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Sept 28 | The Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiessen

The grey library book.
Before setting out on this blogging adventure, it makes sense to Google the current whereabouts of Mr. Matthiessen. He's not terribly present online and lives in New York, but what's this? A Sept. 24, 2013 article in The New York Times: Peter Matthiessen to Publish New Novel. Matthiessen, 86, will publish, In Paradise, this spring, his first novel since Shadow County (2008).

It cannot be added to the to-read list too soon! Will it be available on Kindle? Fascinating. In this little part of the world away off on the West Coast, it feels like synchronicity.  

Snow leopard taste: wild chestnuts, rice, lentils
At home: lavender cookies--Violet Sweet Shoppe
Snow leopard sight: Grey river road, grey sky.
At home:
The plain grey unassuming library book still has the old timestamps on it. It was checked out 12 times between Nov. 25, 2000 and Jul 5, 2005.
Snow leopard sound: 
"I nod to Death in passing, aware of the sound of my own feet upon my path."
At home:
Ordering dinner: "with mixed vegetables, mixed vegetables, please, and a side of mixed vegetables" Server: "Your vegetables." #plantstrong
Snow leopard touch:
the cool breeze of the valley
At home:
hearty, thick, chewy Cowboy Cookies: Chaco Canyon Cafe
Snow leopard smell: hibiscus, frangipani
Snow leopard word of the day: 
Himalaya - the ayala, home, of hima, snow
Snow leopard quote of the day:
“Man is modifying the world so fast and so drastically that most animals cannot adapt to the new conditions.” — Mountain Monarchs (1977) George B. Schaller
Snow leopard notable:
the last wild Indian Cheetah was seen in central India in 1952
Snow leopard gratitude:
prajna, knowing, Mind
At home:
Commitment

Panthera progress: Been writing every day for 30 days, getting up at 5 a.m. working toward the goal of a draft by Dec. 1. Not new to long stretches of consistent writing, but getting up early to write on Sundays as well is a first — truly writing every day. Progress? Questionable. Commitment: Certain!

What is this?
Blogging The Snow Leopard project.

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