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!

Are we all ready for the weekend? Any big plans? Exciting adventures?
 
Tomorrow I’ll be at a one-day writing workshop called Romancing the Writer. Here’s the link to the description and the venue. Doesn’t this look like a wonderful spot to spend a few hours? I’ve not been there before even though my mum lives basically around the corner.
 
Spending time with fellow writers is—well, I’ll be with my own people, talking the same language, sharing similar tales of woe and, hopefully, success. It’ll be rejuvenating, validating, and necessary. Other writers understand that the voices in our heads are nothing to worry about. <grin> Unless the characters decide the plot you’ve outlined in excruciating detail just won’t work for them and they go off in a totally different direction effectively trashing half your book. ARRRGGHHH!
 
Ahem…
 
After the workshop Hubby and I will be packing and preparing for a camping trip next week. We’ll be in the backcountry, canoeing and kayaking to the campsite. Best of all, our boys (and the eldest’s girlfriend) will be joining us! I’ll tell you more about the park on Monday.
 
Enjoy your weekend!
 
Cheers!

​Many moons ago our good friends, Janet and Ron, told us of a regular feature in their weekly menu planning – namely, Wine Wednesday. Supper is wine, of course, and two or three appetizers. Both my hubby and I thought this was freakin’ brilliant and we adopted the ritual. And, man, is it so much fun! And not just because of the wine. I love cooking and I love trying new recipes. Making a meal of appetizers is the most fun you can have with your clothes on. Ha!
 
For this Wine Wednesday I’m—actually, I’m attending the wedding of my oldest friend. She’s getting married for the first time! How cool is that? There will be wine, joy, tears, and dancing.
 
Do you have the same supper on a particular day? Turkey Tuesday? Salmon Saturday?  I know lots of people eat pizza on Fridays, as do we.
 
Cheers!

​Wow, what a weekend! Of doing absolutely nothing!
 
Not strictly true but it feels that way. Do you ever feel like you’re spinning your wheels? I kept adding things to my to-do list.
 
I did cross off a few items. Starting this blog on Saturday was a huge accomplishment for this Luddite. I also sent out a newsy newsletter. (The tab that’ll take you to the sign-up form is right up there in the header thingie under Contact. Or click here.) And I did promotional stuff for Love & Mayhem. I was featured in a book spotlight at Romantic Historical Reviews, complete with a contest. (Here’s the link if you wanna take a gander and enter to win a copy of the ebook.) The thrill of seeing your book being touted on the web never gets old. I even got some editing done on the third book in the series, but not as much as I should have.
 
Ugh, those “shoulds” can be a downer, can’t they?
 
The biggest downer was not getting the old washing machine in this old house to work. It filled, it agitated, it drained, but it didn’t spin. I wonder if that puddle of old grease on the floor under the machine was a clue. So I’m spending a good portion of this morning at the laundromat. Double ugh!
 
I hope you all had a satisfying weekend. Did you do anything fun? Exciting? Different?
 
Fear not, Monday comes only once a week.
 
Cheers!