writing

Romance, Eden and Distance.

Posted on by mjlarter2

        As an author, I note that romance stories (aka Mills and Boon etc) sell like hot cakes.  So … I thought, it’s not my style, but, what the heck, surely I could write something like that. I sent off to the M&B admin, and they sent back a list of rules that I had to follow if I wanted them to even look at my work – with no guarantees that anything I wrote would even be accepted. The list was amazing! Talk about writing to a formula.

          Still, I gave it a shot.

          Well, Bugger! It wasn’t as easy as I thought. It was no walk in the garden of Eden, that was for sure. I couldn’t come within a stone’s throw of anything that resembled a good story, let alone good writing quality! I threw up my hands in a gesture of surrender and decided that path was not for me.

          By going back to my comfort zone and putting some distance from the ridiculous notion that I could actually make money from my writing, I have enjoyed the writing process for its own worth, the wonderful effect it has on my ability to think and imagine, and the joy of simply having the challenge of finding new ideas and then using those stories to learn self-publishing as well as the use of the computer. I realize that as you get older, it is more and more important to keep your brain active, learn new things and still have dreams and goals.

          I also now use my hobby of knitting to donate my finished articles to charities. Maybe, during the harsh winters over in Europe and Asia, someone will enjoy wearing one of my knitted jumpers, or scarves, or gloves. I live in a relatively warm climate and a peaceful country. Here, I can make someone’s day by smiling at them, or simply complimenting a stranger on their lovely outfit etc.           

          Hopefully the people suffering the ravages of war, poverty or sickness in another country will benefit from my hobby. Funnily enough, even though it’s kind to help someone else, it actually rebounds to a kindness to yourself as well.

Heirloom – a romance of the past?

Rachel stared at the painting above the fireplace for some time. She had always loved it.

The woman in the tableau was sitting on an opulent armchair, staring out of the window. The room was full of the knick knacks of a wealthy Victorian family. The curtains pulled back from the multi- paned window were a rich burgundy velvet and the antimacassar protection on the back and arms of the chair were embroidered with coils of flowers. Behind her on the shelf, a Tiffany lamp stood amongst the displayed plates of a decorated set of crockery.

Outside, the falling snow had created a pristine outlook, which was now about to be ruined by two young boys, rugged up to the nines,  flying down the hilly street in what looked like a cardboard box, but was probably a wooden crate from the greengrocers just glimpsed at the top of the hill.

The woman looked serene, yet sad. On her lap, once busy hands that had been creating a patch of lace, were now idly holding the work, forgotten in the moment of reflection. Rachel wondered what she was thinking, what tragedy was causing her pause, or was she merely daydreaming?

Rachel was surprised how much her great- grandmother in the picture looked like her. The hair colour was the same, even the shape of her nose.

Of course, Rachel was modern. The clothes she wore were never considered to be fashionable in her grandmother’s time, let alone her great-grandmother. That period of time had had an elegance that was now lost. Rachel thought it must have been very uncomfortable to wear and truly restrictive.

 Now, as she stood looking at the painting, she wore shabby chic jeans. Her knees were poking out of custom-made slashes, and her feet were clad in canvas sneakers.  The old threadbare t-shirt, trimmed with lace and bling from a bedazzled machine, was one of her favourite tops.

Rachel smiled.

Her great grandmother in the painting would have been horrified of her style and the way she looked.

But still, Rachel touched the lace on the neckline, lovingly attached by her own hands.

Surely it was the same lace her great grandmother had been making, when the artist had caught and frozen that moment of introspection, those many years ago.

***

Does your child love the ‘Harry Potter’ stories? Well, maybe these two wizard chapter books might be something to enjoy. Written by me and illustrated by a close friend, I’m wondering if I should continue the series? What do you think?

Still only AU$18 each (or $32 for both). Want a catalogue? Let me know by direct message.

***

FREE recipe to try.

Sweet and Sour Sauce:

1 cup Pineapple juice (with water)

BREAKFST2 tblspns cornflour

¼ cup vinegar

¼ cup brown sugar

2 tblspns soy sauce

2-3 tblspns tomato sauce

1 cup chopped onions

1 ¼ cup of pineapple pieces

2-3 drops of red food colouring (optional)

other chopped vegetables as desired. (carrot, cabbage, broccoli etc.)

  1. Blend cornflour, pineapple juice and vinegar in a saucepan.
  2. Soak onion in red colouring for a few minutes.
  3. Add everything to saucepan except pineapple pieces.
  4. Bring to boil, stirring constantly. Serve with rice. Serves 4.
  5. Veg can be par cooked if desired.

FREE knitting pattern to make.

Scarf.

The beauty of this pattern is that it is so simple, and can be adjusted to your needs. You can use more stitches and smaller needles for a firm cosy scarf – or bigger needles to create a more lacy feel. You can adjust the type of stitch for a pattern, keeping ordinary plain stitch to stop curl (stocking stitch (1 row plain, 1 row purl) will curl.)

0.jpgI use 6mm or 6.5mm needles and about 20 or 24 stitches, with 8 ply yarn. This gives a soft feel to the scarf. The bigger the needle the softer and lacier the feel. The smaller the needle the more compact the fabric becomes.

The same yarn, 4mm needles and 40 stitches, and still 8 ply, is the second random stripe scarf. These can be stitched together lengthwise to form a knee rug or bigger blanket. The stripes are a way to use up odd bits of yarn (But keep the same ply. The only problem I find with this is having to stitch in all the ends!

The easiest stitch to use is all plain (garter or knit stitch) – quick and easy, but you can vary it as you wish. Length is recommended as the height of the person you are knitting for. E.g. – I am 5foot 6 inches – a perfect length for me would be between 5 foot or 5 foot six inches – but you can change that to your needs.

IF THE ABOVE KNITTING PATTERN DOESN’T MAKE SENSE, OR YOU CAN’T KNIT – PERHAPS YOU’D LIKE TO BUY (or order) ONE OF THE ONES IN THE PICTURES BELOW.

Romance, Eden and Distance.

        As an author, I note that romance stories (aka Mills and Boon etc) sell like hot cakes.  So … I thought, it’s not my style, but, what the heck, surely I could write something like that. I sent off to the M&B admin, and they sent back a list of rules that I had to follow if I wanted them to even look at my work – with no guarantees that anything I wrote would even be accepted. The list was amazing! Talk about writing to a formula.

          Still, I gave it a shot.

          Well, Bugger! It wasn’t as easy as I thought. It was no walk in the garden of Eden, that was for sure. I couldn’t come within a stone’s throw of anything that resembled a good story, let alone good writing quality! I threw up my hands in a gesture of surrender and decided that path was not for me.

          By going back to my comfort zone and putting some distance from the ridiculous notion that I could actually make money from my writing, I have enjoyed the writing process for its own worth, the wonderful effect it has on my ability to think and imagine, and the joy of simply having the challenge of finding new ideas and then using those stories to learn self-publishing as well as the use of the computer. I realize that as you get older, it is more and more important to keep your brain active, learn new things and still have dreams and goals.

          I also now use my hobby of knitting to donate my finished articles to charities. Maybe, during the harsh winters over in Europe and Asia, someone will enjoy wearing one of my knitted jumpers, or scarves, or gloves. I live in a relatively warm climate and a peaceful country. Here, I can make someone’s day by smiling at them, or simply complimenting a stranger on their lovely outfit etc.           

          Hopefully the people suffering the ravages of war, poverty or sickness in another country will benefit from my hobby. Funnily enough, even though it’s kind to help someone else, it actually rebounds to a kindness to yourself as well.

Heirloom – a romance of the past?

Rachel stared at the painting above the fireplace for some time. She had always loved it.

The woman in the tableau was sitting on an opulent armchair, staring out of the window. The room was full of the knick knacks of a wealthy Victorian family. The curtains pulled back from the multi- paned window were a rich burgundy velvet and the antimacassar protection on the back and arms of the chair were embroidered with coils of flowers. Behind her on the shelf, a Tiffany lamp stood amongst the displayed plates of a decorated set of crockery.

Outside, the falling snow had created a pristine outlook, which was now about to be ruined by two young boys, rugged up to the nines,  flying down the hilly street in what looked like a cardboard box, but was probably a wooden crate from the greengrocers just glimpsed at the top of the hill.

The woman looked serene, yet sad. On her lap, once busy hands that had been creating a patch of lace, were now idly holding the work, forgotten in the moment of reflection. Rachel wondered what she was thinking, what tragedy was causing her pause, or was she merely daydreaming?

Rachel was surprised how much her great- grandmother in the picture looked like her. The hair colour was the same, even the shape of her nose.

Of course, Rachel was modern. The clothes she wore were never considered to be fashionable in her grandmother’s time, let alone her great-grandmother. That period of time had had an elegance that was now lost. Rachel thought it must have been very uncomfortable to wear and truly restrictive.

 Now, as she stood looking at the painting, she wore shabby chic jeans. Her knees were poking out of custom-made slashes, and her feet were clad in canvas sneakers.  The old threadbare t-shirt, trimmed with lace and bling from a bedazzled machine, was one of her favourite tops.

Rachel smiled.

Her great grandmother in the painting would have been horrified of her style and the way she looked.

But still, Rachel touched the lace on the neckline, lovingly attached by her own hands.

Surely it was the same lace her great grandmother had been making, when the artist had caught and frozen that moment of introspection, those many years ago.

***

Does your child love the ‘Harry Potter’ stories? Well, maybe these two wizard chapter books might be something to enjoy. Written by me and illustrated by a close friend, I’m wondering if I should continue the series? What do you think?

Still only AU$18 each (or $32 for both). Want a catalogue? Let me know by direct message.

***

FREE recipe to try.

1 cup Pineapple juice (with water)

BREAKFST2 tblspns cornflour

¼ cup vinegar

¼ cup brown sugar

2 tblspns soy sauce

2-3 tblspns tomato sauce

1 cup chopped onions

1 ¼ cup of pineapple pieces

2-3 drops of red food colouring (optional)

other chopped vegetables as desired. (carrot, cabbage, broccoli etc.)

  1. Blend cornflour, pineapple juice and vinegar in a saucepan.
  2. Soak onion in red colouring for a few minutes.
  3. Add everything to saucepan except pineapple pieces.
  4. Bring to boil, stirring constantly. Serve with rice. Serves 4.
  5. Veg can be par cooked if desired.

FREE knitting pattern to make.

Scarf.

The beauty of this pattern is that it is so simple, and can be adjusted to your needs. You can use more stitches and smaller needles for a firm cosy scarf – or bigger needles to create a more lacy feel. You can adjust the type of stitch for a pattern, keeping ordinary plain stitch to stop curl (stocking stitch (1 row plain, 1 row purl) will curl.)

0.jpgI use 6mm or 6.5mm needles and about 20 or 24 stitches, with 8 ply yarn. This gives a soft feel to the scarf. The bigger the needle the softer and lacier the feel. The smaller the needle the more compact the fabric becomes.

20231217_144617.jpg

The same yarn, 4mm needles and 40 stitches, and still 8 ply, is the second random stripe scarf. These can be stitched together lengthwise to form a knee rug or bigger blanket. The stripes are a way to use up odd bits of yarn (But keep the same ply. The only problem I find with this is having to stitch in all the ends!

20231224_170751.jpg

The easiest stitch to use is all plain (garter or knit stitch) – quick and easy, but you can vary it as you wish. Length is recommended as the height of the person you are knitting for. E.g. – I am 5foot 6 inches – a perfect length for me would be between 5 foot or 5 foot six inches – but you can change that to your needs.

IF THE ABOVE KNITTING PATTERN DOESN’T MAKE SENSE, OR YOU CAN’T KNIT – PERHAPS YOU’D LIKE TO BUY (or order) ONE OF THE ONES IN THE PICTURES BELOW.

Rocks, Extreme and Deadly.

Posted on by mjlarter2

I’ve been getting a lot of posts in my social media accounts showing archaeology findings from the remote past. It really amazes me that previous civilizations went to so much trouble, in often isolated and awkward terrain (think Machu Pichu) to build structures that defy the imagination. There are rocks that seem cut to a precision we find hard to replicate even today with our technology. And huge stones, moved from sometimes miles away, as well as obelisks of extraordinary tonnage, lifted into position with presumably much difficulty.

          Will we ever really know how they did it, and why? The theories are diverse and often presumptuous. Conjecture is a deadly thing. It can lead to the general public learning opinions rather than truths. I often wonder if the ‘experts’ have got it all wrong, and some other discovery in the future will turn our ancient history on its head.

          After all – it isn’t an extreme possibility when you look at our own media of today. It is skewed to what the powers-that-be want us to believe. What is reported in one way in our country, is reported differently in another. It was probably no different in the past, I’m sure.

           We are all manipulated, subtly and not so subtly, guided into a way of thinking. The media plays games with the public.

          With all the chaos in our world, sometimes created by the media, always remember to do the best you can in your little sphere of existence. Let your loved ones and friends know that they are important to you. Always be kind – you never know what trauma someone else might be facing.

          Having said that – here’s a story I wrote about the games people (in this case children) play.

FREE story to read. 

The treasure hunt.

          The hieroglyphics on the crumpled paper must have meant something to someone.

          Carefully I flattened the paper on the old table behind me. The ragged edges were a warning to me to handle it with care. The writing appeared to be in ink; there were blotches above the top line. A careless spill perhaps. Or maybe the message had been written in haste. Some characters had faded, particularly those nearest the edges of the paper.

          “I think that means ‘regal’ or something,” Daniel pointed to the glyph of an eagle surrounded by a thickly drawn oval.

         “Could easily be seen as a caged bird,” I said with a shrug.

          Daniel snorted. “Yep, I suppose.” He continued, “This last one could be the rising or setting sun.”

          I stayed quiet as I focused on the problem.

          “How’re we ever going to work this out?” Dave whinged, as he squinted at the fragile scrap that we had found.

          I looked up. His hair was dusty under his hat and the scar on his chin stood out starkly against his grimy face.

          I giggled. “You look like Indiana Jones,” I said.

          He nodded. “That was the intention,” he grinned, “and you look like Cleopatra. But I didn’t know when I got dressed, that your Mum had decided to have a real treasure hunt for your birthday party!”

          I shrugged as I continued studying the puzzle.

          “Hang on,” I hesitated.

          Daniel raised his eyebrows. “What?”

          “Let’s read this with modern eyes.”

          He nodded as I concentrated.

          “I think … the oval and eagle is ‘bird cage’ and the sun,” I peered at the

hieroglyphs, “is followed by a faded up arrow.”

          “The rising sun?” Daniel murmured. “Perhaps that’s ‘East’?”

          “Good one!” I was thrilled; he basked in my praise.

          “Now I understand the message. It says – ‘Treasure found forty paces east of the bird cage’.”

          I grabbed Daniel’s hand. “Yay! Done it! Let’s go, Dan!”

          I dragged him out of the potting shed to the aviary on the other side of the garden.

          We were going to be the first back to Mum.

***

I continue to write my children’s books. These are my three newest publications that I’ve let loose on the public.

Still only AU$18 each. Want a catalogue? Let me know by direct message.

FREE recipe to try.

HOMEMADE CONDENSED MILK INGREDIENTS

  • 2 Cups Full Fat Milk or Low Fat Milk
  • ⅔ Cups White Sugar

INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAKING CONDENSED MILK

  1. In a heavy-based saucepan, add the milk and sugar
  2. On low heat, gently stir until  the sugar is completely dissolved.
  3. Simmer, without stirring, on low-medium heat.
  4. Continue to simmer on low heat for 35-40 minutes, until milk changes to a dark grey color and thickens and reduces by half.
  5. Skim off any foam that forms, with a spoon.
  6. Remove from heat and pour into a jar. don’t add any sugary bits to the jar, as they will cause a problem with the mix.
  7.  Cool completely before putting on the lid.
  8. Label the jar and refrigerate. It should last for months.

A tip or two for your CONDENSED MILK:

You can use home-made condensed milk as an excellent substitute for eggs in cakes and cupcakes. You can use it in rice cream or baked rice pudding. Always use the condensed milk at room temperature when baking with it.

FREE knitting pattern to make.

Baby beanie.

Use a nice soft baby yarn, and needles size 4mm.

Cast on 64 stitches, and rib 8 rows. If you want to, this can be done in a contrasting yarn – or not. Whatever you wish.

 change to 4.5mm needles and main colour yarn if you are using two colours.

 Now start stocking stitch (Knit one row, then purl one row – repeat). Stocking stitch 24 rows, finishing on a purl row.

Shape the top of the beanie thus:-

Row 1 : ‘knit 1 k2tog, knit 5’ – repeat (56 stitches)

Row 2,3 and 4 stocking stitch.

Row 5 : ‘k2tog k4’ repeat – finish row with k2 tog.(46 stitches)

Row 6 : purl

Row 7 : ‘K2tog’ repeat. (23 stitches)

Row 8 : ‘Purl 3 P2tog’ – repeat. P3 at end (19stitches)

Row 9 : ‘K1 K2tog’ – repeat. K1 at end. (13 stitches)

Row 10 : Purl

Cut the yarn and thread through the 13 stitches and pull tightly. Sew up the side seam.

Rifles, Excellent and Depiction.

Posted on by mjlarter2

Now the new year is bedded in and it will be Christmas again before you know it, I was sitting reminiscing about my younger days – when the children were small. I decided I wouldn’t succumb to the ‘male’ and ‘female’ roles of previous generations. I wasn’t going to let trucks and guns be male toys for my son and dolls were not for use only by my daughter.

Well, they say even the best laid plans can go awry.

My son, almost from the time he could walk, loved playing with toy trucks and bulldozers. He would even pretend to hold his sister up with the age old hand sign for a gun. Where did he pick that up from?

While he was saying ‘Bang, bang’, my daughter held her doll close to her chest and wailed – ‘Don’t hurt my baby!”

Are these roles ingrained in our DNA?

From history – weapons of every type have been used by humans – from clubs to cannon, rifles to revolvers, lance to lasers. Seems the human race is doomed to be forever aggressive.

Wouldn’t it be excellent if we could break the cycle?

Be kind, considerate and peaceful. Open doors for strangers, buy coffee for someone in less fortunate circumstances than you, smile and enjoy the beauty of life instead of complaining. The world would be a better place.

I think the depiction of the horrors of the world are all too easy to see and report on in the social media of our day. But it seems greed and the desire for power override any decency for fellow human beings. We’ve seen it over and over again through the ages.

Sorry – Rant over.

Anyway – talking about kids and their toys – inspired me to write this little story. Enjoy.

FREE story to read.

Kids

“Do you like poetry?” Danny asked his friend.

Kevin screwed up his nose. “You’ve got to be kidding.”

“Well,” Danny said. “My Mum can recite all sorts of funny ones.”

“Poetry isn’t funny,” Kevin smirked.

Danny recited, straight-faced – “The boy stood on the burning deck

                                                        picking his nose like mad

                                                        rolling it up in little balls

                                                       and flicking it at his Dad. – that’s poetry.”

Kevin laughed. “That’s gross!”

Danny lifted his nose in the air and boasted. “Mum can also recite ‘The owl and the pussy-cat went to sea.’ and she says she can still remember another title of a poem, even tho’ she’s forgot the poem.”

Kevin looked down at the ground and wriggled his toes.

“What title?”

Danny scrunched up his face in concentration. “I think it was ‘Fireforefiddle, the Fiend of the Fell’ – it was about a cat, she said.”

“That’s silly,” Kevin flicked a piece of grass at an ant to see if it would be able to lift it, or walk around it. “Poetry is supposed to be serious – you know – Shakespeare and stuff.”

“Who?” Danny asked.

“Apparently he wrote things a long time ago – and MY Mum says, it was hard to understand, and anyway, everyone died in his stories.”

Danny nodded. “I wonder if they’ll teach us that sort of stuff when we get to school?”

“Who knows!” Kevin answered. “I’m not looking forward to starting school!”

Danny shook his head. “I am. You get to make new friends all the time, and play, and draw, and Mum says you learn lots, too.”

Kevin looked at Danny as if he had grown two heads.

“Yeah! Right!” he said, then got up, kicked the sand, stood on the ant and began to run towards the sea.

“Come on. Let’s go and have a swim.”

FREE recipe to try.

Tuna, corn and egg pies:

1 can tuna, drained

baby spinach leaves, chopped

1 can corn kernels, drained

6 eggs

3 sheets puff pastry

  1. Preheat pie maker and spray with oil.
  2. Combine tuna, spinach and corn with whisked eggs.
  3. Cut pastry into 6 tops and bottoms of pies. Place bottom in pie maker.
  4. Fill each pie with egg mixture.
  5. Put on tops. Close pie maker and cook till light goes out. Makes 6.

The basic pie can be filled with ANY filling – mince in gravy ; mushroom and capsicum vegetarian mix ; Chicken and cauliflower in cheese sauce ; sweet and sour pork ; etc

OR stewed apple and cinnamon ; apricot and almonds ; fruit mince ; etc.

Enjoy experimenting.

***

Some of my children’s chapter books for the reader in the 8 to 10 age group. These are AU$18 each, plus postage. DM me for extra details and see if I have any discount or special this month.

FREE knitting pattern to make.

Soft caterpillar/ worm toy.

Using whatever colour 8 ply yarn you have, cast on 6 stitches.

next row : purl

row 3: knit 1, then increase in each stitch. (11 stitches)

Repeat rows 2 and 3. (21 stitches) (if you are making a worm, or snake – stop here and then continue in stacking stitch for length desired. Decrease as per end of caterpillar)

Repeat rows 2 and 3 (41 stitches)

Now continue to length desired, adding different coloured yarn as desired.

Decrease :-

starting on a knit row – Knit 3, Knit 2 together, (knit 2, Knit 2 together). Repeat the part in bracket to end of row. You should have 31 stitches left.

Next row – purl.

Next row – Knit 2, knit 2 together (knit 1, knit 2 together) – repeat part in brackets to end of row. (21 stitches left)

Next row – purl.

Next row – Knit 1, (knit 2 together) to end of row. (11 stitches left)

Next row – purl

Next row – Knit one, (Knit 2 together) to end of row. (6 stitches left)

Next row – purl.

Next row knit 2 together to end (3 stitches)

Next row – knit 3 together and finish.

When finishing the toy, stuff sections the tie off with tight yarn and finally decorate as you wish.

If these instructions are confusing to you, or you need more information – please message me and let me know. Thank you.

Red, Entry and December

Posted on by mjlarter2

December 2023 – gone – and another year is over again. Where did that year go?

The older I get the quicker the time flies past. I think that is so unfair! I have so much to do still and, while I’m healthy and mentally okay, time should be more flexible – don’t you agree?

Entry into the year 2024 is full of hope. This New Year will be a great year – the drama of the Covid shutdowns, masks and fear are hopefully behind us. Although I have to admit the media absolutely loves finding another drama to push our contented lives into disarray.

Begin this year by trying on the mantle of kindness. Hug a loved-one, just because you want to. Compliment a stranger just because you can. If you are ever in a queue – let someone in before you. The smiles you receive are worth the effort.

The Ukraine/Russian war still rages on, now overtaken by the muddle that is Israel and Gaza. I feel so much for the families of all sides that experience that loss of peace, the death of family members and the destruction of home and hearth. It makes me see red that politicians have to flex power muscles like young children – you know – ‘my Dad’s better than your Dad’ type scenarios.

But they play with people’s lives and the planet’s health.

It is time all countries stop thinking of a small section of the Earth and realise that without a planet we have nowhere to live and no-one wins. Greed and power are useless emotions when life and our planet is forfeit. I’ve coined a new word – we should all be Earthians.

This year, I will endeavour to give you, each month, a FREE recipe, FREE knitting pattern and a FREE short story for your reading pleasure, so keep scrolling to find your free gifts.

 Let me know your thoughts on the content of my blog – DM me at my facebook page for more information and feel free to follow me.

My three new picture books launched in 2023 are:-  Still only AU$18 each. Want a catalogue? Let me know by direct message.

FREE story to read.

A new beginning.

A short story for the start of a New Year.

Nadia spread the blanket over the sand and sat down. The beach was deserted. English people weren’t silly enough to come down to the coast during winter. They were home in the warmth, enjoying the aftermath of Christmas – of too much food, too much drink and too many relatives and visitors. She pulled her sweater collar up to protect her nose from the cold.  The water would be frigid now, but she didn’t feel like swimming anyway. Somehow, the troubles of the past year began to uncoil from her mind as the solitude worked it’s magic.

It wasn’t long before an inquisitive seagull arrived and regarded her curiously. She didn’t take any notice, and the bird soon flew away. Several other seagulls swooped down, but quickly realised that there was no food being offered and didn’t stay. The sea was calm and the temperature pleasant. The monotonous sloshing of the waves soon lulled Nadia into a mesmerized stare. Somewhere, deep down in her mind, the unhappiness of the last year drained away.

 “Hello!” a male voice said, causing Nadia to startle. She turned and then smiled. It was so nice to see the man standing there. He looked concerned.

“I saw you from my holiday home up there,” he explained, waving his hand in the general direction of the street above. “Are you okay?”

Nadia nodded.

“Just enjoying the peace – even the seagulls are leaving me alone!”

The man laughed.

“They know you have no food!”

“Thank you for checking on me,” Nadia added. “I only arrived this morning and I couldn’t wait to come down here and enjoy the calmness.”

“Yes,” The man agreed. “I love it here, too. By the way, my name is David.”

“Nice to meet you,” Nadia replied. “I’m Nadia.”

“Mind if I join you?” he asked.

Nadia shifted slightly and patted the blanket. She felt the thrill of the attraction for this man. 

“Please do.”

David sat and they both stared out to the ocean for a while. David quietly reached for Nadia’s hand and she shifted just a little closer.

It was going to be hard, but Nadia and David had to do something to revive their marriage, and this get-away seemed the perfect answer.

FREE recipe to try.

HOMEMADE ONION SOUP MIX

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup dried onion
  • 4 beef stock cubes
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (optional)

Instructions

  1. Combine all ingredient and seal in an airtight container.
  2. Store in the cupboard up to 6 months.
  3. Five tablespoons = 1 packet of soup mix

Recipe Notes:-

 I dried my onion and garlic (separately) before I blitzed them to form a powder. I had to put the dehydrator outside as the smell was too overpowering in the house.

This mix was also useful as a seasoning mix for gravy, stews  etc.

FREE knitting pattern to make.

Ear-warmer headbands.

Using 6 mm needles, cast on 14 stitches.

Knit each row until the strip measures 17 inches.

Cast off.

Stitch together the short ends.

This pattern is extremely simple and great for beginners. You can vary it by using different coloured yarn, or different pattern stitches as well as the method of stitching together.

IF THE ABOVE KNITTING PATTERN DOESN’T MAKE SENSE, OR YOU CAN’T KNIT – PERHAPS YOU’D LIKE TO BUY ONE OF THE ONES IN THE PICTURES BELOW. AU$5ea plus postage (AU$3extra)

Rain, Enjoy and Dance.

Posted on by mjlarter2

Aaaah! A New Year!

Let’s hope it is better than the last couple! I don’t know about other people, but I think it is time we got down to ‘living’ again. We seem to have had one disaster after another – from bush-fires, floods, disease, volcanoes erupting … you mention it, we’ve had it. I also realize these things have been with us forever, and the human race is still here and with more of us than in any other time in history. Let’s put everything back into some sort of perspective without the media channeling fear, drama and over-exaggeration. Only last month I listened to a news report that used the word ‘scare’ several time – no wonder people are brain washed into worry!

With that in mind, the following short story is inspired by a child-like innocence that we need to tap into and re-discover.

The Puddle.

Emily kicked at the puddle and watched the muddy water trickle over the toe of her yellow rubber boots.  There was a certain satisfaction of fracturing the reflection that had been caught in the mirror of the water.

She bent down and stuck her hands in the mud, feeling it ooze delightfully through her fingers. Mummy wouldn’t be happy – she had got mud on her dress. She flung it off and sat down in the puddle. It was not cold.

This summer had been a wet and hot one. The paddocks were green and the rain constant. It was so much fun and she often danced in the cooling showers. At night she would lay in bed and listen to the frogs calling to one another. There was a small frog living in the down-pipe near her room, and it’s voice boomed out into the darkness. At first she had been frightened, thinking it was huge, but one day she saw it – all of five centimetres long! So cute.

Now she sat and enjoyed the sensation of mud in her knickers, and coolness against her skin.

Over the rustling of the gum tree leaves above, she heard her name called. She closed her eyes and stayed for a few minutes more, appreciating the joy of being at one with nature. but the call from her mother grew louder and more insistent.

“I’m here,” she murmured, as she stood up and let the mud and water run down to her bqare feet. She stepped over to the pile of her sodden dress that she had draped over her boots, and wandered back in the direction of the now frantic calls.

When her mother caught sight of her, she rushed over and clasped Emily, mud and dripping water and all.

“Why didn’t you answer me?” she asked her daughter.

“I’m okay,” Emily looked puzzled. “I was just enjoying the moment.”

Her mother smiled. Oh! if she could only do the same!

Recipe – Maureen’s Scrumptious Boston Bun.

Ingredients : 1 and a half cups of mashed potato; 2 cups SR flour; Three quarters of a cup granulated sugar; 1 tspn salt; 1 cup milk; 1 and a half cups of sultanas or mixed fruit.

  1. Preheat oven to 180-200C
  2. Place mashed potatoes in a bowl and add sugar. Mix well
  3. Add fruit and mix.
  4. Sift flour and salt together and add to poato mixture alternately with milk.
  5. Place in two greased loaf tins, or one greased large cake tin.
  6. Bake for approximately 45 minutes.
  7. Remove from oven, cool slightly then ice while still warm.
  8. (Icing – 1 cup icing sugar; 1 tspn vanilla essence; 1 to 2 tblspns Lemon juice or water or a mixture of both: 2 to 3 drops of food colouring if desired). Mix these ingredients to a stiff consistency and spread over bun.
  9. Cut into slices and serve If desired, it may be spread with butter.
  10. Serves 6 to 8 people.

Please try the above recipe, and enjoy!

Now that the new year has arrived, perhaps you are thinking to change your life-style. If your dream is to make more money and be financially more stable, it night be the time to start a new sideline or business. The booklet below is available from me for AU$8. It could be the thing to start you off. Be aware, some of the rules are for Australia – so check with your local country representatives if you start a business.I will send anywhere in the world, so if you are interested or would like a catalogue of my other books, just email me at maureenlarter@gmail.com and I can get a copy to you.

A guide to getting you started in business. Available for AU$8 straight from me.

If you want to check me out, or look at my credentials – these are my social media contacts:-

My facebook pages are:

https://www.facebook.com/BooksByMaureenLarter

https://www.facebook.com/AlphabetanimalsofAustralia

https://www.facebook.com/Sweetfields-Publisher

Linkedin : MLarter

Twitter : @MaureenLarter

Instagram : lartermaureen

Return, Everyday and Drudgery.

Posted on by mjlarter2

Don’t believe the title!

Sure, I have returned from my holiday with my daughter, when I went fishing, shopping and eating in a nice, if noisy, restaurant. (not worth the price of the meal, I might add.)

Image may contain: 1 person, smiling, sitting, ocean, sky, mountain, outdoor and nature

Yes- that’s me! Out on the boat catching the most fish that day.

Yes, I have returned to the everyday chores of my home life after the silly season. (I’m sure we all gave a collected sigh of relief for another year!)

But DRUDGERY? No way!

If life came down to a dull, painful monotonous day, would it be worth living?

Now, I know many people, as they age, can not do too much, due to health problems. but I decided many years ago, to not give in to aging. I saw my grandmother go downhill rapidly when she decided she was ‘old’ and therefore couldn’t do anything. She gave up knitting, sewing, gardening and reading. All these things had been her normal life, but as soon as she gave them up, she became a shell of her former self.

Not for me!!

The old saying – ‘to grow old gracefully’ should be changed to – ‘to grow old DISgracefully’ That is my idea to make sure I keep young. The more interests and the busier you are, the better for the body and the mind. I ‘do’ even if I don’t feel like it – once my day becomes active (either with the body or the mind) I feel better immediately.

I knit, crochet, garden, write and read. I socialize, I market on the computer and I publish other people’s books. I teach piano and violin and keep bees, cows and chickens.

meandbees

Only two hives, but they keep me well supplied with honey. I’m giving a workshop here for Landcare, about keeping bees.

I cook – making sure I get whole, fresh produce every meal.

I make my own mayonnaise, peanut butter, muesli (granola) with my own home-grown fruit, dehydrated in my own dehydrator and more. I endeavour to cook a variety of food, so that my body gets a load of different vitamins and nutrients every day.

Here is a typical weekly menu – but, remember, it changes every week.

Monday: Breakfast :- 1 egg on a slice of multi-grain toasted bread. Lunch: – salad wrap, with lettuce/tomato/cucumber/ mayo/ ham and pickled onion (my bit of fermented food)) in a Quinoa wrap. Dinner:- Sweet and sour Pork with rice (include capsicum/onion/pineapple/broccoli and carrot in the stir fry). for my homemade s/s sauce see recipe later)

Tuesday:- Breakfast:- 1 cup granola with 1 cup milk ( and a touch of sugar – optional). Lunch:- 2 egg mushroom omelet. Dinner:- Crumbed chicken thigh or breast and vegetables – generally carrot, peas and potatoes.

Wednesday:- Breakfast:- 1 weetbix with 1/2 sliced banana (or diced strawberries, blueberries) with 1 cup milk. Lunch:- Tuna and avocado with mayo and corn sandwich. Dinner:- Spaghetti Bolognaise.

Thursday:- Breakfast: 1 cup of yoghurt with diced fresh fruit and a sprinkle of granola to add texture. Lunch:- Bubble and squeak ( leftover potato from previous night with onion and cabbage.) Dinner:- Satay chicken stir fry with vegetables and rice.

Friday:- Breakfast:- 1 egg, (scrambled). Lunch:- Caesar Salad. Dinner:- Macaroni cheese with mixed vegetables on the side.

You get the idea!

I was thinking of putting out a cook book called ‘For one and only” as most cookbooks are for a family, and as I live alone, not really relevant for me. 

What do you think?

Oh – and here’s the sweet and sour sauce recipe:-

Sweet and Sour Sauce:

1 cup Pineapple juice (with water)

2 tblspns cornflour

¼ cup vinegar

¼ cup brown sugar

2 tblspns soy sauce

2-3 tblspns tomato sauce

1 cup chopped onions

1 ¼ cup of pineapple pieces

2-3 drops of red food colouring (optional)

other chopped vegetables as desired. (carrot, cabbage, broccoli etc.)

  1. Blend cornflour, pineapple juice and vinegar in a saucepan.
  2. Soak onion in red colouring for a few minutes.
  3. Add everything to saucepan except pineapple pieces.
  4. Bring to boil, stirring constantly. Serve with rice. Serves 4. 
  5. Veg can be par cooked if desired.
  6. I bottle extra and keep in fridge for a little while – using the next week with a different meat – pork, or chicken or diced lamb – it can also be used with just vegetables for vegetarians)

P.S. Don’t forget to have a quick look at my second and third page. There is a new story  (The Killing) up to read on page 2 ( readeatdream.net/free-childrens-picture-book ) and some art for sale – will be doing some T-shirts soon) ( readeatdream.net/sweetfields-products-and-mykelcee-designs )

slower

 

 

Reactions, Educate and Dairy.

Posted on by mjlarter2

Gosh a fortnight goes quickly!

It is time to post another article about my thoughts and life – although why anyone would find that interesting, beats me!

Judging people always seems to me to be an exercise in futility. We all have challenges and obstacles in our lives, and that is what makes us who we are. Reactions to our hurts, worries and doubts often cause us to react to other people, often with anger, and they react right back. It can cause heart ache and misunderstanding.

Always treat people the way you would like to be treated – I know that is difficult sometimes, but kindness, tolerance and love are emotions we feel, and they shouldn’t be buried. We need to educate ourselves to show these qualities, so that we can reach the happiness we all deserve.

Now that I’ve done my preaching for the day, I should give you something to enjoy.

I’ve already given you a great recipe for ice-cream ( see Archives – May 27th – you can find that by clicking on the bars on the right hand corner of my site). I often give you icerecipes – and I don’t consider gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan or vegetarian or allergy making ingredients.

I’m sorry.

I will try to find a great tasting treat to include all those things.

What about :- No cook, Apricot balls?apricot No – that’s no good – it includes dairy.

What about :- Christmas mince pies? No – that’s no good, there is dairy in the pastry and                              gluten, too!

What about :-  My favourite – savoury mince with rice? – Obviously no good – it includes                               meat!mince

Well, that took care of my ideas for a recipe  … so … instead of a recipe today, I thought I’d give you something to make for a Christmas gift – after all, Christmas is fast approaching. This is a knitting project.

Knitted Slippers – can be made in any size – from baby to adult.

slipperUse 8 ply wool or acrylic yarn, double strand, and size 6.00mm needles (remember I live in Australia – use the equivalent in your country.) 2 x 100gm balls in two different colours makes two slippers for an adult.

Cast on (using two strands) 17 (23, 29, 35,or 41) stitches, depending on the size you require.

Row 1: Knit

Row 2: Knit 5 (7 – 9 – 11 – 13), Purl 1, Knit 5 (7 – 9 -11 – 13), Purl 1, Knit 5 (7 – 9 – 11 – 13)

Repeat rows 1 and 2 until there are 11 (13 – 15 – 17 – 19) ridges on the right side, ending with a row 2.

Shape toe:

Row 1: Purl 1 Knit 1 across the row.

Row 2: Knit 1 Purl 1 across the row.

Repeat these two rows until you have 9 (11 – 13 – 15 – 17) rows worked.  Break off yarn, leaving a length of about 10 inches to use for stitching together. Slip the thread through the stitches on the needle, casting off and pulling the thread tight to form the toe shape. Sew to the beginning of ribbing. Fold in half and sew inside seam for centre back. Add a pompom or button or bow (use your creativity) to finish off. Make a second one to finish the pair.

Knit a pair for each member of your family.

With Kindness

Maureen

quakeP.S. A new short story is up on the next page. An amusing true story!! – readeatdream.net/free-childrens-picture-book

 

 

Re-format, Edit and Design.

Posted on by mjlarter2

Now that I’m back from Cambodia and my body has managed to settle back into a fairly normal routine, I can now concentrate on re-formatting my books for the new company that will do print on demand in Australia.

Be aware – Amazon and KDP no longer send paperbacks books to Australia – so it was necessary to find a new place to print my books. My publishing house is Sweetfields Publishing (message me if you need anymore information). 

Alphacovers

Yay! I’m so happy. After years of designing and editing my books for the Amazon market – and paying an arm and a leg for postage, the convenience of a company in Australia is worth the extra cost in printing.

Amazon has actually done me a favour! My books are still available to the world in general from the KDP platform as well as Amazon. But because Amazon won’t post to Australia, I’d lost my local market. Now that is being put to rights.

It will take a bit of time (and frustration from me as I learn the new company and its rules) but it will be worth it in the end. I have counted up – I have 38 books to changeover – and another couple in the pipeline. Whew!

The re-format really is only to change the sizing, but that requires a bit of tweaking in the design of the books, and, while I’m at it, I might as well edit as well. It is the illustrations that are causing me the most headache, because, in the beginning of my journey, I did not understand how to get the correct dpi requirements for the images. Also, my first three books were illustrated by international visitors, and I haven’t got the originals to re-scan.

On top of that, the story-telling by myself has improved in leaps and bounds, so I need to look at some of the clunky sentences and re-word a little.

This means that I will be bum on computer seat, eyes on computer screen, fingers blistering at the keyboard and the brain squishy with all the thinking I will need to do.

Bookcover2

Bear with me – everything will sort itself out in time.

With Kindness

Maureen.

P.S. In the meantime, my second page ( readeatdream.net/free-childrens-picture-book )  includes my catalogue, and a new short story for your reading pleasure. Let me know what you think of the story.

My next children’s chapter book to be launched is ‘Rosferado – Wizard Extraordinaire’. The tagline could probably be – ‘but he isn’t’!!

There are two more books in the works, too. ‘Larry Lyrebird Laughs’ ( a picture book ) and ‘Rainbows in the Jungle – a Kathy Edwards adventure’ – (a chapter book for MA children).

If you would love to buy some original artwork – limited edition prints or originals – by a talented young artist – have a look at page three  ( readeatdream.net/ sweetfields-products-and-mykelcee-designs )

It’s good to be busy!

Retirement, Extract and Draft.

Posted on by mjlarter2

Back from Cambodia!

Back to my beautiful home! Back to the work of teaching music, making preserves for my market stall, gardening in my vegetable garden, writing and publishing my next books, and feeding and looking after my animals (that includes extracting honey from my bees – such wonderful insects).meandbees

Love it!

Do you think it is time I thought about a gentle retirement?

Never!! It is this lifestyle that keeps my brain going, and my health fine.

I have three books in draft form, two already being illustrated.

While I’m on the subject of books -:

In the last few weeks,, my program of choice for publishing (Createspace) has merged with Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). Now … I understand that may be a wise Alphacoversbusiness decision – but I am NOT HAPPY!

Why?

Because now I cannot get my paperback books posted from America. This is the case for all Australian authors and customers, so it is not just me affected. Even though I had asked Createspace last year if this would be the case, and they said no, I now find I’m dropped like a hot potato!

I’m looking for a similar type of app that is Australian. Damn nuisance, as I have over thirty books involved. (unless I can find another way to get them).

So – back to basics – start all over again! Damn!

As I have been in Cambodia, and finally Australia got rain, (thankfully – I’m not complaining), I left a brown and desperate landscape and have arrived back to a lush, very wet, green environment. The garden needs tender loving care and some hard work.

I’ve already planted beetroot, and cucumber seeds – pulled out the lettuces that went to seed in my absence (the goat loved them) and weeded a bit of my raised garden beds. The ‘lawn’ will have to wait until it has dried out before I can run the ride-on lawnmower over the two foot high grass!!

I have made tomato sauce (ketchup to Americans), peanuts are in my bowl ready to make peanut butter, and egg mayonnaise is next. Also going through my recipe cache – what about I add lip balm, vanilla extract, Christmas decorations and beetroot relish to my stock pile? I love to make something as little different to most other stall holders. (Need some recipes? Contact me!)

Aah! Life is full and couldn’t be better.

Retirement?

No way!

With Kindness.

Maureen

P.S. – my ‘In Search of the Elusive Panda’ book is now up for sale. Check out the chapter on the next page ( readeatdream.net/ free-childrens-picture-book ).  If you want to know how it finishes, you’ll have to buy the book!img312

Mean of me, I know! Just let me know, and for $15AU I’ll send it to you (you will have to add $3AU for postage in Australia – $5AU if you live overseas).

I will be giving you a range of my short stories to read next before I put out an anthology of same – starting from next post.

I will also have more artwork, from my talented son’s brush, for sale.

( readeatdream.net/sweetfields-products-and-mykelcee-designs )

Squidhands(dylan)web

Repeat, Experience and Decision

Posted on by mjlarter2

Well, I’ve done it! I have booked my ticket to Cambodia.

I was there 2 years ago – teaching English in a small village called Anlong Samnar. Then I would travel up to Siem Reap once a week in order to teach a handful of high school students from the village that were now in the ‘big city’. I was taken to the famous Angkor Wat, had a picnic in the huts beside the moats and drank pure sugar cane juice in the shadow of the temples – fantastic.Angkor

I really enjoyed the experience, and promised the students I would come back in two years and catch up with the friendships I had made. I am so looking forward to seeing them all again.

So the decision has been made – I am going to repeat the experience.

I have to admit, the travel leg is still daunting – doing it by myself, as age creeps up on me, is no small feat. I have to take my courage in hand and just DO IT!

When I went last time, I was having trouble with my eyesight, and the ticket included the request for special treatment. The airlines that I traveled on were fabulous, and I was looked after with kid gloves. Now my sight has continued to deteriorate, so I will be asking for help once more. This time, I know I will be looked after.

So … if you have a problem with a disability, or a fear that feels insurmountable, push through those fears and go and have an adventure – it is well worth it.

Life is short – the number of people I have loved, or known, or been in awe of, have left us. Death has no favourites – it can happen at any time. Be brave – live your life while you have the ability to really enjoy it.

I haven’t wasted the two years between. I have written and had published one adult drama novel (my pen-name is Marguerite Wellbourne OrdealbyIa) as well as 5 children’s picture books Bookcover2(‘Frank Frog Feels Foolish’, ‘Giddy the Galah’, Iggy Ibis is Important’, ‘John Jabiru and the Jolly Jam tin’ and ‘Kathy Koala’s Kerfuffle’ – all in the ‘Alphabet Animals of Australia’ series) – with two more already in the pipeline. A middle school age-group chapter book ‘In Search of the Elusive Panda’ has also been published. img312(See my second page  – readeatdream.net/free-childrens-picture-book ) for the serialization of this book – now up to chapter 11. Still more are being written.

I always try and give my readers a little something to try – either a recipe or a craft idea. Today, because of the awful drought the farmers are experiencing in the outback of N.S.W. Australia – here’s a little something you can knit and send to me to help the lambs whose mother’s have died. Lamb jumpera

If you can knit a few – let me know, and I can pm you my address so you can send them to me.

With Kindness

Maureen

Don’t forget to check out my second page for free reading ( readeatdream.net/free-childrens-picture-book ) and my third page ( readeatdream.net/sweetfields-products-and-mykelcee-designs  ) for original art work to buy. If you can’t afford the originals, Mykey is offering a limited edition run of framed prints at $35AU (plus postage).

panda2

Sparkle 40cmx40cm