The sun is shining! Brilliantly, joyously, lighting up the blue-green landscape. YES!
Sadie-beagle is having a sonogram today--think good thoughts, please. Her most recent blood test concerned her vet a little, so we're checking things out.
I spent yesterday reading a manuscript before it goes to press--"A Lawman's Christmas"--and today I'm starting the new book, #1 in the Parable, Montana series, called "Big Sky Country." Finally. It was something of a challenge, clearing the decks for this one.
My peonies are busy, busy, busy, getting ready to spout blossoms, along with the lush leaves they already sport. I have several peony plants, mostly young ones, but they're finally getting established. There are few things more beautiful than these grand dames of the garden when they reach maturity. There are roses, too, of course, and I'm looking forward to a yard bursting with color and bouquets on every surface.
I plan to buy some bedding plants this weekend, along with a few herbs, but I'm skipping the tomatoes. They had some kind of blight last year and, besides, we have some terrific farmer's markets in the Spokane area.
My newest gadget is a Nook--I think this is true love. :) It's much lighter than my ipad and, unlike the Kindle, it has color, a definite advantage with magazines. Just think of all the paper to be saved. :) Not to mention the reduction in clutter. Which is not to say I plan on giving up real books and magazines, because I don't. Ever. But I do a lot of traveling, as you know, and the Nook will be perfect for that--easy to carry around.
That's the news for Tuesday, my friends.
Be safe, be happy, be kind.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Monday, May 09, 2011
Mother's Day Report
My favorite (and only) brother drove up from Kittitas yesterday, and he and I took our mom out for a lovely brunch at Prospector's, up on the north end of town. She was all spiffed up for the day, and a grand time was had by all. After a delicious meal, we headed over to Fred Meyers to do a little shopping--Mom and I shopped, anyway. Jerry just waited patiently and then loaded up the car.
Later in the day, once I was back home, I had a long talk with daughter Wendy. Her movie, "Truth Below", as been moved to June 16, on MTV, at 10 pm Pacific. Warning: this movie is not for the faint of heart or the easily offended. :) That said, I'm very proud of Wendy and all her accomplishments. She is an amazing woman, my baby girl, with an inborn talent as a writer and an even greater capacity for hard work. Talent, of course, is not enough on its own.
I'm writing today, and also reading through a manuscript. I spent the whole of last evening reading the wrong one. Duh.
The weather is overcast this morning, but some sunshine might creep in a little later on, and I'm ready for it. :)
I threw together a few artist trading cards over the weekend, and made a quick trip to Walmart, where I bought some plastic containers to hold the new art supplies I picked up on my recent visit to Colorado Springs. (I'm trying to get organized, but it's a big job.) I hosted a trade on Art 42 and sent out all the art dolls on Saturday. The swap was a lot of fun for me, and I already have another one set up. Check it out online--Steampunk Paper Doll is the name of the trade.
The peonies in my backyard are sure leafing out.
YES!
And that's the news for today, my friends.
Later in the day, once I was back home, I had a long talk with daughter Wendy. Her movie, "Truth Below", as been moved to June 16, on MTV, at 10 pm Pacific. Warning: this movie is not for the faint of heart or the easily offended. :) That said, I'm very proud of Wendy and all her accomplishments. She is an amazing woman, my baby girl, with an inborn talent as a writer and an even greater capacity for hard work. Talent, of course, is not enough on its own.
I'm writing today, and also reading through a manuscript. I spent the whole of last evening reading the wrong one. Duh.
The weather is overcast this morning, but some sunshine might creep in a little later on, and I'm ready for it. :)
I threw together a few artist trading cards over the weekend, and made a quick trip to Walmart, where I bought some plastic containers to hold the new art supplies I picked up on my recent visit to Colorado Springs. (I'm trying to get organized, but it's a big job.) I hosted a trade on Art 42 and sent out all the art dolls on Saturday. The swap was a lot of fun for me, and I already have another one set up. Check it out online--Steampunk Paper Doll is the name of the trade.
The peonies in my backyard are sure leafing out.
YES!
And that's the news for today, my friends.
Friday, May 06, 2011
Mother's Day
Happy Mom's day to Hazel Bleecker Lael, my mama. See you Sunday morning!
There are many reasons why I love my mother, and here are just a few of them:
She was always there for me.
She passed on her love of books and her facility with the written word.
She took me to Sunday school.
She covered for me when I would otherwise have been in big trouble with Dad. :)
She can make me laugh like no one else.
She never said 'go outside and play' when I was scribbling down some story in a spiral notebook.
She pretended she didn't know I was faking it when I stayed home from school to see Michael Landon on "Hollywood Squares".
She did without so many things so her children could have extras.
And that doesn't even scratch the surface.
I love you, Mom. Thanks for being you.
There are many reasons why I love my mother, and here are just a few of them:
She was always there for me.
She passed on her love of books and her facility with the written word.
She took me to Sunday school.
She covered for me when I would otherwise have been in big trouble with Dad. :)
She can make me laugh like no one else.
She never said 'go outside and play' when I was scribbling down some story in a spiral notebook.
She pretended she didn't know I was faking it when I stayed home from school to see Michael Landon on "Hollywood Squares".
She did without so many things so her children could have extras.
And that doesn't even scratch the surface.
I love you, Mom. Thanks for being you.
Thursday, May 05, 2011
Belated Blog
I know, I know. I was going to blog from Colorado Springs, using my trusty iPad. Obviously, it just didn't happen. I was too busy having a great time!
The Pike's Peak Writers Conference is one of the best I've ever attended--well organized, well attended, and very informative. I attended a workshop called "Cowboy Up" and learned a lot. I had a lovely view of the Peak from my hotel room window, and enjoyed making new friends and reconnecting with old ones. Well, not old....
:)
After the conference, I stayed at my good friend Debbie's house, and did we ever have fun. We hit my favorite restaurants, Souper Salad and Mimi's, along with two wonderful papercrafting stores, Archiver's and Simple Pleasures. Wow. I had a ball buying loads of new stuff to try with my trading cards and art journals. Debbie and her mom, Jean, and I are thick as thieves, so we have fun just hanging out together. Deb taught me a great new (to me) technique, called iris folding. I made the prettiest kimono, maybe 3 by 5 inches, and will glue it into an art journal. If I find a good video on iris folding, I'll post the link here on the blog. I couldn't figure it out from the instruction books, but once Debbie showed me the trick, I really got into it. The results are beautiful and unique.
I've been getting a few of the same questions on through the website, so I thought I'd address them here, though just briefly.
The #1 question, Will there be more Mojo books?
The answer: Yes, eventually. Right now, I'm too busy with my new Parable series, but I'll write at least one more Mojo book for sure.
The #2 question, Will you ever write more vampire books?
The answer: That's unlikely. However, I will be offering the four original books as e-books very soon, and at some point I may offer short stories about the characters, also electronic, for a whopping 99-cent fee. Depends on the response to the initial series, of course.
The #3 question, Will you ever finish the medieval series begun with "My Lady Wayward" and "My Lady Beloved"?
The answer. Also unlikely. They were great books, but frankly, they didn't sell all that well and, alas, publishing is a business, though we readers tend to think of it as an art form. :) Again, however, I may write a shorter version of the third story, as an e-book, just so people can find out what happened to the third sister.
Tune in tomorrow for more about the conference in Colorado Springs.
In the meantime, be happy, be well, and be kind.
The Pike's Peak Writers Conference is one of the best I've ever attended--well organized, well attended, and very informative. I attended a workshop called "Cowboy Up" and learned a lot. I had a lovely view of the Peak from my hotel room window, and enjoyed making new friends and reconnecting with old ones. Well, not old....
:)
After the conference, I stayed at my good friend Debbie's house, and did we ever have fun. We hit my favorite restaurants, Souper Salad and Mimi's, along with two wonderful papercrafting stores, Archiver's and Simple Pleasures. Wow. I had a ball buying loads of new stuff to try with my trading cards and art journals. Debbie and her mom, Jean, and I are thick as thieves, so we have fun just hanging out together. Deb taught me a great new (to me) technique, called iris folding. I made the prettiest kimono, maybe 3 by 5 inches, and will glue it into an art journal. If I find a good video on iris folding, I'll post the link here on the blog. I couldn't figure it out from the instruction books, but once Debbie showed me the trick, I really got into it. The results are beautiful and unique.
I've been getting a few of the same questions on through the website, so I thought I'd address them here, though just briefly.
The #1 question, Will there be more Mojo books?
The answer: Yes, eventually. Right now, I'm too busy with my new Parable series, but I'll write at least one more Mojo book for sure.
The #2 question, Will you ever write more vampire books?
The answer: That's unlikely. However, I will be offering the four original books as e-books very soon, and at some point I may offer short stories about the characters, also electronic, for a whopping 99-cent fee. Depends on the response to the initial series, of course.
The #3 question, Will you ever finish the medieval series begun with "My Lady Wayward" and "My Lady Beloved"?
The answer. Also unlikely. They were great books, but frankly, they didn't sell all that well and, alas, publishing is a business, though we readers tend to think of it as an art form. :) Again, however, I may write a shorter version of the third story, as an e-book, just so people can find out what happened to the third sister.
Tune in tomorrow for more about the conference in Colorado Springs.
In the meantime, be happy, be well, and be kind.
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