Okay, so it’s one day late. Technically, yesterday was Australia’s Day to celebrate. But, I say it’s never too late to join the party.

My great-grandmother was born to a French woman and an unknown father in New York City (at least that’s what Nana always told me). My French great-great-grandmother married an Australian widower with children when my great-grandmother was still an infant. He took them back to Australia. This was turn of the 20th century. Can you imagine what Australia must have been like at that time? Nana studied ballet and singing in Sydney and when she was … Read More »

Did you know there’s a World Bodypainting Festival? Me? Didn’t have a clue. Not until I stumbled across photos on Flipboard on my iPhone. (Talk about an awesome app.) Anyway, being the curious person that I am, I did a little research and came away amazed.

The festival hasn’t been around that long, having gotten its start in 1998. Alex Barendregt was working for a local travel agency in Austria when he was put in charge of organizing a festival for the town of Seeboden. He had read something about bodypainting and thought it might be just the thing. It … Read More »

When I first saw this picture I envisioned something along the lines of a cyberpunk setting. Somewhere in the future. An alternative universe, perhaps. My imagination took flight. I can just as easily see a colony of people living and working inside those bubbles, able to ride inside and out.

This amazing concept and design came from New York-based, Portuguese architect Tiago Barros. . He submitted this design, titled Passing Cloud, to a competition sponsored by the Van Alen Institute and the Department of Cultural Affairs of New York for their “Life at the Speed of Rail” competition. He didn’t … Read More »

The holidays are fast approaching. Got your shopping done? I’ve gotten a bit of this and a bit of that, but I’ve still got all those stockings fillers to find. Honestly, I love this season: the decorations, the carols, and the touch of magic in the air.

During the year, I don’t do a lot of baking. But come the holidays, I dig out my favorite recipes and give them a workout. Here is a Blueberry Crumble Coffeecake that is fabulous for that lazy morning when you want to relax and enjoy your coffee or tea. Or serve it when … Read More »

I want one of these. It’s not the most beautiful piece of furniture but it’s cool. I love the idea of turning my chair into a bookshelf. Talk about efficient use of space. I wonder how hard it is to sit on. Still, I think it’s an ingenious idea. I discovered this awesome hollow chair on The Awesomer, a website dedicated to find awesome stuff for its readers. Check out the other chairs in this post. They are unique, funky and charming. There’s bound to be one that catches your eye.

Interested in the environment and living in … Read More »

Happy Thanksgiving for those of you who are celebrating the holidays. Hope they are filled with good cheer, laughter and lots of delicious food!

You’ll notice I’ve gotten a face lift. How do you like the new improved me? I took out the borders for a wider look, one that I think is easier on the eyes. I still list all my events on the home page, but you’ll also find the latest blog, too. The bookshelf is sleeker and better laid out. You’ll notice I’ve got several Shadow Warrior books lined up and I can’t wait to reveal those … Read More »

If you haven’t seen these BBC clips of funny talking animals, you’re missing out on some serious laughs. Of course, watch them with a few beers in you and they graduate to hysterically funny.

There’s a lot more where this came from. Check it out. Google Funny Talking Animals or search for it on YouTube.… Read More »

If you’ve been paying attention to my blog you know that I’m an avid reader of cozy mysteries. Love them and am always on the lookout for new ones to entertain me.

Kylie Logan’s Button Holed is the first in a new series for writer Casey Daniels also known as Miranda Bliss. Some of you may be familiar with Casey’s Pepper Martin series (which I’ve read) or with her Cooking Class mystery series written under the name Bliss (which I’m going to have to check out). While the Pepper Martin series has a slight paranormal angle to it, the Button … Read More »

Sorry for the delayed post. I think I’m coming down with something. I went straight to bed last night after I got home and didn’t get my post done.

Yesterday in class I was talking movies with my university students–all kids born in the 1990s. Yes, makes me wince, too. Anyway, I asked them what was the scariest movie they had seen. A lot of them named SAW. I couldn’t make it through a clip on YouTube. From what I can tell it’s all about cutting off body parts.

In all honesty, I don’t watch horror movies. What can … Read More »

Today with a great deal of anticipation, Sweden’s Nobel Committee announced the winner of the 2011 Nobel Prize in Literature. It went to 80 year old Swedish poet Tomas Tranströmer.

It’s been a very long time since I immersed myself in poetry. I majored in Spanish in college, so at one time I was hip deep in Spanish and Latin American poets. Poetry was often a struggle for me. Poets deliberate over and over to get the precise word to convey just the right image. In turn, the reader often must ponder and weigh the meanings behind each word as … Read More »