Kate Collins's Blog, page 19

THREE THINGS, A SUGGESTION FROM JANE GOODALL

By Mary Kennedy                                             

         
I don't do New Year's resolutions any more but I do like to look for a bit of inspiration for the coming year.  A quote, an idea, a sort of "theme" to guide me during the next 12 months. 

I've always been a fan of Jane Goodall, a British primatologist who went to Tanzania 60 years ago to study the social interactions of chimpanzees. If ever there was proof that "one person can make a difference," it is Jane Goodall.   

Recently, she did a television interview and said that small steps were the key to saving the planet. She suggested that people try to do three things every day. Something to help people, something to help animals and something to help the environment.
                                                                           

Small steps can lead to big changes. Small steps don't sound as daunting and overwhelming as major ones and I thought of a few examples.
Recently when I visited friends in New Mexico, I accompanied my friend as she walked her dog early every morning. She carried a plastic bag and picked up debris along the way, a plastic cup, a paper napkin, a hamburger wrapper. It's annoying that people toss their trash on the grass and sidewalk for others to pick up, but sadly, we know that they do!
This would certainly count as a "small change" but an important one, according to Jane Goodall. At the end of the morning walk, we'd left the gardens and walkways cleaner and more attractive than we'd left them. We helped the environment and people, as well.
Another friend who travels a lot told me she always saves the little blue blankets you're given on the plane (and she even collects them from people sitting near her.). She gives them to a local animal shelter who use them for cat beds.  A small step and something simple.
This year, I'm combining two of my interests and am going to volunteer with Pets for Vets. It's a way of providing veterans with comfort and love from rescued animals. A win-win situation! Would Jane Goodall approve? I think she would.                                                                                  
Can you think of any small steps you could take in your own life that would help people, animals and the environment?
Happy New Year's everyone! Mary Kennedy                                                                                                                                          

Get 50% off select books by yours truly!

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

What do these books have in common?


Well, besides the fact they were all written by me (blush), they're on sale for 50% off from Smashwords! No coupon codes, no nothing. All you have to do is put the book(s) you want into your cart, and they are automatically discounted 50% off.

Just click on these links and you'll get a list of my books that are available on the Smashwords site.

https://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=l.l.+bartlett

and

https://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=lorraine+bartlett

This sale goes through until January 1st, so hurry to take advantage of this great savings!





P.S. My novella, Off Script, is 75% off!  (Such a deal)

I Found A Gem Of A Tea Room in Manchester, Maryland

by Karen Rose Smith


After all these years, it is difficult for my husband to find different venues to celebrate my birthday.  This year he happened across a newly opened tea room only about twenty minutes from our home.  Considering that my Daisy's Tea Garden cozy mysteries are set in a tea room in nearby Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, this new establishment seemed the perfect place to celebrate.  They were featuring a "Starry Night Tea" on the weekend of my birthday...so he made reservations and we headed for the Steeped Tea Cafe in Manchester, Maryland on a sunny December Sunday afternoon.

The tea room was festively decorated with Christmas merriment and the tea rooms were also adorned with traditional "tea" items.  We were seated in the spillover room which gave us the entire three-table room to ourselves.  It was enjoyable to have some quiet time away from the phone and computer to chat and enjoy the Christmas music that surrounded us.












The menu was displayed on each table and we knew we were in for a real treat. 

After our choice of tea was served, our first course was a delicate cranberry chocolate chip scone which blended really well with the Starry Night tea, a custom blend made at the Steeped Tea cafe.

That was followed by a delicious potato leek soup that was complemented by an arugula and pomegranate salad with a champagne vinaigrette dressing.



While we were waiting for the main course and dessert tower, we had a chance to chat with our waiter who was a family member of the owner.  We discussed how the business came to fruition as a family endeavor and how the cafe differed from other tea rooms in the vicinity.  It's always good to have research resources for future cozy mysteries right at my doorstep. 


We certainly were not disappointed when the layered tea tower was presented.  The lower level featured grilled shrimp bruschetta, beef and blue cheese crostini and butternut squash puffs all of which were  accompanied by the dessert offerings -- toasted hazelnut glazed pumpkin cake, a red velvet trifle and dipped Madeleines.  Needless to say, by the end of the dessert course I was stuffing my cake and Madeleine in my purse to enjoy later.




After we finished our meal, we were greeted by Brandon Reiter, the chef and owner of the cafe.  It was enjoyable discussing the business and getting a peek into the intricacies of creating a menu and preparing enough food to serve all the guests on a given day.  Chef Reiter never believed he would end up owning and operating a tea room when he graduated from the Culinary Institute of America.  But he has enjoyed the last 18 months of ownership and hopes to expand the business even more.

Quiet time with my husband, a unique tea cafe and delicious food...what better way to spend my birthday?  Please feel free to share your unique dining experiences as you celebrate special events in your year.

 
*****************
NOW AVAILABLE


Keith Rebert is homeless with a sad story that includes the death of his wife and medical bills that decimated his finances. Daisy and her friend Jonas Groft meet him through one of Daisy’s employees and offer help. But soon Keith is caught up in a murder investigation. He was supplying the shop Pirated Treasures with antiques, including Gettysburg Battlefield memorabilia. The nephew of the shop’s owner, Barry Storm, was lowballing merchandise that Keith brought in. One day Keith and Barry vehemently argued. Soon after, Barry was found dead, killed with a marble rolling pin that held Keith’s fingerprints. Daisy’s special for the month, cherry tarts, was found spilled on the floor next to him. Keith is the number one suspect.
Keith finds a job on a farm where he can live in a cabin with his daughter Mandy. A friend of Barry’s lived and worked there before the murder, then suddenly moved out. As Daisy finds clues that give insight into Barry’s life and prepares for her daughter’s wedding, she faces danger, verbally battles with the detective on the case, and tries to figure out what part Jonas Groft plays in her life. When she finds the ultimate clue that tells her exactly what Barry Storm was involved in, she almost loses her life. 

MURDER WITH CHERRY TARTS on Amazon
MURDER WITH CHERRY TARTS on Barnes and Noble

WRAPPING UP FOODIE TRENDS FROM 2019

By Mary Kennedy                                           

Vertical foods are still in fashion although no one I know seems to like them. They're not easy to dismantle and as one of my friends says, "Eating a tower of food just seems plain wrong!" Sometimes it's hard to even see what you're eating.                                                                         

Bone broth was popular in 2019. Since I'm a vegan, I've never tried it but some friends have used it in soup, stews, etc. Is it a passing fad? I don't know.                                                                                      
Alcohol seltzers, sometimes called "hard seltzers" were trending this year. If you like "hard ciders" you might like "hard seltzers." Fizzy with a small alcohol count.
                                                                                 

If you've never tried zoodles, you may have seen them under another name like veggie spirals, etc. They're a great replacement for high calorie carbs like rice, pasta etc. I like to substitute spiralized zucchini (I leave the skin on) as a substitute for spaghetti.                                                                         
If you feel you need to "ease into it," you can use zoodles mixed with real pasta, half and half. And you don't need to buy the packages in the freezer section of your grocery. Just buy a spiralizer for about ten dollars on amazon and make your own! 

Happy holidays and I hope you're enjoying a wonderful time with family, friends and food!
Mary Kennedy

Happy National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day

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


I did a book signing at a craft show last week, and one of the things I sell as a loss leader (and to help pay for the space) is holiday earrings.  Yes, like the ones pictured at left. (Cute, huh?) Ladies were buying them to wear to an Ugly Christmas Sweater parties at work and home.

Ugly Christmas sweaters have become quite the thing these days. I even have one! I did not buy it for myself.  When my mother passed away, I inherited hers. Actually, on the ugly sweater spectrum, it's actually quite attractive.  It's black with red and green embellishments. Why don't I wear it?  It's too hot. I suppose I could wear it to a restaurant. These days, there are lots of drafts. (At least when you live in Western NY where the temperature yesterday was a balmy 18˚˚ ˚F.)

Whatever possessed my mother to buy the sweater? I don't ever remember seeing her wear it. Maybe she bought it after Christmas on sale. Who knows. But it's sitting in my closet and I really should wear it someday.

Okay, that's it! I've made up my mind. Mr. L is taking me to lunch tomorrow and I WILL WEAR THAT SWEATER. (And hope I don't spill anything on it, because it's dry-clean only!)

So, do you have an ugly Christmas sweater (and where do you wear it)?

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


Remember, buy books as gifts because ... see above!

Check out our books page to get a few hints on what you can give (or get) in the way of Cozy Chicks mysteries.  Just click this link!

You can also check out our author websites.  Click our names to land on our web homes.

Lorraine Bartlett ~ Lorna Barrett       Duffy Brown     Mary Kennedy

  Maggie Sefton        Karen Rose Smith

Cats Reign In My House

by Karen Rose Smith


In my Daisy's Tea Garden cozy mysteries, Daisy has two felines that are a part of almost every scene which is set in her barn home.  Pepper and Marjoram always greet Daisy when she arrives home from a long day at the tea garden and are her constant companions when she is at home alone.  She often talks to them about her murder investigations, allowing her to hash out loud clues that have been spinning in her mind.  Often they settle on the sofa or chair in the living room when Daisy is chatting with her daughters Jazzi and Vi or her beau Jonas.

Zoie Joy (AKA Pepper) appreciates
the current animal print trend. Pepper and Marjoram are modeled after two of my own felines--Zoie Joy and Miss Paddington.  My padded living room and office furniture is their favorite napping and bathing spots.  When I purchased a new recliner for my husband as an anniversary gift, all the felines had to test it before he had the chance to enjoy it.  Often when a cat has settled there for the evening, he ends up sitting in another chair, envying the cat who took his new throne.




Miss Paddington (AKA Marjoram) prefers the
leather recliner.I was sorting through my cat photos and found numerous shots of my "royal" felines enjoying their favorite "thrones."  Here are some of them:

Zander prefers chairs with large
padded arms. 
Miss Paddington settles on the padded
cushion of a kitchen chair. The chair's arm and back provide Zander
with a royal view of the whole living room.

Zoie Joy often chooses the back of her
favorite chairs where the view is definitely better.
Freya isn't picky about her resting spots.  She tries them all out.   Do your cats "reign" supreme or are they willing to share their thrones? 
*******************************
NOW AVAILABLE


Keith Rebert is homeless with a sad story that includes the death of his wife and medical bills that decimated his finances. Daisy and her friend Jonas Groft meet him through one of Daisy’s employees and offer help. But soon Keith is caught up in a murder investigation. He was supplying the shop Pirated Treasures with antiques, including Gettysburg Battlefield memorabilia. The nephew of the shop’s owner, Barry Storm, was lowballing merchandise that Keith brought in. One day Keith and Barry vehemently argued. Soon after, Barry was found dead, killed with a marble rolling pin that held Keith’s fingerprints. Daisy’s special for the month, cherry tarts, was found spilled on the floor next to him. Keith is the number one suspect.

Keith finds a job on a farm where he can live in a cabin with his daughter Mandy. A friend of Barry’s lived and worked there before the murder, then suddenly moved out. As Daisy finds clues that give insight into Barry’s life and prepares for her daughter’s wedding, she faces danger, verbally battles with the detective on the case, and tries to figure out what part Jonas Groft plays in her life. When she finds the ultimate clue that tells her exactly what Barry Storm was involved in, she almost loses her life.    
MURDER WITH CHERRY TARTS on Amazon
MURDER WITH CHERRY TARTS on Barnes and Noble

Back in the Day

It’s getting to the holidays and we start thinking about traditions and times past. I just love places that seem to take me back in time. Places that when I walk the streets and go into the homes I almost feel part of another era…except then my cell phone goes off and ruins the whole thing. Some of the obvious and really neat-time travel places that maybe you’ve visited are:Plymouth, Massachusetts. This isAmerica's Hometown, the oldest community in New England and, of course, the site of the first Thanksgiving. There is a replica of what the pilgrim settlement looked like in 1627, right down to characters walking around speaking in the appropriate dialect. And no visit is complete without Plymouth Rock. Williamsburg, Virginia. That’s been restored to right down to 17th-century ships and a Native American village to tour French Quarter, New Orleans Wheremany of the homes have centuries-old ironwork and courtyards and we can’t forget the yummy French treats to try along the way.I hearGettysburg, Pennsylvaniais absolutely spiritual and you can actually feel the soldiers there and almost see President Abraham Lincoln giving his address. Downtown Savannah, Georgia has a National Historic Landmark District and is a prime example of old-time Southern architecture. Stroll the cobblestone streets and see the intricate ironwork of mansions restored to the original pink, green, red, and blue of the 18th century. My daughter up in New York just visited. Sleepy Hollow, New York. It’s the site of the 1790s tale "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" by Washington Irving and dates back to the arrival of Europeans in the 1600s. 

I live in Milford, Ohio, and we have a section called Old Milford. Many of the shops and buildings are from the 1800s and before. We have our own Mystery Library in a building that was actually part of the mill in the ford of the stream. So neat. So what about you? Is there a fav place you’ve visited and felt like you were back in time? Or maybe there is part of your town that is old and historic that you love to pieces? 

STAY HEALTHY

by Maggie Sefton


I bet you sharp Cozy Chicks readers and fans can tell what I'm about to say.  Yes. . .you guessed it.  I've caught the 2nd version of the Winter Flu.  What a bother!  This time I caught it from my dear friend and cleaning lady, Alma.  She was at my house this past Wednesday and had caught the Flu herself, so she was sneezing and all that.


Well, I was not about to tell Alma to leave.  She's a kind, smart gal who's been with me for years.  Over 12 years now  And her family depends on her earnings.   So I pay her more than most of her other clients because I value her.


This past Sunday night I "came down with the Flu."  That particular expression I learned from my dear Virginia grandmother Gertrude who lived with my mother and me as I was growing up in Arlington, Virginia.  She was born in 1890, and boy oh boy, did she have stories about what life was life in the United States in those days.  I've posted about her before or put up pictures, so I will definitely post about her again.  Meanwhile, I'm going to continue to relax on my family room sofa, read, and watch movies on my TV, and  have a drink from this giant bottle of Coca Cola that daughter Melissa brought over yesterday.  :)    

LOVE IT OR HATE IT? TRENDY FOODS FROM 2019

by Mary Kennedy                                             

This has been an interesting year for food! Some fresh takes on old favorites and some entirely new foods are hitting stores and restaurants. Here are a few I've encountered, and I'd be interested to see what you think about them. 
Street corn is pictured above. It's really delicious and is made out of roasted corn seasoned with chili powder, lime juice and cheese. Yes, it sounds like an odd combination, but it is wonderful. You owe it to yourself to try and it's easy to make at home.
Avocado toast Everyone has their own way of preparing this. You can mash it up with seasonings and lemon juice (like guacamole) or some places serve sliced avocado.                                                                          

Plant based meat.  So many brands to choose from! And Burger King now offers an "impossible burger" which is plant based. I've been buying Morningstar Farms sausage patties and Boca burgers for years and both are plant based.                                                                               
Cauliflower everything!   Who knew cauliflower could be so interesting! Have you tried riced cauliflower? You can use it in any dish calling for rice, as a thickener for soups and stews, and you can even find cauliflower pizza crusts. I took an informal poll on the cauliflower pizza crusts and the jury is still out. People who love their pizza aren't keen on the idea of experimenting, but you be the judge.

Celery juice was definitely trending this year and one of my friends swears by it. You need to make it in a juicer and it takes a lot of celery to make a glass. Also, you're not supposed to cheat and stick in some apple slices. You've just to drink it as is and chug it down. Supposedly there are a lot of health benefits, although I haven't tried it. 
These are just a few of the trendy foods of 2019, and I'll talk about some more next week.
Happy holidays!
by Mary Kennedy

In The Spotlight! MURDER INK - Victoria Square Mystery #6

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


COMING DECEMBER 31st
A tattoo parlor on Victoria Square? Some of the merchants get steamed at the prospect, but could they be driven to kill to stop it? That's what the sheriff's office and Katie Bonner want to know when the building's owner is electrocuted with his own saw.

Meanwhile, tensions rise when a hot chef takes over the square's tea shop. Will Katie have three men vying for her affections, or will her rival take the tea cake?


Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Books A Million | Indiebound Chapters/Indigo | Book Depository (Free Shipping Worldwide)

Kindle US | Kindle Worldwide | Nook | Kobo | Apple Books | Google Play(Check out my website for ebook editions in the UK, AU, IE and NZ)

Watch the booktrailer!