TJ Wilde – Page 3 – Annie DeMoranville

Work Wednesday: Spring Fever

Iris reticulata purple iris flowers with yellow centers — Iris reticulata in my yard

We have had an unseasonably warm and dry winter here. I’ve had to water once a month per the recommendation from the city/county (and I have the water bill to prove it). I know for many of you that seems like small problems as you dig out from yet another storm. But we do worry about wild fires.

We are hoping to get at least a few inches of snow at the end of the week. We’ll see how that pans out. At this point, I’m ready for steady rain. Snow you had your chance, reapply in October.

And while I have been hard at work with the final edits to Full Sail, spring fever is hitting hard. What I really want to do is get my hands in the dirt and start cleaning up the beds. It’s too early, but I am already planning out this year’s veggie garden.

Next week will be spent hiking and spa-ing, so at least I have that to look forward to.

Spectacular: Blue Whales Feeding

Screen shot from the YT video of a Blue Whale feeding — Screenshot from the YT video

On my last trip to southern California, part work for Full Sail and part graduation trip for my niece, we went whale watching. I desperately wanted to see Blue Whales, but they eluded us that day. It was still a great day to whale watch on a small 8-person boat.

Someone shared this with me tonight and I was so moved by it, I needed to share it. You really need to click on full screen to experience the beauty of this drone footage.

Work Wednesday: Feeling Accomplished

1920 flapper woman on black pillow — The Enchantress by Rolf Armstrong

The rewrites for Full Sail – the third book in the TJ Wilde Trilogy – are completed and this draft feels solid enough to send off to the editor. It will be sad to say goodbye to TJ, but there are so many other stories waiting to be told.

Work Wednesday: Goodbye January

I forgot the question, but the answer is love. The answer is always love. Trudi Jane Text over a heart shaped cave entrance and mountain view

I know many of us are struggling right now. Please take care of yourselves, look out for your neighbors and remember, we will prevail.

As January comes to a close I am closing in on the final rewrites. Then it’s time for the editor. I can see the end of the road.

Resistance Bald Eagle with US flag coloring

Versatile and Tasty: Ropa Vieja (Instant Pot & Slow Cooker Versions)

I had a some chuck and decided the cold weather needed something hearty. I hadn’t made Ropa Vieja in a while, so that what it became. I also cooked up a bunch of rice and black beans to serve with it. Perfect for a very cold weekend.

If you don’t want to use chuck, you can use pork shoulder or chicken breasts.

From 2023:

Big family doings this weekend, so I needed an easy recipe that everyone could serve themselves. This fits the bill.

Ropa Vieja is one of my favorite items on a local Mexican restaurant menu. I almost always have it in a salad in a tortilla bowl. So of course I had to figure out how to replicate it at home.

I have tortilla bowl molds and make them for lunch salads all the time. Although you don’t need them, use this method here.

Now to up my game with some tasty ropa vieja.