Veronica's Writer's Diary: The Festive Season Begins--Friends, Family, Food, and Fun!
- Veronica Cline Barton
- 58 minutes ago
- 3 min read
"What if today, we were just grateful for everything?"
Charlie Brown, courtesy of Charles Schulz
Happy Thanksgiving Eve! I hope your November has been filled with happy moments. This is definitely my favorite time of year. The lights and decorations are up. The pies are in the oven. The holiday sweaters are sparkling. And... it's time for a road trip to see family and friends!
This year's festivities are extra special. Our lovely writer friend from across the pond, Sheila Patel, will be joining us to celebrate Thanksgiving and the kickoff to the holidays!
This is not our first meeting with our Vodka Wardrobe Queen. The OH and I met her in 2019 in Liverpool on our first Viking ocean cruise. We had an awesome day touring Liverpool with loads of laughs.
This time we get to take Sheila on a whirlwind tour of California as the holidays begin. Eye spy with my turkey eye, a fun filled time is instore!
We'll start our Thanksgiving road trip in Paso Robles for a fun family feast. We're staying at my fav hotel, the Allegretto. They do a stellar job sprucing up for the season. I can't wait to see their decorations this year!
Next stop, Cambria! It's a stunning beach town with non-stop coastal views.
Of course, we have to pop up the road to San Simeon to see Hearst Castle decked out for the holidays. I love going to the Twilight Holiday Tour--the castle glistens in the evening hours.
Back in SoCal, I'd be remiss if we didn't take our dear friend to the Ritz for a holiday libation. Vodka style, of course!
Wishing you and yours a wonderful day of Thanksgiving. The holidays are here, time for some ho-ho-ho fun! It's Wednesday, time for Dear Diary:
It's a Cozy Mystery Christmas 99 cents eBook Sale!
My holiday eBook sale has begun. Get your ho-ho-uh-oh chills on with these festive tales:
Whodunit? 🎀🔍🎄
CHRISTMAS BIZARRE and A NOVEL NOEL: Christmas short stories that evoke the magic and mystery of the season!
THE CROWN FOR CASTLEWOOD MANOR: Deadly drama in the English countryside!
MISTLETOE AND MAYHEM: YULETIDE AT CASTLEWOOD MANOR: Yuletide wedding mayhem!
Get your copy here 👇🏻
V's Reads
Holiday conundrums and the spirits of Norfolk this month from the writers of X...
The holidays--time for celebrating, merry making, and reflections of by-gone days. For Gloria and her charming husband, Stanley, this year is even more special as they await the arrival of their baby. Thanksgiving and Christmas with their family and friends promises to be a joy-filled time. Until those not-so-jolly family quandaries start to bubble up...
Relationships are in flux for Gloria's mother and Stanley's parents. It's unnerving to see their loved ones torn apart. Will the spirit of the holidays prevail, bringing a glimmer of hope for those who need it?
The Holiday Hiccups series is one of my favorite reading treats for the season. These charming tales give you the faith and wisdom to weather whatever family rumpus may come. This year's special delivery adds an extra dash of holiday magic, leaving you with a big ho-ho-ho smile on your face! Santa gives this tale five, festive stars!
Imagine taking a stroll down a country lane. Dense fog envelops the road and surrounding fields. Step by step the feeling that someone is watching cause the beads of panic to emerge. You are not alone...
Author Smedley takes readers on a ghostly journey filled with atmospheric foreboding and unexpected chills. The fifteen tales bring to life the stories and lore of things that once were.
Some spirits are passive, allowing the earthlings to co-exist in their former world. Others are not so accommodating. The stories offer readers a spooktacular mix of fright, sorrow, and strangely enough, a settling peace in the Norfolk countryside. This is a fantastic collection of ghostly tales, a highly recommended read!
Next up: a pre-Christmas Trip to Banff!
The OH and I are looking forward to our next trip--we'll be enjoying the holiday cold and snow at the Fairmont castle in Banff Springs. The Canadian Rockies surrounding the hotel are just breathtaking. This historic hotel knows how to do Christmas. You can spend days wandering the grounds exploring all their holiday finery. More on this trip in the next blog!
Welcome to my world. Wishing you and yours a fabulous start to the holidays!
Crowns and Kisses,
Veronica
P.S. Here's another pic from Hearst Castle to inspire your holiday decorating. It's Castle Christmas Glam! Gemma and Rikkhe approve 💖🎄👑
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