Two Buckets

 

Back in the day, I was able to mentally juggle four to six important thought threads throughout the day. I knew what I needed to do, the steps I needed to take to complete each task, and how to integrate the steps into a seamless day that would end with all of my work done and dinner on the table. I didn’t even consciously coordinate it, the thoughts just sifted through my mind as I multitasked with a vengeance. Farm chores, work, house chores, writing, meal prep, and even special things like entertaining or spinning and knitting a project … they all got done.

Back in the day.

These days, it’s completely different. These days, I have two buckets in my mind for information. One is marked “Necessary for Survival” and the other is marked “Junk Mail.” If I don’t consciously make the connection that something needs to be remembered and stuffed in the “Necessary for Survival” bucket, then it slips into the “Junk Mail” bucket where it may never surface again.

I guess this is what my grandma meant when she said getting old wasn’t for sissies.

What’s really annoying is that this change didn’t happen gradually. One day I was clicking along on all six cylinders, the next I’d fallen off the cliff into my two-bucket system. Now I write lists, make notes, send myself emails, and post everything even remotely vital to Google Calendar. Anything that falls between “Necessary for Survival” and “Junk Mail” has to be recorded somewhere or I’ve lost it.

I find this all vastly annoying. Hense, this blog post to whine about it. But now I have something else that needs doing. I just wish I remembered what it was. *sigh*

 

 

Cover Reveal for “The Backcountry Brides” Collection!

I’m so excited to be part of The Backcountry Brides Collection! It’s not available for pre-order yet, it won’t released until May 2018, but I wanted to share this gorgeous cover with you.

My story in this collection is set in my home state of Michigan. A lot of people don’t think of Michigan when they think of Colonial America, but there was a thriving fur trade that brought hearty men and women to the Great Lakes.

I’ll be sharing more insights to the story as we get closer to the release date. Subscribe to my newsletter for updates direct to your email. I won’t flood your mailbox, I promise!

Read more about this collection and enter for a chance at a chance at a giveaway on the Colonial Quills blog.

January Book Release and Shawl Giveaway

Releasing January 2018

I’m excited about my new book releasing in January. A Bouquet of Brides is already available for preorder. My story in the collection, In Sheep’s Clothing, combines my love of history and fiber arts.

Meadowsweet

My heroine, Yarrow Fenn, is both a spinner and a weaver. She labors diligently to keep her family clothed after King William III signs The Wool Act into law. And she might even skirt the law a bit … but I won’t go into that here. Along the way, Yarrow befriends an orphan lamb named Meadowsweet. Pictured above is the real Meadowsweet, who lives here at Twin Willows Farm.

To celebrate this release of A Bouquet of Brides, I’m giving away the Meadowsweet Shawl. This shawl is handspun of natural white wool raised right here on the farm. I sheared the sheep, washed and carded the wool, spun the wool, and then knitted the shawl. It doesn’t get any more “Made in America” than that! The Meadowsweet Shawl is crescent-shaped with a raised back to keep your neck extra warm, or to fold over into a collar. The front can be wrapped and pinned or left loose to curl down the front.

I will draw the winner of the Meadowsweet Shawl on January 31st, 2018. To get into the drawing, subscribe to my newsletter and stay an active member by opening my emails! It’s that simple. The contest is open to anyone who has not won one of my book release shawls in the past. (Okay, this is only the second one, but I have three books releasing in 2018. I won’t have to change the wording each time I post the exception. And besides … it just sounded good.)

All She Left Behind

All She Left BehindAll She Left Behind by Jane Kirkpatrick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Nobody writes gritty and determined characters – based on real-life people – as well as Jane Kirkpatrick. This one held me from the opening sentences.

Jennie Pickett married young, thus ending her dreams of becoming a doctor. Being a wife and mother was a full-time job, but add in an unreliable husband, and she had her hands full. When she suddenly finds herself on her own, she takes a position as a live-in nurse. One thing leads to another – never easily or smoothly – until her dreams come true … at a cost.

As always, Jane will pull you through a gamut of emotions. Jennie’s life is a carousel of highs and lows. There is no “perfect ending,” this is real life, lived hard, and dedication to cause. It’s not neat and tidy, but it’s inspiring.

These Healing Hills

These Healing HillsThese Healing Hills by Ann H. Gabhart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love Ann Gabhart’s stories! This one didn’t disappoint.

Ann takes us into the backwoods of the Appalachian Mountains in 1945 with the Frontier Nursing Service. We ride along with Nurse Francine Howard as she learns to “catch babies” and bring medical assistance to people who still live a very hand-to-mouth lifestyle. Danger comes in many forms, from getting lost to swollen rivers to trigger-happy moonshiners. But the most dangerous to Francine’s heart is a very handsome mountain man come back from the war.

As with her Shaker books, Ann brings her characters to life without making them stereotypical “hillbillies.” The characters are varied, engaging, and easy to relate to. You’ll feel like you’ve known them for years by the end of the book.

The Courageous Brides Collection

The Courageous Brides CollectionThe Courageous Brides Collection by Johnnie Alexander
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There were some AWESOME stories in this collection! Well worth the money for the book, even though there were three stories I didn’t finish. My two favorites were “The Doctor’s Woman” by Michelle Griep and “The Battlefield Bride” by Renee Yancy. These collections are starting to grow on me. I’ve not – in general – a fan of short fiction, but when it’s done well, they are a pleasure to read.

Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico

Love Finds You in Golden, New MexicoLove Finds You in Golden, New Mexico by Lena Nelson Dooley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a different twist on the typical mail-order bride story. Madeline Mercer comes from a family with money, she’s used to servants and fancy things. When her father dies, she is in a very different situation. Jeremiah agrees to help his elderly mentor, Philip, even though his scheme of writing back east for a bride seems crazy. When Jeremiah meets Madeline, he knows she’s trouble. He just doesn’t realize how much.

Good, solid characters and description of the setting. The ending was a little too neat and tidy for me, but it wasn’t bad and it didn’t detract from the overall story.

Writing Deep Viewpoint

Writing Deep ViewpointWriting Deep Viewpoint by Kathy Tyers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you’re a writer, if you even think you *might* want to be a writer, then you need to read this book. Point of view (POV) is a difficult thing to explain. Kathy Tyers has made it simple, digestible, and understandable. Get it. Read it. APPLY it. You’ll be a better writer if you do.

Generous Lies

Generous Lies (Hidden Truth Book 3)Generous Lies by Robin Patchen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is book three in Robin Patchen’s “Hidden Truth” series. They are all good! One of the things I love about this one is that it tackles the very timely – and scary for parents – issue of teenage drug addiction. Opioid addiction is on the news every night. People are dealing with this all across the country and all across the economic spectrum. Patchen does a very credible job of exploring how it can affect a family.

Aside from that important issue, the story is engaging from the start, picking up from the previous book. Any of these can be stand alone stories, but I recommend reading them in order. Garrison and Sam are introduced in the previous books, but in “Generous Lies” it’s their story. We liked them before, but now we really get to know them. And they don’t disappoint! No spoilers here but I highly recommend reading the whole series.