Knitting in Heaven
Bev Galeskas, a knitting designer and my friend, passed away over the holidays. Bev provided the knitting pattern for the Cable Sampler Scarf in my book, Summer on Blossom Street. She was fun, business savvy, creative and passionate about knitting and yarn. She died far too young. Although I will miss her, as will the entire knitting community, I have a strong suspicion she’s giving knitting lessons in heaven. Read more
A Fresh Start
I’m all about fresh starts, and there’s none better than a brand new year. Wayne and I are in our Florida home , and I’m about to begin a new book, which will be the last in the Cedar Cove series, titled 1225 Christmas Tree Lane. So the New Year is actually starting with the ending of a series. Ironic, isn’t it? Still, I’m filled with enthusiasm and eager to tackle the blank page . . . Read more
Merry Christmas!
I’ve been caught up in the Christmas madness. Cards, shopping, baking, knitting–all in a frenzy of joy. Wayne and I leave for Florida either Monday afternoon or Tuesday morning, depending on the weather, so I probably won’t be blogging until the New Year. Merry Christmas, everyone! Christ is born. Read more
Happy Birthday, Aunt Betty!
Today is a very special day. My Aunt Betty turns 100 today. You read that right–100. She’s my father’s oldest sister and the last surviving sibling. Because my grandmother was diabetic and often ill, Betty became my father’s second mother. (Dad was the youngest boy.) This summer we celebrated her birthday in Aberdeen, South Dakota. It was a rousing time with a reception for her. She is universally loved and admired, and people came from as far away as Guam. She received close to 200 birthday cards, which she reads over a Read more
Giving Tree
Wayne and I had a wonderful Friday night with three of our grandchildren. We took them to see the new Narnia movie in 3D and then shopping. We found a Giving Tree at one of our local stores and had each grandchild choose a card for a child their own age. I gave them each cash and had them Christmas shop for that child.
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Christmas Crazies
The wonderful Christmas craziness is hitting me this week. Tonight the entire family has been invited to a party in downtown Seattle. Read more
Encouragement
I’m writing our Christmas letter today. I’ve written a letter almost every year since Wayne and I married. In fact, it was feedback from family and friends to my annual letters that encouraged me to consider writing as a career. Who would have guessed a little thing like “Loved your letter; ever thought about being a writer?” would lead to a career? It makes me realize how important encouragement can be. I’m going to look for ways to encourage someone today . . . Read more
Sock Puppets?
Wayne has a bad habit–okay he’s a guy, he has a number of habits that irritate me. This particular one is leaving drawers open. I cannot tell you the number of times I’ve closed drawers for my husband. I think after what happened this week, he may be cured of this habit. Our Bogie loves socks. He finds it necessary to shake them until he’s satisfied they are completely lifeless. Wayne left his sock drawer open and it happens to be the bottom drawer, which was completely accessible to Bogie. I can describe what I found in one wo Read more
Thanksgiving Leftovers
Wayne and I had the great turkey cook-off this Thanksgiving. He deep-fried one bird, and I stuffed and baked a second one. I’m just too traditional, I guess. For me, the stuffing is the best part of the meal. Besides, I thought Wayne had a slight advantage. Really, is there anything that doesn’t taste better deep fried? So when it came time to serve the meat, I sliced up both birds and intermingled the meat so no one knew from which bird the meat came. I called it a tie.
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Grateful for Our Many Blessings
We had one of the best Thanksgivings ever. In the aftermath of the snow and wind storm (we lost power on Monday night) we were without power for two days–without Internet, without cable–so all Wayne and I had to keep each other warm was one another . . .
Correction to Martha Stewart Air Date
I just learned the Martha Stewart segment featuring Doris Robert and me will air on Thursday, November 25 (Thanksgiving Day!) instead of Friday. I’ll be tuning in while cooking and visiting with family. I hear we’ve been getting snow all day in Port Orchard, so who knows, Thanksgiving just might be white! Read more
Happy Thanksgving
I’m flying to New York bright and early Monday morning to tape a short appearance on the Martha Stewart show with Doris Roberts. (I’ll be in the audience with my daughter, Jody, and we’re both excited to see the taping up close!) The show will air on Friday, November 26. All this is part of the promotional package Hallmark is doing to promote the Hallmark Channel movie, CALL ME MRS. MIRACLE, which will air on the Hallmark Channel at 8 p.m. ET on November 27th.
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Happy Birthday Isaiah!
This is a red letter day for me. First, it’s my grandson, Isaiah’s, 7th birthday. I was in the room when Isaiah was born and was the first one to tell my daughter, Jenny Adele, and her husband, that they had a son. He’s a bright, cheerful first grader who asked his mother to read him THE TRULY TERRIBLY HORRIBLE SWEATER . . . Read more
Countdown to Christmas?!
I’m starting to receive Christmas cards. No kidding. Two arrived last Friday and I got another one this morning. As you know, I’m a Christmas kind of person. I cherish the holiday season. Plans are already set in place for our annual Christmas traditions with our children and grandchildren. It isn’t the early Christmas cards, or the fact my favorite radio station is already playing 100% Christmas music. It doesn’t bother me so much that it isn’t even Thanksgiving yet. All this early Christmas celebrating makes me realize Read more
For the Love of Fruitcake
Okay, I admit it. I love fruitcake. I baked Julia Child’s special fruitcake recipe this weekend. (This is Wayne’s favorite–I think it’s the rum and brandy in the recipe that he likes best!) Then sometime this week I’ll bake another batch, this time using a family recipe that’s been around for years with applesauce as the base. I feel especially grateful to have located the white fruitcake recipe my mother used. All told, I’ll be serving three different fruitcakes this Christmas. My mouth is watering already. Read more
Kicking Up Our Heels
Last weekend Wayne and I received a wonderful honor. We had a dance floor named after us! Because my mother received Hospice care before she died in 2005, I support our local Hospice fundraising event. For the last two years they have held a dinner with the fabulous musical group, THE KINGSMEN (of Louie, Louie and Jolly Green Giant fame). The first time we heard them, the music was so wonderful Wayne and I couldn’t stand it–we jumped up and started to dance. So this year Hospice decided to add a dance floor and named it after Wayne and me Read more
Thanks to Our Veterans
I can't think of Veterans Day without remembering my father, Ted Adler. He is my hero.
In Our Nation’s Capitol
I’m in Washington DC for tonight’s National Press Club Book Fair and Author Night. It’s a very prestigious event and I’m honored to have been invited. In preparation for this evening, I walked over to the Press Club building to check everything out and discovered a Filene’s Basement in the same building. Oh my, the temptations! Unfortunately I only brought a carry on, but I will find a way to bring home my purchases.
Dancing with the Kingsmen
Wayne and I have a busy weekend planned. Saturday we’re attending a charity event for our local Hospice. The Kingsmen are performing. You’ll remember the group from the 1960s who sang Louie, Louie. (FYI, the song was once voted upon to be our state song and, sadly, it was defeated.) The Kingsmen are also known for their hit The Jolly Green Giant. (Last year we also attended this charity event, and the group brought Wayne and me up on stage to dance, which was interesting because I’d just recently undergone kne Read more
Professional Hair & Make-Up for a Day
Today, all day, I’m involved in a photo shoot for the 2011 Debbie Macomber Christmas Cookbook and a new publicity photo for my May 2011 hardcover, A Turn in the Road.
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Weekend of Stitches
Christina, Renate and I were in Hartford, CT, this past weekend where we attended the STITCHES conference. This was both pleasure and business. While there, I attended a class taught by J.C. Read more
Stitches East
Tomorrow my assistant, Renate, and I are off to Connecticut for the big Stitches East conference in Hartford. This is knitter’s heaven. The classes are fabulous and the market . . . oh my! I OWN a yarn store, and I will still buy yarn, which I’m convinced is the sign of a true addict. (Help! Read more
Happy Birthday Maddy!
My granddaughter, Maddy, and I are celebrating our shared birthday today. Maddy is by far the best birthday gift of my entire life. The day she was born my daughter phoned to let me know she was in labor. I was so excited, and I told her I’d meet her at the hospital. Only I had a nail appointment that day, so I raced down to the salon to tell Jane I had to cancel. Naturally, I told practically everyone in the entire mall that my daughter was having her baby on MY birthday. Then I stopped by the bank to tell my good friend, Betty Read more
Football Sunday
Our entire family loves football. Wayne and I have had season tickets to the Seahawks since 1978. All four of our kids are into football, too. When the season tickets arrive, it’s like a huge lottery to see who gets what game. So, in celebration of Maddy’s and my birthdays this week the entire family is attending the game against the Cardinals this Sunday. The reason I mention this is because Seattle took a restaurant survey a few years back. One of the questions included on the survey was where is the most expensive place to dine in the c Read more
Going Green–or Would that Be Orange?
Okay, I'll admit it. I'm up to my eyeballs in cooked pumpkin. I sorted through recipes, and if I bake twelve more pumpkin pies, pumpkin bread and a huge batch of pumpkin soup, I will have used up one full pumpkin. The problem is, there are still three more pumpkins to be cooked, and they are all larger than the one I've already cooked!