Smorgasbord Blogger Weekly – 3rd April 2022 – #Spotlight Sharon Marchisello/ Marie Sinadjin, #Refugees John Howell, #Writers Gwen Plano, #Countrymusic Jan Sikes, #Peekytoecrab New Vintage Kitchen

A small selection of posts I have enjoyed during the week and I hope you will head over to read in full.. thanks Sally.

Sharon Marchisello was in the spotlight this week as a guest of Marie Sinadjan chatting about her books, publishing and background…

Head over to enjoy the interview with host Marie Sinadjin: Author Spotlight Sharon Marchisello

John Howell celebrates good people who are doing all they can to help refugees from the Ukraine with support, essential supplies and transport.

Friday John Ku – AKA – TGIF Fri Yay/Good News

Today’s story comes from the Good News Network. Here it is in its entirety.

Strangers are Leaving Strollers, Diapers, and Toys at the Border for Ukrainian Refugee Moms

Photo courtesy of GMA

An image recently shared around social media of empty strollers on a Polish rail border crossing has inspired a mountain of donations for Ukrainian refugees.

Now at Przemyśl Station, women, children, and infants fleeing the war are being greeted by mountains of clothes, stuffed animals, strollers, diapers, and more after they step off the train.

ABC reports that the number of spare carriers and strollers from Polish mothers have been particularly inspiring, with many donators leaving handwritten notes behind, with words of support. 

Head over to read more about this wonderfully generous gesture from the Polish people: John Howell… Good News

Now Gwen Plano, writing for Story Empire, explores the reasons why we write.

Why Do Writers Write? by Gwen Plano

Hello SE friends, Gwen with you today to explore the question, “Why do writers write?” To begin I will share a quote that stirred my thoughts about this topic.

On December 5, 1976, the New York Times published an article by author Joan Didion. In it, Didion described why she writes. I only became aware of her article a couple of weeks ago, but here’s the section that caught my attention:

“I write entirely to find out what I’m thinking, what I’m looking at, what I see and what it means. What I want and what I fear. Why did the oil refineries around the Carquinez Straits seem sinister to me in the summer of 1956? Why have the night lights in the Bevatron (particle accelerator) burned in my mind for twenty years? What is going on in these pictures in my mind?”

When I read this article, I was left with questions about why I write and then realized that my approach is similar to Didion’s. I’ve always asked a lot of questions and struggled to understand, and often writing leads to answers. I’ll explain.

Head over to read Gwen’s thoughts on why we write: Why to we Write? Gwen Plano on Story Empire

Next Jan Sikes catches us up with her week which involved manning the VIP gate at one of her favourite music festivals, catching up with friends and enjoying great music, plus some great news about two of her books.

Me and Potpourri

Sounds like a book title, right?

I absolutely love promoting others on my blog and it’s been a very long time since I posted anything about ME. 🙂 So here goes, and a little fun music as well.

Last weekend, I had the wonderful opportunity to deliver copies of my two latest books to the Coleman Public Library. It’s always a great feeling to know your books are sitting on a library shelf.  

Head over to enjoy catching up with Jan and some country music fun: Jan Sikes Me and Potpourri

And to end the week a wonderful recipe from Dorothy Grover-Read of the New Vintage Kitchen

New England seafood favorites, sole and a sweet Maine crab.

Nubble light house, York, Maine. We try to visit every year!

We finally got out of town! A few days at the sea shore, and we are refreshed and ready for spring. It felt like winter when we left, a driving icy rain that turned to sleet now and then, lots of fog, and winter shoes. After arriving at the hotel, a swim and an amazing dinner, we retired looking forward to a day of sunshine, and we were indeed rewarded.
Enjoying the seaside

Yes, we walked the beach, looked for shells, visited the Nubble lighthouse, did a little casual shopping, and had our lobsters, lobster rolls, and fried clams. Dinners were delightful, with the best of Maine seafood, starting with a great selection of local oysters which we greedily consumed before remembering to snap a picture!

Peekytoe crab 

Head over to get the recipe for this delicious seafood dish from New Vintage Kitchen:Peekytoe crab stuffed sole

 

Head over to enjoy all these amazing posts… thanks Sally.