The Journey Back: April 2022

Saturday, April 30, 2022

Tuesday, April 26, 2022

Character Guest Post feat. Charlie Murder Next Door Great Escapes Book Tours

1.Hello Charlie thank you for visiting the blog today. Have you ever visited a blog before?

Thank you for having me! Yes, I have visited blogs and I’m finding I enjoy them. I don’t use the Internet much (I’m solving mysteries in the 1990s and computers are still pretty new; however, I DID just get an answering machine) but once I got the hang of what a blog was, I’ve been having a blast.

2. Since we're meeting for the first of time can we you tell my blog friends a little too about yourself?

I’m Charlie Kingsley, and I operate a tea and tincture business out of my home in Redemption, Wisconsin. I didn’t mean to get into crime solving but I’ve discovered I have a knack for it. (Which is a good thing because my clients have a knack for getting into trouble and needing those particular talents).

3. I have never been to Wisconsin. Can you tell us a little about your town.

Redemption is a haunted town. Back in 1888, all the adults disappeared, leaving only the children, and no one know what happened to them. Since then, there have been many strange things that have occurred in Redemption—disappearances, hauntings, mysteries and of course, murders.

My author likes to say there is a light and a dark side to Redemption. The dark side is the psychological suspense series called Secrets of Redemption. It’s actually the original series that started it all. The light side is The Charlie Kingsley Mysteries, which are cozies. All the books in both series are both clean and twisty.

4. I am from the South and we drink Ice Tea most year round. Unless of course it is super cold we switch to Hot Tea or my favorite Hot Chocolate.

Do ya'll ( that's Southern for You all) just drink hot tea around your parts?

I’ve seen that, especially when I make the rounds on my blog tour, that ice tea is pretty popular. In 1990, everyone I knew drank soda (I myself drink Coke when it’s too hot for tea). I tried once making an ice tea out of my tea, but it didn’t turn out at all. I might have to mess around more with the recipes.

5. I have to ask you how did you become a character in a book?

Well, it all started about 25 years ago, when my author Michele first got the idea for a It Began With a Lie (the first book in the original series). I was the “dead aunt” who had willed her niece my house in Redemption. I definitely had my work cut out for me to get Michele’s attention. (Did I mention these aren’t paranormal books?) After the first three books, Michele realized she needed to write the prologue and tell my story about how I came to Redemption. She thought it was over at that point, so it took a little more work for her to realize there were more stories that needed to be told. But eventually she came around and here we are.

6. Is it hard 'kind if being told what to do'?

I wouldn’t know as I’m the one telling Michele what needs to happen next. It took awhile to get her trained but she’s getting better.

7. I think I would 'liken it's to being an actress. How would you feel about being an actress with fame and fortune?

Oh no. Not for me. The less attention, the better. I don’t even particularly like everyone in Redemption talking about my sleuthing skills. It’s better for everyone if I keep a low profile (even though that never seems to happen). But I have way too many skeletons in my closet to be comfortable with fame.

8. Your book/series is said to be a Cozy Mystery. Most Cozy include a pet of some kind. Do you have a pet?

I do. A black cat called Midnight. He came with the house and he’s definitely not going anywhere.

9. Is solving crimes fun or do you feel like you need a vacation?

Don’t tell anyone but I do like solving crimes.. Plus I have a soft spot for helping people. But I just I just know that one day it’s going to catch up to me.

10. Let's pretend you got the chance to go anywhere in the world for your next book where would you go?

Now that you say it, I think one day I wouldn’t mind going on a cruise. That would be fun. And if I got to solve a crime on a boat, well, what’s not to love?

Michele PW (Pariza Wacek)

Bestselling, Award-Winning Author

Entrepreneur

facebook.com/michelepwauthor

linkedin.com/in/michelepw

twitter.com/michelepw

instagram.com/themichelepw

Monday, April 25, 2022

Good Morning

Busy Monday- My Happy Home

Welcome to a new week. I have a busy week planned. Do you?

My days are busy with several dog walks. And helping the Cowboy and making our Home Happy.

Some days it's happier than others!

Mostly because sometimes I am a bit grumpy.

Some days a little before noon I look back and notice what all I have already done that day. I wipe my brow. Bite my lip and look for Sparkle!

This greeting was perfect for today

Prompts for today

The weather it was really cloudy when I got up and took the dogs out. But now the sun is shining. I love my living room window.

It is 77 now and should get to 81 today.

Breakfast plate plans last night I cooked the Skirt Steak in the Air Fryer with the Peppers. They were so good. I am going to cook some this morning with Mushrooms then add them to an Omelet.

Dinner last night

All cooked in the Air Fryer! The Skirt Steak was perfect. I was afraid it would be tough and chewy but it was great!

On my To Do List Today

Bake. One Cookie jar is empty! I already set out some Butter so as soon as I finish this post I will choose a recipe.

Then I will play with paper and glue a bit. Then clean up my mess. I have to take everything in and out of the closet.

I plan to crochet some too. I think the next pattern section comes out this week or maybe next week.

My/Our Ta Da Moment

On Saturday we had a mini date at The Spot.

We had a snack of Onion Rings and drinks.

One of my favorite things

Looking up from typing and seeing the dogs curled up snoozing.

They always want to be where I am.

I am creating

I am working on the 2019 Crochet Blanket.

Click Here

I am adding the new stitches from this year. It is easier than looking up the old pattern and finding where I left off.

This is the one from 2019 I am adding rows.

This year I am doing this one

Click Here

The pattern comes in monthly installments and usually has three rows to add on each month

I am using the yarn scraps I had purchased for the 2019 blanket I showed above.

This is the first 3 sections completed and ready for the next section.

In the kitchen I have already mentioned this. We bought an Air Fryer. Stumbled on to it at the H.E.B. Grocery Store when we went off island last week. We were talking about getting one. This one was only $25.00 on sale with a coupon.

A household tip

LOL Buy an Air Fryer. It is a game changer! It really is! I cooked our entire meal in it last night. I did have to keep the Potatoes and Veggies warm in the oven while the Steak cooked.

Isn't She pretty? I love the color!

But once you put all the ingredients in you basically can just leave it to cook. I did stir the veggies once.

Everything cooked perfectly!

The Menu I plan my menu and post on Saturday but alot of times it changes by Monday!

Monday

Kielbasa, Fried Potatoes and ~~Corn~~

Lentils I originally planned Corn. The Cowboy has been wanting to try Lentils. The neighbor told me how to cook them.

Tuesday

Tacos and Mexican Rice

Wednesday

Spaghetti, Salad and Garlic Bread

Thursday

Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp, Bacon Wrapped Asparagus, Baked Potato

Friday

Fresh Catch

Saturday

Shrimp Boil w/ Corn on Cob and Potatoes

A moment from my day

The last couple of mornings our Landlord has been out with his dog cleaning the property. My girls are loving playing with him in the yard.

They can't go next door to play for awhile. They have 13 baby chicks. One of the hens decided to have a family!

Scripture/Devo

That's my Busy plans for the day and week!

I plan to make every moment sparkle.

I hope you have a Sparkly Day!

Sunday, April 24, 2022

Good Morning

Happy Homemaker in Texas

The weather

Spring is my favorite time of the year. Upper 70's daily creeping barely to 80.

Sunny skies!

As I look outside my window

My view is palm trees and my cute bunting hanging on our porch rail outside our front window.

And outside the window in our media room are baby birds. I don't know how many but at least 2 we can't get close to see. MaMa always flies away when we get close!

Right now I am

Multitasking . . . Writing this post Cleaning kitchen and starting breakfast. Swept the floor.

Thinking and pondering

How happy and excited our daughter is sharing highlights of her life with me.

She sent me a picture of the plants she bought for thier new house.

How I am feeling

Happy

On the breakfast plate

Attempting Pan Cakes again. I have the skillet warming with oil.

I am going to have to break down and get a non stick skillet.

The Cowboy wanted 1 Pancake. The Strawberries today we're really good!

On the t.v.

We have been Binge watching Beach Hunt Bargains we are watching all the episodes in Texas from season 1. It is fun when they are in Galveston.

Waiting on Restoring Galveston to start. I have a spoiler! We happened by the house they just finished. We were driving along and they putting out the sod. Michael was standing outside talking to the crew. We waited a couple days to go back to get a good picture without the crew . . .

On the menu

Sunday

Air Fryer Chimichurri Skirt Steak, Mexican Rice

Monday

Kielbasa, Fried Potatoes, Corn on the Cob

Tuesday

Tacos

Wednesday

Spaghetti, Salad, Garlic Bread

Thursday

Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp, Bacon Wrapped Roasted Asparagus, Baked Potatoes

Friday

Fresh Catch

Saturday

Sea Food Boil w/ Corn and Potatoes

Looking around the house

Messy today. Shopping week always drags out. It takes me a few days to get everything put away. I have bags of Flour and Sugar waiting to be put up in an upper cabinet. Sodas on counter waiting to find a home.

Also did laundry too. Still need to put away shirts I hang to dry.

To do list

Put away sodas and baking supplies

Put away laundry

Vacuum

Bake cookies

Read

Crochet

On my reading pile

In the craft basket

This is the 2019 Crochet Along that I began and had to quit when the Cowboy got sick. I also was not able to get out and buy yarn.

So this year I decided to finish it between the release of patterns. I am using the new stitches from this year's patterns.

This is this year. It is much smaller. I am not sure what the plan is. I will find out as it progresses.

From the camera

I have been looking for the house we saw in the Fall. Found it!

Scripture/Devo.

Simple Sunday

Saturday, April 23, 2022

Foodie Friday

Good Morning Welcome to my Friday feature . . .

. . . The day I share the meals we've had during the week.

I baked a Toll House Pie early in the week.

The Cowboy likes it and it is super easy and fast to stir up.

For lunch the other day I cooked myself Fried Yellow Squash. I love it! The Cowboy will not touch it.

He has Pie. I have Squash!

On Sunday we had Hamburgers, Grilled Sausage, Potato Salad. The neighbor brought them over.

I took them the Cookies I made on Saturday.

Pancakes that stuck to the pan. They tasted better than they looked.

I made Bacon Carbonara. It wasn't as good as I expected. The recipe called for frozen Peas. I used canned.

Lunch on Wednesday after driving to Texas City to get a prescription that wasn't available on the island.

We came back home for Mexican . . .

I had 2 Enchiladas with Rice and Beans. I could have licked my plate!

The Cowboy had 1 Enchilada and a Taco. He even ate most of his Rice.

This plate was just o.k. Salmon over Asian Slaw. I am not a huge fan of Salmon but I thought I would give it a try. The Cowboy ate part of it. He had a cup of Lobster Bisque he said it was great.

I did a super easy night of frying. Trying to finish up the Fries and Okra in the freezer before grocery shopping day. They were great with a Pork Chop.