Can I just insert a boggled face here and be done with it? No? We’ve got just over two weeks before we move and I can tell you, things are getting messy. As I type it’s already mid-afternoon. The light is starting to fade and I’ve just eaten breakfast. We are racing against the clock while ignoring it as best as we can. The artwork is coming down from the studio walls, and there isn’t much to show you today, unless you want to watch me pay out royalties. I do this quarterly as I don’t like holding other folk’s money. Other publishers have told me I’m mad as a hatter. That’s okay. I probably am. But six months is too long to make authors wait for their money anyway.

Because there’s nothing much happening in the studio today, I’ll instead tell you who and what is keeping me inspired. Right now I wish I could forget about work until we get to France. That was the plan, but since I’m about two months behind with work, I really can’t stop until the moment the computers come down and the last piece of paper has been packed. It’s hard working in the midst of the unreal clutter in this house and in my mind, so I’m relying on friends, colleagues, and strangers to keep me going.

We’re moving to France, so I’ll start with this blog: French word a day, run by Kristin Espinasse. Kristin uses the story-telling method of teaching, including French words and phrases in short tales of her life in France. She’s writing about ordinary things, the kind of things we all encounter in our daily lives. This could come in very useful quite soon. It also gives me a glimpse of a different region of the country I’ll be calling home.

In another example of perfect timing, the other day Dora Goss linked to Domythic Bliss, a new blog about mythic interior decorating. This site is also going to come in very handy in the days to come, but for now it’s giving me plenty of ideas. Be sure to read Dora’s post about the site, too. What story will our house tell about us? When I’m not working, I’m daydreaming up answers to that question.

Early last week Katherine Langrish wrote about The Value of Mythic Thinking. I could stay lost for days on Katherine’s website, but this piece stuck with me. “The truth that you get from a story is different from the truth of a proven scientific fact.” Yes! And both kinds of truths are of equal worth.

Late last week Terri Windling shared some wonderful quotes about books (obviously a favorite subject of mine) in The Joy of Books. The delightful video of the same name has been making the rounds of the online bookbinding community, so I’d seen it already. It’s really the quotes Terri has chosen that bring it all together for me.

Finally, click through to The Binder’s Ticket for a photo of a gorgeous custom book bag, with copper rivets and hand-stitched seams. There are many more treasures to be found on the site, including this post about a new floor in the bindery. We’ve got a cement floor to deal with, too, and this solution is very tempting.

And finally, if you haven’t seen it already, do watch the video posted in thanks to those who donated to the Magick 4 Terri auction. It’s an amazing look at what happens when myth comes to life.