In Louise's Garden

Yesterday we drove out to Shelton Laurel for a socially distanced outdoor lunch with Drew and Louise. Louise told me to be sure to bring my camera to document her squash.

No worries--it's always a delight to wander through Louise's Giverny-like garden.

Flowers and vegetables sprawl everywhere in rampant profusion. And speaking of rampant . . . 

There's the squash--an Italian variety called (I think) Berrettina Piacetina. Planted in a compost pile inside an unused dog pen, it went crazy (pazzo.)

It covered the compost pile, climbed the chain-link fence, and is now meandering across the roof of the dog pen.

Bearing more and more squashes to loll in the sun on the roof.

Look at the size of that stem.

I'll be asking for some seed from this baby.

 

Josie Wonders Where the Time Goes

Of course yesterday was busy. I have so much to do that Meema couldn't take pictures of everything. But after we did some coloring and writing (I made a very good A, along with lots of O's and I's which are easy and I did some easy stuff about what letters different words begin with--I am very good at that,) I got tired of schoolwork and opened the Big Closet and got out my cooking stuff.

I made some strawberry-cherry-chocolate ice cream and Blue Elephant helped stir it with his trunk. He also ate some.

Meema said, It is time for a nap, Josie dear.

 And I said, Meema dear, NO. 

But she gets cranky if she doesn't lie down after lunch when I am here so I played quietly in my bed for almost an hour. Then I bounced on her bed and it it was time to get up.

I built a house for the fairy girl out of my word cubes.

Also I decorated it with buttons and shells. She likes it better than the castle because it is not so crowded.

The grownup fairy ladies and the queens are doing a special dance. They are holding up one of the queens. The king and the knight and the Elf Falaroy are having a boys' party in the castle.

I left them having fun while Meema and I went outside to play with play dough. I got some in my hair and on Meema's shirt. It has gotten kind of greasy and it has dog hair in it. Meema says it is time to throw it out and make some more. I think we will do this on Wednesday. I think this time we will make it red instead of green.

 

The Easiest Ever Fish Pie

I've long been a fan of shepherd's pie or cottage pie. I enlarged my repertoire to include fish pie, made with wine poached fish, leeks, and mushrooms in a delicate white sauce. But last night I tried this super easy variation and it was yumptious. 

It's so easy. Set your oven at 400. Start some potatoes boiling in salted water (a clove or two of garlic in with them is a nice addition.) While the potatoes are cooking, put into a large bowl some cut-up cod, some sliced onion, some minced garlic, a cut-up tomato or two , a handful or two of fresh spinach, a minced chili pepper or two, some fresh parsley and basil, salt and pepper, a handful or so of grated cheese, and moisten the whole thing with a bit of olive oil. Toss together then pile into a casserole.

 

Drain and mash the softened potatoes (and garlic) with a little butter and milk or cream. Cover the fish and veg with the potatoes; sprinkle a little paprika on top,  and cook at 400 till hot and bubbling (about 45 minutes.) The cheese and tomato combine to make a creamy sauce

No, I haven't given amounts-- you can be flexible. Do remember not to overwhelm the cheese with too much tomato. That would make the sauce too thin. For this iteration that served two generously with leftovers, I used two medium tomatoes to two cups shredded cheese.

Now I'm wondering about using salmon or smoked haddock, as the Brits do--if I knew where to find smoked haddock . . . 

Grateful For . . .

 

The Best Laid Plans . . .

A few fall clothes catalogs arrived and I flipped through them because, since childhood I've been programmed to think "New season! New clothes?" I found myself noting outfits and separates --That would  look nice for a book store appearance. A black turtleneck, some black trousers and this pop of red . . . oh wait . . .

Because that used to be something I had to think about. When one of my books came out, I would do events at quite a few bookstores in the area, along with speaking at libraries, book clubs, conferences, etc. I had a range of nice outfits, from casual to a bit dressy.

Now it's 2020 and all I need is a nice shirt.

As I paged through the catalogs, I saw how fashion is adapting--color coordinated masks.

I'll pass on those--but these big pullovers look inviting.

Truly, this is not a great time to be bringing out a book--especially after a long (9 years) hiatus and in a different genre.  Not what I'd hoped for, drat it!

But, one of the lessons of this pandemic is that many things we once thought important--Fall wardrobes, for example--aren't. 

Every day that I wake up able to breathe deeply is a blessing. Our home is a fine place to isolate, with its surrounding woods and long views. My social life (never exactly busy) is on the internet--and that's okay. 

I continue to exist in a duality of domestic comfort and existential angst over the state of the world--but not about my new book.

Nine Eleven

When our country was attacked from without, planes flying into the Twin Towers, the Pentagon . . . it was terrifying. But the American people came together.  (Though the response was terribly misguided. And the results of the so-called War on Terror truly horrendous, as recounted HERE.)

Now our country is under attack from within and without, as our democracy is being daily eroded by this corrupt administration that tells us that the virus is under control (it isn't) and cities and suburbs are in flames (they aren't) and Putin smiles and pulls the strings. . .

 

Flowers Still Bloom

Bookplates! Suitable for Personalizing!

Look what's here! A box of bookplates for And the Crows Took Their Eyes, ready to personalize. Many of you who pre-ordered (for which, my fervent thanks) asked about getting your books signed. I'll be pre-signing books for Malaprop's in Asheville and City Lights in Sylva, but for those of you ordering elsewhere, here's the deal:

Send me a SASE, along with instructions as to how you'd like the bookplate personalized, and I'll get it back to you so you can slap it in as soon as you receive the book.

My address is 590 Wool Branch Road, Marshall, NC 28753.  

Note: When I looked at the first bookplate, my heart sank. There didn't seem to be a peel off backing. I fiddled with the edges to no avail, wondering if glue was going to be required. Then I folded down the top and, eureka, a line appeared and the peel off was enabled. Whew!

And if you haven't had a look at my revamped website, check it out HERE. 

New and Improved Website!! And a Cry for Help!

My vastly updated (after nine years and with a new book  coming out, it was time) website is online now HERE. The address is the same as the old one-- vickilanemysteries.com and if you have it saved somewhere on your computer, it might access the old version. So use the link above.

I'd really appreciate if, as you have time, you'd check it out and get back to me with any errors/problems you encounter It's meant to be readable on hand-held devices but as I don't use those, I can't verify. 

Also, of course, the more people that click on it, even briefly, the more it will become visible to search engines. (I think that's the way it works.) So every visit really helps.

I've proof read it multiple times and, as is always the case, am still discovering oopses. Please let me know if you do and I'll relay the needed changes to the developer/builder--Daniel Allen, who has done a terrific job. His company is CODEWALLOP and his site is HERE.

I've added more content--a page about the basics of writing, as distilled from my years of teaching, a page about researching and writing about the Shelton Laurel Massacre. And I've retained content from the old site in the Archives--some of that content is dated but that's the way archives are. 

Please let me know what you think and if you see any errors. I can think of at least one capitalization goof that I haven't yet taken care of. . .

Let me know what y

Josie Plays with Everything

When we had Family Dinner Up on Saturday, I wanted to see about ALL my stuff because it had been a Very Long Time since I'd been here but then I had to have a bath. Meema said I could play with EVERYTHING when I came up Monday so that's what I did. 

There was a new elf from Aunt Fay with a horse. I let everyone change horses and talk to each other. Then I told them it was time to go to the beach!  

I packed them all into this basket, along with other stuff from my cabinet. You have to take everything when you go to the beach. We are going for a year and a minuute.

 But the beach was closed because it was Sunday. 

We read some library books instead. My favorite one is called Creepy Carrots.

Of course I had to go to The Room. My babies need me.

It was a Girls Only Day and we all wore pink. I read to Dolly and Baby and made them stop sucking their thumbs.

I took a little rest . . .

And did some bouncing . . .

And played with my finger puppets. . .

Then it was time for a Girls Only tea party.

I finished my tea and we went back to the Living Room. I still haven't opened the Big Closet or my other cabinet. Or gotten out my Legos or my dress up box. 

First I had to watch the birds. There were so many goldfinches! I had just gotten into the Big Closet and made some towers with the giant blocks (I am also a Knocker Downer) when Mama texted to say they were home and would come get me.  So we put away the blocks. 

What do you think Meema and I did while we were waiting for Daddy?

We had a big pillow fight!

I am a fierce pillow thrower.

When I come back Wednesday, I will see about the rest of my stuff.