State Houses

We can see the end.

Last week we took in three more State Capitals: Sacramento, CA; Salem, OR; and Olympia, WA. Giving us a grand total of 46. The four remaining are: Utah; Montana; Idaho; Hawaii.

Now we have to decide how to get to Hawaii. Cruise or fly? Having lived there for three years and then been back on Oahu years later for a week long visit before we'd started our quest to visit all of the US State Houses, staying on island isn't a priority. Still getting to the the west coast requires a long flight, an overnight stay, the cruise and then reverse (staying overnight depending on when the cruise docks). Flying the whole way would be faster. At the moment, after the trip last week, I am inclined toward choosing the cruise.

Once we finish this grand tour with a visit to the Federal Capital what will be our next goal? There are numerous exciting possibilities.

England

The estates of the titled were extensive, providing them the basis of their wealth. Today many of these estates are part of the National Trust and are open for public visits.

England and Austen

This is an image from an illustrated copy of Emma. The latest PBS series of Austen books, the shows that were filmed for the series, were a disappointment. How sad to have the writings of a master writer turned into a cheap suit.

Happily Ever After

Sorrows remembered sweeten present joy.
Robert Polock: Course of Time, Bk. I

Joys are our wings, sorrows our spurs.
Jean Paul Richter

Romance fiction demands a promise of happily ever after before the writer ends the story. Every fairy tale ends with the promise of a happy ever after. But, in all of these stories, obstacles arise that must be overcome and resolutions to differences must be found.

Real life is full of obstacles, sorrows, differences, and grim news--things that detour us from obtaining the happiness we seek. But overcoming the pot holes of life leads to happiness.

Keep positive. Remember past woes, but don't let unhappy memories spoil today.

Brownies In A Jar

These ingrediant jars make great gifts. This one is from the Hershey website and calls for a combination of mini semi-sweet chocolate chips and white chocolate chips or peanut butter chips. I should think you could substitute any flavor chip combination as long as you use the one and a half cups called for.

So find a clean 1 quart class canister or jar and layer (tapping the jar gently on the counter to settle each layer before adding the next layer) the ingredients in the following order: 1-1/2 cups sugar; 1/3 cup Hershey's Special Dark cocoa; a combined 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1/2 tsp. baking powder, 1/4 tsp. salt; 1 cup of whatever chips you choose, ending with 1/2 cup of semi-sweet chocolate mini chips.

Cover and attach baking directions.

Baking directions: Heat oven to 350 F. Grease and flour an 8x8x2 inch baking pan. Combine 1/2 cup (1 stick) melted and cooled butter and 2 slightly beaten eggs. Gently stir in jar contents. Spread in pan. Bake 35 minutes. Cool in pan then cut into 16 bars.

A Little Inspiration

My neglect of my blog is evident. But not posting here does not mean I have been idle. Family, the holidays, producing new pages and completing new stories have kept me busy.

Today I am posting two inspirational quotes about perseverance that speak to my own need for inspiration at the moment.

When the world says, "Give up," Hope whispers, "Try one more time." Author Unknown.

He conquers who endures. ~Persius

A writer's life is often filled with delay and with rejection. But, I know of more than one writer who succeeded after years of struggle. Their ability to persevere allowed them to keep writing in the face of rejection after rejection.

So if you have a dream, pursue it with every bit of determination you can muster. Increasing your knowledge, overcoming obstacles, and after each goal is met, set another.

Libraries are Fun

The 2007 Holiday season is fast approaching--not to mention my birthday--! I have much to celebrate and be thankful for this year.

In October the Durham County Library held a Romance Tea.The Heart of Carolina published Regency Writers were invited to make up a panel. It was a super day. The guests who came out on a beautiful Sunday afternoon were full of questions and fun. I displayed a copy of BROMPTON MANOR and then donated it as a prize.

On Monday, I received a call from a librarian from Apex who was given my name by one of their librarians who met me at the ALA conference. I have been invited to partcipate in their brown bag lunch event on February 14.

As a long time fan of libraries, I am delighted the publication of BROMPTON MANOR by Avalon Books has provided me with these opportunities.

Among my most pleasurable memories of early childhood are a memory of sitting at a school desk and discovering I could read the words in a Dick and Jane primer and the day I first remember walking into the children's section of my hometown public library and thinking I had entered a land of enchantment.

In my adult life, as my family moved around the country, one of the first things I looked for in every new community was the nearest public library. Each of my four daughters are avid readers and have passed this joyous endeavor on to their children.

Having more and more research books available on the internet is a great benefit, but I am hopeful ink, paper and glue books never disappear.

But whatever is ahead, I look forward to the challanges and the joys.