Scribbit | A Blog About Motherhood in Alaska

HP TouchSmart 600 Giveaway

2009-11-21T00:00:00.001-09:00

Biggest giveaway ever! Got your attention? Good, because the rules are a little different from previous giveaways so read all the information carefully.

The HP TouchSmart 600-1055 is a desktop PC where, as the name implies, you can touch the screen to manipulate information. It comes with all the stuff you desperately covet with the bonus of being able to pinch, rotate and drag things anywhere you want with your own little fingers. Is that not completely fun?

Windex not included.

However, there are other spiffy features that it does include:

built-in adjustable webcam, wireless modem, microphone and premium speakers
wireless keyboard and mouse
HDMI gaming console so you can play your Playstation, X-box or Wii in HD
23" HD 16:9 screen plus HDTV tuner with a remote
capabilities for viewing Blu-ray discs plus viewing or burning DVDs
750 GB hard drive
TouchSmart Live TV, Windows Media Center and Windows 7 software

With the Windows 7 Play To feature you can set music to play throughout your home audio system. Or, with the TouchSmart Live TV feature and the optional TV tuner you can even record TV programs. I believe the word for that is "suh-weet."

It also comes with a bundle of five Microsoft Surface programs that teach you to use the new TouchSmart screen to full potential so you can easily run sites like Twitter, Pandora or Netflix. Gives a new meaning to poking people on Facebook, doesn't it?

So if you think about it, you're not just getting a regular old PC to manage information, you're also getting a command center for your entire entertainment and social media system.

And if this doesn't get you drooling I noticed that on the HP site you can get about $200 worth of extras, including free shipping, a $120 rebate and $60 off one of HP's wireless printers. Good deal.

I'm so excited because HP has generously offered to give one of these snazzy new machines free to one of you just in time for the holidays so read all the directions carefully for your shot at this beauty.

Here's how to win:

Before 12 am, the morning of Saturday November 28th (you get a full week for this one) go to the giveaway entry form on this page and enter your name and email. I will pick one of the names with a random number generator, contact the winner via their email and publish their first name and home town on Tuesday December 1st.

You can only enter once via the form. However, if you share this giveaway or the HP link to the product through Twitter, Facebook, by emailing this post to a friend (see envelope icon at the bottom) or by putting up this button on your site please leave me a comment letting me know that you did so and I will gladly enter your name a second time.

Code:
<a href="http://scribbit.blogspot.com/2009/11/hp-touchsmart-600-giveaway.html"><img alt="HP TouchSmart 600 Giveaway" src="http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e98/amitton/x-1.jpg" title="HP TouchSmart 600 Giveaway" border="0" /></a>

When you click on the entry form link there are even more minute details at the bottom if you have questions. This giveaway is open to all readers so good luck!

Ugliest Animals on Earth

2009-11-19T00:00:00.014-09:00

We've had our share of animals around here--hamsters and parakeets, frogs and fish, but these guys are pets for people who want to be just a little different than your average animal lover. To be honest, these are the animals that make a pretty good case for natural selection.

1. sphynx cat
These guys inspire nothing but pity in me--they didn't grow this way they were specifically bred not to have any hair which of course makes them rather cold and eager to cuddle with other animals and humans. Poor things.

They were bred in the 1960s and now there are several different strains including Mexican hairless. Why Mexican? Not sure. All the Mexican people I know have plenty of hair.

2. proboscis monkey
Proboscis means "nose." Not sure why someone thought that was appropriate but for whatever reason it's stuck.

Living in Borneo, only the males have such large facial characteristics and when they get angry their noses swell with blood and get all red. I'm really, really glad that humans don't have this particular characteristic as well. Really glad.

3. warthog
The animal world's answer to body piercing.

I actually don't know much about these guys, I had to look it up and found that they live in Africa (obviously I haven't seen The Lion King enough or I would have figured it out on my own). What The Lion King doesn't tell you is that they can run and jump pretty well and sometimes kill lions with those tusks of theirs. Take that Simba.

4. California condor
The rush to save these birds from extinction was the most expensive conservation effort in history and I won't say anything more about that. I think the picture speaks for itself. Condors are one of the longest living birds, surviving fifty years. Seems that I heard parrots last forever too--but condors are one of the rarest with only about 300 alive.

Because the world needs all the gigantic, bald, hideous, meat-eating flying scavengers it can get.

5. Irish lord
We catch these periodically out in Resurrection Bay when we're halibut fishing, they're a deep-water fish that are truly hideous in a way that deserves a round of applause.

Spiny, big mouthed, bulging and nasty the only thing that makes these guys uglier is if you pull them up too fast and they kind of explode from the change in pressure. Not pretty.

6. axolotl
I'm not a fan of salamanders in general, they're slimy and rather creepy with their underwater thing and the gills and the not-quite-fish-yet-not-quite-lizard issue. The axolotl lives in Mexico and is facing problems from shrinking habitats and polluted waters (I'm trying to feel some sympathy here) but in Japan they've got an enormous salamander cousin that is something like four feet long.

Can you imagine swimming in some quiet pool and coming across a four foot salamander? I know they're not dangerous but I would completely flip out if one of those bumped up against me.

7. elephant seal
Whenever the word "elephant" is used as an adjective you know the results aren't going to be pretty.

And this is even the guy's good side.

8. star nosed mole
You kind of have to take your hats of to this one, he's so ugly, so freaky-looking, so artistically disturbing that he really deserves a prize.

I've never seen one in real life, never seen a regular mole either, and I guess keeping this one buried in the ground isn't a bad idea.

9. naked mole rat
I guess it really means something that all of the animals on the list are hairless, not one has a good covering except maybe the condor though it's the naked head that gets him noticed.

Naked mole rats really couldn't be uglier if you painted them green with pink spots, heck that would probably be an improvement. I've seen these at the zoo in a huddled pile and it kind of makes you question things when something so strange can survive like that.

Oops! I take that back--the monkey has hair.

10. blob fish
I think fish are over-represented in the category of Ugliest Animals, there are so many out there that you could fill three or four lists but this one really takes it.

It looks--forgive me--like a big pile of lard or a big stomach or something. Like a pile of Playdough with eyes.

I think they're a deep-water fish as well--all the ugly stuff lives way down deep--and I'm kind of glad. It's not exactly a candidate for the aquarium at the dentist's office is it?

Sponsored by K & M Studios and photographer Megan Burgess

How Not to Make Yogurt (or) So Easy a Monkey Could Do It

2009-11-18T00:00:00.009-09:00

I should entitle this post "I Am a Doofus" because when you read this you'll agree that's what I am.

Long ago my mother had a yogurt maker and occasionally made a batch and I thought it would be a great thing to try for myself. I started with this Make Yogurt in a Crockpot recipe which not only claimed to be easy but cost effective for achieving great mounds of creamy yogurt goodness. However, what the recipe doesn't tell you is that to succeed you must have enough intelligence to remember the word "yogurt" without being distracted by the first shiny thing you see.

It's all about heating milk--which I'm quite capable of doing--but the hard part comes when you have to remember that you've got it going in the crock pot. The first batch I started I began heating it and then somewhere along the way I forgot about it and the whole batch was ruined.

So I tried again the next week and heated up another batch. Sure enough, I forgot it again and ruined it.

Third time I set timers, picked a time when I could be around to give it my full attention and I STILL forgot it and ended up ruining yet another half gallon of milk. The fourth time I tried it I was actually able to see the project through to completion but I must have done something wrong because the yogurt was hardly thicker than the whole milk was when I started and hardly tasted like yogurt.

My conclusions? That at the bottom of the recipe there ought to be a little asterisk that says *Caution, you may end up wasting enough milk to produce forty-seven batches of yogurt if you're as stupid as Michelle. Cost-effective for all but the very lowest on the IQ scale.

Sponsored by Forty Fish Eggs

A View from the Kitchen

2009-11-17T00:00:00.007-09:00

Funny how things can change so quickly. It used to be green and now it's white. I forget what it looks like covered in snow and then once it snows I forget what it looks like when it was green.

We're dusting off our skis for the weekend.

***

Congratulations to Keriane from Anchorage, Alaska for winning the Veggie Tales and Campbell Soup Giveaway from this weekend. Woot!

Sponsored by Beau-Coup for unique baby shower favors.

No Child Left Behind. Because They ALL Need to Be Watching Television at School.

2009-11-16T00:00:00.012-09:00

My daughter came home from high school on Friday.

"How was your day?" I asked.

"Fine. We had another substitute so we didn't do anything."

"What do you mean?"

"Whenever we have a substitute we usually don't do anything, we just watch movies. This time the sub spent the whole time online giving us internet quizzes."

"Quizzes about the subject matter?"

"No, personality quizzes, that kind of thing."

"You're kidding."

"No, once we had a guy who spent the whole time going through his text messages and last year in P.E. the teacher--not the sub--would make us lay down on the gym floor and take naps sometimes. He'd force us to close our eyes and if he thought we weren't actually sleeping he'd say he was going to dock our grade."

"So, let me get this straight--you were being graded for sleeping in Physical Education class? Not for running or exercising or playing a sport but sleeping?

"Yea, and in English class today the teacher said we'd been working hard this week so we were going to take a break so we finished up Enchanted."

"You watched Enchanted?"

"Yea, we've been watching it for a couple weeks now, we'll see a bit and then watch other video clips."

"Why are you watching Enchanted? What does that have to do with English?"

"They speak English in the movie? I don't know. Because we watch a lot of movies in German class: Ratatouille, The Incredibles, Ice Age, Finding Nemo--plus a bunch of German movies."

"Because they're speaking German?"

"I guess. We don't really pay much attention to the German part."

"How many movies do you watch a week?"

She thought a bit, counting up on her fingers and trying to remember. "Oh--I don't know--five or six, maybe more. We watch t.v. pretty much every day in at least one class and any time we have a sub they put in movies or something. We watch stuff like Mythbusters a lot and call it chemistry."

She paused a moment then said, "At least it's not like my history teacher who flirts with girls in the class then shows us pictures of himself without his shirt on and talks about his tattoos."

"He showed you pictures of himself without his shirt?"

"Yea, he was trying to show us how big his muscles were and was pointing out his tattoo and saying that we could tell the picture hadn't been fixed because you could still see his tattoo."

"Apparently working six hours a day with three months off in the summer and another month off throughout the school year isn't enough, those teachers must be exhausted. And these are your honors classes?"

"Yea, I've talked to people in the AP classes and they say it's not much different there. Sometimes the stuff we do that's supposed to be real work doesn't make any sense either. Like last year in English we were supposed to be studying the Renaissance so we read The Crystal Caves by Mary Stewart."

"Sure, because why read anything like Marlowe, Spenser, Jonson or Shakespeare when you've got cheap 1970s fantasy fiction at your fingertips? It's not even set in the Renaissance."

"I know. The projects we did had nothing to do with the Renaissance either--we do a lot of projects, especially group projects. I think it's because the teacher doesn't have to do anything to grade it like they would have to do if we actually wrote a paper or took a test. Some kid built a throne out of hockey pucks and hockey sticks and got an A."

"A hockey stick throne? How does that relate to the Renaissance?"

"It doesn't But it was cool."

"And this is public education. Run by the government. If that's not the biggest strike against a government-run health care system I don't know what is."

Sponsored by K & M Studios and photographer Megan Burgess

Apple Brie Bread with Almonds

2009-11-15T00:00:00.006-09:00

Colder weather here means more baking and I've been baking like crazy lately.

This is a good recipe for breakfast, a nice blend of sweet and savory that is lovely with a cold glass of milk or juice--and boy does it smell nice when it's baking.

For dough:
1 cup milk
2 eggs
1/3 cup butter
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon yeast

For filling:
2 tablespoons butter, divided
4 cups diced granny smith apples
½ cup brown sugar, divided
3 tablespoons slivered almonds
4 oz brie
1 teaspoon flour

Put all the ingredients for dough in a bread machine, set on "dough" cycle. When it's finished, roll out dough in large rectangle.

Melt 1 tablespoon of butter and sauté apples over medium-high heat for 10 minutes. Add ¼ c brown sugar and cook 5 min. Remove from heat and stir in almonds.

Spoon mixture down middle of dough rectangle, cube brie and arrange along top. Make diagonal cuts along sides and braid over the filling. Let rise, then sprinkle remaining brown sugar and butter (mixed together) over top.

Cook at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Sponsored by Pak Naks--decorate your stuff!

Veggie Tales and Campbell's Soup Giveaway

2009-11-14T00:00:00.000-09:00

I should probably title this "Eat Your Veggies" because that's the theme here today as Veggie Tales has released their latest DVD, "Saint Nicholas: A Season of Joyful Giving" and I've got copies to give away.

You know I can sing "Barbara Manatee" in my sleep don't you? My kids are past the Veggie Tales age but still that tune haunts me . . .

It's kind of funny that I'd be giving away DVDs this week because as it happens our DVD player gave up the ghost yesterday. Don't you know that when something breaks it somehow upsets the karma for the whole house and suddenly things are breaking all over the place . . . first it was my van, then the closet doors, then the plumbing, then my husband, then the bathroom scale (probably a blessing in disguise right now) then the DVD player. I figure we'll probably have two or three more things bite the dust before the destroying angel passes us by.

But forget that I can't watch the movie--you can if you win one of the copies I'm giving away, they'll arrive in time for Thanksgiving.

Then, for the other veggie angle I've got a gift package from Campbell's Soup which includes the following items in a sweet little green lunch tote:

A kid-friendly juice bottle
A set of pre-packaged lunch box cards with riddles and a space to leave a lunchtime note
Samples of Campbell’s SpongeBob Chicken Noodle Soup
Two bottles of V8 V-Fusion: Strawberry Banana and Pomegranate Blueberry

The juice was terrific and I think I've mentioned my weakness for SpongeBob.

So follow directions below to enter, good luck!

Here's how to win:

Before 12 am Monday morning go to the giveaway entry form on this page and enter your name and email. I will pick one of the names at random, contact the winner via their email and publish the winner's first name and home town in next Tuesday's post. See the bottom of the entry form for more details.

This giveaway is open to all readers! Good luck!

The Ultimate Geography Question

2009-11-12T00:00:00.008-09:00

It's been a long week and I'm to the point where I can hardly speak coherently let alone write in complete sentences--this starting up a business thing feels like its kicking us around pretty thoroughly. I told Andrew I'd truly be manic depressive if only I had more time for it. . . .

So I'm going to leave you with a thought, one we spent quite a while discussing while in the car yet came to no solid conclusions on.

Pretend that you were able to drill a hole through the entire earth. Right through the middle, creating a big straight tube that ran completely down the center and out the other side. Now say, hypothetically, that you were to fall into that tunnel.

What would happen??

Of course, aside from burning up in the heat. Pretend the temperatures aren't an issue. You'd fall of course, fall for thousands of miles toward the center but once you got to the center what would happen to you? That's the part that's stumped us.

You wouldn't fall clear through and out the other side because gravity pulls you to the center. But the center is drilled away so there's no place to land. Would you just stay, suspended in the center of the earth once you reached it? Would you overshoot the center with the momentum of the fall then spring back as if you were on a big bungee cord? Would you stick to the inside of the tunnel as if it were flat ground? Someone out there must know. The truth is out there.

Spencer was the one to pose the question and it gave us a good brain squeeze.

P.S. Sorry Canada about drilling a hole practically in the middle of Halifax. Nothing personal, really.

P.S.S. If you feel you've been cheated and not recieved enough post for your money, try these great links instead:

The Best Geography Game in the World
How to Travel by Cargo Ship
How Not to Look Like an American Tourist
How to Travel the World on $35 a Day

Sponsored by Forty Fish Eggs

Chinese Yo Yos

2009-11-11T00:00:00.007-09:00

I don't know if you've noticed, but yo yos are really hip right now. I don't suppose you would notice unless you happen to be hanging out at the local high school or have a high schooler living in your midst. But take my word for it, it's become completely acceptable to bring yo yos to high school as a means of impressing others (who knew?)

However, while regular old-fashioned American yo yos are fine the Chinese ones hold the real points for fascination and pure "wow" factor.

Andrew and I were on a cruise three years ago where there was a juggling show that included a Chinese yo yo routine and the performer taught yo yo lessons the next day and you can bet I was there. I bought one right there and the kids love sending the little cups spinning on the string.

Also called diabolos (not to be confused with diablos) they're not that common but when you see the things you can do you can understand why the Chinese are totally going to rule the world someday.

Here's a good video to show you some of the tricks you can do:

And here's a video of the kids doing it (and this clip is purely for the grandparents, feel free to ignore):

You can buy them on Amazon--a good gift for the holidays if you're starting to think about that kind of thing . . .

***

Have you entered this month's Write-Away Contest? It goes perfectly with a side of stuffing--the topic is "Grateful" and time is ticking away . . .

Sponsored by Beau-Coup for unique baby shower favors.

Killer Bunnies RULE!

2009-11-10T00:00:00.005-09:00

We love games here, LOVE them. Our favorites (which I've mentioned before) are Settlers of Catan, Spy Alley, Hearts, President and Scum, Five Card Mao, and now . . . Killer Bunnies.

Technically the full name is "Killer Bunnies and the Quest for the Magic Carrot" and we're playing it all the time lately. We don't have a game of our own, I've been mooching off my sister who has one (though Amazon has it on sale for $20.50 which is a STEAL I tell you) and borrowing it to play with our friends who seem to like it as much as we do.

Anyway, it's a strange game. A card game but not at all your typical card game. Each card in the deck is unique, reminding me of 60s psychedelic album art and it's a nice blend of luck, strategy and humor (we love the humor).

The way you win is to collect carrots. You want to be lucky and get the one carrot that is randomly and secretly designated as the winning carrot so the more carrots you get, the better your odds of being having one of your carrots be the winning carrot. You accumulate carrots by maintaining bunnies, not always easy to do because while you're trying to keep your own bunnies alive everyone else is trying to kill them off with weapon cards that range in potency from Whisks to Flame Throwers to Black Holes.

Each card is a different weapon or protection and you try to play protection cards (like Heavenly Halos) on your bunnies while keeping other people from releasing Ebola weapons and wiping our your litter. Very fun.

And, as with many great games, you can get expansion sets to make things even more intriguing. I haven't played with an expansion set . . . maybe I can talk my sister into getting one so I can borrow it from her. That's what family is for, right?

***

Have you entered this month's Write-Away Contest? It goes perfectly with a side of stuffing--the topic is "Grateful" and time is ticking away . . .

And congratulations to Brittany of Paramus, New Jersey for winning last weekend's cookie cutter and mittens giveaway. She's quite ready for winter now. For those who did not win this time, you can still get 10% off at Ann Clark Ltd on your cookie cutter order by entering the code BLGA7 at checkout.

Sponsored by K & M Studios and photographer Megan Burgess

A Winter Mountain Tour of Anchorage

2009-11-09T00:00:00.004-09:00

Snow! It's finally snowed! November 8th--which makes our snow contest winner Cindy.

I had to go up on the hillside on Saturday and I snapped some pictures just for you--those these were taken on Saturday before our house saw any accumulation.

This is a picture of Cook Inlet from the southwestern edge of town close to my parents' home where I grew up. You can see the bluff with the birch and spruce in the foreground (great places for frog hunting down there) then beyond that are the mudflats. We'd never go out that far because it's easy to get stuck then drown when the tide comes in.

Then past that is the ocean and the southeastern end of the Alaska Range, one of the largest mountain ranges in the state. Denali, (or Mt. McKinley) the highest peak in North America, is in the middle of the range and about 300 miles from Anchorage and easily visible on a clear day though you can't see it from where I was at, you have to be on the north side of town or going north on the highway to get a good look at it.

In the top picture you can see the dark spot that is Fire Island which is an uninhabited stretch that sits out in the Inlet across from the city.

This is a Mt. Susitna, directly across from Anchorage to the west. For some reason it hasn't got any snow yet but you can see why Susitna means "sleeping lady"--can you see her lying on her back looking up at the sky with her hair flowing out to the left?

Anchorage is completely surrounded by mountains. If you go clockwise around the city, backing us up on the east where I was standing when I took this shot are the Chugach mountains, one of the largest national parks and has the highest concentration of glaciers in the country, covering 30,000 square miles. The warm air comes across those mountains, down through the pass toward the south and when cools as it gets to the other side it dumps huge amounts of snow and rain on Valdez, down in the Prince William Sound area (where the Exxon Valdez spill was located?)

Then, farther south are the Kenai Mountains, moving around to the southwest are the Aleutian Mountains (home to Mt. Redoubt, one of two active volcanoes you can see from town), then the Alaska Range starts about due west of us and continues around along the north side. In between the Alaska Range and Anchorage are also the Talkeenta Mountains of the Matanuska-Susitna valley and the less-well known Tordrillo Mountains where Mt. Spurr is located (the other of the two active volcanoes). Six mountain ranges, two active volcanoes, the highest mountain in North America and the ocean all in one spot. Quite a view.

This picture shows the Seward Highway, the main road running north to south through the city and this southern view shows the Kenai Mountains with their dusting of snow. I'm including it because I was out about 1 or 2 o'clock in the afternoon but the heavy cloud cover made it so dark and gloomy that you can see the headlights on already. You can see the line of the clouds in most of the pictures directly overhead.

The darkness is coming . . .

***

Have you entered this month's Write-Away Contest? It goes perfectly with a side of stuffing--the topic is "Grateful" and time is ticking away . . .

Sponsored by Pak Naks--decorate your stuff!

Perfect Thanksgiving Stuffing

2009-11-08T00:00:00.003-09:00

I've been saving this recipe to share for over a year now. Stuffing is my very most favorite part of the whole entire Thanksgiving feast. It is what I save my precious stomach space for each year and what I cannot get in adequate quantities the other 364 days.

But . . . there is a downside to the whole issue. Stuffing is not as popular with the heathen dogs I live with. Good news is that I get to gorge unfettered until I've eaten enough stuffing to be properly considered stuffed in my own right. The bad news is that I don't get to do it very often because of the objections I meet when it's on the table--they'll tolerate it only when there are other things like mashed potatoes on the menu. As if you can't get dumb ol' mashed potatoes anywhere.

Rotten, I know, but what are you going to do?

Well at least I can share this recipe with you. Stuffing is the most highly personal part of the whole Thanksgiving meal and here I am, opening up to share it with you. I couldn't offer any more, it's like handing over a piece of me.

5 tablespoons butter
2 large sweet onions such as vidalia or Maui onions
1 pound sliced crimini mushrooms
2 cups VERY finely chopped celery (I despise large chunks)
1/4 cup minced garlic
3 cups chicken broth
1 tablespoon sage
dash of summer savory
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary
salt and pepper to taste
10 cups dried bread cubes (I like rye or sourdough myself)
5 6-ounce jars marinated artichoke hearts, diced
1 pound browned pork sausage, crumbled
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Saute the onions, mushrooms, celery and garlic in the butter over a medium heat until golden brown and soft (about 20-25 minutes). Don't cook on high heat to cheat.

Add 1/2 cup broth and deglaze pan, stirring up browned bits and reducing slightly. Add the sage, savory, rosemary salt and pepper and stir another five minutes.

In a large bowl add the veggie/broth mix to the bread crumbs followed by the artichokes and Parmesan. Stir to combine and, with a gentle hand, add the broth little by little until it's the proper consistency--not too wet and clumpy, not too dry. Just enough to wet down the whole mix. At this point you can refrigerate the mix overnight if you choose (and I usually choose, it's much more convenient that way).

Use it to stuff a 15-20 pound turkey and if there is leftover stuffing, cook in a greased casserole dish separately for about 30 minutes, covered. Then when the turkey comes out and sits for 15 minutes (make sure your turkey sits for 15 minutes before carving to set the juices) take off the cover and brown it up for 15 minutes.

***

Have you entered this month's Write-Away Contest? It goes perfectly with a side of stuffing--the topic is "Grateful" and time is ticking away . . .

Sponsored by Forty Fish Eggs

Ann Clark Cookie Cutters and BearHands Mittens Giveaway

2009-11-07T00:00:00.001-09:00

I've got a great snowy-day prize package here for you today, first Ann Clark, Ltd. has sweet little cookie cutters in all sorts of shapes--tea cups, dragonflies, high heel shoes, and--of course--holiday cutters. Copper and stainless steel.

This prize, courtesy of Ann Clark, has a set of six holiday cutters in a pretty little gift box like you see here. Love that moose!

Second, BearHands makes the cutest kid-warming mittens shaped like bear hands--get it? Bare hands? Anyway, in all colors and so many sizes they promise to be the "it" thing to cover those precious paws.

Cookies? Mittens? Now all we need is some snow!

Here's how to win:

Before 12 am Monday morning go to the giveaway entry form on this page and enter your name and email. I will pick one of the names at random, contact the winner via their email and publish the winner's first name and home town in next Tuesday's post. See the bottom of the entry form for more details.

This giveaway is open to all readers! Good luck!

Winter Activities in Anchorage 2009

2009-11-05T00:00:00.007-09:00

It's been cold this past week but still . . . no snow. Though I'm preparing and sending out my annual winter activities list because you know it can't hold off forever. One of these days we're going to get some of the white stuff.

Never had a green Christmas yet.

Here, in no particular order, are some of our favorite winter activities which we'll be sure to partake of this year. See you on the ski trails!

1. Go ice fishing. The 23rd Annual Ice Fishing Jamboree out at Jewel Lake is free with poles, warm-up tents and all equipment provided--perfect for kids and adults alike. My own children love it. The event is usually held the second week of December though it can be been pushed back into January if weather isn't cooperating. This year it's scheduled for December 12 and 13 at Jewel Lake.

2. Look at rocks. The annual Rocks and Mineral Show will be held November 6-8th at the Sheraton. Admission is free and kids can look at dinosaurs, metal detectors and all sorts of things about geology and rocks. See the website for hours of operation.

3. Ice skate at Westchester Lagoon. Once the ice is declared thick enough it will be maintained for skating all winter and on Friday nights there are fire-barrels for added fun. Also, the Town Square ice rink in front of the Performing Arts Center for free skating fun. We did this last year and had a great time--see for yourself.

4. Tour Williams Reindeer Farm in Palmer (907) 745-4000 at 125 Bodenburg Road Palmer, Alaska. They're open for regular tours in the summer but will do tours by appointment only during the winter if you call and schedule one. Admission is $6 for adults, $4 for children over 3 and that includes a cup of feed for the animals. You can also drive to the farm and watch the reindeer for free. Oh, and please note that when in the wild they are called caribou, the domesticated version is the reindeer. For an account of one of our visits read my post: Rudolph with Your Nose So Bright.

5. Tour the Musk Ox farm (907) 745-4151. Also in Palmer, the farm offers a view of musk ox, an Alaskan animal that looks like a long-haired bison with the horns of a yak whose soft under wool (qiviut) is valued for its warmth. Winter tours are by appointment and run 10am-6pm October 1, 2008-Mother's Day 2009. Admission prices are rather detailed so go to their website for more information.

6. Go Sledding. Here's a link that describes the best sledding hills in Anchorage--but for the hardy sledder you can't beat the old Arctic Valley road's winding 1-mile course where my little brother lost his glasses (if you find them give him a call). To get there go up Arctic Valley Road and just past the power house on the left is a turnoff where you can park at the end of the trail and wait for sledders to come down. It's the best sledding hill on the planet guaranteed. My post here proves it.

7. See the Town Square Tree Lighting. Friday November 27th 5:30-7:30. There'll be cookies, music, stories, a visit from Santa and his reindeer and (of course) the tree lighting itself. Lots of fun.

8. Celebrate New Year's Eve at town square. With free events for families and children all evening long it's a great way to ring in the new year. Likewise, at Alyeska they'll be holding a "torchlight parade and fireworks display" starting at 8pm.

4-6 p.m. - Children’s Ice Skating Parties
6-8 p.m. - Fire & Ice Celebration
8 p.m. - Fireworks

9. Swimming at H 2Oasis. On Mondays through Fridays when school is in session the water park opens at 11am-2pm for preschool children and their parents for $6 a child (adults are free). The large slides, wave machine, and river walk are not available though some days you can get lucky and they’ll be running for special occasions.

10. See the Christmas lights. Every year during the week before Christmas the Anchorage Daily News publishes their list of best house lights accompanied by a map. You can't beat free.

11. Snowshoe at Campbell Creek Science Center. (907) 267-1247. Tucked away on the west end of Dowling Road is the city's best place to see wildlife (I've seen eagles and rabbits and even eagles eating rabbits). Get away from it all without getting out of the city. Bring your snow shoes, cross country skis or sleds and enjoy a hike to the beaver dam or break your own snow shoe trail. The trails are free but they also have educational programs listed at their site for a small fee. Do remember that it's in a cold spot where the temperature is usually a few degrees colder than the rest of the surrounding area.

They also have adult astronomy lectures once a month starting in November and running through February starting at 7pm. Check the site for information.

12. See live dolls. At the annual Christmas Village celebration kids can see "dolls" from around the world where performers dress in authentic clothing and stand . . . very . . . still. December 12 and 13 at the Dena'ina Center, admission is free.

13. Enjoy some folk music. The Anchorage Folk Festival runs January 21-31 with more than 120 acts from around the world. All workshops and concerts are free to the public, see the site for more details.

14. Ride a train with Santa. Okay this one is expensive but it was so cool that I had to include it anyway. Ride the Alaska Railroad to Seward December 5th. Price is $115 for adults, $57 for children 11 but more if you want breakfast with the trip. see this site for details.

15. See some art. Every Friday from 5-8pm local galleries stay open late to highlight new artists--usually with h'ors doeuvres. They call it "First Friday Art Walk" and it's a fun way to explore the downtown area, see this site for more details.

16. Catch some hoops. The Great Alaska Shootout is November 25-28, 2009 and features some of the top teams in college basketball. This one will cost you but for the money you get some good basketball. For more information see GoSeawolves.com.

17. See a crafts fair. The Christmas Arts and Crafts Emporium is November 21st and 22ndd 10am-6pm and 11am-6pm and the Alaskan Christmas Bazaar is November 7 9am-4pm.

18. See some Alaska Native culture. November 7 is the Intertribal Gathering and December 5 is the Holiday Bazaar, both free to the public. December 12 is the Make and Take Native Art Workshop which I've wanted to do--you can learn all sorts of fun Native crafts. See their calender for even more events.

19. Catch a sleigh ride. The Horse Drawn Carriage Co. offers sleigh rides through Birchwood, just outside of Anchorage for small groups of 2-4 or for large groups of up to 20. My own family did this several years ago and had a great time riding through the forests and enjoying a bonfire and cocoa at the end. They charge $130/hour for a 20-person sleigh ride with extra for the bonfire at the end but for an afternoon of sleighing it's a great deal.

Also, every Friday and Saturday night 8pm-midnight in front of the Captain Cook Hotel this same company offers carriage rides through downtown, $35 for two people for 15 minutes, $5 for each extra person which is a little more but for a special event it would be fun.

20. Visit Stargate Observatory in Wasilla. Burchell High School's 26-inch Newtonian telescope is the largest in the state and the third largest telescope owned by a an American high school. Just north of Wasilla at 1775 West Parks Hwy it will be open Saturday February 24th and Saturday March 10th 7-11pm for $5 per person. Call (907) 355-9055 for more details.

21. Visit the Port of Anchorage. Not exciting? Oh just find a day when a ship is in and they're unloading or loading and it's something any child would enjoy. Inside is the biggest pile of sand in the Free World, used for winter road maintenance and lots of fun to climb.

22. Join a bookstore reading club. Most bookstores in town have a reading hour for kids, some with crafts and other things. Barnes and Noble has Storytime for preschoolers at 1pm on Saturdays and 11 am Wednesday and an American Girl club that meets Tuesdays at 6:30pm. Borders has Storytime with Gracie at 11am on Saturdays, repeating at 11 am and 1pm on Tuesdays. Go to the stores' home pages, search for a store nearest you and view their calendar of events.

23. Visit the Alaska Zoo. Though summer viewing is more popular, the animals are more active in the winter and the Zoo has educational programs scheduled regularly throughout the winter. Visit their web page for details, admission is $10/adult, children 3 and over $6--the Storytime At the Zoo program costs $2 after regular admission.

Also, there are art classes October 12-December 10 where for $20 you can get art supplies and an art lesson at the zoo where children can sketch the animals. Wildlife Wednesdays run through winter and feature behind-the-scenes lectures about the animals.

24. Check out the Home Depot and Lowe’s kid clubs. They're free and children are provided aprons, tools and kits to build various projects. Home Depot on Abbott’s is the first Saturday of every month 9am-12pm while supplies last (I've never had supplies not last). Lowe’s on Old Seward and O’Malley is the second Saturday 10am.

25. Attend Fur Rendezvous. Two week's worth of winter celebrations including snow sculpture competitions, a blanket toss, art exhibits, amusement park rides, an antique car show, a Native crafts bazaar and so many other things--some free and some not. Dates are February 26-March 7, 2010. For more about this annual festival read my post: Fur Rendezvous 2007.

26. Go to the theater. With many small theater companies in town performing all winter, what's not to like?

Training Better Artists Theatre Company
This theater company's ticket prices and productions are perfect for families with small children and are a great introduction to the dramatic arts--of all the troupes in town they're definitely the best for introducing children to the dramatic arts. We'll be going to most of these this season.

The Little Magic Snowman Dec 11-13, 18-20
Mother Goose Feb 19-21, 26-28
Illusions; Wild Things Mar 19-21
The Sound of Music May 7-9, 14-16

Showtimes: Fri & Sat at 7pm, Sat & Sun at 3pm.
Special Halloween Performance 7pm and 10pm
Location: APU's Grant Hall
Tickets: $7 general $5 kids

Anchorage Theater of Youth
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Into the Woods, Jr.
Seussical, the Musical
Winnie-the-Pooh
Hamlet

Location: Sydney Lawrence Theater, Anchorage Center for the Performing Arts
Showtimes: Thursday-Saturday 7pm, Saturday & Sunday 3pm
Tickets: $18.75 general admission, $16.25 (including all taxes) 18 and under

Alaska Junior Theater
Jason and the Argonauts Dec 1-8
Tap Kids Feb 2-5
Edgar Allan Poe: Tales of Terror Mar 15-16
Borders of the Mind Mar 18-20
Stone Soup Apr 12-17

Location: Discovery Theater, Anchorage Center for the Performing Arts
Showtimes: 10 am and noon for childrens' performances, 7:30 pm for public performance
Tickets: $14-16

Anchorage Community Theater
Miracle on 34th Street Nov 27-Dec 20

Showtimes: Wednesday-Saturday 7pm, Sundays 3pm
Tickets: $12 adult, $8 children 12 and under, students $10

27. Go dog sledding. We've taken rides with the Lucky Husky Sled Dog Kennel near Willow and had a wonderful time charging through the snowy wilderness with only our Trusty Guide and eight animal friends but they appear to be out of business. Susitna Dog Tours is another operation in Willow that offers dog sled tours, and though they can be expensive at $85/person the experience is certainly something that you'll remember. Here is another site that lists other companies that offer dog tours in Anchorage, Willow or Girdwood and Chugach Express operates in Girdwood. And speaking of sled dogs, don't miss opening day of the Iditarod on March 7 at 10am on 4th and D Street in downtown Anchorage. Pray for snow and take the kids, they'll be almost as excited as the dogs.

If you want a bit of dog sledding fun with a better price tag you could check out the downtown dog sled show that runs each day. Tickets are around $19 for adults. See their website.

28. Go to the Anchorage Museum of Art. (907) 343-4326 Check their web page for exhibits and concerts such as "Science of Toys" runs October 9-December 31. Admission is $8 adults, $5 kids unless you have a membership. December 13th is a holiday concert 1:30-4:30 and Wells Fargo Free Day and there are also concerts on December 6 and 20th free with admission.

29. See the gingerbread village at the Captain Cook Hotel. Every year the chefs at Anchorage's finest hotel create a gingerbread village--complete with an electric toy train--that is guaranteed to delight.

Sponsored by Beau-Coup for unique baby shower favors.

How to Make Corn Husk Dolls

2009-11-04T00:00:00.016-09:00

We made these old-fashioned dolls this weekend and they were a big hit.

I keep thinking this one needs a cute little bonnet and she'd be perfect . . . she's been christened "Rosie" by our friend Emily across the street.

Here are step-by-step instructions on making your own, the only thing you need is some twine and some corn husks. If you're like me, you don't exactly have corn growing out back so the easiest thing to do is to go to the Mexican section of the supermarket and get a packet of dried corn husks for about two dollars.

Remember the tamales from last week? Well one package of corn husks makes more than enough so we used the leftover husks for the dolls.

You'll need about a dozen husks per doll, more or less, and several feet of twine. Soak the husks in warm water for about ten minutes then pat them dry and go to work.

1. Take about six or so corn husks and tie them together like you see here at the left.

Make sure the twine pulls together nice and tight.

Once you've got the knot tight, flip the corn husks down over the string and the knot then tie them with another string just below where the knot is hidden underneath so that it forms a head.

See? It's already starting to come together.

2. Next, take three strips (and I trimmed the husks so that the strips were thin and of an even width as much as possible) and braid one set of three into what will be a set of arms, then braid two more sets of three strips into what will be two legs.

So now you have a head and some limbs.

3. Now, to make the body, divide the husks under the head/neck into two sections cross-wise.

Lay one of the braided pieces in the middle, across the body as if to make a cross shape but what you're doing is forming arms off of the body.

Then lay the two leg pieces right underneath where the arms cross like you see in the picture here. Then, let the husks down again and tie a piece of string around the body under the braids and catching them into the body to form a waist.

4. Now that your doll has a head, arms, legs and a waist gather another four or five corn husks around the waist, but this time tie them on upside down like you see here in the picture, so that they're covering up the torso.

Tie the bundle with twine and secure.

Once it's tight, trim the twine and pull the husks back down so that they form a skirt for your doll. Hide those scrawny legs.

5. Finally, now that you've got head, torso and skirt formed you can take a two long sections of husks (and if you don't have a long enough piece you can always knot two together as I did here).

Cross the length of corn husk over the doll's chest, going up from the waist on the right side then over the left shoulder, then back to the waist in the back on the right side.

Repeat using the other section of husk but going from the opposite side (left side of waist, over the right shoulder, then back down to the left side of the waist) so that it cross like you see in the top picture.

Secure it by tying another piece of twine around the waist, catching the ends of husk. If you'd like you can then cover that twine with another piece of husk that you wrap around the waist and tie in the back.

And you're done! A perfect little corn husk doll perfect for play or decoration. A garland of these would be pretty for fall.

Sponsored by K & M Studios and photographer Megan Burgess

November's Write-Away Contest

2009-11-03T00:00:00.006-09:00

Heading into the holidays here (notice my smooooth alliteration) and we've got a new month's contest. Our guest judge will be Amanda from Oh, Amanda (who I'm hoping to meet at Blissdom in February) and the topic will be "Grateful." I'm leaving it rather open but there is a slight change in the rules this time. Because it's so open I will only take new posts this month. Nothing from the archives, only new material.

As for the prize, this month it will be a selection of goodies from Bath and Body Works suitable for the occasion.

So if that gets you thinking all you need to do to enter is to follow the directions below:

1. Write a post on this month's theme then email your post's permalink to me at scribbit at gmail.com. The permalink is the URL of the individual post--not the URL of your blog--usually found by clicking on the post title or time stamp and copying the URL that appears in the address field. I will accept entries through Sunday November 22nd. If you fail to meet that deadline I will still happily publish your link with the list of entries but it will not be judged. I reserve the right to reject submissions if they fail to meet the topic or if they contain objectionable content. Please look for a confirmation email from me within hours saying I received your entry--just to be safe.

2. Publish a link to this contest page here at Scribbit in either your entry post or in a separate post. I'm not picky how you do this, just give the contest a little mention as a courtesy and nod back. Don't stress over it because I won't.

3. Check back here on Tuesday November 24th when I will post a complete list of the entries along with the Write-Away Winner and three Honorable Mentions.

4. Please remember: I will list the entries along with a small teaser for each. Just the first sentence or two of each post to give people an idea what they might expect if they should be so bold as to click on the entry.

Also, please be aware that while you are welcome to include graphics or photographs with your entries the judge will only see the text of your post. No links, no pictures, no name of your blog, nothing that might identify it to the judge. While visual posts are always beautiful to see on your blog I will only send the text to the judge and your entry will not be able to rely on visuals to influence his or her judgment.

As always, all Winners and Honorable Mentions will get to take home this attractive Write-Away Winner button which he or she may display if they wish.

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Oops! Forgot to add--Jennifer at Family Musings was the winner of the Timberland giveaway from this weekend. Those shoes are made for walking.

Sponsored by Pak Naks--decorate your stuff!

Are You Prepared for an Emergency?

2009-11-02T00:00:00.006-09:00

When my husband was attending his last semester of law school in Grand Forks, North Dakota the Red River flooded. Then the downtown area caught fire, burning thirteen buildings (one of which held his office) and the town had to be evacuated while the National Guard mobilized. The last thing we saw was a pillar of smoke rising in the review mirror as we fled the city.

That's one story. Another is what has happened the past three months since Andrew lost his job. It takes quite a bit to start up a business and going without a paycheck, either through economics or sickness, can be nearly as devastating to a family as having a hurricane rip through your house.

A little preparation can make the difference in surviving what life throws at you and a few simple steps can mean the difference in how you and your family handle everything from a weekend blizzard to a personal disaster.

1. Stock up on food.
Find a spot in your home where you can store non-perishable food and start with the basics such as beans, rice, flour, powdered milk, salt, oil, and honey then add things that make the food edible like spices, baking supplies, dried fruits, canned vegetables and chocolate chips. It’s wise to have a year’s supply of staples but even a month or two of food could mean a great deal to a family facing hard times.

Don’t go into debt to prepare and don’t hoard compulsively but set aside five or ten dollars every time you go shopping to buy a few extra cans of something for a rainy day—even a week’s worth of food can get you through an emergency, even basic toiletries like shampoo and toothpaste.

With food prices rising doesn’t it seem like a prudent thing to do? With our own current situation we've been very glad to have those supplies on hand which we've been living off of for the past three months.

2. Store some water.
Have an emergency supply of water. Two week’s worth is recommended, with a normal adult using two gallons per day, but even a few days worth is a smart thing to have around. You can use empty milk jugs that have been properly cleaned with a mild bleach solution (be careful though because if you store them for long periods of time they can leak) or you can buy fancy 50-gallon drums that sit under your back deck but having some water on hand makes a lot of sense when you remember that in a natural disaster often the water supply is the first thing compromised.

When we faced the floods in North Dakota the first thing to go was the water supply and while the Red Cross came in quickly and set up potable water stations you don't want to have to panic if your supply is disrupted.

3. Stock up on bedding, fuel, clothing, medicine.
Living in Alaska I worry that if anything were to happen to our electricity during the six months of winter we could be in a bad place so having heavy duty sleeping bags, warm clothing, blankets and a gas fireplace that can still be lighted without electricity is important to me.

If you have someone in the family on medication think of having an emergency medical reserve—speak to your family doctor about how to get extras—if you were ever in a disaster situation running around to get a prescription filled isn’t going to help your life any.

4. Have some cash around.
You can never tell when you’re going to need several hundred dollars but when you need it you’ll really need it. In addition, it's advisable to have three months of cash reserves but I'm guessing that the average American household is in debt for that same amount if the truth were known. Once you get out of debt start saving and having some cash reserves to pay those bills if you don't have a paycheck.

So think of this whole list as being prefaced by the number one rule of "get out of debt" then take a look at saving something for that rainy day.

5. Have important documents in a safe place.
Keep copies of important documents in one place that is easily accessible in an emergency. I keep copies of birth certificates, social security cards, names and birthdays, immunization records and our marriage license in a large manila envelope. Once you’ve got the essentials consider copies of financial records such as insurance policies, bank statements, credit card numbers, deeds to vehicles and home, and any other paper that proves your financial situation.
Then you might think of adding CDs with visual records of your home and possessions, family photos and history and other family records. Don’t get too carried away—there are always things you can add that you’ll think you can’t live without—just stick with the things that are either irreplaceable or that will help you replace the things that aren’t.

6. Have a contact plan.
Establish a contact plan with family members so that if there were ever an emergency where you were separated and couldn’t get in contact with each other you’d have a designated person whom people could contact to find out information and determine everyone’s safety.

This might be an extended family member or friend but let your children know that if there ever were an emergency where they couldn’t get in touch with you that this other point of contact is the one they should call.

7. Be familiar with area threats.
Do you know what the weather is like in your neighborhood? Do you get tornadoes or brush fires? Do you know what the procedure is for dealing with such dangers? Do you know what a tsunami warning sounds like? Study up on the threats that your area faces and find out what local authorities have to say about how to prepare.

Most cooperative extensions have information as well as your local Red Cross chapter. Don’t wait for the emergency to learn how to handle things—once you’re prepared the fear of facing such a situation is dramatically reduced.

8. Have insurance.
If you live in a flood plain make sure you have insurance and that you know the terms of your coverage. If you live in earthquake country get the proper protection and keep it current with the value of your home. Life insurance, health insurance, disability and property insurance give great peace of mind when life throws a wrench in your plans.

Don’t worry about fancy, expensive plans that try to cover all sorts of cute little perks like orthodontics and vision and such just get basic “catastrophic” coverage with a high deductible and lower premium so that the big troubles won’t wipe you out. You’re trying to prepare for emergencies, not eventualities like dental cleanings. With Andrew out of work we were able to buy a basic catastrophic plan for just under $200 per month through Fortis on ePolicy.com that covers all six of us. It's got a very high deductible which makes it so affordable.

9. Have an escape plan.
Be aware of what to do and where to go in an emergency. Do you know where the gas shut off valve is in your home? Do you know how to turn off the water main? Do you have the numbers to utility companies in a safe place should you ever need them?

Do you have a place to go if you had to leave town? Do you know which paths to take if your main street were blocked? Do you have extra gas saved to get your SUV out of town? Does your family have a meeting plan for where to meet should anything happen during the work or school day?

10. Don’t panic.
Most importantly, don’t panic. If you take some prudent steps ahead of time, educate yourself to the reasonable dangers you might face and prepare accordingly when that blizzard hits and you can’t make it to the store for milk or when you’re facing six months of partial pay from Disability you can make it through intact. Most of life is smooth sailing but it’s how you deal with the crazy times that can make all the difference.

This list can seem rather overwhelming I'm sure but by picking away at one thing ts a time you can get yourself and your family in a safe spot no matter what the economics or weather look like. It's saved us these past three months.

Sponsored by Forty Fish Eggs

Old-Fashioned Caramel Cake

2009-11-01T00:00:00.009-08:00

Ah, cakes are beautiful things. Especially double layer cakes smothered in luscious caramel frosting. Have I got your attention now?

This one has a light and fluffy texture inside with rich creamy frosting on the outside. I like it.

I also like it because most of these ingredients are things I typically have on hand and it goes together quickly.

Cake:
1 ½ cup sugar
½ cup butter
2 eggs
1 egg white
2 ¼ cup flour
2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 ¼ cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla

Frosting:
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup evaporated milk
1/3 cup teaspoons butter
4 teaspoons corn syrup
dash of salt
4 cups powdered sugar
4 teaspoons vanilla

For cake, grease and flour two round cake pans. Cream sugar and butter. Add eggs and egg white one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add flour mix to sugar mix alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mix. Stir in vanilla.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

For frosting, combine brown sugar and next four ingredients in medium saucepan and boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat and simmer until thick (5 min). Remove from heat and add powdered sugar and vanilla, beating until smooth. Frost cake and garnish with chocolate shavings if desired.

Sponsored by Beau-Coup for unique baby shower favors.

Timberland PRO Renova Giveaway

2009-10-31T00:00:00.000-08:00

Before I was contacted last month by Timberland to do a review of their shoes I'll admit I was a fan. My husband and I both have owned pairs and not only are they comfortable and good for work and play but they are shoes that will last longer than you will. For many years we've worn Timberlands as we've camped and hiked our way across this great state.

In fact I had a pair of sturdy maroon loafers that I wore so much I finally dissolved the sole and had to get them resoled because they still looked so good and were that comfortable. Then--I think it was at about the seven year mark--I wore out the lacing stitches on the toe and replaced it myself and got another several years of wear out of them. Great pair of shoes. We had some good times, those shoes and I.

Anyway, Timberland asked if I'd try a pair from their PRO Reneva series and I said "I'm your gal." They sent me a complimentary pair like the one you see above and they're terrific. I have particularly high arches and this shoe has a nice, high arch that feels so comfortable I'm tempted to wear them to bed. Well, maybe I'm exaggerating that part a little but I do love the high arch and every indication is that this pair is as well-made and comfortable as the other pairs we've had. Even Andrew was kind of excited to see them on my feet--he's kind of a Timberland groupie.

Their PRO Renova series is designed for people on their feet and they have a whole page of styles to choose from (check out the cute Mary Janes that are on sale). This weekend's winner will get to pick their favorite pair from the Timberland PRO Renova series and will receive it, along with this cute little bag you see below in 100% recycled PET (and I had to look that up, it stands for polyethylene terephthalate. Not pets. Have no fear, no bunnies or kittens were harmed in the making of this bag.)

So do you have a pair of shoes you've lived with forever? A pair that's stood the test of time? Give your best reason why you need a pair like this and then follow the directions below to get your name in the running for the prize. Good luck!

Here's how to win:

Before 12 am Monday morning go to the giveaway entry form on this page and enter your name and email. I will pick one of the names at random, contact the winner via their email and publish the winner's first name and home town in next Tuesday's post. See the bottom of the entry form for more details.

This giveaway is open to all readers! Good luck!

Someone I'd Like You to Meet: Allysha from Bells on Their Toes

2009-10-30T00:00:00.007-08:00

This month's Write-Away Contest judge was Allysha from Bells on Their Toes--which I've subscribed to for years and read whenever I want valuable thoughts on motherhood or life. About a year and a half ago she started a second blog, Just an Orange, where she publishes her artistic endeavors. Allysha is the mother of three and I asked her questions about her thoughts on art, writing, blogging and creativity and her answers are wonderful, just take a peak.

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Why did you decide to start your second blog, Just an Orange. What was lacking from Bells on Their Toes that you were looking for in a new blog?

This first question is ironic in that I checked on Just an Orange the other day and realized it has been a year (a year!) since I posted anything there. Bells on Their Toes started out more as a focus on my kids and is more about my domestic life, if you want to call it that, and Just an Orange is more about ideas.

Blogs, like any creative endeavor, can take on their own personality, which is in part why I started a second blog. While I wrote about the humanities some on Bells on Their Toes, I wanted to share more poetry and thoughts on art and music etc. It seemed like more information than could fit onto just one blog. However, as my kids get a bit older I write less about them. I have thought for a long time about starting an entirely new blog that would incorporate some ideas from both blogs, but we'll see. I have a hard time saying goodbye to something and Bells on Their Toes has been a really great outlet for me.

I did get really sick a few months after launching Just an Orange and unfortunately that eventually did me (and it!) in. I have four small children, a husband who teaches at a university full-time while also getting his PhD, so when something had to give, that did. Despite the accidental hiatus, I really love Just an Orange, especially the guest essays I was able to post (check them out!). Hopefully I'll be able to resurrect it in some form or another one of these days.

Which do you feel is more important to you and your creativity?

Bells On Their Toes is more personal than Just an Orange, and it's obviously the blog I am most consistent with, but both are important for me from a creative standpoint. Posts for Just an Orange were more like mini college essays, so they usually took more time to compose. Bells on Their Toes is so much about my life it's easy to just sit down and plunk something out.

I am the first to admit that sometimes my posts are simply a way of saying “I'm still alive!” They aren't all great compositions. But I write for myself and I enjoy the blog format because it gives me an audience, albeit a smallish one. Once upon a time I worried more about building my readership and always having something new for them to read, but with my kids (ages 2-7) I decided I didn't want to spend the kind of time and energy needed to launch that sort of blog right now. It was then I realized that for me the most important thing is my own creative release. I so appreciate my readers and their comments however, because it is really nice to feel like I have connected with someone else. Bells on Their Toes has been a great outlet in that way.

You’ve come from an artistic parentage, do you have siblings and how did they find their creative outlet? What has passed onto your children?

All of my siblings are creative but I don't consider my family really artsy, maybe because most of us have a hefty dose of analytical fervor that keeps us grounded. That said, in the mix are writers, artists, musicians, dancers and designers of all kinds (graphic, interior, and a landscape architect). Everyone does at least one of these. But sports and the outdoors also plays a prominent role. More for some than others.

My kids love art, and books and are very musical. One of my daughters has been putting on her own solo production of the Nutcracker the past few nights and her sister designed the set. So I guess it's just naturally passed on.

You’re interested in so many things: dance, literature, poetry, painting, drawing, music—which is your favorite of the fine arts and why?

Oh, that's hard to answer. It may be that words are my first love, or at least the most accessible, but the fine arts all sort of move around inside each other, don't they? I guess I consider the paintings on the Sistine Chapel a kind of music and the movement of a dancer a kind of poetry, just as the words of a poem laid down on the page is a careful kind of dance, or more particularly, a kind of music. They all give me the same kind of thrill. I'm not sure what it is.

I've been able to participate in some form in all of these things, nothing earth shattering, mind you. The culmination of my musical career was perhaps my experience in the jr high band, but I loved the synergy of performing a piece of music in a big group. Growing up both of my parents, but especially my father, taught me to have a great appreciation for wonderful art in all it's forms. I'm really grateful for that.

What projects are you currently working on? What’s on the workbench now?

I have a few short stories I'm quite fond of (of which I am quite fond? That sounds pretentious) that need to be revised and a book that is in the beginning stages (doesn't everyone?) but these days they sit on the back burner of my consciousness slowly simmering while I finish tiling the backsplash in my kitchen.

What are your favorites: book, poet, composer, painting?

I don't have absolute favorites (too many!) but here is what comes to mind at the moment:

Book: The Agony and the Ecstasy by Irving Stone

Writer: Edith Wharton's short stories are what I've been reading lately. She is amazing.

Composer: Ralph Vaughn Williams has some really nice stuff. (Also the standbys Beethoven and Mozart. Really.)

Painting: Hmmm. Let's go with work of art and I'll say Michelangelo's Moses.

How can mothers find time for creativity in their own lives? What are ways they can make time in small ways? What has worked for you?

It's always a trick isn't it? You can't have it all at the same time. Given the ages and needs of my children there are things I'd love to do (regular writing time) but I don't. With my personality and the demands on my time these days most of my creative endeavors are participatory; I read, I watercolor with the kids, I listen to good music in the car while shuttling people around. If I'm lucky I get out to see an art exhibit at the local museum. But honestly, I have simply chosen to not do a lot of things I'd like to do. I trust there will be time in the coming years as my kids get older when my energy level, their demands, and my ability to juggle it all will become, not less demanding because come on, this is motherhood, but maybe more compliant with one another.

What can mothers do to inspire this creativity in their children (or husbands?) How have you approached this?

I don't really have a grand plan. I suppose that just as my parents shared different experiences and opportunities with me, I in turn share them with my children. It's not calculated. I have memories of looking though my mom's art books and being fascinated, especially by Van Gogh. My dad always had some interesting classical piece playing on the record player. And he took me to the ballet a lot.

It seems to me that if I truly love something, it will be natural that my children are exposed to it, if I am interacting with them in any meaningful way. And so far, that seems to be working!

How do you see the marriage between technology and creativity? Do they compete or compliment and why?

The trick with technology, especially as involves the internet, is that it makes things so immediate, it almost demands an immediate creative process and I think it's easy for quality to get lost in the bid to get something out there. Also it's very easy for the technology to become The Thing, as opposed to the creative work. Am I blogging? Or am I writing and posting it on a blog? I can tell the difference. Is one better than the other? Depends on what you're going for. However, I have read some rather interesting stories in 140 characters or less.

What is your favorite poem you’ve written (if you don’t mind sharing)

I don't think I'll share my favorite poem, the internet sometimes being a vast black hole into which certain things can fall and never return (too melodramatic?) But I will share a rather facetious poem I wrote at the end of a poetry class in college entitled The End (Someday you can read my work in The Atlantic Monthly and The New Yorker – ha!)

When the last word has been written
I will take this tired body to the water
and lay it down. Though my fingers rest
upon the shore they will still try
to wrap around pencils the same way
that my mind will spend the next week
walking around on a metaphor, forgetting
that it isn't real.
I’ve wondered if it’s as easy to be creative nowadays—that so much has already been done and what’s often produced is mimicry and not original. What do you think? Have all the best stories been written? Are there great things still left to do?

I'm sure there are still great things left to do. The question is, who will do them? I'm not sure our culture nurtures or even appreciates great art or the process needed to create great art. We saturate ourselves with easy entertainment full of gratuitous sex and violence. We are a culture that tries to avoid consequences and hand out lavish rewards for doing just about anything.

Great art must tell the truth. For a lot of people this means telling only about the dark side of life. But I don't think a great work can wallow in the muck the entire time any more than such art can simply be a didactic morality tale. Great art is about redemption in some form. But we seem to be afraid of saying that we need redemption. Either we are too comfortable in our sad states, or too afraid of the glorious possibilities.

Obviously I am not speaking individually, but collectively. I think there are some wonderfully talented people out there and I expect that they will be able to produce wonderful things if they can see their way to do it.

Sponsored by K & M Studios and photographer Megan Burgess

Most Haunted Houses (Plus a Few Other Haunted Places Too)

2009-10-29T00:00:00.013-08:00

I don't really believe in ghosts, that's my youngest son's department (he used to swear that the Loch Ness Monster was out there and it provided hours of family entertainment) and with today's list it's all about places you could go if you wanted to play ghost buster.

And notice that Alaska makes a nice little showing in the rankings? Shows how cool we are.

1. Myrtles Plantation
This historic home was built in the late 18th century and rumors have built up over the years to give it more ghosts than you can shake a stick at *shake shake*. These include a former slave who was hung in the yard for killing two little girls (though evidence that he existed, let alone terrorized in a murderous rage, is tenuous at best).

While he himself spends his holidays haunting the place he's joined, of course, by the the ghosts of the two children he supposedly got rid of. Of course.

However, the only confirmed murder to happen on the premises was that of William Drew Winter, an attorney who lived at Myrtles from 1860 to 1871. He was shot on the side porch by a stranger then staggered into the house and began to climb the stairs to the second floor (isn't this all very dramatic?) but collapsed and died and his dying footsteps can be heard on the staircase to this very day!

The great part about this house though is that besides these happy occurrences it is said that the ghosts of other slaves occasionally show up to mournfully ask if they can do any chores. Can you imagine something so wonderful? I can only guess at how that improves the property value, having built-in maid service. Man, how much would I'd love to have people wafting through my home, saying nothing but "Ma'am, are there any other chores I can do?" Sweet.

In addition to this it's said that the grand piano will sometimes play by itself, repeating one haunting chord. Now that does sound like my house. The piano is going all the time and it's the same stuff over and over and over . . . Bon Jovi, Journey, Green Day, Cold Play . . . definitely haunting and distressing.

Maybe my house is haunted too.

2. The White House
Yes, that White House. Apparently Mr. Obama has house guests that he may not even be aware of. They say (whoever "they" may be) that former president Harrison can be heard digging through the attic--did you even know the White House had an attic?--and the ghost of Abigail Adams has been seen in the hallways. Seems like I remember the Clintons having a hard time saying goodbye to the place as well and hanging around long after the party was over . . .

But the most common ghost is, of course, Mr. Lincoln himself. That's right, get this: Eleanor Roosevelt once said she felt the presence of Lincoln watching her as she worked in the Lincoln bedroom. (That proves he's haunting the place right there). But then a clerk claimed to have seen the ghost of Lincoln sitting on a bed pulling off his boots. But the funniest one is when Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands was awakened by a knock on the bedroom door. Answering it, she was allegedly met with the ghost of Abe Lincoln staring at her from the hallway.

Because if you're queen you're used to getting strange knocks on your bedroom door in the middle of the night and it's oh-so-normal to get out of bed and answer it yourself. I can just picture her there in her nighty with night cream on her face and the tiara on her head coming to the bedroom door. Somehow I'm doubting the old girl's story.

But then Calvin Coolidge's wife reported seeing the ghost of Lincoln on several occasions, standing with his hands clasped behind his back, at a window in the Oval Office, staring out in deep contemplation toward the battlefields across the Potomac. So there.

3. The Whaley House
In old town San Diego stands the Whaley House which was converted into a museum after earning the title of "Most Haunted House in America." I guess that fits if you consider that the house was haunted even before it was finished--they had used the property as a site for hanging and a man was executed there in 1852 so it was just asking for trouble to put a house on that spot.

Kind of like building your swimming pool on top of an relocated Indian burial site, huh?

I'd go through the long list of ghosts that make an appearance there but it's not that exciting--the Whaley family lived there so long that all sorts of people ended up dying there so it's kind of obvious that it was voted as "most likely to be a ghost house" but I'm extremely skeptical. They say that a ghost is present when a room has a cold spot. If that were the case then it would seem that Alaska would have more than its fair share of ghosts but we don't seem to get that many around here.

Maybe ghosts don't like snow either.

4. The LaLaurie House
Delphine LaLaurie (and I'll say right here that regardless of what I'm about to reveal about her her name is simply smashing) was twice widowed and she was caught mistreating her slaves which was all it took for rumors to run wild. By all accounts she was a very nasty lady who whipped slave girls for minor infractions (as if it's acceptable to whip slaves for major infractions, or to have slaves at all?) and when neighbors began to complain she ended up fleeing the country, eventually dying in France I believe.

But still, her victims' ghosts remain to remind us of her cruelty and her house remains as a tribute to the times. As an interesting side note Nicholas Cage bought the place and then sold it a year or two ago. Apparently he liked the stories about it too.

5. The Queen Mary
This famous ship was permanently docked and made into a hotel which I would very much like to visit because in World War II my grandfather traveled to Europe as a GI, sleeping on its deck, back in 1943.

I'll have to ask him if he saw any ghosts. Supposedly the ghost of a sailor who was crushed while trying to escape a fire haunts regularly and the ghost of a child who drown in the pool makes appearances, as if there'd be any room for ghosts with all those soldiers crawling the place.

6. The Bell House
Somewhere in Tennessee (not sure where) back in the 1860s there lived the Bell family who had their lives inconvenienced by a ghost that came to be known as Kate (why are ghosts never named Lateesha, Zoey or Jasmine?) Claiming she was a witch (not sure how this communication was received or if it was just a given based on circumstances) she began to harass the farmer until he grew so sick he took to his bed.

He eventually died and--get this--next to his bed was a suspicious bottle containing black liquid. Bell's breath also had the same smell as the liquid and when they gave a drop to the cat he died instantly. Potent stuff, no? Anyway, investigators made the completely logical deduction that Bell must have had the bottle of poison administered to him by a spirit--probably that Kate person who'd been haunting him.

Makes sense. A lot more sense than, say, his WIFE tried to get rid of him, right? Because why would she want him dead? It makes so much more sense that it was a mysterious disembodied spirit that had at one time taken the form of a half-rabbit-half-dog creature leaping through the corn fields which he supposedly saw one day. Lots more sense.

Whatever. It makes for a good story I guess because it's been made into books and movies.

7. Eastern State Penitentiary
I bet if you took every state in the country and added up all the ghost stories, Pennsylvania--specifically Philadelphia--would have more ghosts per capita than any other place in the U.S. It's true.

I guess if you're famous enough to have housed Al Capone within your walls then you're due for a few ghosts. Rumor has it that Al Capone was haunted by the ghost of someone he offed during the St. Valentine's Day massacre though somehow I'm doubting this. I have a hard time seeing Capone with a conscience--even with so selective a conscience.

Other apparitions include a shadow-like figure that scoots quickly away when approached, a figure that stands in the guard tower, an evil cackling coming from cellblock 12 and another shadowy figure who has been seen sliding down the wall. Yup, none of those things sound like they fit in in a prison. It must be ghosts.

8. The Anchorage Hotel
I'm including this for hometown sentimentality. This fun little place is in downtown Anchorage (yes I've been there) and in the guest register they have a place where people can share their encounters.

Um, with spirits that is.

The city's first police chief, John Sturgis, was shot in the alleyway outside the hotel and died shortly thereafter and his ghost is said to roam around. There have also been reports of an unnamed female ghost who was jilted at the alter because her fiance left to look for gold. She hanged herself in her wedding dress (so the story goes) and now hangs out at the hotel in an eternal honeymoon.

9. The Congelier House
This used to carry the title of Most Haunted House in America (one has to wonder how the award is given out--and is there a medal or monetary prize that accompanies the title?) and I have to say that if you judged it solely on violence and rumor, this one beats the Whaley House all to pieces.

Built by a Yankee carpetbagger in Pittsburg (see? What did I tell you--it's always Pennsylvania. Maybe because it rhymes with "Transylvania"?) it got its reputation when the lady of the house found the master dabbling with the maid whereupon she got him with a knife and whacked off the poor girl's head. Yes, that's bloody I know. True? I don't know. But it's got ghosts with a vengeance.

It was said Thomas Edison built some kind of contraption to facilitate conversation with the dead (apparently he wanted to one up that dumb Alexander Graham Bell for beating him to the telephone) all because of what he saw on a visit to the Congelier house.

10. The Winchester House
Saving the best for last this is the only house that seems to be actually and legitimately odd for a plausible reason.

Sarah Winchester was the widow of William Winchester of Winchester rifle fame and when her husband and baby daughter died suddenly, leaving her with 40 million dollars and too much time by herself she went west and built this strange 160-room mansion from the depths of her grief.

Rumor was that she was told by a medium or by the ghost of her husband, whichever angle makes you happier, that she was being punished for all the people the Winchester guns had killed and that the house she built needed to be under continual construction or she would die. And anyone who has been through a remodel knows exactly how she feels.

At any rate she took the ghost as his word and the house is this crazy concoction of halls and stairways and tributes to the number thirteen. Chandeliers were modified to hold thirteen candles, some hallways and stairways lead nowhere and there are spiderweb motifs around the grounds. I think I'd be interested in seeing the place just for kicks.

What else are you going to do on Halloween?

Sponsored by Forty Fish Eggs

I'm Out and About Today

2009-10-28T00:00:00.002-08:00

I'm on hiatus today, I'll be speaking at the Twitter conference here in Anchorage at 10:15 am so if you happen to be downtown this morning drop on by the Snow Goose restaurant and say hello. But catch me quick because it's also parent-teacher conferences this afternoon so I'll be on the road again by lunch.

Which reminds me . . . if you're not doing anything in February I'll also be speaking at Blissdom 2010 the first week of the month in Nashville--I believe the topic they asked me to hit is "Modern Mommy Blogging" which will be a great one. Never been to Nashville and I cannot wait, I have always wanted to go to Tennessee. See you there!

And besides this, I've got a few items for your attention:

It still hasn't snowed . . . just in case you were wondering, so the snow contest marches on without a winner yet.

What do you think about the new Speed-Writing Craze? (Or should I say "Crazy" and give away my own opinion on the matter?)

Think it's expensive to get married? Check out the list of all-time Most Expensive Weddings. Then laugh.

Check out the instructions on making your own bath tub paint--we used to do this ages ago.

I know it's not anywhere near Christmas yet but I love the simplicity of this wooden block Nativity set. I imagine I could try and make one myself if I had some patience.

Check out this two-in-one desk/bed that I covet.

Make up a batch of this Rhubarb Nut Bread or these Grasshopper Squares . . . thank you . . . don't mind if I do!

Sponsored by Pak Naks--decorate your stuff!

Making Tamales

2009-10-27T00:00:00.008-08:00

When Grace was about ten she was into the American Girl books and discovered their line of matching cook books, each one with instructions for making food suitable for each character's heritage. How glad I was that one of the girls had Mexican ancestors because otherwise we would have been stuck eating things like hasty pudding. Hmmmm . . .

But as it was Grace wanted to make all the Mexican food Josephina ate and that meant tamales. I'd never made them before and I had this vague notion that they were really, really hard and time consuming because I'd heard about little old women standing in hot kitchens, making tamales all day long for the evening meal.

Apparently I was misinformed because they're really, really easy. As in pie. Grace makes them up and we slurp them right down and we're all very happy about the situation.

Anyway, all a tamale is is a batch of cornmeal dough, usually a combination of masa, lard and water, wrapped around a bit of slow cooked and savory meat spiced with chilies which is tied up inside a dried corn husk just like a little Christmas package and steamed to perfection.

When you unwrap them the cornmeal dough has cooked around the meat and it's oh so tasty. I cook them in my vegetable steamer but you can use any kind of steamer to do the job. I've seen all sorts of recipe variations too--some using mushrooms and some using vegetables--I've actually got this theory that you could make sweet versions, maybe with a bit of cinnamon sprinkled in the dough and a bit of caramel or jam or sliced apples in the middle. I don't see why you'd be limited to just beef and chilies--cornmeal has a certain amount of sweetness as it is so putting applesauce or even some chocolate in there shouldn't be too off-putting.

Anyway, here's Grace's recipe.

For the dough:
6 cups masa harina
5 cups warm water or chicken broth
2 cups lard or shortening
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon chile powder
1 1/2 teaspoon salt

Mix masa with water or broth and let set for 20 minutes to soften. Then with mixer mix in the rest of the ingredients until it's a dough consistency.

For filling:
3 cups shredded beef
8 large roasted chiles- skin, seeds and veins removed and coarsely chopped.
1 white onion- peeled and coarsely chopped.
6 cloves of garlic- peeled and crushed.
1 jalapeno- seeded and diced
1 cup homemade chile sauce or store bought.

Roast the above ingredients in a casserole dish at about 300 degrees for several hours until nice and fragrant.

To prepare the tamales, soak dried corn husks (you can get them at the Mexican section of the supermarket) in warm water for about ten minutes. Then dry them and put a couple tablespoons of the masa dough in the husk. Spread it out a bit then put a spoonful of filling in the middle and cover it with the dough. Wrap the corn husk around the package as you see here and tie with a strip of corn husk.

Steam them for about 90 minutes. To eat, you unwrap them and enjoy the treat inside. Serve with a bit of reserved sauce or you can freeze them for later.

***

I had this awful moment yesterday when I realized that I completely spaced drawing a winner for last weekend's Sugarhouse Ink giveaway. So today I've got two winners to announce. First, Norma was the winner of the $50 gift certificate to Sugarhouse Ink and then Sondra was the winner of the $60 Mikarose gift certificate. So sorry to have slacked off.

Sponsored by Beau-Coup for unique baby shower favors.

Brought to You by the Trolls of the World

2009-10-26T00:00:00.006-08:00

Two and a half years ago my nephew Alex who was autistic ran away from his home and drowned in a lake in his neighborhood. I've mentioned in two different posts that he passed away but I didn't really talk about it out of respect to my sister, Carinne, and her family's privacy.

But I'm afraid my wanting to spare her further pain wasn't shared by everyone here in our little community--the local media covered the tragedy by leaving out important facts and then using words which hinted at parental negligence. They even went so far as to say that police were investigating and were thinking of pressing charges--none of it true.

Of course those of us who knew the family were shocked. The news didn't mention that he was severely autistic and generally incapable of communication, that he was a very strong and large seven year old boy who was attracted to water and repeatedly escaped from his house so he wore an electronic monitoring bracelet because of his parents' fears of just such an event occurring. Anyone who knew them knew of their love and care, it was an accident and the family deserved compassion and comfort but instead they were being accused of being bad parents.

No one from the media made any attempt to find out their story, reports kept being broadcast that hinted that there was some kind of a police investigation going on. Of course it was all untrue, it was just a high-tech rumor mill, but then the letters to the editor started coming. People who had heard the news reports made assumptions and judgments then began making accusations. A few wrote scathing letters demanding that the police press charges and saying horrible things which we desperately tried to keep from my sister and her family while they were planning for Alex's funeral.

It was bad enough that the newspaper printed these inflammatory letters in an effort to sell papers (which is one of the main reasons I cannot tolerate the Anchorage Daily News and will hold a vicious grudge against them until the day I die) but we were completely shocked that people in our community would say such horrid things and jump to such conclusions without giving another human being the benefit of the doubt.

I've seen this happen a couple of times to other unfortunate families, my sister's situation wasn't an isolated case. A single African American mother who worked full time reported her two sons missing. People thought they knew all about her, some started pointing fingers, making suggestions about what had happened until the two little boys were found in a nearby pond and it was determined it had all been an accident. About the same time Alex died a single father dropped his teenage daughter off at a party where she was shot and killed. Again, letters to the editor came out condemning this man for his bad parenting and holding him responsible for what had happened to his daughter.

I've been thinking about these things after the post I wrote last Monday. I had worried that writing about my son and our worries was a little too personal but then I thought that it might be a good thing to share if it helped others going through the same thing and to let people know we're certainly not perfect over here and I have all sorts of struggles. So I published and held my breath and I was touched by how kind the responses were.

But then I got a comment that was like a sock in the gut. Instead of merely disagreeing with my points on parenting an anonymous commenter attacked my son and then us as parents. At first I let the comment stand for a while out of shock and there were some of you who were very kind about supporting us (thanks Carinne for sticking up for me) but I finally decided it was better to take the post down. I didn't want my son to read what had been written about him and I decided that maybe I'd been too open with things--that by being too open I was now being punished.

Carinne and I spoke about the experience and we both wondered why people do this kind of thing? Even if people think these nasty things what propels them to put pen to paper and air their opinions to the world? I've never been attacked face-to-face so why is it that people feel free to write things that they'd never say in person?

My personal opinion is that somewhere in them is a bit of common decency that holds them back from saying things like this to someone's face but once that face-to-face contact is removed the person on the other end is just an anonymous, amorphous entity without feelings and suddenly they're free to take their best shot. It's like being in a car, separated from the other cars you are free to say things to the other drivers you'd never say to them if they were standing in front of you though even that bit of social courtesy is being eroded as well.

Of course I still think there's a bit of something there that tells them that what they're doing is wrong because why else would they be so cowardly as to remain anonymous? If they thought that they were helping or serving or constructively criticizing they'd leave their name as proof but none of them ever do. They leave the note and slink away, finding satisfaction in throwing the rock then hiding like some truant schoolchild.

What is wrong with people that they can't feel sympathy for another person, especially one who is struggling with a child or who has lost a child? Are they so scared that something might happen to their own children that they search around for ways to show how the other parents did something wrong that caused events to turn out badly? Maybe they think that if they can find a reason why another mother messed up, that it's somehow her fault, then it can't happen to them.

I've had plenty of nasty comments here over the years and each one kind of shocks me. Being judgmental and critical may be a natural human trait but how did we come so far as to lose that little voice inside that says, "Keep your feelings to yourself. Not only is that other person a human being with feelings who deserves compassion but it's wrong to say hurtful things. It doesn't matter that you think you're right."

Well whatever prompts these people to act that way, the problem is just getting worse. There are so many online venues available now that trolls don't need to hide under bridges any more, they're coming out into the daylight to feed which means that it's just going to be that much more important for the rest of us to do everything we can to make sure courtesy and compassion still have a place in the world--it's going to be up to us to make the difference.

Sponsored by Pak Naks--decorate your stuff!

Ragu a la Bolognese

2009-10-25T00:00:00.004-08:00

My very favorite food in the whole entire world is spaghetti. I love pasta of any kind, but if I had to choose which pasta I loved the most it would be spaghetti--or at least what we Americans call "spaghetti." In actuality what I'm talking about is probably this dish. Ragu bolognese.

Whenever I had a birthday I'd ask Mom to make spaghetti and on the few times we went out to dinner I'd find it on the menu and eagerly anticipate. Of course I never found it to be quite as good as the homemade variety (darn Denny's) and I'd always go home every-so-slightly disappointed.

It surprises me how few people make homemade sauce because it is so easy and such a staple in our house.

The trick is low temperatures. You never want to cook onions on high heat, that makes them bitter, you want it low to medium, slow cooking makes all the flavors meld better. And if you're like me you want those pieces of celery and carrot chopped very fine. Flavor is good but pieces of celery staring up at you from your fork isn't.

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup minced onion
1 finely minced celery
½ cup finely minced carrot
1 pound mild Italian sausage
4 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon minced garlic
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
1 bay leaf
2 cups chicken broth
1 10 oz can tomato puree
3 tablespoons capers

Saute onion, celery and carrot in oil on medium-low heat for 8 min. Remove, then add sausage and cook until brown and broken up. Add the nest six ingredients through bay leaf, simmer for fifteen minutes, then add the onion/celery/carrot mix, broth and tomato puree and capers, simmer 1 hour. Discard bay leaf, toss with pasta and top with freshly grated parmesan.

Sponsored by Forty Fish Eggs