Easton Series Character - Michael "Uncle Mike" Sanders

Michael and Marian Sanders are the owners of the Sanders Ranch which is 1-1/2 acres of pastureland located on S. West Avenue in Easton, California. The ranch is a goat farm with a few other animals thrown in. There are the herd of goats, naturally, the Sanders’ lone cow, Moo, a couple of sheep, rabbits, chickens, ducks, and in the spring, a new batch of turkeys will be added to the menagerie.

Michael Sanders is father to Shelley Sanders and foster father to the various boys and girls staying at the Sanders Ranch. He loves Aunt Marian and indulges her.

Michael or Uncle Mike as he was known to the kids on the ranch liked his quiet time. He would get impatient with all the noise that accompanied kids playing and having fun. He wanted dinner on time and he wanted to relax in the evening watching TV or reading. The Angels knew to keep their rowdiness down when Uncle Mike was home.

Uncle Mike had started out working for a local hardware store in the garden department after high school. He took classes in the evening to be trained as a real estate agent and at the same time started ranching in the San Joaquin Valley. Since the Sanders Ranch was such a small ranch, Uncle Mike supplemented his income by selling real estate. The real estate market in Fresno was booming and kept Uncle Mike was busy promoting houses and himself. After several years, he was finally doing well. He was so busy with real estate he had left taking care of the ranch to his family.

Uncle Mike’s sense of right and wrong guides the Easton Angels in their many mishaps and adventures.

Easton Series Character - Marian Sanders aka "Aunt Marian"

Marian Sanders is Shelley’s mother. She’s of average height. She wore her hair short, just a curly cap around her head. When she was a child, she had been a toe head, very, very blond, almost white. But like a lot of children who start out blond, her hair had darkened until it was a rich dark shiny brown. Aunt Marian has an easy smile. It came quick and often. She was pretty with large, blue eyes, a small delicate nose with a high forehead and rounded chin all set in an oval face. Aunt Marian had a silent beauty that most people overlooked, at least until she smiled, then there was no doubt, Aunt Marian wasn’t just pretty, she was beautiful.

Aunt Marian had a soft spot in her heart for troubled kids. She calls the boys and girls in her charge Angels and when the Angels bring friends home, she likewise refers to them as Angels. It didn’t matter to her who they were, Aunt Marian considered all the kids her Angels; they were one big, happy family. She insisted everyone call her Aunt Marian.

The Sanders Ranch is the home of Marian and Michael Sanders, Aunt Marian and Uncle Mike to the boys and girls living on the ranch. The Sanders Ranch is 1-1/2 acres of pastureland located on S. West Avenue in Easton, California. The ranch is a goat farm with a few other animals thrown in. There are the herd of goats, naturally, the Sanders’ lone cow, Moo, a couple of sheep, rabbits, chickens, ducks, and in the spring, a new batch of turkeys will be added to the menagerie.

Aunt Marian is an avid photographer; she constantly has her camera in hand. Aunt Marian's philosophy on photography was, “photograph everything you can. You never know when an instant in time will be the one instant to span a lifetime. All photos are memorable, but that one photo is so elusive. So just keep taking pictures. You never know.”

 

Easton Sleuth Review

 My friend Larry recently read Easton Sleuth. He said, "... I started reading it a few weeks ago but ended up setting it aside because I was busy in the evenings. I picked it back up to read on a flight last week and was able to finish it in no time. I really like the story. The mystery kept me hooked. ..."

Thanks Larry! Anyone else have a comment on Easton Sleuth? I'd love to hear from you.

                                                                                    Donna Dolf

Easton Series Character - Lauren Russell

Lauren Russell was 14. She was tall and thin with green eyes and waist length blond hair she wore in a braid down her back. She was the “new kid on the block.” Lauren and her widowed father, Alan Russell, lived in the Caretaker’s Cottage deep in the almond orchard across the street from the Sanders Ranch. After Lauren’s mother unexpectedly died from appendicitis, Lauren was uprooted and moved to her father’s hometown of Easton, California.

A lonely Lauren first spies on the Angels from behind the mailbox tree and when Aunt Marian invites her over for milk and cookies, she reaches out to the Angels and the Sanders family in her grief. 

Lauren befriends Jonathan Hardy and the Angels. With their collective help they investigate a possible kidnapping in Easton. Lauren’s quick thinking helps defuse some of the Angels’ (mostly Jason’s) sometimes outrageous plans and ideas.

Whether it was searching for the mysterious green car, decorating for Halloween, studying with the Angels, or watching helplessly when the boys are accused of destruction at school, Lauren becomes a fast friend of the Easton Angels.

Easton Series Character - Sonja Bettencourt

             Sonja Bettencourt came to the Sanders Ranch at Halloween. She was the tallest of the three with a cap of short red hair and a peaches and cream completion. As with most red heads she had a crop of freckles across the bridge of her nose. At 13, Sonja was bossy and had a temper to match her red hair.

Sonja had come to stay with Michael and Marian Sanders in August before school started. Her mother had remarried recently and Sonja was having trouble adjusting to her new step-father. She had been so unhappy she had run away. When her mother found her, Sonja cried because she didn’t feel like she belonged at home any more. Sonja’s step-father, Jack Franken, was a real estate agent and counted Michael Sanders as a close friend. It was Uncle Mike who had suggested Sonja come stay at the ranch for a while. So here she was staying with the Sanders and she loved it. Sonja was proving to have a quirky sense of humor. She was keeping the Sanders household on its toes.

Easton Series has a new look!

I took a break after publishing Easton Sleuth. I've spent the last couple of months updating the Easton Series. Each volume has a new cover and the contents updated to correct a few typos. All five books are also available in hardcover.

Itching to do more, the first four stories are now available in one volume, entitled the Easton Series Collection and is available as an ebook.

Check it out.

Easton Sleuth is now available!

Shelley Blanca works part-time at the Easton Book Store in downtown Easton. Shelley only works a couple of hours a week at the book store. She earns just enough to fuel her love of books, with the employee discount of course. The book store also gives her instant access to research for her nascent novel, starring the irrepressible Beautiful Deborah. Besides, she meets the most interesting people in the book store and let’s face it, housework is boring. Shelley spends the rest of her time taking care of the animals, housework (still boring), supervising and shepherding the Angels and writing her novel, until Buzz Singleton is murdered.

Available in ebook and paperback on Amazon. (https://amzn.to/3cRRE9W)

Coming Soon! Easton Sleuth, Vol.5 of the Easton Series Adventures

 

Easton Series Characters - Kati McClellan

 

Kati McClellan is a trim little girl with long, straight, brown hair that hangs to her waist. Kati stands taller than Jason but not as tall as Eric.

Kati came to stay at the Sanders Ranch when her father's job took him and her mother to Europe. Kati’s father had left her in the Sanders’ care when he received the ultimate promotion that was “too good” to refuse. Of course, Kati’s mother thought nothing about going with him and leaving Kati behind. They were traveling in Europe somewhere and Kati had no idea when they would return. Kati’s parents send post cards to their lonely daughter with the promise to return soon.

Kati is very seldom quiet. She is an ace at video games and holds the house record for Taxi. Kati is 13 and is proving to be a bit of a handful. Kati feels abandoned and spends her time taking her frustrations at being left behind out on those around her.

Easton Series Characters - Jonathan Hardy

Deputy Jerry introduces the troubled youth Jonathan Hardy to the angels. Jon is 14 years old, has sandy brown hair and brown eyes. He is the same height as Eric. Jon has a problem and no one believes him when he tries to get help. After spending time with Jason, Eric, Sonja and Lauren, Jon tells them his secret and together they “investigate” this new mystery occurring in the little town of Easton.

Jon’s mother, Sharon Hardy, has a medical problem and Jon worries about her getting the medical attention she needs. Only when the Sanders suggest that Jonathan stay with them was she willing to go to San Francisco for treatment. She had stubbornly refused to go until Jonathan had somewhere safe to stay.

Jon is artistic and keeps a cool head which is useful when the Angels stir up trouble.

Jon appears in Easton Harvest, Easton Holiday and Easton Blossoms.

Easton Series Characters - Eric

 

Eric Lane is blond haired and blue eyed with a devilish gleam that reveals a sharp intelligence. Eric loves animals and reading. He is the quiet one of the angels, but can hold his own in any situation.

Eric was hurting. He was doing his best to keep to himself. Eric’s mother had been young when she found out she was pregnant. When Eric was born he was taken away from her and given to his grandmother to raise as her own. Eric’s mother grew up, got married and had other children. She forgot about Eric. By the time he was 12, Eric’s energy was taxing on his grandmother.

Eric came to live at the Sanders Ranch when his grandmother became ill and could no longer keep up with the energetic little boy. Eric felt abandoned and was quietly rebelling.

Catch Eric in all four Easton Series books.

Easton Series Characters - Jason

            Jason Bonham is small for his age. He has black curly hair and large dark eyes rimmed with thick black lashes. His eyes are a deep dark brown which are almost black. Jason has the most beautiful smile when he chooses to use it. He hates it of course. What 12 year old boy likes to be told that his smile is beautiful?

Jason’s parents died in an auto accident a few years ago. His aunt already had four kids and just could not handle another child. Jason is a fire ball. His imagination keeps him in motion and his mouth keeps him in trouble; he always seems mad at the world. Jason is so, so moody and tends to ignore you, but once you get him talking, sometimes you couldn’t shut him up. Jason likes music and plays the guitar. He is the joker of the Angels and is their unofficial spokesman. Jason came to the Sanders Ranch looking for a place he could call home and love but Jason was doing his best to cause trouble.

Word Fascination

 Comport - to behave in a particular way; to agree or be consistent with something.

            Jason quietly closed the door to the principal's office. He stood in the hallway for a moment trying to make sense of what the principal said.

            Eric, his best friend and brother, stood from where he had been waiting and asked. "Well, what did you do this time?"

            "I don't really know. He told me I was too enthusiastic in the auditorium and that I should comport myself with dignity and reserve like the other students," Jason answered.

            "He doesn't know you very well," Eric answered, bumping Jason's arm.

Happy reading!

Remembering Patrick

I wrote the following soon after my heart was broken and I lost my faithful friend of 15 years. It has been almost a year now, and I still miss my little dog.

“Hi. I’m Patrick.”

Silence.

“Hello? Can you hear me?”

Silence.

“Oh. That’s right. I forgot, again,” Patrick said.

Patrick shook his whole body and with a wildly wagging tail transformed himself from a white and gold cocker spaniel into a majestic angel in the midst of thousands of barking dogs, the sound thundering on the heavenly meadow. At exactly 3:00, the pack of dogs quieted and sat at attention before the Pearly Gates waiting for today’s arrivals.

Saint Peter stood at the Pearly Gates holding the Book of Life. He watched the pack of dogs patiently waiting and spotted Patrick in their midst. Shaking his head at the young angel he beckoned Patrick to join him at the Gates.

Patrick vanished from the pack and appeared next to Saint Peter, solemnly bowing his head.

“Playing with the dogs again Patrick?” Saint Peter teased, an amused smile on his face.

“Yes sir. I enjoy running with the dogs. They are so joyful and at peace.

Word Fascination

Peradventure - possibly or perhaps; uncertainty or doubt as to whether something is true.

Billy’s claim that he witnessed the Great Fresno Train Robbery was surely peradventure.

Word Fascination

I had to look this one up. Dilatory - slow, tardy, remiss, behindhand, or slack. As opposed to Diligent - hardworking, industrious, assiduous, meticulous, conscientious and thorough.

Jason hid out in the barn with Moo and the goats. He sat in the goats' feeder with Moo butting his shoulder on the left and a couple of goats chewing on the pull strings of his hoodie on the right. Report cards were sent home today. Jason was ashamed to admit he was once again dilatory with his homework and it showed on his report card. Uncle Mike was not happy.

Word Fascination and Spelling Lesson

The dog's hiney wagged furiously. Is it "hiney" or "hinny?"

A "hiney" is the two rounded buttocks (one is buttock) on the posterior of the pelvic region.

Although a "hinny" is the offspring of a female donkey and male horse.

You learn something new every day. Happy reading and writing!

Word Fascination

Hung or hanged? Do you know the difference?

Hung is the regular past tense version of hang.

Hanged on the other hand, is only used when indicating a person is to be put to death by hanging. An act of execution is always hanged. Things are hung, but people are hanged.

Mork hung his head out of the car window. Dogs will do that.

Mario was sentence to be hanged by the neck until dead after he was found guilty for the murder of his brother; he cheated the hangman when he hanged himself in his cell.

Word Fascination

Chicanery -  deception, trickery, verbiage, talk, flimflam, waffle, nonsense, underhandedness, double-dealing, smoke and mirrors.

The student body was in shock. Over the long weekend someone had painted a mural across the lockers depicting the Thanksgiving Day turkey on the chopping block along with its hooded executioner.

"That took a lot of work," Jason said, stooping to get a closer look at the mural.

"Maybe, but it is destruction of public property," Eric mumbled, shaking his head. "Someone is going to get in trouble for this."

"Yeah. It'll probably be us; my logo is in the corner," Jon said, pointing to the corner of the mural.

Once again, the Bandit's chicanery found the Angels in the principal's office.

Word Fascination

Todays word is NONSENSICAL which means being ridiculous, absurd, illogical or silly.

Jason tends to be NONSENSICAL; he talks to cows.