tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16040420987398425342012-02-16T17:10:04.791-08:00Writer and Illustrator - bacooper65@btinternet.comBeth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.comBlogger861100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-11701596286559968112010-07-22T08:35:00.000-07:002010-07-22T08:40:58.011-07:00

They say that to be a good writer, you should write a lot and read a lot. This summer has been a time for reading. So far, I've read the following:The Life of Pi by The Good Earth by Pearl S. BuckThe First Family by David Baldaccicompleted the first read of The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning(I'll need to reread more carefully later to facilitate the book study)The Art and Science of

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-72352355689598117192009-03-20T07:25:00.000-07:002009-03-20T07:38:20.184-07:00

I love Spring! Yesterday, I sat in the hammock under dappled sunlight, watching the squirrels play chase in the trees and listening to birdsong. I tried to read, but my mind kept wandering. Does life get any better than this? I've finished the pencil illustrations for the poetry book, and just in time. Substituting has picked up a lot. I try to take every offer I can since I know it will

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-2444366786722252622009-01-26T07:37:00.001-08:002009-01-26T07:47:16.467-08:00

I'm moving along nicely with most of my resolutions, thank you very much. The one that has taken the back seat, of course, is the dieting. I'm finally getting some good teacher substitution work and can't be bothered to exercise when I come home in the afternoons -- I'm too hungry. To try to help in that area, I've been eating mostly salads and soups for lunch. Today, I have a dilemma. I

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-47345413200608976622009-01-07T07:24:00.001-08:002009-01-07T07:31:24.167-08:00

Thank goodness the new year has begun. I was feeling like a slug the last few months of 2008. The more I did nothing, the more that's all I wanted to do. A new year revives the soul with the promise of new opportunities. I plan to take full advantage of it. They say to be successful, you need a tangible, achievable goal with a firm due date. And since I work best to deadlines, here are my

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-82821583790368061362009-01-03T08:07:00.000-08:002009-01-03T08:33:16.956-08:00

I was SO looking forward to seeing my ENTIRE family. We were scheduled to spend three days between Christmas and New Year together. All went well the first day. We had a professional photographer come out and take family pictures. Then we enjoyed turkey and dressing and shared Christmas presents. The next day, Audrey woke up unable to breathe (the first bad sign). We tried our hand at golfing

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-41421933447385549082008-12-19T10:40:00.000-08:002008-12-19T11:07:59.702-08:00

I know, it's not quite Christmas yet, but I don't know how often I'll get a chance to use the computer. With Brendan out of school and Bill learning about day-trading, I probably won't get a blog in edgewise next week. I've been looking back through my day planner to remind myself of all the wonderful things we've experienced in the past year. Here are a few:January began with Brendan breaking

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-45907234641847490972008-12-11T08:13:00.000-08:002008-12-11T08:19:23.272-08:00

You won't believe this. If I hadn't been here, I wouldn't. Yesterday we had a record high of 83 degrees. Then as the afternoon rolled by, a front moved through, it was sleeting by bedtime, and Bill woke us later so we could see the snow! Of course it was too warm to stick to the ground, but there was still snow on the cars and rooftops when we left for school in the morning. Now it's

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-29882452989260451542008-12-02T05:47:00.000-08:002008-12-02T06:28:47.368-08:00

After an extended, month-long break from writing or illustrating of any kind, I find myself with some uninterrupted time to pick it up again. Brendan is trying out for Basketball this week. He has to be at school at 6:45 AM! If he makes the team, he'll have to get there at 6:30 every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. I'm determined to make good use of the quiet time. By the end of Basketball season

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-22327346752751718372008-11-18T09:57:00.000-08:002008-11-18T19:18:54.626-08:00

Seems like the world has decided to skip over Thanksgiving and get right to Christmas. Retailers are so worried about low profits that they've started their ads now, and a local radio station has already switched to an "all Christmas music" format for the duration.While I love Christmas and can't wait to get to the celebrating, I think it will be interesting to see how people will adjust this

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-40847247230854441642008-11-11T14:23:00.000-08:002008-11-11T14:36:23.590-08:00

Brendan as an alien cyborg and the first pumpkin he's carved all by himself.

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-27987449593983874782008-11-06T07:49:00.000-08:002008-11-06T07:58:33.938-08:00

Okay, by now, I'm sure you're tired of hearing about the dummy book. Well, it's done. YEAH! At least in it's first form that was submitted to the publisher along with the manuscript for Umi and Xandar. (See the sow that eats the tender pumpkin plants to the right.) Now I have four different pieces of writing out there waiting to be considered. Two are in magazine contests, which seem to

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-67012992300763487822008-10-20T09:52:00.001-07:002008-10-20T10:02:39.603-07:00

The past few weeks, I've had pumpkins on the brain. With our Texas version of autumn, cooler weather and imported pumpkin patches, I've had renewed inspiration to get my Pumpkin Named Jack dummy book done. I've spent time in the church's pumpkin patch several times and managed to sketch a few while I was there. I also presented it to an audience for the first time at Saturday's meeting of the

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-29251474749635006812008-10-12T18:57:00.000-07:002008-10-12T19:04:56.369-07:00

Fact or fiction?We've tried this, and the results are mixed, but it sounds plausible.If you put a penny in a baggie of water and hang it in a prime location, it will deter flies. Flies have many facets in their eyes. The way the sun reflects through the baggie and water has a prismatic effect on the fly, confusing it. One explanation says their GPS works on the directionality of the sun, and

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-38475505902376549852008-10-08T07:22:00.000-07:002008-10-08T07:33:29.849-07:00

This week, I'm working on Jack's new Jack O'lantern face for my dummy book. This is the big ta-da for the story, so it has to be extra special. If you plan to carve pumpkins, I'd like to see your designs. Email them to me and I'll post them here.A friend of mine sent this sweet greeting to me (thanks, Peggy!), which encapsulates the meaning of A Pumpkin Named Jack. It's the reason I can't give up

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-64588596180042218832008-10-06T06:56:00.000-07:002008-10-06T07:06:29.563-07:00

Okay everyone, assume the position (that is pencil or mouse in hand)! Let's work those brains! This will be a regular feature, and I want to hear from you. When I walk in the mornings, I sometimes have strange thoughts that turn into strange questions, which I'll pose to you. These should be exercises in creativity. Think up the most unusual solution and send it to me. No googling to find

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-25781501271373364022008-10-04T09:29:00.000-07:002008-10-04T09:49:42.729-07:00

For the past few years, I've concentrated on learning the craft and business of writing. I heard so many negative things about trying to submit art and manuscripts together that I set my illustrating aside. I already knew how to do that and could pick it up at any time.Even in the local chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, I presented myself as a writer. So, when

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-25269317784250421082008-08-15T04:32:00.000-07:002008-08-15T04:55:50.675-07:00

Two days to go and counting. Overall, I've enjoyed being back in England. We got to see old friends and explore a different part of the country. But, we can now say definitively that we are NOT city dwellers. Here are my lists of 10 things I hate and love about Manchester, if I can think of that many.10 Things I Hate1. Outdoor smoking2. Pidgeons3. People in a hurry4. Gum on the sidewalk (but

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-13089185808782716442008-08-14T01:28:00.000-07:002008-08-14T01:36:11.308-07:00

Today is my older brother Wayne's birthday. He died at the age of 23 after living with Leukemia for 10 years. I think about him a lot at this time of year - not with sadness, but with sweetness and reverence. His illness shaped our family in so many ways. It made us closer to each and taught us to depend on God for his peace and strength and to wait on his plan for our future. We couldn't

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-67035493650240148942008-08-11T05:43:00.000-07:002008-08-11T06:15:01.107-07:00

I hope we made the most of our summer, because it it GONE. The days are getting shorter, the sun seems to be taking longer and longer breaks behind the clouds, and the summer clothes have been sold, making room for the drab winter clothes that they wear. Black is the next black. Everyone in Manchester wears A LOT of it. It would depress me to have so little color in my wardrobe. Even my

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-54709782785252141402008-08-04T03:12:00.000-07:002008-08-04T08:15:44.122-07:00

The thing Brendan had been looking forward to and fretting about all summer finally came to pass this last weekend. We made plans even before we came to Manchester with all of our old friends so that we could see each other on 2-3 Aug in Northampton. We lived there for three and a half years before we moved back to the US, and it's been just a little more than a year since we left. Brendan was

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-34291295231791346092008-07-30T01:42:00.000-07:002008-07-30T02:00:21.827-07:00

Sunday morning has a post-party, hung-over induced quiet that no other morning of the week can provide. This past Sunday was sunny, warm and glorious. I got out an hour early before church services and walked around the city. The only people out were the street-sweepers, people rushing to Starbucks for their caffiene fix, and others dressed in their Sunday best. I walked a long way down

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-34312343971870696262008-07-28T01:50:00.001-07:002008-07-28T02:20:47.684-07:00

Summer has finally arrived and it's hot! Not that I'm complaining. Ever since we arrived in June, the weather has been lackluster. Texas weather has nothing on England in its ability to change rapidly. It can be sunny, cloudy and rainy all within the space of minutes. Mostly, it's been overcast and cool, which really depresses me. I was starting to wonder if I'd wear my shorts at all while we

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-79820083842060353932008-07-22T06:44:00.001-07:002008-07-28T01:50:04.425-07:00

Finally, after being in Manchester for three weeks, we decided to get out of town and explore. It took a tram and two trains, but two and a half hours later, we were in the picturesque town of Skipton, a place we knew from "The Calendar Girls." It's better known for Skipton Castle.It was a lovely trip on the Trans Pennine Express, leaving the city behind and watching the green mountains (really

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-45889350169544136892008-07-18T08:35:00.000-07:002008-07-18T08:59:39.217-07:00

All this week, outside the Manchester Town Hall in Albert Square, you will find a carpet of flowers made up of approx. 50,000 mums imported from Holland, laid on a thin layer of turf by approx. 150 volunteers. Brendan and I were two of them. We spent parts of Monday and Tuesday, basking in the English summer weather (rain gear and jackets required) on our hands and knees poking toothpicks in to

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-34696854467657337542008-07-15T01:46:00.001-07:002008-07-15T02:03:59.234-07:00

Urbis is a museum dedicated to "all things urban." It lies at the heart of Manchester city centre and has a restaurant and gift shop along with several exhibition spaces. The first week we were here, Brendan and I went to see "How Manga Took Over the World," and exhibit about Japanese graphic art that is equivalent to US comic books, but has grown to so much more. The most commerically

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-14985454523954085832008-07-11T06:24:00.000-07:002008-07-11T06:49:21.968-07:00

I hope this is the beginning of a series. Brendan took these brilliant shots of the Manchester Cathedral on our first walk around town. There is SO much detail in these things, that it's hard to represent it well. But I think he did a great job. We didn't take any of the inside. The stained glass was not remarkable, and we didn't want to be disrepectful of the tombs. But the choir stalls were

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-12749359942580391312008-07-08T01:53:00.000-07:002008-07-08T02:17:16.981-07:00

New location. New urge to journal. If this blog is supposed to exercise my brain, my gray-matter's gotten flabby. We're back in England, this time in Manchester, living in a corner, top-floor flat in a Victorian building that was probably a cotton mill in city centre. We're here for eight weeks while Bill does contract work for Cooperative Financial, one of the largest companies in Manchester.

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-50106018532043653732008-03-24T07:29:00.000-07:002008-03-24T08:01:39.752-07:00

This is one happy cowpoke. He has been wanting to ride a horse since he was about seven-years-old, but every time we try, something seems to get in the way.This year for Spring Break, we booked three nights at the Mayan Ranch in Bandera, Texas. It's a 300 acre dude ranch run by the Hicks family where the food and the horses are the main attraction. We got to go on trail rides twice a day. My

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-86804950676960260802008-02-04T16:34:00.000-08:002008-02-04T16:46:44.077-08:00

I've had substitute teaching positions for the last four out of six days. I've taught Spanish, Math and Science. You should have seen my trying to help the pre-Algebra class. It was a riot. I looked at the problem thoughtfully and said, "Who can show us how to solve for X?"I'm really enjoying it, but I've decided that they leave the most gawd-awful assignments for the subs. No wonder kids

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-65962704261698069412008-01-17T17:01:00.000-08:002008-01-17T17:16:22.952-08:00

Thank goodness we're only visiting...We haven't seen the inside of a hospital in many years, and suddenly, in the past four months, we have had three major incidents. They come in threes right? So we've had our quota for the year! Bill, bless his heart, has put in the most hours. And I have to say, he has a gentle bedside manner that is so unexpected, reassuring and disarming. I think he

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-17223687408150657442008-01-08T07:24:00.000-08:002008-01-08T07:37:13.596-08:00

I'm back! I took the whole month of December off, and didn't do much writing at all. But as with every resolutions, I'll start off strong and see how long it lasts. Brendan got this cool new contraption for Christmas, which I recommended, from his aunts. It has two caster wheels on the bottom. And since it looked so dangerous, we made him put on all his safety gear. He took to it like a

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-10365365509258011262007-11-22T20:36:00.001-08:002007-11-22T20:47:00.767-08:00

This morning in Texas, it was a crisp 47 degrees. When I went out for my daily walk, the sky was overcast with "snow" clouds and there was a brisk wind. It finally felt like Thanksgiving! We had a full day of eating and football-watching ahead of us. But before I let the day get away, I had to stop and list a few of the things I'm thankful for.1. Life and breath2. Health3. A loving, faithful

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-77626698029799237672007-11-21T06:00:00.000-08:002007-11-21T06:19:11.259-08:00

On Friday, Bill's immediate family flew to Kansas City to attend his aunt Trish's funeral. Friday was her 51st birthday. She died of colon and bile duct cancer. Trish and some family members got together in July to see off her son before he was deployed to Iraq. She had one bought of sickness, but felt fine otherwise and had a wonderful visit. Between then and the end of October, she was

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-87185339030597178682007-11-15T08:37:00.000-08:002007-11-15T08:58:14.752-08:00

I've just been looking at some of the Blogs of Note and I've decided that I need to rethink my blog. It's pretty mundane and I don't think very many people are interested in reading about my life. I just saw where the author of To Do List Blog has published a book of over 5000 lists that have been sent to her by people from around the world. It's an intimate look at people's everyday lives,

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-44337659461306075842007-11-06T12:58:00.001-08:002007-11-06T13:10:20.979-08:00

Hands up, how many of you saw one of these when you walked out your front door today? I always wanted to live in the Hill Country. So what if its in a trailer? It only takes half an hour to clean it from top to bottom, and then you can go sit outside and watch the deer. We lured them close by cutting up our Jack O'Lantern and tossing it over the fence. We definitely need to get some deer

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-64369736352153635052007-11-01T07:46:00.001-07:002007-11-01T08:10:06.718-07:00

Happy Halloween - one day late. I had to get some photos of Brendan in his zombie costume...yes zombie. It was Bill's idea to do the skaterboy with injuries, but the whole time, Brendan really wanted to be a zombie. So he ditched the skateboard and helmet at the last minute. Thankfully, all the wounds and scabs we'd made applied to both. We bought a tshirt and jeans at Goodwill for $5 and Brendan

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-81250889105588261492007-10-19T08:03:00.000-07:002007-10-19T08:24:05.923-07:00

This morning was the type of morning that the English live for, especially after a long dreary winter; except it autumn in Texas. It was clear and cool and dry, and about 56 degrees F. It was so cool I had to pull on some track bottoms and a jacket to take Brendan to school. I didn't even break a sweat during my half-hour walk (well I got a little moist on my back). My face still turned red, but

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-11579319521297206272007-10-16T13:02:00.001-07:002007-10-16T13:21:08.273-07:00

Here I was extolling the virtues of nature in my last entry, and yesterday, when I was outside - BAREFOOTED, Bill was blowing the leaves off of the patio and from under the trailer, and out crawls this... this... thing. It as huge (actually about 8 inches long)! It had huge pinchers and came at us like it meant business. EEK! I was up on the picnic bench like a stereotypical woman who's seen a

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-91006723994385011622007-10-11T08:40:00.001-07:002007-10-11T09:10:57.607-07:00

I love the fact that we live only 20 minutes away from a thriving city, yet are very much in the country. I am a country girl at heart. We moved to the country when I was about 11 years old, and was able to have my own Shetland pony, wander through fields of bluebonnet and indian paintbrushes, and take my dog, Skipper, exploring on the 35 acres of land that we owned. After our chores were done,

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-42332400997752862332007-10-06T20:16:00.000-07:002007-10-06T20:26:59.074-07:00

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! to everyone who voted for A Pumpkin Named Jack in the ABC Picture Book Competition. It was amazing to hear how the news spread like wildfire across the internet. Mostly, I appreciated all the positive, encouraging feedback I received from everyone. It definitely helps me to keep going.Unfortunately, we didn't win. However, if the previous years are any

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-58620824914235789252007-10-01T12:34:00.000-07:002007-10-01T13:11:33.164-07:00

The birds and the beasts were there - well, mostly chickens, sheep, and cows. All the children in our school district had the day off on Friday for "Fair Day." We live in a rural area and so many children raise animals to show at the fair that they give everyone the day off. So we went. It was fun to show Brendan what a county fair is like in America (or at least in Texas), since we'd been to

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-30893327537670819372007-09-22T15:25:00.001-07:002007-09-22T15:35:17.678-07:00

I have just returned from my first meeting with the San Antonio chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and I am PUMPED! This group is so accomplished. I thought I was a big-shot being a finalist in this book contest, but one lady had just come back from the Ukraine where she shared her published book with school-kids there because her book is set there. Another has

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-27714004561044037222007-09-16T11:06:00.000-07:002007-09-16T11:10:06.719-07:00

My picture book, A Pumpkin Named Jack, is a finalist in the nationwide 3rd Annual ABC’s Children’s Picture Book Competition. The winner is chosen by internet vote. You can help me win! Please go to http://www.abcbookcompetition.org/ between September 16 and midnight of September 30 and vote. You can vote up to ten times from the same IP address, once per day. If you have a website or blog, add

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-86901183196079639062007-09-14T08:24:00.001-07:002007-09-14T08:36:08.184-07:00

While we lived in England, I subscribed to a really excellent enewsletter by Jan Fields called Children's Writers Enews, but was unable to take advantage of the online Forums or Chats because of the time difference. Now that we're back in the States, I have the chance to take advantage of them and really get plugged in again with writers around the country. No person is an island, and I don't

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-26104256282478128462007-09-13T14:38:00.000-07:002007-09-13T14:49:14.932-07:00

While I can't say that Brendan is making any more male friends, except for the fact that he's observing them and bringing home funny stories, the females are starting to notice my handsome son. Last week when Brendan was waiting (alone) for the first period bell to ring, a group of girls approached (they always seem to travel in packs) and asked him his name. He said, "Brendan." They said, "

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-68073184287490619432007-09-06T16:40:00.000-07:002007-09-06T18:28:08.162-07:00

Moms, sound off on this one.Brendan is a very conscientious boy. He's especially sensitive these last few weeks because of the start of school. I could tell something was wrong after school yesterday, but he didn't let it out until this morning. The school run is his favorite time for backseat confessions. I think it's because he doesn't have to look me in the eye.What was the problem? Brendan

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-35465299912707353422007-09-05T09:00:00.001-07:002007-09-05T09:05:16.526-07:00

I got approval to use the image that you'll see on the competition site on my own blog. I just had to show it to you. I'm really happy with the way he turned out. He's a real character with real expression. This is not the entire image - justa teaser so you'll go to www. ABCbookcompetition.org and vote. If I win, I'll have four more unique pumpkin characters, the farmer, his wife, his

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-87229842897186911212007-08-31T07:51:00.000-07:002007-08-31T08:02:15.925-07:00

Even though Open House is next week, we were invited to a GT meeting last night to get to know the teacher. He is awesome! I am so glad Brendan got into this class. It may be just the thing he needs to stretch his little mind. The teacher says his three rules in class are Respect, Responsibility, Reaching. He's world traveler so his emphasis will be on History and Geography, so right off the

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-12288000295325100492007-08-30T07:35:00.000-07:002007-08-30T07:45:18.671-07:00

Who knew that the first day of school would be the easy part? Kids float through the day hyped up on adrenaline. With all the new stimuli, the day is over before they know it. The hard part is getting them to go back every day after that. At least it is in our case.Brendan seems to enjoy his classes. He looks forward to GT (gifted and talented) and Art. His teachers are pretty cool. He has

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-64888900718373956762007-08-27T09:46:00.000-07:002007-08-27T10:01:38.999-07:00

Today was Brendan's first day of Middle school. Brendan is the type of child who needs to prepare well in advance for change, so we've talked through the first day several times. It helped a lot that we've been to the school already for registration, a few AP placement exams and an orientation, so he knows where the cafeteria and the sixth grade wing are.Still he started fretting about today on

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-90431383783474757992007-08-26T07:27:00.001-07:002007-08-26T07:27:46.542-07:00

Once I got the great news that I could do my own artwork, I actually had to pull it off. It took about a week to do the rough draft and get it approved and another two weeks to do the final piece of 8 1/2 x 11 spec art. Gotta love the internet though. I get to keep the original safe and sound by scanning and emailing it for posting on the website. I was going to publish it on this post, so you

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-85621703790930267062007-08-20T14:06:00.001-07:002007-08-26T07:07:36.003-07:00

It's sorta hard to take pictures when you're floating down a river, but I did manage to snap a few of Brendan on the rope swings down the hill from our camp. He LOVED it. Even when his arms were worn out, he wouldn't stop. We spent the one good afternoon, about three hours, floating past waterfalls, cold springs, cliffs with rope swings and deep emerald-green swimming holds. I

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-50088692795667773482007-08-06T07:12:00.000-07:002007-08-06T07:32:42.095-07:00

Before I get started on this topic, I'll try to upload the Bermuda photos that didn't make it last time. I have to brag on Brendan. We went snorkeling in Bermuda - only his second time, with a company called Jesse James Tours. They picked us up in what they promised was an unsinkable Coast Guard boat, but it looked like an oversize dingy to me. Turned out to be easy to slip over the edge

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-5925826399947453642007-07-28T07:02:00.000-07:002007-07-28T07:42:56.404-07:00

Bermuda is a little over 600 miles due East of North Carolina. It was discovered in 1609 when a ship that had been dispatched to help the settlers in Jamestown shipwrecked on the island. Thankfully there were enough cedar trees to build new boats and make it home and claim the island for England. The written account of the shipwreck is said to have inspired Shakespeare to write The Tempest.During

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-2236428037115076972007-07-14T07:31:00.000-07:002007-07-14T07:43:15.147-07:00

Here it is. Our home. Spacious, huh? We got it backed in and set up for a total of two days before we packed it up again and pulled it out to go to the coast. That first weekend, I noticed that it took me twice as long to get ready in that tiny space, and I had to remember where I put everything. But over all, it's comfy enough. Behind the trailer is a field where about five deer, including a

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-85223424862145578052007-07-06T07:42:00.000-07:002007-07-06T07:56:49.760-07:00

After separating, sorting, organizing, packing, traveling thousands of miles, staying with parents for two weeks, living out of suitcases, we're almost home! Our travel trailer was finally finished yesterday. It has new tires and new carpet and all the systems work, most importantly, the air conditioning. We loaded what we've bought into it yesterday and are waiting for the air freight to

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-56585741108388763212007-07-02T13:12:00.000-07:002007-07-02T13:32:56.895-07:00

We must have upset the balance of nature when we move back across the Atlantic. Usually, by this time of year, Texas is hot and dry. The grass has dried, and the landscape is mostly brown. But, since we've been back, it has rained almost every day, with no relief in sight. In England, I always complained about how I missed a good Texas thunderstorm. We've had several in the last two weeks and

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-77283788236033322702007-06-28T06:40:00.000-07:002007-06-28T07:13:10.544-07:00

There are a lot of similarities between dying and moving to another country. Your closest friends want to spend the last precious moments with you. You're headed to the next exciting phase of your life. And you start giving away a much stuff as possible. Unlike dying though, when someone says a beautiful eulogy, when you move, you get to hear all the nice things people have to say about you

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-4238588719710728482007-06-15T05:39:00.000-07:002007-06-15T06:07:45.132-07:00

"This is the last time I'll have to take out the wheely bin!" Brendan said happily to me this morning. That is definitely a good "last". But I'm getting a bit nostalgic about leaving England, and there are some "lasts" that I'm not looking forward to. I heard the Tuesday night church bell-ringing practice for the last time. I'm going to the last Friday school awards assembly this afternoon. I

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-75886646733096140452007-06-11T08:42:00.000-07:002007-06-11T08:48:57.631-07:00

Way back at Christmas, I submitted a manuscript called, A Pumpkin Named Jack, to ABC Picture Book Competition (www.bookcompetition.org). When I returned from holiday, I had an email message that said that I was one of the finalists! There were 125 entries from around the country, and they picked 12 finalists.The next phase of the competition is online voting by any and all people I know. An

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-52252185803286362322007-05-18T05:48:00.000-07:002007-05-18T05:52:30.866-07:00

I've been looking back over my journal entries from when we first moved to England three years ago. Here's an entry I particularly like. It still holds true today.Top Ten Things We Like About England1. Brendan’s new best mate named Ben2. My silver Mini3. The exchange rate when we visit America4. Brendan’s school5. Business trips to South Africa6. Lots of school breaks7. Paris, Rome, London

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-1936972729673066352007-05-10T02:19:00.000-07:002007-05-10T03:11:07.009-07:00

Our Vicar's wife, Charlotte, is an amazing on-fire witness for Christ. She has boundless energy that she pours into children's ministry. One of the ways she keeps her energy level up is to run every morning. During her run, she meditates and sometimes she shares some of the insights that she's come away with with the rest of us -like the time a young kestral (falcon) landed in her path and she

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-66758195928626222382007-05-04T02:48:00.000-07:002007-05-04T03:29:34.812-07:00

As I was walking through Castle Ashby's beautiful formal gardens with Nina (see pictures), she asked me how it would feel to leave England and return home. She's a psychiatric nurse. She's always good at starting deep, meaningful conversations. She doesn't do superficial chit chat. I'll miss that.While I'm looking forward to going home and being surrounded by friends, it will be a bit weird, like

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-5407077787161118912007-04-24T06:24:00.000-07:002007-04-24T06:38:56.597-07:00

That does it. We have to move back. I can't function without it.My precious Pyrex 2-cup measure, with ML and pints on the other side, shattered in the dishwasher, and I feel like I'm cooking with one hand tied behind my back. I got the measure as a wedding gift. It has helped me through every annual turkey-gravy-making, ginger-bread-cookie-baking, special-birthday-cake-creating session I've ever

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-30306081528502394012007-04-17T08:08:00.000-07:002007-04-18T05:38:11.359-07:00

Since we'll be leaving England soon, we thought it would be a great shame not to make it to Ireland before we left. Many Brits that we've talked to have never been, which is no surprise when you find out they've never even been to London! But like most visitors we make a point to see the sights. Who know's when we'll pass this way again - especially since the exchange rate is now over $2.00 to

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-8696855749805628232007-04-06T09:39:00.000-07:002007-04-06T09:55:59.191-07:00

We have a move date! Pack 18 & 19 June; load the container 20 June; fly home 21 June!Last week, Bill's company confirmed in writing that they would pay for our repatriation (move back to the states). They are also paying for our flights and maybe some storage since we'll be living in the trailer for the foreseeable future. They got the ball rolling by getting the removers to come out and give

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-72570012444048990462007-03-16T07:13:00.000-07:002007-03-16T07:30:25.834-07:00

After my last post, you may think that I've been wallowing in self-pity for the last two weeks. But actually, I haven't. I'm a naturally optimistic person. I get over set-backs pretty quickly and move on - especially when the sun is shining.We have had glorious weather the last two weeks. I love to get out and walk in it. The birds are singing. The daffodils are in full-bloom and everything is

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-6052187972362860952007-03-05T09:31:00.000-08:002007-03-05T10:38:49.985-08:00

Is it the devil or God that's in the details? I've heard it both ways. Either way, I'm not good with them. My close-is-good-enough outlook on life has a way of catching up with me every couple of decades, give or take a few years. I know that this is one of my shortcomings. I try to work at being organized and detail-oriented, so nothing falls through the cracks. However, I've slacked off since I

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-91145106029582003062007-02-27T05:56:00.000-08:002007-02-27T06:13:03.635-08:00

For almost a year now, we have been anticipating either Bill being made redundant (laid-off) or finding the right time for him to resign. The management in his company has changed drastically and they are in dire straights. Bill got his bonus, a big hurdle for us, and we are prepared to pay our way home. Only, now, there's a new boss who's taken a liking to Bill for some reason or another and

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-49361100295928802362007-02-19T06:55:00.000-08:002007-02-19T08:21:32.232-08:00

We're not big on giving store-bought cards when a date on a calendar says we should. Instead, I spent Valentine's Day morning on a photo safari looking for "hearts in nature." You should try this with your family. It takes a while to refocus - to stop and smell the roses, or see the hearts, as the case may be, but once you do, you'd be surprised at what you find. I found about twenty

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-44984455167709357162007-02-08T06:29:00.000-08:002007-02-08T06:47:34.560-08:00

As I write this, I'm looking out the window at a winter wonderland. I see the magpie with the gimp wing that lives in my front garden is eating the last few berries on the bushes. It began snowing this morning before we woke up and hasn't stopped. I'm not sure of the official total yet, but I think we've had about 4-6 inches of snow, yes inches! Unfortunately, Brendan's school was one of the only

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-1792069238791362502007-02-07T08:08:00.000-08:002007-02-07T08:21:19.337-08:00

Yesterday, Brendan used the ultimate kid complaint on me. He huffed, "Why is Dad the boss of me, if I'm my own person?" This was brought on by the fact that Bill insisted that Brendan get his hair cut. It was almost touching his ears, for heaven's sake! Brendan wants to grow his hair longer. He's had the same short cut since he was practically in kindergarten. But, he doesn't spend much

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-60475886732577070642007-01-31T06:00:00.000-08:002007-01-31T06:20:39.750-08:00

Over the weekend, I attended a Children's Ministry Conference in Eastbourne, a once grand town by the sea. It's the only beach I've seen in England. I've been told to go to Wales or Norfolk for the best. Eastbourne has beautiful Victorian hotels lining the seafront with a boardwalk, bandstand and pier. The conference is during the off season, so it's cheap, but the weather was nice enough for a

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-53587919221924386202007-01-25T06:53:00.000-08:002007-01-25T07:11:17.172-08:00

Okay, okay, I know that Texas beat us to the winter precip punch, but we got REAL snow, about 1/2 inch of it overnight on Tuesday. By 9a.m. yesterday morning, the dazzling sunshine was quickly melting it away, but not before Brendan and I got in a snowball fight! I love this kind of snow. You wake up to a beautiful white blanket of the stuff, and by the end of school, it's practically gone.

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-60118636723887124912007-01-22T07:01:00.000-08:002007-01-22T08:41:36.547-08:00

Books on my nightstand:Clarice Bean, Don't Look Now by Lauren ChildThe Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark TwainPraying the Scriptures for your Children by Jodie BerndtAA Citypack for IstanbulYou can tell a lot about what's going on in a person's life by what's on their nightstand, I think. For instance, I'm reading Tom Sawyer to Brendan at bedtime, slowly but surely. It's a little dusty because we

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-62410795693275081212007-01-15T06:28:00.000-08:002007-01-15T06:39:14.963-08:00

I loathe Monopoly. I never win. Bill is ruthless and Brendan is a chip off of the old block. However, it's one of the few games that they love to play. We got a new, updated version of the game for Christmas. And we like to play games on Sunday afternoon, so I suffer through quietly. Yesterday, I beat Bill and Brendan at Monopoly! And let me tell you, they are sore losers! A few things

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-74485098272411657172007-01-12T07:19:00.000-08:002007-01-12T09:11:52.988-08:00

Other than feeling like we're in limbo and not knowing when we might move back to the US, I really don't have any stress on a regular basis. I do what I want and enjoy what I do, so it's not really what I'd call stress. But, yesterday I was THE governor-on-call to sit in front of the OFSTED inspectors and explain the strengths and weaknesses of our school and how effective I felt the governors

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-14398077291429697462007-01-08T07:11:00.000-08:002007-01-08T07:24:55.624-08:00

As much as I enjoy the holidays, I also like getting back into the routine afterward. Brendan started back to school on Thursday but he stayed home on Friday. He gave us a little scare.Friday morning, as he was dressing, Brendan got a nose bleed. While he and Bill were in the bathroom stopping the bleeding, Brendan said, "I think I'm going to go to sleep," and fainted in Bill's arms. Thankfully,

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-64162495319152427622007-01-03T10:39:00.000-08:002007-01-03T11:22:32.559-08:00

Since we were staying at our parents's houses and there were many people vying for computer time, I didn't get to blog while we were away for Christmas and New Years. So, I'll have to catch you up in chunks, as I remember them, with the aid of some photos. We had an amazing time laughing, playing and eating with our families. Every year we are overwhelmed with hospitality and food! And we try to

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-67287089382920247412006-12-15T02:57:00.000-08:002006-12-15T03:23:24.438-08:00

Two entries in one day. But I couldn't let this pass. Life is not all about me. I needed to brag on my son.Last night, Bill and I went to see Brendan perform in his school play. He was the title character called Roll, in Sheik, Rattle and Roll. He's a wise man who does a lot of sleeping through the scenes and provides comic relief. I never thought Brendan was the drama type. He's pretty shy

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-47032286604533637782006-12-15T02:20:00.000-08:002006-12-15T02:35:10.713-08:00

Every few years, like when I hit a milestone birthday (I turned 41 in September - which is MUCH harder than 40), I start to wonder, will I ever have long flowing hair again? Or am I stuck with short hair for the rest of my life, another 40 some-odd years? I like short hair. Bill is quick to tell me he likes me in short hair, frequently. but sometimes I'd love to pull it back in a pony tail.

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-66488711601579565652006-12-12T09:02:00.000-08:002006-12-12T09:25:12.474-08:00

I am SO excited about going home for Christmas. I can't wait. This week is the real countdown for me. We don't get into San Antonio until Tuesday, because we have to stop over in Dallas for doctor visits and interviews, but still - the weather should be nice, and we'll back in familiar stomping grounds eating chicken fried steak, bbq and mexican food. The good thing about traveling at Christmas

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-81693745520225054072006-12-08T00:30:00.000-08:002006-12-08T01:11:05.903-08:00

It's amazing how I can fill the week and feel like I have't really accomplished anythings. Of course, I've got lots of things to do to get ready to go to Texas for Christmas (yea!), but that shouldn't keep me from writing a little. What did I do this week?I went shopping in Hatton on Monday. I talked about that in an earlier enty. It is a beautiful place in Warwickshire, where a family could

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-17565868531387900922006-12-05T14:52:00.000-08:002006-12-08T01:08:51.212-08:00

That was weird. I have not been able to sign onto this blog since Sunday. It's SO frustrating when technology doesn't work the way you want it to.Anyway, I had to share this notepad that my friend, Helen, bought for me on Monday when we were shopping at the Hatton Shopping Village. Just when I think I've got UK English licked, they throw another one at me. "Twiggin'" means just catching on. I

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-80779266218938500022006-12-02T04:57:00.000-08:002006-12-08T01:08:20.675-08:00

As I write this, I'm listening to Brendan play a steady, groovin' beat on his drums upstairs. He had his first drum exam last week, and thinks he passed.In England, they keep track of how accomplished you are by the grade you've acheived. Brendan has been taking drum lessons for a little over a year and has hopefully passed Grade 1 with the Rock School. His tutor just recieved the best teacher in

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604042098739842534.post-18191351656854924362006-12-01T03:02:00.000-08:002006-12-08T01:07:48.035-08:00

While we traveled around the US, I got into a good habit of journaling at least every few days. It was a nice way to preserve our experience and keep people informed of where we were and what we were doing. I have all of those journals still in Word. I hope someday that they might become the basis for a book or a series of articles. I even continued into the first few months of moving to England,

Beth Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612865380513288805noreply@blogger.com2