Tyler Colins's Blog, page 74

“The Connecticut Corpse Caper” by Julie Elizabeth Powell

Julie’s blog is “a place where I’ll post reviews for other independent authors . . . and a few things of interest”.  An attractive, clean and crisp blog, it’s easy to follow (I do so like that).

http://julieelizabethpowell.blogspot.co.uk

Her blog serves as a companion for the website “Alchemy – The Magic of Words”, a venue for writers and readers alike.  Here, Julie invites you to discuss words in any form.  Look for guidance on writing and reviews, among other things.

http://www.freewebs.com/julizpow/publishing.htm

I’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Julie for a review of my e-book The Connecticut Corpse Caper (the first in the Triple Threat Investigation Agency series).    

Blogger Nicole - Review of “The Connecticut Corpse Caper”

Thirty-something Nicole is an attractive wife and mother of three.  Her blog is dedicated to her “favorite things”.  You can find a sundry of book reviews and some great giveaways.

While she prefers romance and cozies, she admits that she also enjoys reading outside her comfort zone.

I’d like to thank her profusely for the promo tour / review (and, yes, there is a giveaway).   

Please check out her blog and Facebook pages:

bloggernicole.com

www.facebook.com/bloggernicole

. . . Yes, I'd planned to keep my Creative Spider3 blog separate from the new [writer's] blog, but until I'm all "linked" up and feelin' confident, I'll also be posting about my e-book reviews and tours here.   

Book Tour

Guess who has a book tour starting May 15th?  Yes . . . l'il ol' me.

If you're interested, please visit http://www.escapewithdollycas.com.

Lori Caswell's bright eye-catching site is dedicated to cozy mysteries—you can find reviews, contests, author bios and interviews, among other things.  

Here's hoping (and dreaming) that one day I have a blog as appealing and informative as hers!  

Farewell to a Feline Friend

Cat, a handsome tuxedo’d fella, passed a few days ago at the age of eighteen.  He’s now frolicking with his brother, Mouse, in kitty heaven—scampering after catnip balls and feather-boa toys, and sunning on comfy windowsills.

It’s always sad to lose a beloved pet . . . a dear companion, a best friend, a member of the family.  When they’re gone, there’s a big, dull [unhappy] void.

While their departure from this mortal coil is heartrending, we can take solace in knowing we provided our furry friends with a good home abundant with love.  They, in turn, offered affection and cheer.  What a wonderful ending to a busy or stressful day: having a purring cat lounging on a lap or snuggling up in bed.

Here’s to you my dear feline friend.  You’ll be missed.   

A Blogger's Sally

While I will continue to post weekly on Typepad, I have a confession to make: in a quest for a new blog, I've sallied forth--to a competitor.  

It's dedicated to writing, though in all honesty, the actual focus is still proving elusive.  

I'm finding that Wordpress is a wee bit more user friendly than Typepad (for creating and designing on one's little ol' lonesome) and cheaper (paying the good, always helpful folks at Typepad to design it is a bit beyond this blogger's wallet's "capabilities").  

As you know, I've repeatedly referred to "keeping the faith".  This I will continue to do in my new blogging adventure/venture.  While I'm feeling like a salmon swimming upstream, struggling against a powerful current, the final destination is within [distant] sight.  

Life's about challenges, trials and tribulations; there certainly have been some doozies in mine (even creating a simple blog can prove a daunting task to those of us who are technically challenged)).  But every ordeal, from the trivial to the critical, enables us to develop and grow stronger.  When faith reigns in our hearts and heads, and souls, anything is attainable.  

 

Feelin’ Like a Flabby Fat Cat

Goin’ thru a see-saw phase: one day up, one day down.

Down days result in “feeding” melancholy with pizza, donuts and chocolate.  The gut rolls groweth.

Up days result in “feeding” cheerfulness with pizza, donuts and chocolate.  The gut rolls groweth.

These types of phases are probably okay for the short-term, but not so much for the long.  It’s one thing struggling to do a sit-up, another to squeeze through a doorway.

The intention is not to malign the overweight or obese, but to state what currently is—that I’m truly feelin’ like a flabby fat cat.

The good thing is that phases come and go, and serve as:

trials

lessons

tests, and

testimonies.

They are what they are: stages of development, distinct periods . . . chapters in the books of our lives.  How purrrrr-fect is that?  

Happy Beat, Happy Feet

“Beautiful Day” by Jamie Grace Harper is a bubbly and bright song that makes you think sunshine and summer, picnics and playtime.  It’s from her second album, “Ready to Fly” (which received considerable critical acclaim).  We’re talking happy beat for happy feet.

I heard it for the first time three weeks ago and it livened up a down mood superfast!   My ears perked up, my body began to gambol while my feet started to prance and caper . . . at work!   <LOL>   Check out twenty-something Jamie Grace when you get a chance.  You won't be disappointed.

It truly is . . .  a beautiful day. 

The Flight of the Bumble Bee – Not Just an Orchestral Interlude

Last year I posted about (and praised) the worthy and honorable Honey Nut Cheerios “save the bees” campaign.  This year, they’ve returned to remind us of how important these hard-working insects are.

Per Josh Hafner, USA Today: “Several species of bees have experienced dramatic declines in recent decades, with a bumblebee becoming endangered this year for the first time. The declines are believed to come from a variety of factors, including habitat loss and small populations.”

To learn why they’ve started dying and why it’s so vital to bring them back, (as well as other interesting bee facts), check out this site: https://bringbackthebees.ca. 

Cuteness . . . X3

Cuteness break.

Remember last year, when the High Park capybaras hightailed it outta there as soon as an opportunity presented itself?

During those exciting few weeks, it seemed everyone had an attentive eye open in hopes of sighting the missing couple.  The escapade was entertaining, a distraction from the everyday chaos and negativity that saturates the media.

Bonnie and Clyde, as they were aptly called while they were “on the lam”, recently welcomed three wee ones.  Evidently, Mama and Papa, and the trio of cuties are doing just fine.

What an awesome way to welcome the spring.

To Smudge or Not to Smudge

I choose to smudge—with fragrant sage.  In fact, for many years, I’ve smudged (purified) to release negativity that can collect, float, and linger at home.  

Last week, a large circle of work colleagues collected in a parkette to partake in a smudging ceremony.  Simple, informative and inspiring, it was an opportunity to embrace positivity and give thanks.  The heady scent of burning sage, which has been described as an “acrid tang”, “the arrival of autumn” or “a burning campfire” wafted through the cool, misty spring afternoon to soothe and uplift. 

Burning sage (or a mixture of herbs) serves to heal, filter, cleanse space and/or emotions, and provide clarity.  Use it as a wand or loosely (in an abalone shell is preferred) to smudge a “sacred space” (room, home, office, even body).  Part of this ritual is to walk in a circular fashion and, if desired, softly and succinctly state something affirmative.

Smudging requires respect and a knowledge of how to handle herbs based on traditional Native American practices.  This post is the briefest of brief introductions.  At your Internet fingertips is a plethora of information.   Explore.  Learn.  Then, decide for yourself whether to smudge or not to smudge.

miigwech