GOOD NEWS, BLAD NEWS

While I was in NYC, an envelope arrived in the mail from my publisher, Gibbs Smith. Inside was a copy of the blad for my book.
What is a blad you ask?

It’s an acronym for Book Layout and Design, and it’s an advance preview of a book that publishers send out to bookstore VIPs and editors who review books.Blads feature the book jacket and a few layouts stapled together.
Hope you've enjoyed this mini preview of the book's preview. Thanks to the wonderful world of scanners, now everyone in Bloglandia is a VIP!

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Have you discovered Sarah's chronicle of surfing through life in her fixer-up cottage by the sea?

Photo courtesy A Beach Cottage blog.

A Beach Cottage blog features photos of wispy white cottage rooms, useful furniture how-tos (such as the one above), and amusing anecdotes of life in an Australian seaside town.

MARCH MADNESS

Last Monday I stood on my porch staring at my garden. It was blanketed in about 8-inches of snow. This morning, one week later, I stood in the same spot admiring the daffodils.
The bluebirds and robin red breasts are back and my buddy the chipmunk came to visit, too.

Although many people make New Years resolutions, I prefer to make Garden Resolutions. My resolutions are part “To Do” list, part wish list and part cast-iron five-year plan.

In 2006, I began gardening with the goal of making the flowerbeds look great in mid April. I wanted to make a garden party for my mother’s 90th birthday in April 2008.

For two years, I planned, planted and pruned diligently with mid-April in mind. You can check out last April’s blog posts to see how my handiwork turned out.


This winter, I started thinking about what’s next...

Better paths and late season bloom topped my list but gardening on the cheap also ranked high.

I also plan to grow more veggies and be more diligent fighting the crows for my fair share of the produce.

So far, all that I’ve done is a bit of garden clean up and mulching. (Disclaimer: in order to spend more time on clean up and less on photographing the garden, the photos above are from past years in March, sorry folks.)

Other garden tasks will have to wait until next weekend. I’m off to NYC in the morning. While I’m away, please visit today’s blog du jour.

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Photo by Susan Donley

Rose gardener extraordinaire, Carolyn Parker always features really useful info and gorgeous photos on her website, Roses From A to Z. Now she has a blog called Rose Notes.

One of her first posts is titled RECYCLED ROSES and features gorgeous paper roses fashioned from interior design and gardening magazines.

It’s a must read!

KIDNAPPED BY A BAND OF GYPSIES

It’s snowing today!

Commenting on my last post about Obama attending a basketball game, the always divine Desperate Diva wrote:

“I just can't wait to hear about your NEXT adventure. Take me, take me...!!! YOU do so many FUN things.”

Her comment got me thinking….
In June 2007, I started this Book Blog to chronicle the twelve to eighteen month process of writing a decorating book (Waterside Cottages).


After turning in the text and photos to my editor at Gibbs Smith in September 2008, the book’s release date got postponed twice (first it was editorial delays, then the bad economy).


As you’ve probably noticed, I continue to post about Coastal and decorating topics from time to time. However the blog has turned into the chronicles of my comings and goings, likes and dislikes and totally schizophrenic interests.


According my family’s informal family tree, one of my great grandmothers was a gypsy. While this may or may not be true, I’ve always imagined that a trace of gypsy blood is what navigates my life.

(Chocolate ventures out into the snowy yard.)

My iPod shuffles from Gypsy melodies to Sweethearts of the Rodeo (an American country music duo), the Bhundu Boys (a Zimbabwean band), Arvo Part (an Estonian composer), and Bollywood’s greatest hits.

(Snowbirds)

If Big Brother is monitoring my Google searches and trying to pinpoint my interests for marketing purposes, they’ve probably filed me as schizophrenic.


I realize that like Diane, some of you probably enjoy my caravan of spontaneity, while others wish I’d stick to showcasing seaside style.

Those who crave more COASTAL CONTENT will be happy to hear that I'm launching a Waterside Cottages web site. It will premier in May.


On my web site, you’ll be able to order my book (autographed, if you’d like), or note cards with photos from the book and one-of-a-kind items for your coastal cottage. There will also be decorating tips and interviews with designers.

As I work on the site, I’ll post previews on The Book Blog.

(Belgie heads home for breakfast)

Meanwhile, as the characters in Monty Python’s Flying Circus say when they switch skits and gears… AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT

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After all this white stuff, it’s time for a splash of pink, so I’d like you to meet Becca at BlueBirdRoses.blogspot.com. Enjoy!