Vacation Vibes

Guys, I didn’t know it was possible. But I’m actually ready to take a break from cooking shows. I did nothing but sit around for almost a week, watching Chopped, Sweet Genius, Cake Wars, and squeezing in a couple episodes of Guy’s Grocery Games as well. Okay, and I read four…no, five books. Five? I think it was five. And a half. I also got all my fall flowers planted and a bunch of spring bulbs (if all goes well, next spring, I shall have crocuses popping up all over my lawn, and I can’t wait).

Oh, I also made homemade butternut squash ravioli! And yes, that included not only roasting and seasoning the squash, but making homemade pasta – WITHOUT a pasta roller. It is indeed possible, folks. And oh, my gosh, was it good. I would be a ravioli making fiend if it hadn’t taken four or five hours.

But it is time to get back to work! There’s a little part of me that isn’t ready to get back on a normal schedule (What? Are you accusing me of staying up until three or four in the morning every single night? Ridiculous. **trying not to look guilty**). But there is a larger part of me that is ready to create again.

Do you know how long it has been since I’ve actually created? I’ve been focusing on research and editing so long that all the stories crammed inside of me are beginning to weep for escape. Now, as you know, I still have some editing to do on PoP, but I’m going to try to find more writing/editing balance now and actually finish some of the four-ish books that are beginning to feel very abandoned indeed. And maybe throw a few short stories in as well. I’m beginning to miss those. Perhaps even find enough inspiration for a fall-inspired poem. What was it Mr. Carpenter said to Emily? “The seasons are a sort of disease all young poets must have, it seems.” I may not be young any more, but the seasons are still alluring, are they not?

Our fall has been too cold for my taste, but nonetheless lovely, and during the prime of the day, the smell of the barely cooled breeze wafting through the house is almost enough to give me the flash that has eluded me for years now. (Emily fans know what I’m talking about).

I hope you are having a beautiful fall yourselves and hopefully next week I’ll have more substance for you (but no promises).