National Novel Writing Month

On the first of November, I will begin writing as part of National Novel Writing Month.  My goal is 50,000 words!  Last March, someone invaded our home, and stole two laptops...mine and my daughter's.  All my writing was on my Asus laptop.  I hadn't the foresight to back it up on disc.  So my stories are long gone.  My novella of a mother who leaves husband and daughter for warmer climates.  She meets some interesting new people and reads books on DVD to make some money.  Eventually husband and daughter come visit  her, and after a while she returns home to a find yellow ribbons on every silver maple in her yard!  I started writing a novel of a total totalitarian anti-feminist government, but my main character was stymied at every turn.   Perhaps the thief figured out how to get the main character out of her predicament!  One year, when spring began to tease with sunshine but still-nippy, weather, I wrote the poem "The Sun."  It was a poem of hope--that spring would warm the coldness that I felt deep within my soul.  I grieved for my lost writing but was encouraged when my daughter spoke up.  "You write so fast, you will have new stories in no time."   I look forward to November 1st, the official first day of legal writing!  Let the writing begin!

Henry, our Halloween visitor

I stuffed the sweatshirt with pillows, and the legs of the pants with old towels.  Gathering the sweatshirt, pants, athletic shoes and the smiling pumpkin head, I headed to the front porch. After assembling the parts, I stepped back to critique my work.  The wind nearly tore off my hat, so I secured a scarf around "Henry" the pumpkin man's neck to hold on his head..  He smiled at me, as if to say "Tomorrow, on Halloween eve, I will welcome the trick or treaters." I headed into the house to make dinner and then checked to see how Henry was doing.   Bats in the belfry!  He was headless.  I rushed outside to find his head in a bush!  This time around, I stuck the visor of his cap (he likes to wear his hat backward) down his sweatshirt.  Only time will tell.  I poured bags of goodies into the bowl and placed the bowl on the hutch (out of the reach of the dogs).  We are ready.  Happy Halloween!

Every year at Halloween, Henry the pumpkin man comes to visit.

Blue Skies on the Island

We are home

Three  dreamlike days. A drive 280 miles north to the ferry parking lot.  Unloading bikes and luggage, buying tickets for the ferry to the island.  The seas were rough that day, and spray glistened on the windows.  No one braved the open upper deck.  All rode below as the boat went up and down.   Once the ferry docked,  my husband and I rode our bikes to the hotel and after wandering a bit, found the front desk.  Our room overlooked Lake Huron.  We relaxed in our bright, cheerful room and the strode to the dining room for dinner.  700 or so people dine on any given night.  After dinner, we explored the hotel.  The next morning was misty but warm, so the two of us browsed the shops.  We met a woman who lives in St. Ignace but her inlaws live on the island.  After lunch, my husband and I rode our bicycles in the heart of  the island  We visited the golf course, new condos, the houses on the bluff.  This morning, we watched a gorgeous sunrise.  A beautiful day to ride on leaf covered paths around the island.  Back in the downtown area, we waited for the ferry that would take us across Lake Huron to the mainland where our car and luggage waited.  And then a safe trip home.

Exploring the Island

On the island

Tomorrow we are driving 300 miles to Mackinac City.  We will park the van and take the ferry to Mackinac Island in Lake Huron.  Once on the island, we will hop aboard a horse drawn wagon and ride to the hotel.  We have visited the island before, but this will be our first overnight visit.  We plan to dine at the hotel, ride our bikes around the 8-mile perimeter of the island if the weather permits, browse the shops.  It will be fun to photograph the lake and the scenery.   A special time to relax and enjoy each other's company....just the two of us.