Writing in the Mountains

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 4 Comments

Does your location help you write?

I’ve recently moved from living on the ocean to living in the mountains. I’ve gone from warmth all year round, to 0 degrees Celsius in September.

The crisp air, the endless hiking, the deer – luckily no other wildlife – the scenery all make me feel uplifted.

Mountains

Inspiring? Yup, I think so. I’ve spend many hours writing in the last few days, many of those spent on my back porch listing to the forest tell me its secrets. Maybe those secrets will make their way into my novels. I’ll  let you know.

 

Thanks for reading . . .

Farley’s Friday: A Working Wheaten

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 9 Comments

Farley here,

If you’ve been reading, my life as a dog has changed recently. I’m a mountain dog. I used to be a boat dog. Mountains dogs are touch, rugged creatures who protect their humans from all kinds of dangers. Yup, that’s me. Tough guy. The only drawback . . . I get put to work.

September has arrived along with cold temperatures. I love the cold. On the boat, I was usually too hot. Now I hang out outside and enjoy the cool temps.

But just so you don’t get the wrong impression, I’m a working dog.

My human, Matt, collects wood – this is hard work involving axes and saws and other tools I’ve never seen before.

Then he chops the wood. I think he uses a splitter.

Chopping Wood

My job is also hard work. I get  the kindling ready.

Farley with Kindling

The next steps boggles my mind. Look what they do with the wood.

End result

These humans are crazy. It’s fab being cold and what do they do? They heat up the house, so I head outside and enjoy my deck.

Woof Woof.

Farley’s Friday:

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 4 Comments

Farley Here,

Hiking in the forests of the Purcell Mountain Range is pretty exciting. I’m doing my best to be a good off leash dog, but sometimes I get carried away and chase a squirrel. Kristina is all worried about me chasing a bear or a deer or a coyote. As if I would ever do that. We all know I’m not very brave.

I love cold water, and here I get to drink right out of a mountain stream. I’m not allowed near the big river. Apparently the current is too strong for me.

Farley in stream

But Chica, a yellow lab who used to live with my humans, got to go in the big river. I guess she was stronger than me.

Chica and stick

She would also bring sticks back to my humans when they threw one for her. Me, not so much. I like to watch the sticks float away.

I think I’m going to love living in the mountains.

Woof Woof

Farley’s Friday: Ontario to BC

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 8 Comments

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Farley here,

Whew . . . It’s been a long doggy week.

We drove from Ontario to British Columbia. My humans had no room in the car for my crate so I had to sleep in the closet.

Just to be clear, they didn’t make me, but I like to hide my head when I’m sleeping and the only thing I could find was this ironing board.

Really, the things I put up with.

Woof woof.

The Meet My Character Blog Hop-Nick Moore

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 2 Comments

I couldn’t help reblogging Kirsten’s blog. Thanks for the great mention and link to my books at the bottom. One small correction, Descent was nominated for the Crime Writer’s of Canada Unhanged Arthur and Burnt was nominated for the UK’s Crime Writer’s Association Debut Dagger. I would love to have won, but am extremely flattered to have been nominated. I’m looking forward to reading the future “Meet My Characters” blog hop.

Farley’s Friday: A Wheaten and His Pickerel

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 6 Comments

Farley here,

Can you believe I caught all these fish? Me either. But I did help. And a fishing guide helped to. He was amazing.

He knew all the rules, he knew where to find the fish,  he knew where everyone should drop their hook, and he how deep the lure should go.

So you’re wondering what I did to help. Well, I barked every time someone in the boat cast their rod. I barked when the fish came on board. I barked when the fish jumped out of the net and hit my nose. So basically, I barked.

Farley fishing

Oh, and the guide cleaned the fish too.

Too bad I don’t like the taste, but everyone else seemed to.

Woof Woof.

Writing While Traveling

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 8 Comments

Can you write while being a passenger in a car?

For me the answer is sometimes.  While driving along the north shore of Lake Superior, the scenery is spectacular and just a little distracting. The road twists and turns, and i lean from side to side as my husband smoothly takes the curves. I thought I’d get a lot of writing done when it wasn’t my turn to drive, but no so.

Then I thought, when we arrive and stay in a quiet bed and breakfast, I can write there. Ha Ha. Northern Ontario has too many places to explore. We arrived at each spot, got settled and headed out the door. Again, no writing for me.

But there was time to take a goofy selfie . . .  Lake Superior is in the background.

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Maybe  when we hit the prairies. Straight roads, endless wheat fields, blue skies. What could be better for getting some writing done?

A girl can dream, can’t she?

Thanks for reading . . .

Farley’s Friday: Canadian Dog

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 8 Comments

Farley Here,

I’m a land dog again. No more water for a while. I’m driving across Canada from Ontario to British Columbia.

Now that’s a lot of hours in the car, but I get a long walk in the morning before we hit the road.

Several stops during the day. Like here . . .

And then, there are B&Bs that take dogs. This one is great. They even had a dog of their own that I could play with.

Rossport BB

 

I think I’m going to like life on land. It seems to be one adventure after another.

Woof Woof.

P.S. Northern Ontario is beautiful.

Farley’s Friday: A Wheaten Goes for a Spin

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 6 Comments

Farley here,

Life just keeps getting better.

My human, Kristina, doesn’t usually let me stick my nose out of an open window in a car. I don’t know what she’s thinking. Maybe she’s forgotten the window is open. Maybe she thinks because we are in a small town, it’s safe for me. Who knows what goes on in a human mind? Besides the human, of course. Although somethings I think they don’t know  either.

Farley Driving

Now for you dogs who’ve never put your head out the window, it’s amazing.

We drive by a guy driving his car and eating a hamburger. Yummy smells.

The next lady is having ice cream.

After that, it’s a piece of pizza.

I guess cars substitute for a dining room?

I love the way the wind feels on my face. It makes me squint, which makes me use my eyes less and my nose more.

I think being a dog is the greatest.

Woof Woof.