A-Z Blogging Challenge & Tell Us About 04.2026: (Day)dreams

Happy to report that I have survived the A - Z Blogging Challenge for a whole week.  Woohoo!!  Today I am combining the post for that series with my post for the global writing challenge, Tell Us About.  Hope to keep things fairly short but you know me!!

A - Z Blogging Challenge

We are on day 8 of the challenge which means the letter for today's A - Z post is H.  For that letter, I am going to be talking about the glimmers in my life that come in the form of hearts.  Specifically, heart-shaped rocks.  Although, I have been known to find heart-shaped deposits in Purrcy and Purrsnickitty's litter box, too.  I love love LOVE hearts so I look for them everywhere in everything.

Tell Us About

This month's prompt was suggested by Marsha.  My first instinct was to consider the prompt from a literal level - those little movies we 'watch' in our sleep.  But then I realized the prompt could be interpreted to mean hopes and aspirations.  Looking forward to reading the posts of my friends to see which direction they took.

H is for Heart-shaped Rocks

Not sure how I got started collecting heart-shaped rocks but have been doing so for quite awhile.  I think I probably found a heart-shaped rock on a hike and then started looking for them on all my hikes.  Early in our relationship, I must have mentioned looking for heart rocks to PC.  He jumped on board with my silliness and now he looks for them with as much enthusiasm as I do.  

For awhile I 'displayed' (kept) the rocks we found on the kitchen windowsill.  But the more we hiked, the more rocks we collected and I soon had to find a new place for them all.  

Now they are outside in a corner of one of our rock gardens beside our blue agave cactus.  I hope that someday, my daughters and grandbabies will divvy them up and have a few in each of their own yards.

Dreams

My dreams have always been distinct and in color.  These days more people report that they, too, dream in color but that hasn't always been the case.  

One interesting theory suggests that more people are dreaming in color now because of exposure to color through the use of technology.  While those who were raised back in the days of black and white media - television, movies - are more likely to dream in a grayscale [source].

My dreams of late have not been terribly exciting - my dreams rarely are.  In fact, they often border on being nightmares.  This week I have dreamed about opening my recently cleaned oven only to discover it was a technicolor mess of food spills mixed with poorly applied Easy-Off oven cleaner.  Woke me up!!  That next morning I was so relieved to find my oven was still clean.

Also dreamed about someone poking the foot? hoof? of a gray, baby elephant with a stick or rod.  I watched the abuse for just a moment then stepped in to stop it.  I woke up worrying about the elephant and wondering if elephants have toes.  

(Day)dreams

As far as (day)dreams go, I have never been one to have elaborate fantasies or monumental ambitions.  When I was a teenager I daydreamed of being a pediatrician, living in an old Victorian house, having 5 kids - 3 boys, 2 girls, driving a Volvo station wagon and owning an Old English sheepdog.  None of that came to pass and I wouldn't trade what I have now for any of that!!

The one daydream that has followed me throughout my adult life has been the desire to write (and maybe publish) a children's book that would help people.  I can now report that I have written 2 children's stories and have a third one in the works.  Just finished reading the book Published by Chandler Bolt which outlines the steps for leading aspiring writers toward becoming published authors.    

I am hoping to self-publish my first picture book, Cuddles Lil Bitsy, this year with a tentative launch date of 10.15.2026, which is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day.  Not a coincidence.

[source]

I have a list of things I need to make happen before that date.  And if they don't happen then there is always later in the year or next year.  But I would like to publish this book (and my 2 others) so my daughters and grandchildren have something tangible to remember me by.

Had thought of talking about my one lifelong, recuring nightmare in this post but want to leave things on a positive note.  So I will save that for another day's post.

This A - Z Blogging Challenge is taking up a lot more time than I anticipated.  And then we are traveling.  So I don't envision getting much done on my story until we get back from London-Edinburgh the first week of May.  Would welcome your prayers and good thoughts that I realize my daydream.  Thank you.

The Tell Us About Comadres

Now that you have waded through my long-winded post, hope you have saved a little energy and time to visit the other bloggers who participate in the monthly Tell Us About series.  

Debbie has gone with quotes and songs which feature Dreams as we all need to have dreams and hope for the future, no matter how dire things look at times. Stop by www.debs-world.com for her post.

Marsha has always had vivid and strange dreams, but she’s had lots of hopes and dreams.  Which will she write about?  Check her out at https://marshainthemiddle.com.

Sally considers her favorite works of art that relate to dreams and nightmares.  Read more at withinaworldofmyown.com.

And Suzy writes about the contrast between vivid night-time dreams and the big life dreams she once had, and how her idea of success has quietly shifted over time. Pop by www.suzyturner.com for more.

Join us by linking up your own dream-related post below.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Your Turn

Are you a dreamer, by day or by night?  Do you have as of yet unrealized aspirations that you are hoping to achieve?  I guess my bucket lists and seasonal goals could be considered mini-dreams but are more like glorified 'to-dos' in my eyes.  

Looking forward to participating in a mosaic class this evening.  Don't know anyone taking the workshop except the instructor so maybe I will come away with new friends, too.  

Enjoy the end of your week.  The weekend is in sight!!

Hugs and kisses,