Sometimes, in the midst of our get er done busy-ness our creativity can get shoved aside. Or, worse, instead of really letting go and allowing our imaginations run wild-and sometimes a muck-we don’t push our ideas far enough. We settle for our first idea. First isn’t necessarily best.  Have you ever wondered what the last gal to cross the finish line was doing all that time? What the outfielder picking at the laces on his glove is thinking? I know Curtis was wondering where I’d gone with his coffee cup…

I was thinking about the list of to dos on my lengthy get er done list when I took one of those turns. I always have a few projects around that need doing. Some, like filing papers, are waiting because I am avoiding them. Others, like the drawer of candle nubs and cluster of broken geegaws in need of gluing, are just waiting for the right day.

Candle nubs and sealing wax and other nasty stuff...

I was filling our coffee cups in preparation for the start of a truly productive get er done day when one of those “projects” sprang to mind. The egg cups glistening in the morning sun were just so empty.

Sometime after Easter, I’d wandered into a shop selling left-over candle eggs, you know the ones that look like Easter eggs and are adorable, but you always wonder what the heck you’ll do with them because they are small and wobbly and not really good for lighting. Well, these were different. They were egg colored with white shell on the outside and looked real. The shopkeeper had placed them in egg cups and lit them. Perhaps because of the way they had burned down, the top edge was jagged, the way real eggs are when you carefully crack open just the tops to make cascarones, confetti eggs. Which got me thinking: Say, I have a few egg cups hanging around…

So, I began collecting egg shells. Instead of cracking them in half and pouring out the middle, you gently tap the top to crack it, pick off the shell bits until you have a hole big enough to stick a toothpick in, stab the yolk, and gingerly shake out the egg and white. Wash the shell and set it out to dry. The trouble is, you can only do this on eggs which you don’t mind scrambling. And you have to use eggs. And you have to store these fragile shells somewhere safe. And don’t forget you are saving them, and which bowl you’re saving them in, or you might accidentally put another bowl inside that bowl and crunch….

Pretty little egg shells all lined up and waiting for wax!

Yes, it has taken me longer that expected to collect enough egg shells to make it worth my while to drag out those candle nubs. But here’s the thing, a friend, Jeff, happened to leave a Real Simple magazine at my house recently, and I happened to flip through it, and in the column on reusing stuff was a seedling planted in an egg shell. The blurb said when the seedlings were ready for planting in larger pots, or the garden, you could simply plant the egg shell incubator in the soil. The shell will soften, the plants roots will break through the shell, and the shell will nourish the soil.

After reading this, I was torn. The egg shell seedling in the picture was soooo cute. In my mind’s eye I saw them sprouting in my egg cups on my sunny window sill. Still, those candle nubs, even if they did smell good, were ugly ugly ugly.

Sticking down the wick in the hardest part. Getting it to stay upright is the other hard part. I tie the wick to a skewer which keeps it upright and centered. 1st step, pour a little wax into the bottom of the shells, let it harden slightly and then, using the blunt end of a skewer, push the end of the wick into the soft wax (not too hard or the shell will crack). Let the wax harden all the way before pouring in more wax. And don’t fill the egg shells all at once or the hot wax will loosen the wick. Fill the shells in layers, letting each harden before adding more.

I poured the extra melted wax into a wine glass--it gives a lovely light!

And guess what we’re eating for dinner? Scramble by egg cup light. (I have to get started collecting shells for future seedlings.)

What else can I make with egg shells? Any ideas? This isn’t procrastinating, it’s creating! Come on you left fielders…

Here's my eggshell candle, too cute!

You know how sometimes, suddenly, on the bleakest day…or week….or month, the sun break through?

Writing-wise, I’ve been having one of those months. Now, when it should be spring and my writer’s heart should be abuzz with springish ideas: birds, flowers, brand new picture books… it’s still dark, dreary winter. It’s been a long long long winter of  writerly discontent. And I was sick and tired of it–

Then came the sun!

That warm, bright golden ray of sunshine came in the form of a note from Robyn Conley, Book Doctor,  writer, friend, savant.

Dr. Robyn makes house calls, too!

I might have mentioned (in a whinny, sniveling sentence or two) that I was being a writing slug. And, Dr. Robyn came through with exactly the prescription I needed.

“Have you ever heard Jodi Thomas’ talk about the seasons for writers?  When we’re in the ‘winters,’ she says, we’re to read more of what we love and fall into infatuation with words and phrasings again.  Before long our desire to pen prose just as wonderful is irresistible and we’re dancing in the spring time of tappeting, tappeting, tappeting across the keyboard.”

And then, she tossed in the title of an ” inspirational/prompt-filled writing book…. It’s been out since 1999, but is available on Amazon.  Room to Write by Bonni Goldberg.”

That’s all I’m sharing–cause I’ve got a reading prescription to fill–besides if you want the Book Doctor’s help curing what’s ailing you, give her a call!

SHINE ON!

Yesterdays “word of mouth” is today’s keystrokes in the form of blogs, e-zines, tweets. Thanks largly to my publicist, Rebecca Grose of SoCal Public Relations, my picture books are getting grand mentions. I’m chuffed (as my South African friend, Shona, says) and want to share and send huge thanks!

To Diana Chen, School Library Journal Blogger “Practically Paradise“, for this May 8 posting featuring Your Mommy. Despite our “lovies” vs. “kisses and hugs” debate, prompted by the line ““I’d bandage her scrapes and give her extra lovies,” I’m a huge fan.

And YEEHAW for chatting up Dance, Y’all, Dance!

Dance On, Y'all!

And, to  radio talk-show host Shannon Devereaux Sanford, for making an interview with her so casual and fun, and for this:

May 6th, 2011

…Also, it is Mother’s Day and do I have the book for you to read to your kids or grandkids. Kelly Bennett has written a new book, her 17th children’s book, called Your Mommy Was Just Like You (G.P.  Putnam’s Sons).

Sending "lovies"!

It is a wonderful book to read to kids and share your life when you were young with them. Beautifully illustrated the kids will enjoy the pictures as you read the words and go on this fun journey together. I love Kelly’s books – they are always perfect! You will agree with me when you go to www.kellybennett.com to get the book and don’t forget to listen to her talk about it on Saturday at 12:45. You will be glad you did so you can Make Good Choices for Mother’s Day and every day ~

Posted by Shannon Devereaux Sanford |

Listen to Shannon’s Corner on WTBQ 1110 am & 93.5 FM and online at www.wtbq.com