NEW FEATURE: The Monthly Harvest - April 2025
A month-end roundup of what I've created, read, and experienced this month
On the last Tuesday of each month, you can expect my new feature "The Monthly Harvest” on The Writer’s Garden. In this monthly roundup, I’ll share things I’ve done and experienced. I hope to provide a medley of functional, fun, and fanciful things for you in this new regular feature.
Backyard News
My spring break from teaching is usually the week before my husband and son’s, so I traveled to Florida by myself for a few days to see my parents. They became snowbirds about a decade ago, and I hadn’t seen them since January.
What a perfect little getaway! I went fishing with my dad, spent a gorgeous afternoon on the beach, collected seashells, painted/sketched, and enjoyed a few days of quiet away from the bustle of home and work.
When I got home, a new family member awaited me. My college-aged daughter adopted a 1-year-old cat she named Inky. For over a decade, she’s been begging for a kitty. The time seemed right, so we agreed. Inky is adorable and a perfect addition to our family.
On Good Friday, we went to Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA to see the Spring Blooms display, which consists of over 200,000 flowering bulbs. What a riot of color and fragrance! We also enjoyed the billowing beauty of their cherry trees and other spring-blooming plants.
NOTE: This post contains Bookshop.org affiliate links to books and authors referenced. Sales benefit local bookshops and pay The Writer’s Garden a small commission.
Media Greenhouse
Most of the time, I have 2-3 books going at once. One nonfiction, one physical book, and one e-book. It’s a system I’ve had for years, much to my husband’s bewilderment. 😂
I’m currently reading a physical copy of Run, Rose Run by Dolly Parton and James Patterson, which I received for Christmas. Dolly is not only a national treasure, but one of my favorite musicians. ❤️ I’ve never read Patterson before, so this is something new for me. It’s a fun romp of a read thus far, with a plucky protagonist looking for a new life in Nashville.
On my trip to Florida, I got pretty deep into an e-book copy of The Agatha Christie Collection, which I am thoroughly enjoying. Christie’s constant guessing game about whodunit is good fun. The quirky Hercule Poirot is truly a lovable, clever character.
I’ve been watching new episodes of Marie Antoinette and Call the Midwife on PBS. As a supporting member, I stream them whenever I have time to watch. Period pieces are my jam, just as I love reading historical fiction. These two series keep me coming back for more.
As for podcasts, I found two new ones this month. Both are from fellow Substackers, which is one more reason to love this platform. Janelle King’s The Life Designer podcast episode “The Importance of Knowing Your Season” blessed me this month. King describes our lives as flowing in a pattern of seasons, just as the Lord has created four seasons for various purposes.
King’s authenticity and heart for discerning God’s cues to us about the seasons of life provided exactly the message I needed this month. Standout quotes from this episode:
“Your calling has its own timeline.” -Janelle King
“Honor your season without apology.” -Janelle King
The other podcast episode that felt right on time this month was from Will Parker Anderson’s The Writer’s Circle. On the episode “Kathleen Kerr: The Platform Period,” Anderson’s guest talks about intentional, practical ways to build a platform through a Christian lens. It’s a perfect episode for those who feel overwhelmed by the prospect of developing a platform and gaining an audience from a Christian standpoint. Standout quote from this episode:
“We're all investing in our craft, but it does mean you have to be rigorously you.
And you have to say things other people can't.” -Kathleen Kerr
Cultivated Creations
While in Florida, I purchased an inexpensive sketchbook and pencils because I’ve never really sketched other than doodling as a kid (and in faculty meetings as an adult). I also painted a couple of small pictures and taught my mom some basic watercolor techniques. Still a newbie to watercolor myself, it was fun to continue learning and trying new things.
I also used felt-tip pens to jazz up some of the seashells I found on Federick Douglass Beach. A little crafty fun on my trip made for a nice way to spend lazy mornings and quiet afternoons.
In writing news, I posted regularly on Substack in April and am working on getting an extended editorial calendar planned for the summer. Then I can turn my attention to developing a writing habit for finishing my historical novel set in the Shenandoah mountains. I’m hoping to make some headway on that before my writers’ conference in June.
In sharing these monthly updates, I hope to encourage and inspire you as well as give you a little window into my life. Your readership means a lot to me, and I am truly grateful to have you as part of The Writer’s Garden community.
Have a wonderful May, and thank you so much for sharing some of your digital time and space with me.
Top Post of the Month:
Encouragement for the Weary from Literary Greats
Life can be hard. The weight of worry and burden of weariness wear us down in ways that feel suffocating sometimes. Exhaustion at the state of the world or worries about family or finances can seep into our bones. Our creative lives also have seasons of weariness and lack of inspiration.
Community Garden:
Join in the conversation by leaving a comment. Let’s get to know one another better as we continue on the writer’s journey.
What did you do, read/watch/listen to, and create this month?
What are your hopes and goals for the coming month?
I do the same thing with books - read them on kindle and in hand and - often - several at once. Love reading, but love SO MANY BOOKS. God bless you