Back from a Blogging Break

I didn’t intend to take a blogging break, but I’m glad I did.

Since Gwynly’s a teacher and gets two months off in the summer,

I chose to cut back on my online presence and enjoy his company.

We didn’t venture too far from home, but we had fun nonetheless.

I’ve been experiencing some major life transitions,

and the break enabled me to better deal with them.

The downside is that I missed you, my cyber buddies.

I was active on Facebook, so I wasn’t totally out of the loop,

but I’m eager to reconnect and hear how you’re doing.

Here’s a recap of my summer. . .

Gwynly and I enjoyed a three-day trip with the Sacramento Valley

MG Car Club. We drove over Sonora Pass,

a beautiful area north of Yosemite, on into Nevada.

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The scenery was spectacular. What’s so sad is that the Rim Fire just a few

miles south of here has destroyed over 200,000 acres of this beautiful area.

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Ever the history buff, I enjoyed our stop in Virginia City, Nevada.

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The highlight of the summer was our daughter’s college graduation.

Adri earned a double major in French and German from U.C. Davis.

Am I a proud mom? You betcha!

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Gwynly and I made a trip up north and visited each of my parents.

My mom is doing well.

My dad was diagnosed with Alzheimers recently and is living in a care facility.

It’s heart-wrenching to watch a loved one deal with this horrible disease.

I’m grateful to my siblings, who are doing a great job seeing to Dad’s needs.

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For my birthday in July, Gwynly gave me experiences rather than gifts.

At my request, we visited several historic sites in the Gold Country.

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Railtown 1897 is known as the movie railroad, their trains having been

featured in Back to the Future III and many other shows over the years.

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Columbia is California’s best-persevered Gold Rush town.

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Old Sacramento boasts a wealth of California’s history.

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The last stop on my birthday adventure was Davis, where we got to see our gal.

Since my birthday is July 17th, I was excited to see our order number.

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Gwynly and I enjoyed a leisurely afternoon beside beautiful Lake Tahoe.

It’s easy to see why I love the majestic Sierras, isn’t it?

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Despite the heat, Gwynly and kept up with our walking.

We use the time to do lots and lots of talking. Fun!

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Just last week, I was diagnosed with a Trigger Finger.

My right ring finger locks in the down position and snaps straight.

As a writer, this concerns me, so

I got right into the doctor to see what can be done.

I’ll be seeing an orthopedic specialist soon.

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My publisher is re-releasing my debut novel in September.

A Bride Opens Shop is being paired with A Bride Sews With Love,

a fun story written by my friend and agent mate, Erica Vetsch.

Both stories are set in California, thus the title of the 2-in-1.

I’m expecting to see the book in Walmart any day, which is exciting

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Our gal got herself a job in France!

Adri will be working as an English language assistant in two middle schools

in Saint-Omer, a town in the north about an hour from Paris. She’s been busy

preparing for her departure. As you might guess, there are a lot of hoops.

She leaves September 15, and will work from October to May.

I’m both excited for her and sad for me. I’ll miss seeing her,

which is why Gwynly and I are planning a visit at Christmas.

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What were the highlights of your summer?

Have you ever felt the need to take an extended blogging break?