HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SAMUEL CLEMENS

In celebration of Mark Twain's birthday  (November 30, 1835), I'm going to post a few pics of my summer visit to his house and museum in Hartford, CT.

 Chuck and I were in the area for a family wedding this summer so we took in a few literary sites!

The museum incorporates lots of Twain's pithy quotes on its walls.  This one is a little blurry because we were following a high energy tour guide who was on the move! But I really like this quote.  Hmmm - I like most of Twain's quotes!

 So what do you think? Does my hubby look good in Mark Twain hair?

 For that matter -do I?

I'm actually more comfy in Becky Thatcher hair!

We weren't allowed to take pics inside the Mark Twain House - only in the museum. This lego model of the home built in the 1980s cost approximately the same as the real deal built a century earlier - $ 45,000.00!

Many of Twain's books were set in Mississippi, but were actually written from this house or most likely his summer home in Elmira, New York.

 When I was writing Healing Water I scoured Mark Twain's Letters From Hawaii which provided colorful descriptions of Hawaii from the very time period in which my story is set.

 

According to author/editor A. Grove Day, in 1884 Twain was writing a novel set in Hawaii.  A section of it was set in the leprosy settlement on Molokai where Healing Water takes place.  I, for one, am really sad this book was never completed.

Maybe I will be able to find the 17 pages of this novel online at Berkely's Mark Twain Papers & Project where I understand that they are housed. Off to check on that.

Note that Volume 1 of the Autobiography of Mark Twain is now available - 100 years after his death as he stipulated! What a guy - to give himself ( and us) this birthday gift!

Happy Birthday, Samuel Clemens!

IN MY BACKYARD: Snow Day!

It's Dr. Suess' birthday and I was planning to celebrate by reading to 3rd graders at Startown Elementary today. And wouldn't you know?

It snowed!

Often when it snows (which isn't often at all in these parts) I pull out a jigsaw puzzle. But several years ago, I wrote BLUE on snow days. I was teaching school at the time and we had lots of snow that year. (Yay! Time to write!)

I am thinking I will use today to write also - because I assume I will be reading at Startown another day this week and Writing Wednesday has been preempted by another much anticipated event. Later this week the sun will be shining and outdoor workdays are at hand. Surely!

So writing by my fireplace seems like a plan. Earlier today, Chuck and I took a walk through our snowy backyard. While I write, you are invited to do the same. Maybe you'll bump into us along the way.

I love my rustic garden shed (built mostly by my hubby). It looks good in all kinds of weather.
The grandchildren's castle is especially enchanting in snow. Part of me is sad the kiddos are not here today to explore all our favorite spots which have become so otherworldly.
And another part is not so sad about missing out on wet clothes and puddles on the floor. And this way I have time to write!
We love our wooded paths any time of year but this is probably the very best!
My walking partner! Also known as my humble husband.

I love this chair. Never have found a cushion to fit it and I haven't convinced myself to make one either. It makes a lovely fern stand, however. And it goes very well with snow, don't you think?
The ornamental pear is about to burst into bloom.
The weeping willow is leafing out!
And of course, the daffodils are doing their best to beat spring to the punch! Spring is good and I'm ready for it. But the two of us are quite pleased to have gotten one good snow day first.