Old Year, New Year

It proved difficult to carry on blogging here, in the midst of book touring, travels, and history blogging at my own Shaping the Facts as well as at the group blog English Historical Fiction Authors.

 

Since I last posted, I've:

 

Visited more bookstores.

 

 

 

Travelled to the UK, taking in Liverpool, Manchester, and London as I traced the footsteps of new characters. As usual, I spent time with friends--and a direct descendant of Diana and Charles from A Pledge of Better Times--attended a fantastic play set in the world of 18th century theatre (just like my next book), and visited a great number of museums and art galleries.

  

Waiting for a train

 

Merseyside Love Locks in Liverpool

 

Mrs Gaskell's Writing Desk, Manchester

 

Costume Gallery, Manchester

 

St Martin in the Field, London

 

Wonderful production!

 

 Celebrated Thanksgiving with our English friend, who joined us for an American feast day.

 

The stuffed turkey roll

 

 Hosted a Christmas Carolling party for neighbours and friends.

 

The Musicians

 

Some of our 30 party guests

 

 

 Enjoyed a beautiful--but not White--Christmas.

 

The Tree

 

The Girls

 

Welcomed the First Real Snowfall. And subsequent ones.

 

First Snow.

 

Second Snow.

 

Third Snow--yesterday.



 

It has been a remarkably un-snowy start to 2016.

 

The big news in our region is the First in the Nation Presidential Primary. We are besieged by candidates and campaign volunteers...until Tuesday night, when the voting results are announced and the whole political circus moves on to other states. This happens every four years. It can be fun, and exciting, but by the time it concludes we are very relieved!

 

I intend to resume personal blogging, and hope to turn up more often here than in these many months past. No promises. But I will try!