Youngest Reader of TG, Forehead Butt Society, Signings & Plays . . .

The youngest reader of TG! *laugh* this is Terry Rollins's grandson - Terry was one of the authors at the signing yesterday (author of Married to the Military - and she has told me that anyone who wants a copy of her book, please be the first to leave a note in the comments telling me you want a copy and Terry will get it in the mail). So, he reads, gets a little treat, has an angel come by and touch her light, then puts down the book with a contented sigh of happiness, teeheehee.

Today my respectful Forehead Butt Society shout out goes to Frank McCourt, who recently left behind this old world, at least in body. He is a double forehead butter, and just look at that face . . . look at those eyes, tell me they don't speak of warmth. I like that face. Welcome, Mr. McCourt into my down with Botox society of Forehead Butters.


I was gone all day yesterday to Greenville, South Carolina for the group author book signing and a fun time was had by all. There was a two-page spread about the event in the Greenville Journal that we appreciated. The booksellers of As The Page Turns and The Book Gallery were wonderful - very nice accommodating women who made our stay in their stores quite lovely. I met some fabulous readers, and laughed, grinned, talked about Tender Graces and life and family, and I know that TG is in the hands of beautiful readers - It's a special feeling imagining people holding my words and reading...I hope they enjoy!


I have much to catch up on today, including coming 'round to visit you all, so you should see me later today knocking at your blog doors.

I've had my mountain walk, ate biscuits with coffee, watched Sunday Morning, and read the paper GMR fetched from down the valley.

By the way, speaking of GMR, I so enjoyed the Hallelujah Girls at Asheville Community Theater on Friday night, opening night -- what a halarious play! GMR played a momma's boy who was a bit of a goofball -*laugh* - Brava to the cast!

I am hoping to have my Community Coffee talk tomorrow.

So, biscuits eaten, coffee drank, paper read, Sunday Morning watched. Ahhhhh. What are your Sunday rituals?

I'm back - my laptop is healed

I'm back! My sick laptop is healed and my faith in Dell Computers is restored! yayyy! They did everything possible to make sure I was happy with them and I appreciate that.


So, now that I've been laptopless for two days, I have to catch up (GMR's desktop is too slow for me, so didn't do much on it at all). I still need to get my Community Coffee Talk here, and the contest, and, since I didn't work on Secret Graces for two days - lawd be! Nor did I work on Rose & Thorn work - lawdy!


I tell you what, though, it was kind of nice to be unhooked from the laptop. I had coffee on the couch (as I told y'all below), and I cleaned out my closet(!); I went through a stack of papers I'd been promising to go through for weeks(months); and et cetera. It was rather relaxing - and that leads me to the belief I need to unhook more often.


So, what are your plans for the weekend?


I will be in Greenville, South Carolina -seven authors/poets will be at two bookstores tomorrow, Saturday 11/21 - As The Page Turns & The Book Gallery. We'll be talking, signing books, meeting readers. The Greenville Journal put a notice in their paper, so I'm hoping we have a good turn out. Here are the authors/poets involved:

• Dawn Cusick's wonderful children's science books are fun,
colorful, and chockful of fascinating facts.
• Angela Dove's riveting account of a 'real-life' homicide and its aftermath is keeping readers mesmerized all over the country.
• Jayne Jaudon Ferrer's charming gift books about family life will touch your heart and make you laugh out loud.
• Emily Sue Harvey's inspiring story of a family divided, then reunited, is perfect for the holidays.
• Kathryn Magendie's powerful debut novel about family secrets, ghosts, lost innocence, and love will leave you breathless and begging for more.
• Terry Rollins' tales take you into the lives of military wives
as they deal with everything from protocol and pregnancy to self-esteem and separation.
• Mark Washburn's guide to finding the love of your life will improve your relationship whether you're dating, engaged, or long married.

So, go DO the Day and have a great weekend... I leave you with sweet Norah Kathryn --if this isn't the sweetest photo, I don't know what is! All together now: AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

!

laptop google images: http://u-handbag.typepad.com/uhandblog/images/sick_laptop.gif
http://simchacomputing.com/resources/happy+laptop.jpg

A strange morning, all in all .. .

It was the strangest of mornings. What kind of alternative universe was this? Somehow familiar, yet weird.

I sat upon my couch, coffee cup in hand, and GMR sat upon his chair -- and we actually -- we actually - Talked . . . IN THE MORNING! Or, he talked while I sat there glazed-eyed and slack-jawed. He talked about the Thanksgiving menu and something else that is a blur.

I thought back to mornings, long back, months back, years back - - before twitter, before facebook, before blogs - before I was on email for longer than a few minutes a day. Long back I thought to the day I used to sit and drink my coffee without staring at a screen, and/or keys tapping under my fingers.

Oh how strange it was. But, a bit pleasant all the same.

How long has it been since you've not gone straight to your computer in the mornings, or perhaps that is what you do now? How long since one of the first things you thought of was turning on your computer and checking mail, blog(s), twitter, facebook--any or all combinations of those and/or any other networking sites? How long since you had a cup of coffee while talking to someone, or just sitting there, in the still and quiet, coffee or tea or juice or breakfast in hand and actually looked someone in the face as they talk to you (or tried to focus on their face if it was before you finished your first cup).

Here's the weird thing--when GMR first began talking as I held that first cup, I couldn't concentrate on him and didn't actually realize he was a human being talking to me . . . it was a bit surreal and dream-like. It felt so alien, I had to actually FOCUS my attention on him, turn my head, turn on my brain, awaken that part of me that usually is focused on my computer screen. Yes. So true. So sad really. A bit funny, too.

What about you and your family routine? Or if you live alone? Do you run to your computer first thing?

I am right now typing away on GMR's desktop. My laptop is in surgery - laid open with its guts hanging out. The Dell guy couldn't finish its surgery (he called my laptop "she" -teehee) so he will have to return with the other required part(s) later. So, last night, I did not use my computer! and this morning I held off using it because this desktop is older and doesn't have the memory and other doodly doo my laptop has. And so, there was a morning of coffee, and couch, and GMR, and . . . twas strange, but kind of nice, but kind of weird, and then there was that surreal feeling . . . huhn . . . which life is real? The Real One or the Other Real One.

Oh, but I know exactly what will happen. When my laptop is repaired, when its new brain is in and other whatevers, I'll be running back to it just as before . . . oh yes I will, won't I?

Now, on to my morning - which involves my mouth. I have a dental appoitment. And I've asked him if he can not deaden me, if we can try to do the dental work without the deadening in my gums. Oh we will see. For, I hate that deadening worse than I hate discomfort. I suppose if it's really horrid, if it's really painful, I can always chicken out and be numbed. But, maybe it won't be so bad, and I can leave the dentist's office without that drooling numbness...yeah. I'll let you all know.

What a strange morning this will be all in all . . .

google image of horse'smouth : http://www.equinecraniosacral.com/articles/figure2-08.jpg

This photo I took from the Parkway - it just makes me laugh.

Go stomp up a hissy fit and then Get Back to Work!

Do you ever become bored with your manuscript? I'm here to tell you that sometimes you will feel bored with it. Sometimes you will feel as if you want to ditch it and go work on something else, or to sit upon your couch and drink vodka tonics and eat chocolate and forget that you ever called yourself a writer in the first danged place . . . yeah!


If you are writing your novel/story and lose interest, or are not motivated to keep writing, then take a break. Work on something else, then go back to it with fresh perspective. If you are still bored and unmotivated, maybe it's time to consider why. If you become bored by reading your work, and are not excited about working on it, your readers may feel that boredom as well. We should be the first champions, the first lovers of, the first excited readers of our work. We should be excited and motivated and happy as little happy clams--except for those times when we are going "ARGHHHH!"


I’m working on the continuing story of Virginia Kate, Secret Graces. This time, I have a deadline. There is not a lot of time to put away my manuscript and work on something else, or else I miss that deadline. With what would become Tender Graces, I had “all the time in the world,” for I had no one waiting on me to deliver—I only had my own motivations, and my love of Virginia Kate and the other characters, the setting, the landscape, the language and words. Still, I had my days. Too many of "those days" spent doubting and angsting--what a waste, or maybe instead of "waste" I was feeling my way around, learning, processing. Yeah, that's it!

But, no matter how I feel or do not feel with Secret Graces, I had a point to start, and I have a definite point to get the manuscript to Bellebooks. Period. For every day I step away from the work and whine or gripe or piddle de doo means extra time I need to find to catch up. Writing for deadline is a different feel than writing for the sake of writing (as you Nanowrimo-ers may be feeling!).

After setting down all the words comes the “edits and re-writes.” This is where many writers get the "YAWWNNNs." This means reading your ms over and over and over and over. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read the entire manuscript of SG. Do I wish it to be Done and in the hands of my publishers? Yes. For I want to move on. I have more to write. I have the Sweetie novel I want to start re-writes/edits on. I have short stories I’d like to take a look at again. But, with each reading of SG, of Virginia Kate’s story, I find a way to fall in love with her again. And even when I don't, doesn't matter -- the work must be done and I must do the work.

It’s okay to be bored with your work at times. It’s okay to feel frustrated. It’s okay to put it away in frustration. It’s okay to hate being a writer sometimes. It’s okay to stomp your feet and raise a fist to the sky and ask, “WHY DO I DO THIS? WHY WHY WHY DO I TORTURE MYSELF IN THIS WAY? I SUCK; MY WORK SUCKS; BEING A WRITER SUCKS! NO ONE LOVES ME!” Yes, it’s perfectly normal and fine to rant, as long as you get back to work. Scream and stomp and angst and feel depressed and feel defeated and feel horrid and yucky and icky and poodly doo doo and sob and rant. . . And Then Get Back To Work.

Now, go stomp up a hissy fit and then take a deep breath and fall in love with your characters and their stories all over again.

google image from:
http://www.medicaldc.0catch.com/images/funny.jpg





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I have tried all but one of the Community Coffee gift set coffees --the Bread Pudding. Since Thanksgiving is next Thursday, I thought that flavor of coffee would be perfect to serve to our Theater guests coming for Thanksgiving--the theater friends we call The Regulars--and to get their reactions. I will write about these coffees - and as I said, I will have a contest so you can win coffee and a travel mug.

This is the gift set I have...thank you Community Coffee! *smiling*

Thanksgiving First + Blogger Community & Local Vendor Community links for Shopping!

I am reposting this blog post - below - about our shopping with the blogging community and local community vendors! Let's support each other and our communities.

If you are not listed, and want to be, please shoot me an email.

Also, sometime this week, I will have a write up on my Community Coffee tasting from the lovely Community Coffee gift set sent to me. As well, I will have a contest so someone can win coffee and a travel mug!

In the spirit of Suldog's "Thanksgiving First!" - I say shop to support any time, not just . . . for that day that comes December 25 *grin* . . . I want to support the locals and community bloggers any time of the year.


Angie Ledbetter(Gumbo Writer) and I are happy to post the links for your birthday, anniversary, Self Day(just made that holiday up - we should have a SELF DAY where we buy ourselves something to spoil ourselves! Yes! *grin*), holiday, or otherwise, shopping! Please support our blogging community aritisans and your local community mom and pop shops.


If I have left anyone out, please email me, it's not too late to add your own link(s), as Angie and I will be posting from time to time until that day that has sparkly trees and wrapped boxes, and -- well you know. teeheehee. But, I do agree with Suldog - I am SICK of "THAT DAY" pushing its way into our lives before we can even enjoy our fall, our halloween, our Thanksgiving. Lawdy be almighty geez!

Let's support each other in this blogging community & let's support our local indie vendors!

Visit the links, shop 'til you drop, and Thanksgiving First!

Online Indie Artists/Artisans Resource List ---

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Jeweledrabbit
I make jewelry; here's the link to my Winkelf shop:The Jeweled Rabbit

I'm planning to change artistic direction, so I'm liquidating much of my current stock. Most of my jewelry has been marked down 50%, so here's a great chance to stock up on jewelry at great prices for Christmas gifts.I'll be posting about this opportunity to promote indie artists on my blog.
Maureen

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I have found the Pink Ribbon shop link for those in the US and Breast Cancer Care Gift Shop in the UK, there are loads of goodies to buy and you are supporting a great cause. On Monday this week, my GP's young wife had a mastectomy, last year my Cypriot friend also had the surgery but sadly my aunt passed away from the (and note from kat! I can’t find the comment with the rest of this story – please let me know who you are so I can post your link!)

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Maria-Thérèse afiori.com
www.afiori.com - fine art photography, collages, unique mixed paper notebooks, custom wedding books and guestbooks. Everything is handmade by me from scratch and the notebooks have my art on the covers. Direct link to shop: http://afiori.etsy.com/

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Janna Qualman
This place is local to my state. I haven't ordered yet, but plan to. Gave Angie the same link. http://www.riggscreations.org/

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western North Carolina, Haywood County

Haywood County Animal Shelter:


Haywood County Shopping

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Small Footprints
This is such a great idea ... and lots of fun, too! Thank you for the opportunity to not only display our shops but ... to shop from our fellow blogger's shops. Very cool! Here's our shop (mine and "Art's"): http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6820529
I'll pass the word!
Small Footprints

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The Accessory Lady
Thank you so much for your support! :-). You can find our crafty creations at:http://www.theaccessorylady.com/
http://theaccessorylady.blogspot.com/
Have a wonderful week.

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Mommy Tyme
Thanks for promoting the artisan/handmade community! I think I speak for all of us when I say, we appreciate the shout out! Mommy Tyme bath and gifts is handmade soap, bath and body items, jewelry, scarves, accessories, and gifts for the home... All made by me! So, if you have time to shop, stop by http://www.mommytyme.etsy.com/
http://fuzzb.com/MommyTyme
Thanks!

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Linda
What a great idea. Thank you so much for doing this.

Linda http://ribbonsrosesandmore.com/

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trusk4u
I was referred here by smallfootprints! Thank you so much for this opportunity! My links are:http://trusk4u.etsy.com/http://trusk4u.winkelf.com/
http://www.artistryarts.com/shop.php?user_id=100006

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~JarieLyn~
This is a great idea. I bought a piece of jewelry from a fellow blogger and I just love it. I wear it all the time. I purchased it from Denise at the Seasonal Cottage. I can't recall the name of her etsy shop but she's a member of the FMTSO meme. She does fantastic work.

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Gibsongirl497
Wonderful idea! I really love shopping handmade. In fact I'd rather shop this way than any other.These are my shops for hand crafted jewelry: http://www.1000markets.com/users/gibsonwirecreations
http://www.artfire.com/users/GibsonWireCreations
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=49783


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Andy Lowe
Hi my friend i was also sent an invite by Small Footprints. My wee shop/gallery is at http://www.photoboxgallery.com/3004962
where I sell my pictures of the highlands of Scotland all the proceeds go to charity; many thanks for the chance to share the link

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Michelle Art Works

That's me, Michelle, for artworks :)

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Meghann LittleStudio
I guess I should tell you I make handcrafted jewelry and also do art photography :)Fabulous idea! All my presents are always handmade - either by myself or another artist. Here are my shops: http://www.littlestudiojewels.etsy.com/
http://www.littlestudiojewels.artfire.com/
http://www.icraft.ca/littlestudiojewels
Blog: http://www.meglittlestudio.blogspot.com/


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This is a great idea! My sister and I are planning to support handmade for this Christmas shopping season as well. We would be honored if you would list our shop! -Dawn at MairzyDozy
http://www.mairzydozy.etsy.com/

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Kathryn,

I came across this one through my job at a Catholic Church

https://sites.google.com/site/robertomadeit/

I know Joe Collins personally and my oldest daughter has been to Guatemala to work with him.

Roberto's bracelets and tablerunners are awesome.

Thank you,
A Mom on Spin


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Diane
I noticed your sweet comment on my blog regarding my friend Sara and her new ribbon necklace business. Thank you so much for this great idea! :O)Sara's sites: http://twillypop.blogspot.com/
http://twillypop.etsy.com/

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Patience-please
It is a brilliant idea. I don't have an etsy shop, but I have a website http://www.dogwalkers.net/
where you can find my custom made fancy dog collars and where you can buy my book of dog stories.
Thanks!
Patience

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Titus (
Could I recommend Aiko Harman's site, where she sells her "Poetry Pets". Fabulous single poems with a hand-made soft toy to go with them.She's here: www.lionandsloth.com/

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Denise here are my shop links:

http://www.diondesign.etsy.com/

http://www.simplyfrenchdesigns.etsy.com/

http://www.seasonalvignettes.etsy.com/

http://www.theartistscloset.etsy.com/

http://www.thepapersource.etsy.com/

http://www.theseasonalcottage.etsy.com/

My blogs:

http://theseasonalcottage.blogspot.com/

http://simplyfrenchdesigns.blogspot.com/

thanks

Denise

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I just happen to have a studio full of my original oil paintings that make wonderful lifetime gifts. Also make handwritten poetry suitable for framing that is not quite as expensive as the paintings. Preview art works here:

http://www.paintingstudio.spaces.live.com/ and contact info here:

stephenrowepainter@msn.com

Thank you, and as ever be well, Stephen Craig Rowe

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And how could I forget my own BelleBooks Publisher's Authors! If you want books to give as gifts, visit your local indie bookseller, or independent publishers like Bellebooks!

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And here are more links! (I hope I don't repeat any or leave anyone out!)

http://moonwillowwhispers.blogspot.com/

https://sites.google.com/site/robertomadeit/

http://beadedbadgelanyards.blogspot.com/

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5535950

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6641946 http://www.yeahthatsrandom.blogspot.com/

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6820529


http://themartinidiva.com/

http://www.photoboxgallery.com/3004962

HERE ARE SOME ADDITIONS FROM ANGIE'S BLOG AND MY EMAIL:

From Kimmi (The Unbreakable Child): Shop Goodwill. You can buy/bid online from Goodwill stores around the nation, land a teasure and give back to the community all in one click HERE.

From Carrie Link: Here's another one for you, Angie. It's my cousin's website, great for those spiritual seekers: http://www.creatingquietspaces.com/From Hilary of the awesome photographs: Gary over at the Pottery Blog has an etsy shop too at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5056727 and his blog address is http://grpottersblog3.blogspot.com/

From jeweledrabbit: Here are the links to the shops of some of the Etsy sellers whose offerings I love: Zygopsyche, home of all kinds of cute, fluffy critters

Katofmanycolors, gorgeous vintage inspired jewelry

Wood Animal Sculptor, Sandra Healy

From Lady Glamis: Levenger Has the BEST Writing and Reading Stuff EVER http://levenger.com/

B.J. Anderson Awesome!! Thanks so much for putting this together!!

http://www.bonnysbeadedthings.etsy.com/

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Deshawn Marie's handmade soap club! Soap of the month . . .
http://www.deshawnmarie.com/deshawnmariehandmadesoapclub.html

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All right -Happy Shopping - let me know if you have trouble with any links, or as I said, if you were left out, or have any links to add for a future post!

>

Forehead Butt Society: Robert De Niro . . .

Today's Inductoroonee into the Forehead Butt Society was suggested by Susan at A Walk in My Shoes. Thank you, Susan!

Down with Botox! Let's love the face we're in. You gonna ask De Niro to get rid of his Forehead Butt? Go head, try it . . .

Yes, the ever-intense, ever-talented Robert De Niro has a Forehead Butt. Which means he can be a member of the most wonderful on high, The List of creative, intelligent, gifted, talented Forehead Butters, of which of course, I am President and all Powerful Appointeererer.

You lookin' at him? You lookin' at Him? You lookin' at HIM? Well, yes, we are lookin' at him--but don't stare too long, lest you go blind in his intensity. Look at those eyes - behind them lies a man to be reckoned with! A man with thoughts and ideas and characters and emotions and memories and experiences stomping and running and jumping and playing and flying all about that wonderful brain of his.

Now, have a wonderful Sunday. I'll be posting soon about my Community Coffee experience, and as well, will post about the contest to win some coffee and a travel mug.

I leave you with sweet Norah Kathryn. . .

The Mystery of the Apple Tree . . .

I am a woman who loves science, but I see science in ways both concrete, logical, and mysterious. There are simply things that cannot be explained here on Earth and in the Beyond. Science tries to explain the why’s and where’s and what’s and who’s and when’s—but sometimes Science acknowledges there is no answer, even if they'll continue to search for it. And that is the area, the black hole area, the distant galaxy unfound area, the far and away unknown area, the infinity that can’t be imagined area—those things—are what grab our attention and allow us to dream and imagine.

Last summer when my old girl Kayla (Fat Dog) died, I grieved mightily. It was unexpected, even though she was getting old, she'd been so healthy. Still, the cancer inside her hid from us, and by time it was detected, it was too late. She went down fast. But, don’t want to talk about that, what I want to talk about is the strange thing that happened that GMR and I can’t figure out the why’s.

Kayla was an apple-loving fool! She adored her apples. I could not pick up an apple without her running up to me, ooooooing out a “Mine! All MINE! GIVE THAT APPLE TO ME –MINE!” If I wanted to eat an apple, I best have one for her or there was doggy sadness abounding and lots of huffing and "dog harumphing." Jake, (Not Quite Fat Dog) learned to love apples, too. So, each night, for their treat, they’d get apple. Also note that Kayla had a favorite “first stopping place” when we’d take her and Jake for their mountain cove walk—it was at the end of the driveway, in a certain spot, where she’d sniff and pee and general dog doodly doo.

After Kayla died, Jake would not touch another apple and still won’t. It was immediate. He refuses. I suppose he links apples with his good friend Kayla, who he grieved over mightily as his owners did.

Now, here is the strange we can’t figure this thing. After the apple-loving Kayla died, maybe a few weeks or so, we took Jake down the driveway, and there, in that spot where Kayla loved to stop first, were bunches of apples. Apples everywhere, all over the ground, and when we looked up, there was a tree full of apples. So what? You may say, WNC has apples.

Yes. True. But the thing is, we’ve lived here for five years and never ever never saw not one apple—in fact, didn’t even know there was an apple tree up there. Kayla died one year ago this July, and we’ve also not seen an apple since. None. Nada. That apple tree that we didn’t know existed only produced one batch of apples in near-five years—and that was right after our apple-loving good old girl Kayla, Fat Dog, died.

Now. Why do you suppose that is? Is it tree that only shows its fruit once in a blue moon? Complete coincidence? What?

All I know is I was filled with wonder, and with a sad joy to see those apples. And also, with a feeling of the mysteries of our Universe.

Have a wonderful weekend. I’m off to Asheville to have lunch with author Joan Medlicott – we’ve been talking about this for months and have finally made time to meet.

Do you have any mysteries to tell?


Find your mysteries.



google image from: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://appleandorange.files.wordpress.com/

Norah Kathryn after her bath *smiling*