All Bread

Aaron and I went to Spokane WA the other day, and on the way home stopped off at a Rest Area. I looked over, and saw a photo op.  It reminded me of the poem, All Bread by Margaret Atwood. The third stanza of the poem begins: "Good bread has the salt taste / of your hands after nine / strokes of the axe..."

All Bread has been one of my favorite poems since I first read it many years ago. I hope she doesn't mind that I've quoted some of it here, without her permission.

Fall has for sure fell in our area. We've had gray days, rainy days, blustery days, and now a sunny day. According to the weather people, we will have a few more sunny and warm days, but not like summer. The other night we had a marvelous thunder storm, with slow rolling thunder and fast paced lightning. Unfortunately, the weather people refuse to schedule these storms between 7-10pm so I can enjoy them!

My Gratefuls:
•Four seasons
•Programmable sprinkler systems
•The ability to think of 'what if...?'
•Publishers who still believe in publishing good books
•Publishers who don't print everything in hardback!

What I'm Reading:
•Destiny Disrupted - A History of the World Through Islamic Eyes --by Tamim Ansary
     This is the third book on my bed at the moment. I'm still reading the bio of Richard 'Anasazi' Wetherill, as well as West Into the Night by Beryl Markham

Quote for this post:
"Personal beliefs are unarguable, even if the other side has all the facts." --Sheri S. Tepper

A Thousand Strips of Sunshine

For those of you who are fans of all things African, a friend of mine has returned to Kenya for the first time in 33 years, and is blogging the visit. It is fascinating:  http://basandjo.blogspot.com/

Happy Tuesday!

The reason there was no post yesterday is because I was working on the quilt top at the right. (I'm trying to post something at least weekly, and on Mondays - just so any of you who are still out there will know ;-)

My living room faces west, and only gets the afternoon sun, and in the winter, it isn't a lot. I found this quilt pattern in a catalog, rushed down to my favorite quilt store (Stitch n Bug for you who are local to the Tri Cities of Washington) and, well, I've been busy for the last few days.

As you can tell, the quilt is bright, cheery, and when finished will be just perfect to snuggle under while reading or watching tv/movies.

Next project? Why, another quilt, of course, but one in blues, greens and yellows, if I'm remember correctly. But not one of a thousand stripes.

Also, getting ready for the Jam Session when my two SOCs come over from Seattle and we spend a hectic three days making jams! That takes lots of naps (need those quilts) both in preparation for and recouping from the week end;-)

My Gratefuls:
*Good friends who are my Family of Choice
*Patient ladies who taught me to quilt
*Good water to drink and use that hasn't been privatized
*Shelves full of books
*A camera I may some day learn to use!

What I'm Reading Right Now:
*Richard Wehterill: Anasazi
Yes, I'm still reading it, but I'm more than half-way through

What I'm Working On:
*The Veiled Healer, a short story rejected by a magazine where the editor was kind enough to tell me where the story is broken.
*Jibutu and the Mage, a novel on which I am about to begin major revision.

And, remember, if you liked Brother Rat, you will really like Jiang Li! Honest. Trust me.

Jiang Li, Warrior Woman of Yueh

OK, I tried and tried to upload the photo somewhere in the right margin, and couldn't do it, so I just added it as a 'gadget'.

The book is on schedule, and can be ordered from either the publisher, Sam's Dot Publishing at www.SamsDotPublishing.com or, if you want a signed copy you may order from me at www.LenoraRain-LeeGood.com

The Price will be the same, $7.00 plus shipping and handling (yet to be determined, but shouldn't be very much.

My Gratefuls:
• Free blogs, even if I can't figure them out (like how to get rid of the underscore!)
• Another sunny day
• A wee dog to keep my lap warm (just what I need when it's 90 degrees out)
• A huge cat nicknamed Elephant Paws who keeps me warm at night whether I need it or not
• Publishers who buy my words

What I'm Reading;
Take a Bite of Literature! Small pieces of work by members and friends of Oregon Writers Colony

Quote for the Post:
"There comes a time when autumn asks,
"What have you been doing all summer?" - unknown

As Gene Autry used to say...

I'm back in the saddle again. So to speak. (It's been years since I've actually been on a horse, and it will be that many more years before it happens again, I'm sure;-)

It has been a very busy summer. I picked, cleaned, and packaged several gallons of plums and peaches, have a few gallons of grapes, a scant gallon of Bing cherries, a few quarts of Oregon Grape, raspberries, and black berries in the freezer. All are ready for the Jamming Session that will be the first weekend of October!

I have also been writing. Am polishing a novel with the help of good friends who are doing likewise with their novels, have several short stories about ready to go forth, in fact, a few are now waiting on the desks of various editors.

And Jiang Li, Warrior Woman of Yueh will be out the first of October. It is a novella, 37,000 words, and a companion piece to Brother Rat. Jiang Li will sell for $7.00US plus s/h (cost of envelope and postage). Stay tuned, more information to come. In the meantime, you can read the Prologue on my website www.LenoraRain-LeeGood.com .

What I'm reading:
Richard Wetherill: Anasazi
Pioneer Explorer of Southwestern Ruins
--by Frank McNitt

A biography I spied on a friend's bookshelf about the (white) man who discovered Chaco Cyn, Mesa Verde, and other ancient ruins. A very interesting book published by University of New Mexico Press. I'm a little less than a quarter of the way through the book, and it is holding my interest. But, then, I love the ruins and the SW.

My Gratefuls:
*I have wonderful friends
*I have two good kids
*The sun is shining
*Fruit is in the freezer
*Jiang Li is on her way

Quote for the Post:
“Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee
and just as hard to sleep after.” --Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Kitchen Remo Update and Eating the Scenery

Remember the old saying about no good deed shall go unpunished? Well, no good remodel shall go without humor!

I was sooo happy to have a fan that a. vented to the outside and b. really worked.... I still am. However, this fan, my beautiful new red fan that matches my beautiful new red stove is a real powerhouse. It sucks air out of the kitchen and blows it outside--down the roof, and sucks it right back in through any open door or window on the back of the house! Who woulda thunk it? (I'll see if there s a way to re-direct the flow. Alas, I fear not...)

It's no big deal, but in nice weather I tend to leave the back door open so the critters can get out and in without having to bother one of the humans in the house. Yesterday, I had an oven-smoked Texas style brisket in the oven all day cooking low and slow. The reason for such a good fan is so I don't fill the house with yummy cooking odors -- I like the smell of cooking food, but not all day long.

The brisket turned out delicious, thank you. And, now that I think about it, the Paco Belle spent most of the day shut outside. Didn't seem to bother her much.

If you like to cook, or just read abut cooking, please check out my friend's blog, Eating the Scenery at: http://pistachioandthorn.blogspot.com/ . Becky is a marvelous cook, a Master Gardener, a truly great person, and a very good friend!

I think summer may actually be here - we skipped spring this year - it's been wet, cool, not at all desertly, but now, maybe, we're getting some warmth and sunshine. Hope you are, too!

It's Monday - yet, again!

Goodest Monday to all you who check in now and again.

Not much has been going on in this house for the last week. I've managed to do very little writing, but just finished reading a marvelous book: Genghis Khan - Life, Death, and Resurrection --by John Man. For those of you who enjoy real history (not the stuff I write ;-), especially of Asia, I strongly recommend you read some of his books. I have now read 3 - one on The Great Wall, and one on Attila. The latter rather surprised me--I had no idea I was even interested in reading about Attila, and bought the book because John Man wrote it. Once I started it, I could not put it down until I got to the last page.

Perhaps one of the reasons I'm drawn to Asian history is my DNA. My mtDNA, to be precise. I had it tested some time ago, and my however many Great Grandmothers (like all of ours) originally walked out of Africa. Mine went north, through what is now known as Eurasia, and eventually ended up somewhere in what is now Germany before coming to America.

Perhaps one of the reasons I'm drawn to Asian history is my mother, who loved all things Chinese.

I believe summer may be close at hand. We've had several days of cool, grey, and even wet. Today is scheduled to be sunny and warm (79). I hope whoever is in charge of the weather follows the schedule. I'm ready for sunny days, warm days, and mostly dry days. (There is a reason I moved to the desert;-) Perhaps I can even get some decent photos to share with you next time.

Have yourselves a great week.

Veteran's Day

To all Veterans:

Thank You!

And to all the spouses (is the plural of spouse, spice?), parents, chldren, siblings, shirttail relatives, and friends who support those Vets:

Thank You!!

You are all very much appreciated.