It's Crow Season

Autumn is rife with lively reds, yellows and evergreen colors, yet it's also spooky season where migrating birds fill the sky and spiders slide their way into our homes, and crows are ubiquitous. One of my paintings, It's Murder Out Here, (24 H by 28W) will be on display at Willard Art& Frame in Bothell, WA beginning September 30 through the end of October.

At Graphite Gallery in Edmonds, WA, my painting Taking the Long Way Home (16 W x 20 H) will be exhibited. The show opens October 9th and will be available through November 30th.

I'm busy working on some small works for two different upcoming shows along with some nudes for another call for art. 

Here are some more cows for you.

Happy creating!

Art and More

Once again, it is nearly time for Edmonds Arts Festival, and this is my second year to have a piece in the main gallery. Last year, my entry was Tomato Party. 

20 x 20, acrylic on canvas

This year my expressionist rendition of a Vassily chair made it in.

20 x 20, acrylic on canvas

While I am happy to have a painting in the show, I am also excited that about a dozen of my artist friends are also included in small works, main gallery, and digital media. Fingers crossed one or more of us wins a prize or sells their work.

Also, two of us from Artworks will have work on display at the Lynnwood Municipal Canter throughout the month of June. My entry is called "Joe Crow Joins the Family Picnic."

16x20, acrylic on board

 In other news, I have dug out a book length manuscript (83,000 words) which I am revisiting. It’s one of two complete novels I wrote during the pandemic. Is it publishable? Probably not, but it gave me a chance to revisit my favorite characters for a fourth book in my BREAKFAST WITH NERUDA series.

 Speaking of which May 2026 marks the 10^th anniversary of BREAKFAST WITH NERUDA’S publication. If you’ve already read it, enjoy it again as an audiobook, narrated by the incomparable Preston Geer, at a special discount. Find it on Apple books , Chirp, and Barnes & Noble through May 31^st for only .99.

 

Happy Creating.

My new Venture into the Visual Arts

It's been a while since I weighed in here and many things have changed. First, my beloved cat Pablo died on Christmas Eve. 2025. He was 21 years old and dealt with advanced kidney disease for as long as possible, but when he stopped eating and drinking, I knew it was time to call the vet. We did an at-home euthanasia, which, while more expensive than an office visit, is much less stressful for the pet as well as the human. He is forever in my heart. 

Another change is I have NOT been writing. Since April 2024, I've returned to my first love: visual art. At first, I was rusty, but I quickly found my groove and have since exhibited in several galleries and shows and even sold a few pieces. I work primarily in acrylic on canvas.

Henry, 2026, 16x12", Acrylic on heavy paper

 

Baby Merlin is charcoal on toned paper, 11x14>

Henry, top, Baby Merlin, are both currently in an exhibit at Graphite Arts Center - Art is for everyone. in Edmonds, WA.

Painting and drawing cats is therapeutic.

There's Something Happening Here. 2025, 24 x 22 

Currently it's on loan to a friend who fell in love with it. He's still deciding if he can afford it. I told him to borrow it and hang it up, and he can pay in installments. In one respect, I don't care if he pays for it. I just love that HE loves it. But I DO need the $$ to pay for more art supplies.

Here are some more examples.

Joe Crow Joins the Family Picnic,17 x 22", will be on display at Lynnwood Municipal Center during June, 2026.

 Ode to Tomatoes, 2025, 16 x 20

 

 It's Cheesy it's crunchy, It's delicious, 2024, 16 x 20", SOLD

The Bosy is a landscape, 2024, 16 x 12 " SOLD

Tomato Party was on display at the Edmonds Arts Festival, 2025, 20 x 20"

Stay tuned and I will share more artworks and news with you. 

Happy creating.

Time has simultaneously slowed down and sped up. Since the beginning of the pandemic I'm not sure which month/day/year it is. Like many of my writer friends, the semi isolation has affected my productivity. For months I couldn't write, and was unable to finish an almost complete novel draft.

Yet I began and finished another, and have recently stepped into screenwriting.

Writing scripts is like learning a new language. The format (grammar) is unfamiliar, and the story must be told with a viewer rather than a reader in mind. 

So this is my excuse for ignoring my blog. Here's a recent photo of Pablo. 

 

Happy Writing.

Hello to those of you who follow my semi-forgotten blog.

I've been busy writing a monthly column for My Edmonds News called The Writer's Desk, in addition to working on a novel, and being president of EPIC Group Writers.  The latter involves lots of Zoom meetings and booking workshops. 

It's been a weird two years. Let's hope 2022 proves to be more normal, or at least less stressful than this new normal.

Happy Holidays!

and

Happy Writing.

Almost Normal

It’s been more than a year since I visited Third Place Books in person. Over the past few months, I’ve ordered online and had books mailed to me. But after attending a webinar yesterday with Lisa Cron about her new book, Story or Die, I ordered a copy. Instead of opting to have it snail mailed, I clicked on ‘pick up at store.'

For the occasion of venturing to the bookstore, I dressed more carefully than I had in months, choosing my favorite jeans, an olive-green sweater, a necklace and a bracelet. The morning was bright and sunny, which I took as a good omen.

Entering the freeway felt like a strange city, partly because of construction of the light rail which blocked the right lane, and partly because this is only my second trip on I-5 since the pandemic broke out. I hadn’t forgotten how to merge with the thick swell of cars and trucks, all moving far below the 60 MPH speed limit. The addition of rail lines and concrete barriers has changed the landscape, but the heavy Seattle traffic remains the same.

After I exited on Ballenger Way, I passed several office buildings bearing ‘For Lease. Signs. The Mexican restaurant is still there, likely surviving on carry-out orders by a loyal clientele. As I drove east, the familiar canopy of trees cast blinking shadows in and out of the sunlight. It had been more than a year, yet I still recalled how to get to the store. The parking lot was nearly vacant, and after I parked, I double glanced at the shop to ensure I was open.

The first change since I was last here were the signs on the two double door entries.  Inside the building the next change I noted was there was no line at the adjoining cafe.

Clearly marked exit and entry only with reminders for customers they must wear masks and maintain social distances. The entrance side is blocked off with crime tape and the signs with arrows lead to the information desk. An individual stood at the entry and asked my business. I could have taken my prepaid book and left, but since the store was empty, and I’d already fulfilled a couple of hours early morning writing, I decided to use the allotted 30-minute time limit to browse.

Where once there stood leather and wooden chairs throughout the store where one could sit and skim through a stack of books is now open space. 

The staff is enthusiastic and industrious, filling shelves and moving displays, and the selection of books, cards, and other goods remains abundant, but the shopping experience definitely felt altered. One of the things I’ve missed most since the pandemic outbreak is browsing the shelves at libraries and bookstores. Where I once may have spent two hours (and much more money) wandering through the aisles, I’m grateful to have the option for this in-person visit. The short visit to familiar territory made life feel more like normal and less like science fiction.

How are you emerging back to nearly normal?

Still Writing After All These Years

It's been nearly a year since the world literally closed its doors. Like most of you, I've learned to adapt, and each day provides a new challenge. One is that I haven't kept up with my blog. But here's a piece I wrote in November for Women Writers, Women's Books: Making it to the Finish Line

Happy Writing.

It's Not All Bad

Here's a blog post I forgot to post back on April. [It's now October. Things have not changed much except 211,000 have died from COVID. Politics has divided the country. Those of us with liberal leanings are in constant anxiety. Grocery prices are up, unemployment is rising, and businesses are closing daily, and my social life is almost entirely via ZOOM. But it' all good, right?]

If every country and city in the world weren't living this surreal existence, nobody would believe it.
Sequestered in our homes.

Reading
Many people are reading books again.

Unplugged
Because I'm home all day, like many people out there, I watch more daytime TV talk shows.

Kelly and Ryan, like the rest, now broadcast from their homes, and they're much less obnoxious.

THE VIEW As a group onstage The ladies of THE TALK. are still fun to watch
and talk over each other. But from home, the show is easier to watch. Whoopie and Sunny are still pleasant. Surprisingly, Meghan McCain is far less toxic , but Joy Behar, who I usually enjoy, is annoying.

Oddly, Ellen isn't as funny without an audience. She falls flat talking to just one guest at a time.

Live concerts from living rooms shows us who has talent. Without the flashy special effects, costumes, and electronic enhancement. It feels as if  Keith Urban is sitting in my living room playing a song just for me

Zoom once you get past the learning curve of navigating the platform, zoom meetings make life feel connected less lonely.
Facebook is marginal
Instragram has always been friendlier
Twitter is still a bitchfest


I haven't yet resorted to watching soap operas.


Happy Writing.

Quarantine Coping

It's been a month since, other than grocery and pharmacy clerks, I have socialized in person with anyone other than my cat. He only talks when he's hungry or he wants me to sit on the couch so he can lie in my lap. Otherwise he ignores me. He's a cat, so he's doing his job.

How am I coping? As best as I can.
In every country and city in the world we're all living this surreal existence, yet there are some things to enjoy about it.

Luckily I love to read, and I'm catching up on books I forgot I had. I've also downloaded a few audio books to listen to while I take a daily walk. Luckily the weather in Seattle has been unseasonably pleasant and sunny this week.

Cooking. I'm not a great cook, but I'm trying to make more than omelettes and oatmeal.

Live TV is truly live. .
Because I'm home all day, like many people out there, I watch more daytime TV talk shows, many newscasters and hosts now broadcast from their homes.  I enjoy peeking inside celebrities houses. It makes them more real, more accessible.

Kelly and Ryan they're much less obnoxious.

 As a group onstage together the hosts of THE VIEW tend to talk over each other. But from home, the show is easier to watch. Whoopie and Sunny are still pleasant. Surprisingly, Meghan McCain is far less toxic, but Joy Behar, who I usually enjoy, is annoying.

The ladies of THE TALK. are still fun to watch, but oddly, ELLEN isn't as funny without an audience. She falls flat talking to just one guest at a time.

Live concerts from musicians' living rooms demonstrates who has true talent without the flashy special effects, costumes, and electronic enhancement. The music is unplugged. Recently, watching Keith Urban from his home felt as if he was playing a song just for me.

Zoom once you get past the learning curve of navigating the platform, zoom meetings make life feel connected less lonely and prevents me from spending all day wearing pajamas.
Last night I attended a Zoom happy hour.  On Tuesday I taught a writing workshop via Zoom, and I have several meetings coming up next week.

I've notice a spike in interaction on Facebook  Phone calls and Face Time are also nice. Hearing another's voice is less mechanical than a text.

My house is clean! (Except for my home office.)

I turn off the news. I limit myself to one hour a day: half hour of local, and a half hour of national, and press the mute button when the liar in Chief comes on to spew his incoherent nonsense. And now the government wants to de-fund the USPS? How can the world's most powerful nation not have postal service? Don't get me started...I plan to start writing a lot more letters.

Twitter and Instagram also keep me connected. Tonight I posted a video on how to trim your own bangs. https://twitter.com/LauraMoewriter/status/1249155608575643648?s=20

This week I've finally been able to focus enough to write. It's not good writing, but at least words are flowing.


Hope you're having a happy quarantine.

Changing the Mindset

The other day I went to Trader Joe's. Like many groceries, a sign outside announced limited hours. While flowers abounded, the normally well stocked shelves were pretty much bare. Smartly, Trader Joe’s limited the number of each item type one can buy to two to avoid hoarding. But there wasn’t much left to buy.

In produce, I was able to find salad, bananas, and one of the last bags of navel oranges. No toilet paper, paper towels, hand sanitizer, and hand balm remained in the health and beauty aisle, and most of the hand soap was also gone. Of the baking products, where chocolate chips, flour, and sugar should have been the shelves were stripped. The only flour left was almond flour. At 7.98 a bag I figured I didn’t need to bake anything. I had eggs at home, so I didn’t buy one of the half dozen left in the case. I’d hoped to find Havarti cheese, which I did, but it was lite. Lite Havarti is better than no Havarti.

At a nearly empty freezer case I picked up the last bag of frozen corn. All the frozen fruit, broccoli, green beans, and mixed veggies were gone. Further down in the empty freezer case I looked to see if they had my favorite: bean taquitos. “They’re sold out of all my usual favorites,” I said aloud. A young man standing at a social distance from me said, “I guess this a good time to try something new.”

“That’s one way of looking at it.” I picked up one of the three remaining packages of Cheese enchiladas. I’d never noticed them before amid the normally overflowing freezer case. Other than the enchiladas having a high fat content, they’re tasty, and will make a good temporary substitute until they restock my bean taquitos.

Right now, with social isolation, we’re all trying something new, seeking ways to maintain connections while also social distancing. It’s a massive reboot of our personal systems. I’m cleaning our junk drawers and cabinets and dusting more often. Today I flipped my mattress, (something I’d been meaning to do for ages,) and reduced the stacks on my nightstand.

Lucky for us in Seattle, one of the hot spots for the virus, our weather is sunny this week. It’s still chilly, but it may be warm enough later for me to clean out my car. I need to keep moving in order to burn off the 38% fat content of the cheese enchilada I ate for lunch.

If you can't find what you want, try something new.

Happy Coping