Summer time

And the livin' is easy...I love that song.

In my world, summer is a time of outdoors, beach, family trips, and gardening. This year I've planted peas, green beans, cucumbers (though I seemed to have lost that plant. I swear I put it in the ground!) corn, and tomatoes. I don't love gardening, I think weeds are greenery too and look just fine there what a pain to yank them out. But I like the end product!

I don't have a favorite part to summer, save maybe the heat. I hate the cold! Much rather heat, even with humidity. What's your favorite part of summer?

Memorial Day

I'm a strong supporter of our armed forces whether or not I agree with the battles/wars they fight. To support our troops does not indicate support for the current campagne. That isn't the point of this post.

Today's point is generosity. Because there's always someone less fortunate out there than you. In honor of Memorial Day, in addition to the BBQs and family gatherings going on, I'd like you to take a moment and remember those who can't be with their families. Remember those who returned with wounds and those who don't return at all.

Traditional observance of Memorial day has diminished over the years. Many Americans nowadays have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day. At many cemeteries, the graves of the fallen are increasingly ignored, neglected. Most people no longer remember the proper flag etiquette for the day. While there are towns and cities that still hold Memorial Day parades, many have not held a parade in decades. Some people think the day is for honoring any and all dead, and not just those fallen in service to our country.

To help re-educate and remind Americans of the true meaning of Memorial Day, the "National Moment of Remembrance" resolution was passed on Dec 2000 which asks that at 3 p.m. local time, for all Americans "To voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to 'Taps."

Saturday Excerpt

The Most Unsuitable Wife by Caroline Clemmens

Available as part of her backlist, this Texas Western is part of a series currently available on Smashwords for $3.99. Look for next week's Saturday Excerpt at Slip into Something Victorian and an excerpt from The Most Unsuitable Husband!

Wanted: One completely improper wife. Even if Drake Kincaid had placed such an advertisement in every paper in the country, he couldn't have found a better candidate than Pearl Parker, which is fine with him. After all, his parent's crazy will stipulates only that he marry by his thirtieth birthday, not that he marry well. And no one--including Drake's grandfather, the man determined to hold him to the ridiculous provision--could possibly think tall, bossy Pearl with her ragtag siblings and questionable "cousin" Belle will make a good wife. Until Drake realizes that in Pearl's startling violet eyes he sees a beautiful woman with a generous soul

Their life may not have started with hearts and flowers, but Drake and Pearl will soon learn that real love--with a breathtaking dose of passion--will overcome danger, threats, and all obstacles to make their marriage a true romance.

I love my library

Yes, yes, yes, I also work there that isn't the point! My library offers free audiobook and e-book downloads in addition to free checkouts for print books, CD audiobooks, and DVDs.

That's how I listened to Julia Quinn's The Lost Duke of Wyndham and how I checked out both Patient Zero and In the Garden of the Beasts.

Everything I want tor ead at my fingertips. Perfection.

Civil War Give-away

Today I'm over at Slip into Something Victorian with a post on Civil War Facts. Why is this significant? Because all this week we're having a contest! The prize? The anniversary editions of Gettysburg and Gods and Generals. April 2011 is the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War. To learn more click here. To make a donation to preserve Civil War Battlefields, click here.

Our official press release:

In honor of the 150^th anniversary of the beginning of the American Civil War, Warner Brothers has released a commemorative set of the films Gods and Generals, and Gettysburg. The Scandalous Victorian’s blog, Slip Into Something Victorian, has been chosen as a review site for the release, and Warner Brothers has given us a copy of the dvd (extended director’s cut, with quite a bit of added footage!) set to giveaway.  Please come and visit us next week on May 24^th (the official re-release date) and May 25^th.  Comment on either blog posts and register to win the complete set!

Wednesday Review: Thor

Thor. Yum. Nuff said.

Yes it was a coherent story with very few plot holes and yes I think it's appropiate for younger children. But man oh man! Chris Hemsworth is HOT in this movie. I went to imdb.com and saw he played George Kirk (James T's daddy).

He looks yummy with the Thor hair and the scruff. *drool*

Pretty places

The pictures sold me! Of course I've only been to The Grand Canyon, which was beautiful. And I've never heard of  Plitvice Lakes National Park, but it can easily be added to my list. The last is my favorite how awesome would it be to see those?!

From World's Prettiest Places:

First off, not every pick on our list is indeed a "place," per se. One is actually a scientific phenomenon, while another is considered a massive living organism home to more than 1,500 fish species and nearly 3,000 individual coral reefs. Several are wide-open spaces, but a few are brick-and- mortar sites built for kings (and in one case, a queen). Three have been included on the listing of the Seven Natural Wonders; three were also selected for the listing of the New 7 Wonders of the World. But no matter how you slice and dice them, all 10 have something important in common: Sometimes, it is all about what pleases the eye. Here's our list of the World's Prettiest Places.

Plitvice Lakes National ParkCroatia

Taj MahalIndia

The Great Barrier ReefAustralia

BorobudurIndonesia

Grand CanyonUSA

The Palace of VersaillesFrance

Machu PicchuPeru

The Great Temple of Ramses IIEgypt

The Great WallChina

The Northern LightsArctic Circle