As I expected, the copy edit of DEATH AMONG THE STITCHES has arrived. It came while I was on a road trip with Max and Jakey. I didn't expect to have much time to look at my computer, so I left it home and just dealt with my phone on the trip.
Now that I am home, I had a look at it and the changes seem to be minor and I feel confident I will be able to send it back by August 9, Then it's just the proof pages and it's done.
I'm glad I didn't bring my laptop. I wouldn't have spent time on it anyway. I am all about being where I am when I'm there.
I did my best to explain that to Jakey during the car ride and encouraged him to look out the window. I did get a response out of him when we passed cows or horses. Jakey freaked out when Max told him a mountain shaped thing near San Luis Obispo was connected to a volcano.
Because it was a road trip, the road was definitely part of it to me. How we got where we were going and what we saw along the way.
We took different routes than we've done before. Instead of sticking to the 101, after Santa Barbara we turned onto a road that goes inland through the mountains. There was lots to look at including views of the eerie Lake Cachuma and plenty of wilderness. Then we meandered through Los Olivos until we met up with the 101 again. It seems crazy, but it was actually a short cut.
After our overnight stop in Cambria, we took a highway that goes through the mountains and connects with the 101 in Paso Robles. The hillsides were all golden with trees in clumps where the ocean air brings in moisture.
We left the 101 before it reached Salinas and took another short cut that went through fields of broccoli that were being harvested. It led right to the 68 which goes through Monterey and on to our destination in Pacific Grove which is a stand in for Cadbury-by-the Sea in the Yarn Retreat Series.
We got Jakey to join us on a mysterious night walk through Asilomar (Vista Del Mar in my books) to the beach. There was fog, chill air and dark silhouettes of the distinctive Monterey cypress trees that have been shaped by the wind. I think he preferred the stop at the beach the next day when it was light and he could play in the sand.
We've always taken the 101 all the way home, but this time we took a highway that cuts across from Paso Robles to the 5. There were lots of vineyards at first and then just golden hills and bright blue sky with temperatures up in the 90s.
The 5 goes straight down an inland route. There were lots of trucks and as we passed them, I was curious what they were all carrying. There were lots of almond trees and fields that seemed to go on forever planted with corn, something purple and something green.
The flat straight road ends when you get to the mountain and a road called the Grapevine. It was fine now, but can be treacherous in the winter when it snows on the upper elevation. There's a step grade going up and then down when you get to the other side. It can't be fun for trucks when the weather is bad.. Even with no weather problems we passed a lot of broken trucks on the side of the road.
The traffic was much heavier as we came down into the San Fernando Valley. When we got off the freeway at our stop, Jakey said it seemed like we'd been gone for a hundred years. He was out of the car and back to watching TV before we brought in the first load of stuff. I guess when you're seven, that's what's interesting.
9 comments:
Good morning -- That sounds like a wonderful road trip. It's been so long since I've been in that area but I remember lots of hills around San Luis Obispo. It is beautiful there. And I remember the Grapevine -- we were once stuck there in a bad winter storm that struck very suddenly. We rode our bikes on the 17-Mile Drive in Pebble Beach on our 17th wedding anniversary -- this year would be our 70th so that was a long time ago!!
Is "Death Among the Stitches" a yarn retreat book or the new series? How are Molly and her adventures coming along?
I found a new crochet pattern to try -- it's on the Crochet Crowd website -- called a mitered modern granny afghan. Starts in a corner and works on only two sides of a granny square for a number of rows, then along one edge to add length. I'm making a basketweave now but it will be my next project. Also need to get a start on a vest for my daughter and the afghans I want to make for my granddaughter and her boyfriend as Christmas gifts. The way time flies, the holiday will be here before we know it!
School starts for Henry next Monday -- his first day of high school. He and his friends have been goofing around all week, enjoying their last week of being together every day -- they are all going to different schools.
Did you see the Americans return from the Russian prisons? The excitement and relief they must have felt having that ordeal behind them.
Lawn guys are starting their job -- such noise. They edge the lawns first, then use the leaf blower, then mow -- all with gas-powered equipment And they wear hooded sweatshirts, even in this weather. Supposedly the sweating keeps them cool -- doesn't sound good to me!!
Enjoy your day, your crocheting and whatever else gives you pleasure.
Patty, so you are familiar with where we went. We didn't go on the 17-Mile Drive this time. Riding bikes must have been cool.
Death Among the Stitches is the first book in the Crochet and Crumpets series. I had to side-track Molly while I go through the the copy edit of Death Among the Stitches.
Henry must be excited about starting high school.
Yes, I did watch the prisoners return. I was also happy that Biden has that as an achievement.
I hate the noise of those leaf blowers and wonder how the gardeners stand it.
The crochet sounds interesting. It sounds like you have a lot on your yarn plate as usual!
I'm so glad to hear you are happy President Biden has that achievement. He is a great man and stepping aside was the right thing to do for the country. My daughter taught in a private school in Berkeley for a number of years -- a niece of Kamala Harris was in her class and VP Harris came to many of their functions -- Dana said she was always very interested in all that was going on and was so gracious and friendly.
The gardeners always wear ear protection -- they'd probably all go deaf without it!!
Have you ever been to Andersen's Split Pea Soup restaurant in Buellton? The soup is outstanding and so are their breads. Going there would be a great road trip!!
Patty, I mostly don't comment on line about political stuff. But I completely agree abut Biden. I think he did the right thing and will be remembered for that. I'm glad to hear the positive stuff about Kamala Harris. She is like the light after all the darkness on the other side.
That explains why the gardeners can stand the noise.
We usually do a bathroom stop at the Pea Soup place, but this time since we took the route that goes inland and through Los Olivos, we missed it.
What a great trip. I have visited California a few times and have always enjoyed it. My daughter briefly lived in San Diego. OMG, what beautiful though unaffordable place. I wouldn't mind a trip back.
I'm anxiously awaiting the new book.
Your road trip sounds great. I go to Cambria the same way you did. We stop at Lake Cachuma for a bathroom break.
I love how GPS gets me there and I don't have to think about where to go.
Chkntza, we had lunch in Santa Barbara at Rusty's Pizza and then didn't stop until the Madonna Inn for a bathroom stop. GPS is great. That's how we found the short cut through the broccoli fields. We did stop in Linn's bakery. We looked but didn't get anything. Maybe next time.
Sounds as if you had an enjoyable road trip, Betty. And glad you were able to enjoy it without worrying about your writing and edits.
Linda, it was good to disengage for a few days. It felt like airing out my mind.
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