Southern Living Yankee

The lake was like glass. I had to work yesterday afternoon so the majority of boaters were leaving by the time we got there. Just the fishermen and a few diehards were left.                                                                                                                                          ...

So no writing updates lately ---let that be your first clue ---no writing! I haven't looked at the manuscript for weeks and weeks. And that's been good. Getting some space between the writer and her writing aids in objectivity and heartless editing. When I went to the Festival of Faith and Writing in Grand Rapids last month I spoke with an editor who wanted me to send him the proposal. But I didn't. He had suggested that I try a different twist. So I did. On Friday I showed the revision to a couple writer friends who were familiar with the earlier attempt. They agreed---revising it in this manner will be tremendously helpful to the reader. So that's where I'm at: looking at a total rewrite. Please be patient! It'll be worth it! Thanks for checking in on me!

Q. What happens when a middle-aged woman visits the gynecologist and buys a her first box of home hair color on the same day? A. Orange, orangish-brownish. The kind-hearted say auburn, light brown, or I didn't recognize you! For photographic evidence click the comment line below and type in your preference: "YES" or "NO! SPARE ME!" Depending on the outcome you might or might not see a photo next time. Thanks for checking in on me!

It's a rainy Sunday afternoon. My dreams of sunshine and planting pots of basil and mint, and putting out a glorious red gerbera daisy flanked by freshly purchased red striped chair cushions on my balcony will have to wait. But it's a great day for blogging! I had such a great time with Liz two weeks ago. Here are the pics to prove it! Here we are at a Chinese restaurant after church on Sunday--right before I drove back to Ohio.    The day before we had started at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids. http://www.meijergardens.org/   See this picture of the largest glass tropical garden conservatory in Michigan? That's where we went! We stepped into this paradise of lush, exotic plants and lovely warmth. As if that wasn't enough, each week during March and April five hundred butterfly larvae are imported from Africa, Asia and Central & South America! It was like hundreds of flower petals floating by on gentle wafts of air!...