Garden of Good Intentions

Custom Kubb Sets

2012-02-15T06:14:00.000-08:00

This is the first in a series of custom kubb sets. Catherine was going to visit a good friend of ours and requested a cow spot set.

Here is where I get to brag a bit. The clear coat varnish, primer and all the paints for this set were snatched from the jaws of the landfill at my local recycling center. The king came from the cull bin at Home Depot. So this set is tons of fun with a bit of good karma mixed in.

My mistake or learning point in this project was using high gloss enamel latex paint for the base coat. This meant that it took four coats of black high gloss to fill in the spots.

And Again

2012-02-14T05:02:00.000-08:00

I may be behind on my blog but at least I know why my cats breath smells oh so foul.

Confessions of a Geronimo Stilton Addict

2012-02-01T07:30:00.000-08:00

It's okay to read what your kids read.

We watch their tv shows so we know whats going on in their lives and what cultural influences (sass talking Disney Channel Piffle) they are being exposed to. Right? Why not read what they read? It's not a control issue. You don't have to read every single book they touch. Read a few. It's discourse. Something to talk about outside of the family rigmarole.

Reading what they read will show them that this is such a good story that mom and dad like it too. It will also help you find books that go beyond Captain Underpants, Tinkerbell, and other sacharine serieal books that are marketed for their covers than for their content.

Once upon a time it was librarians and teachers that made book recommendations. I remember my mother going to the public library one summer and asking for a recommended reading list.

Now it is the publishers telling us what is a good read. They use shiny covers, gross body parts, princesses and talking mice. Sometimes they are right. There are some fun series out there. I should know, I have read and currently own 35 Geronimo Stilton books.

I am a Geronimo Stilton addict. I confess. They are cute and I love them the way I love Italian soap operas.

I don't want to knock book series. As a writer, I'm trying to launch one. As a reader, I love them. I like slipping into a familiar set of characters and setting. When I'm stressed out and need a little escape, I turn to my favorite series for night time reading and comfort. Way healthier than eating Nutella straight from the jar.

As a parent, I like a good series of books. It is hard to find that next chapter book for my Third grade son. I have to pick 12 off the library shelves, sit him down at a table, make him pick three, then present those three to him again at home. Once he latches on to a book, he devours it in a few days.

Pyrrhic victory. Hurray he loved the book. Boo . . . we have to go find another one.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

If he strikes on a series, I have at least three or four books before we have need start the hunt again. Sometimes I am sneaky and space them out. Currently he is into Nathanial Fludd, Beasteologist by R. L. LaFevers. But there are only four books in the series so far. I'm doling them out.

My daughter is in First grade and almost ready to read chapter books on her own. She will read the first page of every chapter when we read something on her level. Our favorite series are Horrible Harry by Suzy Kline, Roscoe Riley by Katherine Applegate, Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows, and Clementine by Sara Pennypacker.

As a middle grade writer, I love anything by Kevin Henkes. He is a wonderful story teller, lots of heart and empathy without being sacharine. Junonia and Olive's Ocean are two of his recent chapter books. He also writes two fun picture book series featureing Chrystanthemum and Lily.

The kids and I are always looking for the next great read. Any suggestions?

If you are crazy wookies busy with reality and life, here is a blog that can help find good books for your young reader:

http://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/2012/01/timeslip-tuesday.html

At Last . . . A Random Line on a Friday

2012-01-27T08:01:00.000-08:00

I'm getting ready to head out of town with the family this weekend. This is what eight baby turtles in transport looks like.

Peggy, my ever patient Science Time partner, will be turtle sitting. Maybe next year the babies can hibernate outside like their mama. Four big rubbermaid bins takes up a lot of realestate in my office.

Before I head out of town, I wanted to share a random passage with you from C if For Centurion, Chapter 4. I have never thrown a birthday party for a third grade boy before so I interviewed Annie to find out how its done.

According to Annie . . .

Party games are not cool after First grade.

Don't serve fruit punch after Second grade.

Ponies are overrated because you only get to walk in a circle, the turns are short and they plop on the lawn.

Clowns are never OK. Clowns are bad.

Magicians are fun in Kindergarten but really creepy in Fifth grade.

There has to be food. Pizza works, tacos are good but tuna fish is strange.

Science programs are neat only if they involve animals.

Science programs are awesome and legendary if something escapes in the birthday kid's house.

Pinatas allowed but no faces or animals after Kindergarten.

I hope this taste of Annie logic helps you plan your child's next party. Have a great weekend.

Happy Reunion

2012-01-26T04:49:00.000-08:00

It's back! My mug is back!

It was tucked way back on a dark shelf under the computer desk. I have no clue why I put it there. My husband isn't surprised. He has found my keys in the refrigerator before.

I found it the way I find lost cameras, cell phones and keys: I posted a bounty. One dollar to the person who finds Mommy's mug. The darling daughter found it this morning. It only took the industrious little dear 12 hours.

Then I had to rescue it from the dishwasher. Anyone who knows me from college or work knows I am terrible about washing coffee mugs. It's seasoning I tell you!

Anyway. . . Cheers!

Random Line Wednesday? Why not.

2012-01-25T06:04:00.000-08:00

Annie took a deep breath, pinched her nose and started droning "Scotland the Brave" in her loudest impersonation of a bagpipe player.

Titus and Annie Book 2

C is for Centurion

Chapter 3: The Impatient Pict

Annie isn't allowed to knock on her neighbors doors until after 12 on Sundays. But she wants to talk to Titus so she does the one thing she knows will send him running outside, in full Titus righteous indignation. Annoy him till he notices you. One of Annie's best tactics.

Every neighborhood needs its social boundaries. Come home when the street lights come on. Don't knock on front doors until 10 a.m. Don't invite yourself over to other people's houses. No running screaming through the backyards, especially if the neighbors don't have kids of their own. If you home school, don't send you kids knocking on doors until the other kids get home from school.

Meanwhile, back at the Garden of Good Intentions, my coffee mug is still AWOL. The Roman Weasel has been promoted and promises not to rest until the mug is found.

Rain, rain, go away . . . this has not been a productive day

2012-01-24T08:20:00.000-08:00

I have not accomplished very much this morning. Four hours and I don't know much more than I did when the coffee pot was still full:

The weather is weird. Forks weird.

The dog is strange.

Chapter Five is not cooperating.

I can't skip Chapter Five and go to Chapter Six. Too many little dependent details.

My desk chair squeaks.

The stink in the office was not a cat thinking outside of the box. It was some other unspeakable yuck lurking in the wastepaper basket.

The coffeemaker made a full pot of coffee this morning. But it was half caff. Not cool.

Have you seen me?

My favorite coffee mug is missing.

Right now I am more Titus than Annie. I really need my favorite coffee mug. I will be embarrassed by this hang up after I find my mug.

I do not like drinking coffee out of a regular sized mug when I am writing. A normal mug is empty by the time I travel from kitchen to computer. Maybe this is throwing off my groove.

Random Line Saturday?

2012-01-21T07:50:00.000-08:00

The centurions muttered and grumbled as they as they settled back into formation. The rank and file were not pleased by the idea of a unicorn party.

Titus and Annie, Book 2

C is for Centurion

Chapter 2: Castra Hiberna

Only Titus wouldn't know how to have a birthday party. The directions are not in the instruction manual. Luckily he has Annie. Despite her terrible day in school, Annie is ready to jump to Titus's rescue and plan his birthday party for him. He's just not sure if he's ready for what Annie will come up with. Quake, centurions, quake.

It's a rainy Carolina winter day here at the Garden of Good Intentions. I would love to stay on track and get Chapter Five written. However, I fear I am suffering from Decaf Poisoning. The delicious pot of French press coffee I made this morning turned out to be the last of the decaf beans from Lisa, Art Web's potter and jewler. Her sister has a coffee shop and roasts her own beans. Delicious stuff even though its unleaded.

Now I'm nursing some Trader Joe's winter blend and trying to get motivated.

Random Photo: This stump made us think of Nessie last weekend so we took a picture and spent the rest of the walk speaking in atrocious Scottish brogues.

Random Line Friday

2012-01-20T05:12:00.000-08:00

There, in the lingering smell of yellow bus, Annie let it all out.

Titus and Annie, Book 2

C is for Centurion

Chapter 1, Knucklebones

C is for Centurion starts off with Annie having a bad day. Titus saves the day, eventually. He is a tactician, a classical scholar and a ruminator. It takes him six chapters to figure out how to save the day for Annie. Meanwhile, she has already come to his rescue. These two preposterous only children may process life at different speeds but they definitely need each other.

I'm still riding high from that great work weekend. The notes and chapter outlines are so thorough I'm able to chew through a chapter a day despite a crazy monkey house family life schedule. Exciting and encouraging.

Today's goal is Chapter Four and a clean house. Between you and me, I would rather write Chapter Four and Chapter Five while the house molders.

Keep your eye out for more random lines. I doubt I'll be able to keep this stuff to myself for a whole week.

Portrait of the writer freezing her buns off at the beach in January.

Reports from a Working Weekend

2012-01-19T05:03:00.000-08:00

Last week the kids had a half day on Thursday, no school on Friday and Monday off for MLK. They are such good sports. Dear old mom bundled them into the car with their bikes, bathing suits and illustrator/collaborator/auntie Trina. We had a work weekend!

I am happy to report that Book 2 in the Titus and Annie series, C is for Centurion, is churning along quite nicely. The first three chapters are written out in rough draft form and submitted to my faithful beta readers.

All the action and plot conflicts are mapped.. The neighbors of the house we stayed at might be wondering why those two crazy women kept taping paper up on the windows. It may have looked odd but it worked. I could sit at the table working on one chapter and see progression of the entire book. This made it much easier to weave in threads from Titus and Annie Book 1.

All in all, we accomplished more this past weekend than I had hoped. As I finish the chapters and embarrass my family with clumsy awkward happy dances, I'm going to post random lines. It is a silly indulgence but sometimes I just can't wait to share this stuff.

However wonderful the weekend was, one conflict kept coming up in our think tank. I am going to set the record straight once and for all. No matter what rumors you hear, C is for Centurion will not be featuring any Roman Weasels and the Angry Centurion is not a new character.

Issues

2012-01-10T05:22:00.000-08:00

I have issues with teeth. My own. My family's. Even my old cat that had a chipped fang and liked to show it off.

Last night I had to lasso one of my daughter's tiny little baby teeth with dental floss and pull it out. Really pull it out. I'm shuddering at this very moment remembering how hard I had to tug. Bleah.

Something had to be done. The night before she was crying over it. Yesterday in school she managed to worm her way into a longer lunch with another first grade class because her tooth hurt too much to eat. I couldn't face a third night of dental drama.

Usually my daughter is a true rougher tougher younger sibling. When her brother lost his second tooth, I swear she made her first tooth come loose 24 hours later by sheer force of will. She wouldn't quit until she had wrenched it out and caught up with brother, no matter how much it hurt.. The child can be an animal.

I was annoyed with how much she was milking this latest loose tooth until I saw the dagger of a root that was jabbing at her every time it wiggled. Excuse me, I have to shudder again. Have I mentioned that I have issues with teeth?

I blame my sister and my mother. Each tooth my sister lost had some string related ritual. They tied one to a door. Classic. The next tooth got tied to the dog's chewy bone. One tooth even got tied to the bumper of my car and yanked out in my haste to get to high school. I was an unwilling pawn in their gross fun. I would write more but I think I have repressed the rest of their antics.

Now I am a parent on the other end of the dental floss facing 40 more deciduous teeth between my two children.

Yuck.

The Depths of My Dithering

2012-01-06T10:35:00.000-08:00

I should be finishing up Chapter One of C is For Centurion or writing an ereudite blog about the wonderful critique I received and the newly restructured Titus and Annie series.

Instead I am cursing the blogwriter app and taking family portraits of the baby turtles.

I have written three complete middle grade readers on yellow legal pads with fine point sharpie markers. Transitioning to an ipad is causing this luddite to use a few too many garage words around the dear baby turtles. Glad the kids aren't home.

Recycled Karma

2012-01-05T10:47:00.000-08:00

First, congratulations to my first "born" book Billington. He is on his way, responding to a full manuscript request. Hurray! Usually I'm just talking about Titus and Annie. It's nice to crow about my eldest once in a while.

After launching Billington I launched myself off to the recycling center. Hopefully this is the last load of post Christmas detritus. Why must everything come with so much packaging?

Anyway, after emptying my car out I proceeded to fill it up again. Usually I find some goodies in the paint shed. Sometimes I get so excited by what I found I have to call someone or text my long suffering husband. This time, the haul was so great I've got to blog.

There was the perfect Panthers blue to finish a Kubb set and some fun colors for the next round of kings. Then I found a whole quart of latex gloss clear coat. Guess whose Kubbs will be shiny and sealed?

Someone broke the rules and dumped off some foam/aerosol teak oil. Looks like I'll be redoing the table on the patio the next time we get a warm day.

Our homeowners association is changing the mailboxes. It's not hard to sink a new post, even in this red clay so we opted to do it ourselves. Black exterior paint was on my shopping list until, low and behold, a near full quart of it appeared at the recycling center.

Then some really nice people who are building their own home pulled up with a truck full of scraps. I helped them unload . . . straight into the back of my car.

Now I'm off to pressure wash the shady side of the house with the gallon of biodegradable house cleaner I found at the recycling center before Christmas.

Happy New Year!

2012-01-04T06:15:00.000-08:00

Finally! Christmas is packed away, the kids are back in school, the coffee mug is full and I can settle down to write with a clear conscience.

The best part about taking a vacation is being eager to get back to work. I was itching to write that I actually broke vacation a bit early and started the next Titus and Annie, C is for Centurion, on the way down to the beach.

But more on that in the next post. First you must endure a quick December recap.

My "vacation" started with some storytelling at Mama's Coffee House.

I've never officially done storytelling before. Sure, I tell tons of stories and act plenty entertaining during Science Time with the preschoolers. But their parents aren't there.

I was a little nervous about acting like a goof in front of grown ups. Turns out, it was tons of fun. Not only were the kids laughing at Annie's holiday antics, the mom's were too!

Then Eli figured out it was my birthday. She brought out a delicious tres leches cupcake with a candle. I felt pretty lucky having so many old and new friends singing to me. Eli is wonderful and I can't rave enough about Mama's Coffee House.

This was also the Christmas of Kubb. We played for hours with neighbors in the backyard and made a few sets for gifts. The fun part was painting the kings. All the paint and polyurethane came from the recycling center. We had to make too many sets in too short a time to use recycled wood. All 2012 Kubb sets will be as recycled as possible. Honest.

Christmas with the kids was fun. I'm grateful that my son slept in until six this year. There were other surprises too: Santa didn't realize he bought whistling darts for the nerf gun and who knew my daughter would spend three days with a doll strapped to her chest with her new doll snugli.

The year ended with the most wonderful wedding I have ever seen. There was a neat old house to explore in down town Charleston, lots of interesting people to talk to, perfect weather, awesome music and the union of two really warm friends who were meant for each other. Just look at the get away car. Need I say more?

Thanks for enduring the recap. Now its off to work. C is for Centurion must be written. What's the rush? Feedback! I have received professional and insightful feedback on the Titus and Annie series.

Testing

2011-12-27T12:42:00.001-08:00

I am not that behind. I am just learning how to use apps.

Testing

2011-12-27T12:27:00.001-08:00

This is a Luddites first attempt to blog outside of the house.

Fun with Kubb

2011-12-19T08:02:00.000-08:00

My family is still savoring our Thanksgiving trip to Washington DC. We had such a great time that I'm actually going to post a picture of myself on the internet.

Look! There's me with the original Kermit the Frog and proto Kermit peeking over his shoulder. I don't gush often but . . . Stiching! I could see Jim Henson's stitching on Kermit's froggy little fingers!

We carried a lot home with us from this trip: I'm slowly working my way through the Mitsitam Cafe Cookbook, my son wants to be an astrophysicist, my daughter discovered minerals and geology, my husband has tons of fuel for his designing hobby and we have Kubb in our lives.

Get ready. I'm going to gush again.

Kubb is the best lawn game ever! We saw a group of friends on the Mall one evening playing a game with blocks of wood. They looked so happy and relaxed that we had to ask what they were playing.

Kubb is a Swedish mix between lawn bowling and horse shoes. We got home, looked up the rules and made our own set. The rules are hard to explain so I've posted a video link. It's simple yet strategic.

I made a few minor changes to the specs in oder to make our first set out of scraps from the garage. Within three hours we were hooked on Kubb.

Each kubb set has 6 batons. Players throw these 12" long 2" in diameter pieces of hardwood at the Kubbs and the King. I strayed from tradition and made our batons out of pine 2"x4"s split down the middle. We have small children playing with our kubb set and I didn't really want to arm them with a chunk of oak. Plus, using what was in the garage spared me a run to Home Depot. These batons worked fine, but make sure you have sanded and waxed them really well before playing. Splinters are a buzz kill.

The standard King is 4"x4"x12". I used a scrap of pressure treated 4"x4" rounded over a bit to make it pretty. The king sits in the middle of the field. It's just like the 8 ball. If you accidentally knock it over you lose the game.

Kubb's are towers. They are supposed to be 2.75"x2.75"x5.9". Most instructions online tell you to make them out of 4"x4"s. I didn't want to do this for two reasons. First, I hate working with freshly purchased pressure treated wood. Its so wet and chemically. Second, I didn't feel like taking the riving knives and guard off the table saw. Sloth or safety, I'll let you choose.

I made our 10 kubbs out of 2"x4"s cut down to 3"x6" pieces then glued together. For strength and a bit of asethetics I pegged them with 3/8" oak dowels.

Each team gets 5 kubbs. The kubbs are set up evenly along the opposite baselines about 5 paces from the king. The goal is to knock over the kubbs. When Team A knocks over one of Team B's baseline kubbs, Team B gets to pick the fallen kubb up and throw it into the field. It is now a field kubb.

Team B must knock this field kubb over before they can attempt to knock over any of Team A's baseline kubbs. This is where the strategy of placing field kubbs comes in to play. If Team B fails to knock over a field kubb then Team A gets to throw from that field kubb during their next turn. Advantage Team A.

Once a field kubb is knocked over, it is removed from play. When a team has cleared all five kubbs from their opponents baseline, they may shoot for the king.

Sorry to mix building instructions with rules of play. Just watch the video. From what we have read, part of the art of Kubb is the arguing. Each house has their own rules. There are tons of videos and descriptions online. Here are two good ones to start with.

Here is This Old House's video on Kubb:

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/video/0,,20397808,00.html

How to Play Kubb:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgei5ImLXKo&feature=related

Enjoy and if any of you receive a heavy Christmas present from my family, you know what you got.

Storytelling

2011-12-13T06:02:00.000-08:00

Every career has busy a season and it didn't take long to realize that this writer/mom/teacher combination just won't work during August and December.

It takes almost the whole month of August to retrain feral kids, launch them in to the school year, promote Science Time and celebrate my daughter's birthday.

December is December. Holiday programs, Santa's workshop in the garage and kitchen, visitors, vacations and birthdays.

The first year that I was brave enough to call myself a writer and chain myself to the desk chair, I tried to work the year through. Anything written during those two months had to be deleted and the family (myself included) was frustrated.

Now I know to shrink down to two careers and just take a vacation from writing. Luckily being a writer is the most forgiving career. Even though I'm not actively submerged in a manuscript, I can still advance my craft while taking "time off."

This year winter hiatus I'm going to try a little storytelling. Eli at Mama's Coffee House has been wonderfully supportive and is lending me a venue. What a great chance to spin some stories and watch my target audience at the same time.

I'm not going to read from any of the Titus and Annie stories but all of that Christmas Around the World research for Book 2 will definitely come in handy.

If your in the Charlotte area, come on out to Mama's Coffee House (716 Main Street, Pineville, NC 28134) on Tuesday, December 20 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

George Washington's Mangel Wurzel

2011-12-08T11:23:00.000-08:00

Mangle Wurzel at Mt. Vernon in November.

We took the kids to Washington DC for 5 days of pure geeky pleasure over Thanksgiving. Tons of fun was had by all. But one funny looking plant with a big name at Mt. Vernon inspired me to get one of my projects off the back burner.

Mangel Wurzel is Swiss Chard. When the roots are as big as the ones we saw at Mt. Vernon, they are only tasty to barn yard animals. But the greens are quite yummy. More subtle than turnip greens and just a little peppery.

Occupy the Garden?

The grownups at our house love greens, especially kale, chard and collards. Seeing George Washington's Mangel Wurzle thriving in November made me come home and finally put together the little cold frame green house that had been living in my head.

The core of my garden is a row of 4' by 4' raised beds. I put another course of boards on the first container before adding old wheat straw and a few bags of compost to the soil. Each planting my beds get a little higher up off of their base of red clay.

Peas and a string trellis for the kids to enjoy.

The top of the greenhouse is made up of 2' by 4' trellises which I built this spring for the tomatoes. I leaned them against each other and tied them at the top to a 4' piece of bamboo to lend some stability.

The plastic is a painters drop cloth left over from another project. So far the staples have held nicely.

At first I fretted that plastic was too opaque but I drove by a professional green house the other day. Their roof looked milky white compared to mine so I think I'm fine.

I started to over engineer the access sides of the greenhouse but I stopped myself. Instead of hinges or pegged panels I ended up not trimming the excess plastic. There was enough on both sides to fold like wrapping paper triangles at the ends of a package and fasten with a small alligator clamp. Easy peasy. I love a project that does not require a run to Home Depot.

Look Ma! First leaves!

I dream of tomatoes in the winter but played it safe the first go round. Last week I planted mangel wurzle, kale, basil, deer tongue lettuce and peas. Today I took a peek. The kale, basil and deer tongue lettuce are sprouting.

Boxer burrowed under her house this year.

So far we have only had a little frost on the ground and lows of 31. But colder weather is coming. My turtle tells me so.

I also checked on Boxer the box turtle today. It rained a lot yesterday. She took advantage of the softened soil and dug her burrow a few inches deeper. Hopefully my seedlings and the box turtle stay snug and happy in the garden over the coming winter. Fingers crossed.

It's not hoarding, honest!

2011-12-07T06:18:00.000-08:00

Maggie from the Read or Die series.

Last night I attacked our Maggie Closet. That's what we call the closet under stairs. Even I couldn't take the chaos any longer.

My husband coined the term after Maggie from Read or Die. It's just the type of space she would love to nest in, surrounded by books.

Our Maggie Closet houses collections of dust mops, brooms, kitchen appliances, lunch boxes, reusable grocery bags, cake pans, cookie cutters and spices. This is also where I shove everything that needs to be dealt with later. It doesn't take long for this space to become a total disaster.

Last night was a total closet purge. The spice shelves took the longest. Partly because I maced myself right good by pouring white chili powder into a mason jar. But mostly because 78 jars survived the purge. No repeats. Honest.

I read cookbooks like novels. When I grow up, my next degree will be in culinary anthropology. The spice cabinet reflects that.

Travelling In Laws supported this growing trend. I will not tell you where my saffron came from and I still feel bad that they had to spend so much time in customs once because of some cumin seeds.

Recently I've learned how to find really good spices locally. The online spice catalogs are just too pricey and the quantities are too small.

For instance, one purveyor of spice wanted $4 for a tiny envelope of sumac. Two tablespoons at the most. I got 8 ounces for $3 at a local Indian grocery store. Sumac is a yummy lemony brightener perfect for garnishing hummus, sprinkling over steamed vegetables, or replacing the salt on the table habit for people who have to watch the sodium intake.

Who needs Whole Foods? During my last trip to Bombay Bazaar I stocked up on cinnamon, nutmeg, all spice and ground cloves. It's time to make gingerbread!

My gingerbread recipe was wheedled out of a close friend and has so many spices boiled together that it makes your lips tingle. There's no teaspoons in this recipe, just tablespoons.

Another great find has been Compare grocery stores. There are several in the Charlotte area but my favorite is on Arrowood. This grocery store is predominantly Hispanic. Fresh garbanzo beans in the hulls and a bin of dried chilis that smells so smokey spicy good I wish I could bottle it. This store also has Indian, African, Thai and Chinese food stuffs.

In one trip I can get my bean curd thread that sates our noodle fetish yet cuts the carbs, bulgur wheat by the pound at 1/4 the price of Whole Paychecks, and whole ancho peppers that find their way into almost all of my recipes.

Don't even get me started on the lentils - they are kept in the pantry and that will have to be another blog.

If you like to cook and enjoy flavor, buy some mason jars and start building your own spice closet. Just say no to $5 little bottles of desiccated flakes at the conventional grocery stores. You will save a lot of money, learn about other cultures and put great food on your table.

Getting Back On Track

2011-12-06T13:21:00.000-08:00

Yes, this is a picture of all three cats in one place. That's how far behind I am on my blog. The usual one cat post is not enough.

No, they are not devouring a writer who fell behind on her blog. It's bad, but not that bad.

The blogger may have been on hiatus but the writer was busy. Titus and Annie Book 1 is sitting on two different desks. Titus and Annie Book 2 is complete and sitting on one desk. Most exciting of all, the first Vinyl Village Mystery has begun. Right before Thanksgiving I identified the middle of the book. Always a momentous event.

And look . . .

My two fellow Art Web conspirators got together and made me some spiffy business cards. Thank you Catherine for the art and thank you thank you Lisa Finley for the excellent design. I have the best creative support group ever.

Now I better get blogging since my daughter found the box of cards and has been handing them out all over town like coupons for free Frosties.

I do love a good series, really I do

2011-10-18T08:30:00.000-07:00

As a reader I love a good series. They are like having a good friend you can call when you need to talk. You know what to expect but there are still some surprises.

Now that I am starting my second series, the Leo and Arnold Mysteries of the Vinyl Village, I am enjoying some of the freedoms for the writer.

There are 50 pages of back story, character maps and anecdotes in my Vinyl Village notebook. Yet this morning, while I started chapter 2 and plotted out future chapters, I didn't feel any pressure or anxiety to force all of that good material into the book. Eventually all those little nuggets will find their way into one of the volumes. Never fear.

Writing a series lets me kick back and grow the text. It's kind of exciting to see where the chips will fall. Here's a few teasers:

Grandma Lily loves hunting thrift stores for furniture and refinishing it. Yet she will not give up her red Miata convertible nor will she let Grandpa Bob have the truck he has always wanted. Instead, she calls one of her daughters, much to Rachel and Susan's chagrin, with their oversized SUV's every time she finds a new treasure.

Arnold's cat Cali hates Leo's dog Bobo so much that eventually her feline reason snaps and she tries to bury the dog where it lies sleeping on the kitchen floor. The ultimate picture of impotent hatred: a cat scratching the floor in front of a dog who just keeps snoring.

Arnold has a neighbor who is a self proclaimed urban homesteader, swears that the slow food movement can save us all while preaching the gospel of whole food and recycling. The boys catch her coming home one day with sacks full of Bojangles fried chicken. I'll have to change the name of the restaurant chain, but you get the idea. I love hypocrisy in adults.

This is not a vinyl village.

Ok, enough teasers. I'm off to write some more on Chapter 2.

Random Line Friday

2011-10-07T05:02:00.000-07:00

“Mmmmm Hmmmm.” She made the noise her mother made on long phone calls with friends. Annie had been waiting to try it out.

I like the way children test out adult behaviors on each other. They are little social scientists. Like walking around the corner and hearing two little girls having a tea party while discussing cholesterol very seriously.

Annie wonders what Mmmmm Hmmmm does. When she tests it out on Titus she discovers that it gets people to keep talking, even gets them to spill their guts. She loves the power of that sound and Titus falls for it every time.

This week's random line is brought to you by Titus and Annie Book 2 and by my new desk chair. Do you think this chair is funky enough to break my crippling habbit of sitting cross legged in an office chair?

Smilodon trying to figure out how to nap on such a funky chair.

Art Web Update

2011-10-04T05:44:00.000-07:00

Catherine has the week off and plans on spending the whole time painting. She's also lined up a place in Hendersonville to hang some of her work. More details to follow. Catherine also teaches at Design with Wine (http://www.designwithwine.com/ ) in Greenville, SC. Her next class is October 25^th, Night Reflections.

Lisa went through 50lbs of clay this weekend but she's not stopping there. It's art show season for her. Time to load the kiln then load the van.

I stopped by her last kiln opening. She did some utensil jars with a circle pattern and a bit of color that I just love. Can't wait to see where else that new pattern and delicious blue color pop up.

As for me, I'm done with querying for a while. Titus and Annie Book One is making the rounds. Titus and Annie Book 2 is done and even got to go out on one little query of its very own.

Time to start the next book. Titus and Annie Book 3: C is for Centurion will be a fun project. Part of me can't wait to dive into that story. It's always fun to start en medias res with Annie mad at Titus. But as tempting as this is I am going to focus on Leo and Arnold for a while.

Leo and Arnold are cousins who live in the same vinyl village. Their first mystery will be The Stolen Swarm.

For me, the hardest part of a new project is the names. Blank page? No problem. Framing a plot arc? Getting easier each time. Conflict and action in the first chapter without the albatross of too much exposition? Easy peasy. Naming the characters? Eeeeeek.

I am notorious for simply naming every character Meg and forging ahead. Why Meg? Honestly, I haven't a clue. I hoped that actually naming a character Meg in Billington would get the name out of my system. Alas alack. No such luck.

So, I enlist help. My children named Titus, Annie and Julia. My husband helped me come up with last names for families who move to the neighborhood in Books 4 and 5. My sister used her lyrical ear to come up with their first names.

To kick start Leo and Arnold, I invited friends Kym and Nicholle over for coffee last week. We were fortunate to have Catherine with us that morning. It was a lot of fun building family trees and naming neighborhoods. An excellent brainstorming session with fresh new perspectives. On my own this process makes me eat Tums like M&M's. With friends, we laughed and smiled the whole time. Much better.

Putting the names down on paper plants the seeds. Now time for my favorite part of a project: organic growth. The plot arc has been mapped out for months but I don't necessarily know how those characters will get from point A to B and I haven't gotten to know their personalities yet.

In order to get to know my characters I like to start a notebook titled “Things I know about . . .” I carry it around with me everywhere, jotting down whatever comes to mind. It's a lot like lingering at the dinner table with friends long enough to hear new stories about each other.

Eventually, the notebook can't hold the story any longer. That's when I hit the computer. I highlight passages whenever I pull from the notebook. Not everything will make it in but it is nice having a home grown resource to fall back on when the blank computer screen becomes daunting.

Keep your eyes open for more Leo and Arnold updates plus pictures from Lisa and Catherine.

Random Line Friday

2011-09-23T05:00:00.000-07:00

Today's Random Line is brought to you by Annie and is more of a random paragraph:

Annie was ready. She put on her winter coat the minute the street lights flickered on. Then she pressed her face against the window so hard she could feel the cold glass all the way to her gums and settled in to wait.

Have a great weekend!

Random Line Friday

2011-09-09T05:10:00.000-07:00

Titus did not say that anyone riding an invisible bicycle upside down while wearing a gigantic blue tutu and swim fins in December clearly needed some help.

Today's Random Line is brought to you by Titus and Annie, book 2. Annie is having a dilemma. She doesn't know if Santa is real or not and her social status (big kid/little kid) has become wrapped up in the issue. When Titus offers to help, Annie naturally responds that she didn't know she needed help.

Titus has grown up a bit since Book 1. Three months of friendship with Annie has been a crash course in socialization. He now knows when to apply his internal filters.

I hope this line brought a giggle or two and I hope everyone has a great weekend.

Behind on the blog . . . again.

2011-09-08T06:42:00.000-07:00

You all know the rules by now, right?

Random Line Friday?

2011-09-02T04:53:00.000-07:00

Illustration by Catherine Gurri

Perhaps this is not the best place to showcase new illustrations. It's not exactly a random line. More like a random thought brought to life by my illustrator and collaborator Catherine. But Friday's are for having fun, even if the resolution is wonky.

Catherine visited last weekend and brought a sheaf of new drawings. I'm so excited. They look wonderful. The Clone Trooper vs. Centurion will not make it into the final draft but I still had to share. Forgive my impetuous nature and rinky dink scanner printer combo. I vow to wait for a flat bed scanner and proper jpegs before sharing any other illustrations.

The kids and I are heading to Tryon, NC this weekend. Grandma and the kids can play. I will harvest this year's honey and work with Catherine on illustrations and rough drafts. Labor on labor day weekend but I am looking forward to it.

Titus 2 is almost done. Progress stalled a bit on Chapter 10 so I spent yesterday mapping out themes and conflicts. My neighbors must think I'm nuts because I spent the day outside reading out loud while making notes with colored pencils. One more chapter to go this morning. Fingers crossed that this, plus a pot of coffee, puts enough fire in my belly to finish the first draft.

Have a great weekend.

Making Mud Pies

2011-09-01T05:23:00.000-07:00

One of the greatest things about being an adult is being allowed to use portland cement. I love cement. It brings back all the joys of making mud pies. Mixing up a batch is time consuming and methodical, just right for mulling over a troublesome transition or dialogue that just isn't flowing right.

I hadn't mixed up a good batch of cement since we lived in Florida. Then, this past Spring, I helped my daughter's Girl Scout troop make some paving stones for Mother's Day. I've been making word bricks ever since. My daughter helps out with the spacer bricks.

Phase one of the Word Walk.

Once the kids went back to school I was able to place the first section of my Word Walk. To keep the ants away and to stay environmental I prepped the ground with 20 Mule Team borox and diatomaceous earth topped with a thick layer of newspapers. Before I put down the leveling sand I added one more layer of borox and DE. I hate ants almost as much as I hate pesticides.

The path curves so I will have to sink wooden spacers every few feet. The spacers also let me work in small sections at a time. This is a long process so I don't want a huge swath of red clay open to kids and dogs.

The first quote is one of my favorites from A. A. Milne: One of the advantages of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries. This could be my personal motto if it wasn't too long and awkward to translate into Latin.

Everyone needs a favorite A. A. Milne quote.

Then there is the ubiquitous Tolkein quote:

All that is gold does not glitter,

Not all those who wander are lost;

The old that is strong does not wither,

Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

Waiting to be set in the next sections of bricks is the opening line and title of my favorite Gerard Manley Hopkins poems: As kingfishers catch fire, dragonflies draw flame. This stuck in my head the moment I read it in college. It reminds me of growing up on the Indian River lagoon and all the time I have spent near water and marshes.

Some of my "words" have made it into the word walk as well: Billington, Titus, Nessie, Annie, Lavender Scented Lake Monster,and Garden of Good Intentions.

While serving as my editor and collaborator, Catherine has taken a few words away from me: smug and really. I have dutifully listened to her but out of stubborn sisterly spite I set them in the Word Walk.

I am looking for a good quote about curiosity to put on the outside of the gate. Any suggestions? I would like something less menacing than "curiosity killed the cat."

What would you put in your word walk?

Random Line Friday

2011-08-26T14:03:00.000-07:00

2009 Christmas Swords, Poplar with beeswax finish.

As a rule, Titus's mother liked to get parental permission before arming children.

Today's random line is from the second Titus and Annie book.

That little magic charm or snit fit on Tuesday did the trick. Titus and Annie Book 2 is sailing along. Not only is the Befana letter finally written it is also funny. There are only five chapters to go until the first rough draft is done. Plenty of time to make my Friday deadline.

Catherine and I are getting together for Labor Day Weekend and working. It's time for a sit down illustration and editing session on both books.

Five chapters in seven days? No problem.

My french press and I can do it.

In fact, I am rather looking forward to some nice quiet writing days right after I arm my daughter with a candy apple red electric guitar for her seventh birthday.

Sometimes a Mama has to do what a Mama has to do.

2011-08-25T09:44:00.000-07:00

Today's post is brought to you by my daughter's room.

Before.

After.

Routine Returns

2011-08-24T06:04:00.000-07:00

The village thyme needs a mow.

Thanks for putting up with yesterday’s rant and cat picture. It always takes me a while to rebuild my routines.

Being stuck on a plot point doesn't help my patience any. I keep telling myself that this is only the first full week of school.

The grapevines have topped out the arbor.

The house almost completely recovered from this summers around the clock occupation. The backyard looks much less Sanford and Sons and much more Shabby Chic. Chapter six has a new stronger opening. Even though I still haven't written Annie's Befana letter, things are going in the right direction.

Another fun routine has returned. Art Web is up and running again.

Remember Art Web? My excuse for starting this blog? A potter, a painter and a writer.

We were all on creative hiatus over the summer while Catherine adjusted to her new work schedule and Lisa and I herded three children through summer vacation. So I'm not the only one rebuilding routines this week.

Catherine was the first of us to get back into gear. She finished a painting of a steeple chase scene. She has also been cranking out illustrations for Titus and Annie book one. I cannot wait to see them. I promise to post some as soon as we get them scanned in. Catherine assures me that Mr. Holt, Titus's teacher, is very cute in his horn rimmed glasses.

Lisa stopped by yesterday on a quest for materials to back a mold. She's finding her way back into the studio. The nice weather helps.

Wind chime with a hint of Miyazaki from Lisa.

She found me in a corner of the backyard working at a folding table barely big enough for my legal pad and my cat. We had lunch and a rambling talk about yard projects, plot lines and all that other random stuff. I made puppy eyes and bribed her with a few more lunches if she would help me design a business card. Lisa is a great sport and an excellent graphic designer. She said yes.

Lisa headed off to her studio and threw two pots. I went back to my little table to fill up a few more pages.

Not bad for a Tuesday that started with a ranting blog.

Domestic Magic

2011-08-23T05:31:00.000-07:00

Yes. I believe there is magic. Subtle little steps we can take to invoke the deities of irony and mirth.

For instance, I lose things a lot. Keys. Wallet. Library card. Cell phone. I try to save face and find these things on my own so I don't have to admit to the family that I pulled a Kristen once again because I am still getting grief for misplacing my keys in the refrigerator butter dish. That was six years ago.

When I give up looking and decide to just take it on the chin, be a grown up and admit to losing something again, the item shows up. Magically.

Those drill bits weren't on the table before I e-mailed my husband. My wallet did not appear in the bathroom sink until I told my daughter I couldn't find it. Magic, right?

Now let me see if this works with writing. If I admit that I'm stuck, will I magically become unstuck? Here's hoping.

Chapter six of Titus and Annie 2 is an important one. This is the turning point when Titus gets on board with Annie's logic about the whole Santa Claus issue. He goes from empathy to interest and active engagement.

The chapter revolves around the Italian tradition of Nona Befanna. Children in Italy write letters to their parents promising to be good in the upcoming year. The letters are read outloud at the dinner table. Then the children go to the fireplace and burn the letters, saying a little rhyme to Befana as the ashes go up the chimney. They ask her to send them a treat.

For the life of me, I cannot write Annie's letter to her parents. This should be easy. But I'm stuck stuck stuck.

My husband is not sympathetic. He rather enjoys writer's block. The backyard looks awesome because of all the thinking and muttering I have been doing. The garden is almost ready for the fall planting. If this keeps up much longer, the shower in the master bathroom may end up regrouted.

Gratuitous Cat Picture: Gravy and Smilodon "counting" baby turtles.

Ok. I have publicly admitted to being stuck and added one more gratuitous cat picture to the cosmos. Hopefully this invokes whatever cosmic forces make my keys reappear. Let the magic and the writing begin . . .