Apple pickin time
We spent Saturday perched in our apple tree, picking apples. The cousins swarmed the tree, climbing the limbs, while the adults used ladders or emptied buckets for the kids. The photo is of the best of the crop – the red is unusual. We finished off the day with fresh-baked apple crisp, in celebration of our wonderful tree.
Maureen
Writer’s Heaven
Sometimes I have these moments – days – weeks if I’m really lucky, when writing goes wonderfully. Last week I tore through two chapters on my current project. This morning, a story idea someone else gave me (keys, Mom) formed itself into something I can work with. I reread last week’s chapters and liked them. I’m reading a great fantasy novel. My mind is flipping between the three fantasy stories and playing. I work briefly on one, do a little laundry, work on another, read a little, eat a quick lunch, back to writing. I don’t want anyone to phone or knock on my door; I’m not going to leave the house – I’ll just enjoy my lovely writerly day. Because I know it won’t last and I need to treasure every moment. So don’t call me. I’m in writer’s heaven and don’t want to be disturbed.
Maureen
Sound track for writing
Eric Orchard, the artist who did the wonderful cover for Feather Brain, provided a list of song links for what he listens to as he works on his current project. It’s a wonderful collection of old southern blues tunes. I thought that’s what I need for my project; a sound track. So I went looking for the right songs, and almost totally failed to find what I wanted. I’ll keep looking . . . But along the way, I bumped into an old favorite. I know it’s silly, but in my own defence, my kids loved this when they were little, I write for kids, and my brother-in-law is a fine sax player.
Announcements Musings: contest Feather Brain howweirdcanyouget.com
by Maureen Bush
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Contest
I’m having another contest for Feather Brain. Griffith the wizard is looking for more ideas to develop into magical products; check out his store at www.howweirdcanyouget.com.
The prize, once again, will be a small leather-bound notebook for recording magical ideas, and a signed copy of Feather Brain. Adults are welcome to send in ideas, but only kids can win.
Maureen
Musings: Alberta Arts Days Hymns of the 49th Parallel K.D. Lang Last Chance Saloon Sundre Water Valley Saloon WGA
by Maureen Bush
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Road Trip
I’ve done my part for Alberta Arts Days. I drove up to Sundre and read to 70 kids in the Sundre Municipal Library. The staff were welcoming and the kids were great. They had brilliant ideas, including an underground city of candy that transformed into a dark forest, an evil villain determined to get rid of all Stampeders fans, and a monster made of candy defeated by the kids eating it.
The drive was gorgeous – it’s a beautiful fall day, warm with a whispy cloud cover, so it felt very gentle. I drove up Highway 2, then came home down 22 past Cremona and Cochrane. The mountains are completely without snow, just a dark ragged line along the horizon. Aspen are turning golden, but not much else yet – it’s a remarkably mild fall so far.
I took a short side trip past Water Valley, and admired the town (one intersection), and the Water Valley Saloon, complete with bikers at noon. It reminded me of the Last Chance Saloon near Drumheller.The road past Water Valley appears to head straight into the mountains, but I gave up once it turned to washboarded gravel. I cranked up K D Lang’s Hymns of the 49th Parallel and loved the whole day.
Thanks to the WGA for setting this up and giving me a great road trip.
Maureen