Ta da, finished Apple-Honey cake. Hub said, "That's what Simmy used to make!" She was his best pal's mom, a great lady & cook. Her cousin was Mel Blanc. Every Rosh Hashanah he'd call & wish kids Happy New Year as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, etc. May this year bring sweet moments & cherished memories.

Small potatoes for Denver...but you'll notice it. #COwx

1/2 This encouraged me to do something I've wanted to do for awhile: give away (small) box of mystery books (mainstream, few cozies). Have a bunch from contests I've judged, hardcover, darn near pristine. Respond w/ 👍 if interested US only. No addresses! Will select name & get addr via private msg.

A LRB essay on Elmore Leonard by @jrobertlennon.com? YES please

Guanella Pass, not far from Denver. Lots of traffic this time of year to see the Aspens turning yellow, so we're gonna grab a coffee & drive up early one weekday morning. (Photo by Matt Piechota) #Aspens #LeafPeeping #Colorado

Creek in Idaho Springs, Colorado, from a few days ago. So peaceful. #Nature #Landscape #ColoradoMountains

Almost spooky season 👻 Piece I wrote @ ghost hunters, inc. visits to reportedly haunted hotels in Colorado, including Stanley Hotel where Stephen King began writing The Shining. Stayed 1 night, alone, at latter...a bit creepy. colleencollinsbooks.com/blog/do-ghos... #Horror #Paranormal #GhostHunter

End of the day walk, leaves turning yellow with fall. #Colorado #nature #landscape

Monday is Rosh Hashanah. Hub asked for honey cake so I'm making this. Comments say bake 15-20 mins more than stated & don't push down apples (learned this lesson in another recipe - fruit will disappear into dough). Gift article #Baking #HoneyAppleCake #Dessert cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017...

Oh my. Back in the day, I was Ovitz's personal assistant. I get amazed how his name keeps cropping up.

Went to Indian Hot Springs this morning, ~40 mins from Denver. Beautiful day in the mountains, leaves are starting to turn yellow. Saw this old photo at the springs, vehicle that probably transported guests in 1920s/1930s. #ColoradoMountains #history #hotsprings

Something that's given me a much-needed boost lately is taking this free online Yale course on American Revolution (oyc.yale.edu/history/hist...). Professor is wonderfully funny & knowledgable, highly recommend this class. Btw, she just received prestigious award (see below). #History #FreeCourse

Redford-The Best

Larry the Cat is priceless 😂 #RoyalCatsOfBluesky 🐾 👑

Small world. In 2019, radio producer asked me to investigate ID of writer who wrote "Hit Man: A Technical Manual for Independent Contractors" that real hit man used. Found writer who knew that writer. Hit Man podcast (I'm in it somewhere): www.iheart.com/podcast/105-... Also separate article below

We have a friend who calls Bootsy (L) "Mr. Excitement" 😂 For those of you who remember the comedian George Gobel ("Lonesome George"), Bootsy's like that...very chill, unexcitable, but a Big Heart ❤️ #TuxedoCat #CatsOfBluesky #OldTimeComedians

Lawyer's office, previously told us we were too expensive (AKA they're too cheap) called, asked if we'd serve legal papers to someone, money no object. Hub: "Should we do it?" Me (alarms clanging in my head): "Sure, we just finalized our wills." (pause) Hub: "I'll tell them no." #SmartMove

Wednesday News: Jerry (of Ben & Jerry's) resigned after 47 years, claims company that purchased Ben & Jerry's broke agreement to protect their commitment to social justice "for fear of upsetting those in power." Ben & Jerry are on a mission to free Ben & Jerry's: freebenandjerrys.com 💪🍧

For me, Robert Redford. Butch Cassidy: [low voice, to Sundance] Listen, I don't mean to be a sore loser, but when it's done, if I'm dead, kill him. Sundance Kid: [low voice to Butch] Love to.

Somebody (me) received red roses today 🌹 They smell divine.

Suggest wearing masks in courtrooms, too, as some courtrooms get *packed* w/ people. #MaskUp #CovidPrevention

Got hub T-shirt for his birthday (L). Below "Best Rottweiler Dad Ever" it says "Just Ask Trav & Aaron Gordon" (R). #Rottweilers #DogsOfBlueSky

Fun Robert Redford story (below post). I once had a Starry Night print on my desk & someone (sincerely) asked me if I'd painted it. I took a moment, then quietly said, "No."

Cake took a lot longer to make due to work, forgetting to add flour to cake batter (got distracted, pulled it out of oven in time 😆), life & dog stuff, but voila, hub's birthday cake 🎂 #Baking #Cake #TimeForAMartini

Made for hub's previous birthday, which he loved & requested for his birthday today 🎂. Simple & delish. Had Silver Palate cookbook yrs ago, loaned it to a guy, never saw cookbook again (but saw him) 😂 Bought myself a 2nd copy. #Chocolate #BirthdayCake #Baking cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/8753...

"There was a moment when I changed from an amateur to a professional. I assumed the burden of a profession, which is to write even when you don't want to, don't much like what you're writing, and aren't writing particularly well." Agatha Christie, born on this day in 1890

This acceptance speech by Colbert ❤️ 👍 🇺🇸 youtube.com/shorts/9AyGQ...

Son & grandson might be 7,000 miles away in Amman, Jordan, but they're still representin' the Broncos on Game Day! #GoBroncos #GameDay #Denver

Made a TON of cookies. Hub's b-day is tomorrow (I'm baking 🎂) so house is becoming Bakery Overload. Solution: Hub's taking cookies to 12-step mtg (he speaks openly @ recovery, okay w/ my mentioning this). Special group, they always serve homeless first. Hmm, think I'll make too many cookies again 👍

Recipe says each cookie is 1/4 cup dough, so I did that. Mins later hub said, "They've baked into one BIG cookie." Took knife & cut out cookie shapes as a cowgirl would, right? 😂 Tasty nevertheless. Next batch = smaller! Gift article #Cookies #Baking #Dessert cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/4997...

Hub was taking a nap when Bootsy got next to him, stared up into hub's face & fell asleep while looking at him. #Caturday #TuxedoCat #CatsOfBluesky

Saw this old mining shaft at restaurant in Colorado mountains today. There's a company outside Cripple Creek that gives tours of an old gold mine. We were working case up there (unrelated) when something broke & people were stuck 1,000 feet underground (!). All rescued. They're still giving tours.

In small Colorado mountain town this morning. Walked past store w/ vintage concert posters in window. This one (L) is a Cheech & Chong poster from Nov. 30 1972. Below poster (R) is small white sign that reads "Dude, I think this whole town is high." #Comedy #CheechAndChong #Dave'sNotHere

🎉🎉🎉Shout out to Kaiser Permanente - they recently updated their website to say that they WILL be covering COVID-19 vaccines all of their members 6 months old and up!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉 Thank you KP - let's hope their announcement kicks off more like it kp.org/covidvaccine

Face of pup who discovered chomping into a (stolen) onion isn't the taste treat he'd hoped, although better than that stolen dollar bill. #Rottweiler #DogsOfBluesky #StolenBites

On 9-11, thousands of rescue workers across US & the world rushed to ground zero to assist, including 300+ highly trained dogs skilled in search & rescue, police work & comfort therapy. Some of those dogs' stories: www.scrippsnews.com/us-news/reme... #Heroes #NeverForget911 #RescueDogs

Love his artwork ❤️ #Books #Reading #Watercolor #Art

I'm using up rest of plums by making Cornbread Plum Scones (other fruit works, too, or jam). They'll be ready during hub's courtroom lunch break...not a fun trial, so maybe these scones will cheer him up. (Gift article) #Baking #Scones #Plums cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1016...

I got three videos of a Belted Kingfisher fishing at the river today. I couldn't believe my luck. It's just my iPhone as usual, folks.

Hub wore this Rottie tie (Father's Day gift from me) to court today. He's sitting at the defense table for this trial; today was jury selection. Was kinda surprised he picked this tie, but I think it looks great with that shirt. He said nobody mentioned the Rottweiler 😆 #Rottweiler #DogsOfBluesky

"Crooks is another remarkable story from a master of the unexpected" I've already read great things about this book & this review backs it up. I'm supposed to be doing something right now, but instead I'm gonna buy this book LOL 👍 #CrimeFiction #GreatRead #BookReview

While at fruit stand, older Hispanic woman asked if she could help me. Said I was fine, thanked her. Saw her asking other people if she could help. Then I realized, said to hub: "She's looking for work." Hub: "She needs to be careful who she talks to." I think about that a lot 😢 So damn wrong.

😂

I haven't listened to the audio version, but I've read the book in physical format and can attest that it's worthwhile for any Sherlockian.

Aaron Gordon ate a dollar bill today. Said it didn't taste like much 😆 #Rottweiler #DogsOfBluesky #MoneyEatingCanine

David Jannetta, Air Force alumnus who's funded this speaker series since 2008, doesn't approve of them cancelling this speaker. "I won’t support a lecture series, where again, the author has to pass some muster of a litmus test for political reasons." gazette.com/military/air...

I'll be "minding the farm" while hub's at trial this week. Hanging out with my fave buddies. #Rottweilers #TuxedoCat #DogsAndCatsOfBluesky

“Every day is a new day. It is better to be lucky. But I would rather be exact. Then when luck comes you are ready.” Ernest Hemingway, "The Old Man and the Sea," published on this day in 1952

In all of my years writing about crime fiction, the answer I give when somebody asks “what’s the difference between a mystery and a thriller?” is “whatever you decide.”