Finding Orion. Three stars.

As long as I can find Orion, it will be OK.

Three little stars in a row.

Night steals across the mountains. Need stars to guide you. ©

Ursa Major. Little Dipper. The North Star. Venus on the horizon. All having their place, but not in my sights.

While many look westward to Hollywood for brilliance, I rather like these.

Low maintenance.

No breathless confiding personal twitter feeds.

An unsettled season ahead: winter already blustering and the holiday frenzy starting.

Don’t be afraid, Dahling It’s Santa, not a zombie. It’s a holiday “Ho Ho Ho”, not a demented moan. See? The outfits are different colors. (1937MGM/US PD: pub.date/Commons.wikimedia.org)

Forced marches to the mall. (shiver).

Halloween clowns quick-changed into red velvet and green felt with jingles instead of blood-red fangs and snarls with oozing slime.

The frights keep coming, though, with the never-ending perky seasonal tunes.

Similar glazed eyes in the crowds.

Will the horror never end?

Maybe with a little assistance of your presence.

Mystery shopper or shopping mystery?

Escape. That’s what’s offered. A way out of herds’ gift buying treks.

Kick back enjoy some sunny Caribbean island time in Island in the Clouds by Susan Toy.

Nothing like finding a body in the pool early in the morning. A breezy mystery set on the Island of Bequia, this book is a perfect way to banish winter cabin fever. Hey, the main character thought that leaving the Canadian cold and his secret past for island living was a way to uncomplicate his life…and maybe avoid jail. The irony.

Written in a casual humorous style, the characters are interesting and well-developed. Dialogue as real as what comes out of your neighbor’s mouth. I couldn’t stop laughing…well, not at the bodies, but the actions/reactions to them, yes! A murder mystery tied up in a well written package.

If you’ve been to the islands, you’ll smile along. If not, you’ll be booking tickets determined to experience it for yourself. (And the palm trees at the start of each chapter is the perfect wish-I-was-there tropical touch.)

Now THIS is A Winter Wonderland.(Marilyn Monroe before stardom.Postcard.Teichnor Bros/US PD:pub.date/Commons.wikimedia.org)

Roughseasinthemed wrote a terrific review of the novel. Can’t improve on perfection. Read that review here.

A perfect gift for the “Winter-outside-is-frightful” crowd. Warm scenes, warm characters, and warming laughter.

Here’s where to purchase it, read the first chapter, find more reviews, and discover more about this delightful author.

Susan Toy’s busy with a WIP, so expect another tale to set sail soon.

Can’t wait. Never enough island times.

While considering flying and airports, roll up to the gate with Jethead.

No, it has nothing to do with Airplane Headrest Hair Style Rescue.

Another get-a-way on the runway. 

You always wanted to know what the pilots actual think? Here’s your chance.

First, to get you jollied up before/after dealing with airport security:

Flight Crew Like You: Airline Cartoons from the Insider View (Vol.2) by Chris Manno.

An Amazon Editors’ Favorite Book of the Year, 2014. (see Amazon write-up here)

As one fan commented, “The cartoons are genuine belly-laugh humor for anyone who flies, whether row zero or the Victim of Row Twenty. Marvelous stuff.”

You can preview cartoons on Jethead’s blog.

A terrific stocking stuffer as well as a carry-on bag necessity for holiday travel.

Once the plane’s in the air (and the grip on the armrest loosens) coast along with Mach Speed Tumbleweed

Cruise through a pilot’s reflections in 25 short essays.

Soaring thoughts. Life in general looks different from the friendly, yet sometimes dark skies.

Touch down for a Jethead essay  sample. (And while there, glide around to see what pilots think about Ebola.)

Called the Jonathan Livingston Seagull of our time, the books not just about airports, rowdy passengers, or weathering the bad . See Amazon’s thoughts.

A great travel book, it’s a gift that will make the trip more than just going from point A to point B.

And besides, you know about weather delays, right? Be prepared to settle in for the wait.

Chris Mano is a talented writer we expect to see more of with a novel and a non-fiction book in the works.

How can you not like a guy that writes poetry on Twitter?

Air traffic control isn’t the only one keeping an eye on this one.

Not dreaming this. 1953 Space Patrol pilots and crew (Moser Productions/US PD:pub.date/Commons.wikimedia.org)

But you have to come down to earth sometime. And do something about it.

Cecilia Gunther never in her whole life expected to be building a sustainable organic farm. But there she is. And a very long way from home.

Stuff happens, she realized.

Being the oldest of a family whose mother died young, well, she worried.

Worry about words unsaid to her little sister.

An idea became a conversation which became a book: Letters for My Little Sister.

Amazon Editors’ Favorite Books of the Year, 2014, this one is a collaborative effort from almost 70 women. “Real stories, real experiences, from real women. Letters, essays, and poems about Menopause.”

Read “little sister” Gabrielle’s letter written in response after reading the book written for her.

That suddenly cranky woman who’s constantly fanning herself when everyone else is freezing? A long distance daughter?

Yeah, this is a perfect gift for her.

Read the reviews and you’ll see.

There were only 30 copies left last week. If Amazon says they’re out, contact Cecilia at thekitchengarden.com . She may have a few tucked back on the shelf. (Although she’s already gathering and prodding writers for the next anthology.)

Cecilia, “Boo! Put the phone down!”
Boo, “But Mom, I’m only trying to tell them to hurry and order before the books are all gone!” (thekitchengarden.com)

Three stars rising.

Had the presence of mind to offer you a chance to grab the perfect present without being tense.

It’s going to be a circus out there soon. Detours not such a bad idea.

Find some good GPS  or guiding stars.

You can borrow Orion, the Hunter, if you like. He’s got star quality with his belt of bling.

Book some time away from the garish tinsel, poor plastic copy, and celebrity product hawkings.

Choose dark skies for bright stars and cool conversation.

Until then, to all, a good night.

Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge.

While this is water and not sky, you can see stars here sometimes. Besides it was a nice pix. You did realize it is upside down, right? ©

 

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