I have been busy through this long cold winter spending time with family and friends, reading, watching movies and reading a few good books. Some of the good movies we’ve seen are: American Hustle, Philomena, Nebraska, Dallas Buyers Club, Love is All You Need, All is Lost and Twenty Feet From Stardom.

I re-read for the umpteenth time, Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s Gifts from the Sea, a short book of essays on motherhood, relationships and marriage. A wonderful read that I highly recommend it. It is one of my favorite books, I find a new nugget of wisdom with every reading.Yet, the first time I read it I was not impressed. My children were young and it went right over my head. Needless to say I’ve come full circle in my reading choices since then.

Mostly I’ve been immersed in finishing my thesis for my Masters in Creative Writing. It’s coming along well and I am now half way through the final draft. I am blessed to work with Nancy McKinley, PhD, a wonderful teacher and mentor.

I have also been busy in my spare time writing book reviews. My review of Kristin Hannah’s Winter Garden can be read on www.writeradvice.com.  (This is the book that solidified my strong desire to visit St. Petersburg, Russia–one of  the most memorable and beautiful places we’ve ever visited.)

On Tuesday I am scheduled to go to WPSU studio in State College to record two book reviews for Bookmark, the community book review show.  I will review Todd McClimans’ Time Traitor, published by Northhampton House Press, 2014. And Barb Taylor’s Sing in the Morning, Cry at Night, published by Kaylie Jones Books, 2014.