MAY THE SOCKS BE WITH YOU!

Today is National Lost Sock Memorial Day, the day when we mourn the loss of all those socks that disappear somewhere between the hamper, the washing machine, the dryer, and the laundry basket. It happens to everyone. You undress and toss a matching set of socks into the hamper, but after the wash is finished and you’re sorting and folding your clean clothes, invariably you’re at least one sock short. You backtrack. Check the hamper. Check the washing machine. Check the dryer. Check the path between the hamper, washing machine, and dryer. Shine a flashlight into the one inch crack separating the washing machine and dryer. Climb up on the machines and look behind them. You can’t find that missing sock anywhere.

This happens to me at least once a week, and I’ll bet it happens to you, too. We set the lone sock aside, hoping to eventually have its mate show up, but the sock is AWOL. Vanished into the ether. Adrift in Sockspace. Maybe the fox ran off with them?

A year goes by, and you’ve accumulated a bag of mismatched socks, none of which can be paired up with any of the other socks in the bag. Eventually, you donate the socks at the next clothing drive. Maybe, like long-lost lovers, your socks will find their missing mates in a Red Cross or Goodwill bin. One can only hope.

Today, May 9th, is a special day set aside each year to mourn those missing socks and reflect of the fuzzy warmth they once gave us. May the socks be with you!

COOKING WITH CLORIS -- GUEST BAKER AND AUTHOR BAILEY CATES

Food editor Cloris McWerther has invited a special guest to join us today, Bailey Cates. Bailey also writes the Home Crafting Mysteries as Cricket McRae. She believes magic is all around us if we only look for it. For more information about Bailey/Cricket, please visit her website. You can also visit Cricket's Hearth Cricket blog and her Katie Lightfoot character blog -- AP

What a treat to guest here, Anastasia! So, in honor of the release of my first Magical Bakery Mystery, Brownies and Broomsticks, I thought I’d offer a treat for your readers.

The main character of the series is twenty-eight year old Katie Lightfoot. In the first book she’s relocated to Savannah, Georgia from Ohio to start up the Honeybee bakery with her Aunt Lucy and Uncle Ben. As a baker – and a new hedgewitch – she loves to experiment with new recipes, but her all-time favorite self indulgence is Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies.

Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies

¾ cup chunky peanut butter

4 Tablespoons butter, melted

½ cup confectioners’ sugar

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

¾ cup cocoa powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

2/3 cup vegetable oil

½ cup boiling water

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon vanilla

¼ teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Oil and flour a 9x13 baking pan.

Mix together the peanut butter, butter, confectioners’ sugar vanilla extract. Set aside.

Combine cocoa powder and baking soda in a medium bowl. Add 1/3 cup of the vegetable oil and mix together thoroughly. Add boiling water and stir until mixture thickens. Add the rest of the vegetable oil, eggs, and sugar and stir until smooth. Mix in flour, vanilla and salt until thoroughly blended. Pour brownie batter into the prepared baking pan.

Drizzle peanut butter mixture over brownie batter. Using a knife, cut through the topping and batter to create a marbled effect.

Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until brownies are set in the middle and peanut butter swirl topping begins to puff slightly. Allow to cool in pan before cutting.

Thanks for joining us today, Bailey, and best of luck on the new series. -- AP

CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA -- HAND FLOWER CHILDREN

HAND FLOWER CHILDREN

Here’s a Mother’s Day gift your kids can help you make for grandma. And what grandma wouldn’t want a floral arrangement of her grandchildren's smiling faces?

Materials:
solid color or print patterned scrapbook paper
white photo paper
photos
circle template
wooden skewers
floral tape
silk leaves
container of choice
floral foam
excelsior
cellophane tape
glue stick
pencil
scissors

1. For each flower, trace child’s hand on wrong side of scrapbook paper. Holding two pieces of scrapbook paper together, right sides together, cut out two hands.

2. Print out desired photos on photo paper.

3. Using circle template, cut out faces. Using glue stick, glue photo to palm of hand.

4. Tape wood skewer to wrong side of one hand.

5. Using glue stick, glue hand front to back.

6. Wrap floral tape around skewer, adding two leaves to each.

7. Using tacky glue, glue floral foam inside container.

8. Insert skewers into floral foam.

9. Using tacky glue excelsior over floral foam.

THIS WEEK'S BOOK WINNERS

This week at Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers we had two guest authors giving away books. On Thursday, Vicki Doudera visited for a taste of murder, mayhem, Merlot, and Maine. She offered a copy of Deadly Offer, her latest Darby Farr mystery. The winner of that book is Marcille Sibley.


On Friday, our guest author was Sally Carpenter discussing Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. Sally offered a copy of The Baffled Beatlemaniac Caper. The winner of that book is Irene.


Ladies, please send your mailing addresses to me at anastasiapollack@gmail.doc com so I can forward them to the authors.


And thank you all for stopping by this past week. We hope to see you back often.

BOOK CLUB FRIDAY -- GUEST AUTHOR SALLY CARPENTER

Our Book Club Friday guest today is Sally Carpenter, author of The Baffled Beatlemaniac Caper, the first book in the Sandy Fairfax Teen Idol mystery series which was a finalist for the Eureka! Award for best first mystery novel. Sandy is also a playwright. The play that inspired The Baffled Beatlemaniac Caper was produced in New York City. Visit Sally on Facebook or at her website. You can also contact her at scwriter@earthlink.net.

Sally will be giving away a copy of The Baffled Beatlemaniac Caper to one of our readers who posts a comment this week. -- AP

Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys: Teen Sleuths Who Never Grow Old

By Sally Carpenter

Why do we love Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys? Even though Joe and Frank Hardy made their first book appearance in 1927, and Nancy followed in 1930—both series were created by a book packaging company that hired ghostwriters—the characters, in various revisions and reincarnations, are still popular today.

Here’s why I believe these sleuths survived.

1. Fantasy. These detectives live the life most teens only dream about. Nancy doesn’t attend school or work at a day job, is never short on funds and travels the world in stylish clothes.

Joe and Frank occasionally go to school but their studies never interfere with their daredevil sleuthing. They drive fast cars, ride motorcycles, sail a speedboat and fly a plane—what young man wouldn’t want that?

2. Action. Our sleuths have no time for romance and introspection—they’re always on the go. They never walk—they “run,” “hurry,” and “dash.” Within a short paragraph they’re in a new location. The only time Nancy/Joe/Frank stop to catch their breath is when they’re eating or sleeping.

And every chapter ends in a cliffhanger to keep the pages turning.

3. Danger. Our young sleuths are kidnapped, tied up, knocked out and locked up more times than a squad of police officers. The Hardys trade punches with the baddies. The kids ignore numerous threats to get off the case.

And they love it!

4. Friends. Nancy’s constant companions are Bess and George, the BFFs who follow her into every adventure.

The Hardys have Chet, Biff and Tony to help out (overweight Chet shows that detecting isn’t limited to just the handsome kids). 

No matter the danger, these pals are loyal to the core. Our sleuths can count on them.

5. Moral code. Emotional issues or teenage rebellion doesn’t burden our sleuths. Joe and Frank are more honest, pure, obedient and trustworthy than the Boys Scouts.  They’re so chaste they don’t even hug or kiss their girlfriends, Callie and Iola.

Nancy even stops her sleuthing on Sundays long enough to attend church! These kids are so square they’re hip. 

6. Smarts. Nancy/Joe/Frank may be young but they can outwit adult criminals. The police are stumped by a case? No problem—our kids will figure it out.

Readers throughout the years love these stories because they identify with these resourceful teens. We can’t solve mysteries daily and live exciting lives—but we wished we could!

The Drew/Hardy stories were one of the inspirations behind my debut mystery, The Baffled Beatlemaniac Caper. My book uses the same conventions of cliffhanger endings, fast pace, loyal fans and a touch of fantasy.  

Former teen idol Sandy Fairfax starred in the 1970s TV show, “Buddy Brave, Boy Sleuth,” which ran opposite the real-life “Nancy Drew-Hardy Boys Mysteries.” Now aged 38, he’s making a guest appearance at a Beatles fan convention. When a member of the tribute band is shot, Sandy unwittingly finds himself sleuthing for real.

Thanks for joining us today, Sally! I was more a Cherry Ames girl than a Nancy Drew girl, but Cherry certainly solved her share of crimes, too. What about you, readers? -- AP

TRAVEL WITH SERENA--GUEST BLOGGER AUTHOR VICKI DOUDERA

Ever been to Maine? Travel editor Serena Brower has invited a special guest to join us today to discuss the beauty of that state. Top producing Realtor Vicki Doudera uses high-stakes, luxury real estate as the setting for a suspenseful mystery series starring crime-solving, deal-making agent Darby Farr. A broker with a busy coastal firm since 2003 and former Realtor of the Year, Vicki’s latest mystery, Deadly Offer, takes Darby to a winery where murder, mayhem, and Merlot all mingle. As in the popular Killer Listing and A House to Die For, Darby discovers a dangerous truth: real estate means real trouble. Read more about the Darby Farr Mystery Series and Vicki at her website, 

Vicki is offering a copy of Deadly Offer to one of our readers who posts a comment to the blog this week. -- AP

Take a Hike --- in Vacationland

I live in the state famous for its rugged coastline, pristine lakes, spruce-dotted islands, and a variety of rock-loving crustaceans known as lobsters. When I tell people “from away” that I reside here, some of them look panicked, as if I’ve said I’m from Siberia or Upper Mongolia. Actually, Maine isn’t all unforested wilderness and craggy cliffs. My town is what most people would call “civilized,” although we did have a moose run right down our street one spring afternoon!

The heroine of my mystery series, Darby Farr, also hails from Maine.  She was raised on an island called Hurricane Harbor but fled the state as a teenager after her parents’ tragic death in a sailing accident. In the series’ first book, A House To Die For, Darby returns to Maine and tries to face her painful past. It isn’t easy, but as the books go on, she’s appreciating more and more just how special this easternmost state in the country can be.

Gulf Hagus

One activity Darby and I both enjoy is hiking. Maine boasts a wide variety of trails, from level but beautiful walks like Gulf Hagus called the “Grand Canyon of Maine,” to impressive peaks such as Borestone Mountain. Part of Maine’s famed “Hundred-Mile Wilderness region,” Borestone rises 1947 feet high with a spectacular, 360 degree panoramic vista.

Borestone Mountain

Vicki and Lexi on Mount Katahdin

Maine’s most famous hiking spot is Mount Katahdin, located in Baxter Park. I’ve climbed it several times, but the trip I made with my daughter is my favorite so far. There is a super scary section of the climb called “the Knife’s Edge,” a thin path with sheer drop-offs on either side of a foot-wide trail. The day we hiked it was extremely windy, making a traverse of this narrow pass impossible. Luckily, when we got to the top of Mount Katahdin (the end of the Appalachian Trail) the winds had died down, and we proceeded cautiously across the ridge. It was one of those special mother-daughter times when we both felt exhilarated to be alive!

If you come to Maine, be sure to visit our National Park, Acadia, whether you are a hiking enthusiast or not. A beautiful loop road takes you past peaceful ponds, booming ocean vistas, and up majestic Cadillac Mountain. 

The famous Jordan Pond House popovers

You can walk, bike, or horseback ride on the carriage trails mapped out by the Rockefeller family, and eat lunch in the old-fashioned (and delicious) Jordan Pond House. For a real taste of Maine, try one of the Jordan Pond House’s famous popovers or a slice of their wild blueberry pie. Until then, give one of my Darby Farr Mysteries a read!

And one of you lucky readers will be able to do that for free (read a Darby Farr mystery, not eat a popover or wild blueberry pie!) as Vicki is offering a copy of Deadly Offer to one lucky reader. Simply leave a comment, and check back on Sunday to find out if you’re the winner. -- AP

HEALTHY LIVING WITH JANICE - NATIONAL INFERTILITY SURVIVAL DAY

We often post about fun or weird holidays here, but today I’d like to make you aware of a holiday that’s quite serious. It’s National Infertility Survival Day®, and it’s celebrated annually the first Sunday in May, the Sunday before Mother’s Day.

National Infertility Survival Day® was founded eight years ago by Beverly Barna, to recognize those women as she puts it, “who sit crying and praying silently in the pews on Mother’s Day, while those around them exalt the moms they wish so deeply they can become.” It’s a day set aside to honor those women who have suffered through failed conceptions, miscarriages, still-births, and adoptions that fell through.

Barna is also the author Infertility Sucks!, a “humorous and healing book…for the infertile woman’s soul.”

Thanks for making our readers aware of this special day, Janice! Infertility Sucks! was also illustrated by Lois Winston, the author who writes those humorous amateur sleuth mysteries about moi. -- AP