Still here...

Just been busy the last couple of weeks with assorted celebrations. Need to get back to work writing again...

-GRG

Wednesday...

Yesterday morning. It's finally beginning to look and feel like Winter.



-GRG

Remembering Llewelyn...

Seven hundred and thirty years ago on the 11th day of December...

Where is Llywelyn? Ble mae o?

He was due back eight nights ago.

The low sun creeps across the sky

And still I wait. He cannot die.

Without him, Wales might cease to be!

Ble mae Llywelyn? Where is he?

Where is Llywelyn? Ble mae o?

With banners bright we saw him go.

His scarlet lions shone in the sun—

I know this war can still be won—

and Cymru still can flourish, free!

Ble mae Llywelyn? Where is he?

Where is Llywelyn? Ble mae o?

I watch and wait; my worries grow,

But from the south I get no news.

The English king cannot refuse

To make peace soon, and then we’ll see…

Ble mae Llywelyn? Where is he?

Where is Llywelyn? Ble mae o?

Gwenllian fach, I do not know.

I wish that I could hold you tight.

I walk the battlements each night.

The sunrise lights no hope in me.

Ble mae Llywelyn? Where is he?

Where is Llywelyn? Ble mae o?

Outside Cilmari, in the snow,

Uncomforted, they say he died

In arms struck down. I know they lied.

He must live still! It cannot be!

Ble mae Llywelyn? Where is he?

Where is Llywelyn? Ble mae o?

To Avalon I’d have him go,

Like Arthur, live, and still fight on.

My time is spent. I must be gone.

Remember Eleanor, my dear—

Ble mae Llywelyn?  I am here…

- G R Grove

Sunday...

Had a good time at Georgetown's Winter Market yesterday, reading a couple of poems as part of the Colorado Welsh Society performances. Winter itself caught up with us last night -- a bit of snow, and quite cold today.



I'm back to working on the next book -- looking over the manuscript so far. I've decided to stop trying to plan too closely, and let the story go where it will...

-GRG

Friday...

OK, Thursday night, but...

This afternoon the semiannual Migration of the Geraniums occurred. From their summer splendor in the cold frame...



...which they have now abandoned...



...they made their way to their winter indoor habitat, following their good friends the cyclamen and the rosemary.





Usually this happens in November, but the relatively mild weather has allowed them to remain in their summer home longer than usual, soaking up sunlight. But with sub-zero (F!) temperatures forecast for Sunday night, it was time for the move. Long may they flourish in their winter home!

-GRG

Thursday...

I've just set up a new hardcover (w/ dust jacket) version of Storyteller on Lulu. Same text except I upgraded the map in the front. I'm going to do the same thing for the other books this week. Lulu, btw, is currently running a pre-Christmas 20% off promotion on everything, good through the 14th.

Tuesday...

...and things have been busy. First off, The Druid's Son is now showing as "in stock" on amazon.com, and has three reviews from early readers. Take a look!

Saturday I spent in Cheyenne at the SCA's Hunter's Feast - great food as usual, and no snow this year. It was good to see old friends, and I had fun performing a brief extraction from the next Storyteller book in the bardic competition. All told, an enjoyable day. Sunday and yesterday went in miscellaneous activities, including book bins and updating inventory. Our next merchant event will be the SCA's Caerthe 12th Night January 5th.

I've spent some time looking at the manuscript to date of the next book, and contemplating philosophical issues, e.g. how closely to Togi's experiences have to match what Gwernin hears as stories 500 years later? Should I even try to make things match up in any detail? And what will readers of the two series think if they don't?

More pictures next time...

-GRG

Friday...

...and the end of November. The day started with a moment of mild panic. One the way out the door to take the truck to Greasemonkey before we drive to Cheyenne tomorrow for an SCA event, I discovered the postcard from DMV telling me my vehicle registration was due for renewal in October. Argh! (You get one grace month, and this was the last day...) Not wanting to drive to Wyoming with expired license plates, I changed my plans for the morning. All is now well...

The mild weather continues - usually by now we've had some snow and very cold weather, but I'm not complaining. (No, it's not "global warming", it's just the South Pacific "La Nina" oscillation.) This is the first time in three years the weather has been good enough to drive to Cheyenne for this weekend's event. There's a bardic competition scheduled, and hopefully I'll sell some books as well.

The squirrel's still in the attic, although it goes outside during the daytime. A guy from the construction company that did the roofing job last spring came by a few days ago and looked at the place where it's getting in, and agreed that yes there was a hole... He wouldn't commit to fixing it for free, and if they won't do it for free, I'll get someone else. Or I might yet climb up and do something myself. Or the squirrel may stay there till spring... (no, I don't think that last choice will fly. It's bouncing around in the attic again...)

 -GRG

Thursday...

Still here - just preoccupied with this and that...

New cat picture: it was a cool gray day... Guess who arrived second?



-GRG

Tuesday...

Still no progress with the issue of the squirrel in the attic, disturbing noises of heavy equipment from the alley outside where some part of the neighbor's sewer outfall appears to be being redone, and amazon still isn't offering The Druid's Son for sale. Oh, and an e-list fracas last night which is still on my mind. Difficult to settle down to anything productive under these circumstances. Some days are like this...

Something new for the garden which I got a couple of weeks ago. Still haven't decided where to put it.



 -GRG