We are moved, as much as we can be at the moment. We’re living in a temporary space, a condo on the water in downtown Charlottetown. In another month or two we’ll be moving again. The transition hasn’t been easy with a toddler. Naps are sporadic and Cass sometimes wakes as early as 5:30 so my writing time is vastly diminished.
That said, I’m still writing every day and it’s going rather well. The novel is now at 24,000 words and I’m fully into the muddled and messy middle, leaving loose ends trailing behind me, discovering connections I never expected and wondering if it will all come together.
Kim PEI goodness, Writing life
On the bright side, this was the view from my bedroom window yesterday morning.
Kim PEI goodness
I took Cass apple-picking today and came home with arms full of Spartans, Greensleeves and Cortlands. I resolved that on top of writing a novel and packing for our move two weeks from now, I need to bake many apple crisps and pumpkin apple muffins.
Probably, I should just give away some apples.
Kim Family life, PEI goodness
I’m done moping and have come to terms with the end of summer. Certain events have transpired to make me more kindly disposed toward PEI winters and I’m now back to my sparkly autumnal self. My sweaters are out of storage. My tea cupboard is stocked. All is well.
Kim PEI goodness
Welcome to Santa’s Woods, the inspiration for my latest story. Santa’s Woods is a North Pole-themed attraction for small children that lies just outside of North Rustico on Prince Edward Island. 
I love this place. It’s corny and homely and charming and wonderful all at the same time. Someone put a lot of time and effort into building Santa’s Woods. Everything is homemade and hand-painted. The results are sometimes sweet… 
and sometimes alarming.
Santa’s Woods doesn’t seem to be about making money. There’s no website. There’s no gift shop or snack bar. They only take cash and there’s no ATM on site. Sure, it’s overpriced, as all tourist traps are. But there’s no doubt in my mind that the people who run Santa’s Woods do it for love. 
This little house is right inside the park, between the trampolines and the fish pond. If you look in the windows you can see what appears to be a living room. There are three Christmas trees in there, a couple of armchairs, a television, a sewing machine and an elderly woman with a walker who waves when she catches you looking.
Once in a while, a stooped old man comes out of the house dressed in a Santa suit and gives candy canes to the children.
After leaving Santa’s Woods, I couldn’t stop thinking about that elderly couple. I wonder if they actually live in that house and, if so, do they stay there all year long? Do they have family members who help with the park’s maintenance? What will happen to Santa’s Woods when they can’t run it themselves anymore? And of course, since all my stories end up twisting into fantasy, I wonder what kind of magic they’ve conjured up within their labor of love?
Kim PEI goodness, Writing life
Today is a statutory holiday on PEI. After this morning’s writing session, I’m packing the cooler with macaroni salad and peanut butter squares and heading up to my husband’s office. They’ve got a rooftop patio that’ll provide a perfect view of the Gold Cup Parade.
Most of the provinces have a holiday in August. British Columbia has BC Day. In Alberta it’s Heritage Day. Here on the Island, it’s Gold Cup and Saucer Day. It’s not about commemorating the birth of the province or celebrating its history. It’s all about a horse race.
Kim PEI goodness
We are off to Montreal for the next ten days, where I will be attending my first WorldCon.
I’m panicking a little this morning. We spent our weekend here:
And here:
We did not spend any time thinking about our upcoming trip. Now we have just a few hours to pack, deliver our kitty to his temporary home and prepare for the open house our realtor is holding in our absence. Everything in the house seems to be covered in a thin layer of sand. We have much cleaning to do.
Kim News, PEI goodness
I will be posting a lot of beach photos here. I live on Prince Edward Island, and beaches are what PEI is all about.
Today, I give you a jellyfish.
It was hot yesterday. I took Cass to the North Shore intending to take her swimming in the ocean for the first time. Alas, the jellyfish warning sign was up. The jellyfish here aren’t dangerous but they do sting, so we had to be content with dipping our toes and building sand castles.
Kim PEI goodness
After Cassandra goes to bed, I often go for walks. This is where I usually end up. I skip rocks and watch the sun set. I’ve seen more foxes on this beach than people.
Every time I come here I forgive PEI a little more for those six months of winter misery.
Kim PEI goodness
It’s early here on PEI. I’m watching the sun rise from my office window.
I’ve seen so many sunrises over the last year – more than in all my previous 35 years combined. It’s one of the perks of waking up at 5AM seven days a week. There are other perks. Really, there are. I will tell you about them, but not now. Right now I have other words to write.
Kim PEI goodness, Writing life