Wool Blanket Book Update

 

I spent a good part of the morning yesterday and again today, visiting lots of amazing and lovely blogs with Tasha Tudor tributes, and left a few comments here and there.  It's all very inspiring.  So interesting to see how her influence has affected each of us in so many wonderful ways.  I'm thrilled her pioneering spirit lives on!

On a similar note, regarding the pioneer spirit, some of you know that I’ve had my nose to the grindstone preparing my wool blanket project for publication and it’s been all-consuming for months now.  There's been so much to learn.  New territory to cover.  And conquer.  So instead of breezy summer fiction, I've been delving deep into technical tomes and (so-called) "quick-start" manuals; with my viewing entertainment coming in the form of video tutorials for every CS program out there.  In essence, I’ve been schooling myself.  I do realize there are easier ways to do all this, with Blurb and Slurp and LuLu and other self-publishing programs already out there, but most of their online software was slightly limited for my purposes, and besides I really just wanted to roll up my sleeves and start from scratch.  Embrace a new challenge.  Honestly, there's been frustration along the way.  There's always that.  But for all the hard work, I'm actually seeing a little light at the end of the tunnel and it's exciting!  The projects, patterns, and written portion of the book is done and I'm pretty happy with it all and hugging myself!  A proof copy is in front of me now which has illuminated a few things that need to be fixed though.  Things like rearranging photos, nudging text, and more proof-reading; little details for sure, but somewhat tedious and always time-consuming.  I have half a dozen lively and uplifting playlists in heavy rotation to help get me through this.  The Mister and the girls have been wonderful in helping cook and take care of the house and without their help and support I couldn't have done any of this.  Obviously I'm taking time to do other things, but when I'm working, I honestly am so distracted and concentrating so intensely that I forget everything else around me.  Including pots cooking on the stove.  Twice now, I've burnt hard-boiled eggs! How can that happen?  Not easily, but I manage to do it.  I'm always telling them, I need watching. So my seventeen year-old daughter, Grace, designed and uploaded a simple program she calls the "Trusty Timer" that has a pop-up window and a rooster that crows, as a reminder for me.  It sounds wacky, but it works great!  That is, when I remember to use it.  I may need a reminder for that too.  Maybe a live chicken under my desk pecking at my toe or something.  Anyway...I’m hoping to get the pages all bundled and off to the printer very soon.  Keeping my fingers crossed.  And feet tucked in.  Just in case.

Comments

[Amanda]

~Sending you lots of positive thoughts on your book!~ Mandy

[Gina]

LOL! I am SO glad to hear I am not the only one who has burnt hard boiled eggs! I tell myself I will remember to go check what's on the stove but then I get sidetracked on the computer and geesh! Time FLIES by. The crowing rooster timer sounds fabulous!

:-) Gina

[June]

How exciting that your book project is moving along so well. What fun this will be for all of us to one day enjoy.

The best thing of all is your daughter's return home. This must be such a blessing for you.

[Bridgette]

I burnt my first pan of eggs just the other night, didn't notice til I heard the shells crack.Is Grace available?

[Velma]

Your daughter returning home... Yea! When a child (no matter what age) comes home, it is such a blessing! Congratulations on finishing your book. I can't wait to buy one. Oh, if Grace decides to patent and sell her "Trusty Timer" I'll take one of those too. What a hoot, or should I say what a crow! :-) Congratulations!

[Sue]

I'm so impressed about you learning CS3 on the fly like that! Those are some really tough programs to get a grip on. You are truly an amazingly multi-talented woman!! I can't wait to buy the book!

Hooray about your daughter returning! My oldest daughter is devouring every out-of-state college catalog she can get her hands on. It's nice to know they come back!

[Linnea]

You're awesome. I think it is so wonderful that you're working on a book! That's BIG :o) I can't wait to see it. You must be so happy that your daughter's coming home. Have a great weekend with your dear family.
xox,
Linnea

[Carol]

I am so excited about this book!!!!

[misspaula]

What a joy to have your daughter back home!! Enjoy!!

[Lissa]

Mandy, I'm very happy for you and all your hard work! I can't wait to see your book!!!

What a blessing to have your daughter back home. You must be wearing a smile from ear to ear!

:)

[Lissa]

Mandy, I'm very happy for you and all your hard work! I can't wait to see your book!!!

What a blessing to have your daughter back home. You must be wearing a smile from ear to ear!

:)

[mathea]

Good to hear that your book project is coming together so nicely, but I gather it must be hard work! You are lucky to have a supportive family. And how wonderful for you that your daughter is coming home!
I tend to forget everything when I'm on the computer too, so I have made it a rule to ALWAYS set the timer when I have something cooking to remind myself to check on it ;-)

[Linda]

That is so exciting, Vicki, and I'm very intrigued about your putting this book together yourself. Who are you using to make the actual physical book then?

[Ele at A bit of Pink Heaven]

Yeah Amber. Children coming home/ the best! Good luck with your book project.

[Christy]

Good luck, sweet tidings to your book project!

[calamity kim]

I am so proud of you! I will be first on Amazon's waiting list for the book! Yeehaw!!!!!

[calamity kim]

Or are you publishing it yourself?
Can I be first in line to buy one???I am so excited! This is wonderful! I can't wait!

[Bonnie Buckingham]

OH I can't wait for your book!
And your daughter coming home.
Sweet reunion!

Bonnie

[Natalie]

Admirable and exciting, publishing your own book. This is very exciting, so is the news of your daughter's return. Obviously adventuring, creativity, and a thirst for knowledge runs in the family.

[Veda voom voom]

so excited for your book...
I have a wool blanket that I got this summer at a yard sale for a song, that will be perfect.

hope your enjoying the time with your daughter!

[Sarah]

How exciting to have your daughter returning after such a long time away!

P.S. I expect the blogger problem has something to do with all the upgrading they did awhile back. If you have a google account it's much easier to just sign in with that.