Heating Things Up with Texas Blue

When Jodi Thomas graciously offered to send me an advance copy of her latest book, Texas Blue, I was honored and thrilled but accepted with some slight hesitation. You see, I'm not a romance novel kind of girl and tend to head right to the gritty crime or suspense novels. I was also concerned that, since Texas Blue is the fifth Whispering Mountain novel, I'd be missing an important thread by picking up the series in the middle.

But despite my hesitation, Texas Blue was a thoroughly entertaining and enjoyable read. Set in the late 1800's Texas Blue is a love story in the typical sense, but the greater love story is the bond the inhabitants of Whispering Mountain have with their horses and their land. Lewt Paterson is a consummate gambler who's grown tired of a vagabond existence and wants to settle down. Emily is one of three daughters of the McMurrray family and uses the responsibility of overseeing the ranch like a mask to hide the scars on her heart.

When Duncan McMurray invites a selection of eligible bachelors to the ranch in an effort to find suitable husbands for his three cousins, Lewt decides to take advantage of the situation by taking the place of one of the gentleman and posing as a suitor himself. Lewt has dreams of marrying a respectable woman with whom he can finally settle down and raise a family. When he meets Em the sparks fly in unexpected ways, and they both get much more than they bargained for.

Texas Blue is a lively, compelling and sensual story that draws you into the lives of the characters and the beauty of the Texas countryside from the first page and keeps you thinking about it long after the last. Newcomers to the series will enjoy Texas Blue as a stand-alone read and Whispering Mountain fans will not be disappointed with the latest installment.

To purchase Texas Blue, click on the amazon.com link in the box to the right of this post!

Booking Time With Jodi Thomas

If the job of a book blogger is to write about books, then the book blogger must read books (say that three times fast). It's one of those time-management issues I still have problems with because reading is such sheer pleasure for me that I feel guilty taking time out of my day to sit down with a book.

But today I'm carving out some time to sit down and read New York Times' Bestselling Author Jodi Thomas' newest book, Texas Blue (fifth in the popular "Whispering Mountain" series) to be released in April 2011. It's an honor and a pleasure to have the chance to blog about Texas Blue, and I thank Jodi for the opportunity!

You can find Jodi's Author page on Facebook at: Jodi Thomas. You can find me on the sofa reading Texas Blue!

Dancing in the Rain

"It's not how you weather the storm, it's how you have fun dancing in the rain"....I'm not sure where this quote originated, but it took me aback and made me think of my own situation. It reminded me that, as I'm struggling on a daily basis to keep my own boat afloat I'm also letting valuable bits of time slip away in the process. The problem with a pity party is that you're the only one that shows up. Heaven knows, your friends love you, but enough is enough already with the moaning and complaining.

Though they are very real, my problems are not unique or unusual. I'm just another knucklehead who zigged when she should've zagged. Nothing special there. But I do recognize my mistakes, and that's a start. I don't know if I'm quite ready to dance in the rain, but it's a much better plan than laying down in it and drowning. That doesn't sound very upbeat, I know, but trust me it is miles away from where I was a few months ago.

Albert Einstein said, "Nothing happens until something moves". Yesterday I bought new sneakers. Waterproof, just in case...

Lovely Linda

I am so blessed to be a part of this beautiful little mountain town I've come to call home. But it's not all about the beautiful scenery, the incredible wildlife and 300+ days of sunshine. A town is just a place on a map. Evergreen is about the vibe. It's about the amazing energy that wells up around you. It's about the spirit of a place that is breathed into life every day by the people who inhabit it.

I've met some of the most incredible people I've ever known since moving to Colorado. There are so many faces to this wild place we call home. But right now I want to share my thoughts about one incredible woman, my good friend, Linda Morris.

Linda is a doer. She's a get-things-done woman. If Linda is resting, she's only resting to get to the next thing she needs to do. And she does it all with enormous heart and love. When I talk to Linda, she LISTENS. I mean really listens. She has been an enormous source of strength for me through recent difficult times and she ALWAYS finds a way to pull the positive out of me. I don't know if this blog would ever have been born and thrived without Linda, there on the sidelines, always cheering me on.


I've met lots of women who inspire me, and Linda Morris "walks the walk". She is indefatigable. She is funny. She is smart and she's one of my best friends. Yesterday we went to lunch and had many things to celebrate. One of them being Rocky's 1,000 page views. In my heart I know I could not have done it without Linda's enthusiastic prodding and complete belief in me.

Linda, I know grandstanding is not your style. SORRY! I had to do it anyway!

Update: The Scanning Scourge

If you read my last post, "The Scanning Scourge", you'll recall that I questioned the increased use of technology  in the book-buying world (hand-held scanners, to be precise) and its impact on the quality of used books being sold on Amazon and other resale outlets.

I've decided to give up my scanner, and I wish I could say it was wholly motivated by my unselfish desire to rid the world of these mindless little beeping monsters - but it is not. Financial fortunes require me to cut unnecessary expenses so the scanner's got to go.

But it occurred to me that, given the current economy, I may not be the only one turning in my device to "pay the rent". With a $300 rental deposit and a $45 a month service/rental fee, you need to sell a lot of books to make the device economical.

So allow me to dream for a moment and make the leap that there will be fewer "amateurs" out there pushing, shoving and beeping their way through the used book racks.Wouldn't it be interesting if, in turn, the people who once saw the device as a quick way to make a few bucks leave the "scanning" to people like me who actually love the books? And wouldn't it be sweet to go back to the good old days when I could take hours poring over books just for the sheer joy of it?

We'll see. It's an interesting thought and I'm pretty sure dreaming is still free! Beeeeeep....

The Scanning Scourge

There used to be a time, way back in March of 2010, when shopping for used books was a thrill for me. Slowly scanning rows of books, I would stop occasionally to pick one, take a good look at it, and place it in my cart. I had a little app on my iphone that would give me an idea of approximately what I might expect to receive for a particular book, and I used it but I didn't let it use me.

If I could fetch a reasonably high price for the book, I would of course purchase it. But sometimes, even if it fell into dreaded 'penny' territory, I would buy it just because I wanted to have it. It might be a classic or a book in a beautiful binding or even a book by one of my favorite authors. Whatever the reason, it made me happy to have that book. 

Then, all at once it seemed, there were a lot more shoppers in the book section. They were more aggressive, nudging me aside to get to a shelf where I happened to be spending some time happily picking through the selection. Strange beeping and buzzing and the sound of books being tossed (TOSSED!) into carts filled the air. What was going on ????

Welcome to the age of the barcode scanner. Some inventive individual figured out how to take amazon.com's massive database and upload it into one of these evil little devices.What could be bad about more technology to help with my business? It would make me faster, more efficient and more competitive, right?

The answer is yes, yes and yes, BUT...those aren't the reasons I became a bookseller. I've watched the Scanners (those who scan) as they whip through the book sections. They don't look at the title of a book. They scan, it beeps, they throw it in their cart. This seems so wrong to me. A book is like a little work of art. Mass-produced art perhaps, but art nonetheless.

I don't shop much for books right now because it's such a turn-off when I do. Eventually I'll run low on inventory. Maybe by then all the Scanners will have worn each other out and I can go back to my peaceful book shopping trips.

The Still, Small Voice

As I mentioned in my last self-congratulatory post, my intention was to hold off until New Year's Eve to pass along my good news. If you read the post, you might remember that I said it would be perfect symmetry to have one more positive feedback for Rocky's store in addition to the other accomplishments.

Well, sometime late yesterday afternoon someone left positive feedback, creating the symmetry I was wishing for when making my announcement: 90 perfect feedback ratings, 700 sales and 800 views on my blog.

This proves one thing to me yet again: Listen to the still, small voice within. But, as happens all too frequently, my ego won out and I had to go crowing my news right away, hell or high water.This little occurrence validates my one and only resolution:  

Follow your instincts. Take your time. Make your intentions known, work towards fulfilling the intention, and then just let it flow. My intention is for 2011 to be a glorious year filled with lots of changes that will open up grand and wonderful opportunities, followed by lots of love, joy and abundance.

Happy New Year All! Make it Grand and Glorious!

Rocky's Most Excellent Year!

It was my intention to do an end-of-year post about the ups and downs of my little business, Rocky's Mountain Books. Somehow the Universe decided to cut me some slack in one area of my life, as Rocky's just keeps growing. In the past month alone, Rocky's shipped 70 ORDERS! This was no easy task during the holidays, considering the dirty looks and groans of customers in line behind me at the Post Office as they watched me dump 20 large envelopes on the counter

But by some happy coincidence, Rocky's also hit a DOUBLE in the last week. Drum roll please....Rocky's Mountain Books (the online store), hit 700 SALES! As if this news were not enough to go dancing into the aisles of the blogosphere, Rocky's Mountain Books (the blog), hit 800 PAGE VIEWS! For a blog that published its first post a little over four months ago, that is just incredible!

And, not to be greedy, but in a perfectly symmetrical world I could report 90 positive, five-star feedbacks for Rocky's store, but the count's been sitting at 89 for two weeks. Honestly, can't people take one minute out of all their holiday revelry to leave me positive feedback?

Kate Winslet

Seriously, it did take a lot of hard work and determination on my part to get here. But, as I humbly accept these two honors there are some people I really need to thank. So in typical award show style, big shout-outs and hugs to: my daughter, Kate, who gave me the idea; my good friend, Linda Morris, who is one of the smartest women I know and who kicked my butt in the right direction on more than one occasion; all my Facebook Friends who put up with my harassment and still supported me; Corey Colombin, author and friend, for allowing me to 'use' her as my first Featured Author.

Finally, a big thank you to my husband, Marc, for putting up with a household overrun by books and shipping supplies for months and still asks, "But are you MAKING ANY MONEY?".... Still not sure what the exact answer is to that, dear, but in case you haven't noticed I sure am having fun!
 

The Holidays Are Over...Now What?

We've begun the slow slide into that dark and dreary time of year when it's often a case of just hanging in and getting through it. As I'm writing this, my East Coast friends are hunkered down against the first big winter storm of the season, and most of the rest of us will soon be in the same position.

Rocky's wants you to know we care about your downtime and figured that this is a perfect time to remind you that you can go just about anywhere in a book. So you just stay where you are and read on. I've tried to assemble a few suggestions for activities by way of Rocky's books (providing links to purchase as usual), but to a great extent these are just some ideas to get you thinking on the outer side of the cubicle container when it comes to indoor activities. If you want to purchase one of these books, that's okay too.

PLAY WITH CLAY:

The Art of Jewelry - Polymer Clay, by Katherine Duncan Aimone
If you love making jewelry, you should give polymer clay a try. "Poly clay" has come a long way since the early days of tiny Fimo figures. There are several different brands now available, and it's possible to make some really stunning jewelry as well as functional 3-D pieces. In this book, Katherine Duncan Aimone not only provides a sound basis for understanding polymer clay and its properties, but she also walks you through several jewelry projects from basic to more complex. This tutorial helps you to understand the tools, equipment and other materials that can be combined to create treasures of all sorts.

TAKE A NEW TRIP AROUND THE OLD WORLD:

Travel Guide to Europe 1492, Ten Itineraries in the Old World

We all know what was happening here in 1492, but did you ever wonder what was happening there, in Europe? What was life like in the cities? How did people manage travel? Did they travel? And if they did, where did they go and how long would it take to get there?

Lorenzo Camusso, a noted Italian historian and author of this book, creates ten itineraries for travel in fifteenth century Europe and vividly depicts the sites, sounds, and characters you might have met on your journey.

SIT DOWN AND WORK OUT:

In preparation for your exhausting couch journey through the streets of old Europe, you might want to consider warming up with the ultimate in-home workout guide, The Couch Potato Workout, 101 Exercises You Can Do At Home. Joel M. Press, M.D.has compiled 101 exercises that will help motivate you and burn off a few of those Christmas cookies at the same time. Destined-to-be workout classics like, "Reading the Paper", the "Shower Neck Stretch", and "Toothbrush, Knees Bent" are not likely to turn you into a finely-tuned physical specimen, but they will show you that you have limitless opportunities throughout your day to strengthen your body and provide a greater sense of well-being.

There's lots more, so stay tuned. I don't want to overwhelm you all in one post, and I figured ending with Couch Potato Exercises is challenging enough. Lean forward, reach for the remote. Now repeat...

Merry Christmas to All...

For all my Friends near and far, a little Holiday silliness to say Merry Christmas and thanks for all the support and encouragement! (Scroll down a bit and click the 'Play' button)

A Note From Rocky's About Holiday Shopping/Shipping

The leftovers are packed away, taking up way too much space in your fridge...at least they are in mine (sadly, the entire US military did not show up as anticipated). The Thanksgiving glow is already fading into the frenzied Christmas* shopping mode (*insert appropriate holiday). This is a good time to mention a few things about ordering and shipping from Rocky's Mountain Books to facilitate timely delivery of your gift books.

Rocky's has been passing along ideas for gift books on this blog, and providing links to our product pages for easier ordering. If you spot something you like and proceed to the ordering part of the process with Amazon, don't be deterred by the long shipping lead times! Amazon has a tendency to over-inflate shipping times, especially for book resellers like Rocky's.

Fear not, and don't freak out when you see a lead time of 7-14 days! Firstly, the Evergreen P.O. is magical. I don't know how they do it, but I've sent books to Australia that were received in five business days. Secondly, if you ARE concerned and don't want to stress out about getting your package on time, CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY VIA EMAIL! Rocky's Mountain Books Email
 
I like my relationship with amazon so won't go into detail, but there are ways around this problem so you need to contact me DIRECTLY if you see a book in Rocky's inventory that you absolutely positively have to have ASAP. Simple as that. Now relax, sit back, and order up some holiday book lovin' from your favorite online seller, Rocky's Mountain Books!

Got Dogs? More Holiday Inspirations for Dog Lovers!

If you've followed Rocky's blog for any amount of time, you've probably figured out that I'm a dog lover of the first order. So it should come as no surprise that I'm drawn to books about dogs. For the fun of it, I just checked, and Rocky's has at least 10 in inventory right now. I know your time is valuable so I'm just going to list them with a brief condition description and a link to the specific product page. If you have questions about a specific book, please do not hesitate to ask! 

(To purchase from Rocky's, click title link below, then click on 'Add to Cart' button on right side of product page)

Dog Joy: The Happiest Dogs in the Universe       SOLD OUT

 by the Editors of Bark

Do you love happy dogs? Do pictures of cute, happy, cuddly dogs make you smile and feel good. This book does all of that. Excellent condition with only minor surface scuffing on dust cover.

Dogwise, The Natural Way to Train Your Dog
by John Fisher

Binding is uncreased and pages are tight and clean. Very clean overall, minor scuffing on cover.

Anti-Aging for Dogs: A Longevity Program for Man's Best Friend
by John M. Simon, D.V.M.

Light shelf wear on hard cover. Very tiny dent on bottom of binding edge; binding is uncreased. Pages tight and clean.

Caninestein: Unleashing the Genius in Your Dog 
by Betty Fisher and Suzanne Delzio
Subtitle: 100 Activities to Measure and Enhance Your Dog's Intelligence
Very clean. Normal, light shelf wear on cover with clean tight pages and binding.



Cesar's Way, by Cesar Millan
Subtitle: The Natural Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems
Slight bend to front cover at top corner. One page creased on top corner. Clean and tight.

Bone Appetit, by Suzan Anson
Subtitle: Gourmet Cooking For Your Dog
Moderate scuffing on cover. Slight bend at bottom edge. Pages clean.

How to Raise a Jewish Dog
by Boca Raton Theological Seminary told to Ellis Weiner & Barbara Davilman
Absolutely hilarious. If you have a dog you will love it, Jewish or not.
Slightly worn on cover edges. Turned edge on bottom cover corner. Clean pages and binding.

 

Walkin' the Dog: Denver

Pocket-sized guide, featuring 43 of the best dog walks in and around the city

Excellent condition, Like New

Natural Dog Care, by Celeste Yarnall, Ph.D.
A Complete Guide to Holistic Health Care for Dogs explores every
aspect of holistic care for our canine companions.
Very good, clean copy in like-new condition.

Got Cooks? Holiday Inspirations...

If you like to eat well and are fortunate enough to love (or even really like) someone who loves cooking, Rocky's has a great gift idea for you!

In the culinary arena, there's one publication that stands out above the rest. Cook's Illustrated is the crown jewel in the necklace of culinary publications. If you don't know WHY, check out their own description at Cook's Illustrated. Every recipe is put through its paces by their chefs and tasters. Cook's is 100% ad free with artful illustrations, equipment reviews and how-to articles.
 
When I came across these Cook's Illustrated Annuals, hard bound in green cloth with gold lettering, filled with lush images of steamy plates of goodness, I had a dilemma on my hands. The books beckoned, "Keep Me, Read Me, Love Me". But, with a tinge of regret I decided to send them out into the world to be read and loved by another. 


Cook's Illustrated Annual, 1999 - SOLD!
Cook's Illustrated Annual, 1997
Cook's Illustrated, 1996
Cook's Illustrated, 1994

 
Each one of these delicious volumes contains a year's worth of Cook's Illustrated magazine. The chefs at CI test every recipe repeatedly until they are confident of providing you with foolproof results. Success with recipes like "Rustic Free-Form Apple Tartlets" and "Dried Cherry and Stout Sauce" is within every cook's grasp.

Just like the little basic black dress, the individual issues are a classic, and neither the information nor the instructions will get stale as the years pass.Reasonably-priced and in excellent condition, one or all of these will be a treat to give and receive!


(To view detailed  product information and/or purchase, please click on title of the book)

My "Perfect" Lemony World

"In a perfect world..." is an intriguing phrase. Collectively and individually, we are imperfect. To a degree, that's a good thing. Because (A) it gives us something for which to strive and (B) wouldn't this be a boring place if there were no greater level to achieve and no higher calling to beckon us?

Thankfully, there's much to aspire to and many opportunities for change and growth all along the rocky path of life. You may be wondering why Rocky is waxing so philosophical today; in a blog captioned, "It's All About the Books" one could reasonably conclude that there would be some bookish connection here. Not exactly.

Rocky's Mountain Books is still working hard, gathering new inventory and,selling books like mad. But I am  going through some difficult personal times. Usually, I write when I'm motivated to do so, and at this moment (and no doubt in future ramblings) the emotions and feelings exposed in the personal areas of my life are bound to bleed through.

But there are also wonderful things happening and much joy yet to be squeezed, squoze or squizzin out of my momentarily lemony life. I'm a bookseller. I love that part of my life and hope I can do it for a long time. But meanwhile, I'll be over here making lemonade...

Finally, A Lazy Sunday...

After weeks and weeks of being on an endless treadmill of "work, work, work", I finally, FINALLY indulged myself in an extremely slothful day. It's been me and the dogs alone, all day. Me, on the sofa reading. Chloe tucked in next to me or,alternately, begging for a piece of cracker; Teeka sitting passively by my side..

My friend, Kim Rowley*, mentioned that she'd just finished reading the late Stieg Larsson's 'The Girl Who Played With Fire'. I'm slightly embarrassed to say that I've had his books (Girl With A Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest) pass through my inventory at least a dozen times. As luck would have it, I'd just picked up a slightly battered copy of "The Girl Who Played With Fire".

I've been reading "Fire" since Saturday at about 4 PM. I'm now more than halfway through the book (about 450 pages), and I am totally engrossed. As I'm reading, I'm also doing some research into the life of Stieg Larsson, which is a drama unto itself. Without a doubt, his personal story lends itself to the mystery. So captivating...I'll blog more later, but wow, wow and WOW.

*Kim Rowley, Author of Primal Whispers

New New Books!

Rocky's Mountain Books is an online seller of gently-used books, but every so often I get to add unused books to my inventory. Last week I was lucky enough to connect with several brand-new, unread copies. If you're looking for gifts for the holidays, check out these competitively-priced NEW books
 
(Click on the title to get more info. To purchase from Rocky's, click on 'Add to Cart' on the product detail page)

The Power by Rhonda Byrne, author of The Secret: "The Secret revealed the law of attraction. Now Rhonda Byrne reveals the greatest power in the universe -- The Power to have anything you want".

Dune Road, by Jane Green, author of (The Beach House and Promises to Keep): "A warm, witty, and gloriously observed meditation on the challenges of starting over".

The Flying Carpet of Small Miracles, by Hala Jaber: Hala Jaber is a correspondent for the Sunday Times of London. Follow her travels to Baghdad and to a children's hospital where she meets two little girls, Zahra and Hawra, orphaned during a 2003 missile strike. She soon learns that there is more than one way to love and raise a child and more than one way to become a mother.

The Dead Lie Down, by Sophie Hannah, (author of Little Face and The Wrong Mother):  "Set in London's vibrant art scene and featuring the return of Sergeant Charlotte "Charlie" Zailer and DC Simon Waterhouse, The Dead Lie Down is a sophisticated, sinuous novel of psychological suspense."

This Is Not A Book, by Keri Smith, (author of Wreck This Journal): When is a book NOT a book, or All  The Things You Can Do With A Book Besides Read It

Wreck This Journal, by Keri Smith: Journal-Challenged? Know you should journal but don't/can't/won't? You'll love this subversive but fun little anti-journal...

Tooting My Own Horn

Rocky's Mountain Books has been operating since March, 2010. As of today, I've sold 530 books, and while that's reason enough to pat myself on the back, the number alone doesn't tell you anything about how I run my business.

I'm an absolute pit bull about customer service, so the even greater achievement is fulfilling all these orders while maintaining a 5-Star, 100% Rating with amazon.com. The five stars are nice, but the 100% is the grail (so to speak) of amazon feedback ratings. The 100% is based on several standards established by Amazon for sellers. It represents complete satisfaction of all my customers in the areas of shipping speed, number of returns/refunds, and of course positive feedback. On average, Amazon sellers can expect feedback from only about 10% of their customers. So Rocky's is doing a little better than average with 58 positive feedbacks. The GREAT news is that the feedback is all positive! I mean, nobody hesitates to complain when service is bad, right? But these folks are compelled to write GOOD reviews. Which makes me think they're pretty pleased with the service to take the time to leave feedback.

Bookselling has become an intensely competitive business, and every Tom, Dick and Terry is selling used books online. I can't speak for the way other sellers do business. I can only tell you that when you're shopping Amazon with ANY bookseller, check feedback and look carefully at the Condition rating. Amazon has strict guidelines about rating a book for Condition. For instance, a book that is 'slightly used' cannot be listed as 'New'. That doesn't stop some sellers from crossing the line and giving it a New rating anyway, hoping you won't read the fine print.

Now Rocky's is poised to make some major changes and improvements. Addition of a website will assist with coherently categorizing an inventory of almost 1,000 books. Expanding into marketing and promotion will benefit my bookselling as well as assist self-published authors in gaining exposure and good press through social media networking. I'm proud to look back and see the positive results of my efforts to build a solid foundation for the next step. Clearly, something great is happening with my business...TOOT TOOT TOOT.

Big changes are coming to Rocky's Mountain Books! We are still committed to being a Five-Star online book seller, offering a wide selection of well-priced new and used books. Click on the link to check out our current offerings and ever-expanding inventory.

At the same time we're growing and changing, responding to what we see as a niche that needs filling. A new website and expanded blog pages. Promotional services for self-published authors. Things are changing rapidly and we're responding.

It would be appropriate to say, "stay tuned", but you don't have to do anything but sit and watch what happens next. I'll do the rest of the work.

(Meanwhile, view our current inventory of new and gently-used books at Rocky's Mountain Books)

For the Love of a Rescue Dog

My sweet love of a rescue dog, Teeka, is about 12 years old. We got her when she was about six (with rescues, birth dates are sketchy) . Adopted  from our local rescue organization, Evergreen Animal Protective League, she was with a family in transition. They were moving out of state and could not take her.

When we first met, Teeka was very responsive. The owner said, hopefully, "Ohh, she really likes you". But it didn't take long for me to understand that Teeka had issues. I could pet her head, rub her ears, and even got a 'kiss' on the first visit. But if I moved my hand beyond the middle of her back, toward her hindquarters, she would growl and snap. When I tried to touch her paw I got the same reaction.

But I spent a few hours with her that day and I saw something else there. She wanted to be loved. She was A Good Dog. A sweet dog. A dog with a big heart but a bad start in life. Whatever she'd experienced, I knew she didn't deserve it. She has a scar across her snout. When she looks at you with her beautiful brown eyes, there's a permanent ugly scar on her eyeball. I know it doesn't bother her, but it makes me sad every time I see it. Who could hurt such a beautiful, loving and trusting face?

She's so so much more secure now, but still touchy in certain areas. The only time I can give her a belly rub is late at night if she happens to be sleeping on her back.. Even then, I'm very tentative. Grooming is an event that requires patience, and she's become much more accepting but there are still places I can't touch without upsetting her.

But, without a doubt, my life would not be the same without her. She is devoted to her family. She's a dog with a soft loveable center but a hard candy shell. There are still times when she'll snap if I forget the boundaries, but almost immediately she paws at her nose and then looks at me as if to say, "I'm sorry. I know that was uncalled for. It's just who I am". There is not an ounce of real hostility in her. About a year ago, a dog came into our yard and she sat there while the guy chomped on her neck. I physically had to pull him off her.

So, if you love dogs and have the ability to do so, please, please consider fostering or adopting a rescue dog. There is so much love in their hearts. But sometimes you have to be patient and search to find it because Love is not something they're used to receiving. It's worth the time to get to that place in their hearts. Every one of them are worth it.

Locally, contact Evergreen Animal Protective League or Denver Dumb Friends League.

....And You Thought You Knew Everything About Beer!

Another gift book suggestion from Rocky's Mountain Books. This time it's about Beer..the hoppy nectar of the gods. A kegger wouldn't be the same without beer, and there are times when a good, cold, fresh brewski is complete nirvana.

So you'd think there wouldn't be much to say about a book titled, A Taste for Beer, by Stephen Beaumont. Turns out that, to a beer aficionado, there's A LOT to say. "Beer is the smoky richness of a porter and the crisp bitterness of a pilsner. It is the warming depth of a doppelbock and the fruity tang of a wheat beer, the reflective complexity of a barley wine and the foresty charm of a best bitter".

The author talks about the gentrification of beer over the years as handcrafted brews continue to gain popularity. He offers recipes for cooking with beer, and we're not talking just stews and soups. Yummy recipes like Pork and Yam Ragout with Caribbean Stout. He shows you that beer does have a place at the dinner table with careful consideration to "beer pairing". Nice book for anyone who likes beer. Or cooking with beer. Or cooking while drinking beer. You get the idea.

(To view more details, click  A Taste for Beer. To purchase from Rocky's click on the 'Add To Cart' button of the detail page)