Maudlin Monday - August 21

Maudlin Monday – August 21
 
I hope everyone had a fun and/or productive weekend. On Saturday I attended a one-day workshop titled “Romancing the Writer” presented by Donna Alward and Michelle Helliwell. The topic was editing and the editor-author relationship. Very, very important. A good edit is even more important than a good cover.
 
Hanging out with fellow writers was so empowering. I came home with a fire lit under my muse. The best feeling.
 
On Sunday we ran around to several stores preparing for our camping expedition. Buying food for five adults for three days took some time. Especially when two of those adults are our 20-something, six-foot tall sons. They can certainly put away the food. I’m pre-cooking two pounds of bacon as I write this blog post. (Much less mess in the campsite if the bacon is re-cooked and just needs crisping.)
 
Here’s a map that shows where Kejimkujik National Park is in Nova Scotia.
 
As much as I love camping, the preparation is a drag, man. Menu planning, meal prep, checking all the gear, etc., etc., takes several hours. A further complication is the type of camping we’re doing – back country via canoes and kayaks. Everything we’ll need for three days and two nights has to fit in our boats. Tents, sleeping bags and pads, portable kitchen, water filtration and treatment equipment, chairs, tarps – good thing we have a 17 foot freight canoe!
 
And here’s a link to the park’s website.
 
Even after all the work involved, I look forward to this trip every summer. I can’t wait to get out to the lake, hear the loons, see the stars (there are way more up there than you usually see), and relax in a hammock. And not see another soul for days.
 
I’ll share photos of our adventure when I get back.
 
Cheers!