Release Day for Horseman Spell!

My romance novel Horseman Spell is available today!

Your pace or mine?

The story takes place around Cloverdale but the settings are all fictional. We don't have forests and hills with riding trails. And there are no hobby farms around town. Though there used to be on 181A and 182 Street and points further east through to 192 Street when I was growing up.

Blurb:

Pam never expected to be spending time at the racetrack again, but a romantic connection with Scott – her new next door neighbor and ex-boyfriend’s brother – throws her back into the exciting world of horseracing.

Dealing with trips to the racetrack, mysterious phone calls, unknown late night visitors, and an unexplained light appearing upon the hill, the tranquil farm life Pam loves has been turned upside down ever since Scott moved in.

If Pam’s life hadn’t already become chaotic enough, her relationship with Scott is threatened when his brother, Lyle, returns to town.

Excerpt:

“Ladies,” greeted Bob. “Pam, I’d like you to meet Scott.”

Pam had put her hand out to shake the newcomer’s, but snapped it back to her side as if it had been burned. Scott wheeled to face her.

“You!” Pam backed up a step.

“You!” The accusation in his tone cut off and filled the room with an awkward silence.

They stood motionless glaring at each other.

“I, uh, take it you’ve already met.” Bob cleared his throat and twirled the beer bottle in his hands.

Scott set his bottle down on the fireplace mantel and Pam scurried to the front hall. She grabbed her coat from the closet and curled her fingers around the front door’s handle.

“Don’t leave on my account,” the sarcastic voice behind her mocked. “I’ll go.”

Looking over her shoulder, Pam saw Joanne and Bob frozen in the doorway of the living room. They looked dismayed, but she couldn’t deal with them now when they only thing on her mind was putting some distance between her and Scott. She gripped the doorknob tighter, turned it, and marched out of the house. Hearing Scott’s footsteps close behind, she quickened her pace, reached the car and fumbled for the keys.

“I want to talk to you.”

“Forget it. Nothing you have to say interests me.” Pam tugged her car door open and slid into the driver’s seat. Before she could slam the door, Scott maneuvered his body between the open door and the driver’s seat. He braced his hands on the roof of her car and used his body to prevent her from closing the door. Pam desperately fought not to notice his thigh muscles bulged against his blue jeans as he flexed against the door at her eye level.

“You need to hear this.” Scott slapped the roof of her car once.

Pam raised her eyes and his dark eyes stared back into hers. Frown lines wrinkled his forehead and he scowled at her. Pam swallowed, remembering how many times she’d seen that expression before.

“Leave me alone or I’ll scream so loud I’ll have every person within five miles running to help me.”

“When are you going to grow up?”

They glared at each other. Scott bent down, his mouth drawn into a hard, thin line, his face getting closer to Pam’s. She pulled the seatbelt out, clicked it into place, turned away to put the key in the ignition, and started the car. Scott backed away from the car, palms toward her as if he were trying to ward her off. Just before Pam slammed the door shut, she heard him say, “You can’t avoid me forever.”

Buy links:
Musa Publishing
Amazon US
Amazon Canada
Barnes & Noble

Horseman Spell is available through other online booksellers and on iTunes.

 

Playing at the Clova from December 14 to 20, 2012

Playing at the Clova from December 14 to 20, 2012 is:

7pm - The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Show lets out at 9:50pm. There is no second feature. Admission is $8 or $15 for 2 people. Add $4 for each extra person in your party.

Its my guess The Hobbit will run until December 27th because its a first run premier and the Clova usually plays those for 2 weeks.

Fence Around Parking Lot at Former Cloverdale Mall

Sometime on Friday December 7, 2012 a rent a fence company has put up a fence around the entire parking lot of the former Cloverdale Mall. Previously the fence was only around the site of the former mall, but its around the entire lot now, excluding the area surrounding the Cloverdale Legion.

This is bad news for people looking for a parking spot during Cloverdale events. This is also bad news for people who regularly parked there, mainly semi truck drivers resting overnight and the occasional camper.

This is really bad news for whoever owns that semi flat deck trailer in the centre of the parking lot! Its my guess that when that trucker returns for the trailer they will knock the fence down to gain access. If anyone has seen the movie Joy Ride they'll know that nothing really stops a semi truck wherever the driver wants to take it!

Recycling not picked up in Cloverdale Friday December 7, 2012

I was walking my dogs this morning and noticed that the new garbage/waste recycling contractors have once again neglected a pick up on 173 Street between 57 and 58 Avenues. This time it is the blue recycle bins that were not picked up - the entire street.

And once again the residents are out of luck to report this to city hall until it opens again on Monday.

I noticed on the Waste app that it no longer lists the reasons why your pick up was missed. They were all reasons like the resident didn't put out the bin in time, resident placed bin too close to an obstacle, and a few other reasons that blamed the resident. The most common reason that the garbage/recycling is not picked up is simply because the driver neglected to come down that street.

Pancake Breakfast at Cloverdale Legion on Saturday December 8, 2012

The Cloverdale Legion is holding a pancake breakfast on Saturday December 8, 2012 from 8am to 11:30am. Cost is $4.50 for pancakes, eggs, sausages, and coffee, tea, and orange drink/juice. The legion is at 17567 - 57th Avenue, across the street from the firehall.

Playing at the Clova on Thursday December 13, 2012

Playing at the Clova on Thursday night, December 13, 2012:

7pm - Pitch Perfect

10pm - The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

This is a sneak preview of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey that premiers on December 14, 2012. I'ts my guess The Hobbit will be playing at the Clova as a single feature until December 27, 2012 but I will update next week when its verified.

Admission is $8 or $15 for 2 people. Add $4 for each extra person. Stay for one or both movies at that price.

Playing at the Clova from December 7 to 12, 2012

Playing at the Clova from Friday December 7 to Wednesday December 12, 2012:

7pm - Cloud Atlas

10:15pm - Pitch Perfect

Last show lets out at midnight. Admission is $8, stay for one or both movies. If there are 2 people admission is $15. Add $4 for each extra person in your party.

Golphi's Restaurant

I was walking past Golphi's restaurant today (5633 - 176th Street) and noticed the windows are all papered up.

There is no notice that they are closed for good or closed for renovations. Nothing. Its been a few weeks since I walked down that part of 176th Street so if there was a sign saying they've closed temporarily or for good, I missed it.

Golphi's opened up in Cloverdale around the mid 70's. The restaurant caught on fire quite a few years back, late 80's or early 90's, and they renovated it and opened again.

It'll be a shame if its closed down, probably another restaurant fallen victim to the HST keeping customers away. This place has the best pizza in Cloverdale. Love their Greek pizza!

Playing at the Clova from November 23 to December 6, 2012

Playing at the Clova from November 23 to December 6, 2012:

7pm - Rise of the Guardians

Only the one show playing for two weeks. Lets out around 8:37pm. Admission is $8 or $15 if there are 2 in your party. Add $4 for each extra person in your party.

Santa Parade of Lights on Sunday December 2, 2012

The Christmas lights are starting to go up around Cloverdale and you know what that means. The Santa Parade is almost here!

 

The Santa Parade of Lights is on Sunday, December 2, 2012 and starts around 5pm out of the Cloverdale Fairgrounds on 60^th Avenue. The parade will go down 176A Street, turn west on 58A Avenue and then along 176^thStreet. It sort of peters out at 57^th Avenue and the trucks and floats head onto the Cloverdale Bypass and they’re gone. Probably back to the staging area at the fairgrounds for take down.

Here’s the scoop on parking. Get to Cloverdale no later than 4:30 on Sunday afternoon. Streets are being closed and you will end up in a traffic nightmare trying to find a way out and a place to park. The old (demolished) Cloverdale Mall site still has plenty of parking. Access the parking lot from 57^th Avenue off the Cloverdale Bypass. You can also try to access it off the Cloverdale Bypass at 58^th Avenue but no telling when the volunteers will shut down 58^th. There is on street parking on 56A Avenue, 57^th Avenue, and 58^th Avenue east of 176A Street. There is on street parking on 177B Street. There are 2 public parking lots on 176A Street – one near 58A Avenue, the other at the backside of the Clova Theatre, between 57^th and 58^th Avenues next to the Bank of Montreal.

For viewing, the best place if you want to see Santa Claus light up the Christmas tree on top of the Dale Building is around Hawthorne Square on 176^th Street, midway between 57^th and 58^thAvenues. 176^th Street is crowded with the most spectators. I like to watch the parade on 58A Avenue where its less crowded. At least until the people searching for a spot on 176^th Street discover its got lots of openings, and then it gets jammed. If there are too many people, head north along 176A Street to find a good viewing spot.

Bring a non-perishable item. Volunteers from the food bank will be picking up donations.

 

Stabbing at The Henry

Yesterday on the news there was a report of a stabbing at the newly renovated/renamed bar The Henry, formerly known as the Clover Inn, located on the corner of 176th Street and 57th Avenue.

I don't know any other details except the brief description I heard on Global News and a little video footage of the emergency vehicles.

One odd thing I've noticed is Anne's cafe that has been operating in the Clover Inn for many years was closed for renovations while The Henry was renovating the old Legacy bar. The cafe still hasn't reopened. The tables and chairs are still there but no notice when/if Anne's will be back in business.

Recycling finally picked up

An update to my post about our street in Cloverdale was missed on Friday November 9, 2012.

As this was a stat holiday weekend and city hall was closed to phone in about the missed pick up, I called Harry Janda's cell phone on Saturday morning. I still haven't heard back from him. He could be on holidays and the message is automatically deleted by his carrier after a few days or maybe he works in a different department now.

I had to wait until Tuesday morning, November 13, to call the city. I got through on the phone just after the opened at 8am to receive a message that 14 callers were ahead of me. I figured that had to be everyone else on our street. However when speaking with the clerk I was the first caller to report our street had been missed. Once a missed pick up is recorded it takes up to 48 hours for a truck to be dispatched.

Nearly one week after we set out our recycling bin, on Thursday, November 15 our street finally was visited by the recycle truck.

Recycling not picked up in Cloverdale on Friday November 9, 2012

Yesterday - Friday, November 9, 2102 - in Cloverdale it was our day for pick up for green lid bin organics/garden waste and blue lid bin recycling.

The organics/garden waste was picked up.

The blue recycling was picked up from all the streets in our neighbourhood except for our street. For whatever reason the driver just didn't come down our street. Everyone on our street left their blue lid bins out all night hoping that on Saturday the driver might return for our missed street.

No such luck.

And as our luck goes, once again this missed pick up falls on a statutory weekend so that phone number for City Hall to report missed pick ups is useless because no one is working there until Tuesday November 13.

However I remembered a post I wrote last year after talking to Harry Janda at the City of Surrey. http://cherylrhodes.blogspot.ca/2011/07/have-answer-for-missed-garbage-pick-up.html

Mr. Janda was kind enough to provide his cell phone that he answers on weekends to assist residents of Surrey. I phoned him just after 10am on Saturday morning and it went to voice mail. I left him a message and let him know this entire street was missed for recycling pick up and asked him to call me back to let me know when we can expect the truck to return and take care of this because I don't want to leave the bin on the street at night where it can fall victim to young hooligans.

Its now dinnertime and I've still had no response from Mr. Janda. Its possible he's on vacation and has his work cell off. Or maybe he doesn't work in this department anymore and its not his problem.

I'll leave the recycle bin outside for another hour and then bring it in.

Our new waste collection services have missed 3 collections in our Cloverdale neighbourhood, affecting our house twice, since the new program started on October 1, 2012. Its not looking too good so far.

Cloverdale Remembrance Day Services 2012

At 10:15am on Sunday November 11, 2012, there will be a Remembrance Day service at the Cloverdale cenotaph. This is inbetween the Surrey Museum and Archives, 17710 - 56A Avenue.

Its best to arrive at least half an hour before the service to find a parking spot. All the streets in Cloverdale have free parking: 56A Avenue, 176A Street, 177B Street, etc. The museum has a parking lot but that will fill up quickly. There is a parking lot on 176A Street just north of 57th Avenue.

The museum has Remembrance Day events planned before and after the service. See this web page for more details: http://www.surrey.ca/culture-recreation/2388.aspx

If you're closer to the White Rock cenotaph, click here for more information on their Remembrance Day service from 9:15am to 11:45am http://www.whiterockcity.ca/EN/main/community/events/events/16338/22214.html

There will also be Remembrance Day service at the Port Kells cenotaph at 10:30am on November 11, 2012, located on the property of their community hall, 18918 - 88th Avenue.

Pancake Breakfast at Cloverdale Legion on Saturday November 10, 2012

The Cloverdale Legion is having a pancake breakfast this Saturday, November 10, 2012, from 8am to 11:30am.

Cost is $4.50 for pancakes, eggs, sausages, coffee, tea, and an orange juice/drink.

The Cloverdale Legion is across the street from the Cloverdale Firehall at 17567 - 57th Avenue.

Update: traffic lights at Cloverdale Bypass & 57th Avenue

I have an update about the traffic lights at the intersection of the Cloverdale Bypass and 57th Avenue.

Someone made a decision to paint lines on 57th Avenue on the west side of the Cloverdale Bypass making a left hand turn lane and the curb lane for through traffic and right hand turns. The problem with this is that the sensor that activates the lights is now only where the left hand turn lane is. Area residents know where the sensor is. It was covered over a few months ago when the road was resurfaced following the construction of Brick Yard Station. Not a problem because everyone knew it was there and stopped there.

At least it was not a problem until someone - probably in the engineering department who sits at a desk at Surrey's city hall and unfamiliar with the intersection - decided to paint lines here making the place where the sensor is left hand turn only.

Why they decided to do that I have no idea. This is not a high traffic area.

However this is a problem for a driver who wants to go east across the Cloverdale Bypass. They'll sit there for a long time waiting for a driver to get in the left hand turn lane or someone travelling west on 57th to activate the lights from the other side of the road.

Last week I watched a driver wait for about 5 minutes. It was 10:30 at night. No oncoming traffic. Nobody in the left hand lane. The driver finally ran the red light to cross the Bypass.

An accident waiting to happen.

I guess the city has finally received enough complaints from area residents.

I thought the least expensive solution would be to change the line painting and make the curb right turn only and the centre lane for through and left hand traffic.

But no the city went the more expensive route. Today I drove past and saw a crew digging up the street to put sensor on the curb side lane. Tonight I checked and both lanes have sensors.

Now they just have to put in a pedestrian activated light on the Brick Yard Station side and that intersection will by much safer.

Surrey's New Garbage/Recycle Program

How is everyone liking their new big bins for garbage, recycling, and garden waste/organics?

The new waste pick up program came into Surrey on October 1, 2012. Garden waste/organics (green lid) is picked up every week. The garbage (black lid) and recycling (blue bin) are picked up every other week, alternating with each other.

Friday is collection day in Cloverdale. The first time I saw the truck picking up the blue lid recycle bins for some strange reason he backed down our street. That meant the driver had to run out for all the houses on our side of the street, drag the recycle bin over to the truck, and then unload it. Then when the forks unloaded the bin it was now on the other side of the street. Instead of jumping out of the truck again and putting the bin back where he found it, the driver proceeded backing down the road. I happened to be at home at the time and figured it out pretty quick when I went outside to haul my bin back in and it wasn't in my driveway but my neighbour across the street now had two recycle bins: one in his driveway and one in his front yard. That's the only time I've seen any of the waste trucks back down our street.

On October 19th was Cloverdale's day for garbage pick up. A pick up that never came for our entire neighbourhood. I've seen the waste trucks working until at least 7pm on some occasions so we left out garbage bin out until around 9pm before dragging it back to the house. Then I put it back out in the morning hoping the truck was late in the Friday pick ups, couldn't finish his route, and would be back on Saturday. On Saturday morning I saw a Surrey Engineering Dept truck slowing cruising our neighbourhood and talking into his radio or phone. There must have been complaints coming in from Cloverdale about missed pick up or else the Engineering staff were in our area and noticed all the garbage bins still out and checked it out and then got after the waste company. The garbage was picked up later on Saturday. However some residents took their garbage in off the street and didn't put it out again and missed the Saturday pick up.

On November 2, 2012 for some reason the garbage truck didn't pick up any of the garbage bins on 173 Street between 57th and 58th Avenues. All the other streets in the neighbourhood were picked up. The driver forgot the one street. And the garbage bins stayed out. No pick up Saturday. Finally the garbage truck picked up those bins today, Tuesday, November 6.

If there is a problem and the bin is not picked up, the number to call is 604-590-7289. The problem is this number is only for Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm. By the time someone comes home from work and sees the bin still sitting there its too late to call. That number is at City Hall and no one works on weekends. This doesn't help Cloverdale residents who have to wait until Monday to call to complain about the missed pick up.

There's a list of reasons why someone's bin was not picked up and most of the reasons suggest the homeowner is to blame: didn't put bin out on time, didn't set up bin properly (too close to cars, trees, or other bins), banned items in the bin. Though for that one I don't know how they'd know because the lid is closed and the driver doesn't normally get out of his truck to operate the forks that grab the bins.

I downloaded the My-Waste app for my iPhone with a 12 hour reminder and it tells me which bin goes out that day. If you go to this link, you can either download a collection calendar or follow the link to the app. http://www.surrey.ca/rethinkwaste/collection-schedule/

Playing at the Clova from November 2 to 22, 2012

Playing at the Clova starting Friday November 2nd until the 22nd, 2012 (yes for 3 weeks!) is:

7pm - Wreck-It Ralph

Show lets out at 8:40pm.

Seeing as how its a first run the Clova does not play a 2nd feature. Admission is $8 or $15 for 2 people. Ad $4 for each extra person in your group.

Cloverdale Intersection Cloverdale Bypass and 57th Avenue

Those who live in the vicinity of Cloverdale's new mall the Brick Yard Station on the corner of Highway 10 and the Cloverdale Bypass know that its best accessible off 57th Avenue.

During the construction the crew resurfaced a section of 57th Avenue west of the Cloverdale Bypass. In doing so they resurfaced over the motion sensor that activates the traffic lights for westbound 57th Avenue traffic. Those of us who have been in Cloverdale a long time know the sensor is near the centre line at the stop line. If we stop there at a red light, and it is a long red light because of the primary highway traffic, we know where the sensor is located even though we can no longer see it, stop over it, and the lights will change in a minute or so. There is hardly any traffic travelling in either direction on 57th Avenue at the Cloverdale Bypass which is why the sensors were put in years ago meaning a car has to stop on top of it and wait for the light to change.

Oddly enough some drivers who are not familiar with the area of the covered sensor park in the centre of the road or close to the curb and have no chance of getting the traffic lights to change. All they can do is hope a driver will come along the opposite direction westbound on 57th and activate the lights from that side. The sensor on that side of the road is visible, not resurfaced after the construction.

On Sunday night, October 28, 2012, a line painting crew showed up at the intersection. On Monday I saw the results. There is a line down the middle of the eastbound lane on 57th Avenue at the Cloverdale Bypass intersection. On the left side of the line is a left hand turn arrow.

I did not know the lines had been painted on the road. I was walking my dogs and as I was walking past the Cloverdale Legion I noticed way up there that a car had stopped against the curb at the intersection. I thought that was a weird place to stop because there is no hope of setting off the traffic lights that far off the sensor. A couple of minutes later I reached the intersection. The car is still there but now four other cars are behind it waiting to either go straight through the lights or turn right. I push the pedestrian light and immediately the lights change.

When I reached the other side I noticed the line painting had been done. Very odd. If someone is in the curb lane waiting to go straight across the Bypass and continue eastbound along 57th Avenue that puts them in a collision course to run up on the sidewalk when they reach the other side of the intersection. Or at the very least run into some of the cars parked next to GWG Tool Rentals. Cars have to change lanes in the intersection to get back on track.

Today I was walking in the area and watched a car stopped in the curb lane hoping to go straight across the road. Not going to happen unless a car turning left shows up in the newly painted left hand turn lane or oncoming traffic shows up on the other side of 57th to activate the sensor and lights. No such luck. Its just not that busy an intersection, though I would say a car usually shows up at least once every ten minutes. I stayed in front of Starbucks wondering how long its going to take before the driver figures out the lights aren't going to change. Eventually two other cars get in line behind the car stopped at the curb. I took the above picture at the 3 minute mark. At 5 minutes the first car finally gets tired of waiting and turns right toward Highway 10. The other two cars turn right too.

It appears that someone at Surrey City Hall needs to either have a sensor put in the curb lane so through traffic can get the lights to change or repaint the lines so there is no left hand turn lane. This street hardly has any traffic so a left hand turn lane is not needed. That lane could do just fine for both through and left hand turn traffic. The line painting option would be the least expensive way to go rather than tearing up the road to install a sensor.

I think its just a matter of time before someone gets impatient because the lights won't change and proceeds anyway and causes an accident.

The Romance Reviews Year End Splash Party 2012!

A big welcome to my visitors from The Romance Reviews Year End Splash Party!

Good luck winning a copy of my novel Ringer!

Scroll down to read an excerpt from Ringer to find the name of the racehorse.

“How do you suggest we get your horse off the track? Someone is going to see you and the horse walking out.”

“Drive up to Barn Three. I’ll duck down so no one sees me. Are the cops still there?”

“I can’t see them. They parked on the other side by the grandstand and walked over, so they might still be in the barns.”

Holly glanced at her passenger who was trying to crumple his large frame sideways, his head nearly in her lap. “Which side of Barn Three?”

“Left side and stop at the middle door.”

Holly drove through the unguarded gates.

“The guy who manages the racetrack, his car is still here.”

“Johnson’s a jerk.”

She pulled the truck up to the barn’s side entrance, turned off the engine, and looked down at Matt.

“Okay, when you go in, turn to your right. She’s in the second stall down and wearing a halter with ‘Meadow Prancer’ engraved on it. Grab any lead shank. I’ve got them hanging all over the place.”

“What do you mean, I’m getting your horse? You want to bring her, you go on in there and get her yourself.”

“Holly, someone tried to kill me. What if they’re hanging around waiting for me to come back?”

“Why don’t you just tell the police who they are? And I doubt they’re hanging around with the cops crawling all over the place.”

“Please? I don’t want anyone to see me and know I’m out of the hospital.”

“What if someone sees me and I get arrested for attempted horse theft?”

“Not going to happen. Trust me. Please, just go on and get my mare.”

The man could talk a dog out of a big, meaty soup bone. He had a gentle persuasion that was impossible for horses and women to resist. Holly rolled her eyes and strode to the back of the trailer to let down the tailgate ramp. Scooby nickered softly and turned to look at her.

“Sorry, boy, you’re not coming out. You’re getting a passenger in a minute.”

Holly entered the dim barn, lit with only a couple of low-watt bulbs. She saw the main light switch but didn’t flick it on. If the police were still on the backstretch, she didn’t want to attract attention to herself and the removal of one Standardbred racehorse. Holly smelled the sweet aroma of alfalfa and listened to crackling straw as horses rustled softly in the stalls and poked their heads out to see the late visitor. She moved quickly to the second stall, read the horse’s name, Meadow Prancer, snapped on the lead shank, and unlatched the stall door.

“Come on girl,” she whispered, and the sleek, bay horse willingly followed. She walked the horse out the barn door and turned to her trailer.

“Stop right there!”

 

 

Buy links:

Musa Publishing
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
All Romance Ebooks

Also available from iTunes, Kobo, and other online booksellers.

If you're in Canada or the USA and your library loans out ebooks, have your librarian order a copy from their Overdrive system. ISBN: 9781619371736

 

 

The Clover Inn

As far back as I remember the building standing on the northeast corner of 176th Street and 57th Avenue was known as the Clover Inn.

When I was a kid the building was red. Around the top roofline was a red neon light that extended the front, side, and part of the back of the building. I could see it from our house on 182 Street at night. A neon beacon showing me where the Clover Inn was and from there I could orient myself for the rest of our small town.

Back in the sixties the Clover Inn was probably the finest eating establishment in Cloverdale. There was a fancy restaurant inside the building and a bar/saloon area. There were two entrances off 57th Avenue. One with a sign that said "Gentlemen" and the other door had a sign that said "Ladies and Escorts". It was the only hotel in Cloverdale at the time and out of town vistors could rent hotel rooms while passing through or staying in the area.

In the eighties the Clover Inn transformed more into a bar but there was a coffee shop restaurant at the front of the building, in the same place where the coffee shop is today. The bar used to serve steak sandwiches at lunchtime in the 80's for $5 and was very popular. They also had a salad bar. It was still a farily decent place to come for a meal but I don't recall nightly hotel guests. Sometime in the 80's the rooms were rented out on a more permanent basis, often to persons in the province's social welfare system due to mental disabilites.

By the 90's the bar had transformed more into a biker's bar. I saw motorbikes parked out there a lot and the Legacy Show Lounge with the exotic dancers (strippers) had their clientele.

In 2009 right around the time of the Cloverdale Rodeo, the Clover Inn gained some unwanted notoriety when Christopher Whitmee was shot to death in the strip club's restroom. Another patron using the restroom was the intended victim of the shooter, and he survived. Whitmee was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and his murder has not been solved.

In January 2012 the Legacy shut down the nude dancing girls after much pressure from the city and other business owners who felt there was no place in Cloverdale suitable for this type of business. The place has remained dark for most of the year until recently there has been a flurry of activity and contractors working on the building.

The Clover Inn sign is gone, the building has been painted black, and the new business is called The Henry. It says its been established since 1978. Not sure where its been established before but not in Cloverdale.

It looks like a nice enough place with the renovations and breakfast specials. Cloverdale has had an influx of bars/sports bars/restaurants in the past few years. Growing trend as the town grows.

Playing at the Clova from October 26 to November 4, 2012

Playing this week at the Clova from October 26 to November 4, 2012 is:

7pm - Frankenweenie

8:45 - Argo

Last show lets out around 10:45pm. Admission is $8, stay for one or both movies. $15 if there are two of you. Add $4 for each extra person in your party.

Playing at the Clova from October 19 - 25, 2012

Playing this week at the Clova from October 19th to the 25th 2012 is:

7pm - Hope Springs

8:55 - Looper

Last show lets out around 10:55pm. Admission is $8, stay for one or both movies. $15 for 2 people. Add $4 for each extra person in your party.

Musa Publishing One Year Anniversary Blog Hop!

Hello and welcome to the Musa Publishing One Year Anniversary Blog Hop!

It looks like the only person missing the blog hop will be me. Oh no! I need some frowny faces! If you can read this blog between October 1 to 7, 2012 then that means I successfully figured out how to preset this blog to publish on the evening of September 30! Yay for me! Actually I did a couple of tests before going out of town so I'm pretty sure this will work.

By the time you're reading this I will have already been away for a week and where I'm going I have the choice of no Internet service or    v-e-r-y   s-s-s-l-l-l-l-o-o-o-o-o-o-w-w-w-w-w, very expensive $$$$$$$$ Internet service. I have chosen the no Internet option and left my laptop at home. And before people start thinking about an empty house with an abandoned laptop for the taking....not everyone in the household is out of town!

In honor of Musa's one year anniversary, and also my one year anniversary of Musa - I signed a contract for Ringer in October, 2011 - I will be holding a contest to win a copy of Ringer. To enter, leave a comment telling me about your dream vacation. I will draw a winner on October 9, 2012 from everyone who enters, so don't worry if you think someone else picked a cooler vacation destination. Everyone gets their name in the hat.

One more thing in case you're the winner, I'll need a way to contact you. If your profile has your contact info - good! Otherwise, leave an email address when you tell me about your dream vacation.

To help you out, I'll start. My dream vacation is to the Galapagos Islands. I'm an environmentalist, I love animals, I'm a photographer, and I love warm weather destinations, so a trip to the Galapagos would be the adventure of a lifetime for me.

Without Internet or my lap top I am unable to blog hop nor show up to say thanks and comment on messages my readers have left about their dream vacation, and I apologize for not being connected and interactive. So there's my excuse, as flimsy as it may be. Please don't let my absence stop you from participating in Musa Publishing's anniversary blog hop. Scroll to the bottom of this post to check out the links where my fellow Musa authors will also be holding contests to win copies of their books. Check out their blogs after you leave here, enter to win some books, and good luck!

Ringer is available from Musa Publishing and just about every online store including iTunes. Don't forget to ask your librarian to order it from their Overdrive system for ebooks.

A sneak peek is available on Amazon.

A horse who is a dead ringer for a mising racehorse. A missing cousin whose body was never found. An attempted murder. Is anything what it seems? Holly Thompson is drawn into the middle of this puzzle when she rescues sexy horse trainer Matt Winter and flees with him and the look-a-like horse.

Holly and Matt follow clues from British Columbia to Matt's home in Oregon to a horserace in California, trying to find who is behind the horse-swapping scheme. Matt didn't count on losing his heart to a feisty woman who can saddle her own horse and hotwire a truck. And Holly has done the unthinkable: fallen in love with a horseman, something she vowed she'd never do. Is Matt a wealthy racehorse owner or just another backstretch con artist, cheatin on horses and women? And will he ride to her rescue when they unravel the mystery of the ringer?

On December 28, 2012 Musa Publishing presents HORSEMAN SPELL!

 

 

Pam never expected to be spending time at the racetrack again, but a romantic connection with Scott - her new next door neighbor and ex-boyfriend's brother - throws her back into the exciting world of horseracing.

 

Dealing with trips to the racetrack, mysterious phone calls, unknown late night visitors, and an unexplained light appearing upon the hill, the tranquil farm life Pam loves has been turned upside down ever since Scott moved in.

 

If Pam's life hadn't already become chaotic enough, her relationship with Scott is threatened when his brother, Lyle, returns to town.

 

Playing at the Clova September 21 to September 27, 2012

Playing at the Clova this week from September 21 to the 27th is:

7pm - The Words

8:50pm - The Campaign

Last show lets out around 10:15pm.

Admission is $8, stay for one or both movies. Two people pay $15 and add $4 for each extra person.

test

no topic

Test

No topic

Playing at the Clova from September 14 to September 20, 2012

Playing this week at the Clova from September 14 to 20th, 2012 is:

7pm - The Bourne Legacy

9:30pm - The Expendables 2

Last show lets out around 11:12pm. Admission is $8, stay for one or both movies. If there are 2 people in your party price is $15. Add $4 for each extra person.

Largest Human Peace Sign in Cloverdale at Millenium Park

I just heard on the news that they are trying to create the largest human peace sign at Cloverdale's Millenium Park today at 1:30pm.

The Millenium Park is located on the corner of 176th Street and 64th Avenue. The best place to look for a parking spot is to go to 62nd Avenue, reached off 176th Street, and there are parking lots on this street including down past the Agriplex at the end of the street.

The news said they were asking for people to arrive by noon so they can start setting up.

CIBC Brickyard Station Cloverdale Grand Opening Sept 8, 2012

The CIBC in Cloverdale's Brickyard Station at the corner of Highway 10 and the Cloverdale Bypass is having their grand opening on Saturday, September 8, 2012 from 10am to 2pm.

The CIBC is located in the southeast corner of the complex alongside the Cloverdale Bypass, across the street from the Husky/Mohawk gas station. You enter the Brickyard Station complex either from 57th Avenue or from Highway 10.

They will have a BBQ and Trevor Linden will be there from 11am and 1pm so bring your Canucks gear down for an autograph.

First Day of School

The first day of school will be this coming Tuesday September 4, the day after Labour Day.

My elementary school, Cloverdale Elementary, is still there on Highway 10 inbetween 177B Street and 180th Street, but is now known as Cloverdale Traditional School.

When I was going there, about 400 students attended Cloverdale Elementary. Most grades had 2 classes and sometimes there were split classes with a different grade. Cloverdale Elementary was a pink two story school with a blue annex on the other side of the gymnasium. The old horse barn used to be behind the annex and that was where the kids parked their bikes.

The annex was a basement play area split into boys and girls and upstairs were 3 or 4 classrooms, mostly housing grade 4 students. At some point a portable classroom ended up in front of the school. The annex, the barn, and the portable are all long gone.

Some say you'll never forget your first day of school but I have long since forgotten it. I used to keep a red scrapbook with class photos and other things of school. I thought it was on my bookshelf but when I went to look at it just now I couldn't find it. I was trying to remember who my first and second grade teachers were. I remember the names, Mrs. Bell and Mrs. Stewart, just not who was grade one or two. I am pretty sure Mrs. Bell was grade one.

The one thing I remember about Mrs. Bell was that she was a tall woman with a very long neck. She was constantly stroking her neck. When I was little I thought that was how she grew her neck by stroking it. She was younger than most of the other teachers, probably in her late twenties. She was nice enough but I don't remember her being a good teacher. Back then women only had two career choices: teacher or nurse. Teaching probably was not her calling more than what was expected of her. There were probably only 4 or 5 men at Cloverdale Elementary. The principal Mr. Vickery, the vice-principal Mr. Black., two male teachers that I recall in grade 5 and 7, and another man who taught for a year and then moved back to his home country, either grade 6 or 7 and he wasn't my teacher. There was a male teacher who taught the band class but he was from Cloverdale Junior High and only came down once or twice a week for a half hour or so to teach band. That was in grade 5. And then another male teacher took over the band class in grades 6 and 7.

If I could find my old scrapbook with my grade one photo it would show the little girls wearing nice dresses and the little boys wearing bow ties. Styles have changed a lot! In fact they changed a lot during the 7 years I went to Cloverdale Elementary when it became more common for girls to wear pants and then jeans.

Blue Moon Over Cloverdale

Last blue moon until July 2015 can be seen over Cloverdale tonight. I snapped a photo and even got a red UFO thing in the shot!

Playing at the Clova from August 31 to September 6 2012

Playing at the Clova this week from August 31 to September 6, 2012 is:

7pm - Magic Mike

9:05pm - The Dark Knight Rises

Last show lets out around 11:50pm. Admission is $8, stay for one or both movies. For 2 people admission is $15. Add $4 for each extra person.

Retro in Cloverdale

There is a new shop opening in town on 57th Avenue just west of 176th Street that is a consignment store featuring mid-century fashions.

I never knew there was a market for this type of clothing but there must be if that is their specialty.

This is the store where the tattoo shop Pro Pain Ink moved to after their shop next door flooded. They moved out about 3 months ago. I've seen the new owners of the retro consignment moving items in over the past couple of days so perhaps they'll be open for business soon.

Welcome to Cloverdale and good luck with your new business!

Free Outdoor Movie in Surrey Holland Park August 25 2012

There is a free outdoor movie playing tonight at Holland Park in the Whalley area of Surrey, approximately King George Boulevard (Highway) and Fraser Highway. Starting at 8:15pm is Dr. Seuss' The Lorax. Bring your own chairs or blankets.

Playing at the Clova from August 24 to August 30 2012

Playing this week at the Clova from Friday August 24 to August 30, 2012 is:

7pm - Moonrise Kingdom

8:50pm - Total Recall

Admission is $8, stay for one or both movies. If there are 2 in your group admission is $15. Add $4 for each additional person.

Free Outdoor Movie in South Surrey Thursday August 23, 2012

The shops at Morgan Crossing (101-15765 Croydon Drive, Surrey) are hosting another free outdoor movie on Thursday night August 23, 2012. Monty Python and the Holy Grail will start at 8:15pm. This is a parking lot so bring a camp chair. Morgan Crossing is near the Home Depot and Walmart at 160th Street and 24th Avenue. Croydon Avenue is reached from 24th Avenue, the intersection where White Spot and The Brick is. I think the movies set up near Mink Chocolate and coffee shop, not too far from Thrifty Foods.

Free Outdoor Movie in Surrey Holland Park August 18 2012

There is a free outdoor movie playing at Holland Park in the Whalley area of Surrey, approximately at the intersection of Fraser Highway and King George Boulevard (Highway). Movie is Despicable Me and it starts at 8:30pm.

Playing at the Clova from August 17 to August 23 2012

Playing at the Clova this week starting on Friday August 17 2012 is:

7pm - Ted

9:05pm - Savages

Last show lets out around 11:15pm.

Admission to the Clova Theatre is $8 each or $15 if there are 2 in your group. Add $4 for each extra person in your party. Price is for one or both movies. Tuesday nights is $5.

Free Outdoor Movie in South Surrey Thursday August 16, 2012

A free outdoor movie will be held at the Shops at Morgan Crossing on Thursday August 16, 2010. The movie playing is Men in Black 3 and will start around 8:30pm.

The Morgan Crossing shops are at 15765 Croydon Drive, Surrey. Not too far from Home Depot and Walmart at 160th Street and 24th Avenue. I'm not 100% sure where the movie is being shown but in the past it was near the Mink Chocolate coffee shop not too far from Thifty's. This is a parking lot so be sure to bring folding chairs. The weather is supposed to be incredibly hot over the next couple of days so this will be a perfect night to take in a free movie.

Free Outdoor Movie in Surrey Holland Park August 11 2012

There is a free outdoor movie playing at Holland Park in the Whalley area of Surrey on August 11, 2012 at 8:30pm - The Muppets.

Holland Park is on King George Boulevard and Old Yale Road.

Barn Tours and Open House at Fraser Downs Saturday August 11, 2012

Come to the backstretch of Fraser Downs for a free tour of the barn area and lunch on Saturday, August 11, 2012

Barn tours start around 10:30am and you get to meet some of the trainers and racehorses while following your guide around the backstretch. They are running qualifying races for the Standardbred horses in the morning and if they're late the start time for the tours will be delayed.

Lunch will be served from 11:30am to 1:30pm. I hear they will be barbecuing hamburgers.

Open house ends at 2pm.

Best way to get to the backstretch is head down 176th Street to 62nd Avenue and drive east. There are traffic lights there and the rec centre is on the corner and the red barn to the Agriplex is down the road. The best place to park is in the parking lot next to the Agriplex. The parking lot for the barn area across the street is probably already full of cars of the backstretch employees. Just walk across the street and sign up for a tour and enter to win prizes.

Free Outdoor Movie in South Surrey Thursday August 9, 2012

There will be a free outdoor movie at the shops in Morgan Crossing on Thursday August 9, 2012 at 15765 Croydon Drive, Surrey. The easiest way to get there is to get to 24th Avenue and head toward 160th Street. The next set of lights past 160th, about a block up is Croydon Avenue. On the opposite side of the street from Walmart.

Last year the movie was set up near Mink Chocolate and Coffee Shop but I'm not quite sure if its in the same spot again. Bring lawn chairs because this is a parking lot.

Playing at 8:45pm is The Hunger Games.

Playing at the Clova from August 3 to August 9, 2012

Playing this week at the Clova from Friday August 3 to the August 9, 2012:

7pm - The Amazing Spider-Man

9:35pm - Rock of Ages

Last show lets out at 11:40pm. Admission is $8, stay for one or both movies. If there are 2 in your group admission is $15. Add $4 for each extra person. Tuesday night is $5 per person.

Blueberry Pancake Breakfast at Cloverdale Legion Saturday August 4 2012

The Cloverdale Legion is adding blueberries to their pancake breakfast this Saturday August 4, 2012 in honour of the Cloverdale Blueberry Festival.

The legion is located at 17567 - 57th Avenue. Lots of parking around the legion incorporating what's left of the parking lot of the old Cloverdale Mall. Get there early because as festival goers show up the parking lot will fill quickly.

Price is $4.50 per person and includes blueberry pancakes, eggs, sausage, and coffee, tea, and orange juice/drink. They also cook up a few pancakes that don't have blueberries for those who don't like the fruit cooked into their pancake.

Free Outdoor Movie in Surrey Saturday August 4 2012 in Holland Park

On Saturday August 4 2012, Toy Story 3 will be playing at Holland Park in Surrey starting around 8:45pm.

Holland Park is on the corner of King George Boulevard (formerly known as King George Highway) and Old Yale Road. Across the street from the mall that used to be known as Surrey Centre Mall but is now known as Central City Mall. In other words head for the Whalley area of Surrey.

Free Outdoor Movie In White Rock Friday August 3 2012

There will be a free outdoor movie in White Rock on Friday August 3, 2012 at 9pm playing in the east beach, in the area where the stage is set up I believe or at least that's where its played in the past when they say east beach. The movie is Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom.

Now its one thing to say the movie is free. To park down at the beach is $3/hour. Don't even think of parking in one of the nearby residential streets that says home owners only. We used to live in the area and we had to buy a parking permit from the City of White Rock and they gave us one or two visitor passes so they have to be displayed. White Rock has very fast moving parking bylaw enforcement officers. Don't think you'll get away without plugging the parking meter for the last 15 or 20 minutes. Its not worth a $40 fine.

This is in conjunction with White Rock's Spirit of the Sea Festival. In the past there have been free shuttles from one of the high school parking lots to the beach but this year I haven't been able to find any information on it. So unless you're a big Indiana Jones or Harrison Ford fan or you live within walking distance this one might be a miss.

Cloverdale Blueberry Festival August 4, 2012

The Cloverdale Blueberry Festival will be held on Saturday August 4, 2012 between 9am and 4pm.

There are a variety of events going on in Cloverdale but a big draw is the Show and Shine. Come out to see antique and classic cars, trucks, and motorbikes. They will be parked on 176th Street between 58A Avenue and Highway 10. In other words this entire stretch of 176th Street will be closed off to regular vehicle traffic due to the large amount of pedestrians.

Last year the stage was set up across the street from the Cloverdale Learning Centre/Hawthorne Square and musical acts were performing.

There are a variety of events taking place on 176th and 176A such as the blueberry pie eating contest and BMX bike display. There will be vendors selling produce and crafts.

The free trolley bus service will be back to transport people between the various venues.

Looking for parking? Try the parts of the old Cloverdale Mall that still have space for cars to park. If you're on the Cloverdale Bypass, turn on 57th Avenue as if you're heading towards 176th Street and downtown Cloverdale, and then immediately turn left into the old parking lot. There is public parking between 57th and 56A Avenues. Turn into the alley beside the firehall as if you're heading back to Highway 10. There are only about 30 or so parking spots there but there might be places left on 56A Avenue to park. There is parking along 58th Avenue between 176A and heading east. Also along 177B Street and most of the side streets between 58th Avenue and Highway 10. There is also 2 public parking lots on 176A Street. One is on the corner of 58A Avenue, approximately across from the bowling alley. The other is inbetween 57th and 58th Avenues, behind the Clova theatre. Perhaps 100 parking spots between the 2 of them.

More stores opening at Cloverdale Brick Yard Station

Just to update for people wanting to know what stores have been opening at Cloverdale's Brick Yard Station on the corner of the Cloverdale Bypass, 57th Avenue, and Highway 10.

CIBC and Original Joe's restaurant both opened a week ago.

Clancy's Meat shop opened this past Thursday, same building block as Staples, but closer to 57th Avenue.

The Source will be coming soon, in the same block of building nex to 57th Avenue where only Into Chocolate is currently open.

Fido will be coming soon, next to Original Joe's.

A day spa will be coming soon, in the same block of building where Into Chocolate is.

Vera's Burgers still says its opening soon, in the same building as Into Chocolate. They'll have the corner unit kitty corner to Starbuck's.

It's Raining Books: Author Interview: Cheryl Rhodes

Today I'm being interviewed by It's Raining Books. Come and check it out!

It's Raining Books: Author Interview: Cheryl Rhodes: Today I'd like to welcome author Cheryl Rhodes, here to talk about her contemporary romantic suspense, Ringer.  Thanks for stopping by, Cher...

Playing at the Clova from July 27 to August 2, 2012

Playing this week at the Clova starting Friday July 27 2012:

7pm - Snow White & The Huntsman

9:25pm - Men In Black 3

Last show lets out around 11:10pm. Times are approximate. On busy nights if there are people in the lobby waiting to buy something at the concession stand the Clova doesn't start playing the movie until the lobby is cleared.

Admission is $8, stay for one or both movies. $15 if there are 2 people in your group. Add $4 for each extra person. Tuesday nights are $5 per person.

Cash only at the Clova.

Bring your own popcorn and drink containers and fill up at the concession stand for $2.50.

Free Outdoor Movie in Surrey on Friday July 27 2012

If anyone is interested in a free outdoor movie this Friday night July 27, 2012, Dr. Seuss' The Lorax is playing at the Fraser Heights Rec Centre park at 9pm. The park is located approximately on the corner of 160th Street and 108th Avenue. If you're coming from Cloverdale, head to 160th Street and go north. Cross the Fraser Highway and its a few blocks up on the right hand side. Good sized parking lot and in the past the rec centre doors are open so visitors can use the washrooms.

Free Outdoor Movie in Langley Sunday July 22 , 2012

If you're looking for a free outdoor movie this weekend close to Cloverdale The Goonies is playing at Douglas Park in Langley on Sunday night July 22, 2012. Movie starts around 9pm. Douglas Park is located at 20500 Douglas Crescent. If you're coming from Cloverdale, take Highway 10 to Langley and then take the 56th Avenue exit just after the lights at 192 Street. Continue into Langley and around 203 Street it changes to become Douglas Crescent. You'll drive by the Langley Mall where the Army & Navy is and Douglas Park is a couple of blocks up on the right hand side. There's a parking lot and if its full turn right on 206th Street and find parking on the street. Keep an eye on the weather forecast. Its supposed to rain on Sunday and Monday.

Cloverdale Brick Yard Station Update and Photos

A few more businesses have opened up in Cloverdale's Brick Yard Station. This is on the corner of the Cloverdale Bypass and Highway 10, with street access also from 57th Avenue.

Next door to Starbuck's, Quiznos is now open for business though they do not have very good signage. That's their door to the right of the AMC Insurance which is open 7 days a week.

Into Chocolate opened up about 3 weeks ago. Nothing else has opened up on their side of the mall which backs onto 57th Avenue.

Original Joe's says it is opening soon. For all purposes you'd think its ready to open now. Floors and counters were done a couple of weeks ago and tables have been set up inside for at least a week. The outside tables and chairs showed up a few days ago.

The Rexall Drugs opened up about one week ago. The medical clinic beside them will be open on August 1 2012. Its the same medical clinic that was/is in Clover Crossing Mall on 64th and 176th next door to London Drugs and PriceSmart.

CIBC is opening next Monday July 23 2012.

Here's a long shot of Staples that has been open since May. You can't see it in this photo but there is a business opening on their left side. Appears to be a restaurant but no construction happening there and no business name. On the right side of Staples are a couple of business doing leasehold improvements getting ready to move in.

Dr. Ohm will be moving his veterinary practice here about mid-August from the current location next to the Husky/Mohawk on the corner of Highway 10 and the Cloverdale Bypass. Next door to the right a dental office is being prepared.

Here's one of the train photos that adorns some of the walls around the Brick Yard Station early 1900's Cloverdale.

A pet food store will be opening up next to Cloverdale Animal Hospital.

Clancy's Meat Co still claims it will be opening soon. The floors are in and the meat cases are also installed.

My Article in Current Issue of Horse-Canada Magazine

If anyone picks up the current issue of Horse-Canada magazine (July/August 2012) there is a nice feature story I wrote about geocaching on horseback, complete with photos taken in Pitt Meadows, Campbell Valley Park in Langley, and at Fraser Downs racetrack.

Ringer On Bunny's Review Thursday July 12 2012

My novel Ringer is featured today at Bunny's Review. http://bunnysreview.com/2012/07/book-feature-ringer-by-cheryl-rhodes/

Pancake Breakfast at the Cloverdale Legion Saturday July 14 2012

The Cloverdale Legion is holding a pancake breakfast this Saturday July 14 2012 from 8am till 11:30am. Cost is $4.50 and that includes pancakes, eggs, sausage, coffe, tea, and an orange juice/drink. The legion is at 17567 - 57th Avenue, across the street from the Cloverdale firehall.

Playing at the Clova from July 13 to July 26, 2012

Playing at the Clova beginning July 13 until the 26th is:

7pm - Ice Age: Continental Drift

This is a first run movie that premieres everywhere on July 13 2012. That means the Clova's contract is to play it for 2 weeks and no second feature movies. Admission is $8. Or $15 for 2 people. Add $4 for each extra person in your group.

Cloverdale Blueberry Cannons Are Firing

I heard the first blueberry cannons today. At 7:30am. I was already awake so they didn't bother me but it was clearly the same field, must have gone off 10 or 12 times in one minute. Sounded like the farmer was testing the propane cannon and getting it ready. They're only allowed to fire once every 5 minutes so if he's testing it you'd think he could have waited until later in the day. The people who live on the subdivision on the west side of 168th Street above Highway 10 are going to be livid! And a few minutes later I heard the cannons go off 3 more times in rapid succession. Then nothing. Until 8:30pm when I heard a cannon go off several times. I doubt the bylaw has changed in Surrey. Blueberry cannons are supposed be turned off by 8pm.

The blueberry cannons don't bother me. I've been hearing them since 1974 or 1975 when the blueberry fields were around Colebrook Road and 152 Street. Now there are many farms along 168th and 176th and even on Highway 10 where the Maddix Farm used to be, approximately the whole area between the salmon processing plant and 168th Street.

I'd been wondering when they were going to start up again. My blueberries are starting to ripen. I have several varieties so I'll get blueberries on one plant or another until September. I only have a dozen bushes in a raised garden bed and I protect them with nets. No blueberry chomping birds are going to get my berries!

Now's the time we get to be entertained with letters to the local papers complaining of the blueberry cannon noise. One Cloverdale resident had filed a lawsuit against the city of Surrey for not enforcing the bylaws. I'm not sure how that's turned out. Probably not heard yet by a judge. Its pretty hard for bylaws officers to enforce the complaints anyway. If they hear them then they have to track down the right field and the right farmer responsible for the infraction and give them a warning. Sometimes the farmers forget to turn the cannons off at night and I hear them between noon and 3pm when they're supposed to be shut off so clearly farmers do violate the city's bylaws.

I'm amazed at how many blueberry fields have sprung up around Cloverdale in the past 5 years. Incredible boon but it probably drives the price down for the farmers when the supply exceeds the demand. Oh well. I still buy local blueberries and freeze them. The blueberries from my little garden get eaten before I can get them into the house! Love blueberries. Made a pie last week from some I still have leftover in the freezer from last year. I've got to get busy and use them up to make room for this year's berries bound for the freezer.

Yummy!

The Romance Reviews Sizzling Summer Reads Contest

Visit The Romance Reviews Sizzling Summer Reads to win books throughout July 2012. Over 400 authors and publishing participating - lots of chances to win! Grand prize is $100 gift certificate.

http://www.theromancereviews.com/event.php

Come to The Romance Reviews on July 8 2012 for a chance to win a copy of my novel Ringer.

Raspberry Social at Otter Co-op on Canada Day 2012

Another free event on Canada Day is the raspberry social at the Otter Co-op at 3600 - 248th Street, approximately on the corner of the Fraser Highway and 248th. This is Sunday July 1 2012 between noon and 3pm. Free raspberry shortcake and a beverage. They have their brand pop and juice, coffee, and tea. There is live band providing entertainment and a vintage truck display.

The best thing is the event is held under the huge canopy in front of the store so if its raining you can stay reasonably dry.

Free Pancake Breakfast at Krause Berry Farms on Canada Day

Its a little out of the way but Krause Berry Farms is having their annual pancake breakfast on Canada Day between 9am and 11am. They're located at 6179 - 248th Street in Langley. Even though its free they're accepting donations for breast cancer research.

We went one year and the place was a zoo so be prepared. We were on our motorbikes and they had us park near their store but cars were parking way down the long driveway after the big parking lot was full - they had parking attendants that day.

We waited 20 minutes for pancakes.

So judge for yourself if that's something you want to do. Many families come to pick strawberries while they're here or buy something from the store.

For more information: http://www.krauseberryfarms.com/

Cloverdale Canada Day 2012 Celebration at Millenium Park

Canada Day celebrations on Sunday July 1, 2012 will be happening at the Millenium Park in Cloverdale. The park is located on the southeast corner of 64th Avenue and 176th Street.

Admission is free. Park never closes but most people start arriving between 9am and 11am to stake out a spot for the day. All day entertainment. Acts on the stage and some midway rides. Fireworks at 10:15pm end the day.

For more information and a line up of the entertainment see their website: http://www.surrey.ca/canadaday/

As for parking, if you get there early enough you will find parking off 62nd Avenue and 176th Street where the Agriplex is located. The parking lot at the fairgrounds, enter off 60th Avenue, also has parking. A lot of people park on the nearby streets but its not conveniently accessible. If you plan to do that get onto 172nd Street off 60th or 64th avenues and then choose any of the roads leading east from there. There is a park located on 62nd Avenue I think and there's a good sized parking lot there.

Whatever you do, don't park in the lot at the Cloverdale Crossing Mall across the street from the Millenium Park. There's a Tim Hortons in there, a London Drugs, a PriceSmart, etc. They put up big signs at the entrances saying customer parking only, no event parking. There are several security guards patrolling the lot. If you park your car here they watch where you're going. If you cross the street into the Millenium Park your car will probably be towed.

Want to just watch the fireworks? A good spot is the football field at Lord Tweedsmuir located on 180th Street, just north of 60th Avenue. Get there by 9pm and you should find a parking spot OK. Watch out for mosquitoes. Another good spot to watch is in the parking lot at the Cloverdale Super Market - the old Shop Easy - on the corner of 58th Avenue and 176th Street. The store is closed by then and this just has a nice view of the fireworks.

Getting out of Cloverdale after the fireworks? This is nightmare city for drivers, including cars travelling on 176th Street who have no intention of participating in the Canada Day activities. The police close down 176th Street between 60th and 64th Avenues. Open for pedestrians only. However last year they had to rethink that strategy. The corner of 60th Avenue and 176th Street can be dangerous for pedestrians even though it has pedestrian activated light and a chirper noisemaker. There's a lot of bad drivers who don't want to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk and multiply that when there are hundreds of pedestrians leaving a major event. So last year the police made a last minute decision to put in another blockade 2 blocks away at 58th Avenue and the Cloverdale Bypass. The problem is there were no instructions so drivers unfamiliar with the area turned up towards the United Church and then going through the back alley to 60th Avenue only to find themselves no better off because the only option was to turn east down 60th right back to where the police had it blocked off and they had to turn south back down the Cloverdale Bypass. So they did the circle route. The police also had 60th Avenue closed off between 176A Street and 176th Street so cars could not reach the intersection at all. To get out of Cloverdale if you're closer to 64th Avenue, go that way either direction on 64th or continue north on 176th Street. If you're parked in the fairgrounds/casino lot, either head east on 60th and away from Cloverdale, or go down 176th Street to Highway 10 and whichever way you want to leave. Avoid residential areas that are unknown to you. They are choked with lost drivers.

Happy Canada Day!

Latest Novel Horseman Spell coming soon!

Here's the cover of my latest novel Horseman Spell coming soon from Musa Publishing! My novel takes place in a fictitious area near Cloverdale and the characters are all pure fiction too. If you like romance novels, horses, or Standardbred horseracing this novel has a little bit of everything.

Cloverdale Legion Open House June 22 and 23 2012

The Cloverdale Legion is holding an open house on Friday June 22 and Saturday June 23, 2012.

On both days between 1pm and 4pm the public is invited to come in and view their exhibits and talk to members. The Ladies Auxiliary is serving free coffeee, tea, and desserts.

On Saturday morning June 23 between 8am and 10:30am there will be a free pancake breakfast. No other breakfast food will be served.

The Legion is located at 17567 - 57th Avenue in Cloverdale.

Playing at the Clova from June 22 to July 12, 2012

Playing this week at the Clova starting on Friday June 22 2012 starting at 7pm is Brave. This is another first time release date which means that the Clova's agreement is they play it for 2 weeks and they do not play a second movie feature with it. Movie ends around 8:40pm and the run ends on July 12, 2012. Admission is $8 or $15 for 2 people. Add $4 for each extra person.

Cora's Restaurant South Surrey

I've had the opportunity to visit Cora's Restaurant on 24th Avenue a couple of times this month.

There are a few Cora's around and the restaurant began in Quebec, thus why the menus are in both English and French.

Cora's is known for huge sides of fruit that accompany some of the entrees. Cora's is open for breakfast and lunch only. Most of the items on the menu run $10 to $15.

I had the tuna melt sandwich with the side of fruit and that fruit was pretty much a meal in itself. Highly recommended if you're craving fresh fruit to accompany your meal or as a garnishment to pancakes, waffles, or crepes.

Cora's is located in the Peninsula Shopping Centre on 24th Avenue inbetween King George Boulevard and 152 Street. There is a Safeway and London Drugs in here plus many other smaller shops and restaurants.

Horse Book Reviews: Ringer by Cheryl Rhodes

Horse Book Reviews: Ringer by Cheryl Rhodes: Cheryl Rhodes' romance novel, Ringer , is an exciting read for female horse lovers. It features a brave protagonist named Holly helpi...

Click on the above link to go to the blog Horse Book Reviews to read about my novel Ringer.

2012 Ride To Conquer Cancer - Cloverdale stop

For anyone else wondering why tents and a stage are set up in the Cloverdale fairgrounds parking lot, it has to do with the Ride To Conquer Cancer 2012.

The tents were marked with different signs - media, medical, etc.

This stop is part of a 2 day event where cyclists are riding from Vancouver to Seattle.

For more information follow this link http://va12.conquercancer.ca/site/PageServer?pagename=va12_homepage

Cloverdale Mowing Does Not Yield to Pedestrians

Tonight - Friday June 15, 2012 - we had another enounter with a bad driver in Cloverdale.

We walked our dogs over to the fairground to check out what was going on because we drove past earlier and saw white tents and a stage being set up in the parking lot.

We were standing on the corner of 60th Avenue and 176th Street in front of 7-11, preparing to walk north across 60th to the fairgrounds when the light changed. I had pressed the pedestrian light. It was 8:30pm, plenty of light outside.

On this intersection there were several cars lined up on 176th Street preparing to turn left up 60th Avenue eastbound. They got the green arrow and away they went.

The pedestrian light activated and at this crosswalk it chirps for pedestrians. We stepped into the crosswalk - 2 adults and 2 large dogs - and a truck pulling a utility trailer made a flying left turn to go up 60th, cutting off the northbound traffic on 176th Street and without a care in the world for the pedestrians in the intersection and continued up 60th.

We stopped walking and pulled the dogs in when it was clear this truck and trailer was planning to mow us down in the crosswalk even though we had the pedestrian light. Advertising said "Cloverdale Mowing" and the utility trailer had large sides but I could see a riding lawnmower inside. Ironic isn't it. A mowing company wants to mow down pedestrians in a crosswalk!

It never ceases to amaze me when people are driving company vehicles with the advertising plastered all over that they will drive badly and give themselves bad advertising.

I don't know how many employees Cloverdale Mowing hires but they have at least one driver who has no regard for the safety of pedestrians in a crosswalk who have the legal entitlement to cross. Nor any regard for the safety of the people in the first car that was cut off on 176th Street. Companies are responsible for the actions of their employees. They have hired a poor driver who tried to hit pedestrians in a crosswalk and then sped off without a care in the world. Apparently the driver thought he was going so fast that I couldn't read his company name. Bad advertising when you hire bad drivers to drive a company vehicle. Employers do not seem to grasp this concept.

Fortunately I have my own riding mower and have no need of their services but they sure won't get a recommendation from me if I hear of anyone looking for a lawn cutting service.