My Say What Blog Archives - Page 12 of 54

Dec 8th Christmas Traditions Make the Holidays Bright!

One of the fun things about Christmas is traditions. Take for instance, the Land Down Under, because, well, someday I want to visit there, just probably not at Christmas. The English and Irish predominately settled Australia so it stands to reason their traditions reflect those countries. Here’s a few of of their Christmas Traditions.
Aussie’s decorate their homes with ferns, palm leaves and evergreens along with blooming flowers of Christmas Bush and Christmas Bell Flower. It’s summer time in December down under, when most of the United States is looking forward to big flakes and blankets of snow for a white Christmas.
Carols by Candlelight is one of the popular events in Australia. People come together under the stars at night to light candles and sing Christmas carols. Seems to me, it’s not far from our own tradition of Christmas carolers. I just can’t imagine Christmas without snow, that’s why I live in Colorado.
Christmas Day is when families and close friends gather from all over Australia for a holiday midday dinner. Some enjoy a traditional British Christmas dinner of roast turkey or ham and rich plum pudding doused in brandy and set on fire before it is brought to the table. Other families head for the backyard barbie to grill their Christmas dinner, maybe shrimp, in the sunshine or go to the beach and enjoy a picnic of cold turkey or ham and a salad. To the delight of children, Father Christmas in shorts may appear to greet children at the beach on Christmas! If you can’t have snow, that’s the way to celebrate Christmas.
Because I am of Swedish descent, let’s take a peek at Christmas Traditions in Sweden where in December the days are quite short, the nights long and the ground is usually snow covered. The Christmas season begins at church on the first Sunday of Advent, which is the fourth Sunday before Christmas. Children use an Advent calendar to keep track of the first day of December until Christmas, just like some of ours do. Each morning, they open a flap in the calendar’s Christmas scene to see the charming picture behind it. This year, I have a Victorian Advent calendar on my computer and enjoy a surprise behind each door daily.
The festivities in Sweden really begin with St. Lucia’s Day, December 13th, a celebration of the patron saint of light. A Christmas market held in the old medieval section of Stockholm is where you can find handmade toys, ornaments, and candy. Sounds fun, doesn’t it? Some people write a special verse to accompany the gift and even seal the package with colorful sealing wax. I have enough trouble with scotch tape and wrapping paper, I can’t imagine what would happen with hot sealing wax. Not a pretty sight, I’m sure. A Christmas tree is selected by the whole family just a day or two before Christmas and decorated, while the delightful aroma of gingerbread cookies in the shape of hearts, stars, or other festive shapes waft through to house. Christmas Eve is when the main feast is eaten. Presents might be brought by Santa (Jultomten) or by gnomes/elves named Tomte or Nissar. Many families set out a sheaf of grain on a pole for hungry birds. My hubby and I always put out special treats for the wild birds on Christmas.

As for my family, we put up the tree, Christmas decorations inside and out, the weekend after Thanksgiving. Or try to. No it’s not a real tree, only because I’m allergic. <sigh> We watch Christmas movies throughout December and make candy such as Divinity, Fantasy Fudge and Beaver Dams. What are Beaver Dams, you ask. Well, take a package of butterscotch chips, melt them in a double boiler, stir in half-package of crispy Chow Mein Noodles and one half can of cocktail peanuts. Spoon the concoction onto foil and let set. They look like beaver dams hence the name. YUMMY.

This year I’m going, to once again, try my hand at gingerbread cookies. Its become a Christmas Tradition of sorts, an make my family cringe. Why you ask? I haven’t had a lot of luck in previous years getting a good tasting cookie. Do any of you have a favorite recipe that I could try? Feel free to leave the recipe in the comments section.

Something for everyone. Two books on sale for 99cents each, A DEMON’S WITCH – The adventures of Bruce, Angie and friends are an entertaining escape from the ordinary world. Be swept away into a magical romantic fantasy adventures, you’ll never want to leave. These spicy tales have it all intrigue, humor, thrills, danger and a splash of magic to keep you on the edge of your seat. https://www.amazon.com/Tena-Stetler/e/B014E0PEPM or A WITCH’S HOLIDAY WEDDING – Tales of redemption, magic wildlife rescue, true love, and paying it forward will leave you breathless! https://www.amazon.com/Tena-Stetler/e/B014E0PEPM

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Next week My Favorite Things About Christmas. What Christmas Traditions do and your family observe on Christmas Eve and Day? Or during the month of December? I look forward to hearing from you.

Posted in My Say What Blog and tagged Australia, Charm Me Again, Christmas, Paranormal Romance/Mystery, Sweden, Tena Stetler, Traditions by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.

Dec 2nd An Average Day in My Life #L&SR’s Weekly Blogging Challenge

Happy Holidays! Welcome to #L&SR’s Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge December 2, 2020, An average day in my life. That I can do! Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cauldron. Take your choice of a Chocolate Chip, Snickerdoodle, or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate.

My writing cave!

While COVID upset a lot of things socially, for me not a lot changed. Writing is a solitary endeavor. I do miss interactions with my writer friends for lunch and eating out, but over all, I consider myself and hubby lucky. An average day in my life. Starts at 5:30 a.m. LOL Nope, not a morning person I’m a night owl, but hubby has to go to work. Fix breakfast for hubby, Taco our parrot, Mystic our dog, and Sammy turtle. Pack hubby’s lunch. Eat breakfast. It’s the most important meal of the day, you know. Figure out what to fix for supper, take out any necessary ingredients.

Yes, Taco and Mystic are plotting to take over the world.

Then its a 30 second commute to my home office where I work at promos for a couple hours, dive into my fantasy world see what my characters are up to in my work in progress manuscript, direct their activities. Ha, they tell me what they are going to do and I write it down. At 10:00 a.m., Take the stairs to my basement home gym and work out for 35-60 minutes, depending on the day and the time I can spare. Or if the weather is nice, I’ll take Mystic for a nice long walk! Pesky deadlines dictate a lot of my day.

Lunch is then on the schedule. Afterward I work on my WIP until 4:00 p.m., when Taco reminds me with a loud squawk followed by “Hi Guys” or any number of phrases she knows, it’s time to let her out and go into the sunroom. Dinner time arrives shortly there after and either I’ve gotten it prepared or hubby picks supper up on the way home. Kinda depends what kind of day I’ve had. Now weekends I take off. Need to give the muse a rest and recharge. The summer time included working in my garden. So there you have it An average day in my live. How about your day? Tell me about it in the comments.

Alas, I must return to my writing cave preparing promo on HIDDEN GYPSY MAGIC, 99¢ sales on A DEMON’S WITCH, and A WITCH’S HOLIDAY WEDDING. Stay tuned! Chocolate Raspberry Magic release date been extended until April 2021. And I’ve turned in the sixth book in A Demon’s Witch Series to my editor at The WIld Rose Press. She likes it! Yippee! AND I’m starting a new project Wylder West Assignment. Keep an eye out for more information. Now let’s see what the other author’s list as an average day in their life. LOL L&SR

Pssst… While you’re here, don’t forget to check out my paranormal romance/mysteries click here.

Need help with your gift list? Check out the award winning A WITCH’S HOLIDAY WEDDING: Psssst…. A WITCH’S HOLIDAY WEDDING is on sale for 99c cents. Grab a copy today. Also makes a great gift for the Paranormal Romance/Mystery reader on your list.

A bit out A WITCH’S HOLIDAY WEDDING:

Elemental witch, Pepper McKay and former Navy SEAL, Lathen Quartz built Lobster Cove Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center on enchanted McKay land. Wedding planning goes awry when the couple spends Thanksgiving with family in Colorado, a Maine snowstorm fills the center with injured wildlife, Lathen finds himself drawn into a covert military mission, and Pepper wants to cancel the wedding. Is she having second thoughts? Will the nosy McKay ghosts, Lathen’s werewolf pack, Pepper’s parents, and her best friend help or hinder the wedding and holiday plans?

A sneak peek between the pages of A WITCH’S HOLIDAY WEDDING.

After she set her glass down, Lathen brushed a couple strands of hair out of her eyes and searched her face. “Are you all right?”

“I’m tired, my wedding is in a couple weeks, I have ghosts fighting over who is going to do what. Guests that have no idea the place is haunted and… Your family and pack, my parents, Gwen… To top it all off, the head of my clan, who is a ghost, is sitting in front of me wanting to know who is coming to the wedding and whether the ghosts will be outed. How could I possibly be all right?”

“When you put it that way.” Lathen chuckled. “It sounds just a bit… I don’t know…crazy?” His right eyebrow winged up. She saw mischief sparkle in his eyes. “We could still elope,” he offered.

“No sir. Not after all the trouble—Not on me watch.” Ghost Aidan shook his head so vehemently his upper torso blurred.

Thanks for popping in. I really appreciate it. Wow, only 23 shopping days until Christmas. Yikes! Anyway, next week’s blogging challenge December 9th, A profession from a book I’d love to try! Oh this will be fun!! Until then have fun, stay safe, and never let the world get you down!

Posted in My Say What Blog and tagged #L&SR's #Wednesday's Blog Challenge, A Witch's Holiday Wedding, An average day in my life, Ghost, Paranormal Romance/Mystery, Tena Stetler by Tena Stetler with 10 comments.

Nov 25th Recipes From Fictional Books #L&SR Weekly Blogging Challenge

Happy Holidays! Welcome to #L&SR’s Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge November 25, 2020, Recipes from fictional books that I want to try. I puzzled on this one until my puzzler was sore, again! (Dr. Seuss) Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cauldron. Take your choice of a Chocolate Chip, Snickerdoodle, or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate.

I have read and own every Aunt Dimity Book Nancy Atherton has written. Could I find the book that had the Melt Aways in it. Nope. So I settled on this one, Sir Percy’s Favorite Sticky Lemon Cake from Aunt Dimity and the Deep Blue Sea.

I read a lot of books that do have recipes in them Diane Mott Davidson has the Goldy series that has wonderful recipes in them. But…. I can’t locate the Swedish Meatball recipe that I loved. My hubby an and I love to cook and bake. Problem with some of the fictional recipes is that I like to tweak a recipe to fit my tastes and needs.

Sorry I couldn’t come up with more recipes, but it being the day before Thanksgiving and I’ve got a lot to cook today, time is short. So I’ll just wish every one a Happy Thanksgiving!

Alas, I must return to my writing cave where deadlines loom preparing promo on my new release HIDDEN GYPSY MAGIC. Stay tuned! Chocolate Raspberry Magic release date been extended until April 2021. And I’ve turned in the sixth book in A Demon’s Witch Series to my editor at The WIld Rose Press. Fingers crossed she likes it. AND I’m starting a new project Wylder West Assignment. Keep an eye out for more information. Now let’s see what the other author’s list as funniest things that have happened to them. Hopefully they thought of more than I did. LOL L&SR

Pssst… While you’re here, don’t forget to check out my paranormal romance/mysteries click here.

Need help with your gift list? Check out the award winning A Demon’s Witch Series: Psssst…. A Demon’s Witch, 1st book in the series is on sale for 99c cents.

A Demon’s Witch – Can a ruggedly handsome demon overlord tame a powerful, gorgeous witch with an attitude? Or will their undeniable attraction tear their worlds apart?

A Warlock’s Secrets – In his darkest hours she is dragged into his magical world. If they survive, is she strong enough to heal his heart and tame the warlock? Or will their secrets destroy them?

A Vampire’s Unlikely Alliance -Join Stefan and Brandy on an exciting romantic fantasy adventure where vampires and gryphons, warlocks and demons, witches and faeries walk among us. Some creatures are willing to put aside their differences to work together for the good of man and magic kind, other’s will stand in the way.

An Angels Unintentional Entanglement -Where Warrior Angel, Caden goes, trouble follows until he discovers a badly beaten woman barely clinging to life. Unprepared for the entanglement she brings to his doorstep, will he move heaven and earth to save her?

and A Magic Redemption – Synn is a demon of extraordinary magic and power, but there’s more to her than even she is aware. Gavin knows her faults but she’s captured his heart. When her past comes calling for revenge, will their love survive the raging inferno she brings down upon them? Or will the searing path of destruction destroy all they hold dear?

Book Trailer – A Demon’s Witch Series – https://youtu.be/9e5djB0mwVE

Thanks for popping in. I really appreciate it. Thanksgiving is nearly here. Anyway, next week’s blogging challenge November 25, 2020, topic is Recipes from fictional books that I want to try That should be yummy! Until then have fun, stay safe, and never let the world get you down!

Posted in My Say What Blog and tagged #L&SR's #Wednesday's Blog Challenge, 99cent sale, A Demon's Witch, Paranormal Romance, Tena Stetler, Witches by Tena Stetler with 9 comments.

Nov 18th Funniest Things That Have Happened To Me! #L&SR’s Weekly Blogging Challenge

Happy Holidays! Welcome to #L&SR’s Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge November 18, 2020, Funniest things that have happened to me. I puzzled on this one until my puzzler was sore, again! (Dr. Seuss) Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cauldron. Take your choice of a Chocolate Chip, Snickerdoodle, or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate.

Not sure if 2020 has sucked all the fun and good out of my world, or what, but I couldn’t think of a single funny thing that has happened to me. No don’t get me wrong, I’m not a mundane person, but … So I’ll tell you about funny things that happened to people and animals around me. Maybe I was the catalyst. Who knows. You be the judge.

First funniest things happened to our black and white cat, Aspen. I dropped a marshmallow on the floor, when I bent to pick it up, Aspen beat me to it. FIrst it stuck to her nose, then she batted with her paw, yep you guessed it, the marshmallow stuck to her paw, then she shook and flipped her paw, the marshmallow when flying and stuck to her tail. By this time I was laughing so hard my sides hurt. Finally, I took pity on her and took the sticky white ball off her. The she gave me the “eat shit and die look” as if it was all my fault she stole the marshmallow that fell on the floor. Aspen stalked into the other room and ignored me the rest of the day.

Shortly after I was married, we took a trip to Disneyland and Universal Studios. We took my mom because she’d never been to either amusement park. Walking through Universal Studios back then was a blast. What made it more entertaining was the character dressed like Frankenstein, took a liking to my mom. This monster, well over seven feet tall, followed her all over amid her screams and trying to shoo him away. It was hilarious as a crowd gathered to watch the antics. My mom failed to find the humor in it, which made it all the funnier.

We get hellacious winds in Colorado. Sixty to eighty mph is not unusual. Our puppy was about eight to ten weeks old and we’d let her outside to do her business. Yes, we were watching her. You have to understand this puppy, Mystic, always bounced and pounced rather than walk or run. Apparently, she bounced at the wrong time and the wind picked her up and send her tumbling end over end across the backyard. She looked like a furry ball rolling across the yard. Of course we rushed to her aid. Ater we made sure she was all right, we succumbed to gales of laughter. She wasn’t bothered at all. The minute we put her back on the ground, she shook herself off and started to chase leaves again. At that point, we picked her up and went in the house.

We were driving in YellowStone National Park, when this guy on a motorcycle ahead of us slammed his kickstand down, leaned the bike over and ran up the hill. We wondered that the heck. Then we saw, what the heck. A huge buffalo with twigs and pine boughs stuck in his horns was storming down the road swinging his head from side to side bellowing. Traffic was backed up behind him and we were on the other side of the road. He walked right up to the side of our van and looked in the window. We held our breath. We were holding our dogs mouth shut so she wouldn’t draw the bufflow’s attention. He finally passed on by, but I could just see us having to call the insurance company and tell them our brand new mini van had been gored by a buffalo in Yellowstone. Now it’s funny, then we were scared to death the buffalo was going to gore our van. Not a very good picture as the massive animal approached, but we were scared the clicking noise from the camera would attract his attention. You can see our side mirror in the lower right hand corner.

Alas, I must return to my writing cave where deadlines loom preparing promo on my new release HIDDEN GYPSY MAGIC. Stay tuned! Chocolate Raspberry Magic release date been extended until April 2021. And I’ve turned in the sixth book in A Demon’s Witch Series to my editor at The WIld Rose Press. Fingers crossed she likes it. AND I’m starting a new project Wylder West Assignment. Keep an eye out for more information. Now let’s see what the other author’s list as funniest things that have happened to them. Hopefully they thought of more than I did. LOL L&SR

Pssst… While you’re here, don’t forget to check out my paranormal romance/mysteries click here.

Need help with your gift list? Check out the award winning A Demon’s Witch Series:

A Demon’s Witch – Can a ruggedly handsome demon overlord tame a powerful, gorgeous witch with an attitude? Or will their undeniable attraction tear their worlds apart?

A Warlock’s Secrets – In his darkest hours she is dragged into his magical world. If they survive, is she strong enough to heal his heart and tame the warlock? Or will their secrets destroy them?

A Vampire’s Unlikely Alliance -Join Stefan and Brandy on an exciting romantic fantasy adventure where vampires and gryphons, warlocks and demons, witches and faeries walk among us. Some creatures are willing to put aside their differences to work together for the good of man and magic kind, other’s will stand in the way.

An Angels Unintentional Entanglement -Where Warrior Angel, Caden goes, trouble follows until he discovers a badly beaten woman barely clinging to life. Unprepared for the entanglement she brings to his doorstep, will he move heaven and earth to save her?

and A Magic Redemption – Synn is a demon of extraordinary magic and power, but there’s more to her than even she is aware. Gavin knows her faults but she’s captured his heart. When her past comes calling for revenge, will their love survive the raging inferno she brings down upon them? Or will the searing path of destruction destroy all they hold dear?

Book Trailer – A Demon’s Witch Series – https://youtu.be/9e5djB0mwVE

Thanks for popping in. I really appreciate it. Thanksgiving is nearly here. Anyway, next week’s blogging challenge November 25, 2020, topic is Recipes from fictional books that I want to try That should be yummy! Until then have fun, stay safe, and never let the world get you down!