Finally!

After weeks of fighting feisty printers, screaming at misbehaving scanners, toiling over two conflicting computer operating systems, and losing my mind over embedded fonts and 300 dpi graphic resolution, Amazon finally sent me the email I've been waiting for...  (Drum roll, please!)

Found the coolest icon-makers!  They come in a variety of styles, colors and subjects that anyone can use to  enhance websites, blog posts, presentations, handouts, etc.  They are also open-sourced, so no worries about copyrights.

 And did I mention they are FREE?!?!?
Check 'em out!
http://flaticons.net/

So excited!

This afternoon, Amazon gave me the go-ahead on my cover design for Sweet T and the North Wind. 

Here's a glimpse of T from the cover, brought to life by watercolorist Irene Jahns. 

Can you see the wind blowing T's hair?  Can you guess what she's holding on to?  And why is she wearing a helmet?

Stay tuned....all will be revealed!

Arrrrr! Avast, Ye Maties!

19 September is International "Talk Like a Pirate Day." I don't know how this celebration got started, but it IS fun.

My pirate name is Squidlips Patch Swashbuckler, but I prefer Captain Cat!  Check out these sites to find your pirate name and mom-tested pirate books for children.

My fave pirate-related books are Peter Pan and Treasure Island.  Yours?

Pirate Name:
http://eric.fm/2012/09/26/whats-your-pirate-name-lol/

Pirate Books for Children:
http://www.wired.com/geekmom/2012/09/pirate-day-picture-books/

Just over 100 years ago, author O Henry wrote The Last Leaf, a wonderful short story.

Wandering my garden after this morning's rainstorm, I imagined another story, The First Leaf, thanks to a fresh batch of leaves swept down from the woods and plastered to my plants.

If these first leaves could speak, they would say, "Glorious day, Cat!   We are free from our tree at last!  Fetch your rake stashed in the attic, and get ready for my brother and sisters to drop."

I’ve always lived in parts of the country where raking and jumping into leaf piles mark the start of autumn.  You, too?

And best of all ……on any kids' list of Top Five Celebrations, the first leaves to drop mean that  Halloween is just around the corner!

Have yourself a glorious autumn day, too!