Sunday Post: Favorite Spot – Wherever Loved Ones Are!

Posted on September 30, 2012 by viviankirkfield

Jake at Time after Time has a Sunday Post Challenge and every week he provides a theme…this week’s theme is FAVORITE SPOT.

Horseback riding in the western hills above Steamboat Springs, CO.

FAVORITE SPOT: WITH MY HUSBAND!

Fishing in Rocky Mountain National Park

Great cast into the Big Thompson River in RMNP.

A perfect autumn day in New England.

FAVORITE SPOT: WITH MY GRANDCHILDREN!

Reading with kids at Tollhouse Preschool in New Hampshire.

FAVORITE SPOT: SCHOOL VISITS!

Cooking with kids builds self-esteem, develops literacy skills and is just plain fun!

FAVORITE SPOT: IN THE KITCHEN!

FAVORITE SPOT I HAVEN’T BEEN TO YET: ITALY

I’d love to have the opportunity to travel…I’ve driven across the country twice and next spring I may have the unbelievable opportunity to speak at the Asian Festival of Children’s Content in Singapore.

However, sipping wine and feasting on homemade bread and cheese al fresco under the Tuscan sun is a dream of mine.

A writer friend of mine has organized an amazing retreat for women writers in Florence, Italy. It will take place from April 7-13, 2013. I cannot attend (this time), but you might like to go. Julie has an overview of the retreat on her website, plus specific information about the Program, Faculty, Accommodation and Rates. If you do register, please let Julie know I sent you!

Speaking about Julie…today is the last day of September…time to check in with the 12×12 in 2012 Challenge. In January, children’s author Julie Hedlund issued a challenge: write one picture book draft every month in 2012. Over 400 writers answered that challenge!

The challenge has definitely inspired me to write a picture book draft each month…and I’ve enjoyed connecting with dozens of members of this amazing kidlit community. My September draft is done…I’m hoping that in the next few months, I will prepare several manuscripts for submission!

This is the last day for nominations to give a dozen free copies of Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cookingto schools or other childcare facilities. Nominate your child’s school, or your own school if you are a teacher, in the Show Me How School Initiative by leaving a comment and telling us why you’d like that school or classroom to have this book. If you don’t have young children, but know people who do, please tell them about the free book their child’s school can receive! On Friday, we will use Random.org to choose 12 lucky schools.

You can purchase a copy of this award-winning resource on Amazon (only $19.95) and on Amazon Kindle (only $9.95). This award-winning book is a great gift for parents, grandparents, teachers, daycare providers and every young child (ages 2-8) that you know! Get started on your holiday shopping…no batteries required…powered by a child’s imagination and a parent’s positive participation! Check out this wonderful review from a kid’s point of view.

Want more information about Jake’s Sunday Post?

http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/

SUNDAY POST : Favorite Spot – RoadTrip (rfljenksy.wordpress.com)
SUNDAY POST : Favorite Spot (jakesprinters.wordpress.com)

37 thoughts on “Sunday Post: Favorite Spot – Wherever Loved Ones Are!”

patientdreamer on September 30, 2012 at 5:17 am said:

Wow! Great post…. You own horses? Ohhh I always wished I owned a horse when I was a teen… badly! ..LOL. Beautiful pics Vivian with your grand kids and what a beautiful place New England is. Cool you got your Sept ms done and great shout out for Julie’s Retreat!

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- viviankirkfield on September 30, 2012 at 11:28 pm said:
  
  Thanks so much, Diane! I wish I did own horses…my earliest poem (which I still have), written at age 8 I think, is all about horses…and I used to draw them (not very well) all the time. That picture is from a very unique vacation my husband and I went on about 10 years ago. I think it should be the subject of a post..all by itself…we drove to Steamboat Springs (about 5 hours from us) and met a couple who do horseback riding/flyfishing trips. In some ways it was one of the best experiences I ever had…and in others…the worst. 🙂 🙂 Just a hint: the ‘bathroom’ was a box with a hole in it by a tree down the forest path…our tent was filthy…and there were several mosquitos that dive-bombed us all through the night.
  
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jakesprinter on September 30, 2012 at 6:42 am said:

Beautiful place to remember , Great post Vivian for this week theme 🙂

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- viviankirkfield on September 30, 2012 at 11:28 pm said:
  
  Thanks, Jake…it was too hard to think of just one favorite spot. 🙂
  
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Naomi Baltuck on September 30, 2012 at 8:38 am said:

Great post. Some really sweet pictures!

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- viviankirkfield on September 30, 2012 at 11:29 pm said:
  
  Thanks, Naomi…I need to go and visit the other Sunday Posts. 🙂
  
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cyclingrandma on September 30, 2012 at 11:19 am said:

Wonderful photos- love that you ride horses! School visits are great. I’m trying to get more of them for my book.

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- viviankirkfield on September 30, 2012 at 11:33 pm said:
  
  Well, I don’t know if I could call what I do, “riding horses”…I did ride on the horse…and didn’t fall off…so I guess that qualifies. 🙂 And Lisa, I haven’t forgotten my promise to give you a shout-out for your book…why don’t you send me a little bit about yourself and how you came to write the book…it is fine if it is from a previous post of yours…and any links you’d like me to list…and a jpeg of the cover. You can send it to my other email: peacemakr001@q.com
  
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Colline on September 30, 2012 at 12:01 pm said:

Difficult to choose just one spot, isn’t it? 🙂

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- viviankirkfield on September 30, 2012 at 11:34 pm said:
  
  You are 100% correct, Colline! But honestly, for me, anywhere I am with people I love is a favorite spot. 🙂
  
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Tracy Campbell on September 30, 2012 at 1:58 pm said:

My favorite photo is the horse back one. 🙂

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- viviankirkfield on September 30, 2012 at 11:35 pm said:
  
  Thanks, Tracy! That definitely was a special day…I’m going to do a post about it…I think you will be rolling on the floor. 🙂
  
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  - Tracy Campbell on October 1, 2012 at 1:17 am said:
    
    I like rolling around on the floor. (a) it means I’m laughing, and (b) the floor gets cleaned. 🙂 Looking forward to reading it.
    
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    - viviankirkfield on October 1, 2012 at 5:54 am said:
      
      Thanks, Tracy…I’ll search for the photos we took and attempt to scan them and post them also. 🙂
      
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thiskidreviewsbooks on September 30, 2012 at 2:21 pm said:

Great pictures Ms. Kirkfield! 🙂

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- viviankirkfield on September 30, 2012 at 11:35 pm said:
  
  I’m glad you liked them, Erik! Each one represents a very special time for me. 🙂
  
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Susanna Leonard Hill on September 30, 2012 at 3:09 pm said:

All beautiful spots! 🙂

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- viviankirkfield on September 30, 2012 at 11:47 pm said:
  
  Home is where the heart is, right Susanna? Thanks for stopping by,,,I honestly don’t know how you find the time. 🙂 But I do appreciate it!
  
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nrhatch on September 30, 2012 at 5:50 pm said:

Good thoughts, Vivian! Hope that Singapore becomes a reality for you. That would be exciting.

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- viviankirkfield on September 30, 2012 at 11:52 pm said:
  
  Thank you, Nancy…that would be, wouldn’t it. 🙂 It would be an amazing opportunity to see a part of the world I never thought I would.
  
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Jo Bryant on September 30, 2012 at 11:54 pm said:

these are great images Vivian and a great post…what exciting times you’ve had

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- viviankirkfield on September 30, 2012 at 11:58 pm said:
  
  Hi Jo, I guess there has to be some reward for getting older. 🙂 🙂 You tend to accumulate lots of experiences…I’m fortunate that most of mine have been wonderfully positive. 🙂 Glad you liked the photos…they are among my favorites!
  
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Renee LaTulippe (@ReneeMLaTulippe) on October 1, 2012 at 8:12 am said:

I love all those photos! That horseback riding one looks like a moment of heaven, despite the dive-bombing mosquitoes.

You MUST come to Italy one day! Anyone who loves art and history and beauty will be on cloud nine. And let me know when you do!

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- viviankirkfield on October 1, 2012 at 11:17 pm said:
  
  Glad you liked the horseback-riding photo…it was a joyous moment to be sure…but I can’t wait to do the post that ‘reveals’ why we left after only 1 night there…and we had paid for the entire weekend and didn’t get a refund. 😦 Regarding Italy…my son and daughter-in-law have been there several times and they adore it (she is from Europe) and they want to take me…it is definitely a trip that will happen…we were planning on next year…but now I’m not sure. But I will surely let you know, Renee…where are you in Italy? You might not want to tell me…you might get a knock on your door one day and it will be me, standing on your doorstep…spouting rhyming picture books! 🙂
  
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Jennifer Lee Young (@ItsJennyYoung) on October 1, 2012 at 12:55 pm said:

What beautiful photos Vivian. Thank you for sharing this post with us.

Also, I wanted to respond to your comment about Mira’s critique services you left on my blog. She is fantastic. I would definitely recommend her. Good luck!

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- viviankirkfield on October 1, 2012 at 11:19 pm said:
  
  Thank you, Jennifer! It’s so important to have recommendations from people who are pleased…and it sounds like Mira was so very helpful to you. 🙂 Glad you stopped by and enjoyed the photos!
  
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Perfecting Motherhood on October 5, 2012 at 12:52 am said:

Tolstoy had the three most important questions and we read about them recently in a children’s book (http://perfectingmotherhood.wordpress.com/2012/10/04/www-wednesdays-october-3-2012-2/). The questions are:
– When is the best time to do things?
– Who is the most important?
– What is the right thing to do?

The answers are:
– Now
– The one you’re with now
– Help the one you’re with now

Life is very simple but too many of us make it a lot more complicated than it has to be!

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- viviankirkfield on October 5, 2012 at 6:03 am said:
  
  Thank you, Milka! I love that. 🙂
  
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- viviankirkfield on October 6, 2012 at 3:36 am said:
  
  Those are wonderful, Milka…and I will have to revisit that post. Thank you so much for always leaving such insightful comments. 🙂
  
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  - Perfecting Motherhood on October 6, 2012 at 5:33 am said:
    
    You can put this children’s book on your to read list! The watercolor illustrations are beautiful, and so is the story.
    
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eof737 on October 11, 2012 at 3:16 am said:

Fishing always sounds like fun… what’s the downside to it? 😉

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- viviankirkfield on October 11, 2012 at 3:22 am said:
  
  Hmmm…getting up early. 🙂 Long drive (tiring and gas is expensive). 🙂 Other than that…the surroundings are pastoral and the activity is fun and challenging…doesn’t matter if you catch fish or not. 🙂
  
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  - eof737 on October 11, 2012 at 3:33 am said:
    
    😆 Good for you… How about getting wet in the water or slapped by a fish? A friend said that once.
    
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