My Honey Book is in Flight to New York

By Cal Orey, The Writing Gourmet

Yesterday, on my birthday, I did it. I finally let go of the buzz-worthy book, The Healing Powers of Honey (Kensington, October 2011). My sibling surprised me with a dark chocolate cake decorated with a honey bee. How sweet is that? Today, the big book is on its way to the East Coast, 3000 miles away. Yes, my honey book with all the fruits of my labor is in transit. And now it's time to celebrate autumn and prepare for winter...

As a worker bee-type of individual, it's difficult to relax. But that doesn't mean fun times arent ahead. I'm talking more swimming, more dog walks, and fall cleaning--every crook and cranny. Baking and cooking healthful foods on a shoestring budget is also in the works for me for "What's Cookin at Callie's Cabin"--the weekly column in the Tahoe Daily Tribune. (This week it's Autumn Apple-Maple Scones.) Not to forget spreading the word about, The Healing Powers of Chocolate (Kensington, 2010).

And other people from around the globe are coming to me for my intuitive skills, which is fine because it really isn't work--my sixth sense is a gift so it comes naturally. So, goodbye my sweet honey book. 'Till next year when we reconnect.

Contest: Winner,Winner Chicken Dinner: The Healing Powers Food Books

Last night we had thunderstorms, rain, and ponding. Oh my! Today, a weather forecast notes snow may be around the corner at Lake Tahoe. And I just got back from swimming at one of our resort pools... I heard chatter from locals amid tourist of getting the stay well flu shot. But hold the phone...

Personally, I don't do shots. I prefer to eat nutrient-rich superfoods, exercise (swim and walk my Brittany duo), sleep 7 plus hours a night, and keep it healthy by trying to chill during ups and downs in life with its mixed bag of stressors.

Another way I stay away from bugs is by turning to chocolate, olive oil, and vinegar. Yep, it's these good for you foods that may help you stave off pesky bugs and super bugs. This month of October, I'm offering the internationally popular Healing Powers series to you. Purchase two and I'll toss in the third one for free as well as free shipping. (Trade cover, retail at $14; you'll receive 3 for $28.)

Just e-mail me at COrey39184@aol.com -- and tell me why you love one of these superfoods. Then, dish out the three books you'd like me to send to you. (You can pay me via PayPal (click on $28) http://www.calorey.com/ near the books on the homepage) or via check. These books are genuine gifts of health for you during cold-flu season and the upcoming holidays. Hundreds of edgy home cures and healthful recipes are a mouse click away!

A Day in a Life of a Health Author--Phone Psychic

By Cal Orey,

The Writing Gourmet

As I sit here in worker bee mode and typing on the keyboard I am pondering about my life as it is today. I am a health author fine-tuning edits on my fourth book of the Healing Powers series. This time around it's "honey"--due to be published fall harvest time next year. And, I continue to dish out articles that feed the spirit and mind... Not only did I pen the Fall Horoscopes for Complete Woman magazine (still on the stands), but I just finished my Earth Changes column for Oracle 20-20 online magazine, November issue. (Not to forget "What's Cookin' at Callie's Cabin"--this week's article is about how I survived getting sick like an overworked worker bee.)

In between these tasks, I still am answering the phone rings..."Intuitive Callie... I'm sensing you're a Pisces. Uh-oh, I'm picking up energy that all is not well in Canada, your home..." And I still like it. It is odd, though, how I know exactly where these callers are calling from. How do I know that? It's the same as writing. The info comes to me. It's the same as cooking. The ingredients and how and what to use comes to me.

So, tomorrow is October 1...on the 6th it will be my birthday. Oracle 20-20 will be publishing a piece tomorrow that I wrote about decadent chocolate "CHOCOLATE WORLD" -- PAGE 24, (You can still read "Confessions of a Phone Psychic"--September issue, below October on the site). And again, I'm fantasizing about a killer chocolate cake but as an indecisive Libra I can't decide what type to make--white, milk, dark chocolate--or all three. Two layer, bundt cake, one layer, cupcakes...Maybe I'll tune into Intuitive Callie...Nah, she's signing off and going to Slumberland (even worker bees are motionless at night).

The Hottest Immune Boosters for Autumn Colds

By Cal Orey,

The Writing Gourmet

Tis the season for changing tree colors, changing temperatures, and ah-choo! colds and flus. It happened. Working like a worker bee on proofing my forthcoming book, The Healing Powers of Honey (Kensington, October 2011)--and at night I turn into the nightowl Intuitive Callie. Read: Burning the beeswax candle at both ends ends up getting you sick.

I recall during my Woman's World magazine columnist days, that I penned an article about boosting the immune system in the fall and what foods can help you to do just that. Naturally, nutrient-rich edibles, right? So here I sit in bed (with my two cuddly canines--Simon and Seth), drinking water--lots of bottled water...Chicken soup today, yesterday and the day before. And did I mention all-natural orange juice?

Yesterday, I went swimming but I felt like a sick fish. The hot tub sufficed. I've heard from the community grapevine that yes, folks at South Lake Tahoe are dealing with the "bug." Not fun, especially for a Type A worker bee who finds it a task to relax. I picked up a copy of the Tahoe Daily Tribune to see my What's Cookin at Callie's Cabin column "The Gift of Banana Bread" on the cover. That made me smile and reconnected me to my cat angel, Gandalf who is looking over me. I can feel him and his healing energy. Tonight: I will be answering the phone for the psychic phone network. (It just rang and I did dish out relationship advice. I can do that sick or well. My intuition didn't get sick. )

Pampering time is in order during the lull. That means movies, movies, and movies. Hot herbal tea later with a gift of rare white honey I received from Hawaii will also be comforting as the temperature drops tonight and rises to 80 tomorrow afternoon. I bought chocolate today for its healing powers so that must be a sign I'm getting better. Hot chicken vegetable noodle soup, orange juice, water, tea, honey, oatmeal and strawberries (this a.m.) critters--and chocolate... These are my favorite fall immune boosters for getting well faster.

The Dish Is...I'm an Author-Phone Psychic

By The Writing Gourmet

The Full Moon cycle is paying us a visit this week (and the first day of autumn) and I'm still retrieving phone calls from people around the globe. On September 1, an article I penned was published in Oracle 20-20 Magazine. Yes, "Confessions of a Phone Psychic" (page 24; on the cover, too) was the first time I came out of the closet of crystal balls, so to speak. And this week I was a guest on "X-Zone" to talk about my second shift as a phone psychic.

More news: I'm done writing the book about honey. My final words were input and the process of proofing is in working bee mode. I am elated as a honey bee on its fave flower. And, beeswax furniture polish and honey lovers' candy landed on my doorstep. Not to forget the honey varietals--one from the Islands is arrived today--I'm still tasting and receiving. (Healthy chocolate is paying me a visit on Wednesday!) And that's not all...

Come October 15 the honey bee book will fly to New York and I will begin to nest in the sierra. Read: The wood is stacked; the flannel sheets and shirts are working; winterizing the cabin is in the works; swimming at the resort pool (off season heaven) is this week's treat; and maybe even savoring a Lake Tahoe snow flurry (or two) come next month--and make that first crackling fire. What's more, I'll be baking savory nut breads, pies, cookies and scones. (I whipped up a surprise for the Tribune for this week's column.)

The bottom line: Fall is near and I am excited. It's my season--a peace-loving Libra and am sensing positive changes are in the air. That big, bright Full Moon this week should bring out plenty of emotions in women and men on Earth. One more thing. My sensitive black cat Kerouac and two Brittanys and I? We're still sensing that the Pacific Northwest and Northern California--including Tahoe--is in for a cold fall-winter season.

Special Autumn Horoscope...A Taste of Fall

By The Writing Gourmet

I feel fall. It is coming around the mountain...At Lake Tahoe seasons hit sooner than other regions. One of the aspen trees in the front yard is turning golden and the leaves--like the pine cones that the squirrels are fattening up on--are dropping. At night, my furry children are sneaking under the comforters. This weekend I'm fixing on baking a fish casserole--but I will swim on Sunday afternoon...

I just tried out baking an Old World cheesecake--I'm glad I did. It flopped. If you saw Julie & Julia, the scene where she dropped the stuffed bird on the kitchen floor or when she burnt a stew and had to do a redo? Well, that was me this afternoon. Not fun. I had to give the ancient wonder a New World twist...and just may have to tweak one more time.

On the upside, today my hard work was splashed BIG like a whopping whale on the cover of Complete Woman magazine: Your Special Autumn Horoscope; in Health magazine, Sept. issue (now on the stands) I was interviewed about the fat-burning power of vinegar--I haven't seen it yet, though.

So, it's back to Honeyland... Just thought I'd journal my thoughts on this Friday night, one that I am craving an overdue beach holiday (that the tourists will enjoy next week). Ironically, a beach is two blocks away. Yeah, I must have been a dedicated worker bee in my past life. I should have been a carefree whale. But writing the honey book is close to closing time and I can see the light, like that.

P.S. The whale photo? That's me reading the fall horoscopes that I penned.

Here Comes the New Fall Chocolate Delights

By Cal Orey

The Writing Gourmet

I miss Chocolate Heaven. Each day I go to work on the honey bee book, I feel like I'm in Honey Bee Limbo and I'm forgetting my last love--chocolate. It's still summer, the season touted for its fresh fruits, salads, lemonade and iced tea. Chocolate isn't a big deal during hot days. But I'm feeling the beginning of fall at Lake Tahoe, and that means baked breads, muffins, casseroles and homemade pies. Best of all, it means chocolate...

Don't get me wrong. I adore healing honey and its healing byproducts. I enjoy working in Honey Land. It's intriguing. But I do miss the day of chocolate, sweet dark chocolate packed in pretty little boxes left by the UPS man on my doorstep, rain, snow, sleet, and shine. No worries. Boxes of honey varietals are still keeping me happy. Tonight I worked on a chapter while nibbling on honeycomb (and sweet memories of chocolate truffles teased me).

Come fall, when The Healing Powers of Honey book is out the door and in flight to New York, I'll remember this night--without chocolate. It is a time of fall hints (it will be 38 degrees tonight and leaves are beginning to turn amber) and the warm day air of summer. It makes me feel like I'm in a wasteland--something like being in between Chocolate Heaven and Honey Land.

I'm thinking the perfect Rx to get me out of this worker bee funk is chocolate--the good stuff like I've savored throughout the seasons. Think New York's Christopher Norman's to San Francisco's Michael Recchiuti's Confections.

Or perhaps I'll bake Cal's Earthquake Cake (the recipe created by Gemma Sciabica--complete with ricotta cheese is in my book The Healing Powers of Chocolate, Kensington 2010). It seems timely as our golden state has been shaking a bit, from the 3.9 south of Gilroy to the 3.5 north of Truckee near me. So, while I'm coping with Earth changes (my dog Seth sensed the last shaker and jumped up into my lap!) and working and talking with passionate and hardworking beekeepers in the midwest and around the globe, a slice of dark chocolate cake with an Italian flair may be the cure. Its feel-good compounds, like serotonin to PEA, page 39, may make this worker bee continue onward. It's time to buzz off and see if I can find a chocolate pistole in the file cabinet.