Happy Friday.
Okay, I admit it – I’m tired. I might have overworked this week, trying to catch up from last week, (I did write all the brains out of my head, and my latest rough draft is cooling. It’s book one in my 2027 series…I’ll give you a hint. There might be a certain fella named Royal as the headliner…) and I’m so looking forward to a relaxing weekend.
If you read last Friday’s newsletter, you KNOW.
You know that I came home to a bazillion boxes. No, we didn’t move. If you recall (and it’s okay if you blocked it out — I tried to. Oh, I tried. If you remember, I ran away to Florida) — our house flooded while we were gallivanting around Greece last summer.
Hi Rel!
It’s Sarah, popping in on Susie’s behalf this week because, well… she’s been a little busy. You may remember that last year while she was happily frolicking across Spain (you can imagine Susie Frolicking, right?), her refrigerator was quietly flooding her house — which led to a complete gut and renovation.
How did your week go?
Mine…well, it started well. I escaped with my grandkids for a couple nights at the Hilton by SeaWorld in Orlando — and oh, we had fun. I did absolutely nothing productive (although I feel like playing with my grandkids counts as super productive!) Pool time, sunshine, grandkids splashing around,
It’s happening!
We broke ground on our home addition (my new office!) — and by “broke ground” I mean a very large machine showed up, made a lot of noise, and now I have a pile of gravel and some lumber and am desperately holding onto the hope that’s is going to be fabulous.
Meet my granddaughter Jojo.
Wrapped in a blanket. Cookie in each hand. Hot drink at her elbow. Staring into the middle distance like she has seen things no toddler should see.
This was me. For a week.
I’m not saying jet lag from the Southern Hemisphere is brutal, but I am saying I fully understood Jojo’s survival strategy on a deeply personal level.
It’s still me, Sarah, manning the helm for Susie while she’s off living my dream–sorry, what? Did I say that out loud?
Susie sent me a fresh batch of amazing, magical, wonderful shire photos and it really is as special as I imagined. Check it out!
And if you’ve been paying attention,
Susie‘s still off in New Zealand and this time, she’s reporting back with tales of all the yummy food she’s been eating.
Apparently that second picture is a food called “Bubble and Squeak.” Why it’s called that, since it looks pretty much like a perkins country skillet? Your guess is as good as mine.
Surprise! It’s Sarah tuning in because Susie has done it again. She’s gone some place fun and exciting! And not just any place, she’s gone to the place of all places…Middle Earth!
That’s right! Right now, Susie and Andrew are enjoying hobbit parties, and second breakfast, and elevensies, and tea time…And I know what you’re thinking- How could Susie and Andrew try to leave Sarah AGAIN?
By the time you read this, I am on a plane headed to New Zealand — yes, THAT New Zealand — for a research and business trip. And yes, Hobbiton is absolutely on the itinerary.
(this is me as a Hobbit according to ChaptGpt. Thankyou. Thank you very much…)
I’ve been packing for weeks (okay,