Next week, we'll be on the road home, Las Cruces in the rear view mirror, with memories to cherish of friends, mountain vistas, hiking trails, new kinds of birds, morning sunrises and evening sunsets, and that perfect sense of quiet space that comes with this beautiful home we're staying in. We're fans of vrbo, partly because being short-term renters means staying in a 'real' home, with books and artwork, and, here in Las Cruces, that sense of Southwestern art everywhere.
Especially downtown, we can walk along Main Street to visit art galleries and the most amazing bookstore, Coas Bookstore. I think they should consider renaming it Chaos Bookstore, for although they are very well organized, they have sooo many books!
On Saturdays, if the wind doesn't come up, Main Street is peppered with artisan vendors, 7 blocks worth of every type of craft and fresh-from-the-farm veggies. My feet nearly fell off! We'll miss our favorite restaurants as well, Chala (for its pancakes con crema, only available on the weekends), and Mother's Place, small, but with a trove of native arts and home cooking.
If I'm writing, it doesn't matter where we are. The laptop makes nearly everything possible, though I do miss that printer. I am making slow progress on that current story, happy with the first third and staring at chaos for the rest. I keep asking: Is there enough conflict? Are my characters authentic? Are the scenes in proper order? All needs work!
And the ending. In the last book, The Seventh Tapestry, Sandra was the one who got into serious trouble. Neil came to the rescue. But in this story, I don't want Sandra to fall into the fainting heroine trope. I need Neil to be the one in trouble!
Just one unexpected update: My story for the Write..Edit..Publish.. (WEP) February Challenge inspired by the classic movie, Gone With the Wind, was a 'runner up'. Wow! That was a treat. You can read my story here on the blog. Maybe you will consider jumping in on the April challenge? I'm already looking forward to revisiting another classic movie, Life is Beautiful.
I have so enjoyed this respite from snow. OK, I know that's rubbing it in, but yesterday was 78F and today, 74F. I hope wherever you are, the sun is shining. We all can hope for a spring with flowers soon blooming, yes?
May the coming month be a good one for you!
Enjoy your last week in Las Cruces. I could use a respite from snow. This is the third Friday that it's snowed enough that I don't want to go outside.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Natalie, for stopping by. Today will be 80F here in Las Cruces. Back home, it's snowing. Truthfully, I feel a little guilty for being here, but spring is coming for us all.
DeleteCongrats on staying warm. Anything else I might say would sound like whining. I look forward to the trouble you are going to use to challenge Niel. I am also quite sure that Sandra will step in and help solve the issue! Can't wait to read your story!
ReplyDeleteHello, Sandy. So good to hear from you. Just learned Spokane got 5" of snow while it was 77F here! Truly, it's not whining. I wish you were here to enjoy the sunsets, warm days, palm trees, and quiet. Now back to plotting. Thank you, as always, for believing in my stories!
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