So I edited Ms. C’s invitation from “Let’s go eat some BUGS” to “Let’s go eat    [Continue reading]]]> I finished yesterday’s post, published it and looked at it again — something felt Not. Quite. Right.   I did a little research, and sure enough, cardinals eat nuts and seeds, NOT bugs. Shoulda known that from my bird feeder.

So I edited Ms. C’s invitation from “Let’s go eat some BUGS” to “Let’s go eat some SEEDS.”

Phew, much better.

And then I thought about it some: I spent actual real-time minutes researching whether a talking –  hello? — wild songbird would eat bugs or seeds. I was aiming for authenticity in my dialogue.  In billable hours it would have been only five bucks or so, but still.

That’s just plain nuts. If I were Ms. C chattering away in my front yard, I’d say, for sure, “Let’s go get some chocolate croissants and maybe a latte.”

Next time I’ll try for more authenticity, more true grit.

Whoops, wrong cardinals…. sorry.

This morning I walked down the driveway to get the paper and there in my palm trees (minus the snow, thank heaven) were not only the male cardinal, but a female cardinal as well.    [Continue reading]]]> I know y’all are anxious to find out what’s happening with my kamikaze cardinal, so here’s the latest:

Whoops, wrong cardinals…. sorry.

This morning I walked down the driveway to get the paper and there in my palm trees (minus the snow, thank heaven) were not only the male cardinal, but a female cardinal as well. Phew. A couple of minutes later I saw them both in front of the garage window, where I overheard the following conversation:

Mr. C: …and then I fought him – bam bam bam – until I scared him out to kingdom come. (Cardinals = get it?)

Ms. C: Oh, you brave thing. Just look at your crumpled feathers from defending the territory for me!

Mr. C: Yeah, you shoulda seen the other guy. I just knocked him out of the park. (Cardinals = get it?)

Ms. C: You are my hero! Let’s go eat some seeds to celebrate and then gather a bunch of sticks for a love nest.

And they sailed off into the oak trees.

**

Obviously I am having difficulty working on my novel this morning.

Today’s Wall Street Journal provided the following Eastwood quote:

“When I was doing The Bridges of Madison County, I said to myself, ‘This romantic stuff is really tough. I can’t wait to get back to shooting and killing.’”

Gotta love him.

Just in case you were still worrying about poor Libby’s fate……

** “Libby! Can you hear me?”

She opened her eyes. The sun was too bright; trees    [Continue reading]]]> I honestly thought it was Friday this morning, so I posted this, then hid it when I realized it was Thursday, then decided, who cares what day it is?

Just in case you were still worrying about poor Libby’s fate……

**
“Libby! Can you hear me?”

She opened her eyes. The sun was too bright; trees swam in and out of her line of vision.

Focus: try to focus. A sea of blue – Reed’s eyes looking into hers. Focus on that steady light; cling to it.

Fear, concern, relief washed across Reed’s face. Then Libby saw something else in his eyes and smiled.

Reed’s hands trembled as he touched her hair, her face, her lips.