Life as I know It

My photo
San Luis Obispo, California, and South Bristol, Maine, United States
Author ~ Illustrator ~ Lecturer

Saturday, May 30, 2009

On The Road Again

Dear Friends,

I am writing this blog entry from a hotel in Moab, Utah. We are heading east for my keynote address for the Annual Educational Conference for Herb Society of America in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It will be so wonderful to see many old friends and to make new ones. Herb gardeners are old souls connected to the past with an ancient lineage of plants used by mankind for thousands of years. Herbs, what would I do without them? Sometimes when I am worried, just walking among my beds of herbs, stroking their scented leaves, and talking to them makes me feel better.

The past few weeks are a blur. Together with my editor, I have been going through nearly 300 pages of manuscript, checking, rechecking, polishing, and making it fit for all of you to enjoy. Writing is a lot like tending a garden–I need to tend to it daily, watch it grow slowly, weed out anything extraneous, and step back to enjoy it.

Last week was a whirlwind happening. A wonderful photographer Miki Duisterhof (see http://www.mikiduisterhof.com/) and her assistant Tiffany Howe (http://www.tiffanyhowephotography.com/), and a photography director from Workman Publishing came out to do a photo shoot for the new book. The photographs were to help replace the lost 238 illustrations and to give the book a totally new look. I love, love, love what they did and think that you will too.



Showing your child the life within



Nature table top museum




Tea party inside the runner bean tepee

As the photographers worked their way through my home, studio, and garden, my husband Jeff took a few quick shots for this blog so you can get a small taste of what is to come.

I send you all the blessings of simple pleasures,

Sharon

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a lovely garden. I look forward to your new book.

chercroce said...

Sharon,

It is good to hear that you are pleased with the photographers and their photos for your new book. I look forward to a "peek" into your life as a grandmother while I too experience this exciting chapter of my life.

Now...I must go outside and tend to the gardening! There's a sunflower house to plant and a teepee to design! A bit late, but this is Connecticut!!!

Enjoy the Conference for the Herb Society of America! I would love to hear you speak if you are ever out our way!

Happy Gardening!
Cheryl

Unknown said...

Beautiful garden! I am so looking forward to the new book!

Sharon Lovejoy said...

Thanks so much for your words of encouragement. I just finished speaking to the Herb Society of America-a fabulous group of devoted and passionate gardeners, educators, and researchers. Very inspirational. One of my favorite things was hearing Jim Adams speak. He is the NEW horticulturist for the entire White House garden (including the vegetable garden). He has a loving and natural approach to gardens so I am hopeful that it will be a wonderful touchstone and learning spot for all people.

Joys to you,

Sharon in beautiful Grand Rapids, Michigan

Julie Whitmore Pottery said...

I sort of melted at the photo with the nests and birds, wonderful. Congratulations on your newest tome, hope your summer in the land of Pointed Firs is the best ever.
xx
julie

Anonymous said...

HELLO I JUST STUMBLED INTO YOUR BLOG AND ENJOYED YOUR WRITING VERY MUCH. I WAS WONDERING IF YOU HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF READING THE BOOK CALLED The 3,000 Mile Garden: An Exchange of Letters Between Two Eccentric Gourmet Gardeners by Leslie Land and Roger Phillips
IT WAS A PROGRAM AT ONE TIME ON PBS IN THE 90S I SO ENJOYED IT , IT IS A GOOD READ AND THOUGHT YOU MIGHT LIKE IT TOO.

aarons.rod@live.com

Sharon Lovejoy said...

I can recommend the book The 3,000 Mile Garden. I enjoyed both the book and the PBS show.

I love the bonds shared by gardeners everywhere. We can strike up a conversation and compare notes and experiences though we may be separated by thousands of miles and climates as different as the Sahara and Britain.

Enjoy the book if you have a chance to read it.
Sharon

Unknown said...

yes, a perfect place for a tea party!