Kate Collins's Blog, page 214

Trick or Treat!

by Julie


Today is October 31st which, for many who celebrate, is Hallowe'en. It's been a few years since my kids trick-or-treated, but we have fond memories of those days. My husband used to come home early from work to take the girls out door-to-door with their friends, while I stayed home to man the front door and hand out treats. Today I'm usually home alone on Halloween and starting at around 3:00 in the afternoon, the doorbell never stops. Needless to say, I get very little work done that day!

I decided to pull out a few photos from when the kids were younger and share them here today.
Ah, the good old days!




Even Dad dressed up a few times!


Our daughters and our best friends' daughters hanging out with the pumpkins, some years ago.




Daughters #1 and 2 are above left, with Daughter #1 in the dress I refitted from Dad's costume (top). All three girls are above right. Notice how we cleverly recycled the bunny costume, too. Our youngest was not impressed :)


This was our youngest's favorite costume (or at least as much as I can find of it right now).
She was Super Crustacean that year. And won first prize in a costume contest!



What are some of your favorite Halloween memories?

Let There Be Light

By Deb Baker/Hannah Reed

The days are shortening now, and on Sunday, here in Wisconsin, the time will change. Day light saving time. We’ll have a few more minutes of light in the morning. But by 4:30 in the afternoon, we will turn on our headlights if we are heading home from work, or if we work in our homes, we will flip the light switches.  4:30! Sigh. Darkness will descend.

Dark ages. Dark side of humanity. Dark moments, dark days, and dark shadows. It was a dark and stormy night. Well, we know where that story is going. We equate darkness with blindness, with evil, with death.

So is it any wonder that, as the days shorten, we have a serious sense of foreboding? Is it surprising that some of us experience SAD, apt acronym for Seasonal Affective Disorder? I don’t know about you, but I love the light. My favorite time of day is just before dawn, waiting at the window with a cup of coffee, to greet the sun. Not only will the days grow shorter, the sun has changed its trajectory, hanging low rather than overhead. Most days, clouds will obscure the early sunset.

And I've had another problem. I can’t help turning off lights. If I’m not in the room, off it goes. If I am in the room, I only allow myself enough light to see by. It's ingrained. I’m sure this has something to do with my upbringing. Saving money. Waste not, want not.

But this year I've decided to pull out all the stops. Let there be light! And plenty of it. I'm going to overcome years of certain habits and I'm going to luxuriate in light. I don't have a fireplace, but if I did, I'd light it every single time the sun began to set.

Instead, I'm going to turn on those lights. Yes, every one of them, even the ones across the room. I
also ordered a bunch of flameless candles and a candle display thingee for the wall. It wasn't cheap. Yes, I did hesitate. But not for long. And I have a remote control to turn them on and off, and a timer, and I'm using them starting...well...yesterday when they arrived.

And you know what? I feel better already. In just one short day. I love the softness and warmth of the flickering lights as I settle in to do a little reading. Right this minute, I can't wait for late afternoon when I can turn them on again.

Treat yourself. With a new 3-way lamp. Or a new funky shade. With candles, whether flameless or the real thing. Put them in your bathroom, in your bedroom, in your living room. And most important - use them! Finally, I see the light!

Gone Cruising

by Maggie Sefton

News:  My previously-published Historical Romance ABILENE GAMBLER has a Helpful Holiday price drop to $3.99!  :)  It's available as an Ebook at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords.com, which distributes to Apple, Kobo, and Sony.  Check website for plot details.

Today, October 29th, I'll drive away from the river house in the Northern Neck
of Virginia and head back to Northern VA and Dulles airport.  There, I'll return the rental car and join the travelers going through airport security.  My Icelandair flight will leave that evening and skip across the North Atlantic to Reykivick, Iceland (where I'll take a look outside if there's time), then the last leg of the flight will take me to Rome, Italy.  I'll arrive the next day, October 30th afternoon and probably have just enough energy left to go to my hotel, have a nice dinner, then fall sound asleep.  The next morning, October 31st, I'll take a hotel shuttle or taxi to the Port of Embarkation for Cruise ships.  I'll board the Holland America Line's NOORDAM for a 15-day voyage across the Atlantic.  There will be three little day trips in Spain and Portugal, but then the ship heads for Open Water.  Yay!   Straight across the Atlantic to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  Then, I'll fly home to Colorado.

I'm looking forward to those days at sea for relaxation and uninterrupted writing time.  I have some story ideas that I haven't been able to take time to write, and this sea voyage will be perfect.  Cozy Chick Lorraine Bartlett/Lorna Barrett gave us all the idea when she shared her plans to start an entirely new novel on  a  long cruise two years ago.  I'll update everyone on the trip when I return.  I've already written posts for those first two Tuesdays in November while I'm gone and away from the Internet.

I hope everyone has a fun, happy Halloween with black cats, spooky trick-or-treaters, and lots and lots of candy.   Enjoy this beautiful Fall.    :)

Perfume Overload

by Kate Collins

Zenia, which is not her real name, is one of those genuinely nice, sincere, sensitive women who is always ready to lend a helping hand or a supportive shoulder. I see her once a week in a group of women who meet for dinner, where we eat and talk and laugh a lot.

There's just one thing wrong with this happy scene: Zenia's perfume. She douses herself with it. The scent is so overpowering that I have a hard time enjoying my food. It doesn't matter where I sit, the smell envelopes me like a cloud.

I've had conversations with her about it -- in my head. But somehow when it comes time to have it for real, I chicken out.

Me: Zenia, I know you've said how much you treasure your perfume because your departed husband liked it so much, but …..

See what I mean? How do you end that sentence in a way that doesn't make you feel like the biggest jerk wad ever?

….it makes me so sick to my stomach I lose my appetite.

….. I'm a bit sensitive to scents, so if I sit at a table across the room, don't take it personally.

….. if you could dial it down twenty degrees or so, the air would be breathable again.

…..well, um, here's a link to my blog. Read it and try not to hate me.

There you have it. Pathetic, right? So I either keep swallowing the bile or I stop joining them for dinner. Or maybe one of you can come up with a better idea. I'd really appreciate it.

I'm Okay With Halloween, But ...

by Leann

I love kids. I did work in an elementary school for 20 years, so that's proof. And I always enjoyed Halloween as a kid and even as an adult. Until along came Rosie, the brilliant little dog who has a very, shall we call it, energetic personality.

In our Texas home, we rarely had trick or treaters, so it wasn't a huge
problem that Rosie is a barker. I never wanted to curb that behavior because before my husband retired, I was
alone for 10-12 hours a day. I wanted her to warn me if people were near the house. She goes nuts when someone rings the doorbell or knocks. You see where this is going?

Then along came Marlowe. He has epilepsy and when he is startled, he tends to zone out and sometimes even has a seizure. He also is very attached to me and when I leave, he gets a little freaked out. He's not big on surprise. Is the picture becoming more clear?

The neighborhood where we are renting while our house is being built has plenty of kids. Last year, we didn't have Marlowe. We took Rosie to our friends' house and stayed until 10 PM. Halloween wasn't a problem.  But this year, our friends have added a wonderful rescue bulldog to their family. And that dog loves people, but is not fond of other dogs. We can't bail on Halloween this time and go there.

I am throwing it out to you, friends. What do I do with a dog who goes bonkers when people knock on the door and a cat who has his own special set of issues? I've been worrying about this for a week. My only solution is to have my husband hold the dog all evening and me answer the door with my kitty in my arms. Halloween is not a pet-friendly holiday, I'm sorry to say. All suggestion would be much appreciated!

A Killer Reno With E.J. Copperman

By Ellery Adams


Last month's "Guess Which Character I Kill Off" Contest was such a hit that I decided to run another contest. 

This time, however, I'm shining the spotlight on a fantastic cozy mystery series penned by my dear friend, E.J. Copperman.

What? You don't have a poster of him hanging on the back of your bedroom door? You have't left him rave reviews on Amazon or ordered a dozen copies of his November 5th release to freely hand out to all your friends and relatives?

Never fear. There's still plenty of time to make amends. 

Here's the 411 on THE THRILL OF THE HAUNT:

Alison Kerby’s guesthouse is already crowded with spirits. The last thing she needs is a whole new batch of haunts settling in. 

As Alison’s reputation as “the ghost lady” grows, so does her business—and not always in a way she’d like. Tourists may be flocking to her guesthouse for a chance to glimpse her resident spirits, but her special abilities are also bringing unwanted private investigation cases to her door. And she has no choice but to take a case when the local homeless man is found murdered under mysterious circumstances, just hours after asking for help in exorcising a specter.
If that weren’t enough to deal with, Alison’s other PI case soon turns fatal, as the mistress she was spying on for a jealous wife turns up dead as well. The cases seem like they couldn’t possibly be linked, but with a mountain of clues, motives and suspects—both living and dead—Alison will have to think fast before someone else checks out for good…


Now tell me that blurb hasn't gotten your attention? If so, kindly click a link to preorder (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository)And while you're here, why not enter the contest? E.J.'s question is listed below. Post your best guess in the comment section and we'll draw a name from the correct replies. The winner gets a $25 ecard to the book store of his or her choice and will notified by Nov. 2nd. Good luck and Happy Haunting!

Contest Question: In The Thrill of the Haunt, Alison has decided to renovate what was her game room (pool table, cooler, that's about it) for another purpose. What do you think it'll become?

If you haven't read the Haunted Guesthouse mysteries in order, here's a look at how the whole series gets started. For more info, drop by www.ejcopperman.com 
In The Haunted Guesthouse mysteries, Alison Kerby buys a huge Victorian on the Jersey Shore to renovate into a guesthouse. Not long off a divorce, Alison is hoping she and her nine-year-old daughter Melissa can find a fresh start in the town where Alison grew up.
But she has a problem. Two problems. Their names are Paul and Maxie, and they’re ghosts. In adventure after adventure, Paul and (let’s face it, especially) Maxie cause some trouble and get Alison into some tight situations. But they’re loyal and brave, and they’re always there to help out when she finds danger. Well, most of the time. If it’s in the guesthouse. Usually…

Bangles and Beads!

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


I grew up a tomboy.  I still had Barbies and other dolls, and fell in love with various pop stars, but as I became a tween and then a teen, I just wasn't interested in clothes, make-up, and jewelry.  For a while I made beaded necklaces, but I was never really interested in "real" jewelry.

The exception was rings.  My Dad was a true craftsman and he went through various phases, including a jewelry-making phase.  He even took classes at our local Memorial Art Gallery, making pendants, bracelets, and rings (including techniques like the lost-wax process).  I was drawn to the rings he made.  At one time, I wore about ten or more of the silver (or stainless steel) rings he made, but silver is soft and some of the braided ones broke after a few years.  I currently wear 13 rings (no, I'm not superstitious), and six of them are rings my Dad made.

In the last couple of years, I've gotten more into wearing jewelry, especially bracelets.  I have three or four bracelets Dad made, but I've collected a LOT more--and I wear them, even on days when I'm wearing just sweats around the house.  (Did I mention I also now wear nail polish, too?)  Why?  I just like to.  It's fun.  It feels nice, and who doesn't like to feel nice?

What do you do for yourself that just feels nice?

Reminder!

It's October 24th, which means that the month is almost over.

It's National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and please, if you've been putting off getting a mammogram, or scheduling any type of health exam (colonoscopy, dental, eye), or seeing your doctor for any of your concerns, this is a good time to remedy that. This reminder isn't only for our female readers. Let's all get out there and scratch these tasks off our to-do lists!

Our health is so key to happy lives that it's imperative that we take time for ourselves -- to ensure that we're on the right track.

So, today, if you haven't already -- make those appointments. Do it for yourself and those who love you.

Do Avid Readers Have More Neck Wrinkles Than Non-readers?

By Deb Baker/Hannah Reed


While taking care of my mother after she broke her ankle, I had time to wonder about things I
normally don’t have time for (Probably that is a good thing).

One of them involved my neck. You see, it is really getting wrinkled well before my face, making me more conscious of how I hold my head. I’m pretty sure reading is to blame.

Try it yourself. Put your head in your normal reading position. Do you feel that? Neck crinkles. They will become neck wrinkles in no time. But what to do about it? Certainly not abstain! Heavens, no!

I’ll take my chicken neck, because the alternative is just too awful. How about you? Are you getting a chicken neck?

Fall Happenings

by Maggie Sefton

This photo shows one of the beautiful fall scenes along the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and towpath that winds through Washington, DC's Georgetown area.  


It's Fall---leaves changing colors and a chill comes on the breeze.  The leaves in Fort Collins in Colorado have just started turning this last week.  The maple trees in my front and back yards are  yellow and green, on the way to all yellow.  On a drive into the Cache La Poudre Canyon I could see more colors---splashes of red, orange along with the yellows.  The higher elevation brings even cooler nights, down below freezing, which stimulates the trees to start this color change.   So far, Fort Collins has escaped a hard freeze at 32 degrees.  It's gotten close, but even my delicate pansies, purples and yellows, are still heads held high.  :)   That won't last long.  A hard freeze in just around the corner.

Even though I'm a real Summer girl, I have to admit Fall is beautiful and those lower temps always make me want to make soup.  Squash soups, especially.   Two of my favorites are Butternut Squash soup and Pumpkin soup.  In fact, it's such a favorite of mine, I make it frequently.   I don't even consider it a "recipe" but here are directions:

Maggie's Easy Everyday Butternut Squash Soup

Two large butternut squash, baked in oven (350 degrees) until a dull knife or fork penetrates all the way through with no resistance.  Cool on racks. Then, remove seeds and put cooked squash in bowl.  Once all seeds are removed, then puree the squash in blender with small amount of water and milk.  I use coconut milk but almond milk, cow milk, or soy milk work.  Use enough liquid to puree.  This will take several blender loads.  Empty each blender load filled with puree into big pot which contains the softened onions you've already  cooked in olive oil.   Once you get all the puree into the pot with the cooked onions, raise heat beneath cooking pot to medium low.  Slowly add more milk of your choice and a little water until you reach the desired consistency.  Then add salt and pepper to taste.  Stir.  Then add 1 teaspoon curry powder (or more, depending on taste) and stir.   Simmer for a bit then add several dollops of either light sour cream or fat-free sour cream and stir to blend completely.  Simmer a couple of minutes more then serve. . .and enjoy!   You can substitute pumpkin for the butternut squash in the recipe and it's just as delicious.  :)  

Right now, I'm back in Virginia at the river house, a couple of blocks from the Potomac River, in the Northern Neck of Virginia.    I visited family and friends in Northern VA after I flew in last Thursday and had a great book signing/reader chat at the Barnes and Noble---Potomac Yard near Alexandria last Saturday.  The trees are changing everywhere in Virginia now.  This river house is surrounded by woods on all sides, and the colors are beautiful.   Weather is chillier now.   I'll be driving off tomorrow, Wednesday October 23rd, to attend a Novelists Ink conference in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  The neighbors tell me it should take 6-7 hours to get there.  Conference runs until Sunday, October 27th when I drive back to the river house.  I'm looking forward to seeing all the glorious Fall foliage along the way.  I'll update you folks next week on my travels.  Until then, enjoy the Fall.  :)