Hi. Barb here. Or rather there.
My husband and I are in Key West for January and February
At times, I’ve felt a little guilty as I’ve seen Facebook friends from frozen New England posting about All the Damn Snow. But mostly, I’ve felt relieved.
I’m slogging through the first draft of the next Maine Clambake Mystery, Fogged Inn. (Personal motto: I slog, so you don’t have to. What would that be in Latin?) So here is my routine.
Morning: Send out ARCs of Musseled Out, attend to various blogs, Facebook, Twitter, etc., redesign back of bookmarks, line up appearances for spring and summer, etc., do financial bits and pieces for Level Best, talk to agent about exciting new opportunity, (etc., etc, etc.) Everything I put in the bucket I call “the business of writing.”
Afternoon: Work toward first draft word count goal. Sigh. Panic. Sigh more deeply. (Is it possible this is getting harder and not easier with each book? Is it possible my first drafts are getting worse and not better? Reminder to self: You think this every time.)
Late afternoon: Swim in pool. The swim assures I get outside and move around. Given that most pools in Key West, including ours at this rental house, are characterized as “dipping pools,” I do not claim it as exercise, but as movement.
So as you can see, though I’d like to write you a lovely post about Key West, I am not seeing a lot of it. Which is fine, because I’ve been coming here for 23 years, so I’m not deprived.
My husband, Bill Carito, on the other hand, has been on a tear. He took a class in taking photos on your iphone at the Studios of Key West, and has been posting a photo a day to his Facebook page ever since. (To see more, you can friend him here.)
So here, in the spirit of supplying some pretty to your day, and a respite from the snow, are some the photos, which he calls Key West Corners.
The backyard dipping pool.
What’s going on behind our fence.
I hope you enjoyed a little time away from the snow.
Kait Carson
Charlene D’Avanzo 
My Latin is rusty, but how about Laboro ut ne tibi necesse sit?
Thank you, Heidi!
I have a serious covet thing going on for that phone booth.
Isn’t it great?
Lovely, heartening photos. Thanks Barb and Bill!
You’re welcome, Brenda. Spring will come!
Oh, the bright colors! While we sit here in monochrome. At least I’m wearing a bright pink sweatshirt… Thanks for sharing your days, Barb.
You’re welcome, Edith! Hang in there and congrats on the new series.
I have really been enjoying Bill’s daily photos, Barb. They are about the only color other than white (which is an absence of color, I believe, but at this point who cares) I’ve seen in weeks. Seriously, I see a coffee table book with maybe some random writing about Key West. I’m amazed those photos are take on an iPhone. By the way, love your writing routine, ending with the dip in the pool.
Thanks, Michele. Bill is enjoying himself. He’s a little nervous that we’re making our friends in New England miserable, but after the class he vowed to take a photo a day and this is where we are right now. So glad you’re enjoying them.
I’ve been enjoying Bill’s photos too. Even though our winter hasn’t been very snowy for the most part (knocking on wood) it’s been gray, so I love seeing all the gorgeous colors!
Thanks, Sherry.