Grace Lin's Blog, page 56

on my desk monday

Every year I think I will get out holiday cards and I never do (maybe Chinese New Year cards?). Part of the reason why I never get it done its because I see all the creative cards my children's book colleagues do and I feel I just can't compare. This year the coolest Christmas card award goes to Leo Landry who sent this crossword puzzle card with a secret message (which I haven't solved yet). Isn't it neat?

fortune cookie friday

"Never try to catch two frogs with one hand. "
-Chinese Proverb

how I spent my winter vacation

Just like last year, I felt like I had to finally answer all my reader mail* before the new year. I'm getting better--my return rate is about 4 months versus the 6 months(!), now!



But that makes it sound like responding to reader mail is a chore. It isn't, really. It's actually quite a joy. I love hearing from readers--what they like about my books, who they are...and their ambitious cats:


though, to be fair, this writer didn't tell me why her cats were so ambitious! I am very curious. Doesn't it sound like a book that needs to be written-- "All the Ambitious Cats?" Maybe she'll tell me in her next letter.


*helpful hint if you want a response: Please make sure you write your return mailing address on your letter--sometimes I lose/mix up envelopes and can't figure out where to send! Apologies to anyone who does not get a response at all, it means I misplaced your return address.

on my desk monday

So many cute knobs! I'm trying to decide which ones I want to use for my drawers in my brand-new studio!

It took us a long time to find a house. Originally, I had dreams a la Return to Gone-Away Lake-- finding an old fixer-upper and bringing it back to life while it making it our own. However, as time went on, I realized that I didn't even have enough time to even go and get my haircut--renovating a house was not realistic.  But I still want to make this my House of Dreams (or rather my House of Dreams on A Limited Budget) so we are adding a lot of personal touches, including a new studio with cute knobs! Which ones should I choose?

fortune cookie friday

"Do not have each foot on a different boat.
"
-Chinese Proverb

new view

moon over our new backyardAs I mentioned earlier, we're moving! It's official, we've closed on a house in western MA--two hours away from our current location.

I have many mixed emotions about the move. I love the new house and with Rain Dragon showing signs of crawling, I know it's the right thing to do. We want her to have a swingset, a yard, the whole works--and the apartment is already squished past capacity.

But I have a lot of memories here, from renovations to Robert it's hard to let go. Luckily, we've decided we're going to move slowly so we can do some minor renovations on the house (bookshelves! need bookshelves!) and not put the apartment on the market until spring. So gradually I've been getting used to the idea. I feel like Randy in The Four Story Mistake, lamenting how each thing she did was going to be the "last time."

But, just like in that book, I know "the last time" will be joyfully replaced with "the first time."

Sunday Chinese School

Welcome to Sunday Chinese School, where we learn a Chinese word (or phrase) a week with my mom!Today's word is:
sled
xuěqiāo
雪橇

fortune cookie friday

"Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck."
-Dalai Lama

happy holidays!

Wishing you a big holiday smile!

even brighter

This is a look of awe:


Because it was Rain Dragon's first time seeing this house:


Yes, it's the bright house even brighter! We are going to miss this after we move, we might have to come back just to see it.