Coming Full Circle...

A lot has happened in the 2.5 years since I last posted here.

I won't lie.  I feel as though I have struggled with some kind of identity crisis.  And yet at my core, I am still the same Molly.

* Even though I have retired from teaching (and grading), I still love learning.
* Even though I have interests outside of books, I still love to read.
* Even though I am a seasoned "grandma", I am still young at heart.
* Even though I still love my puppies, we have had to say a fond farewell to two of them.
* Even though travel, scrapbooking, and photography are now a significant part of my life ... I can still use My Cozy Book Nook to share with other like-minded people.

Rather than give a lot of backstory, I will instead just tell you about the present.

While I retired from teaching last May, I will be leading a group 38 students and parents on a two-week tour of Europe next month.  This will be my last hurrah as "Mrs. Totoro" and it will be a terrific final farewell to a rewarding career in the field of education.

It is my hope that this trip will be the first of several domestic and international journeys which I plan to share on this blog.  Travel writing, as well as photography, is a real passion.  I love the idea of marrying photographs with text and hope to use this platform to share thoughts, memories, and insights from these various travels.

Now that I have more free time, I have returned to my love of scrapbooking.  I recently renewed my contract with Creative Memories and am working on a personal project that I call Milestone Memoir. Again, it is the idea of marrying photographs of my past with personal essays to create a lasting legacy to leave for my children.  I am sure to share a few layouts here from time-to-time.

I drafted a Middle Grade historical fiction novel during NaNoWriMo 2013.  First Impressionism introduces this young audience to Degas and Cassatt, and life in Paris circa 1880.  I thought drafting the novel would satisfy my writing itch, but I am now feeling compelled to revise and possibly write a sequel.  While writing fiction is a stretch for me, it is wonderful way for an ex-English teacher to spend retirement - and I am sure to share a few scenes here on the blog.

Because of the above writing interest, I have started reading more Middle Grade fiction.  Surprisingly, I have thoroughly enjoyed this genre and desperately desire to read more.  It is now time that I return to writing (simple) book reviews to share this joy with others.

I have missed this blogging community.

I do feel as though I have come full-circle... and it is wonderful to return home.