As the lone Canadian in the Romance Writers Weekly group, sometimes the blog topics don’t quite line up with my calendar. This week is a case in point… Memorial Day Weekend is coming up. What traditions do you and your family have? Will you start any new ones? In Canada, we do have a long weekend in May, but it is the third weekend of the month. For you non-Canadians, it’s called Victoria Day, and was originally intended to celebrate the birthday of Queen Victoria, the longest reigning monarch (at the time – Queen Elizabeth II has her beat by several years, now). It has morphed into the unofficial start of summer, with many Canadian heading out camping for the first time of the year. Where I live, it's also the weekend when it is generally accepted to be safe to leave bedding plants and such outside without danger of frost! Back to camping, though. We followed that tradition for several years when our children were young. Now that we are quasi-retired, we postpone that first trip until the Tuesday after the long weekend to avoid the crowds. This year is no exception…as you read this, we should be on the road to a favourite spot, ready for six days of campfires, canoe rides, and cookouts. What about you? Is there a May long weekend where you live? And if so, how do you celebrate it? Leave me a comment below, then hop over to PG Forte to find out what her Memorial Day weekend plans are.
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Here in Northern BC, September is a beautiful month. While the mornings can hover around freezing, the afternoons can match hot summer temperatures, with clear blue skies and gorgeous sunsets. But there is no escaping the fact autumn is here, as the leaves change colours and the scent of dying vegetation lingers in the garden. Which led me to suggest this week's topic on the RWW Blog Hop: Do you read differently in different seasons? Need lighter reads for summer sunshine and save the deep thoughts for dark winter nights? To be honest, until I thought up this question, I had never really considered I might choose my reading by what time of year it is. But as I pondered, I realized I do have certain trends. In the summer, when we spend a lot of time outdoors, I read shorter, fun fiction the most. It’s easier to fit into busy days, and who wants to read deep, depressing tomes when the sun is shining? Not that I read too many of those kinds of books, anyway. But I’m pretty sure that as the days get shorter and the dark comes sooner, I’m more willing to settle in with a story that challenges me to think deep thoughts. I also find I tend to read longer books in the colder season – ones that will keep me in the author’s world and out of the doldrums of winter. What about you? Do you have seasonal reading habits? What about non-fiction – do you read that all year long or only certain times of the year? I’d love to hear more! Then, hop over to Caro Kinkead and see what she reads when!
This week’s topic was just too easy. Jenna Da Sie asks: Do you like to go camping, if so where is your favourite place? Do you camp in a tent or camper? Do I like to go camping – pshaw! Of course I do. I’ve shared photos before on this blog showing our wonderful trips. First off, let me say that for me, camping is best with a travel trailer that had a working toilet and hard sides to keep out the larger Northern British Columbia critters. I have tented, but it is so much work to bring everything you need. With our travel trailer, we load up food and firewood and off we go. We rarely camp where there are services such as electricity and water, so we are very self-sufficient. When I was 12 my parents bought a travel trailer to replace our tent trailer. I remember being there when my dad made the purchase. 17 years later, my husband and I bought that trailer from my parents and spent about 15 years camping with our kids. We have since upgraded to something newer, but it was a wrench to sell that trailer with so many happy memories. Our favourite place to go is a lake about 45 minutes east of our town called Purden Lake. It is a provincial park and has large, private sites surrounded by lush forest. The lake is clear and clean, the amber colour of many northern lakes, and while the fishing isn’t the best, it is still fun to drop a line in the water. I am blessed to live in an area with an abundance of beautiful places to camp. This summer we have spent close to 4 weeks camping on a number of trips, and it has been wonderful. Enjoy these photos celebrating some of our camping memories, then be sure to hop over to Clair Brett and get her take on the great outdoors! Guess what? I have a cover for my Christmas novella, coming this fall! An adventurous kitten, a curious dog, and a matchmaking eight-year-old guarantee this will be a holiday to remember. Luca Tannon’s new neighbour is a sexy but surly single dad. Which is all for the best since she’s focussed on reclaiming her life after a toxic long-term relationship. Caleb Frost won’t let anything distract him from ensuring his son’s first Christmas as the child of divorced parents is perfect. And that includes the irritatingly intriguing woman living next door. Everything is going as planned…until it’s not.
The Romance Writers Weekly Blog Hop is back! We took some time off to enjoy summer, but we are all set to head into fall full of energy and vigour. This week, A.S. Fenichel http://asfenichel.com/blog/ asks: We’re getting into the dog days now. What do you do to relax? Is it a hobby, laying about in the sun or something else? How do you unwind and how does it feed your soul? Summer in Northern British Columbia has been…odd, to say the least. We started July with record heat. I’m not sure what the official high temperature was, but it was near enough to 40C (104F) not to matter. That is INSANELY hot for where I live. Since then, we’ve bounced from cool, rainy weather back to unusually hot days and back again. It’s like we’ve been having mini-summers LOL! That being said, my all-time favourite thing to do when the heat is here is to head out in our small boat. My area is blessed with dozens of beautiful, clear lakes. Sometimes we fish, but all the time I have a book with me. I love to swim right from the boat (thereby avoiding weeds and yucky bottoms) and then laze in the prow soaking up the sun. What do you like to do on the hot days of summer? Be sure to drop me a comment and let me know. Then continue your hop with Clair Brett.
As authors, we tend to focus on sight and touch. But there are other senses that can really evoke a response. This week, Leslie Hachtel says: Scent is very important in life and in our stories. Tell us your favorite and why it inspires you. If you joined me from Clair Brett, welcome! As with many things, it is hard to narrow down a favourite scent. I prefer light, herbal scents to heavier perfumes, though. Lemon, mint, and rosemary are definitely at the top of the list. But when it comes to a scent that inspires me, I think I will go with lavender. I love to put on lavender hand cream before bed. It is soothing and relaxing, and as I always read for a lengthy period of time before going to sleep, I associate the smell with one of my favourite things! The other reason I love lavender is that is reminds me of Provence. In 2017 my husband and I took the trip of a lifetime with my parents and spent time in Belgium (where my mother was born) and the south of France. The lavender fields were just coming into bloom, but the scent was already noticeable. It is a wonderful memory. This blog is a good reminder to me to put more scent into my writing! It can initiate very strong emotions, and is a great way to set a scene. How about you? What scent do you prefer? I love to hear from you. Then be sure to hop over to Leslie Hachtel and discover her favourite scent.
The last week or so has been VERY COLD in much of North America, so this week’s topic on the Romance Writers Weekly Blog Hop seems just right for while we are all hunkering down and staying warm! Let’s talk about food. What’s your favorite food or dish? Does it evoke a memory or is it something new that you adore? I am not a picky eater. If I don’t like something it is more because of the texture than the taste. So, when I started thinking about what to write for this blog, I had too many choices. But then I started thinking about the memories behind the food, and that made it easier. One dish that evokes a strong memory for me is moules et frites. In 2017 my husband and I went to Europe with my parents. We visited my mother’s family in Belgium, and then spent a week in the south of France. One day we drove to a village on the Mediterranean and had mussels and French fries at a restaurant overlooking the sea. While the food was amazing, the view, the company and the experience made it all one of the best days of our trip. Every once in a while I make the dish here at home and it never fails to remind us of that trip. I don’t think I ever realized how much sharing a meal contributed to our human experience until this past year. Eating together deepens the sense of community and belonging between family and friends in a way I don’t fully comprehend. It is that new understanding that made me choose my other favourite meal – turkey dinner. Like many families, I don’t think we’ve ever roasted a turkey for anything other than a special occasion. That must be why it has extra meaning. Of course, the trimmings that are served along side contribute to the “specialness.” Who can resist stuffing, after all! What about you? What meal has deep significance for you? Let me know in the comments! Then, hop on over to Leslie Hachtel and see what she has to say. Don't miss the countdown to my next release, RICHLY DESERVED! Click here to Join my newsletter to see the cover first, read sneak peeks, and generally keep up with the news leading up to the launch day on March 29. Here's what it's all about:
More than twenty years ago, Claudia Aronson escaped an abusive marriage. She built a secure, stable life, and is now only weeks away from realizing a long-held dream—opening her own art gallery. But her well-ordered world is threatened by the compelling, abrasive man essential to bringing her new venture into the spotlight. Artist Titus Wilcox is reclusive, nomadic, and passionate. His solitary, drifting habits have fed his creative soul, but played hell with his love life. Soon after he meets the statuesque, seemingly-serene Claudia, however, he feels a compulsion to paint a new reality—with her. When an antique painting reveals mysterious documents concealed behind its frame, Titus and Claudia unite in a hunt for lost riches—a pursuit that takes them into the remote hills surrounding the fabled gold rush town of Barkerville. To these two skeptics, true love is as phony as fool’s gold. But this improbable search for buried treasure could lead to their hearts’ hidden desires. This week on the Romance Writers Weekly Blog Hop, we’re indulging in wishful thinking. 😊 A.S. Fenichel says: Describe a perfect day either in your life or in your imagination. What would it be like? If you joined me from Leslie Hachtel, welcome! I am a firm believer in cherishing what you have, and not angsting over what you have not. By extension of this thinking, I don’t believe you can plan the perfect day. Expectations will colour everything, and humans are easily disappointed. It’s a phenomenon you often see at big celebrations like Christmas or birthdays, especially with small children. They’ve built the day up so much in their head that nothing will be able to match it. That being said, I’ve been lucky enough to have many, many days where I can look back and say “There. That was a near-perfect day.” And if I study those days, they have a few things in common.
As you can see, this list has no specifics on it. It doesn’t say my perfect day MUST have this, that or the other. This leaves me open to experiencing a near-perfect day almost any day. Although a day where I haven't read can NEVER be a near-perfect day LOL! What about you? Does your perfect day require certain things? There are no wrong answers. Leave a comment below, then hop over to A. S. Fenichel's blog to see what she wrote!
This is probably going to be my last blog post of 2020. And what better way to end the year than by sharing some of my Christmas decorations? A.S. Fenichel asks: Are your decorations up? We’d love to see some pictures and if you have an ornament with some special meaning, how about the story? In our house, my husband is the King of Christmas Lights. He makes sure both inside and outside are bright and cheerful—which, given how early it gets dark in Northern British Columbia at this time of year, is wonderful. He is also in charge of putting up the tree, though it is my job to decorate it. This year felt like it needed some extra cheer, so we’ve had everything up and on since November 12 (we like to wait until after Remembrance Day). Speaking of decorating the tree, I found myself needing to buy more ornaments this year. You see, ever since our son was born in 1998, I’ve bought him and his two sisters a Christmas ornament for their stockings. For a few years, I had so many I couldn’t put them all on the tree! But then the girls left home and took their ornaments with them. Then our son moved out this summer, so his ornaments moved, too. All of a sudden, the tree looked very bare! One of my favourite ornaments is made from dough and has five snowmen, one for each of us in the family. Even though we’ve added two sons-in-law and have grandbabies on the way, it is still a wonderful memento of the many Christmases we’ve shared. I also treasure homemade ornaments and decorations, and a special one featuring the Nativity that we were given for our very first Christmas as a married couple.
Sometimes being grateful isn’t a feeling. Sometimes it’s an act of defiance. 2020 has been that kind of year. That’s why this week’s Romance Writers Weekly Blog Hop is so important. Leslie Hachtel commands: Tell us what you are most grateful for. If you joined me from Clair Brett, welcome. It will be hard to write this post without being too maudlin. 2020 has had its challenges – COVID and non-COVID related – but in the grand scheme of things, it would be selfish of me to complain. There have been a lot of wonderful things, too, including the announcement of two grandbabies soon to join our family. So what am I most grateful for? The way this year has forced me to realize how much I took for granted. Hugs from family. Face to face visits with friends. The freedom to come and go when and where I please. Days unburdened by anxiety. Once these trying times have passed, it will only be human nature to relax back into the casual acceptance of all these things. But I hope the memory of 2020 will help me take a little extra joy in the ordinary everyday. I’d love to hear what you are most grateful for. Leave a comment below, then be sure to hop over to Caro Kinkead who is next on the list. The Bendixon Sisters Series is on sale this week!ALLEGRO COURT – FREE! (was 99 cents) Mattie thinks she sees a way to save her beloved construction company—if she can convince world-class cellist Marcus Temple, the man who destroyed her dreams once before, to stay in his hated hometown for one month. All she has to risk is her heart. GATEWAY CRESCENT – ONLY 99 CENTS! (was $2.99, will be going up to $3.99 after this week) Jo is flighty and scattered and impulsive – or that’s what her sisters think. Luke Donwell is destined to be a Catholic priest – or that’s what his parents hope for. Neither is prepared for the heat between them. Jo’s heart will break when he leaves her, but how can a girl compete with God? CROSSROADS CORNER - $2.99 (will go up to 3.99 after this week) Nothing will stop Camryn from dragging Bendixon and Sons back to profitability—especially not Will Danson, the sexy single dad who is standing in her way. Soon the two are competing for construction bids and career-making contracts. But it is Camryn’s battered heart that Will truly wants to win. New Release from Caro Kinkaid - To Lure a LordShe must find a husband quickly or be forced into an arranged marriage. But can the man trying to scuttle her efforts be the answer to her prayers? The London season is a ticking clock for Augusta Eastleigh. With her mother’s help, she has a marriage prospect she hopes will satisfy her grandfather, the Earl of Forebridge. But Lord Blair MacDonald, recently returned to London, does not look kindly on her efforts to snare his friend. Nor does he hesitate to make his views known about Augusta and the rumors surrounding her birth. Blair has more than one reason to dislike the girl. With his older brother Hamish critically wounded while fighting on the Peninsula, and his eldest brother refusing to marry, the Marquess of Rutherglen has decided his third son will be the one to carry on the family line. Which means he needs to marry. Now. The girl his father has chosen for Blair? None other than Augusta Eastleigh. The situation pleases neither of them. But with the heads of the families set on the match, can they find common ground together, or will they face an unhappy future? Amazon B&N Apple Kobo Google Play As seems to befit 2020, winter has come early to Northern BC. At least, that’s what it feels like. And while the holidays aren’t going to be the same as in previous years, we’ll still do our best to celebrate with family and friends. That being said, on the Romance Weekly Blog Hop today, we’re sharing our favourite holiday recipes. Leslie Hachtel has asked us to name our favorite Thanksgiving food and provide the recipe. Since we Canadians have already enjoyed our Thanksgiving meal, I’m sharing a recipe that is often requested no matter what the occasion – Portuguese Red Potatoes. This is a recipe I learned from my mother-in-law. I have no idea if it’s a traditional Portuguese dish or one that she created herself. But if you’re looking for an alternative to mashed potatoes and want to add some colour to your table, it’s pretty and delicious. Portuguese Red Potatoes 5 lbs. medium potatoes (any kind) peeled and cut in half if on the very of large. Do NOT quarter as they will cook too quickly. 1 tbsp. paprika 2 tbsp. oil ¼ tsp. black pepper ¼ tsp. white pepper 1 tsp. chicken boulion 7.5 ounce can tomato paste 4 tbsp. sweet red pepper paste (see note below) Put potatoes in large casserole dish or slow cooker. Mix remaining ingredients together and pour over potatoes. Mix well so all potatoes are coated. Cover. If using oven, bake at 350 for 1 hour and test for doneness. If using slow cooker, cook on high 2.5 hours or low 5 hours. Cooking times may vary depending on how well done you like your potatoes. I prefer them firm, not mushy, so this might not be long enough for you. Sweet Red Pepper Paste is a very simple mixture made with red bell peppers cut or ground into small pieces seasoned with a little salt and preserved in jars. My mother-in-law made her own, but I believe it is available in delicatessens. I hope you give this wonderful dish a try. Now hop on over to Clair Brett for another holiday treat! |