PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 8/28/11

Dad had a book signing at "Mountain Books" on Saturday. I was down in the Springs with Nick so Todd, Chris and Zach headed up there with him and mom to be there. It was a small gathering (which you would expect in a mountain town) with Betty Long (talked about in the book) and her family and Norm Meyer as guests. I hated to have to miss it because this whole thing with dads book has just been pretty incredible...the entire process and I love to hear when there are more sales of books. This next week, Tattered Cover is going to start carrying the books and I will be the first on there to check it out (and I may have to buy a copy just to say I did :) ). Todd did a great job taking this photo...I had asked him to take one of him autographing the books and it is exactly what I wanted.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 6/11/11

Rhubarb Festival 2011...Pine Grove Colorado. Dad and Todd went up today and had the opportunity to share "The Elk Creek Chronicles" with some of the people that live where much of the book takes place. It almost gives me chills, and tears every time I see the book cover and read the stories within this book. I know how much love, care, intent and the craft of history and story telling went into this and I just am so pleased that this has all come to this level.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 5/7/11

IT'S HERE! The books came in early in the week, but yesterday was my first day to actually see the finished book LIVE AND IN PERSON! It looks incredible and I just can't wait to sit back and read it straight through. Now, all I have to do is get the author to autograph my copy. Have great ideas for marketing and getting it out there so hopefully, I can work on that more next week...stay tuned!

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 4/28/11

I finally finished the 3rd book in the trilogy which started with "Hunger Games." Chris was the first to read these books and highly recommended them. Todd and Nick had both read them and enjoyed the first book and thought I actually would like it. After months of Chris suggesting it, I finally started the first one, "Hunger Games" and then "Catching Fire" and finally, "Mockingjay". Very well written books that captured my attention and didn't drag on. I felt like you could really get to know the characters and sympathize and cheer for them throughout. "Hunger Games" is going to be made into a movie, and I can't imagine it can be as good as the book but I think we will have to see it just to find out what its like.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 3/26/11

The book is now sent to the printers. After literally several years, this labor of love and gift of story telling is now one step closer to being shared with many people. The writing within this story is brilliant and so professionally done with a special touch of caring and love. What started out as a vision in my dad's mind came together through many hours of research, interviews, writing, rewrites and even more rewrites along with editing, tweaking and perfecting this story of a small area of Colorado that was filled with so many stories. What I think is so perfect is that these stories are true and this was life in this small 9 mile stretch during a time where life was not always easy, but where life was enjoyed, lived and had a story. I have always believed that everything and everyone has a story and they need to be told. By doing this, my dad has told something that was is so important and endearing.

What I think I loved most about having a small part within this project is when my dad and I went down to the Denver Public LIbrary and we went through the journal of a lady who spent summers in this area. She kept an immaculate journal filled with stories of the happenings at that time as well as a photographic journal of life as it was at that very moment. While many of the photos and stories were not pertinent to this project, I found it amazing that life had been told through her eyes and we were lucky to be able to have access to it.

Another favorite memory is the time we spent pouring through the photos...looking for the right ones to tell the story as well as taking photos of places we thought we would want to include. A final highlight was this past June when Nick, Dad and I went up to the cabin on a rainy Friday afternoon, drove around the area and then, the next morning, (again, a very rainy day) packed up and headed down to the "Rhubarb Festival" in Pine, Colorado. It is where townpeople and people from the area gathered to celebrate and eat all the pancakes they could eat. We got a chance to drive around Pine Grove and see glimpses of the past and how, although so much time had passed, these buildings were still standing and the spirit of those who lived here so many years ago still were part of the community today.

So, as I close this post, I just have to say how proud I am of my dad...to document such an interesting story that gets to be shared now and always. My mom has been a tremendous support and between the two of them, they have created ReVista Publishing...an continuing legacy that represents the strength and inspiration of two very amazing people, who just happen to be my parents.

On a selfish side point, I am actually beyond thrilled to have my name published in this book as "Designed by" and under acknowledgments...it is something I am very proud of, and the artwork that is on the cover and within the book is just amazing, and I am so proud of Todd and his talent to be represented in this special book.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 3/2/11

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DR. SUESS! I have my first book I received in 1974 from Grammama and Grandad Dell. It was fun to open it and see Grammama's handwriting with mine also (I guess I wanted to make sure that no one would take my book :) ). Through the years, Dr. Suess has remained a favorite of mine, Todd and the boys. This first book was "Scrambled Eggs Super" and I still remember getting it. Dr. Suess has most certainly impacted millions of people through the years.

FAVORITE DR. SUESS BOOKS:
Tracy: "Horton Hears a Who"

Todd: "The Grinch"

Nick: "Cat in the Hat"

Chris: "Hop on Pop"

Zach: "Sneetches"

FAVORITE DR. SUESS QUOTES:
"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind"

"Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple"

"Today you are YOU, that is truer than true. There is no one alive that is YOUer than you."

"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."

"I meant what I said and I said what I meant"

"Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one."

"A persons a person, no matter how small."

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. Your the guy who'll decide where to go."

"Think left and think right and think high and think low. Oh, the things you can think up if only you try!"

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 1/24/11

So much I want to say about this book...taking a little while to reflect and pull out "simple wisdom" from this...so glad I get to talk about this at bookclub for February. I have already started a "document" about everything I noticed in this book so far and so much more to add. This is the kind of book that I think everyone should read and really find what is important to them. Simple would be one word to describe it, but our lives become so complicated and material. May everyone be as good as Perry L Crandall...if they were, the world would be a different place.

New favorite word: :"echt" meaning "real, genuine, authentic"...