Thistlewood Publishing is having its first ever sale. In honor of our best month ever, we would like to offer you a 15% discount on all our books, sitewide. Make your purchase as usual, and get an instant rebate. We'll take care of it, no annoying rebate forms to fill out.
Stock up now for gifts, or for yourself. No limit. Go to www.thistlewoodpublishing.com
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Monday, August 6, 2012
Do you really want to read another boring Author blog?
I thought not! People have asked me why I don't often write about Thistlewood Publishing, my publishing business or my books. Answer? Because, I work seven days a week. This blog is not work for me, rather its a few minutes to escape work and write something fun and talk to my fans and friends. Another very good reason is that I am not one to follow the pack and do what everybody else does. That's not me. So, if you want to read about an author that completed a new Chapter, or edited all day, or has writer's block, or spent two hours researching how to lose thirty unsightly pounds in three days, you probably ought to stop reading right here.
If, however, you want to take your chances, keep coming back to this blog. You are apt to read about almost anything. I love to talk about my gardening, silly things that happened, and of course the new recipes I've created. This blog is about daily events, not books. I will share photos, some of my new recipes and lots of silly stories. Normally, the only time I mention of of our books is when we release a new one. So on the whole, you are pretty safe coming back here.
Now, to make a liar out of myself, I do have ONE teeny little piece of Thistlewood Publishing news. My very first children's book, Mrs. Mouse's Garden Party in Giggleswick Village has broken every sales record since Thistlewood Publishing opened. Teachers, a children's therapist, parents, aunts and uncles, and grandparents have purchased this book. I'm in Author Heaven! (not a real place. I just made that up). ((I know, not funny))
Alright, back to business. Today's bit of Gail Westover (aka Tika Newman) news is geared toward every gardner that loves to compost. Don't spend twenty or thirty dollars buying an indoor counter-top kitchen container for the little bits and pieces you want to compost so you don't have to run outside ten times a day. I am a BIG fan of green living and organic gardening. This is my way of putting kitchen veggie and fruit trash to good use. Get yourself one of these:
It's FREE!!! Did she say FREE? Yessssssssss
Buy yourself a 2 pound container of coffee. Make your coffee, drink it, and save the container with the lid ( I really prefer the brand with the handle, as it makes it super easy to pull it in and out of the cupboard under the sink). I keep a plastic bag in it cover the scraps with the excess bag, then put the cover on. Once it begins getting full, pull the bag over the scraps and then push down a little. For Tika sakes, don't touch it with your hands! Ewwwwwwwwwwwww. It will give you another day or two before you have to empty it. Yep, green AND lazy.
There is NEVER an odor. I use a fresh plastic bag every time I empty it, nd give it a quick rinse with the last of the dishwater before I drain it. Boy, talk about going green. A re-use for old, nasty, cold, dishwater. Yucko.
If you have never composted, be sure to add other things besides fruit and veggie scraps. NEVER put meat, bones, OR seeds in your compost. Meat rots and will smell. Bones will hurt if you step on them while barefooted, not to mention that you'll have every dog in the neighborhood digging in your garden. Seeds will sprout and make a mess of your flower or vegetable beds.
Make sure to add grass clippings, leaves, and an occasional bit of newspaper, paper towel, napkin, etc. A few things I don't like to add are corn cobs and egg shells. They take a long time to decompose.
I have a big black composter outside, and close to my kitchen door, so I actually use the thing. If you compost on the ground, turn it over every few weeks to make sure it's well aerated. If you're having a dry summer, wet it with the garden hose once in a while. It helps break down the scraps. An occasional shovel-full of dirt is also beneficial.
ok, that's all I know about composting. There's a lot more info online. Search for "How to compost"
byeeeeeeee
If, however, you want to take your chances, keep coming back to this blog. You are apt to read about almost anything. I love to talk about my gardening, silly things that happened, and of course the new recipes I've created. This blog is about daily events, not books. I will share photos, some of my new recipes and lots of silly stories. Normally, the only time I mention of of our books is when we release a new one. So on the whole, you are pretty safe coming back here.
Now, to make a liar out of myself, I do have ONE teeny little piece of Thistlewood Publishing news. My very first children's book, Mrs. Mouse's Garden Party in Giggleswick Village has broken every sales record since Thistlewood Publishing opened. Teachers, a children's therapist, parents, aunts and uncles, and grandparents have purchased this book. I'm in Author Heaven! (not a real place. I just made that up). ((I know, not funny))
Alright, back to business. Today's bit of Gail Westover (aka Tika Newman) news is geared toward every gardner that loves to compost. Don't spend twenty or thirty dollars buying an indoor counter-top kitchen container for the little bits and pieces you want to compost so you don't have to run outside ten times a day. I am a BIG fan of green living and organic gardening. This is my way of putting kitchen veggie and fruit trash to good use. Get yourself one of these:
It's FREE!!! Did she say FREE? Yessssssssss
Buy yourself a 2 pound container of coffee. Make your coffee, drink it, and save the container with the lid ( I really prefer the brand with the handle, as it makes it super easy to pull it in and out of the cupboard under the sink). I keep a plastic bag in it cover the scraps with the excess bag, then put the cover on. Once it begins getting full, pull the bag over the scraps and then push down a little. For Tika sakes, don't touch it with your hands! Ewwwwwwwwwwwww. It will give you another day or two before you have to empty it. Yep, green AND lazy.
There is NEVER an odor. I use a fresh plastic bag every time I empty it, nd give it a quick rinse with the last of the dishwater before I drain it. Boy, talk about going green. A re-use for old, nasty, cold, dishwater. Yucko.
If you have never composted, be sure to add other things besides fruit and veggie scraps. NEVER put meat, bones, OR seeds in your compost. Meat rots and will smell. Bones will hurt if you step on them while barefooted, not to mention that you'll have every dog in the neighborhood digging in your garden. Seeds will sprout and make a mess of your flower or vegetable beds.
Make sure to add grass clippings, leaves, and an occasional bit of newspaper, paper towel, napkin, etc. A few things I don't like to add are corn cobs and egg shells. They take a long time to decompose.
I have a big black composter outside, and close to my kitchen door, so I actually use the thing. If you compost on the ground, turn it over every few weeks to make sure it's well aerated. If you're having a dry summer, wet it with the garden hose once in a while. It helps break down the scraps. An occasional shovel-full of dirt is also beneficial.
ok, that's all I know about composting. There's a lot more info online. Search for "How to compost"
byeeeeeeee
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
TIKA'S APPLE BANANA WALNUT MUFFINS
Tika's Apple Banana Walnut Muffins (or bread)
Moist and delicious. A favorite with scrambled eggs and juice, a cup of coffee or a glass of milk.
What is pictured is smaller muffins than you might make, but had young kids over and they can't
often eat a large muffin.
INGREDIENTS:
1/3
cup Crisco
Moist and delicious. A favorite with scrambled eggs and juice, a cup of coffee or a glass of milk.
What is pictured is smaller muffins than you might make, but had young kids over and they can't
often eat a large muffin.
INGREDIENTS:
2/3 cup sugar
Beat til fluffy (about 3-4 min, scraping bowl twice)
Add:
½ cup mashed banana
½ cup mashed banana
1 cup applesauce
2 Tbsp room temp butter
2 eggs
½ tsp vanilla
¼ cup oatmeal
3 Tbp sour milk **
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking powder
2 Dashes salt
1 tsp cinnamon
Mix well.
Add flour last and
mix only until incorporated.
1 cup flour
Stir in ½ cup chopped nuts
**(In a small cup or bowl, 2 ½ Tbsp milk, ½ Tbsp white
vinegar, add to cup, stir, set aside for 10-20 min)
Stir in ½ cup of any of the optional ingredients listed
below:
OPTIONAL: I love dates in this recipe. You can also add an
assortment of dried cranberries, raisins, chopped fresh cranberries, raisins,
chopped apples. Add some chocolate chips if you must, just don’t tell me about
it.
Greased pans or cupcake papers, 350*
Small muffins as pictured, bake for 16-18 minutes, Yield 20-21 muffins
Small muffins as pictured, bake for 16-18 minutes, Yield 20-21 muffins
Normal sized muffins about 20 min, Yield: 18 muffins
Bread I have to guess, but I’d say 40-50 min. Toothpick test it to be sure.
Pssssssst. Don’t tell anyone, but this is actually a pretty healthy
snack/treat. Lots of good oatmeal and
fruit. I tell the little ones that they’re
cupcakes. They’re so moist and
delicious, that they don’t miss the icing.
They didn’t even ask where it is.
Not one of them is impressed
that I made the recipe up, but they just think the muffins are delicious and sometimes
want a second one. I make them small
because sometimes the little ones get bored and can’t eat a whole muffin. At the moment, David and Steffen almost 5 and
6 1/2, are running through the house with a second muffin that they “stole”
from the kitchen. Steffen is yelling, “These
cupcakes are delicious!”
Boy, I love lying to kids for their own good. Does a grandma’s heart good. 7-24-2012
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Yes, I have been super busy, working on my children's books. If Horses Had Feathers and Pigs Could Fly is the latest release. It certainly sounds like a silly book! What better for a silly title, then silly rhymes and a silly storyline??? Why, that's what I thought, too. If Horses Had Feathers and Pigs Could Fly has been the favorite of my grandson Steffen for months now; even before the very talented Me'ven Zabat completed the illustrations. He's loved to squint his eye, wave at the animals, tell the horse to come back and get him, and of course laugh at the upside down duck ever since this book was just a dim light in my head. Now that it's complete and ready for purchase, I see that he wasn't the only one that loves this book.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
At long last . . .
The first Giggleswick Village book is finally released. It's been a long eighteen months of writing, designing, editing, cover layout, etc. We couldn't be more pleased with the results. Mrs. Mouse's Garden Party in Giggleswick Village is now available. 
Mrs. Mouse goes all out planning a perfect garden party, and it gets rained out. She is upset that the party must move indoors, but everyone has a wonderful time.
This interactive brilliantly illustrated book teaches little ones to look for the silver lining, even when things don't go as planned. Mrs. Mouse reminds children to use their manners and be kind to others. It is sure to become a favorite book to be read over and over again.
This is the first book in a series of stories that will reinforce life's early lessons, as well as build comprehension skills. Look for more Giggleswick Village books coming soon!
Mrs. Mouse's Garden Party in Giggleswick Village is dedicated to the real Mrs. Mouse and my seven grandchildren. The book was a total surprise to all of them. Yes, somehow we successfully managed to keep it a secret until the completion of the book. I wrote this one under my own name, for a change. Regarding my pen name Tika Newman, Tika was my beloved Siamese cat's name. She's gone, but not forgotten. Newman is my maiden name. Tika is in the book as Mrs. Mouse's best friend, showing little ones that even a cat and a pink mouse can put aside their differences, and be friends. There are subtle lessons like that one, as well as more major ones throughout the story.
Last week I read the book to one of my grandson's nursery schools (25 students and 5 teachers. They all loved it! On Tuesday, I read the book to another grandson's kindergarten friends. That time we had 65 kids and 6 teachers. The boys especially loved Steffen the monkey and the girls were all crazy over Mrs. Mouse. One of the teachers purchased four copies of the book and donated them to all the kindergarten teachers. Thank you Miss Quick!
The next book will be about bullying. We believe you can't start teaching this to children soon enough. We are researching it now and will begin putting the book together as soon as possible.
As always, contact me at tika1@frontier.com or on our website www.thistlewoodpublishing.com to purchase autographed copies. Unsigned copies are now available through amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and practically every online bookseller. Your local bookseller will be happy to order one for you if you'd rather not purchase online.
Toodles for now!
Gail Westover aka Tika Newman
Mrs. Mouse goes all out planning a perfect garden party, and it gets rained out. She is upset that the party must move indoors, but everyone has a wonderful time.
This interactive brilliantly illustrated book teaches little ones to look for the silver lining, even when things don't go as planned. Mrs. Mouse reminds children to use their manners and be kind to others. It is sure to become a favorite book to be read over and over again.
This is the first book in a series of stories that will reinforce life's early lessons, as well as build comprehension skills. Look for more Giggleswick Village books coming soon!
Mrs. Mouse's Garden Party in Giggleswick Village is dedicated to the real Mrs. Mouse and my seven grandchildren. The book was a total surprise to all of them. Yes, somehow we successfully managed to keep it a secret until the completion of the book. I wrote this one under my own name, for a change. Regarding my pen name Tika Newman, Tika was my beloved Siamese cat's name. She's gone, but not forgotten. Newman is my maiden name. Tika is in the book as Mrs. Mouse's best friend, showing little ones that even a cat and a pink mouse can put aside their differences, and be friends. There are subtle lessons like that one, as well as more major ones throughout the story.
Last week I read the book to one of my grandson's nursery schools (25 students and 5 teachers. They all loved it! On Tuesday, I read the book to another grandson's kindergarten friends. That time we had 65 kids and 6 teachers. The boys especially loved Steffen the monkey and the girls were all crazy over Mrs. Mouse. One of the teachers purchased four copies of the book and donated them to all the kindergarten teachers. Thank you Miss Quick!
The next book will be about bullying. We believe you can't start teaching this to children soon enough. We are researching it now and will begin putting the book together as soon as possible.
As always, contact me at tika1@frontier.com or on our website www.thistlewoodpublishing.com to purchase autographed copies. Unsigned copies are now available through amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and practically every online bookseller. Your local bookseller will be happy to order one for you if you'd rather not purchase online.
Toodles for now!
Gail Westover aka Tika Newman
Friday, January 27, 2012
REFLECTING
It's been a long few months since I've posted last. What with moving, the holidays and working, there never seems to be enough time.
The biggest news is that Thistlewood Publishing is now publishing children's books. The pixie book, The Amazing Adventure of Amber and April has been well received. We couldn't be more pleased. Stay tuned for lots more children's books, as well as two more full length novels coming soon.
Some future titles for children:
If Horses Had Feathers
Monster Under My Bed
Mrs. Mouse
If I Were a Monkey
Who Tooted?
. . . and more!
You can check out our website at www.thistlewoodpublishing.com and if you want to join our mailing list, please do so while you're browsing :)
Take care and think spring!
Tika
The biggest news is that Thistlewood Publishing is now publishing children's books. The pixie book, The Amazing Adventure of Amber and April has been well received. We couldn't be more pleased. Stay tuned for lots more children's books, as well as two more full length novels coming soon.
Some future titles for children:
If Horses Had Feathers
Monster Under My Bed
Mrs. Mouse
If I Were a Monkey
Who Tooted?
. . . and more!
You can check out our website at www.thistlewoodpublishing.com and if you want to join our mailing list, please do so while you're browsing :)
Take care and think spring!
Tika
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
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