My twin nieces live in Jacksonville, FL, an area that generally votes red, but only by a couple percentage points. After the election, one of my nieces noticed that the neighbors had taken down their Hillary sign, and she worried that the neighbors were sad. So she wrote them a letter. from: your neighbor [name… Read more »
being an aunt
Scenes from the Writer’s New Life
It’s hard to focus on a hard revision when my new home remains chaotic and I could be organizing, cleaning, and hanging up pictures, rather than fixing this book. The news, which is heartbreaking everywhere, every single day, also makes it difficult. But I am focusing and fixing the book, because it feels even more… Read more »
New Year’s Dreaming
Bulgarian cover for Fire! Published by Emas, designed by Zlatina Zareva. Click to enbiggen! ——> ****** My dear nieces (accidentally and with great affection) gave me a Christmas present of a terrible cold in which my head was like a TARDIS of snot, so I’ve fallen behind in some things, including blogging. (The TARDIS, for… Read more »
Questions about Magic
I have just been watching the most beautiful show of clouds and light in the sky. I was being very selfish and didn’t take any pictures, but here are a couple of pictures from the other day. It was while looking at skies like this that I realized the colors of Saf’s eyes. Recently, at… Read more »
Redecorating
Sometimes when my nieces (now aged nearly 4) visit, I leave things within their reach on purpose, just to see what they make treasures of. In my bedroom closet, in the bottom of this tall boot, I found… the drain thingie from my bathroom sink… with a quarter nestled inside. I see that on my… Read more »
A Day in the Life
Today, codenames: Isis and Phoenix (age 3) asked me if I have any scary dreams. I told them (a modified version of) a scary dream I had recently. Isis patted me sympathetically on the arm and said, “Don’t worry, we’ll help you. We jump on people and scare away their bad dreams.” The dream removal… Read more »
Conversations from the First Leg of My Trip
(Background: My nieces, codenames: Phoenix and Isis, are approaching 2 ½ years old.) Someone discovers an enormous quantity of water inside one of the low kitchen cabinets where the girls have just been playing together. Me: Isis, did you pour the water from your cup into the cabinet? Isis: Yes. Me: Phoenix, did you pour… Read more »
In Which Some of Us Are 27 Months Old
Kristin bumps her head and says Ow.Codename: Phoenix: Kristin, did you break your crown while you were fetching a pail of water? Codename: Joe is driving the car, at a reasonable pace. Codenames: Phoenix and Isis are in the back seat.Phoenix (screaming): GO FAST! GO FAST!Isis (screaming): SLOW DOWN! SLOW DOWN! I am reading Death… Read more »
Book? Check. Pajamas? Check. Baby Nieces? Check.
To calm the mind: a favorite picture from last Christmas. Books are for cuddling.
