Re-worked the story idea: here are some pictures!

Here's the new one-line synopsis: A lonely society wife tries to win her husband's love by commissioning a portrait.

Here's where she lives: Lochnaw Castle in Scotland (it's in the lowlands on its own private little loch surrounded by woodlands. There's a ruined medieval castle on a small island in the middle of the lake. What that has to do with the story? Nothing, it's just cool.)

Here's the portrait:

Here are more details on the plot:
It is Scotland in the Gilded Age. The aristocracy and the empire are in decline. Gertrude Vernon made a brilliant match socially, but she and her husband deal with their grief over their childlessness separately. Not accounted any great beauty, she tries to improve her taste and culture, and decides to commission a portrait of herself and her husband in the hopes of bringing them together.John Singer Sargent, the most popular portraitist on either side of the Atlantic, arrives at the estate to do the painting but finds her alone due to some totally believable plot twist :P This leaves Sargent and Gertrude alone for hours and they end up falling in love. Her husband finally returns and he and Gertrude see each other with new eyes, and she must decide between her ideals and her impulses.

Writing again

I haven't wanted to announce it or officially post any word counts but after a month of working on this story I'm still really excited about it, so, it's official, I'm working on a book. It's the story of an artist in the 1880s. It's got the depth and drama of Rembrandt and the mass appeal of Thomas Kinkade. I think it will have a slightly sad ending. Actually I know it will have a sad ending, but I hope the reader cares enough for the characters so that they are sad. I'm handwriting it, so my word counts are just estimates. I'm also doing the National Write a Novel in a Month competition. Just keep writing, just keep writing, just keep writing writing.

What's for Dinner?

This is the place to post ideas about what you want to make. Depending on how organized you are, maybe add an ingredient list and I'll try to get a handle on the food bill forecast. I don't know how much money will be in the pot (haha pun), but if you can make dinners for $25 and breakfasts for $10 that would put the food total at $280. It might end up being more than that, and that's ok, just keep the cost in mind. (There's no way we can keep Christmas dinner to $25)


If I'm way off base, let me know. Each couple gets to make 4 meals. Only one meal a day though. We'll work out the schedule later. The reunions I've been to where this worked, we did a brunch and an early dinner. Snacking in between obviously as needed. However, if the majority of the Mann family wakes up at 7 and wants a full breakfast right then, let's do that and have a snacky lunch or dinner. Let me know what you think.

This is also the place to beg others to make food you can't but really want for the holiday. Such as me begging someone else to make cinnamon rolls. And mashed potatoes.

Stocking Tradition

My favorite traditions for stockings is this: on Christmas eve we all write something we love about each person and put it in their stocking. Then, on Christmas morning everyone has 8 love notes, and it just warms the whole room.We have done this in my family for most of my life.

Look how cute this one is!