Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Happy New Year From Seekerville

Happy New Year From all of us  in Seekerville!  

That includes the 13 Seekers and the hundreds of Village People 
that populate Seekerville  every single day of the last 365 days.


The next 27 hours is a progressive post.

 Seekerville will be rockin' for 27 straight hours. We'll start with the Writing Year in Review and My One Word.

Each and every hour through 12 midnight PST, Wednesday, January 1st, we'll introduce a hostess or hostesses. That hour your hostess or hostesses will chat, tell you about the hour's prize and serve up a yummy treat. Many of the treats provided tonight will have recipes that will be available at the end of our party. So check back Wednesday, New Year's Day on our http://www.seekerville.net/  page for the downloadable pdf.



To be entered in an hourly drawing, simply comment. You do not need to be present to win.  Once your name goes in the official drawing jar it stays there until either your name is drawn or the party is over. We keep drawing until all 27 hours are over. Giveaway winners are announced at the top of the hour in the comments. So for this hour we announce the winner at 1 a.m. EST. If you don't want to be entered in the drawing and are just here to PARTY! say so in the comments. We'll still respect you in the morning. If you receive a prize that you already have, then share it with someone you love!


A complete list of winners will be available on Wednesday, January 1st  here. And we will be posting the winners there hourly as well so you don't have to slog through the comments.  It is your responsibility to contact us if you are a winner at this email address: seekers@seekerville.net. Complete giveaway rules are available here.



  

Seekerville received their first ever Writer's Digest mention on the list of 101 Best Websites for Writers in 2013! Thank you, Villagers. Additionally, this was the year we hit ONE MILLION PAGE VIEWS and celebrated our SIXTH BIRTHDAY!

 
 The Seeker authors debuted 21 new books and/or novella's in 2013. We've also had the honor of watching many Seeker friends sale off Unpublished Island to the mainland. We're celebrating the following Villagers with first sales in 2013 and those who debuted their first indie release!!


Congratulations!

Helen Gray
Mindy Obenhaus
Jamie Adams
Bridgett Henson
Danica Favorite
Anita Mae Draper
Carrie Fancett Pagels
L.A. Sartor
Kristy Cambron
Susan Anne Mason
Tanya Wright 
Dawn Crandall
Terri Weldon
  
Congratulations to those who obtained representation this year as well. 

Jodie Wolfe
Christina Rich

And congratulations to the ACFW Agent of the Year: Natasha Kern


More cheers for those (published and unpublished) who entered contests, finaled and/or won this year. We had RITA, CAROL, GENESIS and GOLDEN HEART finalists and winners in our ranks. 


And those who received requests for partial or full manuscripts. WAY TO GO!!!


We'd love to hear the terrific writing news from your 2013 Writing Year in Review. Let us celebrate with you!! If we missed your name above, holler and we will add you!


Seekerville has been enjoying the My One Word concept as introduced on the My One Word site for several years. And there's a book as well!

"The concept of My One Word is simple. Lose the long list of resolutions---all your sweeping promises to change---and do something about one thing this year instead of nothing about everything. Choose just one word that represents what you most hope God will do in you, and focus on it for an entire year. This single act will force clarity and concentrate your efforts. As you focus on your word over an extended period of time, you position yourself for God to form your character at a deep, sustainable level. Growth and change will result." 


We'll be giving away a Kindle version copy of My One Word the book, during this hour of the party, and we challenge you to PICK YOUR ONE WORD and share it with us! We'll compile them all to save for you.

Trick question: did you remember your My One Word from 2013?  If not last year's list is available here. 

or http://www.seekerville.net/generator/assets/MyOneWord2013.pdf

 Time to get this party started!




 Your host this hour is Tina Radcliffe! 

       Tina Radcliffe is from Western New York, and she's lived in Massachusetts, Alabama, Germany, Oklahoma, and Colorado. She now lives in a cave in Phoenix, Arizona and comes out for coffee and writing supplies. A former Specialist 4th Class in the U.S . Army, Tina has been an oncology certified registered nurse, a library cataloger, a pharmacy clerk and now she writes full-time in the aforementioned cave. She writes romantic comedy and short romantic fiction as Tina Russo, and at her last count, she has sold ten short stories to Woman's World magazine.


Hi, Seekerville! In addition to the Kindle copy of My One Word that is up for grabs this hour, I have one of my handmade Americana muslin Angels to giveaway!


Here she is! With lace wings and bead boots, every inch of her is handmade, even the body!  (For those of you sleeping now, I will be giving away another one on New Year's Eve PST tomorrow night (that's 3 am. EST)




 I'm also serving up chocolate SCRATCH brownies (heart shaped)! Those are in honor of, Dr. Elizabeth Rogers, the heroine in my September release for Love Inspired, working title Stranded in Paradise!   (recipe available in the am pdf)

Just comment this hour and tell Seekerville about your My One Word or your year in review to be entered in the drawing. 





 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~


 Your 1 am EST hostess:




Missy Tippens, a pastor’s wife and mom of three from near Atlanta, Georgia, made her first sale to Love Inspired in 2007. Her books have since been nominated for the Booksellers Best, ACFW Carol Award, Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, Beacon Contest and a 2013 RT Reviewer’s Choice Award. A House Full of Hope was a Romance Writers of America 2013 RITA® Nominee. Her most recent from Love Inspired, Georgia Sweethearts was an April 2013 release. Visit Missy at www.missytippens.com, @MissyTippens on Twitter and
http://www.facebook.com/missy.tippens.readers.





Hello, everyone! Missy Tippens, here. I'm so excited to be here with you for the next hour as we start our New Year's celebration! So sit back, and let's have a good time thinking of all we've accomplished and all we have to look forward to. What's one thing you're most excited about for 2014?


And, here's a little snack food while we chat! Tostito Scoops are in a big bowl, and there's a plate of celery sticks as well!


Mexican Salad (but I call it dip since I love it with chips!)

1 can black beans drained and rinsed
1 can Mexi-corn
1 cup grape tomatoes quartered
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1/2 cup Hidden Valley Spicy Ranch Dressing
2 Tbs. chopped cilantro

Recipe will also be available in pdf in am.


The giveaway for this hour is a $15 Amazon Gift Card!! Happy New Year!!



 ~~~~


Your host this hour  (2 a.m. EST, is Captain Jack Sparrow, who needs no introduction.


These days when not pirating, the good captain is the caretaker for our Unpublished Island . This year Jack installed a media room! (scroll down to #26)


As always, Jack brings with him a round of the Chicken Dance and RUM BALLS made fresh on the island.

 The recipe will be loaded to the recipe pdf.

Welcome to "Jack's Hour." Anything goes. 
What happens on the island, stays on the island

 
Jack is sweet on Seekers, so he's giving away a copy of ANY Seekerville Christmas book available for Kindle, this hour.  (But he can be bribed. Share a Jack Sparrow quote to make him sweet on you!)

 "If you were waiting for the opportune moment, that was it." Jack Sparrow


~~~

I'm baaack!

Tina Radcliffe is your hostess again this hour. I know. Again. Everyone fought me for this hour, but I triumphed.

 If you missed my bio, well it hasn't changed since midnight.

I am an eccentrically creative Italian type person, who battles the bulge and writes books and loves God and family and lots of others too. That sums it up. 

Can you sum yourself up in one sentence??



Because there are no calories at 3 am EST, I bring you Tiramisu! Recipe available in pdf.



 This hour's giveaway is a $10 Amazon Gift Card!  


 ~~~


Time for a double dose of Ruth Logan Herne. Ruthy is your hostess from for the 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. EST slots!



Ruth Logan Herne (http://ruthloganherne.com) is a multi-published author who pokes her head out of her rabbit hole just long enough to see if the snow has stopped.... if not, she ducks back in, and continues to write sweet, heart-stirring romance for her wonderful readers! A native of upstate New York, she's married to a guy who thinks little kids are funny and cute, which is a good thing because their old farm house if full of them! With over a half-million books in print, Ruthy is looking forward to whatever 2014 holds with love... and prayer!

WELCOME to the OVERNIGHT SHIFT~ Ruthy will  be sharing recipes for Tres Leches Cake (a recipe she designed for "The Lawman's Holiday Wish", her 2013 Christmas book!) and her new variation of Stuffed Mushrooms, just in time for your upcoming Superbowl in New York City party! (Ruthy is saying NOTHING about the wisdom... or lack thereof...of having a Superbowl in New York City in February... in an open stadium. Nope. She's not saying a WORD...)




Recipes available in the pdf

Ruth Logan Herne will be giving away TWO $20 gift cards, one per hour....Check the comments at 5 and 6 for winners.





~~~~~



6 am EST and we brought the ENTIRE Writers Alley Blog to SEEKERVILLE!!



Welcome to  

Amy Leigh Simpson
Angie Dicken
Ashley Clark
Casey Herringshaw
Julia Reffner
Karen Schravemade
Krista Phillips
Mary Vee
Pepper Basham
Sherrinda Ketchersid



 This morning the Alley Cats are manning the breakfast buffet and making German Pancake Puffs served with your choice of regular syrup, strawberry syrup, or chocolate syrup.



 Their prize this hour for one lucky winner is a 3 Contemporary Romance set from Janice Thompson, Becky Wade, and Melissa Tagg as well as a $10 Amazon gift card  Commenting with your mouth full IS ALLOWED!!




Good morning, Seekervillians!! We're so glad to visit our 'mother' blog (so to speak) and celebrate the New Year here on Seekerville. The AlleyCats have a lot of wonderful pals on Seekerville and we're always happy to find new ones for the new year.


 Your 7a.m. EST hostess is Glynna Kaye!




Glynna Kaye treasures memories of growing up in small Midwestern towns—Iowa, Missouri and Illinois—and vacations spent in another rural community with the Texan side of the family.  She traces her love of storytelling to the many times a houseful of great-aunts and -uncles gathered with her grandma to share hours of what they called “windjammers”—candid, heartwarming, poignant and often humorous tales of their youth and young adulthood. Glynna lives in Arizona now and, when she’s not writing, she enjoys photography and the great outdoors. Her sixth Love Inspired, “A Canyon Springs Courtship,” released in September 2013 and “Pine Country Cowboy” debuts in March-April 2014. Visit her at glynnakaye.com/ .



  


Glynna's giveaway this hour is a copy of “The Power of Point of View: Make Your Story Come to Life” by Alicia Rasley







The recipe I’m sharing today is a great one for New Year’s Day morning—just prepare the eggs-cheese-veggies-sausage mix and refrigerate the day before, then in the morning all you have to do is crack open a can of biscuits and go from there! (It may need to bake a little longer if you refrigerate the mix overnight – or give it a quick zap in the microwave before putting it on the biscuits and baking.)  I don’t have a jpg of this yummy breakfast bake, so here’s an early morning shot from my recent vacation at the magnificent North Rim of the Grand Canyon!

COUNTRY BREAKFAST BAKE

•    12 oz pkg bulk pork sausage (I use Jimmy Dean’s)
•    ½  cup onion, chopped
•    ½  cup red bell pepper, chopped
•    ½  cup green bell pepper, chopped
•    10  large eggs
•    8 oz (2 cups) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
•    12 oz. can refrigerated buttermilk biscuits (10)

1.    Preheat oven to 375 F.
2.    In skillet, brown sausage, onion, & peppers.  Drain well.
3.    Beat eggs in large bowl.  Stir in cheese and sausage mixture.
4.    Spray 13 x 9 baking dish with PAM.
5.    Arrange and press biscuits into bottom of dish.
6.    Pour sausage mixture over biscuit crust.
7.    Bake at 375 F for 30 minutes or until egg mixture is set and crust is deep golden brown.  Cool 5 minutes before serving. 





Good morning, early birds!


Unbelievably, we’re winding down 2013 and 2014 stretches out before us. I love a fresh start, don’t you? One of my favorite things to do on New Year’s Eve is to slip out on the porch sometime early in the evening to briefly reflect on the past twelve months, thank God for his many blessings, and share with Him my hopes and dreams for the coming year—to rededicate my life and my writing to Him.


I’m excited to have completed two new books this past year, so I’ll have two coming out in 2014. And I’m working on my next book proposal for submission to my agent and editor, as well. I’ve dreamed of being a published writer since I was in my early teens, so I have much to be thankful for!


Having read Ann Voskamp’s “One Thousand Gifts,” my “One Word” for 2014 is going to be “Eucharisteo” – meaning “to give thanks – to express thanksgiving of joy Godward.” I want to focus with a grateful heart on the many good things God has so generously given me.


What is your “One Word” for 2014? What are your hopes and dreams for your writing? 


~~~


The 8 am EST hostess is Debby Giusti!




Debby Giusti is a medical technologist who loves working with test tubes and petri dishes almost as much as she loves to write.  Growing up as an Army Brat, Debby met and married her husband--then a Captain in the Army--at Fort Knox, Kentucky.  Together they traveled the world, raised three wonderful Army Brats of their own and have now settled in Atlanta, Georgia, where Debby spins tales of suspense that touch the heart and soul.  

Debby’s work has won numerous awards, including the Daphne du Maurier Award for Inspirational Suspense, the National Readers’ Choice Award, the Golden Quill, the Beacon, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence and the Write Touch. In addition, Debby is two time Award of Merit Recipient for the HOLT Medallion.  Her thirteenth book, THE AGENT’S SECRET PAST, will be released in March 2014 and is part of her Military Investigations Series published by Love Inspired Books.  In addition to full-length fiction, Debby has written magazine articles for Southern Lady, Woman’s World, Our Sunday Visitor, Army and Family, and served for over twelve years on the editorial advisory board of ADVANCE for Administrators of the Laboratory.


www.debbygiusti.com

Good morning, Seekerville, and Happy New Year’s Eve!

Today I’m feeling especially grateful for God’s blessings over the past year! Most of all, I’m grateful for you and this wonderful blog community. You’ve touched my life in so many ways for which I’m…well, grateful!

Can you see a theme developing? Can you guess My One Word?

Of course, it’s grateful! Which ties in with thankful and joyous and rejoicing and blessed and happy and fulfilled and Seekerville…a place to call home…a place where gratitude grows.

Thank you for being part of my life and a very important part of 2013.

To celebrate, I’ve asked my nearby Panera’s Bread to provide lots of morning baked goodies for our eating pleasure. Also an assortment of coffees and creamers. Enjoy!



Share that which fills you with gratitude and include your One Word to be entered in this hour’s drawing, open to all those with USA mailing addresses. The prize includes a God is Always With You Promise Journal, a Believe notepad, Seekerville pen and bookmark, The Writer’s Prayer and a copy of my latest release, THE SOLDIER’S SISTER.



Welcome to our 9 am. EST hostess, KAV! 

A peek into the world of our friend and Villager, KAV!



Kav is an avid reader -- some might say fanatical about Christian fiction. She has a review/giveaway blog http://www.bestreads-kav.blogspot.ca/ and loves to talk books with anyone who will listen. She is also a closet romantic suspense writer and appreciates all that Seekerville has done to help her hone her writing skills.

Kav is giving away a copy of two Seeker's January releases Dare to Love Again by Julie Lessman and A Match Made in Heaven by Karen Witemeyer, Mary Connealy, Regina Jennings and Carol Cox to one lucky commenter. Offer open internationally. ebook or 'real' book.  




 Dig in! Time for Cranberry Oatmeal bars 

Recipe:

Cranberry Sauce
2 cups  cranberries
¾ cups water
1/4 cups sugar
Boil ingredients together until cranberries pop and the mixture thickens. Let cool.
Batter
¾ margarine or butter
2  eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup  sugar
1 ¼ cups flour
1 ¼ cups oats
½ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
Preheat oven to 350. Cream marg/butter, eggs, vanilla and sugar together. In a separate bowl combine dry ingredients. Mix dry and wet ingredients well. Spread most of the batter into a well greased 9x9 pan. (batter will be sticky). Spoon cranberry sauce on top. Finish with spoonfuls of batter plopped on top. Bake for 35-40 mins.


Also available in pdf.

Now let's chat!!!

 ~~~

10 am EST brings the The CRITIQUE GROUP Hostesses Piper Huguley, Elaine Manders, and Natalie Monk,

Bio's first!


Piper G Huguley is the author of Migrations of the Heart, a five-book series of inspirational historical romances set in the early 20th century featuring African American characters.  Book four in the series, A Champion’s Heart, was a Golden Heart finalist in 2013.  Book one in the series recently won RCRWA’s The Golden Rose contest.  She lives in Atlanta with her husband and son.


 
 Elaine Manders is a small town country woman who never gave up make-believe. She began writing historical romance in 1992 and has six novels and one novella completed with three ready to be queried. A member of RWA and ACFW, she critiques with Piper and Natalie and belongs to another critique/beta reader group. She contributes to the stitchesthrutime blog and plans to start a new blog in January at https://elainemanders.wordpress.com about budget matters. First topic is healthcare. She’s on twitter at https://twitter.com/ehmanders and facebook at https://www.facebook.com/elaine.manders.35 



Natalie Monk writes inspirational historical romance spiced with southern humor and small-town oddities. She is a member of ACFW, a 2013 Lone Star winner and 2013 First Impressions finalist.

A country girl from the time she could shimmy under a string of barbed wire, Natalie makes her home in North Mississippi. She proudly wears the label of “preacher’s kid,” and is a homeschool graduate, piano teacher, part-time portrait photographer, and certified wedding-planner. She loves sweet tea, girl talk (usually about books), porch swings, and watching old movies with her family




From Natlie: Hey, ya’ll! Welcome to Seekerville’s 2013 NYE bash! My CPs, Elaine and Piper, and I are all southern girls who write historical romance. So come on in, take your shoes off, and sit a spell. I’ve brought cranberry oatmeal cookies! Elaine brought Double Divinity and Piper brought a Seeker favorite Petite Caramel rolls made with crescent rolls!






Double Divinity by Elaine Manders



2 1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup corn syrup

1/2 cup water

1/2 teaspoons salt

2 egg whites

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)



Combine sugar, syrup, water and salt in double boiler or heavy pot. Cook at medium heat, stirring until mixture boils. Stop stirring and do not stir mixture again. Beat egg whites until a small amount dropped in cold water forms a firm ball. (240 degrees). Pour half the mixture over the egg whites, beating constantly; return other half of mixture to heat and cook until a small amount dropped in water cracks and turns brittle. (275 degrees). Pour remaining mixture in egg whites beating until hard to handle; add vanilla and nuts and drop by teaspoon on waxed paper.

All three recipes will be included in the pdf available in the am.




Today the CPs are giving away a one of their favorite Mary Connealy books, “The Husband Tree.” 

~~~

Our 11 am EST hostesses are Anita Mae Draper and Debra Marvin! Welcome!

Debra E. Marvin tries not to run too far from real life but the imagination born out of being an only child has a powerful draw. Besides, the voices in her head tend to agree with all the sensible things she says. Debra likes to write, weed and wander and is blessed to have the best family and friends in the world. She has decided she needs to live closer to her grandchildren. She’s thankful each day that God is in control, that He chooses to bless us despite ourselves and that He has a sense of humor. Her work has semi-finaled in the Genesis, and finaled in the TARA, Great Expectations, Heart of the Rockies, Maggie, Fab Five, Daphne DuMaurier and the overall winner in the CWOW Rattler. Debra writes historical romance and has a difficult time coming back to the present day, so don't shout. You might startle her.


Anita Mae Draper is retired from the Canadian Armed Forces and lives on the prairie of southeast Saskatchewan, Canada with her hubby of 30 plus years and the youngest of their 4 kids. She writes cowboy stories set in the Old West, and Edwardian stories set in the East.  Anita Mae's short story, "Riding on a Christmas Wish" is published in A Christmas Cup of Cheer, Guideposts Books, October 2013.  Anita Mae is represented by Mary Keeley of Books & Such Literary Agency. You can find Anita at  the following links:







Anita Mae brought along a lovely plate of Holiday Jewel Triangles. A sweet treat on a shortbread base from the Eagle Brand people for you to munch on this hour.





 And Debra is sharing Plum Pudding!!! (Instructions here)



Recipes will be available in the pdf


 Debra is giving away a $15 Amazon e gift card.

 Anita Mae is giving away one set of A Cup of Christmas Cheer which is a 2-book set (Volume 1 and 2) recently released from Guideposts Books and now in its second printing. Volume 1 contains Anita Mae's first published story, Riding on a Christmas Wish.


One lucky winner!!


Anita Mae here, and I'm excited to partner Debra once again to bring in the New Year Seeker-style.  I've included metric and Imperial measurements in my recipe so everyone can enjoy it regardless of location.

From Debra: Thanks for the chance to hostess with my buddy Anita, at my favorite New Year’s Eve ‘hang out’, I’m planning on being a published author by the next one. I know you all join me in thanking the Seekers for all the pushes and pulls they’ve given us to keep us moving forward!  Have an amazing 2014, everyone!

~~~~~~~~
Welcome to our 12 noon EST hostesses, Audra Harders and Leslie Ann Sartor!


 Audra Harders writes "rugged stories with heart" featuring cowboys who haven't a clue about relationships rescued by ladies who think they have all the answers. In real life, she's married to her own patient hero, has  two teenagers about the leave the nest, and is surrounded by everything conducive to writing about farming, ranching and cowboys at her day job in the county Extension office. She began writing right after her son was born and sold her first book to Steeple Hill Love Inspired mere months before that same son graduated from high school. Surviving those years in between remind her God does have her plan for her life...and that He has a tremendous sense of humor. You can visit her at her website and her blog. Don't be shy! 

 Rocky Mountain Hero is available now in digital format. Look for Second Chance Ranch, the sequel to RMH - Zac and Jen's story - early 2014.



Leslie Ann Sartor (aka L.A. Sartor) began telling stories around the age of 4 when her mother, at Leslie’s insistence, wrote them down and Leslie illustrated them.  As an adult she writes suspense and action adventure novels with a dash of romance, and screenplays—she's had a contracted adaptation!  She lives in Colorado with her husband whom she met on a blind date.  Leslie loves to travel and thinks life is an adventure and we should embrace the journey.  She has a blog: My Story, My Way ~ an Indie Adventure. She is also one of the Five Scribes.  Check out her website, www.lesliesartor.com. Connect with her on Twitter and Facebook

We are delighted to be your hostesses this hour! This year has brought so many unexpected blessings and joy into our lives, we can’t wait to hear about yours. Has something totally unexpected happened to you this year? Share with us, or share anything else you’d like. And of course, tell us your One Word. Leslie and I are open for all conversations!

Our giveaways this hour are two (2) Amazon $10 gift certificates.








Since it’s brunch time here in Colorado, I’ve included a yummy casserole for our snack.

Spiced Apple Breakfast Casserole

2 spray(s) cooking spray   
   12 slice(s) reduced-calorie whole wheat bread, cubed   
   5 large Granny Smith apple, peeled and thinly sliced   
 1/4 cup(s) water   
 1/4 cup(s) unpacked light brown sugar, divided   
 2 tsp ground cinnamon, divided   
   3 cup(s) fat free egg substitute   
   1/2 cup(s) fat free skim milk   
 1 tsp vanilla extract   
 1/8 tsp table salt, or to taste   
 1 pinch ground nutmeg, or to taste   
 1/4 cup(s) maple syrup   

Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat an 8- X 10-inch casserole dish with cooking spray.

Place bread cubes on a cookie sheet; toast in oven for 10 minutes.

While bread toasts, coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray; add apples and sauté until slightly softened, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add water, 1 tablespoon sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon; cook on high, stirring frequently, until apple slices are softened and starting to brown.

In a large bowl, whisk together egg substitute, milk, remaining 3 tablespoons sugar, remaining teaspoon cinnamon, vanilla extract, salt and nutmeg. Add toasted bread cubes and sautéed apples to egg mixture; stir well to coat and then pour into prepared casserole dish.

Bake casserole, covered with aluminum foil, for 30 minutes. Remove foil and cook until eggs are set and top begins to brown, about 15 to 20 minutes more. Slice into 8 pieces and serve drizzled with syrup.
Recipe will be available in pdf

~~~~



Your 1 pm EST hostess is Hallee Bridgeman.

Hallee Bridgeman lives with her husband and their three children in small town Kentucky. When she’s not writing Christian romance novels, she blogs about all things cooking and homemaking at Hallee the Homemaker.

Hallee started writing when her oldest child and only daughter was a baby, but a busy professional career and being the wife of a deployed soldier had her shelve her books for another time. Two more children, a cross country move, and God’s perfect timing brought the books off of the shelf to be dusted off and presented to you now.

 Hallee loves coffee, campy action movies, and regular date nights with her husband. Above all else, she loves God with all of her heart, soul, mind, and strength; has been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ; and relies on the presence of the Holy Spirit. She prays her books are a blessing to you and would love to hear back from you. You can reach Hallee at hallee@bridgemanfamily.com




  We've brought and amazing treat that debuted in the Yankee Belle Cafe to serve during Hallee's visit. Danish!!! Cream Cheese Danish!



Recipe instructions in the pdf.

Today Hallee is giving away a surprise Godiva package and two of her inspirational suspense ebooks!





Join us in welcoming Hallee!! Pass the food!


2 pm EST. Time flies when you are eating and talking and having fun! Welcome Myra Johnson and Pam Hillman, your hostesses this hour.


 Pam Hillman was born and raised on a dairy farm in Mississippi and spent her teenage years perched on the seat of a tractor raking hay. In those days, her daddy couldn’t afford two cab tractors with air conditioning and a radio, so Pam drove the Allis Chalmers 110. Even when her daddy asked her if she wanted to bale hay, she told him she didn’t mind raking. Raking hay doesn’t take much thought so Pam spent her time working on her tan and making up stories in her head. Now, that’s the kind of life every girl should dream of! Claiming Mariah is her second novel. www.pamhillman.com


Myra Johnson is an award-winning author who writes inspirational romance and women's fiction-emotionally gripping stories about love, life, and faith. She is a two-time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award finalist, most recently for her novel A Horseman’s Hope. Her novel Autumn Rains won the Romance Writers of America 2005 Golden Heart for Best Inspirational Romance Manuscript and was a 2010 Carol Award finalist. Myra has seven novels and an anthology in print and is now at work on a historical romance series for Abingdon Press. When the Clouds Roll By releases September 2013.

 Married since 1972, Myra and her husband are the proud parents of two beautiful daughters, and are also grandparents of four rambunctious grandsons and two precious granddaughters. Although Myra is a native Texan, she and her husband now reside in North Carolina and share their home with a very spoiled lapdog. Myra writes full-time and is currently serving as president of Carolina Christian Writers, the Charlotte-area chapter of ACFW.You can find her o the web at www.myrajohnson.com




Pam is giving away a print copy of Claiming Mariah or an ebook copy of Claiming Mariah or Stealing Jake. Winner's choice.





Myra is giving away a print OR e-book of When the Clouds Roll By.


Time for coffee, tea, and homemade chocolate chip cookies. We have Pam's Apparently Not So Authentic Mrs. Field's Cookies (homemade) along with the story behind the cookies.

 
In the late 80's a recipe circulated through the mail that claimed to contain the secret recipe for Mrs. Fields chocolate chip cookies In the late 80's a recipe circulated through the mail that claimed to contain the secret recipe for Mrs. Fields chocolate chip cookies along with a story that the recipe was purchased from one of the cookie stores for $250. However the recipe was a fake and the story that accompanied it was adapted from an urban legend attached to recipes for cookies from Neiman Marcus and Waldorf-Astoria for red velvet cake.

In response to the chain letter, a sign attributed to Debbi Fields was posted in Mrs. Fields stores:
Mrs. Fields recipe has never been sold. There is a rumor circulating that the Mrs. Fields Cookie recipe was sold to a woman at a cost of $250. A chocolate-chip cookie recipe was attached to the story. I would like to tell all my customers that this story is not true, this is not my recipe and I have not sold the recipe to anyone. Mrs. Fields recipe is a delicious trade secret.

The author of the chain letter remains a mystery.-Wikipedia.

 In the meantime...eat up!!



Recipe available in the pdf.
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It's 3 pm EST and we lived to tell about in Seekerville. Welcome Jan Drexler!

 Jan Drexler lives in the Black Hills of South Dakota with her husband of more than thirty years, their four adult children, two active dogs, and Maggie, the cat who thinks she’s a dog. If she isn’t sitting at her computer ruining – I mean living – the lives of her characters, she’s probably hiking in the Hills or the Badlands, enjoying the spectacular scenery.

Jan’s debut novel, The Prodigal Son Returns, was published by Love Inspired in May 2013, and her second novel, A Mother for His Children, was the winner of the 2013 TARA Contest, Inspirational Category. It will be published by Love Inspired in August 2014.


Find her here:
Website: www.JanDrexler.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/JanDrexlerAuthor?ref=hl
Twitter: www.twitter.com/JanDrexler
And on Mondays at the Yankee-Belle Café


 Welcome to the mid-afternoon hour of this fabulous New Year’s Eve blast! Seekerville is really rocking today, isn’t it?

Here in the Black Hills we’re enjoying some Cranberry Tea and Brie en Croute for our afternoon treat, so sashay on over to the buffet for a bite.

Meanwhile, we’ll be talking about our favorite New Year’s memories during this hour – either New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day. 

I’ll start: When I was growing up, it was always difficult to get my dad’s family together for Christmas. With both my dad and uncle being pastors, getting away for Christmas was difficult, to say the least. So we had our family Christmas on New Year’s Day. For years, it was a day for gifts, playing with cousins, and catching up with aunts and uncles. It’s still a family day for me, as the six of us usually spend the day just relaxing together. We might play a game like Settlers of Catan, or get out a jigsaw puzzle.


Now it’s your turn – what’s your favorite New Year’s memory? Leave a comment to be included in the drawing for this hour’s prize package: A copy of my debut novel, The Prodigal Son Returns, a voucher for my August release, A Mother for His Children, and a fun selection of stationery items!



Brie en Croute

Puff pastry (found in your grocer’s freezer case)
One round of Brie, either 1 pound or ½ pound, depending on how many people you’re serving
Flaked parsley
One egg beaten with one tablespoon water

Thaw the puff pastry at room temperature for 30 minutes. Unfold one of the pastry sheets, and place on a lightly floured surface. Cut off the corners to make a circle, and roll out until it’s about twice as big around as your cheese.
Sprinkle parsley in the center of your circle, and then lay your cheese on top of the parsley. Fold the edges of the pastry into the center of the cheese, pressing to seal. Turn the pastry/cheese bundle over and place on a cookie sheet lined with baking parchment. Brush with egg wash. If you wish, you can cut decorative shapes out of the remaining pastry and stick onto the round, and brush with the egg wash again.
Bake for 20 minutes at 400°, or until golden brown. Cut open the top, and serve with crackers.

You can find the Cranberry Tea recipe here. 


Recipe available in pdf

 
 ~~~~

 Welcome to our 4pm EST hostess, Julie Lessman

Award-winning author of “The Daughters of Boston” and “Winds of Change” series, Julie Lessman was American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Debut Author of the Year and voted #1 Romance Author of the year in Family Fiction magazine’s 2012 and 2011 Readers Choice Awards. She has also garnered 17 RWA awards and made Booklist’s 2010 Top 10 Inspirational Fiction. Her book A Light in the Window is an International Digital Awards winner, a 2013 Readers' Crown Award winner, and a 2013 Book Buyers Best Award winner. You can contact Julie and read excerpts from her books at www.julielessman.com.


Today Julie is giving away to one winner, their choice of any of her books, including her latest release, Dare to Love Again!








Holiday Slush: (Yield approximately 50 drinks – can make and freeze for when company comes, just need to have Sprite on hand)

-1 1.5-liter bottle grape juice.
1 12-oz. can of frozen orange juice, prepared
1 48-oz. can of pineapple juice
2 pkgs. pre-sweetened cherry Kool-Aid
A few drops red food coloring (optional)
1 liter Sprite or Seven-Up

Stir and freeze overnight. Scoop or scrape into small glass halfway, then add Sprite and stir. Add additional slush until drink is thick and slushy (where a stirrer could almost stand up straight).



Julie, here, and WELCOME to my hour of chatting and chugging the most delicious Christmas slushes you will EVER taste!! 

So, hit the remote on the fireplace, turn on the twinkle lights, and grab a slush, because we are going to talk goals for the new year!

 
~~~~


Sandra Leesmith writes romance designed to warm the heart and make you smile. Sandra loves to hike, read, bicycle and write. She lives in Arizona with her husband and two dogs, a Labrador retriever and a toy poodle. During the hot summers she and her husband travel throughout the United States in their motorhome where she enjoys the outdoors and finds wonderful ideas for her next writing project



Happy New Year Seekerville!!.  Isn't this a grand party? I'm loving it. I'm so thankful to end this year and start the next with so many wonderful friends. And did you see all those accomplishments? If not, go back and check them out.  Congratulations to all who sailed off their unpubbed island. Congrats to those who signed with agents.  And just plain ole love and hugs to everyone.  Can you tell I'm in the party mood?  One of the things I love most about having books is to give them away. All of you are winners because LOVE'S REFUGE is free on Kindle today and tomorrow.  And Rachel and I just finished producing the audio version.  It will be available by the end of January.  This is all so exciting.  


The orange bread is a family recipe. My grandmother used to make it for us for the holidays. We have orange trees in our back yard so this is the perfect bread for me to make. You need the peel to make the bread and then you cut up the fruit and have a bowl of yummy fruit to go with it.  I always add shredded coconut and walnut pieces to the fruit.  That just makes it special.

Another party food I like is the snow crab on cream cheese.  This is something I keep on hand for impromptu parties.  My pickleball friends love any excuse for snack hour, so I always have a can of snow crab on hand and a box of crackers.  

Okay, I'm ready to party.




 ~~~



Terri Denise Weldon claims her regular life is really pretty mundane. She refrains from saying dull! Terri shares a home with her sister, Cynthia, in Oklahoma. They’re the best of friends and enjoy many of the same things. She has three dogs – a lovable mutt and two adorable Westies.  Terri enjoys gardening, reading, and shopping for shoes (a habit she needs to break). She volunteers as the librarian at her church – she actually gets to shop for books and spend someone else’s money. Plus, she gets to introduce people to Christian fiction. Terri is a member of ACFW and RWA. 



 




Her debut novella, Mistletoe Magic, released November 2013 from White Rose Publishing. 

She is currently writing a suspense series. 


 









This hour Terri is giving away a $20.00 Amazon Gift Card so be sure and leave a comment.
Happy New Year’s Eve, Seekerville! 


 I’m Terri Denise Weldon and I’ll be your hostess for the next hour. It is 5 pm CST – just seven more hours until we welcome in the New Year in my time zone!

With all the great food we’ve had today I can’t decide if I’m stuffed or hungry. Hungry won out! So this hour I’m serving up Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Jalapenos. Jeremy Johnson, one of the guys in my local ACFW Chapter, brought these to our Fall Party and everyone loved them. I know you will too, so here is the recipe:


1 Package cream cheese
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
15 - 20 Jalapenos
2lbs of Bacon
 
Cut each jalapeno in half and scoop out the seeds and any white flesh from the seeded area. (Recommend using gloves whiles doing this)
 
Rinse each half in cool water and set to dry cut side down on a paper towel while you mix the filling.
 
FILLING: Mix together cream cheese, shredded cheese, and salt and pepper. (Mixture will be thick. You want equal parts cream cheese to shredded cheese)
 
Spoon mixture into jalapenos halves and make sure the top isn't overflowing.
 
Wrap each half in a slice of bacon (If the bacon seems to long, trim it to a smaller length before wrapping)
 
 Sprinkle it with your favorite grill / BBQ seasoning (You can omit this if you like)
 
 Place jalapenos on a baking sheet with a rack so that the drippings can fall. Bake at 350 for 45 to 60 min. or until golden brown.
 
 NOTE: Thin bacon is best for this recipe b/c it does wrap better.

Really we need to thank his wife, because I’ll tell you a little secret, she made them – not him.



recipe in pdf

~~~
For the 7pm EST hour we bring you another critique partner duo!! Sherida Stewart and Donna (Lostie) Phillips. Welcome!






Sherida Stewart discovered the way to Seekerville through the Faith, Hope and Love Chapter of RWA® about a year ago. After raising two sons and retiring from teaching kindergarten and preschool, she now lives in New Mexico where she finds some time for writing, focusing on Inspirational Romance and short stories, but also travel writing with her husband at Quiet Travels. 

Sherida had a short story published in New Mexico Magazine. You can find her at TUESDAY TEA where she invites you to have a cup of tea and chat about writing and books. Her blog has featured books by Seekerville friends.




Donna Phillips felt her dream of writing could actually come true when she discovered Inspirational Fiction and Seekerville.  While always having a short story in one degree of completion or another, she is also honing her skills to write historical and contemporary fiction. Donna is a lifelong Mississippian and lives with her husband, two sons, and three ridiculously silly dogs.


 

 
Donna and Sherida are grateful for the writing encouragement found in Seekerville. During the summer, they were matched as critique partners through Seekerville—a perfect match! To celebrate critique partnerships, their giveaway for the 7:00 pm hour will be a romantic short story critique (up to 1000 words) or a first chapter critique (up to 20 pages) from Tina Radcliffe's website, My Critique Partner, (USA and/or international) or for our reader friends a bag of tea from The New Mexico Tea Company (USA residents only).


Reese’s Peanut Butter Bars (no bake)

1 ½ C graham cracker crumbs
1 lb (3 ½ C) powdered sugar
1 ½ C creamy peanut butter plus 2 tsp
1 C (2 sticks) real butter, melted
1 12 oz bag chocolate chips (semi-sweet, milk, or dark)

In a large bowl, combine gram cracker crumbs, powdered sugar and 1 ½ C peanut butter and mix until combined. Press into a 9 x 13 pan.
Melt chocolate chips and remaining peanut butter in a microwave safe bowl and heat in 30 second intervals, stirring after each one, until melted and smooth. Pour chocolate over the peanut butter mixture and spread evenly. Place pan in the fridge just until the chocolate is set and then cut into bars. Can be stored in the fridge or at room temperature.






 
NEW YEAR’S EVE “FIRE-CRACKERS”
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
½ cup butter, softened
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 cup pecans, finely chopped
Dashes of paprika, ground black pepper, red chili powder or cayenne

Cream the grated cheese and butter in a food processor until well mixed, scraping the bowl as necessary. Add the flour, salt and cayenne pepper, then pulse until a ball of dough forms. Stir the chopped pecans in by hand. Form the dough into two logs, roughly 9 inches long and 1 inch in diameter. Wrap in parchment paper or plastic wrap and chill. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Slice the logs into ¼ inch slices and place on cookie sheets. Depending on how much “fire” you want, dust the tops of the crackers with your choice of paprika, ground black pepper, red chili powder or cayenne pepper. Bake about 10 minutes or until very lightly browned around the edges. Let cool slightly before removing from the cookie sheet. Makes about 36 crackers.

recipes in pdf



Happy New Year and welcome to our 8pm hostess, Christina Rich.

When she was younger, Christina tried to dig herself to China, loved Three Billy Goats Gruff, and had an obsession with maps. She gave up her dig to China but still jumps at the chance to travel even if it's just down the road. She loves watching modern takes of fairytales and mythologies on the big screen and still has a huge obsession with maps. The older the better.When she was younger, Christina tried to dig herself to China, loved Three Billy Goats Gruff, and had an obsession with maps. She gave up her dig to China but still jumps at the chance to travel even if it's just down the road. She loves watching modern takes of fairytales and mythologies on the big screen and still has a huge obsession with maps. The older the better.

Born and raised in Kansas, where she currently lives with her husband and children, Christina loves to read stories with happily ever afters, research,  take photos, knit scarves, dig into her ancestry, fish, visit the ocean, write stories with happily ever afters and talk about her family and Jesus.



2014 Will see the March release of Christina's debut Love Inspired Historical, The Guardian's Promise. Soon that box of books from Harlequin will be at her door with her author copies. One commenter today gets to share the fun! Christina will be giving away an IOU for this book.


Time for snackies!




Cranberry Glazed Meatballs (http://gfreelife.com/2010/11/crockpot-cranberry-glazed-meatball-appetizer/)

2 (12 ounce) bottles chile sauce
4 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
18 ounces Smuckers Coastal Valley Peach Apricot Preserve
2 pounds lean ground beef
2 eggs, beaten
1 large onion, grated
salt to taste
Whisk together the chili sauce, vinegar and jelly.
Pour into slow cooker and simmer over low heat until warm.
Combine ground beef, egg, onion and salt. Mix well and form into 1 inch balls. Add to sauce and simmer on low heat for 2-4 hours.
Keep warm in the crockpot.




recipe in pdf

Cue the Mission Impossible Theme, Mommies by Day, authors by night and way too early day. Ships that pass in the night. Our 9 pm hostesses, Melissa Jagears and Naomi Rawlings. Welcome.


 Melissa Jagears celebrates midnight every night, not just on New Year’s Eve, by writing historical romance novels after her brood of three kiddos and hubby go to sleep, often sending her crit partner, Naomi, her next chapter an hour before she wakes so she can tell her how horrible it is first thing in the ridiculous wee hours of the morning.



So she’s excited to spend her the evening with you ringing in the New Year while typing ridiculously long Seekerville comments to avoid working on her story like she does most every weeknight. 





She’ll be giving away a copy of her debut novel, A Bride for Keeps. And if you don’t win it, you can always console yourself with reading her free novella, Love by the Letter. 













And she’s bringing her favorite potato soup recipe, she cried when she lost it, but found it again on the internet. All hail the awesomeness of the internet!



Naomi Rawlings never celebrates midnight, not even on New Year’s Eve. She chooses to write her historical romance novels early in the morning, going to bed well before midnight every evening and getting up at 5:30. Her early hours mean she and her crit partner Melissa miss seeing each other online by an hour or two every night.

 


 
Naomi’s excited to be hosting the Seekerville New Year’s Eve party with Melissa, and then planning to go to bed as soon as her hosting duties are done so that she can greet January 1, 2014 by writing first thing in the morning and then by celebrating the release of her second novel, The Wyoming Heir. She’ll be giving away a copy of that very book tonight, two full hours before its official release. 








 She’ll also be bringing her favorite quick dessert recipes, paleo cinnamon bun in a mug—for the daring bakers among us, and chocolate chip cookie in a mug—for the more conventional.   


~~~

A former microbiologist, church educator and pastor, Julie Hilton Steele discovered romance eight years ago when an unexpected loss led her to look for books with guaranteed HEAs. She glommed every type of romance and discovered  the inspirational genre. As a former writer of devotional non-fiction for Upper Room magazines, Julie is navigating the transition to fictional works set in WWII Washington DC, the city of her birth.  The medical side of history and the inspirational side of romance are her passions.
 
Julie can be found on the following : Facebook     Julie Hilton Steele – Writer 

Group Blog  Yankee-Belle Café – food, fun and inspirational fiction writers


Twitter    @SisSteele       


  
               
Mary Curry is a teacher, mother, wife and writer.  And a lifelong reader. That passion for reading transformed over time into a compulsion to create stories of her own. She’s been writing  and contesting for many years and along the way has garnered a few writing credits including being a three time Golden Heart finalist and the 2011 Genesis winner for Contemporary Romance. She has recently won Duel on the Delta, Touched by Love, and the Laurie.

Mary can be found on Facebook:  M.M.Curry

Twitter:  @maryc2010

Her own blog is under construction and will be relaunching soon. Stay tuned.


Happy New Year's Eve, Seekers and Villagers!

Julie and Mary here to welcome you to the Seekerville countdown to 2014.  We're ready to share some food and drinks and great conversation as we bid farewell to the old and get ready to bring on the new.

Anyone hungry? Mary has a family tradition of shrimp on New Year's Eve, so she's sharing a recipe for shrimp with lemon garlic sauce. And if you need some greens to go along, how about a chilled kale pomegranate salad?

Julie's got the sweet stuff. She's sharing a wheat-free gingerbread s'mores recipe.
We've also got Eggnog, sparkling cider and coffee for those folks who are desperate to stay awake until midnight.

We've got things to give away too!  





Back in November, when Mary posted about Wired for Story, lots of people wanted a copy so she's offering another copy tonight. Julie's tossing in an Amazon gift card so you can start the new year off with - what else? - a good book!














Julie's Gluten-free Ginger Cookies and S'mores
Mary and Julie have brought three lovely dishes. All recipes will be in the pdf available in the am.
Mary's Lemon Garlic Shrimp



 Chilled Kale Pomegranate Salad
Recently I've fallen in love with pomegranates. For this recipe, I simply saute fresh kale with a bit of oil and then chill. When ready to serve, I sprinkle generously with fresh pomegranate seeds which just happen to be in season right now.




The time is nigh' for the appearance of our 11 pm EST hostess. Please welcome, Helen three-book-contract Gray!

 
Helen Gray and Julie Lessman.

Helen Gray lives in the Missouri Ozarks. She began writing years ago when her children were small and she worked full-time. Some writing skills were taught in her high school business education classes.  (No fiction. Creative writing is frowned on in accounting.) Her debut book, Ozark Sweetheart,  is scheduled to release March 4, from Heartsong Presents. Sequels will follow in June and September.



Helen is waiting on the author copies to arrive for her debut release from Harlequin Heartsong Presents. Book 1, Ozark Sweetheart releases in March, followed by Ozark Reunion in June.







One lucky commenter will receive an IOU for Ozark Sweetheart!!



BUTTERSCOTCH CAKE

Add 2 eggs and 4 butterscotch pudding cups (3.25 oz.) to a yellow cake mix.
Mix for 2 minutes.
Top with:
1 pkg. butterscotch chips, 1 3 oz. Pkg. of sliced almonds, & 3 tbsp. sugar
Pour into a greased and floured cake pan.
Bake 35 minutes at 350.

 In our pdf

 A big round of applause for our Helen who makes coffee for Seekerville and then writes!!


Welcome your hostess...VIRGINIA!!


Virginia writes under the names of Mary Jane Hathaway and Virginia Carmichael. She was born near the Rocky Mountains and although she has traveled around the world, the wilds of Colorado run in her veins. A big fan of the wide open sky and all four seasons, she believes in embracing the small moments of everyday life. A home schooling mom of six young children who rarely wear shoes, she is madly in love with a man who has never read 'Pride and Prejudice'..She holds degrees in Religious Studies and Theoretical Linguistics, and has a Jane Austen quote on the back of her van. She lives with her habanero-eating husband, Crusberto, who is her polar opposite in all things except faith. They've learned to speak in short-hand code and look forward to the day they can actually finish a sentence. In the meantime, Virginia thanks God for the laughter and abundance of hugs that fill her day as she plots her next book. She can be reached on facebook at 'Pride, Prejudice, and Cheese Grits' or her regular author page of Virginia Carmichael. 


Today Virginia is giving away a copy of her latest release from Harlequin Love Inspired,  'Season of Hope'  and a 'Jane Austen is my imaginary friend' bumper sticker.

Serving best very best non-alcoholic champagne and spiced cider (2 gallons of fresh pressed cider and 2 tsp whole cloves, 3 tsp cinnamon, simmered 1 hour).

Cheers!!




"Welcome the New Year with Virginia Carmichael! We've got spiced cider, fresh home made doughnuts, and non- alcoholic  champagne. My word for this year is FAITH. Let's review the great and wonderful things that happened this year and step out in FAITH as we discuss our plans for 2015!"






And for fun ...here it is...The ending scene from When Harry Met Sally!!!


 ~~~~

 YOU KNEW IT WAS COMING!!! AND YET YOU'RE STILL HERE!!


THE MARY CONNEALY & FRIEND WELCOME IN THE NEW YEAR CST HOUR





 Mary Connealy writes romantic comedy with cowboys.

She will spend the next hour being witty, counting heavily on everyone in Seekerville being exhausted, bloated and (fingers crossed) asleep. 



HOPE YOU HAD A HAPPY NEW YEARS DAY!!!!!!!!!!







During this hour I will be giving away to one lucky commenter (Hey! 'lucky' is the spin I want to put on this sucker, if you disagreed, well, let's don't start the New Year out on a sour note, okay???) a signed copy of A Match Made in Texas. They can be from anyway on the planet.


And now I'm supposed to feed you. They are MAKING ME FEED YOU. I don't know if anyone has noticed but I have always been opposed to cyber food. For some outrageous reason I seem to gain weight even on cyber food. Which is so not fair. But I am also an overly-obedient, non-confrontational, people pleaser. So I brought one of my favorite appetizers, a food group that can never ever ever be wrong…..because it contains BACON. 


My very own version of Rumaki.

Real rumaki, so I'm told, has chicken or duck liver in it, but  NO DUCKS WERE HARMED IN THE MAKING OF THIS RECIPE. (pigs however were NOT SO LUCKY)
Very simple, very fast, very yummy rumaki.


RUMAKI
 
Teriyaki sauce
1 lb of raw bacon strips cut in half
3 cans whole water chestnuts
Toothpicks.

Wrap water chestnuts in half strip of bacon, stab tiny ball with toothpick in horrid act of violence that would kill a vampire, if the water chestnut was a vampire's heart of course….but I digress. 


Pour teriyaki sauce over tiny 'vampire heart' creations. Soak for exactly 12 hours…or ten minutes if you're hungry and didn't plan ahead and only care about the bacon anyway.
Microwave for one minute or ten minutes or however long…based on how many you put in the microwave at a time

They are luscious. 


I recommend doing this when you are home alone. If there are people around, they are bound to want some and sharing is a drag. 


Plus they'll expect you to make more….and then you'll need a SECOND pound of bacon and 3 more cans of chestnuts.



 Round Two for those Colorado Girls!!  Happy New Year MST!!

Welcome to Audra Harders and Leslie Ann Sartor!!








Audra Harders writes "rugged stories with heart" featuring cowboys who haven't a clue about relationships rescued by ladies who think they have all the answers. In real life, she's married to her own patient hero, has  two teenagers about the leave the nest, and is surrounded by everything conducive to writing about farming, ranching and cowboys at her day job in the county Extension office. She began writing right after her son was born and sold her first book to Steeple Hill Love Inspired mere months before that same son graduated from high school. Surviving those years in between remind her God does have her plan for her life...and that He has a tremendous sense of humor. You can visit her at her website and her blog. Don't be shy! 

 Rocky Mountain Hero is available now in digital format. Look for Second Chance Ranch, the sequel to RMH - Zac and Jen's story - early 2014.


 


Leslie Ann Sartor (aka L.A. Sartor) began telling stories around the age of 4 when her mother, at Leslie’s insistence, wrote them down and Leslie illustrated them.  As an adult she writes suspense and action adventure novels with a dash of romance, and screenplays—she's had a contracted adaptation!  She lives in Colorado with her husband whom she met on a blind date.  Leslie loves to travel and thinks life is an adventure and we should embrace the journey.  She has a blog: My Story, My Way ~ an Indie Adventure. She is also one of the Five Scribes.  Check out her website, www.lesliesartor.com. Connect with her on Twitter and Facebook



 

 
We are delighted to be your hostesses this hour! Let's chat about the NEW YEAR!!!

 This hour's prize is two $10 Amazon gift cards!!! So chat loud!






 Now let's have pie!!!

 Wilda MacLauchlan's Pecan Pie

Wilda won a blue ribbon at the New Mexico State Fair with this recipe.
I've made it  a dozen times and my English mother-in-law swore by it.

3 eggs, lightly  beaten with fork or whisk
¾ c. dark corn syrup
¾ c. sugar
¼ tsp. salt
2 ½ tsp. vanilla
1 c. pecan halves
3 Tbsp. melted butter or margarine
1 unbaked 9 inch pie shell

Combine eggs and corn syrup. Mix well (I use a whisk.) Add sugar and mix thoroughly. Stir in salt and vanilla.

Let stand about 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, spread pecans evenly on bottom of pie shell.  Stir melted butter into syrup mixture and pour over pecans.  Be sure all pecans rise to top.
 
Bake at 375˚for 40 – 45 minutes or until center is firm. To keep crust from browning too much, put foil strips or pie crust shield around the edge of the crust.






This my friends, is the end....

This is Tina Radcliffe, ushering the PST New Year!!




I'll be cleaning up the room and putting out fresh bagels and fruit and juice for the morning crew. So please continue to comment!




Our last prize of the day is an Americana Angel, hand crafted by me!



The winner will be picked in the morning!


Do check the prize list here and email us if you are a winner. We will be answering those emails later today or tomorrow. 

If you would like a pdf download of the recipes mentioned in this progressive post, go to www.seekerville.net.


And the January Calendar is UP on the web page!
We'll be sifting through the comments and providing a list of MY ONE WORDS for 2014 in the Weekend Edition,so go ahead and continue to share yours on the blog through New Year's Day!

From myself and all of Seekerville and our Wonderful Villagers.


We wish you a Happy and Blessed 2014~

2,883 comments :

  1. Can I use the same word I used last year? Last year, my word was "finish." It worked last year.

    ReplyDelete
  2. And, yes, I get to open the New Year's Eve Party.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Way to go, Walt. I'm using the same word. IT DID WORK LAST YEAR!!!

    ONE

    ReplyDelete
  4. Apparently it is already 2014 in Arizona. I just heard fireworks.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm choosing "learn" for my word this year.

    I've already learned a lot, but have so much more to learn.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oops!

    Forgot to assure you that the coffee pot is ready.

    ReplyDelete
  7. My word is grow.
    Grow closer to the Lord. Grow in my writing, relationships, etc.
    Sounds like a fun party, but I must go to sleep now that my name's in the hat for the night portion of the celebration.
    Be back in the morning =)

    BTW--those brownies look yummy.

    ReplyDelete
  8. My word from last year was surge. I didn't quite understand it myself at the time, but looking back over the last 12 months I do. Nothing was going to stop me from praising God and living for him.

    As 2013 draws to a close I'm finding my word is focus.

    ReplyDelete
  9. WOOHOO!! The party has started!! YUM, those heart-shaped brownies are soooo good, Tina.
    Your doll is precious!! You are SO talented!! (yes, I'm using lots of exclamation marks, but I guess it's okay since we're at a party, right?!).
    My One Word is: SEEK ~ I want to SEEK a more intimate relationship with the Lord, and SEEK His plans for my life.
    Looking forward to popping in and out of the party (okay, I confess I'm hoping to sneak at look at Capt. Jack *sigh*). ;) PJ

    ReplyDelete
  10. It's party time!! Thanks for brownies, Tina. The angel is really cute, too.

    I need to be thinking about my one word. I'm still in Christmas mode and haven't switched gears to new year's yet. Must do so now, or 2014 is going to leave me behind!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thanks for the java, Helen. Going to be a long night.

    I will need it!!!

    You have had an amazing year, Helen.

    KUDOS!!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Courtney! You have grown! I predict great things for you in 2014.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Patti Jo, you couldn't find a more perfect location to announce your one word! :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Christina has had a great year too! More books coming out and an agent!!

    One of the hardest working writers in Seekerville.

    ReplyDelete
  15. CatMom and Courtney, as I was writing my comment I kept tossing back and forth between drawing closer and seek, since I couldn't decide focus sounded like a good compromise. ;)

    Tina, that angel is precious!

    Helen, I don't drink coffee but I'm thinking I need that caffeine to keep me writing through the night.

    ReplyDelete
  16. !!!SEEK!!! We are Exclamation Point Central for 27 hours, Patti Jo.


    Here's to a sale for you in 2014!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. I'm calling it a night. Will make coffee in the morning.

    ReplyDelete
  18. See you tomorrow, Walt!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. My word for 2013 was Gratitude.

    For 2014 which is just over 8 hours away is HOPE. its the word that has gotten me through the past month or so and its only fitting. I even got a plaque (red with some silver sequins outlining each letter) for Christmas so when I feel down I just look at it and remember I have hope.
    Part of it is with the diagnosis of Occipital Neuralgia which is a disease with no real cure that can progress at anytime. If I didn't have HOPE that we could get the right combo of meds etc I am not sure I would cope. Thankfully mine is mild but with out the current med the headache pain would be 6 out of ten instead of 1 - 2. Also some of the other issues I need the Hope they will improve or I can deal with them. Above all I just need to know there is hope in the world.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I forget you are sooooo far ahead. 8 hours til NYE!!!

    Hope seems appropriate, Jenny!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Oh this party animal is going to tire early to but I still have a few hours in me. I know I wont see 2014 in unless there is a wild party in my street and to be honest I hope there isn't.

    I still have heeps of ginger bread and lots of sugar cookies. the sugar cookies need decorating but I have the fixing for it here if you want to decorate even have angels this year.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I'm still thinking about my one word. Narrowing it down...

    Those brownies look so good. I'm looking forward to this years recipes!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Me too, re the recipes, Donna! Hope you had a great Christmas.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I have had some of those scratch brownie and they are delish!

    My One Word for this year is WRITER.

    It's a reminder to myself.

    ReplyDelete
  25. EXACTLY why I chose ONE last year. To remind myself to do one thing at a time and do it well.

    Happy New Year, Rogenna!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hi everyone!

    My word for last year was believe. This year I've also chosen focus, with priorities as follows:
    1. God
    2. My kids
    3. Church Ministry / Writing / Editing

    The last item has to be split equally for the year!

    I had to put aside writing and editing in 2013 because I just can't focus on it and be the mother I need to be. But my eldest starts school in February and so I'm going to start phasing writing and editing back into my life in 2014. I just have to FOCUS on my priorities :)

    *Waving at Jenny* - hope is a great word for you! I pray that God sustains you and guides you and the doctors :)

    ReplyDelete
  27. Well, what do you know, I'm actually up past midnight! Happy partying Seekerville!

    Tina -- I love your angel. Did you make her? And I love that she's wearing plaid...I think more angels should, don't you? :-)

    So my 2013 one word was (is for one more day) restore. I certainly had a totally different idea of what that meant when I started out the year. Life's been more than a little challenging but as I reflect upon 2013 I'm realizing that a lot of restoration has gone on. And God's hand has been in it all. I have to just let Him take over more often...even when it looks like He doesn't know what He's doing. :-)

    My 2014 word is confidence. I need it in bucketfuls. The word jumped out at me when I was watching the Sound of Music and Maria started singing I Have Confidence. :-) I LOVE that song, so I think it may have to be my theme song for the year.

    I guess I should get to bed sometime soon so I can get up on time tomorrow.

    Happy New Year's Eve! And thanks for the brownies. Perfect bedtime snack.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Helen Wakefield@!!! I have missed you.

    How's your sister???

    ReplyDelete
  29. I totally made that angel from scratch, KAV.

    Yes, more angels should wear plaid. It's such a friendly print.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Hie. Eryone!!!! Happy New Year. I think my word for 2014 is Praise or maybe Thankfulness. If I win the doll, Tina, I'll meet you for coffee. Mom and I will be there soon. Can you bring some of those goodies? I will be getting that recipe...tomorrow or maybe just later today!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Marianne will be flying soon!

    Great, great weather.

    I went walking and saw tiny Santa caps on the neighbor's cactus!!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Hey Helen good to see you have missed seeing you around. (something tells me jellybeans are not good for me either right now!)

    ReplyDelete
  33. Are you eating jellybeans, Jenny?

    Pass the vanilla ones here!!!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Hi Tina! I've missed you too!

    Jess is good :) She has mother-of-preschool children syndrome too. Both of us turned to crocheting this year to keep our minds busy. Unlike writing, with crocheting we can still listen and respond to the kids.

    Jess' daughter is off to preschool two days a week next year so she will be back in writing land soon! I'll only have one day child free next year, but I plan on using it wisely.

    How is life in Arizona treating you?

    ReplyDelete
  35. Tina, it MUST be the Christmas season in Arizona if the cacti are wearing Santa hats! I love seeing the luminaries but don't like the gunshots...though those are outlawed in Arizona, the Mexican town of El Mirage where we live seems to forget that every once in a while. Not so much now as they did 15 years ago, though

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  36. just a few Tina, you can have them and the purple ones.

    I wanted something to eat. after yesterday eating an egg set me off I was just wanting something.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Good to see you Helen W! I'm really enjoying reading about all the one words. Several times mine have come to me through music as well.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Hi Missy...are you this next hours hostess?

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  39. The Kindle copy of MY ONE WORD is KAV.

    The Americana angel winner is Christina Rich!

    ReplyDelete
  40. We usually get early fireworks, too. But none so far tonight.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Love the Seekerville New Year celebration, & would love to have that angel for my collection!

    Still thinking about my "one word" - let you know in a later comment!

    Thanks for your post, & the giveaway opportunity, Tina!

    bonnieroof60@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  42. You're welcome BONNIE!!! Love the Bonton moniker. Reminds me of bon bons. CHOCOLATE!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  43. So for this hour, I want to hear what you're most excited about for 2014...

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  44. What one thing am I really excited about in 2014 now to others this may sound strange but I am so excited I will get my Gallbladder out. after the past couple of weeks with this pain I want it gone the sooner the better. (I want to eat normal food again)

    ReplyDelete
  45. Also I turn 50 thats exciting in some ways (just dont want the op at the same time).

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  46. GOOD NIGHT, JENNY!! NO way do you look 50!~!!!

    Send me some of that Aussie anti aging cream you are using.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Jenny, I understand that desire! I had mine out and felt so much better. :)

    ReplyDelete
  48. Excited in 2014.

    I'm excited to WRITE FASTER!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  49. I think for 2014 I'm most excited about starting a new book. I'm working on revisions now, and have a new proposal due Jan. 15th. I'm really excited about the next book! I think it'll be fun to write.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Anyone else starting a new project with the new year? (even if it's not writing related)

    ReplyDelete
  51. Well, I totally had this open at midnight EST but got sidetracked by sickies, I am the only one not sick....yet. :(

    I refuse to pick a one word because I refuse to do New Year Resolutions too. You have to love me anyway.

    Off to take care of one of the sickies again...

    ReplyDelete
  52. Tina, the same for me! Writing faster and more efficiently.

    ReplyDelete
  53. Oh, Melissa, I'm sorry!! Hope you manage to stay well. Is it the stomach crud?

    ReplyDelete
  54. BTW, I also meant to say that I don't do resolutions either. But for some reason, the One Word really resonates with me.

    ReplyDelete
  55. I hope we have some folks who'll stay up with us tonight. :) Surely some west coasters! :)

    ReplyDelete
  56. Hi Missy:

    My one word is “Attentive”.

    What I looking forward to in 2014: The November midterm elections.

    BTW: I think the link for “here” on the one word list is:
    http://www.seekerville.net/generator/assets/MyOneWord2013.pdf

    Happy New Year’s Eve!

    ReplyDelete
  57. Hi Missy! Good to see you too :)

    In 2014 I'm excited (and a little sad) about the new school years phase of our lives. It will definitely be different! Though not looking forward to making lunches every morning...

    Jenny - wow, big year for you :) I'm excited for you if removing your gall bladder is going to help you feel better!

    ReplyDelete
  58. Vince your one word fits with my next book's theme/premise. It's about appreciating what's right in front of us. I came up with the premise while God was showing me that I needed to be present with my family.

    My last year's word was resilient. I think I managed to do better at that.

    ReplyDelete
  59. That's it, Vince. THANK YOU!@!!

    If it doesn't open for anyone, email us and we will send it to you.

    ReplyDelete
  60. Helen, it's so hard to watch our little ones go off to school. But I have to say that the sadness usually only lasted a day or two for me. Then I'd learn to enjoy that little bit of new freedom. :)

    ReplyDelete
  61. Does anyone have any big projects for 2014--like building a house or remodeling or some major "project" like a wedding??

    i don't have anything planned but sure need to try to gain control over my clutter.

    ReplyDelete
  62. Croupy cough and hubby has an ear infection. Thankfully not the stomach crud, I already have too much laundry as it is.

    How can one person so tiny seemingly up my laundry cleaning needs by 50%? Mystery of a newborn...

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  63. Helen after finding out it was the Gallbladder causing all the pain and landing me in hospital before christmas I want it gone. I am eating bland food. tried an egg yesterday and suffered. It took 2 weeks to get where it was (had been sick for about that long the last several were really bad) and been home just over a week and still very weak and over bland foods.
    I see the dr Thursday to get a referral and I hope it wont be to much longer. want to watch the 20/20 game tonight.

    ReplyDelete
  64. Melissa, just stick them all in a steamy bathroom and try to rest. :)

    I well remember those laundry days! It's truly amazing how much someone so tiny can generate. :)

    ReplyDelete
  65. Jenny, I hope they can schedule your surgery asap. You really will feel better after about a week or so.

    ReplyDelete
  66. There are many things I look forward to in 2014. Growing closer than ever to God, spending another year with my husband, my son graduating high school, enjoying my daughters, writing, writing, writing.

    I've got about 43k to write before Jan 15. Once that is done, I'm taking a week to read a few books and then jumping back into my small town Kansas contemporary and writing the next pirate story as well as writing the would be third book in the biblical series. Gonna self-pub that one.

    ReplyDelete
  67. Wow, Christina! You'll be busy. But it's all good!

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  68. I am choosing the word "accomplish." I have a huge to do list.

    Tina, I love your angel. I love handmade treasures.

    Missy, I am super excited because I have my first grandchild to spoil in 2014!!

    As far as a huge project goes I finished texturing and painting my kitchen. In two weeks, I will start on my living room, bedroom and one of our bathrooms. Makes me tired just thinking about it lol.

    ReplyDelete
  69. This hour's winner is Melissa Jagears.


    WOOTS!!

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  70. Pat, how exciting for your first grandchild coming!! I can only imagine that joy (only have a grand-dog so far, but I love him to pieces). :)

    The room sounds wonderful! Enjoy the fruit of your hard work.

    NOW… My time as your hostess is up. You have someone fun coming to visit…

    :)

    Goodnight, all!

    ReplyDelete
  71. Yay, Melissa! Enjoy it while your family gets well. :)

    ReplyDelete
  72. Night Missy and welcome Jack.
    those rum balls look good (good think i an eat virtual food)

    ReplyDelete
  73. I would like to complain to the management. I was frisked before entering AND the bouncer wanted a valid phone number.

    Do you people know who I am????

    ReplyDelete
  74. Is that Texas, Pat W?? M'Love! We meet again.

    Have you any gold bullion in Texas?

    ReplyDelete
  75. Oh, Jack!!! Just the man I need. All this ship terminology is leaving me discombobulated.

    ReplyDelete
  76. I know we have a ship wreck coast of Australia and I hear there is gold down there for the taking if you find the right wreck.

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  77. Jenny. Jenny. Jenny!!

    You look lovely tonight.

    We must walk on the beach again, soon.


    Stay away from the rum balls.

    Although they do have an anesthetic effect.


    No driving and eating rum balls!

    ReplyDelete
  78. Pineapple punch all around.

    Drink up, me hearties.


    ReplyDelete
  79. Christina, if perchance I could answer your questions....

    WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME?

    ReplyDelete
  80. How can I not stick around and talk to Jack? Though I've got nothing written today, well nothing but what's in my head. And I need a shower, much like Jack.....

    ReplyDelete
  81. Are you monitoring my hygiene?

    How romantic!

    ReplyDelete
  82. I am preparing my ship to head to the coast of Australia to plunder and find gold.

    Jenny, darlin'. Which coast of Australia might that be?

    ReplyDelete
  83. I'm loving this! I got to stop in for a wee bit o'time and party. Where i am, it's just after 9:00 p.m. on Dec 30th.

    Jack, I can't think of a direct quote, it's been a long day filled with big waves and beautiful seas, but I always get a chuckle when I think of you on the water wheel gone wild in your second adventure. You make me laugh. In the very best of ways, of course.

    My one word for 2013 was Perspective. Yes, I remembered it, lived it and learned a lot about it. :)

    My one word for 2014 is ENOUGH. I'm certain I'm going to learn about this word on many levels! :)

    I'm in and out tonight/tomorrow as we are officially still on vacay. BUT, I had to stop in, because I miss everyone here at Seekerville. - See more at: http://seekerville.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-secret-to-writing-novella.html#sthash.GYi7OQ3C.dpuf

    ReplyDelete
  84. Well, at this stage in my life, if you are monitoring my hygiene, well, we're made for each other.

    ReplyDelete
  85. If you leave, can I have the rum balls????

    ReplyDelete
  86. TINA, only if you share them with me. ;)

    I forgot to say congratulations to Seekerville for all the acclaim this year. You ladies are amazing in the ways you encourage and spur those of us on the trail behind you on!

    ReplyDelete
  87. Jeanne, luv.

    Seekerville couldn't have done it without me.


    Now ladies, no fighting over me rum balls.

    ReplyDelete
  88. Role Play_

    You-"We are very much alike, you and I, I and you... us."

    Me-"Oh. Except for a sense of honor and decency and a moral center. And personal hygiene......"

    UMMMMM Well, considering I forgot deodorant as usual and my hair and shirt and a section of my pants smells like baby spit-up. I am much more your match than Miss Swan. :)

    ReplyDelete
  89. You notice I am up well past YOUR bedtime.

    I sacrifice for the Village.

    ReplyDelete
  90. The key to Andromeda. If I can find it. Oh, and I hear tell there's a treasure rivaling Solomon's wealth somewhere in the Cyclades. I'm working on, uh.... obtaining the map. No honor among thieves, ay?

    ReplyDelete
  91. Yer my kind of woman, Mademoiselle Jagears!

    ReplyDelete
  92. And this is what happens on Seekerville in the middle of the night on New Year's--I start airing my dirty laundry....or rather I need to air my dirty laundry, or get it off me...LOL

    ReplyDelete
  93. A map say ye??


    The only rules that really matter are these: what a man can do and what a man can't do.

    ReplyDelete
  94. Rum balls? How do they taste? They sound rummy.

    ReplyDelete
  95. We shall wash your laundry on the beach and sip pineapple beverages and nibble on rum balls.

    Or not.

    ReplyDelete
  96. And what is the deciding factor, Dear Jack? My hero is quite green with envy and threatening to toss his crew overboard.

    ReplyDelete
  97. BRILLIANT! I see a first mate career in your future.

    THEY ARE RUMMY!

    Jack’s Rum Balls
    1/2 cup | evaporated milk
    1 cup | semi-sweet chocolate morsels
    3 tablespoons | corn syrup
    1/3 cup | light rum
    1/2 cup | powdered sugar, sifted
    1 cup | finely chopped nuts
    2 1/2 cups | vanilla wafer crumbs
    1/2 cup | powdered sugar (for coating)


    1. Stir evaporated milk, chocolate morsels and corn syrup in a 2-quart saucepan over low heat until the chocolate melts.

    2. Remove from heat and mix in the rum and 1/2 cup powdered sugar until smooth.

    3. Stir in the nuts.

    4. Add the vanilla wafer crumbs about ¼ at a time, mixing well after each addition.

    5. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes.

    6. Shape with wet hands into 1-1/2 inch balls.

    7. Roll balls, one at a time in 1/2 cup sifted powdered sugar.

    8. Chill at least 1 hour.

    Yields about 3 dozen rum balls. Don't be stingy with the rum.

    ReplyDelete
  98. Jack, what's your next plan for the island?

    Love the media room.


    Jeanne T, still having fun vacay I see. REAL BEACHES!!!

    ReplyDelete
  99. The Shipwreck coast goes from Port Fairy to Moonlight Head. This is the area the seekers are having a retreat next week in Australia
    (I think Ruthy choose it to secretly go looking for hidden gold.)
    The Discovery Coast goes from the
    south Australian border to Port Fairy and many ship wrecks are identified. The waters are quite treacherous but I know you are quite competent.

    I would love to go walking with you and hey Im up to looking for gold.

    ReplyDelete
  100. Thank you for asking. The next island renovation will be to install hammocks on the beach front and a renovation of the beverage bar.


    ReplyDelete
  101. better leave the rum balls they have nuts. I do like apricot balls better made the same way but apricot instead of nuts

    ReplyDelete
  102. AVAST!!! That Ruthy is always one step ahead of me.

    Jenny we'll find that gold. And split it 80/20

    ReplyDelete
  103. Well, now I've gone and done it, found a bar of soap and have made us no longer suitable for each other...for the next 5 minutes or so since I woke the babe up with the shower....spitup here I come. Have fun the rest of the night, I'm giving up on getting anything accomplished.

    ReplyDelete
  104. Howdy Jack! If I'd known rum balls were on the menu tonight, I'd have saved my sweet pineapple orange tea earlier to sip with you, er, I mean with them instead of slurping it down.

    ReplyDelete
  105. 80/20 doesn't seem fair when I told you about it I will take 70/30. I know you are stronger than me but I have the map.

    ReplyDelete
  106. The captain is hungry. How about eggs with rum?

    ReplyDelete
  107. You carry the rum balls and we have a deal, Jenny.

    ReplyDelete
  108. Rum and tea. Perfect Pat!

    Must I do the pinky thing?

    ReplyDelete
  109. sure I'll carry the rum balls,
    Hey I even have plenty of eggs for you (I sure cant eat them) they are fresh too from a friends chooks (chickens).

    ReplyDelete
  110. Chook = Chicken?

    Do they do the Chook Dance??

    ReplyDelete
  111. chook dance doesn't have the same ring to it does it but one of these girls is very good at escaping.

    ReplyDelete
  112. The Jack Hour winner is Pat W.

    ReplyDelete
  113. Yeah our 100+ day tomorrow has now been lowered to 90 degrees. Much better start to the new year.
    going to be a warm night but at present I am sleeping so well that it wont be an issue.

    ReplyDelete
  114. Chook? What a cool word, Jenny. Do you say chook or chicken?

    Are there any other animals with different names?

    ReplyDelete
  115. My one sentence.

    Cricket fanatic loves books.

    ReplyDelete
  116. LOL

    And cricket is baseball?

    ReplyDelete

  117. I'll save you a slice of tiramisu until you feel better!!

    But since we might be the only ones up, I am eating two slices. Shhh.

    ReplyDelete
  118. I say chook. like a chook yard. we do eat chicken but we will say we are getting a roast chook.

    We probably do have names like that for other animals.

    men are often called blokes

    ReplyDelete
  119. Hey this kindle fire is handy brought it up to finish reading my book, used the flashlight app to change baby and hey I can pester Tina. If only it would write my book for me....

    ReplyDelete
  120. You know, I was wondering about buying one of the those Melissa.

    I have a nice Kindle, it has a full keypad. But my big gripe is I can't read in the dark. I've tried various lights and they all stink.

    ReplyDelete
  121. Cricket is nothing like baseball except they both play on an oval.
    Its hard to explain but its a national sport in Australia. I will be watching it tonight.

    Thanks for saving me some tiramisu.

    Oh my dr was really good to me when I was leaving the hospital she wished me a Merry Christmas I told her I doubt I would each much and she said she would eat my share for me. (kind of her right) You can eat my share for me tonight.

    ReplyDelete
  122. And you say hi differently too.

    I learned everything I know about Australia from watching every single episode of McLeod's Daughters TWICE.

    ReplyDelete
  123. I had to buy a cover to get a light for my kindle thats the gripe I have no back light.

    ReplyDelete
  124. I'll apply a pound to each of my hips in your honor, Jenny.

    ReplyDelete
  125. I'm up!!! it's just my usual middle of the night insomnia. I'll go back to sleep soon enough but nice to see the party is started. Sorry to have missed Jack, but I'm glad to see there are rum balls left.

    Are we still talking about what we are looking forward most to in 2014 or the word for the year?

    ReplyDelete
  126. we do say hi or hi there. not that may say g'day.
    may be howdy.
    oh it comes out more like hiya
    oh and when people say how are you going (how are you doing)
    most dont want to go and if you get hi out before they have gone you are lucky.
    afternoon is arvo. like what are you doing this arvo.
    breakfast - brekki or brekky
    if you have a cup of coffee its do you want a cuppa.

    ReplyDelete
  127. Welcome to my sweet insomniac friend, Piper.


    No we are describing ourselves in one sentence.

    Or we are eating tiramisu.

    Jack hid the rumballs.

    ReplyDelete
  128. Yeah I have the keyboard one it is useful for reading in sunlight so the paperweight is great for that I'll still do that but I had resorted to using my hubby's mechanic headlamp for at night. Backlit is much better for that and in a few short days I have learned more geography than the past th ree decades and came in handy on finding a restaurant in kc

    ReplyDelete
  129. But feel free to share what you are looking forward to, Piper. Now I'm curious!!!! (Nosey too)

    ReplyDelete
  130. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  131. Thanks Tina. I lost 10 with the Gall Bladder added a tiny bit back. so Im ready for when it goes! Someone sent me some peeps and I am saving them for when its out. I LOVE peeps

    ReplyDelete
  132. Hi Jenny! How many hours until your New Year?

    If we are talking about kindles, then this year, I took the big leap and bought the basic unit from the warehouse. $43. It's for on the go reading. When I read in the dark, I use the iPad Kindle app. Love them both!

    ReplyDelete
  133. I must be tired.

    KC

    Kentucky

    Kentucky Fried Chicken


    OHHH, Kansas City.

    ReplyDelete
  134. Yes. Going to have to make some Kindle decisions soon. I read in the dark too much for this.

    ReplyDelete


  135. Must go find Cricket on Youtube.

    ReplyDelete
  136. I'm a little nervous, because now I am wide awake.

    ReplyDelete
  137. That Jack! But I love tiramisu too. You will no doubt be scandalized Tina, but I learned to like it as a waitress for the Olive Garden way back in college. I've had much improved versions since then.:)

    Hmmm. Gotta think about the one sentence thing. I'm looking forward to improving in all aspects of my life, so that's why my word this year is risk. No playing it safe on the page or in approaching agents ....it's on!

    One sentence. I am the trusty, loyal, giving caretaker person. See? Safe. Gotta shake things up a little.

    ReplyDelete
  138. Is it almost 7 pm there JennY?

    ReplyDelete
  139. im actually more awake now than have been at this time in days. I have a 20/20 to watch and really want to see it out as its my team playing.

    ReplyDelete
  140. You know I love that.

    My motto.

    No guts, no glory.

    No risk, no reward.

    ReplyDelete
  141. Ha, Tina! I know what that is like!!! You'll fall asleep soon, as I will!

    But no falling asleep on duty at 10 a.m. Looking forward to it!

    ReplyDelete
  142. The best thing about Olive Garden. Salad and bread sticks.

    Yummmmmmola.

    ReplyDelete
  143. Insane homeschooling mother of three little ones (who can only remember deodorant ten percent of the time) thinks writing romance novels hours after sane people are sleeping despite being a terribly rational nonromantic in real life is doable.

    That's my one sentence. It could use some more parenthetical phrases, but typing while lying down does a number on the elbows.

    ReplyDelete
  144. yes. 7pm. im on central summer time which is 30 mins behind the eastern summer time.

    ok im starting to crash but I can do it.

    ReplyDelete
  145. Ruthy is my relief shift. Napping when she comes on board.

    ReplyDelete
  146. When do you actually sleep, Melissa.

    This is why you need to go to conferences. Once a year you get to sleep.

    ReplyDelete
  147. KC!!! Which restaurant were you looking for, Melissa?

    I'm still writing. 100 more words and I might call it quits for the night.

    ReplyDelete
  148. What time is your 20/20 (whatever that means) on, Jenny?

    ReplyDelete
  149. why do I keep eating jelly beans when I am so full?

    ReplyDelete
  150. Yay! Tina loves my word. I do too. It's short. Persist was great, and it applied to me this year through some tough times, but yeah, risk....:)

    I look at risk as the key to moving to the next level, whatever that is for me.

    ReplyDelete
  151. Mail them to me!!!!

    The white ones.

    ReplyDelete
  152. There is a season for everything and risk is right sometimes. In fact, many times for writers.

    ReplyDelete
  153. 7pm
    a 20/20 is a 20 over a side game called the big bash as its basically bash the ball and make runs.
    its a short form of the game takes around 3 hours to complete the whole game. My team the Perth Scorchers play the Adelaide Strikers.
    I am wearing my scorchers t shirt which has autographs on the back to give them my support!

    ReplyDelete
  154. Oh, you only had trouble with kc? I just saw all the auto corrects in that. Kindle wants kc to be McDonald's????? I caught that one but I meant paperwhite you would think the kindle dictionary would be set up with it's own product name!

    ReplyDelete
  155. Melissa, you made great use of your sentence! Some say deodorant is overrated, so there you go. ou have a sweet one to love on and that is awesome. My cousin gave me her baby to love on the other day, and I almost didn't give him back....but I did. :)

    No jelly beans just now for me Jenny...they coat the teeth and I've learned this lesson the hard way...maybe later.

    ReplyDelete
  156. I really dont want them I hate the filled up feel.

    ReplyDelete
  157. Its just my usual insomnia says Piper...

    Well. Can I send my dog to you? She has to go out repeatedly at night.

    Sorry to have missed Jack...but not the tiramisu!

    Happy New Year 's Eve!!! I'm going to try and go back to sleep and dream up my oneWord.

    ReplyDelete
  158. I love conference it's like vacation. Somebody else cooks, no "mommy mommy I needs"s and sleeping ....well I tend not to do much there but no having to take anyone to the bathroom in the middle of the night so that a plus. And i get to talk books none of this repeating "you have to wear clothes" 30 times a day thing

    ReplyDelete
  159. Oh, you're sending email on the Kindle Fire. I just realized.

    That's totally cool too.

    I passed up an iPad because I don't want to deal with writing on one.

    I think I will go with the fire.

    ReplyDelete
  160. Oh, look, it's Debra the willpower woman. (She did the 12 step program off flour and sugar) I wish I had her stamina.

    ReplyDelete
  161. need my glasses only forget where I left them

    ReplyDelete
  162. Dr visit in kc a few weeks ago Christina. Ended up at Mi Ranchito.

    ReplyDelete
  163. Read reviews on fire basically if you don't mind that it tries to funnel you to Amazon.com (of course) it's a highly capable tablet for the price.

    ReplyDelete
  164. I don't write on the iPad Tina! it's just a big, old, toy!

    Send your dog! I'll be up between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.!

    ReplyDelete
  165. Debra,

    You are off of flour and sugar?!! What kind of craziness is that?

    Ignore. That's just jealousy talking. Still send the dog, although the desire to go out at this time of morning cannot be any fun....:(

    ReplyDelete
  166. And you can get around the funneling not to difficult. I did it to put drop box on my fire. Your text h savvy enough for it. I just organically used "savvy" on an hour without Jack. Sadz.

    ReplyDelete
  167. I am an Amazon sheep.

    So that doesn't bother me.

    I am even an affiliate.

    sadz?

    ReplyDelete
  168. I am totally jealous of Debra.

    I thought being off caffeine was good.

    sigh.

    ReplyDelete
  169. when will I learn just cos they are there I dont have to eat them. paying for eating jelly beans. thats it off them for how ever long I last

    ReplyDelete
  170. Tina's winner of a $10 Amazon gift card is Aus Cricket Jenny!

    ReplyDelete
  171. The next two hours, if you snooze you lose! LITERALLY!!!

    ReplyDelete
  172. Hope you get some sweet sleep, Tina! < (I hope that for myself as well...)

    Welcome to Ruthy!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  173. Ruthy is now dragging her chilly feet across a cold floor with a hand in front of her to find the Keurig.

    The magic elixer.

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  174. Or she is over sleeping.

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  175. Thank you Tina My amazon account loves gift cards.

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  176. Great, Jenny. We'll take care of all the prizes later in the day New Year's Day.

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  177. Or her clock stopped or they had a power failure.

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  178. LOL. Noooooooooooo.

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  179. The prizes still go out, with or without Ruthy. Someone delivered her stuffed mushrooms and I am digging in before Jack returns.

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  180. Reach for that Keurig, Ruthy!!!!

    (I was a nerd in high school, not a cheerleader, so if this little cheer didn't help, that's probably why...)

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  181. im off food for the night. Jack can have my share.

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  182. Ruthy, I'm heading over to #1k#1hr and I don't expect to see you there.(B/c if you can hostess AND write 1k1hr, then you really do frighten me.

    Piper I wasn't OFF flour and sugar for a very long time which is why I decided my 2014 word is RESTRAINT.

    it's great to write all day with my laptop and recliner but requires a few less calories?

    shall we say...

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  183. Ruthy can multi task.

    She scares me.

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  184. so Ruthy really is MIA?
    she picks THIS ONE DAY to oversleep?
    amazing...

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  185. no ice storm in WNY right now, so don't let her use that excuse.
    I'm off for writer land. be back later. Must not sleep during my 11am shift!

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  186. Well, she has been under the weather.

    So we can let her sleep in a bit.

    No worries.

    I am perfectly capable of eating all the food and dancing on the table and giving away Ruthy's gift cards all by myself.

    I live to give away other people's money.

    hahahha

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  187. shes gone with Jack to hunt for gold

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  188. I love shopping with other peoples money.

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  189. Lol, Debra!

    And yes, get your sleep so you can take over from my group!

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  190. LOL. I like that too, Jenny.


    I fear you are right. Ruthy took off with JACK TO STEAL THE GOLD.

    No Jack.

    No Ruthy.

    This is very suspicious.

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  191. the rum balls disappeared too didn't they.

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  192. It's a conspiracy.

    No rum balls.

    No Jack.

    No Ruthy.

    Let's hold the Tres Leches Cake and the mushroom hostage.


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  193. Hand over the rum balls and no one gets hurt!!!

    ReplyDelete