Friday, July 25, 2014

Winding down

In the homestretch of two weeks of teaching and two Portlands. My voice is shot and my tummy is full of such great local food on each coast. I've had the pleasure of working with such terrific students and colleagues that my heart is even more full than my stomach. 
. Annabelle has had a great time too, with Secret Agent camp in Portland l and glass and metalwork camp in Portland ll. And we got to see friends on each coast.

 But I'm looking forward to packing up the mini tomorrow and heading home. A week of writing and nesting and not talking! Sounds just right. 

Made great progress on my bias blanket!

Friday, July 18, 2014

Online essay writing class!


This online class is one of the joys of my teaching life! You can do it in your pajamas!

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Thunder!

Happily settled into my dorm room at Reed College for Tin House Workshop. Thunder and rain! A dramatic beginning! Arrived late yesterday afternoon and went directly from airport to the wonderful welcome party, where I ate my fill of pork belly/tomato bites and corn pizza, followed by grilled salmon, sliders, and creamed kale. All of this came with my new favorite cocktail: whiskey and lemonata. Perfect for a sultry summer night. 

This morning my fabulous friend scooped me up and took me to Roman Candle for breakfast, where I had egg salad with arugula and bacon on toast. And Stumptown coffee. Oh. At night they serve compari and soda on tap. Sigh. 

Bought gorgeous bouquets of dahlias and zinnias in bright orange and hot pink tucked inside Mason jars to brighten our rooms. A couple Oregon zins to brighten our evenings. 

I love this city. 

Friday, July 11, 2014

Off to Portland! And then Portland!

No, you're not seeing double. I'm leaving tomorrow for Portland OR and the fabulous Tin House workshop. And from there to Portland ME and the wonderful Stonecoast Workshop. Two weeks in two of my favorite places, teaching and kibitzing with other writers. Lots of hard work, but always exhilarating. 

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

The Truro Public Library Rocks!

What a night last night! Full house...er...library. Great audience. Beautiful Cape Cod night. Tricia and all the librarians there are all wonderful. And her husband Tom went to URI! Thanks to them, and Courtney, Martha, and Lisa. 

If you're on the Cape this summer, check out their reading series. I'm sad to leave here this morning and return to hot and humid Providence. Sigh. 

On a different note, if you're looking for a terrific book of short stories, run don't walk and get BOBCAT by Rebecca Lee. Blew my flip flops off!


Saturday, July 5, 2014

Happy Fourth of July!

My father was born on the 4th, and he always said the celebrations were for him! And celebrate we did, beginning his birthday every year with John Philip Sousa's STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER, followed by the biggest party ever. That party moved from our backyard to the beach in later years, but only got bigger and better. I've always preferred a low key 4th since he died. Do Arthur's rainy visit today was fine by me. Spent the morning in Bristol and afternoon with Gogo. Then came home with tulips and the fixings for carbonara. A game of Clue, watched The Leftovers, and went to sleep with the lovely sound of rain on the roof (and blissful cool air coming in the windows)...

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Truro, morning

I had forgotten the beauty and old fashioned summer fun of the Outer Cape. But my week teaching fiction here at Castle Hill inTruro has brought it all back. Kind of a perfect 4 days. I teach in the morning, Annabelle and I forage for lobster rolls or a half dozen Wellfleet oysters for lunch, she takes a felting class in the afternoon while I write, then we head off on an adventure before dinner: climbing the Cape Cod Light, mini golf, a concert at the library, the drive-in. At night we read WONDER together (after more oysters). It will be hard to pack up and leave today...