ENJOY A FREE BOOK THIS WEEKEND

We’ve been hearing a lot about Elon Musk lately. He’s the guy who just sent William Shatner and a few other folks into outer space. Before that, he made lots of money on the electric vehicle, Tesla, so he’s just about one of the richest people on earth. Which is why it surprised me when he picked a near-ghost town in Texas to build his space ship. My husband and I had been walking the beaches near Boca Chica Village for many winters, and loved the fact that it was so remote and unspoiled. Glad we got there long before he did. Enjoy a free book this weekend that takes you to Boca Chica.

I found the place so fascinating that one of the most pivotal events in my second novel takes place in Boca Chica Village at the southern tip of Texas. If you’d like to know what it was like before Elon landed there, you will enjoy reading “Chasing Their Losses.” I’m giving away free copies of my Kindle Book starting today,

This free offer is good Wednesday November 3, through Sunday, November 7. Beat Inflation! Save Money! Download Chasing Their Losses at http://amzn.to/2cLBl0Y

Synopsis:

Will the haunting power of first love lead to Cara Mackenzie’s destruction? At 31, she’s back home from Miami, starting a new career as nutrition director of Sycamore Hospital. While in a blossoming romance with Dr. John Drakos, she runs into her former lover, the suave and sexy Tony Cabella. Soon, she’s drawn into a dangerous web of dirty secrets and lies.

When Tony’s stepson vanishes under her watch, Cara must fight for her life, her reputation, and her career.

The police think Dr. Drakos’ jealousy could have provided a motive for the kidnapping. But unanswered questions suggest a conspiracy. Who shot Tony when he and Cara met in secret, and why won’t he call the police?

At the heart of this novel are four damaged people: John and Cara, whose intense relationship is clouded by painful memories and fear of commitment; Tony and his second wife, Gail, who gave up everything for passion and desire, only to find disillusion and heartbreak.

As the tragic events spin out of control, the heart thumping suspense builds, with twists and turns that take you from the verdant farmland and sparkling waterfalls of Indiana to the vast, lawless sand dunes and nude beaches of Texas.

Order your free Kindle copy of Chasing Their Losses on Amazon today!

The offer is good Wednesday November 3, through Sunday, November. 7. Download it at http://amzn.to/2cLBl0Y

August 2, 2021August 2, 2021

HOW TO RESCUE & RESTORE FRESH FRUIT

It’s watermelon season. Who can resist the lure of a seedless, green striped melon, straight from the farm? They’re so heavy, you can barely lug them into the house from the car. And when you crack them open, they’re that deep pink color that tells you they’re going to be delicious. The problem is, they’re way too big for a one or two person household. Sometimes, we find a friend or relative who can use the other half, but often they have one of their own, or they’re allergic. After a few days, the melon gets mushy. But wait. Cut it into chunks, put on a tray in the freezer, and pop the frozen cubes into a plastic bag. They make yummy additions to any smoothie. And, you can use them as ice cubes in a cold drink. That’s how to rescue and restore fresh fruit.

Another fruit that’s apt to shrivel is red grapes. You have to buy them by the bagful. They last quite awhile, but often they start to shrink before you’ve been able to consume all of them. Don’t throw them in the garbage can. Pluck each grape from the vine, and freeze them on a tray, just like you did the watermelon. When you blend your next fruit smoothie, you may find it a bit sour. Not to worry! Five or six frozen grapes will sweeten it up.

Bananas are a fruit with a too-short shelf life. They’re a good source of potassium. Many heart patients are advised slice at least half a banana over their morning cereal. Trouble is, bananas ripen very fast. Then, they get brown and mushy. We used to throw away a lot of old bananas, but no more. They say you shouldn’t refrigerate bananas, but actually, you can.–if you wait until after they’ve ripened. If they’re still green, they won’t ripen in the frig. But once they’ve turned ripe, they will last a few extra days in the frig, resulting in far fewer wasted bananas. And they, too, can be sliced and frozen for smoothies.

Pineapples are often on sale. When you get them home and cut open, you’ll encounter various degrees of ripeness. They may be a bit “green”, but more often, they’re on the verge of being over ripe—turning deep yellow in places. We love fresh pineapple, but it starts to turn after a few days. Once again, rescue the aging pineapple. Cut the ripening fruit into chunks and freeze them. They give your smoothies a delicious tang and sweetness.

Now, you’re in the swing of things. Freezing fresh fruit that’s begun to over ripen is great way to reduce waste. And in these inflationary times, it’s also a smart way to save money.

October 24, 2020October 30, 2020

5 GOOD THINGS YOU’LL REMEMBER

The Covid-19 pandemic has been a stressful time. Fear of contracting the virus, combined with social isolation, is a universal problem. But each age has had their own stress. Parents with children out of school report the most. However, it’s also difficult for the elderly who face long, lonely hours without seeing their loved ones. But when it’s all over, there are 5 good things you’ll remember about the lockdown..

Coid has relieved air pollution in major cities. — 5 good things you’ll remember after the pandemic include reduced pollution, giving us cleaner air,

Cleaner air. It’s estimated the pandemic lockdown has taken about 80% of passenger cars off local roads. Resulting in a 31% reduction in air pollution compared to the same time frame last year. Before-after-photos show less-air-pollution during the pandemic. According to the NIH, “air pollution is considered as the major environmental risk factor in the incidence and progression of some diseases such as asthma, lung cancer, ventricular hypertrophy, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, psychological complications, autism, retinopathy, fetal growth, and low birth weight. “

2. Money Saved. Many people have lost their jobs, so this isn’t a benefit enjoyed by everyone . But for seniors on a fixed income, and those still employed, they are suddenly seeing their bank balance grow. Let’s face it: when you’re not going anywhere or buying new clothes, have stopped going to restaurants and taking vacations, you’re saving a bundle of money. And when this pandemic is over, people are going to spend that money like crazy.

3. Learning how to do your own hair. Over the years, most everyone has become dependent on others to cut and style their hair. But when you’re afraid to go to a beauty salon,, you have to take matters into your own hands. I’ve learned to cut my own hair, and people tell me they like it better. I’ll probably go back to having it done, but it’s nice to know I can do it myself.

4. Discovering the joys of takeout and delivery.. Like everyone else, we enjoyed eating in restaurants before the pandemic. We didn’t do takeout unless someone was sick. But now, we’ve learned to appreciate take out and delivery—especially the smaller restaurants where we wouldn’t have considered going before. Seafood, burgers, ethnic food….we’ve tried them all. We don’t have to dress up or drive after dark, or wait too long for service.. Yes, I still dream of returning to our old favorite restaurants. But we’ll be doing a lot more take out than we did before the pandemic.

5. Fewer sick days, due to healthier habits. My husband and I have gone seven months without a bout of diarrhea or respiratory infection. Because of masking, social isolation, and obsessive hand washing, we’re avoiding a lot of germs other than covid.-19.

I know that many are suffering from financial hardship right now. I’m old enough to remember my own father too sick to work, and a husband losing a job during the recession. But after the pandemic ends, we may have 5 good things to remember about making it through the pandemic with faith in ourselves, and the loving support of others.

May 8, 2020May 8, 2020

Stop! You don’t need wipes to disinfect

Last night, the manager of a plant that makes Clorox wipes was interviewed on nightly news. He said demand has tripled. Consequently, they’re working overtime (and making big bucks). to fill up empty store shelves. Everyone is beginning to panic. Stop! You don’t need wipes to disinfect.

If you can't get Clorox wipes, you can make your own solution. Stop! You don't need disinfectant wipes. — Stop! You don’t need disinfectant wipes. You can make your own bleach solution during this pandemic.

You can’t even buy Clorox wipes on Amazon. They’re out of stock. It boggles the mind, when you know how easy it is to disinfect with plain old bleach. I haven’t seen any store out of it. I always have a big bottle of it in my broom closet. It’s dirt cheap. All you have to do is pour a little bit of bleach into some water, put on some rubber gloves, take an old rag, and voila! You have a disinfectant every bit as good as clorox wipes. You not only saved money, but you helped the environment.

Can you believe there was a time when people didn’t use wipes to clean a baby’s bottom, wash their face, or disinfect? In the early sixties, I used soap and water on a washcloth. I had never heard of a baby wipe. It wasn’t until the seventies that they became popular. It wasn’t long before there were wipes for just about everything. And people thought they couldn’t do without them.

What’s bad about wipes? For starters, they’re bad for the environment. Whether baby wipes or disinfecting wipes, they pose a major problem by clogging up sewer systems. Once they enter the sewer system, wet wipes bunch together and trap food and other waste to form wads called “fatbergs” made of fat from food waste and wipes.

Most wipes contain plastic fibers that are not biodegradable. When the wipes make their way into the ocean, they get ingested by sea creatures, such as turtles, who mistake them for jellyfish. The plastic stays in the stomach of the animal, and eventually, they die of starvation.

Plumbers do not like wipes. Even though some wet wipes are marketed as “flushable” and “septic-safe,” they take a longer amount of time to do so compared to toilet paper. Consequently, clogged pipes and blockages occur more frequently.

Save money, save the environment. First, clean and remove dirt and grime from surfaces. Next, follow the directions on a bottle of bleach to make your own disinfectant solution. But be careful not to use too much. Fumes from too strong a solution can sting your eyes and nose.

Yes, you can get through this pandemic, even if you can’t buy disinfectant wipes.