Cahoooos!

stunning, sunny day, temps freezing

Started this morning extremely and surprisingly cold! Had to scrape the ice off the car - both outside the car and inside! Sometimes, if there's any moisture trapped in the car (from breathing for instance), it can freeze to the windows.

So, while Michael scraped outside outside, I got in the car and shaved off the frost inside. And then it looked as though there'd been a blizzard inside the car.

But then the day warmed up and it is now glorious. A beautiful late winter day, snow melting, some muddy patches. And a smell of spring. A promise.

Cahooos.

My assistant lise, on leaving yesterday, said, 'The cahoos were terrible driving up here.' Cahoos is the old townshippers word I couldn't remember to describe not so much the potholes (the use other old words for that), but the heaving of the ground that form sort of ski jumps.

doesn't that sound like the experience. We ca-hoooo over them. Then clunck to the ground.

Our geo-thermal guy is late...called to say he'd hit such a huge pothole this morning it crippled his car. Had a blow out and it ripped off his front fender. Car is in the garage and now he's using his wife's.

Ran around doing errands today...a day away from writing, but not from thinking about it.

Banking, some airline tickets to arrange, post office, town hall to pay taxes... chatted with Teresa, my agent. got caught up on some emails.

Trudy coming home today...any moment. We miss her so much and keep thinking we hear her, when of course we don't. Ghosts of puppies past. But Pat's dropping her off any moment. If they don't get launched into outer space by one of the...cahoooos.

Even more fun to say.

Hope you're enjoying the day. continued prayers for Japan. Such amazing people - not waiting for someone to help them, but co-ordinating themselves...helping themselves clean up. Sharing resources. Humbling and inspiring to watch. But heartbreaking.

Peas and Broc and lilies

Mainly sunny, hot, clouding over now - temps 29, but dropping

Storms in the forecast. Lise and Del and Donna and two swarthy youths spent the day here getting the gardens ready for the garden party Saturday. All our energy (well, some) is going toward praying for sun. 150 people expected for afternoon tea - silent auction - spca fundraiser.

The gardens, thanks to My Assistant Lise, always looks fabulous - but they look even better now. We have friends coming down from the city for the weekend - Sharman Yarnell and her husband Walter. Made dinner reservations for us all Saturday night. I think we'll get too tired to cook.

Spent today working on the newsletter, and zipped across to Richford, VT, to mail some packages and get gas. Did errands in Sutton, including picking up our printed and bound manuscripts...very fun to see them. Will take them with us when we go away.

Our vegetable gardens are producing a great harvest, thanks to Donna. Broccoli and peas. Yum. And we have these massive lilies - oriental and fragrant....we've cut them and now they're all over the house.

Such a relief to not be editing/writing now - I can concentrate on other things....

It's cooling off. As I mentioned, storms are rolling in. We need some rain, and it'll make for good sleeping weather.

Cheryl coming by tomorrow about 3:30 for a swim and a visit. that's the hardest part of all this - keeping in touch with friends. When I have the time I have so little energy I just want to crawl in to bed. Fortunately my friends are all very understanding and supportive of my career and don't make me feel guilty! Thank heaven.

Must be off. Called the neighbours to warn them about the party...they didn't seem concerned that the tea and garden party was likely to turn into a riot. We'll just see about that.

When we grow up...

overcast, some rain and some sun highs 14

Really quite warm when the sun is out. Continuing to find it blissful to be home. We're so lucky with the people in our lives...since we've been home we've had a parade of people coming by to help us fix things...the pool has a leak and digging needed to be done, the computers crashed and a bunch of other things so it sometimes feels like a train station, with cars and trucks lined up in the driveway!

But they're all friends, and all doing us favours, and it sure is fun to see them. We're so thankful - honestly, I sometimes feel like an insurance person (what's the name)who calculates how long people might live. I'm constantly hoping I go before anyone else, because without them my life would be a misery!

Went off to Richford, vermont, for gas and to mail a bunch of packages to people in the States. Young US border guard asked all sorts of questions. I could feel myself blushing...I'm a blusher. Always feel, and look, guilty. Of course, sometimes I am. Happily, not this time and after a brief search he let me through.

Now doing a hundred odds and ends, some to do with the books and some to do with our move...downsizing in Montreal to a smaller apartment. Better located too. Looking forward to it!

Have been fielding appearance requests and have had to decline almost all...just not enough time anymore. But I did say yes to Bear Pond Books in Vermont - for sometimes in october. Will be doing it at same times as a bookstore in Norwich, Vermont. And, I also wanted to tell you about an event coming up in Toronto. It's at the Toronto Referecne Library on June 2nd at 7pm.

A bunch of mystery writers will be having their works read by local celebrities. Also there will be Maureen Jennings, Vicki Delany, Linwood Barclay, Gail Bowen and Susanne Kearsley.

My best friend from high school will be reading an excerpt from THE MURDER STONE (A RULE AGAINST MURDER). Wendy Mesley. I can't tell you how thrilled I am she's doing it. I'm already so moved at the thought of her up there reading...and remembering all the hours and hours we sent together, dreaming of what we'd be doing when we grow up. And here she is, perhaps the most respected journalist in Canada. And as kind as she is clever.

Can hardly wait.

And it's open to the public, so if you'd like to come it would be such fun to see you! And all the authors books will be for sale and we'd all be happy to sign.

Off to respond to an email from the Japanese translator for The Cruelest Month. She's marvelous...always wants to make certain she understand the references.

Hearing voices...

drizzle, misty, windy cool, temps plus 4

Typical early spring day. Still expecting some sort of snowfall - always get one in the spring - sometimes as late as May. traditionally we don't put out any annual flowers until after the May 24th long weekend (celebrating Queen Victoria in Canada) - because there's still a danger of frost before that! So, we're a long way off real spring yet.

But even the rain is welcome. So great to see the grass and the earth. And to smell the earth. Always the sweeter for having had the snow.

Ran around doing chores this afternoon. Met Nancy in Knowlton, then back to Sutton to pick up and mail some photographs. Did other mails here in Canada then scooted across the border to mail the things going to the states. Listened to music the whole way and thought about the book, and came up with ideas...some for the scene I just wrote...some for the next couple of scenes.

Lili de GRandpre, who reads the books for French mistakes called. She's finished book 5 - THE BRUTAL TELLING. So I need to pick it up at a shop in town which we use as a 'drop'.

cowansville day tomorrow - breakfast. Then back home and more writing. This book, set in Quebec City, is going well. Am in the middle third now and that always gets a little confusing...mostly to do with pacing. Not completely confident I'm unveiling clues at the right pace, and answering questions at the right pace or place, either. That's the sort of thing I only really can tell when the first draft is done.

Had a wonderful, starred, review in Publishers Weekly for the audio verison of A RULE AGAINST MURDER. The US version. It's read by Ralph Cosham and apparently he's fabulous. I can't listen because it doesn't match up to the voice in my head.

Take care, be well.

Perception

sunny, mild, temps plus 6

Stunning day. Took Trudy around the pond. Ice still on it, but last of snow melting, just hanging on in the shade. Ice at the slightly dangerous stage where you might fall through if you walk on it. Trying not to let the tennis ball bounce onto the ice and have Trudy go after it! She did a few days ago, and made it, but not so sure now. so we don't throw it in that area anymore.

Lots of writing today.

Had a nightmare last night. A Mummy was chasing me. Let me guess what that might mean...

The permissions have all been figured out - just one more cheque to write and need to get wording to the editors. Will do that this afternoon. Sending off Jpeg etc for an event at a Barnes and Noble in Annapolis in early May. If you live in the area love to see you there.

Feeling a little overwhelmed. Have realized if I don't keep on top of everything, everyday I can get so far behind. And just when I think I have done it all, another five requests come in. I bet that sounds familiar. The human condition these days. I need, sometimes, to stop and realize this is all good. Lots of details, but it means I'm involved in life, filling my days with things I'm passionate about. How great is that? And yet, some days, I can just see it as chores.

Life is perception - at least, mine is.

Hope your perception is sunny and warm and cheery. And optomistic.

Michael mending

sunny, hot, temps 28

Another glorious day. A total surprise. September in Quebec is always always beautiful, but rarely is it this hot.

Michael's fever came back last night. 102. He had a cool shower then went to sleep. This morning we decided to go to the walk-in clinic in Knowlton, and arrived about ten minutes before 8 - it opens at 8. There were only 3 people ahead of us. I thought it'd be packed since the clinic wasn't open yesterday, labour Day. But very slow, really.

After about 40 minutes we got in. Quite embarassing. The doctor seemed less than sympathetic and impressed when she asked how long Michael had been sick and we said a day and a half.

'Then why are you here?'
"Pardon?'
'Really, what are you here? It's only been a couple of days.'
We looked at each other. This didn't seem the time to tell her Michael's a doctor. In fact, we now regretted giving her our real name. Whenever we think a situation will be humilitating we try to tell people our names are Gary and Lise. But it we too late.

We told her, quite truthfully, that we were going away on Thursday and it seemed wise to see if he needed antibiotics to get them here.

'Where're you going?'
'England.'

Another long pause.

'I hear they have doctors there.'

At about this time I did one of the things I do best. I tried to telepathically let her know this was all Michael's idea and I've been kidnapped and brought there against my will.

She listened to his chest then said, 'I have some good news and some bad news.'

I wonder if doctors realize that people's hearts stop when they say that.

'The good news is, it's a cold. The bad news is, there's nothing I can do about it.'

We left. About as impressed with her, I suspect, as she was with us.

Then we went to Cowansville for breakfast...a trip to the bank...a stop at the feed store for dog food. Then home. I dropped Michael off and headed down into the village to do errands including making a hair appointment for him with the new barber.

When we first moved here there was a barbershop on the mainstreet, with a pole and all. Michael decided to try it out, after years of having his hair done at the Ritz in the Golden Mile of Montreal. I went grocery shopping, then 20 minutes later wandered by the barbershop to see Michael in the front window, and the barber. With a Hoover. Hoovering Michael's face. Michael looked like a child at his first haircut, about to burst into tears. I think I took him for ice cream later and told him how brave he was. That was the last time he went there. But now there's a new barber, so he's going tomorrow at 1pm whether he likes it or not.

Zipped across the border to do some mailing in Richford, Vermont and pick up gas. Then came back to Sutton to pack up a few more boxes from the office. And stopped at the grocery store for cold drinks.

Gary and John Murphy - whom we all call Jesus Murphy now - were scraping and painting the outside of the house. And frying. I could barely watch them it was so hot. Took them drinks and noticed that Gary had white paint all over his lips. Afraid to ask how it got there.

Michael's feeling better. Fingers crossed he's on the mend. Thanks for all your good wishes.

A RULE AGAINST MURDER

sunny, mild, temps 18

Anotehr lovely day - though mixed. When the sun went in briefly and the wind picked up it was quite cool. But this evening is stunning. Michael and I just came back from a walk. Needed to call Wayne Clarkson who cuts our grass. He also said he'd cut the guest cottage grass too. Tony normally does it, but announced that this year he'd rather do other things, of which we have no end. Happily Wayne is picking up the slack, and the cuttings.

Busy day - a little stressful. I find it's the accumulation of small things that gets me, not one or two huge things. Today it felt like a pack of details nipping away at us. The drinking water needed to be tested for the guest cottage. We're renting it out, and the water is a well, so we need to make sure we aren't poisoning anyone. Though if that was the case Susan would have perished months ago. Though, we haven't seen her recently...

Lots of birthdays coming up, so we needed to do cards.

Our laptop and Michael's desktop at work aren't working, so needed to meet with the wonderful Nancy Page, who performs exorcisms on our computers.

Had keys to be cut, groceries bought, Michael's meds to pick up, a chapter to read and critique, emails to respond to, and to top it all off, the US proofs arrived for the fourth book... A RULE AGAINST MURDER is what it will be called in the US - coming out in January. But I need to read the entire book, paying attention to the edited proofs and okaying all the small changes. It needs to be done by the end of the week and mailed back! Read 130 pages late this afternoon.

And, oh yes, book 5 to write. Happily that seems to be going well, though the characters (especially Gamache) keep following me into the bath and tell me where I've forgotten an important clue, or didn't pick up on an inconsistancy.

No boundaries, these characters. That's their problem.

And speaking of characters I said I'd discuss briefly why most of the young people in my books don't fare so well...Philippe in Still Life, Crie in A Fatal Grace/Dead Cold - Sophie in The Cruelest Month.

I don't really know why that is. the easy answer is that I was in quite a bit of emotional turmoil as a young person so I'm probably projecting. I think young people are heroic...and while not all the characters are heroic (especially Sophie), there is a very brave quality about them. Struggling mostly with themselves and their own insecurities. Not always successfully.

I think it's a difficult time - for the kids, and God knows, for the parents. All my friends who have kids entering that age are terrified of seeing their loving, kind child turn into a stranger.

However, I actually recognized this habit myself and decided to explore other sorts of young people in my next couple of books - including the one I'm writing. I'll see what you think.

I'm off. have a bit of a headache and need to get up early to take Trudy to the vet to be fixed. Take care, and thanks for reading, and for being so supportive. I really appreciate it.

Oh, we noticed that the 'forget-me-nots' are up, all through the grass around the pool, so in the sun the grass looks light blue.