Long weekend

I don't know about you but I love a long weekend. Of course we've still got Wooly staying with us so we can't really go away but that's all right. I don't mind. I'm just going to hang out, catch up on my reading and hopefully sleep late. Stay up late, too! All in all, I'm really happy to have a holiday weekend. What about you? Do you have any special plans for these warm weekend hours?

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July!

Joanne's new man!

I got a call from my neighbor Joanne last night. She's in Italy and she's met a man! OOOH!!! Isn't that great news? Joanne is a real sweetheart. If anyone deserves to be happy in love, it's her.

We didn't talk for long but apparently this divine man is named Jim. Can you believe that? An Italian man with a name like Jim? I asked her if it's short for something more exotic but Joanne didn't know. Apparently they've been too busy getting to know each other for her to find out the guy's personal info. Too funny. Really, too funny.

I wonder if this means she'll extend her trip? If it does, I get to keep Wooly for longer! Yay!!

Grilled Bananas, anyone?

I discovered a new delight last night. We were BBQing and hadn't thought of dessert so I used what was at hand...

BBQ Bananas and Cream

2 bananas
4 scoops vanilla ice cream
1 teaspoon chopped fresh mint

Plop bananas (sliced lengthwise) on grill. When both sides of bananas are grilled, put in a bowl and place two scoops of ice cream on top. Garnish with mint. Can be drizzled with chocolate sauce, too!

Oh, so yummy!!

Island Treasures excerpt

An excerpt from Island Treasures, Book 1. It's a perfect summer read! Hot, sexy and all the stories are set on lush tropical islands. Purchase a copy here.

“Please, be careful with this one. Fragile. Fra-gile. It’s fragile, do you understand?”

Abby reached for the shiny silver container and lifted it gently from the dock to the waiting arms of the muscular man who stood on the ferry.

A gold tooth glittered as he took her case and set it beside him with more care than she’d expected. Although she doubted his ability to understand English, her wide-eyed look, friendly smile and incessant head nodding must have bridged the language barrier. Either that or it was the fact that she was the only woman on the dock who didn’t have black hair, brown eyes and a mustache. That may have helped her cause—and her camera equipment.

Whatever the reason for his friendliness, Abby was grateful. She just wanted to get her stuff transported without anything getting broken. This trip was going to be difficult enough without starting off with cracked lenses. Or worse.

Hefting her duffel bag to her shoulder, she reached out and grasped the hand the swarthy sailor offered. Her hand, small and fine-boned, disappeared inside his beefy grip as she stepped onto the deck and smiled up at him.

“Thank you. Thank you very much for your help.” She smiled so broadly her face felt stretched. It was the last smile she had in her, too. Exhausted from a series of trans-global flights, she knew one more smile would lay her flat. Just one.

“You. Are. Vel… Velcome,” he said, tipping his dun-colored cap. With a quick glance at her tight jeans and blue eyes, he nodded and smiled, flashing one last gold glint in her direction before he reached up and took a mesh crate containing a live chicken from a local woman.

Carrying the metal box to the nearest empty space, she placed it on the floor beside her, dropped her bag and let her legs fold. Settling onto the hard wooden bench as gratefully as if it was a tufted velvet sofa, Abby let her head fall back and her eyes close.

She had done it. Just one more ride—a short one, even—and the journey would be over. From Pensacola to New York to London to Split. And from Split by ferry to Hvar. Halfway around the world.

Hell, I hope one of the guys is waiting for me when I get there. I don’t think I’ve got the patience to hang around on some Croatian island waiting for them to get their asses in gear and—what am I ranting about? They’ll be there. They’re going to be curious as hell—no one’s going to want to miss the fireworks, will they? Probably the whole damn crew will be waiting for me when I get off this ferry. Waiting to see what I’ll do, what I’ll say…

Too close for comfort

A two-person toilet? Just too weird for me...

Check it out here.

Sacro--what?

I have an uncle who's always carrying on about his sacroiliac. Is that the way you say it? Don't even ask me what exactly his sacro--you know, is. I don't know what, precisely, it is. All I know is it pains him.

When I was a kid and he went on and on about it I thought it was his butt. Apparently it's not his behind but still I don't have a clue.

All I know is I think I broke mine golfing this morning.

Really! I think I did.

All right, nothing's broken but hell golf shouldn't hurt this much should it? I must be waaaaay out of shape!

Off to lie down and watch a movie. Something soft and easy, with no physical movements in it at all. Like Sleepless in Seattle, or You've Got Mail.

Nothing with golf!!

Favorite golf stories :)

Okay, so I'm attempting (still!) to learn to play golf. Not going so good, let me tell you. I seem to be completely uncoordinated with regard to whacking little ball with long stick. My darling man is being much more sympathetic than he was initially, and is trying to be a good teacher. Personally I think it might have been my rant about my boobs getting in the way that made him back off. Whatever it was, I appreciate it. I was getting pretty damn close to whacking him on the head with the golf stick...uh, club.

Anyway, since I suck so badly at this stupid game (yeah, I'm working on the attitude! I promise!) people have been telling me their golf horror stories. It's been fun hearing them. Yesterday I may have heard the one that's the best so far. The woman telling the story is an excellent golfer but she said that when she was learning to play she hit a ball and it got stuck up in a tree. Yes, a tree. A big old maple, apparently. Anyhow, her husband laughed so hard he pissed her off and she climbed the tree, right on the golf course, and looked for the ball. She found her ball but when she reached for it --you guessed it!-- she fell out of the tree.

Broke her arm in three places. Now you wouldn't think this story funny but while she was telling it the woman was laughing so hard she nearly wet her pants. Her amusement cracked me up and there we were, laughing in the clubhouse like two loons.

Yeah, that's the best part of the whole golf expedition so far.

What about you? Any golfing war stories you'd care to share?

Moose Tales

I know, I know...I complain about the moose a lot but really I can't help myself. It's either let off steam here or have my eyeballs pop out of my head! You don't want to see my eyeballs pop out do you?

Well, maybe you do.

Crap. This morning I went outside to get the newspaper off the porch and found muddy tracks on my steps and the edge of the porch.

Not footprints. Not Bigfoot, either. Hoofprints. Like in moose tracks?

Rotten #@!!&* ate my geraniums! Right off the porch!!

Wonder what a condo in Hawaii goes for?

How's everything in your corner of the world? Seen any moose with red geranium petals between their teeth?

Wooly, Wooly, Wooly

Wooly's getting so used to being here with us, our dogs and cats and the rest of the nutty stuff in our house that she doesn't act like she's missing Joanne too much anymore. I'm glad because I hated seeing Wooly sad while Jo is off in Italy having fun. So Wooly's settling down, and will probably not even want to go home when Jo gets back!

Jo, not really!! When you come home I'm sure little Wooly will want to be with you again. Just tuck something yummy in your pockets, okay?

LOL, you know Joanne is freaking out right now!

Yeah, I know it's mean to torment the neighbors. But hey, I'm left dogsitting while she's off exploring the world...I've gotta get my kicks somehow, don't you think?

What have you been up to? Having any fun? That you can share, that is!

OOH, I love warm weather! It's not even summer yet and I'm having so much fun.

;-)

Whiff of Blue

Have you read Whiff of Blue? With its Civil War references, ghostly influences and hunky, hot men I had a blast writing this book. It's the sequel to Irish Eyes but definitely stands alone.

And isn't the cover wonderful?! I love this cover!

"I really enjoyed this book. Whiff of Blue was a funny, fast, and sexy read...Lily is city girl with a high sex drive that decided she wanted to step outside of her comfort zone and live in the sticks. Mel is a hard-bodied softie that only wants to make Lily happy. Ms. Wicks made Lily and Mel believable and that is what makes a good book." -Grade A from Shira, Simply Romance Reviews

Whiff of Blue can be purchased here.

Garden update

I don't know if you remember but my tomatoes were eaten by a moose right after I planted them. So I planted a whole second dozen and those, so far, have been fine. The moose are staying away and they're growing bigger every day. The tomatoes, that is. Not the moose!

But I have lost about four of my eight peppers to the moose. Who would have thought I'd have pepper-eating moose in the yard? Living in Maine is definitely an experience. I love it here but it looks like I'll be heading to the farmstand for my peppers this year.

A trade-off that I don't mind. Not really. We have some of the most gorgeous star-filled nights anywhere. On a clear night it looks like there are a gazillion stars in the sky. I'll trade a few peppers for that any day of the week.

What have you been up to? Having any success with your summer garden?

Sgroppino Cocktail

Sgroppino Cocktail

2 cups lemon ice cream, softened
2 tablespoons vodka
1/3 cup sparkling wine or Italian Prosecco wine, chilled
Zest of one lemon

Chill 4 champagne flutes.

Blend everything in a blender. Sprinkle lemon zest on top. Enjoy!

Now we know what's keeping Joanne in Italy so long...

Bestseller Bella Notte!

Bella Notte is on the WCPT bestseller list for May!

WOO HOO!!

I am psyched!

Have you read it yet? If you have, I'd love to hear from you. Please drop me a note and let me know what you think. I loved writing the book! It was a blast to research and the characters are just so wild!

The Blurb:

Can a Manhattan writer enjoy a string of handsome men in Italy without someone calling the United Nations to sort everything out? When Sienna travels to “the boot” she plans on tasting everything the country has to offer. Wine, pasta, men—Sienna wants it all!

She gets it, too—over and over again, with an assortment of handsome Italian men. There’s Paolo, who introduces her to the pleasures of moving seduction. Carlo, with his salame enorme, shows Sienna just how close friends can get. Enzo, a passionate swimmer, brings the joys of lakeside lust to light. And Guiseppe, whose ancestors’ orgies influence his modern lovemaking techniques.

So many men, each with his own special talents. How can Sienna sample so many tasty Italian dishes, yet choose only one? It’s hard, but that’s what she’s forced to do in Bella Notte!

Buy Bella Notte here.

Wooly's woes

Poor Wooly. She misses Joanne so much! It would be annoying if it wasn't so cute. Wooly is staying with us while my neighbor Joanne is in Italy. I've been taking Wooly next door every day when I check Joanne's house and pick up her mail. I've let Wooly sit on the porch glider with me and we've bonded. Sort of. I guess I'm all right but the poor little thing really, really misses Jo.

Hear that Joanne? You'd better be having a good time because Wooly misses you so so so much!

Sex and the City

Sex and the City was the top grosser at the theaters this past weekend. Is anyone surprised? I haven't seen the movie yet but I'm jazzed to see it. Maybe one night this week...

What about you? Have you seen the movie yet? Any plans to see it?

Back to golf

I don't know if anyone remembers but last summer my darling man tried to teach me to golf. I didn't do so well at it. Honestly I think my boobs got in the way. But today he's going to begin giving me golf lessons again. He swears he's going to be patient and not so jumpy and loud but I don't know...we'll have to see. One smartass remark and I might just hit him with the golf stick--er, club. It is club, isn't it?

Oh, at least the clubhouse has margaritas!!!

Have a great day!

Today's baking lesson

Dream Drops

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup white sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup chopped walnuts
1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips, additionally

Combine 1/2 cup of chocolate chips and butter. Heat in microwave until chocolate has melted. Set aside to cool slightly.

Whisk together the egg, vanilla and sugar. Stir in the chocolate mixture. Combine the flour, baking powder, cocoa powder and salt; whisk into the batter just until blended. Add the nuts and remaining chocolate chips. Cover and chill dough for 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

Lightly grease baking sheet. Roll dough into balls. Place them 2 inches apart on the baking sheets and flatten slightly.

Bake 13 to 15 minutes.

Me vs. Moose

All right, I'm ticked. I planted tomatoes yesterday in the back yard and this morning they're gone. Chewed right down to the dirt. The culprit? A moose. How do I know? The bugger left his big old footprints right in the garden!

AHHH!!!

I guess I'll try one more time to plant them before I put up a fence. Just what I need, a hungry moose. Why can't he leave my tomatoes alone and go for the grass? The grass needs trimming, my veggies don't.

The pleasures of living in Maine!

Jo in Italy!

Just so you know...

My neighbor, Joanne, is off on an early summer vacation. I've agreed to watch her house, pick up her mail, water her houseplants. I've even said I'll take care of her little dog Wooly. What's one extra dog around here?

So while Joanne is tasting wine and enjoying Italian sunsets, I'll be picking up after Wooly. I'll probably even be mowing her lawn.

Where's the justice in that?

Have fun, Jo! And bring me back something good. Something tall...dark...handsome!