that the fact that the young guinea fowl keets are dropping like flies, and you'll gather that all is not exactly sparkly in the Vanilla Goddess's garden.
We suspect a virus or parasite must have got the young guineas - they are dying at the rate of one a day or every second day. It is too pathetic to watch and there is little we can do. They are impossible to catch while they are well and by the time we can catch them it's too late to do anything. On top of that, they've taken to falling into the pool and I've rescued two in the last two days - dried them off carefully, warmed them up and discovered they smell utterly awful - a sort of sickly sweet, cloying smell that hangs around them - the scent of death, I guess one might say. Their numbers have gone from 13 to four or five in about two weeks. The parents are becoming increasingly twitchy - and who can blame them - and they can't make up their minds if I'm friend or foe. Even Mama Guinea has now taken to trying to attack me - flying straight at me the other day, claws outstretched as I fished a baby from the pool.
At least Ms Bo hasn't succumbed to whatever is ailing the keets and is flourishing and getting feistier by the minute on a diet of maggots, mealworms, cutworms, earthworms and other things that go wriggle and bump in the night (along with seed, corn and greens).
Meanwhile, instead of getting on with my rewrites - which feels rather like trying to eat a gargantuan elephant - I'm trying to write a children's short story for a local anthology and am getting utterly nowhere. What started as a children's story of 1000 words, has morphed into something quite different and more than double the length, filled with African deities, an inept wizard and a creature resembling the Ba-Kaaka Nostra. I worry myself sometimes, really I do!
I'm afraid blogging is likely to remain erratic for a while yet - my muse went off on her Christmas holiday and hasn't been seen since. This is, as you can imagine, of no earthly use in the face of two rewrites. If you should see her, please ask her to return home.
Do please bear with me and hopefully things will return to normal in the not too distant future. I live in hope - you may as well join me!
Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy these...
Sunset at Scarborough beach
The last sunset of 2008
29 comments:
These are absolutely stunning. As usual.
That must be so disheartening, after all that effort, to watch helplessly as the little ones succumb. I don't think your muse likes to be around death and will perhaps return once the threat is over?
January is a strange month whatever side of the equator you happen to be. There's something about the energy of it … it's like paddling through custard.
I decided that unless I actually scheduled in creative writing to my day, the likelihood was that it would remain on the long finger indefinitely. I don't think my Muse has deserted so much as is in hiding because I'm putting too much on her shoulders. I have to quit waiting to be inspired - I have to coax her out by taking the first steps myself. I know how daunting a major revision must be (I've never had to revise a finished book but I have had to restart the same one several times) so my advice is to break it down into manageable chunks -This week I am revising chapter 4, state your objective for that chapter and only work on that. If the revision throws up changes to other chapters handwrite a note onto the hard copy of that chapter referencing it back to the relevant point in chapter 4. Your only objective for any given timeframe is the one you've stated for yourself. Then reward yourself for achieving it. Bite-sized chunks Babe - not two novels worth!!
I'm sorry all the littlies are so poorly. You're so sweet to watch out for them despite the obvious antagonism of their parents. It's good to know Miss Bo is doing well though.
As always the pictures are stunning. I had a look through your previous post too (can't understand how I missed that one) and they are fabulous too.
Good luck with the short story. It sounds amazing. They are deceptively hard to do. I hope you're able to jiggle the word count without diminishing the story.
Take it easy. The custard month is nearly through!
Gorgeous photos.
Crikey, I am sorry to hear about the guineas. Do hope it resolves itself very soon, I can imagine it being somewhat traumatic for you. And best of luck with the rewrites.
Best wishes,
CJ xx
Nice photos. I am sorry about the virus. Can't you bring the remaining ones to a vet?
I'm an animal lover but I'm far more concerned about your missing muse than the poor little guineafowl.
I wonder you might need to fish Muse out of the pool, too?
AV,
Those shots are fab and I especially like your recording of the last sunset of the year.
Apart from this, that and more of the other, I'm sorry to read that you're not feeling so good???
Here's sending a big hug to help you on your way back to 'tip top' form.
((((hugs)))
Beautiful pictures.
I have never published anything worth counting so I cannot help with inspiration. I know that a job dreaded seems to grow.
I have heard that times are the hardest when you are getting close to a break through. I can imagine, it is hard to create when you are loosing your babies.
Your muse is hiding. She senses your discontent and your dread and your sadness.
Throw her a party...she'll come home!
Thanks, Mimi!
It's not much fun being around so much death and feeling so helpless, VioletSky. I accept it's nature's way and this is how it sometimes goes, but it's just not nice. And yes, probably no small wonder my muse has shoved off.
You are so right, Janey, it's been exactly like paddling through custard! I've taken the plunge with the writing, by having a go at the short story and am somewhat alarmed at where my imagination has wandered off to! At least I know it's still working!
As for the rewrite - Candy's advice on the SCCWI list was the same, small chunks. I can't unfortunately do it on a chapter by chapter basis, because I have to address issues like voice, character interaction, plot issues - so there are general trends that have to be fixed and they're not limited to single chapters. I'll just have to decide what to fix first - do that, then fix the next thing and so on. No other way of eating the elephant!
Here's hoping the rest of custard month flies by!
It's not great, CJ but you try to accept that this is just how nature is. I think though, Janey has it spot on about January just being an icky sort of month - hopefully all things will flow more smoothly come February!
xxx
I have thought about taking the remaining chicks to a vet, Ropi but they are almost impossible to catch - and they are also so small that I'm not sure a vet could do anything. That said, we have been trying to contact the avian vet to find out if there's anything we can do.
I've checked the pool, Aerin she's not in there - I suspect she might be skiing in Aspen or St Moritz!
Aw, thanks Steph, it's the old colon being grumbly again - it'll pass but you know what it's like, sometimes this stuff just wears you down a bit.
Yep, a party, Gail, now that's a good idea! I'm sure, as Janey says, there is just something about January - it's a strange sort of month, the end of one thing and the start of another and all sorts of inbetween.
Thanks for the vote of confidence about the writing - I think you might just be right about the hardest times and breakthroughs - I'll hold to that it's great encouragement - thank you!
I am sorry about that.
Thanks, Ropi.
Fantastic photos.
Heres hoping for the return of your muse asap, particularly to help with the childrens book.
xx
Sorry to hear about the guineas. It might be worth moving Ms Bo somewhere safely out of touch for the time being to try and dodge the illness?
Excellent photos, though.
God your sunsets are gorgeous. Only sunrises on the Eastern Coast and I'm too far away from the beach to be pootling down there at 5am. Sorry to hear about your babies. Nature at it's worst I suspect but very happy that Miss Bo is thriving. You'll never get rid of her! Keep well darls. Take your time and good luck with the manuscripts.
the photos are lovely...i have been missing the water lately....at -30 with the windchill today it is not an option here...lol
no worries we will be here for you when life settles down a bit. be patient with you as you have had alot on your plate lately.
i am sorry about the wee birdies and glad bo is doing well. try to get enough sleep and be patient with yourself. it will all work out.
storm
Oh Nicky, can i send you a nice bottle of Pinot Noir to help that ellie go down easier? oh, nevermind, your wine is probably better than ours,i remember having some gorgeous bottles in Paarl...do whatever you need (more yakky lunches ;) and see ya back here later! good luck with the writing!
xxx lori
Stunning sunset pics.
So sad about the little guineas. As much as it might just be nature talking it's course one can't help feeling torn.
Sorry you're feeling down. I hope you bounce back real soon and with that the writing too! Feel better friend.
Wonderful pics, these and the ones from the last post and all of the others you posted before.
Good luck with the writing, I am positive you will work it out just fine and it will be great.
The fowl, I am sorry to hear they are not doing too well but Little Miss Bo whom you are looking after is doing great so that's something. You can't help sometimes. Sorry Vanilla dear. *hug*
what a nightmare.. seems Bo is a tough little keet, after all! love the sunsets & good luck with the tasks.. xx
Yay for Bo! But sad about the little keets - and especially sad that Muse is AWOL.
Best thing for inducing return of Muse is to eat lots of dark chocolate! Raises thinking power, brain speed and contains tons of MOAs which make you feel happy.
Photos are wonderful - more please!
HOpe you feel better soon Nicky. It's rotten when everything happens at once. Jenny (PS once again Blogger won't allow me to use my password - I'm not really anonymous)
Thanks for visiting my blog. Your pics are beautiful.
Sorry to hear about the guineas. I hope that the others ones get better.
i wonder if my muse is off on a wander with yours?
thats a happy thought
LOVE the geranium seed picture
(wv: pandamen :-])
Poor little keets. I'm glad Bo has escaped whatever it is they've got.
Lovely photos to see on a grey Monday morning. Now if you find that muse (and she was definitely around whilst you were writing that children's story) can you be fair, take a bit and then send her up north:-)
Thanks, FireByrd, and yes, I hope the muse turns up soon too!
The danger seems to be over now, Rob, mostly because there are only three chicks left. I also think Bo's immunity is strong enough at this point, but we would keep them separate if we found we had to take one in.
You should see the sunsets inland and up 'norf', Bains, truly spectacular. Thanks for all the good wishes!
Ooh, your weather sounds freezy cold, Storm *shiver*. Thanks for the kind thoughts and good wishes.
I think I just have to get out of January, Lori - reading the blogs it seems I'm not the only person having a custardy January!
It is sad about the guineas, Rob and yesterday saw still more drama which I'll post about another time. Thanks for the support and care.
Thanks, Gaye - all this shall pass and things will be fine again - just seems that January is a funny ol' month!
Ms Bo has plenty of spirit, Karen, and I think that's what's been her saving grace!
Tessa, the advice of dark chocolate is inspired! I've actually cut out anything with sugar in it recently, including dark choccie (don't eat the other sort anyway), so maybe that's why the old brain is failing!
But isn't that just the way, Jenny - doesn't rain but pours. It'll pass though, I just have to surf my way through the "custard"!
Thanks, Lauren! Glad you liked the pics.
Well if I see your muse, Lettuce, or if you see mine, we'll send them on their way to where they belong - mind you, they'll probably be totally hungover - or spa-ed out! ;-)
The muse is being thoroughly contrary, Lane, and I don't know who was around while I was trying to write that story - I think it was an imp because the story morphed into something thoroughly unsuitable for children!
"a frenzy of inactivity" - I like that!
And gargantuan rewrites - ah, yessss. Nice and easy does it, one bit at a time, right?
if you do it nice and easy, who knows? your muse may even tippy toe back, just to see what you're up to...
sorry to hear about the little ones. can't be helpful to morale, at all.
cheers, av (repeat after me: nice and easy does it, nice and...)
Lovely photographs. I'll be enjoying a different Scarbrough beach later this year.
Shame about the peeps :(
Good luck with the writing :D
It's so sad what you're saying about the birds; I know how you feel, I would be the same, but at some point you just have to let it be and not torment yourself anymore. That sickly sweet smell made me smile because my bird, a cockatiel, smells like that every time she takes a bath (just awful!) and she's always been like that. :-)
I live in hope - I love that, my dearest Vanilla. I do it too. It's nice to know that, in a way, we're doing it together...
Thank you for the photos! They are stunning.
xoxoxo
Hello, I hope to raise Guineas in the US next year, so was pointed to your chronicles by Vincent. I've thoroughly enjoyed their story, lovely to read your observations from the place where they grow wild!
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