Last trip to Massachusetts

Yesterday we returned from my youngest daughter Jill's in Attleboro, MA. The car trip there and back was uneventful. An 11 1/2 hr trip. Daughter, Susan, and I had lots of fun both ways. We laughed, joked, reminisced about the good and bad times of our lives. There was more good than bad.
There were thirty or forty highway patrol cars out. It wasn't a national holiday. I wondered if there was an alert. Who knows? It's nice to know we are so protected. Though it didn't feel that way when one pulled out behind us with his lights raging only to learn he was after another speeder. We did try to keep to the speed limit most of the time.
The triplets are 13, now and their younger brother is 9. They are taller than I. Not the 9 year old. But as fast as he's growing it won't be long. Tanner, Chase and Mackenzie are all taller. The kids are busy with sports. They went to the Y several times to shoot baskets with dad.

He reported that the two boys could hold their own against the men there.
In July they will be moving closer. Three hours away in Kentucky.
I'm thrilled. I can manage that trip every month or so and I'm sure they can too. I've missed out on sports events, school functions, and other happenings in their lives. Now that my first batch of grandbabies are out of college, two, and two still in, I have younger ones to fill in. Grandchildren are the very best.
I was happy to return to find spring had sprung in Ohio. The sun is shining today. Though it's windy the temps are much warmer than when I left. In Attleboro I saw a number of piles of black snow 8 ft. tall. We had snow flurries yesterday before we left. I'm so over snow. The kiddies love it for sledding and playing outside. They won't have much snow in Kentucky but there will be other things to occupy them. New schools, new friends, new house, new sports teams.

A whole new life. I hope they love it.
I'm anxious now to get out my patio furniture, look for a new patio table and umbrella.

My patio is uncovered. I'm excited to buy flowers and greenery.
I love this time of year. I hope you do too ---wherever you are.
I'm reading The First Phone Call from Heaven by Mitch Albom.

It's the story of a small town on Lake Michigan that gets worldwide attention when its citizens start receiving phone calls from the afterlife. Is it the greatest miracle ever or a massive hoax? Sully Harding, a grief-stricken single father, is determined to find out.

Anyone read that one? Would love to hear your comments. I'm enjoying the first few chapters.
Take care and let me know what's going on in your life - hugs Barb

Building a story vs building a house

My latest book! Dear Writer: Writing a story is somewhat similar to building a house. Or not! Remember this: when we give a piece of our story to someone to read - we expect them to see the whole. It's like building a house and offering a single piece of lumber to another builder. “Here, see the house I'm building.” SOME CAN SEE IT AND SOME CAN’T. Here's the thing: MOST CAN'T. This step is as necessary to me as breathing. I need to give you single boards as I create them. AND I expect you to be a visionary and say, “Why yes. I see.” I need you to see how special the piece of lumber is that I'm using and to see that eventually I'll add more pieces to make the whole. Choose people to read your work who like the kind of stories you write. There are as many kinds of stories as there are houses to live in. If you give a brick ranch to someone who only appreciates a cape cod then he'll have a hard time fitting hims...

A Revolutionary New Diet...

Recently I went on a diet. Like most diets this one was scheduled around a major life event. My daughter's wedding. There would be no shopping for a mother-of-the-bride dress until the pounds came off. Typically I go on a diet on Monday and by Wednesday I've folded beneath the weight of a German chocolate cake. I've been hijacked by as little as a stale pink sugar wafer discovered in the dark recesses of the bread drawer. But this time things were going to be different. I could tell as I went to get the mail and discovered the first crocus of the season. Life was looking up. Even though an icy rain began to fall, my spirits weren't dampened. Not even when huge drops pelted me on the head and I had to dash inside. My latest plan would revolutionize dieting. If it worked for me it would work for the world. I smelled a book deal. I could see myself all made-over and liposuctioned sitting between Oprah and Dr. Oz. It was full speed ahead. Gone were those complex menus...

The Red Christmas Cane/A poem

It's been so long since I've written a blog I'm not sure anyone will even come by. But if you do, know that I appreciate your reading. I was cleaning some files and found this Christmas poem I wrote years ago. So I'm recycling my work again. I love writing but have spent the last five months reading, reading, reading, hoping that by reading all sorts of different genres that my own writing will improve. I have to admit though when I get into a good/great story, I sink in and my writer self takes a leave of absence. I'm still working on the novel about Sweet Baby James, a baby abduction. Hoping I'm making the story stronger than any I've yet written. So here's my poem. Enjoy! Have a lovely beginning to your Christmas season and God Bless! THE RED CHRISTMAS CANE I was walking around on an old cane that year Grumping and complaining that the holidays were here. I looked out my window and as far as I could see There were lights, stars, and ang...

Writing - the ups and downs

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