Something Worth Watching?

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I'm back today with another video I wanted to share. Two, actually. For the first one, I think the line, "It's kind of weird that you have to pay people to come to work." pretty much sums up the opinion the predator class has about the rights that the rest of us should have. For the second one, I think it is a good discussion about how things could and should be. But watch them for yourselves and form your own opinions. Peace!

Overnight #Crockpot Oatmeal #Recipe!

 

Hey Everyone!! :-)

This recipe is about as easy as it gets. And, oh, so good in the morning. :-)

Ingredients:
1 cup steel-cut oats
4 cups water
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 cup raisins
1 cup golden raisins
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts or sliced almonds
1/2 tbsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup fresh blueberries

Put all the ingredients except the blueberries in the crock-pot before you go to bed at night and turn it on low. Let it cook for approximately 8 hours. When you get up, turn off the heat, stir in the blueberries, and enjoy.

If you'd like, you can lightly toast the nuts in a skillet before adding them to the crock-pot.  You can also substitute any dried fruit you'd like if you're not into raisins.  If you like your oatmeal really sweet, you can stir in honey or sugar when you add the blueberries but, in my opinion, it's sweet enough with just the fruit.

Bon Appetit!

A Feast For The Senses... 😉

 

Hey Everyone!! 😊

Congratulations on making it to Friday! I don't know about you, but I always consider making it through the week to the weekend to be a major accomplishment, and I tend to celebrate with a nice meal. So, it only seemed to make sense to give you all a peek at the sort of meal the Fae indulge in on a quiet, leisurely morning. Enjoy! 😉

Excerpt from Taken By The Huntsman:

“Are we having breakfast?”

“Hmm? Oh, yes! Maeve had it laid out down here.”

He gestured to the room at the end of the hallway and Cassie walked in that direction. The Erlking followed, enjoying the view of his Anamchara walking away from him.

Cassie stopped and looked around as she entered the sunroom. Somehow, she had never been in this room before. Even though she slept in a room just down the hall. There was much of the castle she had yet to explore, and this room was one she hadn’t gotten to yet. It was like being inside of a giant amethyst.

The walls, floor, and ceiling of the room were made of purple, translucent crystal. From the way it looked inside, she realized the crystal must protrude out of the side of the castle wall. The sun streamed in and threw rainbows all around the room.

The walls weren't transparent enough for her to see outside, but she thought that on this side of the castle they would be overlooking the cliffs. She was pretty sure that the crystal bubble she was in was suspended over a shear drop of several hundred feet. But it was so breathtakingly beautiful she couldn’t find it within herself to be scared. 

Cadeyrn entered behind her and she turned to look at him. “This is amazing! How did you build this?”

“One of my people has a talent for earth magic, she created this. It’s possible to lighten the color and make the crystal transparent. Would you like to see outside?”

Cassie thought about that for a minute. She knew the view was sure to be spectacular, but she didn’t know if her equilibrium could handle seeming to be suspended in midair. So she declined.

The Erlking gestured her to a seat at a small table that seemed to have been grown out of the same crystal the room was made of. The chairs appeared to have been spun from purple sugar. They were delicate lattice works with cushions attached to them for comfort. Cassie sat in one, and Cadeyrn took the other.

The meal that was laid out before them looked and smelled amazing, Moire had outdone herself. Their plates were ringed with pieces of fruit, which had been artfully cut to resemble flowers. In the center of the plates were pastries in the shape of swans, surrounded by a blue sauce that made it appear as if they were floating on a blue lake. To drink, there was a violet crystal carafe of coffee and a clear pitcher of what appeared to be a pink fruit juice. Cassie just looked at the food in admiration.

She looked up at Cadeyrn and said, “I’m almost afraid to eat it, it’s so pretty!”

Cadeyrn smiled. “Moire’s passion is food. She’s a true artist in every sense of the word.  I’m extremely lucky to have her. She glories in making every meal a feast for the palate and the eyes.”

“It shows!  She’s amazingly talented.”

The Erlking nodded and smiled at Cassie as he picked up his fork and ran it through the sauce on his plate. Sensuously licking it off his fork, he closed his eyes in pleasure.

Cassie narrowed her eyes at him. She suspected he was deliberately trying to be seductive, and she turned her gaze to her own plate. Spearing a piece of fruit with her fork, she swirled it through the sauce. The taste, when she bit into it, was indescribable. The sauce was both sweet and tart, and the fruit complemented the flavor perfectly. She thought it was kind of a shame to ruin the beautiful swans on her plate, but she was curious to find out what they tasted like.

The first swan she cut open was filled with some type of sweet, creamy custard. It melted into the blue sauce, and the combination made Cassie close her eyes with pleasure. The pastry itself was a buttery, sweet, flaky creation that melted in her mouth.

The second swan she cut open was filled with a spiced meat and potato filling. She didn’t think it would go with the sweet tartness of the sauce. But, when she tasted it, she discovered that the spices in the meat were a perfect complement to the tangy sauce. She marveled at Moire’s talent. It was astonishing that the Brownie could put so many complex flavors together in exactly the right balance and make all of it look so beautiful.

Cassie was just scraping the last of the sauce off of her plate with the edge of her fork, when Cadeyrn spoke, “Have you been enjoying yourself here in Fairie?”

Want to find out how Cassie answers such a loaded question? Grab your copy at the link below! Happy reading. 😊

Taken by the Huntsman

#APC #Spotlight: Red Queen Check: An Electric Eclectic Book By Elizabeth Horton-Newton!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I've got Elizabeth Horton-Newton in my APC spotlight, today! Elizabeth is an active and supportive member of the  Authors-Professional Co-op Facebook group and her mystery, suspense, crime thriller, revenge short story, Red Queen Check, looks great! Here's the description:

Mark loved young, beautiful women. With his wealth, he could afford any woman he wanted, cover up any deviant crimes he might commit against them. Vayda was stunning. Irresistible, sexy, and devoted to keeping Mark satisfied. But Vayda has a secret of her own. Mark will soon learn what that secret is; but what will the knowledge cost him? This is a hot story of revenge, a dish best served cold and the unexpected cost of vengeance.

 If you think this sounds like something you might enjoy, go ahead and grab your copy here:

Thank you all so much for stopping by! Happy reading! :-)

#Agent Thoth's #Personal Log: Day 1323

Hey Everyone! 😊

Agent Thoth discusses more of the trials and tribulations associated with living with hominids. Incidentally, if you've missed Agent Thoth's earlier entries, you can find them here: Thoth's Journal

Department for the Preservation and Confirmation of Intelligent Life (DPCIL)

Agent Thoth's Personal Log

Day Thirteen-Hundred-Twenty-Three:

My hominid-servant scolded me, as she does from time to time, regarding my habit of obstructing her passage when she finally emerges from her nocturnal bouts of unconsciousness to, at long last, address the issue of replenishing the contents of my food bowl. Her contention is that it is not only unseemly for me to engage in such behavior, but that it is against my best interests as -- if she should lose her balance, fall, and become injured -- it would be difficult for her to provide said edibles on schedule. Or, as she so indelicately put it, “It’s rude to trip the human. And, besides which, dead humans can’t open cat food cans.” 

My contention is that it is good for her, as my actions help test and improve her reflexes, for which there is much room for improvement. Which can only help increase her long-term survival odds. Moreover, if she did not spend such an extended time in slumber, I would not be driven to desperate measures to attempt expedite the process of food provision. In point of fact, it is she who is rude, as the hissing noise she makes by blowing air through her teeth in an effort to dissuade me from my purpose and encourage me to remove myself from her path is quite discourteous. 

I did attempt to explain all this to her; however, she remains either unable or unwilling to comprehend my arguments. Eventually, I simply pacified her by deploying the P.U.R.R. and providing secondary signs of affection, such as slow-blinking at her and engaging in a kneading motion with my paws. This did soothe her and, to be honest, I find such actions to be soothing as well. This is fortunate because I have no intention of altering my behavior. It is long past time for my hominid-servant to learn the value of haste, among many other lessons I have to teach her.

Hominids can be so dense! 😉 You may have noticed that Agent Thoth has a new look. I hope you like his new picture as much as I do, but I'd love to hear your thoughts, either way. Feel free to let me know what you think in the comments. 😉 Happy reading, everyone!

Fits And Starts...

 

Hey Everyone!! 😊

Happy Tuesday! Hey, at least it's not Monday anymore, right? 😉 And, to celebrate that lack of Mondayness, I thought it would be a good time to share a little bit of Alyce's wisdom. Enjoy... 😉

Excerpt from Answers From Alyce:

"I still find it hard to believe that so many of your people are oblivious to such obvious societal ills," said Yax.

"A lot of people work really hard to keep it that way, not to mention the fact that most people in my society are just too exhausted to pay attention to much outside their daily lives."

"Why is that, again?"

"Well, like I said before, most people work really long hours, often at multiple jobs. They're tired and most of them don't have the energy to keep up with the latest outrages on the part of the powers that be, never mind fight back against them. Unless what is being done has a direct effect on them, it's not unusual for working people to just ignore it. Even when they are personally affected, if the consequences aren't too severe or are delayed in any way, they still might not react. A lot of people are too distracted with just trying to survive to pay attention to anything else."

"That's a frightening place for any society to be," observed Squid-boy. "It makes it almost impossible to choose leaders who are worthy of the role."

I laughed. "Well, sugar, you're not the first one to make the argument that we've gotten exactly the kind of government we deserve."

"It seems as though, if people can't even be bothered to react to events and legislation that directly affects them, it would be unreasonable to expect they would concern themselves with things that only affect others," said Yax. "Which means that a particular problem would have to affect a large majority of your population directly before there could be any possibility of action being taken to counter it. So, how is it that you currently have so much civil unrest?"

"That's a good question, darlin', but the answer is…"

"Complicated," the two aliens chorused.

I shrugged. "Yep."

"Does it have anything to do with this next exhibit?" asked Squid-boy as he pointed off towards the far end of the hall.

I followed him over to the display he was talking about. It took me a few minutes of looking at it, but I was finally able to figure out what it was supposed to be. There was a woman robot sitting at a keyboard typing and, periodically, a definition or equation would appear on a screen over her head. These were all obvious truths; things like the equation for how to calculate the radius of a circle given its circumference and the definition of electrical current. Things no sane person could argue with. And yet, there was a group of both male and female robots sitting opposite the woman robot who had their own keyboards. No matter what the woman robot typed or how blindingly obvious it was that it was indisputable fact, the group of robots would invariably respond by typing furiously into their keyboards and the words "Fake News!" would appear on the screen over their heads.

"Err… Sort of. It's kind of related, but not directly."

"Can you explain?" asked Yax.

"Well, this," I gestured at the exhibit, "is one of the ways those in power try to keep regular people divided. They use propaganda to make people believe that the truth isn't the truth and that the people who try to tell them the truth¾like teachers, scientists, and journalists¾are trying to trick them. Educated people are often portrayed in such propaganda as people who are cold, socially awkward, detached from and unsympathetic towards the problems of 'real people', and impractical. This type of propaganda makes some people, mostly those who aren't well-educated themselves, distrust education and those who have it. And it dissuades them from trying to educate themselves."

"And people who are ignorant are easier to control," said Yax.

I nodded. "Exactly. And when people who are well-educated are confronted with people who aren't, and who are suspicious of truths that educated people consider obvious, the educated people tend to regard their less-educated counterparts with derision and even contempt, at times."

"And so it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy."

"Yep. And everybody ends up talking and nobody is listening."

"But how can your people argue about provable facts?" objected Squid-boy.

I snorted. "Sugar, I think you'll find that humans can argue about just about anything."

"But words have meaning! You can't just decide something means something that it doesn't or that it doesn't mean something that it does. Facts are facts. They exist independently of belief or approval."

I shrugged. "Sure. But just because something is true and you can prove it to an objectively measurable standard, that doesn't mean that another person can't refuse to look at your evidence or believe that it's real."

"But that's insane!"

"No, it's irrational. But, then, I never claimed that human beings are rational creatures, did I?"

"I think what my colleague is trying to say is that it often seems as if your people argue that reality isn't reality."

I nodded. "Yep, they do. And they argue over what constitutes reality, as well."

The big alien gave me an incredulous expression. "How has your species ever managed to accomplish anything?" he exclaimed.

I laughed. "In fits and starts, mostly."

Want to find out what else Alyce has to say about the irrationality of the human species? Grab your copy at the link below. Happy reading! 😊

Answers from Alyce

Something Worth Watching?

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I'm back today with another video I wanted to share. I think this video does a good job of illustrating just how extreme the income inequality is in the US, and why we need massive revisions to the tax code to correct this injustice. Peace!

Quick And Easy Red Beans And Rice #Recipe!

 

Hey Everyone!! :-)

This is an easy-to-make, quick dish that's one of my favorite, last-minute dinner recipes. Enjoy! :-)

Ingredients:
1 cup uncooked rice (your favorite kind)
3 cups water or stock
2 tsp soy sauce
4 tbsp canola or olive oil
2 tsp oregano
4 tbsp cumin
1 tsp cayenne powder
2 tbsp paprika
2 tbsp vegetarian Worcestershire sauce
2 large tomatoes diced or 1 24 oz can diced tomatoes
1 large onion chopped
2 chili peppers chopped fine
1 bell pepper chopped
1 cup chopped cilantro
2 16 oz cans kidney beans
1 16 oz can corn
5 cloves of garlic minced fine
2 tbsp corn starch
Salt and pepper to taste

Put rice and two cups of water or stock into a microwave-safe, covered bowl and nuke on high for 20-30 minutes until cooked.  Put the oil and onion into a skillet and heat until the onion is translucent. Add the garlic, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and peppers, and cook them until the peppers start to soften. Add the beans, corn, tomatoes, remaining dried seasonings, and remaining cup of water and cook them until the liquid starts to bubble. Taste and adjust the salt and seasonings as needed. Add the corn starch and heat until the liquid thickens. Stir in the cilantro. Remove from the heat and mix the contents of the pan with the cooked rice.

As always, feel free to add and/or substitute whatever vegetables you'd like. Carrots add a nice sweetness and broccoli can add some richness. Also, as you probably know by now, I prefer my red beans and rice without meat. But if you want to add meat, you can brown some ground beef and/or sausage in the skillet when you add the onion and oil. Just make sure it's completely cooked before you add the rest of the ingredients because food poisoning sucks.

Bon Appetite!

Working Hypotheses...

Hey Everyone!! :-)

Here's a little bit more of the third installment in the Petri Dish Chronicles! As always, the disclaimer is that this is a draft and, as such, it's unedited and likely full of errors and is subject to revision, revamping, and being completely scrapped and rewritten. But, with that in mind, I'm reasonably satisfied with the basics of it, at least at the moment, or I wouldn't have bothered posting it. Enjoy! :-)

Excerpt from Shifting Paradigms:
Giving one of his careless shrugs, Vlad replied, “This is a space I maintain for building projects. If there is a new attraction, feature, or venue I wish added to my city, this is where I design and construct it. Therefore, the code that governs this area is slightly more…malleable than that which is found in most of the rainbow. I require a certain amount of flexibility in which to test new concepts without disturbing the surrounding infrastructure. I had thought Per Dish might find it easier to form an interface here.” Turning his laser-like gaze on her, he asked, “Was I correct, Per Dish?"

Swallowing against a sudden lump in her throat, Petri fought to meet the eyes that seemed to bore into her own. “I... I'm not sure. It was… strange. When I came in the room, you were far away. Chessie and Daji were right behind me, and then they were far away. And then a second later you were all right here. I don’t know what happened.”

Vlad kept his eyes locked to Petri’s for a few more heartbeats and then gave one of his odd, flickering blinks. “Interesting,” he said, turning away and leading them farther into the room. “I don’t sense your energy signature mingled with that of the room, but what you describe does sound as if you may have interfaced directly with the code here.”

 

#APC #Spotlight: Blood Tail: A Lieutenant Beaudry Novel By Michael Kent!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I've got Michael Kent in my APC spotlight, today! Michael is an active and supportive member of the  Authors-Professional Co-op Facebook group and his Canadian, murder mystery, psychological thriller, police procedure, detective, crime novel, Blood Tail, looks great! Here's the description:

Lieutenant Beaudry inherits a bloodbath in upper Westmount, the richest postal code in Canada. A prominent lawyer and TV host beaten and shot, his bodyguard hacked to death.

A Russian money-laundering operation, a psychopathic Korean playboy, a sleazy private eye, and an international hit team are somehow connected, and Beaudry must close the case without shooting anyone. Meanwhile, his ex-wife has run off in his vintage muscle car, and Internal Affairs is poking around—in other words, he’s having a normal week.

If you think this sounds like something you might enjoy, go ahead and grab your copy here:

Thank you all so much for stopping by! Happy reading! :-)

#Agent Thoth's #Personal Log: Day 1317

Hey Everyone! 😊

Agent Thoth discusses more of the trials and tribulations associated with living with hominids. Incidentally, if you've missed Agent Thoth's earlier entries, you can find them here: Thoth's Journal

Department for the Preservation and Confirmation of Intelligent Life (DPCIL)

Agent Thoth's Personal Log

Day Thirteen-Hundred-Seventeen:

I am now willing to declare a qualified victory. My hominid-servant has all but given up searching for her torture machine, and has still made no indication that she intends to replace it. She has grumbled quite a bit at both my young protégé and at me, but I believe that is simply reflex for her, at this point. There does not seem to be any true rancor behind her words, and she seems more tired than angry. In fact, she is almost what I would describe as obliging, comparatively speaking. Perhaps I am finally making progress in the proper training of my hominid-servant.

Aww! It's adorable when hominids finally see the light. 😉 You may have noticed that Agent Thoth has a new look. I hope you like his new picture as much as I do, but I'd love to hear your thoughts, either way. Feel free to let me know what you think in the comments. 😉 Happy reading, everyone!

#May2021 #IndieBooksBeSeen #Indie #Author #Books #Monthly #BookReview!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

It's the 18th again, so time for my #IndieBooksBeSeen monthly indie author book review!! Enjoy! :-)

Cigerets, Guns & Beer by Phillip T. Stevens:

You've heard of a comedy of errors? How about a comedy of absurdities? That's what Dodd finds himself in the middle of when his car breaks down, and he has to stop in a small town in Texas to get supplies when he ends up in the middle of a minor legal tangle that detains him. Little did he know this would lead to him finding himself ensnared in a local treasure-hunting legend, on the wrong side of a corrupt, small-town oligarchy, and as an object of lust for every woman in the vicinity. Can he find his way through this labyrinth of small-town lunacy and incestuous corruption? You'll have to read to find out!

I really enjoyed this book. It's a hilarious take on small-town life. The "big fish in a small pond" trope is used skillfully, and the way characters are simultaneously mocked for their foibles and celebrated for the ingenuity and ability to enjoy simple pleasures demonstrates an understanding of human nature that is admirable. Five stars.

Something Worth Watching?

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I'm back today with another video I wanted to share. Two, actually. Together, I think they do a good job of illustrating the sycophantic relationship between corporate media and power, as well as noting how real journalists are treated by the establishment when they actually try to do their job. But watch for yourselves and form your own opinions. Peace!

Versatile Cheesy Cream #Sauce #Recipe!

 

Hey Everyone!! :-)

Today, I wanted to share a recipe for an easy, delicious sauce that can be used in multiple ways and in multiple dishes. Enjoy! :-)

Ingredients:
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp flour
10 cloves garlic chopped
1 medium onion chopped
1 tomato diced
2 cups half and half
1 16 oz package sliced button mushrooms
1 cups raw baby spinach leaves
1 cup chopped broccoli
2 tsp Italian seasoning
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

Put the olive oil, butter, and onion in a skillet and cook until the onion becomes translucent. Add the garlic, Italian seasoning, mushrooms, and tomato, and cook for a couple more minutes. Add the flour and cook until it browns, stirring constantly. Whisk in the half and half and salt and pepper, and continue whisking until the sauce is smooth. Add the spinach and broccoli, and stir to combine. Stir in the cheese and continue stirring until the cheese melts and combines. Remove the sauce from the heat.

If you'd like a thicker, richer sauce, you can use heavy cream instead of half and half. If you'd like a lighter sauce, you can use whole milk instead of half and half. If the sauce becomes too thick, you can add a little milk until it reaches the consistency you prefer. You can also add or substitute any vegetables you'd like. Peas go well with this sauce, as does kale, collard greens, mustard greens, carrots, and cauliflower.

This sauce can be served over a baked potato, sliced potatoes (scalloped potato style), rice, or pasta. As always, I prefer to make this sauce without meat. But if you'd like to add meat, you can add or serve it over cooked chicken, cooked beef, or cooked pork. You could also add cooked bacon or cooked ham to the sauce. If you do decide to add meat, please make sure you cook it thoroughly because food poisoning sucks.

Bon appetit! :-)

Strange Beginnings And Unexpected Unions... 😉

 

Hey Everyone!! 😊

Happy Friday!! Congratulations on making it to the end of the week. To celebrate this achievement, and the fact that it's nearly summer, I thought I'd share a little peek at the goings-on in Fairie's Summer Court. Enjoy... 😉

Excerpt from Bound by the Summer Prince:

Roni looked up as the man who had brought her to this dreary, frightening place entered the room. For reasons she couldn't explain, she felt as though she should stand up and move closer to him, but she forced herself to stay seated and keep her face blank. As he approached the bars, she raised her eyes to meet his and watched, as he seemed to stumble slightly.

She watched him as his eyes lost focus for a moment, and then suddenly zeroed in on her as if she were the only thing in his world. His intensity concerned her, but she forced herself not to show it. She kept her face blank and leaned back against the bars behind her. As he continued to stare, she raised one eyebrow in question.

While he studied her, she appraised him in return. His hair was still the bright, daisy-yellow it had been in the forest; even the dimness of the firelight could not diminish its brilliance. His eyes had gone from the bright, lively purple they had been in the sunlight to a dark amethyst, but they were still, unmistakably, purple. The way the local people used hair dye and contact lenses to change their appearances surprised her; it must be quite a fad for them to go to such trouble, but she would have thought she'd have heard of it before.

The unusual coloring he sported did nothing to detract from the man's beauty. His prominent cheekbones, kissable lips, broad shoulders, and toned body ensured he would be welcomed by any modeling agency she knew of. As she looked at him, she couldn't help wondering what it would feel like to have those strong arms hold her against that hard chest. She shook herself. She needed to get her libido under control and find a way out of this strange place!

Since it seemed like the man had lost the power of speech, Roni decided to take the initiative. She stood up and moved closer to the bars. As she leaned forward and draped her body around them, the man inhaled sharply and she thought a thrill of fear moved through his eyes. When she snaked her arms through the bars and crossed her wrists in front of them he seemed to regain his composure. She adopted an attractive pout, which usually served her well when dealing with the police, and looked up at him appealingly through the long, thick eyelashes nature had blessed her with.

"I'm hungry." She complained.

Uaine forced himself to look away from where the cold, iron of the bars touched his Anamchara's skin. The Fae nearly always used human-forged metal to construct their prisons, because it was impervious to magic and discouraged prisoners from attempting to manually deconstruct their cells. To see the female brazenly rub herself against the bars had given him a moment of panic.

Seeing how unaffected she was by it drove home the fact that his Anamchara was, in fact, human. He would have tried to deny it save for the facts that the feeling was unmistakable, and he knew that the goddess never made mistakes. If the mother goddess had bound him to this female, then it could only be because she was his perfect match. The one destined to be his mate. He might not understand it, but he accepted it.

Taking a deep breath, Uaine forced himself to move. He retrieved the key to the cell and unlocked it, being careful to avoid touching the bars, and motioned for the human female to exit. As she moved through the doorway he had to force himself not to grab her and pull her to his body. The urge to claim her was nearly overwhelming, but he knew he could not even speak to her about what had happened yet.

Given her experiences in Fairie, and with him thus far, it was not likely she would welcome the news that she was now eternally bound to him. He considered casting a claiming spell on her, but decided to consult with Jillian before taking such a step. He was pretty sure his thoughts were not as clear as he would like them to be and he wanted an unbiased opinion.

"Come, I will take you somewhere more comfortable and a meal will be brought to you."

The sound of the man's voice sent shivers through Roni. She rubbed her hands up her bare arms and looked at him. "I want my bag back."

Uaine considered. He knew where Kalen had stashed the bag because he could feel the miasma of the cold iron. He had thought that it was out of the question to allow a human to possess such a dangerous object in Fairie, but now, faced with the prospect of a helpless human soul-mate, he was considering the possibility. Again he decided to check his reasoning with Jillian before voicing a decision, but he retrieved the bag.

He hated to touch even the handle of the sack, having the iron so close was extremely uncomfortable even for one as powerful as him. But he knew he was distracted, and couldn't risk allowing the female to carry it. Without his normal ability to focus, he was afraid that if he returned her possessions she might somehow slip away from him.

"I will bring the bag with us, and will decide what is to be done with it later." 

Roni thought to object further, but, looking around at the frightening aspect of the dungeon, she decided that it was enough to have her bag close. She would work on regaining possession of it later. Nodding, she followed when the man turned to lead her out of the dungeon.

Want to find out how Roni persuades the prince to return her belongings? Grab your copy at the link below. Happy reading! 😊

Bound by the Summer Prince

#APC #Spotlight: Hunting Vampires With Grandma By Ashley Uzzell!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I've got Ashley Uzzell in my APC spotlight, today! Ashley is an active and supportive member of the  Authors-Professional Co-op Facebook group and her vampire, comedy, horror, monster-hunter short story, Hunting Vampires with Grandma, looks great! Here's the description:

Age is just a number when killing monsters is your specialty.

When Markie is attacked by a vampire, she finds out that her lovable grandma is more than she appears. A retired vampire hunter, G is forced to get the old gang back together when the very monsters that the ladies thought they had hunted to extinction show up in their town again.

Between knitting needles and fanny packs, psoriasis and holy water, Markie will soon realize that age really is just a number and that a handful of cranky old women can be scarier than any vampire bite.

 If you think this sounds like something you might enjoy, go ahead and grab your copy here:

Thank you all so much for stopping by! Happy reading! :-)

#Agent Thoth's #Personal Log: Day 1315

Hey Everyone! 😊

Agent Thoth discusses more of the trials and tribulations associated with living with hominids. Incidentally, if you've missed Agent Thoth's earlier entries, you can find them here: Thoth's Journal

Department for the Preservation and Confirmation of Intelligent Life (DPCIL)

Agent Thoth's Personal Log

Day Thirteen-Hundred-Fifteen:

I decided to take a lesson from my young protégé regarding the torture machine my hominid-servant afflicted us with. However, instead of destroying the diabolical device, I have hidden it. This way, my hominid-servant cannot find it to activate it, but she also, so far at least, does not seem to feel justified in replacing it. Thus far, my plan is working, as she is occupying herself with attempting to locate the infernal contraption but has not indicated any intention to obtain another one. And, at least for now, peace has been restored to my domicile, as has my mental equilibrium. One can only hope that the notoriously short hominid attention span will prevail, and that my hominid-servant will lose interest and forget about the fiendish gadget. As always, I will continue to report on the situation as it develops.

The furry people prevail again! 😉 You may have noticed that Agent Thoth has a new look. I hope you like his new picture as much as I do, but I'd love to hear your thoughts, either way. Feel free to let me know what you think in the comments. 😉 Happy reading, everyone!

Complicated Relationships... 😉

 

Hey Everyone! 😊

Okay, full confession, I'm giving you a little reminder from the past, today, because there's a character you haven't seen for a while who will be making a reappearance in Shifting Paradigms. So, I hope you like this little blast from the past, and that it whets your appetite for things to come. Enjoy! 😉

Excerpt from Childish Things:

Once Chessie had forced her friend to shower, brush his teeth, and find clean clothes to put on, she escorted him to his small kitchen and made him sit at the table.  She found stim tea, an Upworld luxury that was rare in Under City, in his pantry, and she made some for him.  He glared at her when she plunked a mug full of the tea down in front of him.

"Drink!" she demanded.

Grumbling about how she had killed his buzz, Nax complied.

"I need your help."

"I figured," he mumbled.

"I need to go to Western sector."

Cocking an eyebrow, he peered up at her.  "Why?"

"Does it matter? I need a pass; can you get me one?"

He shrugged and huddled over his tea.

Sighing, Chessie plunked down into the chair across from him. "It's important, Nax, or I wouldn't be here. And I'm in a hurry. Can you help me, or not?"

Mumbling under his breath, Nick-Nax glared at her.

"You never paid me for that last job you contracted out to me; this could be payment," she tried in a last-ditch effort. Truth be told, what he owed her for the small job was a trifle, nowhere near what a pass was worth. But he did owe her, and bringing it up was worth a try.

The only response the swinger gave her was more glaring.

Seeing he was in a mood, Chessie got ready to leave. It was pointless to ask Nax for help when he decided to sulk. He would string her along, wasting her time, and ultimately refuse to give her what she needed. He'd done it before, and she knew all the signs. She liked the irascible swinger, but sometimes he was impossible to deal with. It was just her bad luck that this was one of the times he decided to be difficult.

Standing up, Chessie turned her mind to other possibilities. Unfortunately, there weren't many. Before she left their apartment, she had collected her and Petri's cash savings from under a loose floorboard. It was pitiful and wouldn't come close to covering the purchase price of a pass if she had to go to another high-level diddler.

Absent a diddling job of her own, which she didn't have at the moment, the only means Chessie had for getting quick creds was turning tricks. She grimaced. Working as a dolly sucked. People who wanted a candy egg dolly were almost always looking for a freak, and that's how they treated her.

Glancing at the chronometer over Nax's cook-top, Chessie realized she'd better get a move on. She'd have to service a lot of johns, and probably do some things she'd rather not do, to get the kind of money it would take to buy a pass. Turning to Nax, she patted his shoulder.

"Sorry I bothered you, Nicky. I'll let you get back to your game."

He turned watery eyes up to her. "Why d'ya only come around when you need something? Huh? Why don't you ever come just to hang out?"

Sighing, Chessie leaned down to kiss his cheek. "I'm sorry, Nax. I don't have time to argue with you about this, now. I need to get my ass to Western sector."

He kicked at the chair she had pushed back against the table and grabbed her wrist. "Sit down!"

Peeling his fingers away, Chessie glared at him. "Nax…"

"Sit down and talk to me, and I'll get you what you need," he grumbled.

Cocking an eyebrow, she asked, "You swear? You'll get me a pass to Western sector, and you'll do it tonight?"

Nick-Nax nodded.

Chessie went back to the chair and sat. If Nax promised to do something, he'd do it. In the rainbow, a diddler's only commodity was their word. All of them took promises seriously, and Nick-Nax was the best in his field.

"Alright, hun. Whatcha wanna talk about?"

"I want you to tell me why you avoid me. Why do you only come around for business?" He reached out to take one of her hands, which were lying on the table. "I want to be your friend, Chessie. Why won't you be my friend?"

Squeezing his hand, Chessie answered. "We are friends, Nicky. You know that."

Shaking his head, Nax said, "No, you only come around when I have a job for you or to deliver something for me. Or, like now, when you need a favor. Why don't you ever come by just to chill?" He slid his hand up her arm to caress her shoulder. "You know I like you. You think I'm ugly?"

Chessie smiled and shook her head. "Nah, hun. You're cute enough. When you shower."

He blushed.

Taking a breath, Chessie closed her eyes and massaged her temples. "I just…"

"You come by when you've had a TGRP," he husked as he gazed at her with heavily lidded eyes.

It was Chessie's turn to blush. "It's different then."

"You know I like you either way. It's not what's under your clothes that I like, it's you."

Sighing, Chessie raised his hand to her lips and laid a kiss on his knuckles. "I know, hun. It's just…hard for me."

Nax caught her eyes and held them, his gaze intense. "Chess, you gotta make peace with this. Not for me, but for you. It's not healthy to be so down on yourself." He gestured around at his home. "Just let go and enjoy. There's no right or wrong when it comes to a good time, so just relax."

"I know, love. But it's easier said than done."

He snorted. "You're giving me the 'it's not you, it's me' speech, aren't you?"

"Nax…"

He waved her objection away. "I know; I believe you." Running a hand through his still wet hair, he grimaced. "It's just my fucking luck to like someone with as many issues as me," he sighed.

Chessie didn't know what to say, so she just shrugged.

Shaking off his funk, Nax grinned. "Alright, babe. How long you need in Western sector?"

It was Chessie's turn to sigh. "Well…"

Nax's grin faded. "You aren't coming back, are you?"

Her shoulders hunched, Chessie turned sad eyes on her friend.

Nick-Nax took a slow breath. "Are you in trouble?"

She shook her head. "Not me."

He sighed. "Petri."

It wasn't a question, so Chessie didn't respond.

"Did someone find out what she is?"

Astonished, Chessie blurted, "You know?"

Nax nodded, his expression serious. "I could tell something was strange when I found an old signature of hers in the rainbow. I did some digging, and it was the only thing that made sense."

"And you never told anyone," she smiled.

Picking up Chessie's hand, Nax squeezed it. "I like that kid, she's good for you. I don't mind helping you help her. And I know you can't let her handle that kind of trouble on her own. But I'll still miss you."

"You know Yan? She hangs out at Abracadabra sometimes."

He blinked at the change of subject. "Yeah, I know her."

"She likes you. I think she'd be open to something more permanent."

Nax rolled his eyes. "You think I'm worried about how I'll get my nut off?"

"She's pretty!"

Another eye-roll. "She's gorgeous! But she's not you. It's you I'll miss, Chessie."

She blushed.

Kissing Chessie's hand, Nax pulled her out of her seat. "Come on. Let's get you your pass. Who knows what trouble that half-breed will get into without you."

Chessie smiled and pulled her friend into a hug. She had known Nick-Nax for years. He caught her in his system when she was still learning how to diddle and hadn't figured out what to stay away from yet. Instead of destroying her, as most other diddlers would have, he had helped her. Which led to them becoming good friends and sometimes colleagues. Chessie still learned new things about her craft from watching Nax work.

But she had never realized what an extraordinarily decent human being he was until now. That realization made her regret all the opportunities she had missed to get to know him better. Leaning down, she kissed him, trying to convey with her body what she didn't have the words to express. When the kiss broke, she held his gaze and smiled.

He patted her cheek. "I know, babe. Me too. Promise me something?"

She nodded.

"If you ever do make it back here, look me up?"

She kissed him again. "Definitely."

Want to read more about Chessie's story and the stories of several other strong women? Go ahead and grab your copy of Gems of Strength at the link below. Happy reading!! 😊

Something Worth Watching?

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I'm back today with another video I wanted to share. Three videos, actually. Between them, I think they bring you full-circle on exactly what is wrong with our political system. But, please, watch them yourselves and form your own opinions. Peace!

#Crockpot Potato #Soup #Recipe!

 

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I'm back with another lazy cook's dream recipe today. A warning up front, this is not at all a low-fat, low-salt, or otherwise "healthy" recipe. But it's perfect for one of those occasional chilly Spring evenings when you want something warm, stick-to-your-ribs, and indulgent. Enjoy! 😊

Ingredients:
1 bag frozen hash-brown potatoes (the cubes not the shreds)
2 packages dried onion soup mix
4 cups vegetable stock
1 16oz can of corn
1 12oz package sliced button mushrooms (or 1 16oz can of mushrooms)
1 finely chopped onion (any color)
1 16oz bag frozen broccoli
1 1/2 pint container of heavy cream
2 tbsp vegetarian Worcestershire sauce
1/2 12oz package mozzarella/cheddar blend shredded cheese
3 bay leaves
1 tbsp paprika
6 cloves chopped garlic
Salt and pepper to taste

Put stock, potatoes, onion mix, paprika, bay leaves, Worcestershire sauce, onion, garlic, and mushrooms in the crockpot. Cook on high for 3-4 hours. Add broccoli and corn and cook for another 1-2 hours. Remove the bay leaves, stir in cream and cheese, and cook for another half hour or so. Serve hot and enjoy.

Be careful about adding salt as there is already quite a bit in the pre-made ingredients. Obviously, if you don't like any of the vegetables, you can leave them out or swap them for something else. This recipe works with sweet potatoes too, but you can't always find frozen sweet potato hash-browns, so you might need to use fresh ones and adjust the cooking time. Adding a diced chili pepper gives the soup a little spice, but hot sauce works well for this too. If you don't have broccoli, spinach or kale work well, but you need to add them when you add the cream and cheese. If the liquid level looks too low, feel free to add a little water. A thickener shouldn't be necessary as the potatoes and cheese both thicken the soup already.

Bon Appetit!

#Animal #Rescuer's #Guide To #Staying ( #Relatively ) #Sane! #Free! :-)

 

Hey Everyone!! 😊

Just a reminder, for those who haven't checked it out yet, I've collected all my animal rescue/care posts together and published them as a small book.  If you'd like, you can download the book for free from Amazon, Smashwords, B&N, Kobo, and iTunes.

Amazon

Smashwords

iTunes

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Thanks for stopping in today, and don't forget to check back tomorrow for the next installment of Mistral Dawn's Musings! :-)

#APC #Spotlight: The Dark Valley By Claire Plaisted!

 

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I've got Claire Plaisted in my APC spotlight, today! Lisa is an active and supportive member of the  Authors-Professional Co-op Facebook group and her young adult, witches and magic, dark fantasy, short story, The Dark Valley, looks great! Here's the description:

A dark fairy tale with some not very likeable creatures called Trolls who run mines to source precious gems.

The Crones are witch-like characters who want what every older woman wants – to be young and pretty. They also have magical powers, and they take the soul of the young people to help them achieve this. That is until along came Clarissa who is determined to break the curse on their valley.ve them, she must learn to open her heart and sacrifice... everything.

If you think this sounds like something you might enjoy, go ahead and grab your copy here:

Thank you all so much for stopping by! Happy reading! :-)

#Agent Thoth's #Personal Log: Day 1313

Hey Everyone! 😊

Agent Thoth discusses more of the trials and tribulations associated with living with hominids. Incidentally, if you've missed Agent Thoth's earlier entries, you can find them here: Thoth's Journal

Department for the Preservation and Confirmation of Intelligent Life (DPCIL)

Agent Thoth's Personal Log

Day Thirteen-Hundred-Thirteen:

My hominid-servant seems determined to torture me! She has procured another of her infernal, spinning, light-beam-producing devices! And, to add insult to injury, she presented the nightmarish contraption to me as if it were one of the baubles she presents at intervals as offerings. What could have possibly have given her the idea that a machine that I devote an inordinate amount of time and energy to avoiding at all costs might conceivably be well-received by me? As if I would welcome being forced to a state of exhaustion so profound I can neither move nor think as the result of something as pointless and undignified as chasing intangible lures. I swear, I cannot fathom the hominid mind, and I despair of ever being able to do so.

Hominids can be so dense! 😉 You may have noticed that Agent Thoth has a new look. I hope you like his new picture as much as I do, but I'd love to hear your thoughts, either way. Feel free to let me know what you think in the comments. 😉 Happy reading, everyone!