Jenn J McLeod

Posted on 01/04/201216/12/2012 by Jenn J McLeod — 6 Comments

Coming back to the country for real!

With the theme of my Seasons Collection novels (book 1 – House For All Seasons – out May 2013) about people coming home to the country, I figured I should reconnect with my own country roots. So here I am in South Australia.

I am on a road trip with my 81 year old dad, travelling roads he travelled as a young man growing up and working on farming properties around the York Peninsula. Towns like Bute, Kadina, Alford.

While my part of the family grew up in Sydney where dad was a policeman, Dad was born in Adelaide and there was a family farm in Bute where I spent some wonderful school holidays. In fact there are a couple of fond memories of my Uncle Don and Aunty Joan’s farm that make it into my stories.

Today I will be seeing Aunty Joan for the first time in something like thirty years and I have just found out some cousins are travelling to Wallaroo all the way from Port Lincoln to say hi.

What ties us as family is my grandparents who we will all remember today. Clem and Elmie Lewis.

Posted on 12/03/201212/03/2012 by Jenn J McLeod — 3 Comments

WEEK 11: Circumambient to Comeback (so pls do!)

circumambient: adj. surrounding; encompassing (circumambient gloom)

circumlocution: n. a roundabout way of speaking; the use of too many words

clammy: adj. covered with a cold, sticky moisture; old and damp

clottish: adj. foolish, silly

cloudburst: n. a sudden and very heavy rainfall

Cobar shower: n. a dust storm

cobble: v. 3. to mend; patch 4. to put together roughly or clumsily (they cobbled thier marriage back together)

cobbler: n. 1. one who mends shoes 2. a clumsy workman 3. a pie, and in Aust/NZ: n. a wrinkled sheep that is difficult to shear

cock-a-hoop: adj. in a state of unrestrained joy or exultation

combative: adj. 1. capable of catching fire; inflammable 2. easily excited (his combative stare)

combustible: adj. 1. capable of catching fire; inflammable 2. easily excited (he had a combustible nature)

comeback: n. 4. a sheep breed to be suitable for wool or mutton

Okay – it’s been a few weeks since I felt my words warranted a sentence. This week was crying out for one. Enjoy!

Would my circumlocution be obvious if I was to tell you there was cock-a-hoop following the cloudburst that had put an end to the circumambient clamminess and washed away all signs of the Cobar shower that had dirtied the cobbler, making them look clottish.

Now please come back next week!

Posted on 04/03/201219/07/2012 by Jenn J McLeod — 6 Comments

WEEK 10 WORDS: Rough ‘C’s Ahead.

Chaos is amongst my list of ‘C’ words this week. Very, very fitting too given my life at the moment.

In no particular order:

Poor old sick mum, my very first book edits, my national conference registrar job gearing up on March 1 when registrations finally opened, RWA blog editor, e-Loop moderator…. I could go on.

Phew! No wonder I have that Linda Blair 360-degree head spin thing going on.

But I WILL NOT give up my Leap Year Word journey. Besides, I found some great words this week – both new and old favs, starting with…

caldron: n. a large kettle or boiler (perhaps ‘a caldron of emotions bubbling over’ might work for you.)

cavalier: adj. haughty, disdainful, offhand (he had a cavalier attitude)

celerity: n. speed; swiftness (used to compile this week’s blog post!)

censorious: adj. severely critical, fault-finding (pls don’t be! I should be in bed sleeping right now, not posting this!)

certitude: n. a sense of absolute conviction; certainty (that’s me!)

chafe: v. 1. to warm by rubbing 2. to irritate; annoy (also me! 🙂

chaos: n. utter confusion or disorder (me at the moment!)

chiffonier: n. a high chest of drawers (so much better than a tall boy and my new stand-up writing pod. I will post a pic soon.)

chimerical: adj. 1. unreal; imaginary 2. wildly fanciful (sleep!)

chivvy: v. to harass; worry; nag (what my conference team-mates probably think I do!)

And last but certainly not least, a long-time favourite of mine (well ever since I was going to be the next Danielle Steele or Nora Roberts. Yes… it has been a round a long time…)

chignon: n. a large rolled arrangement of hair worn at the back of a woman’s head (and a favourite in every second romance fiction novel back in the 70’s and 80’s, and always at the nape of the neck!)

Well, I’m outta here for this week.

‘C’ you next Sunday.