Behind Curtain One:
Me (in the trailer at the farm John and his brothers inherited in Wisconsin) sewing curtains last week.Two panels per window. Four little windows. Two long windows at the front and back. A big curtain to pull closed at the napping/changing end of the trailer. Thirteen panels altogether.
Cushions covered in Michigan by yours truly. Boring job. Not fun.
Years ago John even made me a sewing table with perfect drawers for all the treads and pins and stuff. I used to like sewing. Quilts. Clothes. But sewing’s not my favorite thing anymore. My back hurts. Curtains are especially dull—seams up two sides, two seams at the top for the rod to go through, and a hem seam. And ironing between each seam. Seamsboring to me.
But now the trailers done! Curtains, cushions and all. Yay!
And really the trailer is looking wonderful since John and his brothers, Walt and Herb, gutted it and de-moused it and re-outfitted the inside last fall. It’s wonderful. I can’t wait to sit in there and work on the next novel. Writing doesn’t give me a backache. Isn't that strange? Similar position—butt on a chair.
Last week, while I was in the trailer sewing, John and his two brothers (The Bogner Boys) built a deck between the old trailer (1949 Nassau—the writing trailer), and the new contractors trailer (1969 there abouts). The place was buzzing with activity—saws, nail guns, and sewing machine.
Behind Curtain Two:
Curtains going up. Life’s a stage. When I was a little girl, my great grandmother, two great uncles and two great aunts lived in a flat on Stanley Street in Detroit. Since my great grandmother was in her nineties and frail, they’d turned the dining room into a bedroom for her and my great aunt Betty. Of course, there was a curtain (dark green and heavy) between the dining/bedroom and the living room. Supposedly for privacy, but actually my stage curtain. Me—seven or eight, the great entertainer, popping through that curtain and singing, dancing and telling jokes to amuse my elders.
I like entertaining.
Behind Curtain Three
Curtains going up!
A couple weeks ago I was a guest at my friend Nicky DeYonker’s book club. Eleven women were there and they all read my novel, “A Bird in the House.” It was great fun for me (I hope for them too). It’s really cool sharing with people who’ve read your book. The women were all friendly and smart, with interesting questions and insights (some that hadn’t crossed my mind) about the book.
AND they wrote reviews on Amazon.Thank you! And also, a huge thank you to Nicky for sharing her friends with me (she also wrote a lovely review!)
So, Hey, if you have a book club and would like a writer to visit your group, I’m available and free, although your readers would need to buy the book (paperback and Kindle versions are on Amazon.)
