Gail Ingis's Blog, page 10

Valentine’s Day Fun

Happy Valentine’s Day from our hearts to yours.

Tom and I have been married for many years, so we don’t need to do the “typical” thing to celebrate Valentine’s Day. This year, our special present to ourselves was a trip to the furniture store for a new sofa. Yep! It’s time for our 24-year-old sofa to move out. We’ll be donating it to charity along with a few other things around the house. So on the advice of my dear friend Lorraine Davis, a talented interior designer who is still working at the age of 90, we went to Jordan’s Furniture. And boy did we have fun! Not only did we get terrific service, we bought a beautiful sectional with built-in recliners. Those recliners will come in handy for watching our favorite Hallmark movies and when I need to put my feet up while I’m writing. So Happy Valentine’s Day and remember it’s the time you spend with your sweetheart that matters most.

 

I ordered this gorgeous sectional in “saddle brown”.

And here is my “Valentine” to Jordan’s Furniture:

The experience purchasing our new sofa from you was awesome. It’s obvious that you have a handle on the market, the product, delivery and warranties and philosophy of Jordan’s Furniture. We are confident that the sectional four recliner leather sofa and console table is the expected fine quality and will serve our lifestyle perfectly. The leather upholstery has an amazing hand (Feels soft, pliable, stable and aniline dyed). The pricing fair and expected for our purchase.

Of course, this first time visit was a most pleasant experience, walking in from the handsome exterior to the welcome music at the entrance, (Felt like Disney/Epcot) to the visuals stepping into the showroom, and the salespeople’s smiling faces and greetings, both coming and going, we can’t wait to visit again, maybe make another purchase. I must add that the unexpected brief treat of the pizza snack and ice cream was tops. It was a smidge late to snack at the hour of 8:30 pm, but by the time we left, we could not wipe the smiles off our faces, but we did get that ice cream sundae caramel syrup off. Thank you Cary B, and thank you Jordan’s Furniture.

Gail Ingis Claus is an author, artist/painter and interior designer. Her upcoming romance The Unforgettable Miss Baldwin will be released in spring 2018. Her current historical romance, Indigo Sky can be purchased on amazon.

 

Tag, You’re It.

Brite Brilliance  16×20″

When I was a kid, hearing the word “tag” meant it was my turn to find and tag the kids who were hiding, with ‘you’re it’. In baseball, if you get tagged running the bases, uh-oh, you’re out.

These days, I’m dealing with different kinds of tags – dialog tags in my writing. Let me tell you that the hide and seek tags were a whole lot easier than these pesky dialog ones. When I first began writing, I was told that tags are meant to let the reader know who is talking: he said, she said, etc. But having written and published one book, and writing my second, I decided to review the system. In my efforts to be a better writer I began wondering about all the rules and when and how to break them.

The “Less is More” motto has always been my mantra. It’s touched all parts of my life including my career as an interior designer and my work as an artist/painter. My painting Brite Brilliance (on the left) could have included a lot more in the foreground like a tree or trees, people, animals, taller plants, and shrubs,. But I decided that “less is more”. I wanted the eye to focus on “the big picture” and so this is the result. And guess what? I sold Brite Brilliance in no time at all.

Thumbs up! For Johnson’s tags.

Here’s the scoop. According to an article by D.M Johnson, He Said, She Said: Dialog Tags and Using them Effectively, on Scribophile. Simplicity is key. Johnson writes that the “less is more” approach is better than all the alternative creative ways of saying “said” i.e. “agreed”, “countered”, “offered”, “argued”.  Let alone those pesky adverbs: gently, quietly, softly – she said softly, he said quietly. Dialog tags like “he growled”, “she exclaimed, he replied, etc. Tags that try to be heroic are deceptively dragging your reader out of the story. Those tags are stopgaps, disruptions and a way to ensure that an editor, agent or publisher will toss your manuscript into the garbage. They usually check your dialog first, if they see all those fancy tags, they go no further. You’ve been tagged a reject.

A way to see: How does your brain see this image? Is this about two profiles in black or a goblet in white?

Johnson says that dialogue tags (or speech tags) are like signposts, attributing written dialogue to characters. Dialogue tags don’t need to be fancy, splashy, or self-conscious. Their primary purpose is to show which characters speak and when. The greater the number of characters involved in a scene, the more important the frequency and positioning of tags becomes.

Adding adjectives and adverbs to tags to provide specific information about the speaker or the speech—she asked warily; he said innocently. These are called adverbial tags. Sometimes adding an adverb to a tag can be useful, a quick way to indicate a mannerism or emotion (she said quickly; he said coldly) without drawing it into a longer, descriptive sentence. As a caveat, it’s frequently suggested in writing advice columns and books that such tags be used with a careful hand; an adverb can make a tag more obvious and remind people they’re reading a story instead of experiencing it. Still, published authors use them when it fits the situation.

You can apply this motto to everyday life. When you’re organizing your home office, decorating your living room, putting together an outfit for a job interview or a night on the town. Remember, “less is more”.

For more information on dialogue tags check out DM Johnson’s article. She has a ton of great stuff to say.

D.M. Johnson is a published author and an editor dedicated to helping writers achieve their goals. Her background includes a BS in English and marketing. She provides editing and critique services through Word-Edge.com, offers specialty publishing for unique projects, and teaches writing classes online.

Gail Ingis Claus is an author, artist/painter and interior designer. Her upcoming romance The Unforgettable Miss Baldwin will be released in the spring 2018. Her current historical romance, Indigo Sky can be purchased on amazon.

Click the image! Linked to my Amazon author page

 

Click the image!. A work of art, linked to my Facebook page

 

 

 

 

Why Tennis Matters

Grand Slam in Melbourne, AU

Celebrating two great champions

Tom and I love tennis so much that we were willing to get up at 3:30 in the morning to watch this year’s Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tournament of the year. There’s a sixteen-hour time difference between Melbourne and Connecticut. The afternoon matches started at 9 pm our time, while the evening matches started at 3:30 a.m. It was a two-week tournament, and let me tell you, getting up at 3:30 am was a challenge. I’m no spring chicken anymore. But it was worth it. The caliber of play was amazing. The dedication and commitment that these athletes have to raise the bar each and every time, was inspiring. I’m no stranger to the game of tennis, I played for many years, and I coached. It was one of my true passions. Tom was an excellent player as well, and we loved playing together. Tennis is a great way to communicate with your spouse or partner whether through a gentle lob or a fierce serve.

Simona Halep

Caroline Wozniack

The women’s final was played at 3:30 a.m. last Saturday. Simona Halep and Caroline Woznicaki played the best women’s final I’ve ever seen. And I’ve watched many. The rallies were long, the balls were struck with force, and the timing was impeccable.

Each point was a challenge. The three sets went on for almost three hours. Both women were magnificent and either could have won. In the final set, Simona found herself one point away from losing the match at 4-5, 15-40, but she won the next 2 points to even the game at deuce; the rallies were long and magnificent for each point. Both players were running from side-to-side chasing outstanding well-placed balls.

Caroline Wozniack & the Cup

Caroline won the next point set up by an awesome backhand crosscourt shot, giving her another match point. The next point was another extended, long rally, ending when Simona hit a short backhand into the net, giving Caroline her first Grand Slam victory.

The Men’s final on Sunday morning between Roger Federer, a 19-time Grand Slam winner, and Marin Čilić, a one-time winner, was also exciting and entertaining. Roger could have won in 3 straight sets AND he could have lost in 5 sets. He won 2 of the first 3 sets and was leading in the fourth, 3-1, when Marin won 5 straight games to even the match at 2 sets apiece.

Marin Chilic

Roger Federer

The momentum was clearly favoring Marin, starting in the fifth set, but he lost his serve in the first game of the 5th set and never really recovered. The next few games were very close, but in the end, Roger prevailed 6-1 for his 20th Grand Slam victory.

So we send our congratulations to two great champions, one winning her first Grand Slam and the other continuing to set the all-time mark for Grand Slam wins by a man. Besides being champions, both are great people and wonderful ambassadors for the sport of tennis. May they continue to be both for years to come. We love watching them play and look forward to watching them at the other Grand Slam events this

Roger Federer

year. Tennis is considered an “individual” sport but it brings us together – lovers of the game – who admire the amazing talent of these fine athletes. With the Olympics around the corner, we look forward to rooting for our own country’s athletes while still cheering on the extraordinary achievements by athletes from around the world. Watching and learning and being inspired. And isn’t that what matters?

Gail Ingis Claus is an author, artist/painter and interior designer. Her upcoming romance The Unforgettable Miss Baldwin will be released in the spring 2018. Her current historical romance, Indigo Sky can be purchased on amazon.

 

 

 

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A work of art Indigo Sky

Rose-Colored Glasses

I just got a new pair of glasses and I love them. They have a rose tint in the frame. It’s nice to see the world through rose-colored glasses. Putting on a new pair of glasses changes your perspective a bit. It takes time to “see” properly.  Life changes are like that too. Sometimes we get a real curveball whether it’s a health issue or a family issue and we have to figure out how to catch it or get out of the way. At the age of 82, I’ve caught quite a few doozies.

I’ve struggled with my weight for most of my life. Fifteen years ago I lost 35 pounds and I’ve maintained my weight loss. So you could say, that you’re never too old to gain (or lose) a new perspective. Of course, the benefits are vast; feeling sound in body and mind is the coup de gras. But don’t think for a minute that I gave up pizza. I still enjoy it in moderation of course. I don’t eat the crust, I just get the grease, and leave the carbs behind.

Roses and Glasses

Another new perspective is my writing. I’ve added “published author” to my list of accomplishments, a list that included graduating from design school with a BFA and cum laude, working as an interior designer for more than 50 years, founding a school of interior design, Architecture school, master’s studies in architecture and design criticism, Not to mention photography and painting. I am just about finished writing my second book The Unforgettable Miss Baldwin, a romance set in the Gilded Age of New York City. Allie Baldwin is quite a gal, lives across from Central Park and is a journalist for her father’s syndicated newspapers. And she’s a suffragette. I love spending time with her.

So if you think you need a “new perspective”, it’s okay. Try on a new pair of glasses and I’m sure you’ll see the world in a whole new way.

Gail Ingis Claus is an author, artist/painter and interior designer. Her upcoming romance The Unforgettable Miss Baldwin will be released in the spring 2018. Her current historical romance, Indigo Sky can be purchased on amazon.

Celebrate Every Day Like It’s Your Birthday

Happy Birthday Tom!

Tom is three-quarters of a century old today. WOW! Happy Birthday to my sweetie. Birthdays belong to the owner and are always a time to celebrate. They are a memorial of the past year and a celebration of the coming one. A chance to look to the future.

If you could change your birthday, would you? I can’t think of anything I’d change. I’m 82 years old and I still look forward to my birthday. At my age every day is a celebration of life. If I could pick one of the four seasons – winter, spring, summer, fall – I would keep my fall birthday, with its lapis blue skies and leaves of orange and gold.

In our family, we have oodles of birthdays to celebrate, with five adult children and their spouses and twelve grandchildren and two granddaughters-in-law. From the time they were old enough to go out with Tom and me, each grandchild always had a special day of going out to eat, shop, play, or however they wanted to celebrate.

The great Little Pub

Let them eat cake! From Alina’s Cakes.

Your birthday is the best day of the year. You own that day. Today we get to celebrate Tom’s birthday, and we are loving all the texts and phone calls we’re getting.

Tonight we are celebrating with dinner at The Little Pub, conveniently located and the food is delicious. Birthdays are such a great excuse to have dessert. We need something to hold the candle. Right?

Sunday, we have a grandson and granddaughter-in-law coming to celebrate their birthdays. It’s not as easy to coordinate their special days now that everyone is all grown up.

Birthdays remind us how special each day is. Make every day count. Celebrate YOU every single day.

Gail Ingis Claus is an author, artist/painter and interior designer. Her upcoming romance The Unforgettable Miss Baldwin will be released in the spring 2018. Her current historical romance, Indigo Sky can be purchased on amazon.

Colorful and Cozy by Gail Ingis

Cozy!

Baby it’s cold outside. Boy is it ever! But Tom and I are all snug as two bugs in a rug with our wood stove and our stack of fresh logs for the fire. The wood will keep our heating costs down and our toes all warm and toasty! While I’m recuperating from foot surgery I am under house arrest as I work on my next book, The Unforgettable Miss Baldwin. It’s set in the Gilded Age of New York. Everything about this book makes me smile and laugh. Lots of funny bits, so It’s keeping me warm. A good chuckle will do that for you.

Winter birds

And when I want a break from editing, I can peek out the window and watch the winter birds who call our backyard home. I do love our winter birds, they have the most brilliant colors — like the cardinal who doesn’t migrate, but molts into a gorgeous shade of red. It’s my favorite shade of red. Even  the female’s winter brown feathery coat is perkier than her summer variation of brown.

Holly bushes in our yard

We have one or two male hollies on our property, and lots of females producing those red berries that pop out around Christmas time. Here’s one for the books, in order for the holly bushes to make those beautiful little red berries, you must have at least one male holly on your property, or even in your neighbor’s yard. Our landscape shows off holly in the front yard, backyard and side yard. Red berries everywhere, poking through the white snow.

Flowers for special touch of love and color

But mostly the color is inside our home. Tom makes sure that I have plenty of fresh flowers around me. I also have color on the walls to gaze at. Paintings that I worked on over the years. They mean a lot to me and reflect special times in my life. I’ve been getting back into painting over the last few months. Coney Island was my last painting project. I’m focusing on nature’s landscapes this time around, I’ve even started showing my work again. And making them available for sale. I’ve sold many a painting in my time and it feels good to dip my brushes into the oils and watercolors and swish them onto the canvas. The heroine’s sister in my next book is an artist and she’ll be getting her own book too. Can’t wait for that one!

The most colorful surprise was a carousel that I bought over the holidays. Now I have my Coney Island carousel painting and a toy carousel. I bought it online from Bed, Bath and Beyond, (in case you’re wondering). And best of all, it was on sale.  It looked rather small online and the listing didn’t say what size it was. But I didn’t care.

Reindeer and Santa go round and round

I just wanted it to be pretty and go round and round. So I ordered the little thing. Well, not only wasn’t it little, it turned out to be pretty big! It’s about twelve inches wide and twelve high, it lights up and has mirrors on the center core, a gorgeous red and white canopy, Santa on the chair and reindeer instead of horses. One more unexpected feature: Music. It plays all of our favorite Christmas carols, then with a flick of a switch, it plays Swannee River, Blue Danube, and other classics. Maybe I’ll keep it out until Valentine’s Day.

 

Gail Ingis Claus is an author, artist/painter and interior designer. Her upcoming romance The Unforgettable Miss Baldwin will be released in the spring 2018. Her current historical romance, Indigo Sky can be purchased on amazon.

New Year’s Resolutions in Reverse by Gail Ingis

We didn’t need to return the champagne. Two sips, done and yum!

I’m going to tell you a little secret: I’ve never ever made a New Year’s Resolution. There! The cat’s out of the bag. Why? Every positive change I’ve made in my life happened because of slow, steady, hard work. Not after three glasses of champagne at 12:01 on Jan. 1st. You might say I do “Reverse Resolutions”.

There are a few other things I like to do “in reverse” and that includes shopping! Yup! This time of year is all about “reverse shopping”. Every year after the Holidays are over, I take my precious packages under my arm, and trudge to the mall through snow, hail, and threat of 40mph winds, just like the postman used to do. Lately I’ve seen them driving around in their nifty mail trucks.

It’s blooming lovely.

Many years ago, you couldn’t return anything without a good excuse. That was before stores like Walmart came on the scene and began to implement their return policies, then all the chi-chi stores followed suit. And so every January begins the “reverse shopping” trips: the Christmas lights that didn’t light. The flickering battery candles that didn’t flicker, the blingy jeans screaming bling, even for this sassy Brooklyn blonde. This year Tom returned three bouquets of flowers that had already started to wilt before he even got home! I did manage to salvage a few surviving blooms.

To all of you I say, Happy New Year and remember, you don’t need a new year to make a positive change. But you do need your receipt, well, even Costco appreciates the receipt, but its not required like Walmart,  to return all the new stuff that didn’t work, broke down, or doesn’t fit.

Gail Ingis Claus is an author, artist/painter and interior designer. Her upcoming romance The Unforgettable Miss Baldwin will be released in the spring 2018. Her current historical romance, Indigo Sky can be purchased on amazon.

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Oh, Bring Us Some Noodle Pudding . . .

Yummy Yummy!

This is no mashugana. And it’s not kugel! It’s noodle!

Have you heard? I’m famous! Well, sort of. I’m the Queen Of Noodle Pudding. In my family that is. Fame in any form is fun. My fame only continues as long as I keep making the noodle pudding. Every Holiday, I am tasked with bringing the noodle pudding. But this year I had a noodle of a problem! I had foot surgery a few weeks ago, so I needed a sous chef pronto! And guess what? Or rather guess who came to my rescue? My husband Tom! Boy did he do great! I’m calling him the King of Noodle Pudding from now on. We’ll share the crown.

Now, don’t get confused. Mine is one of those familiar dairy dishes with cream cheese, sour cream and lots of butter, but NO raisins. I hate raisins. My Aunt Miriam made her noodle pudding with raisins, and that’s where my love for noodle pudding ended. That is until my old friend Sheila gave me the best noodle pudding recipe EVER! It’s easy to make. Easy as pudding! Enjoy!

 

GAIL’S NOODLE PUDDING

Bake 325 for 40 minutes (can be covered and placed in fridge ahead of time.)

When ready to eat –  heat in the oven for another 30 minutes at 325.

Ingredients:

1 lb broad egg noodles boiled 8 minutes and drain

6 eggs or 4 xtra large

1 cup sugar (set aside 4 Tablespoons)

2 sticks sweet butter (set aside 4 Tablespoons)

¾ pound cream cheese mashed

1 pt sour cream (2 cups) room temperature

Topping:

2 cups corn flake crumbs-mix with the set aside 4T butter and 4T sugar. Make when ready to use

Beat on low, eggs and sour cream, add sugar and melted butter, add mashed cream cheese (does not have to be perfectly smooth). Mix with cooked and drained noodles, pour into 9×12 buttered casserole. Spread corn flake topping and bake in preheated oven 325 for 40 minutes, and serve. Also can cover with aluminum foil leave in refrigerator and cook next day, uncovered, in preheated oven 325 for 40 minutes. Freezes well, cooked.

Sooooo Good!

 

Gail Ingis Claus is an author, artist/painter and interior designer. Her upcoming romance The Unforgettable Miss Baldwin will be released in the spring 2018. Her current historical romance, Indigo Sky can be purchased on amazon.

http://amzn.to/2j0LXLE

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s Time For Some Scrooge by Gail Ingis

My angel is all caught up in the holiday spirit. No matter what I say, she insists i take the time to enjoy the tree lights and sing Christmas carols. She even wants me to paint a winter landscape. She reminds me to be kind, patient and generous of spirit. She says, “Remember Scrooge? Of course! Who can forget the miser who turns into a kind and giving soul?

Ebenezer-Scrooge

A Christmas Carol is the classic Christmas Story by Charles Dickens that so many of us love to read at this time of year. It reminds us to have have joy and peace in our hearts and to be kind all year long.

Scrooge, was a squeezing, scraping, clutching old miser. He hated Christmas, and said it was nothing but “humbug.” Well, we all know the truth don’t we? What ever you celebrate during the Holiday Season – it is a time for sharing and charing and giving. And that is what life is all about isn’t it?

Here are the last two pages from the original book, A CHRISTMAS CAROL by Charles Dickens, pp115-116 (public domain-from the Library of Congress)

But he was early at the office next morning. Oh, he was early there. If he could only be there first, and catch Bob Cratchit coming late! That was the thing he had set his heart upon.

And he did it’ yes, he did! The clock struck nine. No Bob. A quarter past. No Bob. He was a full eighteen minutes and a half behind his time. Scrooge sat with his door wide open, that he might see him come into the tank. His hat was off before he opened the door; his comforter too. He was on his stool in a jiffy; driving away with his pen, as if he were trying to overtake nine o’clock.

“Hollo!” growled Scrooge, in his accustomed voice, as near as he could feign it. “What do you mean by comin here at this time of day?”

“I am very sorry, sir,” said Bob. “I am behind my time.”

“You are?” repeated Scrooge. “Yes. I think you are. Step this way, sir if you please.”

“It’s only once a year, sir,” pleaded Bob, appearing from the tank. “It shall not be repeated. I was making rather merry yesterday, sir.”

“Now, I’ll tell you what, my friend,” said Scrooge; “I am not going to stand this sort of thing any longer. And therefore,” he continued, leaping from his stool, and giving Bob such a dig in the waistcoat that he staggered back into the tank again—“ and therefore I am about to raise your salary!”

Bob trembled, and got a little nearer to the ruler. He had a momentary idea of knocking Scrooge down with it, holding him, and calling to the people in the court for help and a strait waistcoat.

“A Merry Christmas Bob!” said Scrooge, with an earnestness that could not be mistaken, as he clapped him on the back.

“A merrier Christmas, Bob, my good fellow, than I have given you for many a year. I’ll raise your salary, and endeavor to assist your struggling family, and we will discuss your affairs this very afternoon, over a Christmas bowl of smoking bishop, Bob! Make up the fires, and buy another coal-scuttle before you dot another i, Bob Cratchit!”

Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world. Some people laughed to see the alteration in him, but he let them laugh, and little heeded them; for he was wise enough to know that nothing ever happened on this globe, for good, at which some people did not have their fill of laughter in the outset; and knowing that such as these would be blind anyway, he thought it quite as well that they should wrinkle up their eyes in grins, as have the malady in less attractive form. His own heart laughed; and that was quite enough for him.

He had no further intercourse with spirits, but lived upon the total abstinence principle, ever afterwards; and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless us every one!

The End

If you click this: “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens, written 1911, you can read the book and enjoy all the illustrations.

Gail Ingis Claus is an author, artist/painter and interior designer. Her upcoming romance The Unforgettable Miss Baldwin will be released in the spring 2018. Her current historical romance, Indigo Sky can be purchased on amazon.

http://amzn.to/2j0LXLE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Christmas Cookie Exchange by Gail Ingis

Christmas is a time for giving. Christmas is about spending time with loved ones. Christmas is also about cookies! Christmas cookies that is.. The big Christmas Cooke Exchange happens every year in my family. And boy is it fun. My daughter-in-law and family used to bake dozens of thumbprint cookies and then give them away. These pictures are the end result.  Two dozen stayed in the house and all the tweedles ate them. Not me. I’m watching the waistline.

That was last Christmas. This Christmas our two grandsons, Ben and Stephen, have moved out of the Paul and Joanne Ingis household. Ben is married to Stephanie and living in New Hampshire. Ben is working as an engineer inventing stuff and Stephanie is a nurse at a local hospital making the patients happy and well. Stephen is away at college in Cedarville, Ohio. He’ll be home the weekend coming up. I’m hoping he’ll do the Christmas cookie big bake. Even if he does give  most of them away, there’ll always be a few for the family. As I’m writing this, thoughts of baking them are floating in my head. I was always the baker, then the boys took over. I know, my toe surgery will keep me off my feet, but do I have to stand to bake? I can sit, and delegate, right? I’m going to try tomorrow. If no one hollers at me.

Family favorite Thumbprint Cookies (Recipe below)

Nothing like a cookie to make life joyous, especially at Christmas time.

Cookie tray Thumbprint cookies & Meringue cookies

Thumbprint Cookies: Gail Ingis’s recipe

½ pound butter (2 sticks) or 1 cup Crisco

2 egg yolks

½ cup brown sugar

2 cups flour

½ teaspoon salt

1teaspoon vanilla

1 bag of walnut meal (at Trader Joe’s) or ground walnuts

Mix ingredients (EXCEPT THE EGG WHITE)

Roll into approximately ½” balls then roll into the walnuts, place on cookie sheet. Bake in preheated oven at 375 degrees for 2 minutes, depress center with thumb, then finish baking approximately 12 minutes for larger cookie or 5-8 minutes for smaller cookie. If you like crispy, bake until edges are slightly browned. When cool, fill depressed center with the icing mixture: a combination of slightly warm water, vegetable food coloring and confectioners sugar to an almost pasty consistency. (Color for holidays if desired).

Enjoy! And Merry Christmas Cooking Eating!