IWSG and What's Up Wednesday

  It doesn't feel like September to me. I should be able to go outside without my glasses steaming over in September and I shouldn't have to wait until it's almost dark to be outside with only a moderate amount of sweat, or so says the part of of me that is clinging to my northern roots. Despite the steamy weather, I still love this month. I love the beginning of school and all the books that come with it. What I don't love is my lack of balance. It is my main insecurity right now. I can homeschool my children and fill their lives with books and educational opportunities but I struggle to find a rhythm that fits in writing and all the other things I need or want to do. I know that it is a common struggle and the one I blog about the most.
  I keep thinking of my favorite poem by Vera Pavlova:

                                                               "I walk the tightrope.

                                                                A kid on each arm 

                                                                for balance. "

Except I have one on each arm and one that's a wild card, hopping from my feet to my head and back again, causing me to teeter feebly every few steps. He's three if that's an indicator of his busyness...

  What is amazing is that even without a proper rhythm or the consistency I want, I am still making progress in my writing, and I'm doing it while keeping my little ones first. I can't really complain about that. 

And now it's time for What's Up Wednesday! I've missed the last several weeks and can't wait to catch up with everyone.

What I'm Reading

  I read several books in the last week and a half or so. Usually I like the majority of what I read but lately I've ran into a few books that I really didn't enjoy for various reasons. I did find some winners though. I raced through Second Daughter by Susan Kaye Quinn. It's the second book in her bollywood/steampunk trilogy and it didn't disappoint. Not at all. I can't wait for book three! I also read Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo (love!) and sitting on my shelf (calling my name) is Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas. I can not wait until tonight when I have time to read it!!!

What I'm Writing

 I am reading through my fairytale novel that I finished in June. I see plenty of room for improvement but I am still loving this story and it is much more structurally sound than my previous novel's first draft. 

What Inspires Me Right Now

This!

I can't wait to see my first draft into a final one :)

What Else I've Been Up To

 I decided to walk more this fall. A lot more. My goal is to walk 100 miles before December. We'll see how that goes, but it's motivating me so far. Not even the black bear I ran into is going to detour me (Or so I hope. If I see him again and he smacks his lips at me that could be a different story).

  Homeschooling and  co-directing a homeschool group story hour has been keeping me, shall we say, not bored. I've been attempting to learn to knit whenever I have a moment that isn't filled with kids or books. So far I have a modern take of the Doctor Who scarf.