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 Writers Helping Writers: Many writers are all too familiar with rejection. You pour your heart and soul into a piece, imagining how it might sound to readers, only to face the crushing reality of a “no” in response. For writers, the publishing world can feel like an endless uphill battle paved with setbacks and […]
whenever and wherever you need a library look closely you may find one in the most unlikely of places whether deep in the woods, alongside a curb, or myriad other places they are all around you just waiting to be discovered. — ‘when all else fails, give up and go to a library’ -stephen […]
Revisiting The Writing Process Greetings! Liz Gauffreau with you today, thinking about how a discussion of the writing process for fiction might help… Make the Writing Process Work for Your Novel!
Delighted to introduce you to a new series for 2025 where you can not only promote your own work, but someone else’s you believe deserves a boost. You might like to thank a blogger who has supported you over the … 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 […]
Fair Use - Poster by impawardsI hope you're staying warm and staying safe. Here's a movie you should watch if you're stuck indoors.Most of the streaming services are now doing original movies. Unfortunately, many of these movies fall short because the stories range from ho-hum to ridiculous—especially the romcoms.It's as if the screen writers and power […]
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....
"Philadelphia area circa 1935. Pennsylvania Railroad Locomotive PRR 6757." Glass negative by John S. Powell, Louis A. Marre Rail Transportation Photograph Collection. View full size.
Weirs, New Hampshire, circa 1906. "N.H. Veterans' Association grounds at Lake Winnipesaukee." Seen earlier here and here, the NHVA Civil War memorial-slash-fountain (with basins for horse, human, dog or cat) was blown to smithereens by a lightning strike in 1931. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.
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 Loammi Bean: 1906: I had to look up the name, to see where it came from and what it means. From a website called Bible Hub: "Loammi is a symbolic name found in the Book of Hosea, specifically in Hosea 1:9. The name is given to the third child of the prophet […]
In reply to Temperance Drinks: 1910: Lo-Ammi was first the name of one of Hosea's sons, meaning "not my people", and there is some textual evidence that he was not exactly one of Hosea's biological children, but rather by someone else that Gomer slept with. So why a parent would give this name to their […]
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 January 22, 2025 is: opine \oh-PYNE\ verb To opine is to express an opinion about something. // Many people opine that social media platforms should be better regulated. See the entry > Examples: “Entertainment will always be inherently social. This latest age has prompted society to take […]
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 […]
This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our privacy policy for details. No fuss ONE POT MEAL! So so creamy, so easy. Chockfull of tender chicken, mushrooms, and spinach! why make one pot creamy chicken and mushroom pasta There’s just one pot and a few ingredients between you and dinner tonight. We’re talking tender […]
Families of U.S. service members trying to leave Afghanistan and escape the Taliban are trapped in the country due to an executive order issued on President Donald Trump’s first day in office. Hundreds of family members of U.S. troops are impacted by the executive order issued Monday that suspended all U.S. refugee programs, according to […]
In the first hours of his second term, President Donald Trump vowed to send U.S. troops to the southern border; promised to reinstate service members who were separated for refusing to get vaccinated for COVID-19; and signed an executive order suspending a refugee program that allows Afghans to come to the United States. The Pentagon […]
Sunday, January 19Martha and I rode Scarlett, my 2014 Ural Patrol Sidecar Rig the six miles or so to Council Rocks. It's the rocky site that is believed to have been a meeting spot for the Cochise Indian Tribe, located on the north end of the Dragoon Mountains.It also has a few petroglyphs to check […]
Riding in their Jeep Gladiator, Martha and I accompanied Chris and Lori Z on the 30 mile or so drive to Bisbee, AZ.Cool town with buildings and homes nestled on steep hill sides. Martha and I checked out the town's museum after a short walk along the "main street". Nothing remarkable about the main street […]
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 […]
Last month we spent a couple of amazing weeks in Mexico. That included a few days in the lovely town of Atlixco. The town, founded in 1579, is known for ... The post Atlixco: in the shadow of a giant volcano 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 […]
Study blames Alaska pink salmon for Idaho Chinook losses Forty three years after a top official of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game publicly and clearly revealed a plan to take […]
Fighting for Alaska wild salmon Now 82 years old, Virgil Umpenhour has been at war with Alaska’s commercial salmon farmers, or ranchers as they prefer to call themselves, for most of his […]
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 […]
Overcast with periods of rain. Temperatures in the 40s. It was the first day in over a week that I didn’t have observing. My outside time was somewhat limited. I went for a walk around Totem Park with Kitty. This was my first visit to the park in over a month. I would need to […]
Download Radio Show The January 12th show featured a conversation with Kitty LaBounty. We spoke about Christmas Bird Count experiences in Sitka and Arizona and the Continental MycoBlitz, including potentially new-to-science species from Southeast Alaska. Other topics included the Alaska Native Plant Society, Kitty’s on-going work to put together a flora of Southeast Alaska, and […]
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 […]
Cake mix is a versatile pantry staple that can save time without compromising on creativity in the kitchen. Whether you’re baking for a special occasion or simply craving something sweet, it offers an easy base for countless treats. With a few extra ingredients, you can transform a simple box of cake mix into a variety... […]
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 Tompot blenny (Parablennius gattorugine), Arrábida National Park, Portugal. Note: no FP of this species. It can be found in shallow, coastal waters off western Europe and northern Africa and in the Mediterranean. The tompot blenny is a relatively large blenny that can grow up to 30 centimetres (12 in) in length. There […]
Picture of the day Gonbo Rangjon with peak elevation 5,520 m (18,110 ft) towers 1,200 m (3,900 ft) above the Kargiakh valley in Zanskar, Ladakh, India. The tents in the foreground indicate the Himalayan scale. Known locally as God's Mountain, climbing is not permitted. The snow-capped range to the right includes the Shinko La pass to Lahaul.