Anne of Green Gables is 100 years old! Is that possible? There is even a prequel to help us understand Anne's life before Marilla and Matthew brought her to Green Gables, titled "Before Green Gables" (imaginative, yes?). I guess this is the year to hit the red sand beaches of Prince Edward Island, too. The island is preparing for HUGE doings - lots of tourists sporting red braids and visiting Anne of Green Gables Land and Rainbow Valley. Read an Anne book to celebrate!

I just heard that someone I know and love is moving to Europe, leaving her husband behind. I sighed and said, "Well, that's the way the cookie crumbled." My friend laughed and pronounced and "And so shall the cookie never be re-assembled."
I had to have the last word. "Someone could use those crumbs in a new cookie recipe."

Finding new recipes is a way to deal with life. When something is not working, or when a situation disintegrates - using what happened to build on, to learn from, can create something better or at least as good.

Hmm, talking about using crumbs, there's bread pudding in the kitchen. I think I'll make some coffee. Later.

Happy Valentine's Day! What a great day to curl up with a book you truly love! I decided this morning that I need to re-read Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. I noticed when I was reading that the teen girls in that book adopted affectations that teen girls still adopt - spelling their names differently, trying out new hair styles, being cliquish and developing fads. Human nature doesn't seem to change even though the way it expresses itself does.

How would Little Women read if it was set in modern times? What would the fad be that sends Amy into a tizzy? Their father could be in Iraq instead of the Civil Warar and Marmie would have to have an outside job. Hmmm... Suggestions anyone?

Romance is in the air and if it isn't everyone wishes it was. I'm not much of a romance reader but I do enjoy romance when it flavors the other books I read.

Everything Valentine's Day has posted a list of "Top" romantic reads. One of my favorites - one of the few "romances" I've ever read is NOT on that list. For pure escapism, read Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Devereaux.

Whether you have a sweetie or not, enjoy this day of LOOOVE. Smooch.

Bobby McFerrin came to Bethlehem on Sunday (Feb. 10, 2008) to lead a workshop with the combined Moravian College and Central Moravian Church Choirs. Then, although he told the newspaper he wasn't going to sing, he "conducted" those choirs in a concert on Sunday night - probably the coldest, windiest night of the winter.

But Foy Hall was nice and warm with McFerrin singing melodies to the harmonies he appeared to create on the spot for the choirs. He made the melodies up. He also sang harmony for a number of students and audience members. And he got the audience to sing. In short, he sang for an hour and a half. His voice is so cool. He looks like he is having the best of times, all the time.

The whole experience was SO MUCH FUN! I love music. In my next life, I am going to do music all the time. One of the first things I will do when I retire is to join a fun choir. I want to sing. I frequently want to sing but I have no voice right now because of the sinus thing I complained about. So I am very grateful for my accordion (and piano and guitar).

I noticed again that I am an active audience member. While 500 other people - or maybe it was a thousand. Foy Hall was full to the brim - sat still in their seats, I rocked, leaned forward, mouthed the harmonies - mostly the Bass part since that was the part Andrei was singing - tapped my feet and bopped up and down. I really do get into performances. I must ...learn...to control...Nah!

I was pleased to see that some of the choir members also bounced around as they sang and listened.

Well, I should practice my accordion before I go to bed. Good night.

Nancy Springer has a marvelous character in Enola Holmes, Sherlock Holmes' much younger sister. In The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets, Dr. Watson goes missing. Enola has to come up with a more clever disguise - one that her very observant older brothers would never suspect - so she decides to become beautiful. There is a subplot about Enola's mother, Eudoria Holmes, who disappears before the first book in this series ever begins and Enola's efforts to contact her. And the language of flowers, a woman's domain, features prominently in this mystery as well.

The books are well-written, true to the Victorian era in which they are set and quick reads. There are enough clues to keep the reader guessing and a number of coded messages to decipher. I am not good at deciphering so I am happy that Springer interprets the codes soon enough in the story.

Stephanie Meyer's last Twilight book, Breaking Dawn, will be on sale on August 2nd. That should give me time to read the first three in the series. I will have to take the paperbacks with me on vacation. I can't read everything!

I'm home with another sinus infection and it's snowing. Is there anything better than being home on a snowy day? Hmm, probably but I can't think of anything right now.

I have a very full storytelling schedule - for me - coming up. I tell stories at Godfrey Daniels on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 17th at 2 pm, and I tell at Bear Creek Ski Resort on Feb. 18th and March 8th both at 7 pm.

Then, during the Lehigh Valley Story Festival, I will tell at Girls' Night Out, March 29th, again at Godfrey's, sharing the stage with Kathy Pierce and - oh I forget, someone really good. And on April 1st, Larry Sceurman and I will tell tales of foolishness at Deja Brew, 10 W. 4th Street, in Bethlehem, PA. Alas, Deja Brew does not seem to have a website. Neither do I!

So, come out and hear stories and my wild accordion next weekend or sometime in March or April. Enough now. I'm supposed to be resting.