Last week my husband and I finished the quest we were on to visit every state capital. What a grand adventure it was. We started out in 2002 and then the end was delayed a year because of the closure of the capital builidings in Utah and Idaho for renovation and for bolstering their ability to withstand a severe earthquake. Both are grand buildings and the effort to restore them to historical accuracy (but with all the new technology) was well done. Our last of the fifty was Montana. It is also an interesting and grand building, but on a smaller scale.
The week started with a flight to my home state for my high school reunion. We then caught a flight to Salt Lake City. The following day, we flew to Boise and then back to Salt Lake where we were supposed to catch a flight to Helena. Due to a delay, we missed the connecting flight. The airline booked a room and gave us meal vouchers...holy wow...and booked our flight for the next day. This worked fine, and we had a free night's lodging (with breakfast) and an almost free dinner that night and lunch the next day.
We got to Helena in plenty of time to visit the capital and then get back to the airport for the connecting flight back to Salt Lake City. The following day, we caught our flight home.
Now we need to set another goal. Not sure what yet. But even goals that seem insurmontable may not be if you work toward fulfilling them and do not get discouraged along the way.
Utah, Idaho and Montana are interesting places. Much less populated then the eastern seaboard. They have a certain majesty that I found only in the upper tier of mid-western states. Maybe we will do a Lewis and Clark tour next which would take us back there.
I finished reading another great book. Prophecy by Heather McCollum. It is published by The Wild Rose Press and available for purchase at Amazon books. The plot and the characters and the settings will sweep you away.
From my book to yours,
Susan
Monday, September 20, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
New Recipe
I love easy and yummy recipes and found another featuring chocolate chips in the newspaper the other day that I thought I would share.
Baked Somemores
You will want to use some of the non-stick cooking spray on a 10 X 15 cookie sheet, the old kind with the rimmed sides, and preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Mix together 3 cups of graham cracker crumbs, 1 stick of unsalted butter, melted and 1/3 cup sugar. Pat this mixture on the bottom of the sprayed baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle the marshmellows on top. I haven't tried this but I would be inclined to put the oven on broil and toast the marshmellows a bit to get the flavor you get when roasting them over an open fire. Top the marshmellows with 12 oz broken up (6-8) chocolate bars or chocolate chips and bake 5 to 8 minutes. Remove and cool than take a pizza cutter and cut into desired size squares. Makes 35-40.
I am immersing this thought into my mind, "Let God sort it out." Whenever I want to holler not fair or why me over things I have no control over, I remind myself to let God sort it out.
Best wishes from my book to yours,
Susan
Baked Somemores
You will want to use some of the non-stick cooking spray on a 10 X 15 cookie sheet, the old kind with the rimmed sides, and preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Mix together 3 cups of graham cracker crumbs, 1 stick of unsalted butter, melted and 1/3 cup sugar. Pat this mixture on the bottom of the sprayed baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle the marshmellows on top. I haven't tried this but I would be inclined to put the oven on broil and toast the marshmellows a bit to get the flavor you get when roasting them over an open fire. Top the marshmellows with 12 oz broken up (6-8) chocolate bars or chocolate chips and bake 5 to 8 minutes. Remove and cool than take a pizza cutter and cut into desired size squares. Makes 35-40.
I am immersing this thought into my mind, "Let God sort it out." Whenever I want to holler not fair or why me over things I have no control over, I remind myself to let God sort it out.
Best wishes from my book to yours,
Susan
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Whoohee
Whoohee, because life is grand regardless of every pitfall and every bit of bad news or lack of good news.
What happened today that was so great? Millions of things. But most of all, I'm healthy, my family is healthy and we can laugh.
So many people on this earth are living through and perservering in spite of overwhelming devastation and tragedy. My woes, such as they are, pale in comparison.
I am reading the best book I've read in a long time. TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE by Kristan Higgins. It's been in my pile of "to be read" for a long time. I'm glad I plucked it out. It is funny and sweet, quirky and at the same time sane. It is a story of falling in love in the very best way. I'll be sad to leave these characters when it ends.
I send best wishes from my book to yours.
Susan
What happened today that was so great? Millions of things. But most of all, I'm healthy, my family is healthy and we can laugh.
So many people on this earth are living through and perservering in spite of overwhelming devastation and tragedy. My woes, such as they are, pale in comparison.
I am reading the best book I've read in a long time. TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE by Kristan Higgins. It's been in my pile of "to be read" for a long time. I'm glad I plucked it out. It is funny and sweet, quirky and at the same time sane. It is a story of falling in love in the very best way. I'll be sad to leave these characters when it ends.
I send best wishes from my book to yours.
Susan
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Good Vibes
Things have been moving forward in a very positive direction. Hoorah. Many opporutnities have opened up for me in the month of August.
My website can be found by doing the usual www + susanralph + com. It is currently residing somewhere in the dark recesses of the listings if you search on susan ralph. You will find an e-mail contact address there.
If you would like to have a chance to win a copy of my new book, drop into http://www.romconinc.com/ on August 12. To find me on that date, move your curosr to the blog box and then click on contemporary in the drop down box. My question of the day is who played or plays an important part in making you the person you are. I would love to read your answers.
Hope to see you there.
Susan
My website can be found by doing the usual www + susanralph + com. It is currently residing somewhere in the dark recesses of the listings if you search on susan ralph. You will find an e-mail contact address there.
If you would like to have a chance to win a copy of my new book, drop into http://www.romconinc.com/ on August 12. To find me on that date, move your curosr to the blog box and then click on contemporary in the drop down box. My question of the day is who played or plays an important part in making you the person you are. I would love to read your answers.
Hope to see you there.
Susan
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
The Second Book
It is great to have a second book out. Unlike BROMPTON MANOR, a Regency historical, STARTING FROM SCRATCH is a contemporary chick-lit style story.
The love interest has a big role, he is a great guy--my kind of guy--but the story is about the heroine taking charge of her life and following her dream without losing the people she loves and who love her.
The past week was a wonderful time in Orlando where I attended the Romance Writer's annual conference. Like always, the conference was filled with wonderful people , great workshops, and inspiring speakers. But this year, I thought the conference hotel, The Swan and Dolphin, was superior to any of the previous conference hotels I have been to and this was my ninth conference.
And now I am back home and picking up my writing. Hoping all of the inspiration I got from being among fellow writers for a week will spur me to make a larger effort.
May you all find inspiration for the tasks you are faced with in a mother's group, a social club, church, working for a cause you believe in, or from a boss with excellent management skills and a heart of gold.
The love interest has a big role, he is a great guy--my kind of guy--but the story is about the heroine taking charge of her life and following her dream without losing the people she loves and who love her.
The past week was a wonderful time in Orlando where I attended the Romance Writer's annual conference. Like always, the conference was filled with wonderful people , great workshops, and inspiring speakers. But this year, I thought the conference hotel, The Swan and Dolphin, was superior to any of the previous conference hotels I have been to and this was my ninth conference.
And now I am back home and picking up my writing. Hoping all of the inspiration I got from being among fellow writers for a week will spur me to make a larger effort.
May you all find inspiration for the tasks you are faced with in a mother's group, a social club, church, working for a cause you believe in, or from a boss with excellent management skills and a heart of gold.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
POV and A New Recipe Using Chocolate
POV: Even more important, whose head do you want the reader to be in? See my earler posts on the subject of POV.
If you've seen my earlier recipe postings, you know chocolate is a favorite ingredient and easy is my favorite method.
Here is another easy and yummy cookie.
Crunch Bars
35 saltine crackers
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margerine
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 pkg (8 squares) Semi-Sweet Chocolate, chopped
1 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
Heat oven to 400 degrees.
In a foil-lined 15x10x1-inch pan in a single layer line the crackers on the bottom
Stirring constantly, cook butter and sugar in a saucepan on medium-high heat until butter is melted and mixture is well-blended. Bring to boil and then cook 3 minutes without stirring.
Spread on crackers.
Bake 5 to 7 minutes until topping is golden brown. Remove and immediately sprinkle with chocolate. Let stand 5 minutes or until chocolate is soft and then spread the chocolate to cover the first topping. Sprinkle with nuts. Cool and then break into pieces.
If you've seen my earlier recipe postings, you know chocolate is a favorite ingredient and easy is my favorite method.
Here is another easy and yummy cookie.
Crunch Bars
35 saltine crackers
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margerine
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 pkg (8 squares) Semi-Sweet Chocolate, chopped
1 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
Heat oven to 400 degrees.
In a foil-lined 15x10x1-inch pan in a single layer line the crackers on the bottom
Stirring constantly, cook butter and sugar in a saucepan on medium-high heat until butter is melted and mixture is well-blended. Bring to boil and then cook 3 minutes without stirring.
Spread on crackers.
Bake 5 to 7 minutes until topping is golden brown. Remove and immediately sprinkle with chocolate. Let stand 5 minutes or until chocolate is soft and then spread the chocolate to cover the first topping. Sprinkle with nuts. Cool and then break into pieces.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Recent News
POV check. Who sees? Who hears? Who smells? Who feels? Who tastes? And more subtle and more telling--Who reacts?
My second book for Avalon Books is on track for a June release. I received an e-mail preview of the cover and love it.
My December and January writing time got taken up by other things demanding a top spot on my to do lists. December was family and the holidays. Janurary was the planning for and making the trip to Hawaii. I hope to pick up the writing pace in February.
We lived on Oahu for three years. My husband, our daughter #3, and I enjoyed revisiting familiar places. We cruised past the two schools she attended, visited the house we lived in, visited the North Shore where the gigantic waves and surfers didn't disappoint. A shave ice refreshed another of her childhood memories. The taste of Zippy's zip pack sent us all back to the day. So much is the same as it was when we lived there. We had a great time and we each left another piece of our heart behind on the island. We would love to visit often, but the trip from the east coast is arduous. We left home at 7 am changed planes in Atlanta with only a little time on the ground, and then flew for ten hours. And the trip going wasn't near as bad as the return trip--which was an overnight flight--and sleeping in the cattle seat section on a plane is not easy.
Hawaii is not without the intractable problems one finds on the mainland, but Wakiki still glitters, the island of Oahu is still beautiful, and the Aloha spirit is still alive.
I'm grateful for being able to make the trip with our daughter and take the words below to heart.
It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
My second book for Avalon Books is on track for a June release. I received an e-mail preview of the cover and love it.
My December and January writing time got taken up by other things demanding a top spot on my to do lists. December was family and the holidays. Janurary was the planning for and making the trip to Hawaii. I hope to pick up the writing pace in February.
We lived on Oahu for three years. My husband, our daughter #3, and I enjoyed revisiting familiar places. We cruised past the two schools she attended, visited the house we lived in, visited the North Shore where the gigantic waves and surfers didn't disappoint. A shave ice refreshed another of her childhood memories. The taste of Zippy's zip pack sent us all back to the day. So much is the same as it was when we lived there. We had a great time and we each left another piece of our heart behind on the island. We would love to visit often, but the trip from the east coast is arduous. We left home at 7 am changed planes in Atlanta with only a little time on the ground, and then flew for ten hours. And the trip going wasn't near as bad as the return trip--which was an overnight flight--and sleeping in the cattle seat section on a plane is not easy.
Hawaii is not without the intractable problems one finds on the mainland, but Wakiki still glitters, the island of Oahu is still beautiful, and the Aloha spirit is still alive.
I'm grateful for being able to make the trip with our daughter and take the words below to heart.
It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
