Road Trips and Roses

Good Morning, Everyone

I am back from a road trip to upstate New York. It’s good to be home on the damp south shore of Long Island. Pour your brew. Let’s catch up. 

I also drove five hours upstate to the New York Librarian Association Conference. I hoped to meet and share business cards with the important book gatekeepers–librarians. The most challenging part of the trip was getting off Long Island. The Bronx was jam-packed early in the afternoon. I trusted my Google assistant to navigate me through the busy borough and finally onto the clear Thruway. The conference was well attended at the Turning Stone Resort Casino. My fellow children’s book writer graciously invited me to share his table.

If we were having coffee together, I would mention that I am preparing the description and logline for The Wishes of Sisters and Strangers. A logline is a one to two-sentence summary of the book. The description is the pitch that is found on the back cover of the book. A cover may attract a reader to a book, but the description seals the sale. I find these important pieces of metadata harder to write than the novel.   

If we were having coffee together, I would tell you about the roses. My mom is an amazing gardener and has an affinity for roses. She mastered bulb flowers, perennials and prized roses and timed their blooms so that space was never without color and awe. What made the yard so exception is that the Great South Bay sprayed salt water in the yard all year long. No one keeps a seaside garden like my mom. 

She approaches her wards like a strict schoolmarm. If the leaves waved, and the stems held strong, mom would complement their accomplishments. If flowers bloomed full and on time, she’d gush and exalt the praises. Woe to the plant that struggled to bloom. They were soundly scolded. 

Mom follows certain growers and has strong opinions about specific lines of roses. She recognizes their blooms and leaves and knows them by name. 

Nowadays, she tends to her charges on the deck and arranges large pots of her favorite roses. It makes it easier for her to fuss, trim, and water them. One particular rose, Excellence, disappointed her for several years. The leaves grew short, and it bloomed simple light yellow petals that easily blew away in the salty wind. Mom threatened to rip it out if it didn’t improve. The rose seemed to understand and tried its best to stand stronger and bloom more prolifically.

Let it be clear, I am not as skilled or attentive to my roses as my mother. I prefer the hardy variety that does not need my daily fussing and problem solving. To me, Excellence looked healthy enough for my simple collection and I had room. I took the little plant home, like a Charlie Brown Christmas tree, but it should not expect loving attention. I’ll just let it do its thing, like the rest of my roses and other plants in my yard. Fingers crossed. 

How was your week? What are you looking forward to this week? Make it Funtastic!

Great BIG Thanks and appreciation go out to Natalie the Explorer who keeps the Weekend Coffee Share percolating.

Enjoy ❤️.   Like 👍.  Share 😊. 

---

---

Download FREE Curriculum Connections

---

Help your fellow book club friends and bibliophiles find a great read by leaving a review on Amazon and in your Goodreads account. Here are the helpful codes and links:

Becoming America’s Food Stories

---