On a sunny but freezing cold November morning, we drove to Honey Creek for a festive post-Thanksgiving breakfast after sleeping in. I started writing late but ended the first session with a steady count of 1,332 words moving the story ahead into full action.
In the afternoon, I joined the guys in our Moravian Sons Distillery for a break from writing and to check on the stilling. We were stilling the last batch of pear ferment for a total awesome yield of 31 liters from three barrels of Bartlett pears. However, the peach ferment disappointed at only one gallon from one barrel of peaches. The peach harvest wasn’t good this year, due to the weather, so the peaches may not have had enough sugar.
But, the distillery smelled like a bakery, when the steam came out from the still. It was sweet and the pear spirit was delicious. Check the store locator for our spirits. For more info go to
The race to the 50k-word NaNoWriMo finish line is on. I logged in today 1,872 words in two sessions that I broke up with a walk on the trail to get some fresh air and oxygen in my blood. The sun peaked out from the overcast sky for a few minutes. In the afternoon session, I reached a total of 39, 172 words.
It’s the night before Thanksgiving so we went out to one of our favorite joints in Belding- The Candlestone Inn. They were setting up for tomorrow’s Thanksgiving Feast. I ordered an apple cider mimosa and ouch, they were out of champagne. Are they going to have champagne tomorrow for the feast?
It’s the little things that get to you. But Ludek started stilling the pear ferment and the yield is turning out excellent. Now, we have the full portfolio of fruit spirits: plum, apple, pear, and peach.
It was a rainy freezing cold November day great for writing. I logged in 1,801 words for a total of 37, 300 words in the NaNoWriMo 50k-word challenge. I moved the story forward big time, but not enough to be ahead due to the holiday.
Then off I drove to the only grocery store in town, that was packed to the rafters because of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. The usual scene unfolded in front of my eyes- half-empty shelves, not enough cash registers and lines. All that reminded me painfully of my life in former socialist Czechoslovakia before the regime toppled on Nov. 27, 1989.
After the challenge is over, I will write a post about shopping bags, and how I was happy not to have them in the USA until like five to 10 years ago.
I also made a stop at the Lowell Area Historical Museum (LAHM) to pick up my kombuchas from the big holiday event, and to fix my book display. And Heureka I discovered an old Underwood typewriter, that I had not seen there before.
Today is our granddaughter Josephine’s 10th birthday, and I found a great video that I would like to share here.
Now, we’re heading out to self-distribute our fruit spirits from Moravian Sons Distillery based in Lowell, MI. For more info to https://moraviansonsdistillery.com
We have two new flavors, pear and peach. Just like books, spirits make awesome holiday gifts. Follow us on WordPress and Facebook.
Copyright (c) 2023. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
Another rough catch-up writing day. I wrote around 1,000 words for The Lowell Ledger in the morning. It was a story about Christmas Through Lowell that I pulled off from “inside out” while selling books at the Lowell Area Historical Museum.
I had to take a break, hop on the treadmill for 20 minutes, and then do my NaNo word count for a total of 35, 499, and finish up in the evening.
Yes, I am exhausted after the three-day event at the museum and from the writing challenge. But I still managed to observe the revolutionary days from 34 years ago in former Czechoslovakia as the socialist regime was finally toppled on Nov. 27. The Velvet Revolution started on Nov. 17 with students demonstrating.
To be continued……
Copyright (c) 2023. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
It wasn’t until the third day of Christmas Through Lowell this Sunday, that I realized that all my passions met right inside the special exhibit room dedicated to Robert Graham at the Lowell Area Historical Museum.
A customer on the tour pointed the fact out to me: “Not only are you a local author writing for The Lowell Ledger but you are in the old Lowell Library.” Yes, my first passion for writing met my second one for history.
Plus, I will write a special play for The Old Theatre (TOT) in Lowell inspired by four vendors who meet once a year in the old museum building to sell their wares.
This year’s CTL was the best author’s event out of all that I have done so far. I would like to thank everyone who has purchased my books.
I logged in the lowest count of words today in the NaNoWriMo 50k-word challenge. It was only 658 words.
To be continued……
Copyright (c) 2023. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
Today is the second day of Christmas Through Lowell (CTL) which turned out to be my best author’s event of the year with crowds flocking to downtown Lowell.
The event featured 300 stops including businesses and homes decked out for Christmas. Prior to opening my booth at the Lowell Area Historical Museum stop K, I logged in 12015 words in the NaNoWriMo 50k-word challenge in its 18th day.
The beautiful weather played into the success of CTL and my word count. Several interesting people stopped at my booth; first it was the former first executive director of the museum, Judy Straub and an author of science fiction who told me about a writing app Campfire.
I have to check that app out.
I am running on kombuchas and tea, and I had a yogurt and one sandwich today. I know most vendors and volunteers at the museum. We meet once a year for this holiday event with killer timing before Thanksgiving. The timing and the setting has inspired me to write a play, which is one of my many dreams.
We’re going to be at the museum tomorrow Sunday, Nov. 19 from 11 am to 5 pm.
Copyright (c) 2023 Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
I am writing this at the Lowell Area Historical Museum during Christmas Through Lowell. It’s been a great day that started early in the morning when I logged in 1,015 words in the NaNoWriMo challenge.
I wasn’t feeling good from the get go as I woke up with a huge headache.
It rained in the morning but then the sun came out and attracted visitors to the museum and downtown in droves.
We had a steady stream of visitors until dinner time.
April Steel of Old Made into NewPictured above from left to right Maxine Shearer, Cammy Thornton, Lisa Reed at TOT, Emily Rose of Custom Tumblers and Bruce Doll of Images of Vision.
I took pictures for The Lowell Ledger at the museum and The Old Theatre. Visit all the stops on the CTL tour through Sunday, Nov. 19
Copyright (c) 2023. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
The holiday season is upon us, as I keep pounding on the keyboard daily. I logged in 2,027 words today for a total of 30, 528 words in the NaNoWriMo 50k-word challenge.
I still managed to live a half-normal life of keeping my doctor’s appointment, and shopping for gifts for the women’s prison ministry at St. Pat’s Church in Parnell. I got the wrong reading glasses, so I had to exchange them on my second trip to town.
In between my trips to Lowell, I walked on the Fred Meijer Flat River Trail, while someone was shooting in his woods. I could see the stand through the bare trees. It’s the firearm hunting season. “That’s it, I am getting an orange hat.” I don’t want to get shot before my work is done.
Keep it up, Wrimos. My doc said the same thing about my yoga and walking routine. I do feel better when I balance mental activity with physical.
I couldn’t find the only independent bookstore Bettie’s Pages far and near in the Greater Lowell Area, that’s how frazzled I am. And I had a set up at the Lowell Area Historical Museum for the 31st annual Christmas Through Lowell Tour starting Friday, Nov. 17 through Sunday, Nov. 19. The museum is stop K on the Christmas tree signs placed at individual businesses and homes.
My books are also at the Artists Market inside the LowellArts gallery through Dec. 23. Books make awesome gifts. Stop at both locations. We’d love to see you. Artists Market is stop I on the map.
You can definitely catch me this weekend starting tomorrow.
Artists Market inside Lowell Arts located at 223 W. Main Street
Visit the Artist Market During Christmas Through Lowell Christmas Through Lowell: November 17 – 19Artist Market is open through December 23 Weekend Hours: Friday, Nov 17: 9 am to 9 pm Saturday, Nov 18: 9 am to 7 pm Sunday, Nov 19: 11 am to 5 pm The LowellArts Artist Market features giftable fine art and fine craft works by Michigan artists. The gallery space is transformed into a retail setting with unique, one-of-a-kind items available for sale at a range of price points. The annual market is a great place for people to purchase handmade items during the gift-giving season. Gift items include pottery, paintings, photography, jewelry, textiles, glasswork, handbags, woodwork, metalwork, ornaments, soaps, and more.
Copyright (c) 2023. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
Whoa, we’re halfway there Whoa oh, livin’ on a prayer Take my hand, we’ll make it, I swear Whoa oh, livin’ on a prayer
Everybody knows this song by Bon Jovi. And I can feel it in my head, body, and soul, and in each word I write. I am keeping a steady pace of writing around 1,700 words a day; the word count doesn’t give me a big cushion, but it doesn’t exhaust me either.
It was a beautiful November day, as we reached almost 60 F.
I got in my daily exercise, and meditation today. I calmed down a bit, but I am still on trail energy mixes, except for this evening. We went to Smyrna Bar to deliver our new peach spirit by Moravian Sons Distillery based in Lowell, MI. So, I ordered Halfway to Cuba, a pulled pork sandwich with pickles and mustard which was delicious. The owners are going completely local. Yes! Way to go.
Today was also the opening day of the firearm hunting season, so I could hear gunshots as soon as the sun came up. The hunting season makes me nervous walking on the trail, especially because I can’t find my orange hat.
Keep it up, Wrimos. We’re halfway there.
Copyright (c) 2023. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
As of yesterday, I crossed the halfway mark with 25,013 words in the 50k-word NaNoWriMo challenge. I feel relieved and motivated to finish the rest.
Some people ask me on my show For the Love of Books Podcast if NaNo gets easier with each year you participate in the challenge. This is my fifth year tackling the challenge; I have three books out of four challenges and four victories.
I say no, even though I have more experience I never know from day to day if I will reach the 1,667 word goal. The key to conquering the challenge is writing daily, and carrying the momentum forward, no matter what.
I have some tips for other Wrimos; keep on pushing through and split the monster daily word count into two sessions.
Good luck, Wrimos. Keep on writing.
Copyright (c) 2023. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
authoremmapalova 