a photo, a poem, and a new manuscript

(Photo by Steve Rawley)

A Hope Carol
by Christina Rossetti

A night was near, a day was near,
Between a day and night
I heard sweet voices calling clear,
Calling me:
I heard a whirr of wing on wing,
But could not see the sight;
I long to see my birds that sing,
I long to see.

To-day or may be not to-day,
To-night or not to-night,
All voices that command or pray
Calling me,
Shall kindle in my soul such fire
And in my eyes such light
That I shall see that heart’s desire
I long to see.

I like Rossetti so much. Every poem from her is like a little present, wrapped up with pretty ribbon.

I’ve started pulling together a new manuscript… Was working on a Young Adult book — I like it, I liked where it was going. The characters are exactly who they need to be. But I’m working so much (teaching, which I do love as much as I love writing, so that’s good by me) and I can’t get my head around it. Maybe I’ll tackle it again in the summer.

For now… Best of Wacky Mommy. We’re still finishing the cookbook, too. Turns out production on cookbooks is kind of a bitch, especially when it’s three-books-in-one. (Memoir/cookbook/photo album.) Yeah, yeah, I love my Granny, okay? So this one has to be perfect. Steve’s doing the lay-out and production, not me, thank God. Cuz I’m good at many things, but not that.

Have a great weekend, cats and kittens, when we get there.

— nr