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Three or Four Ingredient Carrot Cake

If there is one thing I can't resist, it's a new carrot cake recipe! Anyone who has followed Annie the Porcupine's adventures or my blog knows that carrot cake holds a special place in my heart. Over the years, I have experimented with carrot cake in just about every way imaginable. From muffins and cookies to cheesecake and cobbler, I am always looking for something new. Recently, someone shared a recipe with me that immediately caught my attention. Not because it was fancy

dneumann1972

Oct 132 min read

A Little Nature and a Little Self-Care

Sometimes, self-care isn't about bubble baths, candles, or curling up with a good book. Sometimes, it's about getting outside, breathing in the fresh air, and spending time with someone you love. For me, one of my favorite places to do just that is Dow Gardens in Midland, Michigan. There is something about being surrounded by nature that makes me feel at peace. Maybe it's the sound of leaves rustling in the breeze, the smell of the flowers, or the simple beauty of watching th

dneumann1972

Oct 102 min read

What Would Annie Do?

I have a tendency to overdo things. If I have a little energy, I somehow convince myself I have a lot. If I have one thing planned, I can probably squeeze in three more. If something needs to be done, I have a hard time leaving it until tomorrow. And then my body reminds me that apparently it did not agree to this schedule. That made me wonder: What would Annie do? I have a feeling Annie the Porcupine would be much smarter about it than I am. She would probably spend some tim

dneumann1972

Sep 222 min read

All About The Senses

I have always been all about the senses. When I think about a place I have visited, I don't always remember what it looked like first. Sometimes I remember the smell. Sometimes it is a sound. And if I ate something fabulous while I was there, there is a very good chance I will remember the food before I remember exactly where I was when I ate it. For me, experiencing a place has never been only about what I can see. It is the smell of something baking when you walk through a

dneumann1972

Sep 132 min read

Never Outgrow Goofy

Today my grandbaby walked into my house, and this is how I greeted him. Sitting in my recliner. Dressed as a Muppet. Just waiting. Because apparently this is the kind of grandma I have become. Lately, I have been writing a novel about a woman who is trying to figure out who she is after spending most of her life being someone's daughter, wife, mother, and now grandma. Somewhere in the middle of writing it, I gave her a line about being goofy. About how growing older shouldn't

dneumann1972

Sep 81 min read

Prickly and Proud

I'm a porcupine, prickly and round, With thousands of quills from my head to the ground. I waddle through forests with plenty of flair, And never once worry about fixing my hair. I don't need a comb. I don't need a brush. And when I get startled, I don't have to rush. I just puff myself up and proudly declare, "Come any closer, if you dare!" Hugs can be tricky. Cuddles are worse. And popping balloons? Well, that's my curse. I'm not very speedy. I'm not very sleek. I may have

dneumann1972

Aug 161 min read

Would Annie Eat This?

While out walking, I spotted this beautiful mushroom growing in the forest. My first thought was that is so pretty. My second thought was, Would Annie eat those? Because once you write books about a porcupine, apparently every walk through the woods turns into research. Porcupines are herbivores, and their menu changes with the seasons. They eat leaves, twigs, bark, roots, berries, grasses, and other plants they find while wandering through the forest. And yes, porcupines h

dneumann1972

Aug 101 min read

Do You Think Porcupines Snore?

I woke up in the middle of the night wondering... Do you think porcupines snore? I can just imagine Annie all curled up in a cozy little nest after a busy day of adventures. Maybe she lets out a tiny little snuffle. Or perhaps a soft whistle. But what if she snores? Would it be a quiet little "zzz..." Or would it sound like a tiny chainsaw hidden under a pile of blankets? Maybe her family nudges her and says, "Annie! You're keeping everyone awake!" Of course, real porcupines

dneumann1972

Aug 61 min read

Out of My Comfort Zone

For as long as I can remember, I have written children's books. Every once in a while, I've challenged myself by entering a short story contest or contributing a piece to an anthology. But recently, I started something completely out of my comfort zone. A novel. Not a middle-grade novel. Not a young adult novel. A full-length adult novel with a goal of at least 50,000 words. I honestly didn't set out to write one. The story simply appeared. It floated into my thoughts, follow

dneumann1972

Jul 302 min read

Carrot Cake Cobbler

One of my favorite parts of sharing recipes is hearing from all of you. Every once in a while, someone sends me a recipe recommendation that immediately makes me stop and think, "How have I never tried this before?" That happened this week when someone suggested Carrot Cake Cobbler. First of all... carrot cake? Yes, please. Second... cobbler? Also yes! If you've been around here for a while, you already know that Annie the Porcupine and I have a bit of a carrot obsession. Fro

dneumann1972

Jul 232 min read

Pez Dispenser ME

Some childhood memories are tied to the smallest things. A favorite book. A family tradition. A toy you treasured. For me, one of those memories is a PEZ dispenser. My mom rarely bought us candy, so I probably only owned one or two PEZ dispensers growing up. That may be exactly why I remember them so well. They were special. It was never really about the candy anyway. It was the character sitting on top. You would pull back the head, hear that satisfying click, and out popped

dneumann1972

Jul 152 min read

The Gift of Friendship

Sometimes the biggest blessings begin with the smallest moments. A simple conversation, a shared laugh, a chance meeting, or an unexpected adventure. Looking back, I realize the people who have changed my life the most didn't arrive with grand entrances. They simply became the people who stood beside me through celebrations, heartbreaks, ordinary Tuesdays, and all the moments in between. Over time, those friendships became part of who I am. I don't have hundreds of close frie

dneumann1972

Jul 42 min read

Inspiration Hits You Wherever

As a writer, I find ideas in the strangest places and at the most unexpected times. Sometimes I wake from a vivid dream and have to turn on the light before the story slips away. Other times, inspiration finds me on a walk, in the grocery store, or while simply watching the world. That's why I carry a pen and paper everywhere. Most ideas get written down, revisited later, and tucked away until the time is right. But every so often, the words refuse to stay on the page. They k

dneumann1972

Jul 21 min read

A Weekend of Joy

Sometimes the best weekends are the ones that would sound completely uneventful to someone else. This weekend, I'm headed to a cabin with a friend. There were no packed itineraries, no sightseeing schedules, no pressure to "make the most of every minute." Instead, there were books. Coloring books. Coffee. Conversations that wandered wherever they wanted to go. And naps. Years ago, I might have thought that sounded boring. Somewhere along the way, I bought into the idea that

dneumann1972

Jun 281 min read

Today I Choose To Rest

The world doesn't stop just because I need it to. People still go to work. Emails still come in. Life keeps moving at the same fast pace it always has. And here I am... trying to heal. It is disorienting. I find myself measuring my day in small steps. Did I rest? Did I take care of myself? Did I make it through okay? While the world around me measures in productivity, deadlines, and accomplishments. I feel out of place sometimes, like I am existing on a completely different t

dneumann1972

May 281 min read

In The Stillness

There's a strange kind of guilt that comes with sitting still. Not the kind where you've done something wrong, but the kind where you feel wrong... just for resting. I didn't expect that part of recovery. I thought the hard part would be the physical healing, the pain, the discomfort, the waiting. But no one really talks about the mental tug-of-war, the voice in your head whispering, "You should be doing more," even when your body is clearly saying, "Not today." I'll sit down

dneumann1972

May 281 min read

Carrot Cake Latte

There's something about an unexpected detour that turns into a little moment of magic. I went for a drive with no real destination, just needing a change of scenery and some time with the dog. And somehow, I ended up at Tim Hortons. And there it was. Not just coffee... but a whole carrot cake experience: Carrot Cake Latte, Carrot Cake Cold Brew, and Carrot Cake Iced Capp. I mean... excuse me?? When did carrot cake become the new craze outside of the Annie the Porcupine world?

dneumann1972

May 42 min read

Books From My Childhood

There are certain books that don't just sit on a shelf that they stay with you. For me, stories like Anne of Green Gables and The Chronicles of Narnia aren't just childhood reads. They're pieces of who I was... and, in a lot of ways, still am. When I flip through those pages now, I don't just see Anne with her wild imagination or children stepping through a wardrobe into another world. I see the girl I used to be, dreaming big, feeling deeply, believing there was always somet

dneumann1972

Apr 282 min read

Writing and Waiting

Everyone talks about writing the book. The ideas. The characters. The late nights when the story just flows and you can't type fast enough to keep up. That part? I love. What no one really talks about is the waiting. The waiting after the words are written. The waiting after you hit send. The waiting for someone else to take your story and bring it to life. Waiting for illustrations. There's something exciting about knowing your story is in someone else's hands, being turned

dneumann1972

Apr 282 min read

A Reflection on School: Then and Now

I started elementary school in 1978. Things were different then. Students with special needs didn't learn alongside us. They went to different schools, separate classrooms, separate experiences. At the time, it wasn't questioned—it was just the way things were. The norm was celebrating every holiday the same way. December meant Christmas music in music class. Halloween meant costumes, parties, and games. Everyone participated. Or at least, that's how it looked. But for me, it

dneumann1972

Apr 252 min read

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Home

The Blog

Three or Four Ingredient Carrot Cake

A Little Nature and a Little Self-Care

What Would Annie Do?

All About The Senses

Never Outgrow Goofy

Prickly and Proud

Would Annie Eat This?

Do You Think Porcupines Snore?

Out of My Comfort Zone

Carrot Cake Cobbler

Pez Dispenser ME

The Gift of Friendship

Inspiration Hits You Wherever

A Weekend of Joy

Today I Choose To Rest

In The Stillness

Carrot Cake Latte

Books From My Childhood

Writing and Waiting

A Reflection on School: Then and Now