My in-progress needlepoint project is called "Amber Waves." Lots of different stitches--and I'm learning to manipulate the stitches, where I wasn't quite exact with the dividing lines. Love these colors. And this is such relaxing work after a long day at the computer, out in the garden, doing housework. I love sitting down (actually bought myself a new chair this week--fits me perfectly) and picking up a piece of needlework.
Here's the project I told you about in the August WIP report--all finished, framed in a simple black frame. This will hang in our log cabin in New Mexico. Both this one and "Amber Waves" are about 10" X 10". Both are designed by Laura Perin.
Book report. I've been working steadily and making good forward progress on Wild Rose, the working title of the Rose Wilder Lane novel. I'm nearly half-way through the book, I think, although I still have some major decisions to make about what to include, what to leave out.
I also have an idea for a series of website posts that will provide some of the historical, factual framework for Wild Rose--something like an online series of expanded fully-documented footnotes that I can later (perhaps) collect into an eBook supplement to the novel. Rose has been so often mischaracterized in print and online by people who have an agenda, sometimes literary, sometimes political: I want to clarify some of these issues, set the record straight on others.
Garden. The fall garden is partly in. I planted Irish potatoes two weeks ago (I saved the seed potatoes from my spring crop) and Kentucky pole beans last week. I planted tomatoes (more Porters) in early August; they'll be ready to go in the ground next weekend, when it's supposed to be cooler. Ditto the sweet bell peppers. Mid-month, I'll plant spinach. Meanwhile, we are eating lots of okra. Eating locally means eating in season, you know.
Reading in progress. I'm reading quite a lot of research material for Wild Rose, as you can imagine. I'll post the full bibliography on the website at some point. Otherwise, I'm reading Willa Cather right now, O Pioneers! (just because I hadn't read it in a while). Just finished The Midwife of Hope River, by Patricia Harman, and will be writing a big-thumbs-up review this week. I'm listening to (on my MP3 player, while I walk the dogs, work in the garden) The Defining Moment: FDR's Hundred Days and the Triumph of Hope, by Jonathan Alter--also period research. That's just a sample: lots more on the stack!
Books and travels. Next Saturday, it's Murder by the Book in Houston, to celebrate the launch of The Darling Dahlias and the Confederate Rose. I'll be talking about the research I did for the book--for this one, it was an interesting series of accidental discoveries that led to still other accidental discoveries. When the book was finished, I was amazed at all the fascinating things I discovered in the writing process. Join me at Murder By the Book if you can.
Reading note. If there's a book you really want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it. ~Toni Morrison
