Clean the Green Way (a repeat)

by Diana McCollum

Let me just say up front, this is a repeat of a post from 2012.  

Enjoy!

First let me say that I am so-o-o envious of Paty Jager’s writing space pictured in her April 2, 2012 post right here on Romancing the Genres Blog.

Up until our move to the High desert in OR I had a spare bedroom that I had turned into my writing room. There were bookshelves that lined the walls, a magnificent computer stand with doors that closed and locked when not in use and even room for my exercise bike. The computer stand stood in the corner by the window. I could look out into my garden whenever I wanted to. I had all the room I could possibly need or want.

Fast forward to now. I have a small stand cramped into a corner of our T.V. room. I do have a window I can see out to the bushes and the road. My writing books are packed in the garage, except for one shelf of “How to…” and research books that have found a home on the one free shelf in the closet.

I have found with this smaller space that I have become a neater writer. My stacks of notes and papers have to be organized, dealt with or thrown away because there is no room for those stacks to grow. No free space on the floor either

Now to get back to the subject at hand, cleaning the Green Way is not only good for the environment it is good for the pocket book. 

My friend and one of my critique partners, Louise P. lives in Kansas and last week sent me a list of Green Cleaning Recipes. I spoke with her today (since I haven’t tried any of the recipes) and asked her if she had tried them.

Louise said she made and tried the furniture polish and it works wonderfully. Her dining room table has never been so shiny.

So here’s the Green Recipe for wood polish:

1 cup mineral oil

25 drops of pine essential oil 

Mix in a spray bottle by shaking up. Do this each time before using.

Then when you polish in the different rooms of your house it will smell like Yule time. If you don’t like pine, try cedar or clove essential oil.

What cleaning short cuts, saving time or money, do you use?

3 Things I Do Well by Sarah Raplee McDermed

In planning this blog, I decided to talk about concrete things I am good at, rather than abstractions like ‘procrastinating’, or ‘arguing’. Abstractions do not always present my accomplishments in the best light.

So here goes:

     1.  I’m good at roller skating. Not Roller Derby good, but Above-average Good.

My path to roller skating accomplishment was not an easy one.

When I was a Brownie Scout in second grade, we took roller skating lessons at the local roller rink. We learned to stay upright, to start and stop, and later to turn around and skate backwards. In advanced class we learned how to do the limbo on roller skates, which was quite a feat in our uniform skirts.

Eight years later I was fifteen and in high school, but not old enough to drive. My best friend, Rhonda, and I would get one of our parents to drop us off at the roller rink to skate on Saturdays. We had fun wearing off our excess youthful energy and checking out our male peers. The rink was often packed with teens, pre-teens and families with small children, some of whom were, unfortunately, not well-supervised.

The day of The Accident was one of those Saturdays. Rhonda and I and everyone else was skating fast. A pack of five-to-seven-year-olds were who thought it was hilarious to pile up on purpose and block the lanes were causing problems. I managed to skate around one of their pile-ups once. The next time they piled up in front of me there wasn’t enough time to avoid them. Everything seemed to happen in slow motion. I remember thinking if I ran into them going this fast, I would hurt someone really bad. So I jumped, tucked my legs and prayed I wouldn’t hit someone in the head with my wheels. I remember looking down as I sailed over the kids and thinking, ‘Shit! If I land on my skates, I’ll fall over backwards and crack my head on the floor.’

So I landed on my knees and broke both of them—at least that’s how it felt. The pain was worse than when I broke my leg the summer before seventh grade. All I could do was lay on my side and moan.

Rhonda had seen the whole incident. She knew it was bad, so she found a cute young male employee and told him what had happened. He skated out and, when he realized I couldn’t walk, he picked me up and skated me off the floor, bless his heart. He sat me on a bench, got a couple ice packs for me, and let Rhonda use the phone to call my mother.

Later, our doctor told us I had damaged the bursa in my knees. I was left with bursitis in my knees—and a phobia of roller skating. It wasn’t until I was twenty-eight and my two kids begged me to let them learn to skate that I decided to face my fears. I enrolled in a college gym elective roller skating class. Wearing elbow and knee pads, with the instructor’s support and encouragement, I overcame my fears. By the end of the term, I was playing balloon soccer on roller skates.

That’s how I got Above-average Good at roller skating.

      2.) I’m good at putting babies to sleep. In fact, I’m a Master Sand Woman. This is a much shorter story, I promise! I worked for three years in an infant and toddler nursery. Enough said!!!

      3.) I’m good at brainstorming ideas.

Give me a problem, and I’ll run with it like a

For example, ‘In what scenario would Master Sand Woman and Above-Average Roller Skater skills be useful?’

-Writing a story about saving a baby from kidnappers.

-Reporting on Roller Derby Gals with infants.

-Landing a job as a nanny for a Roller Derby Team.

-Being a grandmother.

-Being a mother.

-Being an aunt.

-Being a teenaged babysitter.

-Escaping a home invasion with an infant.

You get the idea, right? It’s a great skill for a writer to have. A list of 25 is a gold mine. The first ten are usually yawners, but then things get interesting. Try it next time you are stuck.

You’re welcome ~ Sarah

 

National Exercise Day

 Today is National Exercise Day. This day resonates with me, and I celebrated it by spending an hour at the gym first thing this morning. For those of you that follow me on Facebook, I used to post quite frequently about what kind of exercise I was doing. It could have been running (more of a turtle-paced jog), mountain biking, cross-country skiing, Zumba, or lap swimming. 

 

These days I'm focused on strength training. The more I read about it, the more vital I feel it is. What I’ve come to understand is, more muscle on my body helps prevent osteoporosis and improve mobility. I’ve also focused on building my core because it's one of the biggest factors in stability and balance.

 I started this journey two years ago at, and since starting I’ve gone from 90 pound leg press to last week hitting 488 pounds. I’ve also built some biceps and triceps, increased my back strength, and my core.

 It hasn't always been an easy journey. I’ve had issues with range of motion in one shoulder which meant physical therapy and lots of exercises. It took three solid months of doing the exercises before I resolved the issue.

As I mentioned in a previous blog, I don't do New Year's resolutions, I set goals. In January I asked myself what my goal was for this year. I really hadn't given it any thought other than I wanted to keep building muscle, but I realized I wanted to do pull ups. All my life I've wanted to do a pull-up, but I’ve never come close. 

To that end, I’m working hard to build the muscles to do pull-ups, and I’d always assumed it would be shoulder muscles, which it is, but it’s also core, arms, and back. Who knew, right? 

 Have you tried strength training? If you haven’t, I highly encourage it.

 Today is also National Animal Cracker Day, and I'm going to celebrate with a box of animal

crackers. I love animal crackers, unfrosted only. They are my favorite cookies, so I picked up a box, and I’m loving them, so don’t forget to pick some up today.

 A side note, I’m currently working on book 3 of the Vermont Christmas Romance series, no title yet, but this book will be about Mickey Davidson, Jack’s uncle from Santa Comes to Snowside, and Annie’s friend and neighbor, Sarah Barker from the same book.

Here’s the blurb from book 1.

Santa Comes to Snowside
What music do Santa’s elves like the best? Wrap music!

Annie Murphy, a transit bus driver in Snowside, Vermont, loves scavenger hunts and the corny jokes her riders share. She has a heart as big as the city and gave up college to raise her orphaned nephew without a second thought. But so far true love has eluded her.

A downturn in the economy five years ago sent Jack Davidson down a path to enlightenment. Giving up a lucrative career in finance and his swanky high-rise apartment, he invested all his savings to start Job Hunters 4 You, a nonprofit that helps the unemployed find work. The only thing missing is that special someone in his life.

Jody and Nick Claws arrive on Jack’s doorstep in matching red and green plaid flannel shirts, the spitting image of Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus. The pair are on a mission to work their Christmas magic on two lonely hearts—Annie and Jack.

Grab your copy today because nothing kicks off the holidays like a match made in heaven.

 

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Bragging: Or At Least Talking Myself Up...A Bit - - - - by Delsora Lowe

This month’s theme is bragging, ah, er, I mean, telling all of you the three things that I think are my strengths or things I do well.

That’s a hard one. Because, even though there are certain things I love to do, I never feel as though I am great at any of them. But I have to admit, maybe I am good at some of them. And at the same time, always trying to improve.

The obvious is I am good, getting better, but not a star, at writing. I have practiced a lot since I was a kid. My freshman year at a new high school, my teacher submitted a story I had written from a child’s point-of-view, about his little red wagon. It ended up in the school’s quarterly literary magazine. I wanted to run and hide, because I thought people would think I had a childish mind. I survived the ordeal—which wasn’t the ordeal my imagination thought it would be.

My three grandsons, who are all in high school now!

My first-year college English professor “kicked me out” of the required grammar class, because I already knew “that stuff.” As an aside, for the few weeks I was in his class, he also drilled in the use of the Oxford comma. When I went back to finish my degree fifteen years later after marriage and kids, my professors in various disciplines, asked me where I learned to write. So, I offer many thanks to my high school English classes, that at the time were pure torture. However, I did learn to write.

Here are two other areas that I think I am able to achieve in.

First: Cooking—and by that, I mean, I am able to make anything out of nothing. To me food is not only nourishment, but inspiration. I love recipes, but I never follow them. Oh, I try. But then I say to myself…hmmm, I bet if I add this or that, this recipe will be better. Or I look in the fridge and groan, because I haven’t been to the grocery store lately, and I make up a recipe out of anything that is still useable in the fridge. Or I scan the cupboards. I mix and match and add a tidbit of this and a spoonful of that, and a shake of something else.

I have my maternal grandmother and both my parents to thank for showing me how it's done in the kitchen. Use up leftovers in inventive ways. Never let anything go to waste. And always have enough wine - whoops - channeling my dad. Here's to you, Dad, as I hold up my stemmed glass toward the heavens.

I do the same thing in the grocery store since my list says bread, meat, fish, veggies, salad stuff, soup, etc. I have to feel “in the mood.” Today the butternut squash calls to me. Next time it might be broccoli or turnip or beets or avocado. And then as I wander the isles, or survey the meat and fish displays, or check out cheeses I have never tried, I devise my menus for the next few days. Okay, so I may be one of the few who love to grocery shop, and I especially love to wander the farmers market, where each week the offerings are different, depending on harvest times. My brain snaps into creative cooking mode.

Living in Maine – lobster, a favorite ingredient in a meal

The second other thing I am good at is TALKING. I can hear the groan from the peanut gallery of those who know me well. Yup—she talks ALL THE TIME. I love to talk with friends. But I also chat up the store clerk or cashier, anyone in line with me, or anyone searching for the same item in a store. But that love of chat came in handy in my chosen, and not-so-chosen, careers and jobs in hospitality, retail, event planning, government, non-profits, etc. In those jobs it’s a requirement to speak to strangers.

And out of that type of work, I also became good at being a connector of people.

            One example is that during 9/11, I worked in a school in Washington, D.C. It was also my alma mater. We had alumni all over the country, as well as living overseas. I received many calls from people worried about their former classmates in D.C. and N.Y.C. I also heard from many in those affected areas reporting in. I became a conduit between friends.

Part of my job was organizing gatherings for alumni all over the country. That included finding venues and caterers, plus programming for each event. That might include bringing along a beloved professor, or finding an alum in the area who had an interesting career they could speak about, or who had authored a book. I also used to connect alumni from different generations who had things in common—like similar jobs, lived in the same area, or had the same interests. Or those alumni who were looking for jobs and those who might be mentors in that search.

Working in non-profits and alumni relations, connecting like-minded people to resources, job opportunities, or other people who like the same things or are in similar careers, becomes a given. And now, with a network of writers all over the country, it is fun to connect other writers to resources, or authors who write in similar genres, or have areas of expertise needed by that author. And…luckily, they do the same for me. Writing romance is one of my joys in life. And with that goes staying in touch with my good friends, and connecting with authors who may have advice to help me on my journey.

It’s all about the networking, no matter whether it is a job search, connecting with people who have similar interests, jobs, or hobbies, or a simple helpful gesture guiding a lost shopper in the direction of the aisle filled with ice cream. So put on that bright smile and connect. You might be surprised at how much fun it is, even when you know you may never cross paths with that person again.

What is something you think you do well? 

And why do you believe you do this item well?

 

Check out Starlight Grille

Welcome to Serenity Harbor, Maine, a small coastal town where the Starlight Grille is a favorite meeting place. This sweet, with a touch of heat, 3-book collection includes a new bonus short story and a Starlight Grille recipe.

 Amazon(also in print)

Booksto Read

 

~ cottages to cabins ~ keep the home fires burning ~

Delsora Lowe writes small town and contemporary western sweet and spicy romances, from the mountains of Colorado to the shores of New England.

Author of the Starlight Grille series, Serenity Harbor Maine novellas, and the Cowboys of Mineral Springs series, Lowe has also authored short romances for Woman’s World magazine (most recently, an Easter romance in the April 1, 2024 edition.) The Love Left Behind is a Hartford Estates, R.I. wedding novella with Book 2 on the way. A Christmas novel (The Inn at Gooseneck Lane) and novella (Holiday Hitchhiker – the youngest brother of the Mineral Spring’s ranching family) were the most recent releases. Look for book 3 of the cowboy’s series, as well as book 2 of the Hartford Estates series, coming soon.

 Social Media Links:

Author website: www.delsoralowe.com
Facebook Author page: https://www.facebook.com/delsoraloweauthor/community/
Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.com/Delsora-Lowe/e/B01M61OM39/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Books2Read Author page: https://www.books2read.com/ap/8GWm98/Delsora-Lowe
BookBub Author Page: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/delsora-lowe-93c6987f-129d-483d-9f5a-abe603876518
Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16045986.Delsora_Lowe
Instagram: #delsoralowe / https://www.instagram.com/delsoralowe/

Photo Credits:
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Eggheads, what's not to like?

 by Diana McCollum

My husband and I took a trip to the California coast to the small town of Fort Bragg. Before we left for our trip we had several people give us recomendations on places to visit and restaurants to eat at.

The coast had some of the most spectacular views. We watched a photographer taking pictures of a bridal couple with stunning views behind the couple. Unfortunately I didn't think to take any of the bride and groom, besides they were pretty far away from us.

One of our favorite breakfast places on our trip was Eggheads.

The theme was all Wizzard of Oz from the menu to the decor.

    

There was a ton of collectibles, posters and pictures from the movie. And the food? Absolutely wonderful. They only serve breakfast and lunch. It's a very small intimate cafe.

I wish I would have taken a picture of the menu. On the menu you could order things like Wicked porched eggs, Yellow Brick Road pancakes,  or Emerald City omelet.

We ate there three mornings! The final morning we split the special which was a Dungeness crab omelet with a special cream sauce for over it. So good!!

I rode the Skunk Train up into the Redwoods. 

We went to the sea glass museum. Wow, all the different colors and the displays were very unique. One room was all glass with urainium in it and the pieces glowed under black light.

We both loved the 46 acre botanical gardens. My husband can't walk far so we rented one of the gardens electric carts, like you see in the grocery stores.

Here are some pictures from the Mendocino Botanical Gardens. 

The cactus in the background are over 8 ft tall!

Have you gone on any trips this spring? 

Is your garden sprouting flowers?

(all pictures were taken by Diana McCollum)

Three Things I Do Well by Lynn Lovegreen

 It’s tough for me to come up with things I do well, because it sounds like bragging. That’s something women often have trouble with. But since it’s this month’s topic for RTG, I have permission, right? 😉

 

One thing I do well is yoga. I’ve practiced yoga for over ten years, the last four totally online. It’s kind of nice to “go” to class without having to leave the house, and the virtual class gives me the feel of practicing with others. While I’m not the type to do pretzel-ly moves, yoga helps me de-stress and I’m pretty good at stretching and balance poses.

Another thing I do well is read. Yeah, most of us can read, but I can read faster than most people. It started with tons of reading in college, then in my career as an English teacher. Now, I can easily buzz through a novel in a couple evenings—but if it’s a really good one, I’ll slow down to savor it. Just because I can, it doesn’t mean I have to speed read. 

 

The last thing I do well is probably what I’m most proud of: I’m a good listener. I have a calm demeanor and the kind of face that people trust. That leads to all kinds of folks sharing things with me on airplanes, at bus stops, and in brief encounters here and there. I like connecting with people and hearing their stories. To me, it’s an honor for them to confide in me. (And before you ask, yes, sometimes small bits lead to writing ideas, but I’d never steal a whole story from someone. It’s not mine to tell.)

 

What do you do well? Want to share with us?

 

Lynn Lovegreen has lived in Alaska for most of her life. After twenty years in the classroom, she retired to make more time for writing. She enjoys her friends and family, reading, and volunteering for her local library. Her young adult historical romance is set in Alaska, a great place for drama, romance, and independent characters. See her website at www.lynnlovegreen.com.