Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Merry Kwanzaa, and Happy Festivus!
Snitches get Stitches
11 months ago
Monday, December 14, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Recycle Your Pumpkin
Every year, one billion pounds of pumpkins are produced in the U.S. and many end up in landfills shortly after Halloween. A pumpkin is 100% natural and there are several ways to recycle or reuse your jack-o-lantern. Here are 4 ways to recycle your pumpkin.
1. Make a bird or squirrel feeder with your pumpkin. Fill it with corn, seeds, nuts, and fruit pieces.
2. Pumpkins make great planters for flowers.
3. Convert your pumpkin into compost. A compost pile can be as simple as a shallow hole, or you can build or buy a compost bin. You mix in kitchen waste, like fruit and veggie scraps, with yard waste, like grass clippings and dead leaves. Add water, give it some time and you will be rewarded with a rich compost. Here is a simple bucket method of composting. Cut the bottom out of the bucket. Dig a hole larger than the bucket to a depth that allows the cover to go on close to ground level. Put kitchen waste in the bucket, keeping the lid closed while the waste digests. The lid is important to keep moisture in the materials. After about 10 weeks pull the bucket and start another one in the garden.
4. One favorite in our household is roasting the pumpkin seeds. Separate the seeds from the membrane and rinse. Soak in salt water overnight. Spread the seeds on a cookie sheet that has been sprayed with non-stick vegetable oil. Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees, turning once. Allow to cool. Enjoy!
Check out these fabulous flavors from UnassumingFoodie.com:
Italian Style Pumpkin Seeds: Italian Seasoning Blend, Parmesan Cheese, Olive Oil, Salt and Pepper
Pumpkin Pie Pumpkin Seeds: Cinnamon, Ground Ginger and Pinch of Nutmeg, Butter
Greek Style Pumpkin Seeds: Lemon Pepper Seasoning Blend, Oregano, Salt, Olive Oil
1. Make a bird or squirrel feeder with your pumpkin. Fill it with corn, seeds, nuts, and fruit pieces.
2. Pumpkins make great planters for flowers.
3. Convert your pumpkin into compost. A compost pile can be as simple as a shallow hole, or you can build or buy a compost bin. You mix in kitchen waste, like fruit and veggie scraps, with yard waste, like grass clippings and dead leaves. Add water, give it some time and you will be rewarded with a rich compost. Here is a simple bucket method of composting. Cut the bottom out of the bucket. Dig a hole larger than the bucket to a depth that allows the cover to go on close to ground level. Put kitchen waste in the bucket, keeping the lid closed while the waste digests. The lid is important to keep moisture in the materials. After about 10 weeks pull the bucket and start another one in the garden.
4. One favorite in our household is roasting the pumpkin seeds. Separate the seeds from the membrane and rinse. Soak in salt water overnight. Spread the seeds on a cookie sheet that has been sprayed with non-stick vegetable oil. Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees, turning once. Allow to cool. Enjoy!
Check out these fabulous flavors from UnassumingFoodie.com:
Italian Style Pumpkin Seeds: Italian Seasoning Blend, Parmesan Cheese, Olive Oil, Salt and Pepper
Pumpkin Pie Pumpkin Seeds: Cinnamon, Ground Ginger and Pinch of Nutmeg, Butter
Greek Style Pumpkin Seeds: Lemon Pepper Seasoning Blend, Oregano, Salt, Olive Oil
Monday, October 19, 2009
The Distant Drummer
Here is a story from my book "Farm House Hauntings." This one takes place at a farm located on Fraternity Church Road in Winston-Salem.
Brandon wanted a set of drums and plagued his parents with consent requests for a set. They knew Brandon had drifted through the harmonica, keyboard, bass, and finally the guitar stage and thought a set of drums would not be a wise investment. Finally they agreed on a compromise. They would purchase Brandon a snare drum and after he mastered playing it they would give him a full set of drums.
He had only had the drum for a few weeks and as his parents anticipated his interest disappeared. He moved the drum downstairs into the recreation room. Late one night his mother was awakened by a faint drumming sound. She looked at the clock on the nightstand beside the bed and saw that it was 3:00 am. What in the world was Brandon doing she thought. After a short while the drumming stopped.
The next morning, when she questioned Brandon about his early morning drumming he claimed he was sound asleep at 3:00 am. A couple of days later the same thing happened. This time Brandon’s mother decided to catch him in the act and went downstairs. As she opened the door the drumming stopped. She let out a small gasp when she saw the drum sitting in the corner. She ran back upstairs woke up her husband and told him what had happened. He told her she was more than likely dreaming and to go back to sleep. A few nights later the drumming started again and this time Brandon heard it. He jumped out of bed and ran to his parent’s room. He woke them both up and they all three heard the faint sound of drumming. As they descended the stairs the drumming suddenly stopped. Brandon’s father checked the doors and they were all locked.
The next day Brandon decided to take and hide the drumsticks. A few days went by and nothing happened. The third night the drumming started up again and Brandon ran downstairs. He opened the door and saw the drumsticks on the floor next to the drum.
This activity went on for weeks and the family decided to investigate the history of the farmhouse they had purchased. They were shocked to learn that a young 14-fourteen year old boy named Alan had committed suicide in the basement. In fact he had died in the very room that they had turned into a rec room. After talking with Alan’s surviving relatives they were surprised to find out that he owned a drum set and would spend hours in the basement practicing. They said that he was always depressed and that the only time he really seemed happy was when he was playing the drums.
The drum playing went on for several weeks and then stopped. Although the family does not hear the drums they claim that often they find the drumsticks placed on top of or near the snare drum. Brandon thinks its “kind of cool,” but is a little disappointed that the phantom drummer is a lot better drummer than he is.
Brandon wanted a set of drums and plagued his parents with consent requests for a set. They knew Brandon had drifted through the harmonica, keyboard, bass, and finally the guitar stage and thought a set of drums would not be a wise investment. Finally they agreed on a compromise. They would purchase Brandon a snare drum and after he mastered playing it they would give him a full set of drums.
He had only had the drum for a few weeks and as his parents anticipated his interest disappeared. He moved the drum downstairs into the recreation room. Late one night his mother was awakened by a faint drumming sound. She looked at the clock on the nightstand beside the bed and saw that it was 3:00 am. What in the world was Brandon doing she thought. After a short while the drumming stopped.
The next morning, when she questioned Brandon about his early morning drumming he claimed he was sound asleep at 3:00 am. A couple of days later the same thing happened. This time Brandon’s mother decided to catch him in the act and went downstairs. As she opened the door the drumming stopped. She let out a small gasp when she saw the drum sitting in the corner. She ran back upstairs woke up her husband and told him what had happened. He told her she was more than likely dreaming and to go back to sleep. A few nights later the drumming started again and this time Brandon heard it. He jumped out of bed and ran to his parent’s room. He woke them both up and they all three heard the faint sound of drumming. As they descended the stairs the drumming suddenly stopped. Brandon’s father checked the doors and they were all locked.
The next day Brandon decided to take and hide the drumsticks. A few days went by and nothing happened. The third night the drumming started up again and Brandon ran downstairs. He opened the door and saw the drumsticks on the floor next to the drum.
This activity went on for weeks and the family decided to investigate the history of the farmhouse they had purchased. They were shocked to learn that a young 14-fourteen year old boy named Alan had committed suicide in the basement. In fact he had died in the very room that they had turned into a rec room. After talking with Alan’s surviving relatives they were surprised to find out that he owned a drum set and would spend hours in the basement practicing. They said that he was always depressed and that the only time he really seemed happy was when he was playing the drums.
The drum playing went on for several weeks and then stopped. Although the family does not hear the drums they claim that often they find the drumsticks placed on top of or near the snare drum. Brandon thinks its “kind of cool,” but is a little disappointed that the phantom drummer is a lot better drummer than he is.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Sam & Nellie
Sam and Nellie were dropped off yesterday and need a new home as soon as possible. Sam is a Beagle-mix and Nellie is a Lab-mix. Both are around seven years old. They are both very sweet.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
Raleigh Book Signing
The book signing in Raleigh last week was great. I was at the Wolf's Head Books booth space along with Barbara and Harvey. When you are in the St. Augustine area make sure to check out their store.
Wolf's Head Books Inc., ABAA
67 San Marco Ave. St. Augustine, FL 32084
wolfshead@wolfsheadbooks.com
(904) 824-9357
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
New Book Almost Ready
I am really excited about this new book! It has a great message for adults and children about being a responsible pet owner. It is scheduled for release in the fall and Putter will be on hand at pet stores to pawagraph the book.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
