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Welcome!
This is the place for friends to talk about books, movies, music, food, and everything fun!

Thursday, August 28, 2014

It's Labor Day Weekend!


Lilly Faye: Hi, Cali. How's it going?

Cali: I can't believe the summer is almost over, Lilly Faye.

Lilly Faye: I'm thinking of throwing an end-of-summer blog party. Are you interested?



Cali: Sorry, I can't make it this year. I'm spending time with the family, before the kids get busy with school.




Lilly Faye: Hey, Frank. I'm thinking of organizing an end-of-summer blog party. Any thoughts?



 Mr. Frank: A pool party would be awesome. I've been dying for a chance to wear my new Speedo.



Lilly Faye: Well, in that case, I'll see what I can come up with!

Later that afternoon...



Dizzie: Boss? I wasn't expecting to see you today. Why are you wearing your bikini?



Lilly Faye: I'm scouting locations for an end-of-summer party for my employees and friends of the blog. I thought maybe we could use your swimming pool. Frank wants to break in his new Speedo.



Alfie Cat: Ooof! That's a sight I don't need to see.



Dizzie: You're out of luck, Boss. We don't have a pool.



Lilly Faye: Sure you do. It just needs some water, and maybe a slide.



Dizzie: That's a fire pit.



Lilly Faye: You're being too modest, Diz. It's a lovely pool.



Dizzie: No. Seriously, Boss. We build fires in it.



Lilly Faye: If you don't want to host the party, all you have to do is say so, Diz.



Alfie Cat: We don't want to host a party.



Dizzie: Sorry, Boss. My heart's just not in it this year.



Alfie Cat: He's still upset about Willow seeing other dogs.



Lilly Faye: You shouldn't believe the gossip, Diz. For all you know, Willow could be at home pining for you the way you're pining for her. Think about it.



Lilly Faye: I'm going home. I guess Frank and I will just have to make it a party of two.

Over the holiday weekend, in separate locations...



Dizzie: Oh, Willow...



Willow: Oh, Dizzie...



Lilly Faye: You grill a mean burger, Frank.



Mr. Frank: It's all in how you spice it up, Doll Face. Now give Mr. Frankie some sugar.

Dear Readers, have a marvelous Labor Day weekend!
Love,
Lilly Faye


Tuesday, August 26, 2014

A Behind-the-Scenes Report From the Emmys!


Dear Readers,

Did you watch the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards on NBC? I thought Seth Meyers did a good job as host. His jokes were funny without being too crude, he avoided any big bloopers, and he kept the show moving, which is very important in a 3-hour broadcast.

Surprisingly, the only segment that really fell flat was Stephen Colbert's bit about his imaginary friend. I don't know what went wrong there, but it was a major fail.



Oh, hold on. My blog intern, Dizzie, is ringing in on Skype. Hello, Diz. Did you watch the Emmys?



Dizzie: I didn't just watch, Boss. I attended the awards in person!



Lilly Faye: How on earth did you get to Los Angeles, Diz? I thought you used up all THE MASTER'S frequent flyer miles when you made that surprise trip to the Oscars in March.





Dizzie: True, but I did a little research online, and discovered it's possible to stow away in the wheel well of a 747. It actually wasn't bad. I slept my way across country.

Lilly Faye: What's it like in LA, Diz?



Dizzie: They speak a whole different language out here, Boss. You should have heard some of the words the ground crew said when I jumped out of the wheel well of that airplane! 

They wanted to take me in for questioning, but I was in a hurry, so I slipped away and hopped in a limo that was waiting at the curb. Fortunately, it was taking Jimmy Fallon to the Nokia Theater anyway, and Jimmy let me tag along.



Lilly Faye: That's remarkable, Diz. What can you tell us about the show?



Dizzie: Many of the actresses were wearing red, and quite a few were wearing sparkly pastels. I only saw a couple of blue and black gowns. Scandal's Kerry Washington was striking in orange.



Lilly Faye: So it appears I'm right on trend, as usual. Good to know.



Dizzie: Breaking Bad was a big winner, and Modern Family picked up several statuettes again this year, despite some stiff competition. Sofia Vergara took a shine to me. She was running her hands through my hair, and talking a mile a minute.

Lilly Faye: What did she say?

Dizzie: I have no idea. I couldn't understand a word, but I got a funny little thrill when she was touching me.

Lilly Faye: Did you get a good seat?

Dizzie: I started out sitting next to Sarah Silverman, but I was getting woozy from her perfume. At least, I think it was perfume. Anyway, when I got up to get some air, Matthew McConaughey called me over. He said I could hunker down between him and his wife. Actually, I had a pretty good view, because their seats were near the stage.



Lilly Faye: How are you going to get home, Diz?



Dizzie: Weird Al Yankovic is giving me a lift back to the airport. He's going to buy me a ticket, so I don't have to ride in the wheel well again. He said he's had a pretty good year, so it's the least he can do. He loves dogs, you know. He even has a rescue poodle!



Lilly Faye: Thank him for that, Diz. Stay safe, and call me when you touch down. I'll pick you up at the airport.



Dizzie: Will do, Boss! 



Lilly Faye: And there you have it, Dear Readers, an exclusive behind-the-scenes report from the Primetime Emmys, thanks to my blog intern, Dizzie.

Congratulations to all the winners, and to everyone else, better luck next year!

Love,
Lilly Faye


Friday, August 22, 2014

The "Miss Julia" Novels by Ann B. Ross, a Soothing Balm for a Stressed-Out World


Dear Readers,

Sometimes I like to shut out all the terrible things that are happening in the world, and curl up with a good book. The "Miss Julia" series by Ann B. Ross is the perfect antidote for the stress, anxiety, and discouragement of modern day life.




There are sixteen books in the series, and counting. I've collected twelve of them, so far. Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind sets the stage, so I recommend you read it first.




Miss Julia is a true southern lady, an older woman who has always done exactly what her father, her husband, her church, and her town expected of her. Then her husband dies, and she discovers he was one of the biggest hypocrites who ever lived. Fortunately, she also discovers he was rich.




Now, for the first time in her life, Miss Julia is free to make up her own mind about people, and do exactly as she pleases. These novels are a coming-of-age story about an older woman finally learning who she is, what she wants in life, and how to handle her considerable resources.

Much to her surprise, Miss Julia is also making lots of new and unexpected friends, including her late husband's mistress Hazel Marie, and their young son!




Before you know it, Miss Julia is off on one adventure after another. Although these books aren't billed as mysteries, there is usually a crime or mystery to be solved in each book, with the help of Mr. Pickens, a handsome private detective who is sweet on Hazel Marie, and the local deputy, who rents a room from Miss Julia.

There is even a touch of romance in Miss Julia's life, in the form of a longtime friend who would like to marry her.




Dear Readers, these books are addictive. Once you enter Miss Julia's world, you won't want to leave it.

You can find the books listed in order of publication on Ann B. Ross's website:


Enjoy!

Love,
Lilly Faye


Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Order Up!


Lilly Faye: Hello, Frank. I haven't seen you out and about lately.



Mr. Frank: I've been spending a lot of time in the kitchen, working on my new fall menu. I like to feature seasonal dishes. Right now I'm perfecting my succotash recipe. 



Lilly Faye: Oh. I don't eat succotash. I'm not a big fan of lima beans.



Mr. Frank: I'll bet you'd like my Garden Fresh Succotash a la Frankie. I make it with fresh corn, diced red bell pepper, and edamame in place of the lima beans. I saute′ the vegetables with bacon lardons, and drizzle the finished dish with a balsamic reduction.



Lilly Faye: That does sound rather good. What do you serve with it?



Mr. Frank: It goes equally well with ham, chicken, and any barbecued meat, but I recommend it with my Maple Glazed Salmon Steak.



Lilly Faye: Hmm, okay, I'm game. I'll take an order of Succotash a la Frankie, with a Maple Glazed Salmon Steak.



Mr. Frank: What? Do I look like I'm running a restaurant?






Lilly Faye: Actually, yes. I thought that was the whole point of our conversation.