Bookscape's Blog

Christmas 2010, part two

2011-01-30T20:27:00.000-08:00

It was cold at Dollywood that first night!

Tommy, Jen and Mason in front of the entrance.

Chris and Cael kept warm inside a shop, (barely).

Hannah peeking out through the top of the ironman stroller.

The lights were absolutely gorgeous!

Cael was not a happy camper just before the posing in the orange.

Mason's okay, but now Cael is saying he's had enough. He just wants to play!

More Dollywood. I think it was the first time we had been there when it was not only cold, but snowy!

Hannah on the Merry-go-Round. Almost all of us had a turn on it.

Grandpa stealing a kiss....

The kids had a blast on the rides!

Daredevil Hannah loved riding the scrambler with her daddy!

Tommy won himself a UT football at the toss game. Two good throws was all it took.

More of Dollywood. The grist mill.

Jen and the kids on a ride. It was so much fun spending this time with everybody. And it was sad when we had to part company at the end of the day. At least I got some more time with Tommy and his family before I dropped them off in Nashville. This vacation was entirely too short!!!

Christmas 2010, part one

2011-01-16T18:44:00.000-08:00

Cael was a bit tired after his trip to see us at Christmas. How much he had grown since we last saw him!

The day after their arrival, Dani and Chris took the kids to the City Park School park. I had a blast with all of them.

Chris was a great sport helping Dan cut down the remains of a storm damaged limb. He also helped Dan tear out old cabinets in the kitchen.

Hannah watching Daddy and Grandpa.

Hannah would have been a great farmer's daughter. We went to Mayfield's and she made that 'milk' flow. The leggings are some that Dani made for her. What talent!

Christmas Day up at Pat's cabin. It was so great having everyone together for Christmas!

Dani, Cael, Jen and Mason amid the Christmas stash at my friend, Pat's, cabin.

There are great uses for a dump truck! Cael is demonstrating one of them. He knows what to do with a pencil, too.

Hannah knew what to do with a dump truck, too. She was also fascinated with her zhu zhu pet.

The realization came about mid-morning that we might be in trouble. I quit measuring when it got to seven inches. And no, only the first part of the snowman was finished.

After breakfast Tommy showed Mason all the lovely snow.

Hannah just loved playing in the snow. It was hard to get her back in. It even tasted good, too.

Chris and Tommy try to figure out the best course when we got stuck on the driveway heading down from Pat's cabin. We had to leave Dan's car. Didn't figure it would make it. But the guys did it and we got out just before dark.

You remember the end of the movie, Christmas Story? Where the family ends up having Christmas dinner at a Chinese restaurant? We ended up at a Mexican restaurant. The boys were having fun!

On Sunday, we were supposed to check into our next cabin in Townsend. We didn't make it. The snow that almost stranded us in Polk county kept us from getting to our cabin in the Smokies. We had to stay in a motel that night and finally got up to the cabin the next afternoon. While we were waiting for the guys to get some salt for the road, Hannah, Dani and I went outside of Bearly Rustic and made a snowman. She had a great time.

Hannah in the Great Smoky Nat. Park Welcome Center in Townsend. Dan, Jen, the kids and I waited there while our intrepid warriors worked the road up to the cabin. It was great finally getting there.

End part one!!!

Where has all the time gone?

2010-12-22T21:24:00.000-08:00

I cannot believe how long it's been since I posted anything to the blog. So much has happened! In September, Dan had a high school reunion in Foster City, California, (Westmore High, 1960). So we flew down to San Francisco for that. While we were there, we made it into the city to see some sights. First time I had ever ridden on the Cal-Train.

One of the first places we went was to the Mission district to see the Mission Dolores and Dan's old High School where he spent most of his high school years. This picture is of the Mission High School.

We also took a cruise out into the bay. That was one of the best and quickest ways to see many sites in San Francisco. Of course, no tour of the bay is complete without the Golden Gate Bridge.

Dan and I also went out to see the ocean (near the Cliffhouse restaurant). This is Seal Rock where the seals do not live any more. They much prefer Fisherman's Wharf.

Another event this fall was the Tennessee School Librarian's convention. I wasn't able to set up to sell my book, but had a great time meeting other authors and getting advice. This is me and Jerry Palotta, who has written many alphabet and counting books. The one he's holding is a Christmas story called, "Who will Guide my Sleigh Tonight."

This is a picture of me and Karen Beaumont, a California author who wrote such things as "I Ain't Gonna Paint No More!" It was talking to her that gave me the idea to send out some copies of my book to a few of the Oceanside Middle Schools. And I did manage to sell a couple of my books and arrange to sell at the next TASL convention.

I actually had several book signings this fall, but don't have one picture to show for it. I roasted at Pumpkin Town, a downtown fall festival, held near the beginning of October. I sold a few books there. Shortly before that, I did Birchwood's Fall Festival and did rather well there. I also did the Christmas on the Square in late November and didn't do badly there, although I thought I would freeze before I got done!

I have another book signing in January at the Cherokee Heritage/Sandhill Crane Days in Birchwood. If you can make it come on out to Birchwood on January 15th. It will be a lot of fun!

Now, I am going to go and enjoy my kids and grandkids who are here for Christmas!!!

Trip to Oklahoma

2010-08-22T15:55:00.000-07:00

We drove this time. It was so good to get there that Sunday evening. Grandpa and Hannah playing. Isn't that what Grandpa's are for?

Dani and Cael

Grandma and Cael. I couldn't believe how much he had grown since I last saw him.

Grandpa loved playing with Cael, too.

Hannah is quite the helper. She's helping to empty the dishwasher.

A visit to Pop's, a wonderful place outside of Edmond on Rt. 66.

At the waterpark. At almost 100 degree heat, this was a wonderful break.

Hannah the acrobat.

Bricktown, downtown Oklahoma City.

Nice shot of Chris, Dani and the family. Bricktown.

Getting ready for Blessing pictures on Friday.

A backyard interlude from the heat. The wading pool sat under the wonderful playhouse that Chris had built.

Family picture before the blessing. We had to leave right after Cael was blessed because of my work.

What a summer!!!

2010-08-15T15:45:00.000-07:00

Can't believe how fast this summer has gone and how much I have crammed into it! Okay, I have already talked about the aquarium. Mentioned a book signing. First, I want to gush about the wonderful time I had with Tommy, Jennifer and Mason. That cute little boy has grown so much! Dan and I flew out of Huntsville and came in a bit late to the Salt Lake City airport. Under normal circumstances that wouldn't have been an issue as it was still early evening.

However, Tommy is pitcher on a softball team that was playing that night. Jen drove and Tommy changed in the car. It was fun watching him play. His team, "Scared Hitless" won, btw.

The next day we got to babysit while Jennifer worked half a day. Mason is such a happy baby. Sometimes it seems he crawls faster than the speed of sound. Dan and I ran a few errands in the afternoon, stuff that can only be done in Utah. (Lion House rolls, Deseret Book, Gossner's Cheese factory, things like that....) That night, we relaxed and had fun watching a movie.

The next day, we went down to Murray and attended a surprise birthday party for Karen Bray, Dan's older sister. By the time we got there, it wasn't a surprise anymore, but it sure was fun!! Below are some pictures from the event.

Karen, Dan and Jeannine

Karen and Bob and their kids and grandkids.

Jen and Mason. He did not like grass.

Sunday was bath day and Mason had fun in his little duck tubby until he got a bit of shampoo in his eyes. We relaxed most of Sunday. Jennifer's mom had us over for dinner and a movie that evening. We had a great time with Jennifer's family.

"Help, let me out!"

(Mason loved looking down stairs.)

Jen and Tommy

All the girls love that boy!!

Mason decided to crawl after his cousins.

On Monday afternoon Stephanie and three of her boys and Audrey came up to Logan to visit. It was a fun time and Mason decided that was an excellent time to learn to crawl up the stairs. It was an exciting moment!

Stephanie and Mason

Audrey and Mason

I did go out to try selling my book. A local book store took a couple on commission and several relatives bought copies. I even contacted Utah State. I am an alumni, after all.

We stopped and ate dinner before getting to Bob and Jeannine's house.

Mason getting tickled by Mom.

Pictures after dinner.

Too soon it was time to leave. Tommy and Jen drove us down to Jeannine and Bob's place where we spent the night before leaving on our plane Wednesday. I missed them before they pulled out of the driveway Tuesday night.

Left: The Logan Temple

Below: Mason loved playing with the piano pedals.

Bob and Tommy in the backyard/garden.

Two of Audrey's girls

Sunset over the left wing.

Next, the trip to Oklahoma to visit Chris and Dani and the family. Hopefully I will get it up before Christmas!!!

Solo book signing and upcoming trips

2010-07-18T17:05:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it! I have had a solo book signing the middle of July as well as one trip and it's only July 17th. (What do they say about time flying?) Before all of that came about, I spent some time with my friend Pat and her family at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga. They have built a butterfly room. It was amazing to see so many different kinds of butterflies.

Of course we saw all the fish, freshwater as well as ocean species. This is my second trip and it still amazes me. We were given the privilege of going "backstage" and seeing how they get ready for their shows in the big tank and how they developed that huge indoor habitat.

At left is a picture of Pat and her grandson, Cameron. Her daughter, Lisa and granddaughter, Morgan came, too. What a fun afternoon! There were a variety of river habitats, recreated from the great habitats of the world. Some reproduced lakes and rivers in Tennessee like the one that had river otters. Some recreated freshwater habitats from all over the world.

To the right is an otter putting on a show. Below left is one of the divers getting ready to go into the large ocean 'tank.' Below right is a resident of the butterfly room.

Next it was time to go see Tommy, Jennifer and Mason.

First Signing and beyond

2010-06-20T17:53:00.000-07:00

Two days after receiving my shipment of books, (got them in less than a week of ordering them!) I was at an author signing. Nearby Etowah was having a "Literary Walk" Saturday, June 12th. However, because I was sure I wouldn't get my books in time, I didn't contact the Etowah Arts Commission to sign up. So imagine my surprise when I got my books Thursday evening! (Booklocker's printer is near Nashville). I called the EAC Friday morning and they set me up for Saturday. Another local author and I carpooled over to the author reading Friday night and the signing on Saturday. I didn't sell many books, but I gained valuable experience. Deborah Scruggs Cox (author of A Man Called Nash) was a font of information and help! This past week I have sold more books. I just hope that those who have bought a copy enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Me and Deborah Scruggs Cox in the Etowah Arts Commission office. (She has a page on facebook, too.)

The Book is Here!

2010-06-06T18:26:00.000-07:00

Wow! I can't believe the book is finally published. I got my galley print (the first copy) on Tuesday and have almost worn it out! They did a beautiful job on the cover. My dear friend Patricia did the basic artwork layout and then we paid a designer to make a cover from it. Todd at Booklocker did a fantastic job! It really is a striking cover. Angela and company did a phenomenal job on the manuscript. Can you tell I'm excited?

My Author Page

What you have here was the first draft of the front cover. Click on the author page link to see the finished product.

Is It May Already?

2010-05-12T18:20:00.000-07:00

How in the world did it get so far into the year? I can't believe that the year is almost half gone! We had more snow this year than we've had in the past decade. It was lovely!

I think we jumped from winter to summer and now we're experiencing late winter again! I have finally sent everything into the publisher (my novel I have been working on). Can't wait to see the cover design. Soon after that, I will have an honest to goodness book! Can't wait for that, either. ( Title: My House of Dreams. Genre: Young Adult Historical Fiction Publisher: http://www.booklocker.com/ )

Even more exciting is the arrival of a new grandbaby. Cael Christopher Johnson was born Saturday, April 17th at 9:59 am. Mommy and Daddy look so proud. I felt so blessed to be there with them and to be able to spend ten days with Dani, Chris, Hannah and Cael. It was fun spending one on one time with Hannah while Dani was in the hospital. It was so nice having time with Danielle and Chris, too. I appreciate them letting me stay for so long. (They have a lovely house, too.) I have some pictures of Chris, Dani, Hannah and little Cael for your enjoyment.

Hannah getting to see her new brother.

New Year!

2010-01-10T18:49:00.000-08:00

Wow! It's already a new year!

What a fabulous Christmas Dan and I had. We went out to Utah to meet our new grandson, Mason and to be with our loved ones.

Beginnings

2009-10-18T18:35:00.000-07:00

Okay, I finally took the plunge. I have a blog. Not sure what I am going to do with it yet, but I'm sure I'll think of something... Besides, I guess if my darling daughter can do one (see link), her ol' ma can at least make the attempt. It only took me 6 years to get used to Front Page and look where that's got me. (Microsoft quit supporting that one three years ago...)

I have met a whole bunch of friends through the internet this past 12 years. With those friendships, I have had quite a few experiences. At right is me and my honey at a Civil War ball. We went with a friend I met online and with whom I became very good friends. She and I have been out to California several times and been involved with a variety of Zorro/fundraising activities.

Our children are grown and have families of their own now, but we are still able to get together and have so much fun. We live far apart in miles but we are knit together in love. Right now, our house is graced with fur kids. Two dogs and two cats, to be exact. Bridget and Diego are the oldest, and Sammy is the youngest. Skipper is our manic cat.

A trip to see our daughter and her family a few years back took us to

Nauvoo, Illinois, and Metropolis.
The first was a spiritual feast and the other was an unexpected delight.

Back home, Skipper was minding the mint, er house.

Bridget was helping.

I think I had better quit now before I do something and lose what little I have been able to do so far. Like I said, it took me 6 years to figure out Front Page......