Hello everyone, I hope all is well with you. It’s Memorial Day weekend. A weekend where we honor those who have passed. Our soldiers who didn’t make it back from war and our relatives who are no longer with us.
I’m thinking of my dad this weekend. I miss him. He passed away before he met my kids and that makes me sad. I think he’d be proud of them.
I hope you enjoy your Memorial Day and take a few minutes to remember those who are no longer with us.
This is just a quick post to say Thank you to all who have served and fought for our freedom. It is greatly appreciated. Take the weekend and spend it with your family and friends. Be grateful that you can have this time with them. I’ll be back next week with another post. Enjoy your holiday!
Hello everyone. I hope all is well with you. I’m back with another Slice of Life Post. I had a relaxing Memorial Day Weekend. We went up north to my Inlaw’s cottage and had a great family weekend. It was perfect weather, eighty degrees and sunny. I also worked on my current WIP. It’s coming together and I’m feeling pretty good about it.
We started teaching our boys how to play Euchre this weekend. My husband and I like to play, and we thought it would be a fun family bonding moment for all of us. We sat out on the back porch and enjoyed the sunset while we played.
With all this technology, I’d forgotten how much I enjoy playing cards. I played board games with my kids, but they’ve moved on from those. They’re growing up. It’s going by so fast.
Anyway, I’m glad they like to play. It’s something we can do as a family and it’s social, not technical. I feel that technology has advanced us in some ways, but hindered us in others.
I also read a lot this weekend. I finished two books and they were both very good. The first one was a young adult historical fiction novel, titled, “Ella Wood” by Michelle Isenhoff. If you like historical fiction then this book is for you. It’s written during the Civil War and the main character lives in the south, but isn’t sure she agrees with their beliefs about slavery. The historical element was authentic and the story moved at a good pace. I’m sure many young girls will identify with the main character. I liked that she was strong and questioned the belief system she’d grown up with. The cover and blurb are below.
Though she left Charleston a spoiled daughter of the South, Emily returns from her stay in the North a changed young woman. Her assumptions about slavery have been shattered, and her secret dream of attending university has blossomed into fierce ambition. As the passions sweeping North and South toward war threaten to envelop the city she loves, Emily must battle her father’s traditional expectations in her own bid for freedom. Meanwhile, the real fight may lie within her heart, which stubbornly refuses to accept that a choice for independence must be a choice against love.
I also read a book by a new author. This one was not young adult, it was a New Adult novel by Karin Slaughter. It was recommended to me from one of my Twitter friends and it was an awesome story. I didn’t want to put the book down. It was a thriller and I must say it certainly grabbed me. I’d recommend it for a summer read. It’s titled “Pretty Girls,” and the cover and blurb are below.
Sisters. Strangers. Survivors.
More than twenty years ago, Claire and Lydia’s teenaged sister Julia vanished without a trace. The two women have not spoken since, and now their lives could not be more different. Claire is the glamorous trophy wife of an Atlanta millionaire. Lydia, a single mother, dates an ex-con and struggles to make ends meet. But neither has recovered from the horror and heartbreak of their shared loss—a devastating wound that’s cruelly ripped open when Claire’s husband is killed.
The disappearance of a teenage girl and the murder of a middle-aged man, almost a quarter-century apart: what could connect them? Forming a wary truce, the surviving sisters look to the past to find the truth, unearthing the secrets that destroyed their family all those years ago . . . and uncovering the possibility of redemption, and revenge, where they least expect it.
Powerful, poignant, and utterly gripping, packed with indelible characters and unforgettable twists, Pretty Girls is a masterful novel from one of the finest writers working today.
These books are a must read! Put them on your TBR pile for this summer. The school year is almost over! Two more weeks and we’re done! I can’t wait! 🙂 How about you? Do you have any good books you’d like to recommend?
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Hello everyone, I hope all is well with you. It’s Memorial Day today and I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Memorial Day!
I don’t know about you, but I’m going to take today and remember my dad. He passed away about fifteen years ago and even though he’s gone, I think about him every day. I see his personality in my brothers whenever I get together with them, especially my youngest brother. He has the same mannerisms as my father and that same tone whenever he’s being cynical. I laugh whenever I hear my dad’s signature sigh. My brother isn’t even aware that he does this, but I see it.
It’s funny the things I remember about my dad. Like the way he used to say my nickname, or when he used to get irritated with me for being late for dinner, but then he’d feel bad afterward and ask me to play catch. 😉 He could never stay mad at me for very long. Now that I’m a parent, I understand how irritating being late can be! I just loved being outside and I didn’t want to come in. I was just a kid after all.
Just being with him had a calming effect on me, like everything was going to be all right. I’m kind of a worrier, so it was a relief to feel that way whenever I could. 🙂
So, here’s to my dad! (Raising a glass of wine to the sky) I miss him and wish he were still here. I wish he had been around to meet my kids. He would’ve loved being with them. I also would’ve loved to see his expression when I became a published author. He would’ve been so proud. Sniff.
Speaking of publishing, I do have some other news that I’m excited about. My fourth book has been accepted for publication and it’ll be coming out in November. Squeeee….I’m so excited! In fact, my publisher wants to break up my story into three books. Gulp! At first, I wasn’t sure about that, but after thinking about it, I’m on board with the idea. So, instead of one book titled, “Gideon Lee,” there’s going to be three books. I’m so excited about this series!
That’s all I can say for now, but I’ll keep you posted!
I hope you all have a Happy Memorial Day. I’m going to take a few minutes and remember my dad, hoping he knows about my kids and my accomplishments. I hope he’s proud. 🙂
Hello Everyone and Happy Memorial Day to you! This is a day when we remember all the people who have made an impact in our lives. Many people get together to celebrate those who have gone before us with a picnic or barbecue.
Well, I’ve got a great salsa recipe for you and it’s healthy too. A great treat for any Memorial Day barbecue!
I got this from my sister in law and it’s awesome!
I call it Marie’s Salsa!
Marie’s Salsa
One can black beans rinsed well and drained
One can corn drained
A few tablespoons of lime juice
Packet of McCormick salsa seasonings, mild—you can find this in produce sections of the store
Half red onion diced fine (I rarely add this)
Green pepper diced fine
Red, orange, or yellow pepper diced fine
Two or three tomatoes diced fine
One avocado diced fine and added close to the time of serving (if timing is not working in your favor, salsa is good without it)
Mix together. If adding the red onion, let dip sit about a half hour before serving
I use Tortilla Chips to dip!
Super easy and super yummy! It’s healthy too!
Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoy this recipe and your holiday!
