A Week of Podcasts, First Time Cover Artists, Being Under the Weather, and Real Spring Begins

Our first butterfly sighting – a Red Admiral on our lilacs – actually two!

A Week of Podcasts

I’ve been a bit under the weather this week – with unpleasant bug of the sinus/stomach sort, not the coronavirus (or monkeypox, thank goodness) but just enough to keep me mostly in bed. On the plus side, I got to photograph a few birds (see below) and the first butterflies of spring in my very own garden.

In writing news, I had a big week otherwise – my first podcast appearance in a while with Writer’s Digest, talking about worldbuilding in poetry, and a little about promoting books for poets. You can click the link to watch the podcast.

The weather went from absolutely grim – cold rain and clouds – to blue skies and finally, finally warmer weather – today went up to 66 degrees! I am hoping it helps me get better faster – it certainly raised my spirits.

Sylvia with my first photo cover artist credit, on Ordinary Splendor, a poetry book from MoonPath Press

  My Very First Cover Artist Photo Credit

I was very excited that the author Judith Waller Carroll’s sent me a copy of her book Ordinary Splendor from Lana Ayers’s MoonPath Press, which I have the honor of having a cover artist credit on. My photograph of a fox from San Juan Island last year was used as the cover art for the book, and I couldn’t be happier.

Sylvia fluffing up on my cover photo

I feel like a real photographer now, not just a five-year amateur. I took some real photography classes in high school, but it’s been just the last five years that I spent the time and effort to use a good camera and try to learn the tricks of digital photography beyond my iPhone.

Meanwhile, I’m working with BOA’s designer to figure out what we want on the cover of Flare, Corona. I wish I had a good vision for exactly what belongs on the cover. But that’s why we have collaborations!

Glenn and I at Carillon Point yesterday

Real Spring Begins (?!?)

It is almost the end of May, and it seems that spring is finally here. The temperature is above 65° and the sun is out. The butterflies, grosbeaks and goldfinches are all signs, as are more summer blooms – wisteria, lilacs, with roses, lavender and peonies are on the way. But has it been a colder and wetter wait than we usually have? Absolutely! Have I kept saying “it’s spring” only to retreat inside from the cold miserable wet weather? Yes!  But next weekend is Memorial Day weekend, so surely we’re safe to put away our winter clothing and plant our sweetpeas and basil in the hopes they won’t die this time?

Yesterday though I wasn’t feeling 100 percent yet, we stopped by Kirkland to pick up some flowers and cherries (local asparagus was already obtained by Glenn at the Farmer’s market in the morning, but cherries right now come from California and require a grocery trip) and walked along the water a bit. The Woodmark Hotel, where I first stayed twenty years ago when interviewing for my Microsoft job, has been undergoing quite a bit of demolition (out came the decades-old rose garden that grew in the front of the hotel, where the weddings usually took place – now all is mud and dirt). It’s sad to see so many things we love changing – lately trees on our street have been torn down and turned into sawdust for inexplicable reasons (no HOA report about why). Progress, progress, often making the landscape less friendly (and less plant-filled).

Anyway, soon as my brain recovers from this week of antibiotics and cold medicine, I have my book’s final edits and a review to work on. Then, later this week, some crowns—remember all those root canals? Yes, they were expensive, but nothing compared to getting the crowns on top. Urgh! I need a poetry grant just to pay for my health care and dental work these days!

Anyway, enjoy these pictures of flowers and butterflies. I hope your spring will be beautiful, safe, and healthy!