Robin McKinley's Blog, page 181

In which an Evil Cow enjoys tormenting her faithful readers*

 

This is the catalogue copy for PEGASUS: 

 

A gorgeously-written fantasy about the friendship between a princess and her pegasus 

Because of a thousand-year-old alliance between humans and pegasi, Princess Sylviianel is ceremonially bound to Ebon, her own pegasus, on her twelfth birthday. The two species coexist peacefully, despite the language barriers separating them.  Humans and pegasi both rely on specially-trained Speaker magicians as the only means of real communication. 

But it's...

Guest Post by Lucy Coats

Marmaladey Musings

 

It is January [when she wrote this:] and therefore Marmalade is on my mind (and I have a feeling I'm not the only reader-of-Robin's-blog in that position!).  Well–it's the Making of Marmalade to be precise.  I have a Wanton Toast Eater to satisfy–and that means a mountain of the orangey stuff to be made. For me, marmalade is inextricably connected with the backend of the winter season. I don't like January much.  To me it's a dark and dreary month when the excesses of...

Tra la la la

 

It's already way too late.  What HAPPENED to this day?  It was teatime a minute ago.  Er.  About five hundred minutes ago according to the clock.*   For most of which I've been at this computer** and I'm really ready to go do something else . . . like play the piano.  Or work on the lullaby*** . . .  which would involve this computer and (dreadful to relate) Finale.  Hmm.  I know!  I could sing something!  I have a new song to learn!

            I had my first voice lesson in forever today...

Pink etc

 

 I told you I'd show you my floral extravaganza again after I messed with it a little.*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pink.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And just in case you think I've put all the pink in front to make an impressive photo, this is what it looks like from the other side. 

 Meanwhile . . . it's snowing.  It's not snowing like it's snowing in Virginia, for which I am deeply thankful, but it's still snowing. I've decided I want a conservatory.  Once I finish recovering** from putting the weight-bearing floor in Third...

More about bells (sorry . . . )

 

It has been way too exciting a day for a woman on no sleep.  Well, not very much sleep.  I went to bed at an acceptable Saturday-night-before-Sunday-morning-service-ring hour but . . . I have all these books on my bed.  I get into bed and . . .  and there are all these books.  And they look at me.  And they make little friendly murmuring noises.  Last night I got involved in a quest for a remedy for an old homeopathic client* and this is research I love and that I don't do as much of as I...

Guest Post by Diane_in_MN

NATIONAL SPECIALTY (Part 2)

Wednesday had no competition events, and we had appointments for both dogs at the cardiac clinic.  But we went to the show site early because of more ribbon duty:  I had to meet with the Top Twenty chairperson to proofread Top Twenty rosettes.  The Top Twenty is an invitational event for the twenty Danes that have done the most winning in Best of Breed competition in the previous year.  As well as recognizing the dogs, this event recognizes the owners, who've...

I Have the Nicest Mods in the Universe*

 

I overslept this morning.**  Hellhounds and I got back*** to the cottage after our morning [sic:] hurtle and found: 

It's from my mods.  Congratulating me on getting the frelling† corrections on PEGASUS done on time.††   

THANK YOU.  YOU ARE WONDERFUL HUMAN BEINGS.†††

 I was hoping to save some of the wrapping paper which you will note has roses on it, but it's so damn fragile I'm hoping it's biodegradable to comfort me for failing.  And while I love the new standard cut-flower delivery thing w...

PEGASUS Thursday

YES.  IT'S REAL. 

I have something like fifteen books out and this moment never gets old.   Looky looky looky what my editor sent me today.

And yes, I met my deadline. . . .  by about an hour and a half.  Hey, I made it.  That's all that counts.

Guest Post by Diane_in_MN

NATIONAL SPECIALTY (Part 1)

In mid-October, my husband and I packed ourselves, two dogs, and a whole lot of stuff into two vehicles and headed for the Great Dane Club of America (GDCA) National Specialty Show at the Chattanooga Choo Choo hotel in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

A "specialty show" is a single-breed dog show, and a national specialty is a single-breed dog show on steroids with a convention attached.  A National might last from a couple of days to a week or more, depending on the size of ...

PEGASUS Tuesday

 

It has been a seriously sucky day.  It started with oversleeping by two hours.  Which meant I did at least get two hours of sleep, but this is still not optimum.  I'm used to having bad nights, and a lot of the time it's not a totally huge deal;  for one thing, if I can't sleep, I turn the light back on, and read.  Insomniac nights are probably my best opportunity for catching up on all the homeopathic journals I go on subscribing to;  I have found through trial and error that I will be...