Squeaky Clean On The Wrong Day

So...We are doing Saturday chores today, (Friday) so that tomorrow we can leave on time for the ball!!!!! We are super excited! Poor Abby wasn't feeling well yesterday or this morning. You could also pray for our van- there is some noise that could be something trivial, or something really bad, and so Dad is taking it in today. If it is the bad thing, then we can't fit all the people we were going to bring, (from several other families) and that would complicate matters alot. Anyway....so just to give you all an idea of what preparing for church in this household of 21 is like, here is what we do:

Dust all furniture, bookcases, bar, etc.
Organize all bookshelves
Clean all bathrooms
Clean out fridge
Sweep and organize pantry
Sweep, organize, and mop laundry room
Mop kitchen and hardwood floor (where needed on the latter)
Wipe all walls and baseboards for dirt
Clean all glass doors and where needed on front windows
Wash kitchen garbage cans
Set up lost and found
Bring down hymnals
Set up serving utensils
Wipe all counters super well
Declutter all downstairs
Clean and vacuum all bedrooms
Vacuum all carpeted areas downstairs
Set up plates, cups, and utensils
Make multiple gallons of iced tea
And anything else that needs doing! :)

The power went out mysteriously while I was writing this, but thank goodness that most of this was already saved! I have begun a new story. Shh...*ducks while Sarah throws something at my head* I promise I'll finish Riverly Manor, and then I shall publicly swear that I shall never write another mystery!!!!!!! :[ But even Sir Walter Scott worked on two books at a time! He set them up on stands, and paced around. Then, when he had an idea for one, he'd race over, pen it down, and set to pacing again. I'm not that bad! But I will not let you, (Sarah) read this till it is finished. Then I will deliver it to your lap in all the golden glory of a peace offering, and let you read it. Hmph! :) I can't help myself in a writing fit! All right. I had better get going! I can't wait to see all of you guys at the ball! (Meredith, Elliott, Oliver, Abigail, Shaina, Hannah, Leanna, Melissa, Micah, Beth-Nell...."allva" you guys! :) -Rachel

Riverly Manor and a half-dozen other titles

Hey guys! I thought that I'd show you guys two things today: first, how many books I've started writing, and the ones that I've finished. Then, I'll show you my story line for the mystery that plagues my life out! The problem I have found is this: it is a good story, and a good mystery- not even I can figure it out. And that is the problem! :)

Books I have begun writing:

"Buttercup Promise"
"Tidbits"
"The McBride Story"
"Miss Pemberthy"
"The Treasure of Riverly Manor"
"Forgetmenots"
"Ruby's Journey West"
and several more

Books I have finished:
A Mother For The Seasonings
"The Ella and Cornelia Story"
"The Harrison Happenings"
Bramblewood Hedge series (The Twinkletoes' Harvest, Mr. Mocker's Picnic, etc.)

Now, here is the storyline for "The Treasure of Riverly Manor"
Lindsey Riverly is 15 years old during the Great Depression. She has lived with her widower-father, and her younger brother Thomas in a small yellow house ever since she can remember. But when her grandfather dies and leaves the independent family estate of Riverly Manor to Lindsey's father, the family has to move. Lindsey finds it difficult to adjust to her new position of Mistress at Riverly Manor, and all the lesson her Great Aunt Henrietta insists on giving her. But despite the fact that there is a Riverly Family fortune, the family is struggling financially. The reason? The fortune is hidden, including the map of a hidden oil field. It begins looking as if Mr. Riverly will have to sell the manor. Lindsey and Tom find a secret passage in the house, and go down it. When they emerge, they are quite lost, and do not even know if they are still on the Manor's 2,000 acre grounds. They find a cabin and an old black man who was the best friend of their grandfather, without any legs. He tells them clues to the treasure and they make their way home. But a strange man, Drew Baxter is pressing their father to let him buy Riverly manor. Lindsey distrusts the man deeply, and begs her father to wait a month, and help them find the treasure. He agrees, and the threesome begin working together to follow to clues. The guest, Mr. Drew Baxter is residing in a cottage on the grounds, and when Lindsey goes there to clean it up a bit, she finds a letter with a mysterious message in it. Then Tom disappears, and Lindsey finds him chloroformed in the attic, and the paper with the clues missing. Tom recovers, but can't remember what had happened to him. Lindsey suspects Drew Baxter, (who is an agent for a German war mastermind posing as a oil-hungry man posing as a buyer for Riverly Manor) and finds a file of correspondence that proves he is acting falsely. But Mr. Baxter has disappeared. The Riverly family goes on a chase that crosses three states, and ends back at the Manor, where it is a race to see who finds the treasure first......and I haven't decided who finds it! :)

Sound interesting? Do you think I should finish it? Well, I gotta go! -Rachel

Revealing a Springtime Masterpiece! ;)

Hey guys! How are you this morning? I am well. I finally shook off this horrid cold I had had for a long time. I think it might have been allergies. Which leads me to the next part of this post. Ahem-ahem-ahem, it is my pleasure and amusement to present a slapped-together work entitled: "It Is In The Air" So without further ado....

"It is in The Air"

By Me

This is that special time of year

When people far and people near

Will feel quite calm and free of care

And say that "Love is in the air".

"Love", I think, there may well be,

But it has passed quite over me!

Love never makes her stricken wheeze,

And mine keeps comp'ny with a sneeze!

My nose is stuffed, my eyes are red,

If I cough more I'll lose my head!

If "Love" is there, it's surely stallin'

But in its place is nasty pollen!

Okay. So maybe slightly cheesy, but it amused me! :) I wrote it for our Girls' Gazette.

So, for a quick update on my authoring...the test families have almost all read my book and answered my questions. As soon as that is done, I shall make corrections, and then look for a publisher! I'm really excited about how the Lord is bringing this together, but I would appreciate your prayer concerning where to get my book published. I know self-publishing is an option but you have to front the money for that, whereas in traditional publishing, they pay you. You know? I also have a vision to publish it in a Christian company, and one that publishes books of good report. No sappy romance novels for me thankyou! :)

Most of you know that my vision for writing is not to become famous. (Not like I think I would or anything!) I am not doing this for a "career" or for my own glory. I have a vision to write books for families and girls that are wholesome, pure-hearted, written from a Biblical world-view, but are also amusing. The Elsie Dinsmore books didn't quite cut it for me as a youngun' because I was constantly feeling irritated by her refusal to say she didn't scribble in the book, because it would be tattling or something equally...excessive. (The stories were okay though)

Okay. So just a rambling writing post! Gotta go do the dishes! -Rach

By Abigail's Request

Hey! Here is the "Companion Post" to the one below. This is the topic Abigail chose for me to post about. Her question: How do you come up with the story lines for your books and stories? Do you have them made up before you start writing?

I have to tell you- there really is little method to my madness! Usually, the topics are suggested by something I've been randomly thinking: take A Mother For The Seasonings: I was doing dishes or something and thinking, "Wouldn't it be cool if there was a family of children who were all named after herbs?" And immediately, the characters in my story were born. (Oh! You test people, we ran out of ink, so I'll be a tad late sending you your copy! Sorry!)
For my mystery I am attempting to write...it is turning out rather tragically. I don't mean the story-line itself- I mean, I am no mystery writer! For pity's sake! Everyone likes this story the best, and I can't keep track of all the details myself!
For that story, I wrote out a story-line. The problem? I made the villain a man who was pretending to be a man who was pretending to be a man. Note to other authors: NEVER DO THAT TO YOURSELF!!!!!!! My head spins every time I try to pick it back up. But I have made a promise to Sarah to finish it!
So basically, I model my stories after real life usually. Things I know about, and love.
It also helps that I am constantly observing people. Ask anyone in my family- when I go to a concert, I spend half the time looking at the people around me. So when we come home I'll say to Sarah, "You know that girl with the red dress and shiny black shoes with the scarf around her neck and the white purse? She kept smiling at us." Or something of that sort. I am a fairly observant person. Therefore, before I had ever heard Tim Hawkins mention this fact, I had found out that when people are gossiping, they always say, "Bless her heart" immediately after as if that makes it okay.
Another fun thing I have done is look in the phone book when choosing names for a character. They have the best ones! Some I've pieced together (last names from one person, first from another) are: Raleigh McBride, Bardwolf Becker, (doesn't that sound like a banker?) Opal McCain, Katherine Durrant, etc. (Isn't the last one perfect for a beautiful heroine? Don't go and steal it! :)
Anyway, hope that satisfies you Miss Abigail! ;) -Rachel

Hullo Folks!

Hey guys! Wow! It seems like a long time since I've posted. (I being the Rachel-who-even-her-own-cousin-has-a-hard-time-spelling ;) Any-hoo! Today was choir practice. We had a loverly time as usual, and almost perfected "Hallelujah, Praise The Lamb" which is beautiful with three part harmony. I get the "angel" sounding part! :) Actually, I am tenor for the first chorus, silent in the verse, then second soprano for the next chorus and the bridge. Very exhausting to remember! But it sounded great. Oh! Sarah and I got a set of real wood bedroom furniture! Yesterday we sanded and oil primed it all. I don't really know what "style" it is, only that it is wavy and feminine, and old-fashioned. We are painting it cream colored like French Provencial sort of. Anyway, we'll do a post with pictures of it and everything when we are done. Let me do something fun: Here are three questions that each of you must answer as honestly as you can:

What is a nickname you hate but that your family calls you? I don't have many nick-names

What is the worst birthday or Christmas present you've ever had? I remember being really bashful because two people had given me the same present when I turned 5 of 6.

Are you a picky eater? If so, are you expecting your spouse someday to cope with that? ;)
I am only a picky breakfast eater, and since I'll be cooking I can eat whatever of the breakfast of the day I want and leave the rest to my husband! :)

Well, sorry this is short, but I'm on a new computer-time budget that we are trying out due to the black-hole blogging can be! ;)
Oh!!! The biggest news! I am completely and utterly done editing my book, so next I'll send it to test families to read and fill out a constructive-criticism sheet, and then off to the publisher or printer! (We aren't positive which yet!) So quite a triumph for an aspiring authoress! :)

-Rachel

Wisdom From Avonlea

We finished watching Anne of Avonlea last night! The first two Green Gables movies still delight me, and I have quite a notion that when I am an old woman and watch them, I shall still wish I could sweep my hair up in a pompadour and wear trailing dresses. But that's just a guess! I think what I love about the movies, is that they show all kinds of people in such a sometimes exxagerating way that you have to laugh, because the characteristics are so recognizable. Take Mrs. Rachel Lynde ;) for instance. We've all met people who take it upon themselves to decide what everyone else should and shouldn't do. And ones who tell people exactly what they think of them. Therefore, all of us older children had to laugh (for the thousandth time) when Mrs. Lynde says of Anne going to Boston, "I don't approve of way young woman go traveling all over the world today! It reminds me of the devil in the book of Job, going to and fro and up and down!" And old, critical, fussy Mrs. Harris when Anne tells her she can go on a carriage ride and "crrritisize everybody who passes by" and she retorts, "Crritisize? Miss Shirley that's not Chrrrristian!"
I just love the simplicity of the storyline, and yet it makes a very entertaining movie! Maybe it's charm lies in the fact that it is about things that are close to home and familiar. In Little Women and Anne of Green Gables, both young women writers are given the piece of wisdom to write about things that are part of their life and important, not, in Gilbert's words: "High faluting mumbo-jumbo". I don't think I'd hit Matthew with a basket if he told me that, or crack a slate over Daniel's head if he called me "mud-head", (my hair is brown, I wish it was red!)
I've taken that piece of wisdom into my writing, even though I never was one to go writing stories set in Camelot. I prefer the pioneer, Victorian,or Civil War times to midievil times anyway! But the point is, you should write about as Gilbert also says, "the people and places you care about! Right here in ____ (insert you family)"
So that is why one story I have written is a book about our family, set in a different time, but correct otherwise. That is why most of my stories center around families and family relationships. This is what I know and care about, where God has placed me, and this is where my greatest writing will be found. Anyway, just thought that would be an interesting post for any fellow scribblers! Hope you enjoyed reading! And please leave a comment if you can! (Because we otherwise shall ban you from our blog! ;) just kidding!) -Rachel

My Vision Forum Story: Version One

Hi! Just in case anyone wanted to read this, here is the story I was going to put into the Vision Forum contest, but decided not to since Mama said it was too commonplace. I still think it a good fairytale story though! -Rachel

"The Rescue of Dalriaden"

By Rachel Heffington

Once upon a time a far age ago there was a kingdom called Dalriaden. The people of Dalriaden were ruled by a wise and faithful king. Such a happy land was this! Noblemen and peasants lived peaceably together and worked the fruitful soil. But one day a shadow fell across Dalriaden's purple moor. Distant murmurings entered the mouths of the people, and vague thoughts of fear and discontent crowded the gentry's mind. One by one they were blinded, until the evil had consumed everything up to the very gates of King Undell's palace. News of a dragon who darkened the people's mind with his venomous breath and presence filtered through the dales and into the village. The king watched in consternation as this dreaded evil gripped the hearts of his countrymen. It seemed the dragon was fast approaching and his influence had already damaged the minds of the Dalriadens. But King Undell was too wise to act hastily and without thought. Instead, the king waited, consulting his only daughter as to what the best course of action could be. King Undell had bestowed a gift upon this maiden when she was yet a babe in arms. He had named her Minetta, which means "faithful defender" and from a very early age she had been her father's most loyal supporter, upholding his name wherever she went. Now, in the day of trouble this same Princess Minetta and her father stayed in the castle to plan how to defend the kingdom of Dalriaden. The two spent their days praying for wisdom and valor, that they might be strong and loyal to light and truth in this age of evil.

Finally, the day dawned when not a ray of sunlight could penetrate the clouds of smoke and poisonous gasses that choked the sky. For the monster that was the cause of this terror and calamity was drawing ever closer-Groth- a hideously scaled dragon who hated light from any source but his own fiery breath, and who sought to destroy any good that clung to the land of Dalriaden. King Undell sent his last faithful footman to scour the deserted city for anyone, man or boy, who would raise a sword against the creature. The page returned with a single young man, a peasant, who had not yet succumbed to Groth's evil designs. This lad, Oberon, offered King Undell his service, and if it came to such a measure, his life. The king and Princess Minetta rejoiced to see one man untouched by the evil of Groth, and together the king, the footman, and Oberon guarded the castle walls. As evening closed upon Dalriaden, nothing could be seen save a glow, as of some great furnace, where Groth slept. Oberon entered the great castle hall and bowed to Princess Minetta and her father. "Your majesty!" he began, "The great monster Groth sleeps at your gate this night. Long have you waited for such a time as this. With your permission I will slay the beast!"

The king pondered Oberon's offer. "I cannot allow you to attempt such a dangerous task alone! I shall accompany you to the place where Groth slumbers!"

And so saying, King Undell took up his sword and followed Oberon from the hall with a last kiss for his daughter.

An ordinary maiden would have wept at this point, but, Princess Minetta, faithful defender that she was, fell on her knees in supplication to the Father above, and remained there through the night.

Meanwhile….

King Undell and Oberon scaled the wall of the palace grounds and slipped unnoticed through the shadows. Rounding the final corner of the wall, they came upon the dragon Groth. He lay stretched full length upon the cobblestones. His back and tail were plated with shining scales so bright, that each of his fiery breaths dazzled in them, echoed back a thousand times brighter. But Groth was not asleep. Such a dastardly creature as he was too cunning for such a foolish measure.

As King Undell raised his sword to slay the monster, Groth turned and thrashed his spear-like tail, pinning the king against the wall. He hissed menacingly and his snake-like tongue fluttered with poisonous breath over shining needles of teeth. As Groth raised his horned head in preparation to eat his prey, Oberon leapt from the darkness and thrust his sword through Groth's unprotected throat. With a last furious and flaming breath, the monster's life ebbed away and he slipped into the land of darkness.

A week later a grand celebration was being held. With the dragon Groth's death, Dalriaden had been loosed from the blinding evil and the people were once again free.

This afternoon they congregated by the lake to witness a memorable ceremony:

King Undell, clad in his royal garments led Princess Minetta to the lakeside. How beautiful she looked with a wreath of rosebuds in her golden hair and a smile upon her lips! Then, King Undell summoned Oberon to his side. Taking the Sword that had slain the Dragon he touched each of the lad's broad shoulders and proclaimed in a strong voice, "I dub you Lord Oberon, Prince of Dalriaden!" Then, beckoning to the blushing princess he gave her hand to Oberon in marriage saying, "I bestow upon you, beloved daughter, the title of Lady Minetta Oberon, faithful defender of your father's, and now your husband's honor!"

As he said this, the king placed a golden crown upon each of their heads and the two sealed their union with a kiss.

So from that time on, they ruled together, and Dalriaden was henceforth a kingdom of light and truth.

The End

Bemoanings of an Authoress

Greetings all you fair followers! I am here to bemoan my lot- actually, to tell you something that is sort of exciting and quite a pain. I am entering a story in the Vision Forum contest. In this contest you must tell the "true" story of the cover of the magazine. It has a princess, a king, a knight, and a dragon on it. When I saw this, I thought, "Wow! This should be easy!" because I am constantly writing things, and this shouldn't be any big deal. Well, I have just recently discovered that I am a long-winded creative person. It is painful for me to try to cram a story into no more than 1200 words! Ahhhhhhh!!! So I wrote the story and it was well told. Until Mama pointed out quite gently but pointedly, that my story-line was very unoriginal. It was, in fact, precisely what you would expect seeing the picture. She's right. And my creative streak has been stunted by the late nights and crazy schedule recently. I haven't a scrap of courage large enough to try to rewrite the story right now. Or at least keep it short and sweet. Thinking that the bracing cold air would freshen my perspective, I paced up and down outside for a half-hour at least, but to no avail. I had ideas, but they would all take far more than 1200 words. What's more, they were all traditionally fairy-tale-ish, or else improbable. By the end of the time out there, I had only succeeded in discouraging myself and scaring Daisy Sofia (the goat) out of her wits by coming up and saying in a flat monotone: "Hello goat." (And perhaps it was also scared by my white shawl or something.)
Anyway, I am determined to rewrite this to Mama's (and my own) satisfaction, but I'll just hope and pray for that all-illusive inspiration that I am sorely lacking. After all, when a 1000 $ prize is at stake, I had better listen to wise council. So there you have it- Aren't authors known for being moody? (I despise moodiness in myself so I am determined that this fit shan't last! :) Well, wish me well!
-Rachel