Uphill idealist

It was one of those mornings. The alarm did NOT go off. The number of hours of sleep did not come close to approaching the recommended need. The left front burner on the electric stove cooks way hotter than it should... so the tomato splattered all over my shirt, the turkey sausage burnt and the smoke alarm went off. But... I've been setting some time every morning to read Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy  and after the fiasco it already had been getting ready for work, I thought I should ditch reading and head to the office. But this time of pause and prayer is important. So I stopped. I read. The words washed over me and helped to slow down my pace. Now, it really was time to go. I got to work - only 9 minutes later than I'd hoped. It was one of those days where I did not know what to do first, so I talked with my secretary for a bit to get oriented to the needs of the day - and made my list of things to do. While it might not be a life lesso...

It's been a good long time since I've participated with the blogging community NaBloPoMo. But there is something to be said for regularly practice of creative processes - so here goes an effort to blog daily for the month of September. In years past, this practice allowed me the space to develop the discipline of writing daily. One year I had over 310 blog posts as a result of taking part in this practice. Consistency in creative efforts is something I always struggle to maintain, so here once again I begin with my "writing lessons". They might not all be grand - but then again this is all about practice and the "Lessons" I can learn in the month of September by participating in NaBloPoMo once again. If you are interesting in writing around the topic of "Lessons" this month, go to BlogHer for more information and sign up!

Today a piece I've written was published at Antioch Session . If you like the post below about the Red Crock Pot and are hungry for more, go to read more about the main dish at the Church pot luck here at Antioch Session.

A woman's prerogative /mixed media by T.L. Eastman  For  Mel - Unexpected ties We try to walk the path alone. The ties that bind us don't always seem to be a blessing. These connections make us vulnerable to all kinds of impact. Sometimes we are so wrapped up in ties that we can't budge. But true ties that bind are not ones that make us captive, but hold us secure. True bonds give a space for new life to be the ground we walk upon. We should not walk the path alone . These ties are life lines - our rescue inhalers - and cool cups of water that make it possible to live. Life-giving ties support and release us to travel to the scary growing edges, and take us to the places we are not sure we can get to. We can’t walk the path alone. Our tapestry of ties is not tidy or exact. There are snags here and knots there. But this tapestry is a blanket that unexpectedly gives warmth to the chill of the autumn night, and just-right coolnes...

For a long time I've considered developing a collection of writings from the last 12 years (really? YES!) of into a cohesive book (also in a Kindle format for easy download). So, with some trepidation and excitement I'm beginning on the sorting and organizing stage of this project. There is much to consider,but I'll be filling you all in bit by bit as things develop. I may even use Kickstarter as a means to expedite finding resources to help with printing costs. Upon first steps, I'm already amazed at the sheer quantity of writing that has taken place over this period of time. (2004 had 200 pages alone!) At this point, it looks like there will be at least three volumes in this project - but I hope to have the first one available by summer of 2014. Thanks to all the 18,679 readers that visited Uphill Idealist in 2014 and to all the readers before. This would never have been possible to even consider without you. If you are interested in ordering a copy or have favo...

A moment, a love, a dream, aloud A kiss, a cry, our rights, ours wrongs won't stop till its over...   (Music, lyrics and video to Sweet Disposition by Temper Trap .) 32, 243 Views. Reorganized on 1/20/09. Thoughtful comments for three years. I wish I could count the number of words that have been posted here at Uphill Idealist. Today, though I can celebrate the 1000 moments that are represented by the 1000 posts at this corner of the web. But, m ore than counting posts or words, I hope the words, ideas, and art posted here have made a difference - for good's sake. Thank you to followers, readers and friends like Ian ,  Pam , Mary Lue and Mel that have walked alongside this idealist that keeps on trekking up all those hills. Thank you to those who have shared the... moments, love, dreams,  kisses, cries, rights, wrongs of this wandering, wondering and hopeful  Uphill Idealist.  I am hopeful. Don't worry - 1000 posts does not ...

Dear Friends and Family, I wanted to share this bit of good news with you - I will have three articles published in a new online magazine this month. Here is the link to the first one: Finding solitude in a Car Wash The magazine is called B.L.O.G. - Beautiful Ladies of Grace. Feel free to check out my article and visit the blog...and please comment if you like! Grace and Peace - Tara

Cartoon from blog " Of course i could be all wrong" e·piph·a·ny   [ih-pif-uh-nee] noun, plural -nies. 1. (Initial capital letter ) a Christian festival, observed on January 6, commemorating the manifestation of Christ to the gentiles in the persons of the Magi; Twelfth-day. Epiphany is on it way. In addition to being the cap on the Advent season and 12 days of Christmas, it also happens to be my birthday. Normally, I love the fact that my birthday is connected to this time of celebration - but this year I already find myself a little melancholy over the fact that the big wrap up is on it's way. It's been a great Advent and Christmas season so far. Both my husband and I work in youth ministry and we've spent many days during Advent working with youth on service projects in order to help them to give back. We've make Christmas cards, delivered them to a nursing home, visited a youth home, helped sort and organize gifts for kids and families and as Christmas ...

Image November by Giovanni Pascoli found at blog Able Muse. Some folk don't shave for the month of November. Some try to focus on saying "Yes!" to life instead of "No!" for the whole month. Others, being that Thanksgiving is a part of the month, focus on gratefulness for the month. I've been in need of a November blogging muse, so I've decided to work in the vein of thankfulness and gratefulness. I need to do some upward, thankful, joyful musing. Would you like to join me? So, thinking in this frame of mind, I'm thankful to have the space and time here at this blog, as well as those who pop by for a visit, and comment too! Thanks to those who read, write, comment and take part in this month of gratitude. PS. By the way, I won't be giving up shaving. Gentlemen, have fun with that one!

October's NABLOPOMO blogging theme is "between". NaBloPoMo is a blogging group that encourages an works to foster daily blogging. If you would like to join in, please visit the NabloPoMo site for prompts, contests and more.

Would you consider writing or updating your blog each day for an entire month? To join in this commitment to the creative pursuit of writing this September go to NaBloPoMo and sign up. They offer daily prompts to help with the process as long as a monthly theme. This months theme is "Return" . It's been a while since I've tried to post daily over here at Uphill idealist, but I'm giving it a shot - for the fun of it, for the joy of it and hopefully for you to join in too! Happy September to you. I hope this writing project is one that will bring you many creative returns! 1. What is National Blog Posting Month? Essentially, it's a group of people who have committed to updating their blogs once a day for an entire month. If you would like more information on how to get involved with NaBloPoMo simply click on this link.

According to the Urban Dictionary Tara is defined as 1. a girl who posses these qualities: beauty humor originality shyness culinary skills loves animals and who is a lovable dork. a 'tara' is somebody you wanna meet. How nice of the Urban Dictionary to be so kind. I espically like the "lovable dork" part. Fellow bloggers, sorry I've been mia here lately. There's this bright blue sky and warm yellow ball in the sky that I can't seem to get enough of lately. (Look I'm even a little tan!)

Well, most of the time a prefer tea sans the hair, but I stumbled across a great blog called, "Hair in my coffee" by Kristin Russell. She is a writer, a hairstylist and a mom among a few things and offers (FOR FREE) her first novel, Recovering Ramona , for you to read. I started reading a bit of it and think you might enjoy it too...visit Hair in my coffee today! Who would have thought hair in my coffee would be a good thing??? Image from American Feast .

Statistics can be a useful tool in assessing pretty much anything. You can take a quiz for pretty much any questions you have. You can find out what personality type you are via various personality assessment platforms, you can see how energy efficient your home is by having a wind test done, you can even track how many people read your blog. I enjoy simple trivia quizzes just much as the next person, but there are some things that statistics can’t show. Early in the first weeks of 2010, I was comparing my blog readership from 2009 to 2010 by tracking the readership with Google Analytics . As I looked at the pie charts and grids and finally looked to the visit count for each month, I could feel a wave of disappointment rise from my stomach. 2009 had started out well, but about half-way through the year the readership looked to have dropped by half. This development was disappointing to me. Reading the decline in the statistical results of my blog, I began to doubt my writing ability. I...

Mr. Linky is a new friend I'd love for you to say "Hello" to. He's a hard working and helpful friend to help keep all of us blogging buddies better connected. If you would like Mr. Linky to be your buddy too, just go visit him here. Today I'm helping host post at the Sleeping with Bread blog that I share with Mary Lue and many Monday bread bakers. (Blogging bread that is.) Stop on by and join in the blogging bake sale!

Image from FreeWebs In am ongoing discussion group that I am a part of on Facebook, Adrin said this in response to the command to: "Love your neighbor as yourself..." "...I've got some things to work on in this neighbor-love department." Don't we all Adrin, don't we all. Last fall my friend and hairdresser suddenly passed away from a massive heart attack. I'd only seen him two or three days before when I got the call that he had passed away. I barely spoke the word, "No." as it felt there was no air in my lungs to push the words out. It was shocking, sad, and made me wonder if we talked about all important things at our last visit. I still wonder that months later. I was shell-shocked with grief. How could the passing of someone who was not a part of my daily life be such a massive loss? I'm not sure how, but he had quickly become my neighbor even though he lived across town. Anyhow - his passing has made me more aware of the uncertai...

Image from Twitpix This would be my luck.

Apparently, my efforts to seek out the sweet things in life midst the sour is working. That, and I have some very kind blogging friends who know a little encouragement goes a long way. Thank you to my Sleeping with Bread Blogging friend Pamela for giving me a lemons to lemonade award. (Insert blushing and grinning here!) Pamela explains the award as: "An Award that is given to bloggers that show a positive attitude, gratitude,and a willingness to share their ideas, support and online friendship. In other words, people who make lemonade when they get lemons!" Here are the rules for the award: 1. Put the logo on your blog or post. 2. Nominate at least 7 blogs that show great Gratitude and/or Attitude. 3. Be sure to list and link your nominees within your post. 4. Let them know they have received this award by leaving a comment on their blog. Life may give us all lemons, but I know these bloggers add so much sweetness and encouragement to my life. You should go and enjoy a cup...

Click here to join in on NaBloPoMo I'm so happy to say that I managed to blog every day for the month of December 2008 thanks to the help of some great fellow bloggers, meme's, and a personal desire to write more regularly. If you have some thoughts, suggestions, or ideas concerning my blog please feel free to comment. I hope you enjoyed reading it this month as much as I enjoyed writing. As for blogging all of January... I still thinking on that one. Happy New Year! Tara Lamont

My blogging friend Mary Lue has inspired me to try blogging every day for a month. She's done it a few times and since we share blogging on our Monday's Sleeping with bread posts, I thought I'd give this challenge a try. Some of this desire is to keep up with my writing in a more disciplined manner and to also celebrate the advent season with my focus being on the theme of Thanks. If you'd like to join in on the blogging challenge follow this link to NaPoBloMo