Stepping Away for Now.

Dear friends,

If you stumble upon my humble blog, know that I've decided to bow out of the over-saturated blogosphere for now. I had a blast while there was time and space in your world for me, but now it's time to take a break.

I will continue to champion green teens, endangered and threatened species, and all things beautiful on fragile Mother Earth.

Happy trails to all until we meet again.

Bonnie

www.BonnieDoerrBooks.com

Great News for Environmental Fiction

Oh my gosh. Do I have news!

Confession time here. I continue to be haunted by one reviewer who panned Island Sting's underlying environmental message. This in spite of the many positive reviews the book has received and the ever-increasing number of young readers who've told me how much they enjoyed Island Sting and can't wait to read Stakeout. Now it's clear quite a few adult readers approve of it as well.

On the evening of March 12th, I received an email from a talented author of captivating romance, Keena Kincaid. While attending the awards banquet at EPICon in Willimsburg, Virginia, she shot me this message: "Bonnie, you just won the children's fiction/nonfiction EPIC award for Island Sting!"

Wow! I'd hoped to attend EPICon, but because I presented two sessions at the North Carolina Reading Association conference in Raleigh that same weekend, I couldn't swing it. Receiving an EPIC was a huge thrill. And learning it as it happened was too cool. YAY for smart phones! Though texting is something I'm still resisting. I just happened to check my email at the right time.

I figured I'd found out before my editor, Kat O'Shea, had. Quick dial. Please be available. Please. This is not please-leave-a-message material. This is scream-into-my-editor's-ear breaking news. I'm happy to say Kat answered. No worries. I didn't break her ear drum. But it sure was a fun phone call. Always good to show Kat how talented she is at her job.

As one of my favorite fans Doug (Zeus Fedora Kapinos) described it, the whole experience was, well...EPIC.

A Model School for Green Living

Finally, time to check in while on the road. I recently returned to the Florida Keys (after a long road trip) for more research and inspiration. But I must share the story of a wonderful school visit along the way.

January 31st I visited the third and fifth grade classes at St. Stephens Episcopal Day School in charming Coconut Grove, Florida. (http://www.sseds.org/) For an author whose mission is not only to entertain and educate, but also to encourage environmental stewardship, visiting St. Stephens was a rare treat.

As part of its mission, the school engages in green education by developing and implementing programs that focus on:

• Teaching children about the environment while encouraging good stewardship of our earth…Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
• Practicing sustainability of resources such as energy, supplies and food.
• Creating a green and healthy space to work, learn, eat and play.

By way of modeling its mission, St. Stephens' newest office and classroom building is LEED certified. LEED stands for ‘Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design’, the nation’s benchmark for 3rd Party verified, Green and Sustainable buildings.

Planning A Picture Book was the program requested by Mrs. Booth and Mrs. Silva for their third grade classes. These enthusiastic students had previously analyzed and summarized picture books and were now ready to create their own.

It was a pleasure to learn that this spring fifth graders in Mrs. Basáñez’s and Mrs. Bernal’s classes will visit Sea Camp http://www.seacamp.org/ on Big Pine Key, Florida, the very island on which both Island Sting and Stakeout are set. As a preview of wildlife they may encounter when they study at Sea Camp’s Newfound Harbor Marine Institute (http://www.nhmi.org/), I shared a collection of photographs documenting the research that inspired and informed my writing. The slide show is one part of another author program, A Writer’s Story.

Librarian Ellen Bulkley describes Island Sting as not only a fun read, but a perfect extension to the Sea Camp curriculum.

Arriving as the entire student body congregated outdoors in the courtyard, I listened, uplifted by the sincere voices pledging allegiance to faith and flag, and then came the unexpected final words: I promise to care for the Earth as my home and to respect it at all times, by recycling, conserving energy, and saving water. I promise to encourage my friends and family to care for the Earth in the same way. Honestly, the experience gave me chills.

These children are leaders of today and tomorrow. Thank you, St. Stephens. I'm resting easier these days.

Click for a complete description of author presentations.

Soon to come: A preview of Stakeout.
http://www.bonniedoerrbooks.com/

Giving Thanks for Unexpected

Proving that environmental stewardship is alive and well in the young adult book world (one of a gazillion things for which I'm thankful), I share my latest literary news.

Island Sting, received more accolades in recent weeks. First,I received notice that Island Sting is a finalist for an EPIC award from the Electronically Published Internet Coalition. Yes, it's on Kindle.

Second, Island Sting was recognized as one of 2010's Best Books with Crossover Charm by the Winston-Salem, Journal. http://www2.journalnow.com/entertainment/2010/nov/21/crossover-charm-adults-often-enjoy-these-books-wri-ar-551711/

And of many kind reviews, the following cannot go unnoticed on BonnieBlogsGreen: Island Sting received a super review from members of the green book campaign. http://curlingupbythefire.blogspot.com/2010/11/review-island-sting-by-bonnie-j-doerr.htmlisland-sting-by-bonnie-j-doerr.html

Now on to even better news in the green world.

I'm grateful there is a grassroots effort for sustainable manufacturing in my own state.

When our November/December Farm Bureau magazine arrived I was thrilled to find inspiration for BonnieBlogsGreen. Inside was another addition to a long list of reasons to love North Carolina. I learned about a collaboration of farmers and manufacturers across the Carolinas dedicated to growing, manufacturing, and selling a quality product right here at home in the Carolinas.

Who isn't in favor of creating jobs while lessening our carbon footprint? Since most clothing sold in the USA is now manufactured in other countries, I had few ways to reduce my fashion footprint beyond shopping at resale shops. But now, I can buy at least one article of clothing produced from dirt to shirt here in North Carolina. Dirt to Shirt--a catchy green phrase that is part of the slogan on a Cotton of the Carolinas T-shirt.

Cotton of the Carolinas focuses on three main objectives:

- Support of Local Economies
- Low Transportation Footprint
- Complete Product Transparency

They make high quality T-shirts, too! You can even have your own design printed on a CoC shirt.

Take a quick tour CoC production and then visit their website for more green industry information; http://www.cottonofthecarolinas.com/aboutus.html

Happy Thanksgiving. I leave you with this photo of the only turkey at our house this Thanksgiving. She's welcome every year.

Mother Nature on a Rampage

It's a gorgeous sunny day here in NC, but that wasn't the case in many parts of the country just a few days ago. The massive storm system that plowed across the United States the last weeks of October hit us on the 26th and 27th. There was nothing we could do but stay out of the way of Mother Nature's rage. The day before what had been a lovely, peaceful scene--and also the bridge entrance to our driveway--turned into a furious nightmare.

How interesting that this storm swept the country a week before midterm elections. The writer in me couldn't help but see more than one metaphor in the phenomena. But I'll leave speculation to the political pundits.

We've had water over our bridge before. In fact, the experience inspired my first blog post in June of 2009 (http://bonnieblogsgreen.blogspot.com/2009_06_01_archive.html). I rescued Mr. GP, a frequent subject of earlier posts, from the debris that was left on the bridge. And though we had to clear the bridge twice with this October storm--and how blessed we are to still have a bridge to clear--only natural debris was left behind by the water this time.

For the lack of human trash, we can thank Cub Scout Pack 752 from Lewisville, NC, their families, and friends. Among the green teens filling countless trash bags were several Crosby Scholars. When speaking with these amazing (and muddy) folks I learned about Scoutings Venturing Program and immediately became a huge fan.

Venturing is a youth development program of the Boy Scouts of America for young men and women who are 14 years of age OR 13 years of age and have completed the eighth grade and are under 21 years of age. Venturing's purpose is to provide positive experiences to help young people mature and to prepare them to become responsible and caring adults.

The students who participated in the Clean Sweep of creeks and streams may have been earning points toward badges or scholarhips, but I'm betting many of them would have gotten their feet wet for the internal reward practicing environmental stewardship alone.

Mr. GP wanted readers to know he's had a great life since his rescue from the flood of 2009. He still worries about all the trash tossed along roadsides, but he knows he was lucky to have been one of the rescued and reycled discards. And he's looking forward to trick-or-treating.

As always, if you know of any green teens who deserve recognition, please let me know. You can contact me at http://www.bonniedoerrbooks.com/.

230 book giveaway for bookclubs!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now here's a fabulous way to celebrate 10-10-10, a supposedly fortuitous day. The amazing author class of 2k10 (In the spirit of full disclosure, I'm a bit prejudice about this group) is ending our debut year with a bang. We're giving away a slew of books to worthy bookclubs. (Could any prize be dearer to a former reading teacher?) If you know of a tween/teen bookclub that needs assistance with procuring books, please pass the word along!

Announcing the Class of 2K10 230-Book Giveaway!
Oct. 10th, 2010 at 9:33 AM

Inspired by this post by author Teri Brown, the Classof2K10 is ending off the year with a massive book club giveaway.

Five book clubs around the country can win a prize pack of three to six sets of books written by the authors from the Class of 2K10. Each pack includes TEN (seriously TEN) copies of each book, and in some packs one of the books will be signed by the author.

For cover images go to http://bit.ly/cgVnCt .

The contest is open to all book clubs associated with a nonprofit institution, a school, or a library. To enter, just comment on this entry, specifying which of the prize packs you are interested in and which nonprofit you are affiliated with. The giveaway will end on November 11, 2010.

If there are any additional questions, please contact Leah Cypess at LCypess@gmail.com.

The prize packs are:

MID-GRADE FANTASY PACK:

The Carnival of Lost Souls by Laura Quimby
Under the Green Hill by Laura L. Sullivan
The Witchy Worries of Abbie Adams by Rhonda Hayter


MID-GRADE CONTEMPORARY PACK:

Fairview Felines: A Newspaper Mystery by Michele Corriel
Island Sting by Bonnie J. Doerr
Leaving Gee's Bend by Irene Latham
The Reinvention of Edison Thomas by Jacqueline Houtman
Shooting Kabul by N.H. Senzai


YA FANTASY/PARANORMAL PACK

13 To Life by Shannon Delany
Freaksville by Kitty Keswick
Mistwood by Leah Cypess
Past Midnight by Mara Purnhagen
Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready
Under My Skin by Judith Graves


YA CONTEMPORARY PACK 1

Change of Heart by Shari Maurer
Faithful by Janet Fox
Losing Faith by Denise Jaden
The Tension of Opposites by Kristina McBride


YA CONTEMPORARY PACK 2

Of All the Stupid Things by Alexandra Diaz
Party by Tom Leveen
Three Rivers Rising by Jame Richards
The Secret Year by Jennifer R. Hubbard
Split by Swati Avasthi

Rules:

You must be a book club affiliated with a nonprofit, school, or library, and located in the continental United States.

To enter:

Leave a comment on the 2k10 blog http://bit.ly/cgVnCt . (Commenting here is always welcome, but unfortunately it doesn't help you win!)

Specify which of the prize packs you are interested in – you may choose from only one, to all five, as we will be holding 5 separate drawings. (However, no club will win more than one prize pack.)

Leave an email address where you can be reached should you win.

If the email address is a not an institution address, please specify which nonprofit, school, or library you are affiliated with.

If you are not sure whether you qualify, just leave the relevant information in the comment.


Good luck!

Blooming Detroit, Green Teens, and Green Moms

Bonnie may blog green, but green hasn't been the most descriptive word for her garden this year. Struggling best describes the small plot. For a growing season that began with such promise, it turned into a tough one just when so many vegetables were about to reach their peak. Heat, drought, disease, and every critter imaginable of every size visited, leaving far less for us humans than usual. To focus on the positive, however, I planted a small crop of dixie lee peas that has done quite well and there remains hope for my pole beans. But there is far more upifting news in the world of gardening.

I first began to follow green teen urban gardeners in my August 5, 2009 post . This is a growing trend (pun intended) that continues to shine light on a still dim economy. What follows is my latest favorite green teen story. I thank Cory Vanderpool whose article I found in triplepundit.

The tale of a phoenix-like rise for the city of Detroit offers hope. Over a century ago rich land in Detroit was lost to the building boom of the industrial revolution. As businesses and residents flee the city, vacant land is again being cultivated, and Detroit's hardcore citizens are learning to sustain themselves much as their ancestors may have done.

Perhaps the most resourceful application of this concept is demonstrated by The Ferguson Academy for Young Women where traditional education, parenting, job skills, and urban farming are taught in equal measure. At the same time young women learn to care for themselves and their future children, they learn to raise crops and care for farm animals.

The Academy is named for freed slave, Catherine Ferguson, a strong advocate of education for poor children, and it is no easy-pass school. Ferguson students must be accepted by at least a two-year college in order to graduate. This admirable institution was named a “Breakthrough High School” by the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

As uplifting as this story is, I have to ask why it took a foreign filmaker to see the value of this program and immortalize it in an award-winning documentary film?

In other green teen news, Miranda Brooke Pawline of New Jersey created a gown from plastic bags to make a point. What prompted this? Seeing flotillas of plastic bags floating in the Delaware River. Miranda, you are an inspiration for the teens in my forthcoming novel STAKEOUT. They do their best to discourage bag use in an area where sea turtles die from swallowing these floating bags.

Mothers have also grown increasingly appalled by overuse of plastic bags. In particular, plastic sandwich bags. Three creative mothers' solution? LunchSkins--colorful, reusable and dishwasher safe lunch bags. You can make a small contribution to saving the planet by purchasing your own at http://www.3greenmoms.com/.

• Are you sustaining yourself through a bit of gardening?


• Do you practice any green habit or habits?

Please share and tell your friends to join in the conversation.
Simply click the word comment below.
(Never commented before? Simply type in your thoughts, choose the Name/URL option, enter your name (first name is sufficient), hit "continue" and then hit "post comment." Your comment should appear. Make posting even easier by joining the blog as a follower.)

Each comment earns a chance to win the T-shirt from last month's post. It makes a great gift. Especially for any budding writer.

People are asking so here it is -- the latest ISLAND STING news.
ISLAND STING has been nominated for YALSA's 2011 popular paperback crime list. YAY! The news gets better. It's now in its second printing and just received another great review from educator and writing specialist, Carol Baldwin. Here's what Carol says about one of the reasons she referred to ISLAND STING during her homeschooling presentation August 14 in Charlotte, NC: "In my book, Teaching the Story, I [Carol] discuss how setting should answer the question, What can happen here? This example of a well-honed description, prompts the reader to ask that question: Cars poured out of the shopping center under an ever-threatening sky. Clouds darkened and billowed upward. Armies of great mushrooms, brewing thunderous time bombs.” (Island Sting, p. 192.)

I've been busy this summer and life continues to be a blitz of travel. Seems like I only just returned from presenting at SCBWI MD/DE/WV and a five day retreat that followed, and now I'm taking off again to appear on a YA mystery panel at Killer Nashville on Sunday, August 22nd .

September 11, I join John Hart and Erica Spindler on a mystery panel at Bookmarks Book Festival of Books in Winston-Salem, NC.

To end the busy season, ISLAND STING was chosen as the Forsyth County, NC middle school online read for the month of September. As a finale to this experience, on October 5th I'll speak with readers at Teen Central in the Forsyth County Central Library. The following day I fly to Oklahoma City to present ISLAND STING at the State Department of Education's Encyclomedia October 7-8.

Phew. That's it for now. See you next month. "God willing and our creek don't rise!"

KIDS DO CARE

Continue reading to learn how you can win this shirt.




Exemplifying this month's tag line:

Intrigue: What really went wrong with the gulf oil rig?

Treachery : “Our operations failed to meet our own standards and the requirements of the law,” BP said in 2007 before pledging to improve its “risk management.” (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/09/business/09bp.html)

Intrepid Teens: Young Olivia Bouler

Since the Gulf Coast oil disaster first broke, I've been mentally paralyzed. How could I post an installment on Bonnie Blogs Green when all I could see was black? My beloved gulf waters were poisoned, creatures by the thousands--members of every major animal class--were dying, good men had been killed in the disaster, and life for hundreds, maybe thousands, of people had been destroyed for a generation or more.

It didn't help the wall of depression when a book blogger wrote a review claiming that kids at her school would never pick up ISLAND STING, a book featuring an environmental club. How much of an adventure/mystery could that be?

Saving the environment? Not an adventurous mystery? On what planet?

Fast forward to a message from ISLAND STING readers who'd been inspired to start an environmental club at their school, then another and another of the same. And yesterday I received a letter from a reader stating, "I also love ISLAND STING because it really shows what a big environmental problem we have to deal with and how kids can help."

And now, in case there are more people like me whose tears have blinded them to any good news, I offer the story of young Olivia Bouler's amazing efforts to save Mother Earth. It just may be my favorite green tween story to date. After you enjoy the video interview, please visit Olivia's Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-the-Gulf-Olivias-Bird-Illustrations/102196836492763 You can help no matter your age.

Thank you, Olivia. A wise person once said, "And a little child shall lead them."



I probably should end with an uplifting quote from one of ISLAND STING'S many positive reviews:

Much of the charm of this book is author Doerr's extensive research on the Keys and the deer, which she weaves seamlessly into an action-packed, engaging story. Any residents, visitors, or fans of the Florida Keys will be delighted by the setting, which is almost a character in itself. Doerr masters the "Green Teen" genre by mixing romance, suspense, and humor with current ecological issues. Her upcoming book, STAKEOUT, is sure to follow in this tradition.

In a final bit of good news, ISLAND STING has been chosen as Forsyth County, NC 's online middle school book club read for the month of September. Love it! Encouraging green teens one region at a time.

And now, a giveaway. YAY!!

In celebration of good book news, I'm giving away a class of 2k10 t-shirt (size L) from our debut middle grade and young adult author class trip to BEA (BookExpo America) in New York City. No worries--it's never been worn! Simply enter a comment below for your chance to win the shirt along with a 2k10 bookmark and postcard. Include in your comment the link to a this blog on your Facebook page or Twitter and earn a second chance to win. If no more than 20 comments are made following this post (because lots of folks are on vacation) the contest will roll over to next month. Remember, if you're the lucky winner, I'll have to email you, so if I can't click your comment to find you, please email your address to me. And if at first your comment doesn't post, click the word post a second time.

Remember you can always learn more about ISLAND STING and the Florida Keys at http://bonniedoerrbooks.com/ .

Father's Day, Recycled Earrings, and a Garden Guest

Father's Day has never brought me the sadness that Mother's Day has. (See May post.) Unlike Mother, Dad lived a long and productive life, helping others with his time and labor well into his late eighties until he was no longer physically able. During his last hours, when he was blind, unresponsive to the earthbound, and verbally working out issues only he understood, he cried out the same apology again and again, "I'm so sorry. I just can't help anymore. So sorry." Did he learn that ethic from being raised in an orphanage I wonder?

I chose this photo of Dad in his Boy Scout uniform for BonnieBlogsGreen because Dad instilled my love of everything green. The need to teach a population to recycle as well as reduce consumption and waste would have baffled him. What happened to common sense? he would say. He was a tireless Boy Scout leader who won many national awards. Dad lived off and on with me in his final years, providing me the opportunity to tell him again and again how much I loved him. I'm rarely without a sense of my father being beside me. I love you, Dad. Happy Father's Day.

Dad was living with me when my first piece of writing was published. He was so proud. I was thrilled he lived to see his support of my education begin to pay off. Not in money, mind you. Our family never strived for financial riches. Guess that's why my teaching career was a good fit for me. I hope he's aware of the attention Island Sting has been receiving. As an avid reader, he would have loved knowing Island Sting has been nominated for YALSA's (Young Adult Library Services Association--a division of American Library Association) 2011 paperback list.


Speaking of Island Sting and recycling, during my most recent visit to the National Key Deer Refuge (the setting for Island Sting), I discovered one of my favorite recycled products of all time. You see, I have a teensy little issue with jewelry: I find it incredibly challenging to pass up affordable, unique earrings. I'd been looking hard and long for a pair of deer-themed earrings to wear for school visits. Imagine trying to find earrings featuring deer that aren't sporting festive red noses and/or a Christmas wreath around their neck. You guessed it--I found a pair I couldn't resist. Where? At the refuge welcome center gift shop. Seriously! The perfect pair. Not only designed specifically with endangered Key deer images, but set against the backdrop of mangrove trees, their favorite food! Even better, the earrings are made from recycled cereal box cardboard. Plus, they're adorable, well made, and well-designed. Visit Jabebo Earrings to see the Abbott's entire selection. Kevin and Mary Abbott are fascinating folks (Of course they are. They're teachers!) whose children are blessed to have such parents.



Progress in Bonnie's green garden this season seems to have moved at warp speed, as evidenced by the two photos of the same location below taken in mid April and mid June. Our first ripe tomato can almost be seen in the second picture. I foiled the goldfinches this year by covering my Swiss chard. It no longer looks like Swiss chesse. But I've missed Mr. GP's company throughout these weeks. If you read my first posts you'll remember he was the inspiration for BonnieBlogsGreen, and that he spent many days with me as I worked in last year's garden. But he was so angry when I left to research in Florida without him, that he ran away. I only recently heard from him. He promises to return home soon with his own stories to tell. Just in time for the initial harvest. Apparently he is food motivated. Or perhaps he was waiting to be sure the snapping turtle that labored long and hard from
the creek up our steep hill to again deposit eggs in our garden had left the premises. If you recall, he is a bit of a wimp.

Thanks for visiting.

If you're curious about learning more about my writing for tweens please visit AuthorsNow! Spotlight.

Finally Facing Mother's Day With Gratitude

May is a busy month for me. I traveled to a writers' retreat in Texas, will appear at Flyleaf Bookstore in Chapel Hill for Children's Book Week, will read at the NYC Public Library and appear at two bookstores there during BookExpo America, and I learned that Island Sting will be featured at Bookmarks Festival in Winston-Salem, NC. All exciting stuff that I intended to prattle on about, in addition to sharing spring gardening adventures.

That plan changed when my brother phoned. He has been writing little memoir chapters for his children and grandchildren, and this month he honored our mother with his words. This year marks 50 years of our being motherless. Since 1960 I have found Mothers' Day to be the most difficult day of the year. But for some reason, my brother's words have started to ease my pain. I've always been grateful for the near perfect childhood Mother gave us, but it's also been a battle to believe the mantra I've chanted for fifty years, "Mom accomplished 90 years of work in a short 45 years. It was time for her to rest with God."

Here are the healing words of my brother, Frederick E. Miller. A short addendum of my memories follows.

May 7, 2010
As Mother’s Day approaches, I have been thinking about Mom. As I look back, I really appreciate all the things that she accomplished in her “too short” life. I don’t know how she managed to accomplish all that she did.

She cared for me while Dad was re-drafted into WW II. After the war, we moved into the same home with her parents. She help Dad start his plumbing & heating business in 1948, while she was pregnant & gave life to Bonnie. She managed the phone, was the accountant, purchasing agent, payroll clerk & many other things for the business.

At the same time, she did all the duties of a mother, wife & housewife. Washing was done with an old ringer style machine, & clothes hung out on lines. Most clothes had to be ironed.

Grandma & Granddad were also employed full time. We had a large vegetable garden which needed lots of attention. Mom & Grandma picked, cleaned, & canned for hours at a time. The shelves of the cold cellar were filled with jars of food.

As time passed, the garden shrank, a freezer was bought, an automatic washer, dryer, & a cylinder type ironing machine appeared. Some clothes were still hung out, there was still a garden, and canning & freezing were still done. On holidays hours, if not days, were spent preparing feasts.

Mom & Dad did a good job of raising us. We were taught respect, values & faith. Were shown love & responsibility. We did things together as a family. We traveled & saw many places together.

She nursed me through a long recovery from polio, & what now seems to have been more than an average amount of childhood injuries.

When Dad had spinal surgery & was in a cast from his armpits to his thighs for months, she continued with all the usual business & home duties. He was unable to bend his spine so he either had to stand, or lay flat. She had to take him everywhere, including to job sites. The business was sold because Dad could no longer do the heavy work.

She eventually started a job as an assistant at the special education school and took in ironing work for extra income. My opinion has always been that she did it because of the significant drop in income after business was sold. This was at the same time I was starting college.

During all this time, Mom continued to participate in church & community activities several evenings every week. She had a selfless attitude in which she felt that we all had a responsibility to help others.

She was human. She could lose her temper (often justified by us family members). I can’t believe that she didn’t lose her patience more frequently with all she did.

The week before Thanksgiving of November of 1960 she was walking up the back yard, coming home from work. She suffered a serious stroke. She never made it home. She’d been exhausted for weeks with unexplained bruise-like discolorations appearing on her body. In hospital she was diagnosed with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a low platelet count of no known cause. She suffered more strokes & passed away on Sunday after Thanksgiving.

I was an 18 year old sophomore in college. Bonnie was 12. Mom was 45.
She lived far too short a life.

Even though she enjoyed life, I can’t help but think that she worked way too hard.
Love you Mom!


I remember all the beautiful clothes Mom made. One time she made burgundy corduroy suits for the whole family. We wore them to a state fair, and they were displayed in a local store window. She must have stayed up very late at night to sew. She had no other time.

She could dress like a fashion queen or a tomboy. She often wore a baseball cap, unusual for her time. And how she loved to drive and fuss at other drivers for their incompetence! Never curse, just tell them off with feeling! She was bold and independent.

I love you too, Mom. And I honor you this Mother's Day with more gratitude than pain, finally.