When we left our careers in television and radio early in 2020, Mr. C and I planned to do a lot of travelling. Riiiiiiggggghhhhhttttttt. Anyway – the last few months don’t mean we can’t look forward to new adventures some day. So this week on Romance Writers Weekly, I suggested we go on a Travel Hop! I asked my fellow members the following: Share the places and activities in the area around your home that you would recommend to someone visiting. Include photos and links so we can make future plans. I live very close to the geographic centre of British Columbia. My hometown, Prince George, has about 80,000 people, and is a hub for government, health, mining and forestry for the northern half of the province. We are surrounded by mountains, lakes, and forests, and have a vibrant arts community. One of the unique places to visit within the city is Northern Lights Estate Winery. It is BC’s northernmost winery, and produces red, white and fruit wines from locally grown produce. There is a lovely riverside bistro and they host tours of the orchard and facility. While there is a lot to do right in the city, short drives in all directions will bring you to amazing locations. About 1.5 hours to the east is the Ancient Forest/Chun T'oh Whudujut Provincial Park. In the traditional territory of the Lheidli T’enneh and BC’s newest provincial park, this area protects a portion of the only inland temperate rainforest in the world. Some of the western red cedars are more than 1000 years old, and these pictures don’t do justice to their massive size. Stuart Lake, one of the largest natural lakes in BC at 70 km (44 miles) long, is less than 2 hours away to the northwest. There is plenty of camping and fishing, or spend the day hiking Mount Pope for amazing views of the surrounding area. As well, the Fort St. James National Historic Site, a restored fur trading fort is a must-see. Another National Historic Site is only a short drive away, this time to the south. During the Cariboo gold rush in the 1860’s, Barkerville was known as the largest city west of Chicago and north of San Francisco. Today it is the largest living historic museum in western North America and a National Heritage Site of Canada. It is actually two historic sites in one, as it includes The Chee Kung Tong Building - a rare surviving example of Chee Kung Tong architecture in Canada, a living testament to the large Chinatown that existed in Barkerville. (By the way – my current work in progress links into this amazing site and history). There are so many other great places I could share with you, but I hope this has whet your appetite to visit my part of the world some day. Now, on to Clair Brett for another virtual travel tour! Three of our RWW members are pleased announced the Regency Romance Anthology ONCE UPON A TWELFTH NIGHT! Congratulations to A. S. Fenichel, Clair Brett, Christina Alexandra – this looks delicious! The honor of your presence is requested by The Earl and Countess of Stapleton at their house party to celebrate TWELFTH NIGHT. Festivities include: a titillating masked ball, ice skating, a romp in the local village, a naughty treasure hunt, midnight kisses in the garden and the Twelfth Night Ball where holiday magic brings about seven perfect matches. Available July 28 - preorder now!
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It’s December, a month full of traditions and celebrations for many people. This week on the blog hop, Dani Jace asks: How do you decorate for the holidays? Do you have a theme? Show a picture of your favorite decoration and tell the history if it was handed down to you or something you made. I tease my husband about his Christmas decorating every year, but in truth I do love what he does. He has a bit of an obsession with Christmas lights. Not quite to the standard of the Griswold’s, but we’re getting close. 😊 Not only does he string lights outside, but inside the house we have them framing the windows, under the hearth, inside the fireplace, on the mantle, draped over bookcases, and twisted in the poinsettia branches. In the dark December evenings of Northern BC, it is cozy and welcoming to see them everywhere. I don’t decorate to a theme, One thing I do do every year, though, is buy one decoration for each of our children as a stocking stuffer. When our daughters moved out of the house, I kept one from each of them as my own memento, and gave the rest to them. My son is less enthusiastic about the tradition, but someday he’ll appreciate the idea, I hope!
Summer is a busy time, with vacations and weddings and visitors. So I thought I’d make this an easy week on the Romance Writers Weekly Blog Hop. I asked my fellow member to share their favourite summer photos, from any year. I hope you enjoyed a glimpse at some of my favourite summer memories. Now hop over to Leslie Hachtel to see some more great summer shots!
I’m back! I only intended to miss one week of the hop, but ended up sick for a couple days after my return from holidays to am just getting back on board today! Our topic this week was posted by Jenna Da Sie: Besides writing, what are some of your hobbies? A hobby is technically described as a regular activity that is done for enjoyment. On a normal day, most of my time is taken up with work or writing tasks, so to be honest I don’t have any other regular activities. I’m not counting reading in this category. That’s not a hobby. That’s a life requirement. 😊 That being said, there are lots of things I enjoy doing. I love to take photos, and a few years ago we invested in a “real” camera with interchangeable lenses. I love looking through the viewfinder and composing shots. Even if I don’t print them out just that creative act is satisfying. Here are a few of my favourites from our holiday (Full Disclosure - Mr. C might have taken some of these shots, but they were too good not to share): As I sit here and look out the window at snow that is piled as high as my shoulder at the edge of our driveway, I’m eagerly looking forward to doing some gardening. We don’t have a vegetable garden, but I always have lots of flower containers scattered about. Once they’re planted there’s not much to do other than water them, so not sure if you’d consider this a hobby, but it is something I love to do.
I always admire people who quilt or sew, like my mother and oldest daughter, or who can make furniture out of pallets, like my second daughter. But those skills seem to have passed me by (it’s probably my lack of patience rather than skill set, but whatever…) What hobbies do you have? If you have photos of your projects, feel free to share them! Then hop on over to A.S. Fenichel to see what she does in her spare time. She’s just recently moved into her dream home – I’m betting her hobbies are centred around that right now! Well, it is that time of the year. This week on Romance Writers Weekly, Leslie Hachtel asks:
Two days until Valentines’ Day. Why is it a special day for you (or not) and what are your plans? If you joined me from A.S. Fenichel, welcome! Many, many years ago, Mr. C and I decided we wouldn’t do Valentine’s Day. Not from any bah-humbug mentality, but just because it seemed unnecessary. We’d much prefer to make our anniversary a special day. Well, we’re making up for it this year! We’d hoped to get away from the cold for a little while this winter, and it just so happened that the vacation we planned departs on Valentine’s Day! How romantic is that – leaving for Puerto Vallarta for 9 nights of couple time on February 14th? LOL! That being said, I won’t be joining the blog hop next week, but should be back for February 26. I have a lot going on with the release of ALLEGRO COURT that I want to share with you! Remember, for exclusive excerpts and bonuses, be sure to sign up for my newsletter. You can find the form on the homepage of my website, here. Now, be sure to hop over to the poser of this question, Leslie Hachtel! I bet she has something interesting to say! This week on Romance Writers Weekly, A.S. Fenichel asks: What was your most romantic memory? Did you set up something, did someone else do something romantic for you? Come on, dish... Well, this is a tricky one. There’s romantic, and then there’s romantic (nudge, nudge, wink, wink). But if we’re going for we’re going for something safe for work, then I have a few to share. One of the most romantic moments in my life was the night Mr. C proposed. It was our second anniversary of dating, and we'd decided to go to our favourite restaurant. It was a tiny place - about ten tables or so. We were the only people there (afterwards, he would claim that he had booked the whole restaurant just for us, but there's always a teasing gleam in his eye when he says that so I'm not sure whether to believe it). There was candlelight and flowers and after we ordered our meal he placed a small box in front of me. I couldn't say yes fast enough. It is truly my most romantic memory. Our first major holiday after our honeymoon (and the birth of two children) was to Costa Rica. One evening, we booked a sunset cruise on a sailboat. It wasn’t a private cruise (now, that would have been even more romantic) but it was a small group with elegant hors d’oeuvres and classy cocktails—and it was on a “real” sailboat. One the way out of the bay we say a manta ray leap out of the water, and the sunset was spectacular. Just sitting on the wooden deck and listening to the water and the wind as we watched the light fade was an amazing experience. Sometimes romance has to be snatched in small doses amid the maelstrom of life. We have a small motorboat, and there is a lake not far from our house. On a few beautiful summer evenings over the years we’ve picked up sushi from our favourite restaurant, packed some cold drinks, and headed out. Within half an hour we can be on the water, just drifting as we enjoy each other’s company along with the meal. What about you? Do you have a romantic story to tell? I’d love to hear it! Then be sure to hop over to Leslie Hachtel for her most romantic memory. We had an unusually warm November, and while the weather is supposed to starting cooling off, there is not even a skiff of snow on the ground. But it’s easy to get into the Christmas spirit with decorations and baking, even if the weather is not cooperating. That’s why I chose this topic this week on Romance Writers Weekly: I’m not much of a baker, except for at Christmas. Share your favourite holiday treat recipe! This topic has become a tradition on RWW, and it’s a great way to discover new recipes. Here’s a family favourite, though, that’s great for people like me who like to eat treats but not spend half a day making them. This recipe comes from my aunt, who calls them “Oat Delights.” I can't remember when the name changed, but we now call them "Chocolate Haystacks." 2 c. sugar 6 tbsp. cocoa ½ c. butter ½ c. milk ½ tsp. vanilla 1 c. shredded coconut 3 c. instant or minute oats Combine first four ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Add vanilla. Remove from heat and stir in coconut and oats. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto wax paper. Chill for a few hours, then enjoy! Keep in a well-sealed plastic container as they will dry out otherwise. If you give these a try, I’d love to hear from you. To get your next recipe, head over to Leslie Hachtel's blog! The Christmas decorations are going up around the house this weekend as I write this, so Leslie Hachtel’s topic is very timely: What is your favorite holiday movie? Book? My favourite holiday movie really has nothing to do with Christmas at all. I’m not sure why it became a staple at this time of year, but the Sound of Music always appears on TV in December, and it has always been one of my favourite movies – at any time of the year, really. After all, it’s one of the most romantic stories ever -- the irrepressible Maria who changes the lives of an entire family by falling in love with the authoritarian Captain, all while escaping the Nazis. I’m also a big fan of How the Grinch Stole Christmas – the original 1966 animated TV special with Dr. Suess’ illustrations. Not to knock the newer versions that have come out (to be honest I haven’t even seen them) but the version I grew up with will always be my favourite. As for books, I can’t say I have a favourite holiday book. But I know for very many years one of my most anticipated presents was the newest Dick Francis novel. It was usually released in October or November, and the hardcover was a staple on my Christmas list. While I love my e-reader, there is nothing quite like the anticipation of a brand-new book, with its fresh pages and pristine cover. My parents also liked reading Dick Francis, so they would buy the book and both read it (being very careful not to crack the spine) then wrap it up for me to find under the tree. They kept that little secret from me for a long time! What about you? Any favourite Christmas stories? Then hop on over to Jenna Da Sie to learn what her favourites are! Flash Fiction is back on Romance Writers Weekly! Jenna Da Sie set the challenge this week: Write a 500 word or less flash fiction using the words TURKEY, RAIN, and TRAMPOLINE. If you joined me from A.S. Fenichel, welcome! Here’s my contribution. Enjoy! Ella stepped back and surveyed the tiny kitchen. Everything was ready. A ham was in the oven, the potatoes were boiling, the broccoli casserole warmed up and waiting in the slow cooker. Serving bowls and platters were lined up with military precision on the counter, labeled with their purpose—devilled eggs, pickles, ham, potatoes, salad. She washed all her prep dishes and put them away, and the table was covered in a festive orange cloth and set with her favourite dishes. The handprint turkey her nephew, Ethan, had given her hung in pride of place on the fridge. Soon he and her sister, Sara, would arrive. It would be their first Thanksgiving without Ian, and Ella’s emotions bounced like ping-pong balls on a trampoline. One moment she was glad the abusive jerk was finally out of Sara’s life, the next she was angry at how Sara was mourning his loss, an instant later guilty that she couldn’t sympathize with her sister’s grief. Too much to drink and a rain-slick road had taken that monster out of her life. It had seemed like providence to Ella. It was a nightmare for Sara. The phone rang, indicating someone at the main door of her apartment building. She took a deep breath and went to let Sara and Ethan in. I’d love to hear your thoughts! Then, be sure to hop over to Leslie Hachtel to read her story! I took a couple weeks off, but it’s good to be back in the regular routine with the Romance Writers Weekly Blog Hop! This week, A.S. Fenichel says: September 11 is my birthday. Yes, I know...it got messed up, but it’s still my birthday. I’m sure thousands of people were born on D-day and Pearl Harbor day. So, either tell me where you were on 9-11 or tell me what you do to celebrate your birthday... Hey, if you feel frisky, tell us both. First off – happy birthday, A.S! There are few dates seared into people's memory the way September 11, 2001 is. I can remember coming into our family room just as the TV showed the first tower collapsing. Since my children were very young at the time, I changed the channel, and had to learn the details later. At work, we were preparing for a huge sales presentation, and while we did so we were glued to the TV, learning along with the rest of the world the true devastation of that day. It didn’t matter that I was on the other side of the continent and in a different country – the World Trade Centre attacks were a tsunami that no one could escape. As for birthdays, we keep things pretty low key around here. A dinner with family, a few smaller gifts. Well, that’s the usual way. For milestones we sometimes ramp things up. For example, for my 50th birthday last year, my husband arranged a bucket list trip for us – to see Billy Joel live at Madison Square Gardens. It was a truly amazing concert experience, one I’m so glad we shared! Do you share your birthday with an historical event or special holiday? Let me know in the comments, then be sure to head over to Leslie Hachtel for the next step in the Blog Hop! |