A to Z Challenge Theme Reveal

A couple weeks ago I ran a little poll asking your opinion on what my focus should be for A to Z April. Here are the results: Beginning Paragraphs it is then. I'll pick a book for each letter off my shelves or Kindle, one I haven’t read yet, and share the opening paragraph or two. Maybe you'll find a book you want to add to your TBR list. Maybe I'll find a couple that I should move to the top of my pile or donate. I may even find one or two to giveaway. A bunch of blogs are revealing their themes today. Stop by Blogging from A to Z to find all the links. I'm looking forward to April!...
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A to Z April 2016

The Blogging from A to Z April Challenge is next month. I was going to do an A to Z Ohio, but that's just not going to happen, maybe next year.  So now I need a little help. What do you think I should focus on? A.) Random bookish - books, authors, genres, whatever strikes my fancy B.) Beginning paragraphs - pick a book for each letter off my shelves or kindle, one I haven't read yet, and share the opening paragraph or two. This option might help me decided to move books up on my to-read pile or donate them. And might help you find a book you want to read. C.) Local - places, things, events local to me. I'm in eastern Ohio, so most would probably be from my side of Ohio, northern West Virginia, and western Pennsylvania. D.) Board games - we play a lot of games, some good, some not so good. Wanna hear about them? I'm told board...
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Zelinda and the Monster

Today's tale, "Zelinda and the Monster," comes from Italy and was retold in Italian Popular Tales by Thomas Frederick Crane, published 1885. I was kind of surprised that I actually found a "Z" fairy tale. It's a variation of "Beauty and the Beast." Zelinda is the youngest daughter of a poor man. I like when fairy tale characters have actual names, rather than being referred to as the princess or the youngest. Zelinda is of course lovely and kind and her two older sisters were jealous of her, but of course she is her father's favorite. The father has to go to the market in a neighboring town and offers to bring back gifts for his daughters. He easily purchases a dress for one and a shawl for the other, but can't find the rose Zelinda requested. On the way home, the father passes a garden with a partially open gate. He quietly enters and sees a gorgeous rosebush, but there is...
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Yummy

I am not much of a baker. Cookies are usually about it and they come from those frozen tubs of cookie dough, which is why I was pretty proud of this cake I made for David's birthday. The cake is chocolate, the frosting peanut butter and then a chocolate glaze and candies on top. YUM! I followed the recipe at Blahnik Baker, but used a box mix for the cake. It tunred out quite delicious. I may have to actually make a cake again sometime. This is my Y post in the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge....
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