Hello Peoples! This is the last day of my 30-Day Winter Blogging Challenge! All of you were so supportive and wonderful. A BIG thank-you. You are so great!
Your Favorites At The Cottage In January ~
January 24, 2023 ~ Day 24 ~ 30 Day Winter Blogging Challenge
January 28, 2023 ~ Day 28 ~ 30 Day Winter Blogging Challenge
January 10, 2023 ~ Day 10 ~ 30 Day Winter Blogging Challenge
Currently Reading ~
The Album by Mary Robert Rinehart
It’s another cold day, so I am staying home where it is warm and snug. I think I’ll make potato soup. Yummy!
Laurie is summoned to Colorado, by her grandmother whom she hasn’t seen or heard from since she was a child. She is accompanied by her dog Red and her friend Hillary. Laurie was raised by her mother and has a past she can’t entirely remember. Her mother now passed away, never talked about Laurie’s childhood in Colorado. Laurie and her mother left Jasper suddenly and never returned. When Laurie is summoned and returns to Jasper, Colorado she must face the past and remember why her and her mother fled so suddenly and help her grandmother fight to keep her home and the mining town from a land developer.
This is a good mystery/suspense with twists, turns and surprises. As I became acquainted with the characters, I knew quickly who I trusted, however, I knew there was someone hiding, in the background, someone didn’t want to be known. The land developer was such an evil man, such a snake, but there was someone else. And! When all was revealed, it was amazingly well done. Of the books I’ve read by this author, I haven’t read them all, this one is a favorite. Loved it! So well-written!
Hello Peoples! It’s snowing and our temperature is below zero. I plan to stay home all day. I have homemade whole wheat bread with honey rising in the kitchen. I made it early this morning. I make bread the old-fashioned way. I don’t use a bread machine or any such modern conveniences.
Yesterday I went to the bakery and read my book for two hours. I should finish reading it today, while the bread is baking.
Hello Peoples! How are peoples today? It is cold here today. We have a wind chill. We have fresh snow and it’s supposed to snow again tonight.
Things I do to be warm and cozy ~
~ Bake! I bake in the winter more frequently than the summer. I also make soup in the winter months. The oven is on and it helps warm the house and the scent of baking bread or simmering soup is so warming.
~ Scented candles. We have a great candle shop in the town we live in. They make their own soy candles, and the scent is so warm and cozy. I enjoy burning candles in the winter.
~ Rick and I play Scrabble and Yahtzee in the evenings during the long winter days. We seem to have more fun with Yahtzee.
~ I wrap up like a warm burrito and watch movies in the evenings.
~ There is always sitting by the fire writing in a journal, reading books and magazines and blogging.
~ My favorite home away from home is the bakery. It’s always so warm and friendly with tasty treats. I think it has a family kitchen atmosphere.
What do you do during the long days of winter??? Share in the comments below. Don’t be shy.
Hello Peoples! I had a couple of ideas for my blog post today, however, the Vegan Book Blogger’s Waiting On Wednesday inspired me to do a WWW! Go take a gander at her blog. The link is below ~
Hello Peoples! I hope you are warm and toasty today! I am savoring hot tea and making an attempt at looking awake. 😴
Yesterday afternoon I was sitting in our dining room, reading, when quite unexpectedly the doorbell rang. I thought, who could that be. I wasn’t expecting anyone. I went to the door and glanced out the window. There were three random guys standing outside in the cold. I opened the door.
Random guy spokesman ~ Hi. We’re three Army recruiters participating in a Scavenger Hunt. We need to find a house with an American flag.
One random guy pointed to our American flag moving in the gentle breeze.
Me ~ Oh. Ok.
Random guy spokesman ~ We need to take a picture of your flag.
Me ~ Ok. Go ahead.
Random guy spokesman ~ We need you in the photo with us..
Me ~ I’ll go get my coat.
2nd random guy smiling, pointing to our Texas flag ~ Are you from Texas?
Me ~ No my husband is from Texas.
2nd random guy ~ Where is he from?
Me ~ I told him.
2nd random guy ~ I’m from Houston. He pointed to our Texas flag and said, I knew good people lived in this house. He pointed to our Texas flag and said, My people.
I was nodding and smiling. I left for a couple of minutes, putting on my boots, coat and bomber hat.
When I returned the three guys cheered loudly at my bomber hat!
We got in position; random guy number 3 took the photo. The 3 men each shook my hand vigorously and thanked me profusely, got into their vehicle and left.
I went into our humble abode smiling and chuckling to myself.
Hello Peoples! I am having a great morning. I met my friend L at a coffee shop, and we had a good visit. She spoils me. She gives me gifts and crafts and all manner of fun stuff. This morning she gave me, two books, a movie, a framed Christmas picture, earrings and Narnia items and one of the books in the series. She gave me Snoopy and Scooby bandages! haha! A few weeks ago, I was looking for Snoopy or Scooby bandages and couldn’t find any. She found some and gave them to me! That is so fun.
The Books She Gave Me ~
The Portrait of A Lady by Henry James
Sunflower Sisters by Martha Hall Kelly
Mmm??? I’ve never read these books. I will probably read them later in 2023. Have you read either of them? What are your thoughts???
She also gave me I Still Believe (2020). I’ve never seen this movie either.
Our White House Executive Chef Olivia aka Ollie is working with Peter Everett Sargeant to find a venue for a birthday party for the secretary of state. Peter and Ollie are not friends, to say the least. Ollie seems to trip over dead bodies everywhere she goes, however, this is Peter’s first experience. That’s right, the two of them together discover a dead body. And! Not only one poor individual has been discovered murdered when a second body is found dead. And! The two of them may have seen the killer flee the scene of said crime.
There is a lot happening in this White House Chef mystery. Someone is trying to sabotage Peter. Peter may be a pain, but he works hard and knows his job, and someone is out to get him. Ollie decides to help discover who is after Peter. At the same time, Ollie and Peter try to stick together to stay alive. Someone is following Ollie and it seems someone wants them both dead.
This was a good mystery. I’ve liked all of the White House Chef Mysteries. In the past, Ollie is so busy she meets herself coming and going. She is busier in this book. It’s well-written and moves along at a good pace. There is a small amount of humor in this mystery. This series is normally very serious. I was surprised when I found myself chuckling. And! Bump guy! I chuckled every time I read it.
Hello Peoples! Another winters day. Yesterday I made blueberry muffins. I tend to bake in the winter. I sent a text to my sister telling her ~
When I see photos online of someone baking, every ingredient is artistically placed. The mixing bowl and utensils are beautifully positioned. Who bakes like that??? I make a big mess. However, the muffins taste great!
Do you bake often? Are you like me and make a big mess or is everything artistically placed???😉
Hello Peoples! It’s Saturday and cold. Very cold! Extremely cold! However, it has been colder.
What are you doing today?
A good question. Thank-you for asking. I’m going to the bakery for a hot, dark chocolate. I’m planning to make blueberry muffins and I’m reading a cozy mystery. I might finish the cozy today.
Affairs of Steak by Julie Hyzy ~A White House Chef Mystery~
Thursday night I didn’t sleep. So, yesterday I slept a LOT! Today I am well rested.
katiescottagebooks 