Protecting our creative babies is always important. How do you protect yours?
Category: Necessary Knowledge
Necessary knowledge designed to make life easier.
Calling all Amazon Authors
Learn about the pressure – maybe it’s more polite to say intense conversation – among The Society of Authors, The Authors’ Guild, and Amazon senior executives?
Florida braces for Hurricane Ian 2022
Landfall Hurricane Ian is coming ashore the western coast of Florida between just south of the Tampa/St Pete area and north of Fort Myers. RIGHT NOW! Both areas are in extreme danger of heavy storm surge. Some meteorologists are predicating between 8 to 15 ft of surge. Keep in mind, the storm surge is caused by water being ‘sucked’ up into the vortex of the hurricane and then pushed out as the storm makes landfall. Where does all that water come from? The ocean & the bays. Look here – this is what Tampa Bay looks like as the water recedes. Thanks, Tampa PD for the pics. Have you been through a hurricane? A natural […]
Word Fun
Prospective vs. Perspective Being a Texas girl, I’ve learned that most of my species – folks from Texas – talk like we have a mouth full of marbles. Consonances are slurred; ending letters are dropped; and short words are dragged out to infinity and beyond. But Texans are NOT alone in this enunciation battle. As I’ve traveled extensively through Southern states, I’ve crossed many a verbal sword with store clerks, waitresses, hotel receptionists, even roadside assist. Add masks to the talking mixture, and the language minefield explodes with confusion. HOWEVER, not all word snafus are a result of poor pronunciation. At times, it’s a simple matter of playing the game: what’s the right word? A […]
Making the most of isolation
Chaos comes in waves. You choose: drown in the chaos or ride the wave. Personally, I find time wasted, as simply that: moments of opportunity that will never repeat. So during this blessing of free time, I’ve found tasks that have been waiting for my attention. Like so many of you, I love snapping phone camera pics while on any trip — short or long. As my camera setting is to maximum pixels (yes, the downside to this setting is that it gobbles up a HUGE amount of memory in my phone.) So, it’s necessary to upload these pics often and then clear them from my phone. Sometimes, I’m better organized and they end up […]
Bring Texas Museums into your home.
Feeling trapped??? Let ART soothe your restlessness. Loads of virtual tours currently available. Enjoy the eye-candy! National Cowgirl Museum Here’s something fun for the young at heart (and the young for real). Cowgirl Story Time Click on the link to hear this week’s latest story time tale. The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth Virtual Tour Tuesday Evening stroll through The Modern. Click on this link to set up an automated reminder for this week’s tour. Currently, Mark Bradford: End Papers‘ exhibit is on display. Blanton Museum of Art This links provides a work-by-work tour inside the Blanton Museum of Art. Once on the site, visitors can choose their favorite art style, then region, and […]
Cooking Tools 101
Are most of your culinary adventures ‘cooking chaos’? Your car mechanic or plumber or fix-it person wouldn’t work without tools, would they? Why should a cook — even a beginner, perhaps, especially a beginner — work without handy kitchen gadgets? But which kitchen tools are a necessity? Let’s start with inexpensive additions. Was one of your New Years’ Resolution to STOP throwing away expendable cash on extras? Worthy, but who wants to give up those treats altogether. 1st step – limit perishable extras. Say, coffee house muffin treats. I didn’t say limit the coffee craving – don’t panic. Focus on the extras. Those high-priced, calorie-laden bakery temptations. Ready to tackle a do-able kitchen experience? Start […]
Not the same old start!
New Year’s Resolutions: Start as you plan to go on. Is this your path for the new year? Dusty . . . winding . . . uncertain??? Or, are you ready to build bridges that lead to new horizons? Folks come in all shapes & sizes . . . so do New Year’s Resolutions. I’ve read any number of blogs & posts over the past several weeks regarding personal New Year’s Resolutions. Lots of folks put their goals into cyber space – maybe as a way to make themselves accountable – but few follow-up at the end of the year as to what they’ve accomplished. Why? Good question. Why do New Year’s resolutions fail? Not […]
Chasing Destiny Almond Flour Pancakes
Chasing Destiny – characters that cook! Characters absorb parts of the author’s personality . . . and often the writer grows through the character. In each ‘Donovan Legacy’ book, one of the characters (could be a secondary character) loves to cook. Why do my characters cook? Kitchen: the heart of the home. That phrase is more than a saying on a tea-towel or wooden plaque. Most — I didn’t say all — have some fond memories from the kitchen. If it involves food, it could be the smell of grandmother’s special cookies or holiday candies and treats. If the memory doesn’t involve food, it could be the early morning scent of coffee. It might be […]
6 Kitchen Gadgets . . . better tools for every cook!
Chef’s little helpers . . . KITCHEN gadgets 101 Disclaimer – This blog is about sharing knowledge – not brand loyalty. No company or brand is profiting from the advice or products mentioned here. With (4) decades of cooking in my repertoire, these are simple items that aid in that process. Loads of unique kitchen toys are available. I’ll be the first to admit they are a weakness of mine. Mainly because spending time in my kitchen is a joy. For holidays and birthdays, there are always new helpful kitchen tools in my gift pile that feed my obsession. Now that I have grown kids who also love to wear the chef’s hat, it’s worse […]