Friday, March 30, 2012

Statue of a "Tear Drop"



An interesting monument given to the United States in memory of the people who lost their life in the 911 attack.

Russia gave it to us to speak out again world terrorism.

An awesome gift.

To learn more click on the link below:
www.hoax-slayer.com

Guess not everyone in the world hates us.

Tina

Thursday, March 29, 2012

A Garden

Every year, I play with this idea.

Loved to do it when I was younger. My father and I would till up the yard and plant a few things like tomatoes, okra, cucumbers, etc.

I believe the only reason we ever grew any fruit was because of my dad. He knew what it took to make things grow. Me, I have a brown thumb. I try and then I watch things die.

This year, I'm hoping my blueberry bushes don't die, the tomatoes will give me more than pretty flowers and that my morning glories - survive.

Not high expectations, but remember I have a yard about the size of most people's patio.

Can't have too much.

Hope your garden is all you want it to be.

Tina

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Interesting Article about Looking Younger

The article mentions ways to look younger and also give you a test at the end to judge your skins age.

Here are the steps.



Step 1: Shun the Sun
Step 2: Smooth Lines with Retinoids
Step 3: Load Up on Antioxidants
Step 4: Sleep Well
Step 5: Exfoliate Gently and Often
Step 6: Add Moisture

Attached is the link to the article if you want to more.

Ways to Look Younger

Tina

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Golf - Why do We Do It?


Hey guys,

Just thought I'd share. Mike and I went out to Cresta Verde golf course a few weekends ago. It was a little chilly but we had a good time.

The course wasn't it the best condition but enjoyed being outside.

I believe that's the reason behind me playing the sport-- to get outside and spend time with my husband. It is not my skill which though I've been working at it, is not the best.

So if you decide to take up this sport remember to have fun. Because it is really easy to get frustrated. Water, sand, rough, oh my.

Have a great week,

Tina

Monday, March 26, 2012

Inspiration for the Week

“For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Good saying but sometimes hard to achieve.

Tina

Friday, March 23, 2012

Inspiration

“Never let yesterday's disappointments overshadow tomorrow's dreams.”

Unknown.

This is important to remember when you get another rejection letter, and believe me, every writer has receive more than one.

Tina

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Upcoming Event


Photobucket
Wanted to let you know about the event.
Lots of fun and prizes -
I'm scheduled for 4/18.
Come join the fun.
 
Tina

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Elephant Kick

Posting pictures of an amazing animal that looks so huge, but in so many ways so gentle.

Check out the additional pictures on my website.

http://www.tinagayle.net/picture.html

Can anyone guess where I took these?


Tina

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Helpful tip for Stiff Jeans

Have a new pair of jeans that are to stiff to wear.

Try wash in warm water with half cup of salt.

Also to keep any item you want from fading, wash the first time with a cup of vinegar.

Hope these tips help.

Tina

Monday, March 19, 2012

Blueberry Bush

This is what my blueberry bush look like last fall. Now, on the blog last week I showed you what it looks like now.

I have leaves.

See don't give up hope, the brown thumb might not kill everything.

Tina

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Egg-cerpt Exchange - Margay Leah Justice


Shiloh nearly leapt off the sill as his hand touched her knee. It took every ounce of willpower she possessed to remain seated and appear undaunted by the gesture. “I am…much better now…thank you,” she said, becoming more unnerved by the presence of his hand by the minute. Oh, this was not good, not good at all. The longer it remained there, the stronger her impulse to bolt became. Oh, no…



What was it about this man that rattled her so and with so little effort on his part? Sharing the same air with him was enough to send her pulses to the moon—and her mind somewhere else, something new for her. Being this attracted to a man was beyond her realm of experience. She didn’t know what to do with it—or about it. Should she do anything? Should she pretend indifference? And why wasn’t he so deeply affected? It wasn’t fair.



Still confused, she gave him a weak smile, intent on backing up her previous claim with the gesture. She feared it failed miserably. When Micah returned her smile and lifted his hand from her knee, she felt precisely one second of relief before he shook her world again by caressing her face in parting. She stumbled

back against the frame of the window, her lips parting on a startled breath as a lightning bolt shot through her at his touch. Something flickered in his eyes at her reaction—pain, perhaps—and he retracted his hand, balling it into a fist as he turned away from her, preparing to depart.



In an instant, she realized her mistake. Along with it came the knowledge she couldn’t let him go away angry or upset. After everything he and his family had done for her, she owed him that much. She grabbed him by the shirtfront to stop him, and a shock of awareness shot from her hand directly into his heart, just beneath it. She could see it in the gaze he leveled on her then, could hear it in his breath trapped within his lungs, feel it in the missed beat of his heart. But then, all sense abandoned her, and her heart skipped a beat as he held her hand firmly to his chest with one of his own and lifted the other to her head, anchoring it against the window frame. Slowly, his eyes never straying from hers, he leaned across the space separating them. His lips brushed hers, like a whisper, before he withdrew, tilted his head to the side, and advanced again. This time the kiss was fuller, penetrating her every defense, both physical and emotional, but still not long enough for her. He retreated once again after a fraction of time and hovered before her, scarcely an inch away. Watching her. Waiting.



Her heart beating a frantic tempo now, Shiloh abandoned all of her reservations and her good sense to swoop in for a more vigorous kiss. So vigorous, in fact, she knocked him off his perch through the open window. Only quick reflexes honed to perfection at the Institute prevented her from tumbling after him.

Bracing herself against the sill, she leaned out the window as far as she was able and watched his descent from the slanted roof to the ground below. She lost sight of him the moment he slid beyond the reach of the light from her window. But then she heard him land with a thud —and a howl—on the ground in front of the back porch when he failed to catch himself on the roof edge. She clasped a hand over her mouth to silence her reaction and waited. When he didn’t rouse right away, panic shot through her and she leaned out another few inches.



“Micah? Are you okay?”



“Fine,” he answered after a few moments, appearing beyond the overhang of the roof as if to prove it to her. “Nothing hurt but what’s left of my pride.”



Relief coursed through her at his statement, and she allowed herself the laugh she’d literally held back before. Her mirth was cut short, however, by his next words.



“Hey, Shiloh! We’ve got to stop falling for each other like this.”



His laughter followed her as she ducked back into the room. She could still hear it even after she closed the window, though not as well. Oh, Lord. She rested against the cool pane of glass and touched her still-tingling lips with shaky fingers. Was she? Falling for him? Was that what this crazy-mad feeling inside of her was?



The question plagued her long into the night.


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Saturday, March 17, 2012

Cake Box Brownies

Hi everyone,

If you're like me you like brownies but never seem to have the mix. These are made with a cake mix.

Bavarian Brownies (Cake Mix)

Ingredients
1 (18 ounce) package German chocolate cake mix
1/3 cup milk
1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 egg
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnut

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Spray a 13X9-inch pan with non-stick cooking spray.

In a large bowl, combine cake mix, milk, butter, and eggs with an electric mixer.

Stir in chocolate chips and walnuts (batter will be VERY thick).

Spread batter evenly into prepared pan.

Bake for 20-30 minutes, until brownies are done.

Cool completely and cut into squares.



Found this recipe at:

http://www.recipezaar.com/110912

Check out their other recipes.

Have a wonderful day,

Tina

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Riddle for fun

What's black when you buy it,

Red when you use it,

and gray when you throw it away?


A brain teaser. Check the comments to get the answers.

Have a great day,

Tina

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Winery in Solvang


Visited a number of wineries while out in the Solvang area, I wanted to tell you a little about the one I liked best. Buttonwood Farm Winery. A working farm, they grow grapes, fruit and raise animals. We were honored to talk to the owner, a very nice couple.

We enjoyed our conversation and the wine. They are not far out of Solvang and if you get a chance to stop by I believe you will enjoy talking with them.

Here is there website if you want to take a look -- http://www.buttonwoodwinery.com/core.html

I also have up the last of my pictures to our trip to Solvang and Santa Barbara. Just click the picture link to see them.

Have a great day,

Tina

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

With a Little Care















Update on my blueberry bush. For a long time, I had nothing but a stick in the ground, but I wouldn't tear it out because I kept hoping it would come back.

And luckily, it did.

The black thumb is fading to gray.

Tina

Monday, March 12, 2012

MMI - Staying With a Diet

Losing weight is not just a goal but a discipline. Like anything else in life, losing weight takes effort. No diet pill or herbal formula will make you lose weight. To lose weight, you must burn more calories than you take in. This is accomplished by sticking to a sensible diet plan. Regular exercise helps to.

Tina

Sunday, March 11, 2012

A Little History

March 10, 1852  - American's all-time Best Seller, "Uncle Tom's Cabin," is published.

March 11, 1847 -  "Johnny Appleseed," John Chapman, died near Ft. Wayne, Ind.

March 12, 1912 - Girl Scouts founded by Juliette Low in Savannah, Ga

Friday, March 9, 2012

Egg-cerpt Exchange with Jana Chantel


Into My Mind
Blurb:
Everyone has a story to tell. In this case, Jana` tells her's through prose and essays written to reflect her pain, family tragedies, and the love and support she received from others.

At age one-year old, Jana` witnessed her mother being shot to death. At age nine, she experienced her father's death as a result of cancer. Everyone has tragedy in their lives, but how we deal with our circumstances determines our life paths. Triumph and perseverance, are reflected throughout these poignant, yet strong writings. Written from the deep place that only one who has suffered can find, these essays can lend voice to anyone who might not have the words to express their own feelings, but need to release. Go into your mind, through the essays of Jana` Chantel.

A selection of personal essays written to reflect perseverance and triumph.
Excerpt:

When I was thirteen, my brother accidentally shot me.
**
“I was standing in the living room…,” I say to the police as I lay in my bed. With the help from my cousin Javon, I was able to get from the floor of the living room to my bed. A few minutes ago I was trying to go to sleep and wishing that it all was just a dream.
“Ma’am,” one of the officers says which I find kind of ironic since I’m thirteen. “What happened?”
“I was standing in the living room…,” I repeat, but again I stop right there. The lie my cousin Noland wanted me to tell the police couldn’t pass my lips, only the truthful part could come out.
“There are no bullet holes coming into the house indicating a drive by,” another officer says as he walks into my bedroom. A hole has just been punched into the lie that Noland wanted me to tell.
“Ma’am what happened?” the officer asks again.
“Please,” for the first time tears fall. “I just want to go to the hospital.” The bullet that ripped through my body several minutes ago is still a huge concern to me. “I’ll tell you everything after I go to the hospital.”
“No,” the officer says casually, as if my life wasn’t depending on it. “We need to know what happened first.”
I lay in my bed crying torn with a difficult decision: dying or giving up my brother.
“I was standing in the living room…”
Surprisingly enough, the officer just sighs and allows the paramedics to put me on the stretcher and wheel me out to the ambulance. I shut my eyes tightly, not wanting to see my gawking neighbors.

“I was in my house,” I hear a neighbor say. “When I heard just onegunshot.”
The paramedics load me in the back of the ambulance and I begin to think that everything is going to be ok, until I realize that we are not moving.
“Jana` sweetie,” I hear a female voice say, which is a little strange since I know that both of the paramedics are male. “I’m detective…” I kind of block out her name from there. “Sweetie we need to know what happened.”
“Please,” I cry again. “I just want to go to the hospital.”
“I know sweetie, but we can’t let you go until you tell us what happened.”
Time is of the essence and it is slowly slipping away from me as I continue to stay here.
I give in. “My brother was playing with a gun and it went off…he didn’t mean it.”
As the sirens begin to sound and the ambulance speeds off all I could think is, “James I hope you forgive me.”
FindInto My Mind on:

Amazon:
Check out Jana` Chantel and her other work on:

Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jana-Chantel/262969840388674

Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/JanaChantel
And her blog http://janachantel.com/   Journey to My Dream
Thanks Jana, for stopping by

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Inspiration for the Week

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Add More Pictures

Hey guys,

I've add some more pictures from the trip my husband and I took to Santa Cruz. (To see them just click on the link above)
This is me on the pier at Santa Barbara.

A little chilly but I couldn't complain considering some of you are getting snow.

Wish I could send a little sunshine your way.

Have a great week,

Tina

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Egg-cerpt Exchange with Keta Diablo

About Where The Rain Is Made:
Nominated for Bookie Award by Authors After Dark.
Nominated for Best Romance of the Year by Deep In The Heart of Romance.
A decadent-looking savage has captured Francesca DuVall and her brother Marsh. Now she spends every waking moment planning an escape from the camp of the brutal Dog Soldiers.
Ethan Gray is a curator at a national museum . . . until he travels through time to help his beloved People. In the Cheyenne world he’s known as Meko, leader of the most revered tribe of the plains.
Cultures and hearts battle, violence and death haunt the road ahead, but when kindred souls collide, anything is possible. From the windswept plains of Colorado to the placid life of a curator, their love is fueled by passion and kindled by destiny.

Keta has a number of excerpts on her site - visit her to read them

http://ketaskeep.blogspot.com/p/excerpts.html
and
FOLLOW KETA'S KEEP: http://ketaskeep.blogspot.com

Monday, March 5, 2012

Egg-cerpt Exchange - Anita Philmar


Only at Amazon -- Hog-Tied and Branded

Blurb - Suzi Calworth has to find the courage to face the man she loves and tell him  she’s pregnant with another man’s child.

Clint Malone loves Suzi and regrets driving her away.  Yet, can he tell her the truth about himself and risk losing her forever?

Can they both find the  strength to reveal their secrets and let love heal their heartache?

Excerpt -

With a quick lunge, Clint caught her wrist and stopped her retreat. “Rumor has it that you’re thinking about not renewing my contract on your land.” His face, at the same level as hers because of his position on the stairs, held a worried frown. “I need to know if it’s true so I can start looking for a new place to run my cattle.”

Anger flashed through Suzi along with disappointment, and she started to shake. What made her think he’d apologize for how things ended between them and want to reconcile?

No, as always his only concern was for his damn cows.

“Well, I’ll tell you the same thing I told Mr. Perkins when he asked me. I haven’t decided, but when I do, I’ll let you both know.” She lifted her hand to dislodge his grip and his hand fell away, only to land at her waist.

He stepped up in front of her and held her close. “God, I’ve missed you.” His gaze burned with a fire that shot heat straight to her core. “Don’t get mad. I need a taste.”

Warm lips settled over hers, soft and inviting, brushing repeatedly against her mouth, demanding entrance until she couldn’t hold out any longer and had to surrender.

Now available at Amazon http://www.amazon.com
For only $1.49

Find Anita at
www.anitaphilmar.com
www.anitaphilmar.blogspot.com

Thanks for visiting with us,

Tina

Friday, March 2, 2012

Platte River in Nebraska



Just thought I'd share one of the beautiful sights of Nebraska.

This month along with great egg-cerpts see some pictures of the places I've visited recently. Just click on the picture tab above and see pictures from my latest trip to Santa Cruz.

RT- get out and explore a new place.

Have a great day,

Tina

Thursday, March 1, 2012

My Pictures from Santa Cruz


Mike and I hit the road and visited this interesting island.

Hit the picture link above to see some of the sights.

Have a great day,

Tina