Update #5 - October 2024

 Heavy frost this morning and 25 degrees F. Rather appropriate for the night before Samhain. I was sad to see frozen morning glory blossoms, but they had a good run. 

Very little writing in the last week. I've had some other priorities, including a last minute emissions test and getting license plate tabs for the truck, as this was the end of the grace month. They've changed the system again, sigh, but next year I can do it on line again. Preparation for the Retreat resulted in my being later than usual. I've also spent time preparing for this morning's frost. I should finally get back to serious writing soon.

Update #4 - October 2024

 First frost here this morning. 30 degrees F, light frost on roofs and a little in the middle of the yard, thin ice on the high birdbath, but to my surprise the morning glories are still blooming. They should have a few more days, but that will be it - our usual Halloween snowstorm is due Tuesday or Wednesday. 

I finally got a little writing done yesterday afternoon -  only 175 words, including some editing, but it's a beginning. It will probably take me a while to get going again, since I had about a two months' break due to Oak Leaves and our Rocky Mountain Retreat, including writing a book review and creating a PowerPoint presentation for the Retreat on prehistoric rituals in British and Irish caves and passage tombs. The latter subject is actually quite pertinent for this book <grin>. 

I also have to make sure place descriptions match those in The Fallen Stones, since Gwernin is going back to the North, along the same route but in a clockwise fashion this time. In the process he's meeting people we've seen before, and finding out what has happened with them in the last six years. Fráechán is traveling with the group, and we're hearing more about his experiences, too. And Gwernin's twelve year old son Ianto is developing unexpected talents. All in all, things are getting interesting.

Update #3 - October 2024

 No writing in the last week either, but our October Rocky Mountain Retreat is this weekend, and after that I can get back to Gwernin and company <grin>. The last month has been busy, busy, busy, but I'll have pretty much free time to write until mid December, and I'm looking forward to it.

Autumn is definitely here, and we are approaching Winter's doorstep. Leaves are turning gold and falling, especially on the ash trees. I may have the first frost tomorrow night, so the geraniums and rosemarys will go back in the garage today. Some of the morning glorys may survive the weekend, but I wouldn't bet on it. Garden cleanup will probably start soon.

Update #2 - October 2024

 Again, no writing progress, sigh. Some work on my presentation for the October Retreat, and am beginning to panic on that front. When it's over, however, I expect to get back to Gwernin and company. At this rate I might publish the book by Samhain next year...

On the other hand, we're having pleasant autumn weather - mild to warm days, cool to cold nights. No frost yet, and I hope it doesn't arrive over the retreat weekend, as I don't want to bring the geraniums in before I have to - they are happy in the cold frame, and two of them are blooming.

Update #1 - October 2024

 Another week with no writing progress. I might get going again around Samhain, sigh. Finished the winter issue for OL, and started gathering material for the spring issue. Two more issues to go...

The weather has been nice, although last night's low was 39 F. Morning glories are nervous...