Birthdays

Today is my mother's birthday--I won't tell how old she is, as she's still pretty strong. :) My brother, Jerry, is celebrating today, too. He's a couple of years younger than I am, so I'm not telling his age, either. Yes, their birthdays are on the same day--and here's the kicker: Dad and I shared June 10 as well. Sisters Sally and Pam, May 21 and January 18 respectively, have birthdays-at-large. Sally was supposed to be visiting now, but the weather is too dicey. Wish you could have made it, Sis.

The snow is still deep, but the horses don't seem to mind. They run around in the shin-deep stuff like they were on bare ground. They're always happy to come in around sundown, though--often have icicles hanging from their manes and forelocks. Always ready to have supper and snug in for the night in their stalls.

Sadie and Bear are still confounded by the snow. You can almost hear them thinking, "What IS this stuff????" Arizona dogs, alas.

Flannery and Logan are waiting for me in fictional Stillwater Springs, Montana. Best get saddled up and on the trail.

Make it a good day.

Cycles

It's still dark out as I write this--I see lights glimmering on the other side of the valley, but the snow-laden trees are still invisible. In daylight, the landscape is calendar-beautiful.

Maybe it's the weather--lots of snow on the ground and more predicted for tomorrow--that has me thinking of spring. And of seeds and cycles. A time to sow, and a time to reap. One of the best things about being back in the northwest is the changing of the seasons; it reminds me that we mortals have cycles, too. Seasons of growth, seasons of waiting and working quietly and trusting.

This little part of the planet only seems dormant; I know all sorts of wonderful processes are going on under the ground, in the trunks and roots of trees and plants. And yet, like most people, I still yearn for blooming roses and fawns with spots, green and growing grass, the neighbor's peacocks wandering past. I find waiting for spring--or anything else--to be a challenge.

It seems safe to say that we, like Mother Earth, must have our fallow times, if we would burst through the soil under some warm and future sun and unfurl our leaves, delicate at first, and then sturdy. We must be patient, and learn to honor our processes, methinks. Everything in Creation seems to have one--so why not people? Why not dreams?

Weather or Not...

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

But send a plow. :)

The stuff is STILL coming down. As it stands, it would be easier getting out of here on horseback than in a car!

Fortunately, I don't have to commute. I'll just stay right here and write today's portion of "Logan's Return". It's summer in Montana, where the book is set--ah, the power of the imagination. It can transport us anywhere.

I guess that's why books are such a joy.

Still Snowed In

But the landscape is breathtakingly beautiful. A literal winter wonderland--but too deep to walk in.

The horses seem to love it--Coco dashed out of her stall this morning with her tail and her spirits high. April, who is a neatnik, was upset last night because Traveler took her stall. Believe it or not, she keeps it in a certain way. :)She is darling, and slightly prissy for a horse!

I had a pretty productive weekend, given that, or because, I was snowed in. No heading out to the casino, that's for sure. In fact I gave the animals orders--nobody gets sick! I worked on the basic structure of an outline for a new book, read through the chapters of "Logan's Return" I've written so far, and even made a dent in the mess in my art room. (This is a place you do not want to go without a whip and chair.)

The snow is higher than Bernice's head, and about equal with Sadie's. As former Arizona dogs, they are still a little stymied by all that white stuff. We are having a plow blade added to the farm's ATV today.

It's always something around here.

Still Crafting

Why didn't you stop me? :)

I'm excited. The new book, "Logan's Return", part of next year's three-in-a-row release, is going very well. I set a goal to rack up 5000 words per day, and I've been doing that. I just get sucked right into the story, with the characters, and I love that. They're a lively bunch, though, so I'm pretty pooped when the work day ends.

I'm addicted to the little resin collages I've been making--maybe it's the fumes--and you'll be so proud. I haven't left a smudge on one of them by touching too soon.

The sun still isn't up, and I've already journaled, which is the first thing I do, besides taking the dogs out and starting the coffee. That means I'll get an early start on the day's word quota, and probably finish earlier than usual.

I'm heading to California for a visit with daughter Wendy on February 4. Her birthday is the 6th. I'm taking my laptop, and she and I are planning to write. She's a screenwriter, and not much is happening for her right now, because of the strike. She's been on jury duty this last little while, and I'm fascinated by that. Mum's the word, though, until it's over. Wendy takes jury duty seriously. I will be blogging from Santa Monica, so I'll let you know whether we actually write, or just goof off the whole time. We love to talk shop--plots, characterization, etc. I can't wait to see her.

Well, gang, we've made it through another week. This morning, I prayed for each and every one of you. May you be blessed, on all levels.

Make it a good weekend. The choice is up to you.