Turkey, Adoption Stories and Lots of Links

The blogosphere has been so quiet this week. Makes me think that I wasn't the only one kidnapped by a giant turkey named Fred. Fred. (If...

A Thanksgiving Plea

Today I made two apple pies using this recipe . (I'll let you know how they turn out.) The Dashingly Handsome Sidekick and his father al...

Snow & Irrational Panic

This was yesterday. Beautiful, freshly-fallen snow. There was a two-hour snow delay from school, but I decided to keep the kids home all day...

In Which I Compare Querying to Toothpaste

Toothpaste is essential to good oral health. If you want to get a book published, querying is also essential.* Toothpaste has its faults. Qu...

In Which I Learn a Writing Lesson from Star Wars Legos

I'm a tidal-wave writer*. My son is a tidal-wave Lego builder. In other words, we work feverishly on a project until we're done and ...

Happy Birthday, Gabe!

This is my son... ...after losing his first tooth. (Lost it while he was still six. He was very happy about that. He's a late-tooth-lose...

Dog Tired

Ever have one of those days where you just need to sit down?

Veterans Day

Hooray for veterans! Today is Veterans Day in the U.S. The two handsome guys in the picture are my two grandfathers. They were both World Wa...

Learning from Literature: A Swift Pure Cry

Ugh. This book. I have a love/hate relationship with it. The subject matter is hard to stomach, but the writing is so beautiful, I'm com...

Alice Dancing Under the Gallows

Because of Blunt-Brain Syndrome (ie. I'm not accomplishing anything and my brain is fried) I thought I'd do on my blog what every gr...

In Case of Fire...

My darling preschooler came home on Monday excited to teach me something: "Mommy, I know what to do if you catch on fire. You STOP, ROC...

How Green (and Yellow and Orange and Red) is My Valley

 The view from my window gives me so much joy. Yesterday evening. This morning. Happy November, everyone! I love November. The changing colo...