My Say What Blog Archives - Page 21 of 56

Jun 20th Celebrate Summer Solstice with an Eclipse?

Yep, sure enough. This year you can celebrate the Summer Solstice with an eclipse!

An annular solar eclipse will occur on the weekend of the solstice, beginning just before midnight (Eastern Time) on Saturday, June 20. The eclipse will reach its maximum point at 2:40 AM EDT on the 21st. Annular eclipses are very similar to total solar eclipses, but instead of covering the Sun completely, the Moon only covers most of the Sun, leaving a thin, shining ring—called an “annulus” or “ring of fire”—around the Moon’s dark shape.

The solstice is usually celebrated by numerous cultures around the world. Thousands of people including druids and pagans annually celebrate the Summer Solstice at Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England. But with the coronavirus preventing large gatherings, this year English Heritage Facebook page will stream sunrise and sunset ceremonies live. Isn’t that exciting?

Another celebration that takes place around the Summer Solstice is Midsummer day is June 24^th. Historically, this day marks the midpoint of the growing season, halfway between planting and harvest. It is traditionally known as one of four “quarter days” in some cultures. Folks celebrated by feasting, dancing, singing, and preparing for the hot summer days ahead.

Pagans referred to the Midsummer moon as “Honey Moon” for the mead made from fermented honey that was part of wedding ceremonies performed at the Summer Solstice.

Ancient Pagans celebrated Midsummer with bonfires when couples would leap through the flames for good luck. (in the belief that the higher the jump, the higher your summer crops would grow.) Sounds a bit tricky to me. How about you?

Bonfires also were associated with magic. It was believed that bonfires could help banish demons and evil spirits and lead maidens to their future husbands. Magic thought to be strongest during the Summer Solstice.

In ancient times, Midsummer as a time of magic, when evil spirits were said to appear. To thwart them, Pagans often wore protective garlands of herbs and flowers. One of the most powerful of them was a plant by the name of ‘chase-devil’, known today as St. John’s Wort used by modern herbalists as a mood stabilizer.

Look at us learn things. I hope you enjoyed the fun facts & magic surrounding the Summer Solstice and MidSummer.

Posted in My Say What Blog and tagged Druids, Eclipse, England, magic, pagans, Stonehenge, Summer Solstice, Wiltshire by Tena Stetler with 2 comments.

Jun 17th #L&SR’s #Wednesday’s Blog Challenge – My Life in Photos or Gifs

Welcome to #L&SR’s #Wednesday’s Blog Challenge 6-17-20 – My life in photos or gifs. Wow, so many to choose from. Please have a seat, grab an iced tea or lemonade out of the cooler. Be sure and try a chocolate chip or peanut butter cookie. Lets get started with My life in photos or gifs.

This week’s topic is easy in a way and hard in that I have so many photos to choose from. So here we go.

The only way to camp! We travel and camp from early spring to late fall when weather permits and vacation days allow. Yep our dog, parrot and box turtle come with us.

White Water Rafting down the Arkansas River through the Royal Gorge, Colorado, Class V rapids. You can almost see my helmet on the front left side of the raft. The river was closed right after we went through because it was running too fast.

Kayaking another outdoor adventure we enjoy along with pup. Parrot and turtle have to stay in the fifth wheel trailer.

Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado. Yeah, shoes don’t cut it in the sand. LOL

Book signings

Where I spend a lot of my time, in my writing cave!

Camping adventures with friends. This one is at Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park, Bear Lake. That would be me and hubby on the right.

View from a great hike in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Hanging out with Taco in the sunroom after my writing day is finished.

After a day of kayaking, a nice relaxing evening around the campfire.

My Iris garden. In a good year.

Perfect Moment Rose – new this year in my rose garden

I take a break and water my outdoor plants everyday.

We were hiking near Trail Ridge Road RMNP Grand lake side with Mystic

Mystic and I playing in the snow on a fun winter day! We love the snow.

Okay you should be sufficiently bored by now. So there you have it, My life in photos or gifs. How about you? What’s you life look like in photos?

Alas, I must return to my writing cave where deadlines loom with edits on my upcoming release HIDDEN GYPSY MAGIC, Chocolate Raspberry Magic, and on a new WIP sixth book in A Demon’s Witch Series(very exciting and coming along very well) so let’s see what other authors list as their favorite poems, short stories, or novellas . L&SR

Pssst… While you’re here, don’t forget to check out my paranormal romance/mysteries click here.

School’s out. Looking an exciting read to whisk you away from your ordinary world into a magical, fantasy adventure ? Got just the thing. A Witch’s Journey. – Former Navy Seal, Lathen Quartz helps Pepper, a powerful witch, achieve her life-long dream of a wild life rescue. But can they save the McKay magic amid a 4th of July festival they’ll never forget?

Click on the cover to read more or purchase!

A bit about A Witch’s Journey on sale for 99 cents! At dusk, the mist rolled in, but it didn’t dampen the revelers’ enthusiasm. Pepper and Lathen followed the crowd over to the harbor where several boats were lined up and decorated with different kinds of patriotic colored lights. A variety of bulbs burned steady, while others flashed, chased, and twinkled. One pleasure craft had a flag draped over the bow made up of red, white, and blue lights that blinked in time to “The Star Spangled Banner” playing in the background.

After casting votes for the best display, they returned to Lathen’s pickup and drove the short distance to the Sea Crest Inn, where everyone gathered for an ice cream social to benefit local charities. Local bands presented the entertainment for the evening. Music ranged from country to rock and roll, and even a group that did a respectable job on the 1812 Overture as the spectacular fireworks display exploded in the night sky.

A cold shiver ran up her spine as goose bumps crept up her arms. Pepper reached down to untie her sweater from her waist, and someone grabbed her around the middle and covered her mouth with a hand. Excruciating pain exploded through her temples. Instinctively, she sank her front teeth into the palm of the hand covering her mouth.

Thanks for popping in. I really appreciate it. Next week, June 24, can you believe it already? Anyway the topic is My “go to” book or movie for a pick up! Oh that should be fun.

Posted in My Say What Blog and tagged #L&SR's #Wednesday's Blog Challenge - My Life in Photos or Gifs, A Witch's Journey, Rocky Mountain National Park by Tena Stetler with 13 comments.

Jun 10th Favorite Poems, Short Stories, or Novellas #L&SR’s #Wednesday’s Blog Challenge

Welcome to #L&SR’s #Wednesday’s Blog Challenge 6-10-20 – Favorite poems, short stories, or novellas. Wow this one is easy. so many to choose from. Please have a seat, grab an iced tea or lemonade out of the cooler. Be sure and try a chocolate chip or peanut butter cookie. Lets get started with Favorite poems, short stories, or novellas.

This weeks topic is another another slam dunk. First let me say up front, I’m not really a poem or short story type of gal. Novellas, I can get into.

Novellas – Deerbourne Inn Series is a great small town series written by multiple authors at The Wild Rose Press. There are a number of them and each unique but set in the small town of Willow Springs, Vermont. Whether you love to read Contemporary Romance, Mystery, Time Travel, Historical, Thriller, or SyFy, You can’t go wrong with these novellas.

I would be amiss if I didn’t mention my novella it’s part of the Deerbourne Inn Series. Mystic Maples. I had a blast writing this book. A bit of time-travel, mystery, and magic is the small town of Willow Springs makes for a fun romantic adventure and an escape for the reader. A captivating furbaby by the name of Rag-A-Muffin steals the story. Earth/Fire witch, Mercy’s insatiable curiosity finds her trespassing under a full moon on enchanted land. The owner discovers her and sparks fly, both figuratively and physically. If you look close at the cover, you’ll see that Mercy has one blue and one green eye, just like my character. Sil, the hero is absolutely swoon-worthy, don’t you think? Silvanus is not without his secrets. His gypsy/fae blood has always been a thorn in his side. But when Mercy discovers his secrets, his well-ordered life unravels and they’re catapulted into the past to right a wrong. What fun!!

Novellas – One Scoop or Two Series – Another summer series written by multiple authors at The Wild Rose Press. Summer fun, ice cream and delectable tales written in a variety of genres. A few of my favorites are:

Devil’s Food Ripple with a Cherry on Top -Fenady Clark’s dream of owning an ice cream parlor has inspired her through some of life’s hardest challenges. Just when the grand opening’s within reach, that wicked rogue, Sebastian Bane, opens shop and starts serving Fenady’s designer flavors, all renamed. She suspects he’s using black magic to poach her recipes, and if she weren’t a good witch instead of a bad witch, she’d whip up a spell and retaliate.
Sebastian’s come all the way from England to establish his family’s business near Salem. He can’t explain how he and the lovely Fenady keep creating the same ice cream confections, unless it’s enchantment, or fate. Is there room in town for both their dreams? And what will it take to convince an angry white witch she needs him in her life?

Vanilla with a Twist – Tandy Blakemore spends her days running her New England ice cream parlor, single-parenting her teenage son, and trying to keep her head above financial water.
Engineer Deacon Withers is on an enforced vacation in the tiny seaside town of Beacher’s Cove. Overworked, stressed, and lonely, he walks into Tandy’s shop for a midday ice cream cone and gets embroiled in helping her fix a broken piece of equipment. Can the budding friendship that follows lead to something everlasting?

Root Brew Float – Josephine Brevil has lived hundreds of years haunted by the horrors she experienced during the Salem Witch Trials. She takes great care to hide her powers, though serving a Root Brew Float laced with a magic potion now and again never hurt anybody. The Order sends her to Massachusetts to deal with a paranormal threat, and she meets the young and handsome widower, Clarence Watts. However, being with him comes with a choice. How can she choose between the man she loves and the magic she holds dear?

One Scoop or Two is a new series and new novellas are being added each week. Now to be fair, I’ve read all of the ones released, yet. But I am working on them. Pssst… I have a novella in this series too, but it’s still in edits. So watch for Chocolate Raspberry Magic coming by end of summer, fingers crossed.

**This may not count as poems, but I just remembered the Dr. Seuss books of my youth. I loved those books and their rhymes, didn’t you?

So there you have it, favorite poems, short stories, or novellas. Do you have favorite poems, short stories, or novellas? I’d love to hear from you. Please list them in the comments below.

Pssst… While you’re here, don’t forget to check out my paranormal romance/mysteries click here.

School’s nearly out. Looking an exciting read to whisk you away from your ordinary world into a magical, fantasy adventure in Ireland? Got just the thing. Mystic Maples. When Mercy discovers the truth, Silvanus’ well-ordered life unravels and they’re catapulted into the past to right a wrong.

A bit about Mystic Maples:

Earth/Fire witch Mercy Rose’s insatiable curiosity always gets her in trouble. After a break-in at her Colorado flower shop, and a court battle that comes to a screeching halt in her favor, she arrives at Deerbourne Inn for a much-needed getaway. Looking for peace and quiet, she finds just the opposite in a startling handsome but mysterious man and his dog.

Silvanus Forrest’s gypsy/fae heritage is a double-edged sword. The land he inherited from his parents is rumored to be enchanted. But when Mercy discovers the truth, his well-ordered life unravels, and they’re catapulted into the past to right a wrong. Along the way their lives intertwine, and they discover the true meaning of family and love. Will they change the past in time to save their future?

Thanks for popping in. I really appreciate it. Next week, June 17, can you believe it already? Anyway the topic is My life in Photos or Gifs. Oh boy is that’s a tough one.

Posted in My Say What Blog and tagged #L&SR's #Wednesday's Blog Challenge, Deerbourne Inn Series, Favorite poems, Mystic Maples, On Scoop or Tow Series, or novellas, Paranormal Romance, short stories, Tena Stetler, Time Travle by Tena Stetler with 17 comments.

Jun 3rd #L&SR’s #Wednesday’s Blog Challenge -Things I WIsh I Were Better At

Welcome to #L&SR’s #Wednesday’s Blog Challenge 6-3-20, Things I WIsh I Were Better At. Wow this one is easy. so many to choose from. Please have a seat, grab an iced tea or lemonade out of the cooler. Be sure and try a chocolate chip or peanut butter cookie. Lets get started with Things I Wish I Were Better At.

Wow, after last week’s topic, this one is another slam dunk. LOL

Patience is not one of my virtues. I wish it was. My life would certainly be a lot smoother.

Painting – I’d love to be able to paint beautiful scenes of wildlife, beaches, mountains, ocean-front beach houses and mountain cabins. Alas, people don’t even recognize my stick figures. Sad. Huh? With a camera I can frame beautiful scenes and I’m thankful for being able to do at least that much. LOL

Talking in front of a group of people. Believe it or not, debate was something I was good at in high school. Unfortunately, speaking in front of a group is a talent that has to be practiced and honed. It’s not like riding a bike. I need more a lot more work in that area.

Keeping a clean house. I love a clean house, but I HATE to clean it.

Keeping my mouth shut and reading over and thinking before I send an email out. I tend to be a bit sharp tongued at times. WIth that, make sure I listen, really listen to what people are saying to me. Means reading between the lines sometimes. LOL

Being a Type A personality and an extravert I tend to be driven in my tasks/goals and don’t relax, take a break as much as I should. Trying to do better, but….

Promotions. For me, it’s like nailing jello to a moving target. Just about the time you think you’ve got a handle on it, poof, it all changes. Frustrating. Last year I ran lots of ads, test markets, various companies, and came up with a viable plan. It’s worked pretty well this year, but…things are changing again. People’s lives have been upended, everything costs more and wages have been lost or at risk. The upside is that families are spending more time together figuring out what’s more important and what comes next.

So there you have it, a few of the many Things I Wish I Were Better At. I’d love to hear from you. Please share your thoughts on things you wish you were better at. Please list them in the comments below.

Alas, I must return to my writing cave where deadlines loom with edits on my upcoming release HIDDEN GYPSY MAGIC and on a new WIP sixth book in A Demon’s Witch Series(very exciting and coming along very well) so let’s see what other authors list Things I WIsh I Were Better At. L&SR

Pssst… While you’re here, don’t forget to check out my paranormal romance/mysteries click here.

School’s nearly out. Looking an exciting read to whisk you away from your ordinary world into a magical, fantasy adventure in Ireland? Got just the thing. A Magic Redemption. Synn has extraordinary magic and power. Could she really be descended from the elite Guardians Guild made up of magical creatures formed over a millennium ago?

A peek between the pages:

Time seemed to go on forever as she slowed and walked backward for a while, her foot steps in the sand filling with water as she traveled along the shoreline, as if nature erased her intrusion. She turned around and continued her trek. Unaware of how long or how far she’d walked, the sudden outline of a figure, cloaked in the fog, jogging toward her caused panic to set in. Her heart pounded rapidly in her chest, she swallowed hard, adrenalin pumping through her veins as flight or fight response kicked in. Digging her good foot into the sand she prepared to attempt a sprint…to where. Where the hell am I? A quick glance around, she spied a light from a familiar building far off on the bluffs as the figure burst from the fog. A tall, wide-shouldered male with long muscular legs came closer. She froze.

Thanks for popping in. I really appreciate it. Next week, June 10, can you believe it already? Anyway the topic is Favorite poems, short stories, or novellas. Oh boy is that going to be a long list. How about you?

Posted in My Say What Blog and tagged #L&SR's #Wednesday's Blog Challenge, A Magic Redemption, magic, Mystery, Paranormal Romance/Mystery, Tena Stetler, Witches by Tena Stetler with 16 comments.