Ready for Spring!

As I watch the sun rise this morning through a forest of white, I realize that despite the beauty of the scene, I am ready for spring. I am beginning to return to my 5am rising, after two months of sleep-in hibernation. It was just too dark to get up!

Of course, that hibernation has put me behind schedule in everything from submissions to house repairs and quilt orders. Maybe I should get up at 4am for two months to catch up. I don't see that happening!

Mother Nature decided to interfer in last week's book signing at LL Bean, sending snow and rain throughout the day and keeping the shoppers home. But we did have a fun storyhour and I met some great folks from Maine and from away. I did manage to finally forget my red ant tablecloth at a signing and will have to return to Bean's to pick it up. But that is OK as I have a gift card to use:)

Much to do - think spring!!!!

Beans

The calendar for spring is beginning to get filled in with school visits and signings. This Thursday, February 19th, I will be reading and signing at the L.L. Bean flagship store in Freeport, Maine. The storyhour begins at 10:30am and I will be there to chat and sign books until 1:30pm. If your school vacation plans include a trip to Freeport, come on down on Thursday and stop by to say hello.

Other school visits are lining up and I look forward to returning to see friends and to make new ones. A trip to Pennsylvania and Minnesota is shaping up for May - more about that in a future blog. Good luck to my sister as she makes the big move to St. Paul this week - travel safely!

I am certainly enjoying the education I am receiving each week as I spend time in second grade. What a refreshing view they have of the world and I just love their honesty and curiosity. I am learning!

If you live here in New England, enjoy the school vacation week. There are still school visit dates available for spring, so please suggest a visit to your child's teacher or to your parent group. It is always fun to do something different in the spring after the long winter!

Book Award Shortlist!

Don't you just love opening your email and receiving a totally unexpected surprise? Today was that day for me. A Isn't for Fox has been selected for the nomination list for the 2009-2010 Keystone to Reading Book Award! Students in grades K-6 in the state of Pennsylvania (home state for both Laura and I) will read the nominated books during the 2009-2010 school year and vote for their favorite in March 2010. The winning author will be honored in October 2010 at the Keystone to Reading Association meeting in Hershey, PA. Like they say at the Oscars - just to be nominated is enough. Big smile!!!