Vicki Batman's Blog, page 50

Bueller? Bueller? 30 years later #goodmovie #RssosSisters #MFRWorg

I find it hard to believe that “Ferris Bueller” is 30!!! years old. In Chicago, celebrations are being held--a tour of sites, a parade, in fact, a Ferris Fest.
I adore this movie because it’s full of fun and it is a John Hughes film, the best writer/director at letting us remember childhood, adults, and fun.  My sister swore we played this film all the time whenever she visited my house. My #2son can recite the whole thing.
If you haven’t watched, here’s a bit: Ferris Bueller is a high school senior and by pretending to be sick, skips a day from school with his girlfriend and best friend Cameron.

Not so bad—right?
Only they appropriate Cameron’s dad’s Ferrari.


Go to a ball game and catch a fly.
Participates in a parade-Twist and Shout!
Elude the oily assistant principal.
Thwart Ferris’ sister who wants to know why him and not her.
Cons their way into a swanky restaurant.
And talk about their lives and future. Boy, I’d have loved to do those things. Only I was the good girl and never skipped. I was in a parade. LOL.



My favorite scenes:
The shot of the assistant principal’s eyeball through a knothole.
The girl asking the assistant principal if he’d like a gummy bear, warm from her pocket. And the flying Ferrari


 
So how do you feel about Ferris? Do you watch it every time it is on?
 

Travel & Book - Donna Del Oro tells an interesting tale about her trip to Ireland #RssosSisters #romanticsuspense

Travel & Book with Donna Del Oro
The idea for this book, A BODYGUARD OF LIES, struck me when I was tipping a pint with fellow tourists at an Irish pub. There on the wall was an old, WW II photo of Irish dockworkers sharing their pub with German U-boat sailors, coming off submarines that prowled the Irish Sea. That started me wondering about the role that Ireland played during the war, its uneasy relationship with Nazi Germany and the German spies who infiltrated Ireland and England.
While traveling in our touring motor coach around Ireland, I kept wondering whether I could set different scenes of a book at various places, like the coastal area on the Ring of Kerry; the town Killarney, so close to the lush mountains where people love to hike; the Irish stud farm where prize Arabians and thoroughbreds are kept and bred; the beautiful city of Dublin, so cosmopolitan in its architecture and sidewalk cafes. The Irish Sea is vaster than I had imagined and could be crossed by ferries and all manner of ships.


Lots of research followed, which led me to a contemporary story about an FBI undercover agent who investigates an elderly, naturalized American grandmother, wanted by MI6 for war crimes. Little ol' Mary McCoy Snider, a dangerous WW II Nazi spy who caused the deaths of thousands? Even Agent Jake Bernstein finds that an unbelievable stretch. The granddaughter whom Jake finds himself falling in love with also disbelieves MI6's allegations. Until his investigation draws him into the middle of a dangerous, secret neo-Nazi group that'll stop at nothing to protect one of their own. And then Jake must choose, the old woman and her lovely granddaughter. Or justice.
My new FBI series, INTERNATIONAL RELEASE-JUNE 8th, is the Jake Bernstein FBI series--A BODYGUARD OF LIES, Book One. If you love a genre that's chock full of danger, suspense, crime drama and a heavy dose of sizzling romance, you'll LOVE THIS SERIES! FBI agent Jake Bernstein is my epitome of a hardy, justice-seeking federal officer who combines good looks, a sense of humor and unyielding courage. He knows how to investigate as one of the Bureau's best undercover agents, but he also knows how and when to bend the rules for the sake of true human justice.


Find A Bodyguard of Lies at: Amazon


Find Donna Del Oro at: Website


Donna, I love how your trip to Ireland and the picture inspired you!

Everyone Knows an Ant Can't... Using the Senses when Writing #MFRWorg #Thursdayblog #RssosSisters

Lift a rubber tree plant! From the old song “High Hopes” (Frank singing You Tube)  
But we’re not here today to talk about an ant being strong. Have you ever just sat and watched an ant scurry about? Or watch a leaf by the toe of your shoe in great detail? And then note the colors, the smells -- truly becoming immersed in the object?
Or sitting in a coffee shop and seeing a hunky cyclist at a table tying his shoe laces bunny ear style. You make note of his pro-looking outfit. The sweat dripping from his forehead. His scruffy beard. (Oh my, I’m finding my imaginary guy desirable!)
Writing details is important because it relays senses to the readers and invests them emotionally.
The five senses are: Tasting, Hearing, Smelling, Feeling, Seeing. From “The Five Senses” by Dr.William K. Pediaopolis (Senses),  we have this definition: "A system that consists of a group of sensory cell types that responds to a specific physical phenomenon, and that corresponds to a particular group of regions within the brain where the signals are received and interpreted."
The five senses have to be incorporated into our writing. Otherwise, our work is boring, even lifeless, unresponsive. Who would want to read that?
Tasting–Enables us to distinguish food choices. Say, I bought a slice of lemon
pound cake. It’s the color of yellow daffodils and has a bit of white, nearly translucent, icing dribbled over the top. When I take a bite, the sharp lemon hits my tongue in a pleasing way, followed by the sweet sugary frosting. Both flavors complement each other. I like the taste so much, I want to make it last forever and chew slowly.

Hearing-is about the sounds we distinguish. Perhaps, the coffee shop uses real mugs and our imaginary cyclist knocks his against a plate. The ring from that hit captures our ear, and we turn to see who made the noise. Suppose there is a lot of hustle and bustle in the store and all the comings and goings distract us. There’s the snap of a newspaper. The zip from a laptop case. The scuffing of shoes. Someone sneezing.
Smelling-Enables us to distinguish odors. As Mr. Cyclist carries his brew to the table, a breeze pushes a whiff from the coffee toward us, teasing our nose and we have to have a drink now! The scent of coffee is greatly appealing to many people, but maybe not to others. Taste is tied with Smell.
Feeling-Distinguishing the quality of bodies. Back to the lemon pound cake—I touch the corner to break it off and feel the crisp outside edge. As I pull my section away, little crumbles fall to dot my plate. I press my finger to the crumbles. They are soft and light.
Seeing-Mr. Biker has finished his drink. I watch him push his mug and plate to one side. He drops the balled paper napkin on top of the empty plate. He bends over and reties his shoe in the bunny ear fashion.
In college, I took an Art Appreciation class. One of the assignments was to find a spot and observe for twenty minutes. I sat upstairs in an area which overlooked the gathering spot below. I noted the color of the furniture-blue, but not navy blue, fabric with silvery specks. And off to one side sat a guy from one of my classes. I watched him read and occasionally, glance up when someone passed by. He wore jeans, not too faded, and a white button down shirt. His hair was nearly black and had a wave.
Sounds stalker-ish? LOL. The purpose of the class was to heighten our awareness for when we studied paintings. To note details.
Writing details can make the work sing, but too many can cause a book to be tossed aside. Writers have to have a good balance in their work.


As a reader, do you notice when a writer uses the senses? As a writer do you use some senses and not the others?
Pretty soon, Hattie will be up to new tricks in Temporarily Insane. For more information, go to: Amazon

Handbag & Book with author Zara West: The Bag that Turned me into a Writer #TWRP #MFRWorg #Mondayblog

Handbag & Book withZara West



You can tell from this photo that this is not a “handbag” in the traditional sense. This is Greek tagari, or what shepherds use to carry their lunch, water, and other necessities when they are herding their sheep on the mountainsides. 

The amazing thing about the bag in the picture is that I wove from wool I hand-spun and dyed while studying Greek weaving in Greece. I actually wove two, but my anthropologist husband, despite the fact a tagari is designed to take heavy wear-and-tear, wore his out lugging books in it for thirty years. I only use mine for “special” occasions so it still retains its original shape and color. The main reason I wanted to share this bag today it is because of this bag I wrote my first magazine article for Shuttle, Spindle, & Dyepot and because of that article I became a writer.
Zara, I am super impressed!!!

For many years I wrote non-fiction, but recently I have turned to writing fiction: romantic suspense, in particular. On June 17th, my first novel Beneath the Skin, published by Wild Rose Press, will be released. 

 



Ex-Olympic wrestler and reclusive billionaire artist Aristides Stavros has one mission—to rescue his sister, a popular Williamsburg, Brooklyn tattoo artist from the old enemy who has kidnapped her. But at every turn he is confronted by anthropologist Melissa Dermot. Is she just an innocent girl in over her head or is she working for the international crime boss holding his sister? Only one thing is certain, when Ari holds the beautiful Asian-American in his arms questions of guilt and innocence fade against an undeniable fiery attraction. But can their wild passionate love survive the tangled web of long hidden secrets, intentional deceit, and murderous revenge that lie just beneath the surface?

Pre-Order Beneath the Skin at: Amazon

For more information, visit her at Website




So lovely to have you today, Zara!

Handbag & Book w #author Charlotte Copper & Love Supernaturally #accessories #shoes #RssosSisters #MFRWorg

  Handbag & Book with Charlotte Copper



This is by far my favorite purse, and not because of the unusual color—it looks much brighterTHE LONG STRAP. I’m 5’10” (so I need long) and I hate to carry a purse on my arm. While I do have a few “handbags” that actually require hands/arms, I prefer something that I can just slip over my shoulder….regardless of how heavy my coat may be. (I’m from Canada. We wear heavy winter coats over bulky sweaters at least one quarter of the year.) POCKETS.  And actually, this is a case of balancing too many versus not enough. A good purse must have one pocket on the outside…for pen and phone. And at least one…maybe two….small side pockets on the inside for make-up, nail file and keys.  BUT I HATE SECTIONS! Although I own a few purses that have zippered centers or multiple sections inside, they obviously didn’t top the list.  I usually just end up putting everything into one section, because I can never figure out how I’d want to divide my stuff into the multiple sections. One big section & two pockets…that’s all I need.
Unfortunately I didn’t realize until it was too late how much I would love this purse, or I would have bought it in one or two other colors. I’ve had it now for several years, and I bought it at a shoe store in the local mall, so I stop in every so often just in case something similar comes back into stock.
 Cassandra Wilson, angel and first-year nurse, spends her days helping other people. Day after day. Life after life. An innocent night out with Fraser, a university junior and varsity hockey player, leads to something more serious and Cassie begins to experience feelings she’s been trying to avoid.
Cassie took the stairs two at a time and almost ran into her roommate as she came to the small landing at the top.
“Whoa,” said Gabriella. “What’s got you in such a hurry?”
“Nothing.”
Gabriella folded her arms across her chest and tapped her tiny bare foot.
“I’ve gotta shower. I’m going to the movies.”
Pink toenails beat an impatient pattern on the hardwood.
Did the girl have gypsy blood? Her psychic abilities were uncanny.
“With a hockey player,” Cassie explained.
Gabriella’s foot stilled and her eyes widened. “Which one?”
“Fraser something. I didn’t get a last…”
“Tall, with dark, curly hair?”
“That’s him.”
Gabriella laid a hand on Cassie’s arm. “Be careful, he’s a player. And I don’t mean hockey.”
That wouldn’t be a problem. She didn’t want a relationship and this wasn’t a date. And if the night did end with sex, well, she’d welcome a little…distraction. After all, she was an angel not a nun.
Find LOVE SUPERNATURALLY at: The Wild Rose Press

Find Charlotte Copper at: Website
Hey, Charlotte, I had not considered the handbag problems really tall gals like yourself have. I have a shoulder thing and go for totes nowadays.


 
 

Recipe & Book - author Ilona Fridl w Lemon Angel Shortcake & #newbook #MFRWorg #RssosSisters #desserttime

Recipe & Book with Ilona Fridl First of all, I want to thank Vicki for hosting me on her blog!
You're most welcome, Ilona!!!               Simple Lemon Angel Shortcake   My family is all for simplicity and here's a simple way to make a delicious shortcake for summer. My daughter made this one for Mother's Day. We've always loved angel food, because it sponges up the fruit juices better than the biscuit type of shortcake.                     Recipe   A day ahead, prepare berries. Wash fruit and slice into container or bowl. Add ½ cup of sugar and gently mix. Cover and put in refrigerator.   Prepare 1 package of angel food cake mix as directed on package except substitute lemon-lime soda for the water. Add 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest as you are mixing the batter. Pour into cake pan and bake as directed on package. After cake is cool, slice and put on plate. Take berries and spoon over cake slice, both fruit and juice. You may top with whipped cream or ice cream, if you wish.

A naked man in a graveyard… Detectives Amos and Sarah Darcy have dealt with quite a few unusual mysteries, but who cut down the naked man in the graveyard with a broadsword at midnight?  
                           
Around two 'o clock that afternoon, Sam came in to see them. “Well, we know who the man is. He was identified by his wife and brother. He's Abner Wells and works as a bookkeeping clerk at First National Bank.”
Amos stroked his mustache. “That doesn't sound like a wild-eyed pagan to me. Did you get a chance to question his wife?”
“She's Lidia and was quite upset as you may guess. I asked her if she knew about the spiritualist group and she didn't know anything about it.”
“How about his brother?”
“His brother is Calvin Wells. He's a liner captain working for a passenger company and he said he never heard of a group like that.”
Sarah was silent for a moment. “It's possible she's covering up something. Seems to me if a model citizen was involved in a group like that, they wouldn't want it general knowledge what they were doing.”
Sam glanced at her. “You may be right. I'm going to the bank to question people who knew Wells there. Since you're doing all this research on spiritualism, could you find a way to get into one of these groups?”
Sarah thought for a moment. “Maybe it would be better for me to work undercover. Amos would still be well known in the community.”
Amos studied her. “As long as they don't try to sacrifice you. Then I willhave something to say.”
“I could disguise myself. Kata could help me with that.” Her cousin worked in costuming at the Golden North theater.
Sam nodded. “If you do, keep me informed of where you go and what you do. That way we can keep an eye on you.”
Sarah sobered. “Yes, we know it can be dangerous, don't we?”
Find A Sacrificial Matter at: Amazon
Find Ilona Fridl at: Website
Ilona, this recipe is fabulous and angel food cake is Handsome's fav. I shall be making it for him soon.
 
                                           
 


 
 
 
 

Handbag & Book : Visiting the Downton Abbey collection #DowntonAbbey #RssosSisters #MFRWorg #accessories

Handbag & Book with
Vicki BatmanI have a special treat today. Recently, I visited a museum and the special collection showing were Costumes from Downton Abbey. You may remember I was a huge Downton Abbey fan and even mourned when the last episode aired. LOL.
So I thought I'd share this handbag:


This is a handbag carried by Martha Levinson, Lady Grantham's mother from New York City, portrayed by Shirley MacLaine. The bag is constructed of black and the clasp is of carved bone.
Here is the complete ensemble: All Downton devotees remember that Martha was rather flamboyant and it shows in her fashion. The coat fabric is gold and black floral silk, reminiscentof an Oriental pattern. And it is trimmed in a large fur collar and cuffs. Martha wore a hat embroidered and trimmed with pheasant feathers, however, the hat wasn't shown in the display I saw.
As you know, I'm a handbag gal and I love this one. It isn't quite large enough for my stuff.
I was overwhelmed by this exhibit and shall be sharing my photos with you over the next few weeks.
Like it?
Would I write a book and not feature handbags? Heck, no! Hereis Temporarily Employed, a romantic comedy mystery, featuringa handbag-carrying heroine. Find your copy at:Amazon

Mayhaw Jelly fan? Join author Linda Tillis on Recipe & Book #RssosSisters #MFRWorg #whatscooking

Recipe & Book with
Linda Tillis
My husband and I love to take off for the day and travel rural roads. One day, on just such a trip, I passed an old gentleman on the side of the road. He was selling something in jars. I made a quick u-turn to check him out. I bought some wild honey and a jar of something called Mayhaw Jelly. My husband loved it. When I looked it up I found that the wild Mayhaw tree is almost extinct.
The mayhaw (crataegus opaca) is a fruit about 1/2" to 1" in diameter. Ripe from mid-April through early May, its fruit color varies from bright red to reddish yellow. It is not a desirable berry for eating raw. The mayhaw is a Hawthorne native to the southeastern states. Usually found in low, wet, slightly acid areas, mayhaws produce best on good upland soils in full sun.
 
Historically, Mayhaws have been harvested in backwoods sloughs, swamps, and river bottoms. Boats are sometimes utilized in the harvest of wild mayhaws. Limbs are shaken over the boat and nets are used to scoop them out of the water. 
Mayhaw Jelly 
You're going to need about one gallon or 4 ½ pounds of mayhaw fruit to yield about 12 cups of strained, flavorful juice.
 
Sort the mayhaws, removing decayed fruit and twigs. Wash thoroughly. Measure or weigh fruit and put in large saucepan.  For 2 quarts of fruit cover with 6 cups of water. (too much will weaken the flavor).
 
Bring to a boil, cover and cook gently for about 30 minutes. Cool and drain juice first through a colander, pressing fruit lightly with the back of a large spoon. Then strain the juice through a clean flour sack (or several layers of cheese cloth) From 2 quarts of fruit you should get about 6 cups of strained juice.
 
Measure 5 ½ cups sugar and set aside. Cook the juice at a low boil until it cooks down to about 4 cups, stirring often, being careful not to scorch. Bring the 4 cups of juice to a full boil. At once, stir in all sugar, stir as you return to a full boil and boil hard for five minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, skim off foam with large metal spoon. Immediately put into clean hot jars and seal.
 
My first novel, A Heart Made For Love, was set in 1903 Florida and discussed ladies baking skills.  The sequel, A Man With A Pure Heart, has some Mayhaw tarts  to drool over.
 
Coming soon, A Heart Made For Love is the story of a young woman's journey from victim to victorious as she discovers her own inner strength while helping others find theirs.



Will Mae’s wits and her gun be enough to protect her when the origin of her nightmares returns?

This was the moment Mae would have to prove herself. Instinctively, Mae found the little beauty and fired a round into the air. The man froze and then turned slowly toward Mae. The look on his face would have urged most men to full retreat.“I said let her go, and I meant it. I don’t want to have to shoot you, mister.”The man let out a bark of laughter. “You think you can hit me, little lady, before I can take your gun away from you?”Mae stood her ground. Her heart was racing and her insides quivering, but her voice was firm. “You can try, but I warn you, I will not hesitate.”The man had let go of Emma and now turned fully to face Mae. “You’re the reason I’m here, ain’t ya? You’re the one who put some crazy notion in her head, like she can just up and leave and get away with it. She’s got a home, and I’m takin’ her back to it.”As the man reached out to grab Emma again, Mae fired. The man’s arm jerked in reaction to the white-hot pain. He wheeled sharply and took a step toward Mae, then stopped. He could see she had gone pale, but her grip on the pistol was firm, and her arm was rock steady."



Find A Heart made for Love at: Coming Soon from The Wild Rose PressFind Linda Tillis at: Website



Linda, your jelly sounds fabulous. Have you made any other kinds?

Handbag & Book a new colorful straw bag & book too #MFRWorg #RssosSisters #fashion #accessories

Handbag & Book with
Vicki BatmanI just had to do it. My sister sent me a picture of a handbag and it was absolutely adorable. But the price---yikes!
So I ventured on over to ETSY and found this one: Funny, there is no label at all on the inside so I could possibly discover more about the maker. It measures approximately 10 x 13 inches. Roomy on the inside and lined with a material which makes it mostly waterproof, like what we'd expect a summer touristy bag to have. I love the colorful embroidered flowers--there are some on the sides too. The tote handles are my favorite.


Now, you see why I couldn't resist! And at a fraction of the price of the big-name designer.


Here's a couple of cuties I found on ETSY:















Do you buy a bag to use each summer? Are you one who finds a touristy bag when traveling?

And guess what? a copy of my romantic comedy mystery, Temporarily Employed, will fit inside and is the PERFECT beach read-light, funny, with a great hero. Find TE at e-retailers and at: Amazon

Travels & Book with Diane Wickles #HongKong #recipes #fortunecookies #MFRWorg #RssosSisters

Travels & Book with Diane WicklesHong Kong. Everyone knows Hong Kong as skyscrapers, glamour and glitz in a crowded metropolis, but when the crowds and sidewalks get to you there are places to go to relax and slow down.
·         Lantau Island , the largest island of Hong Kong, is home to Hong Kong’s Disneyland and the international airport. But if you go behind the world’s largest outdoor sitting Buddha statue and hike up to Lantau Peak, the second highest point in the city, you will be rewarded not with the traditional Hong Kong skyline but with a beautiful panorama of lush green forests. 

·         Lamma Island is one of Hong Kong’s many outlying islands. This island has a very laid-back atmosphere with no cars allowed and a restriction of the height of buildings. It’s also well known for its excellent seafood.
·         Ping Shan Heritage Trail depicts the New Territories history with sites at temples, Hakka villages and monasteries. This trail features very old buildings and a more rustic atmosphere than the bustling city.
·         Wildlife Parks and Reserves Although Hong Kong does not have a zoo, it does have several wildlife and marine parks which are well worth a visit.
If you’re like me, I love fortune cookies! Yes, I know fortune cookies are not a traditional Chinese dish. History has them originating in California in the early 1900s. Still, they are fun to share. Here’s a craft where you can make cloth fortune cookies that won’t spoil: You Tube Fortune Cookies   A deadly Philippines typhoon stole Annie’s memory. Now, can a handsome Chinese stranger save her from the danger she has forgotten?
Leyte Province in the Philippines. Her running steps echoed from the walls. Would he catch her? It meant white slavery if he did. Slamming open the kitchen door, she burst out of the hotel despite the typhoon ravaging the eastern coast. The destructive winds and rains were buffered in the alleyway behind the hotel, but she still had to fight for each step away from the man she knew was just behind her.
             Without warning, massive walls of water rushed into the alley from both ends. The sixteen-foot wave scooped her up and battered her against the buildings. When the storm surge receded, she lay bruised and unconscious beneath a mass of water-logged debris.               “I’m told there are eleven buildings, besides this church, serving as shelters,” Father Donovan said. “I haven’t left here since the typhoon hit four days ago. Is the damage extensive?”          “Yes. Very. Many people with no homes, no food,” Deshi Han replied.           Father Donovan put his hand on Deshi’s shoulder. “You brought much-needed food and supplies. Your movies are loved but your charity work is well-known here in the Philippines. I thank you. You are truly doing God’s work, my son.”            Deshi watched as a volunteer passed out the blankets he had brought, which would help to cushion the pews they were using for beds. He shook his head. “I wish I do more.”            “Perhaps there is something …” Father Donovan began.            “What, Father?” He followed the priest to a courtyard. A young woman sat beside a storm-crushed rose bed. Deshi guessed her to be American, in her early twenties. “Who she, Father?”            “No one knows, not even her.” Father Donovan tilted his head to the side and sighed. “She has no memory of anything before the typhoon. One of the doctors informed me that she just needs rest to regain her memory.”            Deshi watched the girl slowly gather the broken branches from around the few unharmed plants. A child about five years old ran up and tapped her on the shoulder. The young woman’s solemn face broke into a smile as the child led her away toward another section of the church.            Father Donovan turned to Deshi. “But she won’t get that rest here. She has nightmares and cries for the orphaned and injured children. I’ve prayed for someone to claim her and take her away from here.”            “We delivered the supplies to the kitchen.” Jun Chew, Deshi’s assistant, spoke in Cantonese as she approached them.            Deshi turned away from the doorway, nodded at Jun then called to his business manager, “Where the next shelter, Paul?”            Paul Wu shook his head then responded in English. “We have distributed all the supplies we brought, Deshi. That is all we can do today.”            “Besides,” Jun continued in Cantonese, “we have to get back or you will be late for the senior citizen center opening.”            The supplies had gone so fast. They had only been to six of the eleven shelters and there were so many people still in need. “Maybe one more thing I can do today,” Deshi said with a sigh. “Father?”            The priest’s right hand clutched the large cross at his neck and he smiled. “Yes, my son?            “I will take her.”Find Hong Kong Treasure at: Amazon Connect with Diane at: Facebook Bonus recipe!
Asian Garlicky Zucchini & Tomatoes over Rice Noodles2 med zucchini, sliced 1/4 inch2 T Olive Oil2 Garlic Cloves, diced or mashed1 15oz can diced tomatoes½ can cornAsian rice noodles (found in ethnic section of grocery store)Tamari or soy sauceSesame seedsSaute zucchini in olive oil ‘til soft. Add garlic, tomatoes and corn and simmer10-15 minutes. Serve over cooked rice noodles. Sprinkle with tamari andsesame seeds.  Wow, Diane! What a lot of stuff you've shared today. I love fortune cookies and the one you shared is adorable. Well, readers, what do you think--to fortune or not?