THE DELIGHTS I ENJOY DAILY  are the birds and bunnies that are a persistent pageant outside my apartment and viewable over the top of my laptop as I write. The other delight is finding comments on this blog from you readers.

About two weeks ago I noted a small insert on the Home Forum pages of the C.S. Monitor:  The heading was "Over-The-Hedge."  I counted the words in this initial entry–fewer than 200. I was pleased that –in spite of the title–it  did not involve gardening or recipes which seems to be the newest trend at Home forum.  Instead, it was about how the visiting dog and the resident dog "settled" their differences.  I immediately sent in an anecdote from my life in Crestline, California when I instigated an improvement on the property that would bring me income as a rental.  I called imy submission,  "Treasured Footprints." .  A racoon left his footprints in the freshly-poured step for the  new apartment..  My first tenant dubbed his quarters: Racoon Retreat.  My little piece was published on the Home forum page on June 27. As usual, the editor changed my title. They usually pay for everything they use.  I'll report later this practice endures.

Two lessons: 1. Be alert for opportunities to get your byline published–however few words.  One member of my workshop sent a little piece, "My favorite season" to a publication she had never read or seen before–finding the market in one of my workshop handouts. It was published and paid her $25.  2.  Do not be miffed when the editor changes your title.  This can be for myriad reasons–better rendition needed of contents; too much like another title appearing in the same issue; fewer or more words needed.  The list goes on and on.  This editor greatly improved a title on a humorous piece of mine she published.  For that I was grateful.