Spring?

As you know, I escaped winter, or most of it, by heading off to my favourite little town in Arizona. Three months in the high desert is so good for the body and mind. I delved into writing options, walked at least three miles (not kilometres– miles) a day, sang with the Verde Valley Voices and saw friends I had missed for three years. Yes, there was a gap as I healed my broken bones and nurtured my financial situation. As an old lady, I now pay a ghastly amount for medical insurance. Of course, I managed to get Shingles while there and the doctor and meds were not covered the cost being less than the deductible. Ah well, I would not step one foot over that border without insurance, just break a leg and there goes the house.

A delightful lady opened her home and her heart to me. I was her guest for the entire time there and we managed extremely well. Other occupants of the house were two cats. Peaches immediately adopted me and insisted on a spa treatment no less than four times daily. Lilac was very illusive and we did not even meet until I had been there for over a month. I kept insisting that the second cat was the owner's imagination. She did surface though and eventually allowed me to pet her. One of my favourite pastimes in the desert is photographing wild flowers. I have logged over 100 varieties in a 10 mile radius. This year, however, was very dry – there had been no amount of rain since August. I also returned to Canada earlier than usual which meant absolutely no wild flowers.

When I left, I drove to Houston to spend Easter with my daughter. Lots of wild flowers there! I hadn't seen Kristen for two years due to the fact she bought a house and was busy renovating it and had it nearly completed when Harvey wiped it all out and she was back in construction again. It is complete now and I was anxious to see her and the house. It was a delightful visit and she spoiled me rotten. I walked along the Bayou every morning with my camera slung around my neck.

When I left Texas, I had three wretched days travelling home. Not only did I endure stop-and-go traffic due to accidents and construction, the weather was iffy. On my last day, I wakened to dense fog and crawled through it for an hour and a half. But I did arrive safely to find my pellet stove wouldn't cooperate, my phone wasn't working and the internet was hopeless – not to mention it was still winter here. Ah well, I got it all sorted out the next day in time to head off to work a day later. Life does keep one on their toes, doesn't it.

January 25

Mingus Mountain wakened this morning wrapped in shades of red. My computer was busy submitting stories for consideration—my usual morning—this morning it was short stories, others it is queries for my latest novel. I am an early bird so get to see the sunrise over the desert every morning. In the month I have been here in Cottonwood there has only been one cloudy day. Sorry my dear northern friends, I do check your temps every day and thank my gods I escaped. My objective, while I am here is to submit my latest novel to every suitable agent and/or publisher and cross my fingers that one will deem my work worth supporting. Say one for me. Sales for When Secrets Become Lies are slow but steady; the reviews so complimentary.

Once I work away for a few hours, I head off to the range that surrounds this area and walk/hike for a good hour or so. Of course it is winter here so the vegetation is dormant but still has its own beauty. My camera is usually slung around my neck just in case I see the perfect shot.

Mt dear little car that brought me across this vast country has been treated to washing and interior cleaning. For $15, I bought an unlimited number of washes and vacuuming— good until the end of February! Wish I could find a deal like that at home. She sure looks pretty sitting in the driveway. I am off to see the 'Darkest Hour' this afternoon and live from the Met on Saturday. I am one busy girl.

January 13, 2018

As I sit here this morning watching the day unfold with high blue skies, I suffer a small ting of guilt because my friends in the north are enduring the winter of all winters. But the feeling passes very quickly as I congratulate myself for having escaped. Arizona is experiencing above seasonal temperatures and I am soaking them up. Nearly every morning, I head for my beloved range and hike. The thing about walking old haunts is the missing years disappear and each footstep becomes as familiar as if it was yesterday. I ventured out to walk the Backbone Trail. Never knew it as called that before—biggest change of all is signage! Yes, those little known trails are now labelled and documented. I suppose they now appear on some trail guides. However, there was little evidence of crowds. One set of footprints preceded me both going and returning. On my return to the trailhead, I met a runner just entering. There have been a few changes brought on by summer rainfall washing away some of the sandy trails and making vegetation sprout and flourish. There were many more creosote bushes. I always have to crush a few leaves just to inhale the scent. I meant to take my camera and forgot it. Grrr--. It rained during the night and temperatures had dropped leaving the grasses draped in beads of moisture, a hawk challenged my interruption and the textures were in abundance with light playing along grooves and crevices. I did snap a couple of pictures with my phone, but it does not capture the depth or produce the quality I want. But the high blue sky above the yucca seeds tells why each day is glorious. My camera is now sitting beside my hiking gear.

January 5, 2018

Well folks, I haven't posted any wanderings for a couple of years. And you want to know why - I haven't been doing much wandering - mostly healing. BUT now I am on the road again and here I am. Healing? Yes. The first episode was rather nasty. I decided to hang a potted plant on the post of my deck. I have a very trusty ladder and once I climbed it I set the drill to put in the screw on which to hang the pot, I exerted a little pressure, and I do mean little. Well the post gave way and I fell with the ladder et al. This resulted in 4 cracked ribs and a broken leg. I definitely needed to heal. Eighteen months later I undertook to help my grandson who had agreed to walk a neighbours dog while said neighbour was on holiday. However, there were 3 days he was unable to so I stepped in as a dutiful grandmother. Jack, the dog, is a large gentle blonde lab but when a snarling aggressive dog lunged at a fence we were passing, Jack sprung to the challenge. The problem was we were on a slight knoll and with the leash jerking, I lost my footing. This resulted in two cracked ribs and a broken shoulder. More healing necessary. So folks, I am now healed and have wandered across the great USA to take up residence in sunny Arizona for three months. What a wonderful way to start a new year. With my camera at the ready I will be watching for that perfect picture. Right now I will share an old one and invite you to visit my web page at www.mollyoconnor.ca

Spring has Sprung

Three weeks makes all the difference. Three weeks ago, I was wearing my winter coat. Overnight the temperatures soared to summer heights so much so I planted my veggies. Since then I have harvested enough asparagus to share with a few friends and lots for myself. I have picked and cooked rhubarb twice and must start freezing it—far too much—okay gave some of that away too. One night the temperatures dropped and there is a threat of frost but my wee garden is tucked in a safety zone and wasn’t touched. Seeds have sprouted (spinach, lettuce, cukes, green, onions, peas, zucchini,) and the tender plants I tucked in stand guard near the compost bin. I knew I had taken a chance planting so early but simply couldn’t resist.

The countryside is in blossom, glorious shades of pink, white and yellow are so welcome after that long dreary grey winter. Trusting nature to know when to bloom and that warm days and nights were truly here; I stripped the down duvet off my bed and dug out my shorts and sandals. Actually they weren’t far away since I had just returned from an adventure to New Orleans.

One wonderful thing about giving writing seminars is that I meet interesting and engaged people. The last one was made up of an entirely female group of enthusiastic wanna-be writers. The greatest compliment I can receive following the session is to hear they got right down to writing—many have shared that they did.

Got to let you know—it is coming soon!!! The final edits are done on my novel, all 4 (edits that is) of them (that is after the 11 or so I did), and I should have books in my hands by mid-June. What was supposed to be a three-month project has stretched to six. That is because I am way too fussy and picky and want it to be the best it can be. Of course I will bombard everyone with the news of the finished product and encourage sales.

Memoir Seminar

I am scheduling another writing seminar specific to memoir writing.Taking a memory/story that dwells in one’s head and transferring it to printed copy can be a formidable chore. Capturing your unique story in writing is not easy. Yet so many stories deserve to be told.

            In a few short hours, I will give you the tools to capture that moment in time effectively and mold it into a story that begs to be read. Perhaps you want to record a family history to be cherished by your descendants or you have a personal story you want to share with the world, whatever your reasons for needing to document your memories you want them to be appreciated because each and every one has a story worth telling.

However, telling it effectively and well is often missing. This seminar will highlight the basic skills and tools needed to begin to craft a compelling account of your cherished or dramatic memories.In an information-packed 4-hour session, I will outline how to craft a memory into a story that weaves a tale worth telling. I will be presenting this seminar on Saturday, May 16 from 10 am to 2 pm at Sobey’s Community Room, 6315 Hazeldean Rd., Stittsville- cost $35. Reservations are required as I only work with small groups. For reservations and more information call 613 489-3624 or email Molly at 4klondikemom@gmail.com

Spring forward

Well folks, I simply have been negligent in posting and here is why. I couldn't figure out how to set a link on my emails. That's my story and I am sticking to it. Obviously I did find out how and so here I am.
Winter totally grounded me. Being trapped in anything with a -degree in front of it is down right nasty. I sat huddled near my fireplace with my laptop. The good news is I did get my book to a publisher, sold several stories and kept most of you up to date with Facebook. All that said, I managed to escape last week and am sitting looking out the window at glorious sunshine over New Orleans. You need to know that this will be a quick post because I am headed poolside to soak up the rays - got to get as many as I can before booting the roads north. New Orleans is proving to be a great experience. Traveling with my friend Jess, is always a good experience except this time she nearly blew it. We headed for the swamps to see alligators etc. The tour started with a warning that all bananas were to be left behind. Big laugh on our part. The trip through the bayou was amazing where trees wore moss like a veil. We did see alligators - 4 of them. We saw egrets, hanging moss, snakes and the biggest surprise of all - swamp pigs. I had no idea there were such things. The tour guides tossed marshmallows to them so they came right up to the boat. The colony consisted of 22 pigs and about 12 were out to greet us. On returning to land our boat broke down and we had to abandon ship - well transfer to another really, but abandon ship is more creative. At which time it was revealed that a banana on board was considered bad luck because a ship loaded with bananas had

sunk there. Jess meekly pulled a banana from her backpack admitting she was at fault. Laughs all around.

We toured the flea market where colourful carriages lined the street waiting for tourist riders, the French Quarter where we refreshed with a cold beer while looking out at balconies draped with flowers

and the Audubon Zoo where we saw numerous animals that were endangered species like the whooping crane.

 New Orleans is full of wonderful experiences and since we still have two days to go - I expect we will experience more fun and what is so much appreciated - more sunshine.