Tasty Tuesday - Momma Mary's Morning Oats

Oatmeal is a great way to kick off your day, especially if you're dieting. It gives you a packed punch of fiber and protein to help you feel full, thus reducing bad snacking. I used my grandmother's recipe with some modern touches.

Momma Mary's Morning Oats

1/2 cup dry rolled old fashion oats

1 Tbsp flax seed

1 tsp chia seed

1 tsp light brown sugar
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp cinnamon
1 cup coconut almond milk 

Mix dry ingredients together in a microwave safe bowl. Add milk. Cover and set in fridge overnight.

Next day, heat for 1 min in microwave. Stir. Additional heat in 30 second intervals.

Calories: 315
Carbs: 63g
Dietary Fiber: 12g
Total Fat: 13.5g
Sat. Fats: 2g
Protein: 10.5g
Sodium: 170mg
Sugar: 8g

This recipe does not need to sit over night, but it's alot more filling if it does. The time breaks down the grains and creates a creamy flavor. Can be prepared stove top as well.

I like to add dried berries to an overnight soak. My favorite dried cherries come from Traverse City, MI. Check out Cherry Republic. Fresh berries or banana should be added after cooking. Nuts can be added any time.

Woolly Fun

Woolly bear caterpillars, or woolly worms, are a common sight this time of year as they begin to seek out a safe place to ride out the upcoming winter.

But, could they also be trying to give us a heads-up about what the approaching winter holds for us?

According to a well-known legend, they just might. A woolly bear caterpillar’s body is made up of 13 segments, colored either black or brown. If there’s more brown, legend has it that the upcoming winter will be milder. More black coloring suggests a harsher winter ahead.

So, let’s take a look back at how the legend started. In the fall of 1948, Dr. C. H. Curran from the American Museum of Natural History in New York traveled to Bear Mountain, outside of New York City, to study the caterpillars there. By determining the average number of brown segments in the caterpillars over the next 8 years, each fall Curran found more than a third of the caterpillar’s bodies were colored brown. And yes, the following winters were milder than normal.

It doesn't matter if the little critter is accurate or not, it gives us a good excuse to cuddle with our honey! Grab a cozy woolly blanket and thank a caterpillar.

PS The caterpillars can freeze during the winter, but in the spring, they create a cocoon and emerge as an Isabella Tiger moth. 

Monday's Mindful Moment

People who love are compassionate.

Take time to enjoy love, share it.

Take time to remember there are other people 

JUST LIKE YOU!

Moonshine in Michigan - the kind you drink

Measuring the moonshine for the "Cheers to Michigan" drink.

CREDIT LESTER GRAHAM / MICHIGAN

It’s fall and there’s a hint of it in the air.

“It’s definitely getting into the season where I like to think about fall flavors in my cocktails,” said Tammy Coxen of Tammy’s Tastings.

Among the bottles in front of her was one of moonshine.

"This is from Wise Men Distillery. They're just outside Grand Rapids and they make a variety of different products. What I'm using today is their Apple Pie Moonshine. It starts off with a base of their corn with a little bit of barley moonshine. That basically means it’s an unaged whiskey. Then they steep it with a whole bunch of spices and then some Michigan apple juice concentrate,” Tammy explained, adding, “To me it tastes like drinking an apple pie.”

Every year it seems as though there are more apple, cinnamon apple, and apple pie spirits on the grocer and liquor store shelves. It’s starting to be a lot like the trend of everything pumpkin spice in the fall. The question is whether those spirits are going to the same trouble of using real spices and apple juice.

Tammy says there’s a lot of variability in the market.  

“Some things, especially the apple whiskeys, are really just using flavoring and can to me have kind of an artificial taste. That’s not really something I want my glass. Then other people are taking more of an artisan approach. So, it's really kind of a buyer beware issue,” Tammy said.

She used the Apple Pie Moonshine in a drink based on the whiskey sour template.

“Our base spirit here is an ounce and a half of vodka. I also used the Wise Men distillery vodka. Then it's got three quarters of an ounce of their Apple Pie Moonshine and just half an ounce of lemon juice. Shake it up with ice. Strain it into a glass.

My experience with apple pie-like tasting is limited to a guy I knew who made it every Halloween. It was tasty, but a bit too sweet for my taste. It was popular and it was potent.

The Apple Pie of My Eye has more citrus notes than what I’d tasted in the past. It's not as cloyingly sweet as that drink was. To me, this mixture is more drinkable.

“I will say that that moonshine on its own is quite cloyingly sweet. It’s great for drizzling over ice cream or if you're a person who likes sweet drinks, sipping on it on its own over some ice would be great,” Tammy said, adding, “To me on its own it's a little too sweet, but that's why I really like it in this sour application called the flavor comes out without so much of the sweetness.”

Apple Pie of my Eye

The ingredients of Apple Pie of My Eye
CREDIT LESTER GRAHM / MICHIGAN RADIO

1 1/2 oz vodka (Wise Men)
3/4 oz Wise Men Distillery apple pie moonshine
1/2 oz lemon juice
Combine all ingredients in shaker with ice. Shake and strain into
cocktail glass.

This article is from a Michigan Public Radio Broadcast.

Cheers! It tastes like drinking an apple pie

By LESTER GRAHAM • SEP 27, 2019

SciFi Sunday - Galactic Gladiators

Fighting for love, honor, and freedom on the galaxy's lawless outer rim...

Galactic Gladiators series

on Amazon

I grew up reading sci-fi and stealing my mom's Harlequin romances. I saw the first Star Wars movie 7 times in the summer it came out and fantasized about Luke and Hans Solo (who didn't). I watched Battlestar Galactica every week. I still love a good galactic adventure with romance...or romance with a good galactic adventure. 

Author, Anna Hacket seems to have found a way into the stars and found new worlds with lots of adventure and romance. One certainly can fall fast for her hunky heroes! Her Gladiator series is a great read to curl up with. 

Here's a little Q&A I stole from Amazon...

Q & A with the Author

Q - How would you describe the Galactic Gladiators series?
A - Gladiators in space! The desert planet of Carthago is home to the Kor Magna Arena: it's a mix of low and high tech. Think the Colosseum of Ancient Rome with a touch of professional sports and a side of Las Vegas glitz and temptation. You'll see a lot of action-packed romance as women abducted from Earth clash with tough, gritty gladiators fighting for love, honor, and freedom.

Q - Why did you want to write the series?
A - It's no secret that I love action, adventure and romance. And I love science fiction romance and all the endless possibilities. Raiden, the gladiator hero of Gladiator, stormed into my head and wanted his story told. I saw this big, tough man covered in tattoos facing off with an equally tough female space marine from Earth. That's where it all began, and since then the planet of Carthago, the intrigues of the Kor Magna Arena, and an amazing band of gladiators came to life.

Q - What order should I read the books in?
A - All the Galactic Gladiator books will be stand-alone romances centered on the Kor Magna Arena, rescuing abducted humans, and making a life far from home. Here's the order I suggest:

- Gladiator
- Warrior
- Hero
- Protector
- Champion
- Barbarian
- Beast
- Rogue
- Guardian
- Cyborg
- Imperator
- Hunter

Join gladiator Raiden Tiago and the toughest gladiators of the House of Galen as they fight to protect the fierce women they love on the blood-soaked sands of the Kor Magna Arena.

Galactic Gladiators: Winner of Most Original Story Universe 2016 - Gravetells

Gladiator: Winner of Favorite Sci-Fi Romance 2016 - Gravetells and Under the Covers

The Galactic Gladiators Science Fiction Romance Series: Science Fiction Romance, Action Adventure Romance, Space Opera, Futuristic Romance, Fantasy Romance, Military Romance, Paranormal Romance

Anna Hackett is author who is passionate about action romance. She loves stories that combine the thrill of falling in love with the excitement of action, danger and adventure. Anna writes about people overcoming unbeatable odds and achieving seemingly impossible goals. She believes it's possible for all of us to do the same.

#Thursday13 Foreplay Fundamentals

Now that I have your attention...I'm not going to waste any time here; I'll get right to my list.

1. Fruit. Sensual fruit such as strawberries, grapes, apple slices and bananas may be easily found in your kitchen and can be a lot of fun to tease with. Try dancing around your partner and feed him bits of fruit while teasing him with your body.
2. Sensual food. Whipping cream (see my 13 Things to Do with Whipping Cream). Chocolate and other sensual foods. (See my Sensual Food Post).
3. A nice beverage. Wine or a cocktail is always nice. Did you know a hot cup of coco or tea can be sensual in its own way especially in winter? Try a cup of spicy Masala Chai, or a tea containing yarrow, or better yet the aphrodisiac tea - Black Galingale.

4. Candles. Men have a tendency to prefer candles that smell like food – vanilla, orange spice, melon. Women may prefer floral scents for romance. Cluster candles on a reflective tray. I like to mix the scents – Lavender, vanilla or orange spice, Hawaiian flower, white tea & ginger. Visit a local candle shop and select candles together for a special evening.

5. Sensual music. What gets you in the mood? Soft jazz for a romantic evening of slow love making? Underground dance music for some creative adventuring? Hard rock for some fierce pounding?  I suggest picking out the music in advance and being flexible to your mood at the time. One night you might like soft jazz, the next you might choose something louder.

6. Lingerie. Silk boxers for him, g-string for her? Silk slip? Flannel pants and tight cotton tank? Whatever you feel sexy in is what you should choose. However, latest polls show men don’t like lots of lace and buttons/snaps.

7. Sheets. If you’re taking it to bed think of what feels good under you. Don’t always think silk sheets are the best… flannel sheets are very cozy, especially in the northern regions.
8. Blankets. If you visit my house, you’ll notice a variety of cozy, soft blankets on a blanket rack in the great room. They aren’t just for making kids’ forts. Ever try snuggling on a leather couch under a fleece blanket? Try it!

9. Lotions. Keep ones that sensually inspire your mind and ones that can be licked off.

10. Feather. Ever wonder why romance writers love writing plumes so much. Heh, heh. Next time you’re at the zoo, pick up an ostrich feather or visit you local sex shop for some top notch fun feathers.
11. Blindfold., silk scarves, hand cuffs. Need I say anything more?

12. Love coupons. Pick up a booklet of them or print them on the computer. Hide a coupon in a special place for your honey to find. A great teaser!
13. Romantic games. There’s a wide variety out there. A great way to add a little exploration into your love life. Always remember, laughing in bed can be a wonderful foreplay move.

What motivates you?

Poetry Corner - I Close My Eyes

The 5th book in The Soul Series, Dark Soul, features the band Dark Cloud. My original songs are featured throughout the story. Alas, this is currently a work-in-progress so take this as a little tease.


"I Close My Eyes"
(This is a song that took 3rd place in a national song lyric competition.)

They say there is an emotion;
It exists but only for a few.

(chorus) It has no name,
No words can describe.
I close my eyes,
I am filled.

Stronger than love,
transcending time.
It knows not birth nor death,
only existence.

(chorus)

Felt in the touch of your hand,
Lost in the darkness of my soul.
Heard in the heartbeat,
against my cheek.

(chorus)

Memories of skin on skin may fade,
the emotion continues on.
Thriving in the confusion,
hidden in the emptiness inside.

(chorus)

Never to leave,
but a part of me for eternity.
Hungry for more,
I will remain content.

(repeat chorus 2X)
fade w/ repeated "I close my eyes".

A Special Visitor

The hero in Crow Magic is a Native American Crow Shifter. The storywas inspired by a series of tales told by a family friend, “Indian Dave”. Sitting around the bonfire as kids, he taught the spirituality side of the gifted animal shifters. Even today when I see an animal, I wonder if it is a shifter or not.

A couple days ago a young hawk took a tumble in the fog while hunting in our wood. He found a quiet perch to dry off and rest, allowing my son and I a rare opportunity for a friendly visit. We approached him carefully and spoke to him in Chippewa. His reaction surprised us as he calmed down and simply watched us. He gazed at us as if settling in for conversation. At one point he showed curiosity regarding my cell phone.

Hawks are considered messengers. I asked “Gekek” (Chippewa for Hawk) if he had a message for me. Words entered my mind. “You need to begin writing a Hawk Shifter story.”

I told him I would obligate his request. 

After several hours, he flew over my house with a call. What a blessing to have had him for the day!

At time of blog post publishing: I currently have the first few chapters completed for Hawk's Honor.

Poetry Corner - The Silver Circle

Touch the silver chain,

Precious links wound ‘round your neck.

Let your fingers stroke

The tiny silken circles.

The cool of metal

Against the warm heat of skin.

Each link is a word.

Forming thoughts.

Creating ideas.

Weaving stories.

What words do you hear?

“Once upon a time…”

“In the terror of the storm…”

“Look to the west, the sun is rising…”

Listen to your heart.

How does your story end?

Search, find the last link.

You know the one, sad but true.

Tired not broken,

Holding the silver circle.

Staying together,

Not willing to be destroyed

What are the last words?

I love you eternally.

                                    - Mary Quast

#SneakPeekSunday – Crow Magic

Enjoy six paragraphs from Crow Magic.

Hearing her name, she focused on him. He had removed his shirt, his bare chest shining with sweat while his arms commanded the night. As every muscle rippled, he emitted supernatural power, sending erotic shivers through her. With a quick bow, he began an ancient dance, moving in a series of mystical twists and turns. Through the graceful movements, he became god-like in the candlelight. Not able to take her eyes off the shaman dance, she caught sight of a large tattoo of black wings covering most of his back with the wing tips hidden under the edge of his pants.

The flames continued to stroke her without pain. Tongues of pleasure lapped her skin. She closed her eyes, the vision of black feathers embracing her returned. Was it her crow spirit or his? Power coursed through her veins and the inferno absorbed fear and apprehension. The face of a crow appeared and whispered her name. A violent renewal of forgotten vigor and confidence emerged. Inhibitions developed into sexual recognition. Fiery fingers caressed her torso and cupped her breasts. Her back arched in pleasure.

“May the flame continue to burn and always remind Lucy of her power as a woman.”

His voice drew her attention. She managed to open her eyes. Firelight painted his rigid muscles in gold and bronze. A lean warrior stood his ground, calling upon the elements to do his bidding. Silken wings emerged from his back and flexed behind him and in one fluid motion he unlocked his grasp and with his palms turned, plunged his arms downward.

“So be it!” His voice roared with the blare of many voices.

He held her gaze. The flames extinguished and electricity shot through her in a sudden piercing pain, followed by a wave of emotional warmth and comfort. The fire destroyed the demons of her past. Never again would she be harmed by a man or her fear. She commanded her own sensuality. Love poured from her inner core and encompassed her.

The hero in this story is a Native American Crow Shifter. 

If you had an animal spirit which would it be?