I AM POEM--Georgie, always in our hearts

Georgie left us all too soon. When you see a homeless person with a dog at his/her side, don't be stingy. Last November, this beautiful young man helped out such a pair, rescuing them from some abusive teens...paying for a hotel room so the homeless guy had a shower and a bed, giving the guy the last twenty-dollar bill in his pocket.

His generous heart has touched so many others. Hearts that broke into a million pieces when the Lord called Georgie home just after New Years.


"I Am Poem"

by: George Anthony

1991-2010


I am a football player in pain
I wonder if war is the answer
...I hear the struggling people
I see pain in the heart of America
I want peace between others
I am a football player in pain

I pretend that I am the best
I feel emotion in my heart
I cry when being a different color matters
I am a football player in pain

I understand everything doesn't come easy
I say be a leader not a follower
I dream of too many things
I try with all my heart
I am a football player in pain

Silver Spur Ranch: Yee-haw. I've love to go again...

Just got this e-mail from the Silver Spur. If you're still finalizing plans for Memorial Day Weekend, give the ranch a whirl. One of the funnest times I've ever had!

"Hey everyone,

There are still a few rooms available THIS weekend for Memorial Day. We are offering ALL our subscribers a last minute 15% discount on adults rates.....that is 3 times the Lifetime Discount!!

There are LOTS of fun activities planned on and off the ranch. In town there is a parade down Main Street you won't want to miss with lots of entertainment and venders, Mansfield Park has rodeos going on 3 full days, the weather is great and the river is open for tubing and all the Saloons have great music going on!!

On the ranch we will be doing a Scavenger Hunt on horseback.....prizes to the winners!! Evening rides after supper will be available and you wont want to miss out on our Star Gazing after dark down by the campfire area.....see incredible views of the Universe!! You might even want to try your hand at Karaoke!! And of course we will serving root beer floats and the pool is OPEN!!

Be sure to mention "Memorial Special" when making reservations!! Your friends and family are welcome to this same discount!

Your Friends at the Silver Spur"

Weekend Recipe GAME: Texas Tantalizers

I'm still in Texas mode. Here's a Texas Chili GAME to help you pass your time...while you imagine just what the last photograph suggests!

Ooh-la-la.

Saddle up and Write: Bandera, Texas

Howdy! I sure hope you'll scoot on over to Petticoats and Pistols today, the all-Western romance site, where I'm blogging about my experiences as a cowgirl at the Silver Spur Ranch in Bandera, Texas. Hey, I found out I'm not too fat and old to learn to ride a horse...or too dumb shoot a gun! The "Saddle up and Write" retreat sponsored by my publisher The Wild Rose Press totally rocked from beginning to end...

...and those days as a Texan will live forever in my heart and memory.

Sigh.

Glen Ivy Mudbath...what a way to spend a Saturday with my posse

Yowza. Who'd ever thunk it, a playdate in the mud at our age. Well, it happened, it was weird and cool at the same time. Mostly it was some good old-fashioned girl bonding.

Daughters, sister, friends, cousins.

Oh, and I can't forget the massage! Good time, good people.

Good memory!

Weekend Recipe: Aunt Grace's Killer Banana Bread

Well, I know I've posted this one before, but it's such a keeper that I'll keep on doing so LOL when I'm rushed and out of other ideas. Top Chef I am not! Have a great weekend.

AUNT GRACE’S BANANA BREAD

½ cup shortening
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
3 medium mashed bananas
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon soda


Cream shortening and sugar and add eggs and cream well. Sift flour and soda together. Fold flour and bananas into above misture. Add ¼ cup chopped nuts.

Bake in greased floured loaf pan, 1 hour, at 350º.

Writing Stuff: Blurb for "Hearts Crossing Ranch"

My wonderful editor Nicola Martinez helped tweak this a bit. Blurbs are not my strength. But I hope it intrigues you enough to get Hearts Crossing Ranch when it's released. (Date still to be determined....we're working on the "galleys" right now. And I'm in the closing stretch of another Hearts Crossing story, about brother Pike and Kenn's ex, Daisy. Yikes! Can they make it work?

A beautiful city slicker and a rugged cowboy…The perfect Wild West adventure.

Cowboy Kenn Martin bears the guilt for allowing a coach to ruin his younger brother’s bright athletic future. Feeling unworthy of any happiness, he’s lost his faith in relationships and in God. When he meets Christy Forrest, he begins to hope for redemption but soon learns his past mistakes aren't something she'll easily forgive.

On the Colorado wagon train adventure planned by her late father, landscape designer Christy Forrest seeks to find peace in the nature she loves. However, she can't let go of her anger at the drunk driver who killed her dad—or the woman who did nothing to stop the man from driving. Falling for Kenn Martin begins to lighten her heart…until she realizes the handsome cowboy carries heavy a burden all his own—a burden she’s not sure she can accept.

Revlon Cancer Walk...Los Angeles

Whre was I last Saturday? One of my favorite places, University of Southern California along with the historic Los Angeles Coliseum. But I wasn't at a graduation or a football game.

Along with 50,000 others marching on various teams, I had the honor to walk with the CVS team around the LA Coliseum and USC ("fight on"--my kids are alums) to raise money with Revlon to find cures for women's cancers.

Many folks wore signs on their backs to acknowledge loved ones fighting breast cancer..."my lovely wife Elaine"..."my sister AND my mom"..."our friend Candice."

Others wore memorial signs. One man memorialized his mom, two aunts, and a sister who had lost their fight. And--his other sign supported three more relatives fighting breast cancer!

We marched for our dear friend Karen, our neighbor Sherry, and my writer pal Susan...all who lost their valiant battles against the evil breast cancer last fall.

Thrilling were the signs many women wore with claims of triumph: "I am six months cancer-free." "I'm a 13-year survivor." "Yes, I had cancer. But it never had me!" Too many more, praise God, to write down.

Teams had delightful names. Our favorites:

Hikers for Hooters
Walkers for Knockers
Hello Tittys
Bergens for Boobies.
Save the Tatas

One family wore signs with the picture of an adorable baby girl wearing a big pink hat. The caption read:

"Find a cure before I grow boobs."

Wow. My own personal hero is a two-year survivor of testicular cancer, so I kinda know. We celebrated this event with the two of the most important people during his battle...

To all who journey with this awful disease cancer...to those to fight it, have won their fight, and to those who walk at your side:

FIGHT ON!

Special Edition: BE KIND TO ANIMALS WEEK ®

May 2-8, 2010

Join the event that’s been celebrated every year since 1915 -- American Humane’s Be Kind to Animals Week. If you’ve known me for longer than ten seconds, you’ll know I’m a critter freak.

Since I’m in Texas most of this week, I wanted to keep this posted on my blog until I get back to the regular "schedule." One thing…I’m going to visit the Alamo and dear to my heart is getting my grandbaby a coonskin cap. Reminiscent of my childhood and Disney’s Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier.

But I won’t unless it’s synthetic fur.

I support wolves and polar bears with Defenders of Wildlife, household pets at Humane, and donkeys at the Safe Haven for Donkeys in the Holy Land.

Even though this special week includes shelter adoptions, information, terrific merchandise and a kids’ contest, it’s only celebrated once a year.


Here’s how we can appreciate all animals, domestic and wild, every day, our whole lives through.

Speak out for animals
Get informed about policies and legislation that can impact the animals in your community and throughout our country.

Report animal abuse
Animal cruelty and abuse is not only tragic for animals, but also an indicator that other forms of abuse such as domestic violence could be happening. Report anything suspicious…a dog chained in the yard, underfed pets…small children being mean to an animal. Let someone know.

Appreciate wildlife
All animals deserve to be treated humanely -- family pets and animals in the wild. Create an inviting space in your yard and garden for butterflies, hummingbirds and other creatures. If wildlife comes too close to home, look for ways to coexist with animals or to protect your property humanely. (Here in the suburbs that used to be wild terrain,, too often bears, coyotes and mountain lions are routinely killed by the Fish and Game.)

Adopt a pet from a shelter or rescue
Help animals find a second chance at happiness by adopting your next pet from your local shelter or rescue group. My hubby and I have said good-bye to our two black Labs in the past year or so and our next sweetheart is definitely going to be a rescue pup.

Take care of your pet
Pets are like your babies who never grow up. Keep them healthy. But….don’t prolong their lives because of your own selfishness. I’m totally about compassion and dignity when our sweet critters age and life isn’t ideal for them anymore.) Make sure the pets wear an ID.

And if you have a dog or cat, give them a special hug from me.