Slow Cook dinners so you have more time to bead
21 Apr 2012 Leave a Comment
in Prose Tags: Prose, Slow Cook
This week’s Sunday Slow Cooker Plan –
Roast Beef – Size of roast you need for your family size to freeze at least 4 packages of shredded beef – I usually cook enough for dinner that night plus 6 additional nights (about 4-6 pounds – depending on how lean it is).
Cut off the excess fat and rinse in hot water. Place in slow cooker that has been sprayed with Pam (preferably Olive Oil Pam) pour in one small can of Swanson’s reduced Sodium Vegetable Stock. Slather ½ jar Extra Hot Horseradish Sauce over top of meat. Cover and cook at low for 9-10 hours (depending on the amount of meat).
Drain. Take off your dinner’s worth and put into container to stay warm. Take the balance and shred with two forks. Divide into packages for meals and freeze – be sure to get out as much air as you can.
Uses:
Tacos
On Chef Salads
In Casseroles with pasta and sauce.
Taco Salads
Stir-Fry Vegetables – add the meat the last 5 minutes before the sauce.
Any other recipe that calls for Hamburger.
“Tempest” by Julie Cross
11 Nov 2011 Leave a Comment
in Book Reviews, Prose Tags: Book Review, Magic
I had a little trouble connecting withthe story at first - but
it wasn’t long before Jackson captured my interest in the spirits of the unknown.
This is a cleverly written Young Adult story with many techniques of good storytelling. The messages of values are clear and the standards of conduct are main-stream. Yet, the fantasy of time travel is such that you wonder, right up to the last few pages, what will happen.
I’ve sent this on to my 17 yr old Granddaughter, knowing I’ll have to buy the other two books in the “Epic Trilogy”.
Full Disclosure – St. Martins’ Press provided an Advance Readers Edition of this book – with my thanks – but my
reviews are not for sale. You can trust that what I wrote is how I feel about the book.
On The Road
14 Aug 2011 Leave a Comment
Spent the past two days with family in Albuquerque, NM. Walked the zoo, ate, laughed and shared stories. It was great.
Now on to two days of Photography. Aztec Ruins, Mesa Verde and Bluff.
Hay House Publication Review
07 Aug 2011 Leave a Comment
in Book Reviews, Prose Tags: Book Review, Prose
“Wishes – for a Mother’s Heart” Hay House Publishing Co.
ISBN# 978-1-4019-3534-4 by Tricia LaVoice and Barbara Lazaroff
From “The Beauty of A Dandelion”, to “Honor”, Tricia LaVoice has For You, a Wish Each Wish is unique and each wish speaks to you. Co-author Barbara Lazaroff then writes of experiences and people she’s known that match the wish and pr0vides words and actions one might take for guidance and solace. With the beauty and sensitivity of the book, it’s no surprise this is another Hay House publication.
These two women have found a way to share their experiences and knowledge in a beautiful way. The stories and guidance’s touch on a wide range of life experiences and could be the perfect gift for the women you know struggling with life’s’ challenges.
Of all the stories and ideas, for me, the best was the Wish “For Your Eternal Mother”. Start your morning by sending someone a simple”Wish of the Day”. It does not have to be poetic – just thoughtful. And how fun would that be to receive a thought each morning from someone special in your life?
Pick up several copies of the book – one for yourself for that somber day and a few more for women in need. It’s full of wishes that could come true.
Full disclosure – I’m a volunteer reviewer for Hay House who has provided me this
book at no expense and no compensation
Young Readers Book Review
01 Jul 2011 Leave a Comment
in Book Reviews, Prose Tags: Book Review, Magic, Prose
“This Dark Endeavor – the Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein”
By Kenneth Oppel
Come meet the Frankenstein twins. You’ll be quite surprised by who they are, where they live, and their secrets. From the surprises of the “Dark Library” to their various adventures, the events and characters are uniquely Kenneth Oppels.
His descriptions of people, places and things are full of life and color. Book sets the stage for a series on the Frankenstein Family that could be very intriguing – A Simon and Schuster Book for Young Readers.
Full Disclosure – Simon and Schuster provided this Advance Readers Copy without cost or compensation.
“How To Write A Sentence”
28 Jun 2011 Leave a Comment
in Book Reviews, Prose Tags: Book Review, Charlie Rose, Prose
“How to Write A Sentence; and how to read one” by Stanley Fish
After seeing a Charlie Rose conversation with Stanley Fish, I decided his new book “How To Write A Sentence; and how to read one” might be very beneficial for my own writing.
He starts with defining a sentence. “A sentence is a structure of logical relationships and the number of relationships is finite.” When that begins to sink in, you realize the only error you need to worry about is being illogical. And the only rule you need to follow – “make sure that every component of your sentences is related to the other components in a way that is clear and unambiguous. . .”
He goes on to share his experience as a Professor including writing exercises and questions to ask yourself.
• What does it go with
• What does it support
• What information does it give about some other part
• What is it referring to
• How does it fit into the logical structure
Professor Fish brings to life many fine sentences and demonstrates sequencing, content and form. His excellent writing exercise of 3-word sentences to one-sentence paragraphs is something we can all benefit from. A doer – is doing – done to something (John hit the ball) can spark endless ideas. Write several of those and then expand on them. It’s easy to get lost in some of his more complex examples, but the book doesn’t lack enthusiasm for writing.
At the least, you’ll never read anything again without thinking about the sentence. There are lots to take away and grow from.
Full Disclosure – I bought my copy of this book and reviewed it .
Beyond Rain of Gold Review
14 Jun 2011 Leave a Comment
in Prose, Spirits Tags: Book Review, Spirit of 13
Photojournalism
09 May 2011 Leave a Comment
in Basketry, Prose Tags: Americana, Mother Earth, Prose, Trees
Reading the current issue of Shutterbug Magazine makes me want to go back out and photograph the town of Escalante. I enjoy photojournalism so much – the many candid shots of a small town at play and work represent the best of “helping each other”. Yes, a photographic series “Kindness Matters” – because thats my theme for the store for this year. I’d like to get shots of people taking care of each other – focus on the people watching the parade not just the parade – photograph the child getting dads help at the mutton busting – two old people helping each other cross the street. And then include small shots of wheels, buildings and trees – we must never forget the trees. They are the lifeblood of our world. Kindness matters to trees as well.
Calming Mother Earth
30 Apr 2011 Leave a Comment
in Prose, Spirits Tags: Democracy, Mother Earth, Raven
I had a wonderful conversation with a scientist this past week. We had been talking about Mother Earth and the many violent events that occurred this past year.
We started talking about earthquakes and the events in Japan. Off the coast of Oregon is a fault line of the same structure called the Gorda Ridge. But, he argued, a Tsunami on the Northwest Coast couldn’t come inland as far because of the coast range. True enough, but it could cause extensive damage and kill thousands. Then we talked about the fault line here in Utah and the losses that could occur if it started moving. The entire Wasatch Front sits directly overtop.
Yes, Mother Earth seems to be unhappy. The major flooding and earthquakes in Australia, Haiti, and the awakening of volcanoes in Hawaii, and now the worst tornado season in the US since the “dust bowl” days, makes one wonder what she’s up to.
Brian Williams, news anchor for NBC, keeps asking “what are we doing to cause all these disasters? “ He is, in my opinion, trying to get Weather gurus to say its global warming. We have to find something to blame?
The real reason – Mother Earth is tired and is looking for some rest. The burden of overpopulation is breaking her back, while at the same time we suck out bullions of gallons of oil and natural gas from her innards.
Father Sky is worried about her condition and he brings violent weather patterns with excessive amounts of water and snow to help cool her down. Grandfather Sun tries to help by not radiating quite so brightly, but causes crop losses to create starvation conditions. And Grandmother Moon, Keeper of Emotions, turns up the dial on male egos. Violence erupts in the Middle East. Thousands demonstrate and ask Allah for a leadership change – they want democracy and freedom and a better quality of life.
In Europe we see widespread financial devastation and Great Britain cuts government by 20%. What are we to do?
What is Mother Earth asking us to do? Lighten her load, reduce birthrates even more. Remember to thank her for every beautiful thing. When you take a rock, leave a corn seed. It will grow, feed people and critters, and the Raven will continue to thrive as he roams the Earth, cleaning up after us.
Spring Flowers
09 Apr 2011 Leave a Comment
in Prose Tags: Flowers, Native Plants, Spring
Another week flies by leaving snow in its wake. For us, it was mostly much needed rain for the flowers, bushes and trees.
The Currant bush in our front yard is awash with little yellow blooms. We’ll have to mow weeds this weekend before they become so thick of stem you need a machette to control them.
I’ll start flowers indoors this week. Sunflowers for the fence line, herbs for the porch, and pansies in two hanging baskets. I might just suspend those from the edge of the deck rail – that would be nice counter for the Hollyhocks.
I need to get the drip watering system in for the Siberian Pea Shrubs. They’re established now and a little water all summer would make a huge difference.
And then when the ground warms a little more, I’ll put the lily bulbs into the section that gets water, over with the lilac bushes and the iris. I need a few broken blocks to shore up the planter area. The rest of the yard is all native plants and no watering.
Lastly, I’ll have to finish the hollows in the log stumps for the herbs. Tracy’s going to erect the tent shelter for me this year. It should be nice when done. A shaded place to sit and weave a hot summer night, using the hand peeled Port Orford Cedar bark into baskets taught to me by Harvest Moon. Perhaps I’ll really have the time and notion to learn to plait well. I truly would love to create Great Grandmothers’ Cherokee Basket.
