The last few months have been spent in quietness. I used my time for reading, setting goals, and laying infrastructure for those goals.

I feel optimistic about the future. I believe one of the best ways to set intentions is to visualize them, and how better than a beautiful calendar. A piece of American Made fine craftsmanship to schedule hopes and dreams. Although, not filled with appointments, my 2020 has been used for reminders, goals, and a few journaled sentences.

Every August or September I search for the best calendar. I compare, but always fall back on Gallery Leather Company from Bar Harbor, Maine. In the past, I found a limited selection at Barnes and Noble, but now I linger for days over the online color selection directly from Gallery Leather. Last week I ordered our calendars. Mac got Acadia Navy, and I chose Camden Kiwi Green.

The reason I love these calendars is because they are beautifully made, with maps, a section for notes, and a variety of options for keeping a schedule. It feels good in my hand, and I trust it more than the iCalendar on my phone, although I keep appointments there also.

My choice for several years has been their Leather Desk Weekly Planner. It’s a book bound, bonded leather, size 8 x 5.5, 192 gold gilded pages, and I pay extra for one-line personalization. It’s a good size to drop in my tote bag. While checking out the selection take a look at the Metallic Desk Weekly Planner—that was my 2020 choice.

What Am I Watching These Days

Murder, She Wrote with Angela Lansbury. The series aired for 12 seasons with 264 episodes from 1984 to 1996 on the CBS network. I’m really enjoying looking at the hair-dos, clothes, and cars from that time.

What Am I Reading

I follow writer Joanna Penn and often listen to her podcast, The Creative Penn. Last month I listened to Joanna interview Marion Roach Smith. Marion’s focus is Memoir. Well, I quickly grabbed my journal, and made notes of, at minimum, four memoir’s I could write. I am now in Marion’s study group learning to structure a memoir. I was too late for her last six-month class this year, but will be in her January group. My first attempt has a working title, Sleeping With Louie. It’s about one daughter’s soul-journey as an only child of an only child mother, with Borderline Personality Disorder—as illustrated by awakening to the benefits of imperfection, soul contracts, and a shaman’s illumination to the question, “Why?” 

I know I should explain the title…well, I’ll reveal that later as the story progresses.

For fun, I am reading Cozy Mysteries by Steve Higgs. Here’s the You Tube video that hooked me. I’m enjoying his Albert Smith Culinary Chronicles, and the Patricia Fisher Series. They’re light, easy, engaging, and most of all offer a fun escape from today’s issues.

 

 

The Literary Catcast Podcast

In my first sentence I mentioned laying new infrastructure. The Literary Catcast has a brand new website. Check it out HERE.

My latest episode was written in 1864 by Emile Zola, Paradise of Cats. Listen to the episode HERE. The best thing about this site, is that all episodes are posted there, so you no longer have to go to a podcast platform. You may enjoy them, all from our Episodes section.

 

 

 

Thanksgiving is Coming

In case you missed it last year, here’s a LINK to my post about Biodynamic Wines. The interview is with former Sommelier, Christina Chilcoat at Royal Blue Grocery in Highland Park Village, Dallas, Texas. Toward the end, I mention a promotional sale, but that was last year, 2019. However, information about biodynamic farming is good anytime. Here’s the You Tube link to my interview with Christina.