I don't wanna brag, but I'm wearing a sweater
- Maggie Shayne
- Jul 21
- 5 min read
I'm writing this "morning-chat-over-coffee" type post outside, at my little garden table by the waterfall my talented hubby built for me, on the little stone patio he also made. Roxy, the grouchy old English Mastiff came out with me for a minute, but she's gone back inside. The door's open and she knows where to find me, so we'll give this a try.
It's cool this morning in my spot. Mid-sixties with an ever-present breeze that gets a little stronger, then a little softer. It's cool enough that I had to wear a sweater. A sweater! I have soft socks on my feet. It's the first time I've been this comfortable out here in a few weeks becaue it's been terribly hot and humid. But today it's cool and breezy, and when the clouds move over the sun, I can feel a nip of autumn in the air that thrills me right to my bones.
Fall is my favorite season. I have to temper my enthusiasm around my daughters, who are teachers still on summer vacation, and they do NOT want to even think about autumn already. It's only July, after all.
Roxy came back out whining. (I left the door open.) I showed her where I was, and now she's napping in the open doorway. Good for her, adapting so Mamma can enjoy her morning. It's so pleasant out here. Oh, I love sweater weather. The one I'm wearing is oversized knit, black with red and white speckles throughout, but subtly, you know? My daughter Katie gave it to me after I borrowed it and told her how awesome it was. It's old now, all stretched and worn to the perfect level of comfy. I would live in this sweater.
Anyway, things in the world are going crazy. To get through it, I try to take time away from it now and then, and pull my focus into ever smaller, nesting-doll like bubbles around me--my state, my county, my town, my peer groups, my career, my friends, my family, my home, my body--until I come to a place where all is well. Sometimes I have to pull it all the way in to the bubble surrounding me in this little spot by the waterfall.
Current events aside, we are here on this planet for this lifetime in order to experience all the love and joy it has to offer. It's crucial for our mental health that step away from all news and truly historic events through which we are living, and to pull our focus inward, into our lives. Into that little bubble in which we live.
Our home, our family, our pets, our hobbies, our gardens, the natural world around us. And while there, I always say to myself or aloud, "In this little bubble in which I dwell, everything is okay. My home is okay. My family is okay. My husband is okay. The dog is okay. I am okay. Here, all is well."
It feels so much better when I remember to do that several times a day, just stop everything, and notice that here and now, all is well.
First thing I did this morning, even before I headed outside to write this note to you, was to put on a pot of chili. I haven't made any in weeks because you just don't want chili when it's hot. You want chili when it's chilly! So while I was listening to my favorite morning podcast, I was putting on a crockpot full of chili.
We had grandchildren over weekend, three boys. Had a campfire and made s'mores. (We made ourselves vegan s'mores and indulged!) Two weekends ago we had the other group who do overnights. So we're getting those visits in while it's summer vacation, and loving it.
Each group includes one young man who has just completed his first year of college and is heading into his second. I'm so proud of my grandkids, and thrilled they still want to come to Grammy's for an overnight at this age. College sophomores! Maybe they'll come in their forties, who knows?
It's interesting to me that I don't sleep when the kids are here. I think some cave-mom gene makes me vigilant and watchful. Now, I did raise five girls, and I know I slept then, but so lightly a pindrop would wake me. Now, though I never sleep more than a couple of fitful hours when the grandkids come to visit. What's up with that?
On books, which is why you're here, though I think I could discuss a thousand things with most of you, dear readers, happily, all day. I'd love to have you all over for a tea party by the waterfall.
But on books, I'm working on Deputy Brand Gets Her Man, and do you love the title? I'm crazy about it. It will be the third book of the Texas Brand: Generations series, and it is Willow's story. I can't tell you much more at this point, except that it's going really well. I'm about 70 pages in, shooting for around 300 in the first draft, and I kinda sorta have a roadmap to the end, which is rare for me, but should make the book go faster.
I realize I'm ahead of you, discussing Book 3 as you haven't yet read Book 2, Honky Tonk Cowboy. There's a big reveal in that one that leads directly into Willow's story, so watch for that. It's coming out... (pausing to consult calendar) three weeks from tomorrow! Man, time is moving fast. I feel like Hunted, the finale of the five-book romantic thriller series Shattered Sisters, just released yesterday, but it was two weeks ago.
So my day today will be writing scenes in Willow's book. I also have to proof the paperback file for Honky Tonk Cowboy so that can go up for pre-order, and grab you an excerpt from Honky Tonk to put up here as a new post. Hang in there, I'll get to it.
Right now, I'm going to make a graphic for this, then as soon as I hit publish on this, I'm having brunch. It's leftovers. Every Sunday my loving husbands makes me a tofu scramble with peppers, onions, mushrooms and freshly diced tomatoes. It's my favorite meal in the whole universe, so he always uses the whole block of tofu, which makes enough for multiple servings. I nosh on it all week long, because, get this, he doesn't care for it himself. But he makes it for me every Sunday.
My Grandpa Wood made Sunday breakfast for Grandma Wood for as long as I can remember. I used to do overnights and weekends with them, so I spent lots of Sundays there. I remember the combined smells of bacon and coffee waking me on those mornings. Good times.
Anyway, after my food break, indoors for Roxy's benefit, I might try a different outdoor location she likes better, behind the house where our porch will go one day. (Lance wants a screened in porch/sunroom, and I love the idea.) Right now it's just a level spot in the grass with a round patio table and an umbrella for shade. From there, I'll write the next scene in Willow's story. I left off in a verrry interesting spot.
I can hardly wait to see what happens!
Talk to you soon, dear readers!
Maggie
Hey, while you're here, if you want, you can pre-order Honky Tonk Cowboy in e. Maybe paperback too, depending on the retailer. Pre-orders can help new releases hit bestseller lists. The power is in your hands!
Comments