Pam Portland, novelist and blogger

An English Bulldog in the snow licking its nose.

An English Bulldog walking in the snow

An English Bulldog sitting in the snow

An English Bulldog tucked in the snow

Little Dog is enjoying his snow day.

These are all the dogs we sponsored in February ❤️‍🩹

a man with long hair and a beard is smiling and saying thank you . ALT: a man with long hair and a beard is smiling and saying thank you .

#ParkChat

I get this! My son played his harmonica in one of the archways in Fort Jefferson at Dry Tortugas NP. It echoed through the promenade. Wonderful sound! #ParkChat

A view of snow-covered, jagged mountains from an airplane.

A10: "Look familiar?" An alien's view of the Cloud Peak Wilderness in the Bighorn National Forest. #ParkChat

Multiple people dressed in skirts and palm fronds dance the hula in front of lush green trees at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

Q9: There’s art in the parks other than pictures. Are there performing arts in the park that you’ve experienced that evoke a sense of place for you? #parkchat

A blue poster of a road disappearing through a tunnel in the mountains with the Milky Way behind it. Saying “See the Milky Way in Glacier National Park” where Half the Park is After Dark.

Q8: In 2008 I was an Artist in Residence at Glacier National Park. If you could be one for any park for any medium what would it be? #parkchat

A young boy sketches with colored pencils while sitting at the edge of the Grand Canyon.

A6: I also love this picture of my son sketching at the North Rim. #ParkChat

A tan canvas back pack with illustrations drawn with colorful Sharpies.

A tan canvas back pack with illustrations drawn with colorful Sharpies.

A6: I created a backpack complete with illustrations by park rangers while on a road trip from St. Louis to Alaska. #ParkChat

A white coffee mug with red and black Native American decoration of a lizard.

Q5: My favorite coffee cup is from the El Tovar Hotel in Grand Canyon. Its art reminds me of the park every time I use it. Is there anything you have whose design, decoration, etc evoke a park for you? #parkchat

I love watching those little critters on the water! #ParkChat

A Google street view of the Ahwahnee Hotel and the granite cliffs above it.

A2: I visited Disneyland and rode the 'Soarin' Over California' attraction/film. When the camera flies in over the edge of the cliff into Yosemite Valley and there's a tiny glimpse of the Ahwahnee hotel, I knew I wanted to be there. #ParkChat

A train steams through a forest with a snowy mountain in back. A railroad logo appears at bottom advertising this is Rainier National Park.

Q2: Art has a long history with the national parks. Advertising and travel art played a huge role in promoting the national parks to visitors. What are the images that inspired you to visit a park? #parkchat

Please welcome our special guest tonight @spaceart.bsky.social Great to see you tonight Tyler. #ParkChat

Time Travel Authors – 11 March prompt: Wednesday POST-SIZED snippet (optional word: leaf/leaves/leave)

#TimeTravelAuthors #Day11 #Chapter2
“Okay, where did we #leave off?” Clementine let the topic go and reviewed her notes. “Solar charger, tracking, file storage, biometrics. Anything else?”

Last year we had to postpone a chat in progress with @spaceart.bsky.social. The @bsky.app wasn’t working and we had to reschedule. The date is tomorrow and we are expecting Tyler to join us. Honestly we are expecting you too tomorrow at 9 PM ET @naturetechfam.bsky.social

Ok #ParkChat peeps, now is the time to try out your perceived Park Ranger skills.

a man blowing a kiss with the words willy-nilly randomness written on the bottom ALT: a man blowing a kiss with the words willy-nilly randomness written on the bottom

Any new ideas pop up in tonight’s #WriteStuff randomness? I hope so!

The Wizard Is Oz Repetition And Reaction In The Blink Of An Eye Every time I answer the question, “You’re leaving?  So, what are you going to be doing?” I have to decide within a split second whether to or not to t…

#WriteStuff #Shameless #SelfPromo
Back to that first question, here’s tonight’s host as a Muppet.

#WriteStuff A6: My MC would either get married in her brother’s backyard, or somewhere in the Bitterroot Mountains. But I doubt she’ll get married.

#WriteStuff A5: Clementine’s nightstand is probably a collection of things to read, things to write, and empty wine glasses. (I think she and I might have the same nightstand.)

a man in a suit and tie is standing at a podium holding a piece of paper and talking . ALT: a man in a suit and tie is standing at a podium holding a piece of paper and talking .

#WriteStuff A4: Password.

Whether or not that's a good thing for you, I am jealous af! #WriteStuff

#WriteStuff A3: Clementine would definitely be a backcountry ranger.

It snowed yesterday and today here, but only a few inches. #WriteStuff ❄️

a man wearing a wig and sunglasses is in a red circle with the word ai in white ALT: a man wearing a wig and sunglasses is in a red circle with the word ai in white

#WriteStuff A2: My MC would ban the use of artificial intelligence in academia. Maybe she’d ban it from education entirely.

a man wearing a top hat and a black coat looks at the camera ALT: a man wearing a top hat and a black coat looks at the camera

#WriteStuff A1: I suppose I could use my current WIP: Everyone is a Muppet except President Jefferson. Maybe he should be played by Michael Caine.

Hi #WriteStuff! I’m Pam Portland and I pulled a few ideas tonight from interesting posts I’ve seen on the Skyline. The Qs are unrelated to each other in any other ways.

(Gotta love it when someone calls 5 minutes before chat time!) ☎️

I would love for my poetry chapbook "Refilling The Well" to become a classic since it navigates finding inspiration again after burnout.

#WriteStuff

Today I called to get the debit card my bank never sent. Dozens of Qs. Exhausting. I finally told the lady I truly don’t care what color the debit card is.