Saturday, October 25, 2014

How Not To BBQ

Any one ever heard this?

A pair of newlyweds were planning a camping trip. Now the city born and bred husband was excited, as this was to be his first camping trip ever. With schedules as they were, the wife, and “old hat” at camping, was to go to the site first and set up. The husband was to arrive later with the rest of the food stuff after he got off work.

“So, what do I bring? Make me a list!” He said excitedly to her that morning before he left to go to work.

She proceeded to give him a general camping kitchen list:
briquette
meat
corn
tin foil
plates and silverware
BBQ grill
water
coffee
cups
pots and pans

All throughout the day, the husband was barely able to contain his excitement. As soon as he got off work, he rushed to the store, rushed to their home, gathered the supplies, packed his car, and headed off to the campsite.

He arrived about dinnertime, and the quickly prepared the food for a scrumptious camping meal. When the time came to cook it up in the BBQ grill, the wife said, “okay, where’s the briquette for the grill?” He handed her a small Ziploc baggie with a (one) briquette in it.

She shook it, dumbfounded.... “Ummm...” was all she could say.

Photo Credits : “abandoned_grill_001 “ by click , morgueFiles

Copyright (c) 2013 Justin Baker

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Todays Color Is: Alliteration & Rhymie Stymie


When we get together, it's usually a blast. But there is always that one lagged moment where we start to get just a weensy bit board, and then someone always says, “Luke Skywalker's dad is a tuber!” And everyone who is in on that little community joke is laughing hysterically, almost falling into the fire, hot dogs falling off of sticks, beer being spilled. And there is always some new guest who doesn't know why everyone just had a humor conniption. Want in on the secret? It is Rhymie Stymie.

“I don't think I want that disease, thank you,” was a response I heard once when I uttered those words to someone. No, it is not a disease, it is a game. A very simple game. A very simple game that will twist your mind into a slinky, if you let it! It is also a wonderful way into the exciting world of my next writer's post! Now, on to the sneak peeks!

Rhymie Stymie is a word game that can be played by two or more people. As with any game, someone has to start. That person, we will call them the “Stymie”, says two words that must mean two other words that rhyme. Then everyone else, they are the, yes, you guessed it, the “Rhymie(s)”, try to guess what the two rhyming words are. The person that gets it first becomes the new Stymie. Still confused? Maybe an example will help. Let us say that I am the Stymie. I say to you, “cot butter.” After scratching your head and scrunching up your face a bit, if you are getting good at it, you would say, “OH! Bed spread!” You would be correct of course. Still a little puzzling? Okay. How about a couple more?
Stymie says, “jump lid.” Rhymie says, “hop top.”
Stymie says, “jacket sleep.” Rhymie says, “vest rest.”
Stymie says, “big boat.” Rhymie says, “large barge.”


and on and on... So,.... If I, being the Stymie said to your, Rhymies:

“Luke Skywalker's dad is a tuber!”

You would say?

Todays Color Is: Alliteration

To start off with, this isn't always easy... Sometimes, as a writer, I realize I want to do something not humanly possible, and I have to stretch my creativity over my skill level to mask the fact that no, I haven't “got that down,... yet”. Alliteration is one of those types of devils. Granted, I have a pretty good understanding of it, but I just have never felt like I was anywhere near “mastering” it. I found it “works” with some of my humorous writing, and even some of my poetry,... But I feel my skill level reaching its peak whenever I pass the three words mark. I can only do two, and sometimes not even those effectively.

Heads up to those of you who still dare to continue; I have created some audience participation in this article, so whenever you see the {X}, do whatever is in place of the 'X'!

Alliteration, for those not in the know, is when the letter or sounds those letters make are also in the next word or words. I had a friend who called them “front rhymes”. Classic examples include, “She sells sea shells by the sea shore.” and “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.” Some alliterations make it into the business world to, as in, “Coca-Cola:”, “Dunkin' Donuts”, and “American Airlines.” Even some names have alliterations! “Jesse Jackson” , “Rob Roy”, and “Jake Gyllenhaal.” As you can see, alliterative words do not have to start with the same letter, only have to have the same first sound . Also to note are that simple prepositions and pronouns do not alter the alliteration.

But you don't see how it can use it in real writing? Ever heard of a guy named Poe?
*“Once upon a midnight dreary while I pondered weak and weary...”
And what about that Shakespeare fellow?
*”Now old desire doth in his death-bed lie …..”
Alliteration is a good tool to keep in your back pocket. As a writer, it is always useful to expand your repertoire. Alliteration is just another tool to fulfill your needs in getting what is up there {point to your head}, and what is in here {point to your heart}, through here {wiggle your fingers}, and out into the worlds {say out-loud, “I AM A WRITER!}.



Sunday, October 12, 2014

Scrivener supports NaNoWriMo in a very writer friendly way!

I just found out on the NaNoWriMo website that Scrivener is extending their free trial through to December 7th for NaNoWriMo participants. As I have not yet purchased this software, but plan on doing so in the near future, this is a perfect way for me to get using the platform in a write or die setting! I look forward to having all that power at my fingertips! Is there a writing platform you prefer? I have been doing diligent research, and I believe that Scrivener is the best option. Well, for me, as a novelist, anyways!
http://www.literatureandlatte.com/nanowrimo.php

Friday, October 10, 2014

First KDP book, "How To Write A Novel In 30 Days When You Are very Very VERY Busy!"

I finally decided to use my amazon kindle publishing account.I look forward to seeing it least a tiny bit of income from it, but due to the nature of the book itself, mostly I just can't wait to get people writing! I entitled it, "How To Write A Novel In 30 Days When You Are very Very VERY Busy!" Fitting title, eh?

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Worms Made Dirt So Dirt Don't Hurt.... and other dirty pleasures.

I have found, via craigslist , a citizen of Eugene who happens to be re-modeling their entire yard... putting a pool and a shop in, from the looks of it. They are constantly dumping large amounts of soil out, curbside, and so I, being the ever-resourceful homesteader, am promptly taking it home! Packing my square nose shovel with me to work, and collecting huge amounts of cardboard from my work to line my station wagon bed with, I am moving somewhere near 1 full cubic yard of topsoil every day. Our new raised bed will be filled with a mixture of this dirt, chicken manure, Llama compost tea, and our hot compost. Expect a blog on this mixture, as well as a vlog about the tea and our hot compost on our YouTube channel in the near future. Speaking of our YouTube channel, I am currently on a terribly distressing hunt for my vlog cam that I had previously used for so many of my videos. Where did I put that thing???? Any body know a cheap mini HD cam? Like,.. no $ down, no $ monthly, and no $ at all.... ;) Anyways, here's the first of three new intros that will be precluding all our new videos.  Another load of dirt tomorrow should put us at nearly 3 cubic yards. YEAH DIRT!

Friday, April 25, 2014

Greens & Browns runnin' through my head!

Here's a list of the two different compostable materials. This is for the "hot" composting method. Check back for updates!

GREENS 
  • FRUIT SCRAPS 
  • VEGGIE SCRAPS 
  • EGG SHELLS 
  • TEA BAGS / TEA LEAVES 
  • FRESH GRASS CLIPPINGS 
  • PLATE SCRAPINGS 
  • WEEDS (THAT HAVE NOT GONE TO SEED!) 
  • ANIMAL MANURE 
  • SEAWEEDS  
BROWNS
  • DRY LEAVES / PINE NEEDLES / DRIED GRASS CLIPPINGS 
  • COLD WOOD STOVE ASHES 
  • NUTS / SHELLS 
  • AVOCADO SHELLS 
  • COFFEE GROUNDS 
  • DRYER LINT 
  • SHREDDED PAPER / SHREDDED PAPER BOARD (LOW GRADE CARDBOARD, EX: CEREAL BOXES) 
  • TWIGS/ WOOD SHAVINGS / SAWDUST 
  • HAY 

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Scary Evidence of Continuing Nuclear Contamination from Fukushima

This morning I read a deeply disturbing article I found here about the continued damage created by the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan. It seems to confirm some of the fears I've had since the disaster occurred, that I'd tried pushed to the back of my mind. But as illnesses and environmental allergies seem to become more frequent and intensify all around me, I haven't been able to help but wonder if it's due to the devastating effects of this horrendous man-made disaster. And it seems my suspicions may be backed up by science. Even without that, you can't help but notice how much more intense the air pollution has become in just the past year. You can definitely see a dark haze covering the entire valley, as you drive down from the mountain. Heck, coming back up our mountain, you can see it lighten, but the haze is definitely still there. It's deeply depressing, and I can only wonder if and how our species and the rest of the planet will successfully recover from this catastrophe. The only thing I can really say with certainty is, I'm going to try and appreciate this life as much as I can, and experience just as much of it as is humanly possible before it's gone. As well as try and contribute as much good as I can to the physical and spiritual environment in my time here. Our existence on this planet may have an expiration date, but I'm going to go out reveling in the beauty of this earth and it's creatures, massively flawed as some of them may be. A dip in the river is most definitely in order! I suggest you all go and appreciate the planet in whatever way you can today as well. It's the only one we have. Do your part to make it better today and every day.
With Love From,
~The Little Sustainable Homestead By The River