Victoria Zigler's Blog: Zigler News, page 10
October 14, 2022
My 2022 #SeptemberSmallThings Complete List - #Hygge & #Mindfulness
Last year Jo over at "How To Hygge The British Way" did a thing on her blog throughout September where she shared a small thing that gave her pleasure, she was grateful for, or she appreciated in a moment of mindfulness, each day, and I joined in because I thought it was an excellent idea. So, when I saw she was doing it again this year, I decided to do it along with her again. I've been posting the thing for each day on my Twitter account, but thought I'd do a round-up post here, both to gather them all together in one place and for the benefit of those not on Twitter. Yeah, I know it's already basically the middle of October, but today is my first free Friday after September was completely over. Anyway, what follows is my September small things list, as posted to Twitter throughout the month of September, reproduced here exactly as they appeared over there.
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#SeptemberSmallThings day 1: accessible books.
I finally got a Bookshare account sorted out yesterday, and am already loving having access to a whole load of titles I otherwise may not have been able to find copies of in an accessible to me format.
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#SeptemberSmallThings day 2: nap time.
Never underestimate a good nap! Especially if you’re someone like me who does not sleep well.
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#SeptemberSmallThings day 3: rain.
I love the sound of rain, and it’s even more welcome after a hot and mostly dry Summer.
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#SeptemberSmallThings day 4: quiet time.
Everyone needs a bit of quiet time now and then.
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#SeptemberSmallThings day 6: tortoise playtime.
Spending time with Artemis is always a very hygge experience, and a great way to pause and relax briefly on an otherwise busy and chaotic day. *~* #SeptemberSmallThings day 7: thunderstorms.We had an excellent storm here today, and I enjoyed listening to it. I find storms soothing to listen to, and they've been promising me this one for days. It came at a time when my soul needed to be soothed too. *~* #SeptemberSmallThings day 8: Free To Be Me.The "Free To Be Me" call I do with Patty @bubbalee04 via the ACB Community is a fun way to spend part of my Thursdays each week. *~* #SeptemberSmallThings day 9: puppy snuggles.
I love snuggle time with our dogs. And they seem to love it too. *~*
#SeptemberSmallThings day 10: tasty treats.
I treated myself to some vegan-friendly snacks and treats, and they arrived today.
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#SeptemberSmallThings day 11: community karaoke.
ACB’s Weekly Community karaoke session happens early hours of Sunday morning for me, and it’s one of my favourite times of the week.
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#SeptemberSmallThings day 12: a feeling of accomplishment.
I managed to check a lot of things off my to-do list today. And It felt good.
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#SeptemberSmallThings day 13: Herbie’s cooking corner.
I love cooking and baking, and doing it alongside a friend like Herbie @herbie_610 makes it even more enjoyable.
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#SeptemberSmallThings day 14: community connect.
The call Kolby @kolbysongbird does on a Wednesday via the ACB community is always enjoyable. It’s something I look forward to every week.
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#SeptemberSmallThings day 15: delight in others’ accomplishments.
It’s a wonderful feeling to see somebody making progress with a skill they want to learn, and to delight in knowing you were part of helping them achieve the progress they are so proud of making in learning it.
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#SeptemberSmallThings day 16: quality time with loved ones.
Some days time with the person/people you love has to be your priority.
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#SeptemberSmallThings day 17: helpful people.There are times when people make that extra effort to make things easier for disabled people like me. Today was a day when I saw two examples of this kind of thing. Thank you @taralazar and @asda *~* #SeptemberSmallThings day 18: singing just for fun.
Sometimes it’s fun to just sing whatever song you feel inspired to sing at that moment. *~* #SeptemberSmallThings day 19: a nice chat with friends.
Whether online or offline (whichever you feel more comfortable doing) it’s nice to have people you can spend time enjoying a cosy chat with. *~* #SeptemberSmallThings day 20: a successful baking experiment.I had the challenge of making a dessert that mostly consists of dairy vegan for the cooking corner today, and am very happy with the results. *~*
#SeptemberSmallThings day 21: a message from a friend.
It’s always nice when a friend takes a moment or two to reach out and send you a message, and – though I always appreciate them - some days I’m especially grateful for those messages.
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#SeptemberSmallThings day 22: the Autumn equinox.
We’re now officially starting the half of the year I love most, so bring on the cooler weather!
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#SeptemberSmallThings day 23: a relaxing bubble bath.
It’s rare I get the time for a nice relaxing bubble bath, so when I do – like I did today - it makes it even more special.
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#SeptemberSmallThings day 24: touching stories.I’m listening to the 10,000 call celebration for the #ACB Community, and it’s so nice how the community has touched so many lives with the calls that are held every day. Hearing them makes me incredibly glad to be a part of it all. *~*
#SeptemberSmallThings day 25: a warm blanket on a chilly evening.
I love snugly blankets! I’m a firm believer that you can never have too many blankets, and should have a choice as to which one – or ones – you’re going to snuggle in on a chilly evening.
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#SeptemberSmallThings day 26: being there for a friend.
It’s a wonderful feeling when friends are there for you, of course. But sometimes you need to be the one who’s there for them, and that’s a wonderful feeling too.
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#SeptemberSmallThings day 27: creative fun.Today was a day of creativity. First cooking a new to me recipe on the cooking corner, and then crafting with my Dad, with the day going to be ending with a crochet class. *~* #SeptemberSmallThings day 28: unicorn slippers.
If I’m going to have something on my feet because it’s a cold day, it should be something fun, right? *~*
#SeptemberSmallThings day 29: take-away.
Most days I’m happy to cook. But some days – especially when it’s a very busy day – I’m grateful for the option to have someone else do the cooking for me. Today was one of those days.
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#SeptemberSmallThings day 30: making plans.
Today I am making plans and looking to the future regarding various calls and projects I’m involved with or working on. Seems like a good way to wrap up September and start heading into the last quarter of 2022.
October 7, 2022
#WordCrafters #Book #BlogTour For "Haunted Halloween Holiday" by Robbie Cheadle + A #Giveaway & My #Review
Today is my stop on the tour for "Haunted Halloween Holiday" by Robbie Cheadle. I have a review of the book for you, but before I share my review I have a guest post for you from Robbie, which includes mention of a giveaway as well as her answers to a couple of questions I asked her. So, over to you, Robbie.
Haunted Halloween Holiday WordCrafter Book Blog Tour
Haunted Halloween Holiday
by Robbie and Michael Cheadle.
Giveaway
For a chance to win one of three US$10 Amazon vouchers or one of three paperback copies of Haunted Halloween Holiday just leave a comment to show you were here.
Follow the tour and comment at each stop for more chances to win.
The prizes will be given away in a random drawing.
*~*~*
Do you come up with the recipes to fit the characters for the story, or is it the story that inspires the recipes?
This is a great question, Tori. The initial stories were written before Michael and I decided to include the recipes in the books. The idea for the inclusion of the recipes so that the Sir Chocolate series would be interactive, and a first set of cookbooks for children, came from my brother-in-law, Justin.
Michael and I thought it was a terrific idea. We loved to bake together and I had a lot of recipes I’d developed over the years, so it was easy for me to include simple recipes in the books. All the recipes have been tried and tested many times. I have all the Sir Chocolate books on my kitchen shelf as I refer to the recipes often.
Sir Chocolate and the Fondant Five was written more recently and that is the only book where I specifically matched recipe choices to the characters in the book.
Haunted Halloween Holiday is not a recipe book and does not include any recipes. It is illustrated with my favourite fondant and cake art creations.
This illustration is a coffin cake I made with Count Sugular, his brother, Skelly, and the Possessed Teddy Bear seated inside and on the coffin lid.
I know you and Michael work together to brainstorm story ideas, but what are yours and Michael's favourite methods of coming up with inspiration for your next book?
The original idea for the Sir Chocolate stories was Michael’s. He came up with the concept of a little man made of chocolate who lived in a world where you can eat everything.
The initial story was an introduction to the main characters, Sir Chocolate and Lady Sweet, and involves a hunt to find the elusive strawberry cream berries. The berries are protected by a family of trolls.
After the writing of that initial story, it was the illustrations that led the stories. Michael and I would decide what we wanted to bake on a Saturday morning and that item would often lead to a story creation conversation in the afternoon.
Haunted Halloween Holiday is aimed at an older audience than the Sir Chocolate Books series. The story is approximately 3,600 words long (compared to the Sir Chocolate books that do not exceed 600 words which is the standard length for picture books for young children).
Haunted Halloween Holiday also includes several fun limericks about the various characters. It was the creation of the limericks combined with a double ennead (poem comprising of three stanzas of 33 syllables each) that I wrote for a Carrot Ranch Halloween Poetry Challenge hosted by Colleen Chesebro that led the thought process for this book.
The poem I wrote was the result of various discussion I’d had with Michael about the “woke” generation who are well informed in a political and cultural sense, especially regarding issues involving the marginalisation of communities.
My response to this discussion, which is close to the hearts of both my sons and my nephews and nieces, was to pen this poem about difference:
Happy Holiday Halloween HextravaganzaHard, disapproving eyes
View my family
Our difference not readily accepted
By your society
How we pity you
***
A small-minded approach
Is so limiting
Freedoms we enjoy, prohibited to you
Exploration of unusual places
By the moon’s pale light
***
Sea serpent splashes about
We watch full of glee
As the cat escapes a muddy green shower
And baby burns the grass
Do you have any fun?
By Robbie Cheadle
Haunted Halloween Holiday touches lightly on the acceptance of difference. I like to be subtle and sensitive in the messaging in my books, hence my use of the word lightly. The message is there but it is couched in a fun and engaging story and does not jump out and hit you on the head. I don’t like strong messages in literature, even for adults.
Many readers miss my messaging, but there are a lot who do understand it and I have been called a poetic activist.
About Haunted Halloween Holiday Blurb
Count Sugular is delighted when the Sugarpop Bats invite his family to a Halloween party at the Haunted House. He and his wife, Witch Honey, decide to hire a caravan and enjoy a weekend away with their family.
Includes some fun limericks to introduce the various characters.
You can find the book trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fr5OxyUfd4
Purchase linksTSL Publications: https://tslbooks.uk/product/haunted-halloween-holiday-robbie-and-michael-cheadle/
Haunted Halloween Holiday by Robbie Cheadle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is an adorable and imaginative story, which is perfect for a fun Halloween read. If you are looking for a cute and creative Halloween story to read to your children, grandchildren, or any other young family members, or if you yourself are a fan of fun children’s stories, you should definitely consider checking out this book.
View all my reviews
About Robbie Cheadle
Robbie Cheadle is a South African children's author and poet with eleven children’s books and two poetry books.
The eight Sir Chocolate children's picture books, co-authored by Robbie and Michael Cheadle, are written in sweet, short rhymes which are easy for young children to follow and are illustrated with pictures of delicious cakes and cake decorations. Each book also includes simple recipes or biscuit art directions which children can make under adult supervision.
Robbie and Michael have also written Haunted Halloween Holiday, a delightful fantasy story for children aged 5 to 9. Count Sugular and his family hire a caravan to attend a Halloween party at the Haunted House in Ghost Valley. This story is beautifully illustrated with Robbie's fondant and cake art creations.
Robbie has published two books for older children which incorporate recipes that are relevant to the storylines.
Robbie has two adult novels in the paranormal historical and supernatural fantasy genres published under the name Roberta Eaton Cheadle. She also has short stories, in the horror and paranormal genre, and poems included in several anthologies.
Robbie Cheadle contributes two monthly posts to https://writingtoberead.com, namely, Growing Bookworms, a series providing advice to caregivers on how to encourage children to read and write, and Treasuring Poetry, a series aimed at introducing poetry lovers to new poets and poetry books.
In addition, Roberta Eaton Cheadle contributes one monthly post to https://writingtoberead.comcalled Dark Origins: African Myths and Legends which shares information about the cultures, myths and legends of the indigenous people of southern Africa.
Robbie has a blog, https://robbiesinspiration.wordpress.comwhere she shares book reviews, recipes, author interviews, and poetry.
Find Robbie CheadleRobbie Cheadle Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Robbie-Cheadle/e/B01N9J62GQ
Robbie Cheadle Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15584446.Robbie_Cheadle
TSL Publications Robbie Cheadle Author Page: https://tslbooks.uk/product-tag/robbie-cheadle/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bakeandwrite
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SirChocolateBooks
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVyFo_OJLPqFa9ZhHnCfHUA
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Tour schedule:
Monday – October 3 – Intro. & Review – Writing to be Read: https://wp.me/pVw40-6wP
& Guest Post w/Review – Undawnted: http://www.undawnted.com/2022/10/word...
Tuesday – October 4 – Guest Post – The Many Showers of Blessings: https://theshowersofblessings.com/?p=...
Wednesday – October 5 – Review & Guest Post – Patty’s World: https://wp.me/pcZCK2-920
Thursday – October 6 – Review & Guest Post – Carla Loves to Read: https://wp.me/p6H3KI-9UE
Friday – October 7 – Review & Guest Post – Zigler’s News: https://ziglernews.blogspot.com/2022/...
Saturday – October 8 – Review & Guest Post – Annette Rochel Aben: https://annetterochelleaben.wordpress...
September 30, 2022
#HarryPotter + #Baking + #Crafting + Weather
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I made this strawberry cloud pie in the cooking call:
It’s 100% vegan, and was very tasty, if I do say so myself.
I’ve made plenty of other things on the cooking call, including a new to me cookie recipe. But I’m especially proud of this strawberry cloud pie since there were a lot of adaptations required to make it suitable for vegans, and I’d never done anything like that before. That’s why I wanted to show it to you.
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I also made a little loom knitted scrubby, which is made out of a pale blue cotton yarn (the colour name is “ice blue” I believe). So, here’s a photo of that for you to see too:
And I also made this black and white woven rope basket:
The basket was one of the large pile of kits that have been waiting for me to be able to do them for ages. My Dad read the instructions for me so I could finally get to do it. Hopefully he’s going to continue helping me work my way through the pile of craft kits. It’s going to take some time to get through them though, because I ended up with a rather large pile of them.
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It was the Autumn Equinox a little over a week ago, and the weather most definitely agrees that the Summer is now over. And that’s just fine by me. I’d much rather these cooler temperatures that’s for sure!
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Things have been pretty busy here most days. But - as I feel like I'm saying a lot lately - it's the kind of busy where I don’t really have anything to share despite that, so I’ll let this do for today. I hope September has been a good month for you. Stay safe, especially if you happen to be in the path of any of the really bad storms I’ve been hearing so much about.
September 23, 2022
#WordCrafters #Book #BlogTour For "Refracted Reflections" - Includes A #Giveaway + My #Review
Today is my stop on the blog tour for "Refracted Reflections" and I have a guest post for you from one of the authors, Roberta Eaton Cheadle, along with a giveaway and my review of the book. So, over to you, Robbie.
Inspiration for The Nutcracker
My short story contribution to Refracted Reflections is called the Nutcracker. The title, Nutcracker, was intended to be a play on words relating to the psychiatrist in this story who fails to crack the nut (the reference to nut being aligned with the outdated description of an insane person as being as nutty as a fruitcake, which saying was first recorded in 1821) because he is too short-sighted and arrogant to understand the internal conflict that is taking place within his patient.
Irene is chronically depressed due to her guilt over the sixth mass extinction of the animal life on earth and is overwhelmingly anxious due to the increasing symptoms of global warming. Irene, like some other Generation Z youngsters, sees no hope for the future. This feeling of hopelessness among young people appears to be increasing and is most concerning to me.
Dr. Jamison’s inability to reach Irene and understand her inner turmoil is in keeping with her view that Generation X has done nothing to stop global warming or the destruction of the animal kingdom and does not care about improving the world for her generation. His epic failure has tragic consequences for Irene.
The theme of global warming and the sixth mass extinction and its contribution to the mental health problems being experienced by modern youngsters is combined in this piece, with the additional problem of modern medications being used to treat symptoms and not causes, as well as the potential damaging side effects of medications.
My personal experience of medications for anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems are that incorrect dosages or medications can exacerbate depression and cause suicidal thoughts. Parents and patients need to investigate the potential side effects of any medications they are given, and doctors need to be sensitive to the development of negative side effects due to adverse reactions by patients to anxiety and other medications.
This story is set in the Sterkfontein Cave in Magaliesburg, South Africa, and was originally inspired by the deaths of a small group of divers who were investigating the exceptionally deep lake within the cave. The divers went into one of the small, water-filled tunnels branching off from the lake and were not able to find their way back. They are believed to have drowned, but their bodies were never found. When I started writing a short story about the deaths of these divers, my mind took me on a different journey and that was the story I ended up writing.
There is also a paranormal thread to this story which is intended to make the reader think about what is real and what is not. Readers should wonder what greater powers than humanity might be out there which we may be offending with our careless actions and lack of regard for our role as custodians of planet, Earth.
Roberta Eaton Cheadle is a South African writer and poet specialising in historical, paranormal, and horror novels and short stories. She is an avid reader
in these genres and her writing has been influenced by famous authors including Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, Amor Towles, Stephen Crane, Enrich Maria
Remarque, George Orwell, Stephen King, and Colleen McCullough.
Roberta has short stories and poems in several anthologies and has two published novels:
* Through the Nethergate, a historical supernatural fantasy; and
* A Ghost and His Gold, a historical paranormal novel set in South Africa.
Roberta has ten children’s books published under the name Robbie Cheadle.
Roberta was educated at the University of South Africa where she achieved a Bachelor of Accounting Science in 1996 and a Honours Bachelor of Accounting
Science in 1997. She was admitted as a member of The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants in 2000.
Roberta has worked in corporate finance from 2001 until the present date and has written seven publications relating to investing in Africa. She has won
several awards over her 20-year career in the category of Transactional Support Services.
Find Roberta Eaton Cheadle
Blog:
https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/RobertaEaton17
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites
Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5
Refracted Reflections: Twisted Tales of Duality & Deception
Refractions and Reflections…
A reflection can be revealing or deceptive. What stares back at you when you glance into the mirror?
A prison, designed to trap you and take away all that is dear to you?
A portal to another dimension? Another time?
An evil twin, luring you to the other side?
Your loved ones with a fond farewell?
A distorted version of yourself? A person you no longer even recognize?
A protective savior?
Do you dare to gaze into the looking glass?
Will what you see save you…, or haunt you forever?
If you liked Gilded Glass and Once Upon an Ever After, you’ll like Refracted Reflections: Tales of Duality & Deception.
Books2Read UBL purchase link:
https://books2read.com/u/3kPyxn
Refracted Reflections: Twisted Tales of Duality & Deception by Kaye Lynne Booth
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is an excellent collection of weird and wonderful tales. As is usually the case with anthologies like this, I found I enjoyed some of the stories more than others, but it was a matter of personal taste rather than a reflection on the work of the authors, and there was something to like about each of the stories.
*NOTE: I was given a free advanced copy of this book by one of the authors. This fact has in no way influenced my opinion of the book or the contents of this review, and all opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
Digital Giveaway
For a chance to win a free digital copy of Refracted Reflections, just leave a comment to show you were here. Follow the tour and comment at each stop for more chances to win. Three copies will be given away in a random drawing
Tour schedule:
Monday – September 19 – Intro post – Writing to be Read
Tuesday – September 20 – Guest Post & Review – Ligia de Wit – Carla Loves to Read
Wednesday – September 21 – Guest Post – Elisabeth Caldwell – Writing to be Read
Thursday – September 22 – Guest Post – Valerie B. Williams – Roberta Writes
Friday – September 23 – Review & Guest Post – Roberta Eaton Cheadle – Zigler News
September 16, 2022
#RoyalFamily & #Crochet & #Knitting & #HarryPotter & #NASCAR
Of course, we all know Queen Elizabeth II died, and her funeral is this coming Monday. I don’t really have much to say on the matter, but felt I should acknowledge it, along with the fact Charles is now King Charles III, and Prince William now has the title of Prince of Wales (previously held by Charles).
The United Kingdom is in mourning, as you might expect, and all businesses will be closed on Monday as a mark of respect. It's sad news, though perhaps not entirely unexpected given Queen Elizabeth's advanced years.
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Since I don’t have anything more I want to say on the matter at this time, I’m going to move this post along and talk about things that I want to share from my own life. For one thing,I have photos of some of my recent craft creations to show you.
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I've been meaning to get you a photo of this crochet daffodil - or my attempt at one - I made a couple of months ago ever since I finished it. Well, here it is at last:
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I also made this mini loom knitted hat while trying to learn more loom knitting stitches. It's very small, so I'm not sure what I'll do with it... Maybe make a toy and put it on that? Seems like a good plan. Regardless, here it is:
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Last week they were making loom knitted scrunchies in the loom knitting class, so I made one with them. It's purple. Here's a photo of it:
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Then, this past Saturday, there was a crochet workshop, and with Halloween around the corner we have some themed classes going on, so during that workshop we made pumpkin-shaped crocheted coasters. Here's a photo of my attempt at making one:
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I also want to show you a photo of my new mug. It’s a Ravenclaw mug. There are two photos because they were taken from slightly different angles. Yes, I’m a Ravenclaw. At least, according to all the times I got sorted on the various versions of the Harry Potter websites. And I’m proud to be a Ravenclaw. The blue and bronze colours are fine by me too, since I like the colour combination. Anyway, here’s the mug:
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Though it may not appear like it from how short this summary of my week will be, it's been another busy week. Besides crafting and ACB-related activities, my week has revolved around trying to catch up with some things (both online and off) that I've been neglecting, as well as reading as much as I have time for (which isn't nearly as much these days as it used to be) and watching NASCAR races.
Yes. I did say NASCAR.
I ended up getting in to it a bit recently. Who knew cars and trucks driving in circles could be so exciting? I figured I'd check it out - just to see what all the fuss was about - last weekend. Thought I'd have it on as background noise while I read a book on my braille display. Yeah... The reading part didn't end up happening. I really enjoyed the race though. So much that I spent a large chunk of last weekend listening to races through the app, and plan to do the same this weekend. LOL!
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That about covers my week. I hope you've had a great week. Feel free to share anything you'd really like me to know about your week in the comments section of this post via whatever platform you're reading this on.
September 9, 2022
Of #Tortoises, Sofas, A #Storm, And Other Random Things
It was Artemis' 3rd birthday - perhaps I should say "hatchday" since Artemis is a tortoise - on September 6th.
As you may or may not already know, we always get something for the petkids when it's their birthday. But what do you get a tortoise for their birthday?Fruit, that's what. At least, fruit is what I get for mine, and Artemis definitely seems to agree it makes a great present. So, Artemis got a couple of grapes, and was very pleased about that.
Here's a birthday photo of Artemis checking out a bowl full of lettuce, herbs, tortoise pellets, and grapes:
And here's a video of Artemis exploring and climbing on a throw pillow on the sofa:
*~*
Remember how I said last week that we’d accepted an almost new sofa because after about two years of waiting we still didn’t have the rest of the corner one we’d been promised? Well, now we have both.
Within a couple of days of that post going live we had the other pieces of the corner sofa dropped off by the people who had been promising it to us since we moved in here back near the end of 2020. Which means we now have the corner sofa, a smaller sofa, and the armchair that we’ve had since when we were living in the first place we lived in when we were in Hastings.
Interesting how we’re the people in our family least likely to want a lot of visitors, and yet we’re the ones with most space for them, since we now have enough seating in our living room to comfortably seat about nine people. But, no, that doesn’t make me more eager to have lots of visitors. LOL!
*~*
It's been pretty rainy most of this past week. The rain storm got bad enough early hours of Monday morning that the whole area had no power for about an hour. And there's been a flood warning in our area since Tuesday. Apparently Summer is over. I could do without the power cuts, and the flooding isn't a good thing really, but otherwise I'm most definitely glad we're back to more traditional Welsh weather.
We had a terrific thunderstorm on Wednesday. Unfortunately, since I was attempting to facilitate a call at the time, when we tried to film it we missed the fantastic thunder. But we did get a video of the rain and wind that was part of the storm, so here it is:
*~*
It's been an incredibly busy week for me, with meetings, social and crafting Zoom calls, reorganizing furniture (because how we had things wasn't going to work with the rest of the corner sofa pieces showing up) and the usual day to day stuff to fit in around those things. But I still managed to find time to catch up a bit on some reading over the weekend, and add a few words to one of my neglected stories. There wasn't much of the writing part, but it felt great to actually get to do any, even if it was very little.
*~*
One of my teas in the monthly tea box I subscribe to is called "Butter Brew" this month, and it tastes like warm melted butterscotch. I definitely approve. I'm also glad to see more of the pumpkin spice tea, since I remember from last year (when it was in my box around this time of year, but with different ones in with it) that it was very tasty, and I was hoping for more
. I love pumpkin-themed food and drink, and 'tis the season to gorge on pumpkin after all. LOL!
*~*
Well, that's all I have to say this week, so I'll let this do. Hope you've had a good week.
September 2, 2022
Random Ramblings, Kitchen Tours, And Community Calls
The weather, thankfully, cooled down where I am. Parts of the UK were still dealing with extreme heat – maybe still are, though not as badly as they were during July and August – but not here. Not in the part of Wales I’m in. Where I am we even got some rain. I love the sound of the rain, and it was even more welcome after the heat we’d been dealing with.
~
When we first moved here, back at the end of 2020, we were offered a corner sofa. They said we’d get the corner piece now, and eventually get the rest. We’re still waiting. So, when we were offered a free sofa – including free delivery of said sofa – recently, we accepted the offer. We wanted a sofa, but only had hat corner piece of the corner sofa and two armchairs (one of which we only held on to for the extra seating, but really thought should be thrown out). Now we have one. And I happen to think it's a really nice one too. It's really comfortable.
*~*
Another September 1st has come and gone, and still no trip to Hogwarts for me.
You know what? One of these years I’ll have to plan things so I have a Harry Potter themed feast on the evening of September 1st, just so I get that part of the experience. Maybe I can eat it while watching the first Harry Potter movie or something. That would be fun!
Another fun idea would be a Harry Potter themed blog party. But people aren’t taking part in blog parties so much these days, so I don’t know how well that would work out. Still a fun idea though, even if I’ll likely never do that one. Though I’d probably take part if someone else did one and I found out about it in time.
*~*
After an almost month long battle, I FINALLY got a Bookshare account!
For those who don’t know, Bookshare is a service that gives access to books in alternative formats for those who have disabilities where sometimes lack of availability of a book in certain formats prevents them reading the book in question. They provide several formats, including the one needed for my Orbit (Braille reader).
It shouldn’t have been that much work, or taken even close to as long as it did. And, from Bookshare’s side of things, it wasn’t any hastle at all. They were wonderful. The trouble was on my doctor surgery’s end.
First it took them almost two weeks to get the document verifying I had a disability that allowed me to be able to qualify for Bookshare signed, and then they claimed they’d sent it to Bookshare directly and wouldn’t send it to me too, despite Bookshare being unable to find it on their end. Eventually though - possibly just so I’d quit calling about it, but whatever – I was allowed to speak directly to one of the admin team who monitor the email for my doctor surgery, and she sent it to me, first sending a test email to ensure she had my correct email. Then I was able to send it over to Bookshare for them to link it to the account I’d started setting up while waiting for a copy of the document to reach either me or them, and then finish setting up my account.
So many books...
If I disappear, you know where I’ll be. LOL!
*~*
If you want to see the full episode, where you can get a tour of Herbie's kitchen too, you can find it on YouTube here. YouTube is where you can also find several other episodes of the show by checking out the Herbie's Cooking Corner playlist Herbie has created.
Also, if you’re subscribed to the ACB Community’s daily schedule – which you can subscribe to by sending an email to community@acb.org – you can join us on Zoom every Tuesday at 10:00am Eastern time (3:00pm UK time). Alternatively, you can enable the ACB Media skill on your Alexa device and tune in to listen to us on Tuesday at 10:00am Eastern time (3:00pm UK time) on ACB Media 5.
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I'm going to end this post with another invitation. Yes, it's part of the ACB community calls as well. But you don't have to be blind to be a part of the community. Anyone who has a visual impairment or a family member or friend with one is welcome. So, why not join me and Patty on Thursday?
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Happening each Thursday: Free to Be Me1:30pm EST; 6:30pm BSTA place to enjoy free-flowing conversation about books and anything else that might come to mind. Come as yourself. All are welcome and wanted.Join us by emailing community@acb.org for all Zoom call in information.
August 26, 2022
#WordCrafters #Book #BlogTour For "Once Upon An Ever After" - Includes A #Giveaway + My #Review
Today is my stop on the tour for "Once Upon An Ever After" and I have a review and a giveaway to share with you. But, before I get to those, I have a guest post from one of the authors featured in this anthology. Her name is Lyndsay E. Gilbert. So, take it away, Lyndsay.
I've always been in love with fairy tales. I read them religiously as a child and then studied them at length at University, not only western but Middke Eastern and Slavic too. I am constantly writing stories based on old tales, exploring their themes a little deeper and stepping a little further into their darkness.
In Once upon a Time, and Now, and Forever I set out to explore the well-known magic mirror of Snow White fame - clearly a sentient thing. I wondered if it had a soul or spirit trapped within the glass, perhaps stuck or enslaved by it. Then it came to me that there could be an infinite number of spirits who move from shiny surface to shiny surface - whose job it is to mimic living people and become their reflections. I also happen to be Irish and worked a few of our superstitions in as well. We open the window when someone dies to release their souls, and many people cover the mirrors in the house, so the deceased person's soul does not get trapped. All this weaved itself together in my tale - I understood where the mirror souls came from and began to follow the story of one soul in particular. A passionate girl who comes to remember who she really is and who unabashedly seeks freedom.
Author bio:
Lyndsay E. Gilbert hails from Northern Ireland, where she lives beside an ancient castle looking out to sea. She loves reading, writing, horror, fantasy, fairy tales, playing the fiddle, cats, dogs (particularly German Shepherds), moving music, cross-stitch, and belly dancing. She has a few stories published in anthologies.
Blurb
This unique and imaginative collection of eleven thought provoking fantasy stories will delight readers who enjoy stories of wishes gone awry.
What happens when…
A woman desires to carry on her family’s legacy, uncovering a long-buried curse?
A not so perfect witch casts a spell to defy age and preserve her relationship with her handsome shapeshifting familiar?
A time traveler longs to be the savior of knowledge lost?
An incompetent delivery boy becomes an unlikely savior of forgotten artifacts?
A magic mirror yearns for a different question?
A tiny story witch desires to share her stories with the world?
Spells are cast, unlikely alliances made, and wishes granted, sometimes with surprising outcomes. You’ll love this anthology of modern myths, lore, and fairy tales. Once you read these twisted tales, you’ll be sure to be careful what you wish for….
If you liked Gilded Glass, you’ll enjoy Once Upon an Ever After: Modern Myths & Fairy Tales, short stories with thought provoking themes, captivating characters and diverse cultures, from humorous to horrifying, from the legendary past to possible futures and back to the here and now.
Purchase your copy from your favourite online retailer by clicking this link.
Once Upon an Ever After: Modern Fairy Tales & Folklore by Kaye Lynne Booth
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewing an anthology like this one is never an easy task. After all, it’s only natural that some stories will appeal to the reader more than others, especially when a variety of different authors is involved. This collection was no exception. Every story deserves its place in this anthology; the stories are well-written, with interesting characters and fascinating plots. Yet I enjoyed some more than others, simply because of my personal tastes. For example, I thought “The Mirror Of Truth” was an entertaining read, and “The War Babies” was a touching tale. Regardless of your own personal tastes, I’m sure you’ll find a story or two among the ones in this collection that you’ll enjoy too.
View all my reviews
Digital Giveaway!
For a chance to win a free digital copy of Once Upon an Ever After, just leave a comment to show you were here. Follow the tour and comment at each stop for more chances to win. Three copies will be given away in a random drawing.
Tour schedule:
Monday – August 22 – Opening Day Post – Writing to be Read – Intro. & Guest Post – Sarah Lyn Eaton
Tuesday – August 23 – Patty’s World – Review & Guest Post – Robbie Cheadle
Wednesday – August 24 – The Showers of Blessings – Guest Post – Olivia Merchiston
Thursday – August 25 –Roberta Writes – Interview w/ Kaye Lynne Booth
Friday – August 26 – Zigler’s News – Review & Guest Post – Lyndsay Elizabeth Gilbert
Saturday – August 27 – Closing Post – Writing to be Read – Guest Post – A.E. Lanier
August 19, 2022
Random Ramblings - August 19th 2022
One of my friends from the ACB community, whose name is Kolby, is being featured in a mini series on YouTube about how she enjoys Nascar as a blind person. And let me tell you, she's a huge Nascar fan. The first episode of the mini series premiered on Wednesday, and you can watch it by clicking here.
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The weather keeps being hot. I’m always grateful for those days in between heat waves when it rains some and the temperature drops to a more comfortable range. I’m also grateful to be here in the Welsh mountains, where temperatures above 35C have yet to make themselves known. Unlike in some parts of the UK, where it’s been 40C at times. Even temperatures in the high 20s and low 30s are more than I’d like to be dealing with, but I’m glad we haven’t had to deal with worse. But please tell me we’ll be feeling the cool temperatures of Autumn soon… Autumn and Winter are coming, right? *looks hopeful*
*~*
I’ve been sat here a while trying to figure out what I have to fill you in on from the past couple of weeks. But it’s more difficult than you might expect. It’s not that I haven’t done anything. I mean, I always have a lot going on these days. The thing is, most of it can be summed up just by telling you I’ve been busy doing stuff with the ACB. Between co-facilitating the “Free To Be Me” call with Patty on Thursdays and “Herbie’s Cooking Corner” with Herbie on Tuesdays, my roles on the ACB Presents morning crew, the things I’m doing with the ACB Crafters, and hosting some calls, I have something going on every day. Between being on those calls – as well as some I attend just as a participant - I’ve been trying to catch up on my reading, and doing some de-cluttering, the latter of which resulted in me donating most of my physical audiobooks to the local library (since I've got a lot of them in digital form as well anyhow). I’m sure you can imagine how delighted they were to have six large boxes of audiobooks donated to them, since the libraries over here don’t tend to have much in the way of audiobooks, and certainly don’t get many audiobook donations.
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Since I’m sure that covers what’s been going on around here lately, and I can’t think of anything else to say right now, I’m going to let this do for today. If it turns out I missed catching you up on something, I’ll let you know about it another time. In the meantime, I hope all is well in your world.
August 12, 2022
A Sunshine Blogger Award I Was Given Last Month
Cat over at The Strawberry Post was nominated for a Sunshine Blogger Award recently, and she nominated me for it. You can check out Cat's post by clicking here.
Here are the rules for this award:
1. Thank the blogger(s) who nominated you in a blog post and link back to their blog.
2. Answer the 11 questions sent by the person who nominated you.
3. Nominate up to 11 new blogs to receive the award and write them 11 new questions.
4. List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your post and/or on your blog.
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So, first of all, thank you, Cat!
Secondly, here are the questions she asked me to answer, along with my responses:
1. If you had to eat one food for the rest of your life what would it be?
I think I’d have to go with potatoes. Because you can prepare them in all kinds of ways: baked, roasted, turned in to chips (fries) and so on. Plus, I’m a big fan of potatoes, and eat them most days already.
2. Is there anything you like to collect?
I collect books, cuddly toys, and stones (as in gemstones, crystals, minerals, etc).
3. What is your favourite colour(s)?
My favourite colour is purple.
4. What hobbies do you have apart from blogging/reading?
Apart from blogging and reading, I also write poetry and children’s stories, do various crafts, watch movies and TV shows, listen to music, play roleplaying games, and play some other kinds of games (for example, I have recently become addicted to the Dice World app I was introduced to that I now have on my phone... You should check it out if you're a fan of games like Yatzi, Farkle, etc... If you do, let me know what your username is and I'll tell you mine so we can have a game of something). I’m also interested in certain parts of history, and have a few other interests that randomly capture my attention from time to time. Not to mention everything I’m involved with in the ACB community these days.
5. If you could live in any time period in history which would it be and why?
There are several periods of history I’d like to visit, but as a general rule I’d rather it just be a visit. If I had to pick one to live in though, I’d prefer the time period usually refered to as pre-historic times, when there weren’t so many people, and the people who existed still respected and took care of the Earth. Yes, I’d be minus all the modern conveniences and technologies I rely on, and every day would be a fight for survival. But at least my tribe would be working together to try and assure that survival, and the world would still be free of pollution.
6. What is your favourite animal(s)?
My absolute favourite animal is a lion, with a horse an incredibly close second. I also love rats, and most other kinds of animals. If it’s an animal, as long as it’s not spiders or creepy crawly bugs, I probably like it. Yes, even snakes.
7. Which season is your favourite and why?
My favourite season – which I’m sure comes as no surprise to those who know me – is Winter, because it tends to be colder, and sometimes we get snow. I can’t deal with heat very well, so bring on the chilly Winter days, and even colder Winter nights.
8. What music do you like to listen to?
I enjoy most kinds of music, and will listen to quite a variety depending on my mood, from Jazz to soft rock, and across multiple decades. But country music is my favourite genre, and the one I’d pick if forced to choose one single music genre to name as my favourite.
9. When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
When I was young I wanted to be either a vet or a nursery (preschool) teacher, plus an author; I wanted to have a large family, work with either animals or young children, and write in my free time. Though where I was finding free time between all the kids I planned on having and work, I have no idea. But there you go.
10. If you were granted your own national holiday, how would people be told to spend/celebrate it?
It would be a national day of rest and relaxation, where people would be encouraged to spend some time doing things that they find relaxing; things that recharge them, replenish their souls, etc. It would be up to them whether they do so alone or with people they’re close to, as well as whether they do things at home or not. As long as they did something that made them happy, feel relaxed, etc.
For example: I would most likely spend it by myself at home, with a plentiful supply of tea and snacks, curled up somewhere reading. I’d alternate between reading on my Braille display while listening to music (I’ve found classical piano music to be an excellent accompaniment to this) and listening to either an audiobook or a book on my Kindle while working on a craft project.
11. If you could live in any book which would it be and why?
If I could take liberties with this question and merge three books, I’d want to move Hogwarts to Narnia, and have a hobbit hole somewhere in that world. That way I could go to Hogwarts, and during school holidays I could live in my hobbit hole and invite various talking animals over for tea.
However, if I absolutely had to choose one… This is harder. But I think I’d go with Narnia, because of the talking animals and Aslan. The Harry Potter books might be the ones I revisit most often, but the Chronicles of Narnia books contain a world I’d really love to be a part of.
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I never tag people on these things any more. Most people I’d want to give it to don’t do these kinds of things these days. With that in mind, if you’re reading this post and want to join in; consider yourself tagged. And you can answer the questions Cat gave to me – I’m sure she won’t mind me using those, and I can’t think of better ones. Just be sure and make sure I know where to find your answers if you do this.
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