Debbie Macomber's Blog, page 47

A Swimming Tradition

I hosted my annual Swimmers Tea yesterday afternoon.  It's always fun to see what my swimming friends look like when I'm wearing my glasses, let alone when everyone is dressed in street clothes.   I get a kick out of watching the guys hold onto a dainty tea cup and balance a plate of goodies on their lap, but they seem to enjoy it as much as the ladies. I've been swimming with this same group for more than twenty years.  This is another tradition I always look forward to during the holidays.

Christmas Traditions

I'm off with my daughters and granddaughters to see the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Cinderella. At this time of year Seattle is a Christmas wonderland.  I'm excited for them to see the city, taste roasted chestnuts, and hear the carolers on the street corners.  Naturally we'll do some shopping before the play.  Bargain shopping is a dominant gene passed down from generation to generation in our family, and I feel I am only doing my ordained duty.  We will have dinner before the play, and we're all in agreement about that, too.  Chinese.  Dumplings, fried rice, chow mien.  Yup, its going to be a great afternoon and evening.

Christmas Author Lunch

I was in Seattle yesterday for our annual author lunch with local writers.  Christina Dodd hosted the event in her new downtown condo, and my long-time friend, Linda Lael Miller, made the trip over the mountain pass from Spokane for the party. It's always fun to gather together, share our favorite recipes (most of which came from a local deli!) and receive updates and business news.  I came home inspired and uplifted, and really, isn't that what friends are for?

How many days 'til Christmas?!?

I always feel a slight sense of panic after Thanksgiving.  It's less than a month until Christmas.  I've barely started my shopping, baking, or thought about my Christmas cards.  Every year I swear I'll get started early and breeze through the holidays.  Ha!  Every year it’s the same thing . . .  but deep down I love it.  I'm heading off to Seattle to meet a friend and shop and then go out to dinner.  Revisions can wait an extra day . . . it’s the holidays, after all. 

Trading Christmas

I was in Los Angeles last week for a VIP screening of TRADING CHRISTMAS.  In a word, IT WAS AMAZING!  I really enjoyed the two Mrs. Miracle movies, but this one is special.  I'm so eager for everyone to see it and decide for themselves.  Faith Ford, Tom Cavanagh, Gabrielle Miller and Gil Bellows did an outstanding job of bringing my story to life.  I laughed, I shed a tear and at the end I didn't want to leave the theater.  Oh, my friends, you are in for a big treat.  The movie premiers Saturday, November 26 on Hallmark Channel.  Check your local listings for times.  Be sure to write and let me know what you think.

My Favorite Dessert

I am blessed.  There are no two ways about it.  In fact I have so many blessings that I keep a tally of them in a book I call My Ode to Joy.  Every morning I write down five things for which I'm most grateful, and the list is miles long.

 

I have a new entry to add today.  I've been asked to be one of the pie judges for PARADE magazine’s All-American Pie-off.  I had to read the e-mail three times to believe they had asked me.

 

I love pie.  In fact, I read an entire book about pies and have countless cookbooks related to this very topic.  Now here's the good part:  You can submit your favorite recipe, and I might wind up judging it. Oh, and you might be interested in the prize, too . . . which isn't anything to sneeze about.  Here is the link to find out more:  http://www.dashrecipes.com/blogs/dashboard/2011/11/13-great-american-pie-off.html. 

A Perfect Compromise

Wayne and I have reached a conclusion that could quite possibly save our marriage.  We can't shop at Costco together.  He races through the warehouse, weaving the cart in and out of those aisles like a NASCAR driver.  I, on the other hand, enjoy a leisurely stroll down the aisles.  I come to a complete stop at the book section and often spend as long as ten to fifteen minutes looking at the movies and music offerings.  And now that the Christmas goodies are on display, well, I could be in the store a full hour, perhaps longer.  Wayne is in and out in ten minutes, depending on the line at the check-out.   And so, in the spirit of compromise, we have decided to go separately.  If we happen to stumble upon one another I'm sure we'll smile or blow kisses and then continue on our separate ways.  But this, my friends, makes for a more perfect union.

Letter from a Reader

If you've ever heard me speak, you know I often read comments from letters I've received from my readers over the years—comments that almost always bring a smile.  I've got a new one to add to the list and thought I'd share it with you. 



This letter came from a ten-year-old girl.  She wrote:  "Everyone in my house reads your books.  My grandma reads your books.  My mom reads your books and my aunt reads your books, too.  They like them, so I read one.  It was boring.  P.S.  Please write back."

 

Don't you love it?  God has ways of keeping me humble. 

Dedicated to . . .

I hope no one minds if I brag a bit.  My knitting and writing friend, Christina Skye, dedicated her book,  A HOME BY THE SEA, to me.   This is a follow-up to Christina's story in KNITTING DIARIES, which was published earlier this year. 



Christina and I are both addicted to yarn.  A couple of weeks ago we attended STITCHES EAST--a large knitting conference--where we learned how to cast on stitches ten different ways . . . most of which I can almost remember.   So, dear friends, kindly support Christina.  You'll find  A HOME BY THE SEA on-line and in your local Barnes & Noble and (because of a publishing distribution problem) not in most other outlets.

Airport Encounter

Wayne and I flew from Orlando to Seattle last Friday.  A friendly woman sat next to me at the gate while we were waiting to board our plane.  When she asked me where I was from and I told her Port Orchard, she immediately exclaimed there was a famous writer who lived there.  She’d never read any of her books, but she’d just picked one up at the airport.  She said it sounded like a good story and decided to give her a try, and wondered if I knew her.



Surprise, surprise, I did know her!  It was one of those moments I used to fantasize about when I was newly published.