Animals - especially dogs, Books, News

And So It Begins: Editing, Hurricane Florence, and a Full House

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As fall makes a tentative appearance with weather so cool that it actually feels brisk—going from 95° to 60° in less than a week—the tempo at our house has gone from busy to out straight.

Dee has finished editing my YA fantasy novel, Library Lost. For new blog readers, this is the second book in my Great Library Series, the sequel to Maya and the Book of Everything. Now comes the hard work of copy editing. Only basic housework will be done. Meals will be very, very simple. The book must be edited! I am so glad I now follow my blogging friend Jason’s lead and no longer cut back perennials in the fall. Instead, I wait until spring. (Jason’s wonderful blog is Garden in a City.)

To add to the merry chaos, our daughter Shannon, her husband Mike, their dogs Holly and Somara, and their cat Penny will be coming for a visit the end of this week. That’s right, even the cat. Hurricane Florence, a most unwelcome guest, will be pounding North Carolina, where Mike and Shannon live, just after they leave for Maine. Mike and Shannon are afraid that flooding will make it impossible for their pet sitter to tend Penny.

So when Shannon asked about bringing Penny, I immediately said, “Yes.”

The complicating factor, of course, is that we have two cats who just barely tolerate the two dogs, whom they know. As for a cat they’ve never met…well, I’m sure you can picture the results. A lot of hissing and fighting.

But never fear! We have come up with a solution. We had folding doors in our basement, and Clif has brought them upstairs to put at the end of the hall so that Penny will have her own little suite of a bedroom, a reading room, and a half bath. Sounds pretty nice, doesn’t it? I hope she likes our selection of books.

I probably won’t be blogging much in the next few weeks, and if I do, most likely it will be a picture along with a few lines.

So onward, ho, to editing and dogs and cats and sacks and wives.

 

 

44 thoughts on “And So It Begins: Editing, Hurricane Florence, and a Full House”

  1. Florence will be nipping at our heals as we rush to get out of NC before she hits! Thanks for getting such a cozy space ready for Miss Penny – I would have been a wreck thinking about her and worrying!!

    See you in four days!!! 🙂

  2. That a lot of people going to St Ives… Or is that away from St Ives?!? Have fun with the girls, pets, and spouses, yours and Shannon’s.

  3. It sounds like you are in for a fun and busy time Laurie and so glad Shannon, her husband and all the fur family can stay with you. We hope everyone in the path of Hurricane Florence will find somewhere safe to stay. Good luck with your editing and much love from all of us here 🙂💖🍀 xxx

  5. I have experienced a hurricane in Florida, shiver and I have seen what Norma left behind, double shiver. Wishing you all the best and a lovely time together!

  8. So glad your daughter, son-in-law and pets can avoid Hurricane Florence… hope your copy editing goes well, and I’m crossing fingers for the cats settling in together..

  10. We have adopted a few cats over the years under similar circumstances. The separation is key. Everyone knows the other is there – but if the newcomers are hidden away, the rest of the crew tends to be cool about it. Give lots of love and attention to the babies on both sides of the door and you will be fine. Good luck in Maine and in N.C. ❤

    1. Thanks so much! Having a suite for Penny will solve a lot of problems. Now, I’m just anxious for them to get out before the storm comes. Hope your area isn’t affected by it.

  14. That hurricane is scary! I’m glad to know you won’t have to worry about your family being there–and, yes, of course, the cat has to come, too! You’ll have a chaotic home for awhile but I’m sure you’ll all make it fun!

  15. Have a wonderful visit and good luck with the copy editing. I will be sending positive thoughts that the animals are good role models for humans and live together in harmony.

  17. I hope all goes well with the book and you manage to concentrate on it with everything going on. It is horrible to watch and wonder what damage the storm will do, even from thousands of miles away. I’m glad you can provide a haven for your daughter’s party and hope they’ll all arrive safely soon to set your mind at rest. I can’t imagine how people manage when so many have to leave the same area for an unspecified amount of days at a time – hotels must surely be full for many miles around.

  18. Good luck with the copy editing and the cats!! With so many deer visiting this year, I think I will wait until spring to cut back the perennials, although I always struggle with how they begin to look. Have a wonderful visit and I hope everything is ok on their return home.

    1. Sure is. Today, our alpha cat Sherlock discovered there was another cat in the house, and there was much hissing. Fortunately, the doors kept him away from Penny.

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