Sandra Cox's Blog, page 73

Did You Know

 Did you know, that continued exposure to loud noise (airports, etc.) may lead to severe strokes? It stimulates the amygdala, which can trigger emotional response and high blood pressure.

 

It's Tuesday

 Well...as you know, we went to Philly for a few days. The main reason we were going was to attend the opening of a gallery showing both the baby girl and her husband's work was in. When we got to Philly, we found out the gallery had decided to Zoom the opening. 😏 We watched  the presentation downstairs that the baby girl and SIL were taking part in upstairs. Then went to the gallery the next day.  Here is some of their work. (Some of Meghan's may be a repeat from pictures of her last showing.)

 

And here's pictures from the zoo. Some animals seemed comfortable in their environment. Some I hated seeing enclosed. 

 

What about you. What are your thoughts on zoos?

Friday's Great Read

 I am thrilled to welcome good friend and author Jacqui Murray.  Jacqui specializes in prehistoric writing and if you haven't read her yet you are in for a treat.

Tagline introduction

 

A boy blinded by fire. A woman raised by wolves. An avowed enemy offers help.

 

Summary

 

In this second of the Dawn of Humanity trilogy, the first trilogy in the Man vs. Nature saga, Lucy and her eclectic group escape the treacherous tribe that has been hunting them and find a safe haven in the famous Wonderwerk caves in South Africa. Though they don’t know it, they will be the oldest known occupation of caves by humans. They don’t have clothing, fire, or weapons, but the caves keep them warm and food is plentiful. But they can't stay, not with the rest of the tribe enslaved by an enemy. To free them requires not only the prodigious skills of Lucy's unique group--which includes a proto-wolf and a female raised by the pack--but others who have no reason to assist her and instinct tells Lucy she shouldn't trust.

 

Set 1.8 million years ago in Africa, Lucy and her tribe struggle against the harsh reality of a world ruled by nature, where predators stalk them and a violent new species of man threatens to destroy their world. Only by changing can they prevail. If you ever wondered how earliest man survived but couldn’t get through the academic discussions, this book is for you. Prepare to see this violent and beautiful world in a way you never imagined.

 

A perfect book for fans of Jean Auel and the Gears!

Excerpt:

 

South Africa

Lucy

 

Fresh blood streaked Short-tooth’s muzzle, her golden eyes alert to every movement around her as she munched on Gazelle’s meaty carcass. Each movement made the Cat’s tawny fur ripple over the powerful muscles beneath her skin. She raised her head, chewing slowly while studying the grass field in front of her, especially toward the back where it blended into the forest. She couldn’t see Mammoth but smelled it, close to the Uprights, maybe protecting them. Despite being the size of a boulder, this pachyderm could outrun most predators and would think nothing of crushing them beneath its massive feet.

Short-tooth wasn’t interested in the Uprights. Their bodies had little meat and less fat. Gazelle was more satisfying.

Cat ripped a slab of fragrant meat from the hind leg. Snarling-dog—to the far side—slapped the ground. He was hungry but wouldn’t eat Gazelle until Short-tooth finished. Cat purred loudly, close to a snarl, and Snarling-dog withdrew, but not far. Carrion-bird overhead tightened its circle and a tiny shrew the size of Short-tooth’s paw waited patiently, out of Cat’s range, eyes bright, nose twitching. A shred from the carcass was all it needed. 

None of these creatures mattered to Short-tooth. She was the apex predator in her savannah habitat. 

 

Sticky yellow globs of Mammoth dung slid down Lucy’s back and plopped to the dry thatch. The dung coat was melting under Sun’s intense heat, exactly as Lucy planned. Its purpose was to confuse Short-tooth Cat. The hotter Sun became, the stronger Mammoth’s smell. 

Lucy and her young pairmate, Garv, lay motionless, like Snake sleeping, bodies pressed into the prickly grass, oblivious to the feathery feet that scurried over their backs. She and Garv, too, wanted what Short-tooth didn’t consume. They were more patient than Snarling-dog but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t eat first. The first to arrive got the best of the leftovers.

Lucy rubbed her raw eyes, bleary from watching Cat bite, rip, and chew. If Short-tooth knew of their presence, it was not because she saw them. Lucy and Garv blended into the landscape. Their skin was the color of dirt and dry grass, impossible to find if you weren’t looking. No part of their bodies moved except their narrowed eyes as they scanned the surroundings, evaluating each new arrival to the feast. The dominant scents never changed—Snarling-dog, Short-tooth Cat, something decaying in the nearby forest, her pairmate Garv’s sweaty body, and Gazelle’s ripening offal.

Sun’s relentless heat washed over Lucy in waves. Sweat dripped down her face, over her pronounced brow ridge and into her eyes, but for reasons she didn’t understand, despite his fur pelt, Snarling-dog was dry. He reminded Lucy of Ump, her tribe’s Canis member. Even on the hottest days, Ump didn’t sweat. Instead, he panted more.

Today, Snarling-dog panted hard.

Short-tooth raised her feline head, inspecting her habitat as her jaws crunched through the fresh carrion. She reeked of malevolence which meant scavengers like Lucy and Garv willingly waited their turn.

Sun climbed through the cloudless blue sky. The morning haze had burned off long ago. The dew Lucy hadn’t licked off the leaves, Sun’s heat had. Her throat was dry, lips cracked, but that mattered less than securing scavenge. Her tribe was hungry.

Lately, unexpectedly, when Lucy sat quietly as she did now, a tingle deep inside her chest told her Raza, her former pairmate, was in trouble. The first time she experienced this tingle, what Garv called “instinct”, it churned through her body as a current does in a stream. She thought she was sick until Garv explained this was instinct and it warned of danger, not illness. He told her always to listen, but how was she to do that? Raza had been captured by the tribe’s worst enemy, a formidable Upright called Man-who-preys. She didn’t know where they’d taken him. As often as she brushed the feeling away, it returned, each time stronger than the last.

Cat’s yellow eyes snapped open and her methodical jaws slowed. Something caught her interest, maybe Snarling-dog’s impatience or Carrion-bird’s relentless approach. After a warning hiss, Short-tooth shook her big head and pawed her face. A swarm of black flies lifted, buzzed briefly, and then resettled where they’d started, again gorging on the blood and carrion that stuck to Short-tooth’s face

The flies are thicker than usual.

Short-tooth returned to her meal and Lucy sniffed, wondering what drew Cat’s attention. She didn’t expect to see Man-who-preys here, but took nothing for granted. The tall, big-headed, hairless enemy always carried a long stick which he used to kill prey. Sometimes, he didn’t eat the animal, just watched it die. This unpredictability, that he followed no norms, made him more treacherous than other predators.

She inhaled, but didn’t smell his stench so turned her attention back to the hunt. 

Carrion-bird floated overhead, feet tucked beneath its sleek body. The longer Cat ate, the more of the huge birds arrived. They thought their powerful sweeping wings, sharp claws, and piercing beaks made them the mightiest among the scavengers. What they didn’t realize was that Lucy and Garv possessed an even greater weapon: They could plan. Before Carrion-bird or Snarling-dog got too close, Lucy and Garv would take what they needed and flee.

They always did.

In the edging forest, Cousin Chimp hooted, the pitch and length describing the location of a tree newly bearing fruit. Leaves rustled as his band raced away. Lucy hoped they would leave enough of the succulent produce for her and Garv.

She hunkered deeper into the tall waving stalks, tracking the other scavengers and noting again how far away the trees were in case she needed to flee. A snake slithered over her foot, through the thatch and out of sight. She and Garv had been motionless for so long, Snake probably viewed them as dirt mounds in its path.

Garv tweaked an eyebrow and Lucy motioned, hands a tight circle in front of her chest, well hidden, “Dull colors, no knobs on snake’s tail—no danger.”

Her kind—Man-who-makes-tools—used a sophisticated blend of communication including body language, hand gestures, facial expressions, mimicking, and vocalization. One of their greatest defenses in this brutal world was the ability to become part of their surroundings. Voices were unusual sounds heard nowhere in nature except from Uprights, mostly the big-headed Man-who-preys. Lucy’s kind occasionally whispered and Tree-men, like Boah who was part of Lucy’s tribe, rarely made any sounds beyond huffs, grunts, howls, and moans. Only Man-who-preys jabbered endlessly.

 

  

Author bio:

Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular prehistoric fiction saga, Man vs. Nature which explores seminal events in man’s evolution one trilogy at a time. She is also the author of the Rowe-Delamagente thrillers and Building a Midshipman[image error], the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy. Her non-fiction includes over a hundred books on integrating tech into education, reviews as an Amazon Vine Voice,  a columnist for NEA Today, and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics. Look for her next prehistoric fiction, Natural Selection, Winter 2022.

 

Social Media contacts:

 

Amazon Author Page:        https://www.amazon.com/Jacqui-Murray/e/B002E78CQQ/

Blog:                                       https://worddreams.wordpress.com

Instagram:                             https://www.instagram.com/jacquimurraywriter/

LinkedIn:                                http://linkedin.com/in/jacquimurray

Pinterest:                                http://pinterest.com/askatechteacher

Twitter:                                   http://twitter.com/worddreams

Website:                                 https://jacquimurray.net

 

 

Did You Know

 Did you know, that the slave, Sally Hemings,  that Thomas Jefferson purportedly had a long standing relationship and several children with, was his late wife's half-sister?

 

Wacky Writerly Wednesday

 

ANDI'm visiting with honorary cousin, author J. Q. Rose today:)  Thanks, J.Q.

It's Tuesday

 Greetings Blogger Buds,

Well....

While I was gone I got to meet the incomparable and talented Elizabeth Seckman.  We hooked up for lunch and had all kinds of fun. 

THEN the HH and I headed in to Philly to see the baby girl and SIL. On the way we saw this amazing rainbow. It was so big and pretty.

Once we reached Philly we were served a marvelous dinner that included this wonderful homemade tart.

The next day we visited the University of Penn's Morris Arboretum.

We also went to the gallery they were both showing at and to the zoo. More next week.

AND  last but not least.

It's The Weekend

 

AND I'm going to be offline next week. Save up all the exciting tidbits going on in your lives and be sure and tell me when I get back.

Did You Know

 

Did you know, legend has it that the emerald was dedicated to Venus by the ancient Greeks?

AND

Thanks to Elizabeth and Bleubeard for hosting Keeper and I:)

 

IWSG Wednesday

 

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

 

July 7th optional question - What would make you quit writing?
The awesome co-hosts for the July 7 posting of the IWSG are Pat Garcia, Victoria Marie Lees, and Louise – Fundy Blue!

 

Another good question. Unless, I was mentally or physically unable, I can’t imagine any situation that would make me quit writing. What about you?

 

June/July Reviews in no particular order 

LAWS OF NATURE by Jacqui Murray

Once again Jacqui Murray creates an epic prehistoric adventure.

Murray’s novels are always filled with a plethora of facts about prehistoric man. What they ate. How they hunted. How they communicated. And how they survived. I can’t begin to fathom the amount of time that goes into researching the worlds she creates. What strikes me the most about her stories is how people—and animals—from different cultures learn to live together. Come together. And form a pack. It’s a wonderful lesson in today’s tempestuous times.  

This particular series is about Lucy. A Homo habilis female who takes her place among the men to step up and lead her pack. She does so with both strength and gentleness and earns the respect and loyalty from everyone that follows her.

If you happen to be looking for a book that reaches into the past and has a strong, fearless female, this series is for you. So grab your coffee, put your feet up and prepare to enjoy.

Available at Amazon.

 

THE FERRYMAN AND THE SEA WITCH by D. Wallace Peach

This tale contains a flawed hero, two strong women, with problems of their own, and  merrow—the dark magical creatures who rule the sea.

As a young boy Callum makes a deal with the sea witch and becomes the ferryman.  Each time he crosses the sea, he must sacrifice a life to the merrow.  Each life he sacrifices, results in saving many more, but that does little to lessen the grinding guilt he lives with. Caught up in intrigue between two warring factions and the merrow, there is no way out and no other options, just an obscure promise dangling out of reach.

As always, the author has created an intricate, believable world and populated it with characters just as believable. The ending is outstanding and emotionally satisfying. D. Wallace Peach has own again created an epic saga of fantasy, intrigue and love.

Available at Amazon.

 

WHITE GOLD by Sherri Hollister

The saga continues.

The Leeward Files saga continues in WHITE GOLD with Dana and Jake's story. Like the first book, this one is loaded with danger, intrigue and plenty of steam.  The protagonists are both strong and tender. The world building is outstanding.  And the storyline holds unexpected twists and turns. A perfect read for a day at the beach or just putting your feet up at home, with a glass of sweet tea at your elbow.

Available at Amazon

 

 

TWILIGHT SHIFTERS (Books 1-3) Series by Kate Danley

This is another great YA fantasy series by a new author I’ve discovered. This series is about a young girl who is the only one who doesn’t shift when the rest of the kingdom turns into weres. She must find a way to lift the curse and save several kingdoms from the monsters that hide in the mist and stalk the swamp.

Danley’s writing is clear and appealing and brings the world she has created to life.

Available at Amazon

 

SATIN AND CINDERS by Jan Sikes

This is such a heartwarming micro-read. It reminded me of Lady and The Tramp.  The stallion wild and living on the plains, and the mare much loved and cared for by her humans. The stallion wants to be with the mare but the risk is overwhelming. It could cost him his freedom, possibly his life. The stallion must decide whether to live alone and free or take a chance on humans to be with the mare.

Isn't this a gorgeous cover? 

Available at Amazon

 

SLIVERS by Balroop Singh

I am a great admirer of haiku and tanka. They are forms of poetry that take discipline, deep thought and each word stands alone. SLIVERS, Ms. Singh’s latest offering is in the tanka vein. It also includes acrostic poetry. (The first letter of each line spells out a word.) As usual, Ms. Singh doesn’t disappoint delivering lines such as:

 

‘where two hills meet

clouds play hide and seek

river watches calmly’

 

‘calmness of wintery sky

softens the morning light

magic percolates’

 

‘swaying in the sun

gold of sunflowers smile

exuding positivity’

 

And there is much, much more.

 

I found this book to be delightful. 

Available at Amazon 

 

THE LEGACY BY S. P. Brown

A Curse Goes With His Inheritance

A curse—or a legacy—is attached to the huge sums of money Harry Black inherits on his grandmother’s passing and the unbelievable becomes the norm when he is called on to fight evil.

What I most enjoyed about this novel was watching this young man’s transformation as he grows as a person and realizes saving others is more important than himself or his inheritance.

If you like a blend of paranormal and thriller, give this one a go.

For whatever reason, I couldn't find this when I went back to look for it on Amazon.

 

It's Tuesday

How was your 4th, folks?  We went to the fireworks. Before they started I took a sky shot. My camera really didn't catch the strips of pink in the gray clouds.

After it got dark it was time for the show. The fireworks were definitely better than my pictures of them.

 

Then out for ice cream. Even though it was Saturday and a holiday it was after ten and yes the ice cream store was closed. Sigh.  Sooo we went to the grocery store to buy ice cream.

Has anyone ever bought Halo Top? Let me just say I'm made my first and last foray in that direction. It's got the consistency of  blue cheese: very crumbly. I later found out its best to let it sit a bit before eating to improve the consistency. Oh well. I made a mess just trying to get it into a cone. After that disappointment I hauled myself off to bed to later be awakened by neighborhood fireworks. The critters weren't any happier than I was as they all vied to get under the desk. The only one unphased was the HH who has a hearing problem:) My son has mentioned on more than one occasion that being unable to hear well can sometimes be a blessing. (Speaking from the perspective of someone with three children, a cat and a dog:)  

I'm pleased to announce we all survived the night:)  

THEN Monday the twins spent a couple of hours with us, which was grand.

AND

We got some much needed rain last week.

 AND

More hydrangea pics. 

Two bushes. Two different shades of blue.

 What about you blogger buds? Was your weekend and Monday wondrous? Got hydrangeas?