KEEPING THE PIES IN THE AIR

 Opportunities are interesting birds. And sometimes they come all at once.

This week, there are four. Two are libraries situated on the National Road, U.S. 40.  Two others are Christmas bazaars, one on the National Road, and one in my hometown of Liberty.

As I write this late Thursday, I wonder if I can keep all the pies in the air from this busy week long enough to make it to Sunday. For on that day, after this multi-task-oriented stretch, I plan to do very little.

My thanks to Pat McDaniel for recommending my first book to her Centerville Public Library Book Club, and to staff and patrons for reading it and having me in Wednesday for the discussion. They asked some interesting questions as we unpacked Sweetland of Liberty Bed & Breakfast.

What a great library! Modern and unique on the inside, one would never guess that the building is repurposed from a brick government building from many decades' past. While I am through Centerville fairly often, I never seem to make it that far east on Main Street to see this wonder. 

This was my first book event in Centerville and I hope it isn't my last. As I told those who attended the discussion, my maternal grandparents hailed from Centerville. My maternal grandmother, Edith Fender Jarrett lived on Main / The National Road pretty much across the street from Gov. Oliver P. Morton's former home; maybe even at the same time, but she probably came a bit later. My maternal grandfather, Jessie Jarrett, grew up on the next farm south of the old Abington School. His family sold some property for the purpose of building that school.

My mother, who would be 103 on Dec. 2, had fond memories of visiting her grandparents' farm during summers of her youth, and the threshing dinners that took place on the grounds. In all my growing-up years, if we went to Centerville, we had to drive v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y past the property to look it over. For the past quarter century, it has been rehabbed and looks fantastic! It's even for sale.

But I digress.

On Thursday, I gave a program and had a signing at the tiny Dublin Library on the National Road a bit farther west. I appreciated those who showed up and enjoyed providing the sugar cream pies for refreshments. I made those Sunday and froze them until Thursday.

While this tiny library is nothing like its much bigger Wayne County sister in Centerville, it's a delight on its own. It serves this community well and there is a warm, happy feeling within its walls.

I've met some new folks this week, visited with some who aren't so new, and enjoyed another week in sandals. The "fall" book tour ended Thursday. Tonight and tomorrow, the table decorations at two bazaars are all-out Christmas.

Join me at The Gathering on the east side of Lewisville,, 902 E. Main St. tonight for the Flatrock Mercantile Christmas Bazaar from 6 to 8 p.m. with early buying privileges. It's $3 for the preview tonight, and is free the rest of the weekend. Trust me: you'll like what you see.

It's a bountiful weekend for bazaars and I can't miss the Union County Extension Homemakers Christmas Bazaar in Liberty at the Middle School Saturday. I'm bunking with the talented and oh-so-kind Kelly Finch. This is a highly regarded bazaar regionally for its high quality of offerings. It's 9-4 Saturday at 488 E State Road 44.

Just as my marketing season is changing from fall to Christmas, the weather is changing tonight too. No more sandals. No more sun and mild temps tomorrow. But that's OK. It is November after all.