It's Tuesday AND I'm Back:)

 How are you, my blogger buds? For those that celebrate Thanksgiving, did you have a wondrous one? I trust so. Ours certainly was, with some Griswold moments thrown in. But first I have to say I've got the best blogger buds in the blogosphere. Look what was waiting for me when we got home from Philly.

 I mentioned that I couldn't find cinnamon tea and my own special genie in the form of CJ at CJ and Ink ordered and sent me this.  You rock, CJ. Thanks so much.

AND

If that wasn't enough of a surprise Rockin Ro sent this.

Look at what prices were back in the day.  A car for 4K and a home for 54K.  Can you believe it? This is really going to date me but I can remember my parents picking up an old house with no plumbing, no kitchen cabinets, and only one bedroom for 3K.  Luckily my dad was a carpenter, but I've wandered way off topic.  Thank you, Ro,  your memory is way better than mine:)

AND to the blogger buds that sent cards and holiday wishes, thank you so much. I'm thankful for each and everyone of you.

ON to the holiday weekend, which was lovely. We arrived in Philly Thursday evening and wonder of wonders found a parking spot right in front of our daughter's and SIL's row house. Talk about lucky. We should have bought a lottery ticket.

The next morning we took a walk in one of the city parks. Before we left the baby girl served french toast, soaked overnight in custard then topped with brulee. Oh my. It was so good.

 

 

As you can see, there's still plenty of color in the park. Does anybody know what the shrub with the purple berries is?

Then later, our delicious dinner.

Followed by this the next morning.

After breakfast we headed for Longwood Gardens. Oh my Cod, it was cold. I wore my NC jacket down but packed my Philly coat. Thank goodness. Pictures to follow next week. 

Now I want to hear all about your week. Did you celebrate Thanksgiving? Walk? Eat too much? Inquiring minds want to know.

Addendum

I just received an online advent calendar from Birgit at Created by BB. Thanks so much, Birgit, can't wait to get it downloaded.

Happy Thanksgiving

 

Wishing you all good things  this holiday, my blogger buds. I'll be back next Tuesday.

Weekend Wishes

 

Did You Know

 Did you know, the book James Madison: A Life Reconsidered is written by Lynne Cheney, the wife of Dick Cheney?

 

Writerly Wednesday

 What's your go to word for gallant?  Mine's courteous.

It's Tuesday

 Greetings Blogger Buds,

Did you have a good weekend and a decent Monday?

We saw the grands this weekend.  We took the twins to the Dinosaur Exhibit in Greenville. 

They also had a dark 'cave' where the kids went in and 'mined' for gems and fossils. I wouldn't have minded having some of the gems to intersperse with my river rock in the garden.

AND

Look what my sister-in-law sent me.  My very own Dr.Fauci:) She makes them and Ruth Bader Ginsburg dolls. If anyone is interested in getting your own, just shoot me an email.

And last but not least.

Have you seen the levitating light bulbs? I got the HH one for his BDay.

 

 

What about you, blogger buds? See any dinosaurs? Levitating light bulbs? See your grands or friends?

Weekend Wishes

 

Did you know

 Did you know, sea otter pups hold their mother's paws while they are dozing so they won't drift away in the water?

 AND

 

Writerly Word Wednesday

What's your go-to word for Fall or the first word that comes to mind?

 

FYI: If you don't hear from me, I'm having issues commenting....
 

It's Tuesday

 

So, is anyone else out there watching Black List? 

We are so hooked. I love James Spader and the off the wall characters that waltz in and out of the series. We turn it on after dinner and watch it till bedtime. We're almost through the eighth season which means we're going to be waiting awhile for season nine. Sigh.

Has anyone else noticed a shortage in canned cat food?  

 It's been going on awhile in our area and is starting to get nerve-racking especially with the two finicky creatures I've got. Tuna in sauce for one. Chicken pate for the other.

 I've had cats all my life. Mostly rescues and I've never had finicky eaters. Most have had their favorite foods. Chuck (featured near the bottom on the right) loved his turkey. He'd almost paw wrestle the HH on Thanksgiving. But all of them always considered any kind of cat food a treat. Not these two and they're both rescues. Frank was starving in the woods and Callie still hides around strangers. Frank ate everything that was placed in front of him and wanted more for about the first two years of his life.  After that he decided to be a prima donna but I digress. In the past, I could always pick up whatever cat food I was looking for. Now it's pretty much take what you can get. The shelves are the next thing to bare. Luckily, this hasn't spilled over into kibble. 

Is anyone else experiencing this? Is our canned cat food coming from overseas or is it a transportation problem in the United States? Got any thoughts on the matter?

The last hangers on. 

 

Another care package filled with all kinds of goodies including

 

arrived. The little mousse pumpkins were delicious. The Pumpkin Alfredo is either going to be  a new culinary treat or an acquired taste:)

Got flowers? Cat food? Pumpkin Alfredo sauce? Watch Black List?

Friday's Read: SHATTERED by C. Lee. McKenzie

 

Blurb: Nineteen-year-old Libby Brown is on her way to the winter Olympics for her shot at the Gold. But on a last practice run, an out-of-bounds snowboarder collides with her, and she wakes up in a hospital unable to move her legs. Terrible accident they say, but was it? Or did someone want her off the U.S. slalom team? Libby must find the truth or remain shattered forever.

 

Buy links: 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09JYYJG7V/ref=sr_1_1

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shattered-c-lee-mckenzie/1140389252

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/shattered-262

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1110901

Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/68593c7622/?

More About the Author and Her Books

 Website . Goodreads . BookBub . Instagram . Twitter . Facebook . LinkedIn

Bio

I'm a native Californian who grew up in a lot of different places; then landed in the Santa Cruz Mountains. I write most of the time, hike and practice yoga a lot, and then travel whenever I can. 

In my young adult books, I take on modern issues that today's teens face in their daily lives. My Evernight Teen Publication, Double Negative was voted as one of the best top ten Young Adult books, 2019. My other books, The Princess of Las Pulgas, Sliding on the Edge, Sudden Secrets and Not Guilty are out to four and five-star reviews.

If you visit my website and sign up for my Email Connect (emails two times a month)there's a free 

.

 AND

 AND

If you would like to be featured on Friday's Read just shoot me an email or fill out the contact form

Did You Know

 Did you know, it's ill-advised for a person on oxygen to use a petroleum-based lip balm (for chapped lips)  product because it's flammable? Makes sense but seriously, who'd a thought?

 

IWSG Wednesday

 

The first Wednesday of every month is officially IWSG day. IWSG was formed by Ninja Captain Alex Cavanaugh. Members post about their doubts and fears, discuss struggles and triumphs, and offer words of encouragement to others who are struggling.

The awesome co-hosts for the November 3 posting of the IWSG are Kim Lajevardi, Victoria Marie Lees, Joylene Nowell Butler, Erika Beebe, and Lee Lowery!

 

This month’s optional question:

What’s harder to do, coming up with your book title or writing the blurb?

 

Another good question. Probably the blurb.  Occasionally, I think of a title I like then write a story around it.😊

 

October/November reviews in no particular order.

* Disclaimer. If I run into an occasional typo, I ignore it and don't factor it into my review.

 

 

LEATHAL WHITE by Robert Galbraith

I have finally read a J. K Rowling’s book. Not exactly Harry Potter but very well written.  

 Cormoran Strike is a one-legged ex-vet that is now a famous PI. Robin Ellacott is his junior partner, who he previously fired and has now hired back. Their latest case takes them into both parliament and an eerie manor house, with all kinds of twists and turns.  This is the 4^th in the series and it definitely lives up to the hype.

 I grabbed it because the HH read it, now I’m going back and reading the 1^st of the series.  

 

MAGGIE ON THE BOUNTY by Kate Danley

This is the third in the Magical Tracker Series about wisecracking, hard-hitting Maggie Mackay, who tracks down bad guys of the magical variety. In this book, Maggie and her new partner Killian, the elf, accept a job to find out why ghosts are disappearing from a haunted cruise ship.

If you don’t mind a heroine with a bit of a potty mouth, it’s a fun, easy, well-written read and good for some downtime reading.

 

WORD WEAVING #1: A Word Craft Journal of Syllabic Verse by Colleen M. Chesebro

What a lovely collection of verse by diverse, talented authors. This grouping holds several different  syllabic offerings, all uniquely expressed. There were so many delights included in this book. I especially liked D. L. Finn’s Moon’s Magic, a haibun Idyll that begins with ‘A lone black cat sits on the edge of our world, under the harvest moon. Her green eyes reflect the celestial beams, and her fur absorbs the stars’ and D Wallace Peach’s Haiku:

 

'Moonlight stitches lace

Frosty hems on scarlet leaves

Glints of fallen stars'

So much creativity from gifted writers offering us autumnal pleasures.

Available on Amazon

 

CASE OF THE BYGONE BROTHER by Diane Burton

What a fun cozy.

CASE OF THE BYGONE BROTHER is the second book I’ve read by Ms. Burton and I’ve found both delightful. This whodunit centers around a young female PI out to prove herself and get her business solvent. A case lands in her lap that will get her back on her feet, though there’s questions a plenty about her client.  Add in her old high school flame that waltzes back into her life and is as mysterious as her client. Stir them together and you’ve got the ingredients for a mystery with just the right amount of romance, humor and suspense.

Available at Amazon

 

 

 

THE STORM CROW and THE CROW RIDER by Kayln Josephson

I read this series in two nights. At first, I was a little put off by the idea of riding giant crows, but I quickly moved past it and tumbled into the story.

Thia and her sister are trying to take back the kingdom from the evil Queen Razel who swooped in and destroyed the crows leaving the kingdom defenseless. Her sister thinks the only way to save the kingdom is to marry Thia to the prince. Then Thia finds an unhatched crow egg and the adventure begins.

I highly recommend these books to anyone who loves YA fantasy. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

 

THE MELDING OF AERIS by D. Wallace Peach

Another edge of your seat fantasy by a master storyteller.

This is a fascinating dystopian tale of a society that grafts the skins and parts of any creature they desire to adorn their body.  Unfortunately, their children are born with the skin, or scales, and features of whatever animal or reptile their parents indulged themselves in, making man’s the most sought-after skin of all.

Aeris has been born to wealthy parents who have indulged often in grafts and their son, while pure of heart, is born reptilian-looking and hideous. He is thrilled when his parents give him a graft of human skin for his birthday. It’s only after the grafting he finds out murder was involved in his transfiguration.

Available at Amazon

 

MISTLETOE INN By Jacqui Biggar

A heartwarming tale for the Christmas season.

Hoping for a new start, Molly McCarty, a divorcee with a young son, invests in a bed and breakfast in Christmas town. Anxious to leave her old life behind and start anew, she leaves home in bad weather, ends up in the middle of a snowstorm and runs off the road, only to find herself rescued by her new partner.

Noah Kincaid has lost everyone he cares about. With scars marring his face and his heart he has closed himself off, afraid to love anyone. But Noah’s about to find that Christmas truly is a magic time of year, filled with love, hope and new beginnings.

MISTLETOE INN is a well-written delight. Grab your hot chocolate and prepare to lose yourself in this feel-good story of holiday and happiness.

Available at Amazon