South of the Pier-it's beginning

SOUTH OF THE PIER

a Murder Mystery

by

Janet Elizabeth Lynn

          April marks the anniversary of the release of my first murder mystery, of South of the Pier.

          Several years ago, I went to Guatemala with my sister to bring home a beautiful little girl she had adopted. While we were there, a story I had rolling around in my head suddenly came together. It became the inspiration for South of the Pier as well as the entire Pier Murder series.

          I happened to be there during Easter Week, all of Guatemala City was getting ready for the special day. We were fortunate to be there for the Semana Santa Processions with the Alfombras. An amazingly spiritual procession filled with symbolism and beautiful art. This sparked the entire novel and I couldn't wait to get back to my hotel and start writing.

For a peek at this inspired novel see:

http://southofthepier.blogspot.com/

Sol Duc, Olympic Rain Forest

Sol Duc, Olympic Rain Forest

Many years ago we took a spring vacation to Seattle. Freezing cold with some snow on the ground, we were chilled to the bone. A friend recommended we stop in Sol Duc which had just reopened. It is a resort with hot springs in the Olympic Rainforest, national park. The name, Sol Duc, is an Indian term meaning 'sparkling water,' for the hot springs. Apparently people have been going to Sol Duc for over 100 years for pleasure and health.

We spent the night in a rustic, charming Sol Duc cabin surrounded by towering evergreens, warmed our bones in the hot springs, and hiked in rain forest. Talk about Serene!

http://www.olympicnationalparks.com/accommodations/sol-duc-hot-springs-resort.aspx

Veggie Lodge

Veggie Lodge

This would be a fun thing to do with children for the holidays. It reminded me of some of the long abandon stone buildings in Ireland. I found this in a FB comment on this photo.

Here is what we used to make our veggie lodge: Six 8"- carrot logs (One for front, five for back) Eight 5"- carrot logs (sides of lodge) Eight 3"- carrot logs (front) Eight 1 1/4" - short spacer logs (by front door) Four 1 1/2" - carrot logs (to create side window opening) Three 7" -carrot log rafters Sixteen 6" - 7" long stalks of celery (for roof) The foam core board gable ends measure 8"x 6" x 6" The foam core board floor/base measures 8" x 5" (plus extra on the back for chimney if desired) The window is made out of a slice of turnip. Use toothpicks if necessary, in addition to cream cheese mortar to fasten cucumbers and celery. Use bamboo skewers for stacking chimney mushroom "stones."

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/393150242445221610/

Hawaiian names

Hawaiian names

Our trip to Oahu, Hawaii during Thanksgiving was a most amazing experience of foods, traditions and music.

Below is a site to translate your name into Hawaiian. Try and incorporate this fun activity to use on place cards or even tags on cups or glasses.

http://www.alohafriends.com/name.html

Happy Thanksgiving!

Janet Elizabeth Lynn

(Laneki Elikepeki Lin)

Apple Picking

One year we decided to experience apple picking in Oak Glen. It was late October. In California this is when it begins to cool down before the winter rains. So what better time for a New York transplant to bring back memories of autumn than to experience the foothills of the Los Angeles area.

We made reservation at a Bed and Breakfast for 2 nights, and planned to tour the many apple ranches along the route. The Saturday and Sunday we visited could not have been more like autumn. Cool, crisp air greeted us along with crunching leaves and apples galore for picking. We climbed ladders and picked the crisp apples to bring back home. We also stopped at various ranches and bought bags of picked apples, apple cider, apple butter and of course a slice of fresh apple pie, hot out of the oven.

Oh...the memories of childhood…some never dim!

Below is a site that lists apple picking cross the US. This is a wonderful time of year to build family memories.

http://redtri.com/favorite-u-pick-apple-orchards-from-coast-to-coast/

Geology Get Away

Every several years, I’ve liked to take a get away to a geological wonder I discovered during my undergraduate work. The field trip I took during my Geology class to Devil’s Punchbowl, after 30 years still fascinates me. A county park of the Los Angels County Dept. of Parks and Recreation, the park has short trails within the park showing off the unusual tiled formation of uplifted sand stone formed many centuries ago.

During the fall the paths are surrounded with colorful trees and bushes.  And yes, it is on the San Andreas Fault. The Devil’s Punchbowl Nature Center offers many programs, tours and a telescope program. It’s wonderful day trip for families to enjoy together.

Sailing

One summer my husband and I took a sailing class, one of the best ideas we ever had. Now, when we travel, wherever we might be, by any body of water, we go sailing if there are sail boats to rent. There is something about the sense of freedom our feel lolling on the water and suddenly the wind takes up, the sails billow and off you go quietly and peacefully. There is nothing like it!

          Below is a link to a sailing animated greeting I produced. Just click on the link below and be sure your sound is turned on.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQcO0rmoqm8&list=UUxjC7yRXBceR_ayn5mXfx7A

Enjoy!