Sunday Salon: Back Home Again in Indiana

There is no smell on earth that compares to that of fresh, country air, in the middle of corn fields. Growing up, I took it all for granted. Only now, when I come back to these fields in the summer with my kids, do I appreciate it. On Wednesday, the three of us left daddy back in Orlando to work and pay our bills, and headed for my parents' farm in Indiana for three weeks.

Almost instantly, my son heads out on the Gator (a cross between a tractor and a golf cart) with my dad, to look things over, check out the crops or whatever. I crash on the deck with my book. My daughter tames a wild kitten or two.

We shot off fireworks, made smores in the fire pit. We went to Indianapolis one evening to a dinner theater to watch a production of High School Musical, which was a fun experience. We went to a book signing of "Coming Back Stronger" by Drew Brees, Purdue's pride and joy (now the New Orleans Saints' pride and joy). It was looking like every bit of a two hour wait, so I sent my parents and kids on to the mall for power shopping, and I pulled out my Kindle and enjoyed some found idle time.

It is during my trips to Indiana that I become semi-productive with my reading. I finished "Unaccustomed Earth" by Jhumpa Lahiri (breathtaking as always). I started and finished "Cape Seduction" by Anne Carter (Pam Ripling), an author I adore personally and professionally. Dudes. She writes paranormal romances with LIGHTHOUSES! What's not to like? Influenced by the ever-persuasive Jen at Devourer of Books, I just started "The Nobodies Album" by Carolyn Parkhurst. I'm already tickled and giddy with the cleverness of it all.

And audios! You know I am up to my knees in those too. The kids and I finished The Hobbit just in time, before we left, and raced back to the library to get The Fellowship of the Ring. Here where my parents' live, it takes an hour round trip just to go to the grocery store, so I have high hopes of cranking through a nice chunk of this one.

But here is the real fun. Every morning, I get up and walk the country roads, and listen to The Passage. All alone on the roads, hearing about Apocalypse-By-Vampires. I keep nervously glancing at the tree-tops. It totally ROCKS. Yes, it is long-winded but this is really my thing. I cut my teeth (ha) on The Stand, after all.



































We have a very full agenda over the next two and a half weeks, but I won't spoil the coolness of our plans. I shall slather you will pictures instead. Stay tuned!