Chris Keniston's Blog, page 9
March 4, 2024
Soup anyone?
When y'all get to read Just One Rodeo next month - you'll notice I mention Cowboy Soup. Well, the inspiration is my friend I'm visiting's tortilla soup. She buys a packet and then adds more vegetables and chicken.
It's absolutely delicious AND it seems to be weight friendly - so yesterday she bought more ingredients and showed me how to make it - I'm living on that delicious soup for a few days - maybe I'll lose a few pounds even !!
she starts with the soup mix, and chicken broth. Then the thing is chock full of veggies: Cabbage, onion, carrots, broccoli, red and yellow peppers, new potatoes, and a few green beans.
On top of that, she'll add a half a store bought roasted chicken. And if that's not enough, she bakes fresh (okay frozen fresh) french bread. It's such a delicious combo!
For those of you wondering how Just One Rodeo is going - it is at the editor's and set to release on time next month. For now I hope everyone enjoyed Just One Family. Next I'm going to try for the first time ever to write two books at the same time, Paxton and Just One Surprise. Hopefully it will go well!
Do you like soup? Do you have a favorite soup?
It's absolutely delicious AND it seems to be weight friendly - so yesterday she bought more ingredients and showed me how to make it - I'm living on that delicious soup for a few days - maybe I'll lose a few pounds even !!
she starts with the soup mix, and chicken broth. Then the thing is chock full of veggies: Cabbage, onion, carrots, broccoli, red and yellow peppers, new potatoes, and a few green beans.
On top of that, she'll add a half a store bought roasted chicken. And if that's not enough, she bakes fresh (okay frozen fresh) french bread. It's such a delicious combo!
For those of you wondering how Just One Rodeo is going - it is at the editor's and set to release on time next month. For now I hope everyone enjoyed Just One Family. Next I'm going to try for the first time ever to write two books at the same time, Paxton and Just One Surprise. Hopefully it will go well! Do you like soup? Do you have a favorite soup?
February 26, 2024
Do You Like to Dance?
Those who have followed me for a while know that I love to dance. My Uncle Fred (mom's big brother) taught me how to lindy hop when I was a young teen. Honestly, if a guy knows how to lead, I can follow! Uncle Fred was the best dancer and I had so much fun dancing with him. I wish we could have spent more years dancing.
What I'm not sure of is who was the first person to teach me to dance. I remember doing the twist with Uncle Fred as a little girl. Sherry Baby by the four seasons was a favorite song of mine and he would play it over and over for me and we would do the twist - I had to be five or six at the time. But I also remember at a similar young age, having my grandmother teach me the Charleston! I remember when I was in France after college the family I stayed with and I went to a town dance. At one point they played the familiar Charleston song and I hopped up and starting doing it - fingers were actually pointing in my direction because I was doing the real dance. Handful of pretty old folks joined me and were astounded that someone in her early 20s knew how to do all the moves. There's this funny toe to heel move, as well as the familiar knocking knees and hands things and of course the real steps. I've simply always loved dancing.
Then y'all saw where on New Year's Eve I willingly got up to dance with an ancient man who could barely lift his feet and then we got the whole place up and dancing. So it should be no surprise to anyone that I was up and dancing again this past weekend. Except this time I wasn't an exception.
My friend who I stay with when I'm in town for business loves piano bars. So do I, though I admit I can live without some of the adult commentarys but I love music and singing (even though I sing off key) to favorite songs. This weekend we were almost the first ones there and not quite the last to leave !
The piano player had a voice that on some songs, I swear the man could melt stone lol. Wouldn't have minded using him for some narrations. And of course, I love to munch so who could resist ordering chips and queso LOL. Though the flatbread at the top of the middle photo was my dinner as I didn't have time to eat first - it was surprisingly tasty! To the right of that photo is my lemon drop martini - they didn't have chocolate (how can you not have the fixings for a chocolate martini!!!) but it was tasty too.
One last little fun tidbit for me - a lovely young lady, a surgicial nurse, with the most gorgeous read hair (reminded me of how I wrote Meg in Adam from Farraday Country) she was so sweet and friendly and at one point sat down to guess my age - Bless that young lady she had born the same year I graduated Junior High! When I told her what year I was really born she was like no way - that's my Mom's age and she does not look like you ! Well, on those morning when my knees crack and my wrists hurt from typing, I'm going to think of her and remind myself that i'm 13 years younger than I feel! LOL.
I'm still working away on Just One Rodeo and excited to see what folks are going to think of Just one Family that releases everywhere tomorrow. Back to work for now!
oh and if anyone's wondering why there are no dancing photos... I told my friend to burn the video LOL
What I'm not sure of is who was the first person to teach me to dance. I remember doing the twist with Uncle Fred as a little girl. Sherry Baby by the four seasons was a favorite song of mine and he would play it over and over for me and we would do the twist - I had to be five or six at the time. But I also remember at a similar young age, having my grandmother teach me the Charleston! I remember when I was in France after college the family I stayed with and I went to a town dance. At one point they played the familiar Charleston song and I hopped up and starting doing it - fingers were actually pointing in my direction because I was doing the real dance. Handful of pretty old folks joined me and were astounded that someone in her early 20s knew how to do all the moves. There's this funny toe to heel move, as well as the familiar knocking knees and hands things and of course the real steps. I've simply always loved dancing.
Then y'all saw where on New Year's Eve I willingly got up to dance with an ancient man who could barely lift his feet and then we got the whole place up and dancing. So it should be no surprise to anyone that I was up and dancing again this past weekend. Except this time I wasn't an exception.
My friend who I stay with when I'm in town for business loves piano bars. So do I, though I admit I can live without some of the adult commentarys but I love music and singing (even though I sing off key) to favorite songs. This weekend we were almost the first ones there and not quite the last to leave !
The piano player had a voice that on some songs, I swear the man could melt stone lol. Wouldn't have minded using him for some narrations. And of course, I love to munch so who could resist ordering chips and queso LOL. Though the flatbread at the top of the middle photo was my dinner as I didn't have time to eat first - it was surprisingly tasty! To the right of that photo is my lemon drop martini - they didn't have chocolate (how can you not have the fixings for a chocolate martini!!!) but it was tasty too. One last little fun tidbit for me - a lovely young lady, a surgicial nurse, with the most gorgeous read hair (reminded me of how I wrote Meg in Adam from Farraday Country) she was so sweet and friendly and at one point sat down to guess my age - Bless that young lady she had born the same year I graduated Junior High! When I told her what year I was really born she was like no way - that's my Mom's age and she does not look like you ! Well, on those morning when my knees crack and my wrists hurt from typing, I'm going to think of her and remind myself that i'm 13 years younger than I feel! LOL.
I'm still working away on Just One Rodeo and excited to see what folks are going to think of Just one Family that releases everywhere tomorrow. Back to work for now!
oh and if anyone's wondering why there are no dancing photos... I told my friend to burn the video LOL
February 19, 2024
Still working away
We had a little excitement in the author community with an audiobook distributor doing what appeared to be a major rights grab - meaning they wanted agreement to do all sorts of things with our work without compensation or approval. Needless to say that created a lot of time suck conversations and rabbit hole investigating!
I also got to spend yesterday hanging out with a table full of authors for a day of business discussions - Among other things - merchandise - I am SO close to selling merchandise on my store - first two things will be a tote bag and a coffee mugs - but we need to pin down who we want to use and I'm still dealing with sample qualities. I'm about to throw two into the washer and dryer and see how the totes come out! 
Cute - don't you think? The mugs are double sided - though I suppose I could do single sided -
As for my health, my blood pressure seems to have stabilized. Now I'm working on my cholesterol. If anyone has some great ideas on how to lower that, by all means let me know. I have taken two steps, first, I am foregoing butter. Well not all of it, but I tend to put it on everything, including peanut butter sandwiches so that will stop. Second, I am increasing my daily steps. I had been walking around the island every time I put something in the microwave. That thankfully increased my steps by two or three thousand, but now, I'm walking around the house every time I talk on the phone - that has gotten my steps up by 5-7000 more so that's nice. My goal is those blasted 10k steps a day and when that's steady, I'll try and up it a bit more.
If I could learn how to dictate and have the dictation transcribed, then I could walk and write like so many of my friends! We'll see how that works out.
As many of you know, Just One Family is releasing a week from Tuesday. I think y'all also know that if you don't want to wait, it can be bought and read now from my website store! And at a ten percent discount! That's been a lot of fun to hear back how folks are liking it already! One fan actually posted on her social media page how excited she was to have made herself a bologna sandwich and just as she went back to reading - so did the characters in Just One Family! I love having a hand in making someone's day a little more fun :)
All right, I'm behind the curve here on getting just one rodeo finished and writing Paxton at the same time! Oh, and I almost forgot to eat lunch, better go do that before dinner time hits!
Anyone have something fun happening in your world?
I also got to spend yesterday hanging out with a table full of authors for a day of business discussions - Among other things - merchandise - I am SO close to selling merchandise on my store - first two things will be a tote bag and a coffee mugs - but we need to pin down who we want to use and I'm still dealing with sample qualities. I'm about to throw two into the washer and dryer and see how the totes come out!
Cute - don't you think? The mugs are double sided - though I suppose I could do single sided - As for my health, my blood pressure seems to have stabilized. Now I'm working on my cholesterol. If anyone has some great ideas on how to lower that, by all means let me know. I have taken two steps, first, I am foregoing butter. Well not all of it, but I tend to put it on everything, including peanut butter sandwiches so that will stop. Second, I am increasing my daily steps. I had been walking around the island every time I put something in the microwave. That thankfully increased my steps by two or three thousand, but now, I'm walking around the house every time I talk on the phone - that has gotten my steps up by 5-7000 more so that's nice. My goal is those blasted 10k steps a day and when that's steady, I'll try and up it a bit more.
If I could learn how to dictate and have the dictation transcribed, then I could walk and write like so many of my friends! We'll see how that works out.
As many of you know, Just One Family is releasing a week from Tuesday. I think y'all also know that if you don't want to wait, it can be bought and read now from my website store! And at a ten percent discount! That's been a lot of fun to hear back how folks are liking it already! One fan actually posted on her social media page how excited she was to have made herself a bologna sandwich and just as she went back to reading - so did the characters in Just One Family! I love having a hand in making someone's day a little more fun :)
All right, I'm behind the curve here on getting just one rodeo finished and writing Paxton at the same time! Oh, and I almost forgot to eat lunch, better go do that before dinner time hits!
Anyone have something fun happening in your world?
February 12, 2024
Do You Like Old Movies?
My week has been long. I've had a couple of doctor's visits and a few other tests. The only thing we know for sure is that my BP problems are not my thyroid- so that's good. I've had more good days than bad, so that is also good. Yay!
I'm using my magnets taped to my elbow or wrist - whatever hurts from all this typing. I have a feeling that when I'm done with Just One Surprise and Just One Look, I may need a recovery break! Even my editor is surprised by how fast she's getting these books. In order for me to get a book out every month, it means no days off, not even Saturday or Sunday.
I do however get a little break in my day after I get my word count in. Today a friend came over and we ate dinner and watched a couple of movies. First we watched a really old movie from the forties, the Pied Piper. Set in WWII, it's about an Englishman fishing in France who is trying to return to England during the German invasion of France. Along the way he collects children and it has its humor despite the serious matter.
After that movie, it was still early so we watched another. This time we went for a full comedy. We picked Where Angels Go Trouble Follows. From the late sixties it follows a group of nuns and catholic school girls on a cross country bus trip. We laughed and enjoyed and it struck me - this movie that I watched whenever it was on TV and then from time to time on DVD, is probably one of the many that influence how I write. If you've ever seen it, you'll know there is no actual bad guy. There's no major fall out, yes there's a bit of conflict between the old guard and the new, but overall, it's just one thing happening after another. For the most part (except for the teens) everyone behaves like an adult and is very practical.
The same thing can be said about My Cousin Vinny. We watched the director's cut and he mentioned unlike most courtroom dramas, or comedies, there is no bad guy in My Cousin Vinny. It's just one thing happening after another until the problem is solved and everyone goes their happy way.
I used to say I write My Big Fat Greek Wedding sometimes, no dark moment (that's the lose the girl thing) it's only one gray moment after another. When she tells him she can't marry him because of her father, they don't break up, they don't fight, he says we can work it out and he converts to the Greek church. There's never a misunderstanding involving an ex girlfriend or a job, etc. And yet, the movie was a huge hit back in the day.
I'm sure there are so many more movies I could come up with, but in the end, I hate watching predictable drama. The traditional plot of boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy finds girl again. I so despise the forced miscommunications, forced fight and break up, etc etc. I try very hard to avoid those and make my people behave like intelligent adults, and if it were a movie, something I'd want to watch.
Anyhow, if you like old movies that will make you laugh (we also laughed over the clothes ) and are old enough to remember the sixties, I highly recommend Where Angels Go Trouble Follows. Rosalind Russel does a great job - her facial expressions make the movie.
Do you have a favorite old movie that most people have forgotten?
I'm using my magnets taped to my elbow or wrist - whatever hurts from all this typing. I have a feeling that when I'm done with Just One Surprise and Just One Look, I may need a recovery break! Even my editor is surprised by how fast she's getting these books. In order for me to get a book out every month, it means no days off, not even Saturday or Sunday.
I do however get a little break in my day after I get my word count in. Today a friend came over and we ate dinner and watched a couple of movies. First we watched a really old movie from the forties, the Pied Piper. Set in WWII, it's about an Englishman fishing in France who is trying to return to England during the German invasion of France. Along the way he collects children and it has its humor despite the serious matter.
After that movie, it was still early so we watched another. This time we went for a full comedy. We picked Where Angels Go Trouble Follows. From the late sixties it follows a group of nuns and catholic school girls on a cross country bus trip. We laughed and enjoyed and it struck me - this movie that I watched whenever it was on TV and then from time to time on DVD, is probably one of the many that influence how I write. If you've ever seen it, you'll know there is no actual bad guy. There's no major fall out, yes there's a bit of conflict between the old guard and the new, but overall, it's just one thing happening after another. For the most part (except for the teens) everyone behaves like an adult and is very practical.
The same thing can be said about My Cousin Vinny. We watched the director's cut and he mentioned unlike most courtroom dramas, or comedies, there is no bad guy in My Cousin Vinny. It's just one thing happening after another until the problem is solved and everyone goes their happy way.
I used to say I write My Big Fat Greek Wedding sometimes, no dark moment (that's the lose the girl thing) it's only one gray moment after another. When she tells him she can't marry him because of her father, they don't break up, they don't fight, he says we can work it out and he converts to the Greek church. There's never a misunderstanding involving an ex girlfriend or a job, etc. And yet, the movie was a huge hit back in the day.
I'm sure there are so many more movies I could come up with, but in the end, I hate watching predictable drama. The traditional plot of boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy finds girl again. I so despise the forced miscommunications, forced fight and break up, etc etc. I try very hard to avoid those and make my people behave like intelligent adults, and if it were a movie, something I'd want to watch.
Anyhow, if you like old movies that will make you laugh (we also laughed over the clothes ) and are old enough to remember the sixties, I highly recommend Where Angels Go Trouble Follows. Rosalind Russel does a great job - her facial expressions make the movie.
Do you have a favorite old movie that most people have forgotten?
February 5, 2024
Moving Along!
This week had some good and some not so good to report. We'll start with the not so good, my blood pressure has decided it wants to play cat and mouse. It's dropped as low as 80s over 40s and shot up to 130s over 70s - This morning it seems happy again. Tomorrow we're having a nice long visit with my favorite doctor. (Seriously I dread the day the man retires lol) - I should explain for all the medical folks out there - I have organically low blood pressure and the meds I take for my heart are the same that lower blood pressure so I always have to be careful.
On the fun side, Just One Mistake is a best seller at Barnes and Noble, always always always fun to see! I hope y'all enjoyed it. And, Just One Family is back from the editor and releasing on time the end of this month. Here are a couple of my favorite lines.
1.“Trish!” Flooded with relief, Logan reached the stranger in two long strides and scooped his younger daughter into his arms. “You scared me.”
Having let go of Trish’s hand, with a large shopping bag dangling from her elbow, the blonde crossed her arms. “If you think she scared you, wait till I’m done with you.”
2. Leah shouldn’t have said a word. Her grandparents would latch on to dinner with Logan like a lantern hanging in the North Church announcing, instead of the British, a wedding is coming.
I'm pretty excited about Jus One Family - also, I'm on schedule for Just One Rodeo - and considering how often I have to stop to do research - I'm pretty pleased with myself LOL.
and here's a little snippet (very little) from Just One Rodeo:
“It’s time.” Claire Baron’s vet tech shouted from the hallway.
Checking on one of her post-op patients still sleeping off the anesthesia, Claire gave
the sweet cattle dog a pat on the head and strolled over to the door way. She was positive
she’d cancelled all morning appointments for the emergency surgery, and couldn’t figure
what the woman was shouting about. Sticking her head into the hall, she looked for her tech.
“Time for what?”
“For what?” Kathy came hurrying down the hall from the front, grinning wider than a
lottery winner. “The baby!”
Baby. Claire blinked and then recognition dawned. So consumed with the injured
dog, she’d forgotten the entire family was on baby watch for her cousin Mitch and his wife.
“How long has she been in labor?” Claire slipped out of her lab coat and quickly hung it on a nearby hook.
“Rachel didn’t tell me.”
Claire hurried down the hall to her office, Kathy right on her heels. “What about the
contractions? How far apart are they?”
Kathy shook her head. “I don’t know.”
Grabbing her purse from the desk drawer, Claire leveled her gaze with Kathy. “Water
broke?”Shoulders lifted in a shrug at the same time Kathy’s hands flipped up in an I don’t
know gesture.
Biting back her frustration at limited information, Claire slammed the drawer shut
and smiled up at Kathy. “What exactly did Rachel say?”
“Gwyneth is in labor and your presence has been requested at the ranch ASAP.”
Her purse slung over her shoulder, she gave up digging for her truck keys and
snapped her head up. “Me? Why me?”
“You are a trained medical professional.” Kathy shrugged again.
“Yeah, for four legged critters, not humans. I don’t do humans.”
And here's another little scoop - anyone who lives in the area of Deadwood, South Dakota - I'll be attending the Deadwood readers conference June 15th, 2024.
.
I believe this is a three day reader event and I'm sure it's going to be lots of fun. Anyone have any recommendations of what I should visit while I'm in the area?
And that's it for today - I have a whole lot of missed work to catch up on from last week!
On the fun side, Just One Mistake is a best seller at Barnes and Noble, always always always fun to see! I hope y'all enjoyed it. And, Just One Family is back from the editor and releasing on time the end of this month. Here are a couple of my favorite lines.
1.“Trish!” Flooded with relief, Logan reached the stranger in two long strides and scooped his younger daughter into his arms. “You scared me.”
Having let go of Trish’s hand, with a large shopping bag dangling from her elbow, the blonde crossed her arms. “If you think she scared you, wait till I’m done with you.”
2. Leah shouldn’t have said a word. Her grandparents would latch on to dinner with Logan like a lantern hanging in the North Church announcing, instead of the British, a wedding is coming.
I'm pretty excited about Jus One Family - also, I'm on schedule for Just One Rodeo - and considering how often I have to stop to do research - I'm pretty pleased with myself LOL.
and here's a little snippet (very little) from Just One Rodeo:
“It’s time.” Claire Baron’s vet tech shouted from the hallway.
Checking on one of her post-op patients still sleeping off the anesthesia, Claire gave
the sweet cattle dog a pat on the head and strolled over to the door way. She was positive
she’d cancelled all morning appointments for the emergency surgery, and couldn’t figure
what the woman was shouting about. Sticking her head into the hall, she looked for her tech.
“Time for what?”
“For what?” Kathy came hurrying down the hall from the front, grinning wider than a
lottery winner. “The baby!”
Baby. Claire blinked and then recognition dawned. So consumed with the injured
dog, she’d forgotten the entire family was on baby watch for her cousin Mitch and his wife.
“How long has she been in labor?” Claire slipped out of her lab coat and quickly hung it on a nearby hook.
“Rachel didn’t tell me.”
Claire hurried down the hall to her office, Kathy right on her heels. “What about the
contractions? How far apart are they?”
Kathy shook her head. “I don’t know.”
Grabbing her purse from the desk drawer, Claire leveled her gaze with Kathy. “Water
broke?”Shoulders lifted in a shrug at the same time Kathy’s hands flipped up in an I don’t
know gesture.
Biting back her frustration at limited information, Claire slammed the drawer shut
and smiled up at Kathy. “What exactly did Rachel say?”
“Gwyneth is in labor and your presence has been requested at the ranch ASAP.”
Her purse slung over her shoulder, she gave up digging for her truck keys and
snapped her head up. “Me? Why me?”
“You are a trained medical professional.” Kathy shrugged again.
“Yeah, for four legged critters, not humans. I don’t do humans.”
And here's another little scoop - anyone who lives in the area of Deadwood, South Dakota - I'll be attending the Deadwood readers conference June 15th, 2024.
.
I believe this is a three day reader event and I'm sure it's going to be lots of fun. Anyone have any recommendations of what I should visit while I'm in the area? And that's it for today - I have a whole lot of missed work to catch up on from last week!
January 29, 2024
Pork Chops and What Not
I'll start with the what not - a polite way of saying - I'm going to grumble.
Does anyone else hate two factor authentication as much as I do? First of all - how the heck do so many entities know I own an ipad? They keep sending the codes to it - except it sits in a drawer in my nightstand. Not optimal and a dang scary thing that so many people know so much about me. Then we have the text message - Why does every business in the world assume that ALL of us sit with our phones in our laps? If I'm home working why in the name of all that is holy would I be on my cell phone? And... when I travel out of the country - I don't easily get texts on my cell phone. I just want to throttle the people who think this is safer - what happened to answer a personal question? Not many people know who my pet was when I was six or the make and model of first car I bought - or what car I learned to drive in (heck I'm lucky I remember lol) - Just so frustrating -
All right - rant over - next thing: Pork Chops - do you like pork chops? To celebrate finishing up Just One Family a few days early, I went to dinner at a fancy steak house I'd never been to and my friend said - order the pork chop. I like pork chops so I thought - why not. HOLY MOLY. It's not A porkchop -it's Three! Like a roast - wow. And it's caramelized - I'd never heard of caramelized pork before - but YUM!
Of course, I started with a chocolate martini - try them everywhere that serves them. This one was REALLY different from most places (no half and half) and seriously delicious. Of course it helped that forewarned them not to use more than a 1/2 oz of vodka as anything more than that and I don't like them. (yeah- I actually don't like the taste of any hard liquor lol) . Then we had the seafood stuffed mushrooms. I'm sorry to report I forgot to take a photo until we'd eaten all and there was only half of one left - but so very good. Then came the pork chop - as you can see they have already cut it up for us. They separate the loin, from the rib and the eyelash - who knew there was a part of a porkchop called an eyelash LOL. Even the creamed spinach I ordered was delicious! (sorry no photo of that but it looked like any other creamed spinach!)
Needless to say - I ate very little of the pork chop because it was so much food - I have had two more meals from it and there's still a ton of it in the fridge. Though I am running out of the spinach. I suspect I may have two more pork meals but only one spinach left!
Next we move into romance mode. There was a couple beside us (behind my friend) who I hadn't really paid any attention to. At one point I realized all the two top tables were along that wall and the diners all faced each other - except these two. The man had moved his chair to the side so that he was closer to the woman. Fair enough. I assumed, they must be dating.
Now we move on to dessert. I love bread pudding, but was a bit hesitant about the chocolate chips in this - those are actually not my favorite thing in anything but a chocolate chip cookie. But, the homemade marshmallow intrigued me. Especially after having had homemade marshmallow that a write friend made a short while back (think I mentioned them here). I assumed it was a little ordinary sized marshmallow. BOY, was I wrong. LOL. It was as big as the rest of the dessert - and the tastiest part. My friend was more exotic in her interest and ordered something flambéed. I honestly don't think I've ever had a waiter fire up a dessert table side before. It was fun to watch. And according to my friend, the final product poured over vanilla ice cream was to die for!
Isn't that a crazy huge marshmallow? So, now that we're both stuffed to the proverbial gills, I notice that couple again. This time, they're leaning in so close, that their noses are almost touching and every sentence was punctuated with a kiss. Oh, and both had their elbows on the table, (yeah my grandmother was probably rolling over in her grave) but he had both her hands clasped in both of his as they spoke and kissed.
I casually mentioned to my friend, those two must be dating, nobody married is that cutesy in public. My friend thought about it and asked - is there a wedding ring. Now I should add, the couple were probably in their forties. Moving along, I peeked over and saw a diamond on her left hand. I thought, oh, well, if they were engaged that would be the same. So I looked again (trying really hard not to stare) and thought well I'll be, there's a wedding ring too. All right. Newlyweds will work too. Then the cynic in me crept up (romance author gods forgive me) and I said to my friend, they're either newlyweds or having an affair.
Now in my defense, by now we've gone from cooing conversation with pecks on the lips to both hands on either side of the other person's face and murmuring more sweet nothings. Now curiosity was getting the better of us, so I pulled over their waiter and asked if he knew what was going on... drum roll please... I was shocked. They were there celebrating their sixth wedding anniversary. Cynic has now been promptly put in her place! I will tell you this, those images will forever come to mind when I'm writing future books! And anyone who says the real world isn't as lovely dovey as my characters - oh yes it can be!
which brings me to books - Just One Mistake releases tomorrow. Some of you will get it from vendors tonight. If others don't want to wait, you can get it right now, this very minute, direct from my website.
And, next week when I get family back from my editor, I'll share a little snippet with you!
Until then - take care!
Does anyone else hate two factor authentication as much as I do? First of all - how the heck do so many entities know I own an ipad? They keep sending the codes to it - except it sits in a drawer in my nightstand. Not optimal and a dang scary thing that so many people know so much about me. Then we have the text message - Why does every business in the world assume that ALL of us sit with our phones in our laps? If I'm home working why in the name of all that is holy would I be on my cell phone? And... when I travel out of the country - I don't easily get texts on my cell phone. I just want to throttle the people who think this is safer - what happened to answer a personal question? Not many people know who my pet was when I was six or the make and model of first car I bought - or what car I learned to drive in (heck I'm lucky I remember lol) - Just so frustrating -
All right - rant over - next thing: Pork Chops - do you like pork chops? To celebrate finishing up Just One Family a few days early, I went to dinner at a fancy steak house I'd never been to and my friend said - order the pork chop. I like pork chops so I thought - why not. HOLY MOLY. It's not A porkchop -it's Three! Like a roast - wow. And it's caramelized - I'd never heard of caramelized pork before - but YUM!
Of course, I started with a chocolate martini - try them everywhere that serves them. This one was REALLY different from most places (no half and half) and seriously delicious. Of course it helped that forewarned them not to use more than a 1/2 oz of vodka as anything more than that and I don't like them. (yeah- I actually don't like the taste of any hard liquor lol) . Then we had the seafood stuffed mushrooms. I'm sorry to report I forgot to take a photo until we'd eaten all and there was only half of one left - but so very good. Then came the pork chop - as you can see they have already cut it up for us. They separate the loin, from the rib and the eyelash - who knew there was a part of a porkchop called an eyelash LOL. Even the creamed spinach I ordered was delicious! (sorry no photo of that but it looked like any other creamed spinach!)
Needless to say - I ate very little of the pork chop because it was so much food - I have had two more meals from it and there's still a ton of it in the fridge. Though I am running out of the spinach. I suspect I may have two more pork meals but only one spinach left! Next we move into romance mode. There was a couple beside us (behind my friend) who I hadn't really paid any attention to. At one point I realized all the two top tables were along that wall and the diners all faced each other - except these two. The man had moved his chair to the side so that he was closer to the woman. Fair enough. I assumed, they must be dating.
Now we move on to dessert. I love bread pudding, but was a bit hesitant about the chocolate chips in this - those are actually not my favorite thing in anything but a chocolate chip cookie. But, the homemade marshmallow intrigued me. Especially after having had homemade marshmallow that a write friend made a short while back (think I mentioned them here). I assumed it was a little ordinary sized marshmallow. BOY, was I wrong. LOL. It was as big as the rest of the dessert - and the tastiest part. My friend was more exotic in her interest and ordered something flambéed. I honestly don't think I've ever had a waiter fire up a dessert table side before. It was fun to watch. And according to my friend, the final product poured over vanilla ice cream was to die for!
Isn't that a crazy huge marshmallow? So, now that we're both stuffed to the proverbial gills, I notice that couple again. This time, they're leaning in so close, that their noses are almost touching and every sentence was punctuated with a kiss. Oh, and both had their elbows on the table, (yeah my grandmother was probably rolling over in her grave) but he had both her hands clasped in both of his as they spoke and kissed. I casually mentioned to my friend, those two must be dating, nobody married is that cutesy in public. My friend thought about it and asked - is there a wedding ring. Now I should add, the couple were probably in their forties. Moving along, I peeked over and saw a diamond on her left hand. I thought, oh, well, if they were engaged that would be the same. So I looked again (trying really hard not to stare) and thought well I'll be, there's a wedding ring too. All right. Newlyweds will work too. Then the cynic in me crept up (romance author gods forgive me) and I said to my friend, they're either newlyweds or having an affair.
Now in my defense, by now we've gone from cooing conversation with pecks on the lips to both hands on either side of the other person's face and murmuring more sweet nothings. Now curiosity was getting the better of us, so I pulled over their waiter and asked if he knew what was going on... drum roll please... I was shocked. They were there celebrating their sixth wedding anniversary. Cynic has now been promptly put in her place! I will tell you this, those images will forever come to mind when I'm writing future books! And anyone who says the real world isn't as lovely dovey as my characters - oh yes it can be!
which brings me to books - Just One Mistake releases tomorrow. Some of you will get it from vendors tonight. If others don't want to wait, you can get it right now, this very minute, direct from my website.
And, next week when I get family back from my editor, I'll share a little snippet with you!
Until then - take care!
January 22, 2024
Did you Freeze?
What a crazy week. It is not supposed to be freezing in South Texas for more than a day or two - a whole week of freezing is a bit much for this transplant.
I left New York after college for a lot of reasons, but on the top of the list was I do not like snow or cold. Thankfully we didn't have to deal with snow near Houston, but the cold - well- that's another story!
When the temperatures finally breached forty degrees, the concrete people began demolishing the mishmosh of old back porch, the added walkway and then the stamped concrete pool surround. Originally it wasn't in the plan to replace it all, but several things crept up and we decided there's a time when you have to stop patching and just start over - this was it.
As you can see - there is the view from the porch and the view of the porch and the view of the different patios - this doesn't show the stones off to the right or the pebble original porch. So many textures.
I knew that the concrete company needed to take all this up - but I was not prepared for the trucks and equipment that met me when I arrived on site.
It was especially startling looking out through the patio doors! The first photo is the machinery right by the back door!
because of the rain and freezing weather, we were only able to do the cement under the patio covers - the cement around the pool has to wait for the rain to go away. but it's looking good! And as a reminder - we added an outdoor living space to the back instead of the ugly deck that was there.
This is the project that is taking forever, but I'll share photos when it's all done - Did you notice how green the grass is? I love spreading winter rye in the cold months because it looks so pretty. It will die in the Spring with the Texas heat, but it's lovely in the winter.
I bet you want to know where book writing is don't you? LOL. As scheduled, Just One Mistake is releasing next Tuesday on January 30th and I am almost ready to send Just One Family to the editor for release in February - I'm having lots of fun with the Barons but itching to get back to working on the Sweet family series that I started over a year ago! I really miss writing small towns with quirky characters and a fun Main Street! Ohh. and We're working to have Just One Mistake up for sale a week early on my website! How fun is that! So check back tomorrow and see if we pulled it off!
Catch ya next week!
I left New York after college for a lot of reasons, but on the top of the list was I do not like snow or cold. Thankfully we didn't have to deal with snow near Houston, but the cold - well- that's another story!
When the temperatures finally breached forty degrees, the concrete people began demolishing the mishmosh of old back porch, the added walkway and then the stamped concrete pool surround. Originally it wasn't in the plan to replace it all, but several things crept up and we decided there's a time when you have to stop patching and just start over - this was it.
As you can see - there is the view from the porch and the view of the porch and the view of the different patios - this doesn't show the stones off to the right or the pebble original porch. So many textures.
I knew that the concrete company needed to take all this up - but I was not prepared for the trucks and equipment that met me when I arrived on site. It was especially startling looking out through the patio doors! The first photo is the machinery right by the back door!
because of the rain and freezing weather, we were only able to do the cement under the patio covers - the cement around the pool has to wait for the rain to go away. but it's looking good! And as a reminder - we added an outdoor living space to the back instead of the ugly deck that was there.
This is the project that is taking forever, but I'll share photos when it's all done - Did you notice how green the grass is? I love spreading winter rye in the cold months because it looks so pretty. It will die in the Spring with the Texas heat, but it's lovely in the winter. I bet you want to know where book writing is don't you? LOL. As scheduled, Just One Mistake is releasing next Tuesday on January 30th and I am almost ready to send Just One Family to the editor for release in February - I'm having lots of fun with the Barons but itching to get back to working on the Sweet family series that I started over a year ago! I really miss writing small towns with quirky characters and a fun Main Street! Ohh. and We're working to have Just One Mistake up for sale a week early on my website! How fun is that! So check back tomorrow and see if we pulled it off!
Catch ya next week!
January 15, 2024
Busy Week
t's been a week since I sent Just One Mistake off to the editor and it hasn't come back yet. As an author, the longer it takes my editor to send me a book, the more work I know it's going to need in revisions (revisions are the things editors want you to change, fix, or add). I have a feeling this one is going to need a lot of work!
I'm chugging away on Leah's story. I don't know that I've ever written a story with a single dad with two little girls so this is a bit of a challenge for me. I can't tell you how happy it makes me that so many people really seem to be enjoying the Baron family.
In between writing new chapters in Just One Family - I got to check out a hotel that will host a conference later this year. My friend and I drove down and had a fantastic dinner!
It started - of course- with me ordering a chocolate martini. I always tell them to make it weak but bartenders really don't believe me. I explained if it's too strong I can only have one. Well that's what happened here. I wanted to try their Creme Brulee martini, but after one chocolate, and me driving, I simply couldn't - so next time! Then we shared two appetizers - a baked brie with cherries and crab dip to die for. The dip had a bit of a kick to it - which happens a lot in Texas - but it was still to die for!
Then for dinner, I had a difficult choice to make, the braised short ribs - I adore good short ribs- or the Chilean seabass - well- I really love a good seabass too! So - I did what any indecisive woman would do, I ordered the seabass with spinach and cheese cous cous for dinner and the short ribs with cheese grits and roasted brussel sprouts to go - I'm going to get at least three dinners out of those short ribs! lol.
My friend was much more decisive than I was - she ordered the buttermilk battered chicken with asparagus and mashed potatoes! Then we ran into that indecision problem again when it came to dessert. So, we ordered all three! A key lime tart, a smores pie (that was very intriguing but my friend liked it more than I did), and the one I thought would be great, the pumpkin moose cheesecake - while it was tasty, the key lime turned out to be my favorite.
Now we're hunkering down for a few days of freezing weather - not something Texas does well - but we're hopefully all set. And stocked with lots of leftovers LOL.
maybe next week I can share a snippet from my current work in progress - do y'all like that sort of thing?
I'm chugging away on Leah's story. I don't know that I've ever written a story with a single dad with two little girls so this is a bit of a challenge for me. I can't tell you how happy it makes me that so many people really seem to be enjoying the Baron family.
In between writing new chapters in Just One Family - I got to check out a hotel that will host a conference later this year. My friend and I drove down and had a fantastic dinner!
It started - of course- with me ordering a chocolate martini. I always tell them to make it weak but bartenders really don't believe me. I explained if it's too strong I can only have one. Well that's what happened here. I wanted to try their Creme Brulee martini, but after one chocolate, and me driving, I simply couldn't - so next time! Then we shared two appetizers - a baked brie with cherries and crab dip to die for. The dip had a bit of a kick to it - which happens a lot in Texas - but it was still to die for!
Then for dinner, I had a difficult choice to make, the braised short ribs - I adore good short ribs- or the Chilean seabass - well- I really love a good seabass too! So - I did what any indecisive woman would do, I ordered the seabass with spinach and cheese cous cous for dinner and the short ribs with cheese grits and roasted brussel sprouts to go - I'm going to get at least three dinners out of those short ribs! lol. My friend was much more decisive than I was - she ordered the buttermilk battered chicken with asparagus and mashed potatoes! Then we ran into that indecision problem again when it came to dessert. So, we ordered all three! A key lime tart, a smores pie (that was very intriguing but my friend liked it more than I did), and the one I thought would be great, the pumpkin moose cheesecake - while it was tasty, the key lime turned out to be my favorite.
Now we're hunkering down for a few days of freezing weather - not something Texas does well - but we're hopefully all set. And stocked with lots of leftovers LOL. maybe next week I can share a snippet from my current work in progress - do y'all like that sort of thing?
January 9, 2024
A Day Late !
Well, I'm sure many of you have noticed I'm a day late! So very sorry- but I have what I think is a good excuse - I was nose to the keyboard finishing up Just One Mistake because my editor HAD to have it by last night in order for us to meet the release day deadline!
I dream of some year being month ahead on releases. I have friends who are a whole year ahead on their publishing dates. Not me, I'm always scrambling. I do think however that everything finally came together! But what amazes me even more is that I managed to write write write AND babysit the grands this past weekend!
Ideally this book was supposed to be delivered on Dec 31 so I had to push it out to the maximum limit. Then the next best thing would have been to turn it in last wed - I did try lol- because thursday I had to drive to Houston and then Friday, Saturday and Sunday I was on Oma duty while my daughter and her husband took a weekend trip to visit friends out of state.
I love watching little minds at work, but let me tell you, keeping up requires stamina! Next time I may go into training first - like athletes LOL. I freely admit it would have been way harder without my handsome hubby's help!
Not sure if you can tell - but that maroon and white blanket hung over the sofa is an Aggie blanket - as many of you know, I mention Texas A&M all the time in my Texas based books! This is why - Aggie stuff everywhere in this family!
Will be staying near my daughter a while working on that project house again - some days I wonder how nuts I am - but - I did use experience here for a lot of what happens in Just One Mistake so I guess that's a good thing!
Okay, I'm off to start on Just One Family - Leah's book.
Catch ya later!
I dream of some year being month ahead on releases. I have friends who are a whole year ahead on their publishing dates. Not me, I'm always scrambling. I do think however that everything finally came together! But what amazes me even more is that I managed to write write write AND babysit the grands this past weekend!
Ideally this book was supposed to be delivered on Dec 31 so I had to push it out to the maximum limit. Then the next best thing would have been to turn it in last wed - I did try lol- because thursday I had to drive to Houston and then Friday, Saturday and Sunday I was on Oma duty while my daughter and her husband took a weekend trip to visit friends out of state.
I love watching little minds at work, but let me tell you, keeping up requires stamina! Next time I may go into training first - like athletes LOL. I freely admit it would have been way harder without my handsome hubby's help!
Not sure if you can tell - but that maroon and white blanket hung over the sofa is an Aggie blanket - as many of you know, I mention Texas A&M all the time in my Texas based books! This is why - Aggie stuff everywhere in this family! Will be staying near my daughter a while working on that project house again - some days I wonder how nuts I am - but - I did use experience here for a lot of what happens in Just One Mistake so I guess that's a good thing!
Okay, I'm off to start on Just One Family - Leah's book.
Catch ya later!
December 31, 2023
Expecting a Great Year!
Even though my house is still in a bit of disarray after last week, the year could not have ended on a more entertaining note!
On the downside, I am behind on Rachel's book. It's coming along, but life keeps getting in the way. Working my best to get it out on time!
On the upside, our favorite place to spend the new year was booked up before we could reserve a table. All set to spend the night at home, we ordered Chinese food and I sat down to work on Rachel. Then I got a call from the Dallas Kitchen Cafe at 7pm - right after we ordered food - and they had a table for two. So of course, I said yes! Except Hubby was looking forward to his Chinese food and the Dallas Stars Hockey game so my friend Joan and I got dressed up quickly and off to the jazz supper club we went.
Dinner was absolutely delicious. It started with Lobster bisque soup, then surf and turf, and of course, the festivities wouldn't be complete without my beloved chocolate martini. Although, mine are always so weak they taste more like chocolate milk LOL - You might notice, I almost forgot to take a photo both of the soup and supper, I'd already started eating (oops).
All night as we sang with the band and laughed and sang some more, I kept remembering what my grandmother used to say: Sit down and the party's over. Well, of course as a young kid I always thought she really meant a party, tonight it struck me, she was talking about her old age. I would have gladly stayed seated comfortably in my recliner, as with most things, I often happily agree to sit than to get up and go. But if I do that, I'll miss the party. So glad I didn't miss it tonight.
After dinner my friend requested the song Besame Mucho. Except the band only knew how to play it, not sing it, so they coaxed my friend up to sing. What a hoot! I'm sorry I can't post videos on this blog - I took all of 15 seconds but it's a fun memory! Here's a photo of her singing and as you can see from the photo of both of us -I was truly enjoying 'being at the party'.
I'm considering my surprise start of a new year - the way I love things, with friends and laughter - to be a good sign for the year to come!
Wishing all my readers a wonderful 2024 filled with pleasant surprises above and beyond anything you could ask or think!
On the downside, I am behind on Rachel's book. It's coming along, but life keeps getting in the way. Working my best to get it out on time!
On the upside, our favorite place to spend the new year was booked up before we could reserve a table. All set to spend the night at home, we ordered Chinese food and I sat down to work on Rachel. Then I got a call from the Dallas Kitchen Cafe at 7pm - right after we ordered food - and they had a table for two. So of course, I said yes! Except Hubby was looking forward to his Chinese food and the Dallas Stars Hockey game so my friend Joan and I got dressed up quickly and off to the jazz supper club we went.
Dinner was absolutely delicious. It started with Lobster bisque soup, then surf and turf, and of course, the festivities wouldn't be complete without my beloved chocolate martini. Although, mine are always so weak they taste more like chocolate milk LOL - You might notice, I almost forgot to take a photo both of the soup and supper, I'd already started eating (oops).
All night as we sang with the band and laughed and sang some more, I kept remembering what my grandmother used to say: Sit down and the party's over. Well, of course as a young kid I always thought she really meant a party, tonight it struck me, she was talking about her old age. I would have gladly stayed seated comfortably in my recliner, as with most things, I often happily agree to sit than to get up and go. But if I do that, I'll miss the party. So glad I didn't miss it tonight. After dinner my friend requested the song Besame Mucho. Except the band only knew how to play it, not sing it, so they coaxed my friend up to sing. What a hoot! I'm sorry I can't post videos on this blog - I took all of 15 seconds but it's a fun memory! Here's a photo of her singing and as you can see from the photo of both of us -I was truly enjoying 'being at the party'.
I'm considering my surprise start of a new year - the way I love things, with friends and laughter - to be a good sign for the year to come! Wishing all my readers a wonderful 2024 filled with pleasant surprises above and beyond anything you could ask or think!
