Halloween Spirit Hunt – Day Eighty-Five #Writerslife

Eighty-Five days until Halloween!  Toil and Trouble are looking for the Halloween Spirit. Did you notice my Halloween count down calendar to the right??  I’ve something a bit different for you this year.  No, it’s never to early for All Hallows Eve!  Halloween is my favorite time of year. Cooler weather, sight and sound of colorful leaves falling or crunching under foot. The smell of fall in the air, pumpkins and pumpkin flavored everything!! Love it! Also Halloween is the only day you can be anyone or anything  you want and no one will say a word.  Don’t forget it’s the day the veil between the living and the dead is the thinnest!

Halloween SpiritYes, I know it’s the sixth of August, which means,  I can continue my annual countdown until Halloween.  To help me this year are Toil (Unicorn) and Trouble (dragon) they are in search of the Halloween Spirit. Here they are searching the hallows of the spilt leaf sumac growing above the rock wall, No spirit there.  LOL

Their friend, Dave (Skeleton), from Texas (thank you Jessica) has decided to mow the lawn in case there are any clues to uncover. He has trouble with what day it is as well.  85 days Dave!

He came up empty handed too.

Each week, on Friday, there will be new pictures of where Toil and Trouble are searching and how Dave is helping.  In the month of October I’ll list the most haunted cities in America. A visit to haunted places in Colorado, my own stomping ground, Spooktacular tips to keep your pet safe this Halloween season. Do you suffer from Samhainopobia? I’ll tell you. These are  just to name a few.  Please check back!

Only 85 days until Halloween, AND a Friday the 13th in August to boot! Bwwwaaaaaaaaaa!!!! Oh, hey over at Paranormal Romantics  FaceBook Page, we are having a Friday the 13th Celebration.  Games, prizes, giveaways, don’t miss out! See you there. 

Plus a Halloween themed book from my collection will be featured each week:  You do know I write paranormal romance/mystery. Right? This week, let me tell you a little about A Witch’s Journey! It is the first book of the award winning series by the same name.

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!

Pepper McKay comes from a long line of powerful witches. Unfortunately, magic brings her nothing but trouble. She learned the love of wildlife rescue and rehab from her Aunt Ashling. After graduating from college, Pepper works for Salem Wildlife Sanctuary and lives from paycheck to paycheck until she inherits the McKay property in Lobster Cove. With the family land and resources, she dares to dream of starting her own wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center.

Lathen Quartz, a former Navy SEAL turned handyman maintains the enchanted McKay property for the McKay estate. But someone is trying to steal the McKay magic. Lathen offers to help Pepper achieve her life-long dream of building a wildlife center. During the long hours spent together on the project, their mutual attraction can’t be denied. But each harbors a deep, dark secret. Will they overcome their demons and give love a chance?

Peek between the pages of A Witch’s Journey & their Halloween Festival or Curse!

Lathen put his hand on her shoulder. “Where’d you go? Been sitting there, knife extended above the pumpkin, for fifteen minutes. Are you going to carve it or just threaten it?” He guffawed and wrapped his large callused hand around hers holding the knife, brought it to the pumpkin, and made carving motions, then tried to hand her an erasable marker. “Try using this first.”

She pushed his hand away and frowned at him. “Oh, stop it. I was thinking about this evening after the celebration. I don’t want anything to go wrong.”

“It won’t. We have a solid plan and several powerful witches to bring it to fruition. So relax and enjoy the festivities of your favorite holiday. But the decorations will be lacking if you don’t get to carving. We need twenty-five jack-o-lanterns, by your own count, for the gazebo and surrounding area tables in the town square. I have the candles and holders for each right here.” As he swung the bag in front of Pepper, the tinkling sound of glass clinking together had her frowning.

See you back here next Friday! You won’t believe where Toil and Trouble wound up. Until then enjoy the warm weather, fall is coming bringing with it Halloween Spirit! Yippee!! Now all we have to do is find it!

 

 

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Summer Beach Bash from Romance-Chicks

Summer Beach BashIn a week of exciting things happening, I am attending the ROMANCE CHICKS SUMMER BEACH BASH tomorrow, August 5 on their facebook page.  AND you’re invited!!!
 
At the Summer Beach Bash, all day long, all genres of romance authors will be posting on the page, introducing themselves, and sponsoring individual giveaways, in addition to prizes from the CHICKS, themselves, of a basket of signed paperbacks and beachy swag, a $50 gift card, AND prizes from individual authors.  You don’t want to miss this!
The rules are easy:
Scroll thru the authors represented, find one (or a doze!) you like, and then comment on their post, PLUS do the request they ask for. For me, it’s to sign up for my newsletter and let me know you have by emailing me. You’ll be entered into a drawing for a $5.00 amazon gift card. All the request/contests will end within 24 hours.
So, set aside some time and join us!!!
Hope to see you there!
Tena
While you here, check out my Paranormal Romance/Mystery novels.

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Halloween Spirit Search – 90 Day Countdown

I’ve something a bit different for you this year.  No, it’s never to early for All Hallows Eve!  Halloween is my favorite time of year. Cooler weather, sight and sound of colorful leaves falling or crunching under foot. The smell of fall in the air, pumpkins and pumpkin flavored everything!! Love it! Also Halloween is the only day you can be anyone or anything  you want and no one will say a word.  Don’t forget it’s the day the veil between the living and the dead is the thinnest!

Toil and Trouble Search for the Spirit of Halloween

Yes, I know it’s the first of August, which means, finally, I can start my annual ninety day countdown until Halloween.  To help me this year are Toil (Unicorn) and Trouble (dragon) they are in search of the Halloween Spirit. Here they are searching the pumpkin patch in front of our house, No spirit or pumpkins yet.  LOL

Their friend, Dave (Skeleton), from Texas (thank you Jessica) had a bit of a problem with the power tools.Skelton Halloween

Forgot his personal protective equipment. Not good!

Each week, on Friday, there will be new pictures of where Toil and Trouble are searching and how Dave is helping.  In the month of October I’ll list the most haunted cities in America. A visit to haunted places in Colorado, my own stomping ground, Spooktacular tips to keep your pet safe this Halloween season. Do you suffer from Samhainopobia? I’ll tell you. These are  just to name a few.  Please check back!

Only 90 days until Halloween, AND a Friday the 13th in August to boot! Bwwwaaaaaaaaaa!!!!

Plus a Halloween themed book from my collection will be featured each week:  You do know I write paranormal romance/mystery. Right? This week, HIDDEN GYPSY MAGIC!

Spookalicious Halloween TreatDiscover the consequences of awakening Hidden Gypsy Magic!

The Salem Wildlife Sanctuary is Gwen Taylor’s life work. Her Irish Gypsy heritage provides a hidden talent she uses to help the creatures under her care. But even her magical skills can’t help new rescues in dire need of veterinary care.

The opportunity of signing on as the vet for Gwen’s sanctuary dropped into Brock Scutter’s lap after he expanded his practice to include wildlife. The personal attraction he and Gwen experience is undeniable the more their professional and personal lives collide.

Touring the only “non-haunted” house in Salem they both feel a spark of magic. A trip to his family’s cabin uncovers a heritage he didn’t know existed. If they want a future together, it means facing the consequences of awakening hidden Gypsy magic and a race against the clock to correct past wrongs

 

Peek between the pages of Hidden Gypsy Magic & their Halloween Party or Curse!

“It feels like all the air is being sucked out of this room.” His brother’s face turned ashen white as Beth’s ghostly form took shape in the center of the room.

Brock moved to the little group gathered and glanced at the grandfather clock standing in the hallway. Fifteen minutes until midnight. The witching hour on All Hallows Eve. A nervous chuckle rose up in his throat. How cliche. His brother would be a believer after this night.

He cleared his throat and wrapped an arm around Gwen’s waist. “Can we help you, Beth?” Misfit’s howling could be heard clearly from the upstairs bedroom.

“No, but I hope we can help you.” Ghost Beth glanced back at the painting and sadly shook her head. “The ghost of Judge John Hathorne stands outside ready to curse or worse all those involved in sullying his reputation. The house stands between all of you…protecting—” The ghost’s hand and arm made a sweeping motion toward their group, “— against his magic ability.”

A soft almost hysterical giggle burst from Gwen. “Doesn’t he know that by his actions this night, he has not only outed himself but proved the rumors and article are true?”

“I don’t believe he’s considered that point.” Beth’s ghostly grim face twitched into a half-smile. “He’s bent on revenge, but apparently had trouble passing through the veil this evening.” She pointed to the clock and then laid a finger on her lips.

See you back here next Friday! Until then enjoy the warm weather, fall is coming bringing with it Halloween! Yippee!!

 

 

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Keep Your Pets Safe This Fourth of July

Pay special attention to your pets safety on the Forth of July!

Did you know? More dogs go missing on the 4th of July than any other day of the year. With all the noisy fireworks, loud parties, and distractions, it’s no wonder so many pooches bolt and get lost on Independence Day.
July Fourth is a significant date for Americans across the United States. Celebrated with parties and FIREWORKS. it is imperative pet owners pay special attention to their four-legged friends during the holiday festivities and afterward.  Ensure that the information on your pet’s collar is current and make sure your dog is microchipped and/or has a GPS device. If they escape, there’s a better chance they’ll get returned.

Always keep you dogs and cats inside when fireworks are going off to avoid their nature to find a safe haven. Make certain your pets are walked prior to fireworks going off, close all windows and doors.  Draw the curtains. Ensure your pets are wearing ID tags, even if in the house, as many animals are expert escape artists. Never leave your dog alone in a vehicle during the celebrations.

You can also prepare a den for your pets inside the house with blankets and pillows in a location they will feel safe.

Pets Safe – Now let’s talk a bit about companion parrots who have to endure this noisy holiday too.

Let me give you an example. Taco and I sit outside in the sunroom every evening after I’ve finished writing for the day during spring, summer, and fall.  Over the past week (end of June first of July) the boom of fireworks are prevalent from early revelers. Taco is normally a fearless Eclectus. She’s learned the outside hawks can’t get to her through the glass of the sunroom. Thunder and lightning doesn’t bother her either, she’s been conditioned from an early age to understand there is nothing to fear.  Now softball size hail falling is another story and a tale for another time. But, the sudden, unexplained noise from the fireworks has her flying off her perch and cowering on my shoulder. So we have to go inside during this time. Boo Hiss.

First we need to remember pet birds (unlike dogs and cats) are prey animals. They have evolved with their eyes on the side of their head, to enable them to spend long periods of their life looking over their shoulder. Some birds can even see better behind them than in front of them.

By nature, birds are neophobic, meaning they naturally want to retreat and avoid anything unfamiliar. By perceiving a new object or sound as a potential threat until proven otherwise, they increase their chances that they won’t end up as someone’s dinner!

This means birds and Parrots are constantly evaluating their environment and can become stressed much more easily than you may think.

Let’s consider some ways to help our pet birds and Parrot reduce the amount of stress, anxiety and fear they suffer with the loud booms, and sudden light displays.

Pets Safe – Tips for birds in the home…

Where possible put your feathered companions in a room without any windows.

Alternatively, cover any windows with blankets, to block out those sudden burst of light.

Covering the bird’s cage with a thick blanket can help muffle any loud noises, plus it helps make the bird feel more secure.

The use of white noise machines or having the TV or radio on a little louder than normal can help drown out the sudden noise of fireworks.

Please note, noise isn’t normally the problem, as Parrots are noisy by themselves, but the sudden sound of an unknown loud noise is what frightens them.

If bird(s) don’t live in a cage it may be wise to utilise a travel cage. Even Parrots who have had their wings clipped have been known to fly off when scared which could cause injury!

Some pet bird owners have been known to play recordings of random noise, including those of fireworks to their birds – be it in the home or those outside in an aviary before firework season begins. The idea is that they eventually learn that unknown noises won’t harm them.

After the celebrations are over, make sure to check your yard any pick up any debris from the spent fireworks or maybe those that didn’t go off.  These are harmful to your pet should they chew or ingest these items!

Most importantly in keeping pets safe:  NEVER TAKE YOUR PET TO A FIREWORKS DISPLAY!

The American Veterinary Medical Association  and AKC have more safety tips. Check them out.  Have a happy and safe Fourth of July!

 

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