Hi there! I'm Becky, a wife, mom, and freelance writer. This blog is where I share things related to my interests, which among other things include geocaching, dogs, and improving my terrible cooking skills. Check out www.beckymuth.com for more about the books I write.
I look forward to reading your comments. Thanks for stopping by!
Showing posts with label something else saturday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label something else saturday. Show all posts
Did you buy a book for National Buy a Book Day Yesterday? Did you even know it was National Buy a Book Day? Here's the official logo. Even though I didn't design it, I think it's pretty snazzy.
I've already read this book, but as I confessed on the National Buy a Book Day Facebook Page, I borrowed this from my community library without officially checking it out. That's right, I stole The Book Thief. And then after I read it, I misplaced it. So after my boys and i read this copy I'm going to do the right thing and donate it back to the library. It will be a weight off my conscience and then someone else can enjoy the wonderfulness that is this book.
What books have you bought lately? I'd love to hear all about them in the comment section!
As a freelance writer, I get a lot of my work through Elance, an outsourcing company. Contrary to popular belief, not all outsourcing takes place by underpaid workers holed up like sardines in a tiny office somewhere in a third world country. And I've yet to meet "Peggy" from the credit card company's commercial.
Don't get me wrong, a LOT of outsourcing comes from those places, but quite a bit of it takes place right here in the good old, U S of A. It's not bad work. Because the Fireman's paycheck goes for bills, any money I bring in goes for fun things like hotel stays, video games, or upgrading things in the house - for instance, the 15-year-old gas grill.
Starting out, freelancing was difficult. On more than one occasion I debated if I was doing the right thing and there were a couple of clients who made me consider throwing in the towel altogether. But then good clients began hiring me. They praised my talent with words - a huge boost to my self-confidence - and then even more flattering, they rehired me for a few more jobs.
If you're thinking about freelancing, here are some suggestions that have helped me along the way. Hopefully they save you a little pain and suffering.
Be patient. I signed up on January 1st and didn't start getting jobs on a regular basis until mid-February. Don't give up. The right job will find you but it takes time. You're worth the wait for the right client to find you - trust me on this one.
Communicate. I can't stress this enough. There have been a few times when I had a question or ran into a snag. In most cases as long as I communicated while being honest and polite, my clients were more than happy to oblige requests to answer questions, or even for extra time on a deadline.
Keep your word. If you say you're going to deliver 500 words of written work in two days, then do it. Don't deliver 250 words in 36 hours, or 1200 words in 6 days. Deliver what the client asked for within the deadline. I try to deliver a day early so that I have time to revise. Does it always work out like that? Absolutely...not. I'm a mom of two teenage boys and married to the Fireman who is dealing with a shoulder injury. Sometimes life has to come first.
Don't give away custom samples. One thing Elance does that I love is that they will not allow clients to ask for custom samples based on their specific jobs. That means if you're hiring someone to write about sweaters made from a certain type of goat wool and ask the person for a 400 word article about goat wool, you're violating the policy. This is because there's nothing stopping you from taking that article and using it on your own blog.
Don't under-bid. When you want high-quality products and services, do you settle for second-rate things for discount prices? Probably not! Your clients will feel the same way. At first I bid too cheap and got crappy jobs. I was astounded when people who charged much higher kept getting selected over me. Then I inched up my prices - and was selected! And then I inched them up a little more, and was selected again! Right now, my rates are up between 300% and 500% of what I initially charged, depending on the job, and I'm still getting hired. While some potential clients will claim you're out of your mind, others will be glad to pay you for your professionalism.
If you've ever wanted to try your hand at freelancing, whether it's writing, art, or IT work, why not sign up for Elance? The basic account is free - no strings attached. You have nothing to lose!
Words have been my friend since before I understood the definition of the word friend itself. One of my earliest memories is of my maternal grandfather writing my name on a bag of popcorn at the zoo and asking me, “Well, do you think maybe it’s for the person whose name is on the bag?” That was my name on the bag! I remember sitting on his lap at the kitchen table in the house where my mother grew up, reading simple words like CAT and DOG when he wrote them underneath stick-figure drawings of the animals. I learned to love words, and thus started collecting books.
However, by the time I reached high school I was more apt to read Stephen King than Shakespeare, king of the medieval stage. I shunned works like Beowulf and Oliver Twist. Pride and Prejudice? My prejudice against antiquated literature wouldn’t allow me to lower my pride enough to even consider it. (At this point I’d like to make a public apology to Susan Wall, my junior English teacher who painstakingly not only read but also graded an 11-page handwritten essay that passionately compared and contrasted the Stephen King books Salem’s Lot and The Shining. I am so, so sorry to have put you through that, especially after you specifically said how you were not a fan of his work; and even more especially after home schooling my own high school student.)
In the last few years I decided that in teaching literature to my sons, I’d use it as an opportunity to catch up on the books I’d skipped out on during that time in my own life. We read through Beowulf, then listened to snippets of an audio where the text was read in its original language, and finally watched a computerized Angelina Jolie portray the poor creature’s mother.
(Another apology here for my senior English teacher because first of all, I really was a pain in the butt while you tried to teach our class Beowulf, making jokes and flat out refusing to do the final exam. And to Carolyn Groves, my sophomore English teacher, Medea isn’t something we’ve studied yet, but it is on the list. Hopefully they put more effort into it than I did, as my final essay for your class had the oh-so-insightful theme of, “Wow, what a slut.” It was an antic that resulted in my failing English and spending 3 weeks in summer school while in Spanish class, ironically, I received a B for that same semester, a fact my family has yet to let me live down.)
We’ve covered Lord of the Flies, Treasure Island, A Wrinkle in Time, MacBeth, Tuck Everlasting (which had us all in tears), The Call of the Wild, and Oliver Twist. On my own I’ve revisited the works that did keep me up late at night through the last half of my public school education; Anne of Green Gables, To Kill a Mockingbird (I still cry at the end.), and the works of Lord Tennyson. Meanwhile, I’ve picked up some new favorites in the fantasy favorites which include things like The Hobbit and pretty much anything written by Terry Pratchett, as well as contemporary fiction writers like Anita Shreve, Wendy Corsi Staub, and Jodi Picoult. And I spent an entire summer dragging out Pride and Prejudice just so I could crush a little longer on Mr. Darcy. They do not make men like that anymore! But, I digress.
Why is classic literature important? Here are some of my theories on the subject.
Timeless themes strike a chord with every generation, and because of this literature is a great way to bridge gaps between generations. I know it was interesting to hear my boys’ thoughts on books I’d read at their age. Not only could I reflect on what I thought about the book then, but also I could compare it to what I’ve learned about life since and ask them thought-provoking questions.
Great authors of classic literature know how to write effectively. Obviously, they must have been doing something right if we’re still reading their books after all these years, right? That’s not to say there aren’t great contemporary authors of literature. I believe the perfect curriculum is open-ended with an eclectic mix of both classic and contemporary works to provoke young minds. Limiting curriculum to contemporary literature only is like teaching children about Clinton, the Bushes, and Obama without ever telling the about Washington or Lincoln.
A good book can change a person’s life, even if it’s only because it changed their opinion on something within their life. Good books are good because they stay with us, almost haunting us with their message. When I read Of Mice and Men, I was not expecting to feel such pity for Lennie, or tearing up at his inevitable end despite the parallel between his wanting to pet the soft things and the movie version of Frankenstein’s monster putting pretty things in the water.
I believe that those three things qualify a book as “classic literature”, or at least they do in my home school class. Regardless of your age, gender, race, or any number of orientations that make you the unique person you are, you need classic literature. Literature is the number one way to see the world and its various cultures without going anywhere, and if you aren’t willing to open your mind then you’re wasting a valuable opportunity.
One of the best ways I’ve found to get new reading suggestions is through my local book club, Literature, Libations n’ Laughter. Just the fact that every other meeting is held at a tavern bookstore alone implies the coolness of this group. Not only do I get fab reading suggestions, but I also learn things about my community that I didn’t know before, like who’s running for which political office and the importance of GMO’s. Earlier today I ordered some new books from Amazon and among the choices are a book about dogs, a book about a woman searching for her Armenian roots, a book about an orphanage, and a book about a creepy circus that only operates after dark.
What are you reading? What equates classic literature to you? And what are your favorite books? I’d love to hear all about it in the comments section. Happy page-turning!
Traveling with teenagers is expensive. What we save on hotels and attractions it seems we make up for in food bills. We used to stop for a small flavored milk or a juice box and a 25 cent pack of string cheese. Now, snack is a #10 with an apple pie. When did that happen? How do they even know what a #10 is? Why do kids need that many nuggets to feel full anyway? (It's rhetorical, Dawn. I know it's the preservatives and carbs creating a never-ending cycle of...yes, that. Oh fine, explain in comments anyway.)
Lately, we've curbed all the unhealthy snacking. Okay, fine, I will rephrase. Lately, we've curbed a lot of the unhealthy snacking while on the road, which it seems we are doing a lot of these days. On a recent trip to Fredericksburg, Virginia I booked a room at my favorite hotel. However, it was only AFTER hitting the send button that I noticed this one didn't have a mini-fridge or microwave listed with the other amenities. A quick telephone call confirmed that they do indeed have these extras at no extra charge, but guests must request them. Did I have a special need for them? "Um, I am traveling with two teenage boys and a fireman," was my reply. The woman laughed and said she'd make sure it was in the room and ready well before my arrival.
When I checked in, the clerk at the desk confirmed again that the mini-appliances were in place, and when we got to the room, there they were on the adorable little rolling cart. It might not seem like such a big deal, but here are a few of the reasons these items are a necessity when our family is on an adventure that lasts more than one night away from home.
Hot pockets. There's usually a grocery store near the hotel. We grab fresh fruits and veggies for snacking and something like hot pockets that are quickly microwaved to curb mid-afternoon or late night hunger pains. Better yet, if we're well stocked on these types of items in the big freezer, we go ahead and toss them in a cooler then refrigerate them for the duration of our trip. It's saved us a ton, and the boys tend to look at it as their own private mini-bar.
Free condiments. This is the honest truth, I once watched my Granny, rest her soul, refill a nearly-empty ketchup bottle from a large handful of foil packets of the stuff. It was a little ironic that the bottle was a generic brand and the packets were a name brand, but I digress. Condiments are free. You should never have to pay for condiments on a trip, unless you have allergies or just don't care for them. Jellies, honey, ketchup, mustard, mayo, and even things like cream cheese and coffee creamer are all given out for free at fast food restaurants and convenience stores if you just ask.
Sunny-D. I know it's not as healthy as orange juice, but I like to think it's at least a little healthier than soda. It comes in all those yummy flavors. It's dirt cheap. And it makes a nice fuzzy navel for the grown-ups at the end of the evening. But most importantly, it is a very good reason to not give the kids upwards of $3 per soda out of the vending machine depending on where you stay and which hotel chain you've chosen.
Leftovers. Once, we brought a foil tray of spaghetti that we had leftover from earlier in the week. It would have gone bad sitting in the fridge while we were gone. The foil, unlike a plastic casserole dish, is recyclable. Because the Fireman cooked it, you can bet it was better than anything we'd have eaten from a restaurant. And again, it was FREE. We packed paper plates and napkins that were in the box of leftover birthday party supplies. I think we actually had more fun sitting on the floor of the hotel room and eating picnic style than we would have if we'd eaten out.
Continental breakfast. Unless you have allergies or some other medical condition, there is no reason why you should ever have to buy breakfast while staying at a hotel. The Hilton line offers a kick-butt breakfast of make-your-own waffles, fresh fruit, yogurt, and other yummy treats. The selection seems both seasonal and based on where you're staying. While one just outside of Richmond offered biscuits and gravy that were better than Chik-Fil-A (Yeah, you heard me!) the one in Waldorf, Maryland had bacon and eggs both days.
And there you go! What tips do you have for saving money on food (or anything else) when traveling with family? I'd love to read all your tips in the comments section. In the meantime, enjoy the rest of your weekend!
The Ancestry.com leaf seems to be everywhere. It's on banner and sidebar ads. It's in magazines. And thanks to NBC it's even on television in the form of the series, "Who Do You Think You Are?" I've watched both seasons and was suckered in from the first episode. But nearing the end of the second season, like Matthew Broderick, Paula Dean, Rob Lowe, Sarah Jessica Parker, Martin Sheen, and a slew of other American celebrities, I too wanted to know where my family roots began.
As a freelance writer, I stay fairly busy and kept telling myself that I didn't have time to research my family tree. And besides, I really wasn't ready to commit to the whole six months of Ancestry just to get information that was probably public record and that, in my opinion, should be free. Besides, my paternal grandmother, who was one of my best friends when I was a child, passed away in the spring of 2011 and I wasn't ready to dig up old memories. Nevertheless, the more I watched other people trace their roots, the more the idea nagged at me of tracing my own family history.
Luckier than most kids growing up, I had the benefit of knowing not only both my paternal and maternal grandparents, but I also was able to know and form a relationship with a set of great-grandparents on either side so I had a good handle on what was what for nearly three generations before me. And I'd tried tracing my family tree before, having much more luck with my husband's side of the family than my own. He's a third-generation American linked to someone who'd done all the difficult work of tracing the overseas lines, which was a great boon. But my family - especially on my dad's side - hails from places that make Walton's Mountain look like Times Square in comparison, and extracting information was like pulling wisdom teeth with a pair of pliers.
Finally, I told myself when I was done with a certain number of jobs that I'd sign up and begin researching. After completing a few jobs after that, I caved and went through with it. By the next day, I'd rushed through, leaf-clicking through all the way back to Adam and Eve. For those of you who think I'm joking, here it is:
The Christian in me believes that we all descend from Adam and Eve. Well, except in the case of my husband's family; he staunchly debates that they're descended from monkeys. This usually results in mudslinging and insult throwing with words that involve big words, such as neanderthal. And in the end I usually give in and say something like, "Fine, honey. Your family is descended from monkeys" in a tone that implies that's probably not a great social compliment. But, I digress. While it was cool to see some kind of tangible, if not completely trustworthy, link from my name to Eve, the First Woman of Mankind, the more I dug the more discrepancies I found.
Take for instance the man who had a birthday that reportedly took place not only after his wife died, but also after his son was born. Oops. I'd love to believe everything everyone has posted to Ancestry.com but unless I see proof in the form of some kind of resource or record. The United States Federal Census is one reputable source. Records for births, deaths, funerals, weddings, and selective service are all legitimate forms of documentation - as long as the person was honest when filling out the original paperwork; or when the person writing got everything correct, in the event that the family member couldn't read or write - a common problem in my family line.
However, I also found some really cool information. William Harris, 6x great-grandfather served in the Revolutionary War in the 10th Virginia Regiment commanded by Captain John Gillison. According to a hand-written documentation dated October, 1820, he enlisted in January of 1776 and served for three years, before being discharged at Morris Town, New Jersey. He was transferred there to the company of Washington's life guards, commanded at that time by Major Gibbs of New England. He fought in several skirmishes and was in the Battle of Monmouth Court House in New Jersey. He was not directly involved in the fighting as he was detached as one of the guards to the general's baggage wagon.
After serving in New Jersey, he went on to fight in the Virginia Militia, and was present for the capture of Lord Cornwallis at the siege of Little York. I am inclined to believe that it's true because I found court documents written up by a court official and signed with his mark, as pictured below. Also pictured below is an excerpt from a book titled Report of the Virginia State Library, Volume 9, which lists all Revolutionary War soldiers. The information in the book backs up the statements in the court document.
If you're thinking of tracing your family tree, my advice is to go for it. When using a company like Ancestry, also keep a copy on your home computer - but back it up on a cloud drive or some other form of storage not associated with the hard drive built into your computer. Don't take anyone's word for it when you find something cool. If it seems too good to be real, about eighty percent of the time it probably is; but don't give up because until you find the documentation for yourself, you never know. One of your ancestors could have fought along side mine in the Revolutionary War. Or he could have been aboard the vessel of that other ancestor we don't really like to discuss, who sailed his pirate ship into the wrong port, was fired upon, and sank into the murky depths of some sea over in Europe.
Speaking of Europe, Ancestry also has a British version of "Who Do You Think You Are", and whether you've seen the American version or not, it's worth spending 15 minutes to watch at least one episode. Here's one of my favorites.
Have you ever thought about searching for your family tree? Have you ever tried it? I'd love to hear your stories about your own ancestors, both the commendable and the kooky.
Christmas in July certainly isn't a new concept by any means. The southern hemisphere experiences winter while the top half of the world is in its summer months. They've been shifting holidays according to the weather for generations. Here's a brief timeline of things you may not have known regarding the un-holiday.
1894 - In the English translation of Werther, a French opera, a character responds to a group of children who, in the middle of July, rehearse Christmas music by remarking, "When you sing Christmas in July, you rush the season."
1933 - Camp Keystone, a North Carolina summer camp for girls, celebrated Christmas in July with a tree, gifts, and even a visit from the man in the red suit himself.
1940 - Hollywood released a comedy titled Christmas in July, in which a man mistakenly believes he's won $25k in a contest. He not only goes hog wild with the Christmas-like extravagances towards his friends, family, and neighbors, but he also asks his girlfriend to tie the knot.
1942 - Calvary Baptist Church, located in Washington, D.C., celebrated the holiday early so that its congregation could spend the rest of the year focused on serving in missions which took place around the globe. A few years after the first event they began sharing the celebration with listeners outside the church by broadcasting it over the local radio airwaves.
1944 - In hopes of promoting an Early Christmas Mailing Campaign for service men and women stationed across the Atlantic during World War II, the United States Post Office teamed up with officials from both the Army and Navy to throw a luncheon which was repeated again the following year.
While many people are perfectly comfortable waiting for December to enjoy the world's biggest holiday, there's really no reason to wait. Cue up the Christmas station on Pandora. Do random acts of selfless kindness. Take one small portion of your day and give up that bit of time for someone else. Stop waiting, and start giving.
The same holds true with Thanksgiving. If your time and budget don't allow you to prepare a turkey with all the fixings, consider baking a chicken or some Cornish hens. Since it's summer time, cook them on the grill, or just cook side dishes like corn on the cob and baked sweet potatoes on the grill. There's no reason you can't top a baked sweet potato with butter and marshmallow fluff.
When it comes to holiday celebrations, the date on which the celebration takes place should have very little to with the holiday itself. The important thing is that you share it with those you love, whether it's the family you were born into or the family life gave you.
I'd love to hear your comments on the topic, and will be back to read them just as soon as I'm finished watching my favorite Christmas movie. Here's a clip for you to enjoy, too!
Yesterday the fireman and I sneaked away from the Things and went food shopping. Of course, nobody should go food shopping on an empty stomach, so we headed to lunch first. On the way the conversation turned to one of our favorite topics -- zombies! As we discussed our favorite highlights from Season 2 of AMC's the Walking Dead and pondered what Season 3 might have in store, we came up with some fairly valid questions. Here are our top 3.
QUESTION 01:Do zombies poop?
RESEARCH: Researching this question yielded conflicting answers. On one hand, zombies are able to walk around with their intestines hanging out. And the upper half of the woman crawling around in the first episode of Season 1 had no gastrointestinal track a tall. However, Daryl opened the stomach of the zombie to deduct that it wasn't eating flesh.
ANSWER: Undetermined.
QUESTION 02: Can zombies fall in love?
RESEARCH: In an early Walking Dead episode, Sheriff Rick briefly teams up with Morgan Jones, who evacuated with his wife, Jenny, and their son before the outbreak. When a zombie infected Jenny, Morgan and their son left her on her own with her new zombie brethren. Each night she came to the house where they were staying and scraped at the front door, trying to get to them despite the fact that scientific research suggests that zombies are incapable of feeling most types of emotion beyond hunger or rage.
ANSWER: Maybe!
QUESTION 03: What about vegan zombies?
RESEARCH: This question was brought up by the fireman, who said, "Well what about your friend Dawn? How would she survive being a zombie?" For those of you who haven't been to the Dragonflies@Dawn blog, she not only has to deal with food allergies, but she recently decided to go vegan to boot. However, research shows she's in luck! A Japanese noodle company adopted a new mascot recently -- an adorable zombie with noodles for brains.
ANSWER: Long live vegan zombies!
And there you have it! Be sure to come back on Tastefully Tuesday when I share a recipe that has plenty of noodles without involving brains or zombies. Here's a little video to amuse you until then. Have an awesome weekend.
Marlena Evans is the most amazing woman I know...on television.
Back when I was a kid we didn't have round-the-clock children's programming, so I enjoyed shows like Days of Our Lives, Merv Griffin, and Saturday Night Live. Even the children's programming we had was spectacular compared to today's standards. You can't go wrong with shows like the Electric Company, where Morgan Freeman helped teach kids to read, or Bill Cosby's Picture Pages. (Remember those? The theme song is stuck in my head right now! I was always so upset that my parents wouldn't buy me the Picture Pages book. But, I digress....)
Marlena Evans had it all. She had an awesome career, a handsome husband, beautiful kids, a second handsome husband, wait what? Yeah. In her 30+ years of daytime afternoon programming she's rarely suffered through any dull moments. Some of her fascinating adventures include:
demonic possession
surviving a 30-store drop from a window
being a host for genetically-engineered babies
giving birth while in a coma
victim of mind control used to make her believe she was a serial killer
victim of hysterical amnesia caused by a miscarriage
multiple kidnappings
My favorite by far was the demonic possession, pictured above. The show's producer later said he regretted doing the storyline and to be honest, it is rather corny. For those of you who didn't get the joy of seeing it the first time around, or who just want to chuckle through the corniness all over again, here's the YouTube video.
It's summer, which means everybody's a little more active including Ginger and Gideon, our family's golden retriever and chocolate lab, respectively. These "pets" are as much of our family as the humans in some ways. That's why when the temperatures reached record highs and sent the heat index soaring to 100+ we knew we had to find a way to keep them entertained without subjecting them to the possibility of heat exhaustion.
Entertaining big dogs in a small house can be catastrophic - not to the humans or dogs, but to the stuff in your house. My ottoman has no fabric covering. Stuffing is poking out the sides of our family's favorite overstuffed chair. There are gnaw marks on the leg of at least one piece of wooden furniture. And that's just from everyday use! Clearly entertaining the dogs with something new would have to not only be creative enough to hold their attention but also something that wouldn't cause them to be more active than usual.
After some careful internet research, and taking into account the activities our dogs currently enjoy, we came up with some creative solutions for both snack and playtime. Here are some things the dogs really enjoyed:
HOMEMADE TUG-O-JUG ROPE BOTTLE
These range anywhere from $8 - $14 in retail pet stores. We'd recently bought a case of water that came in 1 liter plastic bottles. Upon finishing one I noticed that the dogs, who'd untied all but one of their knotted fleece rope toys, seemed to enjoy the sound when the empty bottle fell onto the hardwood floor.
Before I go any further with this, I'd like to suggest a short note of caution. Don't leave dogs unattended with homemade toys, or really any toys. Dogs are not much different than young children and a lot of the same common sense rules apply. Besides, no toy is truly dog-proof and it's better to assume that all toys present a potential choking hazard than to take the risk.
Cutting a small hole in the bottom of the jar, we pulled the fleece through the opening and made a slightly bigger knot on either side near the end of the rope. The knots allowed the bottle to move slightly while creating a new sensory element during tug-of-war. Now if one dog dropped the toy on the floor, it made a hollow, clanking sound that they seemed to love. They've been playing with this thing nonstop for days and it didn't cost us anything!
HOMEMADE FROSTY CANINE SNACKS
Mmm, mmm! Who doesn't like a frozen treat on a hot day? Your dog even loves them, so much that Frosty Paws frozen canine treats have been available for at least 15 years, if not longer. We make our own and the dogs really enjoy it.
After a summer evening walk or just on days when it's miserably hot outside and the dogs are bored from sitting around in the house, our version of the frozen canine snacks are healthier and also safe for human consumption. (Although honesty, I prefer my Ben & Jerry's!) It also saves on our dog food / treat budget, which was getting more than a little out of hand.
Here's the recipe:
Ingredients:
Water
Small, empty plastic container or an ice cube tray
Dog-safe foods, like the ones listed here:- White rice, cooked-Broccoli (If you only like the florets, this is the perfect for using up the stems.)-Carrots-Chicken, cooked - NO BONES!- Bananas- Peanut butter- Salmon- Green beans- Apples- Oatmeal (Plain, unflavored)
Directions:
Fill 1/3 of the container with any combination of the above ingredients, or any others your vet has deemed safe for your dog's diet. Don't worry if the thought of oatmeal, broccoli, chicken, and bananas served together turns your stomach. Your dog will think it's delicious!
Cover the container with water and fill until container is 2/3 filled with the combination of water and ingredients. Don't fill it to full because ice expands as it freezes and would then overflow your container and make a huge mess. You can substitute plain water for a mixture of 1/2 broth and 1/2 water, but we usually just use plain water for Ginger and Gideon.
Put the container in the freezer and let it freeze for several hours. It's better if you make these up the day before and let them freeze overnight. Any plastic container will work. We like the cream cheese ones because they're a nice complement to the size of each dog's food and water dish.
Once they're frozen, give them to your dog!
Here's another tip. During the week we put extra foods that are dog-safe in a gallon-sized freezer bag. None of the food should have seasonings, so this shouldn't include table scraps. Getting into the habit makes it that much easier to make entire batches of treats up ahead of time. If you make treats regularly using an ice cube tray, you can keep the finished ones in a different freezer bag which means you'll always have extras on hand.
BLOW BUBBLES FOR YOUR DOG
My kids are teenagers and blowing bubbles has become a lost art for them. Fortunately the dogs appreciate my efforts, and when the teenagers see how amusing it is they're often lured back into the fun. Blowing bubbles is inexpensive. Use bubbles labeled non-toxic just in case your dog should lap up the lather of a spilled bottle. We do this quite frequently with our dogs, both outside when the weather cooperates, and in the living room on sweltering days.
If you're blowing bubbles inside your house, save your breath by employing use of a personal fan to keep a steady stream of suds floating through the air. The best part about blowing bubbles inside the home comes after we're finished. Taking a damp mop over the floor at the end of playtime not only wipes up the residual solution from the popped bubbles but also picks up other dirt and grime as well.
If you like this post and want to read more like it, become a follower! And if you have any comments or tips of your own to share I'd sure love to hear them. Thanks for stopping by, and check back in a few days for a Tastefully Tuesday recipe that's guaranteed not to require the use of a fire extinguisher.
By now a lot of schools have let out for the moment students and teachers look forward to all 180 days of the public school calendar year -- summer vacation! No more pencils! No more books! No more teacher's dirty looks! Yay! Only, not so yay if you live at my house because we home school year round.
That's right. We do school year round. Last week we finished up our 2011-2012 portfolio review, and the boys passed with flying colors. Phew! Planning the 2012-2013 school year started months ago, because we never really take a long break. School goes on year round, because life goes on year round.
We have some really great friends who also home school. We also have some really great friends who send their children to public school. Each family has to do what's best for their family. One thing they have in common is that most of them look forward to summer vacation. Many choose the time during June, July, and August to go on a family vacation, or at least a trip to the beach.
Our family doesn't do any of that. We home school during the summer because we'd rather be inside where it's air conditioned than outside in the hot, sticky, humid environment. This frees us up to take longer breaks in the fall and spring, often traveling when everyone else's kids are in school.
It's not uncommon for outsiders to look at our lives and accuse us of being on one big, long, extended vacation. A lot of times that's exactly what it feels like! Just a few months ago while millions of public school students were stuck in their classrooms, we were doing math on the beach in the Outer Banks. And a few weeks after that, we were enjoying learning the science of trains.
You might be wondering where we found a textbook on that topic. Textbooks? Ha! While we do use them for some subjects, and not necessarily the same topics two years in a row, we studied trains by researching online, reading information at the local library, and then - the coup de grace - a visit to the North Carolina Transportation Museum, where the boys spent time talking to a train conductor and riding in the engine with him on a 30 minute train ride. And finally, we spent a couple of hours at the museum studying exhibits inside the roundhouse, as well as a dozen or more different train engines, cars, and cabooses on display. It's worth mentioning that we live about an hour outside of Washington, DC and are nowhere near either of those places.
Our family is fortunate that the Fireman's job allows him such a relaxed schedule. The only reason I work is so we can travel. And because I freelance, I can work from anywhere in the world -- as long as I have my laptop and a WiFi connection. While our decision to home school was initially a way to stick it to the public school system (think Katniss versus the Capitol here...yeah, it was THAT bad) after a particularly horrible IEP meeting, but it's turned out to be a real blessing. The Fireman and I are better parents for it. We don't have to deal with a lot of pop culture that goes along with raising teenagers. But best of all, the boys are growing up to be regular smartass teenagers quite well-behaved young gentlemen.
Do you have any public school nightmares? Have you ever had a nightmare IEP like my good friend and fellow blogger over at Dragonflies@Dawn? Do you home school and dream about the day when your children will beg for you to send them into the public school system? If you have a moment, I'd love to read your comments about children and education!
Ambergris is a hard, waxy, inflammable material. It is dark
gray or black I color. It is created in the digestive system and, simply put,
the excrement of sperm whales. Wikipedia states that freshly produced ambergris
has a marine, fecal odor. As it ages, the substance takes on a sweet, earthy
scent not unlike rubbing alcohol – but without the fumes and chemical acidity.
And it's one of the most sought-after whale-related substances in the world today. According to a Bloomberg Business Week article about ambergris, it sells for $20 per gram - just ten dollars per gram less than gold. Moby-Dick author Herman Melville described it as, "an essence found in the inglorious bowels of a sick whale." He went on to say that it was, "largely used in perfumery, in pastiles, precious candles, hair powders, and pomatum."
AMBERGRIS Throughout history it's always been the big poo.
It’s completely true. Ambergris is the only "crap" that throughout history has been used as an ingredient for perfumes,
cocktails, medicines, and sherbets. Someone told Casanova that it was an aphrodisiac
and he added it to chocolate mousse. (Okay, if I weren’t allergic to chocolate
mousse and someone else was buying, I’d probably try that last one, if I had
enough drinks in me first.)
Ambergris has plenty of modern-day uses, primarily in Europe and Asia. "In 2005, a 200-year-old fragrance originally made for Marine Antoinette, which featured ambergris as a main ingredient, was reproduced in limited quantities for $11,000 per bottle," the Bloomberg article claims. It also remarks that ambergris was used by Andrew Stellitano, a UK food designer, to create a mince pie that sold for $4,700. Here are some other tasty uses for ambergris, according to
a recent Smithsonian Magazine article about ambergris:
Tonic of chocolate, sugar, and ambergris
Pastries that included melted butter, ambergris,
and roasted game
Folded into eggs, as tried by molecular biologist Christopher Kemp
Kemp claims that ambergris has an unmistakable smell that fills his sinuses.
“The smell reminds me of leaf litter on a forest floor and of the delicate,
frilly undersides of mushrooms that grow in damp and shaded places.” Right now
in the United States it’s illegal to possess ambergris or any other part of a
whale, much less cook with it (Thanks, Marine Mammal Protection Act!) which is
good. I agree with my husband whose initial concern was for the whales being slaughtered for their much-desired ambergris, "If you've gone through your whole life without eating what crap, it's probably not something you're missing out on." I have eaten a few things in my lifetime that even not-picky eaters would consider
adventurous, but whale excrement? No thanks!
We have one of the best Farmers' Markets in the world. It's cozy. I can buy more than just fresh produce. And I never fail to run into at least one other person I know. Here are 7 reasons to attend your own local Farmers' Market.
They eliminate the middle guy, which means higher financial returns for them because of direct selling, price control, and regular income. Our local market is right near the library, making Saturday morning trips into town multi-purposed. Families can visit the market, county offices, the library, and the local area museum all within the same two blocks.
Customers and producers give each other feedback. Customers know how their fruits and veggies are produced, and what their meat ate during its short lifespan. Really, wouldn't you rather have your cattle eating grass their entire lives than genetically modified corn that's loaded with antibiotics?
They're friends of the environment, reducing food miles, vehicle pollution, unnecessary packaging, noise, and fossil fuel use. And many of the farmers in my area use natural pesticides, which makes the foods safer to eat as well.
Not only does the consumer know where the food that's bought at a Farmers' Market comes from, but the vendors often can educate their customers on other things like how to prepare and cook fresh ingredients versus things you'd buy in the store.
Farmers' Markets encourage those who are unemployed (or underemployed) to tap into their talents. Our local market has people who, in addition to fruits, veggies, and meats, also sell honey, birdhouses made from gourds, jams and jellies, flowers, jewelry, salsa, pies, breads, dairy products, pottery, and locally roasted coffee beans. (Obligatory shout out to Black Dog Coffee, which helps get me through slow days.) They also feature a couple of hours of free, live music from local musicians such as our town's very own County Clerk, Jennifer Maghan. When people are successful at doing something new, it raises their self-confidence and encourages other people to re-evaluate their own skills.
They regenerate small towns, bringing new life to otherwise stagnant areas of cities and towns.
The most important reason to shop your local Farmers' Market is because it stimulates local economy and keeps your dollars in your town. It increases self-employment, encourages citizens to support local business, and even attracts new retailers. Our town has since enjoyed the opening of a new tavern bookstore. That's right, you can peruse new and used books while having a pint of ale, glass of wine, a panini sandwich or quesadilla and a soda, or a cup of Black Dog Coffee.
And there you have it! What do you like best about your local Farmers' Market? What do you wish they did differently? Can you think of other benefits? I'd love to hear all your comments!
There you sat in your yard, baking in the summer humidity. The odd-shaped, ugly red car approached from out of nowhere, slowing down to a respectable view to rubberneck the contents of your folding tables. And then drove right on past, blissfully enjoying the 68-degree temperature inside the air conditioned vehicle. Psst. That was me. I drove right past your yard sale, and now I'm going to explain some of the most common reasons people like me don't give yard sales like yours a chance.
You have a huge yard, and your tables are very close to your house. Placing the tables close to your house means you are prepared to take the items back into your house. The farther the tables are from your house, the more likely you are to haggle with me about the price so you don't have to lug it back across the yard. Besides, driving up to your house is something a friend does. I'm not going to yard sales to make friends. If your tables are close to your house and you want me to stop, put up a sign that says "ALL ANTIQUES REDUCED TO $1" or "FREE CURRENT BESTSELLING BOOKS SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR" or I'll keep driving.
You are selling clothes and stuffed animals. And that's all you are selling. It's even worse if the clothes are winter, outdated (and I don't mean chic back in style and retro outdated), or torn / ripped / stained. Please do not even think of putting lingerie on that table. Not only do I do NOT want to buy it, but I do NOT want my teenage sons embarrassed by seeing it. Even if you do have things organized, clean, and priced right, don't be surprised if I don't stop by because fibers are a hotbed for things like lice, vermin feces, roaches, and bedbugs. So I'm sorry, but...just no.
You haven't organized or cleaned anything. It looks like it did when it was in your basement a few hours ago. I don't want to leave your yard sale and coat my hands and forearms with hand sanitizer, even if it does smell like cucumber melon. You know that smelly ethnic store in the mall that sells the crap purchased in huge lots for obscenely cheap prices off eBay? I'd rather shop there because at least I know the health department has done some kind of nominal check.
You expect to make a profit. Nobody ever got rich from a Saturday-morning yard sale. I'm sorry if someone told you otherwise. When I stop, I am under the assumption that you actually want to get rid of the stuff you apparently no longer want. Just like having the tables too close to your house, if you don't present the image that you're willing to do whatever it takes to get rid of your stuff, I'm not wasting my time at your yard sale.
You haven't mowed your frown lawn. This is a huge one. I'm allergic to stuff, and I don't want to try and race home before the Benadryl kicks in and I stop itching. High grass tells me you also invited ticks, mosquitoes, gnats, mice, and maybe a snake or two to your yard sale. I've never had the (horrible, tragic) surprise of unexpectedly bringing home an animal from a yard sale, and at my age there's no way I'm going to risk it now.
If none of this applies to you and I still drove by, then it probably goes back to the old "it's not you, it's me" excuse. Except no, really, it's probably me. I'm not a people person. I'm allergic to small-talk. The thought of public speaking causes my stomach to perform Olympic-gold-medal-worthy somersaults. My teenage sons bicker in the back seat until I'm ready to sell them to gypsies so they can marry a gypsy princess that makes a Disney Princess wedding look like a planned-at-the-last-minute redneck soiree. I hate temperatures over 74 degrees. I took my flip-flops off and am enjoying the cool air from the A/C in the car blowing across my feet to walk over to see what you're selling.
See? It's really nothing personal. On Memorial Day Weekend my family hit 14 miles of yard sales and only stopped at 10. Of those 10, I got out at maybe 6 of them. 7 tops. I spent $2 total of my $25 budget, and drove right past the last two, even though they looked like they had potential. Why? It was 92 degrees in the sun. I was hungry, grouchy, and my stupid hormones decided to rage against the heat by giving me hot flash.
If you aren't having any luck at yard sales, don't give up. Try some of these tips:
Check with your county, town, and/or homeowners association for rules and regulations regarding yard sales. If you aren't allowed to hold one in your front lawn, consider renting a space at your local flea market.
Advertise in local newspapers, Tweet it, and make your yard sale a Facebook event.
Consider donating a portion of the proceeds, and include that in your advertising.
Create signs that are BIG and EASY TO READ. Less text is better. Even at 25 MPH the most I can manage while driving is to read "YARD SALE ------->" without causing a traffic jam.
Price it right and prepare to haggle. Remember, your goal is to carry nothing back into your house. You want to get rid of it, forever and ever.
Do you have adequate parking? What happens if 5 people show up at once? Can you allow for that kind of yard sale traffic?
Keep your pet inside. I don't care if your purebred toy-sized pugachini is adorable and loves people, I'm allergic to dogs and I haven't had my allergy medicine then I don't want to sacrifice the rest of the day of yard sales because I had to sleep off a Benadryl.
If you have a lemonade stand that includes baked goods, please have a list of ingredients handy. I'm sure the sugar cookies are delicious but if they have even a trace amount of cinnamon or chocolate, the rest of my day is shot.
Good luck with your next yard sale, and I hope it's one that helps me break my drive-by habit!
