My Say What Blog Archives

Nov 25th Thankful Author

Illustration of Happy Thanksgiving Turkey presenting

I have to admit that this year has been fantastic. We finally got to take the RV adventure that my husband and I have been planning for years. (Keep an eye on my facebook page for details of our three-month RV adventure). But when I sit down and think about it, I have many things to be thankful for. My husband finally retired allowing us to travel, when and as long as we want. The catastrophic softball-size hail storms missed us this year. Yippee!

My wonderful readers are fantastic and I am so thankful for them. I sincerely hope my tales of paranormal creatures help them forget their troubles and relax by slipping into worlds of magic fantasy & romance if only for a few hours.

I still wake up and pinch myself every morning, thankful to be living my dream of being published. A dream made possible by my supportive, extraordinary husband of many moons and The Wild Rose Press my amazing publisher. My editor, Diane, well, let’s just say…SHE ROCKS! I’m so thankful for her patience and understanding. (Discovering new and creative way to screw up seems to be my lot in life.) Yep, my face turns bright red every time I think about it. Oh, yeah, and I’m thankful for the helpful, supportive authors of The Wild Rose Press! They’re always willing to lend a hand.

When my characters run amuck, the story plot flows in ten different directions and none of them what I had in mind AND a deadline looms. (Yeah, I know you plotters never have that happen, but us pansters… well just saying.) Three little words, “You’ve got this” are music to my ears from my family and friends. I am eternally thankful for their encouragement and support.

I am thankful for the unconditional love of my chow dog, Mystic; spoiled parrot, Taco; and box turtle, Sammie. No matter how bad I feel or goof up, in their eyes, I’m darn near perfect. And I’m certainly not going to tell them any different!

Finally, a day never passes without my thanks to the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces whose dedication keeps our great nation free. (I know you’ve heard me say this before, but I can’t help it. Comes from living in a military town all my life & marrying a soldier.) We are one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. You may not agree with me, but that’s what is great about this nation. You don’t have to. I’m entitled to my own opinion, as are you. I can write books on any topic I choose without fear of a midnight knock on my door or being carted away. Unless of course my characters come to life, then we’re all in trouble. <Giggle>

While I have a lot more to be thankful for, roof over my head, food in my house, etc., I’ve listed the biggies. I wish you all love, laughter and Happy Thanksgiving!

Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog, My Say What Blog and tagged author, Paranormal Romance/Mystery, Tena Stetler, Thankful Author, Thanksgiving by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.

Nov 11th Veterans Day – Thank a Veteran or Active Duty Member!

Veterans Day is more than just a holiday—it’s a celebration of resilience, camaraderie, and the indomitable spirit of those who have answered the call of duty. It’s a day to reflect on the freedoms we hold dear and the price paid for them.

But above all, Veterans Day is a day of celebration—a celebration of the triumph of the human spirit, of resilience in the face of adversity, and of the bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood forged in the crucible of service.

As we gather with family and friends to honor our veterans this Veterans Day, let’s take a moment to honor and express our gratitude to the brave individuals who served our nation in the armed forces. Veterans Day is a time to reflect on their unwavering commitment and the incredible courage shown in defending our freedoms by supporting and uplifting those who have sacrificed so much for our freedom.

This Veterans Day, let us celebrate the courage and sacrifice of our veterans and recommit ourselves to honoring their legacy by striving to build a better world for all.

Thank a veteran on Veterans Day—perhaps a neighbor or family member. Let them know that we deeply appreciate their dedication, sense of duty, and the service they have dedicated our country.

Finally, a day never passes without my thanks to the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces whose dedication keeps our great nation free. (I know you’ve heard me say this before, but I can’t help it. Comes from living in a military town all my life & marrying a soldier.) We are one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. You may not agree with me, but that’s what is great about this nation. You don’t have to. I’m entitled to my own opinion, as are you.

Thank you to all who served!

Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog, My Say What Blog by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.

Jul 1st Pet Safety Tips for the Forth of July

Pay Special attention to your pet’s safety on the Fourth of July. Here are a few Pet Safety Tips to keep in mind:

Did you know? More dogs go missing on the 4th of July than any other day of the year. With all the noisy fireworks, loud parties, and distractions, it’s no wonder so many pooches bolt and get lost on Independence Day.

July Fourth is a significant date for Americans across the United States. Celebrated with parties and FIREWORKS. it is imperative pet owners pay special attention to their four-legged friends during the holiday festivities and afterward. Ensure that the information on your pet’s collar is current and make sure your dog is microchipped and/or has a GPS device. If they escape, there’s a better chance they’ll get returned.

Always keep you dogs and cats inside when fireworks are going off to avoid their nature to find a safe haven. Make certain your pets are walked prior to fireworks going off, close all windows and doors. Draw the curtains. Ensure your pets are wearing ID tags, even if in the house, as many animals are expert escape artists. Never leave your dog alone in a vehicle during the celebrations. You can also prepare a den for your pets inside the house with blankets and pillows in a location they will feel safe. There are thunder shirts you can buy for your dog that relieve the stress of thunderstorms and I’m told fireworks too. As far as our pet box turtle, Sammie, she 51 years old, but the fireworks don’t seem to bother her. Since a lot of what she feels come from vibrations though out her world, we make sure she has a den in her house with overhead logs to feel safe. She has lots of experience with this holiday, so she handles it just fine. From time to time we escape the city and take everyone with us for a nice quite mountain Fourth of July. Still we see all the fireworks from afar. But they can’t be heard or felt. a win win for all. Pet Safety Tips – Now let’s talk a bit about companion parrots who have to endure this noisy holiday too. Let me give you an example. Taco and I sit outside in the sunroom every evening after I’ve finished writing for the day during spring, summer, and fall. Over the past week (end of June first of July) the boom of fireworks are prevalent from early revelers. Taco is normally a fearless Eclectus. She’s learned the outside hawks can’t get to her through the glass of the sunroom. Thunder and lightning doesn’t bother her either, she’s been conditioned from an early age to understand there is nothing to fear. Now softball size hail falling is another story and a tale for another time. But, the sudden, unexplained noise from the fireworks has her flying off her perch and cowering on my shoulder. So we have to go inside during this time. Boo Hiss.

First we need to remember pet birds (unlike dogs and cats) are prey animals. They have evolved with their eyes on the side of their head, to enable them to spend long periods of their life looking over their shoulder. Some birds can even see better behind them than in front of them. By nature, birds are neophobic, meaning they naturally want to retreat and avoid anything unfamiliar. By perceiving a new object or sound as a potential threat until proven otherwise, they increase their chances that they won’t end up as someone’s dinner! This means birds and Parrots are constantly evaluating their environment and can become stressed much more easily than you may think. Let’s consider some ways to help our pet birds and Parrot reduce the amount of stress, anxiety and fear they suffer with the loud booms, and sudden light displays. Pet Safety Tips – Suggestions for birds in the home…

Where possible put your feathered companions in a room without any windows.

Alternatively, cover any windows with blankets, to block out those sudden burst of light. Covering the bird’s cage with a thick blanket can help muffle any loud noises, plus it helps make the bird feel more secure. The use of white noise machines or having the TV or radio on a little louder than normal can help drown out the sudden noise of fireworks.

Please note, noise isn’t normally the problem, as Parrots are noisy by themselves, but the sudden sound of an unknown loud noise is what frightens them. If bird(s) don’t live in a cage it may be wise to utilize a travel cage. Even Parrots who have had their wings clipped have been known to fly off when scared which could cause injury! Some pet bird owners have been known to play recordings of random noise, including those of fireworks to their birds – be it in the home or those outside in an aviary before firework season begins. The idea is that they eventually learn that unknown noises won’t harm them.

After the celebrations are over, make sure to check your yard any pick up any debris from the spent fireworks or maybe those that didn’t go off. These are harmful to your pet should they chew or ingest these items! Most importantly in keeping pets safe: NEVER TAKE YOUR PET TO A FIREWORKS DISPLAY! The American Veterinary Medical Association and AKC have more safety tips. Check them out. Have a happy and safe Fourth of July!

Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog, Holidays, My Say What Blog, The Pikes Peak Region and tagged fourth of July, Pet Safety tips, Tena Stetler by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.

Apr 2nd Gardening in Colorado is Challenging to Say the Least

Gardening in Colorado is challenging! While tulips might be peeking out, the forecast predicts snow. I lived here all my life, and gardened as long as I can remember. Didn’t I say Gardening in Colorado is challenging! Yep, thought I did. From the short growing season to the huge hail storms. Still, we’ll soon be able to tackle April chores as our gardens emerge from winter’s sleep. Thanks to Kim Snowdon, Colorado Master Gardner, here are a few tips to get you going.

• Lawn care: Get lawns off to a good start by aerating and applying a light application of nitrogen fertilizer. Avoid broadcast pre-emergent herbicide; spot spray weeds if necessary. Check irrigation systems for leaks or broken heads. Water at a rate of an inch per week when weather is dry. Overseed thin or winter-damaged patches with appropriate grass seed. Yeah, well we gave up on the sloped front yard, installed artificial turf last year. Love it. But our dog refused the artificial turf idea for the back yard. Mystic wants real green grass to romp through.

• Trees, shrubs, and perennials: Once soil temperatures reach 55 degrees you can start planting trees, shrubs and hardy perennials. The cool soil will assist in establishment of transplants. This applies to plants you want to divide and transplant to different locations in your garden. Bare root (BR) roses should be soaked in water before planting. Fertilize BR roses with rose food or fertilizer with a high phosphorous content, such as 9-14-9 to promote blooms. Decomposed manure, bone meal or fish emulsion are good additions to the soil around newly planted roses.

• Spring pruning: Early blooming shrubs (forsythia, lilac, quince) flower on last year’s growth; prune after they finish flowering. Summer blooming shrubs (butterfly bush, blue mist spirea, other spirea species, mock orange, hydrangea) develop buds on new wood and can be pruned in early spring. Prune roses by

cutting back winter-damaged canes, then remove canes that cross or grow inward for a more open structure. Healthy canes can be pruned back to 12-24 inches tall; cut 3 inches above an outward-facing bud.

• Cool season annuals: Flowers such as pansies, alyssum, sweet peas and snapdragons tolerate light frost. Wait to plant more tender annuals until after Mother’s Day. Direct sow perennial seeds, collected or purchased, following the directions on the packet. Some seeds require stratification (exposure to cold) or scarification (breaking seed coating through abrasion).

• Ornamental grasses: Cut back ornamental grasses in spring before new growth appears to about 6 inches. Some cool season evergreen grasses such as Blue fescue might not require cutting back, but rather comb through leaves to clean out dead foliage.

• Spring weeds: Spring moisture encourages weeds. The roots of annual weeds are shallow and easy to pull. Early diligence pays off. Spread mulch 2-3 inches thick to reduce germination of annual weeds. Perennial weeds such as dandelions have a deep tap root but can also be removed by hand using specialized tools. Pollinators depend on some of these earliest of flowers, so pesticide application should be done carefully to minimize the impact on beneficial insects.

There you have it, tips for Gardening in Colorado. One last thing, hail. There is hail cloth or material in gardening shops to put over your garden that lets the sun and rain in but protects plants from that nasty four letter word HAIL. I saw it last year after hail devastated my tomato & veggie garden. You can bet I’ll get getting hail material this year. Be sure and check it out.

If you have more suggestions, please leave a comment below.