MY BOGGY BLOG: find your way through the murk

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Belatedly reporting in on a fine weekend: got to go to the Festival of
Children's Literature in Red Wing on Saturday. I love these kinds of
writing-related events, where I get to meet authors and socialize with
other writers and feel like I'm doing something productive, all while
having fun! I went with three other women writer friends, and we had a
lovely road trip, getting lots of time to chat in the one hour drive
there and back. It turned out to be a very kid-friendly festival, with
lots of activities and projects for kids to do, so we made a note to
remind ourselves about that next year.

For me, the high point was getting to hear Kate DiCamillo speak. I've
heard her a few other times, and she is just so down-to-earth and
humble and smart-alecky. I know she is my age, too, and when she had
her first book published a few years ago (Because of Winn-Dixie), it
ended up getting a Newberry Honor and lots of attention. Sometimes
when I hear a writer like this talk, I'll feel jealous or put off, but
with Kate, I end up feeling very hopeful, like: I can do this too.

Sunday was the Renaissance Festival, which we go to every couple
years. I wanted to make a point of it this year because we need a few
more fun things to tack onto our summer, since we never really did
have a "vacation." The day was nice and cool and sunny, and I felt
totally relaxed as we just wandered around the festival, looking at
shops, watching a few little shows. We salivated over a lot of
wonderful merchandise but couldn't buy any (broke), but we did have
some treats. DH and older DS were bummed that the Scotch Eggs booth
was all sold out, but they comforted themselves by eating the
gargantuan smoked turkey legs (me too; yum!).

I always have a little dream when I'm there of being wealthy some day
and getting to really shop. Sigh... maybe some day. But we peasants
have a good time at the Ren Fest anyway!