That Christmasy Feeling

The holiday spirit just hasn’t hit me yet this year. With deadlines and copy edits and all the other things life brings on a day-to-day basis, there hasn’t been time to think about it, much less decorate, shop, and wrap. And it’s only one week until Christmas!

I need help!

I’m looking for suggestions to get my spirit in gear. I’ve read some wonderful blog and Facebook posts about memories of Christmases past, learning the true meaning of the holiday, and how to de-stress at this most maddening time of the year. But none of them have done the trick. I feel like Scrooge, and that’s not how I want to feel. So let me know what you do to get in the mood for what’s been called the most wonderful time of the year.

May the spirit of the holidays be with everyone this year and on into the next. That includes me!

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Yule, Happy Kwanzaa to all!

The celebration started early this year!

Hi, everyone,

This is an extra-special blog post for me because I’ve got some good things to share with you all.

First, I’ve just received confirmation of the title for my third Harlequin American Romance. I’m thrilled about this because the title works in two ways--and either way you look at it, it’s perfect! FAMILY MATTERS is tentatively scheduled to hit bookstores in October of 2010.

Next, I recently sold my fourth Harlequin American Romance and, believe me, I’m still doing the happy dance over that! Though both the title and publication date are tentative, the good news is that DADDY’S HOME should be out--fingers crossed--sometime in 2011.

And last but not least, I’m happy that my blog date falls mid-month, as it gives me yet another reason for this early celebration: the chance to say happy holidays to you all!

May you enjoy a safe and fun-filled holiday season, and may you find the new year brings you good health, much happiness, and success in everything that matters to you.

All my best, always,

Barbara

~~~~~~

Barbara White Daille
http://www.barbarawhitedaille.com

A Cowboy Christmas

Since Christmas is just around the corner and my release this month is called A Cowboy Christmas (Dec 09) I thought it fitting to share Omar Barker's famous Christmas Prayer Poem. Trust a Cowboy to whittle down the true meaning of Christmas!


A COWBOY'S CHRISTMAS PRAYER

By S. Omar Barker (1894-1985)

I ain't much good at prayin', and You may not know me, Lord-
I ain't much seen in churches where they preach Thy Holy Word,
But you may have observed me out here on the lonely plains,
A-lookin' after cattle, feelin' thankful when it rains,
Admirin' Thy great handiwork, the miracle of grass,
Aware of Thy kind spirit in the way it comes to pass
That hired men on horseback and the livestock we tend
Can look up at the stars at night and know we've got a friend.

So here's ol' Christmas comin' on, remindin' us again
Of Him whose coming brought good will into the hearts of men.
A cowboy ain't no preacher, Lord, but if You'll hear my prayer,
I'll ask as good as we have got for all men everywhere.
Don't let no hearts be bitter, Lord.
Don't let no child be cold.
Make easy beds for them that's sick and them that's weak and old.
Let kindness bless the trail we ride, no matter what we're after,
And sorter keep us on Your side, in tears as well as laughter.

I've seen ol' cows a-starvin, and it ain't no happy sight:
Please don't leave no one hungry, Lord, on thy good Christmas night-
No man, no child, no woman, and no critter on four feet-
I'll aim to do my best to help You find 'em chuck to eat.

I'm just a sinful cowpoke, Lord-ain't got no business prayin'-
But still I hope You'll ketch a word or two of what I'm sayin':
We speak of Merry Christmas, Lord-I reckon you'll agree
There ain't no Merry Christmas for nobody that ain't free.
So one thing more I'll ask You, Lord: Just help us what you can
To save some seeds of freedom for the future sons of man.


Wishing all of our blog readers and their loved ones a Very Merry Christmas and a Safe and Healthy New Year--Ti yi yippee-yippee-yay!

Marin
A Cowboy Christmas *in stores now*
www.marinthomas.com

Christmas Traditions

This year my best friend and I decided to start our own Christmas Tradition. Debra and I have been friends since fifth grade. We were in each other’s weddings. Our kids grew up together and her oldest daughter and my youngest son were in the same high school graduating class. And third generation, Debra babysits for both her granddaughter and mine.

So this year we took our granddaughters on a weekend excursion to Marble Falls, Texas to see the Christmas lights. We made a jaunt to Johnson City where the girls raced around under the light wrapped trees and clapped their hands in awe at a horse drawn carriage and Santa Claus. We watched a living nativity play and petted the animals. We drove through a display with a light tunnel and the girls stuck their heads out of the sunroof and squealed at all the beautiful lights. In Marble Falls we strolled through a Christmas display and sipped hot chocolate. The view off our balcony took in the reflection of the Marble Falls light display across the lake. We even talked the girls out of lunch at McDonalds and dined at the Bluebonnet Café where we sampled each other’s slices of homemade pie. According to my granddaughter, Lilly, it was the best day EVER! And an extra bonus for me Marble Falls and the Bluebonnet Café are the setting for my 2011 release.

Debra’s favorite part was the tiny Christmas angel at the nativity play, Samantha enjoyed petting the sheep, and Lilly loved sticking her head out of the top of the car. For me, it was just sharing a new adventure with wonderful people I love.
Wishing everyone a blessed Christmas full of both old and new experiences.

It's almost Christmas and so far the Grinch has sent $800 worth of heating repairs, $900 worth of auto repairs, one car sent to the junk yard (we had about $5000 in that), $300 for a new garbage disposal, $600 for Hollyball dress, ties, hair, corsages, and just this morning in the midst of printing my edits that are due the 17th, the laser printer decided it needed a new $100 ink cartidge. Oh--and did I mention we finally got the Christmas tree up and gorgeous only to have it topple over, breaking ornaments we've had for decades? (This month's pic is of Abbey, Russell and Hannah all dolled up for the big dance. Terry was off picking up his date!)

Okay, so while none of that has been fun, I was snuggling with Hubby on the sofa last night in front of the fire with a wonderfully sappy Lifetime Christmas movie playing when it struck me how incredibly blessed we are. When we were first married, that much calamity striking at once would've meant a dreaded call to the folks to beg for money. Now, it just means covering the big, honking holes in the sofa with blankets for a little while longer! Ornaments break, but the memories attached to them will be with me forever.

I'm grateful for family and friends and my goofy, infuriating pets. While I need to lose a few pounds, I'm grateful for the bounty of food always in our cabinets and fridge. The older I get, the more it seems like my favorite parts of Christmas have less to do with gifts and more with the true gifts of family traditions. Playing epic games of boys versus girls Trivial Pursuit on Christmas Eve while watching The Grinch and Christmas Vacation. I love seeing friends and baking and the special hush of Christmas morning when it feels as if the whole world's taking a much-needed breather.

Happy, happy holidays to all!! What are some of your favorite family traditions?

Household Cleaning Tips for Christmas

Since Christmas is just around the corner....who doesn't need a tip on tidying the house throughout the holidays? Here's a few suggestions from English media personality Anthea Turner, best known for her role in Perfect Housewife, where she taught disorganized housewomen and men how to clean and run their houses.

Anthea's Christmas Cleaning Tips for a Pristine Home

De-clutter

If it is not beautiful, useful or seriously sentimental – get rid of it! Invited a friend who can be ruthless and rid you of things you do not need.

Recycle old magazines, use a lever-arch file to store recipes and magazine articles you want to keep. Tear them out and recycle the rest.

Get rid of the piles of papers and junk sitting on your dining table to let you actually use it for meals with the family.

Clean

Do not let the little jobs build up such as cleaning under the bed, tackling the shower curtain, and cleaning the grouting - old toothbrushes are perfect for scrubbing at those stubborn marks between tiles.

Have cleaning wipes to hand for last-minute clean ups. From the telephone to the bathroom sink, a quick swipe will do the trick.

Wipe dirty marks off the painted walls and skirting boards by gently wiping with a damp cloth and a little all-purpose cleaner.

Ensure your oven is prepared to deal with the Christmas turkey and all the trimmings. Tackle stubborn marks on the grill.

Stainless steel can often look dull with watermarks and sticky fingerprints. Create a Christmas sparkle on your appliances by using a special stainless steel cleaner, which will clean away the sticky finger marks whilst still being gentle on the surface.

Try to do a little cleaning every day up towards Christmas to ensure it does not turn into a mammoth task that you have to tackle the night before.

Organize

Organize yourself by putting systems in place that will help things run more efficiently so you can keep your home looking sparkling clean.

Have filing trays for post coming in and shred all confidential statements that are not needed but taking up space.

Invest in clear storage boxes so items can be filed away but easily located. Anthea’s Christmas Cleaning Crack-down tips

Anyone else have a holiday cleaning tip?


Marin
A Cowboy Christmas *in stores now!*
http://www.marinthomas.com/

Christmas Australian Style

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!
(or Christmas: Australian style)

As I write this from my home in Colorado listening to Dean Martin croon a collection of Christmas songs, snow is falling in big, fat flakes outside my window. All is warm, safe and cozy inside. The piney scent of our Fraser fir Christmas tree, purchased from the local boy scouts fills the air. A pumpkin and apple spice candle is burning, the fire is blazing and occasionally the bells on a passing horse-drawn sleigh can be heard in the otherwise silent landscape outside.

This picture-perfect Rocky Mountain township defines the idyllic notion of Christmas. Front yards sport pines or spruce decorated generously with lights. Icicle lights hang above front doors and are strung along eaves and balconies, accentuating the already wintry landscape.

The shops on Main Street are absolutely enchanting. Many are remnants of the Victorian era. Strewn with festive illuminations, their window displays tempt you to enter, look around and enjoy the magic of the season while sipping hot apple cider.

I’m reminded of the contrast in the seasons between the two wonderful countries I live in, as I departed for the airport from my home in Australia, just a couple of weeks ago. For although this is the Christmas season throughout the Christian world and beyond, in the southern hemisphere, it’s also high summer.

At nine am, the temperature was already climbing towards the century mark, promising another impossibly humid day. Although summer is my favorite season of the year, I was looking forward to stepping off the plane 30 hours later, into the winter chill of Colorado.

As we drove down our street, the familiar smells of early summer filled the air. Frangipanis and late blooming Chinese jasmine competed with the cloying heat. Brilliantly colored hibiscus and bougainvilleas vied with the purple jacaranda trees, dropping the last of their blooms just as the orangey-red tracts of Poinciana’s pushed their way towards the baking hot sun.

These cheerful trees with climbing-friendly branches, would be our companions throughout the Christmas holidays of my childhood. In Australia, summer is synonymous with Christmas and so the two-month hiatus from school was always called, the “Christmas holidays”, although they lasted until the end of January!

Since Australia is an island continent and most of us live near the coast, at least part of those holidays we spent at the beach. Families would exodus the city en masse to a nearby coastal community, staying in anything from tents and caravans to family owned beach houses.

During those glorious two months—whether spent at the seaside or at home—we’d live in our togs (swimsuits), swim every day, never wear hats (or sunscreen), burn and peel several times, consume massive amounts of watermelon, wear our togs to the mall for pictures with Santa, never wear shoes, have competitions to see who could peel off the largest piece of skin from crispened shoulders and backs, eat the warm centers from freshly baked white bread from the local bakery as we sauntered home with the morning’s paper, play endless games of scrabble, Monopoly or backyard cricket, and constantly pick at our burnt noses and lips, dreading the all-too-swift passing of January and our return to a new school year.

The actual Christmas period is a huge holiday in Australia—although rarely a particularly religious one. Businesses close down on Christmas eve—or, if that falls on a weekend, then the Friday afternoon beforehand—and don’t open again until after the New Year.

Although stores try hard to duplicate an idealized northern hemisphere Christmas complete with fake snow, Santa, reindeer, snowmen, Christmas trees, sleighs, more snow etc.—the resultant manufactured notion of Christmas in wintry latitudes fails to convince or satisfy when outside the mall, the sun is hot enough to fry eggs in the car park.

And as for Santa coming down the chimney on Christmas eve? Forget it! Most Australian homes don’t have chimneys. But curiosity and logic would fly out the door when we’d awaken on Christmas morning to find our gifts beneath the fake Christmas tree—or as happened one year, on a trampoline in the backyard!

Christmas dinner is celebrated at lunchtime on Christmas day. Our mums would spend the morning sweltering in the kitchen, preparing the traditional heavy winter fare of their northern hemisphere ancestors.

Occasionally, the festive fare would feature turkey, but more commonly, an enormous leg of baked ham, accompanied by salad, mashed potatoes, hot plum pudding, custard, hard sauce, ice-cream and Christmas cake would be served. While adults drank champagne, the children pretended to, with glasses of sparkling apple juice.

I have fond memories of my father-in-law on the days following Christmas, dressed only in his pajama bottoms, carving the leftover ham for breakfast. One hand would be fisted around the shank, the other grasping a knife as he shaved off generous slices to go with fried or poached eggs and lashings of thick white toast. Those hams were so big (and tasty) they’d provide breakfasts and lunches through New Years.

Lately, Aussie families have begun to forgo European traditions for their Christmas repast. Many opt instead for freshly cooked king or tiger prawns (shrimp) from the local Fish and Chip shop, a backyard barbie (barbeque) at which the men folk can show off their cooking skills, or a picnic of sandwiches on the beach (with the emphasis on “sand”!)

Boxing Day (the day after Christmas and also an official holiday) brought with it both the start of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht race and a five day Cricket test. This soporific period of too much arm-chair sport and over-indulgence in Christmas leftovers would segue lazily into the New Year. Families would pack up and return to the city. January would seem to fly by and before long, our Christmas holidays were over.

Australia Day, celebrated on January 26th, signaled the end of our summer freedom and the return to a new school year. School uniforms (compulsory throughout Australia) were bought or altered. Feet, flattened, tanned and spread wide by a summer without constraint were squeezed into freshly polished shoes. Hair that hadn’t seen a comb all summer would be put through the torture of removing all the knots—or cut short!

With new textbooks and stationery purchased and school bags packed, we’d walk or ride to school over a carpet of Poinciana blossoms. It was as if these magnificent trees that had shaded us all summer were mourning along with us the end of our Christmas holidays for another year. Although the summer was far from over—the heat often lasting into April and May.

The return to school brought with it new expectations, new challenges to be learned and achieved, growing to be done, friendships made and lost.

We’d walk through the school gate, stomachs fluttering in anticipation at who our new teacher would be for the upcoming year and hoping the bully whose taunts we’d endured the previous year had been permanently expelled—or was in another class.

That first week of school heralded the beginning of summer sports fixtures every Friday afternoon. The school swimming carnival was the first official meet of the school year. I well remember standing on the starting blocks, tanned and toned, my sun-bleached hair falling in my eyes as I prepared to dive in. I loved these events, for although I couldn’t run to save myself, I excelled at swimming!
Swim meets at local, District and State level over, it was nearing the end of February already. Only nine more months until the Christmas holidays!

What’s your favorite season or time of year and how does your family celebrate Christmas?

CC Coburn

Colorado Christmas (Nov 09)

Happy Holidays!

I really didn’t forget to blog this month. I’m just having trouble posting thanks to the blizzard messing with my internet satellite connection. We’re definitely going to have a white Christmas here in Michigan – at least we will if it keeps snowing like this. Last Thursday night we got 16 inches. This week we’re getting hit again – with that lovely wintry mix of rain, sleet, freezing rain and snow. We even had lightning and thunder this morning –- when I was out with a broom trying to sweep the snow and ice out of the satellite dish. Hopefully this time I’ll be able to post although my blog has changed a bit. Like Linda, I intended to post about the holiday season – which I love, but as usual I’m not ready for it. I have cookies to bake, gifts to buy and wrap – and have yet to put up my tree. Of course the tree doesn’t stay up thanks to my cat who loves to climb it. I don’t remember how many times we had to put it back up last year. Tomorrow, since we’re certain to be snowed in, we will put up the tree and bake those cookies and wrap the gifts I managed to buy before the blizzard hit. The snow is very pretty, but it does make getting ready for the holiday – and blogging – much more of a challenge.
I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and happy New Year!
Lisa

CHRISTMAS SPIRIT

Are you in the Christmas Spirit yet? On the first day of December I was thinking about everything I had to do for the holidays and getting a major headache. But then we had the Advent coffee at our church and sang beautiful Christmas carols. That always gets me into the spirit of Christmas.

I said “we sang”, but even though I love to sing I didn’t embarrass myself. When I was a kid, my brothers and I went to a Catholic school. All the kids at various times sang in the choir. There were a couple of us who couldn’t sing. A nun christened me and another girl the hummers. And we were the best hummers, she said. So I’m still a hummer. I only sing when no one is listening.

My dh is an exception. When we put up our Christmas tree, it was cold. My hubby’s nose was slightly red from going in and out of the house so much. I started singing Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, inserting his name for Rudolph. He didn’t think that was funny, but you have to sing when you’re putting up a tree, even if you can’t. Right? He said if I didn’t stop the dogs in the neighborhood were going to start howling. They didn’t. We got the tree decorated without incident, except he wouldn't stand by it when I took the photo. Now we’re ready for Christmas, except for shopping, cooking and all the other stuff.

To add to the spirit it snowed. Yes, it did. Right here in Texas. Beautiful snow flakes looked like confetti falling from the sky. It wasn’t cold enough to stick to anything but it was pretty while it lasted. A winter wonderland. Sleigh bells ring, are you listening… Tis the season, and yes I’m singing.

Silent Night is my favorite Christmas song. I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas is another, and O Come All Ye Faithful, Joy to the World, Little Drummer Boy and so on. Rocking Around the Christmas Tree is a fun-get-you-in-the-mood one, as is Jingle Bell Rock. What is your favorite Christmas Song? One that gets you into the spirit of Christmas.

This is my last post for 2009. Happy Holidays everyone!! Let the Christmas spirit ring. Rockin’ around the Christmas tree…. (It’s really good you can’t hear me)

And a Happy New Year!!!!

Linda
http://www.lindawarren.net/
Skylar’s Outlaw – Jan 2010

Warm Family Time by Megan

This week, my husband's family convened for an important event. It was the first time all the siblings had been together with their mom in several years. Spread across the country, they find it hard to get "home" at the same time.

Family time filled with warmth, laughter, reminiscences, and of course, food. Old tales were retold and enjoyed as though it were the first time anyone heard them. The "kids" completed one another's stories and sentences. New stories of children and grandchildren were passed around with photographs to keep everyone up to date.

I soaked it all in, reminded how wonderful a big family can be, and how dear to me these people are who welcomed me into their family and made me one of theirs.

This family feelings is the essence of Harlequin American Romance and perhaps why I love to write for this line. The warmth, love, laughter, and support of family members are things we can understand and enjoy.

These are the things I wish for you as the December holdiays approach: love, laughter, and support for hard times. A family, whether born into, married into, or made of friends.

Megan Kelly
megankellybooks.com

Bargains galore

The holiday season is upon us. This year, things are tough. Businesses are shaky, and many are out of work. However, all is not bad. For the first time in ages, inflation is nonexistent. In fact, we’re experiencing deflation. That means that a dollar today stretches farther than a dollar last year.

People aren’t shopping as much, and worried merchants are offering all kinds of bargains to entice buyers. One of my favorites is free shipping from online retailers. I often shop online, sending gifts to loved ones directly via the Internet. In the past I could count on shipping fees that totaled as much as 20 percent of the cost of the gift. (Outrageous, but they had me coming and going!) This year, no one is charging for shipping. Gotta love that.

What are some of the great bargains you’ve come across?

Best wishes for a warm, safe and healthy holiday season,
Ann
www.annroth.net

Recipe of the Month: Applesauce Cookies

My mother made two kinds of cookies that I'll always love: Applesauce and Sugar. Now, you probably have a ton of sugar cookie recipes, especially this time of year, so I thought I'd share a recipe that's a little different. If you have children around, or overnight guests during the holidays, or just folks who love to snack, these cookies are great. They even have food value! I love them for breakfast with a cup of coffee or a glass of milk. Enjoy!

Virginia Chancellor's Applesauce Cookies

1/2 c. shortening (or butter or margarine if you don't want to use shortening)
1 c. (or slightly less) sugar
1 egg
1 tsp baking soda
1 c. applesauce (any type of plain applesauce, but stay away from the chunky kind)
1 c. 100% Bran Cereal or Bran Buds (see, I told you it had food value!)
1 3/4 c. flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg (I use more because I love nutmeg)
1/2 tsp ground cloves
Optional: 1 c. raisins

Blend shortening (butter/margarine) and sugar in a large bowl. Sift dry ingredients (except soda) in a separate bowl. (In this modern age, I don't believe you actually have to sift flour, but at least mix up the dry ingredients.) Add egg to sugar and shortening and mix well. Add soda to the applesauce and stir gently. (Note: Make sure you have the applesauce in at least a 1 1/2 cup to 2 cup container because it will expand.) Alternate mixing dry ingredients and applesauce into sugar/shortening/egg mixture. Add bran cereal and (optional) raisins and mix well. Bake 2 inches apart at 375 degrees for approximately 15 minutes, but check to make sure they don't get too done. The cookie will be moist and springy to the touch but the edges will be lightly browned. Try not to burn your hands or tongue as you can't wait to taste them. Enjoy!

Hint: If you put a sheet of waxed paper between each layer when storing them, they are easier to separate. Store in an airtight container or well covered with plastic wrap to avoid drying out.

The Beagle Strikes Again

Last month, I relayed how I was at our beagle’s beck and call. After she tore her ACL, she needed surgery…and I was needed to cater to her every whim for two weeks. The good news is that her fur is growing back nicely, and while she’s not ready for a long walk, she is definitely almost back to normal.

The bad news? She’s almost back to normal.

Yesterday was a busy day for me. I needed to finish line edits for Second Chance Hero, my June 2010 release, and get them to the FedEx office by four o’clock. We’d also promised to make a pot of soup for church-Advent has started, and our church hosts soup suppers, followed by a brief prayer service.

But was mostly on my mind was finishing up my sister’s Christmas present. My sister Kelley lives in Athens, Greece. Every Christmas I send her a few boxes filled with all kinds of gifts for her and her girls. This year, they asked for makeup and movies. And all kinds of American junk food. For the last month, I’ve been buying things and gathering it all. Tuesday night I ran to WalMart and bought candy and Poptarts and Kraft Mac and Cheese.

Yesterday, every time I read over forty pages or so, I’d either make soup or wrap presents. Phoebe slept, which she pretty much does about twenty hours a day.

At five o’clock, I was feeling pretty darn good about myself. Line edits? Sent off at three o’clock! Soup? Done! And there, sitting in the middle of my dining room table, was my crowning achievement for the day-Kelley’s presents were ready to go. I had the two boxes taped, addressed, and custom forms filled out. All ready for me to take to the post office this morning.

My husband and I went off to church. He served soup, I ate and chatted. We helped clean up. Then, just as we were walking into the sanctuary, my cell phone rings-it’s my daughter. Uh oh.

It’s cold and has been pouring rain all day. So, I tell my husband I’ll be right there and go take the call. Lesley’s upset. Uh oh. Immediately, I start worrying about car accidents and boyfriend troubles. Then I hear the news.

When she came home last night-not fifteen minutes after Tom and I had left-she found Phoebe and Suzy the wiener dog eating chocolate Santas on our basement floor.
Yes, you guessed it. Phoebe leapt up on the table, pulled a twenty pound sealed box off, dragged it downstairs, and together she and her buddy gnawed through the side of the box, chewed of f the wrapping paper and ate six chocolate Santas and a box of Milk Duds.

And the corner off of the Amazing Race, Season 1 Boxed Set, too.

To say I was upset is pretty much an understatement. After hearing that Lesley had everything under control and the dogs were outside, I went into the church service.
I’m ashamed to say that no matter how much the pastor preached about gratitude and forgiveness, I was thinking evil things about that beagle.

When we got home, the dogs ran around, happy as clams to see us. Chocolate doesn’t seem to affect them anymore than a can of Alpo. I looked at the destruction, thought of how I’m going to have to fix everything up again, and just about cried.

Yes. The beagle struck again…and won.

My husband poured me a glass of wine and told me to go take a bath.

Right now, it’s seven am. The beagle’s sound asleep, happily curled up on her sheepskin bed. I’m dressed and plan to go get my sister’s package ready again. By this afternoon, I know those boxes will be in the mail. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to get them out of the house. See, I know they’ll be safer traveling to Greece than they will be on our dining room table.

Phoebe just better hope she doesn’t need surgery on her other ACL any time soon!

This is my only post for December, so I hope everyone has a blessed and peaceful holiday season…or at least no pet disasters. But if you ever have had a pet spoil a holiday, please share! I’d love to know I’m not the only one with a crazy, lovable, destructive dog!

Shelley

NOVEMBER WINNER!!!

CONGRATULATIONS Nicole S.! You’re the November winner. To receive your free autographed books please contact Ann DeFee and C.C. Coburn through their Web sites.

To enter the contest simply leave a blog comment and your name will go into the drawing. Easy and painless. And FREE BOOKS.

So check back often and be sure to leave a comment. Good luck and Happy Holidays!

Family favorite

Every year, my husband cooks the turkey and stuffing for Thanksgiving, and sometimes for Christmas as well. He’s tried numerous methods with the turkey, most of which work fine (we won’t mention the one or two years – out of thirty-one – when the turkey came out dry).

Through it all, he’s remained faithful to the same stuffing recipe. I have to admit, I’ve never tasted one to equal it, so I’m going to share it here.

This recipe makes enough to stuff a turkey. If you want, you can make a double recipe, put the remainder in a casserole and spread some of the pan drippings on it for added flavor.

I have no idea where this recipe came from. My apologies for failing to give credit.

Warning: this recipe is neither vegetarian nor kosher. And it is laden with fat and calories. Just reading this recipe might cause you to gain weight.

Raisin-Sausage Stuffing

6 cups of toasted bread cubes
1 cup of raisins
1 lb roll of pork sausage (mild or hot)
2 cups chopped celery
1 cup chopped onion
¼ cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
2 teaspoons salt

Mix bread cubes and raisins in a bowl. In a pan, brown the sausage. Pour off the fat and save it. To the pan, add the celery and onion and cook until the vegetables are tender. Stir in the sugar, lemon and salt. Pour the sausage mixture into the bread/raisin mixture and stir. Add the reserved fat and stir. (I warned you.)
It’s now ready to stuff the turkey, or heat in the oven.

I'm a sucker for all cutsie Christmas crafts and this Santa is adorable!! I found this project at Kaboose.com, but a fun variation would be to make three wise men. I would think the same basic instructions would work, only switch up the heads!!



What you'll need:
1 potato chip canister
2 sheets red felt
1 sheet white felt
1 sheet black felt
1 sheet peach felt
Cotton balls
1 large white pom pom
1 jumbo craft stick
1 glittery silver chenille stem
2 medium wiggle eyes
1 small pink pom pom
White craft glue or hot glue gun
Scissors
Patterns--http://crafts.kaboose.com/img/images_holidays/Printable_SantaPattern.pdf


How to make it:

1. Print out patterns.
   
2. Cover the top half of the potato chip can with peach felt.
   
3. Cut the jumbo craft stick in half.
   
4. Poke a hole in each side of the potato chip can; this is where the arms will go.
   
5. Wrap red felt around the can, line up with the bottom of the can and trim so that it overlaps the peach felt. Do not glue to the can just yet.
   
6. Hold the felt in place and use a black marker to mark a dot on the red felt where the holes in the can are. Remove the felt and cut a small slit where each marker dot is; this is where the arms will slide in.
   
7. Glue the red felt in place, making sure that the slits line up with the holes in the can.
   
8. Cut the jacket trim from the white felt using the patterns. Glue the center trim piece on to the red felt, starting from the top of the red felt. Glue the bottom jacket trim around the can, covering the center jacket trim at the bottom.
   
9. Cut the arms of the jacket from the red and white felt using the patterns. Lay the white arm trim down first, the red felt on top of that overlapping the white. Lay the craft stick on top of both, the rounded end should be sticking out about 1” from the white cuff. The flat (cut) end of the craft stick should also be sticking out about ¼”, just enough to insert into the can. If it is not, trim the felt to allow some of the stick to show. Fold the felt around the stick to create the sleeve and glue in place. Repeat for the other arm.
   
10. Cut the belt and boots from the black felt using the pattern. Glue the belt around the can, about ¾” above the bottom white trim. Glue the boots to the bottom of the can.
    
11. Bend the silver chenille stem into a buckle, trim where needed. Glue onto the belt.
    
12. Insert the arms into the slits/holes in the side of the can. Glue to secure.
    
13. Glue a sheet of red felt around the top of the can, just at the rim. This will be the hat. For now, just glue the felt around the rim and continue to the next step.
    Starting at the back, glue cotton balls in place for hair and beard. Use the photo as a guide.
    
14. Gather the felt of the hat and tuck in and glue as you go to create the cap shape. Bend the cap downward and tack to the side to keep it down (if needed) using glue. Glue white pom pom to the end of the hat.
    
15. Glue on wiggle eyes and pink pom pom for nose.

Tips:
**For the example, a cylinder chip can was used, but you can use any type of cylinder for this project. Try coffee creamer containers, juice cans or even an empty salt container.
**To jazz up this cute Santa, use white glitter felt for the cuffs and jacket trim instead of plain white felt.

Happy crafting!! ;-)

A Package Stalker

The title says it all. I, Laura Bradford, am a package stalker.

Or, at least, I was this weekend.

You see, after waiting for what seemed like an eternity (though, in actuality it wasn't long at all), I got word via a fellow writer that January's author copies had been sent off...

A week ago.

While I was away (in St. Thomas).

And to the house I'd been living in for the past few months (yet no longer was).

Ugh.

Once I got word the box had been delivered (and accepted) by the new owner of said former house, I began to stalk. And I mean, stalk.

Unfortunately, as it was Thanksgiving at this point, the acceptee was apparently out of town.

Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.

How do I know she was out of town? Because there was no sign of life every time I drove by. With "every" time being something like five or six times...

A day.

Until I hit finally hit jackpot yesterday afternoon.

I can't tell you how excited I was to finally have that package in my possession. Wait, actually I can. I was THRILLED!!!

Sure, I've seen my name on books before (both real and pen). And yes, I get excited every time. But this one was different.

Because it's my first-ever romance and it represents a burst of faith I had in myself--faith I grabbed with two hands as I took off in a sprint. KAYLA'S DADDY (Harlequin American, January) is the fruit of that faith in tangible form.

I can't tell you how many times I've looked at that book in the past day. Or how many times I've opened the cover and read the "Dear Reader" and "About the Author" sections. Or even how many times I've thought ahead to the first few readers who pick it up off the shelf in a store somewhere across this country...

It's magical. And it was more than worth the title of psycho stalker.

Really.

So how about you? Have you ever been so excited to see/get something that you couldn't wait for nature to take its course?

Have a great weekend!

~Laura

P.S. A Daddy For Christmas--my first-ever Harlequin on-line read to kick off my first-ever romance novel--debuts December 7th at e.harlequin.com. A new chapter will be posted each day for twenty days (weekends excluded). I hope you check it out!

Thanks

My mother has a tradition at Thanksgiving. We all hold hands, the meal spread before us on the table, and tell everyone assembled what we’re thankful for this year. When I was a kid, this made me cringe. First, the tradition made sure everyone was staring at me—horrifying when I was a self-conscious teenager. Second, what the heck was I going to say? I would obsess for days ahead of time to come up with the perfect short, thoughtful phrase. Inevitably, I would flub it and a slight titter (or out-right guffaw from my brother) would circle the table. Eventually, as I matured, I learned to play to the crowd, keep it simple and the moments eased on by.

These days, it’s so easy to focus on the worst. Crisis after crisis hits the headlines and pops out of every mouth, TV, blog or tweet. The stories are frightening and devastating. Every-day life is full of small calamities, too: the car breaks down, the toilet backs up, the cat throws up on the new sofa, bad hair, really bad dust-bunnies. Sometimes it seems like there’s nothing to be grateful for. Then Thanksgiving arrives and I remember my mother’s tradition. I spend a few days thinking about all the great things in my life and I re-focus on what’s important: family, love, laughter.

This Thanksgiving, I won’t be sharing a meal with my family, but maybe that’s a good thing. The turkey would need a sweater to keep from catching a chill while I list all the things I’m thankful for this year. I have a wonderful husband. I have terrific friends, some of whom just helped us move. You have to be grateful for people who help you haul an eight-foot sofa up five flights of stairs. I get to write every day. I have romance readers who enjoy my stories. The list goes on and on.

Now I’m going to pass this wonderful tradition on to you. Join hands, everyone. What are you thankful for this year?

Hopes, Dreams and Wedding Things

From the moment my son was born—even before if I were honest—I’ve dreamed of a better life for him. Although my own life is admittedly good, I wanted him to be healthier, more at peace with himself and others, get a higher education, achieve success earlier or, in short, have a better future than the one I’ve carved out for myself.

By and large, he’s fulfilled those dreams, along with a few of his own. He combined both our goals by playing baseball all the way through college, managing to graduate with honors. He landed a terrific job, sprang up the ladder into management, bought a wonderful house. Last week, to the applause of our closest friends and family, he realized one of my biggest dreams when he slipped a simple white band on the elegantly manicured finger of his best friend, the love of his life, and my new daughter-in-law.

This girl—young woman, actually—is everything I could have ever wanted for my son. Of course she’s beautiful, with glossy raven hair, dancing brown eyes and a figure most women my age would give their eye teeth to have again. She’s also kind, generous, soft-hearted and close enough to her own family to assure me that she has her priorities straight. Most importantly, when my son looks at her, he is filled with so much happiness, he glows. And she glows back.

But sometimes, to achieve your own goal, you have to muck with someone else’s.

They married in an enormous old church, one with aisles on either side of long, centered pews. The wedding planner, a woman with her own vision for the ceremony, insisted my son stand on the far right while the bridal party entered from the far left. Which meant he couldn’t see his bride come through the doors into the sanctuary. Alternatives and compromises were suggested and soundly rejected until the groom, in the interest of having “the perfect wedding,” agreed to stand where he was told and wait to see his bride once she cleared the final aisle. But some dreams cannot be denied, and, as soon as the Wedding March sounded, my son left his assigned spot by the minister and crossed the dais so he could watch the woman of his dreams walk down the aisle to him…a move that brought tears to every eye in the church. (Okay, so maybe the move clashed with the wedding planner's dream, but she went with the flow.)

Now that the happy couple is off on their honeymoon, I realize that my hopes and dreams require updating. List-maker that I am, I'm tempted to start another list. Or maybe, in the interest of being green, I’ll simply recycle the one I have for the next generation.

What dreams do you have for your children? For yourself? And how will you go about achieving their fulfillment?

A Quick, Easy and Delicious Holiday Appetizer

For me the holiday season is all about family, friends and food, so I thought I’d share my favorite party appetizer of all time.

Baked Brie

1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, finely chopped
2 teaspoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, pressed
2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
8-ounces Brie cheese

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Put the Brie (the white rind is edible!) in a shallow baking dish and set aside.

Chop the sun-dried tomatoes and cover them with boiling water. Let sit for 15 minutes, until soft. Drain well. If you buy sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, then they’re good to go as is.
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Heat the olive oil in a small frying pan. Saute tomatoes for a couple of minutes, stirring constantly. Add garlic and saute for about 30 seconds, still stirring constantly. Stir in the basil, parsley and balsamic vinegar. Cook, stirring constantly, for about 1 minute.

Cover the Brie with the tomato mixture and bake at 350 degrees until the cheese is soft and warm, about 10 minutes.

Serve with plain crackers and a thinly sliced bagette. The warm cheese spreads easily and the topping is mouth-wateringly delicious. Seriously. You must try this. Your guests will love you for it!

Happy holidays!

Until next time,
Lee
The Writer Side of Life