Kate Collins's Blog, page 48
December 3, 2018
Fear of Flying? Just the Opposite.
by Maggie SeftonHello, Cozy Chicks readers and friends. I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving
and everyone had all the Turkey and trimmings they wanted. I surely did. I spent the holiday back in Northern Virginia with Family and enjoyed a wonderful Feast day. Oldest Daughter Christine prepared a delicious meal with turkey and stuffing and gravy, and mashed potatoes and all the rest of the "trimmings" that accompany that favorite feast. Including, of course, yummy pumpkin pie. It was a great chance to see family, and I grab every chance I get to see family.
Since I live out here in Colorado but love to see family Back East, that means I have to travel a lot. And for me, that always involves an airline flight. Fortunately, I have not become tired of airline travel. In fact, I still love it. Some folks do NOT like to fly. Airplanes make them apprehensive, and in some cases, scare them. I've seen some of them on my previous flights over the years.
Take-offs are particularly stressful for these apprehensive travelers. Some close their eyes and sit very still in their seats. Some stare anxiously out the airplane window as the plane takes off. And some, sit in their seats with their eyes closed and their lips moving. I can only imagine that they're praying for a safe flight. And, that is definitely a good idea. It certainly doesn't hurt. :)
As for me----well, I'm one of those crazy love-to-fly types. I actually LOVE the drama of take-offs. There's a special feeling as the plane starts going down the runway, faster and faster. I always stop reading and stare out the window----and smile. Feeling the plane go faster and faster, then lift off the ground, starting its climb. The engines trying to lift the plane higher and feeling gravity pulling at the belly of the plane, trying to snatch it down. The engines fighting to pull the plane up, up, up while Earth's gravity is fighting just as hard to pull the plane down, down, down. There's a dramatic few seconds when you can feel that battle going on outside while you can feel it inside. Finally, the plane breaks through and lifts out of gravity's grasp and climbs higher and higher. The earth below revealing itself to your gaze.
Too dramatic, you say? Well, I am a fiction writer by trade and therefore, I'm dramatic by nature. But, I certainly hope my "dramatic" description of a flight experience has not left anyone afraid of flying. :) After all, the Holiday Season has just begun.
December 2, 2018
CROCK POT COMFORT FOOD: HASH BROWNS WITH RED POTATOES
By Mary Kennedy
This is a really easy crock pot recipe a friend gave me. You can modify it any way you want, I do a veggie version and use "veggie chicken sausage and apple" links, a 12 oz package is about the right size. My friend uses the "real" version of chicken sausage and apple links.
And you can leave out the sausage completely and just use a couple of extra sweet peppers, red, orange, green or yellow. It cooks on high in 3 hours and will take 6 hours on low. Perfect for those days when you'll be out running around on errands and want to come home to a hot meal.
Here are the basic ingredients:
1 and 1/2 cup sliced onions1 and 1/2 pounds red potatoes, cut small into 1/2 in pieces1/4 cup chicken broth or veggie broth (I use the Reduced Sodium veggie paste, you can find it in the soup aisle) It's called Better than Bouillon and comes in a jar.1 and 1/2 cups chopped sweet pepperschicken sausage with apples (12 oz package, either veggie version or real)1/2 cup shredded Swiss (I used Carlsbad because I had some in the fridge.)
Some tarragon, either fresh or dried, is good. Also, use a little thyme if you have it.
Here's what you do.
Saute sausage and onion in one Tablespoon oil in non stick skillet. Takes about 5 minutes. Now spray your crock pot with Pam. (or use a liner).
Now, add sausage mixture to potatoes, pour broth over and cover. Cook on low 6 hours or on high 3 hours. Stir in sweet peppers and cheese. Cook 15 minutes more. Add black pepper if you like it. Also add tarragon and thyme.
Enjoy!
Bon appetit!
Mary Kennedy
This is a really easy crock pot recipe a friend gave me. You can modify it any way you want, I do a veggie version and use "veggie chicken sausage and apple" links, a 12 oz package is about the right size. My friend uses the "real" version of chicken sausage and apple links.
And you can leave out the sausage completely and just use a couple of extra sweet peppers, red, orange, green or yellow. It cooks on high in 3 hours and will take 6 hours on low. Perfect for those days when you'll be out running around on errands and want to come home to a hot meal.
Here are the basic ingredients:
1 and 1/2 cup sliced onions1 and 1/2 pounds red potatoes, cut small into 1/2 in pieces1/4 cup chicken broth or veggie broth (I use the Reduced Sodium veggie paste, you can find it in the soup aisle) It's called Better than Bouillon and comes in a jar.1 and 1/2 cups chopped sweet pepperschicken sausage with apples (12 oz package, either veggie version or real)1/2 cup shredded Swiss (I used Carlsbad because I had some in the fridge.)
Some tarragon, either fresh or dried, is good. Also, use a little thyme if you have it.
Here's what you do.
Saute sausage and onion in one Tablespoon oil in non stick skillet. Takes about 5 minutes. Now spray your crock pot with Pam. (or use a liner).
Now, add sausage mixture to potatoes, pour broth over and cover. Cook on low 6 hours or on high 3 hours. Stir in sweet peppers and cheese. Cook 15 minutes more. Add black pepper if you like it. Also add tarragon and thyme.
Enjoy!
Bon appetit!
Mary Kennedy
November 30, 2018
Holiday Greeting Cards
by Lorraine Bartlett / Lorna Barrett / L.L. Bartlett
Something I've always loved about the holidays is receiving Christmas (and or holiday) greeting cards. I love opening the mailbox and finding a pretty card (even better with sparkles!) and well wishes from someone I don't hear from often. Of course, these days, not that many people continue with this charming tradition. The cards themselves are a lot cheaper than the postage. At 50 cents a pop--it can become quite expensive. (At right are the stamps I chose for this year's cards.) I remember when I used to send out over 100 cards every year. These days ... not even half that.
It was in England in 1843 when Sir Henry Cole commissioned art for cards and sold them for a shilling each that the tradition began. That was a pretty penny in those days. You can read all about it here.
My parents used to tape their holiday cards up around the doorway in the living room. I carried on that tradition when I got in my first apartment. We have a cork wall in our entryway and that's where we hang them now. Mr. L has his side and I have mine.
It was more than a decade ago that I started collecting vintage greeting cards and I have quite a few. Of course, I have even more on one of my Pinterest boards.
Will you be sending out cards this year?
Something I've always loved about the holidays is receiving Christmas (and or holiday) greeting cards. I love opening the mailbox and finding a pretty card (even better with sparkles!) and well wishes from someone I don't hear from often. Of course, these days, not that many people continue with this charming tradition. The cards themselves are a lot cheaper than the postage. At 50 cents a pop--it can become quite expensive. (At right are the stamps I chose for this year's cards.) I remember when I used to send out over 100 cards every year. These days ... not even half that. It was in England in 1843 when Sir Henry Cole commissioned art for cards and sold them for a shilling each that the tradition began. That was a pretty penny in those days. You can read all about it here.
My parents used to tape their holiday cards up around the doorway in the living room. I carried on that tradition when I got in my first apartment. We have a cork wall in our entryway and that's where we hang them now. Mr. L has his side and I have mine.It was more than a decade ago that I started collecting vintage greeting cards and I have quite a few. Of course, I have even more on one of my Pinterest boards.
Will you be sending out cards this year?
November 28, 2018
A New Release and a Launch Party
By KAREN ROSE SMITH
Caprice rescues this
adorable Schnoodle and
finds a home for him in
CUT TO THE CHAISE.I'm so excited to announce my newest release is available now! CUT TO THE CHAISE, my eighth Caprice De Luca Home Staging mystery, is a cozy mystery which revolves around Caprice's and Grant's wedding. It is available online and in bookstores.
Join me for my Facebook launch party tonight (November 29, 2018) from 7 to 9 p.m. EST. There will be chat, prizes and details about CUT TO THE CHAISE. Please click HERE to access my KarenRoseSmithBooks author page for the party.
Here is a preview of CUT TO THE CHAISE:
Caprice De Luca and Grant Weatherford are getting married! They are supposed to have their reception at a local winery, Rambling Vines, that Caprice's brother Vince, an attorney in Kismet, Pennsylvania, recommends and Caprice has decorated. But a few weeks before the wedding, the winery owner, Travis Dodd, is murdered in the tasting at Rambling Vines. His wife Michelle, an old flame of Vince's, asks for his help when she's taken to the police station for questioning. It's quite possible that Caprice's best friend, Roz Winslow, will have problems with Vince helping an ex. Their live-in relationship might not hold up under the burden of Vince advising a woman he was once involved with. Caprice intends to make sure her brother's romance doesn't hit a speed bump by solving this murder mystery quickly...before her marriage to Grant.
Caprice uses peonies in her wedding bouquet.
CUT TO THE CHAISE on Amazon
CUT TO THE CHAISE on Barnes and Noble
Caprice rescues this adorable Schnoodle and
finds a home for him in
CUT TO THE CHAISE.I'm so excited to announce my newest release is available now! CUT TO THE CHAISE, my eighth Caprice De Luca Home Staging mystery, is a cozy mystery which revolves around Caprice's and Grant's wedding. It is available online and in bookstores.
Join me for my Facebook launch party tonight (November 29, 2018) from 7 to 9 p.m. EST. There will be chat, prizes and details about CUT TO THE CHAISE. Please click HERE to access my KarenRoseSmithBooks author page for the party.
Here is a preview of CUT TO THE CHAISE:
Caprice De Luca and Grant Weatherford are getting married! They are supposed to have their reception at a local winery, Rambling Vines, that Caprice's brother Vince, an attorney in Kismet, Pennsylvania, recommends and Caprice has decorated. But a few weeks before the wedding, the winery owner, Travis Dodd, is murdered in the tasting at Rambling Vines. His wife Michelle, an old flame of Vince's, asks for his help when she's taken to the police station for questioning. It's quite possible that Caprice's best friend, Roz Winslow, will have problems with Vince helping an ex. Their live-in relationship might not hold up under the burden of Vince advising a woman he was once involved with. Caprice intends to make sure her brother's romance doesn't hit a speed bump by solving this murder mystery quickly...before her marriage to Grant.
Caprice uses peonies in her wedding bouquet.
CUT TO THE CHAISE on Amazon
CUT TO THE CHAISE on Barnes and Noble
November 27, 2018
Hi, Evie Bloomfield here from the Cycle Path mysteri...
Hi, Evie Bloomfield here from the Cycle Path mysteries
.
In case you didn’t know... This is how me getting to Mackinac Island all started...You see, I was a graphic designer at a firm in Chicago. I came from a family of lawyers, really successful lawyers. My siblings, Trevor and Lindsey, are the perfect offspring. They made perfect grades and now work at the perfect law firms. Fact is Lindsey just made partner!My boss didn’t know I was alive, I hadn’t had a promotion in two years and was still on the bottom rung of the office pecking order. My apartment was the size of a pool table but most pool tables were nicer.I needed a raise! I needed something to brag about at Thanksgiving dinner, the next big family get-together. The way things were going I was headed to be eating turkey at the little kids table.So, I had a plan. My boss’s father owned a bicycle shop on Mackinac Island and had broken his leg. He was really laid up and can’t do much. I figured if I offer to go help him out, maybe spruce the place up because he couldn’t I just might get my boss’s attention. At least maybe she’d remember my name. Seems to me that was the first step in getting a raise.I could just quit the job and move on but I had years invested here. So, I left Chicago and went to an eight mile chunk of land in the middle of a lake to try and wheedle a promotion out of my boss.I’ve never been to Mackinac Island! Wow, was I in for a huge surprise of no cars and only big horses and bikes to get around. That my boss’s dad got accused of murder on my watch did not help my chances of that promotion one bit.So my question to you today is, have you ever been to a place that was completely a big surprise? Someplace where you felt completely out of it?Hugs, Evie
Duffy BrownCycle Path mysteries
. In case you didn’t know... This is how me getting to Mackinac Island all started...You see, I was a graphic designer at a firm in Chicago. I came from a family of lawyers, really successful lawyers. My siblings, Trevor and Lindsey, are the perfect offspring. They made perfect grades and now work at the perfect law firms. Fact is Lindsey just made partner!My boss didn’t know I was alive, I hadn’t had a promotion in two years and was still on the bottom rung of the office pecking order. My apartment was the size of a pool table but most pool tables were nicer.I needed a raise! I needed something to brag about at Thanksgiving dinner, the next big family get-together. The way things were going I was headed to be eating turkey at the little kids table.So, I had a plan. My boss’s father owned a bicycle shop on Mackinac Island and had broken his leg. He was really laid up and can’t do much. I figured if I offer to go help him out, maybe spruce the place up because he couldn’t I just might get my boss’s attention. At least maybe she’d remember my name. Seems to me that was the first step in getting a raise.I could just quit the job and move on but I had years invested here. So, I left Chicago and went to an eight mile chunk of land in the middle of a lake to try and wheedle a promotion out of my boss.I’ve never been to Mackinac Island! Wow, was I in for a huge surprise of no cars and only big horses and bikes to get around. That my boss’s dad got accused of murder on my watch did not help my chances of that promotion one bit.So my question to you today is, have you ever been to a place that was completely a big surprise? Someplace where you felt completely out of it?Hugs, Evie
Duffy BrownCycle Path mysteries
November 26, 2018
Kelly Flynn #16
by Maggie SeftonYes, Everyone, the latest Kelly Flynn mystery is the 16th in the best-selling series. That still awes me. Since today, Tuesday, is a travel day---leaving Northern Virginia and returning to Colorado---- I decided to promote #16 once again----DYEING UP LOOSE ENDS. And I still love that title. :)
If you haven't read it yet, check it out on Amazon or BN.com. Enjoy!
November 25, 2018
1-800-SCAM
By Mary Kennedy
There are so many annoying scams going around these days, I thought I'd alert you to a few I've encountered this month. You probably have already heard of them, but it never hurts to review them!
FAKE MSN ALERT In this scam, you receive a phone call, purportedly (and falsely) from MSN. The caller alerts you that someone has gained access to your account, is scrolling through all your files and has even gotten ahold of your bank account numbers. The caller says (dramatically!) that the hacker is "withdrawing money from your account right now!" Well, it would be scary if true. Of course, not a word of this is true and the scammer wants you to give them your credit card info so THEY can start withdrawing money from your account. Solution? Just hang up.
HOLDING YOUR COMPUTER HOSTAGE FOR BITCOIN PAYMENT. This is so silly I can't believe anyone falls for it, but apparently they do. You receive an e-mail telling you that the hacker 1) has all your passwords 2) "knows" your browsing history (and hints that it's something disgraceful that you wouldn't want revealed and 3) orders you to make a bitcoin payment to them or they'll reveal your "dirty secret" to the world. Pretty laughable. If anyone saw my browsing history, they'd know that I'm fond of recipes, book reviews and cat photos! Nothing shocking there. Solution? Ignore the e-mail. And by the way, I wouldn't know how to pay in bitcoin even if I wanted to.
NIGERIANS MESSAGING YOU ON FACEBOOK, PRETENDING TO BE HOLDING MONEY FOR YOU. Again, it's hard to believe anyone falls for this but it's been going around a long time, so someone must be forking over money to these crooks. Someone messages you and pretends they are holding a large amount of money. It's always unclear why a perfect stranger would be "holding" hundreds of thousands of dollars for you, but again, there must be some people who fall victim to this silly scam. The scammer asks that you wire them a few thousand dollars as a "handling fee" and they will immediately wire a huge amount of money to your bank account. Solution? Ignore the message, delete and block.
Hope none of these scams have gotten to you, but forewarned is forearmed and now you know what to do!
Mary Kennedy
There are so many annoying scams going around these days, I thought I'd alert you to a few I've encountered this month. You probably have already heard of them, but it never hurts to review them!
FAKE MSN ALERT In this scam, you receive a phone call, purportedly (and falsely) from MSN. The caller alerts you that someone has gained access to your account, is scrolling through all your files and has even gotten ahold of your bank account numbers. The caller says (dramatically!) that the hacker is "withdrawing money from your account right now!" Well, it would be scary if true. Of course, not a word of this is true and the scammer wants you to give them your credit card info so THEY can start withdrawing money from your account. Solution? Just hang up.
HOLDING YOUR COMPUTER HOSTAGE FOR BITCOIN PAYMENT. This is so silly I can't believe anyone falls for it, but apparently they do. You receive an e-mail telling you that the hacker 1) has all your passwords 2) "knows" your browsing history (and hints that it's something disgraceful that you wouldn't want revealed and 3) orders you to make a bitcoin payment to them or they'll reveal your "dirty secret" to the world. Pretty laughable. If anyone saw my browsing history, they'd know that I'm fond of recipes, book reviews and cat photos! Nothing shocking there. Solution? Ignore the e-mail. And by the way, I wouldn't know how to pay in bitcoin even if I wanted to.
NIGERIANS MESSAGING YOU ON FACEBOOK, PRETENDING TO BE HOLDING MONEY FOR YOU. Again, it's hard to believe anyone falls for this but it's been going around a long time, so someone must be forking over money to these crooks. Someone messages you and pretends they are holding a large amount of money. It's always unclear why a perfect stranger would be "holding" hundreds of thousands of dollars for you, but again, there must be some people who fall victim to this silly scam. The scammer asks that you wire them a few thousand dollars as a "handling fee" and they will immediately wire a huge amount of money to your bank account. Solution? Ignore the message, delete and block.
Hope none of these scams have gotten to you, but forewarned is forearmed and now you know what to do!
Mary Kennedy
November 23, 2018
LOLA ALWAYS THOUGHT SHE'D MAKE IT!
By Mary Kennedy
Today, Lola is hogging the spotlight. And that's okay, because at age 58 (she only admits to being 38), Lola is still trying to make it in Hollywood. Or at least in the world of South Beach films, because after all, South Beach is known as "Hollywood East." It's cheaper to film in Florida and lot of production companies are opening there.
Lola, in case you're not following the Talk Radio Mysteries (and I hope you are!) is Dr. Maggie's mother. She's starstruck, relegated to B movies and just hired a geriatric agent to help her career.She's in all the Talk Radio books and you might like to start with DEAD AIR, the first of the series.
Lola is finding it tough going in south Florida. The odds are against her. 98% of Actors Guild members are unemployed at any given time, and they're the cream of the crop. As Lola says, "It's tough being a woman of a certain age. Look at poor Mia Farrow. She was so adorable in Rosemary's Baby and now she's playing grandmothers." Here's a current photo of Mia Farrow with her son, Ronan, still looking pretty darn good! (Does Ronan bear an uncanny resemblance to Frank Sinatra? Yes!)
Lola can really relate to the movie, Jimmy Hollywood starring Joe Pesci and Christian Slater. Joe Pesci plays an unemployed actor who "always thought he'd make it" and goes to great lengths to get a career in acting.
Lola was thrilled to get a bit part in a movie in book two of the Talk Radio series, REEL MURDER. When her old friend, film director Hank Watson, decides to shoot a movie in south Florida, he hires Dr. Maggie as a consultant and gives Lola a speaking part. Lola is over the moon until the leading lady is murdered and the film is shut down.
She joins Dr. Maggie and the whole crew of WYME Radio as they hurry to solve the crime.
Hope you enjoyed this brief look at Lola, who is "eternally young." By the way, Lola's secret to eternal youth? Lie about your age!
By Mary Kennedy
Today, Lola is hogging the spotlight. And that's okay, because at age 58 (she only admits to being 38), Lola is still trying to make it in Hollywood. Or at least in the world of South Beach films, because after all, South Beach is known as "Hollywood East." It's cheaper to film in Florida and lot of production companies are opening there.
Lola, in case you're not following the Talk Radio Mysteries (and I hope you are!) is Dr. Maggie's mother. She's starstruck, relegated to B movies and just hired a geriatric agent to help her career.She's in all the Talk Radio books and you might like to start with DEAD AIR, the first of the series.
Lola is finding it tough going in south Florida. The odds are against her. 98% of Actors Guild members are unemployed at any given time, and they're the cream of the crop. As Lola says, "It's tough being a woman of a certain age. Look at poor Mia Farrow. She was so adorable in Rosemary's Baby and now she's playing grandmothers." Here's a current photo of Mia Farrow with her son, Ronan, still looking pretty darn good! (Does Ronan bear an uncanny resemblance to Frank Sinatra? Yes!)
Lola can really relate to the movie, Jimmy Hollywood starring Joe Pesci and Christian Slater. Joe Pesci plays an unemployed actor who "always thought he'd make it" and goes to great lengths to get a career in acting.
Lola was thrilled to get a bit part in a movie in book two of the Talk Radio series, REEL MURDER. When her old friend, film director Hank Watson, decides to shoot a movie in south Florida, he hires Dr. Maggie as a consultant and gives Lola a speaking part. Lola is over the moon until the leading lady is murdered and the film is shut down.
She joins Dr. Maggie and the whole crew of WYME Radio as they hurry to solve the crime.
Hope you enjoyed this brief look at Lola, who is "eternally young." By the way, Lola's secret to eternal youth? Lie about your age!
By Mary Kennedy
Not so many Frequently Asked Questions
by Lorraine Bartlett / Lorna Barrett / L.L. Bartlett
Like the Cozy Chicks, I have a Facebook Group Page. I'm not sure what I expected when I set the page up, but I thought I'd get a lot more questions about my books and about my writing life.
Didn't happen. Instead, we talk a lot about our lives...what tea we're drinking (after all, it's called Lorraine's and Lorna's Perpetual Tea Party), but mostly we talk about our days. What we expect and what happens. That can sound mundane, but it's really not. One of my readers was recently on Jeopardy! (That's something I'll never get to do!) We celebrate the days of the week, food, and generally have fun. Sometimes someone will post something sad, looking for comfort--and my readers are there to deliver it.
We have a lot of ladies in the group, but also gentlemen, too. Ever;ybody is welcome.
Next Thursday (November 29th, from 7 to 9 pm EST), I'm holding a Launch Party for my next Victoria Square Mystery, YULE BE DEAD. We'll have giveaways, share recipes, and talk about our Christmas Traditions. Why Christmas? Well, my book is a Christmas book, after all! Maybe we'll share gift-giving ideas, too. You never know what these events will entail.
You're welcome to join in the fun. Come on over and join my group.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Don't know about YULE BE DEAD? Here's a description.
It's the holiday season, but not everyone is jolly--especially not Vonne Barnett. Her dead body has been found near Victoria Square. Katie Bonner, the manager of Artisan’s Alley, happens to be at the tea shop Vonne's mother, Francine, owns when the news is delivered.
Vonne left a trail of men behind her so the suspects are many--but the clues are few. A broken teacup* leads Katie to one of the suspects, but before she can investigate, she’s attacked. Katie may be closing in on a killer, but time is ticking because the killer is definitely closing in on her.
Pre-Order now!
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books A Million | Chapters/Indigo | Book Depository
Kindle US | Kindle UK | Kindle AU | Kindle Worldwide | Nook | Kobo | Apple Books
* The Broken Teacup is a short story in my companion series, Life on Victoria Square.
Like the Cozy Chicks, I have a Facebook Group Page. I'm not sure what I expected when I set the page up, but I thought I'd get a lot more questions about my books and about my writing life.
Didn't happen. Instead, we talk a lot about our lives...what tea we're drinking (after all, it's called Lorraine's and Lorna's Perpetual Tea Party), but mostly we talk about our days. What we expect and what happens. That can sound mundane, but it's really not. One of my readers was recently on Jeopardy! (That's something I'll never get to do!) We celebrate the days of the week, food, and generally have fun. Sometimes someone will post something sad, looking for comfort--and my readers are there to deliver it.We have a lot of ladies in the group, but also gentlemen, too. Ever;ybody is welcome.
Next Thursday (November 29th, from 7 to 9 pm EST), I'm holding a Launch Party for my next Victoria Square Mystery, YULE BE DEAD. We'll have giveaways, share recipes, and talk about our Christmas Traditions. Why Christmas? Well, my book is a Christmas book, after all! Maybe we'll share gift-giving ideas, too. You never know what these events will entail.
You're welcome to join in the fun. Come on over and join my group.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Don't know about YULE BE DEAD? Here's a description.
It's the holiday season, but not everyone is jolly--especially not Vonne Barnett. Her dead body has been found near Victoria Square. Katie Bonner, the manager of Artisan’s Alley, happens to be at the tea shop Vonne's mother, Francine, owns when the news is delivered.Vonne left a trail of men behind her so the suspects are many--but the clues are few. A broken teacup* leads Katie to one of the suspects, but before she can investigate, she’s attacked. Katie may be closing in on a killer, but time is ticking because the killer is definitely closing in on her.
Pre-Order now!
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books A Million | Chapters/Indigo | Book Depository
Kindle US | Kindle UK | Kindle AU | Kindle Worldwide | Nook | Kobo | Apple Books
* The Broken Teacup is a short story in my companion series, Life on Victoria Square.
November 21, 2018
Thankful For My Furry Family
by Karen Rose Smith
As I was preparing this week for Thanksgiving Day, a time for celebrating with friends and family, I stopped for a few moments to reflect on my furry family. I am so grateful for the felines who have wrapped themselves around my heart. The looks of trust and affection in their eyes show me how grateful they are for my care and the love I share with them each day. Each of the felines has his/her own personality and I have learned to interact with them in their individual uniqueness.
ZOIE JOY
Halo and Zoie love to share the bed and bask in extended periods of cuddling. Zander, one of our year-old siblings, sometimes claims a spot near my pillow and Halo and Zoie reluctantly vacate their special spots to give him the chance to bond with me. Paddy and Freya , on the other hand, are more loners, but Paddy appreciates a special treat or a passing back rub and Freya likes to be picked up and hugged when in her own territory which is usually our dining room. After a year of adjustment following the arrival of Zander and Freya, the furry household seems to be settling into a feline family...not without its squabbles but filled with love.
Miss Paddington, Halo's kittenAnd after three years, Bonnie and Clyde, our outside visitors, willingly come into the basement most evenings, but are ready to go back outside after their morning feeding. They are showing more trust with both my husband and me, but still dart at the smallest movement or unfamiliar sound. I can pet Clyde (when he chooses to allow me to do it) and Bonnie will occasionally tolerate a quick hand down her back as she walks by.
My furry family fills my otherwise work-filled days with laughter and affection. For that, I am grateful not only this week but every week of the year.
Halo, Paddy's mother is pictured above and recent photos of the rest of my faithful felines are scattered through the post.
Freya
Zander
Bonnie
Clyde
Too Much Turkey for me!!
Happy Thanksgiving!
As I was preparing this week for Thanksgiving Day, a time for celebrating with friends and family, I stopped for a few moments to reflect on my furry family. I am so grateful for the felines who have wrapped themselves around my heart. The looks of trust and affection in their eyes show me how grateful they are for my care and the love I share with them each day. Each of the felines has his/her own personality and I have learned to interact with them in their individual uniqueness.
ZOIE JOYHalo and Zoie love to share the bed and bask in extended periods of cuddling. Zander, one of our year-old siblings, sometimes claims a spot near my pillow and Halo and Zoie reluctantly vacate their special spots to give him the chance to bond with me. Paddy and Freya , on the other hand, are more loners, but Paddy appreciates a special treat or a passing back rub and Freya likes to be picked up and hugged when in her own territory which is usually our dining room. After a year of adjustment following the arrival of Zander and Freya, the furry household seems to be settling into a feline family...not without its squabbles but filled with love.
Miss Paddington, Halo's kittenAnd after three years, Bonnie and Clyde, our outside visitors, willingly come into the basement most evenings, but are ready to go back outside after their morning feeding. They are showing more trust with both my husband and me, but still dart at the smallest movement or unfamiliar sound. I can pet Clyde (when he chooses to allow me to do it) and Bonnie will occasionally tolerate a quick hand down her back as she walks by.My furry family fills my otherwise work-filled days with laughter and affection. For that, I am grateful not only this week but every week of the year.
Halo, Paddy's mother is pictured above and recent photos of the rest of my faithful felines are scattered through the post.
Freya
Zander
Bonnie
Clyde
Too Much Turkey for me!!Happy Thanksgiving!
