overcast, mild, temps 18
Warmer than it seems. Cold wind through the windows last night. Had to get up to lower them a bit. Then in the middle of the night Trudy started shaking her head. Over and over. Her flapping ears woke me up, poor one. Very unusual for her. So I got up and sure enough, she had an ear infection. So, downstairs to the dog medication station. She gets so many ear infections she's used to it now. I just say, 'Trudy's ears" and she comes to me and sits down. Cleaned them out, put medicine in, gave her a 'medicine treat' - and went to bed.
Awoke to a great email from Linda Lyall, in Scotland. She designs and maintains my website. She'd been considering the blog design and realized she could now tailor it a bit...so she asked if I minded. I immediately replied to amend away. And this is the result.
Some of you've already sent comments - and I'm delighted!!! LOve it. We'll (she'll) put up a new photo of me - probably one of the great ones Gary took a few days ago with the new car.
Nice quiet day of writing and walking. Editing going slowly...bit of a slog - but I like what I'm doing so far. Getting closer, of course, to the end. Am at page 180 of 238. So, 60 more pages, more or less. But as we near the end I'll be adding more I think.
Michael and I are having breakfast tomorrow in Knowlton with Jana, who has the farm just down the road and looks after Markus. Then there's a 10am news conference to annouce details of the upcoming WordFest literary festival, in Knowlton in mid-July...I'm the honourary chairperson, so I'll be at the news conference. Then our friend Jim Napier and I are grabbing a coffee. Jim's the crime fiction reviewer for the Sherbrooke REcord. He and I are doing a workshop in writing crime fiction as part of WordFest.
I NEVER do workshops...but I was asked to do one for WordFest and because it's a local festival I said yes, but only if Jim could be a part...and they were thrilled. Jim taught crime fiction writing for many years. I'll tell you more about it on tomorrow's blog. For those of you looking for an excuse to come to Quebec's eastern townships, this is a pretty good reason. WordFest.
So - busy day tomorrow...and hoping, though, to get a few hours writing in tomorrow afternoon.
Oh, by the way, Jim has a new website up - with interviews and reviews of lots of the top crime/mystery fiction writers internationally. Here's the link: www.deadlydiversions.com
Hope you're enjoying your day. And thanks for all your supportive comments about the new blog design.
Showing posts with label Trudy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Trudy. Show all posts
Wednesday, 16 June 2010
Tuesday, 12 May 2009
Always editing!!
sunny, cooler than usual, temps 13
Hi There: A note - I've taken down a paragraph from this post because I announced something that shouldn't, as yet, be announced. Not for a few days yet...but here's the rest of the post!
It's slightly below seasonable, but wow is it ever great to see the sun. The grass it very long and because of all the rain Wayne can't get the tractor/mower into the field. It's now covered with dandelions. Very pretty, actually, but we'll soon all be out there like Mrs and Mrs Grim Reaper, with scyths. Tony actually still cuts with one on occasion. I swear, if anything disasterous ever happens (that meteor hits) I'm heading over to Pat and Tony's. They're the only people I know who could survive without any of the mod-cons. Though they'd probably eat us.
Had wonderful news later yesterday-
A RULE AGAINST MURDER (THE MURDER STONE) has just been named one of Booklist's top 10mysteries of 2009! Seemed a little premature to me, but their year goes from May to May...so it's all books reviewed between April 2008 and May 1st 2009. Among the others on that list are the wonderful Louise Ure, Lee Child, John Harvey and Ian Rankin.
Yippee!!
I wonder how this sounds to you? I hope it doesn't feel like 'same old, same old.' It sure doesn't to me. I hope I never reach the stage where I just shrug and carry on as though these honours were trivial. I never forget how hard it was to get here, and how many wonderful, talented writers are out there. And what a blessing it is to be recognized. It really is amazing.
How many people would love to have the good fortune I've had? Lots. So how horrible not to know how lucky I am? I never want good luck to be wasted on me.
I also know the only reason most of these honours come my way is because you've read the books, and tell others. I am so grateful. I was so excited last night when I read about Booklist (and especially seeing the other names there).
Unbelievable!
Took Trudy to the vet this morning for her regular heart worm medicine and something for her chronic ear infection (goldens!) but also because we were suddenly concerned she wasn't seeing very well. We'd toss the ball and she wouldn't run, wouldn't follow it with her eyes or head. And when it fell behind her the noise surprised her. She might have been like this for a long time but when we had Maggie perhaps we weren't quite as focussed on this...or maybe Trudy just reacted when Maggie reacted and so it wasn't obvious.
The vet did the 'cotton ball' test. had her sit quietly in front of him. He dropped a cotton ball on the left side of her vision - she immediate looked at it and watched it fall. But on the right there was no reaction...until about the third time. So either she just wasn't interested, already knew what it was, or didn't see the cotton ball - it isn't clear. The great news is her eyes looked fine in examination, and she didn't seem hesitant or timid, nor did she stumble...so she might be fine.
Still, we've made an appointment at the vet hospital, which is a teaching hospital, in a town about an hour away, for next week.
The other great news is that even if something's wrong with her right eye, her left seems perfect...better than nothing.
Had her shaved for summer - she now looks like Stuart Little.
Hi There: A note - I've taken down a paragraph from this post because I announced something that shouldn't, as yet, be announced. Not for a few days yet...but here's the rest of the post!
It's slightly below seasonable, but wow is it ever great to see the sun. The grass it very long and because of all the rain Wayne can't get the tractor/mower into the field. It's now covered with dandelions. Very pretty, actually, but we'll soon all be out there like Mrs and Mrs Grim Reaper, with scyths. Tony actually still cuts with one on occasion. I swear, if anything disasterous ever happens (that meteor hits) I'm heading over to Pat and Tony's. They're the only people I know who could survive without any of the mod-cons. Though they'd probably eat us.
Had wonderful news later yesterday-
A RULE AGAINST MURDER (THE MURDER STONE) has just been named one of Booklist's top 10mysteries of 2009! Seemed a little premature to me, but their year goes from May to May...so it's all books reviewed between April 2008 and May 1st 2009. Among the others on that list are the wonderful Louise Ure, Lee Child, John Harvey and Ian Rankin.
Yippee!!
I wonder how this sounds to you? I hope it doesn't feel like 'same old, same old.' It sure doesn't to me. I hope I never reach the stage where I just shrug and carry on as though these honours were trivial. I never forget how hard it was to get here, and how many wonderful, talented writers are out there. And what a blessing it is to be recognized. It really is amazing.
How many people would love to have the good fortune I've had? Lots. So how horrible not to know how lucky I am? I never want good luck to be wasted on me.
I also know the only reason most of these honours come my way is because you've read the books, and tell others. I am so grateful. I was so excited last night when I read about Booklist (and especially seeing the other names there).
Unbelievable!
Took Trudy to the vet this morning for her regular heart worm medicine and something for her chronic ear infection (goldens!) but also because we were suddenly concerned she wasn't seeing very well. We'd toss the ball and she wouldn't run, wouldn't follow it with her eyes or head. And when it fell behind her the noise surprised her. She might have been like this for a long time but when we had Maggie perhaps we weren't quite as focussed on this...or maybe Trudy just reacted when Maggie reacted and so it wasn't obvious.
The vet did the 'cotton ball' test. had her sit quietly in front of him. He dropped a cotton ball on the left side of her vision - she immediate looked at it and watched it fall. But on the right there was no reaction...until about the third time. So either she just wasn't interested, already knew what it was, or didn't see the cotton ball - it isn't clear. The great news is her eyes looked fine in examination, and she didn't seem hesitant or timid, nor did she stumble...so she might be fine.
Still, we've made an appointment at the vet hospital, which is a teaching hospital, in a town about an hour away, for next week.
The other great news is that even if something's wrong with her right eye, her left seems perfect...better than nothing.
Had her shaved for summer - she now looks like Stuart Little.
Tuesday, 14 April 2009
Is that a bear dropping?
Sunny, milder, temps 4
Slight chill in the wind but mostly a nice spring day. Crocuses (Croci?) are up. Trudy and I went for a walk through the forest, between the main house and the cottage. Should have worn my Wellies. Up-to-here in mud. As was Trudy. Saw what looked like moost droppings...way to big for deer, but similar. Our neighbours, Guy and Nicole, say there's a huge black bear around but I didn't see any evidence. Though my skills as a tracker aren't all that honed.
Nice day. Breakfast in Cowansville, Lunch with Cheryl and Joan in Sutton (Cheryl's birthday) - then off to Richford Vermont for gas and to mail a few things.
Then home for the Trudy walk and a meeting with Lise, my assistant. She brought turnovers and pumpkin chocolate loaf for Michael's birthday so we put the kettle on, had a tea and fresh baking! Not a bad corporate environment.
Back to book 6 tomorrow...can hardly wait. And Malice Domestic in Washington fast approaching, as are a couple of events next week - a workshop at Bishop's University and signing in their bookstore, then a Blue Metropolis Literary Festival in Montreal...I have an event next Thursday night - April 23rd - with Giles Blunt, a fabulous Canadian mystery writer. Then the shortlist for the Arthur Ellis awards will be announced. They've asked Michael to read out the names of people nominated for the Best Unpublihsed First Novel. So kind of them to do.
Off to feed Trudy. Speak tomorrow.
Slight chill in the wind but mostly a nice spring day. Crocuses (Croci?) are up. Trudy and I went for a walk through the forest, between the main house and the cottage. Should have worn my Wellies. Up-to-here in mud. As was Trudy. Saw what looked like moost droppings...way to big for deer, but similar. Our neighbours, Guy and Nicole, say there's a huge black bear around but I didn't see any evidence. Though my skills as a tracker aren't all that honed.
Nice day. Breakfast in Cowansville, Lunch with Cheryl and Joan in Sutton (Cheryl's birthday) - then off to Richford Vermont for gas and to mail a few things.
Then home for the Trudy walk and a meeting with Lise, my assistant. She brought turnovers and pumpkin chocolate loaf for Michael's birthday so we put the kettle on, had a tea and fresh baking! Not a bad corporate environment.
Back to book 6 tomorrow...can hardly wait. And Malice Domestic in Washington fast approaching, as are a couple of events next week - a workshop at Bishop's University and signing in their bookstore, then a Blue Metropolis Literary Festival in Montreal...I have an event next Thursday night - April 23rd - with Giles Blunt, a fabulous Canadian mystery writer. Then the shortlist for the Arthur Ellis awards will be announced. They've asked Michael to read out the names of people nominated for the Best Unpublihsed First Novel. So kind of them to do.
Off to feed Trudy. Speak tomorrow.
Wednesday, 18 March 2009
Perking away
overcast, showers off and on, temps plus 7
Well, seems Spring wasn't kidding. Normally we can expect a couple of crippling snow storms in March, but this year, it's many sunny and warm. We'll take it! I can see the daffodils peeking out already...just little green sprouts...but there. Also out are the house flies and lady bugs, and these huge bugs that look like something out of Starship Troopers. Armoured, long, thick legs. they make a buzzing sound - very loud - when they fly around. Happily they don't bite. It's more an emotional attack. They scare you to death.
We had Bal, Linda and Bethany over last night for dinner. Tony had set up the barbeque and Michael did us steak. Wonderful. perfectly cooked. Bal and Linda are like family so it was pretty relaxed. I did little potatoes, asperagus, salad and frozen yoghurt and chocolate sauce for dessert. We talked a lot about writing since Bal's writing a book and 13 year-old Bethany writes amazing, creative, short stories - when she isn't daydreaming about Joe Jonas. I'll tell you, Joe can do worse - though he might want to wait 5 years.
I don't think Bethany's impressed by the bug population at the guest cottage.
Eric, his partner Erin - from Montreal - and Joanni from the Yamaska Literacy Council came by this afternoon, after I'd done the writing for the day - to record some more narrative for the film on literacy. That was easy - and fun to see them again. They set up the studio in the dining room...and if you ever see the film you might hear Trudy mumbling for attention in the background.
Tomorrow I'm heading in to Montreal in the morning. Have studio time at CBC at 12:30 to record part of the pilot for the proposed national radio programme this summer. Script arrived Monday night. It sounds really fun...but CBC doesn't have much money and this might be a pricy show, so we'll see.
then scooting home for a meeting with Lise at 3:30 - and then next door for dinner with Bal, Linda and Bethany. Nice not to have to cook ourselves. And such a pleasure speaking time with them.
Writing going well. Am at 25,000 words, or so. About 1/4 or 1/5th of the way along. and I know where I'm going, which is refreshing.
Watching the Natasha Richardson situation. Hope she's all right.
Take care - not sure if I'll have time to blog tomorrow. By the way, Trudy seems to have perked up. For the first time we've allowed her up on our bed...that actually perked us up too!
Well, seems Spring wasn't kidding. Normally we can expect a couple of crippling snow storms in March, but this year, it's many sunny and warm. We'll take it! I can see the daffodils peeking out already...just little green sprouts...but there. Also out are the house flies and lady bugs, and these huge bugs that look like something out of Starship Troopers. Armoured, long, thick legs. they make a buzzing sound - very loud - when they fly around. Happily they don't bite. It's more an emotional attack. They scare you to death.
We had Bal, Linda and Bethany over last night for dinner. Tony had set up the barbeque and Michael did us steak. Wonderful. perfectly cooked. Bal and Linda are like family so it was pretty relaxed. I did little potatoes, asperagus, salad and frozen yoghurt and chocolate sauce for dessert. We talked a lot about writing since Bal's writing a book and 13 year-old Bethany writes amazing, creative, short stories - when she isn't daydreaming about Joe Jonas. I'll tell you, Joe can do worse - though he might want to wait 5 years.
I don't think Bethany's impressed by the bug population at the guest cottage.
Eric, his partner Erin - from Montreal - and Joanni from the Yamaska Literacy Council came by this afternoon, after I'd done the writing for the day - to record some more narrative for the film on literacy. That was easy - and fun to see them again. They set up the studio in the dining room...and if you ever see the film you might hear Trudy mumbling for attention in the background.
Tomorrow I'm heading in to Montreal in the morning. Have studio time at CBC at 12:30 to record part of the pilot for the proposed national radio programme this summer. Script arrived Monday night. It sounds really fun...but CBC doesn't have much money and this might be a pricy show, so we'll see.
then scooting home for a meeting with Lise at 3:30 - and then next door for dinner with Bal, Linda and Bethany. Nice not to have to cook ourselves. And such a pleasure speaking time with them.
Writing going well. Am at 25,000 words, or so. About 1/4 or 1/5th of the way along. and I know where I'm going, which is refreshing.
Watching the Natasha Richardson situation. Hope she's all right.
Take care - not sure if I'll have time to blog tomorrow. By the way, Trudy seems to have perked up. For the first time we've allowed her up on our bed...that actually perked us up too!
Friday, 6 March 2009
Cake? What Cake?
overcast, freezing rain, temps hovering around freezing
Blech day. But not unusual for March. In fact, it's perfect 'sugaring-off' weather. And, no, that's not a euphamism. It's the maple syrup season around here. Maple producers tap the trees and in spring when the sap starts running they collect it, boil it down and get maple syrup. And the perfect weather to collect the sweet syrup is when it get's above freezing during the day, then freezes up again at night.
March can be tricky here, as can April. Warm and rainy one day, bitter cold and a snow storm the next.
Thank you for all the lovely messages after yesterday's post. So many people have had the same experience. Men and women. I does feel like a battlefield sometimes, with people dropping all around, or being hit. And so far Michael and I have been lucky.
Had a very funny message from a woman named Cathie, whose dogs did in the better part of a bundt cake the other day. It reminded me of a note we found from Deanna when we got home not too long ago. She's a friend and comes and helps out sometimes. here's what she wrote:
Dearest Louise and Michael,
It seems as if, while I was upstairs cleaning, a mouse must have gotten up and eaten a few cookies, some fudge and the remaining butter. I asked Trudy (one of our goldens) if it might have been her and she seemed truly insulted! She promised to keep an eye out for that mouse.
After a while Trudy admitted that it was indeed her who had eaten the goodies but!!! that she, and not I, had permission from Louise as she left this morning to help herslef to the cookies and things on the counter. I explained that I thought Louise was talking to me but Trudy argued that I wasn't even in the room so clearly the offer was to her and I was the one stealing. So I must apologize again to you both and to Trudy and to all the mice who call this their home for my mis-understanding. :) Sincerely sorry, Deanna.
PS I think Trudy has forgiven me but she told me to listen more carefully in the future.
Blech day. But not unusual for March. In fact, it's perfect 'sugaring-off' weather. And, no, that's not a euphamism. It's the maple syrup season around here. Maple producers tap the trees and in spring when the sap starts running they collect it, boil it down and get maple syrup. And the perfect weather to collect the sweet syrup is when it get's above freezing during the day, then freezes up again at night.
March can be tricky here, as can April. Warm and rainy one day, bitter cold and a snow storm the next.
Thank you for all the lovely messages after yesterday's post. So many people have had the same experience. Men and women. I does feel like a battlefield sometimes, with people dropping all around, or being hit. And so far Michael and I have been lucky.
Had a very funny message from a woman named Cathie, whose dogs did in the better part of a bundt cake the other day. It reminded me of a note we found from Deanna when we got home not too long ago. She's a friend and comes and helps out sometimes. here's what she wrote:
Dearest Louise and Michael,
It seems as if, while I was upstairs cleaning, a mouse must have gotten up and eaten a few cookies, some fudge and the remaining butter. I asked Trudy (one of our goldens) if it might have been her and she seemed truly insulted! She promised to keep an eye out for that mouse.
After a while Trudy admitted that it was indeed her who had eaten the goodies but!!! that she, and not I, had permission from Louise as she left this morning to help herslef to the cookies and things on the counter. I explained that I thought Louise was talking to me but Trudy argued that I wasn't even in the room so clearly the offer was to her and I was the one stealing. So I must apologize again to you both and to Trudy and to all the mice who call this their home for my mis-understanding. :) Sincerely sorry, Deanna.
PS I think Trudy has forgiven me but she told me to listen more carefully in the future.
Wednesday, 24 December 2008
Christmas Eve
overcast, snow in am, then light rain
Happy Christmas Eve! We have tortiere about to go in the oven. The potatoes are mashed. Jim and Sharon are arriving in an hour or so. The computer has been turned off (laptop) and moved from in front of the fireplace.
Oddly, a bit of a wrench to do that. I was within 30 pages of finishing this edit of The Brutal Telling - but getting tired. And, as you can imagine, these last chapters are the most complex so I don't want to be confused or tired or hurrying.
Maggie bouncing around already. We were a little worried yesterday when she didn't want her banana - which is her gummi bears...but by last night she was gobbling them.
Michael collected Trudy from Pat and Tony's place...they'd agreed to take her so we could concentrate on Maggie. Trudy seemed impressed with the 'air' where a leg once was, sniffed a big then got on with her puppy life. Maggie no longer seems quite as bewildered, though she does seem a little down. I expect that's natural.
We hope you have a really lovely Christmas. last year Michael and I spent it on our own, just the two of us. And it was so peaceful...we loved it. But this year we decided to invite friends for dinner...actually we eat around 2pm. Which means - we did the math earlier - the turkey needs to go in at 6am.
We'll be up with all the neighborhood 8 year olds. Thought about asking Tony to come up and put the turkey in but we think that would be the end of the friendship. I once called Pat (who does some cleaning for us) to tell her we were having guests and ask if she'd mind coming by to clean. I left a message on her machine only to get a call an hour later from a friend, Liz, to say if we really needed her to clean she'd do it, but she was a little confused.
Seems I'd called the wrong number, and had inadvertently asked Liz to clean our home, for a dinner party she wasn't invited to! Oh dear.
Hope you enjoy whatever Christmas you've been given this year. Quiet, hectic. Alone, filled with people. And hope you feel peace and contentment. Hope we do too!
Happy Christmas Eve! We have tortiere about to go in the oven. The potatoes are mashed. Jim and Sharon are arriving in an hour or so. The computer has been turned off (laptop) and moved from in front of the fireplace.
Oddly, a bit of a wrench to do that. I was within 30 pages of finishing this edit of The Brutal Telling - but getting tired. And, as you can imagine, these last chapters are the most complex so I don't want to be confused or tired or hurrying.
Maggie bouncing around already. We were a little worried yesterday when she didn't want her banana - which is her gummi bears...but by last night she was gobbling them.
Michael collected Trudy from Pat and Tony's place...they'd agreed to take her so we could concentrate on Maggie. Trudy seemed impressed with the 'air' where a leg once was, sniffed a big then got on with her puppy life. Maggie no longer seems quite as bewildered, though she does seem a little down. I expect that's natural.
We hope you have a really lovely Christmas. last year Michael and I spent it on our own, just the two of us. And it was so peaceful...we loved it. But this year we decided to invite friends for dinner...actually we eat around 2pm. Which means - we did the math earlier - the turkey needs to go in at 6am.
We'll be up with all the neighborhood 8 year olds. Thought about asking Tony to come up and put the turkey in but we think that would be the end of the friendship. I once called Pat (who does some cleaning for us) to tell her we were having guests and ask if she'd mind coming by to clean. I left a message on her machine only to get a call an hour later from a friend, Liz, to say if we really needed her to clean she'd do it, but she was a little confused.
Seems I'd called the wrong number, and had inadvertently asked Liz to clean our home, for a dinner party she wasn't invited to! Oh dear.
Hope you enjoy whatever Christmas you've been given this year. Quiet, hectic. Alone, filled with people. And hope you feel peace and contentment. Hope we do too!
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