Thirteen Reasons I love Aragorn

Thirteen Reasons I love Aragorn

1. Viggo Mortenson... I can't imagine any actor finding the essence of the character any better than Viggo did, and can you say Hot? I knew you could!

2. Chain Mail. This man looks stunningly hot in chain mail. Hey! So I like a man who jingles. So sue me. ;-)

3. He's got a really big sword AND he knows how to use it.

4. I love it when he swears to protect Frodo. Any man who can say "If by my life or death I can protect you, I will" makes me sigh. Even if he does make the promise to a hobbit.

5. I love a guy who makes a commitment and sticks to it even when it's tough.

6. Aragorn - horse whisperer.

7. He has a dry sense of humor.



8. He tosses dwarves with great skill.

9. Hope isn't just a word to him, it's a way of life.


10. He's the kind of friend who always has your back.



11. He salutes his enemies before he fights them. Even if they're orcs or Urukai.

12. Even though he wants to protect his woman/elf, he lets Arwen make her own decisions.

13. The Kiss. It is without doubt one of the best kisses in cinema history. I LOVE this scene!



(copyright for the video belongs to New Line Cinema - NOT me. This is here for your viewing enjoyment only)

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Library Thing...the next new thing

So what is LibraryThing? It allows readers to catalog/list their entire library then connect with other readers who share the same reading interests. You can tag your collection. Tagging is the ability to put classifications on a book.

You'll notice I always try to "tag" my blog posts. It lets readers of my blog to find posts about similar topics. In fact, I'm adding a daily tag to all of my new entries. For example, if people like the recipes I post, they can click on the Tummy Tuesday tag and find other entries. Now, as of today there is only one entry. But in a few months, there will be a bunch.

LibraryThing lets you do that with your books. I can label my books erotic romance or historical romance, or paranormal romance. Heck, I can label them with all three if the tags fit. LibraryThing also builds a book community by assisting readers to connect with each other via talk and group communities.

Another cool part of LibraryThing is author promotion. Say you have created a profile and entered your catalog. You want to let everyone know about a new book or an author signing or something. You can ask LibraryThing to make you an "official" LT author. This give you another place to announce your signings and promote your work. Cool, huh?

LibraryThing has also created a wizard so readers can add random books from their library to their blog and/or web site. I've done that here so down along the right side of the blog are several books which I have read and have in my personal library. This is a fun way to promote your favorite authors, friends, and your own work too!

It's a different kind of social networking opportunity for authors and readers. Check it out and join the LibraryThing revolution!

I'm in love with my Crock Pot!

I bought my first crock pot at the end of last year... Well, no I had one before but I put vermiculite in it and used it to cool my glass beads. Cooking yes, but not anything edible. Anyway, they had one on sale at HyVee grocery so I bought it, and I'm glad I did.

Now I haven't used it a LOT, but I've used it often enough to pay for itself and that's all I needed. I've made a few things with it but my absolute favorite slow cooker delicacy is...Macaroni and cheese. I kid you not. It makes the BEST mac and cheese I've ever had (sorry, Mom).

I went to All Recipes.com to look for slow cooker recipes and I found one to use as a basis for mine. I don't deviate too much from the recipe I found, but I've discovered how to make it a little creamier. So today I will share my recipe for the ultimate in comfort foods.

Slow Cooker Macaroni and Cheese (Francesca Style)

INGREDIENTS:
12 ounces (1 1/2 c.) elbow macaroni (pre-cook al dente; about 10 minutes)
1 8 oz block of extra sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded (this makes up 4-5 c. cheese)
1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk & 1 (5 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk
1 1/2 cups milk (if you want moister, go to 2 c)
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

optional: If you want something with a bit more kick add 1 medium onion, sauteed.

DIRECTIONS:

In a large bowl, mix the cooked macaroni, 4 cups of the sharp Cheddar cheese, evaporated milk, milk, eggs, salt, and pepper. Transfer to a slow cooker that has been coated with non-stick cooking spray. Sprinkle with the remaining shredded extra sharp Cheddar cheese.

Cover, and cook on High for 1 hour and Low for 4 to 5 hours. Or if you want to walk away and leave it, set to Low for 5 to 6 hours. Check the macaroni as you get to the end of the cooking time and turn to "Keep Warm" once the mixture is firm and golden around the edges, otherwise it will get too brown and crusty at the edges. Do not remove the cover or stir the mixture until the mixture has finished cooking. Serve warm.

***

This is YUMMY. Now, I admit this is better on a cold winter's day. However, there are cool spring days and it is very nice then too. It would also work well for a summer picnic. Enjoy!

Do you have any slow cooker favorites? Please share by leaving a comment!

Manic Monday

Greetings everyone,

Last week was wild. I had three programs and I'm dead beat. Even so, I had fun. On Sunday (4/13), we hosted Kali VanBaale for a book signing. On Wednesday (4/16), a local barbershop quartet performed at the library. On Thursday (4/17), author Carol Bodensteiner visited to sign books and talk about her memoir. It was a full rich week.

I finished The Space Between by Kali VanBaale on Saturday night. It was definitely one of those books that was hard to put down. It was gripping and sad all at once. The book is the story of a mother whose son is being bullied at school. One day he goes to school and shoots two of his classmates and kills himself. The book focuses on the "then what?" that we all wonder about after such a shocking event. How do the family members deal with the tragedy? Does the family survive? It was so well written, but I must admit that on my own it isn't one I would pick up to read. I write romance because I like a happy ending, nor tragedy. In my romances, the characters are tortured by the writer but then they come together to overcome all adversity and live happily ever after. The Space Between is about survival but not "happily ever after." In short, it's excellent literary fiction. I enjoyed it but it made me sad. Kali has also received several awards for her book and I know why. Having Kali at the library was really interesting and she is a WONDERFUL speaker. She had some good advice for writers and answered questions in such an open and friendly way. It was a pleasure to meet her. I will look for future books by her because I'm sure they will be as enthralling as this one, regardless of the topic.

On Thursday, I had the pleasure of meeting Carol Bodensteiner the author of Growing Up Country: Memories of an Iowa Farm Girl. This was a very different book though I'd only gotten about halfway through. Carol wrote a series of short essays about her life growing up on a farm in eastern Iowa. I really enjoyed it and it made me remember my youth. Now I wasn't a farm kid, but my grandparents had owned a farm. By the time I was of age to visit they had long since moved into town but I the chapter called "Country Hospitality" helped me realize why Grandma always had treats in the freezer in case anyone dropped by. I remembered stories my mom told me. She and Dad had lived on the farm with Grandma and Grandpa right after they got married and things kind of clicked as I read. I may not be a farm girl myself, but I could relate to Carol's stories. She also enjoyed sharing them with those of us who attended. Carol had chosen to self publish this book and I think her readers are glad she did. It is a fun read for anyone with memories of farm life, whether they are from Iowa or anywhere else.

We had fairly small crowds for our author visits, but the barbershop quartet packed an audience of sixty-two people into the library. It had been a nice spring day so the room was unpleasantly warm, but the crowd stuck it out. It was an SRO evening and when we get low on chairs - I end up on my feet for the duration. I loved the concert, but my feet did not.

I can honestly say I enjoyed National Library Week, but I'm glad it's over for another year. Now comes the time when I gear up for Summer Reading. Two months of insanity instead of just one week. Wish me luck! :-)

Inspiration and the Absolut Hunk

I didn't watch the original airings of Sex and the City, but I've caught this show in reruns and I love it. I especially love Smith Jerrod - or in reality actor/model Jason Lewis. He has to be one of the hottest men on the planet.

He's also the inspiration for my latest hero, Lord Godwin Kempe. When you read about Godwin, think Jason. It will give you a happy, smiling face.

For your Sexy Saturday viewing pleasure, I share with you my inspiration for my latest hero. Enjoy...



From his Sex in the City days...

Close up...

A more recent image of hotness...

A Bonding Experience

First of all - what is flash fiction? Visit this great Web site for an explantation: http://www.fictionfactor.com/guests/flashfiction.html


In brief it is a fictional story that is 300-1000 words in length. I'm not sure I can get as short as 1000 words, but I'll keep it short. For me that's very good. I'm a wordy gal. But flash fiction should have all the things any other fiction has: characters, setting, plot - basically a beginning, middle, and an end.


***


Prompt from The Pocket Muse by Monica Wood:

Think of a mismatch between a person and a place. It may be someone in the wrong house, the wrong job, the wrong school, the wrong political party, the wrong club, the wrong chair, the wrong...




Sarah looked down at the address in her hand as she walked into the old theater building. There was no way this was First National Bank. Crap. Either she wrote down the address wrong or... There was an odd silence and she looked up to find a roomful of eyes fastened on her. She blinked.


"Miss Moneypenny? You are here for Miss Moneypenny aren't you? She's missing." A white haired man with a fake British accent approached, waving his hands.


"Miss who?"


"Miss Moneypenny. Go over there with the others, we're ready to start and we need our Miss Moneypenny in order to begin."


Now wait a minute. Wasn't Moneypenny the secretary in James Bond? The lovesick one? No frigging way.


"Yes, you'll do. Suit. Nice touch, dear." He patted her shoulder patronizingly.


"Who are you?"


He struck a pose, grasping the lapel of his jacket. "Bond. James Bond."


"Um... There must be some mistake..." Oh God. Him? Tall, skinny, white hair? James Bond was Sean Connery or Pierce Brosnan. This guy was soooo not James Bond.

He waved her away and to avoid the flailing hands, she joined the others. All of them looked a bit shell-shocked so maybe she wasn't the only one in the wrong place at the wrong time. Now what?

"Let's begin. I've called you all here to organize my next mission. Q, what do you have for me?"

The crowd exchanged glances. Was this guy for real? Did he really think they were in a James Bond novel? The white haired man strutted over to stand in front of a tall, handsome dark haired man. Damn. Talk about role-reversal. One of them was James, but it wasn't the guy who thought he was.

"Well, Q, out with it, man. I need some spectacular gadgets to take on the villain of Grosvenor Square."

"Who?" Q asked.

Sarah held back a sigh at 'Q's question. Even his voice was wonderful. Now he was a Bond she could realistically be lovesick for...if she had to be. Not that she wanted to be Moneypenny or anything.

"C'mon Q. I need to get started. After all, the Queen depends on my loyal service."

Sarah rolled her eyes. Yeah, right. If Queen Elizabeth depended on this guy, she was doomed to disappointment. Time to end this farce.

"James, I have something to tell you." Sarah strode forward, striking a painfully dramatic pose as she knew it was the only kind this guy would understand.

"You love me. I know. I've always known, Moneypenny."

She frowned at him. If there was one thing she hated it was a smug expression and he wore one on his pursed little mouth.

"No, James. I don't love you." The way his face fell almost made her relent until she caught the dancing eyes of Q. "I'm in love with Q. I always have been but I didn't want to hurt your feelings so I've strung you along. Q and I are leaving the Queen's service today and never coming back." She patted the man's arm. "I'm sorry to break it to you so publicly."

"But this is not true. It can't be. I've planned everything so carefully." He stamped his feet like a two year old denied his favorite toy.

"I'm sorry, James." She grabbed Q and planted a big wet kiss on him. He pulled her close kissing her back with a pleasing thoroughness. When he lifted his head, she stared into his eyes and he grinned.

"She's absolutely right, old man. We're going to be together. The rest of you, come join us for a drink at a nearby pub."

"Sorry James, you're on your own with the villain of Grosvenor Square. Hope it all works out." She grabbed Q's hand and dragged him from the room while the other confused people followed in their wake.

Outside on the pavement, the others left. Ran, actually. She could hear "James" ranting and raving inside.

"We'd better go, Q." She tried to pull her hand from his, but he didn't let go. She met his dark gaze, holding back a sigh. Too gorgeous for her.

"Join me for a drink, Moneypenny?"

Sarah grinned. "Why not? You can show me all your geeky gadgets over a mug of ale."

"Sounds like a bang up good time."

My Thirteen Favorite Things about Cats

My Thirteen Favorite Things about Cats 1. Even though they are "domesticated" they are still a wild animal. 2. They can act like a kitten without feeling stupid or embarrassed. 3. Cats don't roll their eyes when you use baby talk with them (however tempted they might be). 4. Tom cats live by the motto, "chicks dig scars." 5. Tom cats are guys with fur. 6. Even when they do something incredibly idiotic, like run into a closed window or slide off a table, they pick themselves up and look at you coolly as if to say, "I meant to do that." 7. They look like they are thinking deep and mysterious thoughts, when they really are thinking things like "I smell mouse" or "I want to eat bug." 8. They are brave enough, or foolish enough, to try anything fearlessly. 9. Cats think dogs are way too easy - in every way. 10. Even when hanging from a ledge, or the curtains, they don't look scared. 11. They remember the old days, when humans worshipped them as Gods. 12. They know how to delegate to their loyal minions...humans. 13. My two boys let me live in their house because I clean their litter and provide food and water.

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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