Better Things to Come

What a weird, awful year it’s been. Now that people are being vaccinated and things are starting to open up, I have to hope that we’re on our way back to normal life – even if normal might never be quite what it was before 2020. It’s hard not to get impatient when there are still so many restrictions in place. I miss seeing (and hugging) my friends and family, going to the movies, and taking the kids places other than the local park. Rather than get bogged down in frustration, I’ve been trying to focus on the little things I can enjoy every day – listening to music, cuddling my cat, and writing. I don’t quite trust Mother Nature not to throw us another curve ball, but I have to be cautiously optimistic that 2022 will be much better.

One thing I’m looking forward to is my participation in the Last Chance Beach line of romance novels. My book is due for release in the fall of 2022. I’ve barely started writing it, but I have developed the main characters and an outline. Each Last Chance Beach romance is a stand-alone book that takes place in a common setting.

The first book in this line to be released is Deceptively Yours by Joan Reeves, a very talented and highly respected NY Times and USA Today bestselling author. It’s a sizzling Romantic Suspense about lost love, second chances, redemption, and a woman and a man who are destined to be together. Available now!

Holiday Music

One of my favourite things about the holidays is Christmas music. The stores start playing it way too early (in my opinion), but once I’m surrounded by glittering decorations and holiday music, I’m in the mood to start celebrating the most wonderful time of the year.

When I was a kid, my parents had a few Christmas records that they played every year. One was The Roger Whittaker Christmas Album (1978), featuring all original songs written by him. Another was Christmas with Nana Mouskouri (1972), which had two sublime versions of “Ave Maria” that still give me tingles.

My mom also had a cassette of Elvis’ Christmas Album (1957). My sister and I thought the background singers going “ah-oo ah-oo” on “Blue Christmas” was hilarious. We didn’t play that album much, since my dad hated Elvis. Now I love listening to it.

These days, I enjoy classic recordings by Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby. My favourite carol of all time is “O Holy Night,” no matter who sings it. I also like more recent songs like Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime” and “Last Christmas” by Wham. “Do they Know It’s Christmas” by Band Aid isn’t a great song (let’s be honest), but it brings back warm memories of the popular bands of the 1980s.

What music do you like to listen to during the holidays?

A Christmas Miracle on Main Street

I’m excited to introduce you to my contribution to the 2020 Authors of Main Street Christmas boxed set. A Christmas Miracle on Main Street is a brand-new romance set in Ontario. In this sweet story, a child’s lost letter to Santa brings together three lonely people—Heather, her daughter Evie, and Nick—just in time for the holidays.

Here’s a sneak peek:

Chapter One

Eight-year-old Evie held tight to her mother’s hand as they strolled along the Main Street sidewalk. Evie swiveled her head this way and that, taking in the red velvet bows tied to lamp posts and the pine garlands with golden ribbons draped over shop doorways. She slowed her steps to peer at each window display they passed, with coloured lights glowing over lushly decorated Christmas trees, miniature villages dusted with shimmering snow, and scenes of Santa’s apple-cheeked elves hard at work building toys. Even the mannequins in the clothing stores wore glittery party gowns.

A flicker of excitement danced in Evie’s heart. The two weeks left until Christmas felt like forever, but she didn’t want to rush it. She loved Christmastime more than anything, and every year it began with a walk with her mom along Main Street toward Elmwood Park. Everything felt perfect today—the crisp winter air biting her cheeks, the delicious aroma of cinnamon wafting from the Grateful Bread Bakery, the firm grip of her mom’s gloved hand around hers as they walked.

“Why don’t we stop in at the bakery and get some of that apple bread you like?” her mom said, smiling down at Evie.

“On the way back.” Evie could already hear the voices of the carolers drifting down from the park at the next corner. She bounced on her toes in anticipation. Every December, in the center of the park, there was a giant tree strung with hundreds of lights, and around it would be carolers and a bell choir, and hot chocolate and cookies for sale. And, of course, they’d have Santa’s big red mailbox. “I need to mail my letter to Santa,” she said. “It’s the most important thing.”

“All right,” her mom said brightly, but her face didn’t match her voice. She had that deep wrinkle between her eyebrows that meant she was worried about something.

Evie couldn’t think of a reason for her mom to be unhappy today. She loved Christmas just as much as Evie did. It had been just the two of them the last few years, but Evie didn’t mind. She couldn’t wait to make cookies together and decorate the tree with lights and tinsel. She knew she’d hardly sleep at all Christmas Eve, though it wouldn’t stop her from waking early to see what Santa had left for her under the tree. In the afternoon, she’d help her mom make roast chicken with potatoes and vegetables. Evie could already taste the homemade cranberry sauce and dressing, which she was sure to eat too much of and barely have room for apple pie. She couldn’t imagine a more wonderful day.

Her mom lifted Evie’s hand closer to her face. “Your hands are red. Why aren’t you wearing your mittens?”

Evie shrugged. She’d been too distracted to notice the chill seeping into her fingers. Her fingertips were pink and nearly numb. She let go of her mother’s hand long enough to pull her purple mittens from her pocket.

And as she slid the mittens onto her hands, she didn’t notice the letter slip from her pocket and flutter toward the pavement.

Making the Best of the Worst Year

Who would have imagined that 2020 would be like this?

Here in Canada, we seem to have COVID under control, but we need to continue taking precautions to keep it that way. Most businesses are open, with physical distancing and masks mandatory wherever you go. Outdoor activities are safest, but it’s been too hot a lot of the time to spend much time outdoors. Last week, our family did manage a short trip to Prince Edward County, Ontario, where we toured some wineries and cooled off at a couple of beaches. It felt wonderfully normal, even with all the extra precautions.

In a couple of weeks, schools will reopen. What will happen to transmission rates then? I’m apprehensive, but I’m opting to send my kids to school. They don’t learn well at home, and they need to see their friends after six months of mainly staying in the house.

I try not to read the news more than once a day. A lot of it just gives me anxiety. I’m trying to be optimistic, and I focus on appreciating that my family is doing okay and everyone is well. It may take a while, but we can get through this and come out the other side.

Stay safe, everyone!

Summer Blooms

Leigh’s garden in the previous post is beautiful and inspiring – I’m afraid mine pales in comparison! I have a small yard, and I don’t seem to have much time for gardening, plus it’s been too hot lately to spend a lot of time outside.

Thankfully, I have a few trusty perennials that don’t require much care. It gives my spirits a lift to see them bloom in vibrant colours every year.

Here are a few of my lovely summer flowers.

Campanula (Bellflowers)

Daylily

Possibly mock orange?

Peony

Spring is Finally Here

It’s a beautiful Victoria Day here in Ottawa. Going outside to bask in the warm sunshine makes this weird and scary time seem a little more tolerable. A day like today has a way of bolstering my hope for a better tomorrow.  I’ve been in the yard preparing my little garden for planting with a nice layer of compost. The tomato and sweet pepper plants that I planted from seed indoors are ready to go.

It’s always a thrill when the first flowers of spring appear. Usually my irises are in bloom by now, but they are late this year. I’ve got peonies, hostas, lilies, roses and hydrangea emerging from their winter slumber in my front yard, but nothing blooming yet.

 

But I went around the side of the house today and discovered these lovely little flowers, which I think are periwinkle. I love them.

I hope the day is beautiful wherever you are.

Mother’s Day

I was able to see my mom briefly this Mother’s Day (from a distance of 6 feet), but I was sad that I couldn’t give her a hug. Still, I’m happy that she’s healthy. I will do what it takes to keep it that way so I can hug her whenever it becomes safe to do so. Usually I take her out to lunch for Mother’s Day. She’ll have to take a rain check this year. (She did make me an apple pie, though.)

Although I don’t see much of her these days, Mom is only a phone call away. She’s always there for me, to listen and support me, no matter what.

I hope Mom knows I appreciate everything she’s done for me over the years. The birthday parties with money cakes and Bristol board hats; her special cheese bunnies, homemade spaghetti sauce, enchiladas, and cherry cheesecakes that still make my mouth water; the hours she spent giving me perms all through the 1980s; all the Halloween costumes, and later, the beautiful prom dress she made for me. I would have been lost without all her help with my babies when they were little. And so many other things that are too numerous to mention.

Mother’s Day was low-key this year, but I’m grateful my kids are well and I had them with me (just as they have been with me all day, every day for over 6 weeks!). They made me cards and served me breakfast, and I got lots of hugs (and some chocolates). This is a weird and difficult time, but I feel loved and blessed to have family around me.

How Are You Doing?

As I write this, there are five confirmed cases of COIVD-19 in Ottawa, where I live. The city has pretty much shut down. March Break begins today for school kids, but museums, libraries, pools, camps, etc., are closed. Schools will be closed for an additional two weeks (at least). The worst part of all this, at the moment, is that people are hoarding food and household essentials like it’s the apocalypse. Some grocery store shelves are bare. Toilet paper is scarce. Lineups are insane. I’m sure it’s a similar story wherever you live.

It’s disheartening to realize how selfish people can be in a crisis. Instead of looking out for those who are most vulnerable, we grab what we can for ourselves. There’s a special place in hell for those who bought up mass quantities of hand sanitizer to resell them to desperate people at four times the price, and people who are stealing face masks from hospitals, where they are most needed.

We will get through this. We have to stick together (but not too close), follow the recommendations of health authorities, and ride this out as best we can. Check in on your elderly neighbours to make sure they are okay. With any luck, in a few weeks, things will start to go back to normal.

Looking Forward to 2020

I’m sitting here in my dining room in the aftermath of a snowstorm, realizing as I look out at the thick layer of snow outside that there’s something like 10 weeks until I’ll see grass again. It’s bleak. But that’s okay – instead of letting the weather get me down, I’m thinking about the things I’m looking forward to this year. Simple things, mostly; I don’t have any grand plans or life-changing goals.

Writing: I’ve plotted out a Christmas story that I might be able to get done for the fall if I can find the time to do it.

Editing: It’s work, but I enjoy it. I’m lucky because the authors I work with are awesome, and I look forward to working on the new stories they come up with.

My dad’s 80th birthday: Don’t tell him, but I’m already working on my speech for his party in March. I hate giving speeches, but I love my dad to bits, and he deserves to be celebrated.

My fave TV shows returning: Outlander, Stranger Things, Killing Eve, The Crown, Dead to Me… After reading all day in my day job and then doing freelance work in the evening, I love to lose myself in the next chapters of these stories I’ve been following – especially if I’ve had a bad day and I need to just veg out.

Summer vacation: It’s not Disney World, but we might take the kids to Canada’s Wonderland in Toronto this year. I think they’ll go crazy for the rides and the water park. I always enjoy creating special memories for my girls, and we don’t have to go far away or spend a ton of money to do that.

What simple things are you looking forward to in 2020?

 

Look What I Found in My Closet

A long time ago, before I had kids, I had a lot more time on my hands (and a bit more money) to devote to my hobbies. Back when I met my husband, 20+ years ago, we were both deeply into 1960s music. I went to memorabilia shows and bought vintage collectibles related to my favourite classic bands, the Beatles and the Monkees.

Here is most of my collection – trading cards, magazines, postage stamps, buttons, cake toppers, a record case, etc. My favourites are the adorable Monkees finger puppets. (There was no Peter Tork puppet, since he’d left the band by then; I ended up with two Mickys since one of them had boots and the other had a complete necklace.) Eventually, I put everything in a box and stashed it in my closet. I sort of forgot about it until recently. I probably won’t add any more to it, but I still think it’s groovy.

Do you have a favourite collection, from the past or present?