Sunday, January 26, 2014

Telephone pioneers


Bonnie, Dorothy, Linda and Helen - part of the "A Team" reunion at my home yesterday. 

Together, we were part of a team making a difference in the lives of those less fortunate as far back as the late 70's.  Telephone employees volunteering their time to make a difference in the life of others - with wonderful memories to share each time we meet.

Bonnie continues to spoil us with her homemade treats and she did it again yesterday.  Thank you Bonnie. I may finish the buttertarts off for breakfast this morning.

Dorothy treated us all to our dinner - pizza delivery on a cold day was perfect. Dorothy thank you for being so generous with us.

Linda thank you for the lovely candle and dish - I will decorate my balcony in the spring with this added colour of red. Perfect.

In the above photo you will see a red heart peaking up from behind my candles.  Helen - thanks for this one of a kind heart decoration. It fits in perfectly with my heart collection and I love it.

We continue to make memories each time we gather - and yesterday we created even more.

Love

Carol Ann

Friday, January 24, 2014

All that is left of 84 Yorkville.......



It looks even more sad when you walk down the street... and the rumours are flying...

American publishing houses


I am wondering if any of my friends here on my blog site have experience, or know anyone who has had experience, publishing fiction with either Dorrance Publishing in Pittsburgh or Raider in New York?

In my search for the right publisher for Paradise both of the above have expressed an interest albeit I am not convinced this is the correct route for me.

Please let me know if you can help with my education re the above. Many thanks.

Love

Carol Ann

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Second Yorkville fire photo




This photo really says it all doesn't it?  Plus is was freezing cold outside yesterday - hats off to everyone on site.

Yorkville fire



Huge fire - 3 alarm with 100 fire fighters just down the street from me yesterday. No one injured but a beautiful historic building is no more.

Sad



Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Giving Back


A friend of mine, Sandy, first ordered Comfort Hearts over 15 years ago when I was speaking in Collingwood. She reached out this week to order more - and that's how we have managed to sell over 270,000 Comfort Hearts to date.  Such a humbling experience for me.

Love

Carol Ann

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Happy Birthday to Phyllis Pedicelli


My life-long friend, Phyllis Pedicelli, is celebrating a very big birthday today. Happy Birthday to you!!

Phyllis and I grew up in Wilmot, Nova Scotia. Our homes were literally side by side until other homes were built between us

We played together for years and years and when life put us in different cities and different provinces our friendship remained very strong.  And it is the same to this day.

Do you have a life long friend?

Love

CA

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Second day on the ski hill ...



...and sleeping seconds after buckling into her car seat for the ride back home.  Thanks Mommy!

Love

CA

Good morning to you


Good Sunday morning to my friends here.  These photos were taking by Jeff Foss, an Air Canada pilot, who snapped the pix 'somewhere over Russia.' Beautiful don't you think?

Love

CA

Friday, January 17, 2014

Way back when...




This looks a lot like the typewriter I used in 1964 taking a typing test for a job with the Bank of Nova Scotia....walking down memory lane.

Love

CA

Paradise edit


Proof that I DO use my kitchen. Today I am in the midst of an edit on my novel, Paradise, so my kitchen counter space comes in very handy!  Not to worry I am not printing one page more than necessary.

Love
CA

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Working hard on Paradise


Keyboard is not quite like this but I am reading through Paradise, page by page, proofreading one more time.  I have such faith in this book....honestly....

Love
CA

Wilmot school friends...



I believe this to be true, do you?

I can still see the faces, and for the most part I still know the names, of all of my Wilmot school friends.

Love

Carol Ann

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

The Dash



This poem has been part of my keynotes for years. It speaks volumes don't you think?

Love

CA

Friendships



This is so true isn't it?  As we go through our lifetime we brush shoulders with so many people.   A special few of those people become friends...

Have a lovely Tuesday.

Love

Carol Ann

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Rejections..




When I returned home after spending Christmas with James and family this letter was waiting for me in my mailbox. Damn....

I have six rejections so far - all for my first novel, Paradise.  I will keep trying.

Many publishers will not read your covering letter if it is not sent from either a manager or agent. 

So for authors, like me, even if you have successfully published in the past, it is not an easy road to find a publisher who will read your work ...

I have learned that publishing fiction is even more difficult than publishing non fiction.

Onward...it's a new year.

Love

Carol Ann

The little things




One of my goals for 2014 is to do more little things for others. 

Love

CA

Reservations


Me ... so me!

Friday, January 10, 2014

Finding the right birthday gift



Look what I found while in NS recently. ..

A battery operated Zamboni for Lexi's 3rd birthday! She likes watching Jalen play hockey but she loves watching the Zamboni at work between periods even more.  (It's a departure from pink and dolls and frilly things but I think that's a good thing as a young girl grows up. She needs to experience everything....and she will.)

Love

CA

Ski student



Lexi had her very first ski lesson with daddy this past Saturday. This photo was taken on the magic carpet.  She loved it.

James posted a video of her first experience skiing down the hill with him skiing backwards to help her.  The conversation went something like this...

"Do you like it daddy?"

"I do like it Lexi. Do you like it?"

"Yes I like it.  I can do it myself."

Memories are made of this...

love

CA

Snow days...



Jalen has had a couple of snow days already this year! Different weather out there yes?

Love

CA

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

A bad day at the office...



I flew from Halifax to Toronto yesterday, January 7th and I was one of the lucky ones who actually made it from point A to point B all in the same day. It was a long day but as I walked through the luggage area of Toronto's airport I was so thankful that I never, ever, check luggage. I swear there were thousands of suitcases sitting patiently on the floor waiting for their owner to find them and take them home...what a mess.

Love

Carol Ann

And more snow...




The view out the window was limited but the heart crystal helped!  One of many 'storm days' in the Valley.

Love

CA

Happy New Year


My New Years greeting is a bit late but I have been in Nova Scotia visiting family and friends and believe me I have been buried under one snow storm after the other.

I hope your New Year's eve was a good one for you.

Love

Carol Ann