Kate Collins's Blog, page 242
January 24, 2013
The over-stuffed crock
by Lorraine Bartlett / Lorna Barrett / L.L. Bartlett
I'll bet just about everyone who reads this blog has a utensil crock on (his or) her counter. I do. And over the years I've had to upgrade again and again to a bigger size.
My crock contains:
Bottle brush
Cheese grater (2)
Chopsticks (4-5 pairs)
Cocktail spoons (2)
Ice cream scoop
Meat tenderizer
Pasta spoon
Pastry brush (2)
Soup ladle (2)
Spatulas (wayyyy too many—and not nearly enough)
Spurtle (2)
Tongs (3)
Veggie scrubber
Whisks (at least 3)
Wooden spoons
Of course I've got smaller utentils cluttering up my silverware drawers, too.
I've often thought of culling the contents. I mean, do I really need all this kitchen junk?
YES!!! Who knows when I might make three separate dishes that all require a clean whisk? And if I make a really gooey dessert, I might need five or six different spatulas.
What do you have in your kitchen crock?
I'll bet just about everyone who reads this blog has a utensil crock on (his or) her counter. I do. And over the years I've had to upgrade again and again to a bigger size.
My crock contains:
Bottle brushCheese grater (2)
Chopsticks (4-5 pairs)
Cocktail spoons (2)
Ice cream scoop
Meat tenderizer
Pasta spoon
Pastry brush (2)
Soup ladle (2)
Spatulas (wayyyy too many—and not nearly enough)
Spurtle (2)
Tongs (3)
Veggie scrubber
Whisks (at least 3)
Wooden spoons
Of course I've got smaller utentils cluttering up my silverware drawers, too.
I've often thought of culling the contents. I mean, do I really need all this kitchen junk?
YES!!! Who knows when I might make three separate dishes that all require a clean whisk? And if I make a really gooey dessert, I might need five or six different spatulas.
What do you have in your kitchen crock?
January 23, 2013
Exciting and terrifying
by Julie
Back in August I talked about how our middle daughter was moving to Texas for a teaching internship to finish her Master's Degree and how she planned to stay down there for a while after graduating. I also talked about how excited I was for her while at the same time being sad for myself.
Yesterday we dropped off our youngest at O'Hare airport. She's flying out to Europe to study abroad for the semester. This is hard. I'm really not thrilled by the idea that we won't have her back home until May. This is tough!
I am so excited that she's able to do so much, that she'll be expanding her horizons, learning about people and cultures that our different from ours. I'm thrilled for her because this is an exciting time and she's worked hard to get to this point and deserves to enjoy it.
Even though I'm happy for her, I cried like a baby at the airport.
What about you? Are you strong and stoic (I usually am, but I totally fell apart this time), or are you prone to emotion and tears?
Back in August I talked about how our middle daughter was moving to Texas for a teaching internship to finish her Master's Degree and how she planned to stay down there for a while after graduating. I also talked about how excited I was for her while at the same time being sad for myself.Yesterday we dropped off our youngest at O'Hare airport. She's flying out to Europe to study abroad for the semester. This is hard. I'm really not thrilled by the idea that we won't have her back home until May. This is tough!
I am so excited that she's able to do so much, that she'll be expanding her horizons, learning about people and cultures that our different from ours. I'm thrilled for her because this is an exciting time and she's worked hard to get to this point and deserves to enjoy it.
Even though I'm happy for her, I cried like a baby at the airport.
What about you? Are you strong and stoic (I usually am, but I totally fell apart this time), or are you prone to emotion and tears?
January 22, 2013
But What About All My Shoes?
by Deb Baker/Hannah Reed
I've got this gig I mentioned way back. I'll be writing a new cozy mystery series set in the Scottish Highlands. Research time is coming up in March - flying into Dublin for a few days then on to Edinburgh and day trips into the Highlands.
My daughter tells me travel limits within the European countries is different than direct flights from the U.S. to other destinations. And they all carry on. Okay I can do that. But (she says) the flight from Ireland to Scotland is going to be dicey because the limit is 22 lb.
WHAT??!! There's a minimum weight, how cool is that.
No, she says, that's the max.
OMG! She can't be serious.
The guy with all the stuff could be my twin. I always stuff a big bag until it's 49.999 pounds (I actually weigh it to come in just under the 50 they allow). And I'm always annoyed when I'm usually charged to check it.
If I could eliminate the checked bag, I could save a bundle. For this trip downsizing is a requirement not an option.
But 22 pounds is nothing. How in the world do I become her??
Help!!
I've got this gig I mentioned way back. I'll be writing a new cozy mystery series set in the Scottish Highlands. Research time is coming up in March - flying into Dublin for a few days then on to Edinburgh and day trips into the Highlands.My daughter tells me travel limits within the European countries is different than direct flights from the U.S. to other destinations. And they all carry on. Okay I can do that. But (she says) the flight from Ireland to Scotland is going to be dicey because the limit is 22 lb.
WHAT??!! There's a minimum weight, how cool is that.
No, she says, that's the max.
OMG! She can't be serious.
The guy with all the stuff could be my twin. I always stuff a big bag until it's 49.999 pounds (I actually weigh it to come in just under the 50 they allow). And I'm always annoyed when I'm usually charged to check it.If I could eliminate the checked bag, I could save a bundle. For this trip downsizing is a requirement not an option.
But 22 pounds is nothing. How in the world do I become her??
Help!!
January 21, 2013
Great Theatre on the Screen
by Maggie SeftonWeekend before last, we Denver Broncos fans watched our team lose in the playoffs in double overtime to the Baltimore Ravens. I definitely give the Ravens credit for playing a great game and grabbing opportunities. But, like so many Broncos fans, I was severely disappointed. The loss Was so sudden and unexpected that afterwards I wanted something that totally took my mind off the disappointment. So, I went to see my favorite theatre presentation. . .on the screen.
Les Miserables, that stirring story by Victor Hugo of France in the mid-1800s and life among the struggling poor to rebellious students in the streets and the long arm of the Law. I first saw Les Miserables on the stage in the early 1990s. I made a point to actually read Hugo's epic story first. It's truly his masterpiece. I bought the 2-disc CD set and played it enough that my younger daughters could sing the words. It's truly a production that shows better on stage, believe it or not. And I'm a dedicated movie lover, but I'm also a devoted theatre goer as well. There's an intimacy to theatre that's hard to describe but very real. Magic can happen onstage in a theatre, and because you are there and the actors/singers are right there in front of you, YOU can feel the magic. It's special.However, I do think the big name movie actors did a good job with this larger-than-life story. Hugh Jackman is a talented actor and lived the part. Anne Hathaway's portrayal of Fantine was truly moving. And a favorite of mine, Russell Crowe was a wonderful Javert. And Sasha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter were hilarious as the innkeeper and his wife. The entire cast did such a good job, I was in a great mood when I left the movie theatre despite football disappointment.
Have any of you ever seen a performance or the film of Les Miserables? How did you like it?
January 20, 2013
The Loneliest Person in the Room
by Kate CollinsAccording to an article I read on Yahoo News, loneliness causes health problems of all sorts, from heart disease to high blood pressure to depression, all the way down to changes at the cellular level. People are designed to be in communities, to socialize. Loneliness is a signal a mind sends to tell us that we need to be with others.
Not good news for those of us who live alone.
But the article also points out that it's not necessarily those who live alone who are lonely. One can be lonely in a crowd. Ask a young college student who is away from home and friends for the first time. Ask a newly bereaved widow or widower at a funeral.
Ask many people caught in bad marriages. I was one of those a long time ago. I ached with loneliness while in the same room as my then husband. I know many of you reading this have felt this way. It wasn't until I met my Greek that I learned what a true partner and soulmate could be. I wasn't lonely when he was around.
I've recently had to make the tough decision to part ways with an acquaintance. After my husband passed on, this woman came into my life as a new friend and served as a welcome distraction from my deep grief. She had so many issues, I found myself trying to help her, which took me out of my own misery. I would discover over a year later, sadly, that she didn't really want to be helped. She wanted to be pitied and babied and given things. It got to a point where I dreaded her phone calls or visits. She was a distraction all right. Too much so. I decided that being alone and lonely was better than being in her company.
Have you ever felt lonely in a crowd? Have you ever felt lonely with another person in the same room? What was your solution?
January 19, 2013
Facebook Friends Are Amazing!
by Leann
When I look back on the last few months and now the last two weeks, I am surprised I am able to string two sentences together. Back in the spring of 2012, we had to paint, re-carpet and update the landscaping on our home in Texas so we could sell it. Next we put the house on the market and to our surprise it sold for cash almost immediately.
We packed like crazy, made all kinds of decisions and my husband retired. We moved to a new state after 38 years into a not-so-nice temporary home. We are getting plans together to build our final home on a lake. During all this, I wrote a book. We traveled all the way across the country at Christmas and had a wonderful time with our family--something we have not done in a long time.
Great things, difficult things, but mostly positive. But the nasty cold my husband got right after we returned to South Carolina before the New Year signaled a downturn. We all have them. What goes up, must come down, right? As he was getting well, I started to get sick. But I'd found a beautiful kitten and brought him home. Maybe because I was so ill I didn't see the early signs of what was to come. I named him Marlowe.
Marlowe became very sick, very quickly. I turned to the community of friends on Facebook and the support we have received has been unbelievable. I know the medicine is part of his recovery but I also am certain the speed at which he has progressed is due to the overwhelming positive energy coming our way.
The kindness of people, the caring and the concern mean so much. This blog post is to tell all of you how many tears you have saved me and how many times I was able to smile as I held Marlowe's tiny, quivering body in my arms. He is better. He is sweet. He may eventually succumb to whatever it is that caused this illness, but all this has made me stop and realize how important it is to reach out to others who need a kind word or a healing prayer--like you all did for me. Thank you one and all.
When I look back on the last few months and now the last two weeks, I am surprised I am able to string two sentences together. Back in the spring of 2012, we had to paint, re-carpet and update the landscaping on our home in Texas so we could sell it. Next we put the house on the market and to our surprise it sold for cash almost immediately.
We packed like crazy, made all kinds of decisions and my husband retired. We moved to a new state after 38 years into a not-so-nice temporary home. We are getting plans together to build our final home on a lake. During all this, I wrote a book. We traveled all the way across the country at Christmas and had a wonderful time with our family--something we have not done in a long time.
Great things, difficult things, but mostly positive. But the nasty cold my husband got right after we returned to South Carolina before the New Year signaled a downturn. We all have them. What goes up, must come down, right? As he was getting well, I started to get sick. But I'd found a beautiful kitten and brought him home. Maybe because I was so ill I didn't see the early signs of what was to come. I named him Marlowe.Marlowe became very sick, very quickly. I turned to the community of friends on Facebook and the support we have received has been unbelievable. I know the medicine is part of his recovery but I also am certain the speed at which he has progressed is due to the overwhelming positive energy coming our way.
The kindness of people, the caring and the concern mean so much. This blog post is to tell all of you how many tears you have saved me and how many times I was able to smile as I held Marlowe's tiny, quivering body in my arms. He is better. He is sweet. He may eventually succumb to whatever it is that caused this illness, but all this has made me stop and realize how important it is to reach out to others who need a kind word or a healing prayer--like you all did for me. Thank you one and all.
January 18, 2013
Where In The World?
By Heather
Many moons ago, back when Baby Girl was in seventh grade, we hatched a plan. We’d start saving all our loose change and when she graduated from high school we’d use that money to take a trip somewhere, just the two of us.Well, can you guess what’s happening this June? Baby Girl is graduating high school. We’ve saved and saved our coins, and it’s time to take a trip.
We had several locations in mind, but one turned out to be way more expensive than our little coin collection allowed (even with extra help from mom and dad), and one demanded more travel time than we had (timing issues--ugh!). But one seemed just right...
Here’s the fun part. If you guess where we’re going (exact location), I’ll send you a signed advanced reading copy of THE GOOD, THE BAD, and THE WITCHY (due out in April).I’ll post extra clues throughout the day so keep checking back and keep guessing. **You can guess as many times as you want.**
First clue: There’s an ocean nearby.
Second clue: We do not need passports.
January 17, 2013
The puzzle from hell
by Lorraine Bartlett / Lorna Barrett / L.L. Bartlett
Two of my friends gave me different Jacquie Lawson advent calendars for Christmas. (Thanks Ellery and Laura.) I have to admit, I spent a lot more time with the puzzles than anything else. In fact, I did them over and over again trying to make better time.
Then Leann told me about puzzles online. Uh-oh! Huge time sink. I figured it might be better to do an actual physical puzzle, where I could spend a few minutes on it and then leave and come back later to play some more.
I bought a BIG box of 14 puzzles. They had 100, 300, and 500-piece puzzles. Since I only got that puzzle a week before Christmas, we only the two 100-piece puzzles and one of the 300-piece ones. we would have done more, but ... we decided to save them until next Christmas.
Still, we were in a puzzle mood. (And BTW, when did puzzles get to be so expensive? Back when Mr. L and I used to do them on lazy Saturday afternoons (not all THAT long ago), they used to cost under $4. Not anymore!)
I bought a bunch of puzzles from yard sales and gave them to my mother. Somehow or other she never got around to doing them. So I "borrowed" one from her last week. The picture on the box (above) is lovely. A quaint English cottage. Lots of contrasting pieces. Easy, right?
OMG what a mistake! This puzzle is a 500-piece puzzle and it is horrible! The picture to the right is many hours of work over three days! Too many pieces are almost interchangable. The pieces are SMALL. I have to wear reading glasses just to look at them. There's far toooooo much roof on this house, and too much empty sky ... and too many tiny flowers. Worse than that, there appear to be a number of edge pieces missing. Mr. L has already suggested we toss it in the trash, but I'm made of tougher stuff. This puzzle isn't going to get the better of
me
!
Have you ever felt that way about a puzzle?
===============================
CONTEST UPDATE: A couple of weeks ago, I held a contest to name the next Booktown mystery. The winner is posted over on my own blog (Dazed & Confused). Click here to see if you won!
Two of my friends gave me different Jacquie Lawson advent calendars for Christmas. (Thanks Ellery and Laura.) I have to admit, I spent a lot more time with the puzzles than anything else. In fact, I did them over and over again trying to make better time.
Then Leann told me about puzzles online. Uh-oh! Huge time sink. I figured it might be better to do an actual physical puzzle, where I could spend a few minutes on it and then leave and come back later to play some more.I bought a BIG box of 14 puzzles. They had 100, 300, and 500-piece puzzles. Since I only got that puzzle a week before Christmas, we only the two 100-piece puzzles and one of the 300-piece ones. we would have done more, but ... we decided to save them until next Christmas.
Still, we were in a puzzle mood. (And BTW, when did puzzles get to be so expensive? Back when Mr. L and I used to do them on lazy Saturday afternoons (not all THAT long ago), they used to cost under $4. Not anymore!)
I bought a bunch of puzzles from yard sales and gave them to my mother. Somehow or other she never got around to doing them. So I "borrowed" one from her last week. The picture on the box (above) is lovely. A quaint English cottage. Lots of contrasting pieces. Easy, right?
OMG what a mistake! This puzzle is a 500-piece puzzle and it is horrible! The picture to the right is many hours of work over three days! Too many pieces are almost interchangable. The pieces are SMALL. I have to wear reading glasses just to look at them. There's far toooooo much roof on this house, and too much empty sky ... and too many tiny flowers. Worse than that, there appear to be a number of edge pieces missing. Mr. L has already suggested we toss it in the trash, but I'm made of tougher stuff. This puzzle isn't going to get the better of
me
!Have you ever felt that way about a puzzle?
===============================
CONTEST UPDATE: A couple of weeks ago, I held a contest to name the next Booktown mystery. The winner is posted over on my own blog (Dazed & Confused). Click here to see if you won!
January 16, 2013
Thank you!!
by Julie Hyzy
My post today is a big, happy, huggy THANK YOU!!!
Thanks to YOU and to all the readers who picked it up the first week it was out, Fonduing Fathers is #19 on the New York Times Bestseller list. Woo-hoo!!! This is the sixth in the series, and number five, Affairs of Steak, made it onto the "extended" bestseller list last year. But this year we hit THE list!!
I've been dancing around here ever since I heard the news. This means that the publisher (Berkley) will now start adding "New York Times Bestselling Author" to my book covers. They don't do that until you crack the top 20. Can you see why I'm so excited?
What's more: Fonduing Fathers hits the list this Sunday, January 20th. That's Inauguration Day. How appropriate for a White House mystery!
Thank you so much for reading, reviewing, emailing, and all the lovely congratulations on Facebook! You are the best!!!!
My post today is a big, happy, huggy THANK YOU!!!
Thanks to YOU and to all the readers who picked it up the first week it was out, Fonduing Fathers is #19 on the New York Times Bestseller list. Woo-hoo!!! This is the sixth in the series, and number five, Affairs of Steak, made it onto the "extended" bestseller list last year. But this year we hit THE list!!
I've been dancing around here ever since I heard the news. This means that the publisher (Berkley) will now start adding "New York Times Bestselling Author" to my book covers. They don't do that until you crack the top 20. Can you see why I'm so excited?
What's more: Fonduing Fathers hits the list this Sunday, January 20th. That's Inauguration Day. How appropriate for a White House mystery!
Thank you so much for reading, reviewing, emailing, and all the lovely congratulations on Facebook! You are the best!!!!
January 15, 2013
Fifty Shades of Truly Amazed
by Deb Baker/Hannah Reed
Fifty Shades of Grey
Everybody is reading it. Even the canine community!
A movie version is coming.
So is the off-broadway musical after a smashing success in Chicago. And what about a Grey vacation in Seattle where you can unleash the inner goddess - ride in an Audi (Christian’s fav vehicle) and take a helicopter tour of Seattle and Portland.
Can someone please explain this phenomena to me. Or better yet, share the secret of this kind of success.
And yes, I read it, and yes, that's my copy in the clutches of a new 'rabid' fan.
Have a great day and don't forget to greet your morning with a smile.
Fifty Shades of Grey
Everybody is reading it. Even the canine community!A movie version is coming.
So is the off-broadway musical after a smashing success in Chicago. And what about a Grey vacation in Seattle where you can unleash the inner goddess - ride in an Audi (Christian’s fav vehicle) and take a helicopter tour of Seattle and Portland.
Can someone please explain this phenomena to me. Or better yet, share the secret of this kind of success.
And yes, I read it, and yes, that's my copy in the clutches of a new 'rabid' fan.
Have a great day and don't forget to greet your morning with a smile.
