Blogs by Deborah K. Frontiera
One Writer's Random Thoughts
1/5/2022 9:42:16 AM
Sometimes people need a fresh look at something, or to lighten up a little bit, or a way to express some of those “pet peeves”, or a good tip for everyday life, or a quote that makes them think, or . . . So those are the pigeonholes this blog will attempt to fill.
At other times, I’ll use passages from some of my books to demonstrate for readers and authors how writers us various techniques to “show” a good story rather than simply “telling” it.
Happy reading.
Sometimes people need a fresh look at something, or to lighten up a little bit, or a way to express some of those “pet peeves”, or a good tip for everyday life, or a quote that makes them think, or . . . So those are the pigeonholes this blog will attempt to fill.
At other times, I’ll use passages from some of my books to demonstrate for readers and authors how writers us various techniques to “show” a good story rather than simply “telling” it.
Happy reading.
v
January 5, 2022
A fan of The Chronicles of Henry Roach-Dairier recently asked in an email where I got some of the ideas for that series. The question made me think that perhaps other readers might be curious, too.
My fascination with insects began in childhood. A friend and I used to enjoy watching ants come out of their hills when we crumbled up bits of cracker and dropped it on the hill. It was fun to watch them come out, pick up a crumb and take it down into the tunnels of their home. Keep in mind, this was in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula—no fire ants there, ever, even now. All the local species were harmless—except maybe if carpenter ants got into your log house, a constant threat for my parents as we spent the summers in the log house built by my grandfather.
There was another day that my mother led me to her rose garden and pointed out the little black dairying ants tending the aphids on the stems of the roses. “See,” she said, “they take care of the aphids like Robert takes care of his cows.” Robert was my mother’s cousin who had a dairy farm and delivered our milk three times a week. Remember the milk truck and glass bottles? No? Well, that dates me, doesn’t it? I was fascinated, then ran off to play. After I left, I’m sure my mother sprayed her rose bushes with insecticide, though.
Once I was teaching kindergarten in Houston, TX, I would make an ant farm in a clear, two-liter plastic bottle each spring. A funnel filled it halfway with dirt, then a scoop or two from an aunt hill also went down the funnel, followed by a quick capping. Several pin pricks near the top supplied air. I could use a funnel to drip in some water and cracker crumbs, too. A tube of black construction paper around it kept out the light so the ants would tunnel along the sides of the plastic. The tube could be lifted for easy viewing by my students. Once fire ants and destroyed most of the friendly species around Houston, I had to figure out tricky ways to capture a scoopful without being stung—which hurts A LOT! And, yes, it’s a sting, not a bite. The little rascals are more closely related to wasps than to other ants.
One spring, in that one, quick scoop of fire ants, I managed to dump some pupae in with the workers! That year, my ant farm did not die off in a few weeks like usual. I was privileged to observe an adult emerge from pupa state one afternoon after the kids had left! Two or three adult ants gathered around as the new one broke free from its pupa. They immediately began to “hug” and stroke it before it followed one of them down a tunnel. So, you see, research and personal experience contributed to the behavior of my futuristic ants.
That same year, the darn colony was still going when school ended. Must have gotten a drone and a queen in that scoop. They began to figure out how to climb the plastic sides of the bottle and it got harder and harder to unscrew the cap, drop in food and screw the cap on before they were at the top trying to escape! Couldn’t have that continue, and I didn’t want them in my back yard with the dog (fire ants can really do a number on pets) so, sadly, I had to drop them fire ant killer one day and do them in. Sorry.
And if you’re wondering, yes, I still spray for roaches when in Texas and stomp them when necessary. Sorry, roaches, this is still a human world.
Post a Comment
More Blogs by Deborah K. Frontiera
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Saturday, September 5, 2026
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, August 4, 2026
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, July 6, 2026
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, June 2, 2026
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, May 5, 2026
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, April 6, 2026
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, March 2, 2026
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, March 2, 2026
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, February 2, 2026
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, January 5, 2026
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, December 8, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, November 3, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, November 3, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, November 3, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, October 6, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, September 8, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, August 4, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, August 4, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, July 7, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, June 2, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, May 6, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, April 1, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, March 3, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, February 3, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, January 6, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, December 2, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, November 4, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Saturday, October 5, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, September 2, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, August 5, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, August 5, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, July 1, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Friday, June 7, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, May 7, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, April 2, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, March 4, 2024
• One Writers Random Thoughts - Monday, February 5, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Thursday, January 4, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, December 4, 2023
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, November 6, 2023
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Thursday, October 5, 2023
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, September 4, 2023
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, August 7, 2023
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, July 11, 2023
• One Writers Random Thoughts - Tuesday, June 6, 2023
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, May 8, 2023
• One Writer's Random thoughts - Tuesday, April 11, 2023
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, March 6, 2023
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, February 7, 2023
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Friday, January 6, 2023
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, December 5, 2022
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Saturday, November 12, 2022
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Thursday, October 6, 2022
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, September 6, 2022
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Thursday, August 4, 2022
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Thursday, July 7, 2022
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, June 6, 2022
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Thursday, May 5, 2022
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, April 4, 2022
• One Writers Random Thoughts - Monday, March 7, 2022
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, February 8, 2022
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Wednesday, January 5, 2022
• One Writers Random Thoughts - Monday, December 6, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, November 2, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, October 18, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, October 5, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, September 21, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, September 7, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, August 16, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, August 2, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, July 12, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, June 28, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, June 15, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, May 10, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, April 19, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, April 6, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Sunday, March 21, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Friday, March 5, 2021
• Fighting CPS - Monday, December 7, 2020
• Fighting CPS - Friday, November 6, 2020
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, September 8, 2020
• Fighting CPS - Monday, August 10, 2020
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, July 7, 2020
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, June 10, 2020
• Fighting CPS - Saturday, May 9, 2020
• Fighting CPS - Saturday, April 18, 2020
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, March 10, 2020
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, February 5, 2020
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, January 8, 2020
• Fighting CPS - Friday, December 6, 2019
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, November 5, 2019
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, October 8, 2019
• Fighting CPS - Thursday, August 8, 2019
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, July 9, 2019
• Fighting CPS - Monday, June 10, 2019
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, May 8, 2019
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, April 16, 2019
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, March 6, 2019
• Fighting CPS - Thursday, February 7, 2019
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, January 8, 2019
• Fighting CPS - Monday, December 10, 2018
• Foghting CPS - Monday, November 12, 2018
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, October 10, 2018
• Fighting CPS - Monday, August 13, 2018
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, June 26, 2018
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, May 8, 2018
• Fighting CPS - Thursday, April 5, 2018
• Fighting CPS - Monday, March 5, 2018
• Fighting CPS - Monday, January 29, 2018
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, December 6, 2017
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, October 4, 2017
• Fighting CPS - Thursday, August 10, 2017
• Fighting CPS - Saturday, July 15, 2017
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, May 10, 2017
• Fighting CPS - Monday, April 10, 2017
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, March 8, 2017
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, February 8, 2017
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, January 11, 2017
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, December 6, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, November 9, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, October 12, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Monday, September 19, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Monday, September 5, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Monday, August 22, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, August 10, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, July 13, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, June 21, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Saturday, June 4, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, May 10, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Friday, April 29, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, April 5, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Friday, March 11, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, February 24, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Thursday, February 4, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, January 24, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, January 6, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, December 6, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Monday, November 9, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, October 13, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Saturday, September 12, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Friday, August 14, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Friday, July 17, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, June 24, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, June 3, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, May 20, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Friday, May 8, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Monday, April 20, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, April 7, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Monday, March 9, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Monday, February 16, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, February 10, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, January 13, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Friday, January 2, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Friday, December 19, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Monday, December 8, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Monday, November 17, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Thursday, October 30, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, September 21, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, September 7, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, August 24, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, August 10, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Monday, July 28, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, July 13, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, June 22, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Saturday, June 7, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, May 25, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Saturday, May 10, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, April 27, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, April 13, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, March 23, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, March 9, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, February 23, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, February 9, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, January 26, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, January 12, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, December 29, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, December 15, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, November 24, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, November 10, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, October 27, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, October 13, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, September 22, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, September 8, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Monday, August 26, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, August 11, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, July 21, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Monday, July 8, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, June 23, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, June 9, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, May 26, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, May 12, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, April 21, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, April 7, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, March 24, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, March 10, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, February 24, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, February 10, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, January 27, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Monday, January 14, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, December 23, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, December 9, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, November 25, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, November 11, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, October 28, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, September 17, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, September 9, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, August 26, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, August 12, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, August 12, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, July 23, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, July 8, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, June 24, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, June 11, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, May 21, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, May 6, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, April 23, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, April 9, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, March 26, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, March 12, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, February 27, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, February 13, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, February 1, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, January 23, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, January 16, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, January 9, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, December 19, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, December 12, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, December 5, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, November 28, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, November 21, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, November 14, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, November 7, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, October 31, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, October 24, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, October 17, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, October 10, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, October 3, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, September 26, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, September 19, 2011
|
