Spring is a little slower to arrive than this time last year, but that is no bad thing for all those creatures who need a while longer to hibernate.
Here, in Somerset, daffodils have already appeared and what a joy to see the glorious yellow heads of the Narcissus Tête-à-Têtes I planted last October, waving hello in the sunshine of my garden.
Somerset Spring on its way (c) Sherri Matthews 2015
Early Spring Tete-A-Tetes in Somerset
(c) Sherri Matthews 2015
Not too long ago…catching up at last!…wonderful friend Luanne of Writer Site tagged me for The Work-In-Progress Blog Tour Stop.
High praise indeed, for Luanne is an accomplished, published author of both poetry and prose in many journals. Her current work in progress is writing her memoir called Scrap, which looks to be a fascinating read about a family defined by its secrets.
She is very excited about her recent publication of her first poetry collection Doll God to rave reviews over at Goodreads.
‘The gripping poems in Doll God take the reader on a journey through what is found, lost, or destroyed. The speaker in one poem insists, “I am still looking for angels.” She has failed to find them yet keeps searching on. She knows that what is lost can be found.’
In addition to Luanne’s blog, you can connect with her at her website, Luanne Castle and on Twitter. I guarantee a warm welcome by this lovely woman.
Thank you so much Luanne for tagging me and showing so much interest in and support of my memoir and I wish you every success with yours!
Some English primroses for you:
Somerset Primroses
(c) Sherri Matthews 2015
The work-in-progress blog tour rules:
- Link back to the post of the person who nominated you.
- Write a little about and give the first sentence of the first three chapters of your current work-in-progress.
- Nominate some other writers to do the same.
This is the last work-in-progress blog tour I’ll do for a while as I concentrate on my writing, and I certainly don’t want to bore you, but for anyone who might want to know more and didn’t catch last week’s 777 Writing Challenge Post, you can read an excerpt here, and my short Memoir Book Blurb here.
Having recently merged the first three chapters into one, I’m left with a nice fat muddle. Here goes anyway:
Prologue:
How are we to recognise those moments when a casual exchange of words, a simple action or spur-of-the-moment decision changes our lives instantly and profoundly, when nothing will ever be the same again?
Chapter One: Freedom
Failed. I waited, frozen, for the passing of my sentence. For the blade to drop. I had known it the minute my back tyre had hit the curb during my three-point-turn and the terse look on my driving instructor’s face when we returned to the Test Centre.
Chapter Two: Wishing On a Star
My family’s attachment to Americans began before I was even born, harking back to the dark days during World War II, when my grandparents befriended and took in lonely American servicemen, giving them tea and cake in exchange for stockings and cigars and ‘candy’ for the kids – my mother and uncle.
********
The two amazing, talented memoir writers and wonderful friends
I’m tagging for this Blog Tour Stop are:
Irene who blogs at Reflections and Nightmares where she shares her beautiful photos, thought-provoking, challenging and often delightfully humourous musings, memoir bites and flash fiction. I look forward very much to reading some excerpts from her packed-full-of-adventure memoir, which I can’t wait to read.
Elizabeth who blogs at Breaking the Cycle, which is also the title of her unpublished memoir and which she describes as referring to: ‘my book’s focus: chronicling dysfunctional aspects to my childhood and connecting them to difficulties I overcame as a parent.‘ I hope that this brave and kind-hearted woman will share a few lines of her memoir.
*******
So then, as spring yawns and raises its sleepy head from its long slumber, I wish you all a wonderful weekend of sunshine and laughter.
And watch out, you never know who might cross your path…
Bunny Crossing
(c) Sherri Matthews 2015
A View From My Summerhouse 
A lovely cheering blog, Sherri. with the promise of Spring’s beauty and new life to come. It brings such joy and hope.Thank you. Love and blessings galore Mumblypeg xxx
.
LikeLike
So happy you enjoyed it MP…much love and blessings to you too, I hope you have a beautiful week 🙂 ❤ xxxxxx
LikeLike
Beautiful shots of your Spring flowers and Mr. Bunny Rabbit. 🙂 The delicate primrose is especially lovely. I’m sure your “nice fat muddle” will sort itself out beautifully. I love the title of Luanne’s poetry collection, and wish her lots of luck with it. Have a wonderful weekend. xx
LikeLike
Ahh…yes, that Mr Bunny Rabbit sign has taken pride of place in my gardens both sides of the pond 🙂 Thank you so much Sylvia, I’ll get to grips with my muddle, and doing these challenges has actually helped with that so it’s been a wonderful exercise. Luanne is a very talented poet and writer and a really lovely lady too… just like you 😀 We had a lovely weekend thank you, hope you did too 🙂 xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such as joyful post and beautiful photos. Thank you for bringing spring to us, Sherri! 🙂
LikeLike
Thank YOU Amy for your lovely comment, you always bring me great cheer 🙂
LikeLike
So much in your posts, Sherri! 🙂 I know Luane a little through her blog but nothing of her work so I’ll definitely go and explore when I’ve written this. Davis Cup has been so tense, I’m finding it hard to concentrate. Hope you’re out in the sunshine 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha…thanks Jo…I think 😀 Coming to the end of my challenge commitments now, as you know. They are work but fun too! You won’t be disappointed by Luanne’s work, she is an amazingly talented writer. I met her through our wonderful friend Jill’s Summer Spotlight last summer 🙂 I missed the tennis at the weekend…dare I ask?
LikeLike
Murray was superb 🙂 And our doubles partnership took the Bryan twins all the way to the bitter end. Indian Wells this week so it may be sleepless nights again with Rafa. 🙂 Have a happy week!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh that’s great news, thanks! And isn’t it always sleepless nights with Rafa? Thanks Jo, and you too…heading over for a walk in a mo… 🙂
LikeLike
Lovely early spring blooms. I’ve been watching the tennis too. Nothing is getting done here….
LikeLike
Thanks Jenny, glad you enjoyed them! I missed the tennis…as I said to Jo, dare I ask? It was lovely and sunny on Saturday, not so yesterday. Hope you are having a lovley early spring in your neck of the woods. For some reason, we do get an early showing of daffs here in this part of Somerset 🙂
LikeLike
Congratulations, Sherri, and enjoyed the flowers and promise of Spring. We have a ways to go here and looking forward to it even more now that I’ve seen your pictures. Way to go on your book and writing and awards. You’ve got something good going on here and couldn’t be more happier for you. 🙂
LikeLike
So glad you enjoyed the pics Pat, and thank you so much, you are always so encouraging. I hope you will get a glimpse of spring soon, it feels like a breath of fresh air. Having said that, it is gloomy here today but then that’s the English weather for you…like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get!! Have a beautiful week Pat and catch up with you soon 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can feel that, Sherri — a breath of fresh air . . . mmm. Think it’s just around the corner for us with blue skies and warm sunshine today. I’m looking forward to it. Take care, my friend, and hoping you have a wonderful week, too. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
How lovely that you have so much support and encouragement for your work Sherri, it is so wonderful to see! Those tiny excerpts are tantalising – you know of course that order will arise from creative chaos so keep going! And the icing on the cake – you have the bright beauty of the first spring flowers to beckon you on now. xoxo
LikeLike
Ahh…thank you so much Pauline, that really means so much to me 🙂 Some sense of order is indeed beginning to arise, and in fact, these two writing challenge posts have ‘forced’ me to do some long-needed evaluating and sorting out. So much so, that I feel invigorated to press on even more so now…if only for more hours in the day!!! I’m glad you enjoyed the spring pics…I expect you are coming into autumn now? But then Autumn is a glorious time of year, I adore it 🙂 xoxo
LikeLike
Oh such lovely flowers! Enjoy them! I do miss the gentle awakening of spring here. My spring flowers die too fast here. And as always; nice writing, great rhythm, curiosity for more … Keep writing my talented friend 🙂
LikeLike
Ahh…thank you so much Ilka for your lovely words and kind encouragement, as always, means so much to me. Yes, I understand about spring flowers, I used to find that in California. I could never grow daffodils or primroses, just too hot and dry even in the spring. I hope though that whatever you do grow will blossom and bloom beautifully, like you 🙂
LikeLike
The photos of your emerging spring flowers make me smile though I’m anxious for our own. They have cheered me today. Tonight we put our clock forward, a sure sign spring is around the corner (don’t know which one yet 😀 )
Enticing beginning to your first three chapters, Sherri. Sound terrific!
LikeLike
Oh I’m so glad they cheered you on Tess, that makes me happy 😀 Haha…I hope you get your spring soon, whichever corner it decides to bloom in first 😀 We have until the end of the month before we put our clocks forward. I do not like this time change one bit, I feel jet-lagged for two weeks, seriously 😦 And thanks so much for your wonderful encouragement of my writing, you spur me on greatly, means so much… 🙂 😀 🐻
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sherri, it gives me pleasure to have found friends like you. We all can do with encouragement. Why not spread it around. ❤ ❤ ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh how lovely of you Tess, and me too, you are a wonderful friend 🙂 ❤ ❤ ❤ 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
❤ ❤ ❤
LikeLike
Beautiful writing and flowers. I wish I could hibernate. That would be fantastic. Under the 4+ ft. of snow. So warm and cozy. No signs of spring here yet.
LikeLike
Oh thank you so much Sarah 🙂 Gosh, you are still in the midst of winter by the sounds of it! We barely had any snow, but then that’s not unusual for the UK (unless you live in Scotland and of course they had loads there). I actually love snow, but only when it’s fresh and white, not slushy and brown and freezing. I hope you get your spring very soon…but maybe get to hibernate a little before then, that sounds wonderful… 🐻
LikeLike
Time to change that header photo Sherri!!
LikeLike
Haha…done, in your honour Jude 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is a really good day for Spring like pictures – it’s the first day long sunshiney weekend of the year. the light in your pics is really beautiful.
LikeLike
And isn’t it so lovely to have a sunshiney weekend at long last? So glad you enjoyed the pics, thanks Denise, and I hope you had a wonderful weekend 🙂
LikeLike
Sherri gorgeous pictures of what is to come. Wishing you much happy writing this spring.
LikeLike
Thank you so much as always Kath! And I wish you the very same…and happy painting and drawing too 🙂
LikeLike
Beautiful photos Sherri! You are ahead of us as the daffodils are late this year. Usually by the time Cheltenham Races are on the verges are covered but not this year. I have a few brave daffs in my garden and some gorgeous Hellebores and snowdrops but that’s it at the moment. Thanks for introducing us to some new and exciting blogger/writers. have a great Spring and I look forward to reading the rest of the memoir!
LikeLike
Hello Brenda, how lovely to see you again! I’m so glad you enjoyed the pics, thank you very much too for your kind words about my memoir, I’m honoured that you would want to read it! You will enjoy reading more of these bloggers too. We do seem to be ahead here in Somerset for some reason. The daffs showed up just after Christmas along the verges, a really beautiful show and still going with the next batch. Perhaps it is warmer here, but I hope you get yours very soon, although I adore snowdrops 🙂 I hope you have a great spring too…and we will keep in touch throughout 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your flowers are so beautiful, Sherri! But where is my little English Robin? I thought of you just moments ago, when I looked out the window and saw at least thirty Robins hanging out in one of our trees.
You’re teasing me with your snippets of your memoir. I’m getting impatient. 🙂 So, get back to work! xoxoxo
LikeLike
Thank you Jill, so glad you enjoyed the pics! There are even more blooms now, they seem to have multiplied since the sun came out this weekend, it felt very springlike, although today is a bit grim which is a shame. Oh that is amazing that you saw so many Robins in your tree like that, what a beautiful sight heralding in spring for you! Now, Sweet Robin is making a daily appearance and using the bird bath too! Yesterday, he was singing out from the top of our trellis, but I was so mesmerised I completely forgot to take a photo! I need to take some new ones,and I will, just for you, if I can catch him 🙂
Haha 😀 Jill, you crack me up!! Remember the Little Engine That Could…? Well, that’s me, chugging away 😀 xoxoxo
LikeLike
It’s so lovely to see the first signs of Spring. I especially love seeing the bulbs flower, knowing we planted them months ago, that they’ve been waiting patiently beneath the soil, and then voila! they arrive in their glory. We are far from this here in the NYC area as we are still beneath a lot of snow but hopefully in a month we will catch up with you.
Thank you for sharing your WIP, it’s always fascinating to see an artist at work!
LikeLike
Yes, it is a wonderful reward isn’t it to see our bulbs blossom and bloom so long after we planted them! We seem to be ahead of a lot of places here, I do hope you get your spring very soon…
And thank you very much Letizia, I am honoured to be a part of these writing challenge blog hops 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think we are going to fly by spring and go right into summer with our temps here. I love your flowers and the excerpts. I’m ready to read the rest.
LikeLike
Sometimes it seems that way here Marlene, with a long, wet, cold winter and then barely a spring and straight into summer, which can be just as disappointing. The weather here in the UK can be very tempremental. It sounds as if you are having some hotter than usual weather there. I hope your garden blossoms and blooms beautifully even so. And thank you so much, I’m thrilled for the interest you have in my memoir. And of course, that you enjoyed the photos too 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are a breath of spring, Sherri. Maybe when all this snow melts we’ll find daffodils and crocus blossoms just waiting to bloom in the sunshine.
Your writing blooms with vivid details, too!
LikeLike
Oh I do hope spring won’t be too long for you Marylin! I’m sure that a blaze of colour is just waiting to bloom and blossom for you 🙂 Crocuses are blooming here too, although I didn’t plant any this year (but I did catch one, small purple one poking its head out, and not sure what happened to the others!). And thank you so much as always for your lovely comment 🙂
LikeLike
What bright, uplifting yellow flowers. You are very right Sherri to say they are waving hello at you. They look very happy to be out and look like they are going to stay for a while. Spring will come soon enough in full swing, I am certain of it. Before you know it you’ll have more lovely flowers to keep you company in your garden. The first three chapters of your book sounds very exciting. Dark, but on a rollercoaster adventure. Keep going, very inspiring to see you come this far with it 🙂
It’s autumn here in Melbourne now, I’m sad summer has left us already. It’s definitely colder now, so in the months ahead I am sure I’ll be visiting your Summerhouse for sunshine and warmth 🙂
LikeLike
It is always such a pleasure to witness the beginnings of spring isn’t it? I’m so glad you enjoyed the pics Mabel, and thank you so much for your encouragement as always of my memoir. It is strange just to post a few lines like this, out of context, but it’s been a great exercise in revisiting those earlier chapters and beginning to bring the story together, albeit very slowly 😉 I love autumn, my favourite time of the year! But I can understand your sadness in summer saying goodbye. And what a lovely thought, you know that anytime you need sunshine and warmth, the doors to my Summerhouse are open night and day, joined by a warm and hearty welcome from me 😀 Have a beautiful week Mabel, and hopefully it won’t be too chilly for you 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely flowers of Wales, you got there in your garden, Sherri. I agree, they brighten up any dark day but, when the sun shines on them, they radiate warmth out to all of us. Our spring bulbs are also doing their performance, and I hope it’s a promise of a decent Spring this year.
Thanks you for taking me on another blog tour and introducing me to some new authors and good luck with the writing. I’m looking forward to reading the book when you publish it. Hopefully, a signed copy 🙂
LikeLike
Yes Hugh, nothing like the beautiful daffodils of Wales to welcome spring! They have multiplied even since I took these photos, and I have other pots too, so hoping for an even bigger blaze of colour very soon 🙂 I’m so glad you enjoyed these pics and that you are also enjoying your spring bulbs too. Thank you also so much for your wonderful, ongoing support and encouragement of my memoir. And you bet, I would be honoured for you to have a signed copy, goodness, what a fantastic compliment, you’ve made my day Hugh 🙂
LikeLike
Looking forward to it, Sherri. I’m glad I’ve made somebodies day, today. You’ve made my day by saying I can have a signed copy of your memoirs 🙂
Enjoy the Spring flowers, and look out for my workspace blog hop, coming very soon 🙂
LikeLike
Ahh..so sweet of you Hugh…and I look very much to your blog hop post, can’t wait 🙂
LikeLike
Hi Sherri,
I must say that was a great bloghop.
The two things that jumped out at me were the wonderful photos of flowers ( heralding spring!) and your love for the colour yellow. So, what thoughts do ‘yellow flowers’ bring up for you….?
Shakti
LikeLike
Hi Shakti, thank you very much for your lovely comment, I’m so glad you enjoyed the blog hop, jazzed up a bit with all that yellow 🙂 Haha, yes, I suppose I am rather fond of the colour yellow! I only planted Narcissus daffodils this year as the taller ones tend to blow over in the wind, of which we seem to get a lot here in the West Country. Yellow means sunshine, new beginnings, a fresh start and the joys of spring. Yellow brings hope. And that’s just for starters 🙂 I wonder if you have the same thoughts! Have a lovely day ~ Sherri
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Sherri, oh wow you merge 3 chapters into 1? That must have taken a while. Glad you are writing and organizing 🙂 Happy for you! I look forward to reading more from you soon! I like daffodils because they are such a cheerful yellow!
LikeLike
HI Chrisy! Haha, yes, that was a bit of an overhaul. I hadn’t intended to do that until I finished the first draft, but it has been a great exercise with these two recent blog hop writing challenges. I feel much better now about the way the book starts and leads in. It is still a ‘nice, fat muddle’, but atleast the muddle is sorting itselt out now 😉 Thank you so much for your kind encouragement and I’m so glad you enjoyed the pics. I hope you have a great week ahead!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congratulations to Luanne in her success and best of luck to her on finishing Scrap! 🙂
Thank you for bringing Spring to my eyes. It will be a while until I see any color around here. Too many feet of snow yet to melt. 🙂 This was so nice, Sherri. You always do such a great job in these challenges you get. It just proves how versatile and talented you are. Continued success with your memoir writing. 🙂
LikeLike
Yes, I second that for Luanne, thank you Maria 🙂
And I’m so glad you got to visit an early spring here, and I do hope you get yours very soon, once all that snow has melted 😉 Nice that you got to escape it for a couple of weeks, but I wish we had had some snow here at least. We did have some frost so that was nice. I love those, clear, crisp days of winter. But not for too long 😉 And thank you so much as always for your wonderful encouragement of my writing Maria, really means a lot that and keeps me pressing on 🙂 I hope you have a great week and keep warm!
LikeLike
Thanks for that bit of “spring” Sherri. It’s a bit slow to arrive on my end as well but today I finally saw the beginning of buds. A welcome change from the bits of snow that fell last week. A joy to read as usual. 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you so much Lilka, so glad you enjoyed this ‘spring break’ 🙂 How exciting that you saw some buds, I can’t wait to see more of your beautiful spring photos. I’ll be getting out the first B&W a bit later…hopefully I can keep to the challenge this week! See you soon 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, I do need Spring
LikeLike
And I hope so much you get your spring very soon LBeth. It’s a bit grim here today after all that lovely sunshine…but that’s English weather for you 😉
LikeLike
Oh, it’s raining, in the 40’s
LikeLiked by 1 person
Raining here too… 😦
LikeLike
The daffodils and primroses in your springtime garden look beautiful. Congratulations on being tagged for the bloghop. I really enjoyed reading the opening to each of your first three chapters. I am looking forward to reading the filling between (a bit like the flavours in a triple-decker sandwich). Thank you for sharing them.
We are in autumn here, but it hasn’t started to cool down yet. The butterflies are going crazy with the warmth. There are so many, and a great number of varieties, in the garden. Today I saw the biggest female varied eggfly ever. Unfortunately I was too slow to photograph it. As soon as I went out to do so it fluttered over the fence and far away.
LikeLike
Ahh Norah, so encouraging and kind of you, thank you greatly, I am thrilled to know you want to taste the fillings 😀 It is a bit strange sharing three short lines, out of context, and hoping that others reading them will get some kind of flavour of the book. Still, it’s been a great exercise doing these two blog hop writing challenges in helping me get to a better place with the book’s beginning, as it was really starting to bug me!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the early spring photos, thank you so much, and how lovely that you are enjoying your autumn (my favourite season, I admit, although I do love all the seasons). I grow buddliah and lavendar in my garden to attract the bees and butterflies, but I’ve never heard of an eggfly. We must not get them here? I hope you get a photo so that I can see it! I have been like that with my robin, who is visiting daily, even taking baths in the birdbath (where else ha!). He was singing from the top of the trellis at us yesterday and I was so entranced that by the time I thought to get my camera and take a photo, he was gone, like your butterfly 😮 I need to get some up to date ones, I can’t keep showing photos of him in the snow!! I hope you had a wonderful weekend Norah, thanks again for bringing your smiles to ‘Spring in the Summerhouse’ 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Sherri,
Varied eggfly butterflies are very beautiful. I have just uploaded this photo http://wp.me/a3O5Jj-pK It is the same as the butterfly I saw, but this one was in my daughter’s garden last week and she photographed it. This one is a female. The males are very beautiful too with purple and white spots. You can see some photos here: http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_nymphs/CommonEggfly.htm
I used to have them in my classroom. We would get them as tiny little caterpillars and watch them as they grew, pupated and emerged as butterflies. (Sometimes we had monarchs too, but as their food source is toxic we had to change to the eggfly – I wasn’t disappointed!)
I am envious of your robin. “The Christmas Robin” was my favourite Christmas story when I was a child. I still enjoy reading it to children. I was fortunate to see some when I was in the UK last year.
We have amazing birds visiting our garden here. They herald the early morning and the dusk. I love to hear them: lorikeets, kookaburras, koels and currawongs, cockatoos and crows . . . What an amazing orchestra. 🙂
Enjoy your springtime.
Best wishes with your writing. Soon it will be time for summer, in your Summerhouse. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much for sending me these links Norah, and what a beautiful butterfly indeed! Lovely photo of your daugther’s. They remind me a little of our Peacock butterflies, except they have dark orange spots. I posted some photos of them way back in August 2013 (seems so long ago in blogland!). https://sherrimatthewsblog.com/2013/08/01/happiness-is-a-full-water-butt-a-garden-full-of-butterflies-bees/ I had some help in identifying them as I mistook them for Red Admirals at first. What a wonderful education you provide for your class, showing the children the life cycle of a butterfly. I got a butterfly farm for my boys once but although some of the tiny butterflies emerged and flew off happily, some didn’t form properly. A bit traumatic for them but then that’s nature isn’t it? We laugh about it now 😉 Oh Norah, what wonderful names of your birds, so Australian!! And I’m so glad to hear you got to see some English robins when you visited. Oh I wish I had been able to meet up with you when you came here! Still, never say never.. Have a super day, I’ll be over to you shortly to catch up 🙂
LikeLike
Wonderful spring yellows 🙂 I saw my first daffodils here today, although not in my garden.
I love the three extracts from your memoir. Don’t mention three-point turns. It reminds me of something that happened in one of my driving lessons. Aged 18, I had an instructor with a name like Mr Nutty (I won’t put his real name here), who put his arm around and attempted to kiss me while I was doing a three-point turn, with the result that I backed into a lamppost. Imagine him trying to explain away the dent in the back of his car to the driving school — I bet he had a red face while lying his head off!
LikeLike
They are so pretty aren’t they? Oh thanks so much Sarah, that’s made me so happy to know you enjoyed them! And I had to laugh at your adventure, hope you don’t mind. Haha…Mr Nutty 😀 What a story, but what a nightmare for him to do that and at that moment too!! I hope he passed you otherwise you could have seriously blackmailed him 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mr Nutty was my instructor, but I have another story to tell you, Sherri, about my youngish, dishy-looking driving-test examiner…
After we’d walked out of the test centre, he asked, “Have you got any physical impediments?” (probably they don’t ask this question anymore, as it’s not quite PC!).
I answered, “No.”
He looked me up and down and said, “It doesn’t look like it.” (note, this was about 40 years ago & I was wearing an A-line mini skirt).
Good start, I thought.
Feeling well disposed towards me, he showed great consideration by waiting until I was driving the car at only 20 mph to give me an emergency stop.
Of course, the ultimate result was a PASS!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha…well Sarah, you obviously had quite the sway over those driving instructors/examiners and how very helpful of him to pass you like that after such a well executed emergency stop!! My examiner was a grumpy old git. Can you imagine them saying that now? When I worked at the Post Office, when I was 18, one of the postmen used to pinch my bum everytime he walked past me (I was a postal officer and they had to walk behind me and the other staff to get to the sorting office. There was one only one other woman and she was older than me). So the question I have to ask is, did you see your dishy looking examiner ever again?
LikeLiked by 1 person
No, I didn’t see him again … unfortunately D:
I was thinking about what you said about a postman pinching you on the bum. Haven’t things changed since then? I suppose women these days would have reported him for sexual harassment or assault. In my day, such behaviour was considered a bit cheeky (pun not intended!) and rather continental (Italian), but most females would laugh it off, or just deal with it and tell the man in question to behave himself.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, that’s a shame 😉
And yes, things have changed greatly. You are absolutely right, and that is precicesly what I did, told him off for being a little too ‘cheeky’… ha!…and to watch it, all in good humour. Talk about the good old, bad old days 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
What lovely photos of your beautiful flowers! Here things are budding and Spring approaches but I do wish winter would linger. It was unseasonably warm this year so never got to wear my warm and cozy clothes. If I heard the report right the Sierra’s are at only 4% of a normal snow pack so we are in serious trouble her in California. So excited about your memoir and once again you leave me wanting for more and more!! I guess I have a Sherri addiction… 🙂 xoxo
LikeLike
Ahh, yes, I remember you saying how unseasonably hot it was over there even for this time of year. Oh I do remember how much we longed for rain. I still do love the rain, but I suppose now that I’m used to getting it so much I now enjoy those sunny days so much more. But of course, the temperatures here are so much cooler. That is dangerous news about the Sierra’s for the snow melt to come. Oh I do hope that this year brings more rain for you and cooler temps. And thank you so much as always my dear friend for your support of my writing…you know how much it means to me 🙂 ❤ xoxo
LikeLike
Happy Spring Sherri!
LikeLike
And a very happy spring to you too my friend 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey there mon amie – this is the 3rd blog I have visited after my trip and I am glad I came here because my daffodils are officially gone. I planted a bunch outside in 04 – (on the side of the house that I do not see very much) and at first over the years they multiplied – but then slowly dwindled – and last year there were only 5 or 6 – but this year – have not seen any – so coming here to see yours = and to see that bunny crossing (so cute) was a treat. and I think this coming fall I might buy a new batch of bulbs – and then maybe even give them some food. ha! have a good day and be back later ❤ ❤
LikeLike
Yay, you are back (and will reply to your lovely email as soon as after this). So happy to see you again mon amie, you were missed 🙂 So glad you got to enjoy the daffodils too, thank you so much for taking the time to visit me so soon!! I have had some bulbs disappear too, all my crocuses – only about three have come up so far – and then some of my larger daffodils too. I think bugs get into the bulbs. I put in new ones last October, so yes, that would be good for you to do that if you can this fall and then you will have your spring bulbs too! Hope you are easing into everything since your return…and yes, catch up very soon 🙂 ❤ ❤ xo
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a lovely taste of spring! You’ve even captured the moisture on the flowers. Wonderful. Now, I must go check out the other bloggers. Yay.
LikeLike
Thanks so much Renee 🙂
LikeLike
You have an arresting prologue. How a casual exchange of words changes the lives, when nothing will ever be the same again. It’s compelling, a different introduction, is effectively conveying your book’s theme.
Chapter One takes me directly to the character, the setting, the showing (love the intensity scale), the conflict. I want to read on.
Chapter Two, being exposition, has a soul to it: “giving them tea and cake in exchange for stockings and cigars and “candy” for the kids…”
When I look at Chapters One and Two, I see you have so much scope for weaving different eras into the narrative. And the theme gives both the chapters their push.
Beautiful this, Sherri.
LikeLike
Oh my goodness Mahesh, I am thrilled to read your ‘critique’, thank you so much my friend! Interestingly, I have read that prologues and dreams put agents and publishers off. I had intended to write about a recurring dream I had as a child for my prologue, but thought it wasn’t quite relevant enough for this story. For one about my dad, yes. And then I thought about a prologue and feel that actually, this is the way I want to write this book and I feel right about introducing the story like this. Let’s see how I feel when the thing is actually written and finished, ha! Meanwhile, you encourage so wonderfully and I will get back to work!!! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are right about prologues. But a good prologue is always welcome. And it is impossible to prejudge how the prologue should look, therefore, as you so rightly said, wait until the thing is actually written. My best wishes for your everyday writing 🙂
LikeLike
Great advice, thanks so much Mahesh, so kind of you! Have a wonderful day my friend and I wish you the very same 🙂
LikeLike
Your daffodils are so lovely, Sherri! I haven’t forgotten about your lovely invitation for the WIP. Elizabeth has also asked me to participate, so I have to stop being shy, I guess! See you soon.
LikeLike
So glad you enjoyed them Evelyne, and no worries! I look forward to reading your post when it’s ready, but no pressure 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d say spring has sprung in Somerset! I enjoy every snippet I get regarding your memoir. Thank you for sharing more!
LikeLike
It has indeed Charli 😀 The daffodils have bloomed magnificently since I took these photos and even some of last years crocuses are poking through at last. Will be taking more ‘spring in Somerset’ shots I’m sure! Ahh…thank you!! Delights me to know you enjoy these snippets. Now I need to write more and get a book out of it 🙂
LikeLike
Sherri, thank you so much for participating in the WIP blog hop! I love how you ended the post with little creatures that hop LOL! I cannot WAIT to read your memoir! Very intriguing details . . . . The photos of your spring are absolutely luscious. “A crowd, / a host, of golden daffodils.” And I will check out the other bloggers!! So happy you said yes, Sherri! xo (and so sorry it took so long for me to get back over here!)
LikeLike
Hi Luanne! Thank YOU for inviting me, I am delighted to take part! So glad you enjoyed both the memoir snippets (and I do hope you will find it a good read, when I get it written of course, ha!) as well as the spring flowers 🙂 Love Wordsworth’s poem…And no worries, I completely understand, always such a pleasure when you visit, anytime of the day, or night as the case may be 😀 xoxo
LikeLike
Thank you Sherri for putting me up for WIP Blog Tour. I look forward to visiting Luane and Elizabeth after I have caught up from my absence. Your first three chapters make me want to read more. It is interesting just how much you can glean from just a sentence or three. You have great hooks letting us know life changing events will be related and later you go to the beginning and before the beginning. It looks set to be a great read. Loved the daffy – too hot for them here even in spring so lovely to see them smiling out from your page. ❤ 🙂
LikeLike
Lovely to see you back Irene after all your partying! Sure you and your husband had a super time 🙂 A very happy birthday to you both! You are very welcome, thank you so much for taking part, I really look forward to reading your excepts. Thank you for your feedback on mine. I should have added a bit more on reflection, but I’m glad that you gleaned what you did from these few lines. I am finding that as the first three chapters come together, I am able to write on at the ‘other end’ of the story with more clarity. Glad too you enjoyed the daffs…doesn’t seem that long ago I was admiring yours 🙂 And now you are into your autumn…a season I also love 🙂 ❤ 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’ll see how we enjoyed our birthdays Sherri when you have time to visit. Put on your walking shoes its a long hike. 🙂 ❤
LikeLike
Oh Irene, I am mortified! I just read your post and have commented…so, so sorry for what happened, can’t believe it!! Soooo glad you are both okay. A long hike indeed…I should have read your reply here first, I was not at all prepared for that 😮 ❤
LikeLike
Pingback: Work In Progress Blog Tour Stop | Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist)