Southern all the way

This past Friday night, I had the pleasure of having dinner with none other than the vivacious and what's-not-to-love-about-her Christy Jordan, Miss Southern Plate herself, along with her sweet mother Janice, and their gracious friend Shannon Kozee who is the Social Media Director at Big Idea (Veggie Tales, gotta love that). We met at Loveless Cafe and it was a delightful evening.

 

Do you see Carol Fay's picture on the wall to the right? She was known (and still is) as "The Biscuit Lady" here in Nashville. For years, she made anywhere from 4,000 - 7,000 biscuits a day! Can you imagine? Miss Carol Fay passed away in 2010, but her memorable touches still linger all over the Loveless Cafe.

Christy and her mom, Janice, ordered the Oatmeal Raisin Pie (I think that was the name) for dessert, and it was delicious! Shannon ordered (or I think we might have ordered for her, LOL), the Coconut Pie. But alas, we failed to capture a picture of that delightful and delicious creation. 

I ordered the Banana Pudding. A standard favorite that Loveless does so well!

And this is adorable Shannon with a copy of A Lasting Impression. We were goofing around in the parking lot, even though it was freezing!

I love meeting new friends, and I gotta say… Hanging with these women was fun and "just the ticket" after a full day of writing. The writing is going very well, btw. Had a 2,000 word day yesterday, which is great for me. And I'm hoping for––and am well on my way to––the same today.

Btw, if you're a recipe lover, be sure and check out Loveless Cafe's recipes posted on their site.  Christy's new cookbook is a winner for the recipes alone, but the family stories she intersperses make it a real treasure.

And finally…

Have you heard of Preston Leatherman, the guy who dances around malls? Well, he's just released a new "Dancing with an iPod in Public--Valentine's Edition" that he filmed guess where... Right here in Nashville at the Cool Springs Galleria. So we're keeping this post Southern all the way.

  

Now, be honest...did you "chair dance," even a little, while watching this? (I did.)

Blessings on your day, 

Tammy

Writing, writing, writing

Hey friends! As I'm writing this, it's late Thursday night and I'm pushing to finish a scene that I've been working on today. It's been a hard one to write but only because it's a turning point in the story. One of those pivotal scenes where, from there on out, things are different between the male and female protagonist. There's no going back.

And I'm completely and positively brain dead. LOL! But in a good way.

So, since I need to keep plugging away at this next scene (and no, I'm NOT watching the next episode of Downton Abbey, I promise!) PLUS I realized that I never shared my Tuesday post from Writes of Passage, I'm going to do that today!

It's called Cooking is good medicine, and I share one of my favorite "go to" meals.

But... Now that I've mentioned Downton Abbey, here's a new clip from "Cora," one of the characters on the show. So good!

Watch Downton Abbey: Elizabeth McGovern on Americans vs. The British on PBS. See more from Masterpiece.

So, how many of you are watching DA now? Come clean! ; )

And if you'd like the recipes for the dishes I mention in my post, they're listed on my FB Page. 

Enjoy,
Tammy

Let me tell ya who's In Too Deep...

The woman's name is...

Linda Gordan

Linda, you're the lucky winner, babe! Hope you enjoy!

Mary, thanks for writing such a fun story with endearing characters. Bravo, lady!

And thanks everyone who signed up to win. We'll do this again soon!

Blessings on your week,
Tammy

Mic Nite at Southern Writers

If you're a writer, and a Southern Writer to boot, then check out Southern Writers Online and their brand new Southern Writers Mic Nite!

Time for a Giveaway!

Today I'm giving away a copy of Mary Connealy's rollickin' new release...
 IN TOO DEEP! What a fun story!

Here's a quick peek:


In 1866 Colorado, Ethan Kincaid agrees to a marriage of convenience with the same casual disregard he gives every decision. Audra Gilliland, young mother of two, accepts his proposal because she wants to stop being a burden to her newly married stepdaughter.

And suddenly both of them are in far deeper than they'd planned.

Ethan doesn't expect Audra to affect him so profoundly, and when she begins to, he's terrified of the pain he's felt before when someone he loved was seriously injured on his watch. He's determined that his new wife will do as he says so he can keep her safe from the dangers that lurk on their ranch.

Audra has been cared for all her life by one man or another--and they've done a poor job of it. Now she's planning to stand up for herself. And her new husband had better agree or get out of her way! 

What will it take to transform two wayward hearts fearful of getting in too deep into two trusting hearts ready to risk falling deeply in love?

If you're interested in winning, just leave a comment below indicating that. I'll choose a name on Sunday night at 9PM Central and post the name of the winner on Monday! Easy schmeezy!

And just for fun––if you're not already watching Downton Abbey, you should be. I'm in serious series love with this show. Just found out about it a few days ago and am using it as my reward as I exercise, and I'm tellin' ya, the time on the elliptical is flying by! Love it! Maggie Smith's character, Violet, is superb. Beyond fabulous...

Watch Downton Abbey: Gareth Neame on A Favorite Maggie Smith Moment on PBS. See more from Masterpiece.

Are you already watching Downton Abbey? If yes, let me know. But please don't give any spoilers for us late bloomers working to catch up!

~Tammy

Write on your backsides and bottoms

Join me at Writes of Passage today, friends. I post over there every Tuesday and we have a wonderful time!

Blessings on your day,
Tammy

Musings on a field and a treasure

“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.” (Matthew 13:44 NLT)

I read this parable recently and it's been returning to me at the oddest moments,  sneaking its way back into thoughts and tasks, almost pestering me to take a closer look. To reexamine what it means. And what it means to my life. 

Just some quick thoughts on this rainy Monday morning in Nashville...

The man in this parable was out in a field, and the treasure was hidden, the Word says, so obviously the man was searching for something.

When he found the treasure, he was excited! Can you imagine? I have an image of Morgan Freeman from the movie Shawshank Redemption (rough movie, and not for the faint of heart, but a favorite of mine... I highly advise watching the TV version), and Morgan Freeman's character "Red" is in a field searching for something that someone has left him. When he finds it, his eyes widen a bit, then he slowly peers around and behind him, making sure no one is watching. I picture the man in this parable that way. Making sure no one is watching and then quickly hiding the treasure again.

He goes and sells everything he owns. Everything. That treasure he found surely must be something in order for him to do that. Talk about believing in something. Talk about commitment to a goal.

He buys the field. It's a conscious choice. He's giving one thing (everything he has) in exchange for another (the hidden treasure).

Jesus told this story as an illustration. Of course, the indescribable treasure is relationship with Him, life in the Kingdom, mercy when judgment is deserved. And we are each the man. The man in the story goes and sells everything he has, which indicates total surrender. Total. Nothing held back. He's sold out. Literally.

Which begs the question (the question that's been returning to me), "what do I still need to sell?" What still remains in the way of me giving myself fully to Jesus Christ? Is it fear? Is it something I aspire to own or have or to accomplish? Is it hesitation, knowing he's going to demand changes in my life, and my heart, that I'm not quite ready to bow the knee to? 

What do I still need to sell? 

I'm still working through the answer to that question, and am asking Him to show me. And the beauty is...he will. Not only that, he'll also give me the strength to sell it, to lay it down. To surrender. What a Savior!

Another truth that resonates through this story for me is that we can't receive something if our hands are full. It's hard––or…impossible––to grab hold of something when you're hanging on to something else. 

So, are you hanging onto something instead of Him? Or trying to hold onto Him and that "other thing?" Do you have anything you still need to sell? Or, perhaps, are you still searching for that treasure? If you are, there's a field with a treasure, with your name on it.


And oh...what a treasure He is!

Blessings on this Monday,

Tammy

Weather Apps and Cravings

This is what my weather app showed me yesterday at 4:47PM for Nashville/Brentwood, TN...

Don't you just love it? Snow gently falling. So pretty. It reminded me of our years in Colorado––except the snow here didn't stick, or pile up against the garage where you couldn't get the cars out, and it didn't blanket the world in a lovely wonderland of white. But other than that, it was just like Colorado. :)

BTW, I sure hope it's sunny tomorrow like the app says. I'm needing some sunshine. Recent days of grey weather are starting to get to me a little. In fact––brace yourselves, I know this will come as a shock to some of you––but I had to resort to cookie therapy.

Yep, I broke down. I'm on deadline with another book and I needed comfort food. Badly. So, I got out the yellow bag...

And soon...everything yummy was mixin' together

Isn't it pretty?

Now here's what I call a beater worth licking! 

Okay, okay, okay... is this better?

(And I was very gracious this time and let Kurt lick the beater...

because I licked the bowl!)

And finally, little yummy bits of heaven... Mmmm...

Only four, you say? Yep, only four.

I  have the rest of the cookie dough hidden in the fridge.

I'm tellin' ya. It's deadline survival mode. 

Blessings on your day,

Tammy

Christian Fiction Magazine

The newest issue of Christian Fiction Magazine is online featuring lovely friend and wonderful writer Susan Meissner! Check it out. It's got great articles for writers and readers alike!

I'm writing, writing, writing all week long and am eager to share this next story with you. But first...to finish it! 

Blessings on your week!

Tammy

Fostering International Relations

I had the pleasure of meeting Carine Bijl, a lovely Netherlands reader, last evening, and we had a wonderful time chatting about life, faith, and writing. Carine has been in Nashville for almost a year serving as a nanny for a couple with two children, and leaves next week to return home to the Netherlands.

We met at J. Alexanders in Cool Springs and enjoyed dinner followed by J. Alexanders' absolutely scrumptious Carrot Cake served warm with cream cheese icing. Oh so good!

 Carine had never tasted Carrot Cake before (and was slightly skeptical at carrots baked into a cake, do you blame her?), so I considered it my duty as a Southern American to introduce her to this yummy delight. I know, I know, the lengths I'll go for international diplomacy. : )

Here's the cover of Diep in Mijn Hart  (Within My Heart, Timber Ridge Reflections, Book 3) that recently released in the Netherlands. In Dutch, of course. I'm honored that they publish my books there, and even more...that readers are reading. Thank you, my dear Dutch friends! And thanks, Carine, for a fun evening. Blessings, girl!

And to leave you with a smile this morning, here's a cute video about Ormie, a pig, that a writing buddy shared with me earlier this week. I'll be interested to see what your reaction is to the end. I saw it and actually went "Aw..." But maybe that's because I love cookies so much! 

Click here to watch Ormie

Blessings friends, and now back to finishing this next first draft. 

Tammy

Spicin' Things Up

Join me over at Writes of Passage today where we're spicin' things up!

Thoughts on time by Anne Lamott

Take time to read this. Time lost and found. So worth it!