Update #4 - February 2026

 It took three months, but I've finally finished chapter 2 and have a beginning of chapter 3. I'm hoping things will go faster now - cross your fingers! 

We seem to be having an early spring, although a dry one. The lilac crocuses which I planted under an apple tree about 20 years ago are blooming enthusiastically, a couple more recent purple ones have appeared, and the ones I had indoors winter before last are sprouting in their outdoors pot. I'm hoping there will be more soon.

Update #3 - February 2026

 Still in chapter 2, sigh, although the end is in sight. Gwion has got as far as Caerleon, where he's about to explore the ruins that Gwernin saw in the first chapter of Storyteller. After that they'll go on to Talhaearn's home in Caerwent, and I can start chapter 3.

The weather goes up and down - a couple of mild days, a couple of much colder ones. We got a sprinkle of snow yesterday after highs in the 60s a couple of days before. Two crocuses had decided to bloom on the milder days and got frozen for their audacity, but hopefully they'll try again soon. I'm getting tired of winter.

Update #2 - February 2026

 Another slow week with a little more progress on chapter 2. I wanted Talhaearn to tell a story, and ended up using the first part of the First Branch of the Mabinogi. Now I have to fill out some more travel details, and explain why Caerleon was in ruins. Then I may do a little more fast-forwarding in the next chapter.

More mild dry weather -- highs in the 50s most days, lows in the 20s. I would not be eager to shovel snow, but we badly need some moisture.

Update #1 - February 2026

 Finally got a little writing done yesterday. I'm still working on chapter 2, sigh. I hope to make more progress this week.

Surprisingly mild weather, with some highs in the 60s. No complaints there, but we still need rain or snow.

Update #5 - January 2026

 A little writing progress yesterday on Chapter 2, mostly map work and borrowing place descriptions from earlier books.  I was going to run errands today, but have decided to keep writing instead. I think / hope that once I get out of this chapter, things will go a little faster.

After last weekend's three-day deepfreeze, the weather has returned to normal - not warm, but 40ish highs most days, and no single digit lows. Last weekend's 2-3 inches of snow has also mostly melted. We'll probably be able to celebrate Imbolc outdoors tomorrow.

Update #4 - January 2026

 Again, not much writing over the last week, but a certain amount of thinking and reading earlier stories. My current problem is in regard to where Arthur's court was at this point. Caerlion would have been reasonable, but at the beginning of Storyteller Gwernin describes it as being in ruins, to an extent which would not have happened in the 18 years since Arthur died, or even in the 35 years since Taliesin first saw it. I am currently thinking that Caerlion must have been largely abandoned for some reason, and Arthur must have had his chief court elsewhere, either at Caer Dydd or Caerwent. In the meantime, the three of them will follow one of the major Roman roads, part of which we saw near the end of The Old Gods Endure, on their way to whichever place I decide on.

Another cold day here, but at least the temperature is supposed to get above freezing tomorrow after three days below. We've had a little snow from time to time, with possibly another inch or two tonight. At least we weren't affected by the big storm back east called Fern - which amusingly is the Irish equivalent of Gwernin!

Update #3 - January 2026

 Finally, a small amount of writing yesterday. It's a start. At least I think I know where the rest of chapter 2 is going.

Milder weather earlier in the week, colder again today. Last week's snow has finally melted, though it took a while. We might get a little more Monday, but I'm not counting on it. Ruay stays in a lot when it's this cold (16 F this morning). He's a desert cat.

Update #2 - January 2026

 Sigh. Once again, not much progress. I've got to stop browsing the web so much and get on with this book.

Got about 3.5 inches of snow last night. This lot will now be leaving very fast, as it's going to be pretty cold the next couple of days. Lots of birds and squirrels this morning, including a flicker earlier who was busy eating the suet crumbs a squirrel was dropping from the feeder.

Update #1 - January 2026

 No writing the last few days, but that is about to change. If I'm going to finish the Taliesin book this year, I've got to get going!

Hope everyone had good holidays. Cloudy here today but not very cold. We need more snow, and more sunshine in between. :)

Update #4 - December 2025

 Running late with this post due to holidays. No writing progress this last week - I may just wait to start again after New Year's Eve, but I wanted to get one more December update before it's too late.

After a bunch of mild days, we got an inch or so of snow late last night, and it was 12 F at sunrise. The snow will clear itself off in the next couple of days, so I haven't bothered scraping it much, especially since it was frozen to the walks this morning. 

Happy New Year, everyone!

.