Worst Case.

Best case: Survival. Worst case: Death. No, this isn't some personal drama I'm going to make a huge confession about and bring you all to tears. Ahhh, you're not disappointed, are you? Don't be - I've got something even better.

Best case: Survival. Worst case: Death, is actually the description on the front cover of James Patterson's and Michael Ledwidge's latest book, Worst Case. It would be difficult not to be familiar with James Patterson novels. He has had more New York Times best sellers than any other writer, ever, according to the Guiness World Records. Think Alex Cross, Women's Murder Club, and Detective Michael Bennett. All of these have been outstanding, have to read, can't miss one, series.

That being said, when I start novels by authors as well know as Patterson is, I always start out with a bit of skepticism. Like most of you, I'm as particular about what I read, as I am about what I write. I do not want to waste the little bit of free time I have on something that turns out to be a disappointment. I expect the author to deliver. Worst Case did not let me down.

All of us with kids have one big fear in common. The fear someone will take your child. In Worst Case, it first happens to one of New York's wealthiest families. The boy is a college freshman who wakes up cold and confused, cuffed to a pipe, with no memory of how he got there. At first this appears to be a case of kidnapping for ransom. But it is not. The kidnapper does not make a ransom call. The question becomes, how much do other, everyday, people pay for the wealthy, privileged few, to live the way they do.

The author gives us detailed descriptions of New York, including the Dakota, where the first kidnap victim's parents live. It is also the building where John Lennon lived, and died. For me, tying in Lennon with social consciousness and the responsibility of the wealthy added another layer to the theme.

The FBI becomes involved, but our main character, Michael Bennett, remains the kidnapper's main contact.

The story continues at a fast pace as another student is abducted. The idea of children being abducted is especially horrific to Bennett who is the father of 10 children. We get another view of Bennett's wild personal life with 10 kids, a nanny and an Irish priest as a grandfather. His life gets even more complicated as he is tempted to become personally involved with the FBI agent sent to work with him on the case - Emily Parker.

I won't be a "spoiler" and give away too much, but I don't think you'll be disappointed if you like a thriller with a thought provoking social issue, a frightening premise about kidnapping, a handsome hero, a few twists and turns in the plot line, and of course, a psychopath.

Worst Case is a good read. I wouldn't steer you wrong. Now go out and get your copy!

Just so you know - I did not receive any compensation for this post. I am not going to benefit in any way if you buy this book. Just sharing!

WOW - Rita from One2Try has been interviewed on Murry Newlands Marketing Blog!

Rita was recently interviewed by Murray Newlands Marketing Blog and the post went live yesterday! Take a look  http://www.murraynewlands.com/2010/03/rita-alarcon-from-one-2-try-an-interview/  it's an excellent chance to get to know Rita better. You already love her site - now you'll love her also!

Rita Alarcon from One 2 Try An Interview
by Murray on March 25, 2010

Rita began as a food blogger who shared recipes. She now reviews products, leaning a bit on food items, writes about her life and shares her humor. One of my favorite weekly posts is “Dear So and So” where she writes imaginary letters based on a specific topic. Be sure to hold your sides while reading these!

Tell me about your Blog -

One 2 Try came about from all the recipes I have collected over the years I found from magazines or newspapers. I was accumulating so many I separated them in different boxes. The ones I really wanted to make I called One to try! This brought my enjoyment of food as a natural topic for my blog. I want to share with my readers something so good they want to try it. It evolved into more than just recipes, now it is products, places to go, blogs to visit and much more. There is always One 2 Try.

What was your first blog?

One 2 Try is my first blog. I started it in January of 2009 as a way to find recipes to share on the web. I initially set out to share the events or restaurants in my area but I felt it was so limited. I wanted to reach out across state lines with products or recipes anyone could try. After a few months of figuring out how to do the blogging, I really began heavily posting in July of 2009. Since then I have reached 741 posts. I have a lot to say I guess. I do have two other blogs in mind that I would love to bring to life. I enjoy writing. I try to write with humor and warmth. The reason I write is for the people that are reading. That is what drives me.

What is the biggest tip you would give to product reviewers?

Stay organized. Keep track of all the contacts. Make sure you keep your schedule up to date. It can become overwhelming sometimes but with good organizational skills everything should be in place. I use two spreadsheets, a calendar book, countless email folders and a desk organizer to keep the information where I need it. Then I have a backup system to my computer just in case.

Are you contacted by advertisers or do you contact them or both?

When I started out I was doing pretty much all of the contacting. If I really wanted to try something I would find the contact information and let them know I am interested. I send nearly 20 to 30 contact letters every few days. Sometimes more. Today it is a mixture of both my generated contacts and the companies initiating contact to me directly, which I love.

What is your favorite product that you have reviewed?

All of them! I enjoy learning about a product. Whether it is a product to use or a food to eat, it is about trying something new. That makes it exciting. One of my very favorite products, is the review I did for J. Winterbower Glass Art. I still have the beautiful Vortex Marble on my desk to look at. I feel it was my most descriptive review ever!

What do advertisers do that you wish they wouldn’t/ do that you like?

Dislike: When you reach agreements on reviewing a product or providing a giveaway, then you never get the product. To make matters worse your emails about the product go unanswered. It is like they just disappeared. I am always looking forward to trying all the products but when one falls through beyond my control it makes me wonder what happened. I really wanted to feature your product that is why I contacted in the first place.

Like: Prompt replies to emails. I really like hearing from the advertisers about the review I have just posted for them. It makes me feel special when I get a “great job”. I also like when they contact you again for another review.

What do bloggers do that you wish they wouldn’t/do that you like?

Dislike: I would never criticize another blogger because everyone has their own writing style and preference. My dislike is the black backgrounds with the white or colored text. I think it looks great but it hurts my eyes to read it.

Like: Talking about other blogs. I love being mentioned on other blogs and I hope blogs like to be mentioned on mine. I link to a lot of fun recipe blogs. These folks are cooking something good. To me it is another form of One 2 Try – by trying a new blog.

What advertiser would you like to work with given a chance?

On a dream scale -Frigidaire or LG. I am sure they have an extra washer and dryer somewhere waiting to be reviewed. HP computers would be another dream. On a more realistic scale, I would love to work with Cuisinart. Most of the appliances are perfect for my lifestyle and fit nicely in the theme of my blog.

Where do you see growth in the blogging field?

Pooled resources. With so many blogs out there I see the trend of bloggers working more together to become an advertising force.

What is one thing about you that not many people know?

I am a big Elvis fan. When my husband and I got married we had an Elvis wedding in Las Vegas. Elvis sang and it was a blast. It was just the wedding we wanted.

What’s your favorite book?

Dragon Fantastic. It is a compilation of stories about dragons that I read many many years ago. Several of the stories have remained in my memory. I still have my copy of the book.

What is on your iPod?

I do not have one, but I would be happy to review one! If I did it would be filled with Dave Matthews Band, Elvis and Garth Brooks.

What are your contact details?

email: one2tryblog@hotmail.com

blog: http://one2try.blogspot.com/

Twitter http://twitter.com/one2try

facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/One-2-Try/334530003599

What events do you attend?

I am just getting started on the bloggers events. I will be attending my first one in April. I am hoping one of the big events will make its way to the West Coast in the near future. Las Vegas would be a great place too.

How do you prefer to communicate?

I like email the best. It is fast, convenient and pretty much instant. I am in front of the computer most of the time anyway so I can respond quickly.

Who would you recommend, and why?

Lynn at Midday Escapades. http://www.middayescapades.com/ I am a partner with her for Friday Follow. She is always willing to help and comes up with the greatest ideas.

Tami at Hearts Make Families. http://heartsmakefamilies.com/ My other partner for Friday Follow. I love her writing and sense of humor. She always makes me feel special.

Leslie at Leslie Loves Veggies. http://www.leslielovesveggies.net/ She is a lot like me. We both adore food. She has always been there when I need help on something.

Valerie at Sweeps4bloggers. http://sweeps4bloggers.com/ Valerie lives in Southern California too and we are getting together to finally meet each other face to face. She always has a moment for me in her busy day.

Susan at Blackberry Jam Café. http://blackberryjamcafe.blogspot.com/ Something about Susan touched me. She enjoys artsy things and is an artist at heart.

Julee at Mommy’s Memorandum. http://jonbonjovious.blogspot.com/ She is just crazy fun. Did you know she loves Bon Jovi? She reached out to me for some help and I love helping others.

Jennifer at Review Retreat. http://www.reviewretreat.com/ She needed a simple answer on a question she had and since then we have communicated quite often.

Angela at Angela Vinez Designs. http://thepictureperfectboutique.com/ I love the design she created for my blog. She works quickly and if I ever have any questions she is there to help.

Foodgawker – http://foodgawker.com/ I am a foodie, need I say more.

Eddy Van Damme http://www.eddyvandammeusa.com/ . I had the chance to meet Chef Eddy and he is the nicest, warmest person. He teaches his pastry craft at Houston Community College. He showcases some of his luscious recipes on his blog. They are fabulous. They always make me drool.

Robin at Bea’s Baskets. http://store.beasgiftbaskets.com/StoreFront.bok I have been featuring Bea’s Gift Baskets throughout the year at different holidays. She is a fantastic sponsor and a wonderful friend.

What is one thing people can do for you?

Come by my blog then subscribe! I have so many fun things I would hate for you to miss anything.

Lucky Winner of Bea's Gift Basket Eggstravaganza!

True Random Number Generator

Min: 1
Max: 430
Result: 178
Powered by RANDOM.ORG

# 178   Tamara B. said:  I entered the Bea's Basket Easter Eggstravaganza on One 2 Try.

Timestamp:  March 16, 2010 12:12 PM

Congratulations Tamara B! I'm so pleased for you - I have no doubt you'll love your Gift Basket from Bea's. Tamara has been notified by email, and has confirmed.

Thank you to all who entered!

Friday Follow - SPECIAL EDITION - cash prize!

 I am pleased to be participating in a SPECIAL EDITION of Friday Follow, hosted by One 2 Try, Midday Escapades, and Hearts Make Families.  Scroll down and enter your blog on the McLinky. There is a cash prize involved this week from the sponsor of Friday Follow so you won't want to miss it!

 You are invited to join our Hostesses every Friday to get more blog followers and to follow other interesting blogs. It is all about sharing and having fun.

This week's Friday Follow Sponsor and a GIVEAWAY is exclusively for Friday Followers! Please grab BOTH buttons after linking up. By grabbing our sponsor button you help us to promote this new venture and keep Friday Follow going strong for everyone.

Check out our Friday Follow Sponsor and Giveaway!

No need to fear the dentist anymore. You can reduce the visits and make your dentist happy too. Brush with Tooth Soap®. Non-toxic, sustainable, organic and no need for a warning label. Created by a mom who has kids with no cavities. Get more information at: http://www.toothsoap.com/special-offers.

Toothsoap.com " I LOVE TOOTH SOAP®" CASH Giveaway!

THREE one hundred dollar cash prizes up for grabs from Toothsoap.com as a thank you for your Friday Follow participation! Have fun - you'll be surprised how many wonderful new sites you'll find by participating!

Here is this week's CASH Give Away info:

THREE one hundred dollar cash prizes up for grabs from Toothsoap.com as a thank you for your Friday Follow participation!

Contest Requirement: To be entered into the contest for three 100 dollar cash prizes please do the following:

-Please place the Toothsoap.com button on your blog post today for Friday Follow and also on your blog sidebar.

-During the week of March 26 - April 2, 2010 THREE winners will be chosen AT RANDOM to win a 100 dollar cash prize from TOOTHSOAP.COM

-Winners are selected by random.org using the Friday Follow Link System

-Winners selected MUST have the Toothsoap.com button on displayed prominently on both their Friday Follow post and blog sidebar to be eligible to win said prize.

-Winners will be notified by email and by blog comment by team@toothsoap.com.

-Winners have 24 hours from notification date to claim 100 dollar cash prize via email.

-Cash prize is payable by Paypal.com or check from Vitality Products to winners (winners choice).

-Contest ends Friday, April 2, 2010 at the stroke of midnight.

-Open to US & Canada Residents

Here's how Friday Follow works:

--Link up your blog name and URL using the MckLinky below. Only need to add on one blog to be seen on all the blog hops.

--Grab the Friday Follow and Sponsor buttons and include both on your Friday Follow blog post.

--Follow the Friday Follow hostesses listed in the first 3 slots.

--Follow as many other blogs on the linky as you'd like.

--Take a moment to comment on the blogs telling them you're from Friday Follow.

--Follow back when you get a new follower through Friday Follow.

This list is new each week. The links do not carry over. Please link up each week for new participants to find your blogs. The list is only open to add your blog links on Fridays. It will be visible all week to visit the blogs listed.

I have a confession to make about Petey.

You have all been so very kind to tell me you think I'm doing a nice thing by taking in "Petey", and I really do appreciate all the sweet things you've said. But I have to confess. Here's the simple truth about the whole thing.

When we find the dogs who have been abandoned - or they find us - we're the ones who actually benefit the most from the situation. We get more out of this than the dogs do. Seriously.

When you see a dog start to trust someone again after they have been abandoned or abused, it's the best feeling in the world. It's an amazing realization about how simple things can be, and probably should be. After all the cruelty they may have gone through, they're able to let it go and give someone else a chance to be in their world. You can't help but love them. Wouldn't it be nice if we knew more people who were like dogs in that way!

It really is that simple in their world. If more people would realize the loyalty and unconditional love these animals have to give, maybe there wouldn't be so many dogs dropped off in the country. Maybe we can try to help people understand these dogs give you far more than we could ever give them. Just give them a chance.

So while I am so appreciative there are really nice people out there, who are kind enough to take the time to comment about what I'm doing, I don't think I'm doing anything more than all of you would do in the same situation.

Here's how I see this - If you have a big enough heart to tell me I'm going a good thing - you have a big enough heart to also help something, or someone, who needs you. I know you do! So thank you for all your sweet comments - but I promise you, I'm getting much more from Petey than he is from me!

With a little coaxing and a lot of bribery.......Petey is safe!

It actually took a lot of coaxing and a lot of bribery, but my husband finally got our latest stray dog into the barn, and safely in a stall, where we can keep him warm and fed. We worried all day Friday because although it was warm here on Friday, on Saturday and Sunday we've had snow and really cold temperatures.

He's really a sweet thing - and yes, he is a male dog - but he's terribly undernourished. When you run your hands down his back, his hip bones and ribs are the main thing you feel. Under all that hair he's not in very good shape. He's gone without care for a lot longer than we first thought.

My husband named him "Petey". I'm not sure there's any significance to the name - he just looks like a Petey! And surprisingly, he seems to respond to the name. Or maybe he just responds to any kindness, which seems even sadder to me.

We quickly printed a few flyers with his picture and did the usual things - taped them to the windows of the vet clinics, the convenience stores and the feed stores. In a small town like ours, it's easy to get the store owners to help. I'll put in a classified 'Lost and Found' ad tomorrow. But, unfortunately, it's unlikely we'll find his owner. At least that's been our experience. We always hold out a bit of hope the dogs who wander in at our farm maybe just got lost, and can't find their way home. But over the years we've never had one person come forward and claim a dog or cat.

So Petey will get a trip to the vet tomorrow - if we can get him into a crate without making him more afraid. We tried to put a collar and a leash on him, but he wasn't about to cooperate. Sometimes when we have strays, they'll have marks on their necks where an 'owner' left a collar on them that was too tight. That doesn't seem to be the case with Petey. He just appears to be terribly neglected, and discarded.

The vet will also scan him in case he had a micro chip inserted when he was a baby, but it's unlikely - Petey looks like he's probably a mixed breed. Look at that face - he's cute as can be! Then we'll get him groomed and make sure he doesn't have any injuries. I'll never forget how bad I felt when I ran my hands over Buddy and found all the buckshot under his skin. It still makes me mad.

The next couple of weeks with Petey will be the easiest - fatten him up! We feed a high fat / high protein feed when we need to nurse a dog back to good health, and they love it. I guess I would too - like eating ice cream, steak, and pizza all day! With any luck, we'll find someone nice to adopt him - and we'll have a happy ending for Petey.

Who does this kind of thing? Again - someone dumped a dog out on the road.

 OK - most of you know this makes me crazy. When we got out and about yesterday morning we had another stray dog hanging around the barn. This one is timid, and afraid, which usually means someone has mistreated it or abused it. It had found the dog food in the barn so at least I know it's not still hungry, but we still can't get close enough to know if it's physically hurt.

I distinguish between physically hurt and heartbroken - yes, I understand some of you will think I'm over reacting by saying the dog is heartbroken - but how would you feel if the person you loved unconditionally, and trusted implicitly, took you for a ride in the car and just dumped you out. Dumped you out, and drove off. Leaving you to fend for yourself with no shelter, no food and no water. I think heartbroken fits.

It's obvious no one has groomed the dog in quite a while, and I'm not even sure I can determine the breed with any certainty. As soon as we can establish some trust, we'll take it to the vet and get it checked out - find out if it's a male or female, get it tested for heartworm and cleaned up a bit.

Then we'll try to find a home for it - but realistically, the chance is slim the outcome will be as successful as it was for Buddy (click this link to go back to the Buddy post).

When my daughter came by yesterday afternoon she was all upset because the dog was laying in the middle of the road. She thought it had been run over, but when we walked up to it, it jumped up and ran off. Apparently it was just sleeping in the road - which is also going to limit the chance of this dog making it for very long trying to survive in the country. The poor thing is not very car aware, or apparently has not been around cars to know he can get run over. Makes me think maybe it has been living in someone's backyard.

It's not very "street smart" - in the most literal way.

How does someone go home and sleep at night knowing they left a poor defenseless animal, completely out of it's element, confused and frightened?  I'm usually very calm, and easy to get along with - but this - this makes me want to find who did this; put them in the truck, and take them way out in the country. Then drop them off - no food, no water, no cell phone, no flashlight, no coat, no umbrella. 

And see just how well they make it. Sounds fair to me - what do you think?

Friday Follow and Bea's Gift Basket Give Away - enter at Blackberry Jam Cafe!

Welcome to a SPECIAL edition of Friday Follow celebration hosted by One 2 Try, Hearts Make Families, and Midday Escapades! You are invited to join us every Friday to get more blog followers and to follow other interesting blogs. It is all about sharing and having fun.

We're so excited to announce our Sponsor of Friday Follow - Bea's Gift Baskets! Please grab BOTH buttons after linking up. By grabbing our sponsor button you help us to promote this new venture and keep Friday Follow going strong for everyone.

Blackberry Jam Cafe is also very pleased to be part of the

Bea's Gift Basket Eggstravaganza! You have an opportunity to win your choice of Gift Basket (up to $50.00) from Bea's Gift Baskets by entering the Give Away at

Blackberry Jam Cafe, One 2 Try, and Mommy's Memorandum.

Scroll down to the previous post on this site for the details!

You can enter at all 3 sites!

Check out this week's Friday Follow Sponsor!

Let Bea’s Gift Baskets.com help you deliver your Easter Bunny this year. We have all sorts of Bunnies for your Bunny. From Little Bunny Foo Foo, Hoppy Easter Gift Pail, to the Ultimate Easter Selection. We Have Everything You Need to send that Perfect Gift. Free Ground Shipping on Gifts over $50.00 through March 30th.

Bea’s Gift Baskets.com has been online for four years. We have baskets and gifts for all occasions. You will find something for everyone. Customers have been so kind to support us again and again. Bea’s wants every customer to be satisfied. My customers are my business and that means everything to me. I also want to thank the ladies leading the Friday Follow for allowing me to grace their blogs and make more new friends. We look forward to many new customers and wish everyone a Happy Easter.

Thank you Bea's Gift Baskets!

Hoppin' Down the Bunny Trail....to Bea's Gift Baskets Eggstravaganza!

The Easter Bunny will be even more appreciated if he's Hoppin' Down the Bunny Trail with a basket from Bea's Gift Baskets! Easter will be here before you know it, so it's time to be thinking about how you'll make it special at your house. I know I'm already planning! I hope you noticed the button for
Bea's Gift Baskets on the right side of my site.

There's a reason for that - Bea's Gift Baskets has the best assortment of gorgeous baskets I've come across. There are baskets from simply spectacular to sweet and fun. There are baskets for every occasion, and in every color. You can easily find something for everyone, from the kids to the grown-ups and the Easter selection is especially bright and sunny!

This is the one I've chosen for my almost grown up daughter - The Ultimate Easter Selection:

A pretty green spring planter bears the Ultimate Easter Selection of treats and goodies to all the little girls and boys on your Easter list! Even Moms and Dads will enjoy all the goodies delivered by this cute little bunny! Send the Ultimate Easter Selection to some bunny special today!

Includes:

Green Spring Planter, Spring Lemon Buds, Russell Stover Marshmallow Cream Egg, Asst 1.6 oz 20 Flavor Jelly Belly Beans, Ghirardelli Chocolate Bar, Mrs. Grace Lemon Cookies, Chocolate Fudge Pound Cake, Milk Chocolate Easter Bunny, Easter Marshmellow Peeps, White Chocolate Peanut Butter Cream Filled Chocolates,Yogurt Covered Pretzels, Chocolate Mint Biscotti, Chenille Easter Bunny.

And I have a very dear friend who will love this beautiful selection - Tea Rose Tea Time Basket

Roses Roses everywhere. This beautiful rose adorned tea set is sure to bring a smile to her face on Easter Morning. Not just for tea lovers this beautiful rose adorned basket is filled with:

 

Porcelain Rose Teapot, two matching porcelain teacups with saucers, a double dipped chocolate stir spoon, Cafe twists desert sticks, Sisters Blend Green Tea, Sisters blend Earl Gray Tea, Sisters Blend Morning Glory Tea Blend, Cashew Roca Toffee, Wildflower Honey, Ferraro Gourmet Chocolates, Angelinas Shortbread Butter Cookie Assortment, Chocolate Milano Biscotti, Lacey's toffee cookies. Complete with a dark stain basket and topped with a floral handmade bow.

 

You can place your Easter Basket order directly from Bea's Gift Baskets.  Be sure to order by March 30th to receive your lovely basket in time for Easter. Any gift or basket over $50.00 receives free shipping in the continental U.S.! If you click on the button below you'll link to the Easter selections.

Now that I've told you all about

Bea's Gift Baskets - Join Blackberry Jam Cafe, One 2 Try, and Mommy's Memorandum for our Easter Eggstravaganza!

Bea's Gift Baskets is giving a basket away at all 3 blogs.

Here is your chance to win at Blackberry Jam Cafe! Bea's Gift Baskets is providing to One Lucky Reader a choice of an Easter Gift Basket up to $50.00 value. Thank you very much Bea's! 

And, you can visit One 2 Try and Mommy's Memorandum for more chances to win.

Mandatory Entry (First entry)

--Visit Bea's Baskets to "hunt" for your favorite Easter Basket. Tell me in a comment which basket you would like to receive or give as a gift.

--Include your email address (if not public in a profile) so I can contact you if you win.

Additional optional entries - Eligible after completing mandatory entry above: You can do any or all of the following for one entry each. Please leave a separate comment for each that you have done.

--Follow my blog on Google Friends. If you're already a follower, just leave a comment saying that you  are a follower.

--Post my button on your blog and leave a link to your blog.

--Follow me on Twitter. Current followers are eligible too, just leave a comment saying that you are a twitter follower.

--Enter the Bea's Basket Easter Eggstravaganza on One 2 Try. Come back to let me know you have entered.

--Enter the Bea's Basket Easter Eggstravaganza on Mommy's Memorandum. Come back to let me know you have entered.

--Friend Bea Alexander on Facebook .

--FOR 10 MORE ENTRIES - Make any purchase from Bea's Gift Baskets. Post TEN separate comments about your purchase (will be verified).

Giveaway ends on March 25th at 11:59 PM Pacific time. Open to US addresses only. No PO Boxes. Winner will be chosen by random.org and contacted by email. Please respond in 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen. To be fair to everyone, comments not meeting requirements will be deleted.

Many thanks to Bea's Gift Baskets for providing the giveaway product.

Disclosure: No monetary compensation was offered or accepted for this post. The opinions above are my own. Other's experiences may vary.

Laugh, Learn, and Meet New Friends - Join Us For Friday Follow!

Once again - it's Friday Follow! I've found so many wonderful new sites from Friday Follow it's become one of my favorite things to do for the week. I really look forward to the wide variety of topics covered on so many new blogs. I laugh; I learn; and I meet new blogging friends.

I had no idea y'all were doing so many fun things!

Here's how you can join the celebration:

First, leave a comment, and Follow me here at Blackberry Jam Cafe.

I'll stop by your site and return the favor.

 Next, click on our Hostesses links below and get linked up!

Rita at One 2 Try            Midday Escapades             Hearts Make Families

It's fun and it's easy - and you'll discover so many new interesting sites. Now go out and Follow- it's Friday!

10th Annual Irish Festival in Dallas combines Ireland and Scotland, at least for a day!

 Last weekend was the 10th annual Irish Festival in Dallas. It's advertised as the biggest Irish Festival in the Southwest so I was ready, and excited! I had waited weeks and weeks for this event and I was like a kid going to the circus. My husband and I both rearranged our schedules so we could make a full day of it. The weather was perfect on Saturday, so off we went!

Here are a few photos of what I saw as I made my way through the crowds.

This group appears to be a friendly mix of Irish and Scottish Festival lovers. I was surprised to see so many kilts, but I learned later there was also a Scottish Village in one of the buildings.

                                        

These ladies look like they take the festival very seriously! I thought I had overdone it with a green shirt and a few strands of beads - I was so under dressed in comparison!

There were probably as many dogs as people wearing the green! Little dogs with green t-shirts, hats and beads. Big, big, dogs with bandanas and hats.

                      

This was one of my favorite finds - a traditional Irish Story Teller. I stood in front and watched and listened for so long I think I was starting to make him nervous!

A Pottery Demonstration was also fun - kids were gathered all around and encouraged to participate. She was making smaller pots on the wheel so the kids could handle them.

A Spinning Lesson was way over my head, but I liked that you could walk up and ask questions while she just kept spinning. I'd like to know more about fabric arts, but I've just never taken the time to learn.

My loss.

This may have been my favorite part of the day - street art is amazing to watch as it comes together with the perspective in tact. It wasn't evident to me at this stage, but the final picture was an Irish Unicorn and a rainbow. Very cool.

On stages all around the grounds were Irish Dancers, Irish Music, Irish Poetry, and Irish Songs. Some of it was lively and fun - some was sweet and moody. Without a doubt, all of them were beautifully done.

But (and I can't believe I'm saying this) as the day wore on, there were parts of the Festival that were a bit disappointing to me. While I like most of the photos I took, and enjoyed the Texas version of an Irish Fest - including the guy wearing his Cowboy boots, Cowboy hat, and a kilt - I started feeling like I was in the middle of a parody of Ireland, or maybe in the middle of thousands of people pretending to be Irish. It just didn't feel like I thought Ireland would feel. It didn't feel authentic.

                  

I couldn't help but wonder if anyone would actually wear Dr. Seuss style felt hats covered in Shamrocks in Ireland. I'm guessing no. But as we started to leave, I realized I was being too harsh. The felt hats made people smile; and no one really cared if you stood in line to get Irish Stew that tasted like it was out of a can. Or that the Festival version of traditional Corned Beef and Cabbage was a big disappointment - what really mattered was exactly why I went to begin with.

Everyone there was excited to be celebrating St. Patrick's Day, and maybe dreaming about a little piece of Ireland that was important to them. I heard many, many people proudly telling others what part of Ireland their relatives had come from. They were just trying to make a connection with a country and a culture they love. Thousands of people from all over Texas got out their green, dressed up their dogs, and came to Dallas to share a love of all things Irish!

How can that be wrong?

Traditional or authentic? I don't think it matters. What was important is people cared enough about their Irish heritage to come out and share it with others. I learned just yesterday there are over 30 million people in the U.S. with Irish ancestors. So just like me, many wanted to be around anything Irish to make the connection.

And just between you and I - I brought home even more strands of green, St. Patrick's Day beads. Which I'm also guessing - are not traditional Irish. Just fun!

I hope all of you have a chance to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in some way next week! There could be a bit of Irish in you, too!

I've Fallen in Love, with a Puppy! A Biewer Terrier a la Pom Pon.

At our house, we love dogs. It really is that simple - we've kept several dogs people have dropped off by the side of the road. We have dogs we've raised; we have dogs that are trained as service dogs; we have some dogs just because they're cute. And, we love them all (even the ones that are not so cute). Because we've owned dogs for so many years, I felt like we knew a little bit about them. We're dog people.

But, until now, I never knew anything about a little breed of dog called Biewer Terrier a la' Pom Pon. The name is way too big for this tiny little dog.

Look at this face!

These little bundles of fur have the sweetest look about them.

 I was looking for info about Yorkshire Terriers when I came across TinyPuppy.com. I want to qualify this also - I don't know anything about this site, and I don't have any connection to who owns it. I just stumbled across them. I have a Yorkie who is getting older, and sometimes has a hard time getting around, so I was trying to find out what might help her joints. But as soon as I saw these cuties, I had to know more about them.

Here's what I learned on one site:

The breed was believed to have been developed in Germany in 1984.
But by the year 2000, the Biewer had lost its popularity in Germany and the number of breeders had dwindled significantly. It wasn’t until the breed was introduced in America in 2004 that its popularity was revitalized. The breed standard was never perfected in this short time and has consequently been the cause of many debates among today’s breeders. Some breeders say the Biewer is an outcross of the Yorkshire Terrier, others disagree, and claim the Biewer is a separate breed. Biewer is pronounced Bee Vair according to another site. Apparently the ongoing debate about the origin of this little dog can get quite heated. To some, it is a "mixed breed"; to others a "pure breed". Either way, one thing I couldn't help notice on the sites I found is the breeders are charging a significant "adoption fee" for a Biewer. Must be the Cute Factor!

Maybe someone who knows more about the Biewer will fill me in. I guess it's probably too much to expect someone to drop one off near my house!

Irish Muses and Donegal, Ireland

Earlier this morning I had such a pleasant surprise when I started reading the blogs I follow. I was sitting at the computer in my office, but the caffeine had not yet cleared my brain. I was scrolling down my reading list, when I spotted Blackberry Jam Cafe.  I seriously had a moment of confusion - had I posted something I forgot about? Or, had I set up a post to be published this morning? Neither.

Micki at Irish Muses (follow the link) had done a post about my love of all things Irish. Micki and her husband Joe live in - you guessed it - a cottage near Killahoey Beach, in Donegal County, Ireland.  Be still my heart.

How perfect is this? Micki is a quilter, and has also lived in Texas, but she is now a true Irish lassie. What a fun combination! I need to ask her if her y'all now has an Irish accent. She has posted some of the most gorgeous photos of her world - which only added fuel to the fire for me. Stop by and check out her photos, and her quilts. I know you'll enjoy her as much as I am.

Micki has also very graciously offered to show me around when I get there (someday) - and I am publicly promising not to stalk her! Don't you love this about the blogging world. You meet some really, honestly, nice people.  Thank you, Micki - I'm going to keep on planning.

Everything Irish, including Irish Dreams. Today - Irish Quilts

I've been planning and dreaming of a trip to Ireland for several years, so it's very hard for me not be excited for the next 2 weeks as we build up to celebrate the most Irish of all days - St. Patrick's Day. From Irish Cottages, to Irish Castles, Irish coffee, Irish crystal and Irish linens - I love it all!

For me it's a combination of history, and a love of all things with a story to tell. Not long ago I did a post about vintage quilts and I talked about how I appreciate the idea of women saving scraps of clothing their families had worn out, or maybe a dress a little girl had grow out of, and using those pieces of fabric to create something new, and useful, in a quilt. They were telling a story about their family with a quilt. The picture above I found on a retail site so I don't think it's vintage, but it is a very pretty example of an Irish design. This next picture I found on a Nebraska History site, and it's said to be dated 1939, Irish Chain Quilt.

http://www.nebraskahistory.org/sites/mnh/quilts.htm

I've been very fortunate to have found and collected some very pretty vintage quilts over the years, but I wanted to know more about the history of the Irish Chain quilts. I've never owned an Irish Chain quilt because I've never found an antique or vintage one. What I have found are many on line photos of Irish quilts and some history about them. It was a search I thoroughly enjoyed and I'd like to share some of it with you. I found a site which was full of the information I was looking for. The link is below if you'd like to know more.

EARLY IRISH PATCHWORK QUILTS AND TRADITIONS by Roselind Shaw in Belfast, Northern Ireland


Ireland has a long tradition of making patchwork quilts. During the 18th century patchwork and quilting was introduced to Ireland by the English gentry. These ladies of high society, living on their Irish country estates, were known to have taught many needlework skills, including patchwork and quilting to those working in service, in time this craft spread to surrounding cottages, villages and towns. Ireland’s tradition of patchwork and quilting thrived and grew rapidly out of thrift and necessity. Traditionally, Irish patchwork comprise of two layers the top and the backing stitched together with wave or chevron patterns. The early patchwork introduced in Ireland were similar, it seems the Irish carried on this tradition, handing it down from generation to generation. The Irish lived in small communities on an island with little opportunity for travel. These factors helped to keep the tradition as it was. It is also thought they could not afford to line a quilt the wool would have been needed for another use.

In mountainous, bleak and rural areas of Ireland, an old worn blanket or sheet could have been added to a patchwork giving it extra weight and warmth, looking very rough and primitive these patchworks were purely functional made from hand woven fabrics, tweeds and old suiting, they were usually tie quilted with carded sheep’s wool or roughly quilted with linen thread



The types of patchwork quilts made in Ireland were log cabin, crazy, Irish chain, signature, mosaic, frame, block, and many examples of appliqué.


Turkey red and white patchwork quilts were very common in Ulster, and were often referred to as an Ulster patchwork quilt. It looked bright and cheerful in the dark cottages with the flickering lights of the turf fires. Quite often these patchworks were hand pieced, then machine quilted, it seems the finished quilt with it’s patterns and colour were more important than the hand quilting which would have been time consuming when many other household tasks needed to be done. As not many owned a sewing machine it was prestigious to show of machine quilting, giving the impression that she was better of than she really was.

These utility patchwork quilts along with scraps from linen handkerchiefs table cloths and pyjama factories, provide a great insight into the Northern Ireland textile Industry reminding us of a by gone era. Flour bags were saved, washed and bleached to use as a back to the patchwork. During the Second World War the American army was stationed in Northern Ireland, they had their own bakery in Crumlin, Co. Antrim. The flour was shipped from America. The bags from this flour are often found on the back of Co. Antrim patchworks made in this time.


Many of the patterns found in Irish patchwork are very similar to American patterns. Nostalgic emigrants whose thoughts lay in the green fields of Ireland stitched their Irish patterns in the new world. They also sent ideas back to their homeland

http://www.antiquequiltdating.com/Early_Irish_Patchwork_Quilts_and_Traditions.html

I'm still dreaming and planning - maybe I need an Irish Coffee so I can settle in and really get organized!

We're Dippin' - Italian Dip Sandwich, Philly Cheesesteak - Pioneer Woman?

Just last week I saw a recipe from The Pioneer Woman that was very similar to one we do at our house. On The Pioneer Woman site it's called Drip Beef so I want to be sure I give credit where credit is due. My sister-in-law swears this is a Philly Cheesesteak, with a dip on the side.

At our house, we've always called this Italian Dip Sandwich, or Roast Beef Dip - but either way, it's super simple to make, and it's always been a favorite. I start with a pot roast, a trimmed beef brisket, or a sirloin roast - or whatever is the special at the grocery store - about 4 to 5 lbs. If I happen to get a sirloin roast at a good price, I'll season and roast it in the oven. If I use a pot roast or trimmed brisket, the crock pot works it's magic for a super tender shredded beef.

Season the roast with Italian Seasoning, I use about 3 Tablespoons. Add beef broth almost to cover, and a generous handful of Sweet Italian Peppers and Pepperocini. I leave it in the crockpot for about 7 - 8 hours on high. If I'm roasting in the oven, it's about 4 hours on 325 degrees and I'll cover the roast, surrounded by the peppers, with foil.

About a half hour before we're ready for dinner, I'll sautee 2 white onions, and a package of mushrooms in olive oil. I'm always happy if I find the 'steak cut', thicker sliced mushrooms. If not, I'll slice my own so they're more substantial when you bite into this sandwich. I also add a pinch of Italian Seasoning, and salt and pepper, to the onions and mushrooms while they're cooking.

When the roast is tender, take 2 forks and gently shred the beef, careful not to pull apart the peppers. We're pretty casual around here, so I will put the shredded beef, the peppers, and the onions and mushrooms, on small platters so everyone can assemble their sandwich the way they like it.

We like to use sub rolls, so I'll brush them with olive oil and run them under the broiler to brown. You need a little crisp to the buns so they don't get soggy when you dip them.

We have a friend who never wants to add the cheese; she likes hers with just the onions and mushrooms, which is also great. This becomes a 'do it yourself' dinner with everyone assembling sandwiches around the kitchen counter.

Most everyone here likes to add Provolone Cheese to theirs. Add the cheese, and quickly melt under the broiler. Usually we'll have several going in at the same time so I line them all up on a cookie sheet

and in they go.

Serve with the beef broth from the crock pot, or if I've slow roasted in the oven, I'll add Italian Seasoning to warmed beef broth and put about 1/2 cup into a small bowl for each sandwich. Nothing fancy - but the leftovers are just as good, if not better, the next day. So go ahead - dip away! No matter what you decide to call this one!

A Shimmy In My Spirit: Win $200 - The Keep On Dancing Project

This is looking like something that could become a habit! Cynthia, at A Shimmy In My Spirit has a really fun thing going on. I told you I had started Dancing Around my Kitchen with her a few weeks ago, but now - she's making it really hard to resist! Check this out because it starts today:

Win $200 and a blog award for the Most Enthusiastic Person Dancing Around Their Kitchen During March
It's easy...

Dance around your kitchen, living room, bedroom, bathroom, backyard (wherever in your house) for at least 10 minutes, leave a comment at A Shimmy in My Spirit that you danced - and what your mood was before and after. (See mood scale in left column on her blog.) A point will be given to you each time you dance and comment.

Additional enthusiasm points will be given for listing great songs to dance to, dancing with your kids, friends and others, when alone dancing with wild abandon, encouraging Cynthia, and others to dance.

Don't forget to "follow" so we can remind you to dance, pass on songs etc. I feel a party coming on...

You in? Get early bird enthusiasm points by starting now!

A Shimmy In My Spirit: Win $200 - The Keep On Dancing Project