Plough Monday is the first Monday after January 6th or Twelfth Night. A centuries old agricultural celebration in England, it commemorated the day that farmers returned to work for the winter ploughing season after the holy days of Christmas. In some villages, particularly in northern and eastern England, a rowdy procession of young men dragged… Continue reading Mythic Monday: Praise the Plough
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Blushing Excerpt
I’m a romance writer, and I reckon my own words shouldn’t make me blush. However, there is a certain scene in Guardian of the Deep that affects me that way. I shared it on the Time for Love site today, where the book is featured. A thousand thanks to all of you who voted for… Continue reading Blushing Excerpt
Cocktail Saturday: Royal Hot Tea Toddy
ROYAL HOT TEA TODDY This variation on the hot tea toddy featured last week comes courtesy of friend Marcia S. Instead of cognac, a blended Canadian whiskey, Crown Royal, adds the smooth burn. This toddy will heat your blood, a handy trick considering the frigid temperatures we’ve been having of late. Note: use the blue… Continue reading Cocktail Saturday: Royal Hot Tea Toddy
Vintage Friday: Irish Chocolate Cake 1950
IRISH CHOCOLATE CAKE You can’t beat a super moist, old-fashioned chocolate cake. The “Irish” in this one comes from mashed potatoes—another use for leftovers in the frugal 1950s. The cake retains its succulent texture for several days when covered and stored—if you can keep the kiddies from sneaking it! Ingredients: ½ cup milk, 3 squares… Continue reading Vintage Friday: Irish Chocolate Cake 1950
Writer Wednesday: Cynthia Arsuaga
Cynthia Arsuaga’s Villain Questions Hello Everyone and thanks to Flossie for having me on her blog today! This week I’m the Author of the Week for Secret Cravings Publishing and trying to squeeze in some blog time. So, again, thanks a lot for giving me this opportunity to showcase my back list of fourteen titles!… Continue reading Writer Wednesday: Cynthia Arsuaga
Torchy Tuesday: Sin Watermount
Another gem of a book by vintage Australian romance author, Dorothy Cork, is Breakers on the Beach. Instead of an Outback setting as many of Cork’s books have, including the fabulous Red Diamond, Breakers on the Beach is set– well, on the beach, of course. Yet, Australia is home to numerous waterfront properties, and this… Continue reading Torchy Tuesday: Sin Watermount
Mythic Monday: The Old Sea Goat
In the modern zodiac a goat symbolizes the astrological sign of Capricorn. In older traditions, however, and still sometimes today, the goat is a special variety of creature– a sea goat, half goat and half fish. The earliest known origin of depicting Capricorn as a sea goat occurred around 1,000 B.C.E. in Babylonia, the cauldron… Continue reading Mythic Monday: The Old Sea Goat
Time For Love Readers’ Choice Award
Huge thanks to those who voted for Guardian of the Deep for the January Readers’ Choice Award on Christina Cole’s site, Time For Love. I appreciate it more than I can say. You are special people. The process started as a number of authors submitted a book cover and book description in 25 words of… Continue reading Time For Love Readers’ Choice Award
Cocktail Saturday: Hot Tea Toddy
Mercy, it was no fib yesterday when I said we’d not imbibe the Earl Grey. In this cocktail I prefer a stronger variety of tea such as English Breakfast. To complement the Vintage Friday post depicting ladies’ handkerchief holders, it seems fitting on Cocktail Saturday to celebrate with a Hot Tea Toddy. It’s a delicious… Continue reading Cocktail Saturday: Hot Tea Toddy
Vintage Friday: Hold My Hanky
For Christmas I decided to buy some pretty handkerchiefs for Miss Viola, the mother of a friend of mine. Miss Vi calls me her “other daughter,” and that’s a good feeling for someone who lost her mother in 1987. She and my mother were friends as well. How wonderful that Miss Vi still uses actual… Continue reading Vintage Friday: Hold My Hanky