Kate Collins's Blog, page 222
August 12, 2013
At the Movies
by Maggie SeftonI've been catching up on movies these last few weeks since I returned from my double conference travels in July. I couldn't help noticing how many movies were out aimed at
the child or family audience plus most of them had double listings because they were all offered in regular version and a second 3D version. So the theaters are filled.
Here are my Favorite Four:
MUD---This is the best, in my opinion. I wasn't expecting it to be that good. This is the best work I've seen Matthew McConaughey do since A Time To Kill, years ago. The character Mud is complicated and appears to be someone who chooses to live on the fringes of society. What makes this movie so special and engrossing is the double plot line. It is a Redemption story, watching Mud make a "difference" when it counted most. And the second plotline is the Coming of Age story with the two fourteen-year old boys, teetering on the verge of manhood and stepping onto firm ground at the end. Plus the characters are portrayed respectfully and not with condescension no matter their humble living conditions. All the actors involved do marvelous work. Even Reese Witherspoon appears in a smaller role quite unlike anything you've ever seen her do. I wasn't surprised that MUD won an award at Cannes Film Festival. It's no longer in most theaters, so you'll have to rent it or get it on Netflix.
THE HEAT---Sandra Bullock as the FBI agent and Melissa McCarthy as the Boston cop working to clean up her neighborhood. If you're sensitive to language, you may not like it, but it's laugh-out-loud funny. :)
RED 2----I thought this movie was hilarious. Follow-up to the original and very popular RED last year. Bruce Willis, Mary Louise Parker, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren are clearly having a great time in these roles. Lots of fun to watch them work. Oh, yes, Anthony Hopkins joined the fun.
DESPICABLE ME 2---So much fun to see the return of these characters. Great animation and witty dialogue really makes it so enjoyable.
I also saw Elysium, skipped Man of Steel & White House Down because I'd already seen a White House under attack movie earlier this summer. Have you seen any of these movies I've mentioned? Have you seen others you liked?
August 11, 2013
An Upside to Messiness?
by Kate CollinsI don't know how you operate, but I don't work well if there is clutter on or around my desk. It distracts me. But I know people who don't seem to be bothered by a messy desk and I've often wondered how they manage.
Turns out, a new study snows that a messy work environment can bring out a person's creativity and lead to the birth of bold, new ideas. A less- than-perfect work environment can make a person more likely to think out of the box.
According to the findings, "Orderly environments would encourage adherence to social convention and overall conservatism, whereas disorderly environments would encourage people to seek novelty and unconventional routes."
"Disorderly environments seem to inspire breaking free of tradition, which can produce fresh insights. Orderly environments, in contrast, encourage convention and playing it safe."This is just one study, so I'm not taking it that seriously. If you've read any of the Flower Shop Mysteries, you know that my main character, Abby Knight, always thinks outside the box. She's very inventive when it comes to solving a murder case, and what she invents comes directly from my head. And I'm a neat freak. My theory is that there are people who do their best work in tidy environments and those who don't really pay attention to what's around them, so do their best work wherever. I have to keep so many details in my head -- all the intricacies of my main characters, all of the suspects and their means, motives, and opportunities, all the subpots and minor characters, not to mention my personal appointments, bills to pay, etc. -- that I need to keep my immediate environment bare. That way I can focus on the clutter in my head, and make sense of it.That's not to say a cluttered desk is bad. According to this study. something good can come from either setting. A tidy workplace may help people walk a straight line. A messy desk may help them figure out a new way to keep from walking at all.Which type are you?
August 10, 2013
Confusion, Decisions, Stress But Progress
by Leann
We are finally making progress on the house now that the rain has stayed away. We have the basement and living area framed and I can finally
picture my new home. It is exciting and scary at the same time. But what's really the most frightening is that I'm up. Most of the decisions so far have been made by my contractor/husband.
He is very good at the structural parts of building the place. He is not so good at communicating to me when I need to have other things in place. What order to things come in? Who do we need to line up to do these things? It is creating a lot of anxiety for me, especially since I have a book deadline looming.
Do the tile people do the quartz countertops? Do the countertop people install the sinks? Or is that done by the plumber? Or do they work together? Do the cabinet people work with the counter people? Oy! It's making me crazy just writing all this down. What makes it better is the view that I will have out my bedroom window. Isn't it amazing? And the second picture is the view from our master bath at the front of the house. Lovely trees, green oasis, right?
But Saturday we went to Lowe's and I was exhausted after a few hours. Contractor/husband was wandering around looking at saws and compressors when we were supposed to be looking at roofing. Then, after we left Lowe's, he tells me that the roofers he's already contracted have samples of roofing they show us. Then what the heck were we doing at Lowe's? I'm assuming it had something to do with saws and compressors.
If I make it out of this process with my sanity it will be a miracle. I have asked over and over for a list. Just write down what I need to pick out when as well as where I need to get it. Write down who I need to talk to. I've gone through this process with the windows and the plumbing fixtures and worked with two women who really knew their stuff and helped me immensely. Wish me luck finding someone to guide me, because the contractor on this job has his mind on different things. :-)
We are finally making progress on the house now that the rain has stayed away. We have the basement and living area framed and I can finally
picture my new home. It is exciting and scary at the same time. But what's really the most frightening is that I'm up. Most of the decisions so far have been made by my contractor/husband.He is very good at the structural parts of building the place. He is not so good at communicating to me when I need to have other things in place. What order to things come in? Who do we need to line up to do these things? It is creating a lot of anxiety for me, especially since I have a book deadline looming.
Do the tile people do the quartz countertops? Do the countertop people install the sinks? Or is that done by the plumber? Or do they work together? Do the cabinet people work with the counter people? Oy! It's making me crazy just writing all this down. What makes it better is the view that I will have out my bedroom window. Isn't it amazing? And the second picture is the view from our master bath at the front of the house. Lovely trees, green oasis, right?
But Saturday we went to Lowe's and I was exhausted after a few hours. Contractor/husband was wandering around looking at saws and compressors when we were supposed to be looking at roofing. Then, after we left Lowe's, he tells me that the roofers he's already contracted have samples of roofing they show us. Then what the heck were we doing at Lowe's? I'm assuming it had something to do with saws and compressors.
If I make it out of this process with my sanity it will be a miracle. I have asked over and over for a list. Just write down what I need to pick out when as well as where I need to get it. Write down who I need to talk to. I've gone through this process with the windows and the plumbing fixtures and worked with two women who really knew their stuff and helped me immensely. Wish me luck finding someone to guide me, because the contractor on this job has his mind on different things. :-)
August 9, 2013
Animal Adventures
By Ellery Adams
This has been the summer of animals. All four of my cats have needed annual check-ups and during those four trips to the vet, I met other cats, some lovely dogs, and a duck who'd been caught in a crab trap.
In Myrtle Beach, my family and I were lucky enough to have our photo taken with a tiger cub. This is Tibet and he's about 3 months old. The money from the photo sales helps pay for Tibet's care, but also helps Tiger conservation around the world. I fell in love with this guy the second I saw him.
As for the hundreds of alligators we saw? Um, not so much. They're really cool, but not quite as snuggly and lovable. We did get to watch a mass alligator feeding session and catch a glimpse of a rare albino alligator (they're supposed to be good luck). And there was also this island of alligators in case we didn't see enough of them while walking through the rest of the preserve.
I realized that even when I travel, animals are a part of my daily landscape. I love to see shorebirds and horseshoe crabs at the beach and listen for owls hooting and the croaking of frogs at nighttime. And nothing says summer like the flash of a firefly in a deep blue evening sky.
How about you? Have you had any animal adventures so far this summer?
This has been the summer of animals. All four of my cats have needed annual check-ups and during those four trips to the vet, I met other cats, some lovely dogs, and a duck who'd been caught in a crab trap.In Myrtle Beach, my family and I were lucky enough to have our photo taken with a tiger cub. This is Tibet and he's about 3 months old. The money from the photo sales helps pay for Tibet's care, but also helps Tiger conservation around the world. I fell in love with this guy the second I saw him.
As for the hundreds of alligators we saw? Um, not so much. They're really cool, but not quite as snuggly and lovable. We did get to watch a mass alligator feeding session and catch a glimpse of a rare albino alligator (they're supposed to be good luck). And there was also this island of alligators in case we didn't see enough of them while walking through the rest of the preserve.
I realized that even when I travel, animals are a part of my daily landscape. I love to see shorebirds and horseshoe crabs at the beach and listen for owls hooting and the croaking of frogs at nighttime. And nothing says summer like the flash of a firefly in a deep blue evening sky.How about you? Have you had any animal adventures so far this summer?
The boat of my dreams ...
by Lorraine Bartlett / Lorna Barrett / L.L. Bartlett
I've spent the past couple months deeply enmeshed in the lives of the characters in my Jeff Resnick mysteries. I've been exploring one of my favorite themes--family, and what it means; the trials and tribulations, and the hurt that comes when there's anger and tension--and especially mistrust that comes from misunderstanding. (Oh, and a murder, too.)
Boy, it's been a lot of FUN!
But what's been terribly heartbreaking for me is ... the boat.
What?
Yeah, the boat. Part of the story revolves around a beautiful (and very expensive) boat that Richard bought as kind of a lark. He thought it would be fun to tool around the Niagara River on weekends, drinkie-poo in hand, watching the sun go down.
First of all, I am not a boater. My brothers are boaters, but that gene skipped the middle child--me. Until I started writing about Easy Breezin'.
First I had to find a boat, and though I call it something else in the story (lawsuits, whatever), it's really a Carver 46 Voyager. (Hey, I'm a BIG Star Trek Voyager fan -- of course the name caught my eye.)
It's got THREE staterooms (the master has a queen-sized bed); two washrooms (with showers); two Volvo engines; a 450 gallon fuel tank (it runs on diesel--can you imagine what it would cost to fill that sucker at marine prices?); a mini kitchen with coffee pot, microwave, and two-burner electric range; a mini living room (called the salon), with creamy leather furniture. The boat I saw had two TVs, but no books. (I prefer to think they catch up on their reading with a Kindle, Nook, or Kobo reader.) And up on the flybridge (where you steer the boat) there's a table, chairs, fridge (with ice maker), and wet bar.
I. WANT. THIS. BOAT.
Used (the one I'm basing my story on), it is nine years old and only costs $299,000. (Can you imagine what this thing would cost if it was NEW???)
I'm about to finish the first draft ... it might be today, tomorrow, or Sunday. And then I'll start the rewrite, and I have a feeling I might have to edit out some of my love for this boat. I could go on and on lovingly describing it, but that would detract from the rest of the story.
If all goes well, Dark Waters will be available on October 1st. (Cover coming this weekend.) I'll announce when you can pre-order it (hopefully by next week).
Meanwhile ... I think I'll go back to dreaming about Easy Breezin' ... she sure is a beauty.
I've spent the past couple months deeply enmeshed in the lives of the characters in my Jeff Resnick mysteries. I've been exploring one of my favorite themes--family, and what it means; the trials and tribulations, and the hurt that comes when there's anger and tension--and especially mistrust that comes from misunderstanding. (Oh, and a murder, too.)Boy, it's been a lot of FUN!
But what's been terribly heartbreaking for me is ... the boat.
What?
Yeah, the boat. Part of the story revolves around a beautiful (and very expensive) boat that Richard bought as kind of a lark. He thought it would be fun to tool around the Niagara River on weekends, drinkie-poo in hand, watching the sun go down.
First of all, I am not a boater. My brothers are boaters, but that gene skipped the middle child--me. Until I started writing about Easy Breezin'.First I had to find a boat, and though I call it something else in the story (lawsuits, whatever), it's really a Carver 46 Voyager. (Hey, I'm a BIG Star Trek Voyager fan -- of course the name caught my eye.)
It's got THREE staterooms (the master has a queen-sized bed); two washrooms (with showers); two Volvo engines; a 450 gallon fuel tank (it runs on diesel--can you imagine what it would cost to fill that sucker at marine prices?); a mini kitchen with coffee pot, microwave, and two-burner electric range; a mini living room (called the salon), with creamy leather furniture. The boat I saw had two TVs, but no books. (I prefer to think they catch up on their reading with a Kindle, Nook, or Kobo reader.) And up on the flybridge (where you steer the boat) there's a table, chairs, fridge (with ice maker), and wet bar.I. WANT. THIS. BOAT.
Used (the one I'm basing my story on), it is nine years old and only costs $299,000. (Can you imagine what this thing would cost if it was NEW???)I'm about to finish the first draft ... it might be today, tomorrow, or Sunday. And then I'll start the rewrite, and I have a feeling I might have to edit out some of my love for this boat. I could go on and on lovingly describing it, but that would detract from the rest of the story.
If all goes well, Dark Waters will be available on October 1st. (Cover coming this weekend.) I'll announce when you can pre-order it (hopefully by next week).
Meanwhile ... I think I'll go back to dreaming about Easy Breezin' ... she sure is a beauty.
August 7, 2013
More Sherlock, please
by Julie
My husband and I watched the second Robert Downey, Jr./Jude Law Sherlock Holmes movie about three weeks ago. Now I love Robert Downey, Jr. and have since Heart and Souls (fabulous little film, if you haven't seen it, do yourself a favor and rent it soon!). I really like Jude Law, too.
The movie,
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
, however, put me to sleep.
Too many fight scenes, explosions, chases, blah, blah, blah. One of these days I'll write a bit more on that topic in general, but for now suffice it to say that when I tune into Sherlock - whether it be in a book, a TV show, or a movie - I'm interested most in how he outwits the villain, not how he out-punches him.
Two days after we watched that film, I decided to give Sherlock , the BBC TV show starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman a try. I'd heard good things about it, I liked Cumberbatch in Star Trek, Into Darkness (though I had a few issues with that movie as well), and I longed for a more character-centric endeavor.
Wow. We found all that, and more. We are absolutely loving the show and over the past couple of weeks, have watched all the available episodes on Netflix. There are only two seasons so far, and only three episodes each. They run about 90 minutes per show, but still, it isn't enough.
This version is set in London in the present. John Watson, who has a fascinating backstory I want to know more about, chronicles Sherlock's cases on a blog. They make great use of laptops, cell phones, and all the devices we're used to in the 21st century. But the best part of the show is the interplay between the two main characters. Wonderful. And Sherlock's brother Mycroft plays a much larger role than I'm used to seeing.
New episodes are coming out in the fall. I cannot wait. In fact, I think I'm going through Sherlock withdrawal at the moment. I'll have to rewatch them between now and then.
All except "The Hounds of Baskerville." Have to admit - I thought that one was a little lame.
Have you seen this show yet? What about the other new Sherlock-based show, Elementary? I haven't watched that one at all. Is it any good?
My husband and I watched the second Robert Downey, Jr./Jude Law Sherlock Holmes movie about three weeks ago. Now I love Robert Downey, Jr. and have since Heart and Souls (fabulous little film, if you haven't seen it, do yourself a favor and rent it soon!). I really like Jude Law, too.
The movie,
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
, however, put me to sleep.Too many fight scenes, explosions, chases, blah, blah, blah. One of these days I'll write a bit more on that topic in general, but for now suffice it to say that when I tune into Sherlock - whether it be in a book, a TV show, or a movie - I'm interested most in how he outwits the villain, not how he out-punches him.
Two days after we watched that film, I decided to give Sherlock , the BBC TV show starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman a try. I'd heard good things about it, I liked Cumberbatch in Star Trek, Into Darkness (though I had a few issues with that movie as well), and I longed for a more character-centric endeavor.
Wow. We found all that, and more. We are absolutely loving the show and over the past couple of weeks, have watched all the available episodes on Netflix. There are only two seasons so far, and only three episodes each. They run about 90 minutes per show, but still, it isn't enough.
This version is set in London in the present. John Watson, who has a fascinating backstory I want to know more about, chronicles Sherlock's cases on a blog. They make great use of laptops, cell phones, and all the devices we're used to in the 21st century. But the best part of the show is the interplay between the two main characters. Wonderful. And Sherlock's brother Mycroft plays a much larger role than I'm used to seeing.
New episodes are coming out in the fall. I cannot wait. In fact, I think I'm going through Sherlock withdrawal at the moment. I'll have to rewatch them between now and then.
All except "The Hounds of Baskerville." Have to admit - I thought that one was a little lame.
Have you seen this show yet? What about the other new Sherlock-based show, Elementary? I haven't watched that one at all. Is it any good?
August 6, 2013
Dog Days of Summer
by Deb Baker/Hannah Reed
Ah...the dog days of summer!
Splashing in pools, vacations, picnics, reading in the shade, watermelon.
And hints that fall is right around the corner, at least here in Wisconsin - shorter daylight hours, a bit of a nip in the evening air, school supplies front and center in retail stores.
And what is this woman doing to celebrate in August? She's been invited to go camping with a family of outdoor enthusiasts. I'll be 'tenting it' for the first time in...geez...twenty some years. And as the date approaches, I'm getting nervous. What about mosquitoes? Rumor has it they are awful this year. Plus, last time (my memory hasn't failed me yet), a skunk rooted around in the campsite while I cowered inside my tent, not more than four feet away. Is there such a thing as skunk repellent?
Which makes me think now about bears. No food in my tent, that's for sure. And I need to cut a back exit into the canvas just in case.
Then there's the aging body I'm forced to take along. It doesn't enjoy sleeping on the ground. So should I bring my bed? I'm pretty sure I could strap it onto the roof of the car.
One thing is for certain in this upcoming sea of uncertainty, the trip is going to be an adventure.
What's going to be your last hurrah of the summer? Do you camp? Any tips?
Ah...the dog days of summer!Splashing in pools, vacations, picnics, reading in the shade, watermelon.
And hints that fall is right around the corner, at least here in Wisconsin - shorter daylight hours, a bit of a nip in the evening air, school supplies front and center in retail stores.
And what is this woman doing to celebrate in August? She's been invited to go camping with a family of outdoor enthusiasts. I'll be 'tenting it' for the first time in...geez...twenty some years. And as the date approaches, I'm getting nervous. What about mosquitoes? Rumor has it they are awful this year. Plus, last time (my memory hasn't failed me yet), a skunk rooted around in the campsite while I cowered inside my tent, not more than four feet away. Is there such a thing as skunk repellent?
Which makes me think now about bears. No food in my tent, that's for sure. And I need to cut a back exit into the canvas just in case.
Then there's the aging body I'm forced to take along. It doesn't enjoy sleeping on the ground. So should I bring my bed? I'm pretty sure I could strap it onto the roof of the car.
One thing is for certain in this upcoming sea of uncertainty, the trip is going to be an adventure.
What's going to be your last hurrah of the summer? Do you camp? Any tips?
August 5, 2013
Molly Malone is Back!
by Maggie Sefton
POISONED POLITICS , the second in the Molly Malone Suspense trilogy, will be released August 8, 2013 in trade paperback from Midnight Ink Books. It will be available in bookstores and online.
Yes! The next book in my Political Suspense trilogy is coming out this week. Last year's DEADLY POLITICS introduced Molly Malone, the savvy and seasoned veteran of Washington, DC politics. This second installment of the suspense trilogy has Molly drawn deeper and deeper into a dangerous web of deception.
The Molly Malone Suspense novels are faster-paced than the amateur sleuth Kelly Flynn Mysteries. Another big difference? There's more than one Bad Guy. In fact, there're several villains that appear on the pages of DEADLY POLITICS and POISONED POLITICS. These Bad Guys definitely have an agenda, and they're very, very good at what they do---which includes killing people.
For those of you new to the Cozy Chicks Blog, here's a glimpse of Molly and her world---Washington, DC---
Politics is a blood sport in Washington, DC, and only the strongest survive. Like the politicians she’s rubbed shoulders with for a lifetime, Molly Malone is smart and tough and savvy enough to stay out of trouble---most of the time. However, trouble has a way of finding Molly. Years ago, Molly Malone was driven from Washington, DC by political back-stabbing, scandals, and personal heartbreak. But now, circumstances have forced her to start a new life in the one place she swore she’d never return to—the city that broke her heart---and face the ghosts and the enemies from her past.
As the daughter of a respected United States Senator and once the wife of a rising star young Congressman, Molly has seen it all in Washington politics---the cynics, the sincere, and the schemers. But the brutal murder of her Congressional staffer niece brings Molly up close with Washington’s darker side. “The beautiful monuments and parks are deceiving. Washington can be ugly.” How ugly, Molly’s about to find out. There are other schemers out there who may not have won elections, but are more powerful than the politicians they ensnare.
In POISONED POLITICS, readers learn that not only has Molly gotten on the Bad Guys' radar screen, she's now front and center. The back-of-the-book blurb is below. Enjoy!
Beltway doyenne Samantha Calhoun has learned many lessons in a lifetime of politics, and she relishes teaching certain young congressmen everything she knows. But when her latest fling, married U.S. Representative Quentin Wilson, is found dead in Samantha's home, she turns to longtime friend Molly Malone for support.
Putting to use her many well-positioned connections, Molly learns that Wilson had been researching a financial bill sponsored by a veiled coalition of politicians---the same bill that her niece Karen Grayson was investigating when she was murdered. Picking up the trail where Grayson and Wilson left off, Molly fears she will be the next victim of the shadowy cabal's insatiable appetite for power.
I certainly hope some of you will check out Molly Malone's world. :)
POISONED POLITICS , the second in the Molly Malone Suspense trilogy, will be released August 8, 2013 in trade paperback from Midnight Ink Books. It will be available in bookstores and online.
Yes! The next book in my Political Suspense trilogy is coming out this week. Last year's DEADLY POLITICS introduced Molly Malone, the savvy and seasoned veteran of Washington, DC politics. This second installment of the suspense trilogy has Molly drawn deeper and deeper into a dangerous web of deception.
The Molly Malone Suspense novels are faster-paced than the amateur sleuth Kelly Flynn Mysteries. Another big difference? There's more than one Bad Guy. In fact, there're several villains that appear on the pages of DEADLY POLITICS and POISONED POLITICS. These Bad Guys definitely have an agenda, and they're very, very good at what they do---which includes killing people.
For those of you new to the Cozy Chicks Blog, here's a glimpse of Molly and her world---Washington, DC---
Politics is a blood sport in Washington, DC, and only the strongest survive. Like the politicians she’s rubbed shoulders with for a lifetime, Molly Malone is smart and tough and savvy enough to stay out of trouble---most of the time. However, trouble has a way of finding Molly. Years ago, Molly Malone was driven from Washington, DC by political back-stabbing, scandals, and personal heartbreak. But now, circumstances have forced her to start a new life in the one place she swore she’d never return to—the city that broke her heart---and face the ghosts and the enemies from her past.
As the daughter of a respected United States Senator and once the wife of a rising star young Congressman, Molly has seen it all in Washington politics---the cynics, the sincere, and the schemers. But the brutal murder of her Congressional staffer niece brings Molly up close with Washington’s darker side. “The beautiful monuments and parks are deceiving. Washington can be ugly.” How ugly, Molly’s about to find out. There are other schemers out there who may not have won elections, but are more powerful than the politicians they ensnare.
In POISONED POLITICS, readers learn that not only has Molly gotten on the Bad Guys' radar screen, she's now front and center. The back-of-the-book blurb is below. Enjoy!
Beltway doyenne Samantha Calhoun has learned many lessons in a lifetime of politics, and she relishes teaching certain young congressmen everything she knows. But when her latest fling, married U.S. Representative Quentin Wilson, is found dead in Samantha's home, she turns to longtime friend Molly Malone for support.
Putting to use her many well-positioned connections, Molly learns that Wilson had been researching a financial bill sponsored by a veiled coalition of politicians---the same bill that her niece Karen Grayson was investigating when she was murdered. Picking up the trail where Grayson and Wilson left off, Molly fears she will be the next victim of the shadowy cabal's insatiable appetite for power.
I certainly hope some of you will check out Molly Malone's world. :)
August 4, 2013
Animal Shelters -- Kill or No Kill?
by Kate Collins
In my latest mystery, SEED NO EVIL (which comes out tomorrow, Tuesday, Aug 6th!) Abby's local animal shelter is on the verge of going from a no-kill to a kill facility. As fans of the Flower Shop Mysteries will suspect, Abby can't help but get involved to stop that from happening.
To write this story, however, I had to debate both sides of the issue. Trust me, for a person who loves all animals, it wasn't easy to do. But I had to admit, there are some situations where euthanizing is humane.
I think you'll enjoy the story and will fall in love with the little dog whose life is in jeopardy. She's central to the plot.
But today I'd like to hear from you on where you stand on this issue. Do you believe that all shelters should be no-kill shelters? Do you see any exceptions? Can you understand what kinds of problems a no-kill shelter has? What kind of facility is in your city or town?
By the way, I can't wait for you to read this book. Not only will you adore the little dog, but you'll get a nice surprise at the end. And Abby finally gets married! But how she does it is also a surprise.
Happy reading!
August 3, 2013
Comfort Food. What's Your Favorite?
by Leann
Since moving to South Carolina a year ago, I have found that I am missing my "comfort foods." The problem is partly due to a pretty non-functional kitchen preparation area in the rental house we live in while waiting for our house to be built. Macaroni and cheese comes to mind right away because it requires a stove and an oven to be done right. I've made it here, but gosh, then I need a cleaning crew to come in and repair the
damage! I end up with macaroni-and-cheesed kitchen!
One thing I have had a tough time finding here is a decent steak! I love steak and really need a protein-rich diet because of my health. In Texas, I used to grill steak probably once a week on the Jenn-Air.
We don't even have a barbeque grill right now and it seems there isn't a restaurant close by that can cook a steak the right way. I guess waiting on this building process is making this hankering for my own cooking all the more strong.
There are other things I miss that I will have to wait on, but what about you? What food could you NOT live without? Inquiring minds want to know.
Since moving to South Carolina a year ago, I have found that I am missing my "comfort foods." The problem is partly due to a pretty non-functional kitchen preparation area in the rental house we live in while waiting for our house to be built. Macaroni and cheese comes to mind right away because it requires a stove and an oven to be done right. I've made it here, but gosh, then I need a cleaning crew to come in and repair the
damage! I end up with macaroni-and-cheesed kitchen!One thing I have had a tough time finding here is a decent steak! I love steak and really need a protein-rich diet because of my health. In Texas, I used to grill steak probably once a week on the Jenn-Air.
We don't even have a barbeque grill right now and it seems there isn't a restaurant close by that can cook a steak the right way. I guess waiting on this building process is making this hankering for my own cooking all the more strong.There are other things I miss that I will have to wait on, but what about you? What food could you NOT live without? Inquiring minds want to know.
