Why Lefties Want a Left-handed Watch

Well, yes, I am left-handed! I'm one of those 10% of the population that got this particular gift and talent. I guess you can tell that I'm proud to be left handed. I'm also happy to say that I love my left-handed watch.

I was one of those people who spent years wearing my watch on my left arm. That's the way everyone did, I didn't realize any difference. Finally, I just got tired of having a dirty watch band by dragging it across my paper as I wrote. I was also tired of banging my watch on the kitchen counter as I sliced and diced food. I think you get the picture.

That's when I switched my traditional right-handed watch to my right arm. Wowzer, life was easier. Except, every time I wanted to work one of the dials, I had to take the watch off! Big bummer!

When I got my first left-handed watch, I was in heaven! I do still have my very first left-handed watch and I still love it. But since then, I've gotten many more. Some were gifts, which were so appreciated. Others I chose for myself. But all have been great.

There are challenges being left-handed in a predominantly right-handed world. I'm happy to say, they are getting less and less. More product manufacturers are realizing the value of making left-handed products.

If you are left-handed you need to have a left-handed watch! You will be shocked at how much easier you life will be. If you have a left-handed child, please be kind to them and get them a lefty watch. Show them early how valued they are. Left-handed orientation may be the minority in our population, but it's still a huge value!

Discovering the Miss Fortune Mystery Series

Many of you may already know of this great mystery series, but I've only recently discovered Miss Fortune. Jana DeLeon as the talented author, shows you right up front what you are getting. Hilarious mystery stories. The heroine's name is Fortune Redding!

As of this writing, there are 3 in the series, all set in the small town world of the Louisiana Bayou. My dearest wish is that Jana DeLeon is working on the 4th even as we speak! Now, that's saying something about a mystery series.

We're not talking about world literature here. We're talking about armchair mysteries. Those that allow you to curl up in your favorite armchair and spend an afternoon absorbed in the mystery. In other words, pretty easy reading. But, funny reading as well.

The author has a great talent for humor writing, along with good mysteries, plenty of plot twists and perfect layout of settings. Yes, I've been to the Bayou. In fact I still have family there, so I know what of I talk about. Reading the Miss Fortune mysteries took me back to that world so easily.

I think Jana DeLeon got it right with this series. The perfect kind of mysteries to have fun reading. Miss Fortune mystery series.
Those of us who love a good mystery with plenty of clues that make sense will love the

The first two in the series, Louisiana Longshot and Lethal Bayou Beauty  are reviewed at Mystery Book World Live. The third in the series is Swamp Sniper. Another worth reading.

Learn How to Pair Wine and Cheese

Wine and cheese are great together. That's all there is to it. Fine, you say, but why? That answer is simple. Because good wine is meant to complement food. The aging of good wine and the aging of good cheese are just natural complements to each other.

Now to know which goes with which. The best way to determine that is by your own tastings. Really. Set up a time for yourself or have a wine and cheese tasting party. Try them out. Every single person has a slightly different palate. So different wines and different cheeses taste slightly different. You need to know for yourself what works best.

Having said all that, there are some great places to start. Getting to know the wine varieties is the best place to start. But there are also some basic guidelines for what most people like to put together.

Traditionally, heavier cheeses go better with darker wines. Soft cheeses go best with white wines. The rule of thumb is to match the darkness of the cheese with the darkness of the wine.

But, every rule of thumb was meant to be broken. I personally enjoy a good cheddar (dark cheese) with a good Chardonnay (the driest white wine.) I also love a good Merlot (medium dry red wine) with Brie cheese (soft cheese). You can see that your own taste buds will be the best deciding factor.

Of course, that's what makes it so much fun to have a wine and cheese party. You can have plenty of different choices. And then you and your guests can determine for themselves what wines and cheeses pairs best.

Children's Mystery Books: Lacey Pinkerton

Joshua Clark, father of 2 daughters, brings child sleuth Lacey Pinkerton to life. And does it gloriously. At least in this reader's opinion.

Granted, I'm not a middle grade student, but that didn't mean that I didn't love these stories. So far 2 are out in the series. The first is The Mystery of the Stolen Double Fudgey Fudge Ice Cream Sandwiches. The second is the The Mystery of the Stolen Mr. E. OK, you have great titles to begin with.

But, Clark didn't stop there. He writes with the kind of charm that makes any age reader enjoy these books. And he knows how to put together some good mystery books for kids.

If you're too embarrassed to claim you read kids' mystery books, then read one of these to a child. My own 10-year-old granddaughter and I had a great time discussing the mysteries. Yes, we have read them both and are anxiously awaiting the next one to be released.

Lacey Pinkerton is a fun child detective. Her mysteries are solved with great clues. The settings are her school, but they are well put together. In my opinion, you can't go wrong with a Lacey Pinkerton mystery book.

The Delicious Pairings of Wine and Chocolate

Are you ready for a great taste treat? Try wine with chocolate. I'm serious! This is a flavor combination that is amazing.

The basic idea behind wine is to enhance the flavor of food. Certain wines really do taste better with certain foods. And therefore, different foods taste better with different wines. The same is true for chocolate.

Actually, the drier the wines, the darker the chocolate, is a rule of thumb. If you enjoy wines like Merlot and Zinfandel, try a bite of dark chocolate with a sip of your red wine. Really!

I enjoy white wines as well. The driest white wine is typically the Chardonnays. And they go delightfully with dark chocolate as well. Sweet wines are usually recommended with desserts. But, the enhance the flavor of dark chocolates, too.

Plus that, now you can buy wine chocolates. I'm serious about that, too. The chocolate makers understand this flavor combination and make use of it. Which is great in my book. What an easy and delicious gift idea that is. In fact, my Christmas gift to Dad this year was a large box of wine chocolates. He was thrilled.

Don't make the mistake of bite and swallow. Instead, hold both the chocolate and the wine in your mouth for a moment or two. Let them both float over all your taste buds. You will discover some extra amazing flavors. This is definitely worth trying if you love either chocolate or wine, or both. You may just have a new love in your life!

What Are Cozy Mysteries?

Oh, yes, we have heard the term cozy mysteries and wondered what that means. Does that mean they are all about teddy bears? Nope. The name comes from their setting and cast of suspects. Let me explain.

It was in the 1920s with authors like Agatha Christie that the term cozy began to apply to mystery fiction. The settings were confined to a single place and the cast of suspects were all known to each other. That created a very cozy setting for murder to take place. It also provided a nicely cozy way for the sleuth to gather the clues and arrive at the solution.

Cozy mysteries are hugely popular today as well. Think of all the modern mystery writers. Think of the series where one sleuth, usually amateur, goes about solving the crime. The settings tend to be small towns, resorts or bed & breakfast inns. Everybody tends to know each other in some way. All the suspects are typically known to our amateur sleuth as well. This is what makes them cozy.

Although cozy mysteries aren't a true sub-genre of the mystery fiction world, they do form a great category for those who love fun and interesting mysteries. Modern day writers like to add a sense of humor to the story. Which makes them even more fun to read.

Even more, cozy mysteries are short works of fiction. That doesn't mean they are short stories. They are still book-length fiction. But, they can typically be read in a single day. With a couple of hours of time to yourself, grab a cozy mystery and enjoy yourself.

Convenience of Left-Handed Watches

Being left-handed, I wear my watch on my right arm. For very simple reasons. Which means I need a left-handed watch. A watch that I can work the dials and buttons using my left hand.

The reasons are very simple. My left hand and arm are much more active. I use my left hand for eating, writing, and for most activities. I handle my crochet hook in my left hand. I use a slicing knife with my left hand. I even golf left-handed.

That means I need my watch out of the way. I don't want it to be dragging across my writing or art work. I don't want to drag it across my food either. So I went looking for a new left-handed watch. And I found plenty.

Luckily, I can also use some watches that have no dials at all and can be worn on either arm. But I like having practical watches, too. Those that have a light for night time. Even some with a more sporty look.

That means my left-handed watches need to worked using my left hand. That's what left-handed watches are. And these same reasons are why any lefty needs a left-handed watch. So consider gifting one to yourself, or any other lefty on your gift list. You will be thanked, I'm sure!