Category Archives: Where I am Going

Susan’s Amazing Adventures

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Very soon I’ll be flying to Israel. It’s been several decades since I lived their for a couple of years. Naturally, I wouldn’t think that time stood still, there will be many changes, so many dramatic changes that I won’t recognize many places.

In the beginning of my stay in Israel I lived on a small Hungarian kibbutz in the north and its name  Kibbutz Ma’gan. Where I lived was in a humble cabin. When I looked out from the entrance of the cabin the lake of Galilee was right there. Wow, what a magnificent sight to wake up to every morning. The huge lake was so close to where I lived I actually designed a diving board in my head.

Of course, I can’t forget the magnificent Peacocks that woke me up every morning. I wasn’t so crazy about their sound but when they spread their gloriously vibrant colored feathers I stood spellbound. One of the first couple of places I want to go is that small Hungarian Kibbutz.

I’ve decided to “seize the day” and revisit Israel.  When I return I’ll share my experiences with you. Shalom, Shalom.

~ Susan Elkin

Handmade with Love – Craft & Gift Market

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Handmade with Love – Craft & Gift Market is going to be an incredible Craft & Gift Market this Saturday, February 12 in Easthampton.  I hope you will come (if you live near enough). There are going to be many fabulous items for sale, including my mysterious photographs in several forms.

The Facebook page for Handmade with Love is right here! FIRST 50 CUSTOMERS GET A FREE GIFT! Candles, jewelry, cards, art, collage art, handbags, glass, photography and much more!! Please come join us! Please check out Diane’s  giveaway of FREE business cards!! Thank you! ~ Susan Elkin

Handmade with Love – Craft & Gift Market

Handmade with Love - Craft & Gift Market

Snow Sculptures

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Yesterday, I went hunting for remaining snow sculptures as the winter nears its end, momentarily. Spring has begun to whisper in the wind ‘I’m very near, just a few more weeks and flowers will be bursting with joy and delight.’

I could feel the air changing so I seized the moment to capture more snow scuptures near where I live. The other day I showed the ‘Snow Dog.’ It was resting on the pavement in a parking lot and I photographed it as the dog was sleeping.  Tell me what you see – a dog, a mountain lion, a cheetah…..I would love to know!  Thank you for dropping by and I always look forward to hearing from you. Thank you.  Susan

Swinging into Spring with A.W.E.

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Today, the core participants of the Artist Window Exhibit project met to discuss the May 1st start of the A.W.E. project. Artists and business owners partner to showcase the work of artists of western, Massachusetts. Lots of great ideas, great discussions flowed back and forth. The artists that were present at today’s meeting were assigned to businesses they each had thought about displaying their wonderful art. We all would love to see you through the month of May, 2009 to view the amazing talented artists of the area.

As always, I look forward to your responses and love hearing about what’s going on in your lives. Thank you for coming by – Susan.

Snow Dog

More to Share With You

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The Green Stairway

A friend of mine asked me if I would like to be part of a women’s writers group and I said, “sure.” Well, this past Monday we met for the first time. One of the four women decided to back out. I did write to encourage her to discuss her feelings about leaving.

I also had intense trepidations about being part of this writers’ group. The three other women have published stories and my friend just signed a six figure contract with a New York publisher to finish her book in 2008. She’s been told Hollywood is interested in making a feature film about my friend’s experiences in Africa as a peace core worker during the 1970’s. Then there’s me, never took a writing course, no advanced degrees – needless to say, lots of feelings of inferiority has welled up.

During our first meeting it was decided that we each send ten pages of something we’ve written for critique purposes. Well! You can imagine how shaky I felt as I chose the first scene of my screen play to send off to my friends of this newly formed “writers’ group.” I could barely complete the action – but I did. All they can say is, “go back to your writer’s chamber and begin again.” Not so bad. Rewriting, re-tweaking and repeat the process can only improve the play. Right?

I’m profoundly devoted to writing this screen play to its completion. I won’t stop there – the play will not be put in a drawer and forgotten about. I will do everything in my power to have this screen play produced. I appear shy and quiet to people but there is a side to me that is quietly persistent and charmingly assertive.

~~ Susan Elkin

Looking for Stories

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Hey, everybody, I have a request! I’m writing a book about negative experiences customers/clients have had in restaurants or retail shops. Particularly treated shabbily by either the employees and owners of the establishment themselves. For example, I’ve had MANY experiences where I entered a retail shop and felt that I ought to ‘thank the employees for allowing me to enter the store’. How’s this one – Several employees are just standing around behind the counter and there’s ONE customer (you) WAITING to be asked ‘can I help you?’ After five or ten minutes an employee turns to you, not saying anything (no greeting, nothing) waits for YOU THE CUSTOMER to respond to his/her silence. Your response is greatly appreciated and I shall add it as fodder to my book.

~~ Susan Elkin

AWE Window Display

Needing a Nudge

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Thank you Sue, I do need a nudge. I’ve been working on my screen play and have begun writing a book about my experiences as a customer/client in businesses where servicing the customer/client is a bit lacking. It’s sort of a primer for people who are interested in improving their “bottom line.” I believe that’s a corporate term, money – you know, increasing profits.

It’s been my experience making sure the person who wants to spend their hard earned money on whatever your selling is more pampered. I just thought I would lend a helping hand in sharing some pointers that may possibly help increase their do, re, mi.

How are you doing, Sue?

~~ Susan Elkin
Susan’s AWE Window

“And Here She Is….”

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The Tunnel I

Thank you for continuing to give me feedback. I feel quite supported by each of you. Often times I feel shy about writing on my blog because I’m not sure about what I have to offer you. I feel, as time passes, I’ll come to realize what I can give.

It would be helpful to me, to know what would be interesting to you to read. Let me know.

Sue O’Kieffe – asked to hear more about my screen play – I’ll start there. I’ve written quite a lot during the last three months – the entire first scene has been tweaked numerous times and continues to be tweaked. A retired English teacher was taken by the idea of the story and has become my mentor and encourager to continue to write. Her very helpful comments I’ve incorporated into the most tweaked, up-to-date first scene version. I am currently working on creating conflict and character development. There are days I write a lot and then I put it aside – then return to see how it feels. The process seems to work for me – as long as I don’t let too many days go by. Admittedly, three weeks have passed since my last writing.  Not good.

The first scene is the two female protagonists meeting. This has been so challenging for me to write so that it’s interesting and exciting to the viewer. You know the adage, “if it doesn’t hold the attention of the viewer during the first ten minutes, they’ll walk out.” I certainly don’t want them to walk out. It’s a fear I have.

Fear will not stop me. My internal landscape holds an emotional map as to how I want this beautiful story to unfold and be told.

~~ Susan Elkin

And the Winner is …

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Susan Biz Card Final

Thank you all for all the feedback and help you have given me online and off … onblog and off. You helped me create a card I am very pleased with!! Please try to look past the border … it doesn’t truly exist … it is in another dimension and has reappeared uninvited.

I will try to continue to post more often. I am making a commitment to post at least once a week. I hope you will check me out and raise the roof if I don’t keep my word.

Thank you again!

~~ Susan Elkin

Without Borders …

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Here are the two winners so far – without borders – Now, it is possibly clearer as to which choice you’ll choose. In between the second or third hot dog that just came off the grill (or hamburger or tofu dog) feel free to send me a comment. This has been a difficult process for me – your kind patience during this time has meant very much to me. Looking forward to hearing from you. Thank you.

~~ Susan Elkin

Susan Biz Card #1
Susan Biz Card #2