Now, why would I spend today down in our dark basement when it was gorgeous outside? That would be sheer folly. So I painted the front porch and did some weeding.

I also worked on “The Bride Replete,” which is the first non-novel thing I’ve touched in ages. It feels very good. I’m not ignoring Shades, I’m just still in the resting and rereading period with it.

My dear friends Chrissy and Spencer Ellsworth* have just delivered their first child. Spencer says she’s eight pounds, very pretty and somewhat purple. Mom and baby are happy and healthy, Spencer is a nervous wreck. Spencer had his laptop in the room while he and Chrissy were waiting through the thirteen hours of labor. Periodically his status comment on gtalk would change to indicate how many hours into the process they were.

I am so happy for all of them.

*Chrissy creates the wonderful Lucy cartoons for Shimmer and also has done several covers for us. Spencer and I went to Literary Boot Camp together.

I’d read about this artist, Theo Jansen, but have never seen his sculptures in motion before. These are all powered by wind.

Thanks to Grant Kruger for pointing this out.