WRW Loves Readers Luncheon

On Saturday, I drove to Bethesda for the WRW Loves Readers Luncheon.  From its website (link),

Come for an intimate meet and greet and dine with more than 40 of your favorite romance authors. Authors will be giving out swag, books and much more! Featured authors include:

Alexa Egan - Kieran Kramer - PA DePaul

Anne Barton - Kim Headlee - Rachel Rawling

Avery Flynn - Kimberly Kincaid - Robin Covington

Caryn Moya Block - Krista Hall - Sally MacKenzie

Christi Barth - Lavinia Kent - Shari Slade

Cristin Harber - Liz Everly - Solara Gordon

Debra Dunbar - Lynne Silver - Sonali Dev

Delancey Stewart - Mackenzie Lucas - Tamra Lassiter

Elizabeth Staab - Madeline Iva - Terri Brisbin

Geri Krotow - Mary Behre - Tracey Livesay

Hope Ramsay - Meredith Bond - Tracy Brogan

Jamie Farrell - Mia Kerick Karna Small-Bodman 

Miguelina Perez - Kelly Maher - Nicole Pouchet 

I joined Delancey Stewart, Tracy Brogan, and Kieran Kramer. 

The readers at my table received these treats ...

... plus a tea cup and tea pot combo set!

Each table offered unique decorations ... Hope Ramsey made these "picnic" baskets.

I loved these duckies!

Hats off to the WRW for hosting this fabulous event!   Have you attended an author event?  One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs wins a book choice from my convention stash. Comments are open through Saturday, October 18, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, October 19, on SOS Aloha.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Romance authors and chocolate cake - life is good!

Celebrate the Navy's 239th Birthday - Life at Sea with USS George Washington (part 2)

I share the pictures I found in a "cruise photo album" from the USS George Washington ...

 

It takes a village to operate the ship and perform missions ...

The crew stays alert for the fast action on the flight deck ...

... with many types of aircraft.

The flight deck is one of the most dangerous job in the military.

Maintenance above deck ...

 ... and below deck.

Thank you US Navy - active duty, reserves, civilians, spouses, and family members - for your selfless service!  One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs wins a book choice from my convention stash.  Comments are open through Saturday, October 18, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, October 19.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Check out my blogs about:

- USS Constitution, link and link
- USS Missouri, link, link, and link
- USS Carl Vinson, link and link

Navy's 239th Birthday - Life at Sea with USS George Washington (part 1)

Today is the Navy's 239th Birthday.   From the Navy History website (link),

On Friday, October 13, 1775, meeting in Philadelphia, the Continental Congress voted to fit out two sailing vessels, armed with ten carriage guns, as well as swivel guns, and manned by crews of eighty, and to send them out on a cruise of three months to intercept transports carrying munitions and stores to the British army in America. This was the original legislation out of which the Continental Navy grew and as such constitutes the birth certificate of the navy.

Today, the US Navy is a robust fleet.  From Wikipedia (link),

323,561 active duty personnel
109,117 reserve personnel
289 ships
3,700+ aircraft
10 aircraft carriers
9 amphibious assault ships
10 amphibious transport docks
12 dock landing ships
22 cruisers
62 destroyers
10 frigates
4 littoral combat ships
72 submarines

Last summer, while visiting my husband in Korea, I found a blue photo album at the Osan Thrift Shop.  The cover was embossed with the seal from the USS George Washington (CVN 73).   I share the pictures from the album ...

Flight deck ... 

Maintenance ...

Operations ...

Thank you, US Navy, for your selfless service!  I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash to one randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  What job would you do on an aircraft carrier?

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, October 18, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, October 19.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Check out my blogs about:

- USS Constitution, link and link

- USS Missouri, link, link, and link

- USS Carl Vinson, link and link

 

Aloha to Gorman Farm and Fall Colors

Fall is bursting with colors at Gorman Farm near Columbia, Maryland.  From its website (link),

Our Mission is to encourage an understanding of the connection between the food we eat, the life we live and the health of our community.

We stopped by for the sweet corn ...

... and bought a mums plant for a house warming gift.

The farm also offers rosemary and lavender plants.

I am curious about the fairytale squash.

The farm offers plenty of pumpkins big and small.

 The apples are delicious ...

... and the peaches, too! 

Do you have an organic farm near you?  One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs wins a book choice from my convention stash.  Comments are open through Saturday, October 11, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, October 12, at SOS Aloha.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

  

Aloha to the Maryland Renaissance Festival (Part 2)

 

The Maryland Renaissance Festival gives merry makers the opportunity to dress up in historial and/or fantasy costumes!

Craftsmen offer their handiworks ... we were surprised to find Japanese Kokeshi Dolls. 

The puppets danced as their mistress played the piano.

We enjoy Shakespeare's Skum.  From their Facebook page (link),

Shakespeare's Skum was created more than 20 years ago by Baltimore native, Carolyn Spedden. Over the years the comic Shakespeare company has performed at such diverse locations as: Off-Broadway at the 45th St. Theatre, New York, Center Stage in Baltimore, Folger Shakespeare Library, colleges and festivals and private engagements. And of course at the Ontario, Georgia and their home, The Maryland Renaissance Festival.

The four actors present Shakespeare's classics with their own twist.

My children enjoy  Fight School.  From their website (link):

Here we come... walking down the street... we get the funniest looks from... everyone we meet. Hey Hey We're the Fight School!

Fight School teaches the audience about weaponry from the past ...

... and famous duels in history.

They demonstrate sword fights in slow motion ...

... and then in Fight Speed!

Do you have a favorite movie with historic costumes and/or sword fights?  One randomly selected commenter from this week's blog posts wins a book choice from my convention stash. Comments are open through Saturday, October 11, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, October 12.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Dining with the Duchess or
Meals with Mistress Margaret!

Aloha to the Maryland Renaissance Festival (part 1)

My family visited the Maryland Renaissance Festival (link) for Romance Saturday.   Mimes welcomed the merry makers to Revel Grove.

I enjoy the costumes of the cast and even those of the crowd.

Musicians made joyful noises on period instruments throughout the fair grounds. 

The food is fabulous ...

...we opted for the fried mac n cheese.

Over at the White Hart Tavern, 

we enjoyed the Pyrates Royale (link) ...

... singing about ale!

Welsh singer Deborah Rose (link) sang Celtic songs with an accompanying cello.

Have you attended a Renaissance Festival?  One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs wins a book choice from my convention stash.  Comments are open through Saturday, October 11, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, October 12.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City