I received a letter from Janet Halpin, who is the Program Ad Coordinator of the New England Crime Bake 2011. She has told me about the 10th annual mystery conference they will be having in Dedham, Massachusetts on November 11, 12, and 13 of this year. (It looks to me like Dedham is almost attached to Boston, but I’m not quite sure…)

The two guests of honor this year are Nancy Pickard and Barry Eisler. BUT… That’s not all! There will be many panelists there, also. Here is just a small list of those who will be attending:

Peter Abrahams (Spencer Quinn)

Donald Bain (aka Jessica Fletcher)

Sheila Connolly (aka Sara Atwell)

Vicki Doudera

Hallie Ephron

David Handler

Roberta Isleib

Stacy Juba

Clea Simon

Lea Wait

What a line-up!!!

So, if you plan to be near the Bedham/Boston area over November 11-13, 2011, you might want to check out their website: crimebake.org…

I wish I could catch on to my daughter’s laptop… Unfortunately, I can’t.

I am out in the D. C. area, and am having a terrible time trying to type responses to your comments. So, I have just posted a bunch of your comments, and will add authors to lists, ETC. when I get back in town. Her laptop keyboard is very touchy, and, frustrating for me to use.

We spent a lovely day in Monticello today, and I am loving the landscape out here. Talk to you soon…

I think it was only the middle of May when I wrote that my husband and I had decided not to visit our daughter while she interned in Washington, D. C. this summer. Well— that was last month! This month we have changed our minds, and are both looking forward to our mini-vacation. [Lucky for us that our son will be able to take care of our puppy, Sprite. As I have written before >>> She has become VERY finicky at her age -16 1/2 years old!]

Earlier this year, my husband thought that he was going to retire, which meant we would put off taking little trips during the year, until he retired. But he has since then decided not to retire, which means we can take a few days off here and there.

We visited all of the local places that meant a lot to us during our trip last year:  Two houses we had lived in, and places we took the children when they were little. This year, with all of the sentimental places already “taken care of”>>> We are going to sort of wing-it, and go wherever we want. My husband has been talking about Charlottesville, Virginia, including Monticello. Now that we don’t have little children, we are able to go places that would truly bore little ones.

I’m looking forward to finding out which places we “wing-it” to, but mostly, I’m looking forward to spending time with our daughter.