A Shadow Revisited

 
The revisitation isn't nearly as good as the original, but interestingly enough, it's 9 years and a day later. I'll give you the better picture first. This was Feb. 4, 2009.



I hate to tell you that an autumn olive could produce beauty, but this is indeed an old autumn olive tree. The reason it's worth revisiting is that seeing this particular shadow is not always a sure thing. The snow needs to be fairly deep. It was not quite deep enough today to create that circular effect.

The sun needs to be bright, which it wasn't quite. And, I have to be where this tree is when all those things happen, at the correct time of day. Today, I was there, and the other parts were close. But, clearly the other picture is much better.



It was a beautiful day. Blue sky and not as much wind. The temperature was only 13 degrees, but it didn't feel too bad. I skied all four hills.



In other news: I cleared the driveway, worked all day on that freelance job, and managed to write two chapters in The Hitchhiker. Not bad.

	See Rhythm and Metadata
if you like this blog, click the +1   or

Skiing Under the Snow

 
The jinx is broken! I finally got to use my new skis. We've had about eight inches of soft fluffy flakes. It's been almost a month since I bought them, and there hasn't been a ski day since then!



There was no way to stay on top, but it's cold and the snow is dry, so I could glide right along. It IS cold and the wind was blowing. I didn't stay out too long, but I did go out.

The trees are beautiful draped in white.

F

It was still coming down as dusk began to settle in.



In other news: It was a great day. I slept until I woke up, and didn't have to go anywhere. I wrote three chapters in The Hitchhiker and did a little housecleaning.

	See A Beau-ski-ful Day
if you like this blog, click the +1   or

Slow News Day, Let's Talk Toes

 
I did not wake up till after 1 pm, and then I had a funeral to get to at 2. That was close. Fortunately there was food afterwards, because I didn't eat anything before I left the house.

Then I stopped at the store and didn't get home till after 4. It was like the day was over before I even woke up! But it is Saturday.

The reason I went to the store is that "my" sneakers were on sale for 40% off. That's serious savings. That's when I buy shoes.

Here's the toe issue. It's actually all about one toe. I have arthritis in exactly one joint so far. It's the second toe on the left foot. It has made that toe get bigger and bigger.



I'd gone a half size larger in shoes several years ago, just to accommodate it. It doesn't hurt except when it bangs on things. Like the inside of the shoe. Which it's been doing again. Bummer. I've been trying to decide if I have to go yet another half size larger with shoes. Will I trip on them? My feet aren't used to being big. Bottom line... that toe hurts, and I can make it stop with bigger shoes, so the purchase was made.



Now I'm writing. Hopeful of doing a lot of that this weekend.

	See You Know You Are a Long-Distance Hiker When...
if you like this blog, click the +1   or

Celebrate Family and Friends

 
OK, so the Dove candy company prints things on wrappers that will work in any number of situations, but this is now number four that has been a perfect match for the day's activities. Today they suggest I celebrate family and friends. And I can do that.



For starters, the newest member of the genealogical clan arrived last evening in Texas. His name is Shepherd Dean Greenawalt. He's Omer's youngest sister's (Kathleen, who died) grandson.



For the friends part, there was an artist reception at the Art Center in Ludington this afternoon. I just have a hard time making myself go to anything between work shifts on Friday, however...

One of the artists is Linda Sandow, who is doing the cover art for my Dubois Files mysteries. Here she is, showing off the cover art for The Secret Cellar against the display of some of her work. I took this picture the other day.



Here she is this evening, talking about her works with some of the visitors at the reception.



I also know another of the artists, Ellen Niemann, quite well. Our lives have intersected off and on for about 50 years. I knew she did black and white portraits, but I had no idea until a few weeks ago that she also does beautiful color paintings, often incorporating calligraphy with the images.

Here she is (on the left) talking about her work with another visitor. These paintings were all inspired by a trip she and her husband took to Rwanda a few years ago.



Here is another of her works.



So, I'm glad I made the effort to go. They said it was a pretty good turnout. That's good. The community is supporting the arts to some extent during the non-tourist season.

In other news: work. Well, I'm trying to finish chapter 9 in The Hitchhiker.

	See Learn Something New...
if you like this blog, click the +1   or

The Hitchhiker

 
Still busy, still all good.

I haven't stopped since this morning. Worked till 3, came home and worked on free-lance job, then worked on setting up pre-order info for The Hitchhiker. I'm already getting a lot of requests for pre-orders, so I had to get this done!

Linda J. Sandow, my cover artist, now has the first iteration of the color sketch for book two. This is not final, but it's close.

Since it's all I have today, this is what you get to see.



Hope to actually write a few paragraphs yet tonight!

Preorder sets at Books Leaving Footprints

	See Secret Cellar- Sample Copies
if you like this blog, click the +1   or