Brenda Whiteside's Blog, page 89

Rain and a Recipe for What Ails You

Tortuga Thursday
In 2012, on the plains of Northern Arizona, two families joined forces and began the trials and tribulations of building a small family farm with nothing in the bank but love.
Last Tortuga Thursday I complained about November being a discouraging month. That'll teach me to whine. A bug hit me on the last day, and it's still hanging on. No sooner had I kicked the two day virus when a head cold settled on me and then morphed into a chest cold. A triple thriller to start off December. I don't care. This is my favorite month of the year, and I can't be bothered.

We're into our third day of rain here on Tortuga Flats Farm. It should move out tonight. We need a little rain every month for the garlic. If we get the rain, we won't need to irrigate with the drip system. Rain is so much better for crops.

Luckily, I felt good enough between the virus and the head cold to get the tree up. I even managed a few other decorations. We went simple this year with a smaller tree since Sadi is at the age she likes to redecorate the tree a few times each day. She is so much fun this year. When she saw the outside lights Pa Pa (grandpa) put up, her excitement overwhelmed her. She ran into his arms and gave him a gigantic hug.

Made from our t-shirts by a customerI'll end with a recipe I shared on our Facebook page. When Frank and I lived in Germany, I fell in love with German sauerkraut which is nothing like the canned stuff you get in the states. It isn't really sour, more of a sweet-sour, and so flavorful. This recipe comes close to that flavor. I think the trick is the pressure cooker. Years ago, I had a pressure cooker. It was the old rocker kind that had to be monitored and timed. We just got this digital one and love it! It can also cook like a slow cooker and does rice too. Be warned, I am guessing at the amounts of herbs. I tend to just sprinkle it on without measuring.

One head cabbage, cut into strips
Two pound pork roast
one tsp celery seed
2 tsp dill weed
1-2 tsp cumin
Himalayan salt to taste
1/4 cup vinegar
1 1/14 cup water
3 carrots, sliced


Cabbage goes in bottom of cooker. Pour vinegar and water over it. Sprinkle all  herbs and salt. Add carrots. Place roast on top. Follow the directions for your cooker and cook for 40 minutes.

We had this last night and could be the reason I feel better today!

November...Forget About It

Tortuga Thursday
In 2012, on the plains of Northern Arizona, two families joined forces and began the trials and tribulations of building a small family farm with nothing in the bank but love.
It's Thanksgiving Day as you read this. And if you're reading this then you over indulged in turkey and pie and needed a break from the festivities. Or maybe one of the relatives was boring you to tears so you escaped. Whatever, I'm wishing you the best of Thanksgivings. I wrote this in advance since we'll be feasting with the families in Phoenix this year. We'll have dinner at my mom's early then Lance and Christie will travel across town to do it again with her family.

Thanksgiving is a happy ending to a month I could've done without. I am more than ever happy to see December, which is my favorite season. Yes, I know it's technically a month, but to me it's more of a season.

Row 8 planted a few days agoHere on the farm, October hung on to warm weather so long that the garlic planting lapsed into November and was finished just yesterday. I had planned a trip with my mother the first week of the month and had booked myself at book sales and signings for every weekend in November because I assumed garlic planting would be done or near done. Taking me out of the mix prolonged the planting and gave me a guilt complex.

Barely a week into November, Christie ended up in the hospital. She is still recovering from a flare, as it is called. She's been diagnosed with a life long condition that luckily can be controlled but will require some work. She's been so very ill. A huge knock against November. Her illness taxed the garlic planting schedule, but more importantly had us all worried.

Add my mom into the mix with a few medical mishaps and all I could do was give up on November.

But...only two days left in this month and the garlic is in the ground, my
sweet daughter in law is home and feeling better, Mom's tests show nothing wrong beyond her age, and I still have some book events to go to without guilt. Let's jump into December with a wonderful Solstice celebration and a beautiful Christmas time!

A Teaser and a Taste: Book Two

MUSE MONDAY
Writing murder mysteries is all in a day's work until an obsessed fan brings Phoebe's stories to life.
My long awaited (to me anyway) release date for book two in my Love and Murder Series is right around the corner. Southwest of Love and Murder will release worldwide on January 7, 2015. You met Phoebe Anderson, best friend of Lacy Dahl, in The Art of Love and Murder. She and Lacy seem as different as night and day so I think you'll enjoy a deeper tread into Phoebe's life as a mystery writer. You heard mention of Chance's twin brother, Mason, in book one. What happens when Phoebe and Mason come together with murder right behind them is the story in Southwest of Love and Murder.


Mystery writer, Phoebe Anderson, owes her success to killing her first husband on paper seventeen years earlier. Now, someone has actually done it. When she decides to take a few days away on the ranch of her best friend’s brother-in-law, she doesn’t expect romance to find her...or murder to follow her.
Mason Meadowlark is happy with his wild cowboy ways, avoiding love since the death of his baby and the end of his marriage twenty years ago. When Phoebe shows up, he fights to control his emotions, but soon wonders if she just might be worth the risk of opening his heart again.
With an obsessed fan close on her heels, Phoebe is thrown into her own murder mystery…and the next target on his list is Mason.
Excerpt: 
Phoebe shuddered and stilled.Like the aftershocks of an earthquake, trembling overtook her body. Her knees wobbled, but Mason caught her before she collapsed.
“What’s wrong?” He hugged her briefly then brought his face even with hers. “Phoebe, tell me. Why are you shaking? What’s happened?”
“Oh my God, Mason.” She spread her hands on his chest and glanced back at the bathroom. “Tell someone to call an ambulance. Hurry!”
He took a step toward the ladies’ room, but she grabbed his shirtfront. “No!” She peered around him and shouted. “Someone call nine one one.”
Mason touched his pocket. “My cell’s in the truck.” He grabbed the shoulder of a male customer, the closest person to them. “You got a cell on you?”
The man nodded and pulled a phone from his pocket.
“Call nine one one right now. There’s been…” His face questioned her.
“Someone’s badly hurt in the bathroom. Oh hell, hurry!” She thumped her palms against his chest.
The man pulled out his cell as he raced into the ladies’ room.
Phoebe wrapped her arms around Mason, tipped her chin upward, and found the words. “It’s thatwaitress, Mason. Carla.”
His expression went blank, from concern for her to no comprehension.
“There’s so much blood.” She stifled a gag, the sweet, copper penny reek still heavy in her nostrils. “Her throat.” A shudder rippled the length of her body. “I think she’s dead.”
If you've put off reading The Art of Love and Murder, make it a holiday treat for yourself. You can order print or eBook on line everywhere but here are a couple of quick links for you:AmazonThe Wild Rose Press 

BATTLE CRY by Melissa Snark

FEARLESS FRIDAY

You could win this!For Fearless Friday, I ask my guests this question: Have you done something lately that's rash or life changing (moved across country, quit your day job, jumped off a cliff for research for your book - the sky is the limit on the subject) and you can blog about it? 
My guest today is Melissa Snark and she has this for us:
Initially, this question left me completely stumped. As a rule, I don't do things that are rash. My definition of excitement is a large Mocha at Pete's or having my nails done. I'm not impulsive–I'm methodical. My definition of a life altering decision was forcing my teenage sons to learn to unload the dishwasher. (Hey, I was risking dishes and sanity, but wow, did it pay off!)
Eventually, I asked a friend, Sheryl Hayes, for suggestions. "Hey, have I ever done anything rash or exciting in the entire time you've known me?"
"Well, you self-published," she said. "That took guts."
Okay, yeah. Her answer surprised me but I guess it's a good answer. I've long regarded my entire jaunt into self-publishing as a blind leap of faith. I've brought my same methodical approach to the writing process to Indie book publication, and I feel it's paid off. I'm careful and meticulous. However, in my mind, I'm not taking chances. I'm doing what makes me happyA SPECIAL NOTE FROM MELISSA:


Hello! My name is Melissa Snark, and I'm a fantasy and romance author. If I could have a moment of your time, I'd like to ask for your help as a reader. Please consider nominating my Norse folklore fantasy novel Battle Cry on Kindle Scout.

Amazon's new publishing program is called Kindle Scout, an innovative platform that provides readers with a sneak peek at unreleased books as well as the opportunity to have a say in what gets chosen. The timing of Scout was amazing. The announcement came just as I neared completion of my novel. The terms being offered are attractive. As a publisher, Amazon has as much clout as one of the traditional publishers. This simply seemed like too good of an opportunity to pass on, so I submitted Battle Cry for consideration.

Per the FAQ: How does Kindle Scout benefit readers?
Kindle Scout readers get to preview new, never-before-published books and influence which ones are made available to millions of readers on Amazon. In addition, any time a reader's nomination gets published, they will receive a free copy.

I appreciate your support!  To nominate Battle Cry, you only need to be logged into your Amazon account. You can head over to the Kindle Scout website and view Battle Cry's profile page. If you like what you see, please consider voting for Battle Cry.  Thank you so much!

Nominate BATTLE CRY to Kindle Scout  
 
Don't miss out on Melissa's giveaway!  a Rafflecopter giveaway



Survival demands sacrifices; healing requires forgiveness.
Men revere him; monsters fear him. Jake Barrett, the notorious Hunter King, values loyalty to family and followers above all else. When the daughter of his closest ally murders Daniel, his oldest son, it sets off a chain reaction of violence and destruction that claims the lives of both wolves and hunters. Determined to avenge his son, Jake seeks the truth at any cost.
After losing her lover and then her mate, Victoria Storm simply wants to get on with building a new life in Sierra Pines, California. A vengeful Jake Barrett and his organization aren't going to make that easy, especially with the unwelcome attraction between her and the Hunter King's second son. Perils beyond the mortal coil plague Victoria.
When the Norse Fates predict Victoria will destroy the world, her duties as a priestess of Freya come into conflict with her responsibilities as a Valkyrie of Odin. When they tell her she will do it to save her unborn child, she's not so sure they are wrong.
Sawyer Barrett has been trying to kill Victoria for so long, he doesn't know whether he loves her or hates her. Desperate to end the war, he's willing to take chances with everything–except his heart. The hunter harbors a deadly secret he can't reveal without risking the ceasefire and his life.
At Sawyer's urging, Victoria agrees to peace talks with Jake. All the while, an ancient vampire plots the destruction of wolves and hunters alike. If the embittered rivalry between hunters and wolves doesn't end—and fast—there is no hope for Victoria's pack... or for their world.



Melissa Snark is published with The Wild Rose Press & as an Indie author with five unique titles: A CAT'S TALE, THE MATING GAME, LEARNING TO FLY, THE CHILD THIEF, and HUNGER MOON.Her Loki's Wolves series includes THE CHILD THIEF, HUNGER MOON and BATTLE CRY.She lives in the San Francisco bay area with her husband, three children and a glaring of cats.She is a professional cat herder and unrepentant satirist who blogs about books and writing on The Snarkology.
Connect with Melissa Snark: Author WebsiteThe SnarkologyEmail: melissasnark at gmail.comFacebook Author PageTwitter: @MelissaSnarkGoodreads Amazon Author Page

Share, Follow and Reap the Benefits

 Tortuga Thursday
In 2012, on the plains of Northern Arizona, two families joined forces and began the trials and tribulations of building a small family farm with nothing in the bank but love.
Each year has been an adventure since our two small family units came together to try farming...on a shoestring. It hasn't been easy, but it's been rewarding. In my author bio I have a line that says:
Together, we’ve embraced an age-old lifestyle that has been mostly lost in the United States - multiple generations living under one roof, who share the workload, follow their individual dreams and reap the benefits of combined talents.
I thought about those combined talents today while popping apart garlic to plant. By the way, we should be all done by Sunday! Yay! 
Since farming takes up a great deal of time on Tortuga Flats Farm, Lance's ability to grow comes to mind first. Is it possible for a human to be simpatico with vegetables? It does seem he has an innate sense of what that little seed needs from the moment he chooses to plant it. And since we operate with few resources, he's creative in how we accomplish our farming.
If Lance can grow it, Christie can cook it. But Christie is more than a good cook. She juggles finances and balances some of the moodier members of our household (like me). She's a ray of sunshine on tired, gray days.

Frank is the other good cook. I for one am glad there are two people who like to cook under one roof since I don't really enjoy it. He's also our jack of all trades. We all turn to him when something won't work. He takes the lead in business matters, although we all have input. He might not like to hear it, but in some cases he's our wise elder.
I join Christie in the juggling of finances. I'm also a doer. Or so I see myself. If I notice something needs to be done, I tackle it. I like to work in the field with Lance, keep the outside of the house neat and kill weeds.
Oh, I can't forget Sadi. She's the entertainment on a daily basis. She's the future and the culmination of all our love.
That covers only how we maintain our mutual needs. We each have our own side projects and activities. It's crazy busy most of the year but we somehow find the time to meet the needs of the group and ourselves. It ebbs and flows. Winter allows each of us to stretch our individual wings...just in the nick of time!
 

THE PROBLEMS OF ADVERTISING FOR A MATE by Andrea Downing

  MUSE MONDAY Please join me in welcoming Andrea Downing to Muse Monday.
My latest book, Dearest Darling , is based on the premise that a love letter and a packet of tickets meant for one woman goes to quite another. The woman for whom they were meant was my hero’s ‘mail order bride,’ but my plucky heroine takes the tickets and ventures west.  Going west was an adventure; for men, there were lures of gold, huge tracts of land, wealth to be made.  Pioneer wagons did include women but few were single, and so by the middle of the 19th Century, men looked around and found something was missing from the life they had chosen—women!  What could they do about it?  Many wrote back home for introductions to eligible women in their old communities, possibly through Church organizations or just acquaintances.  Elsewhere, clubs formed to bring young ladies west and introduce them properly.  There was the Busy Bee Club in Tucson, AZ,  begun by six wives in order to stop the arguments over the few available females.  Up in Seattle, there were the Mercer Maids, and elsewhere in Washington, one man raised money to go back east and arrange for a ship filled with brides.  Unfortunately, the ship was hardly ‘filled’ and the venture not particularly successful, but it goes to show the lengths to which men went to find matrimony.
Finally, two newspapers, specializing in advertisements for mail order brides, appeared on the market.  Advertising was already fairly common, but these weekly periodicals were dedicated to procuring marriage for distant singles.  The weekly Matrimonial News was printed both in San Francisco and Kansas City from around the 1870s through the ‘90s,  and sent out to subscribers.  The advertisements it contained had to follow strict regulations and include information on appearance—including height and weight!, the person’s financial position as well as their ‘social position’ and, of course, the type of mate they were seeking. Gentlemen were charged for the privilege of advertising, women were not unless their ad went over forty words.  Nowadays, we hear stories of internet dating that has gone awry, of potential partners who turn out to be nothing like they advertise.  Imagine, then, writing long distance, having someone travel out to meet you,  and discovering your prospective mate was a dud.  In fact, several issues of The Matrimonial News contained a notice from one Judge that any man discovering his intended had artificially enhanced themselves could call their marriage null and void!
A slightly later magazine also dedicated to ‘lonely hearts’ was The New Plan.  Ladies had to sign an agreement to answer all letters with stamps included, even if it was just to say they were not interested.  What surprised me about these advertisements was the frankness about their financial situations and what they expected to inherit.   In my book, Dearest Darling , my hero really knows very little about the woman with whom he has been corresponding for a year; he has to trust she is as she presents herself.  And therein lies a problem with all correspondents.
But to find out what happens to Daniel, you’ll have to read the book.

Blurb:  Daniel Saunders has carved out a life for himself in Wyoming—a life missing one thing: a wife. Having scrimped and saved to bring his mail-order bride from New York, he is outraged to find in her stead a runaway fraud. Even worse, the impostor is the sister of his old enemy.But people are not always as they seem, and sometimes the heart knows more than the head. Excerpt: “Who the hell are you?” he blurted out.The woman took a step back. “My name is Emily Darling—”“Darling?” His eyes narrowed as his hands went instinctively to his hips.“I received your letter,” she continued somewhat breathlessly. “I know...”“Stop. Just tell me where Ethel is.” The blood rushed through his veins, pulling anger and uneasiness with it. “What’s happened to Ethel?”“I know it wasn’t meant for me,” the blonde continued, “but—”“But? But. Lady, are you telling me you received a dang letter meant for someone else, and you went and hightailed it out here with a train ticket and stage ticket meant for that someone else?”This impostor’s eyes widened. Emily’s eyes, not Ethel’s...“You know how the hell long it took me to save for that trip? You have any idea of the cost of all that?”“I...I thought—”“I don’t give a good gosh damn what the heck you thought. That money was meant for...” Total disbelief swallowed his tongue. Daniel took some paces and struggled to control his temper before he shot off his gun. “Damn!” he said at last. “Damn!” He stomped back to her. “Well, what the hell do you expect to do now— now that you’re here, may I ask?”“Well...” Emily visibly gathered herself and straightened up. “Marry you, of course.” Bio:  Andrea Downing likes to say that when she decided to do a Masters Degree, she made the mistake of turning left out of New York, where she was born, instead of right to the west, and ended up in the UK.   She eventually married there, raising a beautiful daughter and staying for longer than she cares to admit.  Teaching, editing a poetry magazine, writing travel articles, and a short stint in Nigeria filled those years until in 2008 she returned to NYC.  She now divides her time between the city and the shore, and often trades the canyons of New York for the wide open spaces of Wyoming.  Links to Social Media :  WEBSITE AND BLOG:  http://andreadowning.comFacebook:  https://www.facebook.com/writerAndreaDowningTwitter:  @andidowning  https://twitter.com/AndiDowningGoodre...  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6446229.Andrea_DowningLinkedin:  http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?... AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE:  http://www.amazon.com/Andrea-Downing/e/B008MQ0NXS/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0


  

It Can't Be Thursday Again

Tortuga Thursday In 2012, on the plains of Northern Arizona, two families joined forces and began the trials and tribulations of building a small family farm with nothing in the bank but love.
I've tasked myself with writing a weekly blog about our move to the prairie and farming. Some weeks that day arrives and I'm not prepared...like this week. Garlic was supposed to be in the ground by now and the less hectic days of winter in progress. As it turned out, summer temps hung on too long and garlic is still in progress. I was out of town for a few days with my mom on a trip we planned months ago to meet with some of her long lost relatives.  Then Christie has been ill and we had to get her to Phoenix for some tests.

Here we are, two rows of garlic in the ground with five more to go. It's not a disaster as we could take the whole of November to plant, but we don't want to. Frank has fishing plans, and I have a book to finish. I separated gloves all day yesterday. I'll continue today but hopefully another row will go in. Lance has two ready for planting and will prepare another. Friends are coming tomorrow to pitch in and help. Hope to get some family out early next week to help.

Sweet potatoes -- most people eat them baked or gooped up with a sugary concoction. If you like sweet potatoes then try them one way we like them. Cut them into one inch chunks and saute them with an equal amount of onions and some bell peppers. Season with your favorite spices. So good!

For those of you in the Prescott, Arizona area, Winter Farmers' Market opens this Saturday in the parking
lot of Walgreens on Willow Creek Road. Come by for some Pirate Pickles and Relish.

Heaven and Hell by Kayden Claremont

MUSE MONDAY Please join me in welcoming Kayden Claremont to Discover Yourself.  Thank you for having me visit your blog today, Brenda.
Tell us a little about your new book. Hell’s Bounty is the first book in my Heaven and Hell series. It is a paranormal erotic novella, and it’s published by The Wild Rose Press.Blurb:
Raven Hart, a succubus bounty hunter for Hell, is on a hunt. With her query in sight, she hits a brick wall, or rather the very hard chest of a giant sexy man. She might have lost the prize for now, but she's a winner when the hottie wants to get physical. Marcus Dionysius, a Nephilim working for Heaven, has one mission—to prevent Hell’s beauty from stealing souls meant for the higher plane. But he soon realizes he’s met his sexual match. She’s naughty enough to tempt his senses, but her innocence means he can’t walk away when she needs him most. Working together to discover who’s snatching souls.
Buy Link
http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/wildcatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=182&products_id=1013
What were you like when you were in school?Oh, this is such an easy question. I was a geek. I was the girl in the library doing research for projects or just reading. Not sure how I ended up marrying the captain of the football team, but it’s still working out.
What was the last movie you watched?The November Man with Pierce Bronson. It was a great story...and it had Pierce Bronson in it. What is your favorite quote?Live, Love, Laugh. That sums up my life.Was there any particular inspiration for your characters or story?This is a funny story. I was sitting in a coffee short working on a romantic suspense story when two men sat down beside me. They were talking about how their wives suck the life out of them, and they were trying to outdo one another so the stories became interesting. Before I knew what had happened, I had a scene where the character literally sucked the life out of a sleazy politician.  Years later, I was in a critique meeting and we were talking about the weirdest scene we’d ever written. I told my friend about this scene and they both said, “That’s a succubus.” I went home and looked it up and sure enough they were right. I liked the character so much I built the book around her. ExcerptShe’d never liked Stephen, but she didn’t want a new partner. Especially not Marcus Dionysius, the giant who had taught her the true meaning of animalistic lust.            Even though he stood a distance away, she could smell his raw sexuality, and her libido kicked in. Damned, she couldn’t afford to react like a silly schoolgirl. She was sure he hadn’t recognized her. All she had to do was control her sexual urges and act normal around him. The captain glared at her as if he read her lusty thoughts, and she turned away from him, watching the floor. He faced the group of detectives. “Let’s get out there and keep the citizens of this fair city safe.” He hurried away before she could get to him. Raven walked over to her desk and sat down, wondering what she should do. She’d been trying to talk to the captain for the last few days, but he had been locked behind closed doors and she knew he was avoiding her. Grabbing her phone, she pretended to call her informants, but all she wanted to do was get the captain alone and demand that he tell her what in hell was going on.Marcus approached her desk. His scent made her breasts ache for his touch and her sex hot and juicy. “Detective Hart?” He held a file in his enormous hand, and she yearned for the pure bliss those fingers had given her last night. Desire grew deeper inside her body.Marcus pointed to the file he held in his hand as he cleared his throat. “Nothing like a stiff to make Saturday night special.” Raven watched the dark humor shining in his angelic eyes, and her clit stiffened. “That’s what I always say.” She stood on shaky legs, grabbed her leather jacket from the back of her chair, and followed him out of the squad room. Waving at the desk sergeant as they walked past, she followed Marcus out of the precinct station, his scent driving her wild.


Kayden’s BioKayden is hooked on Paranormal Romance. She loves writing about the roller coaster ride of demons, angels and watchers and the consequences they must endure when they fall in love.  Her sensuous style drives the characters in lustful romps.Kayden is a member of Sisters in Crime International; Sisters in Crime Toronto; Romance Writers of America, Toronto Romance Writers.When she’s not at her day job she’s crafting more tales of love, crime and the supernatural or spending time with her husband and children.She lives outside of Toronto with her husband.You can contact Kayden at:Facebook: www.Facebook.com/kayden.claremontTwitter: Kayden ClaremontEmail at: Kayden Claremont@bell.net

Garrrrrlic!

Tortuga Thursday In 2012, on the plains of Northern Arizona, two families joined forces and began the trials and tribulations of building a small family farm with nothing in the bank but love. Garlic ready to plantFor the last two years we've planted a small section of garlic - just enough to supply our needs for canning Pirate Pickles and Relish. Our need to take the pickles and relish to the next level is stunted by lack of funding and resources. We need a commercial kitchen and storage facility. There are commercial kitchens that can be rented, but hauling hundreds of pounds of cucumbers, onions, garlic and herbs on a daily basis is not feasible. And cases and cases of jars. The cucumbers have to go on ice for several hours and that's an obstacle for hauling, too. So...we need an on site, county approved commercial kitchen in order to sell our products in stores and on line.

Getting back to the subject of garlic, we're planting much more this year. Much more is nearly 500 pounds of
nine different varieties. Producing and selling garlic does not require a commercial kitchen. In an effort to make an income from farming, garlic is our choice. When we can make enough, then we can build our commercial kitchen.

Although Lance has a knack for growing most everything he's tried, we don't want to try to compete with the established farmers in the area to sell a wide variety of crops. Gourmet garlic is a specialty crop. Not only is it widely used in all kinds of recipes, the health benefits of garlic are phenomenal and gaining attention. Organic, gourmet garlic is what we'll offer. No commercial kitchen needed, and we can sell everywhere.

This first year, we'll test these varieties to see which do the best in our soil. We'll keep enough of our seed stock for next year so there will be no expense for next year's crop other than soil nutrients. Over the next few months, while the garlic winters and establishes itself, we'll get the web site going and do our advance marketing.

Breaking apart 500 pounds of garlic has consumed us for two days - two boxes down and seven more to go. Sticking those little cloves into the ground will also be time intensive. Then they're covered in mulch and we wait for spring. I tested one variety while separating the cloves. Wow, as hot as our peppers. I never dreamed there were so many varieties with so many different tastes.

Next year, be lookin' for our Pirate Garrrrrrlic, matey!

And a couple of other happenings on the farm:
Lance taught me how to shoot a couple of guns. I'd never even held a gun. I thought it was time to learn about guns if I was going to write authentically about suspense and murder. Little did I know I'd enjoy it so much. Looks like I'll take up target shooting!

Sadi is growing faster than the weeds on Tortuga Flats. Here she is with her cousin Karly.

I Shot My First Gun - I'm Hooked

Researching for a novel takes many forms. Some are much more exciting than others.

Last week, my son took me shooting. I'm not a gun person, never even held a gun. The trouble is I write about murder, some of which involves guns, and I decided it was time I had personal experience firing a gun.

I was nervous. What if my hand jerked and I shot something I shouldn't? What if my aversion to guns got me so scared I couldn't pull the trigger? This research was one of those chores I knew I had to do, but wasn't sure I'd enjoy.

We drove a few miles from our farm, out beyond the last house, down a dirt trail that inclined sharply into a wash and up again, requiring four-wheel drive. A small hill was our backdrop for the boxes he'd brought for our targets.

I started with a 357 Magnum Smith and Wesson using 38 special ammo. He first taught me about the gun, gun safety and then the mechanics of firing it. I put in my earplugs, took my stance and squeezed the trigger. I nearly hit the center. Then again. Just off center. Hey, that was fun.

I moved on to a 38 Special Smith and Wesson, bobbed and snubbed. That was a fun little gun to shoot. I also shot a 22 rifle and a 20 gauge, side by side, double barrel shotgun. All fun. And my son couldn't get over how accurate and steady my aim was - first time out. I'm hooked. I didn't expect to come to an understanding of why gun enthusiasts find enjoyment shooting at a target. It's one of those activities you can't explain unless you've tried it.

A great deal of research can be done on the Internet.  I'm lucky to have done quite a bit of traveling so I can draw on that for my settings. There's nothing like firsthand knowledge to lend credibility to my writing. Handling a gun now gives me the experience my heroine might need when the villain is around the next corner.