The Mistress of Bjerkebæk
The Mistress of Bjerkebæk I’m an avid reader, but have a narrow genre preference when reading. Sometimes I stray into other areas of interest and am rarely disappointed. One such excursion was the series Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset. I still reflect on the books and on the life of the author, also a Nobel Prize laureate. Though I reviewed the series on HubPages, I’ve wanted to learn more about the author. Undset...
Sitting is the new Smoking
“Sitting is the new smoking,” is how Kyle Pearce launches into his blog topic in on DIY Genius. Nothing like a sensational opening right! Remember when all the hype for improved health included: losing weight, smoking cessation and far healthier eating habits? Well, they’ve added something else rather than giving the masses a break and letting us have one health contrary vice back. Well, they have allowed eggs back into the...
Valentine’s Day, or So They Say
Valentine’s Day, or So They Say When, again, is St. Valentine’s day? February 14, right? Yes … and no. Valentine’s day is celebrated on February 14, July 6, July 30 and June 12. Why so many days on which this holiday is observed? Valentine was a popular name within religious circles back in the days of the Romans. The beginning of this holiday was a liturgical celebration for one or more saints named Valentinus. The Anglicans...
Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day
January 26: Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day What would you say if I told you that bubble wrap didn’t start out as a packing material? What could the original intent for this time-waster come shipping material possibly have been? Wallpaper. Yup, wall paper. In 1957, Alfred Fielding and Marc Chavannes were trying to create a textured wall covering. Perhaps they were going for the sci-fi look in contemporary interior design? For some...
Writing: A Thing of the Past
Writing: A Thing of the Past I’ve Got My Pen And My Stationery. I’m Good To Go! Most everyone wants to be connected to others. Whether it’s with family, friends, schoolmates or colleagues, everyone wants to be connected to someone. For some, the smaller that group the greater their comfort zone. For others, being connected to the masses is where their interaction needs are met. One of the world’s oldest methods of...
Ancient Harvest’s Quinoa Pasta
Ancient Harvest’s Quinoa Pasta My dietary needs have changed drastically, underscoring the need for focus on a more aggressive change. I recently discovered the superfood, quinoa. The most important package it brings to the nutrition table is a complete protein. This grain/seed is so impressive, I wrote about it in Jaquo article, Quinoa: Impressive. Though my dietary changes are built on the Mediterrean diet model, I couple it with...
The Piano Guys
The Piano Guys The word ‘fusion’ is something I’m familiar with when speaking of the arts. Belly dance is the platform with which I associate fusion. That’s no the only artistic arena in which fusion is possible, and I’m not thinking of cold fusion. The Piano Guys (TPG), with their exquisite blend of classical and contemporary music, is who I have in mind. I was first introduced to TPG just before the beginning of a meeting a few...
Polly Put The Kettle On
Polly Put The Kettle On There’s nothing more entertaining than watching bubbles form and rise to the top in a kettle of water coming to a boil. You can do this in a glass electric kettle. Kettles weren’t always made from glass. The history of this well-loved device is rather interesting. This common kitchen item is documented as far back as ancient Mesopotamia. The word itself comes from the Old Norse word for cauldron, ketill. It’s...
Boo Fiction: How Writers Get A Scare On
Boo Fiction: How Writers Get A Scare On You’re in a darkened room, and all eyes are on the TV. There’s no sound other than the background music coming from the movie flickering on the screen, then suddenly, there’s a scream. The popcorn bowl goes flying and the tension is broken. That’s in the movies. What about writing a ghost story? There are many successful authors who write in the ghost-story genre. What they think makes a spooky...
Why Is My Table Salt Pink?
Why Is My Table Salt Pink? At a trendy restaurant which specializes in catering to the health conscious palate, you reach for the salt dish. What a surprise when you remove the lid. The salt is pink! What’s up with that? Sea salt is available in a number of colors including white, brown, pink, and gray. The different colors are caused by variations in mineral content. Sea salt can contain any combination of the following minerals:...
Agatha Christie: Grande Dame of Mystery Fiction
Agatha Christie: Grande Dame of Mystery Fiction Nobody does whodunits with the style and flair of Agatha Christie – no one. Known for creating sleuths more clever than the world’s greatest fiction detectives, Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie’s novels and stories have held mystery readers in thrall for almost ninety-five years. Her novels and stories are timeless. With over two billion books sold, The Guinness Book of World...
Taco? Soft or Crispy?
Taco? Soft or Crispy? Did you know that the word taco derives in from a word which typically means a plug or wad used to fill a hole? That’s one of many things about the beloved Mexican dish I bet you didn’t know. Wikipedia also informs us that the taco predates the arrival of Europeans in Mexico, in the article, Taco. Needless to say there’s a lot more to this popular nosh than appears on the plate. It probably will...
The Benefits of Grinding Coffee
The Benefits of Grinding Coffee For many people, the office sludge suffices for the morning cuppa. For others, the drive-through cafe is their source of choice for that jolly jo. Writers and students, take up space daily in the most popular of national coffee service chains, in legions it would seem, to partake of their preferred caffeinated beverage. For the coffee cognoscente, such as myself, nothing but the best will do. Well,...
The Exotic Travels of Tabbouleh
The Exotic Travels of Tabbouleh Tabbouleh, also known as Tambouli, Kisir, Tabouli and Eetch, is common fare in the Middle East. I wouldn’t doubt it if this dish had a passport or two more for other countries. This is a traditional salad served in a variety of ways. Its history goes back at least 4,000 years. Bulgur wheat is a primary ingredient in Tabbouleh, along with mint, tomatoes, cucumber, spices and olive oil. This is a very...
Chili Stew Spices Up the Winter Appetite
Chili Stew Spices Up the Winter Appetite There’s nothing like the sassy, spicy taste of Chili Stew to perk up the winter dinner. For me, a pot of chili goes a long way. Chili dogs are a favorite as well as chili burritos. One of the key ingredients in my version of this delicious red elixir is pineapple juice. I like a slightly sweet stew. Beans are an integral part of a successful recipe in my book, so I try to use two or three...
Fifteen Beans in a Soup
Fifteen Beans in a Soup Did you know that bean soup is a standard on the menu in the House restaurant in Washington, DC? It has been since 1904. Speaker Joe Cannon of Illinois directed that it be served every day. He was displeased by it’s absence from the menu on the one day bean soup was not served. Too bad his pleasure wasn’t Tiramisu cake. This disgruntlement over bean soup has made it a tradition at the Capitol. Read more about...
The Wonder of a Drawstring Bag
The Wonder of a Drawstring Bag The Scenario of a Work Day The workday for me doesn’t start with the alarm. I wish it did. I always anticipate the alarm sounding in my sleep, so I wake up fifteen to thirty minutes earlier than the alarm. There being no point going back to bed, I don’t. I used to pack a bento lunch to to go work, but find it’s no longer possible due to time constraints in the morning. I just eat in the cafeteria at work...
Making the Best of a Small Living Space
Making the Best of a Small Living Space My idea for comfortable living includes a home with mulitple bedrooms. Five bedrooms would be a good start. But why would a single gal need so much space? The biggest bedroom would be for me, of course. I hate being hemmed in, so 20’X20’ would be a good start in size. One room for guests, one for a workroom, one for an office, one for a small library and reading room, and a spare room with no...
How I Got Sorted to Write
How I Got Sorted to Write Putting pen to paper has always been a favorite pastime for me. Even in high school, I participated on the school literary magazine. Over the years, I’ve entered a few minor writing contests. Letter-writing is still something I do in lieu of email and text messaging, mostly to the special people in my life. The funny thing is, I never had any direction for writing on a serious level. For some reason, the idea...
Cheek for Cheek and So On
Cheek for Cheek and So On The most fun endeavors, many times, come to be as the result of a lark. My first book, under one of my pseudonyms, was written because I was feeling rather snarky and just knew I could. Much the same with Novel in a Day (NIAD). NIAD was born “tongue in cheek.” I’m not sure just how much cheek, but the founder of that auspicious diversion, Pigfender (AKA: Rog), wasn’t to be let off the hook after stating, “If...
It’s Not All In The Clay, Master Potter!
It’s Not All In The Clay, Master Potter! Starting At The Beginning Tonight’s your first clay class.You’ve seen wonderful creations on exhibit at the craft shows you attended recently. You want to be one of those artists. You want to be able to produce exquisite masterpieces on a par with those you saw on display. Of course, you were thrilled when one of the potters told you they also offer classes. So, here you are, waiting...
Quinoa: Impressive!
Quinoa: Impressive! When I first heard of Quinoa, I read of it actually, I wasn’t impressed. I also hadn’t a clue how to pronounce it either. I’m sorry to say that when I went into the local store to inquire, the sales persons I encountered didn’t know what it was – whether I spelled it, tried to pronounce it or described it. If I hadn’t read about it while surfing the internet, I would have thought myself to...
Organizing Scrivener Files
Organizing Scrivener Files When writing a story, keeping the work organized and the details readily available is the greater difficulty of the writing process. Being able to come up with the idea and flesh it out is not necessarily easy but if your material is organized much the same as a ball of yarn after the cat has played with it, you’re in for an uphill struggle to get your tale told. When I talk about organizing your writing,...
An Apartment Dweller’s Dilemma
An Apartment Dweller’s Dilemma Are you an apartment dweller? Me too! I bet you hate the limited space like I do, right? Well, I’ve been finding ways to make the best of the space in my apartment. The living space here is a two-bedroom, two bath with a small dining area, a dinky kitchen and a small living room. The bedrooms aren’t much larger, but I make do. Recently, I stumbled upon Colorado Apple Crates. I spend a lot of time...