Happy New Year, 2017!
The holidays are over, the kids and dogs are gone, and the house is oh so quiet. Time to settle into the soothing rhythms of winter. Time to look ahead, to hope, and, perhaps, to act.
A very happy New Year to all! May the coming year be filled with creativity, good food, and simple pleasures.
Oh, When the Kids Come Rolling In
Two days before Christmas, and all is hustle and bustle at the little house in the big woods. To date, I’ve made peanut butter balls, frosted shortbread, and thumb-print cookies.
Later this morning, as I listen to the last Diane Rehm show on NPR—I’m going to miss her!—I’ll be making chocolate chip cookies for when the kids and the two dogs come rolling in tonight. Oh, what a lively household it will be, and how I am looking forward to having them all here.
Here is a picture of Shannon, in a Maya-blue coat—no, we did not coordinate—at the beginning of the trip from North Carolina. She looks like a friendly version of Scrooge’s ghost of Christmas Future, doesn’t she?
Happy Christmas, happy New Year, happy holidays to all! I will not be posting until 2017 so that I can spend time with my family. I hope your celebrations are filled with merriment and good food.
See you in 2017!
A Snowy Day
A beautiful day with snow falling softly.
The kids and the dogs are heading north for the first leg of their journey to Maine. Fortunately, there is no snow in North Carolina to make the driving slippery.
Three more days until Christmas! A flurry of cooking and cleaning. The house is nearly dusted, and the thumb print cookies and lemon-frosted shortbread are waiting in tins.
Onward to peanut butter balls and chocolate chip cookies.
Come, Christmas, come!
A Snappy Review of Maya and the Book of Everything
The other day, I was reading Lisa’s blog, Arlingwords and her post “The Constant Reader, Remodel or Not.” Much to my surprise and delight, I discovered that Lisa had read Maya and the Book of Everything. Here is what she wrote in that post:
“I turned to the blogosphere’s own Laurie Graves of Notes from the Hinterland. She has written Maya and the Book of Everything and it’s a wild ride. This one does not move at a stately pace, but whirls you along through time (and, dare I say, space) with magic books of knowledge. This is a young adult novel and it takes on issues of knowledge, truth, facts, and the responsibility to use them wisely for the good of the world. There is a hint that it may be the first in a series. I’m beginning to understand all those adults who were reading the Harry Potter books. Write on, Laurie!“
Thanks so very much, Lisa!
The funny thing is that for years and years, I had a problem with plotting. I could come up with characters, but I wasn’t quite sure what to do with them.
Well, I guess I’ve figured out how to plot a YA novel.
As Eliza Waters might put it, onward, ho to Library Lost.
Snow and Ice
On Saturday, we had a lovely little snow—about four inches—light, fluffy, and delightful. And then it did something no Mainer wants to see until spring—it rained. Then it got cold again. I’m sure I don’t have to spell out what happened after that.
Still, there were opportunities for photos, so there was a silver lining to this icy cloud. But let’s just say that Clif and I are very careful walking down our steps and to our car. When you see the dog sliding around the backyard, you know it’s slippery.
Cold Weather and Gifts
This morning, it was -8 degrees. Fahrenheit. And that, readers, is pretty darned cold. The snow squeaks underfoot, and Liam’s trips to the backyard are mercifully quick. On the calendar, the first day of winter is marked on December 21, but I think it’s safe to write that winter has come early to Maine, as it always does.
Here is what one of the windows looked like when I raised the shades. Most of that frost is on the inside of the window. Dr. Zhivago, anyone?
Nothing warms up this cold season the way gifts do, and yesterday I received three from my friend Shari, whose creativity never fails to dazzle me.
Blue is my favorite color, and I love all shades, but lately, for some strange reason, Maya blue has become my special favorite. And, the piece with the driftwood, pottery, and sea glass is none other than Maya blue, which is now an official color. At least according to me 😉
Thanks so much, Shari. I have found special places to hang the Maya-blue piece with the driftwood. I’ve also found a place for the shell. As for the wee card…we are going to frame that and put it on our bookshelf.
Ho-ho-ho and crunch, crunch, crunch. Christmas gets ever closer, and soon my best beloveds will be wending their way north.
Fingers crossed for good weather next Thursday and Friday.
Crow Against Snow
Black on white
Crow against snow
Searching for seed
A Very Maya Christmas Tree
All right. It is time to come clean. The other day, when I was shopping, I succumbed to temptation, which in my defense, is something I don’t normally do. Usually, I have a list, and I stick to it. But readers, when my eyes spied Christmas ornaments in Maya blue, what could I do? Into the cart they went, along with other silver and white ornaments to complement the blue.
I must admit that I am delighted with the results.
Well, Christmas comes but once a year, and we’ll be enjoying those Maya blue ornaments for many, many seasons. A lovely reminder of when Maya was published.
Maya and Me at D. R. Struck Struck Landscape Nursery
On Saturday, I had a book signing at D.R. Struck Landscape Nursery, and what a delight it was. There is a wonderful gift shop at the nursery, and Robin, one of the owners, has terrific taste. Thus the shop is filled with all sorts of lovely things that are not available anywhere else in the area.
Tucked between three decorated Christmas trees, I felt as though I were in the middle of Christmas, a great place to be. The air smelled of mulled cider and eggnog. People came in—some especially to see me—and I sold a good number of books. I am finding I quite enjoy going out and about, talking to people and selling books. Many thanks to Robin for inviting me to sign books at her shop.
I am so gratified with the initial sales of the books and the early responses. After Christmas, I will be working to get broader exposure. In the meantime, it’s been a very jolly time at the little house in the big woods.
Notes From the Hinterland 