Sparrows song

partly cloudy, showers at times, mild, temps 20

We're back in Sutton! Feels terrific. First thing I did yesterday was take Trudy around the pond, pick some lupins and peony and made arrangements. Heaven.

What a week...exciting and exhausting. But so many weeks are like that. And how wonderful to have this tranquil place to return to. We had breakfast on the screen porch, listening to, and watching, a soft rain fall. Everything smells sweet and looks so fresh and new, and quiet.

This is the calm before New York City. We head out tomorrow - staying until Friday. Have some breakfasts, lunches and a dinner planned with publishing friends. I don't consider this a work trip - just friends...and mostly Michael and me wandering the city. And eating.

I don't like shopping (I keep telling Michael how fortunate he is to have married a woman who doesn't duck into every shop. I'm sure he loves being told how fortunate he his. However, I financially make up for it by insisting on terrific hotel rooms. I LOVE hotels - but only nice ones. Even as a kid I wasn't much in to roughing it. I don't need first class flying, or limos, or Michelin starred restaurants, but I do enjoy a splendid hotel room. Fingers crossed for NYC.

Had a 7:30am dentist appointment yesterday for the two of us. I didn't realize dentists work at that hour, but they do. Then we drove to Radio Canada and took our friend Mike out for breakfast. He's leaving the morning show - next week's his last on-air - and moving back to London to take over the news section of Guardian.com. Very exciting.

After that we drove home and unpacked...collapsed. Then I had an 8pm conference call with a book club in Baltimore. Wonderful questions. It was A FATAL GRACE (DEAD COLD) they'd read and they wanted to know about El's comment on Clara's art - the Arnot case - and lemon meringue pie, among other things.

As I write this I can hear a cacaphony from downstairs...all sorts of shrieks and calls...like a jungle. Went down to check it out. A year or so ago I gave Michael a bird book (he loves birds) with pictures, descriptions and a button to hit that plays that particular bird's call. He's been going through them trying to find what we call the 'Oh Canada' bird.

I've called it that since childhood - everyone I knew called it that. Its song sounds like the first few notes of our national anthem...sort of. But I've never known what it was actually called.

Michael just found it! It's the white throated sparrow.

And, all the nominees for the Barry Awards have been announced. As I mentioned in my last post, I was fortunate enough to be nominated for Best Novel, for THE CRUELEST MONTH. Here's the complete list in that catagory...and congratulations to all the nominees!!!

BEST NOVEL
Trigger City by Sean Chercover
The Draining Lake by Arnaldur Indridason
Envy the Night by Michael Koryta
Red Knife by William Kent Krueger
The Cruelest Month by Louise Penny
Dawn Patrol by Don Winslow

Like the Anthonys and the Macavitys, the Barry Awards will be given out at Bouchercon in October. This year it's in Indianapolis.

We're taking the laptop to New York, so will probably do a few blogs from there. Hope you enjoy this trip.

Oh, and since I almost certainly won't blog tomorrow...Happy Father's Day to all the father's out there. Such a crucial part you have in the family. Enjoy the day!