Cora Seton's Blog, page 13

Chickens in Winter

Our chickens have overwintered very successfully so far. We sweated it when the temperatures began to drop last fall because we weren’t sure how to keep them warm without keeping lights on all night or setting up a situation which could be dangerous.

In the end, my husband built a greenhouse that could act as warmer quarters for the chickens in winter. It’s made from cedar and glass with a plastic roof, about six feet by eight feet, I think. Inside, we used haybales to build a little cave for the chickens and a thick layer of loose hay on the floor to protect their feet from the cold ground. At night they bundle inside their haybale house. During the day they run all over inside the greenhouse. It’s generally quite comfortable in there and they like to stand on top of the haybale house so they can look out of the greenhouse windows.

Our chickens are extremely curious and they associate us with food, so before we even reach the greenhouse they’re scrambling to meet us at the door. They like to eat out of our hands, but don’t like being pet much. They hunker down as low as possible to avoid that.

The girls always make me smile, and occasionally I look out my attic office window to see a chicken looking back at me from the greenhouse. Each of them lays an egg daily – even though it’s early February and the days are still short. All in all, they’ve been a great addition to our mini-farm.

Cora Recommends – In Jack’s Arms, by Roxie Rivera

When pawn broker Abby Kirkwood discovers the evidence of a chilling drug cartel hit on one of the video cameras hocked in her store, she turns to the only man she can trust–Jack Connolly.

The smolderingly sexy former Marine runs a successful gym down the street and coaches her brother’s special needs baseball team. He’s the one man who is always there when she needs him. If anyone can protect her family, it’s commanding, capable Jack.

The moment he learns someone is threatening Abby and her brother, Jack sees red. To save the woman he’s secretly loved for years, he’ll do whatever it takes, even if it means facing off with a Mexican drug cartel and making deals with the same Albanian mob outfit that tried to ruin his family.

He finally has sweet, feisty Abby right where she was always meant to be–writhing with pleasure in his bed and safely sheltered in his arms. The vicious cartel assassin hot on her heels has no idea what he’s up against.

The Connolly brothers are standing strong together–and no one touches their family.

“>See it on Amazon

Teaser Tuesday – An Excerpt from The Cowboy Lassos a Bride

It’s Teaser Tuesday! The Cowboy Lassos a Bride will release on February 23!

Want something hot? Here’s Hannah Ashton and Jake Matheson in their first close encounter:

Jake swayed with her to the music and Hannah wondered if everyone could see the way desire was setting her nerves alight. She now knew just how intimate a simple dance could become when one partner was determined to seduce the other.

Because that’s what Jake was doing. Seducing her. Reeling her in until he was the only thing she could think about. It was working, too. She would have followed him anywhere at that moment.

“Let’s test that theory, shall we?” Suddenly he was pulling her back through the tables, across the reception hall and out into a corridor. He traced its length, trying the handles of the doors they passed to storage rooms, smaller meeting rooms and the like. Hannah stumbled after him, not caring who saw them or what they thought. She just wanted to be with Jake. Anywhere he wanted to be.

Finally one opened. Hardly bigger than a closet, it appeared to be a break room for the staff. Jake spun her back into his arms, backed her up against a counter and kissed the daylights out of her.

Hannah only had a fleeting thought of Cody at home on his rundown couch, in his boxers and a T-shirt, a six-pack and a bag of chips on the coffee table, television remote in his hand. Then she could think of nothing else but Jake. The man’s mouth on hers, devouring her, kissing her until she had to gasp for breath, his hands smoothing over her waist, almost dipping down over her ass, but hesitating, not crossing that threshold.

Not yet.

Learn more about The Cowboy Lassos a Bride here.

Yearly Collage

Every woman in North America (and probably around the world) has probably been introduced to the wonders of collage by now. My passion for the art form started in 2005 when I was invited by a group of women I had just met to come to the local women’s center for a day of collaging and sharing. We all contributed our art supplies and magazines to the mix, and took several hours to create our collages. Then we came back together to share the results and talk about where we were at in our lives and what we hoped to call in by the end of the year.

Roughly the same group of women has gotten together every year since then, which has made for interesting continuity. It’s turned into a powerful yearly occasion for me.

Making a collage is easy – gather as many images as you can for magazines, calendars, daybooks, and so on, add in extras like yarn, buttons, glitter, or paint, play with it all until an image forms that pleases your eye. Don’t think too much! Tear things out, tear them up, glue them down and keep rearranging until you love it.

When you’re done, take a moment to journal your thoughts about the results. For extra credit, glue that journal entry to the back of your collage and don’t peep at it again until next year. You might be surprised at what’s happened in the meantime.

If you want to be truly inspired, collage with friends – especially artistic ones. The artistry tends to rub off on you!

During my first few years I hid my collages, embarrassed to show my “artwork” to my family and friends that entered my house. Now they hang up for all to see, and people tend to stop and stare. There’s something about a collection of images that really fires up the imagination. I love looking back at past years’ artwork and seeing the flow of how they’ve changed (and stayed the same) over the years. You can play “spot the fox” with my collages–there’s at least one every year to find. Otherwise the contents change and shift.

Have you tried using collage to call in the things you’d like to add to your life?

Today I’m at Susana’s Morning Room!

I hope you’ll stop by Susana’s Morning Room to chat with me and learn more about my Cowboys of Chance Creek Box Set, Books 1 – 3.

Don’t forget to enter for your chance to win a $100 Gift Card, too!

I’m at Serenity Reviews Today!

Stop by Serenity Reviews today to chat with me and learn more about my Cowboys of Chance Creek Box Set, Books 1 – 3. It’s on sale today for a fantastic price! Check it out!

Don’t forget you can enter for a chance to win a $100 Gift Card, too!

I’m at All I Want and More Today!

Be sure to stop by All I Want and More to learn more about myCowboys of Chance Creek Series, Books 1 – 3!

You’ll get a chance to enter to win a $100 gift card, as well as ask me questions and chat! See you there!

I’m at Booklover Sue’s Blog Today!

Stop by to visit me at Booklover Sue’s, where I’m talking about my Cowboys of Chance Creek Box Set, Books 1 – 3!

Don’t forget to enter for your chance to win a $100 gift card!

I’m at Nana Prah’s Blog Today!

I hope you’ll drop by and visit me at Nana Prah’s blog today. Ask me questions. Take a look at my Cowboys of Chance Creek Box Set, Books 1 – 3.

And don’t forget to enter for your chance to win a $100 Gift Card!

I’m at Words of Wisdom from the Scarf Princess Today!

Please stop by to visit me at Words of Wisdom from the Scarf Princess today! I’m promoting my Cowboys of Chance Creek Box Set and chatting with whoever drops by.

Enter for a chance to win a $100 Gift Card, too!