Ramblings

Dreaming of a ramble around the English Cotswolds....

*photos courtesy of cotswold peeps

Arm Chair Travelling to Cappodocia, Turkey

While I am not off traveling, I dream of traveling! I found this enchanting spot in Turkey. It is the Yunak Evleri Cappadocia Cave Hotel. There are 6 cave houses and 30 private cave rooms all in a luxurious hotel carved into the side of a cliff to pamper today's traveler. These caves date back to the 5th & 6th centuries! Amazing and so beautiful!

Happy Birthday Inez!

For all Nashville to see!

Friday Night Lights

My Parisian Pets

My precious Harvard

Paris Breakfasts write-up in Metro Pets

Precious sketches of Azalea and Harvard

Carol Gillot is a talented artists and blogger on Paris Breakfasts. I commissioned her to paint my miniature schnauzers Harvard at the Eiffel tower and Azalea at Laduree (I've got to take a picture of this one, I had gotten these from Carol's blog...Azalea is adorable too). She did an incredible job! I sent her photos of my little munchkins and she sent the cute little draft sketch, I okayed it and she went from there. When I get them framed, I'll show you the finished products on the wall. I am pleased as punch with them! So now even though they were unable to go with us to France this past summer, they have their own photos to go along with ours!

How would you like to have this guy fly your plane? Me either! My crazy brother-in-law once again...no surprise there...it is funny though, isn't it.

Happy Fall!

Can it already be the first day of the Fall season already today? I think so! The trees are enjoying all the rain we are having and will hopefully give us a beautiful and colorful show.

This is the time I would love to be in Massachusetts visiting Thoreau's Walden pond. Concord, Cambridge, Sudbury, Westford, Grotten were incredible places to see the Fall leaves. Mount Auburn cemetery in Boston also had so many different trees and was the spot for birdwatching.

The best apple I ever tasted and ate was a Macoun apple that we bought on the side of the road at an apple stand. We bought our bag of apples and placed our money in the box set up as an honor system. We never saw anyone, but those were the coldest, crispest, most juicy and delicious apples I have ever put in my mouth! Nothing has ever come close again.

Aaah, to have another one!

Just about to start...

Returned from the beach last night and we didn't want to come home! Great weather all weekend and it was nice and quiet with everyone back in school. The end of September and October is the loveliest time of the year to sit in the sand. It had been a couple months since I had seen my sweet parents.

After much urging, I finally gave in and got a facebook page. It will be good to see what the daughter is up to and to catch up with friends.

My sweet girl will be turning 18 in 2 weeks or so and I can't believe it! Lots of celebrating coming up.

*A

die-hard fan of Jane Austen novels and the traditional English mystery, Tracy Kiely has combined elements of both for this truly delightful and witty debut.

Planning New Year’s resolutions to rid her life of all things unhealthy, Elizabeth Parker has dumped fatty foods, processed sugar, and her two-timing boyfriend. Indeed, the invitation to join her Aunt Winnie for a How to Host a Murder Party on New Year’s Eve at Winnie’s new Cape Cod B and B comes just in time. But when the local wealthy miser ends up the unscripted victim, Elizabeth must unearth old secrets and new motives in order to clear her beloved aunt of suspicion. The suspects include the town gossip, a haughty rich woman, and an antiques business owner much enamored of his benefactress, a Mrs. Kristell Dubois. If that isn’t bad enough, Elizabeth must also contend with her childhood nemesis, Peter McGowan---a man she suspects has only matured in chronological years---and her suspicions about his family’s interest in Winnie’s inn.

Yesterday, her only worry was of ever finding her Mr. Darcy. Now she has a murder to solve. Is it any wonder her resolution to achieve inner poise is in tatters?

By reimagining characters and themes lifted from the treasured classic Pride and Prejudice, and crafting an expert, intricate mystery, Tracy Kiely has brought to life something very special: a new cozy series that is clever, vibrant, and utterly disarming.

*From publisher Macmillan books

Beautiful Girls

Savannah and Katie having a lovely dinner at the historic Hermitage hotel in Nashville, before a special night seeing the play "Wicked" tonight.

Lovely Libraries

This is the Kansas City, Missouri Library. I think this is brilliant!

Cardiff, Wales UK Public Library. They were renovating and covered the work with the books. So creative!

Tears of Pearl

Just about finished with the 'Jade del Cameron' mystery and about to start Tears of Pearl by Tasha Alexander. Ms. Alexander wrote her first Lady Emily mystery at the local Starbuck's here in Franklin, TN. Interview copied from Thriller Writers website. Jodie and I love this fun series!

Tears Of Pearl by Tasha Alexander

By Joe Moore | Permalink

In TEARS OF PEARL we find Lady Emily and Colin now married. Who changes the most?

They're both steady individuals, and wouldn't have gotten married if they thought it would change them. It took a lot to persuade Emily to get married again--she's not about to give up freedom for a husband and isn't willing to compromise herself, a position that can be difficult for a Victorian woman. Any tension between them comes from the dangers inherent in the investigative work they do. But in TEARS OF PEARL, they've just embarked on their honeymoon--they're happy and romantic and not planning on getting embroiled in intrigue. The best laid plans....

This is the fourth book in the Lady Emily Ashton series. As a writer was it more challenging to grow the lead characters and how did you work with growing them?

Characters grow as you write them--it's what keeps the work interesting. And it happens naturally. The longer you're friends with someone, the better you know her---the same is true with characters. Put them in more situations, you learn more about them.

How did your trip to Turkey impact your writing of this book?

Going to Istanbul was absolutely essential to writing TEARS OF PEARL. The city is so very different from what we're used to in the west--it would be impossible to adequately capture it without experiencing it firsthand. Maps and pictures can tell you where things are and what they look like, but cannot give you a feel for the atmosphere.

This is your first book with St. Martin's Minotaur. Can you touch on the transitioning process of working with a new editor on your fourth installment of the series?

Leaving HarperCollins was a very difficult decision--and one I thought about carefully. I loved working with everyone there, but I'm beyond excited at the direction Minotaur is taking me. My editor, Charlie Spicer, is a dream to work with, and Andy Martin has a focused vision that makes him an amazing publisher.

If you could give a piece of advice to a debut novelist about development of lead character for a series what would it be?

Don't write yourself into a corner--leave as many options open as you can. You don't want to limit yourself. It's impossible to predict while writing Book One where you're going to want to take your protagonist in Book Five. I made Emily young (but was vague about her age) and keep the time that elapses between books to a minimum because I don't want to all of a sudden realize she's ten years older than I was imagining her.

Zooey Deschanel

I am a new fan of Zooey Deschanel! I think she is adorable...and her co-star is a cutie too! This little short video just makes me happy! Zooey is singing the song too! I just may have to get some bangs. Check it out!

photos from fanpix

Currently reading the new #5 in the 'Jade del Cameron' African mystery series.

Burdick Chocolate

Oh how I love chocolate! The darker the better too! Years ago Clare took us to a darling chocolate cafe/shop in Cambridge, Massachusetts just off Harvard square. I had the most beautiful cup of cocoa you can imagine in this huge cup! From then on, Burdick chocolate has been my favorite chocolatier.

DH has surprised me with a wooden heart shaped box of truffles and chocolates at Valentines day and the most darling Easter selections for Savannah. And don't get me started on their chocolate mice....precious and delicous!

Thanks to Vicki over at French Essence for making me think about and want some yummy chocolate today!

Today I feel like I was given a gift. At two different times today I saw a hummingbird. I'm not sure if it was the same one, but it was a surprise. So tiny and delicate tasting the blooms on my magnolia tree.

Seasons

I welcome the lovely days that are coming with Fall and Winter

Placing throws on the sofas, lighting fires in the fireplace and curling up with a good book

Pulling sweaters, boots and tights out

Making homemade spiced tea and hot chocolate

Watching the beautiful reds and gold emerge as everything goes to sleep

Football games

Sleeping gardens

Scarves, gloves and warm lovely coats in velvet and wool

Snowflakes and snow days

Pumpkinfest, Thanksgiving and Dickens Christmas