Children's day

Celebration!  What a delight to be asked by the Kerang library( thanks Nerida, Sue and Julie)
to be the guest speaker at a Ute picnic- readings questions, picnic.

I got to read my Ute picnic poem and also a quick taste of Chantelle's cloak- the audience was Prep to grade 2 and 170 kids came to the lush lawns out the front of the library.

We then took the detour road to Cohuna( main road still closed off after the floods earlier this year) and we read again to a smaller but non less enthusiastic crowd.

Stories and poems are synonymous with children's week celebration- how did you celebrate children's week?

A challenge

I've done it- just now- signed up for Picture book idea month!  I crave a picture book. I've written several but being a poet I make too many word images rather than allowing room for the illustrator- so here's to a concentrated dose of commitment.

If you'd like to join the challenge- here's the link.

And best wishes for those wonderful ideas to spring to life!

More Book launches

Weekend: Saturday


It's great to support my writing friends- this weekend I went to Claire Saxby's 'Carrum Sailing club' book launch and the illustrator Christina Booth was there also!

What a treat to have author reading and illustrator turning the pages!  And a chance to catch up with friends- always much about the writing world to discuss.

Dee White launched the book- and Claire spoke about her inspiration- this is such an interesting part of the launch.  Jellyfish lollies were tossed to celebrate and a reading and participation followed.

Sunday:

Today in Maldon, Glenda Millard's 'For all creatures' was launched by Margaret Hamilton- on the lush lawns of Glenda's new abode.  Of course there were animals- those donkeys were wonderful.  Thanks indeed to such talented children's authors.

     

Cloak Parade

The book's written, the cloak's made and the Chantelle book marks

Narelle Stone is reading the book, Meryl has played the harp and Tyson is wearing his magic cloak

Let the cloak parade begin

Twirls and audience clapping

Now to celebrate in style!

Thanks to the wonderful Bendigo library, Tammy Higgs, Narelle Stone, Meryl Wilkinson,
Julie Gittus, and my family for the wonderful launch.  Even thunder lightning and torrential rain couldn't stop the festivities but did stop the Melbourne train from arriving in time with this special guest.

Thanks Claire for making such a super cloak and coming to celebrate-thanks for all your patient critiques of the many drafts of Chantelle's cloak.

Spring in the bush and two thanks

egg and bacon plant

The bush is flowering like it hasn't done for years- here is the egg and bacon plant- well that's its common name and the famous Bendigo wax plant.

glorious wattle

Bendigo Wax plant

I just love the colour, the texture- its my childhood landscape.

I also had to share an op shop find- playmobiles are expensive and hard to find- look what was waiting for me today at a $3.00 price tag.

this is my first thanks

a triple sized strawberry

                                                                                           

And my second thanks for this huge strawberry nearly covering the width of the strawberry container.