C. Margery Kempe's Blog: Lady Smut, page 192

Christmas Carols by Gerri Brousseau

A long time ago, when I was in college, a group of friends, both male and female, were gathered at the home of one friend to watch a football game.  There were about twenty of us at one guy's house on a gray December day, and the runaway score of the game made watching it boring.  It had started to snow and as the afternoon drew to dusk, we decided to take a walk around the neighborhood to see the lighted houses.  The weather was nippy and the air still as it can only be when snow is falling.  The only sound intruding upon the quiet was that of the mounting snow crunching beneath our feet.  Huddled together to keep warm, we continued our walk when someone suggested we sing Christmas carols.  Christmas was only about one week away, so it seemed like a good idea.

We started out low, but as our confidence built, our voices rang out with good tidings and joy.  We stopped at the end of the front walk of each home and sang.  Much to our surprise, the people responded.  They opened their front doors and listened, with smiles upon their faces, to our carols, offering us Christmas cookies, hot cocoa and candy canes.  The falling snow, the good will of the season and the exuberance of youth made for quite a memorial day.   I had always seen caroling in old movies, but had never seen it done.   Till this day, no one has ever walked around my neighborhood singing Christmas carols, nor have I been part of a group who has done so, not since that day way back when.  However, I will never forget the joy of the experience.  Even though the weather was cold, the warmth we felt by the genuinely positive response of the homeowners filled us.

Has anyone ever caroled at your house?  Have you ever gone door to door singing Christmas carols?  What is your favorite carol?

Filed under: romance

Getting Back on the Horse…Again

The past two weeks have been a whirlwind between moving, baby showers (huge family so had to divide it up into part one and two) and writing year-end reviews for my day job. It's sad to say that I've barely had the chance to write. Oh maybe a day here or there but not that consistent, daily writing. Hence the title of my blog, I'm getting back on the horse… again. But, there is something to be said for getting back on the writing horse.

It's strange but I can easily compare writing to eating right, exercising, pretty much anything that requires upkeep. Shakira has a song called "Waka Waka" which I love particularly because she sang it for the world cup and I love watching the world cup. There are a couple lines in the song which state:

You're a good soldier, choosing your battles

Pick yourself up, and dust yourself off, and back in the saddle

You're on the frontline, everyone's watching

You know it's serious, we're getting closer

This isn't over

Granted, these words could be used to motivate anyone going to "battle" whether they are a soccer player or an fifth grader facing their fiercest spelling bee. I choose to use them to motivate us writers. Think about how many times you fall off your horse. A rejection perhaps? A request to do a huge rewrite? A few hurtful words from readers?

For me, it's just been a crazy few weeks. I hate to admit that as I'm one of those people who truly believe you can squeeze in a bit of writing (if only a couple of paragraphs) if you just put your mind to it. I still believe that which is why I can't blame my "falling out of my saddle" on anyone else but myself. Still, I'm determined to pick myself up, dust myself off and get back in that saddle.  What about you? If you're already there, congrats! Otherwise, good luck, I know you can do it.  Happy writing this week to you all.

Filed under: Toni Kelly, Writer's Life, Writing Topics

Weekly Paranormal-Scope

While I'm not qualified in any way to read neither stars nor planet, I am intimately linked with the paranormal in the world.

The week ahead for:

Aries

Sleep peacefully to the song of the mermaids.  They're just loving you this week.

Taurus

Werewolves are baying at the moon.  You've been asked to join in.  This is your week to howl.

Gemini

Pixies think you're great.  You're going to shine this week.

Cancer

The owl is the ultimate night hunter.  This week you'll have the ears and eyes of an owl.

Leo

Yetis are snow beasts but they're also warm and fuzzy.  Make new friends this week.

Virgo

Vampires can be dark and brooding, but sometimes they're just party animals.  Go out and have fun with a friend that's been down.

Libra

Shapeshifters can adjust to the seasonal changes with flair.  So can you.  Operate from a view of wonderment.

Scorpio

The Cheshire Cat has an undefeated smile.  Put on your smile and watch the difference it makes in your world.

Sagittarius

Tea time!  The mad hatter knew the truth about the world.  We're all mad here.  Now you do too.

Capricorn

Leprechauns know all about love.  Don't dismiss someone who's Irish.

Aquarius

When was the last time you floated on a cloud.  Close your eyes and take more naps.

Pieces

Stay out of the way of the Red Queen.  Some one is unrolling a carpet of white roses at your feet.  Enjoy.

–Susan

Susan Hanniford Crowley

Filed under: Susan Hanniford Crowley, Weekly Paranormal-Scope

Writing and Romance

There's a chill in the air that makes it even more compelling to want to snuggle up by the fire and watch a good movie or get lost in a good book. There's something in us that likes to cuddle up in cold weather and conserve heat. I guess it's a kind of hibernating urge. As much as our many creature comforts protect us from the elements, there's still something primal about the effect of the shorter days.

I woke up earlier than usual this morning: the Xmas market in the square below me has generated even more detritus than usual. The street cleaner was up bright and early to clear it away and the sound echoes so much in the alley that it woke me. Then there was the ritual removal of bottles. That's a year round sound. But when I got up and looked out the window I was somewhat taken aback to find it was still dark outside. That's the kind of thing that sends you back to bed.

I've had to bury myself in some required projects that were not particularly "fun" in the usual sense of the word. They're topics that interest me, but I'm not really in an analytical frame of mind. I gave a talk this week that seemed to go over well, but it required a little more of that academic cap. Next week I head off to Scotland and I will be working on the Chastity Flame sequel and a few other fun things.

I'm still getting used to the novelty of being in love again. It's so lovely to have someone to share things with, who says good night and good morning even when you're in different countries (in a few days we'll be together again ). I'd forgotten what it feels like to be cherished. What a lovely word. This year has brought so many changes — changes that offer so much energy and inspiration and zest for writing. I am grateful for the gifts: a wonderful partner, a magical land and stories to tell.

Filed under: C. Margery Kempe, contemporary romance, Emotions, erotic romance, Flirting, inspiration, Kit Marlowe, medieval, movies, Noble Romance, romance, Settings, What inspires you?, Writer's Life

What The Heck is Boxing Day? by Gerri Brousseau

Since we are talking about Christmas carols, one that comes to mind, and sparks a celebration of its own is the song "Good King Wenceslas." According to the Christmas carol, Wenceslas, who was Duke of Bohemia in the early 10th century, was surveying his land on St. Stephen's Day — Dec. 26 — when he saw a poor man gathering wood in the middle of a snowstorm. Moved, the King gathered up surplus food and wine and carried them through the blizzard to the peasant's door.  From King Wenceslas' good deed arose this holiday, the day after Christmas, when the English poor received most of their charity.

King Wenceslas didn't start Boxing Day, but the Church of England might have.  During Advent, Anglican parishes displayed a box into which churchgoers put their monetary donations.  On the day after Christmas, the boxes were broken open and their contents distributed among the poor, thus giving rise to the term Boxing Day.  Hmmmm … this could be an option for the start of this tradition.

But wait, I found there's another possible story about the holiday's origin.  The day after Christmas was also the traditional day on which the aristocracy distributed presents (boxes) to servants and employees — a sort of institutionalized Christmas-bonus party.  The servants returned home, opened their boxes and had a second Christmas on what became known as Boxing Day or perhaps should have been known as the advent of the office party?

So which version is correct?  Well, both.  Or neither.  No one, it seems, is really sure.  Both the church boxes and the servant presents definitely existed, although historians disagree on which practice inspired the holiday.  But Boxing Day's origins aren't especially important to modern-day Brits — Britain isn't known for its religious fervor, and few people can afford to have servants anymore, anyway.  Today's Boxing Day festivities have very little to do with charity. Instead, they revolve around food, football (soccer), visits from friends, food and drinking at the pub (sounds a lot like American Thanksgiving to me).

Boxing Day has been a national holiday in England, Wales, Ireland and Canada since 1871.  For years in which the holiday falls on a weekend, the celebration is moved to make sure workers still get a day off (except in Canada, where it remains Dec. 26), but since visits to Grandma and other family obligations are fulfilled on Christmas, there isn't anything left to do on Boxing Day except eat leftovers, drink and watch TV.  Just as Americans watch football on Thanksgiving, the Brits have Boxing Day soccer matches and horse races (see, I told you).  If they're particularly wealthy or live in the country, they might even participate in a fox hunt.  (This would never go over in the US.  We would root for the fox.)

The annual Boxing Day fox hunts — which have been held all over the English countryside for hundreds of years  were imperiled in 2005 when Parliament banned the traditional method of using dogs to kill the prey (thank God).  Despite the dogs' limited role (they can still chase the animal, but they can't harm it) hundreds of thousands of people turn out at Boxing Day fox hunts around Britain.

The Irish still refer to the holiday as St. Stephen's Day, and they have their own tradition called hunting the wren, in which boys fasten a fake wren to a pole and parade it through town.  Also known as Wren Day, the tradition supposedly dates to 1601, to the Battle of Kinsale, in which the Irish tried to sneak up on the English invaders but were betrayed by the song of an overly vocal wren; although this legend's veracity is also highly debated. Years ago, a live wren was hunted and killed for the parade, but modern sentiments deemed it too gruesome. (Must have been American influence – again, we would side with the wren.)

The Bahamas celebrate Boxing Day with a street parade and festival called Junkanoo, in which traditional rhythmic dancers called gombeys fill the streets with their elaborate costumes and headdresses.  (Sounds a lot like carnival and I bet it's a lot of fun.  At least no animal is getting killed.)

And of course, there's the shopping.  England and Canada's Boxing Day evolved into a major shopping event in the 1980s — the equivalent of post-Thanksgiving Black Friday.  But this year, many of the sales started earlier in an effort to boost the slumping economy. (I wonder if they had someone get pepper sprayed or tasered???)

Boxing Day has evolved from a charitable day to an extended Christmas afternoon.  It's a holiday with presents that have already been opened and a dinner that has been eaten.  It's a holiday best spent lounging around in brightly colored sweaters, wondering, lazily and lethargically, what to do next.  I'm all for anything that will extend a holiday celebration.  Come to think of it, it's a wonder we Americans haven't adopted it yet.  Do you think this is a holiday that should be celebrated in the U.S.?  As I already said, I'm all for any excuse to party.  What do you think?

Filed under: romance

Short and Sweet Contests

Since I injured my hand and it's now in a splint, everything I type takes longer.  Holiday shopping is upon us.  In that spirt, I am giving away the following:

–one PDF ebook from my list (See http://www.susanhannifordcrowley.com  for the romance list.)  This contest is worldwide.

–a signed copy of The Stormy Love Life of Laura Cordelais.  This contest is for US and Canadian residents.

To enter, tell me what you think is short and sweet and also tell me which contest you're entering–PDF or Print–in the comment box.  The contests end on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2011 at midnight Eastern time.  Good luck.

–Susan

Filed under: mythology romance, paranormal romance, steampunk romance, Susan Hanniford Crowley, vampire books, Vampire David Hilliard, vampires

What about Rudolph by Gerri Brousseau

You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen; Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen; but do you recall … the most famous reindeer of all?  Almost as popular as Santa himself is his sometimes lead reindeer with a glowing red nose, Rudolph.  Wikipedia tells us that unlike Santa's history, the story of Rudolph can be traced back to a specific author: Robert L. May.  May was a copywriter for Montgomery Ward department stores in 1939.  The company had been buying and giving away coloring books at Christmas time for many years.  May's boss thought they could save some money by printing their own books and asked May to come up with a story.  May thought up the idea of a misfit reindeer that saves the day for Santa on a foggy Christmas Eve.

The story took off, but unfortunately May did not own the rights.  His employer, Montgomery Ward, did.  With a generosity not often seen in the corporate world, in 1947 the company's President turned the rights over to May, who was in debt because of his wife's terminal illness. With a hit song written in 1949 by May's brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, and a TV special in 1964, May's financial security was assured and Rudolph earned a permanent spot in American Christmas pop culture.

Which of Santa's reindeer is your favorite?  Which Christmas carol do you like best?

Filed under: romance

Something to Be Said For Being Settled

We moved this weekend. Actually, as I write this article, I'm sitting on a box in what used to be my living room—not the most comfortable situation but as we haven't gotten internet set up in the new house yet, this box will have to do instead of a comfy sofa.

Either way, this moving experience got me thinking about how nice it is to just be settled and how much I sometimes take it for granted. It's funny because as I sit here in this empty room, I realize that the familiar routine I've had has inspired me with pretty much everything… my works, my job, my blog, etc.  It's not something you expect to realize as I always thought the spontaneous was what grounded and inspired me.

So now I have a few questions for you all. What inspires you? Do you prefer the spontaneous or the mundane? Are you able to work when pulled out of your routine or does it throw off your day? Maybe you should try to throw yourself off your routine for a day and see how it works for you. You might be surprised at how much you get done or how much more you appreciate in your routine.

All right, that's it for today. Happy writing this week and talk to you all next week!

Filed under: Toni Kelly, What inspires you?, Writer's Life

A Fondly Remembered Holiday Tradition and Recipe By Debralee Mede

Holidays are usually special for families and for making memories.  In the area where I grew up there were many Portuguese families who lived, worked, and shared with each other and their neighbors.  The Christmas Holidays were filled with activities that served to make bring families together like the tradition of attending Midnight Mass at the local church; carolers singing Christmas carols in the streets; opening presents displayed around the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve around midnight or early in the morning on Christmas Day.  I remember a few families continuing what was a very old tradition of putting one shoe from each child next to the chimney if they had one in the kitchen or next to a fireplace in a living room.  Some had gas heaters to warm their homes and put the shoes somewhere around the stove pipe.

On Christmas Eve members of a very large extended family would gather to have dinner of codfish with boiled potatoes and cabbage and luscious deserts of fried pumpkin dough and delicious round tartlets made of chick peas, sugar, and orange peel or a kind of sweet vermicelli with eggs and on Christmas Day, people eat stuffed turkey for or baked ham for their main meal with more traditional desserts.  But one desert included at every table was something called "Bolo Rei" or "King's Cake" which is sweet rich fruit bread laced with port, brandy or rum.  Surprise gifts are included in the dessert that is placed in after cooking.  One is a little ring, a small coin, a holy medal or a tiny baby doll for one lucky family member who will have good luck and prosperity in the coming year and the other a raw, dried fava bean for the person who has to buy or make the bread the following year.Since there are so many memories I thought that I'd include a recipe given to me from one fine Portuguese woman.  Isabel made this every year whether she got the bean or not in her piece of Bolo.  Isabel has since passed but her memory lives on in her recipe.  By the way if the bread is made without fruit it is called "Bolo Rainha" or "Queen Cake" but it still has the gifts included.  Happy Baking if you decide to try it.

Ingredients

1 ½ cups of candied glazed fruit including citrus peel, dates, figs, cherries (red and green), pineapple, dark and golden raisins or any other glazed fruit you may want to add chopped in small pieces.
1 1/2 cup Blanched slivered almonds
¼ cup of port wine, brandy or rum
2 1/2 tsp. dried yeast
¼ cup warm milk
4 cups of all-purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
1 cup unsalted butter softened
1 cup of sugar.
1 tsp. lemon peel
1 tsp. orange peel
4eggs beaten
1 yolk beaten with a little water
1 dried broad bean
1 small medal or gift
4 tbsp. apricot jam
1 tbsp. icing sugar
2 tbsp. water

Instructions:

1. Chop 3/4 of crystallized fruit and reserve remaining 1/4 to decorate;

2. Soak chopped crystallized fruit in rum, brandy or port until ready to use;

3. Add yeast to warm milk, wait 10 minutes and stir to dissolve completely;

4. In a large bowl, mix flour, salt                                                                                                                                                                                                          5.  Make a well in center of flour and pour in the dissolved yeast. Gently sprinkle some of surrounding flour into pool of yeast to form soft paste in center of the well.

6. In a separate bowl beat butter, sugar, lemon and orange peel until smooth and fluffy;

7. Add eggs one at a time, and beat well after each.

8. Incorporate butter mixture into flour mixture and continue bringing in sides to form

soft dough.

9. Lightly dust dough with flour, to handle, and turn out onto floured surface. Knead until

soft, smooth and elastic.

10. Add chopped crystallized fruit and almonds and knead to distribute evenly;

11. Roll dough into a ball and dust lightly with flour, put dough in a clean bowl covered with a clean towel in a warm room and let rise until doubled in size, about 4 hours.

11. Once dough has doubled, punch down and let rest for 20 minutes;

12. On buttered cookie sheet form a large ring with dough and insert an ovenproof ramekin or cookie cutter in center to keep hole while baking;

13. Wrap broad bean and small gift in waxed paper, like a small envelope, and insert

into bottom of dough ring, concealing the broad bean and the small gift in the ring of dough as best possible and in different places.

14. Cover the dough with dish towel, let rise again for another hour, until doubled in size;

15. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

16. When ring is ready, mix egg yolk with little water to make an egg wash, then brush

top and sides of ring, and decorate with crystallized fruit and sliced almonds.

17. Place in oven for 45 minutes and until golden brown;

18. When Bolo Rei is almost baked, place apricot jam in a small sauce pan and add

little water (approx. 2 tbsp.), mix over stove until incorporated and a bit liquid, so

that it is easy to brush on finished ring;

19. After removing Bolo Rei from the oven, gently brush top and sides with jam

mixture and dust with some icing sugar.                                                                                                                                                                                                20.  Cool and serve.

Happy Eating and Feliz Natal!

Filed under: Debralee Mede, recipe

Weekly Paranormal-Scope

While I'm not qualified in any way to read neither stars nor planet, I am intimately linked with the paranormal in the world.

The week ahead for:

Aries

Elves are everywhere. It's the season. This is the time to buy something you've always wanted.

Taurus

Pixies may be small, but they're powerful. Consider that when you meet others. Size does not determine power.

Gemini

Walk in the light and enjoy the warmth of good friends. Take this tip from the sprites.

Cancer

Werewolves are fuzzy and funny. Not everyone knows that. A friend will share a secret for you to keep.

Leo

A sea monster has explored the depths and found them wondrous. There are depths awaiting you.

Virgo

A good friend has the good cheer of a leprechaun. Go out and have fun.

Libra

Vampires are all not the same. Just like everyone else. Some really do sparkle.

Scorpio

A mermaid has a song for you. Enjoy it.

Sagittarius

Shapeshifters have invited you to a holiday party. Shift your schedule. It will be worth it.

Capricorn

Forget the past. You've entered the sacred circle. There are bigger things awaiting you.

Aquarius

A Pegasus offers you a ride. Take it and soar to new heights.

Pieces

Make a wish. The fairies are listening. Unexpected surprises are coming your way.

–Susan

Susan Hanniford Crowley

Filed under: Susan Hanniford Crowley, Weekly Paranormal-Scope