Creative and Technical Difficulty – Hats Off to Thomas

March 18 2020

Received today from one of the authors I interviewed recently on MTA … 💚💚💚

“PS please tell Thomas I was browsing some of his Biggest Little Photographer photos. What he did was very difficult – especially when he was so young. There was the creative difficulty – a new photo every day for a year – and the technical difficulty of depth of field – 365 days a year. So hats off to him from a fellow photographer.” – Peter Staadecker, Author and Photographer ….

Thank you to Peter for taking the time to check out Thomas’s work, and for taking the time to share his thoughts with me … Deeply appreciated! I continue to be extremely proud of Thomas for doing this and following through with it.

Some fun photos from 2016 after the book was published. Thomas was a part of the Young Blood art showing with two of his photos.

Movie Night: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

March 16 2020

Team TLC Extra Movie Night – “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” – I put this on hold at the library months ago and it came in last week. It would have been due this Wednesday, but ….. with the libraries closed, they have asked that patrons not return items until they are open again. Bonus days with our movies!

I say, “Perfect timing. I think we should have a global week long Mr. Rogers binge. I am so incredibly grateful this wonderful man was part of my childhood.”

Thomas says, “It was good.”

Lillian says, “Good, and liked the music.”

Authors Unite – Enter to Win a Book A Day for 30 Days

Would you like the chance to win a book a day for 30 days? Here it is!

(In the spirit of COVID-19 solidarity, we are not asking you to follow us on social media, sign up for a newsletter or share the contest details with friends in order to enter this contest.)

My latest book, Words of Alchemy, will be given away on May 2, 2020. If you’d like to enter to win, visit this link … https://authorsmstevens.com/30days/words-of-alchemy/

To see the full list of books, with descriptions, and to enter to win, go here … https://authorsmstevens.com/30days/

30 Days of Free Books — A COVID-19 Book Giveaway Contest: Authors unite to offer literary escape to housebound readers.

Twenty-three authors, many of them award winners and best sellers, have banded together to offer “30 Days of Free Books” — a month of giveaways to provide some free books to housebound readers during the coronavirus pandemic.

Whether you prefer fiction or non-fiction, poetry or prose, children’s books or Young Adult or Adult, memoir or historical fiction or mystery, print or ebook format, you’ll find something you like on this list.

COVID-19 Note: Many writers are offering the winners of their books a choice of print book or ebook. We encourage winners of print books to check the latest expert guidance on how long the virus lives on cardboard and paper before opening their package.

HOW TO ENTER: Click on the name of a book (here … https://authorsmstevens.com/30days/) for more details including a book description, book format (paperback or ebook) and the contest entry form. Enter for as many books as you like. On the date noted, a winner will be chosen to receive that day’s book. Winners will be notified by email. Open to U.S. residents only.

Happy reading, and stay safe.

What Advice Would I Give for Writing Poems – Interview on Shaz’s Book Blog

March 14 2020

Thank you to wonderful book blogger, Sharon, for having me on her beautiful blog … I’d be incredibly grateful for you to check it out, if you have the time … Each one of these amazing bloggers is asking such thoughtful and different questions ..

” …. What advice would you give to someone who would like to try writing poems?

I’m not sure I’m one to hand out advice on writing poetry, since my experience was quite different. Except to say, if you want to write a specific style of poetry, to read as many books of poetry in that style as you can get your hands on. Read them until they soak through to your very core, until you’re sweating, bleeding, crying, laughing poetry of that style. HA! Whether you want to write free-verse or a specific style, write daily … ”

The Attraction of Poetry – An Interview on Shaz’s Book Blog

 

 

Throwback Post: Everything Is Possible With Backyard and Indoor Camping

**THROWBACK POST**

May 31 2014:

“If everything is possible, isn’t it possible that some things are impossible?” -Thomas ….

This one made me stop … and ponder … Hmmmmmm …. Blessed, blessed, blessed by this young man! xoxo

April 9 2012:

Backyard camping at the Team TLC Casa …. YAY for warm days ….

Backyard Camping April 9 2012

Later on …. Moved the camping inside … too windy!!

Backyard Camping #2 April 9 2012

Happy Birthday Camilla – The Sun is Shining Through My Windows

April 17 2020:

I had been holding off on posting this as there were to be further celebrations. COVID19 had other plans. So ….. to be continued …

March 12 2020

Happy Belated Birthday to me!!! Daiya Salted Caramel Swirl and daffodils. There were too many things happening on the day of, and following weeks, so celebrations were put on hold. 🎉💚💛💚💛💚💛🎉

Plus, the Romano Duo stopped by with a brand new fluffy robe. I’ve had the current one since 2006 or 2007. It’s been past it’s prime for quite a while! ♥️♥️♥️

February 26 2020 – The Actual Birthday Day

The sun is shining through my windows
I can see beautiful Mount Rose from where I sit on our comfy new couch
I’m sitting on this new couch, in our new place, with a bit more elbow room
I’m having my second cup of medium dark Sumatra coffee
I’ve cleared my calendar and only doing what pleases me today
We shall see what the day holds
The first day of my 50th year on this magnificent, magical ball spinning in space
I wish for all of you a moment, or more, of serenity on this day
If you’d like to help me celebrate, and are moved to do so, I would be ecstatic and deeply grateful for you to splurge on one of our books … Much love, love, love to all of YOU!! xoxo … https://camilladowns.com/books/

Thanks to my daddy for treating us to dinner, so I could skip cooking dinner, and celebrate this half century day. Thanks to Great Full Gardens for taking online orders, so he could treat us.

For me: Jackfruit soft tacos with new harvest pea shoots, avocado, salsa, Mexican rice, Great Full white beans, and all sorts of yummy sauces, along with cashew cheese, jalapeño aioli, and cashew sour cream. My new favorite dish!!! Yum!! (I was kinda, really hungry by the time we sat to eat; hence, the blurry photo of my food!) Followed by an incredibly large, moist vegan double chocolate chip cookie (which I got for free since it’s my birthday!!)

Thomas: Magical mushroom blend … Organic cacao, chaga, reishi, lion’s mane, turkey tail, cordyceps, and maple syrup. He loves this super food beverage. Followed by a pastrami Reuben with House made coleslaw. Ending with a double chocolate chip cookie.

Lillian: She’s not a fan of the menu there, so I grabbed her an order of fries from Burger Me to go with her usual dinner. Followed by a giant snickerdoodle cookie.

After a couple of hours, Thomas and I had a root beer float, with Coconut Bliss dark chocolate “ice cream”.

Now … I may just have a quick solo dance party to end the day. We will have a do over day on Friday or Saturday, or maybe next week sometime, to celebrate a bit more. I won’t sugar coat it. Beginning yesterday about 4:00 pm, a nightmare began for two people who mean the world to me, something no family member ever wants to experience. It’s been tempered by all of your lovely and thoughtful messages. Thank you all very much for that!!

February 1 2020

Today begins my birth month … the 26th is the actual day. This is a big one for me as I’m leaving the 40’s behind and laying claim to the gold! I plan to do at least 50 kind and nurturing things for myself this year, perhaps many more.

One of those is taking the initiative and asking friends, family, and acquaintances to write a note about the following: How and when we met, your fondest memory, craziest thing we did together, funnest thing we did together, most grounding thing we did together, whatever … and I will make this into a coffee table type book for myself. You can include a photo of us if you’d like, or I’ll add that later. Please don’t hold back. At this point in my life, I have nothing to hide.

I’ve decided I cannot wait around for someone to do these kind things for me, I cannot wait for someone else to nurture and love me. So, I will step into that role for myself. YAY! This will be fun! You can post it here, message it to me, text it to me, email me, leave a comment on my blog. Whatever is easiest for you.

My theme for this year is Rejuvenate, with the two words Nurture and Kind. I wasn’t going to choose a theme and words this year. Yet, this month I realized just how far the last half of 2019 took me to my knees. 2019’s theme was Meet My Edge, and, WOW 💥💥💥💥💥… Did that happen. I just kept barreling through, feeling when I had time, bypassing when I didn’t. For my own sanity and health, this must be the year of rejuvenating.

I am blessed and grateful for all of you and I deeply thank you in advance for all who choose to help me in my 1st act of kindness and nurturing towards myself. All my love … xoxo

Photo from last year’s birthday. The one that blew in with 60 mile an hour winds, knocking power out for about 3 hours. Will see if the celebrations can be a bit milder this time around … HA!

Messages …

from Barbara Chastain … Oh! 50 is WONDERFUL, as are the years following. The saying that “life begins at 50” has been true in my experience. For my 50th, I invited EVERYONE I knew to come to my party, and I made a little scroll for each person, letting them know who they were for me. Enjoy this birthday month, Camilla, each and every moment is YOURS!🎉💖

from Rachel Flower … Happy 50!!! I remember when team TLC came up to Incline and we played in the pool. So fun just hanging out on a beautiful afternoon. I also remember our “Do it Different” adventure! So much love to you!

Thank you Rachel Janaallen Flower! Thank you for being the first one to share and thank you for the wonderful memories! I remember the time I came up there alone and you and I went to Hidden Beach and had the MOST RELAXING time!! Ahhhhh ….. I plan to do more of that this year. Plus, we are a bit closer now. Off of Mt Rose Hwy, just above the Summit Sierra Mall. Hope we can connect some time this year! Our feet, having a wonderful time in the Lake Tahoe sand. xoxo

from Kat Simmons …. eWomen in Reno. I will never forget that breakfast in that sunny atrium kind of restaurant at the end of the conference. There were some big goals and breakthroughs set. I also remember there were some tears around that table. It was a definable moment and you have always been in my heart since then. We share the same bday month, mime is on the 11th. Celebrate yourself all month long and everyday thereafter because you are just one amazing woman. I know I have pics but there are not on this laptop, if I can find them I will share.

This is the only one I can find with both of us in it. I know there’s one of just you and I, at least, I thought there was. I remember the breakfast that you and I shared together one morning before sessions began. We shared much with one another during that short breakfast. I remember the breakfast at the end of the conference too. Both were wonderful. Much love to you, Kat Simmons! ❤️

Camilla Downs It was a great time, lots of love, hope, tears and fears were shared. Did we even have iPhones back then, lol. Where are all my pics pre iCloud, probably still on my other computer. Oh boy did we dance too. Big fun. – Kat

from Yvon Stokkink … Winds started taking you to your edge right from the start, huh? Hope this one starts with some rejuvenating sunshine.

Me too, Yvon Stokkink!!! This is the year of Me and My Kids … taking it back to Team TLC .. We are all in need of rejuvenation … 2021 will be our year to rise from the rest. For now …. slow and easy, slow and easy … Much love to YOU! xoxo

My favorite memory was meeting you in person and hugging you. I loved giving you a real life hug, eating a delicious lunch together with Lilian and Thomas, swimming in the pool. Such a beautiful day. – Yvon

This was the absolute best, Yvon Stokkink!!! Still hoping one day soon we’ll come visit your country and we can share real life hugs again!! We are now using the tin; which contained those amazing goodies, to store Thomas and Lillian’s suckers!! Hope you have an amazing time viewing the Northern Lights!!! xoxo

And then the actual hug…

Digital card Lillian made for me …

Click the below link to see the card in action:

https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/371444498?fbclid=IwAR1WDDuSVk0yLL_BCsDZLZZy2WVPKJpTyfeay6Z6MT3F-qfi7E55lD1Myl4

Thomas and Camilla March 2020 Date Day

March 13 2020

Thomas and Camilla March 2020 Date Day

First stop: A car picnic with a sandwich for me from Ike’s and ice cream, and a sandwich for Thomas from Icecycle Creamery. Then to Audrey Harris Park for our car picnic, with an amazing view.

Second stop: A walk around the loop to Bartley Ranch, and back up to Audrey Harris Park. Check out all the photos of that amazing cloud. I couldn’t stop taking pictures of it. 💙💙💙

First stop: A car picnic with a sandwich for me from Ike’s and ice cream, and a sandwich for Thomas from Icecycle Creamery. Then to Audrey Harris Park for our car picnic, with an amazing view.