Kate Collins's Blog, page 87

My Pinterest Problem

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

I have a commitment issue with Pinterest. Sometimes I love it and sometimes I just don't even think about it.

I've hired a personal assistant and she thinks I should take more of an interest in Pinterest. And so I've been playing with it and realized why I have a Pinterest problem. 

It's a HUGE time suck.

All those wonderful recipes of wonderful food.



All those wonderful shabby chic pictures of homes and accessories.



All those pictures of tile.



All those pictures of kitchens.



Of course, I'm also thinking about my books while I'm searching the gazillion pictures. The cupcakes are what Kathy Grant could make in her inn, Swans Nest. That bathroom could be one of the cozy bathrooms in the inn. The fireplace in the parlor has Victorian tile as a fireplace surround. And the kitchen above is exactly how I pictured the renovation in the inn where Kathy will prepare breakfast (and the food for weddings, showers, and other parties as part of her catering service).

I also get ideas for graphics.

If you'd like to follow my boards, you can find them here. Just click the link.

So, are you on Pinterest? If so, what are the pictures that capture YOUR attention?

Horses and the Big Sky

by Karen Rose Smith




I'm an animal lover. Besides cats and dogs, I've loved horses since I watched them on my uncle's farm and read The Black Stallion.  Even though I was around horses growing up, I was afraid of them.  But after becoming a mom, I decided to take riding lessons. My fear became appreciation for a horse's intuitiveness. 
When I wrote my first "cowboy" book, I was able to inject my love of horses into those books.  I was hooked and appreciated most writing those books set in Montana and the Southwest. Although my knowledge of hoses came from mostly farm settings, horses and the Big Sky were perfect together.



I had done a lot of research on "gentling" horses rather than "breaking" them to ride. That research led me to the bands of wild horses that still roam western land.  My husband and I took a research trip to Montana and Wyoming and I wrote a series that included wild mustangs.







Nothing, absolutely nothing, prepared me for the sight of the wild horses.  We'd been told we might not get a glimpse of them--in The Big Horns the territory they roamed was expansive.  But when we approached the mountains, three of them were standing on the cliff above us as if they were welcoming us.  We spotted them and I studied them many days we drove through the mountains. Horses socialize with each other and their behavior in bands was fascinating.




Near Cody, Wyoming, we took a tour to an area where the horses are spotted regularly.  They were used to the van appearing.  In and out of the van, we got within twenty five feet of the herd.  These wild mustangs are amazing, magnificent and beautiful.








Back in Pennsylvania I interviewed a woman who had adopted a wild mustang from the Bureau of Land Management.  I also attended an adoption event for mustangs in Pennsylvania. One of my causes is saving the mustangs in the wild.



Needless to say my favorite television series is Heartland about an Alberta, Canada ranch and a horse whisperer.

Some little perks

Everyone should treat themselves once in a while otherwise you’re just the mule pulling the wagon and where’s the fun in that? So my question today is, how do you treat yourself?
Are you the manicure gal? Some of my friends do this every two weeks. They really don’t consider it a perk so much as routine upkeep. It is important for them to have nice nails. I tried this once. Paid a lot of money for a nice manicure then went home and weeded the garden and washed the car.
 I am so not a manicure gal. I’m always digging and cleaning and even when I do the garden glove thing it’s no use, the dirt always finds its way into my gloves and gives me the ugly fingernail crud. So for me a manicure is a waste of money.
Maybe a perk is out to lunch with friends? This I totally get. Tomorrow I’m doing lunch with Tonya Kappes, definitely the highlight of my week. I love getting together with friends for lunch and chatting about books and writing. This is definitely a perk for me.
Shopping? Is that your little perk? I work at the Snooty Fox so shopping is part of work and fun but I have to say I enjoy a little retail therapy for a break. When I’m tired I’ll go to Chico online and check out the new stuff they have coming in. A perk is a splurge on a new blouse or pants that is not from the consignment shop. I don’t do this often but once in a while is great fun.

What about a doughnut? Okay this seems like a small perk but sometimes I dream of doughnuts. Let me tell you, it is not easy getting old with no metabolism. So yes, a doughnut is a perk when you know its going right to your butt and staying there till you Zumba it off.
I’ve tossed out a few ideas of perks, so what is your perk? What do you do when you want to treat yourself?

Movie Time

by Maggie Sefton



It's Movie Review time, Friends.  As all you Cozy Chicks Blog readers know,  I love
seeing movies in the cinema---on the big screen.  Watching movies on TV just isn't the same for me.  So----since I'm a movie fan, I thought I'd review a few of the movies I've seen recently.  You folks may decide to check  out some of these films yourselves.  If so, Enjoy!


THE MUMMY---I still remember the action-packed version of this movie with Brendan Frazier which came out years ago.  This one has tweaked the storyline enough to make it interesting.  The mummy of the title is a once-powerful woman from ancient Egyptian times who was mummified while still alive and placed in a tomb way down in a cave.  Tom Cruise plays a "reluctant" hero who is more con artist than hero and finds himself included in a mission with archaeologists--tomb hunters.  Lots of action and that ancient Egyptian mummy definitely makes a believable and scary villain.

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES---This movie is the 3rd (maybe the 4th) in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie series, which stars Johnny Depp.  This one has Captain Jack Sparrow and his crew haunted by ghostly sailors from a former enemy.  To save himself and his crew, Sparrow has to find the Trident of Poseidon with the help of  a beautiful astronomer and a young British navy man.

MEGAN LEAVEY---There was no way I would miss this based-on-a-true-story movie.  Plus, it featured a brave bomb-sniffing dog, a German Shepherd named Rex, who saved many people's lives years ago when American soldiers and Marines were fighting in Iraq.  Rex and other dogs were trained to help find the buried IUDs that were scattered all over the battlefield in that country.  I brought plenty of tissues in case I cried, but I didn't need them.  The movie is very engrossing and both Megan and Rex are alive  throughout the movie.  Megan, who was awarded a Purple Heart for her bravery, fought hard to adopt Rex so he could live his life in peace with her instead of being sent off to war zones again.  And, yes, Megan was successful.  :)

THE BOOK OF HENRY---This is a very good movie, folks.  The child actors are excellent, as are the adult actors.  You'll recognize some of these actors from many movies.  I think several of them wanted to do this film, because it's small, but it handles a serious subject with bravery and heart.  It's an excellent movie. Very, very good.  

TWO GREAT ZUCCHINI RECIPES!

By Mary Kennedy                               

Now's the time when friends and neighbors are sharing baskets of zucchini fresh from their gardens. You appreciate their kindness, but what in the world will you do with all that zucchini?  Here are a couple of ideas, I've tested them myself and love them. I think you will, too.

The first is zucchini and goat cheese pie and it couldn't be easier!

Ingredients 1 1/2 pounds zucchini, unpeeled and sliced 1/8 inch thick.1 Tablespoon olive oilOne prepared pie crust (or you can make your own)     *  8 ounces of goat cheese The trick to this recipe is getting all the water out of the zucchini. How do you do that? Take the sliced zucchini, add some salt and place in a colander. Let the slices drain for 30 minutes. Now, dump the zucchini onto a clean dish towel and squeeze out any remaining water. This is very important because no one wants a soggy pie! Add a touch of mined fresh thyme to the goat cheese and spread on the pie crust. Top with the dried slices of zucchini in a circular pattern. (as pictured above)..Start at the outside and work your way in.  Drizzle the olive oil on top. Bake at 400 for about 40 minutes, it is delish! The second recipe requires a spiralizer. You don't need anything fancy, you can buy one on Amazon for about ten bucks. This is the one I have. It makes thin strips of veggies and turns them into spaghetti like strands. I love to make "zucchini spaghetti" to cut down on calories.   This is what zucchini will look like after going through the spiralizer. I leave the skin on because I like the combination of green and white.

                                                              


You can blanch the zucchini strands in boiling water and then add your favorite sauce. Some people use half spaghetti and half zucchini before transitioning over to "all" zucchini. Either way, it's a very tasty dish.
                                                        
   Hope you try these two recipes. Next week, I'm giving some great recipes for corn. Stay tuned and hope you are having a wonderful summer.

Mary Kennedy

Summer is Here!

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

Okay, fifteen minutes ago it was April and cold and miserable and now suddenly it's coming up on 4th of July week. Where has time gone?

It's been two years since my mother passed away, and it seems like a couple of weeks--tops. I mean, why else would I think, "Oh, I need to call and tell her....?"

So, let's look back on our "summer" so far. Yeah, technically we're just three days in, but that's not how I look at summer.

Summer starts when we open our family cottage.  That was in late April. I've been there for three weeks (off and on) to do writing retreats--just me and my cat, Fred. (He's not very good company. He lies around and sleeps a lot.)

The lilacs came and went.

The BIGGEST community yard sale happens the first weekend in June. Been there, done that! (Didn't find much, but I did get fried dough and Mr. L got his $1 hot dog at 9 am that he always looks forward to.)

The Strawberry Festival was last weekend.  Another fried dough day (that's it until next June).

Last weekend we had two of the hottest days on record for June. (Which makes me dread the rest of the summer.)

But there's still lots to look forward to.

Weekend (2-martini) lunches at our favorite restaurant(s).The Vintage Car ShowThe Owen Shores jewelry sale (and hope they have a yard sale later this summer)Lunch at the Sherwood InnOur 26th wedding anniversarymore yard sales with treasures yet to be foundthe Jazz and Wine Festival (where do you think I got the idea for Booktown #11?)Labor DayThe big Pultneyville community saleThe Harvest Festival There's lots more to look forward to. Like local sweet corn, picking my tomatoes, cutting gladiolas to sit on my dining room table, watching my niece splash around in the pool and shouting, "Aunt Du-wane, look what I can do!" Thunderstorms with lightning slashing the darkened sky. Rain on the roof.
Okay, I won't rush the summer. There's so much to do and get done during the next three months.
What's your favorite thing/event in summer?

Roses, Roses...and Roses!!!

by Karen Rose Smith


I've had a long history with roses.  I can remember gardening with my grandmother whose name was Rosalie.  My grandparents lived in downtown York, Pennsylvania in a row house.  My grandfather had his barber shop there.  In summer I would spend more time with them.  My mom always said that the soil in my grandmother's little yard was the richest in York.  She could grow anything.  But what she loved the most were her roses.  I remember pruning a red climber with her as well as hybrid teas.


Love and Peace RoseMy mom probably inheirited her love of roses from my grandmother.  Growing up, we always had a few rose bushes planted in the yard.  She didn't have the green thumb my grandmother did because I remember them being replaced every few years.











 
Voluptuous
My middle name came from my aunt, my godmother, whose name was Rose Marie.  I also think it originated in my family's love of roses.














McCartney Rose My mother-in-law had roses planted along every border of her house.  Tropicana was one of her favorites as well as Queen Elizabeth.  She spent summers tending to them in every way possible.  So it only made sense that my husband was familiar with them.  He knew one of my favorites was yellow.  The night he proposed, I'd finished a day of clerking at Montgomery Ward's.  When I went to my bedroom to change, a yellow rose lay on my bed with my engagement ring on the stem.  Yellow roses are special!











We have several gardens now and many of them contain roses.  The Knockout roses are show stoppers when they are in bloom with flowers all over the bush.  They are hardier than hybrid tea and heirloom roses and more disease resistant.  But I still favor hybrid tea roses, probably because they bring back memories.
Knockout Rose bush
Chrysler Imperial

Work or play the summer away

The kids in my neighborhood are having a fine summer going to camps, the pool and just hanging out. I see them on their bikes or in cars buzzing around and that’s just fine...or is it?
What happened to getting a summer job? My dad owned a grocery store so the job thing didn’t end at summer, my brother and I worked all year long after school and on weekends. I also babysat a ton. At fifty-cents an hour I thought I was rich!
My kids all had jobs too. With four kids they had to help with getting their own spending money and besides...in my humble opinion...I think it was really good for them. Even the bad jobs they got like yard work for the skinflint down the street taught my son he did not what to do this for the rest of his life which meant get a good education!
My kids had all kinds of jobs. My one daughter worked at King’s Island, an amusement park here in Cincy. She worked the merry-go-round with an assortment of amazing hand painted horses.
The tunes used to drive her nuts but again working a job that is not terrific teaches a kid to get an education or do this for the rest of your life.
My son got a great computer job in high school that paid really well. He’s one of those computer geeks that has always gotten it and works for P &G now in computers. This first real job taught him what having real money felt like and the respect that went with it. It was great incentive and a look at the real world of making money. 
My other daughter babysat half the neighborhood in the summer, another worked in a t-shirt store and I had the the good luck to work at a camp in Maine as a tennis teacher. That was a blast.

So what about you? Did you have a summer job? Did your kids? Do you think it’s a good idea?

New Kelly Flynn Paperback

by Maggie Sefton




As I posted last week, Kelly Flynn Mystery #15---ONLY SKEIN DEEP---was released into bookstores and all E-book retail outlets---Amazon, B&N.com, and others.  This Tuesday I want to mention that a new Kelly Flynn paperback has also been released----KNIT TO BE TIED---which was the hardcover release last year in June 2016.

I know that many, many Kelly Flynn mystery readers and fans wait for the paperback release to keep up with the adventures of Kelly and her friends---a.k.a., The Gang.     We writers are well aware that our readers read a LOT of mysteries and the bill for hardcover books can get sizable.  We certainly don't want to create an economic hardship for any reader or fan.  So----I'm very, very happy to announce the paperback release of KNIT TO BE TIED, which should be in bookstores and available online now as well.  However you choose to read about Kelly and The Gang, I hope Everyone enjoys Kelly and The Gang's adventures.   Enjoy, folks!   :)

DON'T FORGET YOUR GREENS!

By Mary Kennedy  
                                                       


I'm trying a lot of new "whole foods" recipes and I thought I'd start with greens. Brussel sprouts, for starters.
                                                         
I've been cooking them in a really uninspired way--halving them and boiling them with a bit of salt, and then topping them with butter. But I discovered a better way--roasted brussel sprouts! Here's all you need to do. Get a large plastic bag and toss in these ingredients. 1 and 1/2 pound brussel sprouts, trimmed and halved2 Tablespoons olive oil1/4 cup bread crumbs1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese1 teaspoon garlic powder1/2 teaspoon salt1/4 teaspoon pepper Give them a good shake and spread them on a baking sheet that's been sprayed with PAM. Now roast at 425 degrees for 15-17 minutes. What could be easier? Hope you try it and stay tuned for more interesting takes on veggies. Note: the brussel sprouts pictured above are topped with a little cooked crumbled bacon, but I make the vegetarian version. Mary Kennedy