Life + creating: Early winter, 2023
It’s February 18th as I write this, a sunny Saturday morning. I’m on the couch as usual. Let me explain.
The first 3 weeks of 2023 were all epic snow and full of fun—snowboarding tons; watching my daughter rock climb; hanging with my son and his ski team on the mountain (at his request, love that he still wants his mama around); family outings for tubing, breweries and games of Uno, icicle collecting, snowball fights.
And then, on a steep black I do all the time, not tired, snow was great, I came off the mountain and that was the end of all that. Pretty gnarly injury, broken bones all over the place and two surgeries later, I’m on the couch ‘til May. Such a bummer, but the blessings are numerous: My husband and kids stepping up to take care of me and everything I normally do. Neighbors helping with kid transport so kids can keep going to school and sports. Love and gifts and visits from tons of family and friends. Doctors and PAs and nurses who are helping me heal and making all of this temporary. I can work from the couch. I can be part of my people’s lives from the couch too, it just looks a little different. And, now that I’m off pain meds, more time to write and draw and photograph things and just generally create.
Trying to make this time productive and meaningful vs. feeling like I’m out of the stream of life. It’s an adjustment for sure, but what is life other than change and challenges, right? Trying to handle all of this with as much grace as possible.
From the couch with love.
XOXO
2022 Summary—And Plans for 2023
It’s been a year since I made a commitment to myself to finish all sorts of half-done writing projects. While I didn’t finish them all, I made huge progress, and have gotten into a really good groove of writing almost every day. In my mind, that’s a win!
In 2022 I:
Started this blog
Wrapped up and started trying to get my workbook—called Good Decisions Are the Best Medicine—out into the world (with some modest success). This push will continue into 2023
Wrote two children’s books, and have a plan for, and solid start on, a third
Wrote and submitted a ghost story
Made good progress on my San Francisco memoir (I’m loving how it’s coming together!)
Joined/participated in a writing group
Took myself on a couple informal writing retreats
Researched children’s book agents
Started drawing, thinking maybe someday I’ll illustrate my own books (although right now all my drawings are missives to Cheeseland, a country on the landing of our stairs, invented by my 10-year-old daughter. She loves it when Cheeseland gets mail!)
In 2023 I’m planning to:
Continue to work on getting Good Decisions into the hands of patients
Query children’s book agents
Finish my third children’s book
Finish my San Francisco memoir
Attend a writing conference or two
Go on another couple informal writing retreats
Participate in my writing group
Keep this space updated
All this against the backdrop of raising 10-year-old twins, working to settle us in our house after lots of moves for my husband’s job, playing outside (aka snowboarding as much as humanly possible), working a part-time job, getting dinner on the table, etc.
I’m excited about what the New Year will bring!
XO
September into October: Writing and Plans
September was a weird month with 2 out-of-town weddings (so special and fun) and the end-of-life care and death of our 14-year-old dog (so difficult). I did manage to get some writing done, including picture book and poetry work, and some sales/promotion work on “Good Decisions”. October and November should be much more productive with more time to devote to writing. Here are my plans for the next 2 months:
Finish revisions on 2 picture books
Advance an additional 2
Find an agent (!)
Finish (for now) exploration surrounding “Good Decisions”
Revise/advance a couple of poetry projects (and possibly submit for publication)
Work on my San Francisco book
Continue with writing and book groups
Get an official office put together for me
Start to explore illustration (just for fun)
Looking forward to a great fall!
Goodbye September!
Denver for Betsy’s wedding
SoCal for Jon and Jo’s wedding (and wine country weekend)
Seeing Philippe and meeting his family
Meeker for Nick and playing Uno as a family at the brewery
Hikes
Time with new friends including a picnic at Picnic Rock and a hot springs visit
Rock climbing for Zo
Jui Jitsu for Luke (and him helping coach the little kids)
Kids settling into 5th grade
Very reasonable work schedule
Losing Newton (and lots of time with him/care for him beforehand)
Working on loft
Puzzles with Zo
Scared to Death, The Daily, The Lazy Genius, The Next Right Thing
AGT and Ninja
Yoga and meditation
Working to systemize household tasks
Fall 2022 Bucket List
Do something special for back-to-school
Fall capsule wardrobe
Fall menu plan
Fall playlist
Farmer’s market
Cozy up the house
Put together my office
Jeep trip
Last lunch by the river
Changing leaves picnic
Changing leaves drive with Hayden food truck + brewery
Feed the ducks/geese
Read Harry Potter Book 5
Bonfire with s’mores
Get dressed up for our anniversary
Special hot chocolate for the first snowfall
Pumpkin pancakes
Saturday morning cider + donuts
Make an apple pie from scratch
Chili and football
Get pumpkins somewhere cool
Watch scary TV series as family
Halloween costumes
Halloween celebration(s)
Scared to Death for Halloween
Do something special for parents for their birthdays
Father/daughter trip
Surprise Jeff for his birthday
Make Thanksgiving awesome
Writing Progress August 2022
Honesty, August was not my most productive month as far as writing was concerned, with lots of trips and wanting to spend time with the kids before they went back to school. But I did make some progress on multiple fronts, including:
Finalizing an agent list for picture book submissions
Working on an ongoing picture book project and starting another
Working on my San Francisco book
Working on selling “Good Decisions”
Looking forward to a productive September!!
Goodbye August!
Moose mama and babies in backyard
School starts
Glenwood with Mom with vapor caves and scout trail, good food, Hotel Colorado
Dickenson and Yellowstone
Last bit of my second time with COVID (very mild)
Denver trip with Elitches, school shopping, Lobster Shack, weird train ride and hotel
Visit to Ben and Jaimie’s to see the construction and baby animals
Grand Junction to pick up Luke from science camp, Bananas evening (fun!)
Corn and peaches
Walks and yoga
Lazy Genius podcast
Finish Luke’s room
Zo’s first climbing competition—she won 2nd place!!
Shooting stars on the porch
Botanic gardens
Writing Retreat #2
Part of the reason we kept the Vail house was for me to get away and write but with some minor health stuff and Jeff starting work that didn’t happen as much as we’d planned. This past week I was going to come down one last time, write and hike and visit some favorite Vail places, followed by a fun weekend with Jeff and Zo. Instead I was positive for COVID and have been down here alone in isolation, not feeling well enough to write until the weekend. BUT the weekend was some hugely productive quiet time. Things I did:
Spent a morning brainstorming and just kind of letting my imagination go wild with picture book ideas
Worked on/finished (for now) my agent list
Worked on revising “Cowboy Surfer”
Brainstormed titles and topics for a podcast one of my best friends dreamed up and I can’t wait to do…not with any goals in mind but just because it sounds like fun
I also sat by the creek in the sun and ate Chinese takeout and read and watched Dickenson which I am totally in love with.
So not the week I’d planned, but a good week nonetheless.
I’m wanting to keep these retreats going. I know Jeff is in favor of that. Won’t be this place and maybe not even Vail but feels so good to take some days and just devote them to writing.
Goodbye July!
What a great and busy July we had! Some highlights:
4th of July weekend with my parents up visiting, with a parade and picnic by the river and a classic grilled dinner and little fireworks in the driveway
My friend Ryan from San Francisco out to mountain bike
A few days in Vail with Ryan hiking and out to Mountain Standard and beers and tacos
Gorgeous Steamboat hikes
Cottonwood-pass area family camping trip with a trip to the lily pond which was such a magical place (and nights at Vail before and after)
A mellow birthday with lunch at Rex’s and Jeff doing a fabulous dinner at home
Lots of rain
Pau Hanas on the porch
Plans and logistics for 3 upcoming weddings this year…so fun!
COVID (again) and a trip down to Vail with time sitting by the river being one of the mellow highlights
Finishing Zo’s room (looks fantastic!) and working on Luke’s
Clermont Circle potluck
Lots of good grilled meals
Smartless and Scared to Death and Dickenson and Yellowstone and How to Train Your Dragon and House of Gucci
Zo obsessed with Wings of Fire
Luke listening to audiobooks and podcasts and spending lots of time with friends
Rock climbing and Jui Jitsu
The Lost Heir and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane and Trixie Belden Mystery in Arizona and the Poetry book, with the road trip poem being a current favorite
Yoga and meditation apps
Again too busy with work but mostly with Bets and Habeeba…makes me happy working with them
Closet reorganization
Goodbye June!
Better late than never, here are some fun (and one not-so-fun) things from last month:
Minor but disruptive health stuff (all better now)
Zo science camp
2 visits to Junction
Kids rooms redo (got halfway)
Hot springs
Jui Jitsu and rock climbing for kids
Reading and writing in the mornings
Wings of Fire and Trixie Belden
Jeff starting new job
Luke spending lots of time with friends
Zo spending lots of time reading
Week in Vail
Denver furniture shopping + Betsy and family visit
Tuck-ins and bedtime stories
Math books
Library
Lots of rain
Nights on the porch
Bridgerton and Yellowstone
June Into July
Ah, it’s summer, kids are home, not much writing is getting done if I’m being honest. I’ve made some progress here and there though, including:
Work on figuring out agents I’d like to submit to
Pursuing some opportunities with “Good Decisions”
Work on some San Francisco book essays
Work on my moon picture book
Jeff is giving me another writing getaway next week…hope to have lots of progress to show for that come the end of this month!
Til next time…
May Into June
Summer’s coming slowly to the mountains but I’m so looking forward to long, lazy days. Work was slower this week and I got a lot of writing-related things done including:
Final revisions to and submitting my ghost story
Agent research
Revisions to Cowboy Surfer
Query letter
Positive steps forward.
Also getting out for beautiful warm walks, playing with the kiddos who are now out of school, lovely date night last night with my husband, hot springs, etc. Today we’re headed to Junction to visit my parents and drop Zo off for a 2-week grandparent adventure. Then we’re headed to Vail for the week and Denver on Friday to shop/dream about our house redo and have dinner with some dear friends.
Until next time…
XOXO
Summer 2022 Bucket List
Make lemonade X
Make ice cream X
Make shave ice
Play in Gore Creek
Play at “beach” on the mountain
Kayak
Camp X
Hike to Gore Creek Lake
Do an all-day hike near Steamboat
Jeep
Bike
Climb a mountain
Play jumbo Throw Throw Burrito
Hang and lay in hammocks X
Sunbathe X
Zoo
Amusement park X
Strawberry Park Hot Springs X
Rodeo
Concert
Sleep on the porch and stargaze
Eat by the river X
Farmer’s market
Watermelon X
s’mores X
Popcicles X
Fresh peaches X
Fresh corn X
Let kids each have a “boss of the house” day X
Lake day
Family photos
Summer playlist
Breakfast at picnic rock (and scatter wildflower seeds)
Figure out the perfect summer cocktail and “mocktail”
Dress up for date night X
Bug hunt
Pick wildflowers X
Horseback ride
Watch a meteor shower
Watch the sunset somewhere special
Go to the movies X
Read on blankets in the grass with my kids
Visit the pancake flapper
Summer 2022 "Watch and Read" Lists
Hello and welcome to summer! (Which I count as staring Memorial Day Weekend. Even though it’s literally still snowing.)
Here’s what I’m looking forward to reading and watching the next few months…the books on the porch in the sun or on a blanket in the grass with my kids reading with me…most of the TV and movies with my husband or all of us as a family. I won’t get to all of this, but hope to check a bunch off my list, especially the books…
To Watch:
Bridgerton
Before trilogy
Yellowstone/1883
Schitts Creek
Mythic Quest
Lodge 49
What We Do in the Shadows
Julia Child show (HBO)
Dickenson
America’s Got Talent
American Ninja Warrior
To Read:
We Are All the Same in the Dark
Lost and Found
I Guess I Haven’t Learned That Yet
The Overcoat
Murderbot series
A Gentleman in Moscow
Foreverland
Uncanny Vally
Crying at the H-Mart
Wild Game
Rootbound
I Capture the Castle
F. Scott Fitzgerald stories
In the Dream House
Alive
The Unwritten Book
South to America
Wings of Fire series
Goodbye May 2022!
May was such a great month! Some highlights:
Vail writing retreat where I finished some long-standing projects and love, love, love everything I wrote
Lots of rain and snow!!
Whole 30
Hot springs
Yellowstone and Bridgerton on TV
KIds finished 4th grade…so crazy!
Field day kayaking/paddleboarding
Camping McCoy with Ben, Jaimie + Crew (and bought new camping gear as we left ours in Hawaii…everything worked so great)
Hikes and walks
Kids starting sports again
Jeff back with us vs in Vail, so amazing (and he’s been doing the cooking, errands, lots of kid tasks which has helped me out so much)
Finally unpacking!
Organizing kids rooms and loft
Snuggles with Newton…he’s doing great for an old dog…
Work wasn’t quite as slow as I wanted it but not bad…
Date nights at E3 and 8th street steakhouse
Chalk pictures in the driveway with Zoey
Evenings on the porch (but seems like it was stormy all month so no stars)
Reading before bed, back runs and songs at tuck-in
It’s such a happy time right now, knock on wood…
XO
Writing Retreat #1
My fabulous husband has gifted me with 3 weeks to write between now and the end of July. It’s incredible…I haven’t had time like this since before the kids were born!
This week was the first of the 3 and boy, was it productive. I feel so good about all I accomplished:
Updated the “Good Decisions” website and took care of some other misc. tasks associated with that book
Put together a marketing plan for “Good Decisions,” getting everything in my head onto paper. My plan is to take one step a day Monday through Friday to move things forward on that front
Finished my ghost story - will submit next week
Put together a solid draft of my cootie catcher picture book and I am in love with the result. Still needs some polishing but the hard part is done
Did a substantial edit on my cowboy surfer picture book - I had it written out but it had some problems that I think I have solved. I was worried that maybe it wouldn’t work and have to go in the trash but I don’t feel that way AT ALL any longer. Also really in love with where it’s going This one’s especially gratifying as I’ve been trying to write it for 20 YEARS. WHY???? Good or bad, at least it’s come into the world now and I’m very grateful for that. Next steps: writing group critique and polishing
Worked on my moon picture book
Started thinking about agents and query letters for picture books
Started to big-picture plan what my next writing retreat will hold, which I think is very focused work on my San Francisco book. Think serious immersion is going to be the way to get it done. I’ve also got parts of that book stretching back 20 or so years…
Made some updates to this website
And generally just took good care of myself, lots of hikes, some yoga, healthy food, Bridgerton in the evenings which is so fun…
So all in all an extremely successful week. Thrilled with how it turned out!
Til next time…
XO
Early May 2022
April was all about vacation - our first family vacation in 4 years although we have been living in Hawaii so don’t feel too bad for us!
May is about getting our family (and myself) back to some semblance of routine with a house sold, my husband back living with us, kids truly starting to settle into school and the community, me working less and not having to do everything on my own any longer. This past year has been good and we’re coming out of it stronger than ever but gosh, what a lot of chaos our lives have been - we’ve lived in 3 different places (1 overseas), kids have been in 2 different schools, we’ve lived apart and traveled every weekend so the family can be together, we’ve had all sorts of weird expenses, we’ve been borrowing a car (thank you Mom and Dad!) and the list goes on.
It’ll probably all make a good story someday haha.
And I have managed to get some writing done and also been really shifting my mindset about what I want to do writing-wise and what’s possible, which is exciting.
AND - this week is the first of three writing retreats my husband is gifting me over the next 3 months. Since the kids were born 10 years ago I have had 2 days TOTAL away to write. Right now I’m looking at 5 in a row- with more coming in June and July. So grateful and soooo excited.
Can’t wait to share my progress at the end of the week!
XO
Early April 2022
Hello!
Lots going on around me (always) including the last bits of skiing and snowboarding, my husband finishing his job in Vail and coming up to be with us (yay!), lots of work and also getting ready for vacation yay!
But lots of writing progress this week as well:
Good Decisions is available for purchase! This is such a big milestone, but I feel like there is so much left to do, for some reason I am having a hard time pausing to celebrate. Working to get the book’s website updated and also permission to use quotes people have given me and also working on plans to publicize/perhaps license out the content which has always been my goal with this book. We’ll see how all that goes.
Making concrete plans to get away for chunks of time to write in May, June and July.
I finished a draft of my ghost story, super excited about that.
Have discovered the Inside Writing podcast which I am loving…it’s just really great to hear writers talk about how things have happened for them…
Until next time…
What I'm planning to read, listen to + watch this spring
I don’t pretend to be a great connoisseur of literature or pop culture, but thought it would be fun to share what’s on my “to read,” “to listen to” and “to watch” lists. I’m sure I won’t get to all of these but it’s good for me to have lists so I consume things I actually want to consume; otherwise chances are I’ll never get around to these.
In no particular order:
Books:
Jane Eyre
Daisy Jones and the Six
Absent in the Spring
A Room With a View X
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
Late Migrations
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo X
TV/movies:
Stranger Things
Yellowstone X
1883
Bridgerton X
Murder on the Orient Express
Murder on the Nile X
Spirited Away
Cinderella
Beauty and the Beast
Dogs
Julia
New podcasts:
The Trojan Horse Affair X
Hardcore History
Writing Podcasts X
(Note I X things that actually happen…and there’s always next spring!!)
Illustration by John Tensile in my childhood copy of Alice in Wonderland.
Spring 2022 Bucket List
Visit a dandelion field (and bring home dandelion leaves)
Shop our local food store X
Bike rides X
Sunbathe X
Spring meals (including strawberry shortcake and strawberry-rhubarb pie)
Picnics
Feed ducks X
Spring break vacay X
Hang bird house and hummingbird feeder X
Garden tea party
Hike a new trail X
Wildflower boquets
Play in the creek
Watch a sunrise
Decorate for Easter X
Paint with Zoey
Fly a kite
Play in the rain
Spring cleaning X
Trash pick-up in neighborhood
Goodbye March!
Kids’ 10th birthday, bowling, family here
Kids got bikes and phones (!)
Hawaii house sale moving
Working hard but plans to slow down
Unpacking
Trips back and forth to Vail
Snowboarding
Reading and first book club
Podcasts: Scared to Death, The Trojan Horse Affair, The Daily, The Next Right Thing
TV/Movies: Yukon Vet, Turning Red, Raising Dion
Hawaii trip plans
Upwards with Dad, Beat the Parents with kids
Dad starting Camino
Ben and Jaimie planning wedding (+ Betsy!)
March 2022
Hello, hello!
It’s been a busy March with work and continual unpacking in Steamboat (making progress, but it’s slow), selling a house, my twins turning 10, lots of family time, trips back and forth to Vail.
In terms of writing, there’s been some progress, but it’s mostly been plans for how to significantly move things forward in the future. This past month I’ve:
Worked on my moon picture book
Joined reading and writing groups
Read a lot, both to myself and to/with the kids
Made a lot of progress in terms of getting my day job under control so I have time to write other stuff (my shortish-term plan is to have half my working hours be advertising, half book-related)
Decided to keep our Vail place through July even though we won’t be living there anymore. The plan is for me to come down one week/month by myself and make some serious progress on my writing projects. I can hardly fathom having one week a month to focus on getting things done…the two weekends I’ve had away the past couple years are when I’ve made the most progress writing…this is an amazing gift from my husband who will hold down the fort at home while I am away…it’s so exciting to think about everything I’ll be able to finish!!
‘Til next time…
XO
January into February 2022
In the last few weeks I’ve:
Worked on:
Seasons + rituals book
Moon picture book
Lake Baikal picture book
Made progress with “Good Decisions”:
Completed the worksheets for the website
Started the website update
Talked with a mentor of mine re: selling strategies
Gotten some great feedback from some people in the rare disease community
Ordered and approved a final proof—meaning my book will be available on Amazon etc. in 6 to 8 weeks!
All against the backdrop of playing out in the snow, taking care of kids, organizing and unpacking the house (slow going, but progress is being made), hot springs, a heavy work schedule, weekend visits with my husband, etc. We also had a fun little Groundhog’s Day tea and the kids did great with their first science fair!
We’re in Vail on “ski week” this week…looking forward to some fun with the kids. We’re supposed to get a ton of snow but hasn’t shown up yet…fingers crossed!
XO
