Sandra Cox's Blog, page 72
September 30, 2021
Friday's Read: MORE TIME
Tag
If only we had 'More Time.'
Who would you save if you had a time machine?
Anything you’d change and do different?
The answer isn’t always obvious. You might want to help a childhood friend who you lost touch with as a teenager, or resolve one of the many if-only I had more time situations.
Are you ready for a life do-over?
Sophie is, and this is her story.
Short excerpt
Kevin was my best friend from kindergarten and all through high school. He was a few years older than me and lived down the road from my grandparents, who basically brought me up. The two of us encouraged each other and got into a lot of mischief. One time, we decided to have a fire on the outhouse’s flat roof to warm up the fish and chips we purloined from Nana’s shop. Luckily for me, Papa spotted the smoke before we burnt the building down. I was grounded for an entire month! Kevin’s the only person who has ever challenged me.
Then, there was the time we picked clean the entire elderberry bush and quickly discovered they’re too sour to eat. Kevin suggested we make wine. I mentioned reading about squashing the little berries with our feet. I think I confused elderberries with grapes. He asked me to demonstrate and I forgot to take off my white socks. He kept a straight face for all of two minutes then laughed as I promptly stained them a dark blue-black.
At least, when he wanted to play doctors and nurses, I said, “I’ll strip after you.” We were too young to do anything. After a few minutes, it got boring as the novelty had worn off, and we just got dressed.
Come to think of it, Kevin was the instigator most of the time. Mustn’t forget the time he washed my legs down the toilet to clean them. We’d been wading in the local muddy stream looking for tadpoles. I got a wallop from Mom that time, and deservedly so. It wasn’t just my legs covered in mud!
As kids, we had such fun together, two peas in a pod. Admittedly, he was older, but we understood each other. Why didn’t I date him? His mates making fun of us at high school didn’t help with comments like robbing the cradle.
Too late now, he graduated and got a job locally. A couple of years later, I left to go to university, and we lost touch. In under two years, I graduated with a first in physics. Consumed by the flow of time, I quickly achieved my doctorate in theoretical physics with mathematical premises and proofs on tachyons enabling time travel, plus the effect of gravity on muons.
Bio
Judy and Keith have been married for over forty-five years. They’re semiretired and live in the South Bay, Los Angeles. Both were born and raised in England in the early fifties and relocated to Los Angeles in the late eighties. They have two sons and two grandsons.
You can contact the authors on Facebook at www.facebook.com/JudyandKeith/
or Twitter @JudyandKeith
Their inspiration comes from their extended family and have released several illustrated collections of short-stories for children aged five to twelve, including ‘Bedtime Stories,’ ‘Quests and Adventures,’ and ‘The Wicked Witch Anthology.’
As their grandchildren are now older, their later releases are written for young adults and teens of all ages.
Three quirky facts about the authors
One, we're been married 47 years
Two, we went to the same Grammar school in England and competed against each other in a music competition. Judy won. Grammar School ran from 11 to 18.
Three, we love to dance...Lindy Hop is our favorite.
Four, the secret to a long relationship is communication and doing things together.
Sorry, can't count!
Five, we both love to cook, Judy's better.
Buy link amazon.com/dp/B09DW8CZCD
September 29, 2021
Did You Know
Did you know that Jefferson had such an inquisitive mind about so many things he became known as a walking encyclopedia.
September 28, 2021
Writerly Wednesday
There are many types of family. Some we are born into. Some we create ourselves.
September 27, 2021
It's Tuesday
Halloween Kitty in the daytime. (The dog is on one side of the door and I'm on the other:)
And this is at night.
AND in the garden, Miss Molly is blooming right along as is the little hibiscus.
I was going to exercise but there was a cat on my lap;)
AND, a sweet vid about a little rescued fox.Thanks, Rye.
Got Halloween decos out? Flowers? Cats? Foxes????
September 23, 2021
Friday's Great Read: LIFE IS LIKE A MOSAIC
Blurb
“Use a picture. It’s worth a thousand words.” Arthur Brisbane 1911
An image offers an opportunity to see endless possibilities depending on the viewer’s perspective. Where some might see beauty and joy, others imagine sadness and loss of hope.
In this collection, images and syllabic poetry are brought together to tell a story based on the author’s perspective. The poetry explores our human experiences such as love, happiness, hope, aging, friendship, new beginnings, dreams and loss.
The world around us is an amazing playground and source of all our essential needs as well as sensory experiences that bring wonder into our lives. What lies beyond the horizon? What surprises will we discover as a garden bursts into bloom? Where do the night creatures live?
At the end of the collection there are some longer poems celebrating memories of the author’s life of travel, teenage exploits and love of food!
Introduction
In this latest collection of poetry, my intention was to share aspects of life and nature that we experience on a daily basis, but also can sometimes catch us by surprise.
As you turn each page you will find images and verses that combine to tell stories I hope will surprise and delight you.
At the end of the collection in a special section called Slices of life, I share memories of my childhood and teens and a little humour.
I am a still a student of the syllabic form of poetry and I hope you will enjoy my interpretations of this ancient form of storytelling.
Excerpt - As the book is all poetry I have selected one of the longer ones at the back of the book with a touch of humour.
The Leftovers
I opened the fridge this morning
To check on the state of the world,
I hoped to see that the turkey,
Was not all dry shrivelled and curled.
It peaked from its packet of foil,
Still juicy and raring to go
I shredded it into some sauce
With mushrooms and onions for show.
I took the spuds, carrots and peas
And slathered with butter and oil.
The brandy was down to the dregs,
I added and brought to the boil.
But what to do with the trifle
Still lush with custard and berry
Guess I shall just have to eat it
Topped with a schooner of sherry.
So if I sound a bit pickled
The leftovers carry the blame.
Since to throw good food in the bin
Would be a dire waste and a shame.
My waist has expanded to fit
All the goodies that have been served
But thankfully my beloved,
Likes his women rounded and curved!
Bio
Sally Cronin is the author of fifteen books including her memoir Size Matters: Especially when you weigh 330lb first published in 2001. This has been followed by another fourteen books both fiction and non-fiction including multi-genre collections of short stories and poetry.
Her latest release, Life is Like a Mosaic: Random fragments in harmony is a collection of 50 + images and poems on life, nature, love and a touch of humour.
As an author she understands how important it is to have support in marketing books and offers a number of FREE promotional opportunities in the Café and Bookstore on her blog and across her social media.
Her podcast shares book reviews and short stories Soundcloud Sally Cronin
After leading a nomadic existence exploring the world, she now lives with her husband on the coast of Southern Ireland enjoying the seasonal fluctuations in the temperature of the rain.
Buy Links - Amazon US - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B099X29LTD
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B099X29LTD
Blog/Free Book Marketing: https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com
Book Page and Reviews: https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/my-books-and-reviews-2019-2021/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sgc58
September 22, 2021
Did You Know
Did you know, Thomas Jefferson was the driving force behind Congress founding the U.S Military Academy at West Point in 1802?September 21, 2021
Writerly Wednesday
September 20, 2021
It's Tuesday
Can you believe it's almost autumn? Followed closely by Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Yikes it's almost 2022.
I've been on a butterfly bush jag. This is a dwarf Miss Molly and should level out at four feet.
Interestingly when it arrived it was purple. And when it bloomed out, it went from purple to white. Now it's finally settled into its true color. I wonder if the different colors had anything to do with the shock of shipping then being planted in hot weather. Or maybe, like when we dye our hair, it just wanted a change.😀
The boy found this wandering in his backyard. Don't ya love turtles?
Well. I couldn't find any more of the pumpkin spice muffins, but I did find this.
That's all I've got. Hope things are more exciting--in a good way--in your neck of the woods.
September 16, 2021
Friday's Great Read: SMALL FORGOTTEN MOMENTS
Is Zenna a muse, a sleep-deprived apparition, or something much more sinister?
Three foodie facts about Jo:
She's British and she has amnesia, so she likes comfort food, food which subtly remind her of her childhood. I've provided links in case you have no idea what I'm talking about!
1. In the novel she makes her mother a cottage pie which she loves - https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/cottage-pie
2. Jam roly-poly, a staple of school canteen meals - https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/sticky-toffee-puddings
3. She grew up on the coast, so crab is a firm favorite.
Excerpt from Small Forgotten Moments by Annalisa Crawford
This excerpt is taken from the middle of the book, when Jo’s dreams and hallucinations are becoming more severe.
In the middle of the night, I’m wide awake. An owl hoots, foxes cry, something screeches further along the valley and makes me shudder.
I close my eyes and breathe deeply, evenly. Floating on the ocean, with Opera Pink mist swirling around me. To be more accurate, over the ocean—the mist holding me like a pair of hands. I drift to sleep, my lungs filling with crisp sea air.
Suddenly I’m thrashing against the waves. And Mum’s with me, both of us frantic, immersed by the tide. I struggle to keep above the water, stretching toward the surface, gasping for air. The hands which kept me up now push me down—pressing firmly on my shoulders to prevent me breaking free, easing me toward my death.
I call for Mum, desperately trying to find her in the black, churned-up water. My lips are moving, my words reverberating around my head. But I can’t hear my voice. In my head, I’m yelling, but the sound melts into the sea.
The hands loosen, and I wriggle away instinctively. I kick out and swim as fast as I can, swallowing water as I gasp with the exertion. I’m not moving. I’m stuck, tangled among the seaweed. Panicked and sinking as I flail. The hands are gone, but I’m going under.
At the very last moment, as I take my last gulp of air and expect to plummet to the ocean floor, all motion ceases. I’m in bed, flinching against the daylight; my arms are still trying to swim, my legs kick out. I’m bleary, as if I haven’t slept at all. The dream crumbles; pieces ebb away as I grapple for them.
You can read more about Small Forgotten Moments at www.annalisacrawford.comor go direct to the publisher’s website for all purchase options https://bit.ly/small_forgotten_moments
About Annalisa Crawford
Annalisa Crawford lives in Cornwall, UK, with a good supply of moorland and beaches to keep her inspired. She lives with her husband, two sons, and canine writing partner, Artoo. She is the author of four short story collections, and two novels.
AND
September 15, 2021
Did You Know
Did you know that in 1804 the Vice President of the United States--Aaron Burr--fought a duel with the Secretary of the Treasury--Alexander Hamilton--and killed him?
