I couldn’t put the punctuation markings over the vowels correctly with WordPress but those first words are supposed to be in Latin….They are the immortal words of the Bard, a warning given to Julius Caesar about impending doom (which had occurred when Caesar was assassinated by conspirators on March 15, 44 BCE). Now, of course, Shakespeare knew that date so it was more a case of ‘Monday morning quarterbacking’ than a portent, but March does seem to be an unsettling month overall, doesn’t it?

Just think about the weather. . . how many have heard the old saying “In like a lion, out like a lamb”?   The beginning of the third month of the year is firmly entrenched in winter, with storms, both snow and rain, expected. By the end of the month, spring has arrived. Some of the worst Nor’easters in my area on the East Coast have arrived in March, one I remember because it began on my sister’s birthday on March 14 and ended on the 15th, dumping more than a foot of snow on us.

Then, just after mid-month, there are the dueling saints — the Irish have St Patrick first and they do things like drinking, partying, singing Irish songs and other fun things like turning the Chicago River green! And, in his honor, Southwest airlines offers passengers free beer to celebrate… On the other hand,

the Italians have St Joseph and they go to Mass, cook big family meals and pray.  A different approach for sure!

And after all the feasting, a day of balance in the universe known as the vernal equinox, a day of equal daylight and night, the end of winter and the beginning of spring!  The earth wobbles back up straight on its path in the other direction, giving the northern hemisphere more hours of day as the southern hemisphere. Again, doesn’t sound like a stable time of the year to me!

But, brighter and warmer and longer days are nearly here! March leaves like a lamb, all the uncertainties and unsettledness behind us and the calmer, gentler winds of April approach. The weather eases, the winter wimpers away and our moods and days lighten.

So, though many think of the warnings about March, I see the opportunity of change and the expectations of the future.  I welcome the winds at the beginning of the month, but also the calm breezes at the end.  How about you? Do you hope for the end of winter and the beginning of spring?  St. Patrick or St. Joseph? Portent of doom or opportunities abounding? Leave a note telling me what you will miss the most about the winter or what you look forward to the most about the spring and I’ll pick two people to receive copies of my upcoming Harlequin Historical anthology – Pleasurably Undone.

While lamenting the end to the the terrific snow season, Terri is also looking forward to her new releases – PLEASURABLY UNDONE! is an April release from Harlequin Historicals.  Then in May (April 27th actually!), her novella A STORM OF LOVE will be part of a Kensington Brava anthology that includes Susan Johnson and Mary Wine. Visit her website at www.terribrisbin.com to find out about the new books and her upcoming appearances!

If it’s February, I must be traveling again! I just checked and yes, it is, and yes, I am!

I avoided a huge Nor’easter in my area by traveling to Columbus Ohio for my other job. No, not the glamorous romance author gig and no, not the mild-mannered dental hygienist, but that of the dental licensing board examiner. Even as the dark clouds gathered and the low pressure began to swirl over North Carolina, I joined the team of examiners at Ohio State University where we braved 3 inches of snow to administer the boards to waiting dental students.  Meanwhile, back at home,  24 or so inches of snow blanketed my house and family in southern NJ!

BUT, the best part for someone like me who LOVES snowstorms, is that another storm followed just 5 days later and dumped another 12 inches on my home and area…. leaving it looking like a winter wonderland…..again! I finally got the chance to walk around the neighborhood with my hubby in the serene quiet as the flakes filled the night air.  There were not too many people outside but it was beautiful…. and it was DEEP!!

As I said, February is traveling time and with the snow barely plowed off the main roads the next day, I headed for New York City for another series of dental exams, this time at NYU. The train ride was smooth, got a taxi without delay and was lucky enough to stay at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, in a manner to which I’d love to be accustomed! LOL!  Gosh – it’s a different world there!

I’ve stayed in the same area during my last several trips so this country mouse is beginning to know her way around part of the very-big city and I walked out to dinner at a nice little Italian restaurant on 42nd Street, met my new Kensington editor for lunch and even took in a Broadway show (ROCK OF AGES with American Idol’s Constantine in the lead role)!  It was cold, but clear and bright as I walked the city blocks, dodging taxis, watching people and the sights, and enjoying the place that is NYC. Here are a few photos from my visit there:

The New York Public Library

Times Square!

Madison Square Garden

And after a wonderful, exhausting weekend in NYC, I returned home to face another possible snowfall. Luckily, or not depending on how you feel about more snow when there’s about 3 feet of it on your front lawn, that one passed with barely another coating.  But, I’m home for a few weeks now and there’s another Nor’Easter threatening early next week….this time I’ll just hunker down and try to catch up on a bunch of things still left undone…like filling out my 2010 kitchen-wall calendar…and writing, too.

Terri just received some copies of the April release, PLEASURABLY UNDONE!, which features her previously-released in digital format short story, “A Night For Her Pleasure”. To win one of two copies, let Terri know whether you’ve visited New York City or not and your favorite spot there (building? restaurant? theater? place?) or the one you’d most like to see. Post a comment and she’ll pick two winners! And visit her website at www.terribrisbin.com for more info about Terri and her books!

PS — I highly recommend seeing ROCK OF AGES if you get the chance….and especially if you like (and remember) the 80s….music, clothes, drinks! It was bright and funny and had some wonderfully-talented performers. Constantine was fun to watch and, wow, he is great on stage!

   C’mon! Admit it — wasn’t Paul your favorite Beatle? Sigh….he was mine for sure.  When I first saw him on TV, on the Ed Sullivan Show, I nearly swooned for the first time in my then-pretty-short life. Those soulful eyes, that hair….sigh…I was in love.

 I could not see how anyone thought the others were better looking, or could sing better, than MY Paul. Throughout the Beatles career, I championed Paul, cheered when I saw “A Hard Day’s Night” and “HELP!” and mourned at the possibility that Paul was DEAD?!? He was my favorite.

Back when the Beatles toured, I was too young to go to a live concert.             And, unlike today,  musical groups and artists did not visit every town in America while on tour–only major places in major cities.  So, for years and years, decades even, I never got the chance to see the Beatles, or MY Paul, live in concert. So, I saved my babysitting money up and bought their records, their LPs, posters, 16 Magazine and anything else I could find while waiting for the chance to see Paul in person.

Fast forward to the early 90s and Philadelphia’s Veterans’ Stadium….the Beatles are done, Paul is married (how could he!??) to Linda and they’re touring the US and finally, finally!!, I am in the crowd! Woohooo! Paul in person and I was only in my late 30s, married, a mom and still a fan. In spite of my husband’s presence (yeah, I had to take him) and his stern glares, when Paul came on stage, I did what I’d waited years to do –

I stood up and screamed “I LOVE YOU PAUL!” at the top of my lungs!

It felt great. It felt empowering. It felt so good to release all the feelings I’d held inside since teenager years and let him know how I felt about him. He was my favorite…sigh…. And you know, I’ve seen him in concert several times since then and the reaction is the same each time — I am transported back to being 13 years old and in love.

This week, dear hubby (who is a Beatles fan because of their music and is not affected by how cute they were….) and I are going to see a Beatles tribute band — RAIN is appearing in Philadelphia. We’ve seen a few others, like Beatlemaniacs and the British Invasion (in Disney’s Epcot) and enjoyed them, but RAIN is supposed to be one of the best aka sound and look the most like the originals.

No, I know they’re not the real thing, but for a few short hours, I’m going to suspend my disbelief and relive my teenage years. And I may even scream out “I LOVE YOU, PAUL!” once or twice just for fun!

So, who was/is your favorite Beatle? Or were you a fan of their music? Let me know by posting between now and Saturday and I’ll pick someone to win a RAIN souvenir and an autographed book!

Terri (whose favorite is still….sigh….Paul)

When not lamenting Paul’s marriage to Linda (she doesn’t talk about the OTHER one), Terri is working on her next Brava and Harlequin Historical releases. Visit her website at www.terribrisbin.com  for more info and to see where you can meet her in PERSON!

The wassail is nearly done, the decorations need to be taken down, the partying is over and worse, the Yule Log has burned down to ashes. . . for Twelfth Night has arrived.  Yes, we have reached the end   of the twelve days of the Christmas season and it’s time to go back to the regular schedule.

Traditionally, January 6th marked the day when the Wise Men arrived in Bethlehem to visit the newborn Jesus, hence bringing the news of the Messiah to the Gentile world.  The other name for this religious feast day is the Epiphany…meaning to be revealed or to be shown.

In medieval and Tudor/Elizabethan times,  this day was the focus of much merriment and feasting AKA PARTY!!!  Heck, even that obscure playwright fellow Shakespeare wrote a play for it and titled Twelfth Night. It was a special time and a special day. But now, most of us have already taken down our Christmas trees, lights, decorations and spirit. Most of us head back to the real world on January 2nd and left behind the good feelings of the season.

So, how am I celebrating Twelfth Night? Well, the decorations are still up, the lights are still on and I don’t have a Yule log…because I’m heading into a deadline-binge of writing. My book is due next week (just as I step out the door and head for a business meeting in Disney World….um, yes, I said business meeting at Disney World….) and so everything else, including packing, is on hold until I type “THE END”.

But….I did experience an epiphany yesterday..a moment of revelation for my story.

You see, I am a seat-of-the-pants writer and usually only know the beginning and end of my story when I begin writing. Until I get the first 100-120 pages written, I really don’t know my characters well enough to know what they’re going to do. So, the first 100-120 pages are pretty much writing blind for me – nothing makes sense because I can’t see where any of it is going.  Then, after much gnashing of teeth and wailing and page 120, I finally know the characters and understand their journey!! It is a veritable Ah-hah! moment and the writing after that comes at a faster and somewhat easier rate.

I had that moment as I was driving into the parking lot at work yesterday morning and then so many things in my story became clear to me — why the hero and heroine can’t be together, the love triangle that I never knew about and several other core elements that I really need to tell my story. (yes, the one that needs to be written in a week!)  Since yesterday, the story has clarified itself to me and I can see the possibilities ahead.

So, let us say HUZZAH for Twelfth Night and epiphanies, too!

Are you done with Christmas? Are your decorations down? Has the Christmas Spirit been packed away until next year? Post a comment about one of the best things that happened to you during the Holiday Season and I’ll pick two and send out a couple of prizes and books to those people.  (BTW — the prizes won’t be mailed out until THE END is typed either! )

Terri is also still celebrating the release of her first BRAVA romance — A Storm of Passion! Please visit her website and enter her “O Lord! Save Us from the Northmen!” contest by January 15th. And to check out the gorgeous cover for her April Harlequin Historical anthology PLEASURABLY UNDONE….and lots of other good things too! www.terribrisbin.com

I’m posting this early as a public service announcement….really…. Everyone needs to know that winter officially begins today – December 21 – at 12:47pm EST! Aren’t you excited? I am….

Scientifically the solstice looks like this>>>>>  the earth wobbles until the southern half gets all the sunlight and the northern part doesn’t. The South Pole is light 24 hours a day while the North Pole is in darkness.  Got it? Okay, now onto the fun….

The Winter Solstice has been observed since Neolithic times all over the world but one of the best known places is in Scotland, the Orkney Islands to be specific. The builders of Maes Howe aligned the structure so that the rays of the setting sun flow down the entrance tunnel to hit the back wall of the chamber.  I crawled/shimmied into the tomb on a tour, gawked at the Viking graffiti and imagined what it would be like to stand in the chamber and witness the sun’s approach. This is what it would look like >>>>

(BTW – you can witness it yourself if you visit www.maeshowe.co.uk NOW!!)

In history, the end of December was the time to celebrate Saturnalia — it was a week-long feast honoring the Roman god Saturn and featured a reversal in roles, lots of partying, bonfires/candles, presents and, did I mention, feasting! It was held when winter’s grasp was at its strongest and there was even a ‘king’ designated for the celebration who, unfortunately for him, was sacrificed at the end of it! Oh my!

When Christianity became prominent, many local and pagan feasts (um, like Saturnalia) were converted into

Christian feasts and holy days and it’s probably not a coincidence that the Nativity is celebrated at the end of December, even though many Biblical scholars agree that Jesus was probably born in the late spring or even early summer. The Christian Church capitalized on existing practices and borrowed them for their needs. And so, Christmas was scheduled in late December.

Another well-known festival of winter is, of course, Yule… or Juul, a Scandinavian feast to mark the returning sun. People cut a huge log, dragged it indoors and burned it until only ashes were left. Mistletoe was used to decorate, too.  BTW — this feast happened to be 12 days long…. sound familiar?

But, other than Christmas, none of these is my favorite celebration of the solstice. . . for years, I’ve waited and waited for this time of year to celebrate. . . The Festival of Bells!!  Yes, it’s the time of year when Fraggle Rock slows to a stop and unless someone finds and rings the bell at the center of the rock, all the Fraggles will stop, frozen in time and place!!  It’s a harrowing time of year and it’s nerve-wracking watching the classic episode and hoping and praying that Gobo will find the bell. My family has watched the show every year on our also classic VCR on an aging VCR tape until the series was finally released on DVD – now we have a brand- spanking-new edition and we still watch it.

Because, you see, on a grander scale this episode speaks to our need to believe in something bigger than ourselves, our need to have faith in things we can’t see and can’t prove and in our need to surround ourselves with our loved ones and to hope for a better world, a better life and a new year. So, on this Winter Solstice day, let’s all look ahead to longer days, more warmth and the festivities of the holidays as they quickly approach.

So, as my family gathers to watch the Fraggles and to remember the days when I was one of the two tallest people in my family, I want to wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. As my friends, the Anglo-Saxons use to say during their solstice celebration. . . . Waes Hael!!

Do you or your family have a favorite Christmas/holiday tv show that you watch each year? Something like “The Bells of Fraggle Rock” or “A Muppet Christmas” or one of the other holiday specials or concerts? Share it by posting a comment about why it’s special to you and Terri will choose two commentors who will each win a copy of one of her favorites plus an autographed book.

Terri

Terri is also celebrating the release of her December Brava romance, A STORM OF PASSION.  Visit her website at www.terribrisbin.com to enter her Viking World Tour contest.

I spent a long weekend in Nashville in mid-November — I stayed at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel for a board meeting  and it was a chance to see the hotel and conference center where next summer’s RWA conference will be held. (For those non-writers, RWA (Romance Writers of America) will be holding a week-long conference of 2000 writers and industry professionals in July 2010.)  Apparently the hotel and entertainment facilities begin to decorate in July so that the reported 2 million lights are in place by early November….for Christmas.

And there’s more than just 2 million clear lights!  There are stockings the size of small houses!!

There are tons of colored lights that look like Christmas lights!!

There’s a Nativity scene all around the Delta atrium, where you can ride riverboats by it….

And miles of greenery decorating ledges and railings and windows and in just

about any spot where garland can be placed!

The best, most spectacular displays are the huge-mongous outdoor Christmas tree and the larger-than-life Nativity scene out on the front lawn that locals and visitors throng to, lining up dozens of cars-deep in mid-November to see!

(sorry!! my photos didn’t turn out at all!)

Did I mention they begin putting these up in July? Um, yeppers – July! So by the time the conference rolls around, in the middle of the steamy Nashville summer, the hotel will begin again so that they’re done in time for November!

So, when do you begin putting up your Christmas decorations? And, are you like Clark Griswold in “Christmas Vacation” with millions and millions of lights? Or closer to Charlie Brown with his sparse little tree? Any special decorations that mean something special to you or your family?  Let me know and I’ll send out a Scottish Christmas tree ornament to one poster….along with a signed book, too!

Merry Christmas!

Terri

Terri is thrilled to find her newest book (just released yesterday!) on the Noteworthy Fiction tables at B&N Booksellers! A STORM OF PASSION is available in print and in digital formats all over the place now and she hopes you’ll give it a try. Visit her website for more info about signings and events…

I’ve been having a really busy summer and fall, keeping one eye on the calendar moving ever forward and at the same time blissfully ignoring it.  All summer I was waiting for August and my trip to Scotland. Then I was pushing August to move so I could leave. Then, once in Scotland and in spite of using my willpower, I discovered that I cannot control the flow of time to make it slow down when I want! And visiting places like this….I really did want time to stop.

Then I was back and out of town again…on what I call my husband’s consolation prize trip — you see he has no love of historical places like I do, so having him accompany me to Scotland would have inflicted needless pain on both of us. So, he stayed home while I ‘researched’ in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.  But he does like cruises — so we went on the Caribbean Princess and visited Bermuda, St. Kitts, Antigua, St. Thomas and San Juan.   This is just one of the lovely beaches where I managed to grab some R&R during our cruise….

Then real life hit and I’ve been running at full speed, trying to stay ahead of life in general, but I’m really looking forward to this week and Thanksgiving.  And, I think it will even be better this year because I’m not having my usual 20-25 dinner guests! I’ve decided to ease back and only have my immediate family so we’re down to about 10 – gosh, we’ll all be able to sit down at one table and the same time!

And, I may be able to have some leftovers (the best part of cooking Thanksgiving dinner to me)! 

I found a really great evil recipe for something that uses leftover turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing — check out the recipe on Food TV –   http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/turkey-balls-recipe/index.html —mmmmmmm!  I’m hoping that there will be extra turkey gravy to pour over these when I make them.

But before I begin to drool, I did want to take a moment and share a few things I am thankful for as the day approaches.

I’m thankful for my family who has been incredibly supportive in my writing life as well as during this last year as I’ve been on a weight-loss program (now you know why I’m craving things like turkey balls! LOL!).

I’m thankful for my friends, especially my writing friends, who have encouraged me during the hectic and dark times and celebrated with me in the good times.

I’m thankful to my editors who have been my partners in this writing experience. . . and thankful that I had the chance, though a much too brief one, to work with the phenomenal Kate Duffy before she passed away.

I’m thankful for my readers who have made all my efforts feel appreciated — through buying my books, visiting my website, posting on blogs (like this one!), stopping in at booksignings, emailing and writing to me.

I’m thankful for my coworkers in my ‘real life’ job for backing me when I need to shift my work schedule or go onto my binges of deadline writing (um…that’s the two weeks before every writing deadline/due date that I have!).

There’s more but I think that’s enough for now….How about you? What are the one or two things that you’re most thankful over this last year?  Post a comment to let me know and I’ll pick a couple at random to win an autographed copy of my July Harlequin Historical, THE CONQUEROR’S LADY,  or my newest book, A STORM OF PASSION, which hits the shelves tomorrow!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

Terri

Terri is also running a website contest to celebrate the release of her first BRAVA romance. Since it’s set in the Hebrides Islands which were ruled by the Vikings at the time, she’s found some cute Viking t-shirts to give away….along with books and some Scottish souvenirs (no, unfortunately not men-in-kilts!). Visit her website at www.terribrisbin.com and click on Contest to enter.

It’s that time of year again! One that makes my heart race and one that makes me anxious. . .  No, not the holidays! It’s new book time!

My first book, A Love Through Time, was a November 1998 release and I remember watching the calendar move forward, waiting and watching for it in bookstores, on online booksellers and any other place it could show up. I remember the UPS delivery guy bringing my box of author copies and screaming as I opened it! Then I remember being in the local Waldenbooks store and seeing it on the shelf for the first time–I scared at least one customer by screaming as I found it earlier than I expected to see it. Lucky for me, she asked me to me sign it and she bought it, too.

Ahhhhh…memories of my first book!

Now, here it is November again, 11 years later, and I’m awaiting another book’s release. I have to confess that the anticipation and excitement is just as strong as it was in November 1998 — but different, too. Now, I am a ’seasoned’ author (LOL!) with 20 more books since that first one, and I know there’s much more to worry about than that first time.

Has the sales department done their job? Has the book been ordered by the chains and major accounts? Will the sell-through be sufficient for my first single-title release? And most importantly – WILL READERS LIKE IT? All the facets of being published that I really didn’t think about in my newbie naivete are now so important.

BUT — it doesn’t diminish the excitement of seeing a new book with my name come out.

And now? Well, it’s only 15 short days until my new books officially hits the shelves and I can feel the anticipation growing. So far, early reviews are looking good:

RT says: Brisbin begins a new trilogy with a bang-it’s a dark, powerful story of vengeance and love, tinged with paranormal elements, that captivates and titillates. Her strong characterization adds depth and makes the pages fly and readers eager for more. They also named Connor as a December K.I.S.S.!!   Woohoo!!

Booklist (the American Librarians’ Association’s publication) says: “Brisbin begins a captivating new trilogy set in Medieval Scotland and adds a dash of the paranormal to her already boldly sensual and richly emotional brand of romance.”

AND!!! Affaire de Coeur magazine is giving A STORM OF PASSION a FIVE STAR REVIEW!!! They say: “Medieval Scotland, land of mystical beings and magical happenings, is the setting for the first in Ms. Brisbin’s latest trilogy. Her characters are well developed and project a deep level of emotions that will tear at the readers’ heartstrings. A wonderful read that will keep you turning the pages late into the night.” Woohooo!!

So, I am VERY excited about A STORM OF PASSION and will be celebrating by blogging, posting a new contest on my website, doing some signings and chats. I hope you’ll come along and enjoy the ride with me…. It’s almost as good as Christmas!

Terri

Please stop by Terri’s website and enter the new contest next week and visit her chats and blogs and signings if you can!  www.terribrisbin.com

   I always get fooled. Each year, round about August, a particular office supply store’s TV commercial has me running to the TV to yell “It can’t possibly be CHRISTMAS yet!”  Yes, it’s that one with the two children moping along behind their dad who is dancing through the aisles grabbing school supplies and tossing them blissfully into the basket as Andy Williams proclaims “it’s the most wonderful time of the year….”

     Then, I hold desperately onto September because October means. . . Christmas! Yes it does! Look at the stores–the Halloween candy is barely on the shelves in the grocery stores when a little spot begins next to it for Thanksgiving decorations. Before Halloween has passed, Christmas decorations have grown, taking the full stage by mid-November.

     And there’s radio stations. In the Philadelphia area where I live, one radio station goes all-Christmas music by mid-November. They’ve already announced it, reminding listeners to be ready! Others will join them right after Thanksgiving playing only holiday tunes. As someone who works in an office where Christmas is not celebrated, it becomes a real task to find music that isn’t about winter, trees, presents, Santa, etc.

       It’s not that I don’t like Christmas….it’s just that I like to celebrate it at Christmas time and I like to savor those special days of family and visiting and presents. I think when they’re spread out and begin in early October and last for nearly three months, they lose a bit of that specialness.

      So, I fight it! When my sister tells me in October that she’s halfway done her Christmas shopping, I give her my best cold glare and change the subject. When she announces at Thanksgiving dinner that her Christmas cards are in the mail, I tell her I won’t open it until December. 

      Then, in early December, I let loose–shopping and writing cards and wrapping and cooking and preparing for it. And celebrating… Or I end up writing on a deadline-mania-binge and end up beginning my Christmas prep in mid-December! LOL!

     This year will be no different I’m sure –  but I’ve already bought a couple romances that are Christmas-themed. I’ll put them aside, waiting for the right time.  And soon, too soon if you ask me, it will be that right time.  

      Do you begin Holiday preparation sooner or later? Do you like to hear Christmas music in November? Or are you like me, trying to hold it all back until the calendar tells us it’s actually Christmas? 

Terri is awaiting the release of her first BRAVA historical romance, A STORM OF PASSION, which will hit the shelves late next month.  She’s just finished writing a novella which will be featured in a May 2010 anthology along with Susan Johnson and Mary Wine. For more info, visit her website and join her email newsletter list – www.terribrisbin.com

Urquhart Castle

I just (as in 4 hours ago!) returned from Scotland where I’ve spent just over three weeks – sightseeing, researching, gaining inspiration and just enjoying the experience that Scotland is and can be.  I visited castles and museums and historic buildings and places and even spent an entire day with an archeologist as my tour guide in Orkney touring Neolithic, Viking and Norse sites. And I met men-in-kilts, along with a bunch of other really nice, outgoing people and got character and story ideas.

    But, I would like to offer Scotland a few suggestions about dealing with tourists.

Wildlife Warning!

Sheep Attack!

1)  Do not allow wildlife to roam at will! Especially not on single-track roads where there is no place to get away from them when they barrel onto the roads in front of unsuspecting American drivers who are on the wrong side of the road. . .  And please train them not to rush onto the road by themselves or in group formations to try to intimidate us! (um….it works!)

Curves Ahead?

2) Don’t bother wasting resources on road signs that warn of curves ahead — I discovered that almost all the roads I drove on are curved, many eligible for any self-respecting road rally. So, to save money and time, simply mark the roads that ARE NOT curved.

Uphill. . .

. . . in both directions!

3) Post warnings with realistic expectations of walking time (and percentage of grade on path) from the car park to the actual castle, ruin, standing stone, etc.  It really does take longer than 10 minutes to walk a mile uphill. . . in both directions!

Speaking of uphill. . .

180 Steps up

. . and a million more in another direction!

4) Some enterprising Scot should design a travelers’ aid that will act like those ski tow ropes that pull you up the hills! A small tractor attached to sturdy ropes that tourists can hold onto and be ‘assisted’ up the highly-angled paths would be greatly appreciated!

On the way to Durness

5) but most of all — please, please stop giving tourists views like this that make our hearts both soarfrom the beauty and break from the unfortunate reality that we have to leave and go  home.  Of course the result of spectacular scenery is that no one can ever leave Scotland without wanting and needing to go back. I know I couldn’t — but please don’t tell my hubby that I am already thinking of the next trip and all the possibilities!

     So — what have you all been up to while I’ve been out of the country? Have you ever visited a place that affected you like Scotland affects me? Please leave a comment and I’ll be choosing one person to receive a couple of special souvenirs that I brought home with me and a signed book. . .

Terri B

PS — I will catch up with all prize winners shortly! So please comment!

POSSESSED!