I've been busting stones all week and can't believe it's been so long since I last posted. I've been doing line by line verification of an article, interviewing a scientist (what a great interview!), raking over an outline, and making small changes to two chapters. The outline changes are going to plump up both of those chapters so unfortunately, what used to be "done" is not any more. Sigh.

Yesterday, I traveled to the Yale Art Gallery in New Haven to hear Elizabeth Kolbert speak about the climate. Although I brought my camera, they didn't allow photographs. I was very interested to read the blurb about the panelists. I was also surprised to learn she graduated from Yale.

Since climate change is a complex issue, I wondered how she would present the material and what material she would cover. Her presentation involved powerpoint slides of numerous graphs, many were familiar. It wasn't the most exciting stuff, but it sure got the point across even if it was bleak. Unfortunately, I did not put enough coins in the parking meter and had to check out early missing about 20 minutes of questions and answers.

Afterward, I drove to Guilford and took the photograph while there.

This morning I finally came up with a good ending for my article that circles back to the beginning and makes some final points. The paragraph is in good shape, but still needs some polish. In anther project, I've got outline issues to mend.

The bunny is now a frequent visitor nibbling on the grass. I have concerns it will be headed for the garden once the veggies get bigger.

I had a great inspiring meeting with my writing buddies this morning. It's amazing what a second (and a third) set of eyes can pick up. I've already made revisions to the chapter, but still need quotations and it will be done!

My work habits are starting to feel like a ping pong ball. Boing. Boing (short and entertaining video). I've been bouncing between two projects which is not the way I've worked in the past. I still need to speak with a scientist then sprinkle quotations in the chapter that is nearly complete. I shipped that almost complete piece off to my crit buddies. I'll get their input by the middle of next week. Meanwhile, I'm back at work on an article that also needs quotations added, some polishing and a better ending. I must have added at least seven sources to the bibliography, but at the same time I removed a few that I'm not using.

Kerria

A number of years ago, a friend gave me a long shoot from a kerria plant. It's grown to be a beautiful bush at the edge of the woods. When it blooms it's a cascading waterfall of golden pom poms.

I worked all weekend getting the second chapter polished up nicely, but I still have to verify the newly added information is accurate. I'm happy it's in great enough shape to email to my crit group on Wednesday.

Peonies and purple iris'

Bunny Foo Foo has returned several times and each time I run for the camera. I have a couple of other wildlife stories too.

The basement door was open all day and now there's a chipmunk in the house that is one sneaky little fella. I thought we had him cornered until he surprised me by walking on my bare feet and I..........ugh......cleared the room and he slipped away.

Two days ago, I pulled the car over after nearly driving over a huge mud-caked turtle. It was in the middle of the road so I picked it up by the shell and moved it rather quickly to the grass, in the direction of the pond. It was one feisty turtle with legs kicking and squirming. It didn't occur to me at the time that it could have been a snapping turtle.

I've been working on a chapter that I started earlier this year and I've been fact checking each sentence of the story. It's a slow process.