Absolutely no evidence, except....

Mainly sunny, cool, temps 5

A little breezy, and that's making it feel quite chilly.

Our quiet day today started with a mob scene. Woke up to see, out the bathroom window, Lise and Donna doing the garden. Then Wilder and Maurice arrived to clip and shape the lindens. Then we could hear hammering from the cottage - Gary and Alain building the new verandah. And then Jana arrived to talk about Markus.

All this before 9:30am.

I finally settled down to write by 10:30...and finished about five to three. Lots of phone calls too. many to do with Markus as well. As perhaps you've gathered, nothing ever moves in a straight line around here. The latest wrinkle is that the horse rescue network does not let their rescue horses go to anyone boarding at a riding school. The woman who runs the horse rescue network knows there are many, many wonderful, responsible, kind and terrific riding schools, but she and the board feel there's just a lot of potential for abuse. Great riding schools can be sold and the new owner might not have the same standards.

So, we'll see what happens...because I think Markus would thrive with Niki - the woman who came from Ottawa yesterday.

Wonderful seeing Lise and Donna today...that is always a great day. At some stage I went outside with Trudy who was whining to get outside and play with them - we toured the garden and I explained about the damage done by the bear. But also explained that it was something of a mystery since there was absolutely no evidence, beside the damage, that it was a bear. no poop. No prints. I pointed to the ground below the bent metal bar attached to the brick of our home...the one the bear bent.

'See,' I said, pointing at the blue bells. 'No paw prints.'

'You mean,' said Lise, 'like this one?'

'Huh?' says I.

Lise, having been there a full ten seconds, was pointing to the biggest honking bear paw print, in mud, face level on the wooden shutter.

'Well,' I said, 'except for that one, of course.'

D'oh.

How could we have missed it? Michael, Tony, Pat and I all looked, and failed to see a paw the size of a pie plate. It's a miracle and a mystery how I can manage to write crime fiction when clearly I'm the worst detective going. Fortunately My Assistant Lise not only has senses, she uses them.

Now need to send off a bio and some possible questions for an upcoming panel at Malice Domestic, in Washington. Then make dinner.

Be well.

Bear

mixed cloud and sun, cool, temps 5

Bit of a mixed day. Some lovely sun, and some sleet. Thank you again for all the lovely birthday wishes for Michael. We all went out for dinner last night to L'entrecote st-Jean...Michael, his two sons and me. We all had steak frites (that's all they serve - and do it brilliantly) and shared a couple orders of profiteroles. The Mike and Vic went to see Alice in Wonderland and Michael and I walked back to the hotel. Went into a bookstore on the way to browse. Hard to pass by a bookstore. And fun to go into one at night.

Had a lovely breakfast in the hotel. Cafe au lait and I had the cold buffet while the brithday boy had eggs benedict.

Then home. Stopped for groceries.

We then hopped right over to see Markus. Speaking of whom, I forgot to mention in yesterday's post that I did not 'win' the male masseur. Not perhaps surprisingly one of the gorgeous blonde young women got him. I got a very nice woman, who concentrated on my head, so that when the massage was over I looked like Bozo. But a very relaxed Bozo.

We met a woman named Niki at Jana's. She's a magnificent horse woman - owned thoroughbreds and works with a trainer....she'd just lost her last horse a year or two ago. So she came to see Markus.

I realized after riding him, and speaking with the very wise Jana, that I was a bridge for Markus, not a destination. And we needed to find him a permanent home with someone who knew and loved horses and would give him the training and stimulation he deserves.

But I have to say, I'm strangely upset at the idea of seeing him go. He's way too much horse for the likes of me. It would never work. I know that. But wow, it hurts. The thought of letting him go. Still, it needs to be done. thankfully, Niki seems wonderful. Rode him, cantered him, put him through his paces. And he needs that.

Because he's a rescue horse I won't sell him, but give him away. And whoever takes him will be inspected by the horse rescue people. And they won't be allowed to sell him either. The point, obviously, is to find him a loving home - as much of a permanent home as possible in an uncertain world.

We're watching the masters. Phil is doing VERY well. Not sure Tiger has changed much in terms of his outlook and approach.

When we arrived home there'd been some damage to the property...and Tony and Pat explained it was a bear! Ripped the bird feeders up. Bended a bunch of metal bars. Did not, however, this year leave a soft and smelly conversation piece on the front lawn. Which is a bit of a shame, really. The only thing that made its visit fun last year. Now we have nothing but hungry birds and what looks like abstract sculptures to show for it.

But it sure feels good to be home. Blessedly quiet day tomorrow. A newspaper interview in the afternoon, but beyond that, just writing. Phew.

Hope you're well - and thank you again for the birthday greetings for Michael!

Watching Out

sunny, warm, gorgeous! temps 16

Wow - fabulous day! Walking around the pond with Trudy it smelled both musky and sweet. The ice is going out of the pond. Wonderful for us to wander the edge, looking into the water. Trying to find the fish. They won't be out for a while, but fun to look.

Trudy, clever girl, decided to take stink-dom to a whole other level. it wasn't enough to smell like a skunk, today she decided to roll in skunk poop. covered in it. Now she smells of skunk and poop. Love is not just blind, it had no sense of smell. Lucky for her.

Our neighbors Guy and Nicole dropped by last night. They're starting up Neighborhood Watch. We joined. But we're not worried. We have a dog who smells of skunk and poop and a family of skunks under the front porch. If we invited robbers in they'd decline.

We had breakfast this morning with Philip and Danny to discuss the upcoming Knowlton Literary Festival, this summer in July. If you can come it will be huge fun. I'll be doing something I almost never do. I'll be giving a workshop on mystery writing. It's free. I'll be giving you more info as it gets closer...but if you're interested you can get in touch with Danny and Lucy at Brome Lake Books.

On the way home we stopped by to see Markus. He is wonderful. Calm, gentle. He kisses carrots off our hands. Even Michael fed him some carrots. We are beyond relieved, and thrilled. And kinda amazed that anyone would not want him.

Gorgeous day - wonderful weekend ahead.

Sutton

overcast, showers, temps 4

Just out of a wonderful bubble bath. It's the one of the things I miss when we're in our Montreal apartment. The bathroom is very small - compact I guess. Fab shower...but small bath. At least, small for me. And I'm so spoiled by our huge tub out here, which I practically live in. Actually, we should use it as a tax deduction since I do a great deal of thinking in it.

the biggest thing we miss is Trudy. But now we're back and she's with us...feels great. Doesn't smell great...but the skunk aroma is more a suggestion than a hammer.

We drove out to the country this morning after breakfast. Lise arrived and we discussed some work things...including these wonderful bookplates we've been working on and that she had made. I've signed a few hundreds and now Danny and Lucy have them. They're selling them, along with the cafe au lait mugs. If I knew how to put a photo on this, I would. In fact, I wish I could put the photo of Markus I have. Might try to figure it out.

But there will be a photo of him on the April newsletter. As well as a photo of the new bookplates, if you're interested. If you haven't subscribed to the newsletter you can through the home page of my website.

He's not on the refuge site because he isn't actually with him. He's come from Toronto. We got an email to say he's just left Toronto, will arrive at the refuge around midnight, have a few hours rest, then head down here...arrive early afternoon.

We're all very excited. To be honest, we sort of think of ourselves as fostering him, since it's possible there are better 'parents'. People who know how to ride and will give him all the training and exercise he deserves. Lise knows someone who might be interested...and Jana, our fabulous neighbour who'll be boarding him - knows someone who might want him too. We're finding out a little more. He was, as we heard, a racer. Actually born and raised in Kentucky. He actually sounds kind of amazing.

We're so excited about him...and I find myself getting quite anxious at the thought someone else might adopt him. Even though I know it might be for the best for him. As you've probably gathered, our lives are so packed already we barely keep our heads above the press of details and needs. But I find myself resistant to not keeping Markus.

But we'll see. Not worry about it now.

Wrote 2,000 words today. Wow, was it tempting to just say...oh, I'm tired...let's just take a day off. But fortunately I didn't listen! But I did fuel my determination with chips.

Someone mentioned that it is a long way down if you off a horse who is 16.3 hands high. And I believe that's quite true. Fortunately, after a lifetime eating gummy bears, I bounce.

I'll let you know what happens tomorrow. Very exciting.

Markus

overcast, rain and sleet on the menu. temps plus 2

Well, we got tricked into wearing our huge winter coats out to breakfast today, only to find it was actually quite mild. Everyone else walking around in spring-type jackets. And're in boots and parkas. At least I left the skunky one on our verandah. That would have completed the image.

And now, when we come in to Montreal, not only will we almost certainly be smelling of eau de pepe le pew, we'll be trailing horse manure. I'm ready for my close-up!

Well, plans for Markus are moving apace. Seems, as Marjorie and others have said, he's a retired racehorse. Thank you for telling us that! You'd have thought we could have googled OTTB ourselves, but preferred to guess. Oye, That Terrible Battle-ax... Our Two Tubby Bottoms... Off To The Booze.

see, it could mean any number of things. But I agree Off Track Thoroughbred is most likely when discussing a race horse.

But, frankly, we can see that he might not have been the most successful race horse. The description of him says he can walk, trot and canter. But it does not mention gallop, which would be an advantage in a race horse. Can you just see him trotting out of the gate? Amazing he lasted as long as he did. However, if that's his approach to life he'll fit in just fine with us. We'll get him a sofa, a diet ginger ale, a croissant and put Animal Planet on the TV...he'll be indistinguishable from Trudy, Michael and me.

jana, our saintly neighbour who has horses and has agreed to board Markus for us, has some questions for the rescue people, but she and I talked just now and agreed none of them was a deal-breaker, and we'd get him out to us (her) and if there're problems, we'll deal with them later.

And - get this - My Assistant Lise spent ten years grooming horses and riding them. Her husband Del was practically born on a horse...and they themselves had horses until their lives just became too packed. I didn't know that about Lise. So more and more this just feels fated.

And to hear from some many of you that you have, or had, horses is comforting. And a little disconcerting. It means I'm unlikely to convince you that OTTB means, Oh That Terrific Book. I only hope I can convince myself!

Wrote almost three thousand words today. Slow to start...each work plunked down, but picked up more and more speed. Quite an interesting, tense, scene. I realize I love to write scenes that on the surface are relaxed, pastoral even, but that crackle with suppressed energy. It's not about two people chasing each other across roofs, it's about a verbal and mental cat and mouse game. Two people sparring across their wine and cheese. Baiting each other, thrusting, hiding, attacking. With words and looks. Tense, subtle.

Very fun to write those scenes.

Need to write the April newsletter. Bye for now - and thank you SO much for all the support, with the book and with Markus.

The Bells of Heaven

mainly sunny, cold, temps minus 5

Not as cold as yesterday, but pretty chilly. We're in Montreal - just spent the past hour wrestling with the laptop. Last time we were here I totally messed up the internet connection. Wireless. Had forgotten the password and wanted to connect the new MacBook...sooo, in an effort to do that, somehow I managed to erase the correct settings in Michael's laptop.

I told Michael I'd done it, but I don't think he quite believed me. Happily, he uses the desktop here...so I've decided to right the wrong, and fix his laptop. And the fact I'm writing this is evidence it worked! I'd feel like more of a genius if I hadn't screwed things up to being with.

But the big news (I know, hard to imagine bigger than that) is that Michael and I are in the process of adopting a rescue horse.

His name is Markus. He's five years old and ridable. 16.3 hands high. An OTTB bay gelding.

I have to admit, I don't understand much of what I just wrote. Our friend and neighbour Jana, who will board him, says 16.3 hands is huge. You basically can see the curvature of the earth when you're on him. And OTTB bay gelding? Well, I know what a gelding is. And I know what a bay is. but OTTB? Michael and I tried to figure out what OTTB could possibly stand for. Off Track Betting? No, not enough 'T's. Could the TB stand for Thorough bred?

What I do understand, from my friend Sharman who lives in Montreal and volunteers saving horses, is that Markus needs a home. By Wednesday. Or else.

We contacted friends and asked if they knew of anyone who could help. And then, it suddenly hit me. I ride. haven't for a while but it sure would be fun. Jana lives just down the road - walking distance. If she could take him, we could pay.

Bless Michael. When I mentioned it to him there was just a slight pause. And that look. One I've come to recognise. A cross between perplexed and supportive.

To be fair, when we woke up we didn't think we'd get a horse before noon.

But it only took Michael a few moments to smile and say it would be fun.

Rescuing Markus just seemed right. Frankly, we just received the advance for the next three books and we thought - what better way to spend it than saving a horse? If you've read The Brutal Telling you'll know why it is particularly meaningful.

To ring the bells of heaven. How lucky we are to be given the chance.