Kate Collins's Blog, page 115
July 17, 2016
SUMMER CHILI!
by Mary Kennedy
Yes, I know we think of chili as a warm weather dish, but I've fallen in love with this light summer version. With sun-dried tomatoes and white beans, it's the perfect veggie dinner. A nice salad, some French bread and you've got a meal.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes1 red onion, you can use a small vidalia onion if you prefer2 cloves garlic2 tbsp olive oil2 tsp chili powder1 green bell pepper3 (15 oz) cans cannellini beans2 tomatoes2 tbsp fresh parsley
Directions
Chop the sun-dried tomatoes, place in a bowl, cover with hot water and set aside.
Roughly chop the onion and finely chop the garlic.Heat oil in heavy saucepan and saute onion, garlic and chili powder for 5 minutes. Dice the green pepper, add to onion mixture, cook an additional 5 minutes.
Drain and rinse the beans. Roughly chop the tomatoes.. Drain the sun-dried tomatoes, reserving 1/2 cup liquid. Add tomatoes, sun-died tomatoes and reserved liquid and beans to the pan and simmer for 5 minutes. Add salt, pepper and parsley. Serves 4.-6
Bon appetit!
Mary Kennedy
Yes, I know we think of chili as a warm weather dish, but I've fallen in love with this light summer version. With sun-dried tomatoes and white beans, it's the perfect veggie dinner. A nice salad, some French bread and you've got a meal.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes1 red onion, you can use a small vidalia onion if you prefer2 cloves garlic2 tbsp olive oil2 tsp chili powder1 green bell pepper3 (15 oz) cans cannellini beans2 tomatoes2 tbsp fresh parsley
Directions
Chop the sun-dried tomatoes, place in a bowl, cover with hot water and set aside.
Roughly chop the onion and finely chop the garlic.Heat oil in heavy saucepan and saute onion, garlic and chili powder for 5 minutes. Dice the green pepper, add to onion mixture, cook an additional 5 minutes.
Drain and rinse the beans. Roughly chop the tomatoes.. Drain the sun-dried tomatoes, reserving 1/2 cup liquid. Add tomatoes, sun-died tomatoes and reserved liquid and beans to the pan and simmer for 5 minutes. Add salt, pepper and parsley. Serves 4.-6
Bon appetit!
Mary Kennedy
July 15, 2016
Video Book Trailers
by Lorraine Bartlett / Lorna Barrett / L.L. Bartlett
Let's play focus group. The subject today is video book trailers.
The Cozy Chicks have a page with our videos. You can find it here.
I'm very happy with my video trailer for Happy Holidays. (Hey, think Christmas in July.) I ran out of time to do one for Title Wave, so it's not as interesting.
I'm trying to decide if I should do one for my Jeff Resnick book, SHATTERED SPIRITS, which comes out on July 25th. I've got the script, but I haven't had time to find all the pictures.
So my questions for you are:
A) Do you Like Them
B) Would they help persuade you to buy a book?
P.S. We seem to be having a problem with comments. : (
If you can't leave one here, feel free to leave them on Facebook -- I'll be posting a link to this post on our Cozy Chicks Group Page and on our Author Page.
Let's play focus group. The subject today is video book trailers.The Cozy Chicks have a page with our videos. You can find it here.
I'm very happy with my video trailer for Happy Holidays. (Hey, think Christmas in July.) I ran out of time to do one for Title Wave, so it's not as interesting.
I'm trying to decide if I should do one for my Jeff Resnick book, SHATTERED SPIRITS, which comes out on July 25th. I've got the script, but I haven't had time to find all the pictures. So my questions for you are:
A) Do you Like Them
B) Would they help persuade you to buy a book?
P.S. We seem to be having a problem with comments. : (
If you can't leave one here, feel free to leave them on Facebook -- I'll be posting a link to this post on our Cozy Chicks Group Page and on our Author Page.
July 13, 2016
When the living is easy!
By Mary Jane Maffini aka Victoria Abbott
Summertime! I love every hot and sticky minute of it. Some of the things I love best are just memories of spending summers at the family log cabin on the Restigouche River in Quebec. We snootily called it ‘The Lodge’. It left me with a love of water, sunsets and playing outside. It left me with memories of only good times, all the time. I don't remember the times we were bratty until I look at some of the pix! Oops.
All the fish belong to me. It's a rule.
Never mind, we Canadians may have long and brutal winters (you have heard us complain) and slooooow springs, but our summers can really pay off.
So it makes me very happy to see yet another generation learning to enjoy swimming in lakes,
exploring evergreen woods and climbing the rocky outcrops called The Canadian Shield. Geologically interesting and perfect for picnics.
And naturally, they need to learn to fish.
This is what happy memories are made of. Let's hope there's still plenty of unpaved places for their children and their children's place.
What’s special about summer for you and yours? Do you hide indoors? Do you like urban or suburban fun? Or head for wide open spaces? Let us know!
And remember, if you’re reading up a storm this summer, The Christie Curse e-book is STILL on for $1.99 for a limited time.
Here's one link!
Have fun in the sun, everyone.
Summertime! I love every hot and sticky minute of it. Some of the things I love best are just memories of spending summers at the family log cabin on the Restigouche River in Quebec. We snootily called it ‘The Lodge’. It left me with a love of water, sunsets and playing outside. It left me with memories of only good times, all the time. I don't remember the times we were bratty until I look at some of the pix! Oops.
All the fish belong to me. It's a rule.Never mind, we Canadians may have long and brutal winters (you have heard us complain) and slooooow springs, but our summers can really pay off.
So it makes me very happy to see yet another generation learning to enjoy swimming in lakes,
exploring evergreen woods and climbing the rocky outcrops called The Canadian Shield. Geologically interesting and perfect for picnics.
And naturally, they need to learn to fish.
This is what happy memories are made of. Let's hope there's still plenty of unpaved places for their children and their children's place.
What’s special about summer for you and yours? Do you hide indoors? Do you like urban or suburban fun? Or head for wide open spaces? Let us know!
And remember, if you’re reading up a storm this summer, The Christie Curse e-book is STILL on for $1.99 for a limited time.
Here's one link!
Have fun in the sun, everyone.
July 12, 2016
Now where did I put my...
Do you forget where you put things? I do it all the time. Where did I put my keys? (That my car has keyless entry is a total godsend!) What did I come in the kitchen for? Where did I put that note? Did I make a note?
In Lethal in Old Lace out this winter, Reagan Summerside...owner of the Prissy Fox consignment shop...has this problem in spades. There’s a dead body on the loose and she can’t find it.
“Who’s down there?” KiKi called to me from the dark landing above, Uncle Putters club clutched firmly in her left hand. It looked like the 4 iron.
“It’s the boogie man,” I stage whispered. Who do you think it is and guess what, I’m not nuts.”
“You’re standing on my steps in the dark, I’d say the jury’s still out in the nuts part and did you raid my fridge, I smell chicken.”
“The dead body’s back. What should we do?”
“We?”
I grabbed KiKi’s hand and hustled her down the steps and out the front door into the night. “It’s a woman and she’s old.”
“Something you’re not going to be if you keep dragging me like this.”
“And she has a blue dress and her hat fell off so I know this time she’s real but what was she doing in the Caddy and how did she get into my house?” I babbled as we crossed the front yards with me not caring who saw KiKi in her pink robe. I stopped on my sidewalk beside the cherry tree in full bloom that gave the house its name. I jabbed my finger at the front display window of the Prissy Fox. “See?”
“See what?”
“Sitting on the floor next to the mannequin and...” I blinked then blinked two more times. “That blue-hat lady was there, I swear it.”
KiKi kissed me on the cheek. “See, this is what happens when you don’t eat your veggies and you eat crap. Your brain rots.”
I parked my hands on my hips. “I’m getting a nutrition lecture from someone who thinks martini is the fifth food group?”
“We got the olives and the pimentos and that there vodka is potatoes so it’s a meal in a glass. Besides I’m not the one seeing dead people in every nook and cranny in the middle of the night. Now about that sleep.” Kiki looked me dead in the eyes. “Get some!”
So what things to you constantly misplace? Keys? Glasses? My mind. I should not be allowed to own a cordless phone as I constantly lose the thing! So
July 11, 2016
One, Two, Three. . . . Relax
by Maggie Sefton
Hey, Everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful Independence Day July 4th celebration, whether you like your summer events packed with activities or quiet and peaceful with plenty of time for naps. Whatever suits your fancy.
As I mentioned last week, I'm here in the Northern Virginia area outside of Washington, D.C. Actually, I'm at what I call the river house, surrounded by woods with deer and other wildlife and a block from the big Potomac River as it widens to flow into the welcoming Chesapeake Bay. And, for those of you who know your geography, this entire area opens to the huge Atlantic Ocean.
The house has a lovely curved, wraparound deck where I love to sit and check email, do various Web work, or simply stare into the woods. Sometimes, one of the many Bald Eagles will soar overhead and head for their nest at the top of a tall tree straight ahead in the deep woods. It's wonderful to watch them soar overhead. Such a wide wingspan!
The river house is a peaceful escape from the crazed tempo of the Metro DC/Suburban MD/Northern VA area. Traffic here was bad when I was a kid, and that was quite a while ago. Now---it's totally insane. Here, only the residents who live in this secluded area drive up and down the roads. And various service repair people or other regular delivery businesses. Down the street/road, there are some truly beautiful homes right on the Potomac. The majority of people here have bought their homes to escape to every weekend from the Metro Madness. They come down here, don their relaxing clothes, sit on a comfy chair outside and. . .relax. That's all. Just relax. :) Where do you go to relax?
July 10, 2016
SOMETIMES SIMPLE IS BETTER: SUMMER TOMATO SALAD
By Mary Kennedy
Would you like to make a terrific summer salad with all fresh ingredients, in just 10 minutes? Of course you would.
Here's a summer favorite of mine, and I bet your family will love it too.
The ingredients are so simple.
Start with a baguette, cute into one inch cubes and toasted in a skillet. You can use a smidgen of butter or just use Pam.
Now take a nice bunch of fresh basil and chop 1/2 cup. Are you growing fresh basil this summer? You should, it's incredibly easy. Hint: Always pick basil from the top, it makes it fuller, with more leaves. To chop basil, simply pick several leaves, stack them, roll them up like a cigar and start chopping.
Now add a pint of cherry tomatoes, cut them in half.
Now slice 8 ounces of mozzarella. Add to the basil and toasted bread.
Toss gently with 1/3 cup balsamic dressing. Either from a bottle or home-made. See, I told you it was easy!! You can use cucumber instead of the toasted bread if you're watching carbs, but the toasted French bread is so good, you might want to stick to the original recipe.
Bon appetit!
Mary Kennedy
Would you like to make a terrific summer salad with all fresh ingredients, in just 10 minutes? Of course you would.
Here's a summer favorite of mine, and I bet your family will love it too.
The ingredients are so simple.
Start with a baguette, cute into one inch cubes and toasted in a skillet. You can use a smidgen of butter or just use Pam.
Now take a nice bunch of fresh basil and chop 1/2 cup. Are you growing fresh basil this summer? You should, it's incredibly easy. Hint: Always pick basil from the top, it makes it fuller, with more leaves. To chop basil, simply pick several leaves, stack them, roll them up like a cigar and start chopping.
Now add a pint of cherry tomatoes, cut them in half.
Now slice 8 ounces of mozzarella. Add to the basil and toasted bread.
Toss gently with 1/3 cup balsamic dressing. Either from a bottle or home-made. See, I told you it was easy!! You can use cucumber instead of the toasted bread if you're watching carbs, but the toasted French bread is so good, you might want to stick to the original recipe.
Bon appetit!
Mary Kennedy
July 9, 2016
Tori Cannon is In The Cozy Chicks Spotlight!
by Lorraine Bartlett / Lorna Barrett / L.L. Bartlett
Hi, my name is Tori Cannon, and I'm in love with a body of water. Not just any body of water, but beautiful Lotus Bay, NY.
My grandparents owned a bait shop and a seven-room little motel, called The Lotus Lodge, at the south end of the bay. I'd spend summers there catching minnows in the warm, shallow water around my Grandpa's dock, and my Grandma would let me sell them in the bait shop. Maybe that's where the seeds of being an entrepreneur were sown, although that trait came out rather late in life. Late--as at the end of my twenties.
But then my parents moved to Ohio, where the land was flat and the summers hot, and the threat of tornadoes always seemed to be close at hand. When the sky turned green, I knew it we could be in for an awful time. We were spared the horror of losing life, limb, and our home, but thousands in my new-home state weren't. After a while, I decided that Ohio wouldn't be the place I'd hang my hat as an adult.
And maybe that's why I only applied to a handful of colleges--and all of them within a fifty-mile range of Lotus Bay. I ended up at SUNY Brockport and when the weather was good, could go and visit my grandparents. By then, the Lotus Lodge had closed. My grandma was getting too old and sick to take care of it.
The best thing about college was that I met my best friend forever--Kathy Grant. We were roommates and became instant friends. One year, I even spent Christmas with her family because my parents had taken a skiing vacation to Vail. I mean, the choice was obvious: hang with my best friend, or go where I knew no one and might break a leg.
Graduation day was one of the saddest days of my life because it meant Kathy and I weren't going to see each other very often. I graduated with a teaching degree and Kathy got a business degree. She wanted to work in the hotel industry and one day dreamed of owning her own bed and breakfast. My goals weren't quite that lofty,
I got a job in the city of Rochester. It was the hardest job I ever had. I'd come home from work every day exhausted and--sometimes--afraid. After two years, I considered leaving the occupation. But then I found another job, that paid more, in a suburban school. I also found a boyfriend. Unfortunately, while I loved my job, I wasn't certain I loved Billy, but we moved in together for a few years and at one point even talked about buying a house together. I say house, because I'm pretty sure it would never have been a home. Billy and Kathy didn't get along, and Billy made me choose between him and Kathy. I'm very sorry to say I chose him. After three years, Billy cheated on me, moved out--taking most of our stuff with him--and left me with the bulk of the bills.Kathy and I would see each other every few months--and then it got to be once or twice a year, I never felt so alone in my life. It was only Daisy, my cat, who saved me from total heartache. And then things got worse. I lost my job.
And then one week in June, the area was hit with a cold snap--and my grandma had a massive stroke and died a few days later. Since I was the only family member in the area, I helped my sad-eyed Gramps with the arrangements and hung around to help him after the service when the rest of the family jumped in their cars and drove away as fast as they could from Lotus Bay. The only bright spot in that day was seeing Kathy, who arrived for the service. She had to go back to work, but even she stayed longer than the rest of the family.
And just when things couldn't get worse--they did. Gramps and I walked around the property, which by then was looking pretty run down, and found a body in one of the rooms of the old, abandoned Lotus Lodge.
Just when I didn't think the sun would ever shine again, Kathy called that night--just to check up on Gramps and me. And the next day, she drove out to see us again, taking a few days of vacation. Kathy had decided what I needed to do even before I could see it myself. She instincively knew I needed a project that would heal my wounded soul, and help my Gramps, too. We were going to fix up the bait shop--and she had her eye on the Lotus Lodge. She managed a hotel off the NY State Thruway in Batavia, but she never forgot her dream of opening a B&B, and she was determined to rope me into her dream, as well.
And darned if I didn't take to it like the ducks that swam near Gramps's dock. Of course, there have been a lot of obstacles--too many to mention here--but maybe you'd like to read about them in With Baited Breath.
Trade Paperback
Kindle US | Kindle Worldwide
iBooks | Kobo | Nook | Smashwords
Kathy and I are already having new adventures, but there hasn't yet been time to write down these tales. But don't worry -- there's more in store for this dynamic duo who laugh in the face of danger. (Okay, maybe not laugh--but chuckle warmly.)
Can you be just a little more patient with us?
Hi, my name is Tori Cannon, and I'm in love with a body of water. Not just any body of water, but beautiful Lotus Bay, NY.My grandparents owned a bait shop and a seven-room little motel, called The Lotus Lodge, at the south end of the bay. I'd spend summers there catching minnows in the warm, shallow water around my Grandpa's dock, and my Grandma would let me sell them in the bait shop. Maybe that's where the seeds of being an entrepreneur were sown, although that trait came out rather late in life. Late--as at the end of my twenties.
But then my parents moved to Ohio, where the land was flat and the summers hot, and the threat of tornadoes always seemed to be close at hand. When the sky turned green, I knew it we could be in for an awful time. We were spared the horror of losing life, limb, and our home, but thousands in my new-home state weren't. After a while, I decided that Ohio wouldn't be the place I'd hang my hat as an adult.And maybe that's why I only applied to a handful of colleges--and all of them within a fifty-mile range of Lotus Bay. I ended up at SUNY Brockport and when the weather was good, could go and visit my grandparents. By then, the Lotus Lodge had closed. My grandma was getting too old and sick to take care of it.
The best thing about college was that I met my best friend forever--Kathy Grant. We were roommates and became instant friends. One year, I even spent Christmas with her family because my parents had taken a skiing vacation to Vail. I mean, the choice was obvious: hang with my best friend, or go where I knew no one and might break a leg.Graduation day was one of the saddest days of my life because it meant Kathy and I weren't going to see each other very often. I graduated with a teaching degree and Kathy got a business degree. She wanted to work in the hotel industry and one day dreamed of owning her own bed and breakfast. My goals weren't quite that lofty,
I got a job in the city of Rochester. It was the hardest job I ever had. I'd come home from work every day exhausted and--sometimes--afraid. After two years, I considered leaving the occupation. But then I found another job, that paid more, in a suburban school. I also found a boyfriend. Unfortunately, while I loved my job, I wasn't certain I loved Billy, but we moved in together for a few years and at one point even talked about buying a house together. I say house, because I'm pretty sure it would never have been a home. Billy and Kathy didn't get along, and Billy made me choose between him and Kathy. I'm very sorry to say I chose him. After three years, Billy cheated on me, moved out--taking most of our stuff with him--and left me with the bulk of the bills.Kathy and I would see each other every few months--and then it got to be once or twice a year, I never felt so alone in my life. It was only Daisy, my cat, who saved me from total heartache. And then things got worse. I lost my job.And then one week in June, the area was hit with a cold snap--and my grandma had a massive stroke and died a few days later. Since I was the only family member in the area, I helped my sad-eyed Gramps with the arrangements and hung around to help him after the service when the rest of the family jumped in their cars and drove away as fast as they could from Lotus Bay. The only bright spot in that day was seeing Kathy, who arrived for the service. She had to go back to work, but even she stayed longer than the rest of the family.
And just when things couldn't get worse--they did. Gramps and I walked around the property, which by then was looking pretty run down, and found a body in one of the rooms of the old, abandoned Lotus Lodge.
Just when I didn't think the sun would ever shine again, Kathy called that night--just to check up on Gramps and me. And the next day, she drove out to see us again, taking a few days of vacation. Kathy had decided what I needed to do even before I could see it myself. She instincively knew I needed a project that would heal my wounded soul, and help my Gramps, too. We were going to fix up the bait shop--and she had her eye on the Lotus Lodge. She managed a hotel off the NY State Thruway in Batavia, but she never forgot her dream of opening a B&B, and she was determined to rope me into her dream, as well.
And darned if I didn't take to it like the ducks that swam near Gramps's dock. Of course, there have been a lot of obstacles--too many to mention here--but maybe you'd like to read about them in With Baited Breath.Trade Paperback
Kindle US | Kindle Worldwide
iBooks | Kobo | Nook | Smashwords
Kathy and I are already having new adventures, but there hasn't yet been time to write down these tales. But don't worry -- there's more in store for this dynamic duo who laugh in the face of danger. (Okay, maybe not laugh--but chuckle warmly.)Can you be just a little more patient with us?
July 7, 2016
Can women only be happy if they're in a relationship?
by Lorraine Bartlett / Lorna Barrett / L.L. Bartlett
The other day, I posted a graphic on Facebook announcing the title of the next Booktown Mystery. Unless the Marketing Department decides to change it, my editor seems to think it will go. It was suggested by one of my readers (Hi, Debra!) who will be rewarded in some fashion ... as soon as I figure out how. In any case, I don't hate the title, and that's a big plus in my book.
But I was rather disturbed to get several comments from readers who seem to think the only way Tricia can EVER be happy is by being in a relationship.
Hmm. This is 2016, after all.
Oddly enough, no one has made a complaint about Angelica's vow to take time to do what she wants to do--run her empire, and concentrate on her new family. Some readers are unhappy about the end of Tricia's relationship with her ex-husband--but equally as many readers wrote to tell me they were sick of him.
Let's face it, we've all known people who were unlucky in love. Sometimes being with someone is not the healthiest situation. Women who stay with abusers rather than be alone is just one example. (The same thing can happen to men, too.)
I love the saying on the left. It speaks to the situation of many women (and men).
I'm not saying that there will never be another man in Tricia's life ... but I am saying that it's an option for her NOT to be in a relationship just for the sake of her being with someone.
I always say that I don't really write these books...I take dictation, because most of the time the characters decide for themselves what they want to do. Tricia will let me know when she's ready to start looking for love. And who knows ... it might just be in the very next book.
And here's something I found on Facebook that says it all.
Wouldn't you agree that that is the very best Tricia should hope for?
The other day, I posted a graphic on Facebook announcing the title of the next Booktown Mystery. Unless the Marketing Department decides to change it, my editor seems to think it will go. It was suggested by one of my readers (Hi, Debra!) who will be rewarded in some fashion ... as soon as I figure out how. In any case, I don't hate the title, and that's a big plus in my book.But I was rather disturbed to get several comments from readers who seem to think the only way Tricia can EVER be happy is by being in a relationship.
Hmm. This is 2016, after all.
Oddly enough, no one has made a complaint about Angelica's vow to take time to do what she wants to do--run her empire, and concentrate on her new family. Some readers are unhappy about the end of Tricia's relationship with her ex-husband--but equally as many readers wrote to tell me they were sick of him.
Let's face it, we've all known people who were unlucky in love. Sometimes being with someone is not the healthiest situation. Women who stay with abusers rather than be alone is just one example. (The same thing can happen to men, too.)
I love the saying on the left. It speaks to the situation of many women (and men).I'm not saying that there will never be another man in Tricia's life ... but I am saying that it's an option for her NOT to be in a relationship just for the sake of her being with someone.
I always say that I don't really write these books...I take dictation, because most of the time the characters decide for themselves what they want to do. Tricia will let me know when she's ready to start looking for love. And who knows ... it might just be in the very next book.
And here's something I found on Facebook that says it all.Wouldn't you agree that that is the very best Tricia should hope for?
July 6, 2016
Now here's a great deal!
By Victoria Abbott aka Mary Jane and Victoria Maffini
Do we all love a sale? I know I do. So I wanted to let you all know that THE CHRISTIE CURSE, the first in our book collector mystery series is available in Kindle format for $1.99 RIGHT HERE
With book five THE HAMMETT HEX on the way shortly, we were very excited to discover this boost for the series, For some reason it made us want to party.
We have had a great deal of pleasure out of writing this contemporary series that links to the great writers and sleuths of what is called The Golden Age of Detection.
All to say, if you haven’t tried the series, here’s your low-risk opportunity. Feel free to let us introduce you to Jordan Bingham, first in her large Irish family to go straight. We loved having Jordan struggle with the pull of her uncles to join in the family business (let’s just say make sure you secure your valuables, readers!) versus an aboveboard life as the research assistant to Vera Van Alst, curmudgeonly collector of fine first editions of mysteries from the Golden Age of Detection. She loves Van Alst House, especially the climate-controlled library with the rosewood shelves, the leather armchair, the wrought-iron circular staircase to the mezzanine and the Aubusson rug.
With three great meals a day from Signora Panetone, the live-in cook, and a romantic attic apartment as part of her compensation, Jordan feels up to the task.
She had to show a certain amount of spine when her uncles discovered that she might just be ‘seeing’ a police officer. What a scandal for the family! The police are definitely the other side.
Jordan soldiers on, determined to see if she can track down a possible unpublished play written by Agatha Christie during her eleven-day disappearance in 1926. Too late she discovers that her predecessor died attempting the same thing. That makes the issues Jordan has with the Siamese Bad Cat and Good Cat seem less important.
She is glad to make the acquaintance of Walter the Pug and so were we. That love affair continues and our fictional Walter let to Peachy the Pug closer to home.
All in all, if you enjoyed this book, we hope you’ll tell your friends about the deal and if you haven’t read any of the series, we hope you’ll join in the fun!
Thanks so much for coming by! Be sure to let us know what you’re reading these hot July days. The Cozy Chicks sure give you lots of choices and we are kicking up our heels when any of you choose The Christie Curse or any of our books,
July 5, 2016
Traveler or Homebody…
I’m getting ready to head out of town. It’ll be great, seeing something new and meeting up with my daughter and son-in-law but a part of me just wants to sit in my backyard and watch the flowers grow and yell at the deer for eating those flowers. Travel keeps you honest...as my daughter would say. It makes you get your act together, plan, connect with the outside world, visit new places and have something new to talk about. I get that. I think of all the neat places I’ve been and love chatting with people who have been there too or sharing these neat memories with my kids.
Fact is, I have pics of those trips on one of my walls and love looking at it and thinking that I’m so lucky to have seen the Grand Canyon, Glacier National Park, Zion etc and have been there with my kids. The with the kids part is the most important part. That my kids still want to travel with me is a true blessing. I’m not 20 and keeping up with them is getting harder and harder.But then there’s the stay at home part. There’s lots to do in Cincy esp in the summer. I hate leaving the cats, trying to get someone to water the flowers and the cats and cut the grass and generally take care of the place while I skedaddle off to another adventure.
So what about you? Home-body or traveler? Do you take every opportunity to get out of town to see something new? Or do you like to stay put and enjoy where you’re planted?
