Good morning, Everyone. The Harvest Moon moonrise was an awesome sight last night. Pour yourself a cup of coffee. Let’s catch up.
If we were having coffee together, I would tell you that I drove my mom to Staten Island to visit her cousin, Jean, and family. Mom’s family is not as abundant or accessible as Dad’s, so we need to make efforts to keep in touch, like drive on the Belt Parkway and through Staten Island. It was worth the trip. Mom and Jean chatted on and on, frequently interrupting, filling in their versions of stories. Besides story collecting and visiting, I also wanted to get some clarity on Great Grandma’s origins in Sicily. Jean’s husband is from a suburb in Palermo, and the family had visited Great Grandma’s village, Castellammare del Golfo, years ago. Jean’s daughter, Cynthia, and I decided we needed to plan a trip. Uhh, I miss planning trips!
If we were having coffee together, I would ask if you noticed a few changes on my website. I cleaned up the right side widgets, reorganized the menu bar, and replaced my headshot. What do you think?
If we were having coffee together, I would report that I am busy writing. Daily Bread’s line editing is done. The artwork needs some tweaking. I tackled the new block editor version on WordPress, which is not as seamless as the classic version, but the block features are great for laying out the visual appeal for blog and web pages. I created a Daily Bread Curriculum Connections page. It includes a glossary, book discussion topics and writing prompts, a crossword puzzle, and vocabulary flashcards to download and print FREE. Check them out. I am also set up to present virtual author and creative writing workshops in schools. You can view my options and contact me here.
If we were having coffee together, I would announce that the $40 Amazon Gift Card Raffle closed on Thursday. I used a wheel app (very fun) to select the winner. Congratulations to Terry Mozer. Thank you and virtual hugs to all who signed up. As a promotional bonus, Hug Everyone You Know will be on sale for $10 during October—Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
If we were having coffee together, I would mention that I cooked up a cozy split pea soup this week. Thick soups are a cold-weather favorite in my home. A few hearty soups will be featured in Becoming America’s Food Stories cookbook I am furiously writing.
If we were having coffee together, I would add that October arrived, and although the schools are holding infection rates at workable levels, the COVID-19 virus remains a looming menace. It is dangerous! Please, wear a clean mask and keep your distance. Stay safe, Everyone. Be smart. Be patient and kind, especially to those who find it hard to be patient and kind. Make sure you have a plan to vote.
Big thank yous go out to Ecelic Ali for keeping the Weekend Coffee Share up and running.
Have a good week, Everyone. Make it great.
Antoinette Truglio Martin is the author of Hug Everyone You Know: A Year of Community, Courage, and Cancer. The memoir is a wimpy patient’s journey through her first year of breast cancer treatment.
Stories Served 
Hi, Antoinette – The changes to your website look great. You have been very busy. A BIG congratulations to all that you have accomplished.
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Thankyou, Donna. It has been a marathon, but I am grateful and very excited.
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Hi Antoinette, I should try to stay up late enough to see the moon tonight. This morning our sky was thick with smoke, drifting in from the South. Better this afternoon.
As you know, making effort to stay in touch is worth it. Your website looks great. You are inspiring me to give my site a face lift. Good point on “clean mask.” Have a great week and stay safe.xx
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Thank you, Erica. I hope the skies clear soon. Thanks for reading.
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Hi Antoinette, nice post I used to do the coffee shares a long time ago and really enjoyed them. Unfortunately, with work I have no time these days. Take care, happy Sunday, and stay safe and well. x
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The beauty of the coffee share is that you don’t have to participate weekly, just when you can. Thanks a bunch for reading.
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True. I must join in sometime Antoinette. 🙂
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Being a survivor of Covid, I can’t emphasize masks enough. Wear one, even at home most of the time. I’ve taken to making a new one each week. Currently, I’m wearing my newest one, a purple one with characters from the movie “A Nightmare Before Christmas” on it. Can’t say I’ve ever seen the movie, but it was the only available fat quarter of cloth that had a halloween theme to it. Next up will be a batik’ed orange that I plan to do some brown, burgundy, dark green embroidery on. I have it traced, just need to finish sewing the pretties on it. Today, I’m going to make a thick Cheddar Cheese Potato soup with some cut up green onion tops for decor. A chilly day, a hot soup… no way to go wrong there! 🙂 HAve a safe week!
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Soup and a fun mask sound cozy . Be well.
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Your blog does look very nice, cleaner. I like it! I imagine that moonrise must have been something extraordinary to see in person. Thank you for sharing it with us.
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The phone camera does not do the moonrise pic justice.Thanks for reading.
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I love your site changes! And how wonderful to visit family.. ❤
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Thank you! Have a great week
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The harvest moon was spectacular and each night after its still been interesting I wish I had a camera to capture but mental pictures will just have to do.
Nice work on the website and cool headshot
~B
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Isn’t it amazing that the same moon is seen on the other side of the world?! Thanks for reading.
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absolutely amazing!!!
~B
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