Hey there, You Will Find Me Bigger (great username, btw), and welcome both to NarniaWeb and specifically to the Town Square. It's good to have you here.

So, you're into spring already, wow. Ahhh, mockingbirds are beautiful!

We could be getting a bunch of wet, heavy snow tomorrow night, so they say, and then the temperatures turn colder again on Sunday. Back-and-forth; up-and-down—'tis March in Ontario, Canada. I wonder how the maple syrup farms are doing ...

Hey there, You Will Find Me Bigger (great username, btw), and welcome both to NarniaWeb and specifically to the Town Square. It's good to have you here.

Ditto!!

I wonder how the maple syrup farms are doing ...

I love real maple syrup. Not the high-fructose corn syrup stuff flavored like maple syrup Have some in my cupboard as a rare treat, and I don't mind at all sharing .

Thanks for stopping by, Mr. Lincoln. Such a wonderful post.

What is this spring people are talking about? It snowed a bit more today, adding to the piles that must melt before things can turn green. Still, the days are lengthening and gradually warming, a sign of things to come. It's even clear outside (rather unusual this month) and I have a view of the fading twilight promising a starlit sky tonight.

Hello, Town Square. I see birds and clementines and hear crickets and talk of snow. Business as usual I see!

The weather is warmer here, but still not ready for evenings by an open window. We had two of those visit last week, but they went away only to be followed by a dour northerner. He melted beneath the gaze of an afternoon smile the next day and then started complaining about it with all manner of lightning and tricks.

Busybody.

The lamppost in our woods is glowing good night. What does it know? It's fairly young. For a lamppost. I am sleepy but not ready for bed, though I can't say why.

Thanks for the welcomes.

I *should* love real maple syrup, but I have to confess that I was raised on the high fructose corn stuff and that is the taste I think of when I hear "maple syrup." I know, how terribly uncultured of me.

I'm spending my evening by an open window. But then, it tends to stay open even when it's pretty chilly outside and my heater is on. I have a tremendous appreciation for fresh air and a strong dislike of stuffiness. Anyway, for now, the temperature is quite pleasant!

Hey there, You Will Find Me Bigger (great username, btw), and welcome both to NarniaWeb and specifically to the Town Square. It's good to have you here.

Ditto that, You Will Find Me Bigger! Oooh, I'm a little jealous of your weather. As much as I love winter, I'm quite ready for spring now since the snow's already melting--but I live in Minnesota, so winter leaves us slowly.

I *should* love real maple syrup, but I have to confess that I was raised on the high fructose corn stuff and that is the taste I think of when I hear "maple syrup." I know, how terribly uncultured of me.

Hmm, perhaps I should try real maple syrup sometime. I think I've only had the "fake" kind, and I've never really liked it (sorry, Jo! ). Maybe I'd like the real thing better.

...Great, now I'm in a mood for pancakes.

Oooh, and I see some old friends have graced the Town Square as well! Abe, thanks so much for your delightful concert. We have missed your playing! And CYMRU! It's been faaar too long since I've seen you here!

*Ryadian sits on a bench around the Fountain, laptop in... lap, listening to the melodious cricket's masterpiece, as she continues working out some of the bugs in her story's plot. She knows she has to work quickly, as her 16 month-old nephew may wake up at any time and summon her attention away. *

Hi Ryadian. What's your story about?

I should take up creative writing again...

Honestly, that's kind of a good question--I keep changing my mind. (I've been working on this story on-and-off since I was 13, so it's gone through quite a few changes!) Basically, it's a about a boy named Thomas who's father (a sailor) is lost at sea during a storm about a year before the story. However, at the beginning of the story, he finds out that his father may still be alive, and is being held captive, while the rest of his family is being targeted for unknown reasons. It's a fantasy story, but it's set in a time after gunpowder was invented (basically Revolutionary War-era technology), so that makes it a lot of fun for me.

What kind of creative writing do you do/used to do? I basically just write stories (I'm no poet or anything like that! ), and mostly fantasy/sci-fi ones at that.

A belated welcome, You Will Find Me Bigger (nice screen name!). Should you decide to take up creative writing again, you'll find yourself in good company here, with a number of NarniaWebbers actively participating in things like NaNoWriMo and Camp NaNoWriMo (look for the appropriate threads over in the Spare Oom). And there are also ongoing threads devoted to writing and poetry.

Hey, Cymru! Glad you stopped by. I loved the imagery of your post.

I like fantasy. It's so much more flexible than sticking to boring reality. Ryadian, have you read the Temeraire books by Naomi Novik? I have a feeling you might like them...

I definitely don't have time or patience for NaNoWriMo, but maybe someday I will actually finish something novel-length.

Mortereve, all!

Popping in to tell the old Square that I haven't forgotten it, and, of course, to make my bimonthly visit to the chocolate tree. And because I see a new face!

Hello, You Will Find Me Bigger! (I really like your username.) It's good to have you on Narniaweb, and I'm glad that you found the Square. I am Aslanisthebest--you can call me AitB or Bella (not from Twilight.) I am a writer, too, and I agree that time/patience is a struggle with novel writing. I have not written anything of novel length, but it was one of my New Year's Resolutions to do so. What kind of fantasy do you like to write?

Well, school has been going pretty okay for me. I'm flip flopping with my major, but I've decided not to make any permanent changes at this point. The weather has finally stayed above freezing for some days, so that has done tremendous things to my productivity.

*walks by the chocolate tree and plucks a couple plummy chocolate-covered almonds off it*

I like fantasy. It's so much more flexible than sticking to boring reality. Ryadian, have you read the Temeraire books by Naomi Novik? I have a feeling you might like them...

Honestly, I'd never heard of them. I'll have to look it up, though; I'm always looking for suggestions for good fantasy books. *Adds to "books to read" list* And I totally agree about fantasy. I've come to appreciate (more) realistic fiction as I've gotten older, but nothing beats a well-written story in a well-crafted fantasy world.

I've done a couple of NaNos, but I've never finished--honestly, I've only "finished" one story I ever wrote, and that one was both waaay too short intended to have sequels. It doesn't help that I'm not very patient, either, and I tend to jump from one story to another after only a couple day's worth of work at a time. I'm trying to get myself to write short stories on occasion, just so I can at least have some finished work to show people, but... well, that still requires focus.

Bella, it's amazing what the weather does to creativity, isn't it? As for school, here's a big and a ! (Have you had Spring Break yet?) Wrestling with your major is never fun, but hopefully you'll have it sorted out before your last year--unlike what I did.

*Cautiously glances over her shoulder, as a new story idea keeps trying to sneak up on her....*

What's your major, Bella?

I do a lot of business writing as part of my job, and somehow the last thing I want to do when I get home is write stories. I'd rather read or watch TV. But there are always stories going on in my head. Maybe one of these days I'll get some of them written down.

Out of curiosity, what is Camp NaNoWriMo, and how is it different from regular NaNo in November?

Out of curiosity, what is Camp NaNoWriMo, and how is it different from regular NaNo in November?

"Camp NaNo" is basically just NaNo at a different time of year--I've heard of it happening in April and in July. I think the expected word count is also lower, but I'm not sure about that.

I understand about not wanting to write much after getting home from writing all day. I had a similar experience when I took a creative writing class in school--though, my schedule at the time certainly didn't help!

Well, I'm certainly going to feel like an adult this week. My mom's out of town, so I'm doing pretty much all the cooking until she comes home on Friday. Besides that, I did most of my taxes today (I have something I still need to run by my dad)--I'm glad I finally got around to doing it before April 15th, but still. I'm sooo glad this is only once a year....

*Is tempted to run outside and enjoy the warmer temperatures--it's still hovering in the 30's, but for a Minnesotan, this feels amazing *

Earlier I mentioned maple syrup farms, but I, personally, do not like maple syrup. Strange, given my propensity for sweet things. My family, however, as well as my parents, love the stuff, although my kids tend to enjoy the fake syrup more, while hubby and my parents could dive into the real stuff.

Btw, cep, love your signature!!!

What is this spring people are talking about?

No kidding. The past week has been very chilly here, with yesterday morning being -25C with the wind chill (-13F). Today, however, is a balmy 41°F!

*waves a cheery hello to Cymru* A young lamppost, eh? How long ago did you plant 'im?

I have a tremendous appreciation for fresh air and a strong dislike of stuffiness.

Ditto! Fresh air is maaahhhhvelous. And the scent, mmmm!

Say, You Will Find Me Bigger, I have been trying to think of a nickname for you—maybe a shorter version of your username, unless you would not prefer we do that, which we will honour with all respect. Any ideas? "You" sounds far too impertinent ; "Will", "Find", and "Me" don't seem to carry that much oomph; and "Bigger" just sounds kinda funny. *think, think, think*

...Great, now I'm in a mood for pancakes.

Hear-hear! *tummy growls*

Sounds like you're having so much fun with your nephew, Rya! Oooh, your 'Thomas' story sounds really interesting.

Ryadian, have you read the Temeraire books by Naomi Novik?

*jumps up and waves hand* I have! Began them in the fall. I have finished Book 5 (Victory of Eagles) in between other reading. Verrrry interesting, they are! Novik certainly keeps one turning the pages, for the most part. Methinks they would make great films. Did I read somewhere that Peter Jackson is trying to get the rights? Rya, I heartily recommend the Temeraire books as well. I would classify them as 'historical fantasy' as they take place in the Napoleonic era, but with quite a fascinating addition to the wars.

Bella, dear Bella! Chocolate-covered almonds? When did our Square Chocolate Tree begin growing those? I adore chocolate, but those have to be amongst my very favourite. Thinking of you as you contemplate your major over time: 'tis a huge decision.

I do a lot of business writing as part of my job

Interesting! What was your major, if I may ask?

My mom's out of town

When the cat's away, the mice will play? Seriously, though, how's it going? And that's great about your taxes!

it's still hovering in the 30's, but for a Minnesotan, this feels amazing *

Yeppers, especially when much of this winter was well below 32F.

*settles back in a huge armchair by a roaring fire, gathers everyone around her and pulls out a book to take turns reading aloud*