Pages

Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Wednesday Filled With Words-Waiting




Welcome to Wednesday.  Today I am sharing a repost.  I have a lot of new followers and maybe one or two regulars that haven't seen this story/post . . . 
 
                                                                      Waiting
                                        
Momma said when I'm bigger I get to ride in a show.  
            So I'm waiting.   And waiting. And waiting. 
                           Someday I'll be bigger. 
I'll get to ride on that paint horse waaaaaaaaaaay over there. 
Well I already get to ride him with a real Cowboy hat. 
But I'm not big enough to ride in a show. 
I sit real tall in the saddle just like momma says.  And I click my mouth to make him go.  
But today I have to stand by this fence and watch everyone else ride.  I counted 10 horses.  And there are alot people.  Like maybe a thousand!  
After the show when everyone is done riding they are going to cook hot dogs on a fire.  I'm waiting for that too.
             Boy a boy sure has to do a lot of waiting around here!




Happy Trails

Monday, February 24, 2020

Tuesday 4 a Blog MeMe Party

Joining a new party today.   

https://mytuesday4meme.blogspot.com/


Head over to Tuesday's Place for the questions and to visit everyone's answers!


1.  You're having a lovely dinner party for friends and family.  What will you serve for appetizers, main course and dessert?
Hmm.  Lovely.  What comes to mind is not so much lovely but kind of festive, fun and easily prepared for the cook.  I'll be making a Seafood Boil Crawfish, Mussels, Crab Claws
Shimp/Avacado Salad for our appitizer and let's just run over to CheeseCake Factory and get a ymmy chocolate CheeseCake...this is fantasy isn't it?

 2. Snow storm!    You've got house guests and you're all stuck inside for the night. What do you prepare for dinner.  Will you  watch a movie? Which?
A big 'ole pot of chili(not beans we're in Texas) crackers and grated cheese. 
We might watch Home Alone #1 or a good 'ole Rambo flick.  Or maybe play a few rounds of our new favorite Millionaire Monopoly

3. We are going into New York City for the weekend. Where do you want to go?
Isn't Bobby Flay in NYC?  Dinner with Bobby

4. You are going to night school.  They offer courses in writing short stories, painting,   piano  or guitar lessons,simple home repairs,baking, and gardening.
Which do you pick  ( or make up one of your own)  and why?
Piano.  I always wanted to play!

Click here to go over and join the party!


Menu Monday

Don't you just hare when you schedule a post 
for a certain day and you look at calendar wrong!
Menu Monday 
on Wednesday backdated.



Menu plans for our week.  I am trying to stay on track with menu's and with cooking what I have planned.  It's a challenge.  But here are this weeks  Menu plans and prep for batch cooking.

Monday
Pot Roast with Potatoe's and Carrots, Green Beans
while I peel the potatos' I am planning and prepping extra's and boiling for Mashed Potato's.

Tuesday
Tacos 
Prepping ground beef for Sphaghetti

Wednesday
Fried Catfish, French Fries, Cole Slaw

Thursday
Sphaghetti, Salad, Garlic Bread

Friday
A cup of Gumbo made over the weekend and frozen in batches,
Mixed Seafood Grill, Mashed Potatoes, Cole Slaw

It's gonna be a yummy week!  Do you have Yummy plans?






Saturday, February 22, 2020

Happy Homemaker In Texas

Hello! Welcome to the blog.  Today is the day I share a few plans for my week and highlights from last week.  
I am joining Sandra for Happy Homemaker


Sandra provides the prompts.  I add some of my own.

The weather
Winter finds it's way to Texas.  We have had some consistantly cold (for us) days.  And rain.  We have felt we need a boat.  

Outside my window
I have a new flower bed.  A dandelion garden.  I have given up trying to get rid of them. The bumble bee's love them. 

Something fun to share (my prompt)
I joined a new FB group and I am talking to the administrator about helping with events.  I am excited to plan fun SWAP's for my new peeps. 

A new shopping place
I have 'fallin In Love' with Tuesday Morning.  Yesterday I bought
my new muffin pan there.  I looked at all they had on the shelf and picked the least expensive one.  And then went to check out clearance and what did I find.  The bigger better for a bit less than the cheap one I had in the basket!

On the breakfast plate
It's Saturday.  Brunch day for us.  Scrambled eggs, bacon and blueberry muffins.  I bought a new muffin pan yesterday and I am excited to use it

My Ta Da moment
I managed to clean out the file cabinet in my craft room and put everything on shelves I brought in from my green house.  
I also cleaned out one other wood shelf in the room that just didn't function for me.  I was planning on putting both of them and another shelf at the curb after the trash pick up.  We have lots of traffic and people always pick up things.
But my daughter thinks they can use them at my grandson's school.

A few plans for the week
Packing to move. Cleaning.  Cutting and playing with glue in my craft room.  I signed up for a couple new easy SWAPs.  I'll be working on today 

On the menu 
With my husbands illness it is hard to cook these days it seems. 
This week I plan to cook. 
Rotisierre Chicken (I have legs/thighs I bought on sale that had some barbque seasoning on them.  I'll add more and make them super yummy
Seafood Gumbo we bought some fish a piece of Andoullion and some Venison Sausage.  We will add some of the chicken that I am planning on cooking and some soft shell crab we found on sale and some shrimp.
Pot Roast we wound a super buy.  I have 4 for the freezer.  They are all big so I will cook one for this week and put half in the freezer.
Salad and Veggies  I am planning on making some individual salads in mason jars for the fridge for the Cowboy to take out and have for a snack.  I need to buy some verggies to cook.  Greens are good for him.  So I'll try to get some Mustard Greens today.

In the craft space
A huge mess right now.  I am packing up what I am not using daily to move and get rid of the shelf units I am not planning on taking. 

What I am working on 
I am finishing a few Altered Paper Clips for a SWAP.  
Some stamped images for a SWAP and I will be starting some 
Junk Journal Embellishments for another SWAP.

From the camera
My desk at Christmas time making cards
Scipture/Devo
Image may contain: ‎flower and plant, ‎possible text that says '‎ایہ HAPPY WEEKEND DO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY‎'‎‎
Thanks for coming by. Please visit Sandra for the party on Monday



Tuesday, February 18, 2020

In the Craft Room

Good Morning.  I hope your week has started Amazing!  

Over the weekend I was in the crafting room.  I had some plans to complete some projects.  

First up I needed to make Sewing Theme ATC's (more on that in a minute).  

I went to Pinterest for some inspiration.  Here's what I found.


I am not sure exactly what this is.  I think it might be a greeting card there was not a discription. But I was only looking for inspiration for my ATC's. 
     
O.K.  I know you are itching to know 'What the heck is an ATC?'
Here are a few to give you an idea . . . 
Student work by Sandra in All About ATCs Class - six artist trading cards (ATC) #allaboutatcs class with Marjie Kemper
On the left are coins.  These are small.  I have never made these and don't intend to try.  Too tiny for me.  The cards are small too.

Artist trading cards is a conceptual art project initiated by the Swiss artist M. Vänçi Stirnemann in 1997. He called it a Collaborative Cultural Performance. Artist trading cards are 2 ¹⁄₂ by 3 ¹⁄₂ inches in size, the same format as modern trading cards. Wikipedia

As you can see by the Wikipedia definition the cards are small too.  A mere 2 1/2 x 3 1/2.  And the back is signed!  Here is an example.
Printable Trading Card Template Fresh Artist Trading Card Template for Back Of atc S
The back is the hardest part for me.  I love this example though.  It will help me step out of my box.  I don't like my writing.  Also included on most cards is if they are part of a collection they are #. 
Like if I am making 4 for my project I will # them 1of 4,  of 4 etc. 
Artist Trading Card Gallery | Junquemail Contessa

This is another example.  Remember how small they are?  2 1/2 x 3 1/2.  This one is a beautiful example.  There are usually a few layers.  My project requires at least 3 layers.  

Book pages are often used.  Notice how the creator above positioned the book page to see the words: horse, dreaming. Many 
times the words are painted over almost hidden. 



Paper Crafting is a fun hobby for me.  Do you have hobbies? 
Going back to the craft room to create.  I am inspired now!  

Have a great day!





Monday, February 17, 2020

Happy Homemaker Monday-Making Home

Good morning 
Image result for good morning
 I am so happy to be with you today.  It is so great to be able to write a post to maybe give you a smile today. 

Today I wanted to share with you my thoughts on house and home.

I am not even sure how long I have been blogging.  But it has been a lot of fun filled years for me. 

During those times I've shared photo's from my home.  I've shared table scapes, my mantle, my desk top, books and many more things that surround me here and make me smile.  

Let's look back at a few of my favorite moments captured here on the blog . . . 

This was the mantle at Christmas.  Super simple.  I did add some candles and left it all up through the weekend for Valentines Day. 
Not a great pic but I wanted to share the super sweet flowers one of my clients left on my porch in December when my husband was in the hospital.  They sat on my desk for a few weeks.  I keep flowers as long as I can snipping the stems and cleaning the water every couple of days. 


Hot Cocoa says Cozy on chilly days . . .I made a Cocoa station and featured mugs and gifts from my children.  The hand print box was when my now 18 year old grandson had smaller hands!  The pot holder (which I don't use) was given to me by my daughter a few years ago. 
A favorite Cozy place for a tall glass of ice tea in the summer.  I love this space.  I like to pretend it is a sleeping porch.  The little vintage love seat is actually a 'pull out' I've never tried sleeping in this space.  But it is Cozy for an afternoon read.  I can see the dogs play outside.  It is a good place to come in and rest after working hard in the garden. 

My goal is to make my home a Sanctuary for my family.  Today my family consists of me and My Cowboy and our two spoiled dogs.  

They make me smile.  Many days they are what keeps me going. 
My husband has terminal Liver Disease.  The days are up and down.  

Making our home a Cozy Sanctuary is important to his health and attitude.  

For me it just makes me happy.  I love my home.  It may be a house in the city, a house on land in the country, an R.V., an extended stay motel or an apartment.  But everywhere I/we've called home I tried/try to make Cozy.  


How do you make your home Cozy?

Wishing you a Blessed Day



Saturday, February 15, 2020

Happy Homemaker In Texas


Good morning friends.  Today's plan is to journey Sandra at Family Corner.  This may be a short post because my computer is giving me fits . . . please forgive I didn't spell check.  My computer shuts down on a whim...I wanted to get this post done!

The weather....one word Brrr!

Outside my window ...The beginnings of a sunny day and weeds.
Calling a lawn service this week.

What I am reading
I have a couple of authors that write clean Billionaire romances and they have a couple new ones on my list to read and promote.
Check out Sophia Summers and Jewel Allen for some great quick sweet reads. 

And I just finished
The 3rd in a series by Robin Patchen.  I just finished Legacy Reclaimed it was a 5 star read.  She was kind enough to send the first two so I'll be reading them next.  My review was posted a couple of days ago.

On the menu
Our menu planning has gone by the wayside for the time being. 
Because of my husbands disease and all that goes with it we eat what we can pull together.  I still have a 'plan' in mind but many days he doesn't eat after I have cooked and so it becomes leftovers for the next day.  

In my crafting room
I had full intentions to mail Valentines Day cards and tiny gifts.
But life got in the way.  I did join a couple SWAPS in Janurary and got them completed and mailed. I joined a couple for this month that I am working one.  
On simple one mailing my partner Lace and Fibers to use in a journal. 
Another one is to make 3 Sewing Theme Artist Trading Cards. 
That is my project this weekend.  

Plans for the blog
I hope to get back to regular blogging.  And also writing scripture. 
And maybe sharing that here. 
I hope to talk more about my paper crafting and Junk Journaling. I have had a few comments about it and some folks have so imterest. 
I'll share my garden projects and plans.  
I plan and hope to blog more and have less about books here. 
But lately I have had to add more book reviews and interviews to have something posted here.  
I would like to get back to blogging. 

From the camera
Image may contain: 2 people, people smiling, text
My daughter posted on FB.  This was such a sweet memory for me.  He is 11 now!

Prayer request
My husband has terminal Liver Disease.  Please pray for me as I navigate the waters of helping him as he progresses.  It is really hard because some days he is just like he's always been and other days he is really sick.  

Scripture/Devo
Image may contain: possible text that says 'God is telling you today to be still. still. Stop stressing yourself of what is going on. Stop figuring it out with your own understanding. Stop fighting for it because it's yours' already. God is saying, "Leave that to me to handle."'
This was shared on FB the other day.  I needed this reminder. 
Maybe you do to. 

Have A Blessed Day
Thanks for joining me today.  Stop over at Family Corner for 
Happy Homemaker Monday

Friday, February 14, 2020

Happy Valentines Day-Sharing A Memory


Image may contain: 2 people, people smiling, text
My daughter shared this on FB
That dinner was one of our best memories.
Hope you make some memories!
Happy Valentines Day

Thursday, February 13, 2020

Legacy Reclaimed by Robin Patchen-Book Review/Spotlight


About the book

She’ll risk anything to save the company her parents built. He’ll risk anything to save her. Someone will stop at nothing to make sure they both fail. 

Chelsea Hamilton spent her life preparing to run the international clothing business her parents started, but she’s still caught off guard when she learns of her mother’s untimely death. Chelsea returns to New Hampshire, buries her mother, and prepares to take over the floundering business. When a stranger attempts to kill her, she realizes somebody doesn’t want her to inherit her legacy.
Private Investigator Dylan O’Donnell spends his time searching for lost teens. He doesn’t know what to think of the beautiful woman seeking his services. Hers isn’t the kind of case he’s accustomed to handling, and she isn’t the kind of client he quit his steady job to help, but something about the woman pulls at him. She’s in danger, and he can’t turn her away. But if he blows this very public case, his floundering business might not survive.
Together, they dig into her family's secrets. The closer they get to the truth, the closer they grow to one another. Can Chelsea save the legacy her parents fought to leave her? Can Dylan save Chelsea from the enemies determined to see her dead? 
And I thought
A fast paced page turning ride.  Legacy Reclaimed was hard to put down.
I love romantic suspense and read any that I can get my hands on.  I love a good thriller/ suspense. 
Robin Patchen gives the reader a romantic suspense with a twisting plot and with main characters that have faith in God and trust in him.
The main characters Chelsea and Dylan each have had bad experiences and sorrow in their lives but have faith to overcome and allow themselves to fall in love.
The only problem is staying alive and a step ahead of the bad guy(s) and figuring out who is out to sabotage her family company and kill Chelsea. 
If you love fast paced suspenseful and believable thrillers you'll really enjoy this one.

I received a complimentary.
My review will appear on retail sites, Good Reads and social media.

Buy the book 
Amazon

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Book Spotlight/Recipe Great Escapes Tour-The Great Iowa Caucus Casserole Mystery

Today I am joining Lori at Great Escapes to Promote a new book 
My tour stop includes a yummy recipe!


From The Great Iowa Caucus Casserole Mystery  by Rae Katherine Eighmey
The book is set in the small north Iowa town of Lake Livonian and centers on the community of the Potluck Paradise Café owned by Susan Stewart.
 
 Photo provided by the author
Butterscotch Cookies

This recipe for “refrigerator cookies” is an all time Potluck Paradise favorite for youngsters of all ages. Well-wrapped rolls of cookie dough keep in the refrigerator for a few days, and for weeks in the freezer. So easy to have on hand and bake off for a quick, delicious treat. 

2 cups brown sugar, light or dark, firmly packed
1 cup melted butter
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
4 cups all purpose flour
1 cup finely chopped walnuts, optional

You will also need:
Plastic wrap for cookie logs as they chill
Butter or cooking spray to grease baking sheets

In a large bowl combine the sugar, butter, eggs, and vanilla. Mix together until well blended. Add the dry ingredients, mixing thoroughly. Stir in the walnuts. Divide the dough in half and then form each half into a log about 1 inch high and 2 inches wide. Wrap each log in plastic wrap and chill at least two hours.  Plastic wrapped dough may be put in a freezer bag and kept frozen for up to two months. 


About the book 
The Iowa Presidential Caucus is a casserole of finest ingredients—policy ideas, active candidates, determined local politicians dedicated political activists, and hard-working Iowans. Every four years citizens across the state meet to hash out their differences and make a selection. Seldom is one candidate an overwhelming caucus choice. Instead, several winning candidates combine into a single dish of patriotic participation, ready to share with the rest of the nation.
In Lake Livonia, with holiday season fast approaching and the Iowa Presidential Caucus soon to follow, Susan Stewart’s fledgling Potluck Paradise Cafe is humming with the creation of new and delicious dishes to please the appetites of her community.
But then, a mysterious note included in a Christmas card from her friend and mentor, Hazel Romer, who skipped town in the middle of a July night, raises important questions. What was the skeleton in Hazel’s closet that caused her to run away from the town she loved? And why had she left the restaurant to Susan?
When a blizzard traps strangers in town overnight, the stage is set for a series of life-changing events for Susan, her teenaged children, and her friends, as the Presidential Caucus brings Iowa and Lake Livonia into national prominence.
With 30 Family and Potluck Pleasing recipes for main dishes, vegetables and desserts.
Buy the book 
Visit the tour
Find more recipes, guest posts, interviews and reviews over at the tour.  Click here



Sunday, February 9, 2020

Book Spotlight/Author Interview feat. BonBon With the Wind by Dorothy St. James


Hello Dorothy
Thank you for visiting the blog.  It is a pleasure to get a chance to meet you and talk about the new book. 

Thank you for hosting me on your site with my latest Southern Chocolate Shop MysteryBonbon with the Wind. I love visiting with bloggers and readers. Y’all are the greatest!

Before we get into the good stuff…the book let’s get acquainted. 

So I am guessing you’re a Chocolate lover since the series revolves around a Chocolate Shop but do you have any other little guilty pleasures?

You’re right. I’m a chocolate lover through and through. I indulge in at least a little piece of chocolate every day, preferably for breakfast. As for other guilty pleasures, while I don’t drink alcohol, I do drink Coke and other sodas, but mostly Coke. The bubbly drinks feel good on my throat. I’m trying to cut back by not buying them. My family says I should. But I do love to sip on a carbonated soda in the middle of the day.

You might gasp when I tell you this but I don’t drink coffee! Do you like coffee are
you Star Bucks girl?

I’m not gasping. Nope. Not me. I don’t drink coffee either. I have never learned to like it. I do, however, enjoy tea. A strong black Tea in the morning, green tea in the afternoon, and herbal tea in the evening. Starbucks is another guilty pleasure I do enjoy. But just occasionally. I’ll order a chi tea latte, which tastes like a hot milkshake. Yum!

Do you have a furry companion that helps you write or maybe causes a little mischief when you’re engrossed in writing?

My collie mix, Rosie, keeps out of my way when I’m writing. She’s really not interested in what I’m doing on the computer and considers the entire business a complete bore. Suki, my tiger-striped Siamese point kitty, on the other hand, loves it when I sit down to write. If it’s chilly out, she’ll sit on my lap and sometimes put her paw on my arm, making typing a challenge. In warm weather, she’ll perch on the back of my desk chair and watch my progress over my shoulder. It can be quite intimidating, since cats can be so judgmental. I sometimes get the feeling that she doesn’t approve of how I’m giving Stella, the little dog in the Southern Chocolate Shop Mysteries, a bigger role than Beauregard, the hairless cat in the series.

Let’s have some fun…would you rather write in the mountains, on the beach or at home (describe home)

Definitely, the beach! I lived on Folly Beach for twenty years and wrote full-time there since 2001. I loved writing on the beach. If I got stuck, I’d go for a walk or a swim or would simply stare out the window and watch the waves. I do miss it. What I don’t miss, however, is that the salt air would corrode the power lines (and everything else). The frequent power outages did get in the way of my writing flow sometimes.

On the other hand, there’s less to distract me now that I live in suburbia. My office window looks out at other houses. Two of my neighbors also work from home. I sometimes glance at their houses and remind myself to get off Facebook and back to work!

I’ve never spent much time in the mountains. It seems chilly up in the mountains. I do like warm weather, but if someone was to invite me to spend time in a mountain cabin, I suppose I could pack extra sweaters.

If you could go anywhere in the world to write where would go?

Ah, this is a hard one. I love warm tropical weather. So, do I want to go to a tropical island? Or perhaps I’d like the liveliness of city life. If that’s the case perhaps I’d like to write in New York City of London or even Paris. I would love to be near a train line that could whisk me off on spur-of-the-moment adventures.

But honestly, my writing takes me so many places in my mind. All I really need is my trusty laptop and a comfortable chair. And some quiet. I can write at a coffee shop if it’s not too noisy, but I prefer to write in the quiet of my home.

Do you have a favorite t.v. or movie character that solves crimes?

Have you watched Lucifer on Netflix yet? It’s now one of my all-time favorite crime shows. Psych is another all-time favorite. But Lucifer is fun because it imagines what happens if the devil took a holiday and moved to LA. He’s all about punishing people, so he finds criminals, solves murder mysteries so he can mete out proper punishments for those who are doing wrong. Both Psych and Lucifer are crime shows that don’t take themselves too seriously. When I turn on the TV, I want a break from the real world and to simply be entertained.

I am so glad your touring again with Great Escapes. What is your favorite part about book tours?

As a writer, I spend so much time writing the book and when I’m done, I move on to the next book. What I love most about book tours is that they give me a chance to take a breath and have an extended party for my newest release. I’ve fallen in love with each and every book I’ve written. They are all so special to me. Taking them on a book tour is the cherry on top of the long and bumpy path to publication.

How did you choose the location for the Chocolate shop?

The Chocolate Box is located on Camellia Beach in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. It’s a fictionalized version of Folly Beach, South Carolina where I lived for twenty years. Folly Beach is a quirky, artsy small beach town. There’s no flash or glamour, only down-to-earth Folly-ness. I had long wanted to include my love of my beach town in a book series and when I came up with the Southern Chocolate Shop Mysteries idea, I knew that I’d finally found a book series worthy of the town. I hope that my readers fall in love with Camellia Beach and come to appreciate a less-developed island as much as I have.

Did you have to do any special research while developing the story line?

Well, let me think. The series is set in a chocolate shop. So, I had to eat chocolate, a wide variety of chocolate. I had to learn how to make chocolate from the bean and then I experimented with combining flavors to make tasty chocolate treats worthy to be sold at The Chocolate Box.

Yes, I did this on purpose. When I was thinking about series that I wanted to write, I decided I should write about something that I not only love, but that I obsess over.

As a result of this series, however, I’ve become a terrible chocolate snob. Only high quality chocolates for me, please. There’s no comparison to the richness and depth of flavors that come from gourmet bean-to-bar chocolates. They taste like mini-vacations to South America since the beans take on the flavors of the land where they are grown.

Mass produced candy bars, while can be fun to eat, only provide the taste buds with a single note of flavor. There really is no comparison between the two kinds of candy bars.

I just couldn’t wait to get into the book and learn more about Penn!  Is she an experienced sleuth or more on the side of reluctant sleuth?

This is the fourth book in the series, so Penn is becoming quite comfortable with the sleuthing skills. While not trained to solve mysteries, when she sees a mystery, Penn cannot help herself. She has to do something to help those affected find justice.

I read that Bonbon with the Wind is the 4th book in the series.  Can you tell us how Penn may have changed from the beginning of the series?

Penn has improved—at least I hope readers think she has. In the first book of the series, Penn was a hot mess. Her love life was in shambles. She’d lost her job. And her best friend had recently been murdered. She trusted no one (including herself) and expected the worst of everyone.

As Penn solves each mystery, she learns more and more about herself. Plus, she’s learning the value of trusting those around her.

In Bonbon with the Wind, however, she’s grown to the point where she feels like she can take a leap of faith and trust her friends. Unfortunately, this turns out to be one of the worst decisions she’s ever made. Nothing is ever easy for poor Penn.

Where would Penn take a dream vacation?

Penn has found a paradise in Camellia Beach. I don’t think she’s in a hurry to go anywhere else anytime soon. But if her beau, Harley, were to whisk her away on a spur-of-the-moment holiday, which she would hate, she wouldn’t mind going to a tropical resort where she could laze around sipping on sweet drinks bedecked with tiny umbrellas.

What is your favorite scene in the book?

I loved watching the islanders come together as a true community after the hurricane had passed. This scene was based on real events that occurred after Hurricane Hugo devastated Folly Beach years ago. Everyone on the island came together and worked together to rebuild the island. As a result, the community grew stronger. People who were once strangers began to look out for each other. I really enjoyed being able to retell how hard times can bring out the best in people.

What do you think Penn’s favorite scene would be?

Penn would definitely like the ending of the book above everything else. With the hurricane hitting her beloved island, the murder, and the media attention her shop suddenly started to receive, she really gets put through an emotional wringer in this book. I think she breathed a deep sigh of relief when it was all finally over.

Can you give us a bit of a sneak peek of what you’re working on now?

I’m currently working on the second book in my new series, the Secret Bookroom Mysteries. When a small-town librarian sets up a secret bookroom in her newly modernized library, she discovers that protecting the printed word harder than she’d ever imagined. In fact, it’s murder.

The first book in the series, The Broken Spine, comes out with Berkley Prime Crime September 2020.

In the second book, A Perfect Bind, Trudell Becket, the town of Cypress’s book-loving librarian, has found herself in a bind. Someone is breaking into the secret bookroom she’s set up in the basement of the community’s new state-of-the-art bookless library. But the thief isn’t taking anything. Trudell can’t report the crime, since she’d have to tell those outside the Secret Bookroom Society about her illicit library and risk losing the collection of printed books. Those books are her passion, her life. She wants nothing more than to protect them, even if it means taking on criminals on her own.

This book is scheduled for publication with Berkley Prime Crime September 2021.

Thanks so much for chatting today.  Best wishes with the new book and the tour!

Thank you so much for having me! It was great fun chatting about my love of chocolate, reading, and my favorite place in the world—the beach. I invite everyone to visit The Chocolate Box and take some time enjoying the soothing sounds of the waves on Camellia Beach.

To read reviews, more interviews and guest posts visit the
tour!  Click here

Tuesday, February 4, 2020

A Newish Hobby To Share

Hello everyone.  Welcome to the 1st full week of February


I saw this cut February pic on Facebook and I thought it was so cute.  I usually try to make my own pic but February crept on me!

I spend alot of time on Facebook.  Don't we all?  My time spent may be different than most people.  I am in several 'groups'.  
I have found some lovely Christian women that are crafters.  They have been a huge Blessing to me the past few months.  They have a weekly prayer list and I have been on it since Thanksgiving when my husband became ill.  
Mainly this particular groups makes Junk Journals and things to put in them.  We SWAP with each other.  There are monthly SWAPS.  They also have several games to play.  It is super fun and they are great supportive Christian women. 

Here are a few pics of a few things I've made over the last few months.  

Pocket letters are super fun and sooooo very simple to make.  The first time I saw them I didn't participate because I didn't have any of the Baseball Card Sleeves that are used.  But the group has 2 monthly events.  Weighty (Big) Wishes and Wee Wishes.  I put 
wish on Weighty Wishes for the sleeves and I got a bunch!  
This is a Butterfly theme Pocket Letter.  We were assigned a theme.  Each little pocket is backed with pretty paper and then filled with goodies.  Some goodies are supplies like riboon, washi tape, stickers, and little cut outs.  Other goodies are tea backs or candy. 
This part of a Fall theme.  I used several different paper packages.  The little pink fox's went with the Fall them.  I added the fox with glasses to the pocket.  

    
This is a mini pocket.  3 sections cut from the big sleeve.  This one was inspired by a tiny paper clip shaped like eye glasses.  I knew I had some paper with glasses in my stash so I grab them up and pulled a few other pieces that had the same colors.  This one included a yummy piece of candy. 
Prayer Pocket #10 by Jeannie Thompson Phillips
Pinterest
Another fun project is to make Prayer Envelopes or Pockets.  In another group the administrator makes these and gives them to nursing homes in her community.  I thought this was a fabulous idea so I have started sending her some each month.   For me it is a way to practise.  I am new at paper crafting and it helps having someone to give my things to.  
  
This is a tag for a SWAP the instructions were to make 3 sets of two tags connected.  My partners name started with a 'K' a perfect way to use these cool burlap covered letters!

It is funny I don't hardly throw anything away! I have a clear vase on my work table that is about 15" tall I put tiny thin and long strips in it.  Sometimes a tiny strip is just perfect for a project.  

One of my newest favorite things to make is called 'Fraken Paper'.
It is a project that you use up your tiny or big scraps by gluing them together and making paper out of small pieces.  
In another group we were assigned to make a Junk Journal page about Dogs.  This is part of the page I made.  The vintage Norman Rockwall photo I took to the copy shop and printed so I could preserve the original   I attached it as a pocket and filled the pocket with pretty color paper that is white on the back.  It can be used as journaling cards.  The foot print is a glitter sticker I received in a Pocket Letter.  It was perfect for this spread.
received 8/24 posted on pinned page per Robin at 2:59
This is the page I received from my partner.  

I have found some wonderful new friends from all over through my FB groups.  It's a bit sad to say but in my case they have taken the place of friendships normally found at church.  But I am Blessed. 
Last year I got 40 birthday cards in the mail.  I also got more Christmas cards than I could count. 

And, the funny thing is that before my husband got ill he mailed me an Anniversary card. He saw how happy mail makes me that he joined the game!  

If you are interested in crafting, or in scripture journaling, books 
and I imagine there are lots of other kinds of groups too...check out groups on FB.