Busybody Takes a Break

By Eilene Lyon

Since my second book launched last fall, I have been working less at writing and more at re-engaging with my home, my other interests, and community. It has involved a fair amount of volunteer time lately, so my blogging has been minimal. Now it’s time for a full break from it all. Vacation!

One position I volunteered for was Treasurer for Women Writing the West, the writers group I joined in 2021. Thanks to them, I found a publisher and a writing critique group. I decided it was time to give back. It isn’t particularly time-consuming, but there are financial reports to review and board meetings to attend. In addition, I’ve committed to doing a presentation for the fall conference this year.

My second volunteer position is coordinator for the Durango Bird Club’s Spring Bird Count, which was held on May 24. I was not told in advance that this volunteer position also serves on the board! I’m currently finalizing the results for this year’s count. Starting in late June, I’ll resume my annual volunteering for the MAPS bird-banding project.

Though not an official position, I also volunteered to lead two plant walks for the Southwest chapter of the Colorado Native Plant Society. The first one took place this past Saturday (May 31). I spent many weeks preparing for this by searching for interesting plants and compiling a list. I also prepared some opening remarks about the history of the habitat and an overlooked plant family—the grasses!

At home, I’ve been reading more books—I’ll actually exceed my goal for this year, which is the same as the one I didn’t meet last year (48 books). Many of the selections are for the two monthly book clubs I belong to, but I find time for my own selections, too. (You can find my book reviews on my author blog.)

I’ve also set up my art table and resumed my playing around with visual arts, primarily watercolor and colored pencil. I even did a little “creative” sewing.

In addition to my vegetable and flower gardening tasks at home, I’ve also become a “community garden test case” working with a neighbor in her quarter-acre gardening space in exchange for the opportunity to grow vegetables and flowers I don’t have room for on our property.

Native scarlet globemallow in our yard

A mix of flowers in the yard.

The columbines going wild.

This morning we’ll be heading out on a road trip that will take us as far north as Banff, Alberta. Our older dog, Sterling, will stay with friends, and Hunter will travel with us. We have a camp site for the first night, but the remainder of the trip is only loosely planned for now.

I may pop in to visit the blogs I follow from time to time, but don’t be surprised if you don’t hear from me much until July.

Have a wonderful start to your summer!