Last day to enter contest :)

Don't forget, today's the last day to enter my Countdown to October Contest! All you've got to do is leave a post on my blog to be entered to win the overflowing gift basket. I know this thing is going to cost a mint to mail but that's all right. Tomorrow's October 1st and I'll be celebrating by pulling the name of one lucky entrant from a hat. Will that person be you? Enter as many times as you wish!

Sunday in the Big Apple

Ah, the bliss. The absolute bliss of it all...

Mickey went out early for bagels and bialys while I made a huge pot of coffee. We took everything into the bedroom and are here now, with papers scattered across the bed, coffee mugs on the night tables, lounging in our night clothes. Love having our home all to ourselves again. Oh, and I'm on my laptop talking with all of you. Cozy, isn't it?

Eventually we'll rouse ourselves and probably head to the park. It's a gorgeous day in New York--sky is bright blue and there's a nip in the air. Perfect day for a game of Frisbee.

Hope you enjoy your Sunday! Have fun!

Saturday Morning Fun

You Are A Vanilla Ice Cream Girl

Flexible. Easygoing. Classic.

What Flavor Ice Cream Girl Are You?

Finding the rhythm

Recently a friend emailed me to tell me she was surprised by how much I've been blogging. Now that I've gotten into the habit of daily blogging, just "chatting" with all of you, I'm really enjoying myself. I hope you are, too. There were months where I just didn't have much to say. Actually I had some health issues that were tough, to say the least. I just didn't feel like talking--so I didn't. I imagine we've all felt that way from time to time. But now, I think I've finally found my blog rhythm. I realized that all I've got to do is talk about myself, what I like to do, what I think, about my writing. What could be easier, you think? Honestly, until I found my stride I had a hellacious time doing that. But now, it's fun. I love chatting with everyone.

I found my rock wall climbing rhythm this week, too. Remember, I finally went to the gym to fulfill one of my yearnings? I love rock wall climbing!! Love it!! The harness thing doesn't hurt a bit (I was afraid it would) and I didn't fall. I had so much fun, I'm going back this afternoon to climb the wall again.

Found my rhythm on two fronts. :)

Another from Chef Becky

Becky's Brownies

3/4 cup melted butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
3 eggs
3/4 cup flour
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 8-inch square baking pan.

Cream butter, sugar and vanilla. Add eggs and mix well.

In another bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt. Add dry ingredients to creamed mixture in small amounts, mixing until batter is smooth.

Spread in prepared pan. Bake 45. Cool completely before cutting into squares.

Already Friday?

How'd that happen? It seems like just yesterday Mickey and I were herding the visitors out the door and into their car, waving on the sidewalk as they drove off. And here it is, Friday already? The weekend has begun, and I still feel like I'm a little bit off-kilter from the past few weeks.

Hmm, what to do this weekend? So nice, not to have to "show" anyone anything. No museums, theater, park, concerts--unless we want those things. Which, honestly, we probably will. At least some of them. The park--definitely. And bialys in bed, newspaper spread about. And tonight, maybe a theater, but a movie theater. That's it, a Friday night movie. I wonder what's playing...

What plans do you have for this weekend? Anything fun? Or are you going to hang about, like me and Mickey?

Today in the Big Apple

I'm relaxing. Writing a bit, maybe, but mostly relaxing. The house is back in order and I feel like Mickey and I are back to normal but I've got to admit I'm a little pooped. Visitors take their toll, even if everyone has a good time. Which we definitely did!

So I'm going to take it easy today. Maybe work on my needlepoint or catch up on emails. Something not strenuous. Tonight I'm calling in for pizza so there's no cooking!

What are you up to this beautiful, sunny Wednesday?

Assignment Comments

I love hearing from readers. Last week I got a note from a reader who read, and enjoyed, Assignment. Her note has been playing through my mind, just making me smile. :) The world probably thinks I'm a loon, but I'm just so psyched that she liked the story. Moreover, she got the story. It does so much for me to know I connected with a reader. The feeling is indescribable.

Anyhow, I'm going to post the blurb from Assignment. Then, an excerpt. Enjoy!

Blurb:

When Aphrodite, reigning goddess of love, sends Diana on a mission to give a mortal woman the push she needs to be able to be open to romance—just a few days before Valentine’s Day—the “assignment” seems to be an easy one. Nudge the woman toward the handsome, interesting man and hope for the best, right? That’s exactly what Diana does and Kate and Trevor, the mortals, find happiness in time for the big day.

When Diana realizes that there is a second being from the realm of love among the mortals she assumes that Artemis is along to help with her assignment. Art, however, has an assignment of his own to attend to—one that is, to him, much more important than any other.

Excerpt:


Club Tango was packed. The two couples occupied a small table in a dark corner, a nearly empty pitcher of margaritas beside the remains of several platters of finger food. On one side of the table Trevor and Kate were pressed together, their heads touching as they talked in low voices. They seemed to have forgotten that there was anyone else at the table.

Kate turned to Art and felt her stomach drop. Handsome, with deep brown eyes and thick black hair, he smiled at her with a smile that was so bright she felt as if the lights dimmed every time he grinned. Powerless to stop the delicious trembling in her body, a definite reaction to the broad-shouldered man, she decided instead to relax and enjoy the unexpected stimulation.

Kate and Trevor look like they’re getting hotter over there without any help from me. Why shouldn’t I partake of pleasures of the body, too? Especially when there’s such a yummy hunk pressing his hot body closer to mine. And hell, we know I’m hot—all the time.

“Kate said that you’re new in town. Where do you come from?” she asked. Leaning toward him, she caught a whiff of his masculine, spicy scent and her pussy tingled as she felt the slipperiness grow inside her panties.

“Oh, here and there. I’ve been a bunch of places in the past few years.”

“Army? Hobo? Why have you moved so much?”

“No, nothing as exciting as that, I’m afraid. My job—my calling—you could say, takes me all over,” he said, staring into her eyes and telegraphing a silent message to her.

In a flash she knew. It was so glaringly obvious that she wondered how she hadn’t seen it immediately. His good looks, oozing sensuality, charm and stellar personality—now it made sense.

Lowering her voice, she arched a brow. “You’re…?”

“Uh-huh.” When he nodded a lock of curly black hair fell over his brow and she reached up instinctively to smooth it off his skin. A jolt of electricity rocketed through
her body and there was a wash of warmth that began low in her center and spread rapidly outward. It filled her as surely as ice cream fills a cone, making each and every one of her secret nooks quiver with desire. “Sent by Aphrodite. Just like you were, Diana.”

“How come I didn’t know? Why two of us—and why wasn’t I told?”

Today in the Big Apple

Last night the last of our houseguests left. :)

Not that we didn't love having them--we did. It' s just that it's really, really, really nice to have our home to ourselves again. Mickey and I both heaved a sigh of relief as we waved, then shut the door. It was almost funny, the way we put our backs against the door and slid down to the floor!

We had a super time visiting, but now it's time for us to get back to our real lives. Me, to begin writing again. And Mickey, he needs to get back to being Mickey, the guy who's always on the move.

So today in the Big Apple I'm going to get our place back in order. Vacuum, dust, clean bathrooms and change bed linens. Mickey will, I suspect, help for a while before he heads off to his office this afternoon. Tonight we'll probably order in because aside from the leftovers from this weekend, the fridge's pretty bare. But there's a bottle of wine in there, a couple of bottles of pale ale, so we'll survive. That and delivery pizza? A feast!!

What are you doing today? And, do you ever feel a huge relief when your houseguests hit the road? Please tell me I'm not alone! I'm feeling guilty--almost.

Directly from the chef in the family!

Recipes left by my sister-in-law, the chef!

Becky's Acorn Squash:

1 Acorn squash
1 Tbsp Butter
2 Tbsp Brown Sugar
2 teaspoons Maple Syrup
Pinch of Salt

1 Preheat oven to 400°F.

2 Cut the squash in half, lengthwise, from stem to end. Use a spoon to scoop out the seeds and stringy stuff in the center of each half. Score the insides of each half several times. Place in a baking pan, cut side up, and add about a 1/4 inch of water to the bottom of the pan so the skins don't burn.

3 Coat the inside of each half with butter. Add a dash of salt if you are using unsalted butter. Place half of brown sugar in the cavity of each half. Dribble on a teaspoon of maple syrup to each half.

4 Bake in the oven for 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes, until the squash is very soft and the tops are browned.

*****
Fried Green Tomatoes:

3 firm green tomatoes
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup milk
2 beaten eggs
2/3 cup fine bread crumbs or cornmeal
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 Cut unpeeled tomatoes into 1/2 inch slices. Sprinkle slices with salt and pepper. Allow to rest for 15 minutes. While waiting, assemble flour, milk, eggs, and bread crumbs in separate dishes.

2 Heat 2 Tbsp of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Dip tomato slices in milk, then flour, then eggs, then bread crumbs. Fry half of the coated tomato slices at a time, for 5 minutes on each side, or until brown. As you cook the tomatoes, add olive oil as needed.

More to come! Thanks, Becky!

Unconscious Mutterings

Unconscious Mutterings for Monday:

1. Singles :: Bar *no explantion needed, eh?*
2. Blaze :: Harlequin
3. Sandwich :: Pastrami on rye, NY style
4. Outside :: Inside
5. Gooey :: Brownie (I don't know why!)
6. Industry :: Wall Street
7. Exclusive :: Saks
8. Warranty :: Guarantee
9. Magical :: Mystery Tour *yikes! Flashback to my Mama!!*
10. Heels :: Jimmy Choo

An excerpt from Cairo By Moonlight

Caleb felt himself responding physically to her nearness. It had been a long time since they’d been this close and he was shocked at the sudden snugness of his jeans. His cock was stiffening and he was powerless to stop it.

Hell, no—she’s just happy with me again. If I put the moves on her I’m liable to be shot down. No, better to just bask in the happiness for a while. Not pushing my luck here.

Her feet gently landed on the carpet. Caleb brushed his lips with hers and was surprised at the pressure he felt from her lips in return.She saw that he was red in the face and breathing rapidly.

I wonder…would she let me get close to her again? She looks ready for something…could it be me? Hell, it’s worth a try…

He probed her warm mouth gently with his tongue and when she opened herself to him he became bolder. Their tongues danced in the age-old dance of exploration and passion that was known to lovers since time immemorial. Their kisses grew deeper, more passionate, as their bodies heated and their inhibitions left them.

“Layla?” he asked against her neck, his voice hoarse and ragged as he bit gently on the warm, soft skin near the vein that pulsed beneath the surface of her long, graceful neck. “Babe?”

Nodding silently against his chest, she pressed herself to his hard body. Desire welled within her as she felt Caleb’s hard, thick cock beating against her hip.

Oh Caleb, I had forgotten how wonderful it feels to be near you like this. I want you--I want you more than I’ve wanted you for years.

He tugged her gently toward the butter-soft leather sofa that faced the balcony. The pyramids were outside the window, but neither of them noticed them as he reached to pull her shirt over her head. Raising her arms for him, she let him slip her shirt over her head, remove her bra and brush his fingers across her taut nipples. With a swift movement, he pushed her pants and panties down and she stepped out of them.

Naked, she stood before him without moving while his eyes danced across the contours of her body. Caleb hadn’t seen her undressed for far too long and he took his time examining her.

Good God, she’s beautiful. How had I forgotten how perfect she is? And she’s mine—all mine…if I can manage to hold on to her. I’ll show her how much I love her, how much I’ve missed her. I’ll show her how much I care for her.

His clothes joined hers on the floor in a New York minute.

Today in the Big Apple...

we're headed for the Flat Iron building. At the junction of Broadway and 5th Avenue,
the Flat Iron Building was completed in 1902 and was the first building in New York with a steel frame. It also has the honor of being the oldest surviving skyscraper in New York City.

Great place for photos, too. :)

This one, courtesy of FreeFoto.

Only in New York...

Image (c) FreeFoto.com