Smith Mountain Lake Mystery Writer

Felled Trees and Beaver

2012-01-14T15:38:00.001-05:00

Because I had literally worn out my beloved Kodak, sweet Ron gifted me with a new camera for Christmas and I was eager to try it out. So last week when an unusually warm January day presented itself, we took off in our kayaks for a picture-taking adventure.

Hoping to capture shots of wildlife, we paddled in and out of quiet coves, saw neither a single bird nor animal. We did, however, see signs of beaver. See photos below. Click, then click again to enlarge.

Beavers must chew on wood often because their huge teeth are constantly growing.

Here's another shot.

Same tree snapped from a distance. It was a big tree.

And all they did was gnaw around it.

Another tree felled by beaver. This one toppled over before

they finished chewing all the way around it.

A close-up of the same tree.

Many property owners around Smith Mountain Lake complain about the damage done by beavers. Some folks have lost nice trees they've planted near the shoreline. I have a friend whose weeping willow looked lovely one day. The next day it had vanished, except for the gnawed trunk. They replanted; lost another. And another.

I know beavers are considered pests, but I remember a February day several years ago when I stepped out on our deck and saw two beavers--Momma and Baby (called a kit)--climb up our bank. I hurried inside, grabbed my Olympus camera (I wore it out, too), and hurried back to the deck. The beavers shuffled around in the dry leaves and small scrub trees. I watched Momma chew off a small branch, nudge Baby, then drop back in the water; Baby followed. I snapped a few pictures. None are very good, but they help me remember.

Note the branch in Momma's mouth, and Baby swimming behind her.

Momma and Baby

The pair was almost out of camera range before Momma stopped swimming and faced Baby. For about 30 seconds, Momma and Baby "conversed." Fascinated, I continued to watch as both beavers swam back to the edge of the bank. Momma waited in the water while Baby climbed up the bank, gnawed off a twig, and returned to the lake. I missed those pictures, and wish I'd had time to set up a video camera for the whole event.

Baby swimming with his twig.

Baby with his twig. Momma was behind the tree in both photos.

I felt privileged to have witnessed this precious event, a learning experience for both Baby and me, and I'll never forget it.

To learn more about beavers, visit the youtube sites below.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuMRDZbrdXc
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZVbKwDmr-o

SCOTLAND IN SEPTEMBER: Crianlarich to Oban

2012-01-09T20:17:00.005-05:00

We left Ewich House on day two with full stomachs, anticipation of what the day would bring--and raindrops. Soon, however, shafts of sunlight appeared over the mountains. The rain stopped.

I took this photo through my side backseat window from the moving car.

Occasionally, Joyce, Larry, Ron and I all hollered "Picture!" at the same time, as we did for the shot pictured above. And believe me, it's even more gorgeous in person. Lots of other cars had stopped for a photo shoot, too. If you want to follow along on a map, we were on two-lane highway A82 in the western part of Scotland. A few miles down the road we stopped again. And again. And again. . . .

Ron and me.

We continued on A82 to Glencoe, a village near Glen Coe, a natural scenic area.

After Glen Coe, we doubled back on A82 until, at the last minute, we decided to take a short cut and turned onto B8074. This delightful one-lane road wound through farms and along a river that changed quickly from a roaring rush (above), to a tranquil, meandering one (below).

I snapped the picture below from the back seat so you could see how narrow the road is. Occasionally we'd meet another vehicle, which meant that one of us would have to pull into a "lay-by"--lay-bys occurred about every half mile or so--or back up. Below is a photo of Larry driving; he drove the whole time, did a great job.

Larry "getting acquainted" with a mannequin in Inveraray.

We came out on A85, then detoured onto A819 to Inveraray, a great place to purchase wool and cashmere items, then backtracked to A85 (past Loch Awe).

Kilchurn Castle on the banks of Loch Awe.

We arrived in Oban that afternoon, and spent ages looking for Dunheanish Guest House. Oban roads are quite narrow. It seemed like folks parked their cars anywhere they wanted, so sometimes getting past them put you between a car (or a rock) and a hard place--rock walls. Dunheanish Guest House had off-street parking that provided challenges. We almost decided that "you can't get there from here," but we persevered and were rewarded with a splendid place to lay our heads.

The walkway in front of our first-floor bedroom overlooking Oban Bay.

I took the above picture through one of our four bedroom windows. Remember, I like shooting through windows. Dunleanish Guest House has six guest rooms; ours had a king-size four poster bed with a gorgeous view of Oban Bay. It also had a private bath. Yay!

Superb hosts William and Linda steered us to the waterfront for dinner. We dined at EE USK (which means I Ask) located on North Pier and owned by the MacLeod Family. Dinner was delicious!!

Dining room at Dunheanish Guest House.

Dunheanish Guest House

Dunheanish, Ardconnel Rd., Oban, Argyll

PA34 5DW

Phone: +44(0) 1631 566556

www.dunheanish.com

If you haven't read my first post about our trip to Scotland and are interested in doing so, scroll down to the next blog post.

SCOTLAND IN SEPTEMBER: Glasgow to Stirling to Crianlarich

2012-01-06T16:09:00.000-05:00

Scotland in September is cold, dreary, wet--and fabulous! Ron and I crossed the Atlantic with friends Larry and Joyce Horne, and spent 10 days seeing much of what Scotland had to offer. Flying there tried our patience; flying home did the same. But we didn't crash, and the trip was definitely worth the inconvenience and discomfort. We flew into Glasgow, picked up our rental car, and headed toward Stirling.

We toured numerous castles, spent most nights in B&Bs, two nights in castles. I snapped so many pictures that my beloved Kodak often refused to turn off. Guess it figured I'd just turn it back on again. Larry, who doesn't mind driving on the left side of the road, is a camera nut, too, so when any of us hollered "Picture!" he pulled off the road when possible.We hollered "Picture!" a lot.

I took the above photo through the side window of our moving car. The countryside is littered with huge rocks, so stone houses like this one are common. Storm clouds like those in the picture are common, too!

Larry, Joyce and Ron in front of the Filling Station
Restaurant in Stirling. I'm taking the picture.

Lunch at the Filling Station was excellent, as were most of the meals we had in Scotland. The soups were outstanding; I ordered soup often.

A distant view of Stirling Castle. Click on picture to enlarge.

Stirling Castle, a home for Scottish kings and queens in the 12th century, was also one of the most besieged castles in Scotland, and in the 17th century was adapted to become a garrisoned fortress.

Below is a statue of Robert the Bruce, one of my ancestors. That's me in the purple raincoat pointing to the statue. When I was five years old, Grandmother told me we were related to Robert the Bruce. Even though I had no clue who he was, I was impressed. After all, he was family.

I took the below photo through a window at Stirling Castle. Don't know why, but I like taking pictures through windows.

From Stirling we headed toward Crianlarich, where we spent the night at Ewich House, a converted farmhouse dating from 1811, and located not too far from Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. The bedrooms were small, but clean and comfortable with a private bath. Hosts Ian and Deb were friendly and jolly, as were most of the Scots we met.

Ewich House

Strathfillan, Crianlarich, Perthshire, FK20 8RU

Phone: 01838 300300 www.ewich.co.uk

Ian and Deb served a delicious and hearty Scottish breakfast, as did most of the places we stayed.

A typical breakfast consisted of eggs, sausage, mushrooms, tomatoes and bacon. This one at Ewich House also offered beans and a type of toast. A few establishments also served kippers (fried salt fish).

If you're interested in contacting Ewich House, you'll need to get the telephone code to dial from the U.S. And if you go, be sure to take a raincoat and an umbrella. And lots of money!

JONATHAN'S 8TH BIRTHDAY

2011-12-27T14:35:00.001-05:00

Today is my grandson Jonathan's eighth birthday. Even though he died suddenly on January 13, 2006, at the age of two years and 17 days, we still count December 27th as his birthday. We always will. He was such a sweet child, loved his five siblings, enjoyed playing ball, "swimming" in the lake, toy trucks and playing in the bed of his Granddaddy's truck. He adored his big brother Jacob, and sisters Micah, Rebecca, Sarah and Susannah.

Unknown to any of us, Jonathan suffered from arteriovenous malformation (AVM), a condition in which the blood vessels in the brain rupture. AVMs are defects of the circulatory system that are generally believed to occur during embryonic or fetal development. The malformations tend to be discovered only incidentally, usually either at autopsy or during treatment for an unrelated disorder. Google arteriovenous malformations if you wish to learn more about AVMs.

Happy birthday, Jonathan. Grandmother loves you.

A BIRD AND HIS BATH

2011-12-10T11:15:00.001-05:00

I really should be working on Christmas cards, decorating my house, baking. And I was doing that until I saw this tufted titmouse sitting in this water dish on the deck. I grabbed my camera and started shooting.

Hmmm, water. Should I?

Nobody's watching . . .

Yep, the coast is clear.

Head first is the only way to go!

Now that was refreshing!

One more time? Why not?

Ready, set . . .

Go!

I'M SO PROUD

2011-12-02T16:21:00.001-05:00

I've always been proud of my grandchildren, but when my grands planned how to help families in need I almost burst with pride. On Thanksgiving day they sat around our dining room table and studied the World Vision, Smile Train, and Food for the Poor catalogs and leaflets.

Instead of giving Christmas gifts to each other, they used the money they would have spent for:

job training for a woman
a deep-water well for up to 300 people
equipment and supplies to help mothers keep their newborns alive
a share of a home for an orphan
a year of school for an orphan
mosquito netting
sheep
5 fruit trees
clothes
medicine
help for a disabled child

Adults were there to guide them should the children need assistance.

They did the same thing last year, spending at least two hours each year working on their Christmas gift.

Lessons learned? How to work together. How to speak up when you think something is important. Math, and the power of the dollar in third-world countries, that their money can make a difference in someone's life. How good they have it compared to millions of others, to be thankful for what they have. Compassion. Pride in themselves and each other.

Between them, they donated around $450.00 this year to help others have a better life. Yep. I'm so proud of my grandchildren.

Nature Photography

2011-11-06T20:55:00.002-05:00

I like the photo below, an early-morning shot snapped from my deck on November 5th.

The last of my petunias on a fog-shrouded morning.

Trust me; there really is a lake--mountains, too--in

the picture.

Yep, I thought my picture was really great. And then I looked again at photos nature photographer Fred First had sent me. I sighed. My photos are okay. Fred's are exquisite. You've heard of folks gasping at something so gorgeous it takes their breath away? Well, that's exactly what happened to me when I uploaded his pictures. Be sure to click on his photos below to enlarge.

Photo by Fred First.

Another photo by Fred First.

Another Fred First photo.

These three pictures by Fred are only a few of the many incredible photos he will be showing during his presentation at the Moneta/Smith Mountain Lake Library on Thursday morning, November 10th at 10:00.

The presentation is a multimedia celebration of the natural history and rural landscapes of the southern Appalachians. Fred will be discussing basic elements of photo composition, offer original vs. post-processed shots for comparison of photo-editing impacts, and describe the synthesis of his writing with digital photography and the photo-essay format.

The event is free and open to the public. Y'all really should come.

LOVE AFFAIR WITH ALASKA: Part 14

2011-10-05T11:14:00.002-04:00

In my first blog posts about Alaska, I exclaimed about the sights in Anchorage, the views from the train rides, the wildlife in Denali, the beauty of our 49th state, the Alaskan people. Later I ohhed and ahhed about the cruise itself, the glaciers, the side trips, the magnificent scenery. Now we're nearing the end of our land tour and cruise. And you know what? My love of Alaska hasn't diminished one bit.

I spied this little slice of heaven on the way to Ketchikan. I could

live here. If you click to enlarge, you'll see the boats and seaplane.

A view of Ketchikan harbor from the ship.

Cruise ships loaded with eager tourists dock at the Ketchikan waterfront--and Ketchikan adores tourists and the money they spend in the numerous jewelry shops, gift shops, and restaurants. Years ago this town was rough and rugged. Lumber mills and salmon fishing abounded, although the loggers and fishermen didn't like each other. Then hard times hit; making a living here wasn't easy. That all changed when cruise lines discovered "tourist gold." Now entrepreneurs hustle their wares in every way imaginable.

Different transportation methods are offered. The

Duck Tour vehicle can travel on land or water.

Many homes in Ketchikan display their own totem poles in their front yards. Totem poles fascinate me. If you understand the symbols, you can "read" the family's history.

We visited the Totem Cultural Heritage Center and the Potlatch Park Carving Center where I learned to appreciate the work that goes into creating a totem pole.

While at the Potlatch Park Carving Center, we watched the native woman below carving a totem pole she designed. She needed one long log for carving; two years passed before she found the perfect tree. She has worked on this one for two years. Until the last few years, women were not allowed to carve totem poles.

Ketchikanians (Is that a word?) live and work in the buildings built over the water. I took lots of pictures.

Ketchikan is the salmon and totem pole capital of Alaska.

Click to see salmon swimming.

Imagine my delight when I saw the dogs in the window above and below. When I asked a shopkeeper about them, he said that when it's sunny they wear sunglasses. I watched them watching people for 15 minutes.

LOVE AFFAIR WITH ALASKA: Part 13

2011-09-24T15:30:00.001-04:00

Alaska. Adventure. Excitement. I love all three. So while enjoying Skagway, I was ready for something different, happy to leave Skagway and cruise all night on Glacier Bay toward Icy Strait Point, which is located near the city of Hoonah. Although called the largest Tlingit Indian settlement in Alaska, Hoonah houses only 800 people. Note: click on photos to enlarge.

On the way to Icy Strait Point.

A view snapped through the dining room window

as we feasted on a delectable seafood dinner.

Below is a reflection of me taking a picture from one of the decks. When cruising, we often enjoyed eating breakfast or lunch out there.

A small slice of civilization above.

Two tenders wait to transport passengers to Icy

Strait Point. I took the picture from the cruise ship.

Coming in to Icy Strait Point and the little village of Hoonah.

Tourists and fishing keep this village afloat.

Hubby Ron and brother-in-law Bob on one of the nature trails.

Ron peering through the roots of a tree.

The flowers here were abundant and gorgeous, a photographer's paradise. So excited about all the picture-taking opportunities, I became separated from Ron, Bob, and sister-in-law Nita. Not to worry, I thought. And then I realized I had no purse, money, cell phone or boarding pass to get back on the ship. An hour later Ron and I found each other, but I now understand how panicky a lost child must feel. Ron and I have learned now to always pick a meeting point in case we get separated.

Just one of the many pictures I took. I couldn't decide

which photo to show you, so I've included both the one

above and the one below. Which do you prefer?

As we were boarding the tender for the short trip back to the ship, I saw the kayakers below heading out to explore. Most of them looked like novices eager for an adventure.

Enlarge to see the guide's rubber boat with motor in the upper right hand corner.

From the tender I watched whales surface near the kayakers. So did their guide. He immediately circled the kayakers and herded them closer to shore. The whale nearest the tender was blowing; I saw steam coming out of his hole. Wish I'd been in one of those kayaks! I watched until they were out of sight.

For any of you who like zip line rides, the world's longest cable ride at 5,330 feet long with a 1,300 foot vertical drop is located in Hoonah. Even though I'm afraid of heights, I thought about making this my first zip line adventure. After all, I reasoned, it would look good on my obituary. I changed my mind when I learned that I'd accelerate to a maximum speed of 60 mph on this 1.5 minute ride. Learned later than a man had had a heart attack that day while "zipping."

THE DROUGHT AND PRINCE

2011-08-21T14:11:00.001-04:00

Whenever possible, I like to paddle my kayak around the small coves to snap critter pictures. Yesterday was not a good day for phographing birds or animals, however. The prolonged drought we're experiencing is responsible. I almost always see green herons, but this time I saw only one small bird.

Click the picture to enlarge or you'll never see the bird!

In normal times, the area where the bird is standing would be under water. Below are more pictures showing how much Smith Mountain Lake's water level has receded. We live on a deep-water cove, so we have no trouble getting our boat out of the boat house and into the lake, but some folks in shallow water are probably unable to launch their boats.

Thirsty roots reach for water.

Even though I'm worried about our plants, animals, fish, crops and our water supply, I momentarily forgot when I saw handsome Prince, our next door neighbor, stretched out on the rip-rap that's usually covered with water.

Thank you, Prince, for making me smile.

LOVE AFFAIR WITH ALASKA: Part 12

2011-08-20T15:31:00.001-04:00

The word "Skagway," the next port on our cruise, evoked visions of a rough, don't-dare-go-there town. I was wrong. I really liked Skagway, another bustling tourist town with about 17 jewelry stores. The gateway to the Klondike gold fields in 1898, now only 825-860 hardy citizens live there year round.

Skagway was not what I had imagined.

Saloons still abound--there were about 80 during the gold rush days.

This building fascinated me. Click to enlarge photo.

A public toilet next to main street. Hmm. Interesting.

We scheduled our tours for the day: a sight-seeing bus ride of Skagway and up the mountains to the Canadian line in the morning; a three-hour train ride on the White Pass & Yukon Railroad (narrow-gauge rails) in the afternoon. The bus tour was nice. The train ride was spectacular! If doing it again, I'd skip the bus tour and take the train, maybe even the five-hour train ride instead of the three-hour one.

In the picture above, we're chugging along the river in Skagway toward steep mountains and the Canadian border. We traveled across the White Pass and the trail gold seekers followed in 1898. My pictures don't begin to do justice to this majestic and rugged territory.

Once mid September arrives, the weather turns frigid. Unlike Skagway, many towns close down. The trains, with a heater in each car, are the lifelines to those hardy folks who live way back in the mountains. No roads exist in this wilderness, so if a mountaineer needs food or other supplies, he must contact the railroad and arrange for his goods to be dropped off at a pre-arranged location. Trains must push deep snow off the rails in order to keep the trains going. The railroad, originally used to haul ore from the Yukon Territory mines, closed in the 1980s but re-opened in 1988. It now carries over 430,000 visitors a year.

A shot of the train ahead of us. I stood between the cars to take it and the one below.

I braced myself against the side railing to shoot this and many more. Even though I didn't feel comfortable when I was between cars, I would have been sorry if I hadn't done it. Besides, I figured it would make an interesting obituary.

Can it get any better than this?

A rushing river.

Almost back to Skagway.

An unidentified passenger watching us cast off.

What a day! When I awake in the morning we'll be at Icy Strait Point. I'm so glad we took this cruise!

LOVE AFFAIR WITH ALASKA: Part 11

2011-08-17T16:27:00.003-04:00

Lots of time has elapsed since I last blogged about my love affair with Alaska and "visiting" Hubbard Glacier. After leaving Hubbard, our ship chugged toward Juneau, Alaska's capital. Below is just one of the shots I took along the way. Nice scenery, huh? Be sure to click to enlarge the pictures.

A touristy town, Juneau is clean and interesting. Bald eagles seem to be everywhere. We learned that the only way in and out of Juneau (except for the local roads) is by air or boat. Because Juneau is landlocked, several years ago Alaskans voted to move the capital to Anchorage. The legislature approved the move, but when folks realized how much that would cost they decided Juneau would remain the capital! Smart people, the Alaskans; they pay as they go.

A shot of Juneau before we docked.

Flowers abound in Juneau.

Juneau is loaded with jewelry stores.

A view of the docks.

The next morning we rode a tour bus to Mendenhall Glacier, the most easily accessed glacier of the Juneau Icefield. Mendenhall receives over half a million visitors a year, and offers several trails to explore the area on foot. Mendenhall receives over 100 feet of snow annually. Because our time was limited, we chose to take advantage of the visitor center for a quick education on glaciers, vegetation and wildlife. I'd like to re-visit it some day. Actually, I'd like to re-visit Alaska!

Mendenhall Glacier. Note the gray color of the water.

At Macaulay Salmon Hatchery's visitor's center, we learned much about salmon and the corporation called Douglas Island Pink and Chum, or DIPAC, founded in the 1970s "to sustain and enhance the valuable salmon recources for the State of Alaska. . . ." We also tasted some of their delicious salmon products.

Macaulay Salmon Hatchery

Sunset aboard ship in Juneau.

Picture above is of Juneau just before pulling anchor and cruising all night to Skagway. I really enjoyed Juneau. Skagway was just as much fun. But that's another blog.

Authors and Adorable Little Girls

2011-08-16T20:31:00.000-04:00

I much prefer to do a book signing with at least one other author, and on Saturday I joined fellow authors Tom Howell, Mike Davis, Becky Mushko, Linda Sturgill and Sue Coryell for a book signing at Diamond Hill General Store.

Becky Mushko, Linda Sturgill, Sue Coryell, and me

Tom Howell and Mike Davis

Quinnae hugging King, my stuffed Labrador Retriever

I don't think you can get any more precious than Quinnae. I'm so glad she, her brother, and her dad stopped by. So is King.

Oasis

2011-08-06T11:42:00.000-04:00

I bet you think the mud puddle you see below is just, well, a mud puddle. Nope. It's a tiny oasis in a hot-hot summer for two--rat-a-tat-tat (think drumroll, please)--FROGS! Click on the picture to enlarge, see if you can find them.

When Amy Thomas fills her 34-year-old quarter horse Skip's trough, a leaky hose drips water in deep tractor tire ruts outside the barn. During the spring when we had lots of rain, the ruts stayed full of water. Two frogs moved in, and they peeked at Amy when she did her chores. But the drought came, the oasis dried up except for the small drips, and one day Amy saw just one frog. Distressed, she started watering the ruts in order to keep her one remaining frog happy, and she asked Kevin not to drive the tractor through this oasis without first checking to see if Frog was there.

Now Kevin will have to contend with Frog and Frogette, maybe even tadpoles. If that happens, the family will need a larger oasis. Amy has a huge kind heart. I can picture her standing in the broiling sun with a shovel and pick as she enlarges the present oasis to a small pond. I get tired just thinking about it.

AN HONEST-TO-GOODNESS FLOWER BED!

2011-08-03T11:57:00.002-04:00

A couple weeks ago, Ron and I drove to Raleigh to have lunch with my Aunt Lyle, and Elizabeth, my cousin, and from there to visit my cousin Ross and his wife Angie in Mebane. On our drive along Rt. 86, a back country road between Danville and Hillsboro, I saw the most original flower bed I've ever seen. I didn't have my camera out of the case soon enough, but hubby said we could come back that way. (That was really sweet of him because he doesn't like to go the same way twice!) We memorized landmarks so I'd have my camera available. You ready for this?

Be sure to click on the picture to enlarge.

What ingenious people! I wanted to stop, ring their door bell, introduce myself, get to know them. I didn't, but maybe I will the next time I pass their yard. I bet they would be fascinating. So if these flower-bed folks happen to read this blog, I'd love to hear from you.

FIFTY YEARS!

2011-07-31T20:42:00.007-04:00

On July 8, 2011, Ron and I celebrated our 50th Anniversary! Can you believe it? I can't. Actually, the celebration began in June at Edisto Island, South Carolina, when our three children and their relatives/conspirators surprised us with a 50th anniversary party.

Our crowd minus nine. Photo by Mark Roseveare.

Because we danced to live beach music by the Blue Notes at our rehearsal party on July 7, 1961, we drove to Westlake Plaza for the monthly "Jive After Five" this July 7 and danced the cha-cha and shagged to live beach music by the Embers. I like to dance; glad Ron does, too. Reckon that's why we've lasted 50 years?

The drummer was the only original Embers
band member. But they were still good.

The morning of our 50th, Ron told me to put on jeans and boots and be ready to leave the house at 9:30. Hmm. Jeans and boots? I figured he must be taking me horseback riding, one of my very favorite things to do. Reckon that's another reason we've lasted 50 years?

We pulled into Slocum Appaloosa Ranch at 10:00 a.m. I saw horses everywhere. With April guiding us, we rode through part of the 160-acre farm. We walked, trotted and cantered across meadows and streams, up and down steep banks for an hour and a half. We had SO MUCH FUN!

Me riding Chief and Ron riding Jack. April took all the pictures.

Ron's horse Jack insisted on being first or second, so when I tried to bring Chief up close to Ron for a 50th anniversary horseback hug, Jack kept moving away. We compromised, leaned toward each other and held hands. Life--and marriage--are full of compromises. Reckon that's why we've lasted 50 years?

Once home, but still walking funny (so was I), Ron told me to be ready to leave the house at 5:30. When I asked what I should wear, he said, "Casual." Hmm. Casual? How casual? I asked, learned that jeans and boots were out. Okay, that meant we were going to dinner. But where?

We drove through Bedford and on up Rt. 122 toward Big Island. Hmm. Will we dine at the Millstone Tea Room, a restaurant I've heard nothing but good things about? Was that our culinary destination? It was!

Because I love seafood, I ordered a shrimp dish. It was delicious. Ron feasted on the best trout he'd ever eaten.

I love really good food. So does Ron. Hmm. Is that another reason we've lasted 50 years?

FAMILY WEEK AT EDISTO ISLAND

2011-07-21T17:09:00.003-04:00

Ron and I recently drove to Edisto Island, South Carolina, in a loaded mini-van with two kayaks and two grandchildren for a much-anticipated week-long Roseveare family reunion. We caravanned with daughter Christine's family, and switched grandchildren several times during the ride.

A porch full of Roseveares. Eight more arrived later.

Ron and I with our 3 children, their spouses and children for a total

of 20. We'd number 21 if grandson Jonathan hadn't died in 2006.

Seeing relatives interacting and catching up on our families' lives was really special. We swam, kayaked, biked and played together. I loved getting to know my great nieces and nephews; I hadn't seen most of them for years. I laughed with them, marveled at their personalities and what possibilities the future holds for them. I discovered that my nieces and nephew are as delightful as I remembered, that they are good parents.

Some Roseveares at the Edisto River

Edisto Island isn't commercial like Myrtle Beach. Sandwiched between the Atlantic Ocean and the Edisto River, the island holds no big high-rise hotels or buildings. Bike trails run across much of the island, and bikers and runners take advantage of them. Access areas to the sandy beach are plentiful, so no matter where you stay on the island you can enjoy the ocean. We jumped the ocean breakers and played in waves mornings and early afternoons. Mid afternoons and at sunset we kayaked, crabbed, and played where the Edisto River and Atlantic Ocean meet. Sunsets here are spectacular. See photo below.

The Piggly Wiggly is the only supermarket on Edisto; I never shop there on Sundays when all the vacationers are arriving. The small aisles are jammed with hoards of shoppers and it smells of fresh fish, produce, sunscreen, and yeah, sweat and beer. We either take enough food for a couple days or buy it in nearby Walterboro. But Piggly Wiggly is beachy, loaded with personality--and I hope it stays the same for ever. Several of the kids bought Piggly Wiggly tee shirts. (I understand Piggly Wiggly shirts are the rage among teens, even in Virginia!) Even though I'm way past being a teenager, I bought one, too. Mine is purple.

Cashiers above are wearing Piggly Wiggly tee shirts.

We visited the Serpentarium, watched naturalists feed alligators, and attended a snake presentation where some of us held a non-poisonous snake. As you can tell in the photo below, you don't want to be near a snake when red touches yellow! Our family has memorized this. Maybe you should, too.

Click on picture to enlarge.

We discovered Hammock Island and Botany Bay Beach, both nature lovers' paradises. South Carolina's salt marsh ecosystem contains 3,500 hammock islands, located landward of barrier islands. We walked the half mile over salt marshes to Botany Bay Beach. See pictures below.

Some of our folks crossing the salt marsh to Botany Beach.

Pelicans in flight at Botany Beach.

A centuries'-old live oak tree on Hammock Island.

"IT"

2011-06-07T09:54:00.008-04:00

If I were a teenager, I'd go to my room and hide, never come out until "it" was gone. Well, maybe I'd text, talk on my cell, forage in the kitchen, read a book, watch TV, sleep. But I'm not a teenager. So why in the world did I, a grandmother of six teenagers, get "it"?

"It" is a zit that suddenly appeared between my eyes on the bridge of my nose the day I'd planned to attend a presentation by Kathleen Grissom, one of my new favorite authors. Well, maybe there had been a tiny spot for several days beforehand, but it GREW!

Mythology says unicorn horns can be used to dispel evil. I like unicorns, but I don't want to look like one!

Did I go to Kathleen's presentation? Yes. I put on makeup, dabbed extra on my horn (it didn't look any smaller, just not as red), held my head up and drove to Westlake Library. Bless my friends; they pretended not to notice. I'm so glad I'm an adult. To have missed hearing Kathleen because of "it" would have been a shame.

By the way, "it" still resides between my eyes, but is slowly shrinking. And if you think of unicorns the next time you see me, that's okay. Or maybe you'd just rather whinny.

LOVE AFFAIR WITH ALASKA: Part 10

2011-05-29T13:57:00.024-04:00

Our first full day at sea began with a way-too-huge breakfast. Because there are so many different food stations in the cafeteria, we browsed, taking a muffin or sweet roll from one, bacon or sausage and an omelet from another, mounds of fresh melons, strawberries, pineapple from another. One station served pancakes and waffles smothered in butter and any type of syrup you desired.

Thick clouds and fog rolled in, and the Captain said, "It was a dark and stormy. . . ." I'm just kidding; he didn't say that. But he did warn us that we wouldn't see much of Hubbard Glacier-- the largest tidewater glacier on the North American continent--because of weather conditions.

But the fog cleared! Straight ahead of us (photo below) loomed Hubbard Glacier standing at 11,000 feet above sea level.

We cheered. Our joyous Captain cheered. I'd heard so much about Hubbard Glacier while researching our trip that not being able to get close would have disappointed me a lot.

Navigating these icy waters is dangerous. Icebergs become bottom-heavy and can tip over at any time. And where icebergs are concerned, what you see is NOT what you get. Only 10% of an iceberg is above water. Usually large ships like ours get no closer than three-quarters of a mile to Hubbard Glacier.

Our Captain took us to within one-quarter mile of the glacier, and because conditions were perfect, we stayed two hours instead of the usual 30 minutes. The glaciers creaked and groaned.

When air gets in the ice, it turns blue (top of above photo) and is ready to calve (break off). Many sections calved while we watched. The chunks sounded like vibrating cannons when they crashed into the water.

About an hour after we arrived a smaller ship joined us, but didn't venture as close to the glacier as our ship.

I marveled at the brilliant blues in this scene as we left Hubbard Glacier and steamed toward Juneau. What a perfect day.

THE PHOEBE NEEDLES CENTER

2011-05-15T13:31:00.029-04:00

I like everything about The Phoebe Needles Center in Callaway, Virginia, so when I was invited to speak there on May 10th, I was thrilled. And the fact that I would be in the company of two other authors whom I admire--Becky Mushko and Da n Smi th--made it even better. We were the May program for the Center for Lifelong Learning for adults 55 and over which focuses on education and fellowship.

Located in a "you-can't-get-there-from-here" place, I discovered that it's fairly simple when you travel with Becky, who knew an easy way. Dan followed Becky and me from the Rocky Mount Wal-Mart to Route 40 past Ferrum College where we turned onto Turner's Creek Road and drove straight--well, uh, "crooked" is probably a better word--to Phoebe Needles. I was driving, so I couldn't take pictures or gawk a lot. Becky snapped this one and others. If my hubby were not allergic to hay, which is the reason we had to give up our horses, this would be a place I'd like to live. And, folks, it's for sale!

It's worth visiting Phoebe Needles for numerous reasons. The drive along the twisting ribbon of road provides you with gorgeous scenery, and the lunch served at the Center is always delicious. To me, however, the best part about attending their monthly programs is the people you meet. I liked re-connecting with The Rev. John Heck (Executive Director of Phoebe Needles), people I met when I spoke there in 2009, and meeting nice new folks.

The huge room above is arranged for dining in the rear, and a program area in the front. By the time our "Four Writers: Four Viewpoints" program (although only three writers came) began, only a few seats were left. The kitchen is to the right, and there are large porches to the left and end of the building.

Dan read from his memoir Burning the Furniture and his children's book Saving Homer.

Becky ready from her recent novel Stuck and from Ferradiddledumday, an Appalachian version of Rumplestiltskin. Because Phoebe Needles attendees had heard me read from my first novel, Secrets at Spawning Run, in April 2009, this time I read only from Secrets at Sweetwater Cove, my second novel in the "Secrets" series. We could not have asked for a better audience! They were attentive, interested, and asked excellent questions.

Before we left, John Heck showed Becky and me what used to be the Episcopal School's bathrooms. They were outdoors, and you had to walk down steps to a small, dark, creepy area. The daily use "contents" ran out a pipe onto the ground. Yuck. All the plumbing was removed years ago, the bathrooms converted to storage areas.

John Heck at the bottom of the steps.

I'm surprised that the next photo even came out because of the absolute darkness below. Guess I have a better flash on my camera than I realized. Anyhow, after seeing these creepy areas, plots started running through my head.

I took the below picture of a local farm from the porch at the Center. I could live here, too, if hubby weren't allergic to hay. I'd want horses, lots of horses, but horses eat hay, so. . . .

If you're interested in the programs offered, click on Phoebe Needles. You'll be glad you did.

Downtown Spring Fling

2011-05-14T15:24:00.022-04:00

On May 7th, Mike Davis and I shared a booth at the "Downtown Spring Fling" Arts & Crafts Show in Rocky Mount, Virginia. Mike arrived around 8:00 a.m. to begin setting up. I joined him at 8:15. Mike and I had shared a speaking event at the Franklin County Library in Rocky Mount once, so I knew we'd have fun. Plus, he's a nice guy.

Mike (above) is the author of 12 novels--romantic suspense
and science fiction.

Because of concern about being set up on pavement with a blazing sun overhead, friend Amy Thomas loaned me her tent/canopy. Then the weather forecast the night before said the high temperature at noon would be 60 degrees, so Mike and I decided not to take the canopy. Bad idea. We nearly fried. But we survived and had a great time.

That's me wearing hubby Ron's red North Carolina State
baseball cap. At one point I had TWO caps on with one bill facing
forward, one facing backwards. The sun was HOT!

Mary Wray, owner of "The Artisan Center along the Crooked Road" and organizer of the Spring Fling, took excellent care of the vendors (around 30, I think) who were selling their wares, provided a clean bathroom indoors for us, helped with anything we needed. Mike and I met some nice, interesting people and sold some books.

Several painters, photographers, pottery creators, woodworkers, jewelry makers, and other artisans had items on display and for sale. I bought two pairs of earrings from wood turner friend Hugh Key.

Usually when I speak to groups or do book signings, I bring my stuffed black Labrador retriever King. Don't worry, he was never a real, honest-to-goodness live dog. He's stuffed like a child's teddy bear. I bring King to events because both my novels have a real "King" in them. Children love King, enjoy patting his head, rubbing his back, climbing on him. Most other dogs like him, although they always give him the sniff test. Asa, a German Shepherd at this event, accepted King immediately.

King

If there's another "Downtown Spring Fling" next year, you should go. But if you can't, know that The Artisan Center has most of the vendors' works throughout the year. And there's lots of other stuff to do in Rocky Mount.

At 3:00, Mike and I loaded up our vehicles and left--hot, tired, and happy.

Fred First, Nature Author and Photographer

2011-05-14T11:03:00.021-04:00

I first met Fred First, a Floyd County resident, as we trudged up a hill in Rocky Mount to hear noted Civil War historian Bud Robertson speak. As we huffed and puffed our way to the lecture, I learned that Fred and his wife were restoring an old house, that he liked nature, was a photographer, and that he loved his dog--a Labrador retriever, I believe. And because I like all those things, I immediately liked Fred.

On Thursday, May 5, Fred delighted a large crowd at the Moneta/SML Library. Fred read some of his essays and selections from his two books. A nature writer and photographer, he inspired me to stop and look at the treasures nature has given us.

Fred First in the photo above and the one below.

Now I want to sit on the ground, study the insects, learn more about the plants I previously tried to eradicate. If my yard has more "weeds" than normal, blame it on Fred! And if I collect more ticks than usual, it's Fred's fault.

Yesterday I took some pictures of a few wildflowers, tried different settings with my camera. Remember to click on the pictures to enlarge.

This wildflower and the one below are the same. I think it's gorgeous, just don't know what it is.

I've been seeing the weeds below (or wildflowers--which is it?)

for years, usually plucked them from the earth.

This plant was trailing off a leaf-covered bank.

I don't know my wildflowers. I have only one wildflower book, which I perused a little while ago. I couldn't find any of those pictured above. Guess I need to invest in a good wildflower book. Any suggestions, y'all?

Fred's first book, Slow Road Home: a Blue Ridge Book of Days, ". . . invites the reader to join him on a field trip through time and place." I read this one several years ago, thoroughly enjoyed it.

What We Hold in Our Hands: a Slow Road Reader, ". . . directs our vision back for a closer look at the where and when of our lives." I'm looking forward to reading Fred's second book. By the way, did you know that Fred is Fred First the second?! I think that's so cool.

Below is one of Fred's breath-taking photos. Besides his two books, he has photo-notecards with this picture and many other equally gorgeous ones for sale.

Be sure to visit Fred's blog fragmentsfromfloyd.com and book web site www.SlowRoadHome.com.

2011 SML BUSINESS EXPO

2011-04-30T09:35:00.022-04:00

The 2011 Smith Mountain Lake Business Expo held in downtown Moneta last Saturday was only 20 minutes from our house, so how could we not go? Besides, I wanted to stop at Kitty's Little Book Shoppe, and we needed plants and other stuff from Moneta Farm & Home Center, and a few groceries from Shop Rite Grocery.

The professional sign above, designed and created locally by SML Signs & More, welcomed us. The tents were packed with vendors and folks looking for all kinds of information on products and services.

Hickory Hill Vineyards & Winery hosted a display. That's Wendy Furrow-Scott, daughter of owners Roger and Judy Furrow. Many of their wines have won medals. Click on the picture to see the wines better. They don't carry just wine; there's also a gift shop with unique items for sale.

John and Micki Singer are manning the Bedford Memorial Hospital booth. I've received excellent medical attention there several times--at the hospital, not the booth.

Diamond Hill General Store was represented by Robert Matzuga (garden center) and Christine and Carl Brodt, owners of Diamond Hill General Store.

This huge sign immediately caught my eye. I mean, who wants a nasty crawl space? Not I! Since we don't have a crawl space we don't need to worry, but if I did I think I'd go to this company with the catchy sign. The man was nice, too, but I didn't get his name.

We learned a lot and met some interesting people. We plan to go to the next SML Business Expo.

LOVE AFFAIR WITH ALASKA: Part 9

2011-04-12T17:16:00.033-04:00

I last blogged about my love affair with Alaska way back in February! (See blog post LOVE AFFAIR WITH ALASKA: Part 8.) Leaving Fairbanks on our way to Anchorage, we flew over Mt. McKinley. We'd admired McKinley's 20,320 feet from ground level a few days earlier, but it appeared even more immense from the air. The picture below was taken through a really dirty window with fog closing in. We were flying at 30,000 feet. Remember to click, even double-click, on the pictures for more detail.

After landing in Anchorage, we boarded a bus and traveled to Seward to catch our cruise ship. The drive was gorgeous. Even though the following three pictures were taken from a moving bus through unclean and smudged windows along a two-lane highway in the rain, I didn't mind the drive at all.

We pulled into Seward in pouring rain,

turned the corner, and saw for the first time (drum roll here) . . .

. . . our ship, the Celebrity Millenium! Built in France in 2000, she weighs 91,000 tons, has a passenger capacity of 2,449, and is 11 stories tall, not counting what we couldn't see below Deck One. That's a lotta ship! Eighty percent of the 975 staterooms have ocean views.

Although small, it had all the necessities we needed. I took many pictures through the stateroom window.

The tiny bathroom above had sufficient storage space and a good supply of that all-important item, toilet paper. The toilet is to the right, the shower to the left. Behind me is a huge closet. We unpacked quickly and took off to explore the ship and find Ron's brother Bob and his wife Nita. Below is a view of Seward from one of the decks.

We almost always ate breakfast and lunch in this cafeteria. Meals usually lasted longer than they would have at home because we could feast and watch ever-changing scenery, relax, not worry about meetings, doctor appointments, etc. And being with Nita and Bob made it even more special.

The ceiling in the cafeteria was comprised of mirrored panels. I couldn't resist taking this distorted picture of the ceiling. Note camera in my hand.

After catching up with Bob and Nita, we continued to explore the ship, stopping on each deck to snap more pictures.

Although it was still daylight, we went to bed at 11:00 p.m. Tomorrow promised to be a busy day.

STUCK

2011-04-07T11:36:00.013-04:00

Hooray! Becky Mushko's latest novel Stuck is out and available for purchase. I love this book, have read several drafts. But there's something so exciting about a newly-published book that after holding the two copies I bought for granddaughters, I sat down and read it again. And I thoroughly enjoyed it. Again.

A middle-grade story, this book is one any 10 to 12-year-old girl will enjoy. In Stuck, the reader will sympathize with Jacie when her mother dies, cheer Jacie when she stands up to a bully, rejoice with her at horse camp. And perhaps the reader will see that pouting is, well, ugly, that all step-mothers aren't wicked, and that working through hardships brings happiness. And a surprise . . . .

Nope, I'm not going to spoil it for you. But if you're just about to have a fit to read it, you can buy Stuck from Cedar Creek Publishing, Amazon.com, and bookstores. You'll be glad you did.

Becky talking about Stuck to a group at Westlake Library.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

2011-03-05T15:20:00.019-05:00

I'm delighted that spring is almost here. But you know what? I wouldn't have traded this winter even if I could have. Why? Because of my camera--and the birds. Below are just a few of my favorite shots--all snapped through my windows--of birds taken within "shooting" range. Enjoy. And remember to click on the pictures to enlarge.

The Great Blue Heron above waited patiently for a meal to swim or scurry by. I took this picture through a dining room window. I took the screen out first. If you walked in my house, you'd notice screens have been removed from some of the windows. Now you know why. I often see Great Blues flying over the area, standing on docks, resting in trees, and fishing. This one lives in this cove. One of the things I like about these birds is that they are monogamous.

This Downy Woodpecker visits my suet feeder frequently. I bring the feeder inside every night so the visiting raccoons and 'possums don't destroy it. I've seen him eating sunflower seeds on my seed feeder, too. These birds also like peanut butter and bread. The Downy is the smallest woodpecker in North America. The female looks just like the male except she doesn't have the red occipital patch on her head. I took this picture through a sliding glass door.

Cardinals are frequent visitors to the feeders. The pictures of the solitary male above and the Doves and female Cardinal below were shot through a sliding glass door.

In the past years an occasional Bluebird would visit the feeders. This year we have two, a pair I hope will build a nest in one of the two Bluebird houses Ron recently made and set out. Their biggest enemy is the House Sparrow, who will attack and kill mature and baby Bluebirds, destroy their eggs, too. Knowledgeable birders I've talked with detest House Sparrows. If you want to attract Bluebirds, you must be ready to deal with House Sparrows. House Sparrows also kill Purple Martins.

Every morning I fill a dish with water and set it on the deck table for the birds. I spent almost an hour one day watching our Bluebirds drink, splash and bathe.

Look at that face below! What's not to love? He's perched on the water dish.

Next week I'll get out my Hummingbird feeders, clean them, make their sugar-water food, and set out the feeders. Maybe I'll have more pictures to share with you in the Spring.

The Artisan Center Along the Crooked Road

2011-02-18T14:21:00.004-05:00

Yesterday I discovered what promises to become one of my favorite places to shop. "The Artisan Center Along the Crooked Road" is located in downtown Rocky Mount, and showcases the works of over 60 talented artisans and authors of Southwest Virginia. Here you can purchase original paintings, pottery, wood carvings and turnings, sculptures, photography, stained glass, mosaics, books and other media.

Many items appealed to me, especially the paintings of birds and other animals. When I return next week I'll buy one of the gorgeous cutting boards, and maybe something else, too.

The Artisan Center will host an open house/ribbon cutting on Thursday, February 24 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Stop by, meet owners James and Mary Wray and the artists and authors, and tour the shop. You'll be glad you did. Refreshments will be served, too, so how can you go wrong?

LOVE AFFAIR WITH ALASKA: Part 8

2011-02-01T15:52:00.021-05:00

After visiting the Alaska Pipeline (see post LOVE AFFAIR WITH ALASKA: Part 7) in Fairbanks, we boarded the riverboat Discovery II and cruised the Chena and Tanana Rivers.

From the riverboat, we watched a float plane land and take off. As I mentioned in a previous post, float planes are common in Alaska, and are often docked alongside boats.

We passed the Trail Breaker Kennel and the home where Susan Butcher, an Iditarod champion who won the 1,100-mile sled dog race four times, lived with her husband Dave Monson. Susan led the only climbing party to the top of Mt. McKinley, which is 20,320-feet tall and the highest point on the North American continent--and she did it by dog team! She died of leukemia in 2006. Her husband and their two daughters continue to care for, raise and train sled dogs. Her sled dog Granite led the teams that won the four Iditarod races. The book "Granite" tells the story of Susan Butcher and her lead sled dog. Started by Susan, her husband finished it after his wife's death. Even though it's a child's book, I plan to buy a copy.

Trail Breaker Kennel

Trail Breaker Kennel sled dogs preparing to train.

We tied up at the Chena Indian Village where Athabascan Indians took us on a fascinating one-hour guided tour of the village.

The Athabascan Indian woman above expertly demonstrated how to clean and filet salmon. Be sure to click on the picture. After cleaning, she hung the fish in the cabin pictured below. Salmon are the mainstay of these villages. The cabins are made of spruce.

Salmon hung up to dry.

In the picture above, the Indian girl is wearing an Athabascan Yukon-style winter parka made of fur pelts. This particular young lady is a sophomore in college. The other girl we talked with was leaving for college a week later.

Below is a primitive shelter made of spruce logs with spruce boughs draped over the top. Animal pelts cover the floor.

The fur-covered hut below looks much warmer than the one above. If you have the pelts with you, then I guess this would be the way to go, although I'd like pelts on the floor, too.

Remember the old TV days when Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone had birch bark canoes? Well, the one above is the real thing made without any metal fasteners. And now I'm resisting the urge to sing, "Born on a mountain top in Tennessee . . . " and "Daniel Boone was a man, a big man . . . " I can almost hear all y'all singing, too.

From the riverboat we could see Fairbanks (above). In the other photos in this blog post, you'd think we were in the boondocks. We were. But in Alaska, the cities appear to be dropped into the wilderness. And there's a LOT of wilderness in Alaska!

Orangutan and the Hound

2011-01-20T15:02:00.002-05:00

I don't usually write such short blogs, but all y'all really need to see this video my friend Mary Lib sent me. I have already created a couple stories that could explain it. Bet you can, too. Now, click below. You'll be glad you did.

Orangutan and the Hound

LOVE AFFAIR WITH ALASKA: Part 7

2011-01-15T16:04:00.032-05:00

My previous post, LOVE AFFAIR WITH ALASKA: Part 6, contained mostly pictures of moose, caribou, grizzly bear, and Dall sheep. Some people on the tour bus saw a snowshoe hare, porcupine, and a wolf. I didn't because I was on the other side of the bus. Guess I could have climbed over other equally excited tourists, but the thought of being on the top of a human mountain did not appeal, especially when the bus seemed to be tilting enough without my 125 pounds added to the pile. Hubby Ron managed to see the porcupine and the wolf (which looked like a fox to him).

Taking a photo of a golden eagle in flight (above) through the dirty window of a moving bus isn't exactly a piece of cake, but this is one of the two non-blurry shots that came out. Remember to click on picture to enlarge. Golden eagles, who usually mate for life, eat rabbits, squirrels, mice, marmots, other birds, and sometimes even young Dall sheep. Females are larger than males. Dark brown with a wing span of 72.8 inches to 86.6 inches, they range in length from 27 1/2 to 33 inches in length. Folks, that's a lot of bird. I thought they were beautiful, but not as regal as the bald eagles we have in Virginia.

Mt. McKinley, also known as Denali by Alaskans, is 20,320 feet tall, the tallest mountain in North America. Only 30% of the tourists visiting Denali National Park see it because of the weather. In a single day, one can experience sun, wind, rain, clouds, and rain. Two days out of three, the peak is covered with clouds. Conditions change in an instant, but we were lucky.

Mt. McKinley above and below.

Mt. McKinley, white behind the dark mountain range.
See how it towers over the other mountain and the cloud.

I could write a dozen blogs about Denali National Park and Preserve, but I bet y'all would get sick of hearing about it. If you're curious and want to learn more, check out this website.

From Denali, we traveled to Fairbanks and visited the Alaskan Pipeline.

Pipeline Visitors Center

Hubby Ron standing by a cross section of pipeline.

Lengthier view of pipeline, which is 800 miles long.

Loved this sign! Click on picture to enlarge.

Me at the entrance to one of Fairbanks' many museums.

Sculpture in downtown Fairbanks.

LOVE AFFAIR WITH ALASKA: Part 6

2011-01-15T10:25:00.033-05:00

On Day 4 of our land tour, we took a bus trip to Denali National Park and Preserve. Charles Sheldon, who first visited the Denali area in 1906 to hunt Dall sheep, was entranced by the beauty of the tundra, the wildlife, the braided rivers. He wanted to preserve the land for all to enjoy, and largely because of his efforts Congress passed a bill in 1917 to establish Mount McKinley National Park, which was enlarged and renamed Denali National Park and Preserve in 1980. The park covers six million acres, is larger than the state of New Hampshire. My photos cannot begin to do justice to this wild land. I strongly suggest that you click on each picture for an enlarged view.

The above picture looks like a painting, but it's not. I took it through the bus window. The first few miles of the road are paved; the remainder of the 91-mile ribbon of road is composed of fine gravel or dirt. Meeting another bus on this road is frightening. We all gained a lot of respect for our bus driver (also our tour guide).

Look closely at the picture below and you'll see a bus near the top. The two white spots in the center are Dall sheep.

The Dall sheep in the pictures above and below didn't care that we were invading their territory. The sheep always stay in the same group or flock, and prefer steep cliffs and wind-blown ridges away from wolves and other predators. Adult rams weigh 200-250 pounds; ewes weigh between 110 and 150. Their diet consists of sedges, moss, willow, grasses and lichens. I learned that their hair is hollow, which insulates their bodies in the cold weather. There have been times this winter when I would've loved to have had their hollow hair!

Caribou are plentiful, and we saw many herds. I learned that reindeer and caribou are the same animal, except that caribou are wild and reindeer are domesticated. Besides, it would sound weird to say "Rudolph the red-nosed caribou."

A herd of caribou.

Lone caribou standing in a braided river.

It's not uncommon to see grizzly bears, and we were fortunate to see two different families during our ride. They range in color from light to dark brown; some are even two-toned, with the front being one shade of brown and the back being another shade. The two pictures below were taken from the bus. Be sure to enlarge the pictures. We were told by guides that grizzlies and brown bears are the same except that brown bears live near the coast where they dine on fish; grizzlies are inland and eat red-blooded animals. Amazing.

A family of two grizzlies.

A family of bears. Can you find all three? Click on the picture.

Moose can weigh 1,800 pounds, and yet they can disappear quietly into the brush. Considered ugly and gawky by me before this trip, I now look at them differently, think they are beautiful, even graceful.

Below is a picture of the tundra and the mountains. Photo taken from bus.

Denali may have been one of the most fascinating and beautiful places I've ever been. I'll write more about Denali in my next posting. I do so LOVE Alaska!

MISSING JONATHAN

2010-12-27T15:29:00.013-05:00

My precious grandson Jonathan would have been seven years old today, but he died suddenly, 17 days after his second birthday, from arterial venous malformation of the brain. He never met his sister Johanna, born eight days after he went to heaven, or Josiah, now three, or Anna, born this past July. They all would have had so much fun together.

Jonathan and me, Christmas 2005

Jonathan enjoyed playing ball with his older brother and sisters, snuggling in loving arms always eager to hold him, riding his rocking horse, "reading" books with anyone who would read to him, riding in the boat.

Jonathan waiting to catch the football

I miss him. We all miss him. Losing Jonathan was heart-wrenching, but the joy of having had him for two years and 17 days far outweighs the loss.

Happy Birthday, Jonathan. Grandmother still loves you.

The Ploughcroft Tea Room

2010-12-08T11:57:00.010-05:00

There's a new place in town! And it is delightful. And delicious. The Ploughcroft Tea Room is located at 1215 Commerce Street in Lynchburg, Virginia. If you are looking for something unique, you don't want to miss The Ploughcroft.

I dined there with 29 friends on Monday for a Victorian Afternoon Cream Tea. Normally closed on Mondays, they opened especially for us. We enjoyed several varieties of finger sandwiches and sweets, homemade scones with Devonshire cream and jam, sherry trifle, and fruit cake. We sipped on yummy Wassail (black tea with lemon, orange and cinnamon) and, of course, tea poured from authentic Victorian-era teapots. There's a little gift shop there, too.

Scones and Devonshire Cream with Jam

I haven't eaten lunch there yet, but I can hardly wait to feast on some of their offerings such as Shepherds Pie, Cornish Pasty and "all the good things that come out of Britain." Lunch is served from 11:00 to 2:00, and tea from 2:00 to 5:00.

An official grand opening featuring students dressed in Victorian costumes and readings from Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," is planned for December 11. I would like to attend, but if I can't make it, I guarantee I will eat lunch there soon.

The Ploughcroft is open Tuesday-Saturday from 11:00-5:00. Reservations aren't necessary, but are recommended (call 434-832-7467). To see their menu and learn more about this wonderful tea room, view their website.

It's Snowing!

2010-12-04T15:44:00.014-05:00

I glanced out the window at 1:50 this afternoon, saw snowflakes, not many, but enough to bring back memories of growing up in Greenville, North Carolina, where it seldom snowed. A few flakes were enough to send me, all the neighborhood children, and Mother outside to enjoy the white stuff. Schools would close. If we needed milk, eggs, or any groceries, there were a couple of grocery stores that would deliver to your door. Greenville had only one really good hill for sledding. There was a problem, however. A train track stretched across the road at the bottom of the hill. When you hit the train track you screamed "Uh oh!" Or "~!+ @#%*&!!!"

I remember trudging about a mile, holding the handle of my portable sewing machine with both hands, to my friend Dot Davis' house. We'd sew all day and talk about boys, which ones we thought were cute (Ron was one) and which girls the boys liked. Then I'd pack my machine up and lug it home. I think I'll call Dot tonight, let her know it's snowing and I'm ready to sew.

Here's the picture I took at 2:00 today. You wouldn't know it was snowing, but if you look closely at the bird feeder and the trees across the water you'll see some tiny white spots. That's snow. Trust me.

The above picture was taken at 2:05. It looks like snow. And it is!

Taken at 3:30.

Taken at 3:40.

Taken at 4:00.

Snow has covered everything except our black-topped driveway. Ron is grateful; he doesn't want to go out in the cold and wet to put the snow plow on the tractor.

LOVE AFFAIR WITH ALASKA: Part 5

2010-11-26T16:50:00.016-05:00

Dogs. Sleds. Races. The Iditarod. While in Denali, we visited Jeff King's Husky Homestead. Jeff is a four-time winner of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, a 1,000-mile-race over frozen Alaska territory where competitors push themselves and their huskies for ten grueling days. I get tired--and cold--just thinking about it.

If a dog must be chained to a dog house, I think this is the way to do it. Note the pole with chain that allows a dog to run 'round and 'round his house without getting hung up. Fortunately, our dogs aren't on chains, but when you have 75 Alaskan huskies to care for, well, you do what you need to do. And these huskies receive lots of attention, care and love.

Sled dogs are trained daily. Even during non-snow months, each dog is harnessed every day and runs at least five miles while pulling an ATV. When the temperature gets really high, they train in Husky Homestead's lake. I watched these dogs. They LOVE what they do.

Unlike the big, muscular animals we see on TV, these sled dogs are Alaskan huskies, animals bred for speed, endurance, and their love of mushing. And they are gentle, sweet.

Goose Lake Kennel at Husky Homestead allows visitors to hold and snuggle young puppies. As you can tell, I was in heaven in the picture above.

Jeff King explained the trials of sled dog racing, told us how cold it gets, how hard it is. The person in the cold-weather clothing above would still get cold in the -40 degree temperatures!

In the gift shop I bought a red Husky Homestead shirt signed by Jeff King himself. That's Jeff signing my new purchase. When you see me wearing my shirt, wave and smile. Or just bark.

LOVE AFFAIR WITH ALASKA: Part 4

2010-11-23T15:54:00.023-05:00

Ron and I posed outside the world-renown Talkeetna Lodge before leaving Talkeetna, a sweet town, a nice place to visit, but . . . it gets BRRR COLD by mid September! The entire town closes down.

Our group left Talkeetna and boarded another glass-domed train for the little town of Denali. Views from the train were spectacular.

The two windmills above generate enough power to supply several homes with electricity. To survive in this country one must be self-sufficient.

Our train crossed the Nenana River as we chugged into Denali. If you click on the picture to enlarge it, you'll see a man fishing and a woman waving. I waved back.

View of the Nenana River Canyon from the Grande Denali Lodge.

The road with sharp switchbacks to Grande Denali Lodge curves up Sugarloaf Mountain. When tour buses meet all riders hold their breath. We spent one night here. The Lodge itself offers fine dining, a bar, a snack bar, internet hook-up, and a gift shop. Laundry facilities are available in one of the buildings; I washed and dried two loads of laundry. Each room has either two queen beds or one king, nice bath, coffee/tea, TV. Six cabins on the property are also available. As you can tell from the above picture, the views are incredible. Because of the severe winters, the Lodge closes around the middle of September.

Ron and I in the Grande Denali Lodge.

While strolling through the town of Denali, I saw this dog outside a shop. I looked up to see what had caught his attention.

The squirrel on the wood carving is real. He was watching the dog.

Intrigued, I watched the dog watch the squirrel who watched the dog. Neither animal moved. I imagine the drama ended without, well, without any drama at all!

Athenian Society for the Arts and Sciences

2010-11-19T15:33:00.015-05:00

This week I double-dosed on signing books and talking about writing. And I loved every minute of it. On the 16th, I signed books at the Franklin County Library. On Thursday, November 18th, I spoke to the Athenian Society for the Arts and Sciences in Roanoke in the WDBJ TV community room. The Athenian Society is a group of women who wish to further the arts and sciences in the community by creating opportunities for enrichment and education. I am honored that they wanted me to speak at their November meeting.

My stuffed Labrador retriever King and me. Photo by Athenian Society member Christine Jordan.

Some of the Athenian Society members. Photo by Christine Jordan.

This was a fun and interesting group. They laughed and asked lots of questions. I enjoyed their company so much that I talked longer than my allotted time. Pat, a delightful lady, gave me some good ideas to work into a book, possibly my third "Secrets" novel. Athenian Society member Christine Jordan took all the pictures.

Peggy Davis introducing me. Photo by Christine Jordan.

Christine from Ram's Head Book Shop in Roanoke brought books and took care of the selling so that I could concentrate on signing books.

That's me in the red jacket. Photo by Christine Jordan.

Book Signing at Franklin County Library

2010-11-19T12:01:00.017-05:00

Tuesday, November 16, I left the house at 1:15 for a 3:00-5:00 book signing at the Franklin County Library in Rocky Mount. Usually this drive takes about 45 minutes, but I had planned to stop by the Westlake Library and say a quick hello to author Fred First, who was speaking there at 2:00. That didn't happen. I dropped off the garbage, stopped at the post office to mail a letter, and then encountered fog. Even though it was daylight, many patches were thick. I slowed, afraid I might not see deer crossing the road or cars without lights. When I passed Westlake Library my watch read 2:05, too late to stop. I reached Rocky Mount only five minutes early.

I like the Franklin County Library. From where I sat I could see the front and rear entrances. I chatted with library patrons, some who already owned one or both of my books and wanted to tell me how much they enjoyed reading them. Others knew some of the same folks I knew. A 10-year-old boy wanted my autograph, even though he wasn't old enough to read either of my novels.

Traffic through the library was heavy. Fifteen to twenty computers on the first floor stayed busy the entire time I was there. My guess is that the five computers on the second floor were equally busy. I was impressed. The librarians tried their best to answer any and all questions library patrons asked. I hope Rocky Mount and Franklin County realize what an important treasure their library is.

I left promptly at 5:00, hoping to get home before dark. Not. I drove home in rain and thick, pea-soup fog. Some vehicles had no lights on. In some areas I struggled to stay in my lane. Even in the fog, blinding oncoming lights seemed to make the center line and edge-of-road line disappear. I prayed. It was 6:30 when I walked in my house.

THE HELP

2010-10-28T12:37:00.005-04:00

The Help, the first novel by Kathryn Stockett, irritated me, added wrinkles to my already-wrinkled brow--and heaven knows, I have enough wrinkles without getting more from a book! Why did I react this way to a #1 New York Times bestseller? Not because I'm a Southerner whose family had "help" or because of non-Southerners' reactions to the typical Southern families of the 50s and 60s. This book irritated me because it was so good I didn't want to put it down!

Sorry. When I scanned the book I chopped off Kathryn Stockett's last name.

When our electricity went out at 10:30 Wednesday morning, I abandoned all plans to clean out my pantry. After all, my pantry is dark unless the light is on. I couldn't use my computer, do laundry, either, but I could relax in my recliner and read The Help. I grinned and settled down in my chair. Three hours later the power returned. Bummer. I finished the book two days later.

Initially, I started this book because it was the scheduled book to be read by The Pearls of Wisdom book club, and since I'm a member, well, you know how that goes. Would I have read it if not for the club? Probably not. I'm a lover of mysteries, thrillers, suspense novels. Touchy-feely books usually don't appeal to me.

From the jacket flap: "In pitch-perfect voices, Kathryn Stockett creates three extraordinary women whose determination to start a movement of their own forever changes a town, and the way women--mothers, daughters, caregivers, friends--view one another. A deeply moving novel filled with poignancy, humor, and hope, The Help is a timeless and universal story about the lines we abide by, and the ones we don't."

I highly recommend this book. Run, don't walk, to the nearest book store, library, or friend who owns a copy.

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
Author's website: www.kathrynstockett.com
Penquin's website: www.penguin.com

Speaking to the Roanoke Valley Branch of the National League of American Pen Women

2010-10-25T16:42:00.012-04:00

I love to talk about my books and writing, so I was delighted when the Roanoke Valley Branch of the National League of American Pen Women invited me to speak at their October 13th meeting held in the community room at the Roanoke Natural Foods Co-op on Grandin Road. I enjoyed being there.

First we lunched on sandwiches and salads provided by the Happy Belly Deli located in the Co-op. Delicious! I sat in on their business meeting, which gave me a deeper understanding of these artsy and creative women. These ladies were smart, fun, and understood me and my passion for writing. After all, they have their creative passions, too.

I had never been to the Co-op before, but was fascinated at the items I saw there and hope to go back to shop.

If you'd like to read what Dana Bailey wrote about the event, click on the Roanoke Times Back Cover blog.

Hottest Book at the Lake

2010-10-23T11:07:00.024-04:00

What do you get when you take a shiny glass paper weight, set it on a stack of paper handouts, and place a few copies of my novel Secrets at Sweetwater Cove beside it?

You get ~ drumroll here, please ~

THE HOTTEST BOOK AT SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE!

Yep, you guessed it. My book caught fire! If not for the sensitive nose of fellow authors Carl Baker (retired Colonel in the New York State Police and the Virginia State Police, retired Deputy Secretary for Public Safety in Virginia, as well as retired Chief of Police for Chesterfield County, VA), and animal communicator Karen Wrigley, my book, possibly the entire table, would have gone up in flames!

On October 9, 2010, six authors participated in The General Store's annual Fall Festival Day. Tables were set up outside for us and all the other vendors.

Left to right: Libby Bondurant, Gailya Keller, me, Carl Baker, Karen Wrigley. Not seated at our table was Sandy Volles, pictured below.

Authors who were present and the titles of their books are: Libby Bondurant, Grazing Along the Crooked Road; Gailya Keller, The Secrets of Smiley's Woods; Sally Roseveare, Secrets at Spawning Run and Secrets at Sweetwater Cove; Carl Baker, To Defend Against All Enemies; Karen Wrigley, Beyond Woofs and Whinnies; Sandy Volles, Grandma's Two Cents.

LOVE AFFAIR WITH ALASKA: Part 3

2010-10-01T11:43:00.058-04:00

First Day of Land Tour: Because of months of planning with AAA's knowledgeable and patient Lynchburg travel agent Judy Martin, we looked forward to this stage of our trip. We were not disappointed!

Julie, our tour guide, and Josh, our bus driver, loaded us on a bus in Anchorage and drove us to the Alaska Railroad Station. We boarded the Wilderness Express, a sleek double-decker, glass-domed train that provided jaw-dropping views of the Alaskan wilderness.

Passengers oohed at the mountains, ahhed at the turbulent, gray rivers, snapped pictures. I learned to turn off my flash and hold the camera against the window so there wouldn't be as much reflection, although some is still visible in a few photos.

We rode slowly through Elmendorf Air Base where a plane had crashed the week before. There were no survivors. Guides asked us not to talk or take pictures out of respect for the dead. Wreckage lay alongside the track. We could smell the burned trees nearby. I thought of the families whose lives were changed because of the crash. Some of us silently prayed for them. Seems as though small planes crash often in Alaska. While we were on our trip, Senator Ted Stevens' plane crashed. He died.

Guess who was waiting for us when we passed through the little town of Wasilla! Yep, you're right. That's my hubby standing with Sarah Palin. Actually, he's standing with a life-size cardboard cutout. Note her legs.

We ate a late breakfast in the dining car. I ordered reindeer sausage (delicious) and blueberry pancakes. Imagine eating gourmet meals while watching gorgeous scenery at the same time like the two couples below did. It took me longer to eat 'cause I was so busy taking pictures.

We arrived in Talkeetna, a tiny town of 400 residents. Shops filled with local crafts and touristy stuff lined both sides of the two roads. We attended an informative presentation about Mt. McKinley (called Denali by the locals) at the ranger station, then walked in rain to the Talkeetna Lodge.

Talkeetna Lodge is in the midst of nowhere. Mountain climbers hoping to conquer Mt. McKinley stay here, as well as sight-seers, hunters, photographers, and hikers. Above is one of the many lounges. Our bedroom had two queen beds, TV, a desk, a couple of chairs, and a nice bathroom. Below is the view from our room's huge window. On a clear day, snow-capped Mt. McKinley is visible.

While in Talkeetna, we took Mahay's Jet Boat Adventures wilderness tour. Our pilot knew the rivers well, and navigated the boat out of the Talkeetna River through the inlet where the Susitna and Chulitna meet. The rivers are shallow, rocky, not what you'd traverse in a motorboat unless you knew them well. The rivers are fed by glaciers, and the constantly flowing silt changes the channels, keeps the water gray. Bald eagles fish the rivers.

The tour also included a visit to a native Indian encampment where our guide explained how the land's early inhabitants survived. Cabins like the one below were used by Indians and trappers. Caches were constructed to store food supplies and keep them safe from animals. Cabins and caches are still used in remote Alaska today.

I took the above picture from the cabin doorway, so you can tell how small it is. A cabin like this can make the difference between life and death.

Notice how the metal pieces on the top part of the support logs has been attached to keep animals from climbing inside the cache. Of course the ladder is removed before anyone storing food leaves!

In my next blog about Alaska, I'll include pictures from our scenic train ride, the town of Denali, and our adventure into Denali National Park.

LOVE AFFAIR WITH ALASKA: Part 2

2010-09-27T18:45:00.011-04:00

In the previous post, I didn't tell you about two people I met at The Long House Hotel. While we were eating breakfast, a lady looked at the complicated waffle maker and said she needed help. I answered that my husband was a waffle-making expert. We started talking while Ron assisted her with a waffle. And we talked and talked some more.

She and her husband are fascinating people. That's why I'm doing a separate blog post about them. Both artists, Ruth is a wildlife painter; Mike is a wildlife photographer. Their passion has taken them all over the world. I think their work is fabulous. Below is one of Ruth's paintings entitled "Grizzly Truth," which is mixed media on canvas 18" x 24 ". Nice, huh? To see her work, go to www.sanpietropaper.com.

Below are the two photographs of grizzlies that Mike sent me. Do you see baby bear in the second picture? What a Mothers' Day card that would make! Better quality processed raw images are available if anyone is interested in getting prints. To see Mike's pictures, go to www.mikecaroffphoto.com.

In the next blog I'll talk about the land tour we took on a double-decker, glass-domed train. And you might even see a picture of my husband with a famous woman! No, I'm not talking about me.

LOVE AFFAIR WITH ALASKA: Part 1

2010-09-25T17:16:00.058-04:00

Be forewarned. For the next few (well, probably many) blog postings, I will be writing about my love affair with Alaska. Read at your own risk.

Alaska. Just saying the name always evoked thoughts of high and craggy mountains, snow, glaciers, dog sleds, eskimos, grizzlies, salmon, gold, adventure. Alaska. A place I've always wanted to visit, a place my husband Ron had planned to run away to when he was in the eighth grade. (He didn't.) This year we took the travel plunge, left Lynchburg, Virginia, for Alaska on August 6, returned August 26.

Anchorage: Population 275,000. Around 41% of the Alaska population live here; only 610,000 in the whole state. Temperatures ranged in the high 50s to mid 60s during our visit. Even though August is considered the rainy season in Alaska, we had no rain while in Anchorage.

The first two nights we stayed at The Long House Hotel. Located a mile from downtown, it was clean with no frills (one chair in the room), had a nice complimentary breakfast and free internet service in the lobby. The city bus stop was located a block away.

Near The Long House was a small lake, home for numerous float planes. I was told that one out of every 60 Alaskans owns a float plane. Since there are thousands of lakes in Alaska, flying is a good way to travel. In the winter, many of these planes trade their floaters for skis so they can land on snow or ice. We wanted to ride in a float plane, but they were all booked.

On our bus ride to downtown Anchorage, a pastry chef who had just finished baking 1,000 cupcakes talked about the two weddings he would cater on Saturday. Another man, jobless, was traveling across Anchorage to help a friend with her new cell phone. This same man got off at the bus terminal with us and explained the complicated bus system. Our talkative female bus driver's hair was brown with purple, pink, and blonde streaks running through it.

A trolley driver asked what part of Virginia I was from. When I told her Smith Mountain Lake, she said she was from Burnt Chimney, Virginia, grew up on the Lovelace plantation built in the 1700s. Her original home is about 45 minutes from where I live! She has her Masters, teaches drama and social studies. In the summer she earns extra money driving the trolley to and from The Ulu Knife Factory. Invented by Alaskan natives centuries ago, this rounded knife is still used for skinning, fishing, filleting, and chopping. I bought four of them.

Even though the growing season is short, the vegetables, flowers and fruits are huge. Hanging baskets such as the one above are on every corner. Alaska also grows big mosquitoes. Below is the Anchorage Visitors Center, complete with plantings.

A mecca for tourists, Anchorage is loaded with museums, restaurants, gift and souvenir shops.In the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, we viewed a presentation of Dave Parkhurst's photographs of the Aurora Borealis, also called Northern Lights. Parkhurst has chased aurora across Alaska since early fall of 1980, has battled frigid temperatures and sleepness nights to capture the perfect pictures for his collection. The Geophysical Institute in Fairbanks is the largest central database for in-depth studies of aurora in the world. In the Federal Building we saw performances on Alaskan wildlife, a film on bears, and a documentary on the Good Friday 1964 earthquake that devastated Anchorage. And there are also ways to just have crazy fun, i.e. the two of us below.

After two nights at The Long House Hotel, we moved to the elegant Anchorage Marriott Downtown. Our room was on the 20th floor of this gorgeous hotel. Our entire outside wall was glass, and offered us panoramic views of the city and Cook Inlet. The sun set around 10:30 p.m., popped up again around 5:30 a.m. I loved lying in bed and watching ships traverse Cook Inlet.

I wanted to look down and see the person who designed the putting green below, wave to him, tell him how impressed I was. But, alas, no one ever climbed the ladder to the roof while I was watching. If you enlarge the picture, you'll see the golf balls and the putting hole.

On Saturdays, the city of Anchorage closes some streets to automobiles so folks can interact with craftsmen, food vendors, musicians, and other performers. The picture below is of a woman dancing to Irish folk music. I don't know if she was with the band. I do know that she was passionate about the music and her dancing. She fascinated me. I wanted to know more about her, where she lived, how she grew up, if her life had been hard. I watched a few more minutes, then left.

We lunched on the deck at Snow Goose Restaurant with Ron's cousin David and his wife Pam. Actually, David is the son of Carl, Ron's first cousin. That makes David Ron's first cousin once removed. Yeah, I know that sounds crazy, but to us Southerners it's important. The picture was taken on the deck overlooking the water. Left to right are: Me, Pam, David, Ron

Hope I haven't bored you. As for me, so far I love Alaska and her people.

Deltaville Book Club

2010-09-25T10:07:00.011-04:00

Deltaville, a charming town on the Chesapeake Bay, is the sailboat capital of Virginia. The seafood there is some of the best I've ever eaten, and the little shops in Deltaville and the surrounding small towns are unique. So you can imagine how tickled I was when several months ago Keaton Garber invited me to speak to the Deltaville Book Club on September 14th.

Some of the ladies on the Kelly House sun porch. I'm wearing the white jacket.
Photo by Martha Stokes

The meeting was held in the Kelly House, a restored 1840's Virginia planter's home. Furnished with period antiques, the house is lovely. Around 20 delightful ladies came to hear me. Southern hospitality was everywhere, and a lavish spread of goodies covered the dining room table. The centerpiece, created by Keaton and inspired by my first novel "Secrets at Spawning Run," surprised me.

If you've read "Secrets at Spawning Run," you will recognize the black Labrador retriever, King, complete with red collar, sitting on the dock. On my book cover, King is on the dock. Look carefully and you will see the Jack Russell terrier, Little Guy, tied to a tree, an overturned red boat with anchor and rope attached to a man lying in the water, a water bird, and a jeep and police cars. All of these things are in the book! It must have taken Keaton days to come up with all the figures. One of the ladies who had not yet read the book kept turning the boat back up and putting the man back in it because she didn't want him to drown!

I had fun, met some nice ladies, sold some books, and had the opportunity to spend a few days in Deltaville again. If you're looking for a nice place to visit, you won't want to miss Deltaville.

A True Blessing

2010-07-16T11:52:00.007-04:00

Ron and I are delighted to welcome a new granddaughter, Anna Faith, into our lives. Born July 9th, she is our daughter and son-in-law's 9th child (our grandson Jonathan is in heaven) and our 13th grandchild. We rejoice. And we look forward to watching her grow, being part of her life, sharing her ups and downs, seeing her personality develop. Her brothers and sisters already adore her, want to hold her.

We spent a few days helping with meals, laundry, the usual household jobs. But we also got in lots of loving and holding time with Anna, and visiting with her brothers and sisters.

Welcome into our lives, Anna Faith. You are a true blessing.

Angus

2010-07-07T11:05:00.026-04:00

Yesterday I lost a friend, one of those exceptional buddies who loves unconditionally, a friend who comforts you when you're sad, who rejoices with you when you're happy. I loved his smile, his big brown eyes, the way he liked to play. Maybe the fact that he had four legs and a cold nose made him even more special. Anyhow, I loved him. I always will.

I first saw this black and tan fellow peeping from behind our stone wall in 1996 as Ron bush-hogged the front pasture at our New London/Evington area home. Our black Lab Kushi welcomed him. I groaned. Not another stray dog to worry about, I thought.

When Kushi brought him to the kitchen door, I noticed a bad cut on the dog's left leg. I cleaned it with peroxide. He winced, but never growled or tried to bite. I was impressed. At that moment, I heard mooing from the black Angus cattle on the adjoining farm. Perfect, I thought. I dubbed him Angus. The vet said he was a Rottweiller mix. He sounded like a Rottie; he could bark ferociously and growl at the same time.

Because he'd been neutered, his tail cropped, and he sported a tattoo in his right ear, I figured it wouldn't be hard to trace his owner. Wrong. I spent days searching. I looked up dog registries on the internet. I called all the dog pounds, humane societies, veterinarians within a 50+ mile radius. I sent out faxes and fliers with his picture. Nothing. Weeks passed. The local newspaper, The News & Advance, wrote a story on him, plastered his picture in the paper. Again nothing. And by then I was madly in love with him. So were Kushi and Ron. You guessed it; we kept Angus.

After we moved to Smith Mountain Lake, Angus developed a passion for fishing and swimming. And he loved our children, our grandchildren, and all their dogs.

When Kushi died, Angus was a great comfort. And two years ago he readily welcomed Yellow Dawg, who just showed up and never left. Now Yellow, who is also grieving for Angus, is comforting us.

I haven't yet told my family about Angus' passing. I'm not ready to talk about it yet. But I can write, and for some reason I feel that Angus would be pleased that he is now immortalized. Thank you all for "listening" to me.

Ferradiddledumday

2010-07-06T14:36:00.009-04:00

On June 28, Lake Writer buddy and local author Becky Mushko spoke to the Pearls of Wisdom Book Club located at Smith Mountain Lake. She talked about her novel “Ferradiddledumday, An Appalachian Version of Rumpelstiltskin.” I liked "Ferradiddledumday" so much, that when it was published I bought 10 copies. Of course, with my 13th grandchild due as I write this blog, I knew I could use lots of copies.

Pictured are Gay Carpenter, Becky Mushko, and Dot Crossan

After discussing about "Ferradiddledumday," Becky wowed the ladies with readings from her soon-to-be-published YA novel “Stuck,” which will be published in early 2011. The publisher for both books is Cedar Creek Publishing. I highly recommend both books.

Friends

2010-07-01T10:43:00.020-04:00

On Friday, June 25, my college friends Sallie Bette and her husband Tom, Honey, Harriet, and Mary Jane arrived late that afternoon for our second mini-reunion. Three of us had been roommates many years ago; the other two lived across the hall. I could hardly wait to see them. Ron likes being with them, too, and he and Tom always have a lot to talk about.

After dinner, we took a boat ride, saw the sun set over the lake. I like to show off our gorgeous Smith Mountain Lake, so I love it when the sunsets are spectacular. Our friends were impressed.

I like how the sun reflects in the boat's wake.

Saturday morning we visited Emerson Creek Pottery in Bedford County, and bought berry bowls, flower pots, mugs, liquid soap dispensers. I discovered that the lady working behind the counter was the mother of a boy my son Bill played with in elementary school. Marie is just as nice as ever, and still as pretty. I hadn't seen Marie for at least 25 years, maybe 30. Small world, isn't it?

Harriet, Honey, Mary Jane, Sallie Bette, Tom, Me

The antique boat show at Parrot's Cove Marina was our next destination. The boats were gorgeous, and I saw a friend from Lynchburg. Did I mention this is a small world?

Next we went to Bridgewater Plaza, shopped in Gifts Ahoy, one of my favorite shops at the lake, and bought some of their delicious, made-on-site fudge and a few other items. We trudged down the steps to the water and fed the carp, then bought hot dogs at the Ice Cream Cottage. While eating, in walked my son-in-law's mother, Judy, who was accompanied by another of her sons and two grandchildren. The world just keeps getting smaller.

Mary Jane, Harriet, Sallie Bette in corner, Tom, Me, Honey, Ron
at the Ice Cream Cottage

We piled back in the minivan and drove a few miles to The Cottage Gate, another shop I enjoy. They play great beach music, and I sometimes sneak behind displays and dance right by myself. Sometimes I dance in grocery stores, too. In case you hadn't guessed, I like to dance. We bought stuff there, too.

That afternoon we put on our bathing suits and dashed down to the lake. Honey even went down our grandkids' sliding board. No, you're not going to see pictures of us in our suits.

Harriet, Me, Sallie Bette, Mary Jane, Honey and Angus my 18-year old dog

I hated to see them leave on Sunday, but our cheeks hurt from laughing and needed to rest. If I have more facial wrinkles than normal, it's their fault. We know we'll stay in touch, see each other often. And we'll be there for each other. We're friends. And that's what friends do.

Speaking at Moneta/Smith Mountain Lake Library

2010-06-23T13:40:00.012-04:00

Friends of the Moneta/Smith Mountain Lake Library invited me to speak at the library on the evening of June 17th. Friend and fellow Lake Writer Phyllis Conrad gave me a fantastic introduction, an intro that made writing Secrets at Spawning Run and Secrets at Sweetwater Cove even more worthwhile. Phyllis has promised to do the same for my third novel, now in progress.

Photo courtesy of Charlie Walker

I talked about where ideas come from, the importance of research, keeping time lines straight, publishing, and the actual writing process. This was a good audience. They laughed, asked lots of questions, gave me intriguing ideas, and encouraged me to keep writing mysteries that take

Photo courtesy of Ron Roseveare

place at Smith Mountain Lake. I chatted with old friends, made new ones. I enjoyed myself tremendously. I continue to be amazed at the folks who come to listen to me. And I so appreciate them.

Book Signings and Talks

2010-06-08T15:05:00.013-04:00

Book signings and talks with fellow Lake Writers Becky Mushko and Karen Wrigley are always fun. Last week there were two such events. On June 3rd, we gathered at the Roanoke County 419 Library for an "Ask the Author" presentation.

Darlene Smithwick, Reference & Adult Services Coordinator for this incredible library, introduced us. She and her team provided a table draped with cloths for each of us, and provided bottles of water and individual microphones in case we needed them. To our delight, hook-ups for our laptops were handy so we could run our slide shows. Assistant director Michael Meise took lots of photos. And there were cookies! Real ones, the kind you eat. Can you tell I like cookies?

Becky read from her latest book, Ferradiddledumday, an Appalachian version of Rumpelstiltskin, and answered questions from the audience.

Becky Mushko talking about her book. The back-of-the-head view
on the right is of Claudia Condiff, another Lake Writer. I love her hair!
Photo by Michael Meise, Roanoke County 419 Library

Karen read from her book Beyond Woofs and Whinnies and talked about communicating with animals. Franklin, her Golden Retriever buddy, impressed the audience with his intuitive ability, sensitivity and absolute sweetness.

Karen (in white) and Franklin

I read from Secrets at Sweetwater Cove, talked about writing and where ideas come from, and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Even though the crowd wasn't huge, the folks were loads of fun.

Left to right: Me, Claudia Condiff, Brenda Sullivan (Franklin's person)
Photo by Michael Meise, Roanoke County 419 Library

Ram's Head Book Shop in Roanoke is one of my favorite independent book stores. When we arrived on June 5, Christine and owner Lolly Rosemond had everything ready. Our books were on the table, and snacks consisting of trail mix, cookies, and drinks were almost within arm's reach. And if you read this blog from the beginning, you know how much I like cookies!

Karen Wrigley and me at Ram's Head Book Shop
Photo courtesy of Becky Mushko

Even though there was lots going on in Roanoke, people came, stopped and chatted. We all sold books, but more importantly, we met some really interesting people. If you've never shopped at Ram's Head, you need to remedy that. They are located at Towers Shopping Center, and they have more than just books. Go. You'll be glad you did.

46th Shenandoah Antiques Expo

2010-04-27T14:07:00.013-04:00

Sometimes I get really excited about something I'll be doing in the future. Well, okay, those who know me well know that I often get excited about, well, just about anything. I especially love antiques. I appreciate the expert craftsman who has lovingly created a piece of beauty. I love that extra glow, the patina in those old cherry, walnut, and mahogany pieces. Old paintings seem to bring me into them, and I imagine all kinds of stories. The picture below was painted in 1865 by the Scotsman A. Perigal. I first remember seeing it at my grandmother's house when I was a little girl, and when boredom set in, I'd sit and stare at the painting, lose myself in it. I think that was when I started writing, only I didn't know I was writing. And now writing is a big part of my life.

When I eventually inherited this painting, there were holes in it, and the painting was in terrible shape. I couldn't stand to lose it. I found a lady who restored the painting and the gold-leaf frame. She was expensive, but I have not regretted it one bit.

And guess what? On Saturday, May 1, 2010, I'll be surrounded by antiques! And I'll be selling my two novels, Secrets at Spawning Run and Secrets at Sweetwater Cove. And my darling daughter Christine will be with me. I'm so excited I can hardly stand it. Can you blame me?

Christine and I will be at the three-day 46TH SHENANDOAH ANTIQUES EXPO in Fishersville, Virginia, signing books and salivating over antiques. I just might bring home a found treasure or two. The show will be April 30, May 1 & 2. Christine and I will be there on May 1 from 9-12. For more info, check their website. The cost is $5.00 per day, except Friday when the charge of $10 will cover admission for all three days.

If you're an antique buff, you won't want to miss this show. And if you happen to come on Saturday, May 1, Christine and I will be in the Main Expo Hall to meet people and autograph copies of my novels. Hope to see you there.

Sedalia Writers Conference

2010-04-25T08:34:00.016-04:00

Anytime Darrell Laurant is involved with a writing conference, I know it will be a great experience. The 4th Annual Sedalia Writers Conference the weekend of April 16th and 17th was different, however. This time the experience was more than great; it was more like fantastic, perhaps the best I've ever attended. Small enough to interact with other writers, those attending were eager to share their knowledge.

I rode with fellow Lake Writers Betsy Ashton and Karen Wrigley to Sedalia, a community in Bedford County nestled at the foot of the Blue Ridge mountains. From 7:00 to 9:00, we mingled and talked with other writers, and listened to Kathleen Grissom, our scheduled keynote speaker. We returned to Sedalia Saturday morning for lots more.

Karen Wrigley, Kathleen Grissom, Betsy Ashton, Sally Roseveare
Photo courtesy of Betsy Ashton

Keynote speaker Kathleen Grissom wowed us with her story of how she came to write The Kitchen House, an historical fiction novel, and how she managed to get the perfect agent and have her book published with Simon and Schuster, a large main-stream publisher. In her soft voice, she read portions of her book, and, of course, I teared up a couple of times. I bought her book and have started reading. It is excellent.

Darrell Laurant, a long-time columnist for The News & Advance in Lynchburg, is a writer who always comes up with the perfect first sentence for each column he writes. Darrell talked to us about freelance writing. He started me thinking about branching out, perhaps writing for magazines.

Darrell Laurant
Photo courtesy of Betsy Ashton

Amy Allen talked about marketing, public relations, media relations, advertising, publicity and promoting authors' books. I plan to use some of her ideas. Amy's business is called Ruth Communications.

Dawn Dowdle is an editor and also a literary agent. New in the business, she is hoping to pick up more clients and find publishers for her clients.

You Should See This!

2010-04-19T09:34:00.026-04:00

On March 25th, several of us met at Centerline View Farm in Moneta, VA. I've kept quiet about it until now, although I wanted to shout out to the world about the experience. Using self-control (which is hard for me), I waited until friend and animal communicator Karen Wrigley received a copy of the televised--yes, televised--session with Hal Hubener, host of the weekly "Cover to Cover" television show on BTW 21.

Hal, Griz, Karen, and Brian (camera man)

In this session, Karen and Hal spoke about how Karen started as an animal communicator, how communications are done, Karen's book Beyond Woofs and Whinnies (see my review of her book on my blog post dated February 15, 2010), and how the book was published.

Muffin loving on her horse Griz

I won't go into detail about the 30-minute interview because you need to see it for yourself. If you like animals and are curious about animal communications, you won't want to miss it. You can view it by clicking on Blue Ridge Regional Library. You want Episode 138.

Sailing, Sailing . . .

2010-04-11T13:23:00.017-04:00

When our friend Larry called and invited us to spend the afternoon sailing with him and his wife, Ron and I grabbed light jackets, hats, water bottles, and drove to their house.

Lacey, the Golden Retriever on dock; Larry, Joyce and Ron on deck.

THIS'LDO is a gorgeous, sleek 30-footer with teak decking, a nice galley, a head with all the necessities, main sleeping compartment, and the capability to sleep an additional four folks. Besides all the bells and whistles, she is immaculate and decorated to perfection.

Joyce below deck

Larry hoisting the mainsail

Ron enjoying the view. His main job was handling the jib.

I learned about "telltales," fine pieces of wool (or other light material) attached to the luff of the sail that let you know if the sail is "trimmed" properly. Ideally, you want the "telltales" flowing (or streaming) straight back with the sail.

Note the red telltales on the mainsail.

With my vivid imagination, I envisioned sailing across the ocean, fighting off pirates, and being keelhauled by an angry ship captain. Keelhauling is a brutal form of punishment that results in death or horrible injuries from being severely injured by sharp barnacles on the underside of the vessel. The person being punished would be stripped naked and dragged underwater from one side of the ship to the other. I'd read about keelhauling, but really didn't know much about it. Y'all probably thought, as I did, that keelhauling was mostly done by pirates. In researching it, I learned that keelhauling was more commonly used by the Navy. The Dutch started this barbaric practice in 1560; other maritime powers adopted it. And no, there isn't a picture of anyone aboard THIS'LDO being keelhauled! Supposedly, keelhauling is no longer done. I hope.

Captain Larry.

Thanks to a good breeze, sweet sailboat, gorgeous view, and nice and competent hosts, Ron and I thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon. By the way, the above sail with the navy border is the jib. Aren't you impressed with my knowledge?

Upper End Again

2010-03-30T13:45:00.012-04:00

Upper End Again Consignment on the Bedford County side of Hales's Ford Bridge is on my list of must-visit-often spots at Smith Mountain Lake. Owner Evelena Mullens, a certified interior decorator, has packed the shop with useful, unique, and collectible items while maintaining the atmosphere of a cozy boutique.

I found a wicker cabinet that now resides on my bathroom wall and holds rolls of toilet paper and other necessities such as pencil and paper to record any worthwhile thoughts while I'm, uh, brushing my teeth.

All shelves in my house are jammed with books; once-empty spaces under the beds are crammed with boxes of them. So you can understand why I squealed like an excited pig when I spied a book table at Upper End Again. I don't know who gave it up, but I'm so glad they did. The top book even has a drawer. The table now resides next to my recliner.

Besides being an interesting lady, Evelena is a good business woman. After all, she invited Karen Wrigley and me to speak and sign books on March 20th! We had so much fun and sold books, too. And I got locked in the bathroom! I banged and banged on the door, yelled for Karen and Evelena. Nothing. And then I started laughing as I pictured how the obituary would read. Finally, I got smart and started yelling for Cody, Evelena's Great Dane who was in the shop. Sure enough, Cody brought Marichen to the door. Hallelujah! I was saved.

Cody in front of an Elvis on Velvet painting.

Elvis is for sale. Cody is priceless.

Make it a point to stop by Upper End Again Consignment located at 16483 Moneta Rd. Suite A, Moneta, VA 24121 (Hales Ford Center). Store hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 10-6 and Sunday 12-4.

Living in the Heart of Virginia

2010-03-30T09:56:00.007-04:00

On March 10, Tab O'Neal interviewed me on his TV show, Living in the Heart of Virginia (ABC, Channel 13 in Lynchburg, VA), that airs from 12:30 to 1:00 each week day, Monday through Friday. For four minutes we discussed the importance of writers' groups, i.e. Lake Writers, and talked about my two novels and writing. I read the first two paragraphs from my second book, Secrets at Sweetwater Cove.

So what was this experience like? Terrifying! And fascinating and educational. The staff at ABC and WSET's Channel 13 could not have been nicer or more professional. Tab O'Neal was relaxed, but cognizant of everything happening around him, and a true Southern gentleman all at the same time. Behind the scenes, camera men, producers, planners, people all busy with their jobs, talked and moved about as needed, usually quickly.

I knew that because of the bright lights I would need to apply more makeup, so before leaving home that morning, I caked on the eyeliner, mascara, blush and lipstick. I felt like a woman of ill repute when I left the house. I hoped no one would see me. As I waited to take my seat on the stage, I almost wiped it off. So glad I didn't! When I saw myself on TV, I looked like I had no makeup on! I looked like death! And old!

To view the video, click below. And if you watch it and respond, please be kind. Warning: it takes a couple minutes to load, and is 4 minutes long.

Another Book Signing

2010-03-08T14:35:00.008-05:00

This seems to be the season when life starts breaking out of the winter doldrums. I've seen more bluebirds, plants that slept all winter are peeping up through the soil, and book signings and appearances are increasing. Last Saturday (March 6) Karen Wrigley, Becky Mushko, Barbara Roberts, and I signed books at The General Store in Moneta.

Becky, Me, and Barbara

I liked where owners Rita and Vickie put us. We had lots of room for our stuff, and plenty of space for fellow book lovers to stop and chat with us and to purchase our books. The staff also kept us supplied with delicious coffee, mini-quiches, and small chocolate eclairs.

Me, Karen, and Barbara

The week before this book signing, Vickie and Rita were at market. You really should stop by and see all the neat things they brought back with them.

On March 20 from 11:00 to 2:00, Karen Wrigley and I will be at Upper End Again Consignment in Moneta for readings and to sign books. Stop by if you can.

Such Fun!

2010-03-02T10:37:00.021-05:00

Sometimes things are such fun that you just want to jump up and down and yell "Yahoo!" for everybody to hear. I almost did that at The Bluebird Bakery and Grill on February 27th.

At 6:00 that evening, fellow writers Karen Wrigley (see my blog dated 2/15/10 for review of Beyond Woofs and Whinnnies), Becky Mushko (see blog dated 12/5/09 for review of Ferradiddledumday), and I met at The Bluebird for an "Ask the Authors" event, a first for the eatery and for us. With a fire roaring in the fireplace and surrounded by nice folks, we three gals discussed our books and answered questions from the crowd of friends, family, and strangers.

Me, Karen, Becky
All Photos by Ron Roseveare

Some of the folks who attended. Note the goodies on the right.

Me, Karen and Becky at table. Note fireplace, which brought welcomed warmth on a cold night.

Owned and operated by really nice people (the Greene family), The Bluebird Bakery and Grill is a great place to go for coffee and pastry, lunch, and even dinner. Located at 1123 Celebration Avenue in Moneta, Virginia, The Bluebird is open Mondays through Saturdays. I think their chili is delicious; my husband and son liked the barbecue sandwich, and I've heard several people rave about the ribs.

This coming Saturday night (March 6th), families are invited to bring their children with them to The Bluebird. While the parents eat a scrumptious meal, some of the staff will entertain the children by reading to them. So if you want a fun, inexpensive family night out, don't miss this opportunity.

Book Review of Beyond Woofs and Whinnies

2010-02-15T11:23:00.013-05:00

Animal communicator Karen Wrigley has just published Beyond Woofs and Whinnies, a book all pet owners and animal lovers should have on their book shelves or coffee tables. If you believe that animals can communicate with people, you will like this book. If you are a non-believer, you will still benefit from, and enjoy hearing, what the animals say. An excellent article by Rebecca Jackson about Karen and her book appeared in the February 10, 2010 issue of the Smith Mountain Eagle.

From the back cover:

Most pet owners swear their animal has something to say. After all, they make a variety of sounds. And once in a while, an animal seems to "almost talk." Sure, animals communicate. Each species has its own particular vocal repertoire. But this book opens the door to a different way animals communicate; the animals share their thoughts with us humans. What they tell us goes far beyond purrs and chirps, beyond snorts and snuffles, BEYOND WOOFS AND WHINNIES.

I've read several drafts of Beyond Woofs and Whinnies, and when Karen gave me the final proof copy, I read it again. As before, I laughed and cried at what these wise animals said. Each time I read the book I learned something new. This last reading has changed my life. I will stop sweating the small stuff. I will relax more, laugh more, and make more time for my family, my friends, and myself.

Karen Wrigley's book will affect not only my dogs' lives, but mine, too. And I will read Beyond Woofs and Whinnies again and again. I strongly urge each of you to buy a copy.

Books are available from Infinity Publishing or Toll-free (800) BUY-BOOK, from Karen, Amazon.com, and at numerous shops locally.

A Snowy Weekend

2010-02-01T11:41:00.020-05:00

This picture was taken December 26th. There is still a little snow from the December snowstorm left on the deck. Note my grandkids' bare feet and their shirts that say "Grandma's Favorite." Even though this picture shows 11 grands, we have 12. Jonathan is in heaven.

Now, 12 new inches of snow blanket everything. Today the roads still aren't in good shape. Our driveway is cleared, thanks to hubby's Kubota RTV and his 1953 Ferguson tractor.

Yellow Dawg and Angus love for Ron to use his tractor. Yellow usually rides along in the Kubota.

To me, the best thing about having snow is the pictures I can snap. This one is taken on the screen porch. I used the advice I got in Dan Smith's photography class at the Roanoke Regional Writers Conference in January and didn't attempt to center everything. I like this shot. Thanks, Dan.

Birds are a favorite subject of mine, and since Saturday, I've taken over 100 pictures. Don't worry--you won't be subjected to all of them! All the fowl shots were taken through closed sliding glass doors or windows.

I took the above picture of this bluebird through my office window. I've seen only one; hope it has a mate.

This female cardinal's mate flew off seconds before I snapped this shot.

Gold finches vying for a feeding station. There is another feeder full of nyger seed, but I couldn't be at all the feeders at once. They consumed most of the feed in this feeder in half a day. And yes, I filled it again.

Mist rising off the lake on Sunday morning. Get ready, because more weather is predicted for Tuesday!

Ferradiddledumday

2010-01-29T14:16:00.014-05:00

Folks who weren't at the Westlake Library the night of January 28th missed a treat. Becky Mushko, author of the recently released book Ferradiddledumday, and book illustrator Bruce Rae, put on quite a show. After the introduction by librarians Pam Palmer and Marilyn Amerson, Becky and Bruce performed parts of Ferradiddledumday, an Appalachian version of Rumpelstiltskin.

Pam Palmer, children's librarian at Westlake

Becky Mushko as Gillie; Bruce Rae as Ferradiddledumday

Even though I have read drafts of Ferradiddledumday and the published book, I laughed hard and often. Becky played the part of Gillie, an Appalachian farmer's daughter who spins hay into gold. Bruce acted as Gillie's father, as well as the character Ferradiddledumday, a little magic man who granted Gillie the ability to spin the hay into gold. If you ever get the opportunity to see Becky and Bruce perform this, do it. You won't be disappointed. And if you want a good read, go buy the book. I own 11 copies! They will make great gifts for my grandchildren.

Marilyn Amerson, head librarian at Westlake, and Becky Mushko.

To visit Becky's website, go to www.beckymushko.com. To read her blog posts, go to www.peevishpen.blogspot.com.

Roanoke Regional Writers Conference

2010-01-27T12:01:00.020-05:00

Writers conferences are often dull, not worth the effort or time it takes getting there. I attended a 3-day conference in Philadelphia ten years ago. At that time I didn't know enough about writing to benefit much from it. I do know that it cost me over $300.00 plus travel costs. A year later, I went to a writers conference in Athens, Georgia. That, too, was expensive, but at least I learned a lot and met a delightful new author, Ellis Vidle r. (Her novel Haunting Refrain is a murder mystery whose protagonist has psychic abilities.)

This past weekend, I attended the 3rd Roanoke Regional Writers Conference at Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia. Unlike the two conferences mentioned above, this one cost only $50.00, which included a reception Friday night and lunch Saturday. I saw writers I hadn't seen in ages, i.e. Darrell Laurant, Gene Marrano, Kurt Rheinhei mer, Keith Ferrell. I also met some interesting folks.

Any event organized by Dan Smith is always a success, and this one was no exception. Speakers talked about blogging and using other social media such as Facebook and Twitter (too technical for me); self-editing; writing plays, fantasy, historical fiction, essays, local history, and short fiction; how to get rid of writers block; photography tips for freelancers; freelance writing and the law. Some classes were better than others, but that's not uncommon. I wish I could have attended more classes, but so far I haven't learned how to be in two places at once.

L to R: Dan Smith, Doug Cumming, Rodney Franklin, Becky Mushko, Sally Roseveare, Jim Morrison
Photo Courtesy of Dan Smith

From Noon to 1:15 on Saturday, I served on the self-publishing panel with Dan Smith, Doug Cumming, Becky Mushko, Jim Morrison, and Rodney Franklin. Those attending asked lots of questions and made some good comments. I wish we'd had more time.

Dan Smith, Conference Organizer
Photo by Karen Wrigley

L to R: Doug Cumming and Rodney Franklin
Photo by Karen Wrigley

Becky Mushko
Photo by Karen Wrigley

Sally Roseveare

Photo by Karen Wrigley

Jim Morrison
Photo by Karen Wrigley

Traveling to and from the conference with Lake Writers Jim Morrison (our leader), Rodney Franklin, Becky Mushko, and Karen Wrigley, an animal communicator whose book Beyond Woofs and Whinnies will be available by mid February, was a hoot! (Y'all should buy Karen's book!) We talked, laughed, had animal communications, and solved a couple of the world's problems. Thanks for driving, Jim.

Snow on Postcards

2009-12-30T15:26:00.015-05:00

"I like my snow on postcards," says hubby. He really means it, too. Not I. Well, okay, I like snow on postcards, but I really love honest-to-goodness, cold, wet snow.

When weather forecasters started warning us of a potentially heavy snowfall for the weekend before Christmas, I checked my pantry for cookie ingredients, canned food, drinking water, and, of course, toilet paper. Satisfied that we had what we needed if the power went out, I asked for two feet of the white stuff. Hubby didn't want a single flake. I pointed out the beauty of heavy snow, how clean and pure snow makes everything seem. He argued that walking becomes treacherous, entry ways messy, and doggies get a little too creative when going outside to potty. And shoveling snow hurts his back.

When the snow ceased on Saturday, 15 gorgeous inches blanketed our wonderland. Everything looked unspoiled, beautiful. The lake sparkled. Two pairs of ducks swam across the cove. If not for the dark green pines and the brown oak leaves, you'd think you were in a totally black and white world.

And then I heard hubby's 1953 Ferguson farm tractor crank up. He worked on our driveway and several others on our street for hours. He claims he hates snow and all the work involved. I believed him when we had horses and had to get water and feed to them, but that was years ago before hubby became allergic to hay and we had to give up our horses. (It broke my heart, but it was the horses or Ron. I chose Ron. I'm glad I did. But I still miss my horses.) Deep down, I think he likes to get on his tractor, show Mother Nature that she can't stop him. But please don't tell him I said that.

Today, deep, crusty snow still covers the ground, makes crossing the yard a dangerous feat for my 45-pound, 18-year-old dog Angus. He slips and falls easily; I worry that he will break a leg or a rib. Yellow Dawg handles it okay, but at 60+ pounds, he's taller and heavier than Angus. I heard yesterday that there's a chance of freezing rain. Hubby and his tractor do not like ice. Neither do I.

Jonathan Still Remembered

2009-12-27T14:27:00.006-05:00

It's hard to believe, but today my precious grandson Jonathan Stephen Joseph would have been six years old. And if I close my eyes and think of Jonathan, I can feel his little arms wrapped around my neck, can picture his silky blonde hair, his huge brown eyes, his smile that promised never-ending love.

But tragedy struck our family on January 12, 2006, and Jonathan left us the next day. He was two years and 17 days old when he died. None of us had any idea that Jonathan was born with arterial venous malformation of the brain, that his life would be so short. And maybe that's good. Because we didn't know, all who knew him spent his time on earth loving him, playing with him, enjoying him, teaching him--and learning from him. Even though losing Jonathan still hurts like crazy, I'll never regret the earthly time I spent with him.

I wish he could have known his sister Johanna, born eight days after Jonathan died. The two of them would have enjoyed each other so much. He would have loved his baby brother Josiah, born September 5, 2009, too. Jonathan would have been a great big brother.

Happy Sixth Birthday, Jonathan! Grandmother loves you.

Signing Books in Lynchburg

2009-12-07T16:00:00.010-05:00

My most recent book signing was at Givens Books & Little Dickens in Lynchburg, VA, on Saturday, November 28th. I had so much fun! One of the great things about book signings is that old friends often drop by for a book and to chat. At this signing, lots of good friends came. We chatted, laughed, even cried a little. And they bought books.

Photo by Martin Tolhoek

Until we moved to the lake in 2000, I did most of my shopping in Lynchburg. Most of my friends lived in Lynchburg. We attended church in Forest, which butts up to Lynchburg. I don't get there as often now. I told my husband later that signing at Givens was like going home.

Photo by Martin Tolhoek
Author Jeri Watts, Me, and friend Kay Tolhoek

Meeting and signing with other authors is also a plus, and on the 28th, I met and signed with Dr. Jeri H. Watts, Assistant Professor of Human Development and Learning at Lynchburg College. She was delightful, and I hope to see her again.

Photo by Lisa Roseveare
Grandson Matthew, Granddaughters Emily & Nicole
And yes, I see the bunny ears.

Givens Books & Little Dickens, located at 2236 Lakeside Drive, Lynchburg, is a family-owned store and is a favorite place for me to purchase birthday and Christmas gifts for my grandchildren. Not only is the store packed with books, there are educational toys, fun toys, teaching supplies, and a coffeehouse and cafe. The staff is polite and helpful. In my opinion, this would be the perfect book store for Becky Mushko's book Ferradiddledumday which will be coming out in January. You can read more about Givens Books & Little Dickens at www.givensbooks.com.

Photo by Martin Tolhoek

Book Review of Ferradiddledumday

2009-12-05T17:21:00.010-05:00

The first time I read a draft of Becky Mushko's Ferradiddledumday was three or four years ago. Immediately I liked her Appalachian version of Rumpelstiltskin and thought it should be published. Then Bruce Rae created the delightful illustrations, making the book even more inviting. When Cedar Creek Publishing wanted to publish it, I was ecstatic. If I told you that I clapped and clapped, and then clapped some more, you wouldn't believe me. But I really did. Honest.

This past Thanksgiving Day, I sat on our sunny deck with several of my grandchildren and started reading aloud Becky Mushko's advance reading copy of Ferradiddledumday, An Appalachian Version of Rumpelstiltskin. The children were hooked as soon as I read the catchy title and showed them the cover. Each time I turned a page they insisted I show them the illustrations by Bruce Rae.

"Look!" one granddaughter said as she pointed to page eight. "This page has a rattlesnake AND a copperhead!"

I nodded and smiled. I, too, liked Bruce's illustrations.

Even though I had read Ferradiddledumday in it's infancy, I read slowly, savoring again the delightful superstitions of Appalachia, enjoying the Appalachian dialect woven throughout the pages. From page 15:

"Ay, well," said her pa when the skies cleared and they could go outside, "the garden weren't hurt too bad. The cornstalks ain't been flatted and the bean vines ain't tore up."

Can't you just feel it, see it? Mushko is a true story teller, and this latest book is honest Appalachian literature. And to top it off, there's a study and discussion guide that draws me in, makes me want to follow it. More importantly, it will appeal to kids, get them interested in researching Rumpelstiltskin, Appalachia, leprechauns. They will learn that research can be fun.

Because I was reading slowly and taking time to show everyone the illustrations, my kitchen buzzer went off before I could finish the book.

"Don't stop now, Grandmother!" one said. "We want to hear the rest!"

But the turkey and sweet potatoes called, and suspecting that 21 folks didn't want to wait much longer before chowing down, I hurried to the kitchen, knowing I'd disappointed my grandchildren. And I smiled, knowing how excited they would be when they received their very own copy of Ferradiddledumday when the book comes out in January 2010. You, dear reader, should buy it, too.

Seven Virginia Authors

2009-12-05T12:35:00.005-05:00

Seven Virginia authors gathered at The General Store in Moneta to sign books on November 21st. We talked, laughed, examined and traded books, and enjoyed chatting with folks who dropped by to shop and buy our books. Owners Vicki and Rita and their fine staff provided us with coffee, juice, and delicious goodies. I bought something, of course. Seldom do I leave that shop without a purchase in my hands.

Two of the authors were ladies I had never met. I liked them instantly, and I'm looking forward to reading their books. B. (Barbara) R. Roberts lives in Lynchburg, and has published a children's book entitled "What A Christmas!" I'm sure my grandchildren will enjoy it. Barbara sent me the picture below which was taken by Susan Dittler. Debra Cheehy from Northern Virginia has written "I Like Dogs," which, in my opinion, is a must-read for any family thinking about getting a dog.

Back Row, L to R: Bob VandeLinde, Sally Roseveare, Barbara Roberts, Curtis Nester, Rodney Franklin
Front Row, L to R: Debra Cheehy
Photo by Susan Dittler

If you've never shopped at The General Store, stop in, grab a cup of hot coffee, and browse awhile. You'll find just about something for everybody on your gift list. And if you sew, don't miss the fabrics and sewing notions downstairs.

Rainy Days and Mondays

2009-11-11T14:40:00.014-05:00

For the last ten years I've loved rainy days. And Mondays. So because today is what most folks call a foul-weather day, I decided to put rain pictures in this blog post. And yes, I know it isn't Monday, but heck, I can't have everything.

The dreary picture below was taken from inside our car as we drove across Bogue Sound in North Carolina. I like the depth in the individual raindrops on the car window.

In the picture below, you can almost see automobile headlights through the rear view mirror.

The windshield wipers had cleaned the windshield a second before I snapped this picture as we drove across Bogue Sound to Atlantic Beach, North Carolina.

I took this picture of the deck this morning through the sliding glass door. The white spot is from the camera's flash.

I like the way the rain drops cling to the porch screens. Earlier I sat in one of the rockers and listened to the rain.

What could be more fitting than a picture of a rainbow taken through a rain-drenched window?

Cruising with the Eclectic Book Club

2009-10-15T19:12:00.009-04:00

A couple of months ago, Carolyn Hart called to tell me that the Eclectic Book Club had read my first novel, Secrets at Spawning Run, and wanted me to join them for a book discussion on the Virginia Dare. I felt honored that they read my book, and was delighted they invited me to join them. A few days before the event, Eclectic member Mary Jane Morgan called to give me the boarding time and other details.

The Virginia Dare

Yesterday, October 14, King (my stuffed black Lab complete with red collar) and I joined 21 delightful Eclectic ladies and three other book club girls for a luncheon cruise on the Virginia Dare. Also on board were two tour bus loads of folks, some of whom were from a senior center, and other miscellaneous people. The book club ladies were absolutely delightful. I enjoyed getting to know them, although I hope they will forgive me if I can't remember all their names.

After a good meal, Lake Writers buddy Marion Higgins and I walked to the bar area where Marion was handed a microphone. After a great introduction (I am so lucky to have friends who give wonderful introductions--see the previous blog post), Marion turned the mike over to me. I read a little from Secrets at Spawning Run and from my second novel, Secrets at Sweetwater Cove.

I really liked being with these nice ladies, the food was very good, and cruising on the Virginia Dare again was lots of fun. However, I would not advise any group the size of ours to try to have a discussion in that type of setting. One woman--not from our group--at the table closest to me started telling me that I had said enough. And that was after I read one short paragraph! I ignored her for five minutes, but then decided that it wasn't fair to her for me to keep speaking. After all, she paid for a luncheon cruise, not to hear a murder mystery author read and speak. So even though other non-book club people were enjoying my talk, I quickly wrapped it up and returned to my seat.

I've cruised on the Virginia Dare several times, always loved it. Unfortunately, yesterday was cold and wet. Even though the cruise was still fun, I wish we had had a nice, sunny day. Luckily we were on the lower deck, which is glassed in and out of the wind. I didn't notice if the upper deck was now enclosed or not. It was not enclosed in the above picture that I took two years ago from our boat. But I did enjoy myself, and would love to talk with these nice gals again sometime in a place more conducive to a good discussion.

For those of you who aren't familiar with the Virginia Dare, she is a faux paddlewheel boat, a reproduction of the boats that used to travel our Southern rivers such as the Mississippi. She was built in Lacrosse, Wisconsin in 1989, is 63 feet long, 20 feet wide, and can accommodate 112 people for a seated meal or 135 for a sightseeing cruise.

So Much Fun!

2009-10-15T11:17:00.011-04:00

I had so much fun speaking and signing books at the Westlake Library on Tuesday, October 13! Thanks to the library's fine organizer Claudia Nagel, and to friends telling friends, lots of people attended. Lake Writer buddies Bruce Ray, Betsy Ashton, Becky Mushko, Claudia Condiff, Phyllis Conrad, and Karen Wrigley came to support me. And there were other folks I knew, too. I even met a lady who first saw my book on my daughter-in-law's mother's coffee table in Blacksburg!

After a fantastic introduction by Betsy Ashton, I was revved up and ready to talk and read. I could not have asked for a better audience! They asked great questions and laughed at my goofy spiels about researching material for my books, i.e. stuffing bodies in porta-potties.

Yep, this was a fun evening. Many thanks to all who came: to Betsy for her introduction, to Marilyn Amerson, Claudia Nagel, and Kellyann Gordon from Westlake Library, and to Shirley and John Yates (Friends of the Library) for providing refreshments.