April, 2010 | Ann Leary, author of The Good House

Field of Dreams

The other day I stopped at the home of Moses Pendleton and Cynthia Quinn. I was told that Moses was out back and here is where I found him:

Moses is working on a commencement speech for an esteemed institution of higher education. He likes to practice his speech with his rapt audience of young daffodils. When I arrived, I swear the delicate blossoms were leaning in to catch his words.

DREAMS
by Langston Hughes

Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.

April in Paris

Our dear Parisian friend Barbara sent me these lovely Paris photos. Look at this charming table overlooking the Seine:

Wait, are those ….why yes! Somebody is reading both Denis’s and my books at this cafe!

And here, a mysterious couple are about to sit down to a fine French wine while they share my book.

What have we here? Another cafe, another Leary book!

It seems the French can’t get enough of us Learys. Why am I living in America? I’ve never seen my book on a table in a New York cafe, but apparently, you can’t move in a French restaurant or cafe without bumping into a person reading my book.

Young Writers

There are still tickets available for the 5th annual ASAP Celebration of Young Writers event.

In this, my favorite event of the year, actors and writers read the works of young writers, ages 5-18. In the past, it was co-hosted by author Frank McCourt and Denis. Last year, though Frank was ill, he still came to the event and read the wonderful words of the children and gave an inspiring tribute to the most important people in the world – teachers. This year his wife Ellen will be reading in his place and this year’s event is dedicated to our wonderful memories of Frank McCourt.

Surprise Quiz

The other night when I returned from my class, my sister Meg informed me that Holly had brought something in from outside. At first we thought it was a rawhide chew toy but we soon learned that Holly was trying to help me with my anatomy lessons.

The review section of my text book is filled with multiple choice questions and I thought it would be fun to test your knowledge. So here goes:

1. The woman in the picture above:

a) Is about to scream

b) Will have to resist the urge to throw adorable puppy across the room

Better Connecticut

Today, I will be on Better Connecticut, not as a guest, but as a co-host, with one of my favorite television personalities, Scot Haney. If you live in Connecticut it’s on WFSB-TV at 3:00.

I’m slightly competitive by nature and when I spoke to Melissa, the show’s producer, I asked her who we were up against.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“Ratings-wise,” I said, “because if it’s that Dr. Phil, we’re taking him down.”

She told me that our biggest competitor in our marketplace (listen to me – our marketplace – I actually think I’m on this show now) is General Hospital.

Such Class!

No, I’m, not taking Chinese or Italian or Art History or Zumba or any of the other fascinating ideas you all had regarding the class I’m enrolled in.

I’m taking an EMT training class.

Tribeca Film Festival

Last night Denis took my sister Meg and me to the opening festivities for the Tribeca Flm Festival. It was a great night. We saw many old friends and it was the first time Meg had attended an event like that with us so the two of us were cracking up the whole time that Denis was doing stuff like this:

And we were doing stuff like this:

Okay, now you know. I only have one fancy party skirt. And I’ve been photographed in it a million times. The same skirt, boots and jacket, actually. Well, they’re fancy!

Stuff

Random, I know, but look at that face.

Somebody told me today that she noticed that I haven’t been blogging as much lately and I agreed that I haven’t been able to get around to it every day. I do it about every other day, I said. She said that she thinks it’s more like twice a week. And then she said, “I miss it when you don’t blog.”

And people, that’s why everybody should have a sister Meg! Yes, Meg is visiting again and I just love her and will now make it a point to blog each day. Because Meg said that even if it’s a short blog, it’s better than seeing the boring old one staring you in the face when you log on.

Puppy Roundup

Good taste in fabric

Many of you know that we adopted our puppy Holly from Charlotte, a friend and dog rescuer in our area. Last fall, Charlotte rescued Peanut, a small terrier-mix, from a local pound and then learned that she was pregnant. Peanut had five puppies. When I first introduced them, we had no intention of taking one of the puppies. Then, later, we were leaning toward the smallest in the litter. Ultimately we ended up with dear Holly, pictured above, pretending she had nothing to do with the hole in our armchair.

Blooming Again

Photo by Moses Pendleton

I came across this poem to accompany the lovely daffodil photo above – the Pendleton-Quinn backyard is a sea of daffodils at present – and I’m interested to see what you all think of it. The ending especially.

BULB PLANTING TIME
by Edgar Guest

Last night he said the dead were dead
And scoffed my faith to scorn;
I found him at a tulip bed
When I passed by at morn.

“O ho!” said I, “the frost is near
And mist is on the hills,
And yet I find you planting here
Tulips and daffodils.”

Field of Dreams

April in Paris

Young Writers

Surprise Quiz

Better Connecticut

Such Class!

Tribeca Film Festival

Stuff

Puppy Roundup

Blooming Again

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