The News from My Kitchen Table

Today we have cloudy skies and the promise of wind, wind and more wind. I was up early this morning for a radio interview, and I've been watching the big trees sway back and forth to their own kind of music. My niece, Kelly Lael, is coming to town, and I'll get to see her, so I'm tickled pink about that. I don't see enough of Kelly, as she lives on the other side of the country and has a responsible government job that makes us all proud. As usual, the better part of today will be dedicated to writing--so near to the finish line!--and I'll probably play around with art supplies at some point, too. I'm a little bummed that I can't make it to Artfest after all, but that's life. There are just too many other things that have to get done. Maybe next year. I want to get a solid start on the new series, set in Parable, Montana. "A Creed in Stone Creek" is still enjoying a great run--5th week on the New York Times bestseller list. Conner's book, "Creed's Honor", will be out the last Tuesday in May, and Brody's, "The Creed Legacy", a month later, in June. I'm sure anxious for you to meet the rest of this rough-and-tumble outfit. :) Mom emailed, after reading yesterday's blog (Hi, Mom) and said Dad traded a load of firewood for the radio I mentioned. Times were tough back then, and the folks did without a lot of things we take for granted today, but I can't help wondering if I'll remember my first iPod or any other fancy electronic gadget the way I remember that radio. Time to make coffee and get on with the day. We're burnin' daylight, after all.

Paragraphs

For some reason, this infernal machine doesn't want to indent for separate paragraphs. Hence today's solid block of a post. :)

No News is Good News

That's the way it's working out around here, anyway. It would seem that I've broken the morning-news habit, at least as far as TV goes. I do enjoy listening to certain radio stations over my beloved iPad--maybe because it reminds me of my childhood. Our family had TV, in the latter part of the fifties, anyway, but it wasn't so in-your-face as it is now. There were only three channels to choose from, after all, and a fourth that was always too snowy to watch. In the early morning, folks switched on the tabletop radio, made of luxurious post-War plastic (I remember being fascinated by the design of the dial, which had diamond-shaped indents), and took in the 'farm report', the weather forecast, and other useful information. How the world has changed, between livingroom radios the size of cabinets, and the iPod nano,which is no larger than a watch face. Makes a person wonder what's next, doesn't it? The dreary weather continues, but I'm feeling pretty good, and eager to write. Today's recommended book is "The Paris Wife", by Paula McLain. It's a novel about Hemingway's first marriage, the wild years in Europe, etc. It is so beautifully written, and so compelling, that I'm tempted to listen to it all over again. In short, I loved it. I made chicken soup yesterday, instead of split pea. It's good for what ails you, that stuff. That's the news, my friends. Tune in tomorrow.

Rain, Rain, Go Away...

Come again some never day. Just kidding. Of course I know how much we need the rain, but I'm sure looking forward to growing, thriving things, and sunshine. Bring on the summer magic. It's a split pea soup kind of day. Maybe I'll throw together a batch of that. And I'll write. That's even better than the pea soup. :) And that, such as it is, is the news.

Hitch in My Get-Along

I pulled a muscle in my lower back on Saturday morning, either setting down or picking up the dogs' water dish, I can't remember which. Not bad enough to go to the ER, thank heaven, but it sure did cramp my style. Since I don't have much to say today that doesn't constitute whining and complaining (oh, woe is me), I posted a close-up shot of the sunflower I've been noodling with. Almost time to bite the bullet, put it up on eBay, and let the chips fall where they may. Yikes. Since my office chair is cushy and supports my back, I plan to plunk myself down in it and write my way through this rainy Monday. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful. There is much more in my life that's going right, and we all have our challenges. That's the news.