If we were having coffee today, September 23rd, I’d invite you to visit with me in my home office. You can sit in my favorite rocking chair. We’ll use the mugs my husband brought home from Channel 8. He does cooking segments there on a pretty regular basis. You’ll see the cats enjoying the new cat tree I recently installed, and of course, Rocco will sit by your feet. The room is small but filled with the books and pictures I love. The walls are covered in paintings and bulletin boards. One holds different notes I’ve received over the years and the other has the complete outline for Book Two in my Blarnach series. It’s a not so gentle reminder that I need to get to work, but today is all about catching up with you.

I’d share with you how well the school year is going. I’m enjoying all my classes and have come to appreciate my students in a whole new way. It’s amazing the growth a summer break can bring. I’d tell you how excited I am for a new project I’ve started with my seventh and eighth grade classes. In an effort to get them to write on a consistent basis, I’ve required them to keep journals. The students have a writing prompt calendar and must choose three topics to write about each week. At this point, I’m not worried about spelling or mechanics. I just want them to write. We are in week three, and I’m blown away. Even my reluctant writers are doing spectacular work. I wish I’d thought about this years ago! I’d tell you about my own journals I kept at that age and might even show them to you. I’d ask you about your lifelong writing habits. I’m always looking for inspiration.

As we sipped our coffee, we might talk about how nice it is that the Fall weather has finally arrived. The humidity and rain that plagued us all summer seem to be over. I’d ask you to peek out the windows to see that my husband has taken down the corn out back by the row of trees. Rocco has been afraid to go outside when it’s dark. There have been multiple sightings of coyotes and bobcats, and someone recently even posted a picture of a bear cub crossing a nearby road. When Mark cut down the 12-foot stalks, he saw evidence of something living in the patch of ground behind them. When he took the dog out last night, something big bolted from that spot and ran across the yard. Poor Rocco was terrified. It was time to get rid of the corn.

I’d tell you about my many projects. I’m continuing to contribute to Go Dog Go Cafe and although it’s an extra “ to do” on my list, I’m loving it. It’s such a warm and welcoming site for writers. I’ve also signed up as a moderator for OctPoWriMo 2018. I’ve been a participant for many years, so when the call was made for volunteers, I jumped on it. OctPoWriMo is a fun blogging challenge held each October in which poets commit to writing 31 poems in 31 days. It’s fun and a real challenge to create something new each day. As you know by now, I’m all about building community and connecting with other writers. I love the fact that I am in regular contact with people from all over the world. It’s inspiring to read work that is so different from my own and to have the opportunity to think about things in a new way.

After a bit, I’d have to say goodbye. I’m due at my mom’s for lunch and also have a pile of essays to correct and planning to do for this week’s classes. I’d ask you to consider signing up for OctPoWriMo and to stop by Go Do Go Cafe. Both are fantastic ways to make connections. Oh, and I’d love to hear your thoughts on this week’s visit! Until next time…