That Time Again

It's No Poetry Friday here at The Reluctant Blogger. So go, go, go over to Becky's Book reviews for the real deal. http://blbooks.blogspot.com/2008/10/poetry-friday-round-up.html

Daughter coming home!

She gets a long weekend. Finally. Tomorrow I shall get in the car and look at the pretty leaves all the way to college and back. 'Bout time.

Farm Report

MYSTERY SOLVED

The light in the pig barn(which also houses sheep and goats) has been mysteriously turned on and off the last few weeks. Windsor (the farmer I work for) has had to make the walk from the farmhouse to the barn at night to turn off the light. I imagine he thought I was leaving it on. I don't even use the light until late autumn/ early winter. What was going on? Eventually I caught Aubrey in the act. Yup, the pigs have figured out how to turn on and off the lights. The yellow baling twine in the picture is attached to a bare lightbulb on the ceiling. At some point the wind must have blown the twine their way and then the fun began. Powerful pigs. Of course I had to be the wet towel and tie the twine up in a knot so the pigs aren't in charge of the electric bill anymore. I think the sheep are grateful. They were concerned that the pigs would soon add pyrotechnics to their light show, and then somebody would have to learn to sing and dance and... well, you can see how these things can get out of hand. Instead, all is dark and calm in the barn once more. Until the pigs figure out how to untie that knot.

No Poetry Friday Redux

Another week has flown by. There is no poetry anywhere around here, so you'll have to go here: http://missrumphiuseffect.blogspot.com/2008/09/poetry-friday-is-here.html

Friday yet again...

and more No poetry. So go here: http://authoramok.blogspot
and find some.

Radio JUBILEE

I spoke with Marsha Sumner of Heaven 1580 am this morning. This is a dynamic urban station out of Washington DC. I think I could have talked to this fine lady for hours-- such a warm and generous host, such an enthusiastic interviewer. She put me at ease. Go here to know more about the station and Marsha. http://www.heaven1580am.com/

We talked about my picture book JUBILEE, and gorgeous autumn weather, and blackberries. What a lovely way to start my day.

State Fair with Munchkins

I returned a long-overdue favor and helped my sister take her little ones to the State Fair. (She had gone with me and my little girls many times, many moons ago.) We spent a whole lot of time at horse-related exhibits yesterday. My niece Sonya is in the legally required horse lovin' phase of her life.

This shot is in the 4H building. Don't let Sonya's sleepy expression fool you, the chicks are fun to hold. And Cole does look a little too cool for it all. But trust me, we all liked holding the chicks. Ryleigh needed help not squishing them and because I'm holding the camera, I couldn't help her hold a chick just then. But she had her chance and no chicks were harmed. At this point, Ryleigh is just modeling the family's patriotic look. Luckily, my sister did not make me wear matching clothing. This will ensure that I'll help her again next year.

No Poetry Friday Again

It's everybody's favorite day around here: No Poetry Friday. So if you stumbled here by accident and wanted a bit of poetry, try this: http://www.readimaginetalk.com/

City Author Visits Country Author

Want to see what San Franciscan author Lynn Hazen did on her summer vacation? Check out her blog http://www.lynnhazenimaginaryblog.blogspot.com/ to glimpse her trip to Baldwinsville, NY and Abbott Farms. There are two installments. Riveting stuff.

No Poetry Friday

Yes, it's that time again. I've looked around, but there is no poetry at the Reluctant Blogger today. Maybe you want to go here: http://kidslitinformation.blogspot.com/2008/08/poetry-friday-review-my-letter-to-world.html and find some.

Summer Races By...

It's mid-August and this baby girl of mine returns to college in a couple of days. Her absence is a big presence around here. Luckily, she checks in with us often, which helps her mother with the transition. The only good thing about her departure (save for the obvious educational and social benefits) is the "butt in chair" factor for me. Writing moves back to high-priority status and I'm excited about the work I'm returning to. So even though the calendar says it's still summer, Autumn arrives on Sunday for me.

Don't forget to call home, Baby Girl. Have a great semester.

Pan-Mass Redux

The first picture is of Chris and our friend Kathy preparing for take-off; the second is just a snap of some of the five thousand-plus riders. They've raised over 21,650,000 with this years ride. The Dana-Farber Cancer Center is the recipient of all of this hard-earned money. It's inspiring to see all these bikes and know that most of these folks are riding for a reason--someone they love has or is battling cancer. Yeah Chris, Yeah Kathy, Yeah Tracey, Yeah Howie, and everyone else who pedaled across Massachusetts this weekend. See you all next year.

( I had to get home to figure out the camera workings. I think I'm set now.)

Pan-Mass Challenge

There was no time to not write poetry yesterday because I was traveling to Massachusetts. The first weekend in August means Pan-Mass Challenge, the bike ride across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to raise funds to fight cancer. http://www.pmc.org/About.asp Do I ride? um, not a bike. I am the support vehicle for my husband as he rides with thousands of other cyclists from Sturbridge to Provincetown. He's out there right now. I'm posting from our hotel room. (I'll catch up-- it's not like he can pedal 65 mph.)
I'll try to post a picture from this morning's take-off as soon as I figure out how the new camera to computer thingy works. In the meantime, if you want to check out his page at the PMC or make a donation to his ride, go here:

http://www.pmc.org/mypmc/profiles.asp?Section=story&eGiftID=CA0022

Where was No Poetry Friday?

Oops, Friday came and went. Looks like the whole week came and went. Still we ought to honor our No Poetry Friday. So while there wasn't any poetry here, there was here: http://wellreadchild.blogspot.com/2008/08/poetry-friday-roundup.html

Friday Again

Still no poetry to trip over here. But if you go here:http://readingyear.blogspot.com/2008/07/poetry-friday-round-up-is-here.html
there will be poetry. Enjoy.

not quite

Well, the chicks were a little bigger than that when I left for Vermont College. I just wanted to post their baby pictures. But I can't seem to find the pictures I thought I had from the few days before I left. So just imagine them bigger, teenagery, with longer necks. The previous picture was from the day they arrived--Father's Day. This one is from now.

Pictured here are Jumbo Cornish Game hens, Buff Orpingtons, Red Stars and Silver Laced Wyandottes. The one in the foreground with the black and copper feathers and the crazy head feathers is most likely a Polish chicken. She/he is the "free exotic chicken" included in my order--sometimes referred to as a "packing peanut." I'm not looking for a rooster, so I'm hoping that she/he is really a she. Time will tell.

The middle grade novel I am writing includes chickens. These girls have been a lot of research help. Wonder if they can help with the revisions.

Vermont College of Fine Arts

I'm leaving Vermont College this morning, tired and inspired. The graduates gave great lectures; the incoming students are a strong and talented band; and the faculty--as usual--were incredible. I'll miss the place as soon as I'm ten miles down the road. But right now I can't wait to get home.



Farm Report:
I've been away for a week and I imagine the baby chicks are growing up without me. I'll know tomorrow. In the meantime, this is what they looked like before I left.

NO POETRY FRIDAY

It's Friday. No poetry here.

Maybe you want to check out a real Poetry Friday. If so, go here: http://www.bluerosegirls.blogspot.com

at last

Is this what I really want to do? Hmmmmm..................