SOL 12/31: Book Decision Time!

Today I join my fellow bloggers in "serving up a slice" 

to the March Slice of Life Story Challenge community.

Thanks to Stacey, Betsy, Beth, Kathleen, Deb, Melanie, and Lanny

 for hosting this meeting place each day in March

and for nurturing our writing lives.

Thirty years ago, I started my first book club. My current book club is celebrating twenty years of reading together this year. We have a yearly retreat every March. And that's when we choose our books for the upcoming year. Each person brings up to three possible book choices. We sit in a circle, pitch our individual titles, and pass the books around for everyone to see. Then it's ballot time. We use a written ballot for choosing the twelve titles for the upcoming year. Sometimes we vote a second time when we have some clear winners and others that are close. It's the most exciting part of the retreat. 

My book club loves reading nonfiction. It's not my favorite, but I generally bring at least one nonfiction title. If I have to read nonfiction, I want some voice in choosing it. I love memoir and essay and fiction and poetry (and of course middle grade). I'm still struggling with which books to take. I'm taking News of the World by Paulette Giles (which I've read) and Killers of the Flower Moon by David Gran (which I haven't read). It's best if we've read the titles we recommend, but sometimes I take books that come highly recommended by readers that I trust. So that's where you come in. I know that many of you are avid readers and book club members. What books would you recommend for my book bag on Friday?

SOL 11/31: Wait right there for Grandma!

Today I join my fellow bloggers in "serving up a slice" 

to the March Slice of Life Story Challenge community.

Thanks to Stacey, Betsy, Beth, Kathleen, Deb, Melanie, and Lanny

 for hosting this meeting place each day in March

and for nurturing our writing lives.

If you've read my blog recently, then you know that writing about my journey as a grandmother to two grand boys is a favorite topic. This past week, I watched my grandson from Virginia while his parents enjoyed a quick getaway to Hawaii. 

One of the most challenging parts of bedtime is remembering all the stuff you need to take upstairs. We had collected Teddy's blue blanket, his buddy Pup Pup, and his water bottle. We had grabbed a couple of books to read. We had changed his diaper. And then I remembered that his pajamas were somewhere downstairs since I had laundered them earlier in the day.

So I set my 20 month old grandson down on the second step of the stairs and said, "Wait right there for Grandma."  I dashed back into the family room looking frantically for the pajamas while images of all the things that could happen swirled in my head. What was I thinking?

He might climb up the stairs (which he does, but only with Grandma right behind him) and fall down them.

He might open the front door and go outside. I just realized today that he can unlock doors. 

He might step down the two steps into the living room, climb into a chair and accidentally knock the oriental lamp to the floor while trying to turn it on.

After a thirty second survey of the family room and kitchen, I spied the pajamas on the center island, grabbed them and dashed back to the stairs, calling out the same words I'd said as I'd left him there, "Wait right there for Grandma."

And you know what? That's exactly what he was doing! Waiting for Grandma and reading a book. Whew! I think I got lucky that time.  

Teddy reads Little Blue Truck Leads the Way
while he waits right there for Grandma! 

I still have a couple of stories to write from Teddy's visit. Watch for the "Uh Oh!" story coming soon in a slice of life. 

SOL 10/31 & Celebrate This Week

Today I join my fellow bloggers in "serving up a slice" 

to the March Slice of Life Story Challenge community.

Thanks to Stacey, Betsy, Beth, Kathleen, Deb, Melanie, and Lanny

 for hosting this meeting place each day in March

and for nurturing our writing lives.

Join us each weekend for Celebrate This Week with Ruth Ayres.

When we pause to celebrate, we find the joy.

 

   A week filled with moments to celebrate and remember.

 We just finished a three day/four night stint with grandson Teddy while his parents relaxed in Hawaii.

 This week I'm celebrating my helpers and first on the list has to be  my husband, Lance. He has been the go-to outdoor man this week, taking our boy outside to play frequently. Teddy and Jack both adore their Grandpa. It's fun to see them light up when he walks into the room. He spent a lot of time on the floor this week! 

He was missed on the one night he was gone teaching at the university, but made it home in time to see Teddy just before tuck-in time.

The next big helper was daughter Sara. She took a day off work to play with Teddy and Grandma and Jack. We were blessed with a gorgeous blue sky day for our Tuesday at the park. 

My daughter-in-law Stefi provided much needed help in the form of a one page summary of Teddy's routines, likes, and dislikes. We found ourselves referring to it frequently. I loved her parting words:   
"Feel free to throw this out the window and do whatever you want! You're grandparents! Have fun! :)"

Wednesday was our busiest day with both boys at our house. We made it to story time at Island Books. 

Thursday was our rainiest day and perfect for meeting Jack and Aunt Sara at the aquarium. From the first big tank of fish with humans at work in scuba gear to the touch tide pools, to the felt board animal station, to the tiny salmon and the shore birds, the otters at play, and the seals dipping and diving in their pool - it was a total delight for everyone! My assigned duty was pushing the stroller filled with jackets and bags, but no boys since they were busy experiencing the wonder of this world of water.

Yesterday marked the return of Teddy's parents from Hawaii. They came in on a red eye and were remarkably energetic and engaged until nap time when both joined Teddy for some much needed sleep. My son, Blake, even managed to help me with some computer issues. 

And this morning it's off to the airport, but not before we have a quick breakfast and a few snuggles. I'm so grateful for the helpers who made this a week filled to the brim with joy and happy memories. 

SOL 9/31 & Poetry Friday: Overheard from the kitchen table

Today I join my fellow bloggers in "serving up a slice" 

to the March Slice of Life Story Challenge community.

Thanks to Stacey, Betsy, Beth, Kathleen, Deb, Melanie, and Lanny

 for hosting this meeting place each day in March

and for nurturing our writing lives.

Head over to Michelle's blog,

Today's Little Ditty, for this week's

round-up of poetic goodness. 

Thanks, Michelle, for hosting this week!

Night four bedtime completed
of my son & wife's Hawaiian getaway.

Teddy is tucked in, 

Grandpa's watching PBS NewsHour,

and I'm sitting at the kitchen table

commenting on a few slices

before I will fall exhausted into bed.

Suddenly a powerful voice 
speaks to my poet's heart.

It's an unforgettable

Brief But Spectacular Life

by Elizabeth Acevedo.
PBS introduces the video segment:  
"This poet wants brown girls to know
they're worthy of being
the hero and the author."

Be sure to click on the link 
for this 3 minute, 19 second reading 
by award-winning poet, Elizabeth Acevedo.
You'll be reminded of the power of words 
to change the world 
and why we need poets 
"...to carry the torch of saying,
our stories are just as important
as any other stories."
So grateful I heard this
brief but spectacular voice.

SOL 8/31: An Author Visit!

Today I join my fellow bloggers in "serving up a slice" 

to the March Slice of Life Story Challenge community.

Thanks to Stacey, Betsy, Beth, Kathleen, Deb, Melanie, and Lanny

 for hosting this meeting place each day in March

and for nurturing our writing lives.

I mentioned in my Celebrate This Week post on Saturday that I would post about an author visit I attended last week at our indie bookstore, Island Books. However, it was LeAnn's post at Elsie Tries Writing today about an author visit with Emily Brubaker Bradley that reminded me to write this post.

My author visit was with Robin Oliveira, author of My Name is Mary Sutter, which our book club read in 2012. She seems to be on the same four year writing schedule as Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. My Name is Mary Sutter was published in 2010, followed by I Always Loved You in 2014, and now her latest Winter Sisters, just out in February 2018. 

She shared that the working title for My Name is Mary Sutter was The Last Beautiful Day. When an audience member asked about the working title for Winter Sisters, she declined sharing it because it would be a spoiler for the book. I had her autograph my daughter's copy of My Name is Mary Sutter and my copy of Winter Sisters. 

If you haven't seen the cover of Winter Sisters, stop now and look it up. If you're not captivated by the cover (as I am), then this review by Kimberly McCreight might compel you to read the book: “Equal parts exquisitely detailed historical drama and riveting literary thriller, Winter Sisters deftly explores the brutal costs of child exploitation, while elegantly demonstrating the healing power of true compassion and profound sisterly devotion.” 

It was a delightful evening and intriguing to hear the author speak of the process she uses for researching and writing her books. Stay tuned for her next title which may have some connection with her upcoming trip to Ireland!

SOL 7/31: Seven Things About Me on the Seventh!

Today I join my fellow bloggers in "serving up a slice" 

to the March Slice of Life Story Challenge community.

Thanks to Stacey, Betsy, Beth, Kathleen, Deb, Melanie, and Lanny

 for hosting this meeting place each day in March

and for nurturing our writing lives.

I love borrowing ideas for writing from fellow bloggers. Today's post was inspired by LeAnn's first post to kick off our month of slicing. Since this is my seventh year to participate, I decided to write my seven things about me post on the seventh. 

1.  I started slicing seven years ago with an incredible class of sixth graders who encouraged me to post my daily slices on my own blog. Our district featured my students in an e-connections article.

2.  I'm passionate about poetry and happy to have participated in bringing three poets (Janet Wong, Irene Latham, and Charles Waters) to visit our middle school.

3.  After meeting Irene Latham at my first NCTE conference (thanks Kim Doole), Irene invited me to join the Kitlitosphere Progressive Poem. It terrifies me, yet I find myself signing up for a slot year after year.

4.  I love to bake, but I'm not a good cook. Good cooks prepare meals, bakers prepare treats. This lifelong passion for baking was launched when Kay Benham and I won a blue ribbon for our 4-H  demonstration lesson on how to bake chocolate chip cookies when we were in third grade. 

5.  I've been a book club member for thirty years. As a young mother, I started my first book club in Houston, TX in the 80s. I was afraid of becoming one of those women who quit reading once they become a mom. I was in that book club for ten years when we moved to the Pacific NW. My current book club is celebrating twenty years of reading together this year.

6.  After retirement, I started an after school book club at my middle school that met weekly for three years. I credit those young people with helping me ease into retirement. My inaugural members headed to high school this past fall, so I stepped back in order to spend three days a week with grandson Jack. I still drop in on the monthly book club meeting when I can squeeze it in.

7.  I love alliteration. The three cornerstones in my life are family, friends, and faith. I like to tell people that if you are ever in my life, you are always in my life (and that includes my blogging friends). 

SOL 6/31: Love on Hold!

Today I join my fellow bloggers in "serving up a slice" 

to the March Slice of Life Story Challenge community.

Thanks to Stacey, Betsy, Beth, Kathleen, Deb, Melanie, and Lanny

 for hosting this meeting place each day in March

and for nurturing our writing lives.

Some of my favorite emails come with this subject line:  Hold available notification! It's always good news when a book I've waited for is available. In the wee hours of this morning, one of those emails arrived. It's always with a sense of anticipation that I click on the email because I never know which book I've been longing for has finally arrived. Today it's two! The Word Collector by Peter H. Reynolds and Tell Me More : Stories About the 12 Hardest Things I'm Learning to Say by Kelly Corrigan (I actually read grown-up books occasionally, but they are never the ones that I've been longing for. And yes, I know I ended that sentence with a preposition.) 

I love our library system and the technology that makes requesting a book so easy. I love that my library is close enough to make stops by there several times a week. And yes, last week I picked up Love by Matt de la Pena from my holds shelf!