The Road to Success

All the roads to success are uphill, but it's not a successful climb unless you enjoy the journey!

 SUCCESS

S - Set your goals
U - Understand the Challenges
C - Collect Your Thoughts
C - Create a Positive Picture
E - Embrace the Procedures
S - Stay on Target
S - Show Everyone You Can Do It

OCTOBER by Robert Frost

American poet Robert Frost (1874-1963) is highly regarded for his realistic depictions of rural life and his command of American colloquial speech. Best known for his poem, "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening," Frost was awarded four Pulitizer Prizes for his poetry.


OCTOBER
Robert Frost (from A Boy’s Will, 1915) 

O hushed October morning mild,
Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;
Tomorrow’s wind, if it be wild,
Should waste them all.
The crows above the forest call;
Tomorrow they may form and go.
O hushed October morning mild,
Begin the hours of this day slow.
Make the day seem to us less brief.
Hearts not averse to being beguiled,
Beguile us in the way you know.
Release one leaf at break of day;
At noon release another leaf;
One from our trees, one far away.
Retard the sun with gentle mist;
Enchant the land with amethyst.
Slow, slow!
For the grapes’ sake, if they were all,
Whose leaves already are burnt with frost,
Whose clustered fruit must else be lost—
For the grapes’ sake along the wall.

OPALESCENCE - A Romantic Suspense by Darla Jones

This week I'm hosting Darla Jones, a Central Pennsylvania writer. Her romantic suspense novel, Opalescence, published by the Wild Rose Press, was recently released. Darla is retired nurse who also enjoys painting as well as writing. Check out her blurb and excerpt below.

BLURB:

       Sensible nurse, LynAnn Johnson just wants to find her birth mother and raise her children in peace.  Widowed for four years, LynAnn isn’t looking for love especially not with the sexy district attorney with a well-known bad boy reputation.

     Prominent district attorney, Jeff Kelley turns LynAnn’s world upside down in more ways than one. With dangerous events pushing them closer together and unraveling a plot far beyond either of their imaginations, she gives her heart to the man.  But is she merely one more conquest in his game of sensous seduction?

EXCERPT:

The day moved in slow motion, and it was nearly over when Paulette rang her phone, her voice near to panic. “LynAnn, I received a call from your daycare. Cassie’s been hurt, and they’re taking her to St. Luke’s. They want you to meet them there.”

'Did they say what happened?” she asked, stunned with a new sick feeling knotting her stomach.
“Something about a fall.” Paulette’s gum cracked.

LynAnn grabbed her purse and flew by the receptionist before she had a chance to put her phone down. “Tell Dan I’m leaving,” she yelled back as she raced out the door.

When she neared Jeff’s Buick in the parking lot she pushed the remote control to unlock the doors, but when she tried the doors they were locked. “That’s odd.” She screwed up her face, distinctly remembering locking the doors earlier. She had to get to Cassie immediately. The woman at the daycare had to be very worried to send the girl directly to the hospital. She pushed the key fob for the second time and the doors clicked open. She jumped into the car, started the engine, and sped out of the parking lot.

The first traffic light at the end of the block was red and she stopped and drummed her fingers nervously on the steering wheel waiting for it to change and hoping Cassie’s injury wasn’t too serious.

Suddenly, she felt something cold on the back of her neck, and her body froze. “Don’t look back. Keep driving,” the man in the backseat commanded, his upper body leaning over the front seat of the car. His icy menacing tone told her he was in control.

LINKS:

 Buy It Now - Amazon Link 

 Darla's Facebook Page

Bon Appetite - A Weekend Treat: STUFFED PEPPER SOUP

Stuffed Pepper Soup

1lb lean ground beef
1 large onion, diced
1 cup uncooked or 2 cups cooked rice, plain or wild          

1 can Hunts flavored diced tomatoes
1 can tomato sauce (14.5oz can)
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp basil
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
1 box chicken stock (32oz)
2 cups water
2 tbsp powdered beef stock
3 bell peppers – green, red and yellow can be used
Cheese for topping (optional)
Fresh cracked black pepper for garnish (optional)

In a large soup pot coated with cooking spray, over medium-high heat, brown the grown beef with the onions and rice. Browning rice gives it a nutty flavor, but do not let it burn.

Dice peppers into small ½" pieces, set side.
Add in the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, oregano, basil, salt, pepper, chicken stock, water, and powdered beef stock, then allow it to come to a boil.

Reduce heat, cover and allow it to cook 20 minutes then add the peppers and allow it to cook another 20-30 minutes depending upon the type of rice.

Serve with cheese on top (optional)

Serves 6 - [398 calories]