Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Weekly Round Up – 4th – 10th April 2021 – Community, Dusty Springfield, Acne, Cravings, Book Reviews, Humour

Posted on April 10, 2021 by Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.

Welcome to the round up with posts that you might have missed during the week.

First some sad news that most of you will have already seen. Debby Gies (D.G. Kaye) has been a contributor to the blog with the Travel and Relationship Column for over three years, but has been a wonderful supporter of the blog and friend since 2014.

As many of you will know, Debby has been taking a break from her own blog and also her regular posts here as she cared for her husband in the last few weeks. George passed away earlier this week and the funeral was yesterday. The service was live-streamed and a number of us attended but we wish we could have been there to offer a more tangible support.

Debby has appreciated your kind thoughts and wishes over the last few weeks and I am sure you join me in sending our love and condolences… never has this writing community of ours been so important and needed.

RIP lovely ‘G’

Here is Debby’s Facebook Page

On the home front there has not been a great deal happening. Allegedly 64 – 69 year olds will be able to book their vaccination from April 16th and we shall see how that goes. At least now the cold snap is over for the time being we have been able to spend some time in the garden, and for the first time this year we had the weather to do the winter clear up.

As always I am very grateful to William Price King for his contributions which go back 7 years and I have learnt so much about all genres of music from his wonderful series on musicians, singers and composers. We are having a lot of fun with the Breakfast Show and so pleased that it is bringing back memories of the 1960s for so many of you.

Thanks to a new contributor to the blog – Malcolm Allen is an author who my husband David has worked with for several years and lives in Australia.. He sends a great selection of funnies to us regularly and I am now passing them along to you. You can find out more about Malcolm’s latest book if you click on the link at the end of the posts under Laughter Lines Extra..

Thank you as well for you ongoing support and wishing you a lovely weekend.. thanks Sally

Here are the posts from the week…

The Breakfast Show with William Price King and Sally Cronin – Chart Hits 1966 Part Two

D.G. Kaye Explores The Realms of Relationships – #Friendships – Keeping them Healthy

Chapter Eleven – Summer: The Foxes by Sally Cronin

The Foxes Part Two – Chapter Twelve – The Storyteller to the Rescue

– Tanka Tuesday Challenge – #Senryu – Scepticism

#Musicians #Covid – Pause, Play, Repeat:The real impact of Covid-19 on musicians by Sammy Stein Reviewed by William

Past Book Reviews 2020 – #Mystery – Frozen Stiff Drink: A Kellan Ayrwick Cozy Mystery (Braxton Campus Mysteries Book 6) by James J. Cudney

Past Book Reviews 2020 – #1920s #Familysaga – Telling Sonny by Elizabeth Gauffreau

#YA D.L. Finn, #Shortstories Mandy Haynes, #Vampires Susanne Leist

#Children’s Jude Lennon, #Poetry Elizabeth Merry, #Poetry Marlene Mesot

#Historical V.M. Sang, #Myths Barbara Spencer, #Memoir J.Q. Rose

#Reviews D.Wallace Peach, #BlackHumour Jacqui Murray, #Haddock New Vintage Kitchen

Tuesday 6th April 2021 – #Tarot Jan Sikes, #BananaKoftas Carol Taylor, #Funnies The Story Reading Ape

Wednesday April 7th 2021 – #Limericks Esther Chilton, #Humour Charles Yallowitz, #EggPlant Lisa’s Food Blog

Thursday April 8th 2021 – #Review by Elizabeth Gauffreau, #Challenge Antoinette Truglio Martin, #FREE Book Daniel Kemp

– What causes your cravings? – Part Four – Coal, Dirt and other strange stuff

Family Health A-Z – Acne – Teenage and Adults

Fiction In A Flash Challenge Prompt Week #13 – The Key to Unlock the Mystery by Miriam Hurdle

Words, Wonderful Words…by Joy Lennick

Amanda in Malta: The Sleeping Lady (An Amanda Travels Adventure Book 8) by Darlene foster

Share an Excerpt 2021 – #Family – Brody Cody and the Stepmother from Outer Space by Toni Pike.

#Poetry – Lines by Leon : Poems, Prose, and Pictures by Leon Stevens

#Scifi #Cats – Fluffy’s Revolution by Ted Myers

New Author on the Shelves – #Historical, #Spiritual -The Windmill by K. Lewis Adair

#Poetry Sue Vincent, #Paranormal #Romance Jan Sikes, #Fantasy D.Wallace Peach

April 6th 2021 – Hosts Debby Gies and Sally Cronin – Hindsight and Quick Thinking

– Open Mic Night – Special Guest Malcolm Allen – #Malapropisms and #Thesaurus

Thank you very much for dropping in today and I hope you will join me again next week..thanks Sally

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Weekly Round Up 28th March – April 3rd 2021 – Absent Friends, 1960s Music, Communication,

Posted on April 3, 2021 by Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.

Welcome to the round up of posts my might have missed this week.

This week has been one of sadness as we said goodbye to one of the founding members of the writing community here on WordPress and social media. Certainly one of the first that I met when I began blogging nine years ago, and I had the pleasure of meeting Sue Vincent in person finally at the Bloggers Bash in 2017. It was a wonderful occasion and an opportunity to hug those we had been connected to for years online.. Here is Sue with Willow Willers, Ritu Bhathal and Noelle Granger…definitely good huggers.

A warmhearted and generous friend to all and a talented writer of novels and poetry, Sue has left behind an amazing legacy for us to enjoy, inspiring us with her determination over the last six months to leave us with more. I will continue to promote Sue’s books as part of the Cafe and Bookstore to honour that commitment. Our condolences to her family and friends and she will be very much missed. You can visit Sue Vincent Into Spirit

Sue Vincent

14th September 1958 – 29th March 2021

R.I.P

There are others in our community who are faced with their own health concerns or are caring for their family members. Our thoughts go out to them even if we cannot off more practical support. D.G. Kaye, Debby Gies is one of those who is caring for her husband at home and whilst her priority is his comfort at this time and she is not online very much, I know that she would love to hear from you. Debby’s Facebook

We will be having plenty of sunshine over the next two days before the arctic vortex hits us Monday and Tuesday with the promise of snow..I will be getting as much garden time as possible over the weekend and will refrain from putting my winter clothes away for a week or so… although to be honest I didn’t bother to put them away at all last year as our summer came and went rather rapidly.

My thanks to William Price King for continuing to share great music and we are delighted that The Breakfast Show is enjoyed. We will be heading into the more familiar territory for many of you with music of the 70s in a few weeks… a great decade.

Thanks very much for your ongoing support each week and wishing you a wonderful Easter/Spring weekend holiday.. Sally

On with the posts from the week.

The Breakfast Show with William Price King and Sally Cronin – Chart Hits 1966 Part One

Rewind – D.G. Kaye Explores The Realms of Relationships – Introduction and Communication

Spring: Chapter Nine – The Betrothal Gift

Chapter Ten – After the Festival

#Kindness D.G. Kaye, #ClassicEditor Marcia Meara, #Booktitles Jessica Norrie

#Poetryreading Frank Prem, #Research Joan Hall, #Review Judith Barrow

Wednesday 31st March 2021 – #Funnies The Story Reading Ape, #Cars Trev, #Decluttering Jane Sturgeon, #Bookoffer Ted Myers

Thursday 1st April 2021 -#Family Linda Lee Greene, #CancerDiary Mary Smith, #Review Olga Nunez Miret

Northern Survival by [Diane McGyver]

– #Adventure #Canada- Northern Survival: Surviving the plane crash was the easy part by Diane McGyver

Past Book Reviews 2020 – #Western #Romance – Silverhills by Sandra Cox

Past Book Reviews 2020 – #Prehistoric – Against All Odds (Book 3 of the Crossroads Trilogy) by Jacqui Murray

Share an Excerpt from a previous books 2021 – # Leg-less and Chalaza: A dark novelette by Stevie Turner

#Memoir Mary Clark, #Western Sandra Cox, #Memoir Liesbet Collaert

Pot Luck’ #Shortstories – Her First Turkey by Abbie Johnson Taylor

Top Ten Things Not to Do During A Lunar Rover Mission in 1971 by John W. Howell

Interview – The art of putting yourself out there Charise Sowells with Leslie Tate

#Seadog Patricia Furstenberg, #Horses Deanie Humphrys-Dunne

#Fantasy – A Drowned Kingdom (The Drowned Kingdom Saga Book 1) by P.L. Stuart

#Preorder #Scottish #Historical – Fireflies and Chocolate by Ailish Sinclair

robbie a ghost and his gold

#Mystery #Paranormal A Ghost And His Gold by Roberta Eaton Cheadle

#Mystery – Legally Blind Luck (Braxton Campus Mysteries Book 7) by James J. Cudney

#Paranormal Mae Clair, #Thriller John L. DeBoer, #Murdermystery Terry Tyler, #Comingofage Bette A. Stevens

What causes your cravings? – Part Three – Salt and Trace Minerals

April 1st 2021 – Hosts Debby Gies and Sally Cronin – Bread and Fishes, Laundry and Good Deed

April 2nd 2021 – Another Open Mic Night with author Daniel Kemp – Vintage Husband and Warm Milk

Thanks very much for dropping in and I hope you will join me again next week…Happy Easter.. Sally

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Weekly Round up – 14th – 20th March 2021 – Tom Jones, Egg Boxes, Poetry, Stories, Reviews and Funnies

Posted on March 20, 2021 by Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.

Welcome to the round up with posts that you might have missed during the week here on Smorgasbord.

I hope you are doing well.. lots going on in the world as usual, and Europe in particular appears to be struggling to contain Covid with many countries seeing a new wave forming. Unfortunately, as in the case of Paris.. giving the population even a few hours notice means that millions pack up and leave for rural areas.. but if it is a hotbed of infection that increases the spread of the disease further across the country. I know it sounds draconian but I don’t think you should announce there is going to be a lockdown in 12hours or three days. You just do it and stop anyone leaving. It would also stop the idiots who decide to throw a massive party the night before lockdown because of the restrictions coming in to force the next morning… The virus is not going to wait until the next morning to infect you.. it is an opportunist and will be very happy to join the party…Sounds like a recipe for disaster…

Ignore me I am just being a grumpy old woman this morning.

We have had a few days of sunshine and I have been sitting in the garden in the afternoons with my reader and enjoying living in another world.. that is the great thing about fantasy of all kinds, although kind of disturbing when you prefer the fantasy world to the one you currently live in! Apparently it will be a little cloudier in coming days but I hope to be able to sneak out for an hour or two.

And, I am so much luckier than many by having a garden to sit in and for us both to be in good health.. More or less as my knee dislocated two weeks ago.. it does that when it gets tetchy as I am missing a ligament.. however it pops back nicely. This time I was over compensating as I hobbled around using a stick, and this irritated my other hip and then my back went out in sympathy. I was pretty much immobile for the last 10 days but improving daily.This is not the first time and won’t be the last and it is mainly due to me not being able to swim everyday in a weightless environment, which keeps the necessary muscles tight and supportive.

Once the swimming pools reopen I will get back to it, despite my reluctance to be seen in public in a bathing suit and the necessity to wear a bathing cap that is dreadfully unflattering, and to my mind pretty useless at stopping hair clogging the outlets or spreading unsavoury particles. Especially when you think some men are extremely hairy all over including beards etc, and have far more follicles that I do on my head… perhaps they should be wearing an all in one rubber suit in the pool or clingfilm….now there’s a vision!

As always I am hugely grateful to William Price King, Debby Gies and Carol Taylor for sharing their love of music, humour and the environment with us.

I know that many of you already know that Debby’s husband has been diagnosed with advanced cancer and is now home with her. Whilst her focus in on G’s care and well-being, Debby is still visiting blogs, share posts and connecting with her friends in the writing community when she has some time to spare. Very important to have that small window of outside interaction when you are a full-time carer. You can read her latest update and I know she would welcome your comments – Update blogging, health and wellness

Debby would like the funnies that we collaborate on to continue, so I will be raiding the archives here and on her Facebook for upcoming posts and they will go out as usual on Tuesday and Thursdays.

Debby is working on her next Realm of Relationship Column but rather than have the pressure of a deadline, we thought we might share the first posts of the series which began in January 2020 every Monday to bring new readers to the blog up to speed. They start on March 29th.

I think that is us up to date… so on with the week’s posts.

– The Breakfast Show with William Price King and Sally Cronin – Chart Hits 1965 Part One

Carol Taylor’s Green Kitchen – #Crumpets, #Baking Soda, #Minced Garlic and Egg Boxes uses.

– A return to Tales from the Irish Garden – Winter: Chapter Five – The Dapperman

Chesebro’s Weekly #Tanka #Poetry Challenge No 216 – #shadorma – Mother Earth

#Fantasy – Soul Swallowers (The Shattered Sea Book 1) by D.Wallace Peach

Past Book Reviews 2020 – The Cruel Romance: A Novel of Love and War by Marina Osipova

Past Book Reviews 2020 – #Thriller – The Reckoning Squad by S. Burke

Sunday 14th March 2021 – #Interview D.Wallace Peach, #Reading Robbie Cheadle, #RoundUp Carol Taylor

#ReaderPeeves Anner R. Allen, #Reviewing The Story Reading Ape,#Bookoffer Andrew Joyce..

#Interview D.G.Kaye and M.J. Mallon, #IOW Stevie Turner, #Funnies Marcia Meara

Thursday March 18th 2021 #Audiobook Annie Chiappetta, #Reblogging Hugh Roberts, #Indiancookery Sowmya’s Spicy Corner

#FREE Book Marketing Opportunities 2021 – Making the most of your promotion

Recent reviews – #Wolves Elizabeth Jade, #Bees Paul Noel

New Authors on the Shelves – #Poetry – Rhythm Flourishing: A Collection of Kindku and Sixku by Cendrine Marrouat and David Ellis

#Memoir – Arranging a Dream by J.Q. Rose

#Poetry – Midnight Haiku: : A Year in Contemplation by Sue Vincent

#Paranormal Marcia Meara, #Supernatural Adele Marie Park, #Poetry Harmony Kent, #Adventure Audrey Driscoll.

-#SocialMedia – The Importance of Rules and Regulations and Why We Should Follow Them by Patty L. Fletcher

-#Grief: Collective Underpinnings In Sudden Loss and Importance of One’s Personal Journey. LaDonna Remy MSW, LICSW

– #Life #1960s A Birthday Reflection by Gwen M. Plano

Turning Back the Clock 2021 – Part Ten – Anti-Aging- Keeping the Brain Young

What causes your Cravings? – Part One – Dehydration

March 16th 2021 – Hosts Debby Gies and Sally Cronin – Hippos and Doctor one liners

March 18th 2021 – Hosts Debby Gies and Sally Cronin – Pants and Chimp Wisdom

Mid-week boost – More humour from the family….Ketchup and Catfish

March 19th 2021 – Another Open Mic Night with author Daniel Kemp – Marriage Alphabet and Anesthesiology

Thank you very much for dropping in today and for your support.. I hope you will join me again next week..Sally.

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Weekly Round Up – March 7th -13th 2021 – Free promotion, Petula Clark, Pigeons, Poetry, Anti-Aging, Frozen Shoulders and humour

Posted on March 13, 2021 by Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.

Welcome to the round up of posts that you might have missed during the week here on Smorgasbord.

Before I get into the news and posts from the week.. I would like to just to share the link again to Debby Gies post this week in case you missed it. Her husband is in hospital again and as you will read has received some devastating news. Debby is as we know a warrior woman and is advocate and carer for her husband, a challenge under normal circumstances but further complicated by Covid restrictions. Let’s Have A Look – Our Medical System During Covid #Health and #Wellness

For the time being you will not see as much of her as we usually do ( I know how much she supports so many of us in the community). This month’s relationship column has been postponed until April and I am sure that you join me in wishing both Debby and her husband love and strength.

A mixed week on the home front with 100kph winds and lashing rain most of the week and they are still pretty fierce today and it is very cold, even if the sun is shining. I did manage to get out earlier in the week and have a bit of tidy in the garden and check on progress with the annuals.. The hydrangeas seem to be doing well and another six weeks should see all eight of the potted ones back in bloom…

Right outside my window the small clump of primroses has expanded and that too gives me hope that spring might at last be around the corner.

There is a lot of chatter going on in the hedges that surround our garden and by the amount of seed they are getting through I think it is safe to say that as far as they are concerned, despite the weather, there is courting to be done.

There is a new series for authors in the Cafe and Bookstore – Share an Excerpt from a Previous Book starting in April and here is the post that tells you all about it. An opportunity to give an older book a bit of love and certainly useful to share an excerpt from the first book in a series etc. Anyway another bit of free book marketing that will just take a few minutes of your time to participate. Here is an example of how it will look the link: Smorgasbord Cafe and Bookstore – #Free #Bookmarketing – Share an Excerpt from a previous books 2021

Coming up on Monday morning is a full list of the current and upcoming promotions for you to take advantage of. Don’t forget it is free and all it takes is a little time to let me know your news… and to help spread the word when it has been promoted.

On my book front, Mary Crowley who is both an author and columnist for The Munster Express not only featured my latest book but wrote a wonderful review.. that was a huge boost to the week. She also kindly put on Goodreads too

Time to get on with the posts from the week.. and as always my thanks to William Price King, Debby Gies for the funnies (posted a couple of weeks ahead) and all of you who provide such amazing support each week for me and those that are promoted in the Cafe.

The Breakfast Show with William Price King and Sally Cronin – Chart Hits 1964 Part Two

A return to Tales from the Irish Garden – Winter: The Messengers of Peace and Desperation and The Storyteller

Tales from the Irish Garden – Winter: Chapter Four – The Flight to the New Land

#WWII #VichyFrance- Where Irises Never Grow by Paulette Mahurin

Past Book Reviews 2020 -#Historical #Mystery – A Girl Like You (A Henrietta and Inspector Howard Novel Book 1) by Michelle Cox

Past Book Reviews 2020 – #Paranormal – Wake Robin Ridge: Book One by Marcia Meara

Chesebro’s Weekly #Tanka #Poetry Challenge No 215 Poet’s Choice – #BadgerHexastich – Happiness

Blogging Kindness by D. Wallace Peach

#Family Comings and Goings Twenty Years Ago by Elizabeth Merry

Archives 2021 – #Pot Luck – #Spain Chronicles, Part 1 by Darlene Foster

#Reviews – #Ghost Toni Pike, #FunBus Sue Wickstead

New Book on the Shelves – Kong and the Magic Jungle (The Adventures of Kong, the Magic Gorilla) by Joyce Murphy

#Romance #Humour – The Little Ice Cream Shop by the Sea by Lizzie Chantree

New Book on the Shelves – #Gothic #Supernatural – Wolfe Manor by Adele Marie Park

New Author on the Shelves – #YA #HisoricalAdventure – Vengeance of a Slave by V.M. Sang

#Poetry M.J. Mallon, #Thriller Alex Craigie, #Thriller Carol Balawyder

K.M. Allan, Judith Barrow, Ritu Bhathal, Sandra Cox and James J. Cudney

Why do so many people in their 50s suffer from a frozen shoulder?

Part Nine – Anti-Aging and how we face the world

Monday March 8th 2021 – #Ireland Claire Fullerton, #Podcasts Jan Sikes, #Spirituality Sue Vincent

Tuesday March 9th 2021 – #Environment Carol Taylor, #Humanity Pete Springer, #Motivation John Howell

#Interview Judith Barrow, #Reviews D.L. Finn, #History Pat Furstenberg

Thursday March 11th 2021 – #Humour Craig Boyack, #York A Bit About Britain, #NegativeReviews Jan Sikes, #Release Sue Vincent

March 9th 2021 – Hosts Debby Gies and Sally Cronin – Casinos and Grammar one-liners

March 11th 2021 – Hosts Debby Gies and Sally Cronin – KFC and Shepherds

Open Mic Night – Special Guest Malcolm Allen – A Plethora of humour

Thanks very much for dropping and for your support during the week.. look forward to seeing you again soon…Sally.

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine Weekly Round Up..- February 28th – March 6th – Pretty Woman, Shortstories, Poetry, Book Reviews, Food and Funnies.

Posted on March 6, 2021 by Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.

Welcome to the round up of posts you might have missed during the week here on Smorgasbord.

Nothing new to report on the home front as we face another month in full lock down. Hopefully by the better weather (usually) appears in May we will be able to get out and about a little more.

On the blog front there are a few changes taking place in the next couple of weeks. The first is that the Cafe and Bookstore update has had a facelift and from Friday 12th March will go from three posts a week to one which is The Weekly News with more authors featured in the post but with just book covers their most recent review and their links.

I am hoping that with more authors sharing the post to boost their own featured review, the post will reach a wider audience.

I will continue to do a standalone feature for new books or new authors in the Cafe and to post regular features where everyone in the Cafe gets a showcase. With the past book reviews, current book reviews and the archive posts I hope that will offer plenty of opportunities for book promotions.

If you have a new book coming out in the next month then please let me know as I am working a couple of weeks ahead and I don’t want to miss any.

My thanks to Robbie Cheadle – Jacquie Biggar – Mary Crowley, Marian Beaman and Alex Craigie for their wonderful reviews for Life is Like a Bowl of Cherries this week.

As always my thanks to William Price King for co-presenting the Breakfast Show with me.. we are having so much fun, Debby Gies for the funnies…and Danny Kemp for getting the weekend off to a good start… and or course to you for your ongoing support… have a good weekend.

Here are the posts from the week you might have missed.

– The Breakfast Show with William Price King and Sally Cronin – Chart Hits 1964 Part One

Tales from the Irish Garden Christmas under the Magnolia Tree

Tales from the Irish Garden – Winter: The Messengers of Peace and Desperation and The Storyteller

Colleen Chesebro’s Weekly #Tanka #Poetry Challenge No 214 #ThemePrompt – Dreams

Turning Back the Clock 2021 – Part Eight – Anti-Aging and Flexibility

Breakfast and Dessert – Smoothies and Fresh Fruit Salad

#Family – My Baby Wrote Me A Letter: An Inspirational Women’s Fiction Short Story by Jacquie Biggar

Past Book Reviews 2020 – #Fantasy #Paranormal – Viral Blues by C.S. Boyack

Past Book Reviews 2020 – #DystopianSciFi -Wasteland (Operation Galton Book 2) by Terry Tyler

Authors, They’re Only Human : Morning Musings from the Journal by Patty L.Fletcher

Tragically Unaware: The Internal World of the #Narcissist by LaDonna Remy MSW, LICSW

#Kindness – A Gallon of Water by Gwen M. Plano

#Historical Antoinette Truglio Martin, #Dragons Janice Spina

Sunday 28th February 2021 – #AncientBritain Viv Sang, #Writing Sian Turner, #Walks #Cancerupdate Mary Smith

#Methane Carol Taylor, #SeaOtters Cindy Knoke, #Emptynest Alethea Kehas

Tuesday March 2nd 2021 – #Interview Liz Gauffreau, #Texaspower John Howell, #CreativeSpark D.L. Finn

Thursday March 4th 2021 – #Interview Barbara Spencer,#LifeBalance Marcia Meara, #Free cookbook Eat Dessert First Greece

#Poetry Voices (In The Trash): A Picture Poetry Book by Frank Prem

#Military #Romance The SEAL’s Temptation: Wounded Hearts- Book 7 by Jacquie Biggar

New Author on the Shelves – #Memoir #NYPolitics – Community: Power Politics and Democracy in Hell’s Kitchen by Mary Clark

New Book on the Shelves – #YA #Fantasy – Bounty Hunter: Book 4 in ‘The Council of Twelve’ series by A.J. Alexander

#Romance Jacquie Biggar, #WWII Robbie Cheadle and Elsie Hancy Eaton, #YAFantasy Colleen M. Chesebro

#Poetry Sue Vincent, #Fantasy Vashti Quiroz-Vega, #Shortstories Sally Cronin

#Fantasy C.S. Boyack, #Romance Lizzie Chantree, #Truecrime Sue Coletta

March 2nd 2021 – Hosts Debby Gies and Sally Cronin – Woodpeckers and Fish Heads

March 4th 2021 – Hosts Debby Gies and Sally Cronin – Muffins and Ice-Cream

March 5th 2021 – Another Open Mic Night with author Daniel Kemp

Thanks so much for dropping in today and the amazing support during the week…it keeps me motivated… hope to see you again next week Sally.

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine Weekly Round Up – 21st – 27th February 2021 – 1960s Pop Music, Short Stories, Poetry, Blog Stars, Books, Reviews and Funnies

Posted on February 27, 2021 by Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.

Welcome to the weekly round up with posts that you might have missed during the week.

I don’t have a great deal to report this week which in many respects is a good thing. We are waiting to hear the government decision regarding lock down today or tomorrow but it looks like it has been extended to the end of April with certain services such as hairdressing being one of the last to open.

Just as well my husband has become so deft with the scissors and clippers and as my hair is short anyway it has not been too bad. I take the clippers to his hair too and after nearly a year we may continue after the restrictions are lifted.

I have been out and about however in the virtual sense which was a lot of fun. This week I was delighted to be the guest of author Hugh Roberts where I shared the story of my acting debut….I hope you will head over to read..

Watch Out For The Matador! – A True Story

As always my thanks to William Price King and delighted that the Breakfast Show is going down well, despite the fact that it is a little early for many of you to remember the songs.. If you do have memories and a favourite track from the 1960s we would love to include you in the Breakfast Show Special at the end of March.. details here The Breakfast Show 2021

Thank you also to you for all the visits, comments and shares again this week.. I do appreciate the support very much.

On with the posts from the week….

The Breakfast Show with William Price King and Sally Cronin – Chart Hits 1963 – Part Two

Jane Risdon shares the background to one of her favourite tracks of the 1960s

What’s in a Name? – Prince Charming by Sally Cronin

Return to Tales from the Irish Garden.. Previously

Colleen Chesebro’s Weekly #Tanka #Poetry Challenge No 213 #Badger Hexastich x two – Beacon and Umbrella by Sally Cronin

#Paranormal #Romance – Ghostly Interference: (White Rune Series Book 1) by Jan Sikes.

#Cancer #Journal – Apple Blossom: my Hope…my Inspiration by Jaye Marie

Past Book Reviews 2020 -#Poetry Inner Rumblings: by Joyce Murphy

Past Book Reviews 2020 – #Thriller -Deep Cover by John L. DeBoer

Recipes that Pack a Punch – A Chicken Sandwich and how your body extracts the nutrients

Turning Back the Clock 2021 – Part Seven – Anti-Aging and Attitude of Mind

Archives 2021 – #Pot Luck – #AfghanistanAdventures #54 Winter travel by Mary Smith

Archives 2021 – #Pot Luck – #Writing – Author Bio Dos and Don’ts by K.M. Allan

Going West: The Accidental Tourist by Sue Vincent

Monday 22nd February 2021 – #Food Carol Taylor, #Home Chantelle Atkins with Jessica Norrie, #Bookreview Harmony Kent

Wednesday 24th February 2021 – #LakeDistrict Mike Biles, #AlooGobi Sowmya’s Spicy Corner, #Publishing Alison Williams

Smorgasbord Children’s Reading Room – New Book on the Shelves #Ghosts – Brody Cody and the Haunted Vacation House by Toni Pike.

Smorgasbord Children’s Reading Room – Author Update – #Nature Joyce Murphy, #Fantasy Maria Matthews

New Book on the Shelves – #Thriller – Shattered Lives: A Jo Naylor Adventure by Allan Hudson

New Book on the Shelves – #YA #Fantasy – Rites of Passage (The Rites Trilogy Book 1) by Doug Parker

New Author on the Shelves – #Family – Sisters of the Undertow by Johnnie Bernhard

#Reviews #Family Lisette Brodey, #SouthernCulture Claire Fullerton, #Fantasy Tyler Edwards

#Murdermystery Terry Tyler, #Meditation Sue Vincent, #Fantasy D.Wallace Peach

#Lockdown M.J. Mallon, #Poetry Balroop Singh, #Paranormal Marcia Meara

February 23rd 2021 – Hosts Debby Gies and Sally Cronin – After Surgery and Shopping for a Husband

February 25th 2021 – Hosts Debby Gies and Sally Cronin – Lost Glasses and Best Beer in the World

Smorgasbord Laughter Lines Extra – Host Sally Cronin – We are all going to the dogs!

Thanks very much for visiting today and I hope you will join me again next week.. have a great weekend.. Sally.

Smorgasbord Weekly Round Up – February 14th – 20th 2021 – Romance, Songs 1960s, Chilled soups, book reviews, videos and funnies

Posted on February 20, 2021 by Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.

Welcome to the update of posts that you might have missed from the week here on Smorgasbord.

I hope all is well with you. Quiet here except for the noise of the wind howling around the house and the six inch puddle stretching across the front of the house. I know I wished I had a swimming pool but clearly the genie was having an off day.

The garden birds have been having a tough time of it with the winds and driving rain making it difficult to fly, particularly for the small birds such as the sparrows and tits. I usually buy my birdseed and fat balls at the garden centre or at a push smaller packs as the supermarket but of course the centres have been shut since the New Year and the supermarket shelves are bare of both seed and other products. One store has at least got some sunflower hearts and I have mixed that with sultanas and cooked brown rice.. They can at least digest that easily and it has nutrients for them.. The sunflower hearts provide the good fats and protein.

I have taken to put some on the ground as well as on our platform feeder and hanging baskets and hopefully they will get enough nourishment.

They are staying in the thick hedge in our back garden but when I got out (dressed in full wet gear) there is a sudden chorus of song and I can feel hundreds of eyes on me… as soon as the back door closes they are in the feeders and on the ground which is encouraging.

Anyway.. on with the posts from the week and as always my gratitude to William Price King, D.G. Kaye and Carol Taylor for their terrific contributions and to you for visiting, sharing and commenting.. it keeps me motivated..

The Breakfast Show with William Price King and Sally Cronin – Chart Hits 1963 – Part One

D. G. Kaye Explores the Realms of Relationships – February 2021 – Online Dating – Staying Safe

Bread, Homemade Peanut Butter and Home Grown Vegetables and Herbs.

St. Valentine’s Day – The Meaning of Romance to Me by Sally Cronin

Charlie the Junkyard Dog

Barbados and the last letter home 1986. Sally Cronin

#WWI – #Family Saga – The Heart Stone by Judith Barrow

#Children’s – A Beechworth Bakery Bears e-Book (too) by Frank Prem

– Past Book Reviews 2020 -My Name is Danny – #Doglovers – Tales from Danny the Dog assisted by Andrew Joyce.

Butterfly Cinquain – Fate’s Voice by Sally Cronin

Your Own Opinions And Feelings #selfaware by Toni Pike

#Finance – Working with a Financial Planner by Sharon Marchisello

– #Spying – The Story about House Hunting While Being Watched by D.G. Kaye

#Q&A D.G. Kaye, #Valentines Carol Taylor, #Interview as guest of Amy Reade

#Swearing The Story Reading Ape, #Deserts Cindy Knoke, #Speedreading Robbie Cheadle

-#JulesVerne Carol Seidl, #Waves Melanie Stewart, #Medication D.G.Kaye

#Reviews by V.M.Sang, #Cookbook Marian Beaman, #IrishMyths I.E. Kneverday

#Teaching Pete Springer, #Betrayal Abigail Johnston, #Hitching Andrew Joyce

Turning Back the Clock 2021 – Part Six – Anti-Aging and Oxygen

Salads are not just for Summer

New Book on the Shelves – #Fantasy Dead of Winter: Journey 2, Penllyn by Teagan Riordain Geneviene

#Psychological Thriller Lucinda E. Clarke, #Thriller Alex Craigie,

#Thriller Gwen M. Plano, #WIIDrama Marina Osipova, #Paranormal John W. Howell

February 16th 2021 – Hosts Debby Gies and Sally Cronin

February 18th 2021 – Hosts Debby Gies and Sally Cronin – Vows and Good Deeds

February 2021 – Another Open Mic Night with author Daniel Kemp – Flying first class and Shakespeare insults

Thank you for all your support and I hope you will drop in again next week… enjoy your weekend.. thanks Sally.

Smorgasbord Cafe and Bookstore – Weekly Round Up – 31st January – 6th February 2021 – 1960s Music, Bloggers, Book Reviews, Hormones, Shortstories, Slowcooking and Funnies

Posted on February 6, 2021 by Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.

Welcome to the round up of posts this week on Smorgasbord that you might have missed.

I hope everyone is doing well and not to badly impacted by the winter storms across America and Europe… we don’t tend to get snow very often in our part of the Irish coast but it looks like we may well get hit tomorrow and then a freeze next week. I took the precaution of doing the weekly shop today instead of Monday and went early. By the time I was leaving at 10.00 the built up as a lot of others had the same idea.

Virus numbers seem to be coming down although not early enough here at the moment. We shall see if the March 5th lifting of restrictions will take place.

In the meantime as one of the five million people still choosing to use the Classic Editor.. I was furious when they updated the programme two days ago which now means adding two steps instead of one to inserting images, short links, centering text, bolding text, adding colour, and italics. Thankfully there are a few keyboard shortcuts for some, but otherwise you now have to click an up arrow to the editing icons instead of them being visible whilst you format the post. Pain in the butt and another move in my opinion to drive us into using the block editor.. underhand.

Of course unless you are a paid subscriber to WordPress you cannot access help in person. The irony is that if they could guarantee that I could retain the classic editor and keep the current format, I would be happy to pay them an annual subscription. I am sure that most of the other 5 million people still using the Classic Editor would probably be happy to do so.

The latest news from the forums is that they say, if the demand is still there after December 31st 2021, they will reconsider supporting it into 2022.

Whilst it might sound like I am an entrenched luddite, it is more down to the way I blog, which is several times a day. I appreciate that for many that is breaking the rules of blogging, but my vision was of a magazine style blog with varied topics and an effective book marketing platform. I am not going to throw the baby out with the bathwater, but if they keep mucking around with the functionality of the editor then I will be looking at making some changes.

I love doing this and it is frustrating when I can’t do it the way I want. Which incidentally was their grand opening mission statement.. ‘Your blog, Your Way.’

Anyway.. enough of the rant.

Thanks very much for keeping me motivated by your visits and comments… Also to the guests this week who are participating in the Breakfast Show specials and the Posts from the Archives.

The Breakfast Show with William Price King and Sally Cronin – Chart Hits 1962 – Part One

The Breakfast Show – 1960s Hits Part Two – Special Guests John W. Howell and Jennie Fitzkee

July 1986 – Rafting on the Guadaloupe

What’s in a Name? – Patrick – Love in a Time of War

What’s in a Name? – Martha The System Administrator

#1960s #Thriller – Paris Escapade by Ted Myers

#Fantasy #Adventure – Voyage of the Lanternfish by C. S. Boyack

Past Book Reviews 2020 – #Familysaga – The Memory by Judith Barrow

Past Book Reviews 2020 – a kiss for the worthy: #Poetry inspired by the Walt Whitman poem ‘Leaves of Grass’ (A Love Poetry Trilogy Book 2) by Frank Prem

#PersonalPower #Standards by Toni Pike

#Finance – Reversal of Fortune by Sharon Marchisello

#Life – Nature’s Hideaway – Pond Party! – Observations by D.G. Kaye

#Writing D.G. Kaye, #Blogging Pete Springer, #Zucchini Dorothy’s New Vintage Kitchen

#Greece Eat Dessert First, Mairzy Doats by Elizabeth Gauffreau, #FlashFiction Janet Gogerty

#TVReview D.G. Kaye, #Mushrooms Carol Taylor, #Poetry Recap Colleen M. Chesebro

#WildDogs Patricia Furstenberg, #Tofu Jemima Pett, #SueVincent Carrot Ranch

olives

Turning Back the Clock 2021 -Anti-Aging and The Hormone Factor

Vegetable Casserole/soup/base

– #Cheetahs Patricia Furstenberg, #History Barbara Ann Mojica, #Nature Joyce Murphy

New Release -#Fantasy Heather Kindt, Reviews- #Poetry/Prose M.J. Mallon, #Paranormal Romance Stevie Turner

#Fantasy D.Wallace Peach, Fiona Tarr, #Comingofage Bette A. Stevens

Reviews #Family Christa Polkinhorn, #Shortstories Karen Ingalls, #Sc-fi Sandra J. Jackson

February 2nd 2021 – Hosts Debby Gies and Sally Cronin – Wine Day and One Liners

February 4th 2021 – Hosts Debby Gies and Sally Cronin – Margaritas and Flying Companions. Posted on February 4, 2021 by Smorgasbord – Variety is the Spice of Life.

Smorgasbord Laughter Lines Extra – February 2021 – Another Open Mic Night

Thank you very much for dropping in this week and for your support.. enjoy the weekend and I hope you will join me again next week..

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Weekly Round Up – 24th – 30th January 2021 – 1960s music, America, Book Reviews, pH balance, Anti-Aging and funnies

Posted on January 30, 2021 by Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.

Welcome to the round up of posts you might have missed on Smorgasbord this week.

A quick intro today as I have very little to report on the home front.. the weather is the same, lockdown extended to March 5th and more travel restrictions in place. On the bright side, we did binge watch the last four James Bond’s to get ourselves ready to watch the new one when it eventually gets released.

We are also enjoying our foreign language series,particularly the Scandinavian shows, and amazing how quickly you forget the subtitles. They are also very well made and thankfully missing so much of the unnecessary chit chat that the English speaking series seem to contain.. in one show we watched last week 20 minutes of a murder mystery was spent with two of the detectives bickering in a car on their way from one scene to another.. I must be getting old…or grumpy… or both.

Anyway.. thankfully there are some great people around to cheer me up including William Price King and the hits of the 60s.. four guests join us this week in the special shows.. the first today and one tomorrow.. Hopefully more of you will join us with your memories of the music of the time as we move through the decades.

Also of course Debby Gies who has been sending funnies my way to share with you.. she does a great job.. And thank you for visiting and sharing the posts, it is very much appreciated.

On with the posts from the week..

The Breakfast Show with William Price King and Sally Cronin – Chart Hits 1961 – Part Two

– The Breakfast Show – 1960s Hits Part One – Special Guests Ann Patras, Darlene Foster

– Houston – June 1986 – June 1986 – Kittens, sit ups and water volley ball!

#Rescue Dogs – The Sanctuary

What’s In A Name – Theresa at the Checkout

Some clarification on the book promotion and my own book reviews here on Smorgasbord.

Book Promotion and Book Reviews 2021 Guidelines

#Thriller #Sci-fi- The Hitman and the Thief by Richard Dee

#Western #Romance – Gwen Slade: Bounty Hunter by Sandra Cox

Past Book Reviews 2020 – #Mystery – Examining Kitchen Cupboards by Stevie Turner

– Past Book Reviews 2020 – #Romance – Marriage Unarranged by Ritu Bhathal

-Anti-Aging and pH balance Eating Plan

– Main Meal – Brown Rice Pilaf – Multi-Vitamin on a plate

The Children’s Reading Room – New Author – The Runaway Schoolhouse by Maria Matthews

#TeddyBear Sue Wickstead, #Historical Antoinette Truglio Martin, #Traveladventure Darlene Foster

New Author on the Shelves – #Paranormal #Thriller Crescent City Moon: Book 1 in the Crescent City Series by Nola Nash

#Humour Lizzie Chantree, #Design Valentina Cirasola, #Writing Harmony Kent

New Release – #Romance #Saga The Heartstone by Judith Barrow, #Myths Barbara Spencer, #Teaching Pete Springer

#Guestpost Hugh Roberts, #Sociamedia Chuck Jackson, #Guestpost Marcia Meara

#WritingPrompts Frank Prem, Q&A D.G. Kaye, #Review by Claire Fullerton

Wednesday 27th January 2021 – #Coconutwater Carol Taylor, #Life Jane Sturgeon, #Release Stuart France and Sue Vincent.,

#FullMoon Joan Hall, #Poetry Robbie Cheadle, #CoAuthorship John W. Howell

January 26th 2021 – Hosts Debby Gies and Sally Cronin – Roomba and Skipping

January 28th 2021 – Hosts Debby Gies and Sally Cronin – Spiders and Gravestones

Thanks for dropping in and enjoy the rest of your weekend.. I hope you will join me again next week.. thanks Sally.

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Weekly Round Up – 10th – 16th January 2021 -1960s music, Breakfasts, Anti-Aging, Book Reviews and Funnies.

Posted on January 16, 2021 by Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.

Welcome to the round up of post on Smorgasbord you might have missed this week.

There seems to be little let up from either virus or weather this week and apart from a trip the supermarket and a few turns around the garden I have not ventured out relying on indoor exercise options. I am grateful apart from an inquisitive robin who sat on the windowsill one day, nobody has seem me bopping around the kitchen to Status Quo and Tina Turner with a carrot peeler and wearing my apron.

In case you are wondering this is not a new trend of mine.. here I am the first Christmas in our first home 40 years ago. Only I seem to have a glass of sherry in my hand rather than a carrot peeler. For some reason I thought a goose was a good idea for Christmas dinner..more fat than meat.. and I had those pans for at least twenty-five years. And I seemed to have two aprons.. nothing like changing for dinner.

Some good news to share as D.G. Kaye and Carol Taylor will both will be back this week with the first of their 2021 columns.

Debby Gies will be entertaining and inspiring us with her first Relationship column of the year on Monday and I am sure as interesting and inspiring as always. If you would like to catch up on the posts from 2020... Here is the link

Carol Taylor begins a brand new monthly column on Wednesday – Carol Taylor’s Green Kitchen and this week she will be looking at recycling, the plastic wrap most of us use in our food preparation and storage, and a recipe for some great sandwich bread. I hope you will join us and discover ways we can become more environmentally aware.

I have been out and about this week..

My thanks to Sue Vincent for inviting me over to her place this week to talk about the sewing connection between the generations of women in my family.. I also share my own needlework passion which is tapestry. Sue Vincent – Guest Sally Cronin – The Sewing Gene

And finally…The 2021 Posts from your Archives list is now at 20 bloggers and there is still time to add your name and participate in this series.. It is another opportunity to promote your blog or books or both… and you can never have too much of that… check the post for details and all you need to know is let me know if you wish to take part.

Smorgasbord Posts from Your Archives -#NewSeries February 2021- ‘Pot Luck’ and Do You Trust Me??

Thanks to William Price King and Debby Gies for their wonderful contributions this week and to you for all the support..