Update #3 - February 2025

 I more or less finished Chapter 22 a couple of days ago, but more tinkering was required, partly because it was running far too long. Eventually I took the last episode out and parked it temporarily in Chapter 23, which I need to start writing now. This will take Gwernin et al all the way north to Beltany Stone Circle, and may involve Fráechán running the Midsummer ritual there--possibly a hazardous thing for him to do. Oh, and Gwernin has told Fráechán that he wants to visit the Well of Wisdom, but not why--that will be in Chapter 29!

The weather has been very wintry here for the last week--single digit F lows a couple of nights, small amounts of snow, and last night 4-5 inches of the white stuff. However, it should be warmer for the next week. Ruay and I will both be glad of it!

Update #2 - February 2025

 Slow progress on chapter 22. Gwernin et al are on their way north. Taliesin has told them what he experienced in Oweynagat, and Ianto has performed for the king of Connacht and won a silver bracelet. We still haven't heard Neirin's and Mael's experiences, which should take care of the rest of the chapter.

Zero degrees F here this morning at sunrise. It might get slightly above freezing later today, but the rest of the week should be a little less cold. I'll take some hot water out to the birdbath in an hour or so.

 

Update #1 - February 2025

 A slow start to chapter 22. This one will take Gwernin et al from Cruachan/Oweynagat to Beltany stone circle in the north in time for midsummer. I had to review Gwernin's journey in the opposite direction in The Fallen Stones, also the geography. What I've got written so far will need some tinkering; some of the things that were important in The Fallen Stones aren't important in this story. We pass through the area where Fráechán made his last Druid Fence, and he should tell us a little more about that; also Taliesin has promised to tell us about his night in Oweynagat (which I'll be working on today). All in all, it's a long ride, with probably not much excitement, but we'll see.

Denver has had some nicer weather this week - no snow, and highs in the 50s and 60s. After tomorrow, things will be colder again.

Update #5 - January 2025

 I finally finished chapter 21 a couple of days ago. Now Gwernin et al will be riding north, intending to reach Beltany Stone Circle in time for the Midsummer observances there. 

Not often do you get five Thursdays in January. After a very cold and snowy month, the beginning of February, at least, looks more pleasant - forecast high for next Wednesday is 70 F! I'm looking forward to finally get some garden cleanup done; I also want to start walking regularly again. Ruay will also be happier. :)

Update #4 - January 2025

 Not much progress with the writing this last week due to various distractions. Hopefully next week will be better
. 

The weather has been very cold here, with several near zero or subzero F nights and some days that didn't get above freezing, also a couple of days with snow. Next week should be better with highs in the 40s.

Update #3 - January 2024

 Some progress this week - about 2/3 of chapter 21. Gwernin and company have arrived at Oweynagat, and three of them are sharing their own experiences of the cave. I'm debating whether to include a couple more incidents, which would make for a rather long chapter. In the next chapter, they'll head north.

The weather has been cold and dry for the last week, but there's a bitter winter storm with snow and subzero lows forecast for the weekend. May the weather Gods be merciful!

Update #2 - January 2025

 I've made a little progress on chapter 21 in the last week, interrupted by finishing up the spring issue of Oak Leaves. I've found a replacement editor and will be working with her on the summer issue which comes out at Beltane. After that I should be able to concentrate on my own writing without interruptions. This will be good, since the story is beginning to move -- Gwernin et al are on their way to Oweynagat.

January weather is back this week - very cold with intermittent snow. I keep planning on running errands, then canceling. Next week at least looks drier, if not much warmer. My orange cat Ruay hasn't spent much time outside this week, and when he's out I've been setting a timer to remind me to check on him. We'll both welcome the approach of spring.

Update #1 - January 2025

 I finished chapter 20 yesterday -- mostly fidchell games and magic. Now in chapter 21 Gwernin et al will be moving on to Cruachan and Oweynagat for a different sort of magic. First, however, I have to finish my article for Oak Leaves and wrap the issue!

Relatively mild and dry this last week, although we had one night in the lower teens. Next week's weather looks more promising for precipitation, which we need badly. I ask the weather gods every morning for rain - we shouldn't be having fire warnings in January.

Update #4 - December 2024

 Despite the holiday interruptions, I got about a third of chapter 20 written in the last week. In this part, Taliesin and Fráechán tell the others a story about a series of fidchell games Fráechán once played against an adversary. Most of this episode is lifted from The King's Druid, but repurposed into a discussion of strategy and tactics. Fráechán tells part of it from his point of view, including something Taliesin, who was traveling with him then, didn't know. With luck I might finish this chapter in the next week. :)

Mostly dry weather, 50s and 20s, although we got a little rain last night. I went around yesterday morning and this morning giving Christmas cards and jam to a few of my neighbors. Fortunately this was Royal Crest Dairy's delivery day, because when I went out first thing to collect the milk, I found that my neighbors on the north side had reciprocated (presumably yesterday afternoon when I was at Rowen's house) with a card and cookies - happily I found the cookies before a squirrel did!

Season's greetings to everyone, and best wishes
for good fortune in the next year!

Update #3 - December 2024

 I finally finished chapter 19, which took an unexpected turn at its end. As a result, the visit to Oweynagat has been pushed down a chapter. Chapter 20 is now called "Strategy and Tactics", and Fráechán is  going to play some games of fidchell (a board game similar to chess which was important in several episodes of The King's Druid) with Mac Tire, the leader of King Suibne's bodyguard whom we met in The Fallen Stones and under a different name in Flight of the Hawk. After that Gwernin et al will eventually be going to Cruachan for Oweynagat. Unexpected developments make writing more fun <grin>.

More writing means less yard work, but there's no urgency with that this time of year. The weather has been mild and dry for the last couple of weeks, and almost all of the snow has left my back yard except for some tattered remains of the November blizzard in shadowed spots. It doesn't look like we'll get a white Christmas this year, which is all the better for travelers. We'll be celebrating Midwinter on Saturday, outside for a change. It will be nice to celebrate with a real fire!