Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

May your fur be thick enough, the fire warm enough, and the food dish always filled!
 
Purrs, snuggles, and furballs!

Writing Distractions

Blurry white buckets
Silently build pristine hills
Mystery mountains

~ Haiku, by Angie Quantrell 2015

This is what I am writing about now.

But I am distracted by this happening out my window.

Snow, lovely, snow!

Somehow snow and Phoenix do not mix.

The Christmas Tree Skirt - aka Tosca's Christmas

I can't imagine why the Christmas tree skirt looks like this. Or why the ornaments are falling down.

- House with 2 Cats

This picture (and daily life event during this season of the year) reminds me of a favorite picture book by Matthew Sturgis and Anne Mortimer.

Tosca's Christmas was one of my children's favorite books to read. That naughty Tosca!

Read more about Tosca here. http://bookblabbyabooklover.blogspot.com/2014/12/toscas-christmas-christmas-picture.html

Meow-y Christmas!


How about you? Who are your special helpers this year?

On with the Dance! | Susan Branch Blog

On with the Dance! | Susan Branch Blog

Christmas fun with Susan Branch! Aunt Rae gave me a copy of her Christmas Cookbook back in 1990. It's as old as Chelsie! I absolutely adore the stories, recipes, and illustrations.

Christmas From the Heart of the Home

Meet My Baby - The Stack (of Paper)

The completed manuscript with sources, sketches, and documents

This is what I've been up to. Instead of blogging.

There is not much time left in my days (weeks, months) after planning, writing, editing, printing, sourcing, compiling, emailing, packaging, and mailing this baby.

Oh, yes. This is my baby. The first half of a 12-month activity book for preschoolers and missions has been delivered (emailed and mailed) to my faithful preschool resource team at Woman's Missionary Union.

The completed manuscript package and its twin - the emergency copy that can be mailed if the PO loses the original

Now they get to do their huge part.

And I will continue on with the above steps for the second half of the book.

The writing life is grand.   

A glimpse of the chaos that is my office, including desk, side table, and floor

Some Days You Need to Wear Goggles

 

Some days you just need to wear goggles.

And footed pajamas with hiking boots. And sit in front of a fire to stay warm. And play with wrapping paper on the tube.

Stress relief is a wonderful thing!

I miss sharing great books with you and I hope to get back to it very soon.

But that may happen in January when my head is above water and several key writing deadlines have been completed, edited, sourced, copied, mailed, and emailed.

Until then, if you see a Nana in bright red p.j.'s running down the street sporting goggles and wielding a wrapping paper sword, just smile and wave.

It's me.

My Pen ~ Picture Book & KID KANDY

My Pen
By Christopher Myers
(Disney - Hyperion, 2015)

My Pen perfectly captures the artist imagination of Christopher Myers.

Within the black and white pages, detailed illustrations point to the power of expression that is held in the hand of someone with a pen. Oh, the dreams, ideas, and worlds that can be drawn with a pen.

Imagination is a big thing. Readers will love the creativity and ideas found in My Pen.

KID KANDY:

Draw With a Pen

Materials: sketch pad or paper, pen

Go ahead. Do it. Doodle. Draw. Scribble. Create. Imagine. Tell a story with your drawings.

It's ok to not be perfect. Even Mr. Myers says his work does not always do what he wants. Just turn those mistakes into something new.

Have fun!

P.S. What is your favorite drawing?