Marian Allen's Blog, page 394

Booking A Party

Mom and I belong to a book club, which has been in existence since 1878 (no, we are not original members). One of the things the club does is have a pitch-in lunch in July at the retreat/yoga center and home of two sisters who are members of the club.

And one of the things we do at the pitch-in is table some books.

Everybody who has books they’re ready to pass on to another home brings them, and we put all the books on the table. Then we all rummage through them and take the books we want. Any leftovers are donated somewhere.

Here’s my haul for this year:DEATH IN A HAMMOCK, KRAMER VS. KRAMER, KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL, CULTURE AND HORTICULTURE, WRITING FOR YOUR LIFE, and THE ILLUSTRATED BOOK OF SIGNS & SYMBOLS. Cool, eh?

Actually, that’s only about half of my haul. I also got at least that many books on arts and crafts and games for children, since our #1 daughter does library programs for wee children.

~sigh~ I love books.

A WRITING PROMPT FOR YOU: A character picks up a used book somewhere and, long after he or she has forgotten where he or she got it, finds something alarming or intriguing in it.

MA

#6WSC Blast

While my sister from across the sea, Marion Driessen (The DuTchess) is on vacation, I’m carrying on her Wednesday challenge. When she returns, she and I will do it on alternate Wednesdays.

BLAST — It comes suddenly. A blast of hot air. A blast of lightning. Someone fires a gun. Someone sets off a bomb. Someone loses control of emotion. A rocket takes off for the stars. A party turns out to be much more fun than you expected.

Write a tiny little story in only six words (not counting the title).

Here’s a Six Word Story by Ernest Hemingway.

Such an impact and unseen images in only six words…

Publish your Six Word Story on your own website/blog and paste the link to that post in a comment to this one here. I’ll post my own in the pm.

The next 6WSC at Figments of a DuTchess will be up on Wednesday, August 14th.

Is mine:

Struck

Lightning left only Pete’s wooden leg.

MA

#Food Fun With Beets

Yes, when I detest a food and then I start liking it, I go all fangirl on it. Currently, that’s beets.

I got some beautiful fresh beets at the farmers’ market last week, and buttered some and pickled some with onions.

Here are the pickled ones. Now, whether you like to eat beets or not, you can’t tell me these aren’t pretty.

I boiled the beets in salted water, cooled them, skinned them, sliced them, sliced some onions, and put beets and onions in clean jars. Then I mixed two parts water to one part white vinegar, poured that over them, and put them in the refrigerator.

Next time I do it, I’ll heat the water/vinegar to boiling, put just a smidge of sugar in it, and pour the hot mixture over the veg. The onions could have done with being a bit soft. Not cooked, just cooked-ish.

They’re still good, and still pretty.

I was hoping to make borscht, but I couldn’t get hold of any organic sour cream. Maybe I’ll just do without, next time I get some nice, fresh, local beets.

I’m posting at Fatal Foodies today about cooking with cucumbers. Yes, cucumbers! Don’t be such a stick-in-the-mud!

A WRITING PROMPT FOR YOU: A character is forced by circumstances or accident to cook something he or she doesn’t normally consider a cooked food.

MA

Not Apoza Be Here

I have two guest appearances scheduled for today on other people’s blogs. Unlike with real appointments, I can be on two (or three) blogs at the same time. It’s like being Hermione Granger without having to know all the answers.

Today, I’m at Where Writers And Authors Meet, answering the questions asked by readers last week.

I’m also scheduled to be at I Love To Read.

In neither case do I know at what time the posts will go live.

Meanwhile, I remind you that I’ll be at Fandom Fest in Louisville, Kentucky, the last weekend of this month, as will William Shatner, Stan Lee, half the cast of Firefly, a couple of Dr. Who’s, and any number of other people. Here is my schedule:

Bagel Face
(will not be at Fandom Fest)

Friday 4pm Dynamic Dialogue

Friday 5:30pm Effective Social Media

Friday 7:00pm Writers Guide to Drinking

Saturday 4:00pm Fan Fiction

Let’s see … talking, wasting time, boozing, and plagiarism. Yep. Sounds about right.

A WRITING PROMPT FOR YOU: Combine those four topics into a scene.

MA

#SampleSunday Rhu and Elsie Meet

We’re gearing up for the Hydra Summer Bash, in which we’re giving away Kindle versions of 30 or so of our books (“we” being my publisher). One of the freebies will be The Fall of Onagros, Book 1 of Sage.

Here’s an excerpt from the point of view of Devona the scribe when she, her husband, Darcy, and their “daughter” (actually their foster daughter) arrive in the capitol city.

The Fall of Onagros, Book 1 of Sage – Excerpt

Rhu and Elsie Meet

by Marian Allen

A door opened and a man came out.

He was as grim and imposing as the house. He neither smiled nor frowned, but dipped his head in the briefest bow.

His blue-black hair was straight and fell to the middle of his back. His high cheekbones and large-knuckled hands looked carved of chestnut-colored rock.

The man introduced himself as Lord High Chamberlain, Rhu beren Robia, and he eyed Devona’s husband with as much distaste and suspicion as she used on him herself. Rhu beren Robia bowed to Devona.

Why would the Lord High Chamberlain interest himself in us? Because he was ordered to? Because he knows who Elsie really is?

Then Elsie clambered down from the cart.

One corner of the Chamberlain’s mouth curled up at the corner, and Devona’s image of him as stony was forever gone.

Elsie could look like her mother, and he sees it. He looks at the child with tenderness.

She thought herself wrong, when Rhu stopped visiting. She thought herself right again when she saw him with Elsie at Darcy’s installation as Roll-Keeper of the Realm.

Darcy set her straight about that, though. He pumped Elsie afterward about what the Chamberlain had said, and if the Chamberlain had mentioned Father. Elsie repeated Rhu’s support of Devona’s protective control, and Darcy laughed at him for supporting something Elsie didn’t like. If Rhu were the man Darcy feared and lived to please, Darcy wouldn’t laugh; he would change his own opinion and tie himself in knots trying to maneuver Elsie into changing hers.

Yet the Chamberlain was fond of Elsie. Of that, Devona was certain. His very disdain of the girl’s behavior as Darcy’s work bore fruit echoed Devona’s own disdain, and Devona’s was born of love. Could it be love, then? A prospective suitor’s love?

Elsie could do worse – much worse, Devona thought – than marry a man whose integrity shone from his skin like candlelight through parchment. In opposition, marriage to the Chamberlain would take Elsie into the castle itself, and Devona did not share Darcy’s desire to crawl into the royal pocket.

~ * ~

A WRITING PROMPT FOR YOU: A family friend disapproves of the way a child is being raised.

MA

#Caturday Cat Cures Commode

Katya Graymalkin here. I’ve decided to introduce myself every time I post, since one of Mom’s friends, Cairn Rodrigues of the Askew Questions, thought I was Mom posting about HER Mom. Cairn said this:

I don’t religiously read Marian Allen‘s Caturday posts. Until recently, I found them to be very confusing. The ones I read always left me with a feeling that Marian has a very passive-aggressive relationship with her mother. That doesn’t really jibe with what I know of Marian.

So Caturday means that she’s writing in the perspective OF HER CAT. Because I needed that spelled out in big letters. Marian has a passive-aggressive relationship with HER CAT. Which totally jibes with everyone who owns a cat.

I don’t know what this “passive-aggressive” thing is she’s talking about. Mom and I are crazy about each other. We have our issues, but what Mom-and-kitty partnership doesn’t?

This morning, for instance. Anybody who knows my Mom knows that she has a bladder the size of a peanut. So it isn’t surprising that the flushy bit of her watery litterbox wears out pretty frequently. Last night, the ring that holds the plug’s chain onto the flushy bit’s arm rusted through and fell off, so Mom had to take the top off the tank and pull the chain by hand.

So Charlie says, “I’ll put in a new unit.”

I don’t know how much that would cost, but it would probably buy a bag of cat food or a catnip toy, so I thought real fast and said, “Mom, why don’t you use a plastic twist-tie to connect the chain to the arm thing?”

So she did, and it works.

Now, could somebody explain to me why Mom says I should wear a big heavy belt full of tools that pull my kitten britches down so my tail shows? My tail already shows!

Moms are so weird.

A WRITING PROMPT FOR CATS: Something happens in the night and you help with it.

MA

I’m An Inspiration, Baby!

I was given two awards this week. Three, if you count both of the Inspirational Blogger awards the marvellous Jo Robinson of africolonialstories. Since I’ve already boasted posted about having been given that award before, I’ll just thank Jo effusively, post the new badge here, and go on to the next one.

This next one, the Liebster Award, was given by Jen Christopher, aka Warrior Crone (coolest. name. ever.) on her JC Publishing blog.

Liebster, in case you don’t have pickled cabbage juice in your veins, is German for sweetheart, darling, honeybaby…. You get the picture.

Okay, so, these are the rules:
1. List eleven random facts about me.

2. Nominate eleven bloggers for the Liebster Blog Award.

3. Notify the bloggers.

4. Ask eleven questions the bloggers must answer upon receiving the nomination.

5. Answer the eleven questions you were asked when you were nominated.

6. Link back to the person who nominated you.

Eleven random facts about me:

I was only ever in one fight, with a girl half my size, and I lost. No, I never got in one punch. She started it. She finished it, too. Her name was Peewee.
The word pro-active makes me want to bite a chunk out of a redwood.
I’m allergic to chamomile tea.
My SCA name is Maude McEwen.
I love “My Neighbor Totoro”.
My favorite movie ever is “Fight Club”, with “Ishtar” a close second.
Yes, “Ishtar”.
Although I’m practically a vegetarian, my mother tells me that my first word was MEAT.
I still like meat.
But I also love vegetarian food.
I think W. C. Fields’ line, “Never give a sucker an even break or smarten up a chump” is endlessly funny even though I don’t subscribe to the philosophy, myself.


Here are the bloggers I’m sending the award on to:

Joanna Foreman, who paints the past with words
Meeka, who knows what kitties like
Perry Block, still cute, in spite of what he says
Cairn Rodrigues of the Askew Questions
Mr. Nikita, The Opinionated Pussycat
Jo Robinson – ha, ha, got you back, dear lady!
My sister, Marion Driessen
Erin Eymard of The Bookworm’s Fancy
Virginia Jennings, Where Writers and Authors Meet
Stacy J. Garrett aka Etta Jean
Adrianna Joleigh of the Nadia serial


Questions I Was Asked and My Answers:
1. Do you want to be rich and famous?

No.
2. If yes why and if no why?

I’m already rich in everything that matters, and I live in a small town, so I already know what it’s like for everybody to know who you are and what you’re doing.
3. What is the most important day of the week for you?

Today. Always today.
4. What is your favorite dessert?

Derby Pie
5. How long did it take you to feel good about writing?

I always felt good about writing. I didn’t always feel good about other people’s opinions of my writing.
6. What is your favorite time of day?

Bedtime. No, breakfast. No, when I go visit Mom. Or maybe….
7. Who do you depend upon?

My husband, my mother, my kids, my friends, myself, not always in that order.
8. Has anyone ever let you down?

Oh, dear lord, yes. Too many times to recount. Makes me appreciate the people I can depend on all the more.
9. Where on Earth do you think is closest to heaven?

The heart of a loving person.
10. What was the most valuable advice anyone ever gave you?

Writing advice: Dick Stodghill said, “Don’t take yourself too seriously, but always take your work seriously, and make sure everybody around you does, too. Writing isn’t some joke; it’s your work. It’s what you do.”

Personal advice: My mom said, “Other people are people, too.”
11. What is the most indulgent gift you ever received or given?

My friend Jane gave me an electronic tablet so I can read eBooks. Daughter #1 gave me a four-pack of Godiva chocolates. Many people give me their trust and friendship, the best gifts of all.

My Questions For My Chosen Bloggers:


How long have you been blogging?
Why did you choose the topic(s) for your blog?
How do people find your blog?
Do you feel comfortable promoting/advertising your own stuff?
What’s your happiest earliest childhood memory?
If you could have any critter, real or imaginary, as a pet, what would it be?
What would you name it?
Why would a woodchuck chuck wood?
Vegan, vegetarian, or omnivore?
What are you reading (not these questions, silly! what book?)?
What is your superpower?

A WRITING PROMPT FOR YOU: Have one of your characters answer the questions I just asked and/or the questions that were asked of me.

MA

Go On, Ax Me Sumpin

Virginia Jennings has a unique take on the author interview over at Where Writers and Authors Meet: She posts something about a writer and invites visitors to ask the questions. The author has over the weekend to copy the questions, write responses, and email them back to her, and she posts the interview on the following Monday.

VERY Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo

Guess who’s on the spot right this very red-hot second? Yep, yours truly. Dear old MomGoth is being quizzed like a suspect in the last quarter of an NCIS episode. Only without, you know, Tony.

SO, lacking that, hop on over and ask me some questions. I already have aplenty to work with, but the more the merrier, eh?

Here’s hoping you have a happy and SAFE Independence Day, if you’re an American. If you’re not an American, here’s hoping you have a happy and SAFE fourth day of July.

A WRITING PROMPT FOR YOU: A character becomes independent. Of what? Or whom? In what sense?

MA

Wordless Wednesday

I know, I know, today is supposed to be Six-Word Story Challenge, but my sister in The Netherlands is supposed to have it today, and she set it up before she left on vacation, and it hasn’t gone live yet, so I’m posting a picture instead.

Make of it what you will.

A WRITING PROMPT FOR YOU: Why is nothing growing in that one pot?

MA

#food Bean Thing

I thought vegetarians were cranks.

Then people I care about started to go vegetarian, and I had to learn to cook for them. Well, okay, I didn’t HAVE to learn to cook for them, but I wasn’t about to cook two meals. Making a meat-and-two-veg and expecting them to make do with the side dishes was an option, but it wasn’t very friendly, really.

Since then, we’ve become practically vegetarian. I eat meat when I’m out — I still love to consume animal flesh, as long as it isn’t currently in use. But, at home, we feast upon mostly plant products, plus eggs and dairy from animals we know are well-cared for.

Here’s a delicious dish we had the other night.

Yes, I know it looks like it’s already been eaten at least once, but I assure you, it was delicious!

My husband clipped it from the Humana Active Outlook magazine, and I adapted it. Here’s our version:

Bean Thing

garlic-infused olive oil
chopped onion
chopped celery
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
cubed tomatoes, fresh from the garden
small can tomato sauce
1 15-ounce can of white navy beans (beans, salt and water only — no sugar)

In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add thyme and paprika and stir for a couple of minutes to toast and release the flavors into the oil. Add vegetables and cook a couple more minutes. Add sauce and beans (with juice). Cover, reduce heat, simmer about 20 minutes.

The recipe says to serve over rice, but I used quinoa.

Trust me, it was GOOD!

I’m posting today at Fatal Foodies on the subject of radishes, which are the opposite of good.

A WRITING PROMPT FOR YOU: A character visits a farm to see where his or her food comes from.

MA