SATURDAY AT MALICE

posted by Malice Flock

We are ready for schmoozing!!!!!

Some of us were ready to go and waiting for the dawdlers, so we could get going for our morning downstairs. We were heading to the 'NEW AUTHORS' breakfast where each author would stand and introduce themselves and tell of us 'their book'. So exciting as authors from all over with fresh stories and fun new characters to meet. And we also wished to meet the authors and other HCs like ours who loved to read Cozy Mysteries.

Avery Ames and Turk

Early down to breakfast, we plopped into the first table where we schmoozed with new people and the author Avery Ames, whose Cheese Shop mystery series got us off to a great start. She was a very nice lady who spoke to each of us-obviously Avery Ames 'GETS IT'. The amazing thing is after being introduced to Marty Grau and the KOO she asked one of the KOO what its name was, and of course, the KOO hadn't selected any names yet. Avery simply declared looking at him and exclaimed TURK. So now its Marty Grau and Turk, and the KOO.

Danielle and Apri Cot

A nice lady at the table took an immediate fancy to another KOO who informed the lady, Danielle, that her name was Apri Cot due to her Apricot colored fleece. {Strange she never bothered to inform us of her name. Probably jealous 'Turk' had a name first}. Anyway, together they shared the day.

Tammy and Marty Grau alongside Jenn and Ovi

After breakfast we went to a few rooms enjoying the people and attending panels to listen to the authors. In the hallway we ran into 2 wonderful ladies who told us this was their FIRST time at Malice. This was very exciting as it was Ovi and Marty Grau's FIRST time at Malice. It was so nice to know we weren't alone or the only ones who were at their first Malice. Plus, we learned these 2 fine ladies were Veterans, like our HC. We were very honored when they agreed to have a photo taken with us. Aren't they nice?

Noah took over the next portion of the day. Since he hadn't found Mr Sparkles yet, he would approach a couple of our favorite authors. The first is a favorite because she is from Maine, the home of the heart of our HC. She was so nice and plans to ride a bike across Italy in a few weeks. Noah is certain she may be tied up with this event so doesn't ask for her endorsement of his candidacy, at this time. But once her Adventure is complete he may email her and ask if she would consider endorsing his candidacy. She writes wonderful mysteries where a real estate agent is the 'sleuth'. Our HC got #1 and #2 so we will soon get bedtime stories from Vicki Doudera's books, one chapter a night. Noah poses with Vicki Doudera

Now it was coming up to the noon hour so we would return to room #420 for a rest, but before that across the room we strolled, to visit an acquaintance of our HCs, from last years Malice. Sally Goldenbaum write mysteries around a subject very dear to our hearts. KNITTING, which is one of our HCs better skills. She gladly signed our HCs book so Noah quickly asked for an endorsement. With a great smile she agreed, HLB'ing...HLB'ing...HLB'ing. Noah had his first OFFICIAL ENDORSEMENT FOR HIS ELECTION TO EASTER CREATURE 2012.

Sally Goldenbaum ENDORSES Noah for Easter Creature 2012

What a wonderful morning of schmoozing. What a wonderful group of HCs who all treated us very kindly. Who all appeared to 'get it'. The rest of the day may be Ex-traOvine busy but soon more photos from our first Malice Domestic.

The Flock

Ellis the Ram's Photo Album

posted from Ellis the Ram's scrapbook

Didn't I say my CBFEJD has the knack for formal wear. Yes, Here I am, my first year at Malice Domestic. And all eyes were on me, well outside from all the authors, especially the ones who had been nominated for the AGATHA. Malice is where that particular award is given. Actually its where authors get nominated, voted, and awarded. Who needs the OSCARS....all the winners receive is a tiny little man with no eyes and body language that says 'don't get near ME', naked and thinking being gold makes it ACCEPTABLE, sits somewhere doing nothing and doesn't even dust itself. Now here, AGATHA! You get a TEAPOT! Brilliant....for a nice pot'a to start the day with or sooth you to sleep at night. It is warm and comforting when filled with hot water over steeping tea leaves in whatever form you wish~bag, in a implement full of holes, or tossed into the pot to swim around in the hot water.

But even if this lovely ceramic reflection of success isn't used for tea-it looks lovely and welcoming.

GOLD MAN~PIFFLE!

I'm honored to be an attendee, well-the companion of an attendee-my HC. AND its where I've had the jackpot luck of meeting wonderful people who have honored me with their friendship~of the HC variety. {Of course, they in turn have come to value the gift of Ovine Friendship, enough to adopt their own flocks}.

Oh, back to my Photo Album.....

CBFEJD~Elizabeth J. Duncan &

GFBFHD~Hannah Dennison

Now, I searched the album far and wide to find just the right photographs of my 2 author friends, but alas...........Obviously Photography is not my HC's strong suit! {This year we will monitor her pics every evening, delete and instruct her to retake-better!}. So here they are hard at work waiting the arrival of those HCs who wish to have their treasured volumes signed~by the very person who created them. Such fun, you can see the line, the loonngg line, behind Hannah so hope their hands were rested. If you look very closely, on Elizabeth's table, is a book with a pale green cover, her book. See it. Well, that is my fleece poking out from the side. HC=Photos NOT!

I've attended many book signings as my imposing presence is often required for crowd control duty, such as in 2008 for Maggie Sefton. My assistance, noted by both CBFEJD and GFBFHD, planted the idea of their Ovines assisting them also. I have a snap in my album of CBFEJD and her Ovine Eleanor at one of their book signings. And I'm certain if needed GFBFHD's Ovine treasure, young Emily the Lamb, is at the ready to stand guard. I have also attended other events at Malice such as sitting in on Panels. I would show you a photo of just that, but quality is unacceptable, Baaa'd focus.

I've grazed in the hospitality room interacting with attendees as well as listened intently at the New Authors Breakfast. The shot on the bottom is the day Elizabeth spoke on her first book IN THE COLD LIGHT OF MOURNING-you know, the one I'm BEHIND!

All in all we enjoy each and every moment spent with Old Friends, New Friends, and Soon to be Friends at Malice Domestic. So will end this little bit of Malice past with 2 more of my lovely memories. Oh and 1 of a rather stressful moment, when I was held by the NM aka Lucas aka OU, of CBFEJD. {I have since been repeatedly assured he is truly harmless and a fine fellow............hm, note his eyes! Nefarious!}

Ellis the Ram~Elizabeth J. Duncan~ Esme the Ewe/ NM aka Lucas aka OU Malice 2009~ Malice 2008 Maggie Sefton-Author of wonderful Cozy Mysteries about FLEECE! Naturally~ Cozy=Fleece! Malice 2008

Photographically yours,

Ellis the Ram

Heading North

OUR TRIP HOME

~~posted by Ovi~~

Ellis and Esme have designated me to post of our journey home. I hope you enjoy my first ever all to myself~by myself for you to read~~posting. Yes, Tuesday morning found us leaving our Oceanside Pasture for our trip North. Anxious to rejoin the flock we left behind we gathered together and walked down the hallway toward the door through the parking lot to climb into the car. The only one who had any baggage was me. I walked next to Sullivan at the end of our flock. The red string which you may notice around my neck and down my back on both sides was attached to my bowl~bed. For some STRANGE reason it seemed far heavier than ever before. But I persevered and the 6 of us, oh plus our HC, settled into the car and away we went. We got to ride 'shotgun' atop a lovely fleece blanket, naturally once we put our seat belt around us we were ready to enjoy our first leg of the journey.

Sullivan, ME, Callopie, Himhe, Ellis and Esme

We left as the sky brightened stopping for fuel. A bit of a pile on but lots of fun. After an hour or so of driving went crossed our first state line, North Carolina. While our HC went to a building, we piled atop the sign showing where we were and when she returned she snapped our picture. Back to the car we went for our next part of our trip. Very soon we found ourselves in another state, Virginia! Ellis told us it was about halfway and this was very exciting. This time Callopie yelled PILE ON. After Ellis and Esme talked it over we did just that~PILED ON. And I the OVI~NATOR got to be on top. Well Callopie was next to me but as I'm taller I claimed KING OF THE HILL!!!!!

PILE ON!!!

After such a morning and many exits and entrys of rest areas, we all were very tired and slept the rest of the way home. Except of course, our HC, who drove safely and didn't stop to eat. As we had planned ahead and had a big big big morning meal we didn't get hungry. Later as the sun set and hearing some baa'ing from the others I woke up and we were home. We all piled out and followed our HC to the door, back home at last.

&&&&&&

Only one thing seemed strange. After all things were put away and we greeted the home flock, shared our adventures and we all clustered together and had a good night sleep. The STRANGE thing? The next day while our HC was busy we got to use the laptop, to look over our blog and enjoy our trip home photos. And when the photo of us coming down the hallway to the door appeared something was weird with my bowl~bed. Remember at the beginning of my post when I said my bowl~bed seemed heavier than before? We all gasped as we saw 'something' IN the BOWL~BED. Some things that appeared to be shades of purple, green and gold.......and although we enlarged the photo we wouldn't quite make out what it was. Finally Sullivan declared there appeared to be FOUR things in the bowl~bed and he thought they looked strangely like the back part of Ovines~hind ends.......Where were the stowaways? We thought they had been left behind with Willy...........but TWO hind ends looked like TWO of the stowaways but that left TWO. Those TWO seemed to be in shades of Green and Gold. The stowaways had been black with purple among the black fleece and white with gold among the white fleece. We rushed back to my bowl~bed but it was empty. Where are the contents of my bowl~bed we are all asking ourselves. If it is the TWO stowaways and somehow they have brought back TWO others.......well we will find them, they are somewhere in our pasture and we have a very very very large flock~~~They can't hide forever. Oh, in case you have trouble seeing the hind ends we placed 3 question marks by the 4 hind ends.

By permission of Ellis the Ram, my post is concluded.

OVI