WEAVINGS
August 2000

COMPUTER BLUES & BLESSINGS:
From computer crash to a new mega machine - you can’t beat that. Our good friend, Mark Curtis, as he was doing major surgery on my computer in June, agreed to swap me a brand new box for a miniature walnut Tennessee Walking Horse. He built it and brought it down last weekend. All the bells and whistles, booted up almost before I took my hands from the keyboard, I was very impressed. Then, he told me to play with it that night (Friday) and he would drop in the next day to see if all was well. By the time he got back I had managed to kill the media player and freeze several programs. In and around the thunderstorms that rolled through, he labored mightily, but had to give up and take it back home to fix. At least I know it will be wonderful if he can Donna-proof it!
However, if you don’t hear from me for awhile you’ll know why. Addresses get lost in the process sometimes and the mail server gets fussy about switching programs. Tune in next month for another episode!

OVER THE SUMMER:
I thoroughly enjoyed my summer vacation! My goals were to 1) polish the manuscript for SPLINTERS OF LIGHT. Accomplished that. 2) Write the fourth book in the ANGEL WORLD series. Accomplished that – finished just five days before school began! 3) Write the rough draft for a sequel to RACHEL’S DAUGHTERS. Didn’t even get started on that! But, two out of three’s not bad.
No vacations here, although Zach spent a week in California with his dad and came home raving about the good time he had. Mostly the kids took weekends here and there. Mac and Shelby stayed close to home while Mac went back to work. He’s managed to work fairly consistently although he has to miss now and then. Please keep praying for him and thank you for the prayers you’ve sent up.
We had a reasonably moist spring, a very dry midsummer and now we’ve just had a very good, soaking rain that should make the crops. Once again it is a bumper crop that is worth almost nothing on the market. John keeps wondering how much longer the farmers can stay in business. Even now it takes at least one second job for the husband and full time work for the wife just to afford the ‘luxury’ of farming and feeding America’s people. That’s been going on for at least twenty years. But now, even that isn’t enough and more and more farmers are going out of business. It’s not only sad for our industry, but it spells disaster for the future of America’s food and fiber supply.

BOOKS, BOOKS, BOOKS:

The ANGEL WORLD series now has four books – one plus the three in the trilogy published this spring. CARNIVORE carries the story of Windfallow through another attack by the Jackal who tries to turn the animals on that world against one another, then mounts an all out attack. We take a closer look at the artistry of the Fallowfolk and visit a marble quarry. This one should come out by Christmas.
SPLINTERS OF LIGHT is a collection of the best of my poetry over the last forty years. It contains the poem, Minnie Remembers, as well as the complete reprint of MIND SONG, out of print since 1988. Divided into three sections – Love In Any Season, Tapestry, and Mind Song – it sings of relationship with God and one another. I’m waiting to publish this book until I hear from a friend who might write the forward. If that happens, the book will be longer coming out than if I published it online.
I’m thinking of putting some of the shorter works on tape or CD but that is a project for later. I’m also preparing a booklet of illustrations for the Angel World series that should be available the first of next year. At least if I get the computer all straightened out and worry-free.
We lost a good friend this past week. Gene Polf, minister in a nearby town for many, many years, died at the age of 79. He served in the armed forces and met his wife, Dorothy, in Australia. He was noted for his gentle wisdom. His last days were difficult but the promise of sunrise lies in every sunset and it’s good to know he is now with good friends who preceded him.
I hope life is treating all of you kindly and that God is very near. To those of you who are struggling, my prayers are with you. Walk happy, Rest deep.
Blessings,
Donna