Secret Sisters

It's Time for a Secret Sisters Fiesta!

2012-01-30T01:51:00.000-07:00

My newest Secret Sisters mystery, Targets in Ties, will be launched on Thursday, February 2nd, and you are invited to the fiesta!

When: Thursday, February 2nd, 5 - 7 p.m.

Where: Pioneer Book, 858 S. State Street, Orem

After two long years, Ren’s mission is finally over, and it’s time for Ida Mae, Arlette, and Tansy to travel to Mexico to pick him up. They have their itinerary all planned out—visiting the ruins in the Yucatan, shopping, playing in the sand and surf—and then they’ll head to Ren’s mission home and be reunited with that dear boy. But a wanted antiquities thief crosses their path, and soon the ladies find themselves tangled up in a web of lies, intrigue, and costly jewelry. Held hostage by men desperate for riches, they do what only they can do—keep their heads about them, plan their escape, and discuss the proper making of tortillas. Will they survive their most harrowing adventure yet?

I'm celebrating this book's release in a very bright, colorful, hot-and-spicy way!

First, everyone who comes can enter a drawing for a Grand Basket of Goodies, containing:

Secrets After Dark by Marie Higgins

Just Shy of Paradise by Carole Thayne Warburton

Nourish and Strengthen by Maria Hoagland

Sadie by Rebecca Belliston

Alma the Younger by H. B. Moore

Compass of God by David G. Woolley

Advanced Readers Copy of Jacob T. Marley by R. William Bennett

And if you're reading, you need snacks, so I'm including:

Pringles

Twizzlers

M & Ms

Candy

Second, if you come and purchase Secret Sisters, Dearly Departed, Hang 'Em High, or Targets in Ties, you will receive a free download for my novel Season of Sacrifice!

Both of these are available at the launch only, and yes, you must be present at the time of the drawing (7 p.m.) to win the basket, because there's really no way I can ship it.

If you can't make it to the launch, but still want to get in on the book launch fun ... check this out! I'm holding a Targets in Ties Online Launch Contest. All you have to do is tell your friends about the book, about the launch party, and spread the love! Then e-mail me at tristipinkston@gmail.com and tell me what you did. Each thing you do will get you one point in a drawing to win the Awesome Envelope of Prizes, which will be shipped to you. So tell a friend about the book, tell a local friend about the launch, tweet about it, Facebook it - and each time, you'll get one point. Please put Targets in Ties in the subject line of your e-mail. The drawing will take place on Thursday, February 2nd, at midnight, so turn in all your points by then ... starting now!

What can you win?

No Angel by Theresa Sneed

Cold River by Liz Adair

The DVD Cinderella Man starring Russell Crowe and Renee Zellweiger

Candy

Now, not only that ... not only that ... which is cool and awesome all by itself ... but if you come to the launch, you will also get to meet ...

D.N. Giles, author of The Sharp Edge of the Knife
and Mormon Mishaps and Mischief

Heather Justesen, author of Family By Design,
Blank Slate, and others

Andrea Pearson, author of the Kilenya series

Tell your friends!

Bring your family!

Forgive your enemies and invite them, too!

It's a Secret Sisters Fiesta, and you won't want to miss it!

Blog Hop ... and a Prize!!

2011-09-22T09:35:00.000-06:00

Welcome to the September Blog Hop! Celebrate the beginning of fall with me and my blogger friends by hopping around, visiting our sites, and entering our contests! There are no limits - you can enter the contest on every blog. With over 40 blogs participating, that's over 40 prizes you could win. Just click on the links below to move on to the next blog.

On my blog, you can win …

This is the third (and newest) volume of The Secret Sisters Mysteries.

"Move over, Miss Marple, Ida Mae Babbitt is on the case! Tristi Pinkston's endearing sleuth in sensible shoes is at it again. With a clever plot and the unforgettable image of Ida Mae on a midnight gallop in her flannel pajamas, who could ask for more?" - Liz Adair, Whitney Award-winning author of Counting the Cost

"Ida Mae, Tansy, and Arlette are at it again, but this time they're in jeans and cowboy boots! As the three detectives travel to Montana to visit Ida Mae's son, the shenanigans begin and they are off to solve another mystery. Filled with hilarity, excitement, and suspense, Hang Em High is a delightful read and will keep you guessing to the end." - Michele Ashman Bell, author of The Perfect Fit

Would you like to win this prize? You just need to do two things.

1. Become a follower of this blog.

2. Leave me a comment in the trail and tell me why you'd like to win this prize.

That's it! You are now entered. The contest ends on Saturday night, September 24th, at midnight MST, and the winner will be contacted shortly thereafter. Please either leave your e-mail address in the comment trail or make sure it's visible through your profile so I can contact you to tell you that you're the lucky winner.

Now go visit my other friends ...

September Blog Hop Participants

1. Tristi Pinkston, LDS Author
2. Joyce DiPastena
3. I Am A Reader, Not A Writer
4. Mandi Slack
5. Michael D. Young
6. Six Mixed Reviews
7. Pam Williams
8. Laurie Lewis
9. Kristy Tate
10. Marilyn Yarbrough
11. Stacy Coles
12. Kristie Ballard
13. Lynn Parsons
14. Pushing Past the Pounds
15. Sheila Staley
16. cindy Hogan

17. Jamie Thompson
18. Jaclyn Weist
19. Cathy Witbeck
20. Secret Sisters Mysteries
21. Tamera Westhoff
22. Tina Scott
23. Lynnea Mortensen
24. Danyelle Ferguson aka Queen of the Clan
25. Jeanette A. Fratto
26. Bonnie Harris
27. Melissa Lemon
28. Mary Ann Dennis
29. Stephanie Black
30. Jane Still
31. Janice
32. Laura Bastian

33. Tamara Bordon
34. Betsy Love
35. Maria Hoagland
36. Amber Robertson
37. Debbie Davis
38.
39. Christy Monson
40. Carolyn Frank
41. Rebecca Birkin
42. Melissa Cunningham
43. Emily L. Moir
44. Ronda Hinrichsen
45. Lisa Asanuma
46. Joan Sowards
47. Jordan McCollum
48. Diane Stringam Tolley

Learn more about September Blog Hop here.
Get The Code

Back from Vacation ... Back in the Saddle

2011-08-07T19:43:00.004-06:00

My goodness, it certainly has been a wild and crazy last few months. I'm recovering nicely from my broken ankle and my broken wrist - thank you so much for the flowers, cards, and well-wishes. Really, it was more than I expected.

Arlette decided to take matters into her own hands and contact my son and my daughter, whom I haven't seen in years. We had a little bit of a falling out, but with my recent injuries, Arlette figured it was time to put the past where it goes - in the past. She was right (wait - where's the delete button? Don't let her see that I said that)

I got a letter from my son, inviting me to come up and visit him on his dude ranch in Montana. What happened after that is too unbelievable, and I can't even go into all the details here, but you can read about it:

Movie Review: Rebecca

2011-02-21T14:22:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've posted a movie review, and I apologize for that. I've just been so busy lately, what with solving mysteries and all. I honestly thought I was done after that first one, but apparently not. You just never know what life is going to throw at you.

I have always loved the Laurence Olivier version of Rebecca. It's a Hitchcock film made from the book by Daphne DuMarier, which I read and also loved. So when I saw this remake on Netflix, I was curious, but a little apprehensive. Would I enjoy it?

Our main character is played by Emilia Fox, the young lady who was Georgiana Darcy in Pride and Prejudice. She did a remarkable job in this film, and no offense to Joan Fontaine, but it was a lot easier to believe the age difference between herself and Maxim DeWinter, which is a huge part of the story. Maxim was played by Charles Dance, who I'm sure is a very nice man, and is a very good actor, but I have to say, is no Laurence Olivier.

Some minor tweaks were made to the plot that in some ways, improved the story, and in other ways, detracted from the novel's original intent, and in those ways, I was disappointed. However, the movie was really very well done. It was less melodramatic, Mrs. Danvers as played by Diana Rigg was brilliant, and it was very believable.

If I could take elements from the original and insert them into the remake, I think we'd have one perfect movie. But I can't say more than that without giving the plot away ... if you're not familiar with these films or this novel, I encourage you to become familiar very soon.

My Latest Adventure

2011-02-09T14:55:00.000-07:00

As my Facebook friends will attest, I've been missing in action for the last little bit. I hate to admit it, but I took a fall and ended up breaking my ankle. As if that weren't bad enough, I took another fall and broke my wrist. The first was an accident, but Arlette says that the second was my just desserts for being too independent and not waiting for help. I suppose she does have a point, but let me tell you, having a broken wrist is unlike any dessert I've ever had in my life. I'm more of a brownie person.

But don't feel too bad for me. Okay, you can feel bad for me, but don't worry that I've been bored. In fact, having these two broken bones led me to quite the adventure. You can read all about it in Dearly Departed, our new book that just came out last month. I think you'll agree that we used my recovery time to its best advantage.

Another good thing that came about was the extra time I've had since returning home to ponder my cookbook. That's right - I've been pestered and pestered for my recipes, and I've decided it's time to compile them all into a cookbook. Typing them up has been a good project while I wait for these old bones of mine to stop aching. I'm told it won't be too much longer until I can hardly tell I was burst into bits - Dr. Farmer is amazed at how well I'm doing. I told him it was sheer stubbornness, and he says he believes it.

Tansy asked me to share that yes, I am including my chicken enchilada recipe in my cookbook, as well as my beef and spinach enchiladas, and my avocado sour cream dip recipe. Those are her favorites - how could I possibly leave them out?

Thanks again for all the kind get-well wishes I received while I was away, and thank you, you know who you are, for the gorgeous bouquet of iris you sent over. It brightened my room for days on end.

So that's all for now. It feels good to be back in the saddle again, so to speak. I hope you all were well in my absence, and I look forward to interacting with you again soon.

Getting Ready for Christmas

2010-12-17T11:49:00.000-07:00

My Christmas preparations are coming along quite smoothly. I shipped Ren off a Christmas package a couple of weeks ago, and of course I included two jars of Best Foods mayonnaise, which is his favorite thing in the world. I've also been baking like crazy and most of my goodie plates are delivered. I just love this season. I even managed to smile when Arlette put a Santa hat on her nameless beast of a cat. It's not that I dislike all cats - it's the larger animals I tend to dislike, such as cows - but this cat in particular just ... well, let's just say, have you ever seen the Disney movie Cinderella? Yeah, he's a lot like that cat. But with longer claws.

I digress. I was talking about getting ready for Christmas. With all this holiday bustling about, I realized this morning that I've done very little to actually prepare myself emotionally to feel the spirit of the season. I've set a goal that every day this next week, I'm going to take some time in the evenings to do something a little Christmas-y. I have my copy of Mr. Krueger's Christmas all ready to watch, I have the Christmas story in the scriptures bookmarked, and I'm finally going to take the time to repair the little section of missing thatch on the roof of my nativity. Sometimes we have to force ourselves to slow down long enough to feel things. But it's good for us to get ourselves in hand and make the time. At this time of year, it's especially important.

I hope that you, too, are able to find the time to reflect on those things that are most important as we count down this last week before Christmas. And if you're in my Omni neighborhood, be sure to drop by - I have some new cookie recipes to try out on you.

My Favorite Primary Song

2010-12-10T23:21:00.001-07:00

After Tansy posted about Christmas yesterday, she reminded me that I've been remiss in my blogging duties lately. She's right - I have been neglectful. I will have to repent of that.

Since my release as Relief Society president of the Omni 2nd ward, things have been a little quieter for me ... although, not greatly. I've had plenty to do to keep me busy, including occasionally helping out in the Primary. They need someone to sit by the door to keep Johnny Mead from escaping down the hall. He's quite the little runner. And I've discovered, sitting there on full alert, just how strongly the music of the Primary can bring in the Spirit. There is something about those beautiful, basic gospel truths that just strikes a chord with me, and I think that sometimes, we get so caught up in trying to find the "deeper" meaning that we forget to shore up our foundations.

One Primary song that has recently become my favorite is called "I Know that My Savior Loves Me." The first verse:

A long time ago in a beautiful place,
Children were gathered ’round Jesus.
He blessed and taught as they felt of His love.
Each saw the tears on His face.
The love that He felt for His little ones
I know He feels for me.
I did not touch Him or sit on His knee,
Yet, Jesus is real to me.

The first time I heard this song, I couldn't help the tears that rose in my eyes. Jesus is real to me. I've felt His loving presence in my life on countless occasions. And to hear those dear little voices sing of His love for them ... I hope they can feel His spirit with them throughout their entire lives, and not just when sitting in Primary. I hope they can use this message to strengthen them whenever they hit challenging times and feel alone.

At this wonderful Christmas season, may we all remember how very deeply He loves us. He would not have done even a portion of what He did without the purest, most genuine love that can be felt. After all, there is a reason why it's called "Christ-like love."

Why I Love Christmas

2010-12-10T00:15:00.002-07:00

Folks who know me say I'm a naturally cheerful person. Well, I guess that's right - I just don't see a reason be in the downy-dumps. And this time of year is my very favorite of all. I'm not sure exactly just what I love most. I know I really love the snow, and up here in Omni, we get a ton of it. Maybe it's the Christmas carols - those always bring a lump to my throat. I love seeing everyone be kind to each other - that's definitely a plus. But you know, I think my absolute most favorite thing has to be the smells of Christmas.

Of course, I'm talking about the smell of the Christmas baking - the ham, the cookies, the cinnamon and spices. I love the smell of pine trees. I also love the smell of the snow. Yes, snow definitely has a smell. Just like rain. Well, I don't mean that they have the same smell, because they don't. I mean, they both have a smell, and in this way, they are alike. Snow has a crisp, cold smell, unlike anything else in the world.

I hope you and yours are all managing to stay warm this season. Please be safe driving, and above all, I hope your heart is filled with the peace and love that comes from taking a moment to reverence our Savior as we celebrate His birth.

Amazing Announcement!

2010-11-18T13:51:00.001-07:00

I'm so delighted to announce that our second book, "Dearly Departed," is being released in January. I'll post the cover as soon as it's ready to be seen. In the meantime, you really should go over to this blog, starting on December 1st, and participate in the most wonderful blog contest I've ever seen. The prizes are out of this world - and the grand prize is a free night's stay at Lions Gate Manor Luxury Suites.

Stay tuned for more information ...

I'm Not Laughing, Ida Mae ...

2010-10-19T22:56:00.004-06:00

Honestly, if Ida Mae doesn't stop forwarding me these ridiculous pictures, I may have to take matters into my own hands. She says this looks like me teaching Tansy how to knit. Really, I'm insulted.

I Beg to Differ ...

2010-09-04T15:05:00.003-06:00

Ida Mae e-mailed me this picture. She says it's the spitting image of me.

I was not amused. For one thing, I have a cat, not a dog. And I wouldn't be caught dead wearing glasses on a necklace. But Ida Mae can't stop laughing, and I'm afraid Tansy is on her side. It's hard, being the only voice of reason around here.

Ask Ida Mae!

2010-06-18T22:45:00.000-06:00

Dear Sister Babbitt:

I have a delicate question to which, I think, other sisters would appreciate an answer. It concerns how a lady is to eat heavily sauced bar-b-que ribs in public.

I was taken to dinner this evening, courtesy of my sweet husband, to an all-you-can-eat bar-b-que rib feast and buffet. The ribs looked so delicious that I simply could not resist piling them on my plate. I did take a slice of the brisket and the chicken as well, equally smothered in sauce which was able to eat with a knife and fork.

However, the ribs were a different story. There were ribs of every kind: short ribs, beef ribs, spare ribs, pork ribs - oh, I don't know all the different types. I could not cut the meat from the bone and had to eat them with my fingers or leave them on my plate. Worse than that, I was unable to nibble small dainty pieces. I had to bite, tug and pull the meat with my teeth from the bone leaving my face slathered in sauce. There were no wet wipes at the table or in my purse. The ladies room was at the other end of the very long restaurant. The flimsy napkin got stuck to the sauce on my fingers and on my face when I tried, in vain, to clean my self at the table.

So there I am, at my table, covered in shreds of napkin dotting the sauce on my face. I could either walk through the restaurant, looking like a creature from the sauce lagoon, or I could spit wash my hands and my face an unobtrusively as possible. I chose the latter.

What do you suggest I should have done? I appreciate your advice.

That is quite the predicament, most certainly. I was raised by a mother who insisted on proper use of fork, knife, and napkin, and situations such as you describe would have sent her into a fit of vapors. Consequently, I grew up with a good sense of manners and I still arrange my silverware carefully on my plate when I'm done eating, even when I'm eating alone.

However, there is something wonderful that comes with age, and that is perspective. When you get to be as old as I am, you wake up one morning and realize that things that used to matter suddenly don't. You're made aware of what's really important in life - people and relationships - and suddenly it doesn't matter if you use your knife or a spoon to get your jelly out of the jar.

My advice is this - the next time you're in this situation, just pick up that ol' rib and sink your teeth down in it. Let the sauce fly every which way. Everyone else will end up just as messy as you, and that's part of the fun of barbecue - you can let go of convention and just enjoy yourself. There are no rules of etiquette at a rib house - you just enjoy those bad boys any way you can.

I'm still a big fan of manners, never you fear. But there are times when it's just fun to cut loose and sink some teeth.

An Embarassing Situation

2010-05-25T16:27:00.000-06:00

I'm told that readers everywhere are loving Secret Sisters and hearing about our little escapade. I have to admit, we were rather good, and it's brought a bit of notoriety to our rural Utah town of Omni. In fact, the newspapers have gotten hold of the story and they've been following us everywhere. Arlette, Tansy, and I have agreed to stay as anonymous as we can - we didn't want fame to come our way when we did what we did. We just wanted to do the right thing, but apparently, three old women bringing down a drug ring is news.

Well, the other day, we were out running errands. Arlette needed to go Walmart, and Tansy and I decided we'd go along. I was out of sugar, and Tansy just wanted to come along for the fun of it. We were sitting at the red light where the road comes out of the Walmart parking lot, and we noticed a white van behind us. That isn't unusual, but the passenger was leaning way out his window, holding a camera with a telephoto lens on it. As soon as the light turned green, Arlette gunned it and shot through that intersection like nobody's business. She made a sharp turn onto the next road, and our tires squealed and I'm sure we literally burned some rubber. That van stayed right on our tail through it all. We chased up and down residential streets, then back out onto the main streets (there really aren't that many of those) and just as we thought we'd lost them, they appeared right in front of us. The cameraman still had that lens pointed right at us, and Arlette got mad. She leaped on that accelerator one more time and we zoomed past, and I stuck my tongue out at the camera. I hope he got a good shot of that!

But as we rounded the next corner, Arlette didn't correct enough and we smashed into Winnie Hankins' mailbox. That was very embarassing indeed.

It's bad enough to be chased by the paparazzi, and then to add property damage to the whole thing? As soon as we see those pictures printed, we'll know which newspaper to sue for damages, both to Winnie's mailbox and to Arlette's van. In the meantime, Ren is going to go over and reset Winnie's posthole and get her back in business.

Ask Ida Mae!

2010-05-22T23:15:00.000-06:00

Today's questions come from Alexes and are both food-related. I love answering food-related questions.

Do you have a all time favorite recipe for cinnamon rolls? I love cinnamon rolls and I am looking for a really yummy version of cinnamon rolls.

Also, what is your favorite root beer to make root beer floats with?

My dear, you are about to discover my Achilles' heel. I have not yet mastered cinnamon rolls, or rolls of any kind, actually. Bread, not a problem. But little bread ... not so much. Whenever we have a Relief Society function, I ask Tansy or Arlette to head up the roll portion of the menu. A painful admission, but true.

As far as root beer goes, I like using A & W diet root beer. The fact that it's diet makes it less sweet than standard root beer, and so when you put the ice cream in, you don't feel like you've been sugared to death. However, I will say that there are times when you want to be sugared to death, in which case I would go for regular A & W. It's just the best there is.

Thanks for your questions, Alexes! If anyone else would like to send in their questions, you may direct them to me at idamae AT tristipinkston.com

Ida Mae Went to the Whitneys!

2010-04-26T23:02:00.000-06:00

I must say, I had the most fun ever on Saturday night! I got to attend the Whitney Awards in person. I do enjoy reading, and LDS fiction is a particular favorite of mine, especially in the last fifteen years or so as the quality of the books has increased so much. I can find a book on nearly any subject, written by an LDS author, and enjoy it just as much as I would a book written by a national author, except more because I don't have to worry about the content. Arlette frowns on me a little for being so devoted to fiction, but I don't care. Let her frown - she'll get more forehead wrinkles than me and that fills me with perverse delight.

Anyway, I was so glad Ren taught me how to use Twitter. I got to participate in the Whitneys by tweeting about them, and it was so much fun! You can read the transcript of everything that happened by clicking here.

For those of you who might not know what the Whitney Awards are, they are a prize given for excellence in LDS fiction. You can read all about them here, and I really encourage you to nominate your favorite books before December 31st of the year they come out. What a marvelous way to show our authors that we love them!

Note: This is not an encrypted request for nominations for "Secret Sisters." It's actually not eligible for a Whitney because the rules state that a book must have over 50,000 words to be eligible, and "Secret Sisters" only has 46,000. However, the sequels will be longer ... and you may consider that a not-so-encrypted request ...

Ask Ida Mae!

2010-04-26T06:00:00.000-06:00

Dear Sister Ida Mae,

If one is in need should they drop hints or be more direct? What if no one responds to their requests? And if the shoe is on the other foot... how does one approach another without making them feel self-conscious?

Zanne

Well, I've always been a believer in being as direct as possible. People who spend their time beating around bushes don't get a lot done, except for a lot of beat-up bushes. I would advise that they go straight to the person who can help them the most, be clear and succinct in what they need, and not worry about being embarrassed or having pride. We all need help from time to time, and if we're suffering and not asking for help, we're just being too stubborn for our own good.

As for the second half of your question, well, that's sort of what got me and the other Secret Sisters in trouble. We knew there was a need, but we also didn't want to interfere with free agency. Each person needs to decide for themselves if they are, or are not, going to ask for help. Many times, people are able to solve their problems without bringing in outside help, and you just never really know when to offer and when to hold back. That's where following promptings is crucial. And sometimes you don't have to bring up their need at all. Sometimes if you just say, "I felt I should ask how you are," that will be enough for them to feel comfortable sharing what needs they might have.

Sometimes a person is allowed to be in a situation of need so they can learn how to ask for help. We must all learn how to ask and how to give. Most of us would rather give than ask, but we have to take turns in this world, otherwise, it's just not a fair test.

Ask Ida Mae!

2010-04-19T06:00:00.001-06:00

Ida Mae, how do you keep such a youthful, glowing complexion, with everything else you have going on? What's your secret?

Jenn

I think Jenn is a perfectly delightful young lady for asking such a complementary question.

I believe in proper skin care. At my age, you can't afford to be wasteful with what healthy skin cells you have left - you never know if they'll regenerate or not. So I do my best to take care of what's left.

I cleanse my face carefully every day. Most days I use a nice, gentle cleanser and follow with moisturizer, and then once in a while, I exfoliate by taking a small amount of my cleanser and stirring a little brown sugar into it. I massage that into my skin gently, and the sugar removes whatever skin cells have given up the ghost and have no hope for resurrection in this life. Sunscreen is also a must.

Thanks again for the lovely compliment, dear, and I hope this was useful.

Ask Ida Mae!

2010-04-12T12:15:00.001-06:00

Hey Ida Mae!

I need ideas for meals. I dislike cooking and have picky eaters at my house. Any suggestions?

Shari

I think that's the time of day mothers dread most - trying to come up with something everyone will eat, and knowing that someone isn't going to like the offered fare. I had a rule in my house with my children - if I tried a new recipe, and I thought it was edible, everyone had to at least try it. If they refused to try it, well, no dinner for them. If I thought it was disgusting, we'd throw it out and make sandwiches instead. We did have a few occasions where someone decided to go hungry, but you know, in the end, no one starved to death. Kids are just like that.

I have a couple of suggestions you might be able to use.

1. I enjoy going down to the local thrift store and purchasing used cookbooks. I start at the front of the book and mark down all the recipes that sound good to me, and then I try them one at a time. Because the book is used, and probably only cost me fifty cents, I have no guilt at all in writing in the margins and making notes on substitutions and how the meal was received. After I've tried every recipe, I also have no guilt in throwing the book away after copying out the recipes I want to keep - or even ripping them out and gluing them into my recipe binder. I do like getting cookbooks from the library, but you never can keep them long enough to try all the recipes.

2. I like finding recipe sites online. AllRecipes.com is one of my favorites, and I'm a contributor to FacebookFriendsFeast. You can Google recipe sites and find thousands of them.

3. As you try recipes, ask members of your family to rate them on a scale of 1-10. Anything that receives a six or above, hang on to it. But you should also rate it yourself for ease of preparation, etc.

I hope this is helpful. I like to think of it as being a game. I do encourage you, though, not to spend inordinate amounts of time trying to please everyone. The fact is, there will always be at least one unhappy person at the table, and there are times when that one person just needs to get over it.

Ida Mae's Movie Corner

2010-03-29T02:30:00.001-06:00

Tansy's been after me for a couple of weeks to post my review of "Australia." She watched it with me and was quite taken with Hugh Jackman. I wasn't quite as taken, but I did find him to be rather nice-looking in this film.

Nicole Kidman stars as the stuck-up wife of a rancher who has gone to Australia to make his fortune. She has never stepped foot there and can't understand his fascination with the place. When she gets word that he's about to make a business deal that doesn't sit right with her, she decides to head down there and fix it. But he was killed just before her arrival, and she comes to find his body laid out preparatory for burial.

She now must make the business decisions for the ranch. She's introduced to a whole new way of life, from the roughness of the employees to the political strain between the natives and the lawmakers. We see her go from being an uptight, prissy woman to being an uptight, less prissy woman.

The first half of the movie deals with rounding up her cattle and transporting them across the desert, and the second half deals with World War II and Australia's involvement in it. I rather felt we'd gone from one movie to an entirely different one, only with the same actors. I'm not sure why the filmmakers chose to approach the storyline this way, but I did find both halves equally compelling.

Tansy and I both enjoyed learning more about the culture of Australia in the 1940s and about the customs of the native people. The young boy we follow throughout the story is a charming little thing and we really connected with him. We also enjoyed Hugh Jackman's acting, and Tansy wants me to say that Hugh Jackman in a tuxedo is a very nice thing. Really, Tansy, you're a married woman, you know.

We also both felt that Nicole Kidman's performance was forced, and nearly any actress could have taken this role and done just as well - she didn't bring anything personal to it.

"Australia" is definitely not a movie for children. It covers dark themes that children might not be ready to see, but it is a very good film for adults. It was educational, it was enlightening, and while it was long, both Tansy and I felt it was well-worth our time.

Ask Ida Mae!

2010-03-26T12:59:00.003-06:00

Tansy says I should have some kind of theme music to play in the background whenever we do another installment of "Ask Ida Mae," sort of like "This is Your Life" or something. I don't know how to do it, and when Tansy asked Ren, he laughed his head off. So I'm guessing we won't be doing that. I'm a little disappointed - I could see it being a lot of fun.

Our question for today reads:

Sister Babbitt,

Most Relief Society Presidents don't seem to cross me as the type to be in the know how of surveillance with electronic devices. {Ahem, and especially at your age.}

How did you figure out how to set up the spy devices?

Autumn

Ah, someone who is new to our little world. I will rather enjoy answering this question, as it will give me the chance to clear up some misconceptions about our adventures.

First, I need to state that it was all Ren's fault. For those of you who don't know Ren, he's my nephew, and a dearer boy never lived, but he's got a streak of mischief in him. He likes to invent things, and he invented the surveillance equipment of which we speak. He was instrumental in placing the equipment, as well.

As for the concern about my age, age is a state of mind. I consider myself to be a rather hip old granny, and I do believe that after reading my book, you'll agree. If a twenty-five-year-old can get into the spying game, why can't I?

Thanks for joining us here for "Ask Ida Mae!" I'll keep on Ren about that background music. I think it would add a little something, don't you?

Operation Sock Hop a Success

2010-03-23T11:22:00.000-06:00

I'd like to take a minute to thank those of you who brought socks to the Secret Sisters launch party last week. We collected 52 pairs of new socks, and I can hardly wait to take them down to The Road Home. Please keep in mind that you can bring socks to any book signing held during the run of the Secret Sisters series. Locations of these signings will be posted on this blog, as well as on Tristi Pinkston's blog.

Your generosity means so much - please continue to keep the homeless in your thoughts and prayers.

Operation Sock Hop

2010-03-12T02:30:00.006-07:00

Ida Mae is laughing at me right now, and I don't consider it very becoming. In fact, her eyes are turning bright red, and she's beginning to wheeze. She sounds like an thirty-year smoker.

She's laughing at me because I begged her to let me blog again tonight, after I insisted I didn't want to blog at all. But the final information has fallen into place, and I'm really very enthused about my new project.

The Road Home in Salt Lake City is experiencing an urgent need for cold weather clothing, and I'm heading up a new endeavor I've chosen to call Operation Sock Hop. I can think of few things more miserable than being cold when the weather turns icy, and having warm feet makes all the difference. I'll be gathering up donations of new socks to take down to The Road Home, and I'd like to ask you to participate with me in this. There are a number of ways:

1. Bring your donation of new, packaged socks in all sizes to any Secret Sisters book signing. You can keep track of them here. (You do not need to knit socks.)

2. Send a check directly to The Road Home or donate online by clicking here. I will not be collecting any monetary donations - if you wish to give money, send it directly to The Road Home.

3. You may take your own donation directly down to The Road Home.

4. If you aren't in the area, you may make a donation of money or socks at the homeless shelter nearest you.

Homeless shelters are also in need of blankets and coats. Right now, as the weather goes from warm to cold and then back again, viruses are having a heyday. Let's do what we can to make the world a better place, one little bit at a time.

Please also pass the word along to all your friends, Facebook associates, and Twitter ... um ... what do you call them, Ren? Really? Okay ... Ren says "tweeps."

Introducing Arlette

2010-03-11T10:40:00.002-07:00

Hello.

My name is Arlette Morgan, and I'm the first counselor in the Omni 2nd Ward Relief Society. I've lived in Omni for the last ten years or so, ever since my husband passed away and I sold our large home to purchase something smaller and more manageable.

I must say, I disapprove of this new obsession Ida Mae has developed. I can see why some young people might enjoy "social networking," as she calls it, but frankly, I consider it a waste of time. Tansy tells me it's fun, but I'm not the type of person to be so easily swayed. I do enjoy having fun, to a certain extent, but I prefer to find fun that also has a purpose.

In fact, when Ida Mae first asked me to blog, I refused. I do have other things to do, you know. She told me she didn't think that cataloging my yarn collection counted as "something to do." Well, I beg to differ. I have over a thousand skeins of yarn, in dozens of colors, and there must be organization. I can't just have them all jumbled up - that's not efficient.

But then Ida Mae told me I could use this forum to talk about subjects dear to my heart. I'm not sure if she realized just what she was getting herself into ... I pride myself on speaking my mind, but not that I approve of pride, mind you.

I've been giving some thought to a new project, and I'll talk about it next week, after I've firmed it up a bit. In the meantime, I'm going to go. I've got a pot of jam on the stove and then I need to call Ida Mae about next month's blood drive, and I'm taking dinner in to the Stevensons, so I need to run to the store for some Ranch salad dressing. I just don't know how I'm going to fit "being social" into my schedule ...

Ask Ida Mae!

2010-03-10T12:20:00.000-07:00

Our questions today come from MormonHermitMom, who asked:

What is your favorite dessert?

Chocolate anything. I've always been of the opinion that chocolate is the only true flavor, and I'd rather pass on dessert altogther than to eat something that wasn't chocolate. It just doesn't hit the spot, and so why bother eating it?

Who was your schoolgirl crush?

Tommy Segmiller. He sat in front of me in Miss Thorton's English class. He had dark brown hair, and it always looked so nice and shiny. And I'll have you know, before I answered this question, I double checked that he really had passed on before divulging this information. Otherwise, I never would have peeped.

What really gets your pantyhose in a twist?

Well, my dear, I'll be completely frank. There are a great many things that twist my pantyhose. But I'm setting a resolution to be a little more relaxed about certain things. I have struggled in my life with being too critical.

The things that probably always will annoy me, though, are:

Hypocrites

The whole concept of drunk driving

Socks with sandals

Be sure to join us tomorrow, when Arlette will be our guest blogger.

Ask Ida Mae!

2010-02-22T15:04:00.002-07:00

Our next "Ask Ida Mae" question comes from Elizabeth Morgan, who writes:

Dear Sister Ida Mae,
What is the best type of meal to take to a family for dinner? Something that everyone would like.
--Elizabeth Morgan

Well, my dear, you have come to the right person. I've taken in more meals in my seventy-three years of life than I can even count, and certainly a great many more than that since becoming Relief Society president. I've had my share of failures, and my share of successes. I'll tell you a few of the things I've learned.

First off, I'd take into account the reason why you're taking in dinner. If the mother is sick and the smell of everything makes her want to throw up, I suggest a cold dinner - cold food doesn't smell as much as hot food. Do hoagie sandwiches, chips, and a salad. Arlette would scowl at me for saying this, but include some carbonation, too - soda usually settles the stomach.

If the mother just had a baby, be sure to include lots of protein in the meal. She's probably worn out and hasn't had much sleep, so if you throw together something with some meat and cheese, you'll be her hero. I would avoid chicken and rice ... it seems that far too many people serve chicken and rice and it does get old fast. But a chicken casserole or enchilada, or a nice lasagna, always go over well. Hot foods are very nice after birth or after surgery.

You might find out who else has been bringing in dinner, and call them to see what they took. This will help you add some variety and make sure the family isn't eating the same thing over and over again.

As far as the children go, be sure to include something along with the meal that is familiar to them. If you're bringing in a mushroom casserole, slice up some apples or something like that to go on the side. I'm certainly not an advocate for making twelve different meals to please each member of the family - I always had the notion that you ate what you were served - but it's nice to have something on the table that they recognize.

Now, this next part may be the most important thing ... unless you are asked not to, be sure to take in a dessert! Sometimes that new mother is just dying for some chocolate. Sometimes the children are feeling a little unsure, and having a treat may help perk them up. Now, if you are asked not to bring in dessert, honor that request, but I can tell you this ... nine times out of ten, a nice pan of brownies or a batch of cookies goes a long way toward health and healing on an emotional level, which is every bit as important as the physical healing.

I hope this is helpful. Remember - taking in a meal is an act of service, and you will be blessed for it. Also keep in mind that it doesn't need to be a stressful or expensive thing. Very often, a simple dinner is the most appreciated.

Ida Mae's Movie Corner

2010-02-22T00:08:00.000-07:00

I must confess, I do enjoy watching movies. Ren tells me that I should post my thoughts about the movies I see. My goodness, I suppose you really can blog about anything, can't you?

Well, being way out here in Omni, my movie watching has been somewhat limited, but Ren promised to sign me up for a "cool new website" called Netflix. He says I can order the movies online and they'll get sent to me in the mail - I can hardly wait! Right now, our only movie rental store is Groovy Movies, and while I appreciate the fine service they provide, it's nearly impossible to get your hands on the movie you really want to see until you're no longer in the mood to see it.

What? Oh, Ren says I'm rambling and that I should get to the point. Really, the impatience of youth ...

The other night, I watched Cary Grant's last movie, "Walk, Don't Run." I do enjoy Cary Grant so much - he was a very nice-looking man. But don't tell Arlette I said that - she'd get all self-righteous on me. Anyway, Cary Grant stars as William Rutland, a businessman who has traveled to Tokyo during the 1964 Olympics, but can't find a place to stay. He ends up rooming with a young lady and a young Olympic athlete, and does a little match-making to bring the two of them together. This movie was different from his other films in that he's not a love interest - he's married and we see him talking to his wife on the phone. But he's still funny and charming, and it just goes to show you that you don't have to be twenty-five to be good-looking. I recommend this movie highly.

Oh, wait ... Ren says I should give the movies I review some kind of rating system so you know how much I liked them. Let's see ... how about if we say, "This movie gets four out of five cookies." It would have gotten one more cookie if Cary Grant had grabbed somebody and kissed them. What can I say ... I'm a romantic at heart.

Finding Joy

2010-02-11T18:00:00.003-07:00

Hi there!

My name is Tansy Smith, and I'm the second counselor in the Omni 2nd Ward Relief Society presidency. I'm so excited that I get to blog! When Ida Mae told me that she'd like me to help her blog, I thought she said she was swimming in a bog, but I get it now, and I'm totally excited. I always wanted to be a blogger ... well, once I found out what one was. It sort of sounds like "logger," and I've always thought that would be a fascinating life, living out in the trees and wearing hard hats, although I don't think I look good in plaid, especially since I've gained some weight, so I can't say as that I would adopt the wardrobe, but Ida Mae told me that it doesn't matter what you wear when you're a blogger, so that made me feel better.

Ida Mae asked me if I would write a blog about what it means to find joy. She says I'm naturally a very happy person and wondered if I'd share how I do that. Well, I've been sitting here thinking, and I'm having a really hard time coming up with the answer. Where do I find joy? Then I realized that I don't have to find it, because I never lost it. You see, I believe we all come into the world with a certain amount of joy. It's not like in a bottle or something that you have to carry around with you, which is good because it would get heavy after a while, but it comes in your heart, and every day you have a choice whether to replenish it or let it dribble out, and you decide that through your attitude. I decided a long time ago that life was just too much fun to spend all my time worrying, and so I don't anymore. If I can change something and make it better, I do it, and if I can't, well, I just leave it up to God to fix. He's never let me down before and He's not going to start now, so why worry?

I've seen a lot of people really make themselves miserable with worrying. I mean, look at Arlette - have you noticed those little wrinkles around her mouth? If she'd just loosen up a little, those wrinkles would never have developed. Oh, wait ... she's going to be reading this, huh? Um, can I delete this paragraph? Where's the delete button? I can't find it. Oh, well ... I'm not going to worry about it. She knows I think she needs to loosen up and have a little more fun.

Well, I've got to go. Earl needs his dinner and I've got to pull the casserole pan out of the oven. Thanks for letting me blog and I'll talk to you again soon! Bye now!

Ask Ida Mae!

2010-02-10T00:01:00.002-07:00

Ren thinks I'm quite the fount of knowledge. I don't know if I'd say that, exactly ... I've lived a long time and I try to remember the lessons I've learned along the way. But Ren thinks that having an "Ask Ida Mae" segment on my blog would be very interesting to my readers. There are times when I think he's just a young punk trying to embarass his poor little aunt in any way he can. But I love him, so I relented.

My first question comes to me from Sister Flora, who has chosen to withhold her last name, and after reading her question, I can see why. I have a sneaking suspicion that she used a nom de plume for her first name, as well.

Dear Sister Ida Mae,

Is it appropriate to brush the dandruff off the Elder's Quorum President's shoulders?

Sister Flora

Well, now, I think the first question I would ask in return is, is he married? Let's be honest. If he's married, he probably doesn't have dandruff because his wife has probably seen to it that he uses a good dandruff shampoo and she probably brushes his shoulders off herself. Unless she's not a very observant wife, but that could lead to a whole 'nother series of questions that would have to be answered another day, and Ren tells me that the way to keep reader interest is to address just one question at a time and leave you wanting more.

If, and I say if with a question in my voice, he's married, you may just want to leave it be. Some wives consider it meddling if you do anything about the physical appearance of their husbands.

If he's unmarried, the poor boy probably needs someone to take him under their wing. Is he too thin? Does he need fattening up? These are all things you might consider. But you might kindly take him by the elbow and guide him to a quiet spot in the hallway and offer a suggestion. If you are an elderly lady, you can certainly get away with this. In fact, if you are a very elderly lady, you might get away with brushing him off right in the middle of the Sunday School lesson. If you are a young lady, well, he might take it as a proposal of marriage. In which case, you might want to think about whether you are the one to fatten him up, or if you'll leave his care and feeding to someone else, in which case, you should probably also leave his grooming up to someone else.

Ah, there are so many questions in life that at first, seem to be so simple, but when you really get into them, and you think about all the possible ramifications ... I'm so glad you brought your question to me, dear. I hope I was able to help.

Welcome to Secret Sisters!

2010-02-08T17:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our blog. I must confess to being new at this whole blogging thing - my nephew, Ren, had to explain to me what blogging even was, and then he had to show me how to set up the account in the first place. I'm not entirely computer illiterate - I e-mail fairly regularly and I know how to use Amazon.com, but if he wasn't sitting here at my elbow, I doubt I would have made it this far.

So, why a blog, you ask? I asked him the same thing, quite frankly. Who would be interested in reading about the adventures of three little old women who spend most of their time organizing Relief Society lunches and visiting our friends in the hospital? Really, in the eternal scheme of things, our little fling with espionage only lasted a short time when compared to the hours and hours we've spent taking meals to shut-ins or coordinating visiting teaching with the other ladies in the ward. But Ren thinks you'll be highly interested in how we became spies, and particularly in his inventions, which are what got us into this mess in the first place. Personally, I think he's using our blog as a way to market his products, and I can't say I think that's a bad idea. The dear boy really is quite talented, and if I can help him get his foot in the door at some big techonology company or something like that, well, it's the least I can do.

At any rate, thanks for stopping by. Arlette and Tansy will be blogging as well. Tansy thinks it's going to be a great deal of fun, but the only reason Arlette is participating is to "supervise" us and make sure we don't get out of hand. I don't know why she has so little faith in us. Really, she ought to learn to be more trusting.