Smile for the camera?

After a lonely eleven months without cats, five weeks ago we got our new furbabies Emma and Poppy. They're adorable and they are a pain in the butt. We haven't given them the freedom of the whole house yet. During the day, they are with us in our offices, climbing up on our desks and walking over our keyboards. We're getting lots of work done. NOT.

They have beds they can sleep on or a cushion next to the heater in my office, but they prefer to sleep on our office chairs. (We both have two desks with chairs.) They are also what I call wiggle-worms.  They roll around a lot. They roll off the chairs sometimes.  Yesterday, Emma rolled off while sleeping.

Emma ... just after she rolled off the chair.

Emma (the silver tabby) will "sit pretty" for just about anything. When she's curious, when she's looking out the window, at dinnertime. But can I catch her doing it when I've got my camera or phone in my hands? Nope.  They are incredibly cute until I pull out the camera--either that, or they'll be doing something cute and before I can snap a picture or hit the video button, they stop and/or leave the area. They are definitely camera shy. From these pictures, you'd think they live very quiet lives.  Nope. They sound like a herd of thundering elephants.

They have toys everywhere and two are favorites.  First, their tunnel. Cozy Chick emeritus, Ellery Adams, sent the girls a bag of toys and the tunnel. They play in it every day, They race through it, have life-and-death wrestling matches in it. Good clean fun for a couple of hours a day.

Their other favorite toys are crinkle balls.  (That's what it said when I Googled it.) The bag Ellery sent had a few of them in it, and then (current Cozy Chick) Mary Kennedy sent them an entire bag of crinkle balls. Holy cow! When we need to work, another on gets tossed on the floor and we're guaranteed at least 20 minutes to sneak in some work.

Emma has been sneezing, so we're going to the vet this afternoon. She did not like the carrier when we took her for her shots, so this should be an adventure. Poppy hasn't been left alone. She'll either be freaked out, or yawn and take a nap.

Either way, my camera won't be far away. But I think I might need to buy another photo card. With these girls, I think I'm going to need it.

What are you pet's favorite toys?

Get your copy!

Out this week, the first Ghostly Fashionista Mystery, DESIGNS ON MURDER, by my Victoria Square co-author Gayle Leeson. I had the pleasure of reading the book to write the back cover blurb for this charming book. Here's a brief description...

Amanda Tucker is excited about opening her fashion design studio in Shops On Main, a charming old building in historic Abingdon, Virginia. She didn't realize a ghost came with the property! But soon Maxine "Max" Englebright, a young woman who died in 1930, isn't the only dead person at the retail complex. Mark Tinsley, a web designer with a know-it-all attitude who also rented space at Shops On Main, is shot in his office. Amanda is afraid that one of her new "friends" and fellow small business owners is his killer, and Max is encouraging her to solve Mark's murder a la Nancy Drew. Easy for Max to want to investigate--the ghostly fashionista can't end up the killer's next victim!

Order from:

Paperback:  Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Kindle US | Kindle Worldwide | Nook | Kobo | Apple Books

Coming April 12th

Alone and suddenly single, Teagan Tate's visit to Martha’s Vineyard for a previously planned couples weekend leaves her feeling more of a third wheel.  And when the last ferry off the island is cancelled, she finds herself stranded in the middle of a nor’easter. Will the magic of Blythe Cove Manor and the kindness of two strangers help her find a new and happier life path?

Kindle US | Kindle Worldwide | Nook | Kobo

Apple Books | Smashwords

Teacup Tuesday once again

There are lots of great places in Stoneham, NH to take tea. Of course, the nicest is The Brookview Inn, but you can grab a cuppa at Booked for Lunch, the Bookshelf Diner, and even at the local pub, The Dog-Eared Page.

What's in your cup today?

Not just to wash my hands

I like soap. When I was a little girl, my next-door neighbor used to bring back all the little cakes of soap from her business trips and vacations. I was fascinated by all the different wrappings.  I had an extra Barbie doll case where I stored all these wonderful little soaps. I also remember swiping a British Rail soap for my collection when I was ... cough cough ... we won't go into how long ago that was.

Anyway, I'm still fascinated by soap. I've even considered making it ... but I have so many other things on my plate, I'm leaving that to the experts.

I often buy sample sizes because I like the wrapping or the scent. I currently have enough soup to bathe most of Western NY. Part of that is because I have a big glass jar that sits on my bathroom vanity and is filled with Yardley Oatmeal and Almond soaps.  (The jar will hold at least ten bars.)  My mother told me that the old soap lasts longer than new soap.  Is that true? I don't know, but I rotate the soap when the jar is half empty and I stock up.

Right now I'm using a sample soap that's got olive oil in it.  Stacked up in waiting are soaps that smell like lilac, lemon, and goodness knows what. I stayed in a hotel in Ottawa once that had apricot-scented glycerine soap. Wow -- I liked that a lot. So for a year or two, I bought a bunch of glycerine soaps because they give you nice, soft skin. I bought this little square of black current & olive butter soap last summer and have hesitated to use it. It smells wonderful, but I just love the packaging and don't want to lose it.

I had a very nice soap I opened in January that had a nice scent, but I noticed that the more I used it, the less it lathered. So I googled "my soap doesn't lather" and found out that ... for a soap to work, it really doesn't need to lather all that much. Something about dirt and the surface tension ratio of soap to water. It sounded reasonable, but I chucked it because I like more lather than it was giving me.

And then there are those foaming soaps. My hairdresser gave me one for Christmas and I like the foam, but the Cherry Chill scent was overpowering for me.  I think it will live in my powder room. I like "bar" soaps best.

So, what's your favorite soap?

Teacup Tuesday At The Brookview Inn

What would you order for afternoon tea at Stoneham's historic Brookview Inn?

Adding a little spice to my life

Some of you might remember that I love Indian food. I like spicy food (either Indian or Mexican), too.  But ... I'm not fond of Indian or Mexican restaurants.  A) Most Indian restaurants have a buffet. They food is good but ... not spicy (because many Americans seem pretty timid about spices) and B) Most buffets aren't hot.  Not talking spicy here, talking temperature.  It seems like there must be a shortage of sterno under the "warming" trays. And C) They don't have good bars. I don't want to pay $7 for a lousy martini.  (There, I said it.)

So ... the answer?

Make the food myself.  I've got a few Indian recipes that I make over and over again, but I've decided I want to do more. I'd like to make at least one new recipe a week. My only real problem is that I usually don't have the ingredients on hand, so this is going to take some planning. It's not so much the spices--I've got them and use them a lot, mostly for breakfasts and lunches (yup, I put curry powder in my omelets--garlic and cumin, too).  It's things like plain yogurt and coconut milk.

So, in my quest for new-to-me food (and I'm not adverse to eating more vegetarian, either), here's the first recipe I made. And since there are only two of us, it made a HUGE amount of leftovers.

Easy One-Pot Cauliflower Curry Recipe
Ingredients
1 medium cauliflower head cut into florets
1 tablespoon vegetable or olive oil
2 cups white onions,  chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon cumin
¼ teaspoon ground coriander
4 teaspoons curry powder
Salt and black pepper to taste
2 cups diced tomato with the juice from the can
2 cups green peas — frozen or fresh (optional)
 ¾ cups coconut milk from the can — not carton coconut milk
cooked rise

In a large pot, add 2 cups of water and place a steamer in the bottom.
Bring the water to a boil. Add the cauliflower florets in the steamer basket, cover the pot, and steam for about 6 to 8 minutes. Remove the steamer basket (with the cauliflower) from the pot and let the cauliflower cool down for 5 minutes. Set aside. (Discard water.)

Return the pot  to the stove and add oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and sauté until the onions are tender (3 to 5 minutes) Add the cumin, coriander, curry powder, salt, and pepper. Stir well to combine everything. Add the tomatoes, green peas (if using) and stir in the coconut milk. Bring to a simmer and add the cauliflower back to the pot. Cook everything together for 3 to 5 minutes before serving. Serve over cooked rice.

Yield:  6 to 8 servings

Truthfully, I upped the curry and garlic, and next time I make it, I'll put in some cayenne in for heat. I also opted not to add the peas, but I think I will next time (only I might only put in 1 cup).

And how was it?

Terrific.  And it made a LOT. (Guess what I'll be having for lunch for the next few days.)

What new recipe have you made for yourself and/or your family?

Wanna win a tote bag?

Would you like to win one of my tote bags and a goody bag filled with bookmarks, postcards, and stickers, too? Well, this is your opportunity!

I’m looking to add 200 readers to my newsletter mailing list before April 1st (no fooling)! But please, don’t enter if you plan to unsubscribe the first time I send out a newsletter. I’m looking to add those who actually read my books and/or want to find out what I’m doing in addition to my social media posts.

All you have to do is sign up for my newsletter. But wait—there’s a catch. You HAVE to double-opt in. (That means you either get a pop-up to confirm your entry or an email you must click on.) Without that double opt in, your entry won’t count.

There will be TEN prizes, so you’ve got a good chance of winning.

Here’s the link: http://oi.vresp.com?fid=aee11a8d64

This contest is for new sign-ups only.

Thanks for joining!

Our neighbors have DOGS!

About 14 months ago, new neighbors moved in.

They had dogs. Rather big dogs.

Ruh-roh!

When I was five, I got bitten by a wire fox terrier who was just as big as me when he charged and knocked me down. Since then, I've been wary about "big" dogs.

I love dogs. Little dogs. My parents had scotches and Westies and they were pretty much sweet little dogs. Mac (the Scottie and their first) was our favorite, but their last dog, Jessie, was also a sweetheart, and in between was Buddy, who was a joy to walk. I would love to have a dog--preferably a small poodle mix. Supposedly, poodles don't smell when they get wet. But -- Mr. L isn't a dog person. He once was, but I converted him to being a cat person, and now he doesn't want to look back. *Sigh*

And so our neighbors have these largish dogs. We thought that might be a problem, but it turns out it hasn't. Their yard wasn't fenced when we moved in, and the chain-link fence we had wasn't up to code. Mind you, it was grandfathered in, but since the new neighbors also had children--one of whom was only three, we decided to upgrade our fence. Oooba-dooba -- that was a headache, and incredibly expensive. Even worse, they said they could do the fence in one day. They didn't. So there was our in-ground pool EXPOSED for more than 24 hours and there was a small child next door. (The dogs had been going out on leashes for their outdoor visits.) Finally the fence was in, but the gate was not. I'm a born worrier, so that was another headache. Finally, the gate and fence were finished. And a few weeks later, the neighbors finished off fencing their yard on both sides of the house.  Looks very nice.

That's when they started letting their dogs loose in the yard, and since then we have had hours of entertainment.

These are very quiet dogs. So when we hear them bark, we know they mean business.  Usually there's a squirrel (or some other animal) on the other side of the big fence at the back of their yard, which the previous owner put in as a wind break. When we hear them bark, we usually look out the window. Yup--one of them has barked to say, "We're cold! Let us in." Sure enough, a few seconds later, the back door opens and dogs go inside with their tales wagging incredibly fast.  Sometimes we see them wrestling in the snow. The other day, I was clearing the driveway and one of them (Lucy) came bounding up to the fence to warn me not to intrude on her territory. I told her, "Good dog!" She kind of blinked and said, "Oh, okay" and then ran back to play with her pack-mate.

Next time I get a chance to talk to the neighbors, I'm going to ask if it would be okay for me to give them dog biscuits. I'd like to make friends with them.

Meanwhile, here's a picture of one of our new kittens, Poppy. Isn't she adorable? (Um, for some reason she thinks she can help me write. She also likes to sit on my mouse which is uncomfortable for both of us.) It's okay if Mr. L has become a cat person. It really is.

Are you a dog or cat (or other animal) person?

It's National Oreo Day!

You can bet that there are Oreos in the cupboard in Tori's kitchen. Kathy, of course, will grudgingly eat one, but she's a cookie baker. There are 41 cookie recipes in The Best From Swans Nest. 

What's your favorite commercially made cookie and your favorite homemade cookie?

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Kathy's cookbook THE BEST OF SWANS NEST will be available on May 14th. Pre-order now!

Kindle US
Kindle UK
Kindle Worldwide

Nook
Kobo
Apple Books

Our New Kittens: The Whole Story

It's been almost a year since Mr. L and I had cats.  We lost our boys last March, 12 days apart, and were devastated. We weren't ready for kitties for a long time. In fact, although we had looked at a number of cats and kitten (21 in one day) we didn't find our forever furbabies, and truthfully we really weren't ready. Unfortunately, our boys had developed a bad habit of marking their territory. It was only the last year of their lives that this happened, but the damage was done.  We pulled the carpet and had to repair the floor. The carpet to the back door was also marked. (We've yet to address that situation.)

Last weekend, we were determined to find kitties. The local Humane Society had been sending me 4 or 5 emails a day saying they were overwhelmed with cats and kittens.  So, we kitten-proofed portions of the house and on Saturday went to find some. Only ... when we got to Lollipop Farm, not only was there only one cat available, but there was a mob of people looking to adopt cats. They had a "Valentine's Day Special" and had slashed the price of cat adoption and had already "moved" 25 cats during the three hours they had been open. We were crushed. (I cried.)

So I posted my frustration on Facebook and one of my readers, who happens to be a kitty foster Mom, send me a message. We went back and forth and arranged to meet Mooch-Mooch and Sepi. (*Shudder* Who came up with those names? Foster Mom strongly encouraged me to change them -- which was a no brainer.)

It was kind of funny. The pet store has no dedicated "meeting room" to get to know cats, so we had to gather in the store's (very clean) bathroom. Kind of like a clandestine drug deal. Of course, they captured our hearts in just about an instant. They were a little younger than we had planned on (but not by much, they're 13 weeks old), and they came home with us.  We named them Pippa and Poppy.

They were TERRIFIED. Why not? We were two GIANT strangers. The first night, they ran around for about an hour, and we put them in the laundry room (out came the baby gates once again) and decided to let them get acclimated to that room first. They'll be staying there at night for a few weeks until we introduce them to the whole house.

Yesterday, they spent the day with us in our connecting offices and it sounded like a herd of elephants were racing around. They have a LOT of energy. And like all teenagers, they are HUNGRY all the time! They didn't get tuckered out until last afternoon. We have a rambling ranch house and we  thought we'd let them run around last night, but they were terrified by all that open space. (They really are very little girls.) So back into the laundry room they went, and they were pretty fine about that. Tonight we're going to introduce them to another "confined environment" to see how they do.

Foster Mom warned me I might not get much word done with kittens in our offices.

She was right.

But there have been more smiles in this house in the past few days hours than there have been for eleven months. I'd say that was a pretty good outcome.

Chill out -- It's National Margarita Day!

Happy National Margarita Day!  Happy Happy Hour.

What's your favorite flavor?

You'll get only The Best From Swans Nest

Woo-hoo! Two years in the making, but at last THE BEST FROM SWANS NEST is now available for pre-order. It's a companion cookbook for the Lotus Bay Mystery series.

What's been fun for me is giving background information for Kathy Grant and what her inn and food mean to her. If you're a fan of the Lotus Bay Mysteries, and you like to eat, you'll want to add this companion to the series to your ereader. (And yes, it will also be available in print -- hopefully on the same day as the ebook. I'll keep you posted.)

Here's a brief description:

Kathy Grant, owner of the Swans Nest Inn on beautiful Lotus Bay, has collected more than a hundred mouth-watering recipes that she not only offers her B&B guests, but the brides who book their engagement and wedding parties at the inn.

Now you can enjoy the same treats like sweet sausage coffee ring, lots of marvelous muffins, quiche, stuffed mushrooms and many, many more!

Kindle US | Kindle UK | Kindle Worldwide | Nook | Kobo | Apple Books

We have KITTENS

Introducing ...

They're 13 weeks old and cute as buttons ... and boy do they have a lot of energy!

What do you think?

Can you bake a cherry pie?

Happy National Cherry Pie Day!

Are you a doodler?

A few years ago, I had never read an issue of Woman's World, a weekly magazine. Then my publisher put a small plug for one of my Booktown Mysteries in it. I bought that copy and thought--wow, with that circulation, I'm sure to have a gazillion sales. Ha! No uptick in sales. I don't even think I read the magazine.

Fast forward 4-5 years and an author group I'm part of decided to poll readers to see what magazines they read most often. I was astounded to see that Woman's World came up first--by a long shot. So, 18 months ago, I decided to see what the attraction was. I was at our summer cottage and went into town to get the Rochester newspaper, but the grocery store was sold out. I went to Dollar General to get envelopes (because I had to mail a contract to my agent) and at the checkout were copies of Women's World. On impulse, I bought one. I read it from cover to cover that night. The next week, I bought another.  And the next week, yet another.  After about a month, I bought a subscription. because there were so many features I enjoyed, like the mini mystery and mini romance. And it amuses me how every cover boasts some kind of diet, but also some kind of stunningly fattening confection. (Go figure!)

So what does this have to do with anything?

Last week's issue had a one-paragraph article about doodling. If you doodle, you're an artist.

I don't doodle. But my mother did. When she'd be talking on the phone, she'd draw women's faces on the back of envelopes, on white space on the newspaper. Whenever she'd doodle, it was always women's faces. I wish I'd asked her why, but it was just a thing Mum did.  When I was going through her things, I found a lot of them.  I cut them out and saved a bunch of them.

I think she was influenced by paper dolls. She used to make her own when she was a kid. I doubt she ever had more than one or two toys in her entire life, so paper dolls were what she had to play with--and nothing glossy and commercially made. She used to cut out the Betsy McCall paper dolls that came out of McCall's magazine and give them to me. I remember her buying me paper dolls (Barbie, for one). She could buy paper doll books from Dover. I think she had one for Audrey Hepburn as My Fair Lady, and I know she had a bunch of Shirley Temple paper doll books (as well as Princess Diana). Not that she cut them out or played with them. She just liked to look at them.

So when I saw that article about doodling and creativity it just brought her back to me so vividly. She wasn't a writer, but she was a voracious reader. (She sewed, she knitted, and could do just about every craft.) She instilled in me a love of reading. She introduced me to mysteries. She only had a 9th grade education (kids left school at 14 in England in those days), but she was so well-read my father always said she had the equivalent of four university degrees.  I don't doubt that. No matter what problem I had, I could always call her up and ask her advice. And although she wasn't a good money manager herself, she gave the best advice. I became a saver because of her (and my Dad).

I had one of those "lady heads" among the papers on my desk for the last couple of years and now it seems to have disappeared. I'm going to go through that big box of papers in my guest room (which still has way too many of her possessions that I still haven't been able to part with) and when I find one of those lady heads, I'm going to frame it and hang it over my computer desk to remind me of her and her doodling.

Do you have a fond memory of someone you've lost?

Like to laugh? You'll love this book!

So happy for my friend Mary Kennedy and celebrating the re-boot of STAY TUNED FOR MURDER, the third book in her Talk Radio Mystery series. If you've never tried this series, it's very funny. It's got a dog--Pugsley, and some whacky characters who will steal your heart. (First book in the series is DEAD AIR). Check it out!

Dr. Maggie Walsh's radio show has been getting a boost in ratings ever since Madame Chantal, who claims to talk to the dead, started her regular guest appearances. But when two women are killed after a seance, it's up to Maggie to catch the culprit before she, too, winds up on the other side...

Kindle US  |  Kindle UK  |  Kindle Worldwide  |  Nook  |  Kobo  | Apple Books  | Smashwords

Hooked on British Reality Shows

I don't like American reality TV shows. There, I said it. They're just too scripted and full of drama. I may be wrong, but British reality shows seem a lot more real to me.

It seems like every few months I find another show on YouTube to binge on.  Last month, it was Bad Tenants, Rogue Landlords. (Its original title was Bad Tenants, Scum Landlords. I guess they had to change it.)  Over the 40+ episodes, I got to feel like Paul and Chris were chums, helping people with really bad tenants get back their properties. (And there were more than a couple of scary moments that I'm sure were NOT scripted.)

This week, I found a new show to have playing in the background while I do mundane things like pair socks and fold towels:  Eat Well For Less.  This show features two guys (Gregg and Chris) who watch people shop, confront them at the register, and then go to their homes and swap out bad-for-you and expensive food for lower calorie and cheaper (similar) products.

Unfortunately, there aren't many episodes available on YouTube so I'll be looking for something new next week, but I've quite enjoyed the episodes I was able to see.

What I like best is that most of the families eat a LOT of processed food -- mostly because they think they don't have the time or were never taught to cook. I like the cooking portions best. They don't give the recipes, but you can find them online. (There are a few I want to try -- like vegetable croquettes, where you take all the dodgy veggies out of your fridge, chop or cut into ribbons, add a little flour, some garlic, and a couple of eggs, and fry them in a little oil. I can see me making that in the summer when the garden is over-producing. The Rosted Caluiflower with Romesco Sauce sounds good, too.

After watching those shows, it really made me want to get in the kitchen and cook. Unfortunately, I didn't have most of the ingredients for the dishes they made. (Like coconut oil, plain yogurt, etc.) I'm going to have to hit the grocery store and stock up on some of these ingredients.

Any suggestions on what British show I should try to watch next?

Try out a series with the first book free!

You may not know this, but I'm a member of Novelists Inc. That's an organization that represents authors.  We were recently given an opportunity to participate in the Nook Book Bash.  That's a promotion where you get the first book in a series for FREE and the opportunity to get the second book in a series for 25% off.  (Don't worry if you don't have a Nook ereader -- you can download the Nook app for FREE, too!

What genres are covered?  Mysteries, thrillers, romance (contemporary, historical, paranormal), and Sci-Fi. The books are all from tried-and-true traditionally published authors. You can't lose! You can either choose from categories or see all the books (over 200) at once.

I've got two series in the promo. The Lotus Bay Mysteries (cozy) and Tales of Telenia (adventure-fantasy).

You can pick add my two free books to your shopping cart. Just click the links below:

Panty Raid

Tales of Telenia: STRANDED

Go to the checkout and use coupon code: NOOKBASHFREE

 ~  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

To get the second books in the series for 25% off, use these links:

With Baited Breath

Tales of Telenia: JOURNEY


Go to the checkout and use coupon code: NOOKBASH25

This sale is a great way to find new authors.

So what are you waiting for?  You could be reading right now!


 (This sale lasts until Feb. 28th)

Time to Tidy

Last winter, I started watching decluttering videos on YouTube and I did a major decluttering in a couple of areas of my home. I reorganized our "supply" closet in Mr. L's office and it had pretty much stayed organized. I did a purge on my office closet, but somehow it's back to square one--as is the rest of my office. It's time to do another purge.

So, where did I turn to?  Yup, YouTube. Only this time, I'm consulting the queen of tidying, Marie Kondo. This diminutive Japanese lady has written several books on the subject, including The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up. I haven't yet read it, but I've got it on order and it should arrive next week.

Ms. Kondo advises you to start your purge with your clothes.  I did that, too, last January, and managed to weed out a big box of stuff but the closet is still bulging. Mostly with things I THINK I might wear. I bought a dress (yes, me--who hasn't worn one in at least 20 years) to go on a cruise and paid retail. (I know! A shock.) Never wore it. I've got that tight little black cocktail dress I wore to a wedding 30 years ago and can't seem to part with because -- hey, I once was that size. (Ah, the memories...mostly of feeling starved.)

One thing I have not done as I examined each item was ask myself if the item brings me joy. Hmm. I haven't experienced joy all that many times, so this is a tough question to ask. Does the little blue teddy bear that has sat on or near my desk for the past twenty years bring me joy? No. But my mother gave him to me (his name is Roger), and he pleases me. How about that icky tasting chapstick on my desk? It definitely doesn't bring me joy, but it gets the job done. Do I really need a planter filled with a gazillion pens, pencils, markets, fans, and at least four pairs of scissors on my desk? Well, yes. I am constantly losing my pens, fans, and scissors. Having more than one pair at hand may not bring me joy, but it's a lot less frustrating to know if I want a pair of scissors, I won't have to go hunting for them.

So I will read Ms. Kondo's book and I will try to embrace her ways (I think I could really get into her method of folding T-shirts). It's going to be a journey.  I'll keep you posted along the way.

Have you embrased the life changing magic of tidying up?

Have an Irish Coffee

I'm not a coffee drinker, so this is not my day. But I did once have an Irish Coffee in Templebar, Dublin Ireland. Why? Well, because I was in Ireland. Another famous place we went that serves Irish Coffee is Cliff House in San Francisco. While the others all had two Irish coffees, I settled for a hot chocolate. It wasn't memorable, but the view was. (Lots of seals on that gray, raining morning.)

Are you an Irish Coffee drinker? If so--have you had it anyplace memorable or have a happy memory of it?

Mmmmm....peanut butter

Cookies are a favorite at The Patisserie -- what a great day to visit and try the different peanut butter cookies on sale.

Of course, if you don't like peanut butter (what???), what kind of cookie would you order?

Celebrate with PIE

Yum-yum! It's National Pie Day.  What's your favorite?

Are coffee/cocoa stations over the top?

During December, I watched (well, they were playing while I did other things) over 100 entries in the $5 Goodwill Challenge 2018 Christmas Edition on Youtube. An awful lot of these vloggers made hot cocoa stations or did an overhaul of their coffee/tea stations.

Since when does everybody have coffee stations?  Okay, our coffee maker lives by the sink and the GFI plug. I don't drink coffee, but I make a pot every morning for Mr. L. My electric kettle lives on the opposite side of the counter because that's where that plug is.  You can't plug both coffee pot and tea kettle in the same plug or they trip the circuit so that's why they live apart. Mr. L's coffee and filters live in the cupboard above the stove and my tea bags and teapot live near the kettle.

Now I will admit that cocoa stations can be incredibly cute. But Mr. L and I don't have a lot of visitors and I can count on one hand how many mugs of cocoa I drink in any given year. Not that I don't like cocoa, but it has a lot more calories in it than a cuppa tea does ... so tea is my daytime drink of choice.

Until recently, I only had one glass jar to hold my tea. Most of the time I make a pot of tea and use Typhoo teabags. If I want to make just a mug of tea, I use a Red Rose teabag. Mr. L gave me a box of Red Rose orange pekeo teabags and they're now living in a smaller glass jar.  I've had the little ceramic teabag holder since I got married (Mr. L brought it with him) but only recently started using it.

It's not what you could call a tea station, but I guess it functions as such. I don't put sugar in my tea, so no sugar or creamers lives on the counter (although I must have at least 10 bone china sets).

Of course, two of my characters have "beverage stations."  Tricia of The Booktown Mysteries offers her customers free coffee and treats like mini cupcakes or cookies. Kathy Grant of The Lotus Bay Mysteries owns a B&B called Swans Nest. When her guests are in resident, she keeps a coffee/tea/cocoa beverage station in her dining room, along with fresh-baked cookies.  (Kathy loves to bake cookies.)

So, do you have a coffee, tea, or cocoa station?

On sale now!

Woo-hoo!  If you've fallen behind on reading my Booktown Mystery series, for a limited time, my publisher has decided to lower the ebook price of A JUST CLAUSE, the 11th book in the series, to $1.99 in the US.

Here's a brief description:

Tricia Miles, mystery bookstore owner and amateur sleuth, is in for a surprise when her ne’er-do-well father, John, comes to town—and promptly becomes a prime suspect in the murder of a woman with her own scandalous past. Even Tricia’s faith in the old man is shaken when the Stoneham police break the news that her father is a known con man who has done jail time. From merlot to murder, Tricia is determined to clear the family name before another body shows up and ruins Stoneham’s first—and highly anticipated—wine and jazz festival.

Kindle US | Kindle UK | Nook |  Apple Books | Kobo

Read more about it on my website. Just click this link.