My Say What Blog Archives - Page 51 of 53

Jan 12th Holidays Are Over, Let The Adventures Begin!

Our holidays were exceptional. Lots of friends, family and fun. How about yours? As usual, I ate too much and now have to pay homage to that exercise monster, in other words hit the gym hard and long. But that’s ok, I’ve a couple of new books to read, a mystery and a romance while I pedal away, along with a new audio book to listen to while lifting those weights, so I’m set!

Today or really last night Mother Nature made a mockery of the weather forecasters, again, who were calling for less than 1-3 inches of snow. She dumped a whopping six plus inches of heavy, wet, white stuff. Ok it wasn’t whopping, but admit it, it sounded good. Our chow was ecstatic. Snow is her favorite thing! The parrot, not so much and the turtle simply hid under her blankie and slept next to her heater. Awww the life of companion animals.

New Years Resolutions: For me resolutions are few and far between.

I cleaned up my office and vowed to keep it organized . Its where the magic and inspiration happens for my novels. Ok, that’s not exactly true. Really inspiration usually strikes at the most inopportune times. Which is why I always have paper, pen and ipad with me at all times. Yes, I even take them to bed with me. Well, at least I have paper and pen on my nightstand.
I filed all the 2014 paperwork away and started new file folders for 2015. Good for me. Got that done about three weeks ahead of time!
Write everyday.
1. Finish editing the next two completed novels in my paranormal romance series so they are ready for submission by the time the first book, A Demons Witch, is released this year. Watch for the release date.
2. The two cozy mysteries are three-quarters of the way done. Gotta get those finished. Then… start on the fourth book in my paranormal romance series.
3. Write 4,000 words per week.
Get as much camping in as possible this year.
Enjoy life! Remember my motto: “Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, WOW what a ride!”

As you can see my resolutions are few but lofty and attainable. Don’t you agree?

The best news of all is that this season’s camping adventures will be here in the blink of an eye. Remember I said last year when we had winterized the trailer that Christmas would be here before you knew it. Voila, it happened!

On our agenda this year is as always Rocky Mountain National Park.
Then Five Branches Campground on Lake Vallecito near Durango, Colorado.
A week in Monterey Bay, California with our friends. Love all the sea life there.
Twin Lakes near Leadville, Colorado is a must this year. Great Kayaking!

If you have any suggestions for camping areas, please for heaven sakes tell me. I still have a few camping slots to fill, not to mention settings for my upcoming novels.

That’s it for today, please check back next week for a totally outrageous topic. “til then stay warm, drive careful and have a good time!

Posted in My Say What Blog, Uncategorized by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.

Dec 1st Camping is Over the Holidays Are Here – No Place to Hide

Camping season is over, the fifth wheel is all sung in its storage space under it’s cover until next summer. Well, really early spring, I hope, weather permitting.

The holidays are careening towards us, with Thanksgiving just passed with Christmas on its bumper only a few weeks away. I did survive Gray Thursday, Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but barely. Yes, my Christmas shopping is all done, no thanks to the aforementioned shopping days. Rather than brave the crowds, I hid in my house under mounds of Christmas decorations, deciding which ones went up first, the outside or the inside. And did all the lights still work? I stood knee deep in strands of lights and threw up my hands. Decided the weather was much too nice, grabbed my husband, dog and parrot and went for a glorious walk. To my chagrin, the elves didn’t put up the decorations, so we did it ourselves.

With the decorating chore behind us, we can concentrate on enjoying the holidays with friends and family, then try to relax. Okay, only kidding about the relaxing. Still Christmas light looking and cooking to do, a group Christmas letter to write to be included in Christmas Cards that will delight.

To everyone who read my blog this year, Thank You! I wish you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a very prosperous New Year! Join me next year for more camping adventures and a new experience as I scamper through the path of traditional publishing. My first book, a paranormal romance, is due out in 2015. I will keep you apprised of my progress and a more definite release date. BE SAFE AND ENJOY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON! I look forward to hearing from you next year!

Posted in My Say What Blog, Uncategorized, What If... and tagged Adventures, Book, camping, Holidays, Paranormal, Publishing, Romance by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.

Aug 12th My Definition of Recreation is Camping and Hiking

The Dog Days of Summer are upon us, but there is still plenty of camping and hiking opportunities abound. So stock the RV full of food and supplies, or pack that tent and hit the road. In our case, we hit the road with a dog, parrot and 40-year-old box turtle in tow.

Steamboat Lake Sunset

Recreational opportunities abound in Colorado. Exciting state and national parks, national forests and private camping areas are sprinkled over the state. Among our favorites are Rocky Mountain National Park for its wildlife and natural beauty, Steamboat and Pearl Lake for kayaking and aquatic wildlife, Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve for hiking and Lost Burro in Cripple Creek for relaxing and a bit of easy hiking.

We encountered the mother of all lightning storms in Sand Dunes our first year camping. We hope for a repeat performance this year when we return.

One trail that you shouldn’t miss in Colorado is the one to Hanging Lake just outside Glenwood Springs and you’ll want to pack a lunch. Rated easy but in my opinion it’s more of an intermediate hike so be prepared. Make sure to wear hiking boots, if caught in rain or misty conditions the trail can be slick.

Outside of Colorado, we’ve enjoyed camping adventures in the Grand Canyon, the hiking trails and scenery there are fantastic. Yellowstone and Glacier National

Bridal Veil Falls, Yosemite Nat’l Park

Parks offer exciting wildlife, unique scenic views over a multitude of excellent hiking trails. Maps of the hiking trails and their ratings are available at the visitor’s centers or ranger stations in most national, state or regional parks.

We’ve also camped in Yosemite National Park where you’ll find activities for everyone in the family. Our favorite was the hike to Bridal Veil Falls. That place has its own atmosphere, cool and misty.

White Sands, Blue Water – Florida beach

In the Florida panhandle, we stopped in Niceville, they have several beach front campgrounds in the area next to the whitest sand we’ve ever seen. The ocean water is warm even in October, which was when we were there. Didn’t realize we were traveling at peak hurricane season then, we do now. In our defense hurricanes are not a problem in Colorado, our home base.

Posted in Camping, My Say What Blog by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.

Jul 14th Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

Sand Dunes

We spent the 4th of July weekend exploring the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. It’s a pleasant 3.5 hour drive from Colorado Springs to the Dunes, if you are towing a fifth wheel trailer. There are only a few sites inside the Park that fit our trailer comfortably, so we opted to set up camp at The Oasis a little campground just outside the main gate of the Park. It offers full hookups, a plus, and a spectacular view of the Dunes. No we don’t own a behemoth trailer, it’s only 30 foot with a 40 inch slide, but the older parks aren’t built for today’s trailers and can be a tight fit. Ok, ok, I like my microwave, surround sound, DVD player and flat screen TV. But we never once turned the TV on and it had nothing to do with the fact I forgot the DVD’s.

Here comes the storm – Sand Dunes

Now, I gotta tell you the Great Sand Dunes corner of the world is like no place, I’ve ever been. Nestled against
the rugged Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the Great Sand Dunes are one of Mother Nature’s amazing feats and North America’s tallest Dunes. Mother Nature has free reign over the ever shifting billion grains of sand, the sparkling streams, high mountain peaks and howling winds. Did I mention the 80 foot dust devil, crashing thunder, spectacular lightning show and hail we witnessed.

Dunes Early Morning After the Storm

Of the four nights we spend there, two were spend enjoying the beautiful evening around a campfire, munching on smore’s until well after midnight. The other two,well, we witnessed Mother Nature’s wrath.

Early morning is the best time to explore the Dunes, especially after a storm, the sand is packed and cool on your dog’s feet, not to mention your own. Wet sand is much easier to walk in too. By mid-morning the sun it hot and the sand is hotter. Afternoon storms are frequent, fast moving and you want to get off the Dunes immediately.

Zepata Falls

Down the road a few miles is Zapata Falls, a little slice of heaven, with dense foliage, a beautiful water fall and an easy hike. Just a quarter mile from the parking area to the falls and only a 400 foot rise in elevation, there are several benches on the trail, should you need or just feel like a rest on the way up. The temperature drop at the falls a good 10 to 15 degrees. Early morning is the best time to schedule a visit to the falls. Hiking in cool morning air is ideal and a crowd is less likely at the falls as you slip between the rocks to get a look at the falls origination.

So what are you waiting for? Check out the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Oh, don’t forget Zapata Falls.

Posted in My Say What Blog, Uncategorized by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.