As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. ~John Fitzgerald Kennedy O Lord that lends me life, Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness. ~William Shakespeare For each new morning with its light, For rest...
I am delighted to welcome Jeanna Ellsworth to my blog today! Jeanna is a new author friend, one I am SO pleased to have grown acquainted with this year. Much like me, Jeanna writes Austenesque novels with a positive message and hints of spirituality. I am fortunate to count myself...
My fabulously fun Guest Author Spotlight Wednesdays are back in business and going strong! I have many wonderful authors waiting in the wings for their turn to share and interact with my visitors. Take a gander at the sidebar to see what is in store for the rest of the...
Those of you who read the second novel of the Darcy Saga – Loving Mr. Darcy – may recall that Darcy and Elizabeth ended their sightseeing of Derbyshire with a visit to Bolsover Castle. It was a rather dramatic conclusion to their holiday, which was fitting considering the colorful history...
Trisha Yearwood’s Pecan Pie 1 cup light brown sugar 1/2 cup granulated sugar 2 large eggs 1/2 cup butter, melted 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 tablespoon milk 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour 1 cup chopped pecans 1 (9-inch) deep-dish pie shell, unbaked, or homemade pastry 1 cup pecan halves Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. To make the filling,...
Last Friday I posted a blog with assorted trivia about Thanksgiving. That post can be read here: Did you know THIS about Thanksgiving? Now for a random selection of additional statistics and factoids about this special American holiday. The traditional cornucopia is a curved goat’s horn filled to brim...
Today for Guest Author Wednesday I am delighted to welcome my California amigo, DEBRA SALONEN Hip, Hip, Hooray! Deb hails from the hilly areas above the Central Valley in California, and is a member of my local chapter there, the Yosemite Romance Writers. It has been my pleasure to count Deb as...
Are you planning a Thanksgiving party or family gathering? If so, it may help pass the hours while waiting for the turkey to bake if there are plenty of fun activities and games. Here are a few suggestions, some from the present and others from the past. High Energy Games...
Last year I wrote a blog post on the various ways to cook up a turkey for Thanksgiving. You can read that post here: Talkin’ Turkey However the turkey is cooked, or even if choosing an entrée other than turkey, what is served on the side is just as important...
Want to impress your guests on Thanksgiving? Or, maybe a brain twisting trivia game to pass the hours while the bird cooks is on the planned entertainment agenda. Here are random bits of holiday-related minutia to help ya out. Sarah Josepha Hale (1788-1879), who tirelessly worked to establish Thanksgiving as...
Today my guest comes from California, in the heart of the Central Valley where I moved from! In fact, Lynette is a friend and fellow member of Yosemite Romance Writers, the chapter I am still honored to be a part of, even if from afar. It is a delight to...
As many of you undoubtedly know, for the 2010 holiday season my publisher, Sourcebooks, released an anthology of Pride and Prejudice focused novellas titled A Darcy Christmas. Included in the anthology were short stories by Amanda Grange, Carolyn Eberhart, and me! Fortunately for Darcy fans everywhere, A Darcy Christmas remains...
Mary Darby was born on November 27, 1758, the third of five children born to John Darby and his wife Hester Seys. Her father deserted the family when Mary was seven, uncertain finances causing the struggling family to relocate frequently and Mary’s formal education to suffer. Eventually Mrs Darby starting her own...
Why open a can when one can create a unique cranberry sauce or relish to enhance your succulent Thanksgiving turkey? Cranberry-Apple Chutney 1 cup cider vinegar 1 cup packed light-brown sugar 1 red onion, finely chopped 3/4 cup mixed dried fruit, such as currants, golden raisins, and chopped prunes 1...
For my final post on Halloween I am going to lighten up a bit. As noted in the previous blog posts, Halloween origins are a jumbled collage, so in most cases pinning a particular ritual to where it came from is a shot in the dark. Holidays don’t show up fully formed,...
