Kim McMahill

I'm always bragging on my tiny garden. As usual I have tomatoes galore, zucchini, cucumbers, and lettuce, but this year I decided to ditch the beans and go with sweet peas. I had a difficult time ever getting enough beans at the same stage of maturity to cook up. But, since I prefer peas raw and fresh as opposed to cooked, problem solved. Since July I've had a steady stream of healthy snack straight from the garden. I may have gotten a little carried away and they've taken over, but they'll soon be gone, leaving plenty of room for the rest of the plants to dominate.

I’ve never been to Bhutan, but I’ve always dreamed of visiting this landlocked country nestled in the Himalayas. One of the most intriguing aspects of this country is the idea of Gross National Happiness. The core philosophy behind the concept of Gross National Happiness is to enable development while promoting the attainment of happiness. The four main pillars of Gross National Happiness are equitable and equal socio-economic development; preservation and promotion of cultural and spiritual heritage; conservation of environment; and good governance which are interwoven, complementary, and consistent. The concept may not be attainable in a country the size of the United States or compatible with our democratic system, but the ideals are worth considering and incorporating into life and government where possible. Often the pursuit of prosperity doesn’t equate to happiness or the protection of the environment, but maybe it’s possible to strike a balance. To learn more about Bhutan a...

Most weekends we feel lucky to have a day to get outside and explore, so we look for unique experiences doable in a day. Recently we drove 45 miles west of Denver on 1-70 to Georgetown, Colorado. We wandered the streets of this quaint town, which along with nearby Silver Plume, boasts one of the largest concentrations of Victorian homes in the United States. Georgetown began as a mining camp in 1859 because of the abundant gold and silver in the surrounding mountains. Now people are drawn to the area for its historic significance, picturesque towns, and its idyllic location in the Rocky Mountains. A few miles outside of Georgetown in Silver Plume (elevation 9,178 feet) we boarded the Georgetown Loop train and visited the Lebanon Mine, both are part of the Georgetown Loop Historic Mining & Railroad Park. The weather was spectacular, we learned a lot about local mining from the 1870’s through the 1920’s during our guided tour 1,000 feet deep into the Lebanon Mine, and the scene...

I purchased the three big beautiful raspberries at a grocery store known for its produce. The handful of small berries came from my backyard. If given a choice one might be tempted to reach for the large plump berries. The reality is that the small less-than-perfect berries taste like heavenly little drops of sweet goodness, while the large berries had very little taste at all. Not only have my imperfect raspberries been a surprising treat, but they have reminded me of a couple of old adages we should always keep in mind—don’t judge a book by its cover and looks can be deceiving.

Whether you are a classic car enthusiast or a fan of Clive Cussler’s Dirk Pitt novels, I highly recommend a visit to the Cussler Museum located in Arvada, Colorado. The museum showcases approximately 70 of the 100 cars in its collection, and the cars rotate annually, so if you keep coming back you’ll eventually see them all. Cars which have appeared in Dirk Pitt novels are identified by a copy of the novel and a brief note in the car’s description placard. Even though I don’t know a lot about old cars, there was no mistaking the quality of this amazing collection. For more information visit www.cusslermuseum.com .

What good is a contemporary western adventure without a smoking hot cowboy that makes the reader cheer for a happily-ever-after ending. In Big Horn Storm , Niki finds herself in a fight for survival with her childhood infatuation, Deuce. Here’s a short excerpt from when she arrives at the ranch. Niki couldn’t see Robert Mitchell Blackburn II, known to friends and family as Deuce, but his deep voice gave away his location. No doubt his tall muscular frame stood just inside the barn door, concealed in the shadows. Even though he was hidden from view, she could describe every detail of his unruly hair peeking out from under his beat-up and sweat-stained straw cowboy hat, the scrutinizing look in his hazel eyes, his tanned complexion, and the scuffs on the heels of his boots where his spurs had worn on the leather. Dark stubble would shadow his chin and above his lip, and his sleeves would be rolled up on his denim shirt. She hated the fact that not only could she see him clearly in he...

Today, I thought I’d give you an excerpt from Big Horn Storm that would have been tough to write without a little real life experience to back it up. With a prayer and a swift kick, Niki informed Storm it was time to run for their lives. The horse sensed the danger and cleared the edge of the ravine before the men could react. Niki held on as tight as she could and leaned back to help the horse keep his balance as he lunged down the slope. Rocks dislodged under the fury of his churning hooves as he barreled down the embankment. They had nearly reached the creek when the first series of shots rang out. Storm shied and turned to follow the creek downstream rather than plunging into the water with its slick bottom at an uncontrolled speed. Another barrage of gunfire pelted the ground, narrowly missing Niki, but hitting nearby rocks, spraying the horse with sharp stone fragments. A slight bend in the ravine took them out of sight of the shooters and soon the slope was much less int...

Life embellished has been essential in writing certain scenes in my novels, especially for Big Horn Storm . When I was a teen, my dad and I were helping friends drive their cattle to a high grazing lease for the summer. By the time we reached the steepest, last big push, the cows were getting tired and a few decided it would be easier to slide back down the mountain than to keep climbing. My dad was on a green-broke colt which wasn’t as surefooted as my palomino gelding, and she was getting a little tired with her heavier load. To make a long story short, my dad told me to go after them. I looked at him like he was mad, but nudged my horse, assuming he wouldn’t go if he thought it was too steep. He was a good cow horse, so he didn’t hesitate to plunge over the edge after the cattle. The slope was too steep and the dirt too loose to stop and I ended up beating the cows to the bottom. As calmly as possible with one’s life flashing before her eyes, I gathered the cows up and herded them...

Don’t miss out on the Summer Holiday Reads promotion running through August 31. Prizes include a Kindle eReader and Amazon gift cards. Here’s the contest link: https://www.booksandmore.club/monthly-giveaway . Good Luck!

Growing up, I spent my summers on horseback. When my dad wasn’t in a rodeo we were riding in the stunning mountains of Wyoming. I probably didn’t appreciate all the trail rides and pack trips at the time, but looking back I guess I was lucky. We rode all over the McCullough Peaks, in the mountains of the North Fork and South Fork of the Shoshone River, in the Sunlight Basin area, and in the Bighorn National Forest. So, I thought I’d share a couple posts from real life and of the fictional lives of the characters in Big Horn Storm . My story began at a very young age. Here my pony and I are doing a good job keeping up with the pack horse while crossing the Shoshone River. Check back in a few days for more on factual and fictional horseback adventures.

I hope everyone has a fun and festive Fourth of July holiday with friends and family. Celebrate your independence and be safe.

Not only do I love to travel and see the world, I enjoy watching travel shows. Recently I stumbled onto a travel series hosted by a couple young men from Canada called Departures which ran for three season from 2008-2010. The show has taken me back to some of my most memorable journeys and reminded me why I can’t get enough of exploring the world. I just finished with an episode on Patagonia and the scenes with penguins made me smile and I wanted to share my happy memories with everyone. I hope you enjoy these enchanting creatures.