Awesome Autumn

The morning temperatures have been a little too cool for me to comfortably do yoga outdoors. Instead I unroll my mat in front of the deck door. I focus on an object in outside while doing certain poses. 

My senior dog enjoys the cooler days and is begging for longer walks.

As I walk through my neighborhood, I see folks prepping their yards for winter, smell bonfires and grills, and run into friends to discuss the latest fall flavors. 

What are you seeing in your neighborhood these days?

Bitch Boss Shoes

Just finished a meeting and wearing my bitch boss shoes. Feeling accomplished and powerful.

Do you have a favorite pair of shoes that give you super powers?

#Thursday13 - Last Boat Ride

 Our last boat ride down the Saginaw River made for a lovely time. Flyboy and I grew up in Saginaw and the river holds many memories. When we dated, mornings were spent waterskiing before work. Then we  witnessed the exciting revival of the waterfront district. Time spent on the river and dallying out on the Bay is time well spent.

I selected thirteen photos I took before we tucked our boat away for winter. 

Flyboy, Flyboy Jr, Youngest, and Me

Some areas are still flooded from when the dams in Midland broke.

Seeing the bridges raise for a sailboat was always
a highlight when we were kids.

A tall ship at dock near an outdoor event center and waterfront apartments.
We could see lots of people and hear music.

I didn't realized the river still had a light house.

Flyboy and his first mate.

This was Youngest's first time seeing the Saginaw Bay.

Two river boats at dock.
They are normally on the river with dinner & dancing cruises,
but haven't seen any work due to Covid.

The cutest tugboat!!!

Flyboy Jr took the helm for a bit then let Youngest drive.
What a treat to let Mom & Dad sit & enjoy the ride!

For more Thursday 13 lists by some super amazing people 

CLICK HERE

Sweet Failure - #PotatoPancakes

 In Jessica Peterson's book Southern Charmer, the hero quickly gains the attention of his neighbor by feeding her breakfast. (Being shirtless while cooking certainly helps.)  Elijah Jackson inspired me to cooks some special breakfasts for my honey. In the book, Eli uses simple ingredients and old fashioned recipes.

Flyboy has certainly enjoyed my recent cooking habits. Especially on Fridays when I don't have to go into the office and our youngest is in school. *wink, wink*

Anyways...I've mastered cheesy grits and any dish made with eggs and fresh veggies. My gram would be proud. I thought I'd venture to a new recipe. Sweet Potato Pancakes.

The picture looks yummy.

I chose a recipe from a favorite cookbook, Taste of Home Ultimate Skillet Cookbook. 

Get the cookbook HERE

Shredded apples and sweet potato are added to the flour and egg mixture. 

A little weird shaped but still a pretty sight in a well-loved cast iron pan.

I admit it was a a lot of work and I certainly don't have the right technique for making hashbrowns or potato pancakes. They tasted yummy and Flyboy enjoyed them. Even the teenager gobbled down cold leftovers.

The first few...several... ah...most were a bit well done.

The Power of Touch

 I don't know if it's the weather or the season or just simply romance, but Flyboy and I have been enjoying our time together; simply BEING together. We aren't empty nesters and having a teen boy flitting about doesn't allow for much romance. However, a little PDA is fun to do with the purpose of "grossing out" the boy.

We sneak in a little romance via simple non-sexual touches. 

A simple touch is reassuring and uplifting. Even if it is a fleeting moment, it feels like someone else understand and relates to us and most importantly connects with us. Think for a moment... have you ever felt like hugging your honey or just cuddling for a few minutes for no reason at all? 

Non sexual touches are a sign of love and trust. They reduce anxiety and reduce depression. While sexual touches keep a relationship fresh and exciting, non sexual touches help keep the relationship strong, healthy and happy. 

Be sure to touch someone you love today.

Quiet Sunday Blogging

Time to enjoy a lovely autumn afternoon. It's Flyboy's last day home before he leaves for Alaska. He's puttering around the backyard, building a bonfire, sipping a beverage from a local brewery. After all, what else do you do on a beautiful fall day. 

I lounge on the deck working on posts for my blog sipping tea. Detox tea. I enjoyed a bit too much Head Games Spiced Apple Wine from St. Julian Winery last night. 

New this year! Delicious wine that is only found at retail stores. 

The food and fragrance of fall is intoxicating. This time of year is colorful in Michigan. Looking around it can be seen in trees, pumpkin filled fields, and on our table. Last night we ate some venison steaks with roasted fall root veggies. Yum!

When Flyboy returns in two weeks, the colors outside will have changed but will continue on the table for sure!

A Little Humor - Wine Not

Leading Ladies & Fellas

When I was a teenager way back around 1980, my mom belonged to the Harlequin Readers Service and she would receive a box of romance books every month.  She would pour over those books with a hunger only another book lover would understand. Sometimes I'd sneak a book and hide in the basement to discover the adventures that lie within the pages.

Mom’s favorites depicted historical with brawny manly men such as cowboys and damsels in distress or rich educated hunks such as doctors with an established woman in search of a man accepting of her liberation.

As I grew as a reader then became a writer, I came to appreciate the variety of characters behind well written romance stories. Personally, I don’t care for the wimpy gal who can’t tie her shoe without help. However, a gal does have the right to be doted on by a loving man…as long as she tends to her own footwear, unless he’s taking off said footwear to give her peds some undivided attention.  After all, who doesn’t love a good foot massage?

Anyways…..back to my original trail of thought.

Creating characters is actually pretty fun. (That is until they take over a writer’s mind and keep thus writer up all night until a scene or story is finished.) Let’s take the overly confident guy who helps a meek gal find her inner sensuality and eventually turns the table on him. He becomes empty and she is the only one who can fill him. This is much like my characters in Crow Magic. The hero in this story is the first of several Native American shifters I create; this one is a Crow shaman.

Let me tease you with a couple characters…. 

how about a dominating hot cop and a submissive lawyer? Sounds hot! In Handcuffs & Silk, the rough, tough female cop learns a bit about herself when she has a one night stand with a hot male big-city lawyer who’s a bit submissive and passive. 

The hero in Eagle Dance is a huge man with wild hair who is a big softie inside. He is looking for a woman to appreciate the simple things with him. He's the second Native American shifter, a sexy eagle and retired Marine. His leading lady is chasing a ghost but slows down for pizza and a hot shower scene. 

I’m a sucker for a good romance story with well built characters. 

(Not referring to muscular build…well maybe. Duh!) Nonetheless, 

I believe heroes can have weakness and leading ladies can be strong. They are certainly fun to create!

What kinds of characters in leading roles do you prefer?

Special Guest Teaser from Loving Sage by Dominique Eastwick

Dominique Eastwick one of my favorite fellow authors at Decadent Publishing. I love her writing style and the ability to write anything from Historical such as the House of Lords series to Paranormal Romance like the Zodiac Shifters Anthology 

 However, I'm a sucker for dragons, and was introduced to dragons and much more in the Wiccan Haus series for which Dominique and several other great authors write. Wiccan Haus resort is located on an island off the coast of Maine. The island is protected by a mystical fog and magical boundary. The spa is meant to be relaxing and there is always a story to tell. Readers will ride emotional roller-coasters and fall in love.

Let's take the ferry and check into the Wiccan Haus Resort 

and enjoy the latest tale from Dominique Eastwick!

Blurb:

A mate who doesn’t remember him…
Chad Kodiak has everything he could want in a mate. She is as beautiful as she is kind. For seven long years, he lives on the island housing the Wiccan Haus, guarding and protecting. Hoping one day his mate might remember who he is.

Memories long repressed…
Sage Rowan loves her life. She loves the island and loves helping people. Years have passed since tragedy hit her family, and she has finally found peace. Or so she thinks until a trip to a sweat lodge reveals memories long suppressed. Can she trust those around her or the life she has led?.

Can a bear shifter protect what is his without ever letting on they are mates? Or will the forces working against them force his hand too soon. Things are churning around them, and only they can make it happen.

Welcome back to the Wiccan Haus.

AVAILABLE AT AMAZON and MORE

Award Winning Author, Dominique Eastwick currently resides in North Carolina with her husband, two children, crazy lab and lazy cat. When she's not busy writing, she loves to capture life through the lens of her camera.

#TastyTuesday - Minnesota Sticky Buns

 Mom and Dad just got back from being with family in Minnesota. Of course we talked about the food and now the guys are craving Aunt Rosemary's stick buns. 

Yum! Can you smell the caramel and cinnamon?

Mom gave me the recipe and at big family gatherings the rolls are still the highlight (and the most requested breakfast item). The Minnesota family tradition continues.

Gram tells the kids they have to share.

While on our family vacation last summer, Mom made the rolls for our growing family. This was the first time with our new daughter-in-law and significant other. As usual, there were no leftovers.

Mom and Dad have been married for 64 years, still find romance in the kitchen.

Overnight Caramel Rolls

Ingredients:

2 loaves frozen bread dough (cut into 24 pieces) or frozen rolls (24 little rolls)

1 pkg (cook-type) butterscotch pudding

4 Tbsp milk

3/4 c brown sugar

1 stick butter

1/2 tsp cinnamon

Directions:

Lightly grease a 9x13 inch pan. Cut loaf of bread dough into 12 pieces, place in pan.

Mix butterscotch pudding, milk, brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter in a saucepan over medium heat until dissolved. Pour over dough. Set on counter overnight.

 

In the morning, back at 350 for 25-30 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes before inverting onto a plate.