Tonight’s Dinner: Shepherd’s Pie

On By Rhys FordIn Food7 Comments

Homemade shepherd’s pie (cottage pie for the UK peeps). It’s been kind of nice getting back into being interested in cooking again. It’s going hand in hand with writing more. Let’s see where this journey takes us.

I do make a very cheesy shepherd’s pie. With a bit of veg. But it should be nice and brown on top and a very savoury filling.

Thursday’s BORKING REPORT!

On By Rhys FordIn Borking Day1 Comment
Today’s BORKING REPORT!
 
It’s a chilly day here in San Diego and the Potato had to be kitted up in some fleece to go out. Also it rained. As you all know the Borker, he LOVES a damp, muddy lawn and his borking route is FULL of them. A fleece is very necessary during rainy days or the Potato will come home covered in grass, wet leaves and mud.
 
He waited very patiently for his Auntie Jessica to arrive and then told her all about his week in a waddling grumble as he headed to the door. He really is an old Scottish man. I should get him a tartan fleece but I’d probably have to get one custom made to fit his blocky form. Although I have found a few dog clothes places that make good Monster Cairn clothes.
 
Gus Gus is a utlitarian type of dog. Not really fussy. Likes a nice piece of bacon and a bit of dried potato. Belly rubs and scritches are good as well. And a good ramble. He does so love his Borking Rambles. We’re going to Mon and Thurs to give him time to rest between and upping his play a bit thru the week. We want the Potato to be healthy and happy for as long as we can have him.
 
From his Auntie Jessica:
Gus loved the nice and cool weather today! He did a lot of borking and rolling around in the damp grass. See him next week. Hope he gets plenty of rest!

French and German Translations News!

On By Rhys FordIn Rhys Ford
Hello and well… I’ve a Translation Announcement. Or rather, several…
I am happy to share some news on Sin and Tonic (French), Hellion (French) and Dirty Laundry (German) coming out in 2021!
I will announce more detailed dates once we get them finalized but I can tell you I just reviewed the Sin and Tonic Final Galley so we are soooo close to that book being released! I cannot wait so share that with you. Thank you all for being so patient.
 

Learn to Cook With Foodland… Kung Pao Chicken!

On By Rhys FordIn Rhys Ford2 Comments

One thing I do enjoy is following cooking programs and such on YouTube. And one of my faves is the Foodland Cooking Feeds. Foodland is a grocery store in Hawai’i but they really do serve up a great foundation of how to cook local dishes…and other things.

I even forgive them the bitter melon dish he made.

Being an Aspie… And Masking.

On By Rhys FordIn Bloggy Stuff
I am an Aspie… (Aspergers). I spend most of my energy and time masking. Masking is when you’re not neurotypical and fight to align your behaviours to “normal” to blend in. It takes a lot of effort and I’m exhausted by the end of a few hours. Sometimes I can’t even do it. Sometimes I’m okay. No one makes allowances for people who mask to survive society. We get this. We know there won’t be slack given. We’ve gone through that kind of thing since school. It’s easier to shunt aside someone on the spectrum who is struggling to learn masking and other coping mechanisms, especially in a crowd or school environment.
 
I’m sorry that it has to be that way but that’s the way it is. It doesn’t mean spectrum-typical people aren’t assholes, manipulative or any of that. We’re human. The first thing we do as babies is learn that crying manipulates our environment and can even learn to lie-cry to be picked up. It’s our first humaning skill.
 
But there’s no one who “teaches” you how to mask successfully. You just have to try your best and learn how to manage the energy depletion. We’re not introverts per se (although some are), mostly we’re trying to mirror the people around us and fit in because we know we don’t. Trust me. We KNOW. We FEEL wrong. We don’t FIT into the lines around us. What we do when we mask is try to keep our colouring inside of the lines, and those colours are actually ourselves.

I am not Dead. :D Just forgetful….

On By Rhys FordIn Bloggy Stuff, Food1 Comment

I swear to God I updated the blog last week but apparently I did not. Dear Lord.

Not a lot really has gone on. The house is slowly coming into grips with itself and I’ve got a nice writing nook built up in my room. If you are on Facebook, you might want to consider joining my group (there are questions to make sure you are not a bot so please respond to them to be accepted in). I am having an Ask Me Anything on Saturday. Well two of them to be exact.

Here’s the link to the group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/635660536617002/

It’s Rhys Ford’s Coffee, Cats, and Murder. Can’t miss it.

There will be prizes and I will try to answer as many questions as I can or just hang out with people. And give away things. International readers are very much welcome to join. I post globally because that’s only fair. If the Post Office can get stuff to you, I shall send it. There’s also going to be virtual prizes as well so… join if you please!

Today is the Potato’s 13th birthday! He got a bath yesterday because he was out playing in the water from the garden hose then decided afterwards he would roll in the dirt and grass… so he was a filthy mess. Right now, he’s spending his morning snoring away. So is Harley. I don’t know where Badger is but probably on my bed.

Or plotting world domination. One never knows with him.

But that’s my update. I will leave you with this…

I love George. He is awesome. But man, this burger can give you a heart attack. Proceed with caution.

Covid Shot and Some News….

On By Rhys FordIn Bloggy Stuff7 Comments

Got the Pfzier shot… well the first one this week and all in all, it’s going okay except for the aching muscles and headache. I’ll get the second in a few weeks and then I’ll.. still be wearing a mask in public until everyone gets their shot and the numbers go down. Because that’s the responsible thing to do.

Now… I DO have some news regarding audiobooks.

Kale Williams will be doing ‘Nother Sip of Gin and also taking over the 415 Ink series. Schedules and pandemic and a whole slew of things just were working against getting Tristan back in but after much debate and consideration, I knew Kale was the only one I could hear bring it home. I’ve heard the first story in the anthology as well as a bit of snippets of the Morgans and I can say Kale has delivered. And I am quite proud of him for stepping up and very pleased and humbled he chose to do so.

I HAVE taken a bit of a hiatus from writing in order to steady myself. I’ve lost the love of writing for nearly half a year what with everything going on at home and my sister, Jenn’s passing. I spent a few weeks arting and feel ready to crash back in.

With all of that being said, I think I’m ready to announce the next thing to come off my keyboard as a Connor and Forest short novel. It is yet untitled but as you know, we’ll be looking for a booze reference so save up all your puns. We’ll be going in for a shot or two after this is all said and done.

After that I owe Luke, the next Chinatown Demons, Murder 3, McGinnis 2, and Beast… oh and Kai. So, I’m hoping I am centred and ready to word.

As always, I am grateful for your support and you being here. I hope to be worthy of your trust and company.

 

It’s Wednesday, My Dudes and A Borking Report

On By Rhys FordIn Borking Day
I’ve been trying to reboot my brain by doing some home art. Basically I’ve got a kind of blank wall now and I’m doing a take on hanafuda cards. Almost done but… there’s this thing when you wonder if you’re going to like it and if you can stand looking at shit you’ve made. Art is… subjective and even more so when it’s your own. I hate what I art more than what I write and as most authors can tell you, we loathe our wording. Or at least the sane ones do.
It’s a thing 😀 But I shall get this done and we’ll see if I like or love it.
And Today’s WEDNESDAY SPECIAL BORKING REPORT!
So it was storming hard this morning and it was a bit of touch and go if the Borking Potato was going to be able to go out but the sun came out just in time for him to take a good trot around the block. He was kitted up when his Auntie came by… dressed in his full raincoat regalia because knowing him, he was going to pounce on every puddle he saw.
And he did.
As well as drinking from the puddles because he’s a dorkwad.
From his Auntie Jessica:
Gus loved rolling around in all the wet grass! It stopped raining perfectly for our walk and the sun was out! I’m sure Gus loved the cold air.
Best, Jessica

A New BORKING REPORT! March has Arrived!

On By Rhys FordIn Rhys Ford
Today’s BORKING REPORT!
 
He was ready to go as usual today and well this week will be the test on whether or not three days a week is too much for the old Potato. We would like to see him get out more but he’s almost 13 and that’s a very long tooth for a Cairn.
 
The Potato also has been resting on not only his camo bed but also a thick memory foam cushion beneath to perhaps ease up on some of his joint pressure. The bed in my room and the living room have both been enhanced and now it’s like he’s got this throne thing going. He easily gets up into it and crashes. Right now he looks very comfortable and is snoring away. The extra height does not curtail his cavorting so that’s good.
 
His Auntie Jessica is looking forward to spending another hour with the pupper. She does so love him.
 
From his Aunt Jessica:
It’s a hot day today. Gus was barking a bit the first half of the walk. Towards the end I think he was too tired to bark. He did very good and had a lot of fun!
 
Best,
Jessica