Tuesday, January 29, 2013
ADDITIONS to the blog!!!
I realized that I have many books I review, but I am also in the process of trying to make/test recipes, for a few cookbooks I have in the works. Therefore, I will also document how things go as I test recipes, and list the things I learn as I go along about the writing of a book and getting it published (which isn't as easy as one would think!) So.... Here we go. Font will be different and I will continue to have captions as to whether they are review of books I've read and genre, or if the post is about the ins and outs of writing a book that requires a lot of research, and testing of recipes! Wish me luck and please share, so get more followers... I feel all alone here in the blog-o-sphere! Thanks guys!
Sunday, January 13, 2013
December to HAPPY NEW YEAR
December there were many books read.... I made notes and the notes are ready to be written. However, December, is a busy month for everyone, including me. It's also depression filled for many... including me. So, my wonderful husband surprised me with a vacation to warmer climes for two weeks!
I was so happy to not sit in an empty house on Christmas Morning. You see since all my children have grown and moved out, it got really quiet here. I live in Kentucky, my oldest daughter and her family are an Army bunch and live in Kansas, and over the month of December my youngest daughter and her financee were married in a civil ceremony so things could go smoothly since he joined the Army as well and is currently in Basic Training. So Christmas for them was spent together enjoying each other since her soon to be busy hubby was leaving, and for my oldest, her children were visited by Santa. We are now "Empty Nesters" and let me tell you at times it's the greatest feeling in the world, having my husband all to myself again. But on those special occasions that were all about family, and the giggles and laughter, and the mess and excitement... well, its quite depressing.
My penchant for the paranormal is evident in the material I choose to read most of the time. So where did my hubby take me on our two week excursion but to the most haunted town in America, Savannah, Georgia! What a great time we had! He's a civil war buff, and he's gotten me interested in that too over the years, but our likes collided as we toured the town, finding places of interest for both he and I. He also surprised me with a River Cruise dinner, where I had the best Shrimp and Grits ever. I'm gonna call and see if can't get that recipe, because if you didn't know this about me... I love cooking. I mean, to the point that as I announce here for the first time, people will realize just how much... I'm in the process of writing a few cookbooks of my own. But more on that later!
After Savannah, my husband and I were deciding if we just wanted to go home or go further south, and after watching the weather report, we ended up south!
My ex-sister-in-law, though I just call her my sister because we're that close, lives on the way to Daytona, where our hotel was booked. So Christmas day was not only spent hearing the laughter of my great-nieces and nephews, but my niece Sara and I made some pretty good memories in the kitchen and my sister and I truly leaned on each other, as family does. You see we lost her only son, Joshua on January 18th 2006 to an IED in Iraq. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. I thought of him as my son at times, since I had all girls, just like she thinks of my girls as hers. Grief is a strange thing. Anyway, we enjoyed each other, as usual and we felt like ourselves, as usual, when we're together. It was a great Christmas Day! Through her marriage to her new husband I inherited more nephews that I love with all my heart, though I've only known them a short time. Each of them touch a place in my heart that says "family" and I hope they know it.
On to Daytona Beach! BEAUTIFUL! And with it being off season, completely EMPTY!!! My dogs have never been to the beach and it was great watching them run after birds only to realize their feet were getting wet. What a funny thing to watch. We had a beautiful room, overlooking the ocean with a sliding glass door that allowed us to open it up and hear the waves at night. The sand was white, the people were nice and the food was outstanding! On the day we left it was 80 degrees, and I was driving home to 30 degree weather. UGH! However, we had a stop to make. We stopped at our youngest daughter's house.
We met up with our daughter and her husband and bought him a huge steak before he left to serve our country. They hadn't even been married a full month when he left and he's currently in Basic. She's doing well, but what a tough first year of marriage for anyone! The first year is usually hard enough, without throwing the monkey wrench of having your husband gone. We couldn't be prouder though. And in case you're wondering... my hubby was in the Army during Desert Storm. He is a disabled Veteran. I don't know how much that had to do with the kids joining, any of them, but I do know Joshua told me he decided on the Army because of his Uncle David.
After treating the kids to dinner, and sleeping, we left and came home to a cold, empty house, but our own bed can't be beat! The dogs were glad to be home, and the snow was melting. This is when I thought about what I'd do with my New Year. Then it hit me. I read books all the time, and I collect cookbooks, and went to culinary school, but because of my own disability can't work in a commercial kitchen. However, many years ago I started two recipe exchange lists, and since I have almost fifteen years of recipes, it's time to really start testing them. So, that's what I decided to do. I'm reading and cooking, and cross-stitching and crocheting.... I think that should keep me busy for a while. So, if you're interested in testing recipes leave a comment and I'll get back to you! Otherwise, I haven't found a book recently that grabs me and keeps my attention for some reason. I'm sure something will though....
Happy New Year!
I was so happy to not sit in an empty house on Christmas Morning. You see since all my children have grown and moved out, it got really quiet here. I live in Kentucky, my oldest daughter and her family are an Army bunch and live in Kansas, and over the month of December my youngest daughter and her financee were married in a civil ceremony so things could go smoothly since he joined the Army as well and is currently in Basic Training. So Christmas for them was spent together enjoying each other since her soon to be busy hubby was leaving, and for my oldest, her children were visited by Santa. We are now "Empty Nesters" and let me tell you at times it's the greatest feeling in the world, having my husband all to myself again. But on those special occasions that were all about family, and the giggles and laughter, and the mess and excitement... well, its quite depressing.
My penchant for the paranormal is evident in the material I choose to read most of the time. So where did my hubby take me on our two week excursion but to the most haunted town in America, Savannah, Georgia! What a great time we had! He's a civil war buff, and he's gotten me interested in that too over the years, but our likes collided as we toured the town, finding places of interest for both he and I. He also surprised me with a River Cruise dinner, where I had the best Shrimp and Grits ever. I'm gonna call and see if can't get that recipe, because if you didn't know this about me... I love cooking. I mean, to the point that as I announce here for the first time, people will realize just how much... I'm in the process of writing a few cookbooks of my own. But more on that later!
After Savannah, my husband and I were deciding if we just wanted to go home or go further south, and after watching the weather report, we ended up south!
My ex-sister-in-law, though I just call her my sister because we're that close, lives on the way to Daytona, where our hotel was booked. So Christmas day was not only spent hearing the laughter of my great-nieces and nephews, but my niece Sara and I made some pretty good memories in the kitchen and my sister and I truly leaned on each other, as family does. You see we lost her only son, Joshua on January 18th 2006 to an IED in Iraq. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. I thought of him as my son at times, since I had all girls, just like she thinks of my girls as hers. Grief is a strange thing. Anyway, we enjoyed each other, as usual and we felt like ourselves, as usual, when we're together. It was a great Christmas Day! Through her marriage to her new husband I inherited more nephews that I love with all my heart, though I've only known them a short time. Each of them touch a place in my heart that says "family" and I hope they know it.
On to Daytona Beach! BEAUTIFUL! And with it being off season, completely EMPTY!!! My dogs have never been to the beach and it was great watching them run after birds only to realize their feet were getting wet. What a funny thing to watch. We had a beautiful room, overlooking the ocean with a sliding glass door that allowed us to open it up and hear the waves at night. The sand was white, the people were nice and the food was outstanding! On the day we left it was 80 degrees, and I was driving home to 30 degree weather. UGH! However, we had a stop to make. We stopped at our youngest daughter's house.
We met up with our daughter and her husband and bought him a huge steak before he left to serve our country. They hadn't even been married a full month when he left and he's currently in Basic. She's doing well, but what a tough first year of marriage for anyone! The first year is usually hard enough, without throwing the monkey wrench of having your husband gone. We couldn't be prouder though. And in case you're wondering... my hubby was in the Army during Desert Storm. He is a disabled Veteran. I don't know how much that had to do with the kids joining, any of them, but I do know Joshua told me he decided on the Army because of his Uncle David.
After treating the kids to dinner, and sleeping, we left and came home to a cold, empty house, but our own bed can't be beat! The dogs were glad to be home, and the snow was melting. This is when I thought about what I'd do with my New Year. Then it hit me. I read books all the time, and I collect cookbooks, and went to culinary school, but because of my own disability can't work in a commercial kitchen. However, many years ago I started two recipe exchange lists, and since I have almost fifteen years of recipes, it's time to really start testing them. So, that's what I decided to do. I'm reading and cooking, and cross-stitching and crocheting.... I think that should keep me busy for a while. So, if you're interested in testing recipes leave a comment and I'll get back to you! Otherwise, I haven't found a book recently that grabs me and keeps my attention for some reason. I'm sure something will though....
Happy New Year!
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