Kate Collins's Blog, page 91

What will they take next??

I think this blog comes from going to the bank today and finding the bank teller windows...CLOSED. Yes, boarded up out of commission. No teller to take my deposit, give me money, tell me how much is in my checking account because I never have a clue. I suck at bank stuff.
Well now it’s all online. To deposit you take a pic of your check with your iPhone and it automatically gets deposited. If you want cash you go to the machine. If you have a serious question there are humans in cubes that you can wait for.
I hate this! I want my teller back. And I still want the guy/gal at the check out counter at the grocery to scan my groceries when I have a big order. I hate the u-scan checkouts!! But I’ve said this before so I’m sounding like a broken record.
And I am still one of those dinosaurs who write checks to pay my phone bill, water, electric, Am Ex card etc. There’s a reason for this...it’s easy for me to keep track when tax time comes and I can see who I paid what to. And then there’s the thing that if they lose my payment I can say I paid on a specific date with check # blah, blah, blah.
You think this doesn’t happen? Well it does. The beloved state of Ohio LOST a whole year of my estimated tax payments. Okay, I get losing one check but how the heck do they lose a whole blasted year paid at four different times?? And then I had to go back, get the check # I paid with get copies from the bank and send the State of Ohio copies of the checks.
How the heck would I have done that if I didn’t use checks??? I have no idea.

So is there something that they are taking away from you that you are pulling your hair out over? The teller thing? The grocery check out thing? Signing in at the little med mart to see one of those physician assistants where there is no receptionist but you sign in on a computer? I want a receptionist! I want to tell someone I’m sick. I want a little sympathy here!
Hugs, Duffy

At the Riverhouse. . .Again

by Maggie Sefton


Yes, Cozy Chicks readers and friends----Maggie's still Back East.  As I mentioned in
 last week's post, I attended the mystery conference Malice Domestic in Washington, DC last week and participated on a panel.  I visited with my old childhood friends, then I headed for the "River," as they say around here.

I acquired my old friends "Riverhouse" about four years ago and have been escaping there whenever I can.  Since there are not only conferences and writing groups around the Northern Virginia/DC/Suburban MD area, but old friends and family reside here as well, I have an opportunity to visit often.  And it's always so nice to see everyone.

I've noticed a funny thing that's happened as the years have flown by----these old friendships and close relationships have grown even deeper and even dearer to me than ever before.  Have you folks experienced that situation in your lives?  I'd be curious to hear if you have.

Meanwhile, I'm presently here at what I call the "Riverhouse."  An hour and half from the DC Metro Madness and Beltway.  Surrounded by woods and trees, just a block and half from the wide part of that mighty Potomac River, churning by.

Peaceful.  And believe me, that feels good.  :)   Where do you folks escape to when you want to find a peaceful spot?

TEA FROM YOUR OWN GARDEN? YES, PLEASE!

By Mary Kennedy                              
                                                             
 When a good friend moved, she gave me a wonderful assortment of herb teas and "gourmet" teas. I was familiar with many of them (chamomile, lemongrass, ginger, rosehip, jasmine and mint.) but I found some new favorites!                                                                                Since lavender, chamomile and mint are probably the most popular tea herbs, let's take a look at all three.  Lavender is a lovely plant and you can even grow the plant in a pot.                                                         Although if you have the room (and sunlight), this hardy English lavender makes a lovely border.                                                           Chamomile grows very well outdoors and will be an attractive addition to your garden.                                                                Mint (as you probably know) is a very aggressive plant. Plant a little and you get a lot. Way more than you need and it comes back year after year.   Mint is delicious in iced tea...                                                         or in a mint julep...                                                             Or you can brew your own mint tea. Here are a few tips on brewing tea grown from garden herbs.  *Use three times as much fresh herbs as dry.* Most herbal teas require boiling water, or just below the boiling point, for the best flavor.* Don't be afraid to experiment, combining various. Lemon verbena and mint makes a great tea* Don't go too far afield from the common herbs, because some herbs can affect medications. Always ask your doctor or nutritionist for advice.*You can make tea from fresh-cut herbs or air dried herbs. *Parsley makes a tasty tea and is best used fresh.                                                              Hope this gives you a good starting point brewing tea from your garden. Bon appetit and let me know how you do! Mary Kennedy

SPOTLIGHT SATURDAY: New to the Kelly Flynn Mysteries? Check Out---"Who Are You People?"

by Maggie Sefton



For those of you who have recently discovered our merry little band of mystery authors---a.k.a. The Cozy Chicks---I have a suggestion for you.  If you've never read any of the Kelly Flynn Mysteries, you might want to read an introduction to them that I wrote a couple of years ago.  It's what I call an "E-short," which is usually a short, short story (less than 8000 words).



"Who Are You People" introduces the cast of the Kelly Flynn Mysteries that had walked onstage by the 13th Kelly Flynn, PURL UP AND DIE,  that came out in June 2015.   It describes the characters individually and let's them speak in                                                                                                                their own voices.   "Who Are You People?"  is available online only in Kindle E-book format on Amazon.com.  Take a look and see if you like it, folks.






There is also a real short, short story (less than 8000 words) on Amazon's Kindle format in E-books featuring the characters of the Kelly Flynn Mysteries----"Halloween Scare" takes place after PURL UP AND DIE and before KNIT TO BE TIED.  The familiar cast of characters are dressing up for a Halloween-themed party at Lambspun knitting and fiber shop.  Lots of homemade goodies made by the Lambspun staff are available for sale and all proceeds will go to the Children's Wing at the local Fort Connor hospital.  You can also read an excerpt on Amazon.com.   Enjoy!   

Happy CInco de Mayo!

Yeah, Cinco de Mayo isn't a big deal in Mexico, just like corned beef and cabbage isn't a big deal in Ireland, but it gives us something nice to celebrate on a COLD AND RAINY May day, and that's what Mr. L and I are going to do.

We had errands to run yesterday, so we stopped at the grocery store and bought everything we need (well, almost) for a nice celebration. The avocados (which are in short supply this year) were hard as rocks, so we passed them by, but we got the beef, tortillas, taco sauce, chilies, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and refried beans. He does the cooking, and I do the chopping, but first ... a Margarita with salt-rimmed glasses.

What other not-so-big holidays do you celebrate?

Nikki's Pasta, Sunflower Seed, Avocado and Tomato Salad

by Karen Rose Smith



This time of year, my cooking lends to lighter meals.  Instead of soups, I concentrate on salads.  My characters in my mysteries like to cook.  My sleuth's sister Nikki is a caterer.  I attributed this salad recipe to her in STAGED TO DEATH, my first Caprice De Luca Home Staging Mystery.  It's great to take along to picnics and covered dishes.  I hope you enjoy it!

Nikki's Pasta, Sunflower Seed, Avocado and Tomato Salad
Salad Ingredients
1/2 cup sunflower seeds1/4 cup chopped red onion1/4 teaspoon salt1 1/2 cups Piccolini (wheel) pasta (boil in 4 quarts of water)2 cups (about 30) cherry or grape tomatoes1 avocado1 teaspoon salt (will be used for pasta water)1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese1 tablespoon fresh oregano minced, or 1/2 teaspoon dried
Dressing ingredients
1/2 cup white balsamic vinegar1/2 cup olive oil1/4 teaspoon pepper1/2 teaspoon sugar
Mix vinegar, oil, pepper and sugar
Pasta
Bring four quarts of water and 1 teaspoon salt to a boil. Add 1 1/2  cups of Piccolini (wheels) pasta. Boil for 7-8 minutes. Drain.  Run cold water over it and drain again. We don't want it to melt the Feta!
Halve cherry tomatoes. Add to large bowl. Halve avocado, remove seed, scoop from shell, and cube. Add to tomatoes. When pasta has cooled, add that and then the sunflower seeds and oregano.  Mix dressing, stir, and pour it over all.  Toss lightly. Add crumbled Feta cheese and toss lightly again. Refrigerate. 

Serves 6-8
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SALAD???

Get It Done and then what?

I just finished up Lethal in Old Lace, fifth book in my Consignment Shop series and turned it into the editor. Yippee!!!!
Hi, Duffy Brown here.
Finishing up a book is really a big deal for me. They’re long, they takes months to write and getting the mystery to work out is not easy to pull off. So when I finish I think I need to celebrate.
Actually, what I usually do first is take a big nap. Then I think I need to celebrate this achievement. It doesn’t have to be all that big but something. Right now I’m thinking two cookies. I originally thought one cookie but my daughter talked me into to as, face it, one cookie is never enough.
Cookies you say? Well this diet thing is such a pain so cookies would be amazing. Then I nap and realized I had dreams of fried chicken. So, I’m thinking maybe two cookies and fried chicken, another big no-no on the diet scene.
I know, I know, my celebrations are food. Some would probably do  a nice bottle of wine or shop or take a trip. A trip would be good, as long as there was good food involved. I love to eat. I wish I were one of those people who eat to live and not live to eat but unfortunately no. I love food. I guess that’s how the forever diet is part of my life.
So my question to you all is, What do you do when you finish a big project? Do you celebrate? And what do you do? Is it special food? Shopping? A trip?
Good luck on your next big undertaking.




Hugs, Duffy

Going Back Home

by Maggie Sefton


As most of the Cozy Chicks faithful blog readers and fans know, I live in Fort Collins, Colorado.  But, I was born in Richmond, Virginia and grew up in Northern Virginia in Arlington---just a stone's throw across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C.  Earlier this week, I flew in from Colorado to Dulles Airport in Northern Virginia, rented a car, then drove to my dear friend Diane's home in Vienna, Virginia (not far from Arlington).


Diane and her sister Nancy are my oldest childhood friends.  They lived across the street from my home.  Our neighborhood was in the older section of Arlington, not far from two major bridges across the Potomac into Washington---Francis Scott Key bridge which leads from Arlington into the  Georgetown area of Washington and Memorial Bridge which leads from Arlington to the Lincoln Memorial and The Mall with the Washington Monument.


Just this past week, Friday through Sunday, I attended the oldest mystery conference in the country (I think it's the oldest)----Malice Domestic.  It's always fun to attend this conference.  Not only do I get to re-connect with old author and reader friends, but I also get to meet new mystery authors as well as many, many readers.  
I also participated on a panel devoted to Cozy Mysteries.  

And, of course, one of the greatest things about visiting this area in the Spring is the glorious display of flowering Dogwood trees and blossoming azalea bushes.  I'll have more photos of those in next week's post.  I hope all of you are enjoying Springtime weather in your areas.  :)  

WHY WRITERS LOVE TO TRAVEL

By Mary Kennedy                                
 After forty or so books, I've decided that travel is one of the great perks of being a writer.  (You thought it was money and fame? Sadly not so much!) Naturally, I love the other parts of the business, the camaraderie with other writers, the amazing readers who keep us in business, and of course, the talented editors and agents who make our books come to life (and give us a nudge in the right direction when we need one.) But travel gives the opportunity to see new places, explore new possibilities, meet people who may turn up as fascinating characters in our books (or dastardly villains.) I've swum with dolphins it the Florida Keys, dined with a real life Count in a 16th century chateau, and mingled with stars in Hollywood. As they say, "it's all material."  First, the story of the dolphins. It was a terrific experience, but in the interest of full disclosure, that scene was never used in the BoxCar book, Mystery at the Hidden Beach.  Somehow I made the notion of swimming underwater with dolphins a little too scary, a little too dark and edgy for kiddos. Yes, I was surprised by that, too! I thought I was going for fun and exciting.                                                                                                                While in the Keys, I visited Sea Camp, which did make it into the book, plus some highlights in Key West, including The Hemingway House with all those famous six-toed cats!                                                My daughter wanted to get on the "wait list" for one of the popular Hemingway felines, but I persuaded her to hold off. We seem to have enough "deserving cats" who cross our path and become part of our cat family. I certainly didn't want to "pre-order" a cat!  Another iconic Key West attraction is the Mel Fisher Treasure Maritime Heritage Museum, which also made it into the book.                                  Mel Fisher devoted his life to the search for the Atocha, a Spanish galleon, and wrote a book about his experiences. I had read his book, The Treasure of the Atocha and was happy to include his museum in my book.                                                              I wanted to include details that would interest kids and was fascinated to learn that they used dolphins to bring up emeralds from the bottom of the sea.                                                                                Onto the Count. I had been assigned a travel piece for Christian Science Monitor on an American woman who married a French count and lived in a fabulous, 60 room, 16th century chateau outside of Paris. (Chateau Thoiry).The story did a 180 because of a miscommunication. "Madame" was not available for an interview, but her husband was terrific and hospitable and I spent 12 hours there, exploring the Chateau and the animal park and dining with the Count.  I was fascinated to learn that he spent one week each month in Africa, designing game sanctuaries and encouraging the villagers and chiefs to protect the wildlife.                                                                            Hollywood has been the backdrop of several of my books, including, MOVIE STAR and CONFESSIONS. Both are part of the Hollywood Nights series for teens--they're fun, hip and squeaky clean. You can read more about the Hollywood Nights series right here. Two books are set in Hollywood and one is set in South Beach, which is known as "Hollywood East" because of it's a popular location for film productions. Hope you enjoyed this inside peek at some of my favorite locations and how they ended up in my books! Mary Kennedy 

All I want is a little cabinet

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

Sometimes you wonder what people are thinking when they do the layout on a house. For some strange reason, my laundry room is long and narrow and pretty much dysfunctional. The former owner was a quilter, and I guess she had her sewing machine set up there, but it had been put away when we looked at the house.

So, the washer and dryer are crowded in one corner and there's a narrow space left that's pretty much useless. And though there are cabinets above the washer and dryer, they're stuffed and overflowing. (I need to actually open the doors and find out what's inside. I'm betting I could chuck half of it.) Basically the room has become a drop zone for anything that comes into the house.

THAT HAS GOT TO STOP.

So, I thought I'd buy a cabinet to put at the far end of the room. Something that could take the laundry detergent, etc. It would be even better if the bottom half could store dirty laundry. Currently, we have a space for that at the bottom of our ONE AND ONLY linen closet, that could be better used for ... I dunno ... linens???

So I went hunting for a cabinet and found that whatever I like is either too expensive, or no longer available.  Like that pink cabinet to the left. (It came in other colors, too.) That's exactly what I'm looking for. This was actually listed as baby furniture and, because I like it, it's no longer in stock--anywhere. : (

Then there's this beautiful cabinet from Paula Deen's furniture line. Isn't it lovely? And only $1,465 (but free shipping!  Whoopie!). Nearly $1500 to store dirty laundry? I don't think so.

Home Depot has some storage stuff in the $200 range (looked them up online) but I'm afraid once I go look at them at the store, they will look too cheezy and may not be sturdy. I buy my laundry detergent in bulk. Will a big jug like that make the shelves buckle?

I looked on Craigslist, but everything there was made of particle board. (I stopped buying particle board furniture a l-o-n-g time ago.) So I don't know what I'm going to do.

When my parents bought their last house, a metal utility cabinet came with it. My mother stored odds and ends in it but would not part with it. It wasn't until she passed away that I got hold of it. I scrubbed away years of dirt and spilled ickiness, and repainted it inside and out. It's now in my enclosed porch and stores my gardening tools. If I could find something like that for the laundry room, it sure would make life easier. Until I can find something, I guess the laundry room will remain a drop zone. : (

Any ideas on how to solve this dilemma?