Books, Books, and More Books
The boxes of books I shipped to myself from Manassas have arrived. One of them is so heavy, I couldn't even drag it over the threshold. 🙂 I am especially excited about the fold-out timeline I bought in one of the Park Service gift shops--they've all run together now,...
Birds Singing Up the Sun
The sun is just tinting the eastern hills a soft, pinkish apricot--with a lot of happy encouragement from the birds. I do love these early mornings, and I love being at home, with my dogs and cats and horses, and a new book waiting to be written.Today, I will draft...
Recovery Day
As you know if you've been following my Civil War blogs, I had a marvelous time in Virginia--despite bugs and a heat wave. I was delayed one day getting home, and spent a night in a Denver hotel, but the flight yesterday was on-time and easy. The dogs were glad to see...
In Denver
Here I am in Denver--my flight was late leaving DC because of weather, so I missed my connection home to Spokane. I have no luggage, and no pajamas, and it's too late to shop. (Or, at least, I'm too tired.) I'm trying to be philosophical about this--I believe there is...
Storm Coming In
I think we're in for a dandy lightning storm tonight, here in Virginia. I do love a rollicking good storm. 🙂 Last night, the whole sky lit up. Call me crazy, because I hope it happens again.I promised an update on the day's activities, and here it is. We visited two...
Sunday in Chester, VA
I'm writing this on my laptop, on Jim and Gladys Lael's screened sunporch. Doris and I drove down from Manassas yesterday, after stopping off to mail home all my new Civil War books. THAT was, literally, like losing a hundred pounds!Of course it's Father's Day, so Dad...
Antietam/Sharpsburg
Different names for the same battle--which took place in Maryland.Today was an easier day, in terms of hiking and heat, but it sure seemed long. Cousin Doris and I leave the hotel with the tour group at 7:30 am, and tonight was typical: we didn't get back until around...
June 11 and Gettysburg
A year ago today, I lost my beloved father, so he was on my mind all day today, as I explored Gettysburg with the tour group. The weather was slightly cooler than yesterday's, so that was good.Although all the other battlefields on this trip are new to me, I've been...
The Wilderness and Spotsylvania
Those are the battlefields we visited today. It is VERY hot in Virginia, and my hair and t-shirt were absolutely soaked. I had to sit a couple of the sites out on the air-conditioned bus-tomorrow is Gettysburg, and I want to be in top form for that. Here's my secret...
Notes from a tour bus!
I have finally managed to get online! Yeehaw, I am one persistent cowgirl! It wouldn't work in the room, but I'm picking up a signal on this bus headed for the Wilderness and Spotsylvania battlefields. 🙂 Go figure.Suffice it to say, I am having a wonderful time. I...
The Dixie Tour
Thanks to United Airlines, I don't have to 'wish I was in Dixie'--I'm headed there, to the land of my ancestors, on the Lael side anyway. The Bleeckers, Mom's side, were Yankees.The British have a term for this hour of the morning--sparrowfart. As in, "I was up at...
Another Getting Ready Day
I had to have bloodwork this morning, so it was no coffee for me. Yeesh. I need coffee by IV when I wake up. Someone once said writers have java in their veins instead of blood (with Hemingway and Fitzgerald, it was booze), so maybe my test will come back with a high...