live and on location

Blogging from the coffeehouse local to the writing retreat, which has WiFi. Two other writing retreaters have made the same trek and there are four different conversations going on around me, all fascinating.

It's hard not to stop and listen.

The revision is going well. I'm restructuring, which can be difficult for me, but it's falling into place down here.

I had forgotten how much I love this book.

the ravens are here

Have come to a local coffeehouse here on writing retreat with friend and fellow writer Dawn Wilson. As soon as I got my laptop plugged in and sat down to sip my coffee and check email, I glanced out the window and there was the raven, in the middle of a parking lot. Moments later, it was joined by a pal.

Business as usual.

happy new year

Over at Murderati, a sort of New Year's mantra formed yesterday, one I like so much I've adopted it as my own for 2008.

Write More. Write Better. Write Faster. From The Heart.

I also aim to Ride With Schwung.

And to Treasure My Family.

In an odd moment of whimsy I said to my husband I intend to Have More Parties.

Imagine what a year it will be.

it pours

And thunders. And lightnings.

We have rivers running through the front field.

And guess what? I'm the mom of a teenager!

when it rains

We've suddenly got rainfall, days of it, at year's end, as though the earth and sky are playing catch up. I'd forgotten how mucky the paddocks get when we have days of rain and four horses weighing in at 650 lbs. up to 1200 lbs. marching through many times a day.

Yesterday they had blankets on but today they'll come off and our break from grooming mud-slicked hides will be over. They seem to take perverse pleasure in rolling just after being groomed.

Today we'll get enough of a rain break for a couple of riding lessons.

Inside, it's raining pages of novels. I have three word docs open right now and have added to them all this week, randomly, as the words came out.

Cranky cats are ambushing one another, bored but not wanting to go out in the wet. One black cat sits snoring by my left ear while another sits at the sliding glass door gazing, pensive. The corgis love the rain and often stay out in it, but this morning Kyra has spent her time herding people out of bed and cats around the living room. Intervening in the cranky cat play when it gets too ferocious.