WEEKEND WRITING WARRIORS #46


Welcome back everyone. Are you all ready for the next year of school, or back to work? I've got grandkiddo #2 ready to rock and roll. This is his last year with us and then he and his dad (after the wedding in June) move out. More news on the home front - grandkiddo #1 wants to move in with us so she can be with her dad and brother. I might be ferrying two kids around this year. Yikes!

I'm sure I retired. I know I gave notice and get a pension cheque, but I'm still working hard. What is wrong with this picture....? I love 'em to death, but - man - I cannot wait to be just the grandma, fill them up with candy and shoot them home. Upside to all of this is when my son marries, I gain some more grandchildren as his fiancĂ© has two little ones. Christmas just doubled in fun.

Enough of that, let's get on with this week's Weekend Writing Warriors. We left off with Evangeline wondering if the man following her was friend or foe. She felt of stirring of recognition when she finally caught a glimpse of his face, but she can't be sure. Was he friend or foe?
When her contact from England failed to show at the designated time and place three months ago she'd begun to see the enemy in every stranger, in every greeting and today she suspected the enemy finally had a face.
Turning from the window, she continued down the street until she came to the church. Mounting the stairs, she breathed a prayer that God would grant her one more day. One more day to find a way back to England and continue the work she and her husband were commissioned with two years ago to rid France of a tyrant.
She pushed the heavy door open and stepped inside, allowing her eyes to adjust to the quiet darkness before moving further into the sanctuary. Hopefully her shadow would also be hindered when he finally chose to come inside, unless he waited across the street, like he had the past three days.
Keeping a routine was important in determining whether he was dangerous and she'd allowed him to keep an eye on her, but today - today - the tables would turn. The hunter would become the hunted.
She moved down the aisle and slipped into a row of pews near the front of the church just as the creak of the front door and a brief flash of sunlight alerted her to the fact someone had entered the building. She laid low on the seat, dropped to the floor and rolled beneath the bench.
 The tension mounts....
Please take the time to check out other author's contributions and for further guidelines on how Weekend Writing Warriors work HERE.

As always, hug someone you love today.

Tuesdays with Tupperware ~ Modular Mates

I started buying Tupperware in the early '80's. Hubby was posted to Edmonton, Alberta and one of my neighbours who also lived in PMQ's (Private Married Quarters for those of you uninitiated in the military lifestyle) invited me to a Tupperware party.

Modular Mates had just been introduced by Tupperware, and I was hooked. Being that we moved every two or three years, MM's became my saving grace as 1) they kept my food fresh and I didn't have to throw out a ton of food prior to a move, and 2) they packed up really easy. I called them Lego for adults.
As you can see, I LOVE my Tupperware. These are actual photos from my own pantry, fridge and cupboards. There are tons more, but I truly don't have the space in this blog for everything. If I were to recommend ANY piece of Tupperware - it would be the Modular Mates. Organization and freshness are unparalleled with this produce.

When it comes to shopping, a quick glance tells me which containers need to be filled. Also, I never have organization problems because even if the container is empty (or near empty) its space is always secure. No more pushing around bags and boxes to make space.

In my fridge, I put as much as I can into Tupperware Fridge Smarts. Vegetables and fruits thrive in these container. I can't begin to tell you how many times I had to throw out strawberries and raspberries because they'd gone mushy. Our fridges are designed to remove any moisture from within and when you have a carton or bag of milk, you slowly lose your 'freshness' daily. Something as simple as transferring your milk, or juice to a handy slim line pitcher maintains freshness. You'll see that I have chocolate and regular milk in mine.

Next week I might show you my cooking products from Tupperware. Yes, I know. I have a problem. Deal with it.



WEEKEND WRITING WARRIORS #45


Can you believe summer is almost over and school starts in a few short weeks. Wait... I hear angels singing.

This is the last year our son and grandson lives with us full-time. Next year my son is getting married (come on June 30th) and then - THEN - I'm fully retired and can enjoy the peace and quiet of my home with hubby. Don't get me wrong - I love them to pieces but I've raised my children and we are too old to chase after a nine year old.

Now, down to business. I'm branching off on another story (I know, I know, but I love having the iron in a few fires). This is from An Elaborate Ruse, which will be Evangeline's story. You may recall Evangeline and her husband were both in France. While she returned to England, her husband the Earl of Anstruther remained in France and forwards secret documents to her and Lord George. This is the beginning of Chapter One where Lord George has finally tracked her down, although she doesn't know who he is - at first.
Evangeline cast a furtive glance over her shoulder and confirmed her suspicions. He blended into the crowds with ease and if she hadn't been intrigued by the color of his scarf, she may never have noticed him.
Walking at a sedate pace she paused in front of a small café, ostentatiously to peruse the multitude of mouth-watering confections arrayed in the window. Instead, she scanned the busy street reflected on the pane. A smile lifted the corner of her mouth as she spotted him, chatting up a little flower girl, her basket full of violets and roses.
He was clever, this rogue who'd been following her for most of the morning. Right now he'd removed the distinctive scarf from around his neck and replaced it with a soiled rag and wore a cap pulled low over his forehead. She shifted further down the window and when sunlight lit his face for a brief moment, she felt a flash of recognition.
Panic began to crawl up from her belly. Was he friend or foe?

I hope you enjoyed my entry this week. An Elaborate Ruse will not come out until Fall 2018 - unless I light a fire under my butt and get her finished early. Please take the time to visit other authors who partake in this fun weekend blog hop by clicking HERE.

Tuesdays with Tupperware ~ Strawberry Ice Cream

What is better on a hot summer's day than homemade ice cream? I have a wonderful Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker, which I use regularly and store all my ice cream in my medium deep Freeze It, but sometimes I want something different and I've now found it.

I made Strawberry Ice Cream using my Tupperware Power Chef Premium System. Most videographers that I watched used the Tupperware Quick Chef Pro, but I don't have one (yet) so I improvised and it worked out quite well.

I started making the ice cream around 2:00 pm and by 2:20 I was finished. All that was left was for the ice cream to harden a bit so it could be scooped out, however if you love soft ice cream, then you can eat it right away. It did scoop out, but was a little slushy in the bowl.

Once supper was complete, I scooped out some ice cream and hubby enjoyed a refreshing taste of strawberries on a hot summer's eve.

WEEKEND WRITING WARRIORS #44


Last week Lord George found his observations of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet entertaining, particularly the lady of the house who was quite aghast at the amount of his bogus wager. We left with Mrs. Bennet speaking... "Ten pounds!" Mrs. Bennet gasped out loud, her hand fluttering to her chest. "You must have a great deal of money if you can bet such exorbitant amounts."
If only he were in this part of England for such a whimsical reason. While Mrs. Bennet nattered on about placing bets and how she'd heard that some of the men in the village were known to play cards for money, George mulled over the true reason he was in the vicinity of Hertfordshire.
After his dinner at White's with Max and the snide comment made by the Viscount Stanhope, George realized that the man Evangeline shot was non other than Stanhope's valet. He recollected the surprised expression on the valet's face when he first entered the room, which convinced George that his presence at Evangeline's home was not expected. As the valet died with that information there was a good possibility Stanhope was still in the dark about George's covert activities.
Then again, Stanhope might not be involved at all. Servants heard and saw the underbelly of London Society and a cunning one could use that information to upgrade their station in life. However, George was convinced the valet was not one to willingly get his hands dirty, which led him back to taking a closer look at Stanhope.
He planned to reconnoiter Stanhope's estate and see if anything, other than a very dead valet, pointed to his involvement with the French. Running over a beautiful young woman on the road was not part of the plan and with that one small diversion, his hope of remaining incognito had gone up in a plume of lavender scented smoke. 
Thank you for participating in this weekend writing exercise. Please feel free to leave a comment and don't forget to check out other author's selections for this weekend HERE.

Tuesdays with Tupperware ~ One Pot Beef Casserole

First,  let me state - I AM NOT A TUPPERWARE CONSULTANT. I don't sell Tupperware (although I did in the early '80's) but I use it and I'm kinda in love with a few of their gadgets. I thought I start posting pictures/ recipes / tips for how to use Tupperware for good... lol

Today, I'm posting pictures and a recipe of something I made today using my new Tupperware Microwave Pressure Cooker. This is only the second time using it - the first was a chicken teriyaki meal (YUM).




Mondays with Jane ~ Persuasion 2

His good looks and his rank had one fair claim on his attachment; since to them he must have owed a wife of very superior character to anything deserved by his own. Lady Elliot had been an excellent woman, sensible and amiable; whose judgement and conduct, if they might be pardoned the youthful infatuation which made her Lady Elliot, had never required indulgence afterwards. -- She had humoured, or softened, or concealed his failings, and promoted his real respectability for seventeen years; and though not the very happiest being in the world herself, had found enough in her duties, her friends, and her children, to attach her to life, and make it no matter of indifference to her when she was called on to quit them. Three girls, the two eldest sixteen and fourteen, was an awful legacy for a mother to bequeath; an awful charge rather, to confide to the authority and guidance of a conceited, silly father. She had, however, one very intimate friend, a sensible, deserving woman, who had been brought, by strong attachment to herself, to settle close by her, in the village of Kellynch; and on her kindness and advice, Lady Elliot mainly relied for the best help and maintenance of the good principles and instruction which she had been anxiously giving her daughters.

This friend, and Sir Walter, did not marry, whatever might have been anticipated on that head by their acquaintance. -- Thirteen years had passed away since Lady Elliot's death, and they were still near neighbours and intimate friends; and one remained a widower, the other a widow.

That Lady Russell, of steady age and character, and extremely well provided for, should have no thought of a second marriage, needs no apology to the public, which is rather apt to be unreasonably discontented when a woman does marry again, than when she does not; but Sir Walter's continuing in singleness requires explanation. -- Be it known, then, that Sir Walter, like a good father, (having met with one or two private disappointments in very unreasonable application*) prided himself on remaining single for his dear daughter's sake. For one daughter, his eldest, he would really have given up on any thing, which he had not been very much tempted to do. Elizabeth had succeeded, at sixteen, to all that was possible, of her mother's rights and consequence; and being very handsome, and very like himself, her influence had always been great, and they had gone on together most happily. His two their children were of very inferior value. Mary had acquired a little artificial importance, by becoming Mrs. Charles Musgrove; but Anne, with an elegance of mind and sweetness of character, which must have placed her high with any people of real understanding, was nobody with either father or sister: her word had no weight; her convenience was always to give way; -- she was only Anne.

To Lady Russell, indeed, she was a most dear and highly valued god-daughter, favourite and friend. Lady Russell loved them all; but it was only in Anne that she could fancy the mother to revive again.

WEEKEND WRITING WARRIORS #43


What a crazy week! I almost forgot to sign up for #WeWriWa, AND, I missed visiting everyone else's blogs for their weekly entry. Profuse apologies to all my fellow Weekend Writing Warriors.

That said, I squeaked in under the wire and am continuing on with Katherine. You can read last week's post HERE.

I have shamelessly fidgeted with punctuation in order to comply with the ten line rule.
George noted a tightening of Catherine's lips and a faint blush staining her cheeks, the only visible clue that her parent's behaviour shamed her deeply and felt a tug of compassion. For some reason he felt an insane desire to spirit her away so they could never embarrass her this way again, but for now, he placed the well worn cloak of a shallow man around his shoulders and waded into the inane world of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet.
"I don't mind answering Mrs. Bennet's questions and it's not Miss Katherine's fault for her accident, you see, I was in a mad rush to deliver a letter."
"What, the post doesn't run from London anymore?" queried Mr. Bennet as he dropped the top half of his paper down and looked at George in mock astonishment.
George revised his opinion of the couple, although Mrs. Bennet was rather empty-headed, Mr. Bennet was an observer of people, he'd have to tread carefully around the man.
"Yes it does, but a friend of mine, Lord Alvanley, placed a bet at Whites that I couldn't deliver the letter to a mutual friend's door in less than twelve hours. Alas, I now owe him ten pounds."
"Ten pounds!" Mrs. Bennet gasped out loud, her hand fluttering to her chest. "You must have a great deal of money if you can bet such exorbitant amounts."

Can you see the dollar signs, or should I say 'one pound notes', floating in Mrs. Bennet's head? Check out other fantabulous authors who participate in this fun weekly exercise HERE.
            

Friday with Friends ~ Jenna Victoria

Who is Jenna Victoria, Author?
Her family's claim to fame is a maternal grandfather who co-created Twinkies, Snowballs and Hostess cupcakes (with the white swirl) for Intercontinental Baking Company, circa 1950's. Since one of those involves chocolate, it's all good.

Jenna writes books for readers who enjoy sweet compelling romances, and also for those who look for her "fiction that feeds your faith" titles - happily-ever-after romance and romantic suspense stories with a Christian worldview.

About the Book:

From Homeless to Heartache, Bookkeeper Mollie Wright knows about living on the streets, and her purchase of sweet Lilac Cottage is a dream come true. She is determined to stay and fight when a legal error puts her ownership at risk.

 Attorney Sean Grady never wanted his great-aunts to sell their cottage in Westchester County, New York, so when a paperwork snafu puts the deal on hold, he moves swiftly to evict the pretty, feisty squatter. Mollie finds unexpected allies in Grady Cove neighbors and a member of Sean's own family but knows the clock is ticking.

Will a theft and her past secrets force a showdown to heartache, or will Mollie and Sean discover home is where your heart is?

BUY LINKS:  Book | Audiobook


Thanks for visiting my blog. Take care, and remember to hug someone you love today.