Kate Collins's Blog, page 149

HELP! MY CHAIR IS TRYING TO KILL ME!

By Mary Kennedy
Are you sitting down while you're reading this? (Maybe you should stand up!) Because I'm going to give you some not-so-fun facts about what sitting in your chair is doing to you. Here's the sad truth: You are shortening your life! As writers (and readers) know, sitting seems to be an occupational hazard. Yes, I know there are people who read and write standing up, and there are treadmill desks, but seriously, do you know anyone who uses one?                                                                On the surface, your favorite chair may look harmless, even comfy. Reading, writing, checking e-mail, listening to music, who wouldn't want to curl up for hours on end?                                                                                                                     Except there are those nagging statistics: The American Cancer Society studied 123,000 people over a 14 year period, and here's what they found. *Women who sit for more than 6 hours a day were about 40% more likely to die during the course of the study that those sat fewer than 3 hours a day. * People who work in a sedentary job have almost twice the risk of a particular type of colon cancer. Sitting also increases the risk of obesity (no surprise), type 2 diabetes and depression. *Unfortunately the damage done by "sitting" can't be undone by adding exercise to your day. Sitting is just plain bad for you (like smoking.) *OSHA recommends mixing non computer-related tasks into the workday.  So whether your chair is ultra-modern...                                          or fancy-schmancy...                                                             it's hazardous to your health! What to do? If you're fond of reading curled up in your favorite chair, why not try an audiobook? Have you visited the Incredible Indie Authors Audio page on FB?                                       It has terrific suggestions for audio books that will delight you. So now you can listen and move.  Just keep moving, that's the key! Good luck. No more couch potatoes and we'll all be happier and healthier. Mary Kennedy

THREE THINGS YOU REALLY NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DREAMS

By Mary Kennedy                             
  As a practicing psychologist, I find that my clients are fascinated by dreams. Most of them have read a little Freud, who called dreams “the royal road to the unconscious.” Freud believed dreams can help us access our innermost thoughts; our fears, wishes, and desires. Think of dreams as a window into our unconscious life. They can be humorous, erotic, tantalizing or terrifying.   When I came up with the premise of the Dream Club Mysteries, I envisioned a group of Savannah women who would meet once a week to eat some fabulous Southern desserts and talk about their dreams. And of course, they would solve a murder or two in every book.
                                                             
  I thought this might be an intriguing plot device and could pave the way for some interesting characterization.

As the women reveal their dreams, they realize that they hold hidden clues to the crime scene, usually in symbolic form. Sometimes they even uncover the identity of the murderer. But are these clues really “revelations” from the subconscious or merely coincidences? I remembered Freud’s claim, “There are no coincidence.” I chose to sidestep the question and leave it up to the reader to decide.

When I’m asked to speak on dreams, I find that people have strong beliefs—and sometimes misconceptions—about dreams. Here are three questions I’ve come across, again and again.

You can only dream about things you’ve experienced in real life. Is this true?
 No, of course not. Anything can happen in a dream. You can take on a new persona, explore lands both real and imaginary, and have adventures worthy of Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean.
                                                             
  Since dreams are not subject to time and space constraints, you can share a plate of marrons with Marie Antoinette (“Let them eat cake!”) one night and be part of the first space mission (“Houston, we have a problem”) the following evening.
                                                        
Isn’t it true that our bodies don’t respond to our dreams? We continue to slumber, unaware that our minds are playing out a little fantasy in our sleep.

This is false. Think about the last time you did something physical in your dream. Were you climbing a mountain or swinging from a zip line like Angelina Jolie? Your blood pressure may soar, your heartbeat may ratchet up a notch, and your chest probably felt tight. If you awake in the middle of an “action” dream, just take a few deep breaths and everything will return to normal in a few minutes. On the other hand, what if you’re dreaming of lounging in a meadow, taking in the sweet scent of honeysuckle as you thumb through a book of poetry? Your body will show signs that you are indeed at rest. Your heart rate will ratchet down a notch and your breathing will become slower as your mind enjoy this respite from the cares of the day.
                                                          
 What does it mean if a dead relative appears to me in a dream? Does it mean I’m going to die?
No, not at all. When people dream of a loved one who has passed, they usually experience a sense of joy and peace. It reassures them to know that their friends, relatives, and spouses really do exist on another plane. Invariably, the loved one appears to be in perfect health, happy, and relaxed, with no sorrow or cares.  

I hope you've enjoyed this little foray into dreams. Dream a Little Scream, the second book in the Dream Club Mysteries is available right now. If you're interested in dreams and love mysteries, you might  enjoy it!                                                        

Mary Kennedy. Sweet dreams and happy reading!


Judging a book by its cover

by Lorraine Bartlett / Lorna Barrett / L.L. Bartlett


One of the great things about being an indie author is that you have total freedom.  That doesn't mean you do everything right the first time, but you get to experiment.  One of the the most challenging things for me is coming up with a cover.

I have a short story called An Unconditional Love .  That wasn't its first title, but with the help of former Cozy Chick Heather Webber and a bunch of Facebook friends, we came up with that title and a cover concept.  The story is about a mother with a special-needs
child, and how she sacrifices everything for her
little girl. The original cover shows a Mom and
daughter at the beach. I really liked the picture,
but it didn't do much to sell the story, so we
revised it when we started playing around
with "branding."  It didn't do much to sell
the story, either.   Live and learn. 

So I had another one made.  I love it. Does the story sell a LOT better? 
Not so much, but it's prettier!

I'm going to be experimenting with
a new cover for my cookbook,
Recipes To Die For (a Victoria
Square Cookbook).  So far I've had
two covers, neither of which I've
liked very much.



The original cover.Coming up with cover ideas isn't as easy as it seems. I asked some of
my Facebook friends for suggestions.
They came up with some very good ideas, but none of them felt right.  So I'm still pondering what I should do.

Since Victoria Square has "signature" gas lights, they would seem to be a good thing to have. But Katie's dream has always been to open a bed-and-breakfast in a Victorian mansion ... so maybe that should be on the cover.  Should there be recipe cards? Should there be a lovely table set with her cats Mason and Della comfortably sitting and waiting for dinner?  Should the table be on the mansion's porch, or should it be sitting in the middle of Victoria Square?  And, could I find the kind of pictures I'd need to help the cover designer pull off my vision of what the cover should be ... when I'm not sure I have a vision?

The 2nd cover (with branding).See the problem I'm having? And why the rush to change the cover RIGHT THIS MINUTE?  Well, I'm running out of Victoria Square bookmarks and need to reorder.  I really don't want to have 2500 bookmarks with a cover I plan to replace.  So ... this weekend I need to make a decision.

What do you think?

Wienerpalooza – yes really!

By Mary Jane Maffini aka Victoria Abbott 
First let me congratulate my fellow chicks on their book releases this week. Join me in saluting (in alphabetical order)  the fabulous:


Ellery Adams Murder in the Paperback Parlour Mary Kennedy Dream a Little Scream Leann Sweeney The Cat, the Sneak and the Secret
What a great August crop of delicious cozies!


  I'm sure you're already reading them already.


And now to the park for a party. Drum roll please.


Pick up the pace!  We know we've arrived1

Here's a bit of background. The problem with wiener dogs is that they are small but addictive.  The little creatures are stubborn, funny, clownish, determined, cuddly and loyal.  They also prefer wiener dogs to all other creatures except maybe their ‘mom.'  Even though I like all dogs, I am hooked on them. It’s hard to stop with just one. You just have to have another. Life is fun every day with Daisy (12 years) and Lily (9 years). This is also why I had to include two rescued dachshunds in my five Charlotte Adams books.



Imagine the fun for all concerned when there’s a party for those wiener dogs! This year Daisy and Lily and MJ attended their third Wienerpalooza where a Saturday afternoon in late July is all about the dachshunds. Wienerpalooza is a fundraiser for Canadian Dachshund Rescue, an amazing and effective organization. By the way, there are terrific dachshund rescue organizations all over the United States.

I am sure that there were at least a hundred and twenty little hot dogs, but the park was spread out, so it was a bit hard to get shots of large numbers. I am sure you get the idea from these here and there shots.  Lots of little dogs less than knee high. 


There were wiener races and a costume parade.  The princesses declined to run in the dachshund races. 

No problem. They usually choose to go the wrong way and come in last or even later than last, like not at all.   Sometimes they just lie down in the field. Why not? Life is a nap and they aren't the only ones to do that.

Daisy and Lily didn't dress up this year. We were in a rush so missed the costume contest.  This is what they wore last year.


 I didn’t get a picture of the winner, but we understand it was a doxie  in a Timbits container who snagged the big prize.

If you don’t live in Canada, you need to know that Timbits are tiny doughnuts (those doughnut holes).  I figure that's funny on a number of levels.

And now on to the purpose of all this fun and games: rescuing dachshunds. It takes money to rescue, house and offer medical care to the poor little critters.
This little beauty was one of two little long-haired doxies wearing ADOPT ME scarves. 

 I hope they both find their perfect ‘forever home’.  It was all I could do to keep it to two.We ran into old friends like the beautiful Coco and her ‘mom’, Mary Ann.  Coco is a lovely rescued girlie and Mary Ann rescued her through Canadian Dachshund Rescue. We’ve been friends for years.  

 We also saw Harmony and Haley in their costumes. Nice ruffles, Haley!


 Last year at a doxie event they won as a bride and groom. That white veil really took a beating as they raced around. This was all that was left of the veil by the time I got a photo!


It’s always fun to see these special little doggie buddies,  We even got to visti with Gogo, a tiny darling who was an Ottawa Therapy Dog for years. Like Daisy, she is now retired, but still adorable.
 
There are many dachshund-themed ‘shopportunities’ at Wienerpalooza and that is always fun. I also enjoyed the barbecue, but I stuck with the burger. Hot dogs seemed wrong somehow.
Now we have to wait until next year for this wild and crazy time again, although our local dachshund group arranges very amusing get-togethers too. 
What about you? Have you ever been to a dachshund party?  Do you do fun things with your pets?  Other silly things?  Go ahead: confess!

TV Oldies…

Hi, Duffy Brown here chatting about the old TV shows. 
It’s not that I don’t like the new shows on TV but sometimes I just want to watch something from years ago. It’s like visiting old friends. And with the help of Netflix and Hulu and Amazon Prime I can do it without commercials.


Even if without Netflix and the like there are channels that show the oldies. Andy Griffith, Mary Tyler Moore, Colombo are around a lot on one channel or another. I tried watching Magnum PI and some of the old Murder She Wrote but it takes soooo long for something to happen I usually fall asleep. And some of the acting...holy cow. Yeah, acting does matter a lot!
One of my fav oldies is Hercule Poirot. Even if the mystery itself is slow the character is so intriguing he always entertains. David Suchet does such an amazing job.
They canceled Psyche but I really liked that show. Gus and Sean were fun together and it’s fast and funny, especially the early episodes. Midsomer Murders on the BBC with Tom…not John...are fun.
But my all time fav oldie show is The Gilmore Girls. Thank heavens they were on for seven seasons! 
When I get tired of my life and need a break I’ll go see what’s going on in Stars Hollow with Lorelai and Rory and Luke and Miss Patty. This is one of those shows I wish they’d do a reunion for. I’d love to see how
Lorelai and Luke are doing and if Rory ever got back with Logan.




So what about you? Got an oldie show you just love to pieces? One you turn on it’s like visiting old friends?

Odds and Ends

by Maggie Sefton


Potomac River a block away

Since last week was a little weird and this week has started off being kind of weird, the
post today is going to be a little weird. Lots of odds and ends.  Do you folks use that phrase. . .odds and ends?  I've heard it since my childhood and used it ever since.  It means a little of this and a little of that.  I must have picked up that phrase from my grandmother.  She lived with my mother and me as I grew up in Arlington, Virginia, in Northern Virginia, just a stone's throw across the Potomac River.  My grandmother had all sorts of great sayings, and I picked them up. :) It must have been my early "writer's ear" at work.  

One of those odds and ends involved mailing out the books that I awarded as prizes to the winners I chose during last Wednesday's Cozy Chicks Celebration of National Paperback Book Day.  Getting snail mail addresses.  Then, driving down to the post office in the little town near where I'm staying a block away from the Potomac River and surrounded by woods.  Peaceful to say the least.  And there was no line to see the Postmistress in the Montross, VA post office.  :)  I loved that part.  

Another one of the odds and ends involved scheduling some upcoming travel online at a large travel site.  Vacations to Go worked very well, BTW.  And I can heartily recommend it.  Nothing went wrong with the scheduling, it's simply very labor intensive and takes longer than you think it will because there are SO MANY travel choices to choose from.  Decisions, decisions.

By now, you folks are probably saying what's so odd about all those things, Maggie?  Those items sound like our daily To Do lists.  And you could be right.  But, try this one on for size.  It just happened later this afternoon and totally consumed 3 hours between 3:30pm to 7:30pm.  I drove off away from my peaceful perch in the woods at 4:30pm and didn't return until 7:30pm.  Drove down the winding
road away from the river and back to the east-west highway Route 3 and headed East toward the historic and lovely town of  Fredericksburg, VA----where I met, of course, a ton of Fredericksburg's rush hour traffic.  Oh, joy!  Just what we want to do when we're relaxing in a pretty place.  (Yes, I'm whining.  Feel free to laugh.  You probably have to face it every day).

Great little cafe in Fredericksburg


Why did I do this?  Was I crazy?  No.  The rental car company called me at 4:15pm, and the young lady informed me that since I'd had the car for one month already, I would have to return to their rental company in Fredericksburg and renew my car rental for the remaining 7 days on the original rental contract.  Mind you, I had originally rented the car at Dulles Airport outside WashDC after I landed on July 2nd for the full five weeks I would be using it.  That was  my usual procedure whenever I fly back "home."

Once I finally got in the door of the Fredericksburg car rental location, the nice young man there was astonished to hear that the girl told me to do that.  It seems they had another car rental location only 10 miles away from the river house.   Sheeeesh!    But, isn't that what happens when a company has people working in large call centers  totally removed from the locations they are serving?

So, this is just another story about the little annoying things out there in Life.  Feel free to ignore it.  And, yes. . .I am whining.  So, there.   ;)  

OLIVE OIL, CORN OIL, COCONUT OIL . . .WHICH DO I CHOOSE?

by Kate Collins



I read a lot of literature on good health through good food, so years back I switched to olive oil – extra virgin for raw foods, extra light for sautéing. Now coconut oil – in fact anything coconut -- is the hot new trend. And yet it used to be a forbidden fruit, literally, because of its high fat content.  But what about corn, soy, or canola, all of which some doctors claim reduces cholesterol?

As usually happens when I’m researching, a relevant article will pop into my inbox. This one, written by Dr. David Diamond, came in a newsletter yesterday and really helped clarify the issue.  (I will provide the link at the bottom.)

You probably haven’t heard of Dr. Diamond, but his bio is impressive. He’s a neuroscientist with a PhD in biology. He's also a Professor of Psychology, Molecular Pharmacology, and Physiology at the University of South Florida and a Research Career Scientist at the Tampa VA Hospital.

But that isn’t what makes him so knowledgeable on the topic. It was the shocking health report he got from his doctor. In his own words:

'Triglycerides are recommended to be below 150 and even preferably below 100. My triglycerides were stratospheric at 750. My high-density lipoprotein (HDL), which is called the 'good cholesterol' and which you'd like to be above 40 or 50, was about 20 to 25. That combination of extremely high triglycerides and very low HDL put me at about a 15 times greater risk for heart attack compared to someone with optimal lipids.”

And he thought he was in good health.

Dr. Diamond admits to knowing nothing about nutrition. He was taught that saturated fat is bad for you, that it causes heart diseases, and that cholesterol clogs your arteries. And he found out he was wrong!

After exercising and following the recommended low-fat diet for five years, his bad numbers hadn’t budged. And he'd gained five pounds. That was when he took matters into his own hands.

Dr. Diamond discovered that what doctors are taught about nutrition is incorrect. And it's incorrect by design.  After all, if you heal a patient through diet, would there be a need for drugs?

His research turned up shocking studies, such as the following:

In one study, men were given a tablespoon of corn oil every day for three years. At the end they found “The men who consumed the corn oil had lower cholesterol and twice as many heart attacks and deaths from heart disease compared to the group that basically ate what they wanted.

“To me, this should have stopped any kind of belief that lowering cholesterol is good for you, and the paper explicitly stated that people with heart disease should not consume corn oil; it is unhealthy. And yet, the American Heart Association still recommends corn oil to people. Why? Two reasons: 1) it lowers your cholesterol and 2) the corn oil industry is a sponsor to the American Heart Association."

I think that’s appalling news!  So what does Dr. Diamond use?

“Partially hydrogenated fats – especially the unnatural oils like corn oil and soybean oil, which becomes heavily oxidized [when heated] — are very unhealthy.  . . I avoid those artificial vegetable fats and stay with the fats that are really high quality, such as avocado and olive oil. I cook with coconut oil.'"

There was my answer. I’m sticking with my olive and coconut oils.

What are your healthy eating habits?


(Read the entire fascinating article here:  “Doctor Slashes Triglyceride Levels from 800 to 150 Within Days.”  Mercola.Com, http://tinyurl.com/qe9beh6 )

Ellery Adams Interviews The Feline Cozy Stars of August!

by Ellery Adams
For our feline fans, this is a special guest post featuring Muffet Cat from Murder in the Paperback Parlor by Ellery Adams; Merlot, Syrah, Chablis, and Magpie from The Cat, The Sneak, and The Secret by Leann Sweeney; and Barney and Scout from Mary Kennedy’s Dream A Little Scream.
There’s a chance for you to win one of three fabulous prizes too! (A black scarf, paw print dish towels, and cat/book earrings). All you have to do is comment of ask a kitty a question and you’re entered! We’ll pick three lucky readers August 4th, the day our three books hit the shelves!


1. What is your role in your human household? Are you primarily a lap cat or do you fulfill other roles?
Muffet Cat: I have multiple jobs at Storyton Resort. I am the main rodent eradicator, the official cream tester, and, because of my girth, I am able to warm the largest of laps in my role of human comforter.
Syrah: I am the smartest cat and in charge of making sure that the silly coroner’s investigator doesn’t overstep—although with the shoes she wears, that’s tough.
Barney and Scout: We're primarily lap cats and provide lots of cuddling time with Ali and Taylor. After a hard day at Oldies But Goodies, they're happy to relax with us.


2. Your human is often caught up in dangerous and threatening situations. Have you ever provided assistance during these trying times? 
Muffet Cat: I have a cat’s ability to sense wickedness in humans. A bad person just doesn’t smell right. Plus, there’s a stiffness to them that any feline with half a brain can detect. I let my caretakers know that such a human is in our presence by growling.
Merlot: All three of us —Syrah, Merlot and Chablis- have helped many times. We provide clues, we sniff out strangers and we are always on alert. We can tell the good guys from the bad guys. And we’ve had visitors—like our newest visitor Magpie—who also assist. But I am a Maine coon, the biggest cat, and I am pretty good at protecting Jillian Hart. We all love her after all.
Barney and Scout: During a particularly trying time, we alerted our neighbors, the Harper sisters, that something was amiss at home. Luckily, the Harper sisters spotted us outside and immediately went to check on our owners.
3. When you’ve done something wonderful, which most surely happen quite often, what kind of treat are you given as a reward?
Muffet Cat: Fortunately, I am a coddled and adored pet. I am regularly served cream and treats, as is my due as the only pet in residence, but when I’ve been particularly impressive, I am given tuna on a porcelain dish. I prefer my food on fine china. I have very finicky tastes, despite my background as a humble stray.
Chablis answers: Since I am the treat monster, I have to say, we like just about anything. We can be picky about people food, but cheese? Oh, we love cheese almost as much as those pesky mice in the basement. If I had to pick a favorite, I’d say tuna.
Barney and Scout: We're both very fond of tuna fish and we can always use some new catnip mice. Barney keeps pushing our catnip mice under the refrigerator and they're gone forever!
4. Is there a human you see on a regular basis who you wish would relocate to a distant place? (Antarctica would be nice). Who is that person and why do they get your whiskers in a twist?
Muffet Cat: I am not fond of Mrs. Templeton, Storyon’s head housekeeper. She is constantly running that blasted vacuum cleaner and spraying all sorts of foul-smelling chemicals around the resort. Not only that, but I’ve heard her accuse me of being dirty. Such an insult! I pride myself on my shiny black and white coat. If she wants to see dirt, she should look inside Hem and Fitz’s closet. Those boys know all about dirt!
Syrah answers: As I mentioned before, Lydia Monk could take a long hike off a short pier. She’s out of touch with reality and can be very unpleasant to our mom. Our mom, by the way, is the nicest, kindest, bestest mom on earth. We like Tom, too. We have to. He might be moving in.
Barney and Scout: We're very lucky that we like all of Ali and Taylor's friends. That could change, of course. But for the moment, we are surrounded by cat lovers.

5. Can you give us a tiny hint, a “purrfect” feline preview, of something that will happen in Murder in the Paperback Parlor , The Cat, The Sneak, and The Secret and Dream a Little Scream, and that readers simply won’t want to miss?
Muffet Cat: I thought having a resort filled with fans of romance novels would be lovely. My perception was that these gentle women would ply me with choice tidbits from their table and retire early, leaving me free to roam the halls at my leisure. Well, I couldn’t have been more mistaken! I’ve never witnessed such jealously, passion, and avarice under one roof! It’ll take my months to recover from the violence I witnessed. And people thing I’m cruel for killing mice! Ha! And that Edwin Alcott character. I can usually judge a man with one sniff and I just can’t get a read on him. It troubles me, friends. It troubles me greatly…
Magpie: I can tell you first off, that being fostered by Jillian Hart is awesome. As for hints, well, I come to stay awhile and I cannot help myself. I’m a bit of a klepto and one of the things I “borrow” in the new story turns out to be pretty important and gets a lot of people in trouble. So it all starts when I’m the cat in trouble. I can’t say more!

Barney and Scout: Sometimes a "secret" ingredient in a recipe can be deadly. (Barney and Scout exchange little smiles). As the reader will discover in the opening chapters...

Want Potato Salad With That?

by Lorraine Bartlett / Lorna Barrett / L.L. Bartlett

The answer to the subject line of this post is ...that depends on where I am. If I'm at my own home--or anyone else's--then that answer would be an unequivocal YES! My Mum and her sister made THE best potato salads on the planet. They bore little resemblance to each other, but both vied for prominence as THE best.

My Mum made her potato salad with onions, celery, sweet pickle relish, and radishes, with egg slices as the crowning touch.  My aunt (her sister) mixed chopped hot hard-boiled eggs in along with the mayo, onion, celery, etc.  Can you say these sisters ruled in potato salad land?  That would be a definite YES!  (And considering they were English girls making an American favorite -- the both excelled!)

I have tried potato salad in scores of restaurants with the same (iky) results. The mayo, onion, celery part is good (some even have sour cream, and even though I'm not a sour cream fan, the mixture was good), but for some reason restaurant (and grocery store deli department) potato salad has one HUGE flaw:  the potatoes are ALWAYS undercooked.

ICKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mr. L and I went out to lunch on Wednesday to one of our favorite local restaurants.  Every other time we have ordered a sandwich we have always been served a marvelous macaroni salad--and it's never the same and always good. Sometimes it's made with sour cream--sometimes it's not.  Once it was made with sun-dried tomatoes (OMG--THE best).  The pasta is always different (and not chewy, either.  Sorry--I'm not a fan of al dente pasta.)  But on Wednesday ... you guessed it-- UNDERCOOKED potatoes in potato salad.

What's with that?

Some of the chefs are CIA (Culinary Institute of America) trained. Don't tell me they can't tell when a potato is cooked or raw.

So, do all restaurants (and grocery store delis) buy their potato salad from one Giant Potato Salad Conglomerate that has decreed that ALL potato salad in the US will be made with undercooked potatoes -- or were they trained to think that the masses couldn't tell a cooked potato from an uncooked one?

Sadly, my Mum is gone. I will never eat her potato salad again. And much as I've tried to replicate it, I can only come close.

I want my Aunt's potato salad recipe. I'm calling her on Monday and will ask because it's been years since I've eaten her version. All I remember is that last HUGE dollop that I preferred to eat instead of the steak, burger, or hot dog that was on offer because it was THAT good.

Do YOU have a magic potato salad recipe?

The road to distraction

By the very distracted Mary Jane Maffini







As a writer, my worst enemy is distraction and yet look what was happening right outside my window for the past two weeks! How unfair is that? Yes. I know. We desperately needed that crumbled road surface replaced. No arguments.  But I am trying to finish the first draft of my seventh Camilla MacPhee mystery.  At the rate I'm going, you'll have plenty of time to catch up.



Our Eastern Ontario winters are brutal with their minus thirty temperatures and the freeze and thaw perioids are brutal and the salt plays havoc with the roads as well. Our section was eroded beyond belief.


You practically fell into the ditch if you ventured out for a walk. With two schools and a number of seniors on the street, this was a priority. But who knew it would be interesting? Not me. I expected noisy, smelly operation that snarled traffic, while workers stood around chatting. Instead, I find myself checking regularly to see the progress.





Rather than chaos and mess I found an operation that would fascinate any little boy. All those giant Tonka trucks. Yes!




We enjoyed seeing the yellow umbrella too. Very festive and there's a brutal heat wave here.



 The top coat has gone on after about two weeks and they are finishing the sides. As we were unsuccessful in getting a sidewalk (didn’t work with the rural nature of the village.Yikes!), we are still counting on a line clearly defining the walking area. Let’s see if our meetings with politicians and municipal staff will pay off. Of course, each one can blame the other if it doesn’t. The workers at the construction company have been cheerful, pleasant and helpful. Who knew?


We have learned that the guys with the white hats are the supervisors. My husband has lots of questions for guys in white hats. The men seem to have the ‘fun’ jobs and the young women ‘flagmen’ get the boring job of holding the SLOW and STOP signs and hoping they don’t get flattened in the process. Still, they’ve got pretty good tans and this smiling 'flagman' had long green hair to match her hard hat.








 I think I’ll be a bit sorry when it’s all over and we’re back to our regular life of peering out at dog walkers, cyclists, people carrying kayaks, school buses and ordinary traffic. We'll love strolling to the community mailbox without taking our lives into our hands. Plus I think I'll miss the steamroller.


And don’t be surprised if heavy equipment doesn’t show up in one of my mysteries some day. It seems a shame to waste it and surely there's a cozy murder weapon in there. Nudge, wink.

How about you? Road paving experience or something else silly or practical to distract and entertain you this hot, steamy summer?