A Day at Hampton Middle

Yesterday I spent a very enjoyable day at Hampton Middle School. Mrs. Graham welcomed me warmly the moment I arrived and all the staff was very friendly. I first met with the theatre full of grade seven students and they were very attentive, respectful and engaged in my presentation. I was very impressed with the thoughtful questions they asked and their insightful observations. As always it is challenging to share such a personal journey with a large group of unknown people but I was well rewarded for doing so. Next I faced a large group of active , pre Christmas break, grade eight students. At first glance I expected it to be daunting trying to keep this percolating group still. On the contrary though overall they were equally attentive, respectful and engaged. I came away from the group feeling very warmly received. At lunch time I was treated to a lovely stir-fry meal, salad and desert made by HMS EA Mrs. Freeze. Her generous attention to detail was very much appreciated and together with Mrs. Ketchum Boudreau ,Mrs. Jensen,Mrs. MacEachern and Mrs. Freeze (the district Literacy Specialist)I had a delicious and relaxing lunch.In the afternoon I had 21 eager students for a Writers Workshop and the enthusiasm and skill they showed was wonderful. Hampton Middle definitely has some budding writers.So all in all I had another very successful WISP visit and look forward to a few more this year. I am always reminded how much I loved being a teacher, how much I love being retired and how much I love being an author.

Get Me Through December

Here we are nine days into December. December for me has always been full of wonderful things.Thirty four years ago on December 5th Burton and I became parents for the first time to a beautiful baby boy Zachary Leverett White 8lbs 14ozs. What joy that baby brought with him. For years afterwards his birthday started off a month of family , friends and celebration filled with traditions that became so important to our growing family. Those traditions became more important but so challenging in 1999 when we had to face our first Christmas without Zac. Some of the following years, December was excruciating and we carefully negotiated our way around some of those traditions changing some and letting some go.I remember the feeling of holding my breath and determinedly getting through the season with relief coming after all the hype was over on January 2nd. Now thirteen years later I face the month with a quiet melancholy ,fervently hanging on to the memories and being very careful to concentrate on the parts of the celebration that fill me up . I don't feel the same desperation to get it over with. I will take each December day and enjoy what I have been given. I will enjoy my warm and cosy home,my health,the people I am blessed to have in my life, the gift of my office and writing time. I look forward to editing my third book and getting it ready for a May release.I will celebrate getting another year older on Boxing day.Listening this morning to Stephanie Mainville's rendition of Gordie Sampson's song Get me Through December I am extremely grateful that getting through December is something I look forward to not something I dread.

Speech from the Throne

In the Speech from the Throne that opened the New Brunswick Legislature, Lieutenant Governor Graydon Nicholas mentioned three New Brunswick authors in his Celebration section. One of those authors was me. What a thrill to see my name as an author in the speech. I gave 29 years in service to the province as a public school teacher and am very proud of the efforts I put forth in that profession. I am even prouder to be recognized as an author.What a wonderful gift I have been given to be able to do what I truly love after spending years in the classroom which I loved (most days) as well.Shout outs to France Daigle and Riel Nason for their achievements which were also congratulated in the speech. I tried to put the link on this post but could not figure out how to do that. You can Google Speech from the Throne New Brunswick 2012 and find the speech.

The Monday Night Book Club

Monday night I met with my friend Karen's, Monday Night Book Club. Three sisters , a daughter/niece and three friends make up a delightful and chatty group that meet once a month and read fabulous and challenging books.This month they chose my book Ten Thousand Truths which I am not saying is fabulous or challenging but they were very complementary of it and we had a long and rich discussion.They asked lots of questions about the story ,the process and my writing life. My friend Karen who had suggested the book was monumental in launching my writing career. She was the one who in her careful perusal of the local newspaper ,came upon the small add for the Atlantic Writing Competition ,cut it out and put it on her fridge and later gave it to me encouraging me to enter my manuscript for The Year Mrs. Montague Cried which she had been hearing about from the first days of my writing it to the years of rejection letters that followed. On her prompting I did what needed to be done to send it in December 2009 and won first place in the Y/A category in August 2010. Following that I signed a contract with Acorn Press for the publishing of the Year Mrs. Montague Cried which came out in May 2011.Thank you Karen for believing in me then and still believing in me suggesting my second book to your Book Club. I now feel like an honorary member of her book club and will certainly keep up with their reading and goings on in the months to come.

Hampton High Visit

Wednesday I braved the early morning hour and my frost covered windsheild and headed for a visit to Hampton High School. On my way while innocently eating my blueberry bagel I broke off one of my front teeth. Luckily the only pain it caused was one of vanity hoping that my audience would not be distracted by the gaping hole in my mouth and make the judgement that apparently retired teachers turned authors have no dental coverage if they are letting their teeth blacken and fall out. Putting my toothy concerns aside I proceeded to speak to two classes who filed in to the library in their early morning teenage manner but soon proved to be a very attentive and kind group. The next group consisted of one class and brought with them a series of prepared questions that I was happy to attempt to answer as best I could. Both groups held several former students which my mind struggled to quickly match names to their older faces only calling a couple of them by their siblings names .It was wonderful to see them and be standing there reading from the book I had read to them when they were in Grade five when the book was only a pile of typed pages.And then I read to them from my second book and was pleased to tell them the story of the how in six years I had made the transition from teacher to a published /working author. I then spoke to a large group of about 100 students in the theatre. I was a bit disconcerted to be standing in that venue looking out at a sea of faces ,some I recognized and quickly put names to. I talked a bit, read a bit and answered some of their prepared questions. Even in such a large group and in a more impersonal setting I still felt like I made a connection with the students. The time went quickly and our time together was over. A couple of students stayed behind with comments and questions. Thank you Rosalind and Grace , Nell and Ben (I think) for introducing me in such a generous manner. Thank you to the teachers Mrs. Donovan. Mrs Spurr McKay and Mrs Finnigan for inviting me and organizing the morning and thanks to the other teachers who brought their classes and supported my work. Thank you Mr. McMillan for buying my books for the library.I left the theatre and joined my friend Ruth in the Resource room and briefly helped two boys with their Science assignment. So I got a little teacher fix and it quickly reminded me what I loved about teaching and what I love about retirement.Then Ruth and I went to the Kosy Korner for a nice lunch together. The visit certainly reminded me of what I love about being a writer. Thank you Hampton High!

Another Book Club

October is winding down quickly and the week ahead is full and holds some challenges. Sitting in my office this afternoon with the sun shining again after yesterday's drenching rain seems like a time to reflect on the last week and prepare for the week ahead. My obsessive list making has now carried over to my new cell phone. My first cell phone ever by the way and like so much else that technology gives us we soon wonder how we managed without it. I now in addition to my slips of paper holding lists and jottings that are meant to ground me and keep me on track ,constantly check my phone and update my calendar.Whatever! As for reflections of last week. I met with a wonderful group of women who have been a Book Club since 2004 and actually read books and discuss them . The entire group of about 13 women filled the room with a warm and welcoming vibe right from the start of the evening and the bond they seemed to have with each other seemed very genuine. Meeting the group I was reminded of my own circles of women friends that provide friendship and support that is priceless in our busy and challenging lives.The book club had invited me after they read Ten Thousand Truths.They were brimming with questions and observations and as a writer it was a thrill to be given the opportunity to talk about my work with a group of such keen readers. Afterwards I signed their books and several of them bought copies of The Year Mrs. Montague Cried. They gave me a beautiful bouquet of flowers and a lovely bottle of green apple wine. It was a wonderful evening . Thank you Heather for suggesting the book, thank you Kim for inviting me and welcoming me in to your home and thank you to all the other members. Keep reading and keep connecting to one another in the wonderful way you have been doing for eight years.

October Days

The second week of October has brought cold winds and a hint of the winter to come. Harvest is probably about half done with the tomatoes all picked, the squash bagged up and lots of pickles, jam and salsa made. The carrots and parsnips need to be pulled and the potatoes dug. The ground is covered with leaves after last night's high winds. Evenings require a fire and the darkness falls so much earlier and the mornings are dark.My month with Emma is over and the visit from her mom and little sister is almost over as well. I will miss those sweet smiles, the hugs and all the joy my granddaughters have brought to our home .I will probably not see them again until March and so much will have changed as a one year old and three year old have such a rapid growing curve. I will treasure the time we have had and hope that the memories of their time on the farm with Monkey and Toad will be firmly planted and cause them the desire to return to this place where they are so loved by great grandparents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends and neighbours. Last night I met with a book club made up of a group of enthusiastic young ladies at the Peddler's Creek restaurant in Quispamsis.Thank you Stephanie, Deborah, Melissa and Sarah. They had read The Year Mrs. Montague Cried and were full of questions and observations that were insightful and generous. It was the first of three book clubs I am meeting with this month and I am so thrilled to have the opportunity to meet with readers. I am taking a couple of hours to write this afternoon as Meg and the girls visit a friend. It makes me very anxious to begin a more disciplined routine next week.

September Begins

I am back at my writing desk on this beautiful September morning. For years this morning would see me standing in new clothes in front of thirty eager children setting the stage for the grade four year I would attempt to deliver. My voice would convey optimism, firmness and challenge . I would lead them through the plan that would frame their day to day experience of the months ahead.I always loved the drama of new school supplies, new expectations and endless potential. This day still means that to me. I will spend time reading work that has already been put to paper(or computer screen),get a strong plan for where I go next and take off like a flash to find my way through the challenge of plot and character development.Let September begin!

Ten Thousand Truths is Launched

The week of the launch started with a hot, Monday morning in the garden pulling weeds in the bean rows. It was almost 11:00 and just about time for a lake swim after finishing four rows.Burton was a few rows away and all that could be heard was the drone of CBC when I looked up to see someone walking toward me. Burton said "Who's that? " and even without my glasses on I could tell it was Megan holding Paige with Brianne and Emma right behind her. Unknown to me Burton had arranged to bring them home and Brianne had picked them up at the airport late the night before. No more weeding was done that day or the rest of the week for that matter. Thursday came and my cousin Joy, her husband,John and their two nieces arrived and we were ready to leave to go set up the market around 3:00. Erin wanted to see the pigs and as they approached the pig yard they discovered five of the six pigs on the wrong side of the fence.John and I left , leaving the round-up to Burton , Joy and the girls. Later ,everything ready, we entered the market not knowing what to expect this year after such a successful launch of The Year Mrs. Montague Cried last year. I was not disappointed. My community , friends, family and several dedicated readers came out in droves to see Ten Thousand Truths off on it's trajectory. Anne Fullerton, a former student and aspiring editor and literature buff introduced me in a very generous manner. I read four passages and then my dear friend , former teacher and former colleague, travel companion ( the unforgettable Alaskian Cruise of 2007) and my house renovator finished the event by warmly and humorously wrapping things up. I signed books and greeted many people and did a video interview with a young man from the Telegraph Journal.Then we headed home for food, drink and laughter ,lots of story telling and a wind down, watching my two beautiful granddaughters charm

the crowd. What a wonderful night!

It's Here!

We arrived home from a trip to Ontario last night . It was so wonderful to see the lights of home when we pulled in the driveway. Caleb and Ashlie had held down the fort in fine style and Brianne had kept my flowers watered nicely. Today I sit here with the sound of steady rain on my tin roof. I am so thankful for each drop of water that is falling from the sky. After travelling through Ontario and seeing the effects of such dry, hot weather and hearing yesterday an interview on CBC with a American corn farmer, I am truly thankful for the gift of rain. I hope the same gift comes to the drought ridden areas before it is too late to save the crops. With all the excitement of arriving home and getting filled in on the week we were gone, the most exciting part was opening the box containing copies of Ten Thousand Truths. Not quite the same level of emotion that receiving the copies of The Year Mrs. Montague Cried brought, but huge never the less.It is thrilling to hold it in my hands and I look forward to all that lies ahead as it gets launched. Waiting for me was also a lovely hand written note on a beautiful card from a woman who had read The Year Mrs. Montague Cried last week. What a generous and kind thing to take the time and send the author such a note. I am overwhelmed and continue to count my blessings for the way things came together and brought both books into existence. Now to come down to the reality of unpacking, doing laundry and returning to the mundane amid the marvellous!

June Winding Down

It is the last week of June. The garden is planted and just about everything is up and growing. We have had three wet days which the dry earth needed badly. Ready for the hot sun to shine again to get the corn to grow high and give my flowers back their beauty. I have set the date for the launch of Ten Thousand Truths after deciding on a cover and checking everything before it was sent off to the printer. Thursday,August 2nd is the launch date at the Kingston Farmer's Market.I look forward to seeing family, friends and neighbours as I let my second book take flight.Until then I will weed, hoe, mow, swim and paddle ,

attend two weddings of close friend's daughters and enjoy every day of July.

George St. Middle School Bookworm Club

Yesterday I travelled to Fredericton to meet with the George St. Middle School Bookworm Club. Teacher Sara Belong and Librarian Sandy Barry had invited me and I am so glad I was able to go. I met Talha, Jacob, Dylan, Jaden, Nina,Heather,Matt, Sarah, and Shawne and shared parts of The Year Mrs. Montague Cried with them . We did a couple of reading /writing activities and I was happy to introduce a few books to them from Taylor Anne's Reading Challenge that they were unfamiliar with. Being the avid readers they are I am sure some of them will check some of the books out to read. Check them out, a good phrase when talking about a group of kids meeting in a well stocked library run by a very enthusiastic,dedicated librarian. That is something George St. Middle is lucky enough to have and it is a shame that every school in our province does not have one as well. Many of our school libraries are run by volunteers and when there is a lack of volunteers become sadly neglected and under utilized.I hope to return to George St. in the fall . Thanks again Sara and Sandy and Bookworm Club!

First Lake Swim of 2012

I did it! After working in the garden all day ,before getting supper I decided to head to the lake. Last year I went in on June 7th and I remember the water being leg numbing at first as I waded in but this year it was fine. Today it felt pretty much like it always does when I just tell myself "just get wet and it will feel wonderful". And wonderful it was. Back in the lake for another season. I love it ! Next plan is to get my kayak to the shore and start my daily paddles. This time last week I was in St. John's and was celebrating my win. Congratulations to my friend Riel Nason for her Commonwealth regional win.

Home From the Rock

I am home from my first trip to Newfoundland. What an amazing place! St. John's was everything I expected it to be. The whole trip was wonderful. I was greeted at the airport by a man holding a sign with my name on it. He took us on a quick tour of down town St. John's and up to Signal Hill then to our hotel all the while entertaining us with his wit and story telling. I knew we were in for a good time.After getting settled we went to a small restaurant called Zachary's a place I knew right away was where we needed to eat on this day of honouring a book with Zachary at the heart of it. I actually returned there a little while later with Gloria and enjoyed a delicious piece of cheesecake. Later we were whisked away to the VIP reception by a capable and down to business driver who took us the short distance to Bianca's with the skill of a Nascar driver.From the reception Gloria, Burton ,Mary Rose and I walked to the LSPU Hall. The night began with the awarding of the Ann Connor Brimer Award and I was thrilled to have been the one selected. Thrilled, shocked humbled and honoured for my book to receive such a tribute. Gloria Wesley was sitting right beside me and was so gracious and Vicki Grant the other nominee came right over during the intermission and congratulated me as well. Thank you to both of them. I feel so lucky to have been in such company with two such

wonderful writers. The rest of the night and days that followed rounded out a terrific experience and memorable first trip to a beautiful part of our country that I hope to return to many times . Today back home and trying to come down from such a great experience. I am so grateful for everything that has come about since the launch last year. I have so much to look forward to. For now though I have to get outside, tackle the task of cleaning out my garden shed, get mowing and tending to gardens. Our neighbour is tilling our large garden with his tractor and the days ahead will be filled with planting. I will relish the memory of the last few days as I take on the chores of garden time. Just like writing you have to plant the seeds and do the work to see a harvest.

Atlantic Book Awards Week

This time last year I was getting prepared to launch my first book "The Year Mrs. Montague Cried" on May 19th. I remember very clearly the excitement and nervousness of holding it for the first time when my ten author copies arrived in the mail. I didn't know what to expect as I looked forward to the night of the launch. It had been planned to fall on the week of Atlantic Book celebrations and I was thrilled to see a line in the brochure with my name and my book and the date , time and place of the launch. On the night of the launch a huge crowd showed up to support me and I was overwhelmed by the response. For the next few months I watched the steady sales and recieved many postive reviews and comments. I made several school visits which were always very rewarding. Now here I am in May one year later and my book has been nominated for an Atlantic Book Award and I am caught up in the celebration week as a nominee, doing readings and getting ready to fly to Newfoundland next week for the festivities. I am very grateful for what the year has brought and look forward to seeing where the next year takes "The Year Mrs Montague Cried" and me. On Thursday I met Gloria Wesley the author of "Chasing Freedom" one of the other two books nominated along with mine for the Ann Connor Brimer award. I had the pleasure of spending the evening with her as we stayed at the lovely Willow House Inn in Pictou before reading together on Friday at the Pictou Public Library. We were both a bit apprehensive to meet each other but after spending time with one another felt better about the possibility of losing out to the other. Good luck to Vicki Grant and her book "Betsy Wickwire's Dirty Secret" as well.Can't wait until next Thursday night to relish every minute of the Award ceremony.

Busy,Busy , Busy

I am getting geared up for a busy two weeks . This week I have two readings. On Thursday I will join Riel Nason at the Saint John Public library . I look forward to doing a reading with her. I always enjoy her company and the opportunity to hear her read from her very successful first novel The Town That Drowned.From there I will drive directly to Pictou Nova Scotia to meet Gloria Wesley. Gloria's novel Chasing Freedom has also been short listed for the Anne Connor Brimer Award. We will do a public reading together at the Pictou Library on Friday at 1:00. The following week Burton and I fly to St. John's early Thursday morning. I am very excited about going to Newfoundland and plan to enjoy every second of the Atlantic Book Awards and Festival. I am thrilled to have been invited to participate and will be happy whatever the outcome. This time last year when I was about to launch The Year Mrs. Montague Cried and was anxiously awaiting to hold the first copy in my hands,I had no idea how well it would be received. I am very grateful for everything that followed. I just got a draft of a cover for Ten Thousand Truths and now see the reality of cracking the spine of my second book and anticipate whatever that will bring. I will probably only have a few more writing days before I put my fourth book aside until September. I will fill my summer with gardening, swimming, kyaking. reading and my July book launch.As my former colleagues look forward to their summer holidays from the challenges of teaching I too will step away from my writing and let those summer months fill me up. Busy is good when that busy is filled with things you love. Bring it on!

On To the Next Chapter

March was a challenging and extremely busy month. I had no writing time but was lucky enough to have spent every day enjoying the company of my amazing three year old granddaughter Emma and my precious six month old granddaughter Paige. I loved every minute of it.It was great to have Meg and Cody with us and it was hard to see them go back to Alberta. Can't wait until October when they plan to return.I have a wonderful family and am thankful for each and every one of them. A huge thanks to Ashlie, Caleb, Brianne and Chapin for all the love and support they offered. Burton as usual was the anchor I can always hold on to. Now for a bit of writing time before things get crazy around the Atlantic Book Week celebrations. I am so thrilled to be a part of it all. June will bring hours of garden time and I look forward to that season.Can't wait to jump in the lake and get out in my kayak again. I look forward to a July launch of Ten Thousand Truths.

Ann Connor Brimer Award

I am thrilled to have been short listed for the Ann Connor Brimer Award for Children's Literature. As a part of the Atlantic Book Awards I will travel to St. John's Newfoundland on May 17th for the celebrations. Congratulations to my fellow nominees Vicki Grant and Gloria Ann Wesley. I look forward to a great weekend in Newfoundland!Congratulations also to my friend Riel Nason on her nomination for the Margaret and John Savage First Book Award. See you in St. John's!

Another Great School Visit

On Thursday I visited Quispamsis Elementary School and spent a very rewarding day with students from K-5 . Some of the younger students including Isaac in Kindergarten,who is already a great writer, shared their writing and their thoughts on writing with me.I visited the grade three and four classes and read from The Year Mrs. Montague Cried ,talked about how the story came about and had a wonderful time of answering their insightful questions. I am always amazed by the depth of discussion I get during these class visits. Actually it does not amaze me a bit as I learned from my years of teaching that kids given an opportunity to talk about the important and meaningful things in life always show wisdom and compassion.I was so impressed with the principal Janet Miller who seems to be everywhere at one time running a very busy, kid centred machine. Watching her I remembered the frenzy that is elementary school and unless you have been there you have no idea the amount of energy and commitment it requires. Parents, teachers , and above all the kids are very lucky to have Mrs. Miller at the helm. I wish her, her staff and all the students a good March Break!

February Winding Down

Sunday morning. Caleb just left to take his father to catch his flight for a two week exercise in the USA. It is a beautiful morning and after a bit of straightening up from Burton's packing frenzy I will spend the day writing. Meg and the girls come Wednesday night and I expect that my writing time will be limited while they are here. Final edits done on Ten Thousand Truths and now back in Terrilee's hands. I await cover choices which I look forward to. Moving along on my story set in 1917. I will write today, Monday and Tuesday and then get back to it when the girls go home. I am very excited to have a good long visit with my daughter and two grand babies. I have a school visit on Thursday and then all my time will be given to enjoying Emma and Paige and giving Meg a good dose of grandmother time. My friend Alice just self published a delightful book ( Half a Loaf is Better Than Broccoli) filled with many funny kid stories from her 35 years of teaching. Congratulations Alice Edson.

Getting in to February

Another Sunday morning now in February. We had a winter storm yesterday reminiscent of winter storms in the past. These have been few and far between this winter . Driving home from my sister and brother in-law's house last night with my fearless husband, brought back memories of many snowy drives of the past. Sitting here now in my sunny office looking out at the snow banks while my youngest son plows the driveway I truly appreciate this season. Along with it's challenges it brings much beauty. I had a very enjoyable weekend spending time with two wonderful friends/sisters and their amazing 90 year old aunt. It was a time of story telling and reading and I relished every second of it. Their family which I often pretend is my own is so rich with story and memory and so values the place each generation and family member takes in the whole fabric . I sit in awe at the weaving of such a tapestry of memories.
Friday I sent back my revisions of Ten Thousand Truths and now wait for it to take it's next lap on the way to publication. I believe in this story and look forward to sharing it with others. Tomorrow I will return to 1917 and see where my story of Lily takes me and her. Now in my Sunday tradition I will attempt to reclaim my home, sweep up the dust balls

and dog hair, and catch up on laundry and overall tidying, enjoying my home and this stage of the life I have been given.

Last Day of January

It is the last day of January and a beautiful day indeed. It is January cold but the sun seems April hot. I am again sitting (and perhaps avoiding) writing in my writing room thankful for the opportunity. Yesterday I did a school visit at Touchstone School in Rothesay. The kids were amazing and I enjoyed spending time with them. I very quickly remember at such times what it was I loved about teaching but when I leave I remember what it is I love about having the freedom and time to write. I can not express how thrilling it is for me to enter a classroom and see my book on every students desk. Being a teacher who used novels long before and even after it became the in thing to do I believe to the core in the value of literature in teaching for developing a love for reading , writing and for teaching the basic lessons of life .The lessons those kids teach us are every bit as important as anything we try to teach them.Thank you to the teachers and staff of Touchstone for believing that as well.

Sunny but Cold January Morning

It is a very cold but sunny Sunday morning in January. I know it has been and is much colder in other parts of the country but it is cold enough for my liking here on the Walton Lake Road.I like winter, I love my wood heat and my cozy home but it is very work intensive and time consuming to keep that wood burning animal fed and on the weekends my husband is usually here to take that job from me. This weekend he is not so I did not wake to my usual warm house but am now attempting to get it to the desired temperature. But at least as I mentioned the sun is streaming in and as I sit my office this morning I can feel it's heat on my back. So far January has been a productive month. I am about four chapters in to my latest novel and am enjoying being back in 1917 on an island in the St Lawrence River,getting to know my characters and seeing the story unfold.I am waiting for my editor to send back the second round of Ten Thousand Truths and can't wait to begin the next stage,choose a cover and see it head to the printer .Hopefully we will launch it in May or June.I sent my third book to my publisher this week for her to read. I have two school visits booked in February. I got the cheque for my November visits this week and I like the feeling of getting paid as an author for doing what I did as a teacher for 29 years.A 4/5 clss at Macdonald Consolidated started reading The Year Mrs. Montague Cried this week and started a blog to record their responses . They invited me to participate and I am enjoying reading their writing.It is hard for me though not to comment on their conventions. "Just write" Mrs. M. says but Mrs. White says check your spelling and punctuation.I will now leave my sunny office and do a bit of necesary housekeeping,(laundry, bathrooms and such) and I then I will return to my office to write for the afternoon,enjoying the cold January day in a place that is exactly where I want to be.

Looking Ahead to 2012

Again my daughter has alerted me to the fact that I have not written on my blog since November. I've been busy is my main reason and not being of the blogger generation is another. I know that there are woman my age actively blogging but for me it hasn't quite taken off as one of my daily chores. Oh well I will attempt to improve that.I had the pleasure of going to Alberta for 12 days in December and kept my grandaughter Emma while her mom and dad and baby sister went to Maui for a friend's wedding. Coming home on the 14th I then proceeded to get the house ready for another Christmas. I have enjoyed family and friends and a quiet but busy two weeks with Burton home from work. I am so looking forward to Monday and my return to my writing routine. I have finished the second round of editing for my second book and I am excited to see it come together for a spring release. Happy New Year everyone !