On a Darker Note

I spent the weekend at Solstice Writing Retreat, which is always a good thing. I love being around other writers - they're my tribe.

Louise Plummer was there, who quickly became one of my favorite people in all the world when I met her three years ago. She told a story about giving someone dark chocolate fortune cookies, along with, of course, dark fortunes.

She and her husband Tom, along with their son, came up with the list, which included such gems as:

• Toe fungus next Wednesday
• Don't bother counting your lucky stars
• Dead man walking

We, of course, could not contain our laughter.

As a writer, I spend lots of time inside my own head. Naturally, the last few days have found me wandering into dark fortune territory.

• Those stars you're seeing? Cataracts.
• Say goodbye to your toaster this week.
• There is a boulder in your future.
• Lucky numbers? I don't think so.
• I'd get that mole checked if I were you
• You're going to regret eating that fortune cookie
• Dinner: what goes down will come up
• Stay home Monday. And Tuesday. In fact, don't go out at all next week.

Try it. You'll be hooked. 

P.S. My son has long held on to the best fortune he ever got from a cookie (dark or otherwise):

A lit candle frightens no monkeys.

Wanna Keep Me Company?

So my manuscript is being placed directly into the hands of that lady I met last week. I am remaining calm. Calm like Hurricane Rita.

To keep my mind off of it, today I have done the following:

1. Purged the unwanted contents of my cedar chest.

2. Dusted AND vacuumed my bedroom.

3. Stir-fried some noodles. Ate three bites.

4. Made orange jello (I don't eat jello).

5. Cleaned AND vacuumed my bathroom (long dark hair on Travertine tiles).

6. Watched "What About Bob?" (I feel good, I feel great, I feel wonderful...)

7. Searched for a new camera lens on e-Bay.

8. Talked to the same person on the phone THREE times.

9. Cleaned and disinfected two Camelback bladders (we're going to Moab on Wednesday).

10. Got on Facebook at least 5 times.

11. Started a new story.

Only five more hours til bedtime.

I Made a Quilt!

I have always been the "occasional" seamstress. If someone needed some pants hemmed or a Halloween costume made, out came the sewing machine. The past few years have seen a tradition of homemade pajama bottoms at Christmas. That's as far as my skills and desire have ever taken me. This year, summer came, and I found myself sewing like the mad hatter. It started out with a simple bag. Five bags later, I decided I really enjoyed the creative outlet that sewing offers and decided to make a quilt.

The first quilt I ever made was also the last quilt I ever made. It was one of those straightforward patchwork numbers with pink yarn tied at every corner and a sheet for the back. I used it all through college and today it is sitting in my garage somewhere.

This summer, I discovered a quaint little quilt shop in my town. The assortment of pretty fabrics was like a party for my eyes! It was hard to choose, but I zeroed in on some brightly-colored Amy Butler fabrics. I cut. I pieced. I sewed and trimmed. In between all that, I moved. And now that fall is here, I have a cuddly quilt that reminds me of warmer days to wrap myself in whenever I watch T.V.

More than that, I have something I can be proud of.

I created something that didn't exist before.

By the way, if you want to see some beautiful quilts, check out the Bloggers Quilt Festival here: