So this week has been one of time to write. A bit of baking. And that quiet sense of waiting that happens just before the rush of the holidays begins next week. I like to dip my toe into the holidays before it turns into a rush and I have few things this week to ease you into that and happy mayhem.

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Let the Christmas cookie recipe exchange commence! The first one I am sharing with you is an old family recipe, Chocolate Cookie Bars. My mom always made these at Christmastime and occasionally when we’d talk her … Read more »

Welcome to Friday. Hope your week has been a calm spot in all the currents of our world. My mother is in lockdown at her assisted living (again) and Thanksgiving is off the table. Well, it will be on the table, just not the table with all the leaves and the card tables tucked around the living room.

Things will not be easy in the weeks to come, but if we are all careful, all masked, all taking precautions, (not hoarding toilet paper!) we’ll ensure full tables for all next Thanksgiving.

Also, when I recommend books, if they are just … Read more »

Don’t we all need some wonderful things to curl into right now?

Call it distractions, call it self-care, call it soothing, but I am all about finding the things that make me feel contentedly at home.

Books, baking, and a few shows to binge while knitting. Join me where it’s cozy.

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Yes, I am breaking my own rules and wading into Christmas prior to Thanksgiving. (I so envy Canada that they celebrate Thanksgiving in October and then can dive into Christmas!) But I was thinking, who’s up for a Cookie Recipe Exchange? I’m going to look into how we … Read more »

Yikes! I’ve been “gone” for the last two weeks “at” conferences. All at home and on Zoom, as one does these days, but that doesn’t mean I had a minute to spare. Because, as every woman juggling home, family and life right now knows, being home just complicates it all. Sigh.

But my conference season is now over and I have nothing

, as in NOTHING on the calendar, except for writing for the next few months.

Which fills me with joy.

And joy

, these days, isn’t always easy to find, so I’ll take … Read more »

I am in a mad dash currently. I am speaking at two writers conferences in the next two weeks, so I am up to my neck in preparing workshops, figuring out how to present them online, and learning all the bells and whistles of Zoom.

As. We. All. Are.

So I shall just get the “things” going.

~ One ~

First, let me apologize for repeating myself last week. I knew it was going to happen eventually. And it finally did.

One of last week’s Things was a repeat from an earlier week.

Now I am not going to point … Read more »

Yikes! I usually draft this up Thursday afternoon and have it all ready to go bright and early Friday morning. But yesterday afternoon was so beautiful, I ended up enjoying a sunny afternoon instead. So you are getting the late version. 😉

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I can’t believe the fifth book in Sherry Thomas’s wonderful Lady Sherlock series

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, Murder on Cold Street, comes out next week.

October 6 if you don’t want to miss a moment of Charlotte’s escapades. Can you tell I’ve got a bit of Holmes thing going lately?

Haven’t read the series? Start with A … Read more »

So not the best week, right? Loss seems to be the only word to describe it.

My dear friend, Diane, who I had written about before, took a turn for the worse and passed quickly. The words my friends and I keep sharing –“We thought we had more time.” — are all we seem to say.

We were supposed to have lunch last week

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, but the smoke was too much for her to be outside and socially distanced, so we had to reschedule…because we thought we had more time.

So please, hug those you love. Call, … Read more »

I have started and restarted this week’s edition three times. I just don’t know where to start this week with so much wrong going on.

So, let me just share what I have, and my hope is that one of these things will make you smile.

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Have you seen the preview for Enola Holmes on Netflix? Well, here it is:

Go ahead

, watch it, I’ll wait.

It had me at Henry Cavill. Coming next week on Netflix.

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I know right now that an outside fire is the furthest thing from most of our minds. … Read more »

As I look out the window at nothing but smoke, my heart goes out to everyone affected by the wildfires on the West Coast. Prayers going out for rain and relief.

That, and four day weeks throw me. What? It’s Friday already? Hence, this is a little late this morning.

So let’s get going with something to lighten our hearts.

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A few weeks ago, I told you I was diving into A Queen in Hiding by Sarah Kozloff. Since then, I’ve read all four books in the series. I have been binge reading. Leave me alone reading. Staying up … Read more »

“It’s never too late change old habits.” Florence Griffith Joyner

And isn’t September about change? I’ve always thought the new year should ring in September 1st. Kids go back to school, seasons change, life shifts. There is a sense of moving forward when September rolls around. So I offer the above quote as my Autumnal prod.

Time to change.

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In the vein of trying something different

, have you read A Man Called Ove? It is a Swedish book that is ever so delightful–an elderly man who has to learn to live. It is his September of … Read more »