“It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.” ~ Charles Dickens
Hello Readers and Fellow Authors:
Ah…March madness is upon us, and what a crazy month it is! Anticipation ushers us forward, the past holds us back. Only during this time of year can you bask in the sun’s glorious warmth, applaud pink buds beneath new leaves, then cringe as they’re crushed by a blanket of new-fallen snow.
In this same vein, life often mimics nature. It drops us into pitfalls as we tread along worn paths. It leaves us stuck in ruts, running in endless circles, accomplishing little in a broad span of time. But if we chose to disregard ill-gotten practices and, instead, blaze new roads – fueling our journey with imagination and positive energy – we can alter our destiny. We can regain control of our lives and find slivers of sunshine beneath even the darkest clouds.
So be brave! Individuals, who once tip-toed around you, will soon recognize your ambition, your intuitiveness, your well-earned praise. They in turn will seek out your guidance and the source of your fresh, ingenious beam.
Quote of the Day: (From a great Irishman)
I often sit back and think, “I wish I’d done that”, and find out later that I already have. ~ Richard Harris
Ah…but hold on! It’s not too late to enter Kaylin’s “Luck of the Irish” Contest…
…or to win a free Kindle with no strings attached!! Simply send your favorite Irish joke, limerick or poem (extra points for originality) to kaylin.kaylinmcfarren.com before March 16th. The winning entry will be selected on St. Paddy’s Day, and this lucky soul – whoever they might be – will receive a free Kindle valued at $189… The perfect wireless reading device to download and enjoy your copy of Flaherty’s Crossing. So what are you waiting for? Submit your entry today!
Kaylin’s Recommended Reads for March:
- The Magician’s Assistant by Ann Patchett – When her magician husband dies unexpectedly of an aneurysm, 40-year-old Sabine discovers that he had a family and a tumultuous past that he never shared with her.
- Thread of Grace by Mary Doria Russell – As World War II comes to an end, the members of three different cultures in Northern Italy—Catholics, Jews, and the occupying Germans—must make difficult choices in order to survive.
- My Dream of You by Nuala O’Faolain – Kathleen, a travel writer, has long been estranged from her family and native Ireland; now nearing 50, mourning the death of a close friend, she returns to Ireland to make peace with her family and research a 150-year-old mystery.
Kaylin’s Recipe of the Month: Irish Chicken and Dumplings
Ingredients
- 2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed cream of chicken soup
- 3 cups water
- 1 cup chopped celery
- 2 onions, quartered
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
- 5 carrots, sliced
- 1 (10 ounce) package frozen green peas
- 4 potatoes, quartered
- 3 cups baking mix
- 1 1/3 cups milk
Directions
- In large, heavy pot, combine soup, water, chicken, celery, onion, salt, poultry seasoning, and pepper. Cover and cook over low heat about 1 1/2 hours.
- Add potatoes and carrots; cover and cook another 30 minutes.
- Remove chicken from pot, shred it, and return to pot. Add peas and cook only 5 minutes longer.
- Add dumplings. To make dumplings: Mix baking mix and milk until a soft dough forms. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto BOILING stew. Simmer covered for 10 minutes, then uncover and simmer an additional 10 minutes.
So remember … Stay positive, give happiness away, and be sure to recommend Flaherty’s Crossing to everyone you know!
Have a great month and a happy Saint Patrick’s Day!
Kaylin