Cynthia Lord's Blog, page 50

Waiting on the Weather

Researching a book always takes me in strange directions. Yesterday, I spent an hour watching Youtubes of dogs reacting to thunderstorms (it surprised me how many of them choose to hide in the shower/bathtub!), and today I have a pontoon boat ride scheduled. The weather for today looked good when I arranged this, but it isn't promising now. If it's just raining, I can still get everything I need from going. But if there's lightning, I'll have to reschedule it.

So *maybe* I'm going here today! :-)

Wordless Wednesday

Maquoit Bay, Brunswick, Maine. Photo by my husband, John

My Assistant

My assistant, Milo, has been helping me with my novel. When I say "Let's go to work!" he leaps up and races for the door, always ready to go out to my writing shed.  It's easy to have enthusiam when you're surrounded by it.

He's not very good at filing, but he's great at making me smile. 

Ahhh.

Marshall Point Light, Port Clyde, Maine. Photo by my husband, John

My husband took this photo a couple weeks ago at sunset in Port Clyde, Maine. Even with the long winters, there's nowhere else I'd want to live than in Maine.  It's been wonderful to spend so much time at home this summer.

I've been working hard on my book. I'm so glad this main character is active doing things like hiking and kayaking. Because it means I have to do them in order to bring those scenes to life! This week, I have a fun evening trip planned here.  

But today my agent is in Maine picking her daughter up from summer camp. So I have a gelato date with my novel editor, my agent, and everyone's children.  Fun! 

Climbing with Chihuahuas

Yesterday, Julia and I climbed Mt. Willard overlooking Crawford Notch in NH. The trail is only 1.6 miles, and the views are heart-skipping.



As we climbed up, we met people coming down, including: a group of Amish women in dresses and a family with two very happy Chihuahuas trotting ahead of them down the path. I looked over at Julia and said, "Okay, no matter what, we're finishing this climb. No way am I getting shown up by Chihuahuas!"

Reid State Park

Last night my husband and I drove up to Reid State Park in Georgetown, Maine to walk on the beach.



It was a beautiful night, and we had the beach nearly to ourselves.





Except for these guys.

Wordless Wednesday

Hellooooooooo.  Photo by my daughter, Julia

EyeCare About Reading Book Drive

I received my first pair of glasses in the sixth grade. Before my glasses, I had to squint to see the chalkboard, and I remember going up to the pencil sharpener to sharpen my pencil--even when it didn't need it--so I could get closer to the words on the board to read them. But as a child, you only know your own experience. So I didn't realize I didn't see the same as other children until a routine eye exam at school.

I remember that first drive home with my glasses and being amazed to see tiny things: each leaf on the trees, every word on the signs, each treetop on the mountain.

  A year ago, I met Jennifer Frances, the force behind "Bess the Book Bus," which brings free books to areas of the country where children don't have easy access to books of their own.  Jennifer was in Jonesport, Maine with her bus, and I was very impressed with her commitment to children and books.



Jennifer has corporate sponsors and partners, including VSP Vision Care and Transitions Lenses. They had the idea of holding a bookdrive to support local organizations and Bess the Book Bus. When they asked me to be part of it, I said, "Of course!" 



Here's the press release:

VSP Vision Care, Bess the Book Bus and bloggers– Meghan Cooper from JaMonkey (Atlanta, GA), Mocha Dad, Frederick Goodall (Houston, TX) and Kara-Kae of The Mom Diggity (Oklahoma City, OK) - are holding the EyeCare About Reading Book Drive Competition to promote the importance of eye health for reading and academic success! Learn more about this great initiative on VSP’s Book Drive Facebook tab: http://a.pgtb.me/ddFR

My Weekend

Julia and I had a wonderful time visiting my friend, Holly, over in New Hampshire. We went kayaking, swimming, visited a library and a farmer's market, and walked around an old graveyard looking for a leg. I also took pages of notes for my novel. It was a wonderful trip!





At the farmer's market, I bought jam and the most delicious blueberry pie.



Holly showed me the gorgeous little library in Washington, New Hampshire. She introduced us to Jo Ellen, the librarian.  Here's Julia checking out the collection. 







And the leg?  We found it!



I love old cemeteries. There are full of stories.  :-) 

At the Lake

It's so beautiful here. :-)