Morning Sunshine: Blueberry Pancakes

Morning Sunshine video: Nan makes blueberry pancakes

I don’t always make breakfast, but when I do, I seem to want to make a video about it and set it to music haha!

This morning, it was blueberry pancakes.

How I made the video

While I was standing around, I took some quick pix and vids.

I sat down at the dining room table with my Motorola smartphone and logged into Canva to made a 20-sec mobile video (vertical short format for social media). I picked a cool mobile video template, uploaded a few of my own images and very short video segments, cropped and trimmed things up, and once happy with it, downloaded it to my phone.

One video segment of me having a bite of pancake took several takes, and even then I had to run it through an Instagram filter and download that. I was wearing no makeup and was basically still in my PJs…

I downloaded the video from Canva to my phone and then uploaded it to multiple platforms. In each platform, I added the same music: The Devil Went Down To Georgia by the Charlie Daniels Band. (Can you guess why I used that song?) I found the right fiddle section of the song and adjusted the soundtrack accordingly.

I added in some hashtags by the seat of my pants, such as #morningroutine #blueberrytiktok but hashtags is definitely an area I could spend more time on researching for optimal discovery.

What am I trying to accomplish with this video?

I don’t know! Somebody please tell me haha!

No seriously, I’m trying to learn to make videos quickly and easily so that I can do it on the fly. In general, videos are great for SEO (search engine optimization) and engagement. Making pancakes tells a little story, and storytelling is great.

Put something out there and see what happens, that’s good feedback.

Specifically with this video, the idea is (1) to give viewers some inspiration for making a yummy quick breakfast with just a couple of ingredients, (2) to show my natural habitat so that people can get to know me, and (3) to put another video out there to see what works.

So how’s the video doing?

It varies by platform. It got immediate attention on TikTok. It’s also on YouTube and Instagram.

Sometimes it takes a while for a video’s views to shape up, but sometimes it takes off right away — or dies a quick but painful death lol. It’s good to see what works and what doesn’t.

So far, the people are liking blueberry pancakes, bagels with opera, poetry, how to start a fire, how to make a seasonal wreath, daylight savings time, St. Patrick’s Day parade, plein air painting, and promotional videos for my books.

“plein air” painting 101

How to prepare and what to expect

Here’s a carousel of images from a recent plein air painting session to give you a quick idea of how it goes (SWIPE)…

Plein Air Painting Tips:

• Look for plein air painting events near you.

• A great group leader orients the whole group, helps get each painter set up, monitors progress, does his/her own painting, and conducts a “crit session” in which artists give and get comments on the work created.

• Take the opportunity to meet other artists, introduce yourself, and enjoy interactions. You might even want to set up close enough to shoot the breeze with some people.

• Pack and test materials in advance being thoughtful about what you’ll need. Maybe make a list. Place everything in one place by the door.

• What you’ll need: at the very least a pad of paper, a writing instrument, a snack and an open mind. A step up from basic is a small portable set of colors be it markers, pencils, crayons, pastels or paints — with heavier paper. From there, you can get into the bigger paint sets, easels, canvas boards or canvases, etc.

• When you get to the location, find a view that speaks to you most. Begin to notice its features, contours, colors and proportions.

• Take some time to set up, look around, enjoy the moment, the anticipation, the mild but pleasing pressure to produce something.

• Do a sketch or two on paper.

• Follow your normal drawing or painting process.

• Remember, plein air painting is all about spontaneity, imperfection and discovery.

• Keep in mind time constraints.

• You can work on it more later.

• Listen for and consider comments of other artists, you may pick up some great tips for how to get better as a painter.

• Always be kind and constructive in your own comments.

• Bring a snack and beverage(s).

• Think about rest room vicinity.

  That is all, really. Have fun!

Press Release: Writer Invited to Earth Day Farmers Market To Sign New Climate Book

PRESS RELEASE

Monday, April 10, 2023

From: Great Peconic Communications, Inc.

Writer Invited to Earth Day Farmers Market To Sign New Climate Book

Grow Your Personal Climate Score with "100 Heroic Challenges for Saving the Planet (And Money Too)"

Long Island, New York -- "I'm starting to think we might actually have to save the planet in real life," says year round Long Island resident Nan Swett. Her new book, 100 HEROIC CHALLENGES FOR SAVING THE PLANET (And Money Too), is for anyone who wants to challenge themselves and others to take climate action, form better environmental habits, and join the race for net zero.

What's My “Personal Climate Score?”

"I asked myself, 'Self, what can I do as one person do to fight climate change?' Boy, there's a lot more I can do," said Swett. "I'm not going to lie. If I were to give myself a climate score from 1 to 100 based on the challenges in my book, there would be room for improvement for sure."

Visiting the Farmers Market on Earth Day Checks Off Multiple Climate Challenge Boxes

The public is invited to celebrate Earth Day (Challenge #31) by stopping by the Riverhead Farmers Market at the East End Food Hub in Riverhead, NY on April 22nd from 9am to 2pm. Swett will sign copies of her new book and demonstrate how to turn garments into planet billboards using fabric pens (Challenge #1). Check off more climate challenges by buying local, supporting green businesses, sharing your love of the planet with friends and family, and more.

"I'm grateful to the East End Food Hub for the good work it's doing and for inviting me to participate in this special Earth Day farmers market," said Swett.

Every Day Is Earth Day

100 Heroic Challenges for Saving the Planet (And Money Too) by NG Swett is available on Amazon.com in paperback (LINK > https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BSJLT9QG). The compact workbook-style paperback makes a great Earth Day gift or favor, and it's full of activities for every day, family homes, the office, a group or team of friends, schools, environmental organizations, school break, summer activities, and communities. It's portable, interactive, easy to understand, and culled from leading global environmental organizations and contemporary cultural sources.

About Nan Swett

Nan Swett is a prize winning story writer, the author of a forthcoming novel, and a multi-media marketing and public relations specialist. She lives year round on eastern Long Island with her husband, "The Incredible Mr. C." They have two grown children.

#shelfie #4seasonshelf

What's on the shelf today?

On the shelf today are early indoor planting stuff…

• seed packets

• pen & ink sketches of seed packets

• herbs in faux terracotta window planter (indoors)

• clean plastic containers for planting seeds

It's springtime, and the garden adventure begins again here in the Outer Lands Archipelago.

We still have a while until we can plant outdoors, except for certain crops that like colder temps, such as leafy greens, peas, etc., which don’t mind a little frost.

Farmstand Update: What’s In Season

It’s the end of March, and most local farmstands have only one thing as of yet: firewood (see below). But before you know it, you'll see early crops start to come in like rhubarb, asparagus, horseradish and many more bittersweet lovelies. Local chickens are already laying eggs. And fresh daffodils!

Local farm stand with firewood in early spring empty shelves.

~ Nan

P.S. The #SHELFIE short video above is part of the #100daychallenge and will be uploaded to the 4seasonshelf constellation of social media. I created it in Canva, downloaded it, and will send it up to each platform. I’ll also add gameshow sounds on those platforms because it’d be fun. Find and follow @4seasonshelf on your favorite platform!

How you dune?

Here's a photo of an ocean dune by the Incredible Mr. C, please enjoy.

Now, turn south and face the ocean.

Take a deep breath!

That gorgeous video was also captured by my husband. I invite you to take a deep breath and a little break from the news and the rest of your life from time to time. Wow, there’s a lot happening these days. Big stuff!

Fun facts

During the Ice Age of 30,000 years ago, the great Labrador Glacier came to a halt here at the ocean, leaving a ridge of moraines that form the Outer Lands Archipelago islands of Long Island, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Cape Cod, Block Island, and the many other smaller islands.

These sandy beaches have a lot of quartz — that magical stuff that pulses under pressure (e.g., see quartz watches). Combined with sea mist, it’s a very nice thing. A walk on the shore the cure, body and soul.

Many Atlantic Ocean beaches are accessible in two hours or less from major East Coast cities. Some ocean beaches are within New York City and accessible by bus or subway! (Shout out to Coney Island and the Rockaways!)

~ Nan

P.S. I shared the video on a small constellation of 4seasonshelf social media, too. If you found this post from one of those platforms, thank you for coming! Glad you could make it.

P.S.S. The video is part of the #100daychallenge, which as I’ve posted, I’m using to learn more video skills and to get 4seasonshelf (and myself) out there more.