Our daughter Christina is at our house recovering from gallbladder surgery. She had it on Thursday. I never dreamed we’d be making a trip to the emergency room last night. We planned on watching a movie at home.

After Mass we went to a nearby restaurant to eat and as soon as we were in the parking lot, Amanda started complaining of a severe pain in the middle of her chest. She cried hard and her face turned red from crying so much. We only went a short distance when my husband pulled over so she could throw up. She didn’t and continued home. We decided to take Amanda to the emergency room because she was experiencing severe pain. She had X-rays and blood tests and etc. done. Everything came back normal. She felt better and after she was given medication in her IV, we returned home at 11:00 p.m.

The doctor said with my mother having her gallbladder removed plus two of our five daughters having theirs removed, Amanda could have had a gallstone that passed thru causing her pain. It is hereditary. My mother-in-law also had gallstones. I’m taking her sometime as an outpatient for an ultrasound to see if we can rule out gallstones. I need to call and schedule it tomorrow. I also need to take Sara to get new ear molds made for her hearing aids later this week. Will be a busy week!

I’m making a few revisions to my Amish romance and looking forward to sharing the cover for it. Yes, I have a fantastic cover for it and several author friends have seen it. A wonderful friend is going to edit it for me so I’m hoping to have it published this summer. With scoring and taking care of a family, I haven’t had as much time to get writing projects done. I need to find a quiet spot in our house to work.

Off to make strawberry pies for Sunday dinner. I use my mother’s Frisch’s recipe. Not sure if I ever shared it so here it is.

Frisch’s Strawberry Pie

1 crust, baked
3/4 c. sugar
1 c. water
2 1/4 T. Corn starch

Boil until thick.
Add 1/2 box strawberry jello.

Cool a little, add your fruit. Put whipped cream on.

If you have raspberry you can use 1/2 box of raspberry jello. Also some of my family prefer a graham crust and some like a regular pie crust.

My contemporary romance, YOUR PLACE OR MINE, is now 99 cents instead of the regular price of $1.99! It will be on sale for the month of July! Here’s a brief blurb with a couple of reviews:

BLURB:
Sydney Smith decides it’s time to move out of her tiny apartment and become a home owner. Blake Smith, no relation and a real hottie, also wants to see the duplex. A mix-up has them viewing it together. They both love the house. There’s also some sparks flying between the two of them, or is Sydney the only one feeling that way? A highly sensual story of fun, home-buying, and more…

REVIEWS:

5 stars Cute Read
By LAS Reviewer “The Long and the Short Of It
`Start as you mean to go on.’ Is a phrase I often heard during my childhood, but in Your Place or Mine? Ms. Craver does just that. She starts with an emotional bombshell for her heroine, Sydney Smith, and just keeps on going until the end of this short and tightly written short story.

The meeting, outside a duplex for sale, between Sydney and Blake Smith seems ordinary enough. After all, I bet this wouldn’t be the first two potential buyers piggy-backed on the same appointment. Combine that with immediate physical attraction and both the reader and Sydney are left wondering whether it is a case of emotional rebound after her former lover dumps her twenty-four hours before the meeting. While we learn all about Blake’s first marriage and are introduced to his seven-year-old son, I never quite fathomed out when Blake moved into town.

Ms. Craver pits common sense, caution and family responsibility against feisty impulsive actions tempered with logic and vulnerability. This juxtaposition creates plenty of intensity between her characters. Her sense of place is beautifully depicted as she moves from scene to scene. The story may be brief, but the wordsmith is awesome.

There are several secondary characters all create intense reader connections that range from loving respect to loving aggravation.

It may seems surprising to describe a story as `gentle’ when there are several spicy bedroom scenes. But that is just what this story is. So, if you want a quick read to fill in time, or just to curl up in front of the fire as the colder weather closes in, then this is a book for you.

4.0 out of 5 stars Review for Your Place or Mine
By Steph
Craver pens a feisty contemporary tale of dating and falling in love with “Your Place or Mine.” Blake Smith is in the market for a house. So is Sydney Smith, no relation to Blake. Imagine their surprise when the realtor schedules them to see the house together. Can Blake and Sydney work out a win-win situation?

Blake Smith is a widower with a young son who is looking to move into a house. Sydney is single and looking for a change. She decides to buy a house. The realtor mistakes them for being married and invites them to see the house at the same time.

Blake and Sydney make the best of the situation, since the house is a duple. However, there’s no denying the chemistry between the two. Blake proposes they each move into one side of the duplex.

Sydney hardly knows Blake and has some reservations, especially when she knows she wants to kiss him senseless. She proposes a set of rules for her and Blake should they go through and buy the house. Blake stresses he wants a platonic relationship and agrees to the rules. Can Blake and Sydney keep the sparks at bay once they move in together?

Craver’s writing is crisp and spot on. The dialogue is modern and witty. The plot flows smoothly and keeps the reader cheering for Blake and Sydney. The writing alludes to a deeper premise - when you meet the one you’re going to spend the rest of your life you just “know.”

The story is sophisticated for readers. Craver’s love scenes are graphic and tasteful. Overall, “Your Place or Mine” is a nice romantic getaway.

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rating: Adults - Highly Sensual
Length: Novella - 20,400 words
Publisher: Rebecca J. Vickery

To buy from Amazon, click here!.
To buy from Smashwords, click here!
Or buy from Monkeybars, click here!

I meant to get this posted this morning but Amanda and I went grocery shopping. Then I helped Tom pick up limbs from the wind storm we had last Friday. We have a lot of land and so many trees were hit. Tom had to use a chain saw to cut some of the damaged branches. My pool was covered two nights straight with leaves. I decided we have too many trees. We also were without electric Friday evening until Saturday morning.

I never tried this recipe but will make it for tomorrow. I did see where one person said cool whip might be good to mix in the cream cheese - I might do that.

HAPPY 4th OF JULY to everyone!

Ingredients:

1 box (1 Lb 2.3 Oz) Fudge Brownie Mix
Water, vegetable oil and eggs called for on brownie mix box
1 pkg (8 Oz) Cream Cheese, softened
⅓ cup Sugar
½ tsp Vanilla
2 cups sliced Fresh Strawberries
1 cup Fresh Blueberries
1 cup Fresh Raspberries
½ cup Strawberry Jelly

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease bottom only of a 12-inch pizza pan with shortening or cooking spray.

2. In medium bowl, stir brownie mix, water, oil and eggs until well blended. Spread in pan.

3. Bake 24 to 26 minutes or until toothpick inserted 2 inches from side of pan comes out clean or almost clean. Cool completely, about 1 hour.

4. In a small bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Spread mixture evenly over brownie base. Arrange sliced berries over cream cheese mixture. Stir jelly until smooth; brush over berries. Refrigerate about 1 hour or until chilled.

5. Cut into wedges. Store covered in refrigerator.

Recipe By: Kristina_Vanni
Link where I saw this recipe - http://dessert.betterrecipes.com/red-white-and-blue-dessert-pizza.html