Today's selection--from Unruly by David Mitchell. Queen Elizabeth I, one of England’s most powerful monarchs, never married: “Like her father's reign, Elizabeth's was dominated by thoughts of marriage. On average, they got married three times each. Poor Elizabeth had zero spouses. It looks as if she went to her grave straight from the shelf, where […]
Today's selection--from Puritan Boston and Quaker Philadelphia by E. Digby Baltzell. The cultural differences in early America between Boston and Philadelphia: “The preeminent families of both Boston and Philadelphia traditionally refer to themselves as clans. In our increasingly atomized society, where even the nuclear family is being questioned, what they mean can be best understood […]
We binged American Primeval yesterday and while it had its good moments, it left a bad taste in our mouths. Yes, spoilers ahead, but also understand some of the show is loosely, very loosely, based on actual history, one of them a key event I incorporated in my own work of fiction. The show has […]
Our students have compiled research in three topic areas. Below are the links to their research tables that can be downloaded for searching and viewing. For a state-by-state review of Mandatory Reporter laws, click here. For a state-by-state review of Background Check laws, click...
Our students spend the summer working on the research project of the LDICP. Through their extensive research, massive databases of information on state statutes regarding the abuse of children have been created and will be posted here as their work is finalized. Here are...
on Helping Writers become Authors: You who read this site and participate in its discussions on all the writing topics are an endless source of inspiration to me. This is true in many ways, but most literally in that when you ask deeply insightful questions, you often give me great ideas for posts about writing […]
TheRide pays tribute to Rosa Parks with seats reserved on Ann Arbor buses ANN ARBOR, MI — Bus riders in the Ann Arbor area may notice something different Tuesday, Feb. 4. It’s Transit Equity Day and the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority, known as TheRide, is honoring civil rights icon Rosa Parks by reserving a […]
Here’s a fun teaser from War of Nytefall: Rivalry. I posted this a long time ago, but I wanted to do it again because it was kind of funny. For those who don’t know, Titus is a vampire who stands … Continue reading →
Welcome to the rerun of my A-Z of World Cuisines…where I will be looking at the countries of the world, their food and national dish or their most popular dish around the world…by this I mean some dishes are eaten … Continue reading →
Myself, along with my 4 daughters, daughter-in-law, and one of my granddaughters formed a book club in January to see who could read the most books in 2024. We stay in touch with a group text every day and Goodreads. As an incentive we all agreed to put $1 a week into a kitty and […]
Since her debut album, Taylor Swift has always been a source of introspective inspiration for me. Her lyrics both resonate with my own experiences and encourage me to think about… The post Taylor Swift Lyrics to Inspire Introspection appeared first on Positively Present - Dani DiPirro.
Everyone wants to win. Everyone also hates the struggle—hates the hard work, hates the uncertainty, hates struggling against great odds.Guess what? Only through your struggle do you grow stronger. Sure, it would be nice if success just fell into your lap, but that probably isn't going to happen.Success requires commitment, consistency of effort, hard work, […]
Hello everyone, my name is Stewart F. Brennan. I’m the creator of this, the World United Music blog. Over the past two decades, I’ve juggled my time and energy populating five different blogs containing alternative news, music, economics, political activism and creative passions while also supporting hundreds of artists, activists and alternative news journalists. I […]
All-American patriot, artist, designer, entrepreneur, flower arranger, chef, and joyful servant, Sunny Lou Starling, was carried on the wings of angels to the arms of her savior, Jesus Christ, on Friday, January 6, 2023. She once said her mission was to “Gather and feed all you can, as often as you can, because you never know if […]
WASP Deanie Bishop Parrish, 44-W-4"Failure isn't failure unless you let it be. It's simply a change in direction. Just count your many blessings move on. With God's help, anything is possible!"Deanie Bishop Parrish passed away peacefully in her home in Waco, Texas, on February 24, 2022, just one day shy of her 100th birthday. She met every challenge […]
Editors Note: After posting over five thousand features and twenty five thousand images over the last thirteen years, the time has come to end posting weekly features here on The Old Motor. At this point, the site’s future hasn’t been decided, although it will remain online for the foreseeable future. There may be future updates...
In this weekly series, we ask our readers to tell us the year, make, and model of all of these vehicles along with the location where the image was taken and anything else you find of interest in the photos. You can look back on all the earlier parts of this series here. The photos are via Americar....
New Kindle and Audiobook Releases, Sales and Freebies Are you in our FB Group, Ana’s Attic After Dark? If you use this list, please consider sharing it with friends or on social media! Please check out my January Recap for my January reviews and all the releases. I finally finished listening to Iron Storm –Review […]
From June 1908 comes this third installment of Detroit Publishing's "general view" of the Motor City. Notable landmarks include Monroe Street at left (street cleaning in progress), the Hotel Pontchartrain, Cadillac Square, the Wayne County Building and Congress Street and the Detroit River at right. Composite of two 8x10 inch glass negatives. View full size.
June 1908. "Greater Detroit." Our aerial overview of the Motor City continues with this Detroit Publishing panorama encompassing a brief stretch of Fort Street, the Federal Building post office, and Michigan and Grand River Avenues. As well as "THE GAYETY -- Detroit's New Home of Burlesque." Composite of two 8x10 inch glass negatives. View full […]
Christmas 1949 in Valparaiso, Indiana. That's Grandma in a Kodachrome slide. View full size. Our Christmas coda is this cocktail-hour Kodachrome submitted by Shorpy charter member Delworthio 16 years ago, in 2008. Cheers!
Occupied Germany at the U.S.-Soviet sector The East/West German border circa 1951, ten years before the Berlin Wall was built. U.S. Army soldiers Harry Manville, Dave Crosson, and Ray Kwapil (my dad). I have the Agfa Karat 35mm and Rolleicord 6x6cm Dad is dangling. Nice cameras, they are still working. Location: "Untersuhl by Eisenach, Germany, […]
In reply to The Gayety: 1908: The building on the right with the big sign is Summerfield & Hecht, a furniture store opened to cater to the Detroit's growing blue collar population. They were among the first stores to introduce paying using the installment plan -- they billed themselves as the "House of Dignified Credit". […]
In reply to The Gayety: 1908: But being a Mason, he probably would have been eligible to do so. It's good to see the (rival?) GAR building come into view: Apparently camera shy, it was just out of range in an earlier post.
Here’s an old Italian recipe for canning peppers, one of my husband’s favorites. Searching the internet, you’ll come across many variations — all probably good — but here’s a basic recipe to start you on your course. The kids and I canned these using the boiling method, though pressure canners might make the process easier. Not sure how, […]
Microgreens seem to be all the rage these days and for good reason: they are packed with nutrients and easy to grow! The USDA and University of Maryland found that leaves from microgreens had more nutrients than the mature leaves of the same plants. And great flavor. Plus, you don’t need a lot of space […]
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 4, 2025 is: zaftig \ZAHF-tig\ adjective Someone described as zaftig has a full, rounded figure, or in other words is pleasingly plump. // Portraits of zaftig models are exhibited in the artist's collection. See the entry > Examples: "... Pablo Picasso produced an estimated 13,500 paintings, […]
This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our privacy policy for details. Quick, easy weeknight meal made in 40 min! With crumbled sausage, tortellini, spinach, cream and basil. So creamy! reasons to make sausage tortellini soup tips and tricks for success sausage tortellini soup variations Meat Italian sausage (sweet or spicy) or ground beef, […]
This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our privacy policy for details. A classic French stew with oh-so-tender braised fall apart beef with vegetables in a luxurious red wine gravy sauce. why i love beef bourguignon what exactly is beef bourguignon Similar to its sister dish, coq au vin, beef bourguignon (also known as […]
Doug Collins, an Air Force Reserve colonel, chaplain, and Iraq War veteran, was confirmed on Tuesday as the next secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs in a 72-23 Senate vote. In addition to his Air Force service, Collins is also a Navy veteran, Baptist minister and former congressman. Collins served in the Navy from […]
A massive new gym at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, has over 100 weight and cardio stations, a platoon-sized kitchen, and a digital shooting range — though it is open just to students and staff at the Army’s special operations training hub. At $43 million, the Human Performance & Force Generation Training Center, or HP Forge, […]
February 1I rode Scarlett, my 2014 Ural Patrol, the 8 miles or so north on Hwy 85 till i got to Gate 9 of Area B, BGAFR.I wanted to see if there was anyone camping along the main route heading towards Tophat Mountain. No one around!I was briefly tempted to displace for increased solitude but […]
January 29As I munch on some Foccacia bread and drank coffee, I also wandered about the campsite area for pics.The rising sun lit things up nicely:January 30Both yesterday and today, I spent the morning reinforcing points on the aluma trailer which are developing cracks and such. In the afternoon, it was more wandering for pics:I'd seen […]
Today would have been my mother’s 100th birthday. Sadly, she missed that milestone by passing at only 79 years of age. An age--by the way--that seems entirely too young now that I’m nearly 75 myself.
UPDATE: A friend at Amazon saw this post, looked into it, and informed me that the whole thing was a mistake: my second review did indeed post; I shouldn’t have received the first email, requiring revisions; I certainly shouldn’t have received the second email, mistakenly informing me that even my revised review wouldn’t do. They’re […]
If you’re not familiar with Noam Chomsky’s insights into the real causes and consequences of US foreign policy, The Myth of American Idealism is an excellent introduction. If you are familiar, it’s a great refresher. IMO, the biggest, high-level takeaways:1. Rulers have far more in common with and concern for each other than regard for the people […]
Long before we were a sailing family, Alisa and I were a young couple in love with adventuring in Alaska. The opportunity to introduce Eric and Elias to the delights of outdoor living in the Great Land was one of the big bright sides of our return to Alaska. Earlier this winter, the boys and […]
So...this beautiful island is our home. See the barky? The boys just had their spring break. A week off from school and nothing to keep us from buggering off in Galactic. The weather was generally poor - nothing like the pics above for the most part - so we just snuck off to the west […]
Here is a link to a story about my struggle to draw with Parkinson's Disease. the story is from "The Daily Cartoonist" a Web journal concerning the world of professional cartooning. It was occasioned by the release of the documentary "Matters of Mind, My Parkinson's" which follows three families and their efforts to cope […]
Here is a short trailer for the PBS documentary "Matter of Mind, My Parkinson's. It follows the attempts of three people and their families to cope with the progressive, disabling and incurable neurological condition. The film won the Audience Choice Award for documentaries at the recent San Francisco Film Festival, possibly due to a scenery-chewing […]
Story and photos by Chloe Anderson. The jagged peaks of the Mendenhall Towers pierced through a layer of low-hanging clouds as I crouched by the rocky shore, trying to ... The post Chloe’s love affair with Alaska. In winter. In Juneau. appeared first on Alaska Travelgram.
Devil’s Club is a common wild plant in Alaska that’s large & covered in hidden sharp thorns, growing everywhere from remote forests to even well-groomed Anchorage city trails. Just because you’re “in town” doesn’t mean you won’t run into devil’s club. It’s smart to stay on the trails, particularly if you’re not confident spotting it. […]
Here’s a delicious fall-time spin on classic blueberry muffins. If you’re a solo adult who likes good food, this recipe is for you. Or if you’ve got extra kitchen “helpers” around (read: kids who need entertainment), turn baking these Halloween muffins into a fun toddler snacktivity. Pumpkin BOO-berry Muffin Recipe Ingredients: 2 boxes Jiffy brand […]
These gluten-free pumpkin cookies are the softest, most delectable cookies you’ll ever eat! They are remarkably light in texture and are topped with a luscious, dairy-free brown sugar frosting. They are quick and easy, and the cookie dough requires no refrigeration. They will quickly become one of your favorite pumpkin desserts! I don't know about you,... […]
I’m home now. I’m looking at the flea market couch I brought up from California; I had cushions made three times over the years till I got it just right. Now it’s just right. It’s been in my life 42 years. Tim has been in my life 34 years, but he had to be out of […]
I’m saying my goodbyes to Toronto. I’ve seen my last Hot Docs Festival film, and I’m just back from my last author program. I’ve probably had my last roti, checked out my last book at my local branch library, gone to my last art workshop. Horror of horrors, I’ve even watched my last play. The thing […]
Make America Healthy Again These now unUnited States of America have a drug problem, and it’s a lot bigger than the illicit chemicals that have cost the country more than $1 […]
Only in Alaska where black is white With fisheries scientists now describing expanding populations of pink salmon as ecosystem disrupters across nearly the whole of the Northern Hemisphere, it is time someone […]
It’s here. The big day. My memoir, the one I spent 15 years struggling over, launches today from Raised Voice Press. I’m feeling very exposed, very vulnerable. This is not at all similar to when Dolls Behaving Badly launched from Hachette Book Group. That was a novel, and while some of it was based on… […]
I had had Alaska writer Dan Walker’s YA novel SECONDHAND SUMMER on my list for a long time, and two weeks ago finally had the chance to dive in. I wasn’t disappointed. Walker’s book, geared for middle school readers (but still immensely enjoyable for adults), follows 14-year-old Sam’s move to Anchorage from the small fishing… […]
This hash brown recipe is fool proof. It will give you crisp potato patties, just begging for a dash of hot sauce (or ketchup for the kids). The following instructions are for individual patties, but you can also spread this mixture out in a big frying pan (fry until crip) then cut into wedges for […]
My list of 10 Best Gifts for Cooks and Food Lovers helps last minute shoppers buy great presents for the food obsessed; most of the items on the list I’ve used and loved for years. Most importantly, if you act quickly, there’s still time to order most of my recommended gifts and have them arrive […]
Do'inta? Se uzra Shala Kerrigan.How are you? My name is Shala Kerrigan. I only have a handful of words in my language, which is Lower Tanana Athabascan. This coloring page is based off the style of bead embroidery done by Athabascans up here in Alaska. I hope you enjoy it! Click the images below for larger versions to download/print/color. Small […]
All about insects is the theme for the next session of Sitka Sprouts on Tuesday, April 30. This is the last Sitka Sprouts session before summer. “We’re going to wrap up Sprouts this spring with a program about insects,” Sitka … Continue reading →
I LOVE my grandmother’s navy bean soup, but it takes forever to make with soaking the beans overnight and then slow cooking the soup all day. I decided to try it in my Instant Pot and it was a success! Not only that, but my kids loved it…score! Ingredients: 1-2 Tbs. olive oil 1 onion, diced 3 […]
Continuing clear and cool. Breezy, though less than the past two days. I woke this morning and saw the temperature had slowly risen overnight. Temperatures remained below freezing, but were not as cold as expected. The official temperature did reach 32F early this afternoon, but I think many places were not that warm. Along with […]
Clear and cold. Gusty winds with temperatures in the 20s. Overnight lows didn’t drop as far forecast. The official low did not appear to get below 20F (14F was forecast). Gusty winds hit the house last evening and I think through much of the night. I went out this afternoon. It was breezy, but from […]
Since 2016 I have worked in Hoonah to help build a vision. The Hoonah Native Forest Partnership is a unique model of community-based forestry that seeks to meet the objectives of land managers and the needs of the community. The project relies on training a local workforce in natural resource inventory and landscape improvement. I’m […]
At the end of July we took the boat over to Halibut Cove to hike the Saddle Trail with the kids to picnic at Grewingk Glacier Lake. It's a great trail for kids to master themselves, and Riggs hiked the whole way himself. Raina was in the backpack, but more because we wanted to hike […]
A man who just moved to Homer about a year ago from Chicago has started a podcast interviewing people from the Homer community. He called up my husband a few months ago and asked him if he would be willing to be interviewed. My husband said sure, so the second episode of Alex's podcast features […]
Well, 2017 was not a good garden year in my area, even for those of us with greenhouses/high tunnels. I'm sure I didn't help my chances at all; we had a month between returning home from the States and getting the roof on the high tunnel, and I didn't start any seeds or work the […]
There’s nothing better than the smell of fresh cookies filling the kitchen. And let’s face it we all need something to look forward to right now. Whether you want something soft and chewy, rich and buttery, or packed with chocolate, there’s a cookie for every craving. Some are quick and easy, while others feel a... […]
Mountain View is in for a treat — a whole new store full of treats, in fact. Packed with dozens of varieties of handmade custom candies, classic favorites, and assorted other sweets, Sweet Creations Lollipop Boutique is one of the latest businesses to open doors in the neighborhood. Owner Missy Simms made it for the […]
During our time in Washington we also took some time to drive over to Kennewick to visit some of my family in that area. We camped in my aunt and uncle's driveway and visited them and some of my cousins. The highlight for the girls was the nerf war for sure (pictures here). It was […]
INGREDIENTS3-1/4 cups all-purpose flour1 teaspoon active yeast (not rapid or instant)1-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt1-1/2 cups slightly warm water (tepid)--2 teaspoons canola oil (For top and bottom of dough ball so it doesn't stick or form crust while rising)-2 TB butter melted in ramekin, with brush (set aside)--10” Seasoned Cast Iron SkilletMETHODAdd flour to bowl. Add yeast […]
My husband loves this cakeso much he had two pieces 'after' eating lunch...Ingredients2 Eggs1 ½ cup Canola Oil2 cups Granulated Sugar3 cups A-P Flour2 teaspoons Ground Cinnamon½ teaspoon Ground Nutmeg½ teaspoon Kosher Salt1 ½ teaspoons Baking Soda4 cups Chopped Apples (peeled and cored): measure after chopping1 cup chopped Pecans: measure after chopping1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract⅔ […]
Picture of the day Crested hawk-eagle (Nisaetus cirrhatus cirrhatus) with Indian garden lizard (Calotes versicolor) in Satpura National Park, Madhya Pradesh, India.