Gina Rae Mitchell

The March 27, 2020 Friday Finds is full of good recipes, books, and a fun creative project to help out our medical workers. Since we are all staying home (I hope), I tried to find things that would help fill your time with food, fun, and family togetherness. If you need a break from togetherness, sneak off to your quiet place and read a book or make a mask!

 

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Friday Finds – March 27, 2020 – Books

  2 Boys, a Gun, & Summer by Kelly McKinney

Cal Fisher, twelve years old, lives with his Dad in the same trailer they’ve always been in. His mother has been gone for years. His best friend Auggie lives just across the street with his older brother, Kyle, both parents deceased.

Upon exiting the bus on the last day of school before the summer break, Cal and Auggie encounter a bit of trailer park drama; Kyle’s best friend, Jerry, having burned up in a fire in his trailer earlier in the day.

With school over, the two boys are bound for adventure, starting with the burned up trailer….

During what Cal remembers as the hottest summer ever, the two boys’ lives are turned upside down when the two discover and share ownership of a cold black steel revolver. With the coming of age of two young men; puberty, girls, work, manhood, poverty, and friendship are all pushed to their limits when the two boys find a gun.

 

  The Dog on the Acropolis by Mark Tedesco

A family living in Greece at the time of the construction of the Parthenon and another family, thousands of years later, eking out a living at the base of the Acropolis.

Repercussions of the meeting of man and dog would unfold in unforeseen ways that would impact the lives around them.

The narrative takes the reader to Greece’s Golden Age, in which one dog, Daria, would scamper up the hill to keep up with Adelino, a stonecutter working on the new temple, and his son Tiro. The lives of Pheidias, the architect of the Parthenon, Adelino and Diana his wife, as well as Tiro their son, would intersect in unexpected ways.

This story brings then brings the reader back into the present where past and present eventually coincide, transforming the lives of both canines and humans.

 

  The Fixer: The Naked Man (The Fixer – Katerina Mills Book 1) by Jill Amy Rosenblatt

Silver Medal Winner – Suspense Fiction – 2017 Global Ebook Awards

“Katerina—I need some help. Be a good girl and come over here and I’ll make it worth your while.” It’s an offer NYC college student Katerina Mills should refuse. But how can she? After ditching her cheating lover (and boss), she’s stuck in dead-end temp jobs. Her dad just ditched her mom and his promise to pay Kat’s college tuition bill. She has two weeks to come up with $14,000 or she’s out of her apartment, out of school, and out of luck.

Katerina falls into a job as a “fixer” for New York City’s wealthy and privileged men. They have problems they need “fixed,” quick and on the QT, and they’re willing to pay. The rules are simple: collect the money, use your contacts, fix the problem. Kat’s first job is easy: tail a shopaholic socialite wife. But who’s tailing Kat? Her second job is not so easy: steal a VHS tape hidden in an antique chest. She can’t do it alone. To be a thief, she needs a thief: handsome, reclusive Alexander Winter to be exact.

Kat soon learns the real rules for a fixer: there are no rules, there are no refunds. Get in. Get results. Get gone. As every step brings her closer to her goal and closer to danger, there’s one rule left for Katerina Mills to learn: once you’re in, there’s no getting out.

 

   Child of Tempus (THE GODS’ SCION Book 1) by Winifred Tataw

Rodrick is a prince of the ruling country of Diar. He has a face kissed by the Gods themselves, with deep blue eyes and long ruby-red hair. Speaking of Gods, he also happens to be the Acolyte of Time. Gifts and curses with this power give him control over aspects of time. And being a dragon-human hybrid has its amazing perks too.

But since childhood, Rodrick has had a target on his back, and his insanely power-hungry father, Demon King Ryton, comes across as his closest but worst enemy. Throw in the workings of an alcoholic mother, a bipolar sister, a recovering addict brother, and an adopted little sister with magical powers, and you have the royal family of Diar.

Things couldn’t get any worse until he meets the beautiful Princess Arcelia—but Arcelia isn’t the main problem. She and Rodrick are on now on the run from Rodrick’s father, Ryton.

And with the looming risk of world destruction ahead of them, Rodrick is worried about more than college exams.

 

Fallen From Grace: Dealing with Character Assassination Resulting from the Gaslight Effect by Kimberly Marasco

Fallen from Grace touches on themes of adversity, love, loss, illness, strength, and perseverance. It was written during a time when I confronted adversity in both education and work environments. I describe how I was offered a really great job working in the recruiting industry only to find out how shady and cut-throat the business really is. Lady Gaga sang a song titled Shallow. The events I discuss greatly fits the connotation of shallow in its’ entirety. The shallow times only became worse after I tried defending myself and standing up for my rights. I describe how undue stress contributed to a debilitating illness that made my life a living hell for many months.

Since I could not work or do barely anything as there were many symptoms associated with having a vestibular disorder, I discuss what I did to get better and this book sheds light on many sensitive issues that have remained in the dark for too long. Many people tried to silence and discredit me. However, the truth is nonetheless true, and this book serves as my voice. It is my hope that this book will help others avoid the same traps I fell for and encourage positive change so that we can live healthier, more stress-free lives.

In case you missed it on the website this week!

The Pearl of York: Treason and Plot by Tony Morgan

 

The Fourth Courier by Timothy Jay Smith

Friday Finds – March 27, 2020 – Creative Projects

As you all know, there is an extreme shortage of face masks right now. Here’s your chance to help the cause. This mask can be made by hand or a Cricut machine and a bit of scrap material (link below). Obviously, they are not a replacement for the N95 masks, but they have a filter pocket and are adjustable. They are certainly better than nothing. You can find lots of ways to donate them online. Perhaps this is a fun way to involve your children in supporting our medical staff in their time of need. By wearing one of these, you also prevent yourself from touching your face and you signal to anyone you meet that you are protecting yourself. If your first attempts don’t feel donation worthy, wear them yourself and make more. They are quick and easy.

Jennifer Maker has a written tutorial and a video tutorial out now with instructions. 

Barnes & Noble has a whole section of things to do at home. 

Friday Finds – March 27, 2020 – Recipes

Click on any picture or title to go to the recipe.

Miz Helen’s Country Cottage Baked Green Chili Fajitas

Creamy White Wine Vegan Gnocchi from This Savory Vegan

Cooking with Janica shared her Cadbury Creme Egg Parfait recipe

 

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That wraps up this week’s edition. Be sure you leave me a comment and let me know if you try any of today’s featured items.

Stay safe & healthy my friend!

 

 

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2 Boys, a Gun, & SummerShop on Amazon The Fixer: The Naked Man (T...Shop on Amazon Child of Tempus (THE GODS' ...Shop on Amazon Cricut Joy Machine - A Comp...Shop on Amazon Shuan Shuo New Flower Serie...Shop on Amazon