“Goodbye spooky October, Hello November! We are hurtling toward the end of the year. The holidays are arriving, and there are many things to celebrate!”
Bring on the HOLIDAZE!
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Well, hello November! What a whirlwind of seasonal change it has been, LOL! Halloween and all things spooky one week, and the jingle and mania of the holidaze (that time of year where we are inundated with all things Christmas even though we haven't had Thanksgiving yet) playing 24/7 the next.
I had to start this post off with one of my very fav Lindsey Stirling videos from YouTube for this post--Snow Waltz.⬆️ I love the terror and trepidation the ghouly girls experience when presented with all things Christmas once we go from October 31st to November 1st. Campy? Yes, but oh-so-true for many methinks. What season-zone are you currently in? Here's what we've been up to:
Recap: Closing out October, the OH and I were able to attend the Pageant of the Monsters held in Laguna Beach just before Halloween. We were super excited for this visit--we had the chance to do a scary tour through their exhibit workshop and the stage area where the 'living' artworks are mocked-up. We were treated to an up close and personal look at the minotaur inspired 'statues' and had the chance to see the performers crack a few grins as they posed for their scenes. The Wednesday and Scarilyn Monroe scarecrows were terrorific, and the paintings and crafts exhibited were spooktacular. A scary good time was had by all! 🎃
HOLIDAZE Shopping: It's Ho-Ho-Ho season now at Roger's Gardens. The remnants of Halloween decor might have been dwindling, but never fear, St. Nick is ready to take up the shopping reins at their fabulous Christmas Boutique!
Mountain Highs: The OH and I had the chance to spend a few days up at Big Bear last week. The air was crisp and cool and I'm so happy to report the lake water level is up 12 feet with the rain and snow from last winter!
Let's hope with the El Nino predicted for the coming months, the lake will fill to capacity (still down 4 feet), and the snow will be awesome for skiers and snowboarders! ❄️⛷️🏂
Coming Attractions: Thanksgiving plans... Bruce and I will be heading up to Paso Robles for a Thanksgiving feast with the SIL/BIL/Nieces in a few weeks. We'll be staying at the Allegretto Hotel, our fav spot in the central California wine country. I can't wait to see their holiday decorations and catch up with the nieces as they talk about senior year of high school and freshman year of college experiences! Did I mention Black Friday shopping?? #ChaChing 💞🦃💞
Before we head home after the Thanksgiving festivities, we'll be stopping off in San Simeon for another nighttime Holiday Tour at Hearst Castle! This event has been closed the last few years due to Covid and PCH repair work--I'm so excited to see the Christmas castle glam once again! ⬆️⬇️ 🎀🎄
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Wishing you and yours a warm, happy, peaceful November filled with the spirit of the HOLIDAZE! It's Wednesday, time for #DearDiary:
For Your HOLIDAZE Reading Pleasure!
It's that time of year to enjoy a holiday cozy mystery! My two novels in My American Almost Royal Cousin Series; The Crown for Castlewood Manor and Mistletoe and Mayhem: Yuletide at Castlewood Manor, and the two Rikkhe St. Claire Hygge & Bisous Holiday Mysteries short story collections; Christmas Bizarre and A Novel Noel, eBooks are now just 99 cents! Cozy up by the fire for some winter chills! Get your copy here:
Whodunnits with a regal flare this week from the writers of X...
Author Dorothy Sayers, Clouds of Witness, 5 ⭐
Lord Peter Wimsey's holiday is interrupted when he learns his brother, the Duke of Denver has been arrested for the murder of his sister's fiancé. When he returns to the family estate to investigate, he soon finds there are plenty of secrets and motives that cloud the charges against his brother and implicate others in the family. Will he be able to sort through the clues in time to prove their innocence?
Author Sayers once again delights readers with this clever tale in the Lord Peter Wimsey series. I enjoy the charm, debonair behavior, and eye for clues of Lord Peter as he investigates the mysterious actions of friends and neighbors in the English countryside. An entertaining read with many twists and turns. Highly recommended for fans of cozy mystery tales!
Author S.J. Bennett, Murder Most Royal, 5 ⭐
An ailing Queen Elizabeth II is looking forward to her holiday retreat to Sandringham to celebrate the Christmas season festivities with family and friends. Her retreat gets off to a rocky start when a hand is found on nearby shores. The queen knows who it belongs to. The question remains, where's the rest of him?
As the investigation begins, the list of suspects grows. Motives are aplenty, but who would commit such a grisly act? The queen and her loyal aide keep abreast of the local authority's developments. Will they provide insights to help crack the case?
Author Bennett weaves a clever, regal whodunnit I very much enjoyed. It's at times bittersweet with the RL passing of the beloved monarch, but readers and royal fans will enjoy this baffling mystery that gives you a sneak peek into palace life and the sleuthing acumen of the queen. An entertaining, cozy read for the holidays!
Next up in the reading queue:
A Blast from the Past...
I had to highlight this song, Now and Then, the final release from the Beatles that debuted last week. Be still my heart--I love this song and the video brought up a tear or two seeing George and John virtually reunited with Paul and Ringo. Hard to believe so many decades have passed, but what a treat to get a new song from such a fabulous group. Enjoy!
Welcome to my world. Until next time, have a good one, friends!
Crowns and Kisses,
Veronica
P.S. Progressing on book nine in my cozy mystery series has been intriguing. I wonder what dastardly deeds will emerge in this story? Gemma and Rikkhe approve...they think...💖👑
Love your posts, as always...and many thanks for including the music video that I am now addicted to! I've already watched three times...😍 So happy that you got to enjoy some cooler weather and boots, too.
Love your posts and your hygge & bisous series for Christmas reading. Perfect! Happy Holidays Veronica! Hearst Castle looks so amazing! I would love to go there one day! If I ever get to Roger’s Gardens, I will have to rent a car to drive home with my loot. 🤩
I'm glad Hearst Castle is open again. Enjoy your visit!