This Life...
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December Memos
Dear Snow, So you couldn’t hang around for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day? What’s up with that? It’s 8 degrees outside, so a little of the white stuff wouldn’t be out of line here. Shiveringly, Nan **** Dear James Taylor, Thank you for your Christmas CD! It’s awesome and I’ve nearly worn it out this Christmas. I especially love your rendition of Joni Mitchell’s “River.” You are, as always, amazing. Caroling, Nan **** Dear Christmas Cookies and Fudge in the Freezer, Shut up! Resistingly, Nan **** Dear Grandboy, What a wonderful time Pops and I had watching you and Daddy baking this past weekend. Skype surely rocks! You’re such a…
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8-Sentence Sunday
Can you believe it’s a new 8-Sentence Sunday? Where is the time going? I’m deep into Book 3 of the Women of Willow Bay series–Sarah’s as-yet untitled story. I’m open to suggestions by the way. Setup is the same as last week–Sarah is closing up La Belle Femme, the resale shop she manages at a women’s shelter in Chicago. A mysterious limo has been parked outside each evening for the past couple of days and she and Mack, the nightwatchman are wondering… “Yup,” Sarah returned the smile—Mack was a sweetheart. She switched off all the lights except the can lights over the front window and locked the register as he…
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Mushy Mind…
…and wow, is it bad right now! I have a very bad case of mind mush—my ability to focus and function is seriously out of whack. I’m not sure if it’s because the weather is changing or that I’m finally sleeping again or the poison ivy that’s driving me crazy or allergies or what, but for some reason, my brain is muddled. My grandmother used to say she was muzzy—isn’t that a great word? I’m muzzy. Example 1: I went back in the house twice this afternoon before I finally took off for my errands. Once to make sure I’d unplugged all the hair stuff in the bathroom (I had)…
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On Being Nanny…
I’m just home from a wondrous visit with Son, DIL, and Grandboy, and although it’s nice to be back home and getting into my “normal” routine again, I already miss all of them! Grandboy and I had a fun-filled two weeks of playing and reading and simply getting to know one another better. He is a delight, but wow, there is truly a reason that God gives toddlers to young people. Whew!! I definitely got my exercise! It wasn’t anything I couldn’t handle though, and I was happy for my strong legs and healthy body. The boy is busy and full of curiosity! Everything is an adventure. He discovered the…
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Grandboy!
Grandboy, Son and DIL visited a week ago and spent five days at the lake with us. They all loved the lake—it was Grandboy’s first foray into lake life, DIL’s first time at a lake since she became an adult, and for Son, it was a visit back to his own childhood. He got to swim and fish and boat and generally re-live his days at this lake when he was a kid. It was glorious having them there, in spite of poor DIL popping her knee out of place. Son did the brave thing and popped it back in for her, but she had to be in a knee…
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Overdrive…and Memos
I feel like I”m in overdrive and actually, there’s no reason for me to be. I think it’s mostly left over from the chaos of having the renovation work done and then the kids coming right after and being on deadline for work projects and creating deadlines for my own books. I need to chill out. It’s summer, life is supposed to be slower. The lake calls and all I want to do is swim and boat and visit with my friends there. My editor keeps telling me, “You’re rushing. Just breathe…” and I think it may apply to more than writing my novels. I think I need to heed…
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Release the Pigs!
I’m not a collector. Seriously. I don’t collect anything at all. That doesn’t mean I don’t have a lot of stuff, I do. Way more stuff that I need, definitely way more stuff than I use. But I don’t have any collections. I’m rather an anomaly because of it–most people collect something. My dad collected coins. My sister, PJ collects purple glassware and some kind of pink pottery and angels and milk glass. Sister Kate used to collect baskets, but I’m not sure she still does. Husband collects tools, but not because he’s a collector, rather because he uses a lot of different tools. A pal at the lake collects…
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Renovation Is Progressing…
…and we are so thrilled with how quickly things are moving along! The painting is done in the living room, hallways, foyer and stairwell. Breakfast nook has the base and paint for the Venetian glaze. The dining room walls are painted and the painters are working on the trim. The kitchen cabinets are all in and primed for paint and the new countertops are set. The hardwood floor is being laid as I type…all in all, we’re looking great! Well, actually, we’re a dusty mess, but the timing looks great. We should be close to done by the end of the week and completely finished by early next week. I’m…
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Renovations Are Fun!
We’ve started the reno work on our downstairs and wowza! This is the first time anyone else has ever done work on our house (outside of people laying floors or carpet), so a whole new experience for Husband and me. Honestly, I’ve never even had to call a repairman for anything—Husband is a genius and if anything breaks, he fixes it. So, other workman in our house pulling up carpet, tearing out cabinets, and doing demo work is disconcerting. However, we’re maintaining our zen, something we agreed to do before we ever started. It also helps to have a great contractor and we do! Tim Edens is a wonder! He’s…
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March Memos
It was a very busy month with an overload of work and a trip to see Grandboy and coming home to revisions and writing. Thus, I do have a couple of things I need to get off my chest. Dear Spring, Where are you? I’ve waited patiently, watched the gardens for green tips of new growth, anticipated going up to open up the cottage and yet, I come home from Son’s house to find snow on the ground! Seriously? Shiveringly, Nan *** Darling Grandboy, Ah, you are the light of Nanny’s life. I loved the week we spent together and how you’ve grown and matured. I love your curiosity and…