And it's coming in COLD. 30 today. I wish Don and I had gotten the tree last week when we had some 50+ days (and before I sprained an ankle!). But no matter, the tree will appear eventually.

Here's some further background on my writing porch, found in SHELTERPOP.com, a great online magazine about all things 'homes'--Enjoy! (and I hope you enjoy the magazine, too. Lots of interesting articles!)

http://www.shelterpop.com/2011/07/19/where-i-write-sally-goldenbaum/

Thank you to all who came to the booksigning last Sat. for The Wedding Shawl. It was great fun, complete with wedding cake, music, mimosas, and lots of wonderful people.

A safe and happy holiday weekend to everyone.

I feel like I've just given birth to twins (though my friends who have gone through labor with two real baby twins may beg to differ!). TWO books out today. The Wedding Shawl, and Moon Spinners (new in paperback). Thank you readers--without your support they would simply be a bunch of words relegated to a nameless folder on my computer.

Just returned from Malice Domestic, a mystery fan conference in Washington, D.C., and had a great time. Readers and writers and friends galore, terrific panels, and lots of fun. The book store even managed to have copies of THE WEDDING SHAWL on hand, although it 'officially' appears in stores tomorrow. A great time, thanks to wonderful organizers who work tirelessly for a year to give us a memorable weekend.

Thanks to a perceptive reader, I realized some photos of Nell's scarf had been inadvertently dropped off both a blog post and the knitting page. Hopefully all is intact now. What  beautiful pieces readers have knit, using this pattern from Death by Cashmere. The pattern was created by a very talented knitter, Kelly Harms Wimmer, who was also one of my agents at the time. Such talent!

It's absolutely magical in Kansas City right now. 70s, sunny, and soft cool breezes, though it's also deadline crunch time for me. The Wedding Shawl is 'almost' finished and will soon be winding its way to my amazing editor who will gently suggest ways to make it better. The publishing world has its own clock, I think. This book will be out next May...though the cover is already done and the book in the final stages ("she said hopefully").

This week Barb Pavoli, a wonderful reader, sent me photos of the shawlette (the one Cass knit for her mom in Death by Cashmere), that she recently completed. Barb knit one for her granddaughter, Mya. She bought 3 skeins of Caron's Spa yarn and from them knit two shawls and a small purse--all for $7.50. Mya graciously posed for these photos before going off to SeaWorld, wearing her new shawl, of course!

Am wading through a difficult scene in The Wedding Shawl today. But it WILL get done...and will arrive in bookstores next spring.

I've finally put together the recipe for Nell's Sweet Potato soup (here it is, Jill!). It's a very tasty soup and welcomes creativity--less spice or more spice, whatever vegies that are fresh, etc. It also freezes well and tastes even better the day after you make it.moon

The cicadas have arrived in Kansas CIty--I guess that means the dog days of summer are here, too. As innocent as these insects may be, they are oh-so-noisy. Truly loud. Even my dogs seem to be searching for ear plugs. And I just noticed that the fireflies are gone. Maybe they're trying to escape the noise, too.