October 2022

Hello, Fall Friend!

I've been talking about Aunt Kitten for months now and realized that maybe you'd like to see a few sample pages. These are still a Work In Progress (WIP) and both the words and the illustrations may change. Yet, this will give you a taste of my dream.

PICTURE BOOK NEWS

I'm Glad You're Here 'Cause There's Only One You with Aunt Kitten

Sign up and receive "Saturday 7," a weekly email of seven picture book suggestions. Each list is categorized.

​

​

Huge thanks for Aunt Kitten feedback! In my last round of reviews, the helpful comments included pointing out that a Parakeet line didn't flow well: "cheerful and laidback, your smile melts each heart!" My line rhythm with syllables is stress, unstress, unstress, stress, unstress, unstress, stress, unstress, unstress, stress. That worked in my mind because I put the stress on LAID-back. When I looked it up, the stress should be on laid-BACK which messes up my rhythm. I will need to rewrite that line or section.

PONDERING FRIEND TO FRIEND

​My Memories Monday memoir posts are completed through age 33. It has been heartwarming, encouraging, and difficult to relive the events from my early 30's. Gregg lost three family members in a tragic accident, my Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, we moved from Maryland to Texas so that Gregg could get a master's degree, and we went through infertility treatment. The posts can be found on Instagram and Pondering Friend to Friend.

ICE CREAM ENTHUSIASTS

We've slowed down on making and eating ice cream since returning from Pennsylvania. It is good to take a break once in a while, even from things we enjoy.

That trend will change soon. We will host a neighborhood ice cream social on Sunday afternoon. Gregg plans to make six batches (three gallons) of pumpkin pie ice cream. Yum! It is a little more labor intensive due to the addition of pie crust pieces, yet so worth it!

Thursday, we'll take invitations around to the 55 homes in our neighborhood. As always, the event is on our driveway. We provide the ice cream and a few chairs. Folks can come and go during the 2-hour window. Some bring a chair and something to drink. The event is simple and fun as everyone catches up with neighbors.

TRAVEL

We've enjoyed time to resettle at home after being away all summer.

After our vacation in Canada, we wondered if we would like to tour the Canadian Rockies by train. One trip begins in Toronto and travels across southern Canada to Vancouver, including some of the Rockies. The down side to this trip is the overnight legs. Sleeping on the train sounds fun, but we would miss seeing those sections of Canada.

There is also an option to fly west and just do a western Rockies tour.

Have you traveled by train in Canada? If so, I'd love to hear more about it! Good, bad, or indifferent. Thanks!

I'm smiling as I think of you,

Kristin Emily

​www.KristinEmilyF​riend.com​