My Mom - Mary Hazel Messick Wilkinson

 

Congratulations!

 I love when mystery award season rolls around.

I love seeing names of authors who write books I read and love.

I especially love seeing names of authors I am lucky enough to know and call "friend."

When two friends are both nominated for the same very big award I just cross my fingers and hope for a tie.  

Here's to Louise Penny and Hank Phillippi Ryan 

Congratulations to ALL the Anthony nominees!  Well done, and much deserved!  

Voting will take place at Bouchercon in Calgary. Winners will be announced on October 24, 2026.

𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹 

Crooks by Lou Berney 

King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby 

The Black Wolf by Louise Penny 

Death of an Ex by Delia Pitts 

All This Could Be Yours by Hank Phillippi Ryan 

𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹 

Whiskey Business by Adrian Andover 

Mask of the Deer Woman by Laurie L. Dove 

The Retirement Plan by Sue Hincenbergs 

Voices of the Elysian Fields by Michael Rigg 

History Lessons by Zoe B. Wallbrook 

Julie Chan is Dead by Liann Zhang 

𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹 

Tricks of Fortune by Lina Chern 

Edge by Tracy Clark 

Crimson Thaw by Bruce Robert Coffin 

River of Lies by James L'Etoile 

This Violent Heart by Heather Levy 

𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻'𝘀/𝗬𝗔 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹 

Well-Behaved Children Seldom Make History by Chris Chan 

Miles in Time by Lee Matthew Goldberg 

The Scammer by Tiffany D. Jackson 

Death in the Cards by Mia P. Manansala 

Risky Pursuit by Nancy G. West 

𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹/𝗡𝗼𝗻-𝗙𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 

Vacations Can Be Murder: A True Crime Lover's Travel Guide to New England by Dawn M. Barclay 

L.A. Coroner: Thomas Noguchi and Death in Hollywood by Anne Soon Choi 

Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers by Caroline Fraser 

The Secret History of the Rape Kit: A True Crime Story by Pagan Kennedy 

Bone Valley: A True Story of Injustice and Redemption in the Heart of Florida by Gilbert King 

𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆/𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 

Whatever Kills the Pain by C.W. Blackwell 

Blood On the Bayou: Case Closed edited by Don Bruns 

Crime Ink: Iconic: An Anthology of Crime Fiction Inspired by Queer Icons edited by John Copenhaver & Salem West 

On Fire and Under Water: A Climate Change Crime Fiction Anthology edited by Curtis Ippolito Hollywood Kills edited by Adam Meyer & Alan Orloff 

𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 

"Six-Armed Robbery" by Ashley-Ruth M. Bernier 

"AITA for Using My Husband's Hobby to Teach Him a Lesson" by Mindy Carlson 

"Hollywood Prometheus" by Christa Faust 

"Brotherly Love" by Cheryl A. Head 

"Finding Jimmy Baldwin" by Cheryl A. Head 

"The Skies Are Red" by Richie Narvaez

Today's Poem by Raymond Carver

 

"Woke up this morning with

a terrific urge to lie in bed all day

and read. Fought against it for a minute.

Then looked out the window at the rain.

And gave over. Put myself entirely

in the keep of this rainy morning.

Would I live my life over again?

Make the same unforgiveable mistakes?

Yes, given half a chance. Yes."

         ~ Raymond Carver

Perfect Souvenirs

 Or -

Souvenirs Parfait, as they would say in France.

A souvenir (French for 'remembrance' or 'memory'), memento, keepsake, or token of remembrance is an object a person acquires for the memories the owner associates with it. A souvenir can be any object that can be collected or purchased and transported home by the traveler as a memento of a visit. The object itself may have intrinsic value, or be a symbol of experience. Without the owner's input, the symbolic meaning is lost and cannot be articulated.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Souvenir

* * *

Souvenir (Object Lessons) Paperback – March 8, 2018

by Rolf Potts (Author)

4.4 out of

Part of: Object Lessons (103 books)

Object Lessons is a series of short, beautifully designed books about the hidden lives of ordinary things.

For as long as people have traveled to distant lands, they have brought home objects to certify the journey. More than mere merchandise, these travel souvenirs take on a personal and cultural meaning that goes beyond the object itself. Drawing on several millennia of examples-from the relic-driven quests of early Christians, to the mass-produced tchotchkes that line the shelves of a Disney gift shop-travel writer Rolf Potts delves into a complicated history that explores issues of authenticity, cultural obligation, market forces, human suffering, and self-presentation. Souvenirs are shown for what they really are: not just objects, but personalized forms of folk storytelling that enable people to make sense of the world and their place in it.'

Object Lessons is published in partnership with an essay series in The Atlantic.

Souvenir features illustrations by Cedar Van Tassel

* * *

Isn't part of any trip the choosing of little tangible remembrances to bring home along with the memories?

For me - yes.

I have known people who say their trips are all about the experiences and the memories, and tend to roll their eyes at the word "souvenir."

But for me, a person who loves being surrounded by pretty things that have memories and meaning attached, souvenirs are part of the trip as well.  

Usually, my souvenirs include cheap little items from souvenir shops - a refrigerator magnet, a Christmas tree ornament - the usual typical sort of item that you expect to find in a souvenir shop.

But they also might include an original piece of art, or a nice piece of jewelry.

Being a bit of a magpie means I am definitely going to pick up something(s) that, for some reason, speak to me.

The things I brought home from my most recent trip included some good chocolate for Donald.

And an assortment of "stuff" for me.

I love shopping in French pharmacies for skin care products.

Some pastels from La Maison du Pastel, which has a fascinating history - https://lamaisondupastel.com/home.php?lang=en  found their way to Meat Camp

As did some cards and prints from a delightful little papeterie in our hotel neighborhood.

And, my treasure of this trip.

An Hermès scarf - A l'Ombre des Boulevards (In the Shadow of the Boulevards).  A 2015 design by Virginie Jamin.

"The large boulevards... Baron Haussmann's Paris with its buildings, its doors, its inhabitants... it's up to you to find, in this richest setting, the winks made by the artist to the Paris of today."

I will remember this Paris trip with my pal Vickie whenever I wear this special, beautiful scarf.

Souvenirs Parfait

❤

Today's Poem by Mary Oliver

 Of The Empire

We will be known as a culture that feared death

and adored power, that tried to vanquish insecurity

for the few and cared little for the penury of the

many. We will be known as a culture that taught

and rewarded the amassing of things, that spoke

little if at all about the quality of life for

people (other people), for dogs, for rivers. All

the world, in our eyes, they will say, was a

commodity. And they will say that this structure

was held together politically, which it was, and

they will say also that our politics was no more

than an apparatus to accommodate the feelings of

the heart, and that the heart, in those days,

was small, and hard, and full of meanness.

© 2008 by Mary Oliver

From her 2008 collection, Red Bird

Published by Beacon Press 2008

Leaving Paris

 

Nine Days in Paris

❤

Did i love it?  Yes.

But.

This trip did not come without challenges.

Time for me to face and admit that traveling, for me, is not as easy as it once was.

Thankfully, my curiosity is still as active as ever.  My physical stamina, not so much.

Paris is a walking city.  My days of long walks, especially in this city of many stairs and inclines may be behind me.

Does this mean I'm done with traveling?  Oh hell no.

But low key, small ships, like Viking Cruises, are probably going to be my preference for future travel.  

Donald and I have a trip booked for next summer.  

Trade Routes of the Middle Ages.  "Trace medieval routes of commerce during a fascinating 15-day cruise bookended by enriching overnight stays in Bergen and Barcelona. Explore three of Europe’s most picturesque cities: Amsterdam, Bruges and Paris. Call on England from the historic ports of Portsmouth and Falmouth and admire the neoclassical gems of the wine-making city of Porto. Explore Málaga, gateway to Granada’s stunning Alhambra palace, and view the splendid Roman ruins of Cartagena."

Am I excited?  Oh hell yes.

And I have a little over a year to plan and research and dream.

I love my life.

And Paris.  Oh, how I love Paris.

Last Day in Paris

 

On our final day, April 2nd, I stuck close to our little hotel neighborhood, Vickie walked back to LePoste to mail postcards, and walked back along Rue Mouffetard where she picked up THE best rotisserie chicken, carrots and potatoes in France from Rotisserie Segar which we ate in our room while watching a peaceful protest in the Pantheon square from our window, but never figured out what they were protesting. 

We just hung out, finished our packing and set the alarm for 3 am.

Some final thoughts coming soon -

Stay Tuned

❤

Another Day in Paris

This day I took my time getting my act together while Vickie went back to Rue Monge and bought herself a pretty poppy scarf, walked to the Grand Mosque and back through Jardin des Plantes.  

I went shopping at the bookstore on Rue Soufflot near our hotel and we met up at the sweetest paper shop for a little shopping.

Then we went to the wine store for a bottle of chardonnay, some really yummy chocolate to take home to our guys, and a kitty petting session with the resident kitty.  

Stopped in a few more shops along the way back to our hotel, 

and went back to our favorite Italian restaurant, Papilla.

Vickie had risotto. 

I had affogato.

We loved this little neighborhood.

Back to our hotel and started the chore of packing for home.

More Tomorrow!