Julie Bloom, Author at Patsy Clairmont

JoyFULL Jumpstarts

Hello Jumpers, Would you like to add some joy to the upcoming festive season? And perhaps several dashes of fun? We are all for that I’m sure. Then good golly why is it hard for many of us to maintain our jolly throughout the holidays as we head toward a New Year? Hmm, wait, perhaps……

Boundaries: A New Thanksgiving Tradition

Last year I put up our 12-foot Christmas tree on the 1st of November and then awaited the oohs and ahs from my family. To my chagrin, my teenage grandsons, who I thought would be full of confetti praise, were not happy. And since we live in the same house, when it’s possible, we try…

Be Brave and Take Your Next Step

I recently asked myself why I love the story, “Anne of Green Gables.” Certainly, it is well written, and well-acted. Anne is a high energy girl, full of curiosity and wonder. And yes, her surroundings add scope to the imagination. But its something more…So I decided to take a look at the writer Lucy Maud…

Gratitude and the Whiny Girl’s Club

If you are an eternal optimist this particular blog will not make a whit of sense. It might even get on your grateful nerves, because you can’t imagine why folks need help to be bright eyed and bubbly. Your theme song seems to be “Buck up Buttercup, the days getting ready to bloom.” But for…

It’s Spring! And the Feeder Is Full.

Why do I read… I read to have hope. I read to comfort my own heart that I am not the only quirky character on this spinning planet. God designed robins and sparrows but he also glittered the world with peacocks and gooney birds. (Whew) I read to grasp what I don’t know and what…

March On, Darlings!

It’s March! You can say that again…not only are strong winds marching across the land but I confess January and February marched over my calendar before I could catch up. Those two months, the vestibule of the year, while they can feel draggy with grey days, have a way of suddenly high-stepping us right into…

Hobbits, Clouds, and a Good Book

I think I might be a hobbit! I’m brief in stature, I love small habitats, and I tuck easily into corners. I would be easy to overlook if it weren’t for my color-wheel wardrobe and my red bandana. It’s become my hallmark and it accomplishes so many purposes: it not only tames cow licks…

A Plan For Holiday Sadness

Melancholy can descend upon us like heavy drapes from a theater, which is why it’s good to have a plan for holiday sadness. The gala emphasis on family, while good, can also push our loss buttons causing our cheery feelings to be run off by “ghosts of Christmas past.” Those whom we love who are…

4 ways to “Douse an Angry Exchange”

Remember it’s hard to maintain an argument with someone who isn’t adding brush to the fire. 1. Thoughtfully. Stop angry words before regret. Learn to nip verbal cycles that lead to arguments. Some spats have lasted far too long and others don’t need to happen. Practice a pause (one deep breath or two) before you…

Changing Seasons: Risk and Trust

Autumn…the year’s last, loveliest smile. ~ John Howard Bryant Do you have the same level of angst I do when I’m down to the last few pages of a book that has cast a spell over my heart? The characters have become friends, close ones, and I don’t want them to leave. I love their town,…