Writing rivers and streams...

Best Wishes for a Blessed New Year!

2011-12-28T10:14:00.000-07:00

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-02T15:31:00.001-07:00

A new day, an open gate...

2011-07-08T16:45:00.003-06:00

Stepping into the light.

The Patriot is a scarce man...

2011-07-05T10:25:00.000-06:00

"The Patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated, and scorned.

When his cause succeeds, however, the timid join him,

for then it costs nothing to be a Patriot."

~Mark Twain

Best Wishes to All for a Happy Independence Day!

2011-07-04T12:03:00.003-06:00

Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God!

I know not what course others may take; but as for me,

give me liberty or give me death!

~ Patrick Henry - March 23, 1775

Summer is fullness...

2011-07-02T16:09:00.002-06:00

Enjoy Every Moment!

Happy Father's Day!

2011-06-19T12:51:00.002-06:00

Hat's off to all you great Dads who walk the walk!

The Uplifting Role of Women...

2011-03-08T12:38:00.001-07:00

“Woman is at the top of creation. This is her place and her Dharma, and this she must never lose, for it she does, there will be wars, suffering and cruelty, because she is the opposite of all these things. The nervous system of a woman is by nature more refined and much more delicate. She is the first to sense the good, the pure, the beautiful, the divine. By nature, man is more gross. His position is to deal with the world, so he must be able to deal with stress. Woman is balance, a balance of all nature. She takes in all the stress of her husband and children and does not pass it on. Must not pass it on. Healing is in the lap of the mother; she heals the child's soul. Her place is to see that man goes for higher consciousness. The love of mother that comes through the hands of every woman is Mother Divine. A woman should not get so tired. Her structure is for finer things.” ~Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

My Darling is a Foreigner - Now Available on DVD

2010-10-31T12:13:00.001-06:00

Link to On-line Review:
Now Available on DVD

Book Review of Healey's Cave

2010-08-02T13:26:00.001-06:00

Author: Aaron Paul Lazar
Publisher: Twilight Times Books
Genre: Mystery, 264 pages
Publisher's Address: P O Box 3340 Kingsport TN 37664
ISBN number: 978-1-60619-162-0
Price: $16.95 - pre-order now at Barnes and Noble

Publisher website address: http://twilighttimesbooks.com/
Author’s personal website: http://aaronlazar.blogspot.com/
Mystery-writing blog: http://www.murderby4.com/

When I began to read Healey’s Cave, a new novel by Aaron Paul Lazar, the author and the book immediately captivated me. I was and still am especially intrigued by how the author as artist has drawn his characters. He sketches the relationship of man and wife in soft strokes, like a lovely pen and ink drawing on fine paper. A grandparent taking delight in the love of his grandchildren, is a pastel portrait framed in gold. Childhood friendships drenched in sepia tones are like old photographs in a long forgotten album taken from the shelf. Flowers in a garden, horses long gone from their stalls in a barn, the feel of leaf mold in the hands of a man who loves the earth— are sense memories so strong, that individuals spontaneously manifest themselves in complete fullness upon the page.

The pace of the book from the very beginning also is to my liking. Nothing is rushed. There is no leap headlong into a maze of frantic action nor is there a plunge into needless back-story. There is a gracious and soft unfolding of detail, layer upon layer, as if one were looking at a painting of a lush landscape.

At first we see the truth of things as through the mists of the natural world in early morning. Gradually the early light matures, and forms emerge; moment-by-moment, hour-by-hour, the mid-day comes. Characters reveal themselves. The story unfolds.

Sam Moore is a methodical man, used to figuring out mysteries in life by using tried and true principles. He has honed his solid intellect during many years as a physician and isn’t prone to imagining things. He begins the very first day of his retirement from private practice with a degree of certainty that he would eventually like being away from the office, but before the day is over he is not quite sure whether or not he will be able to keep from going crazy.

Sam loves to work in his garden. And now that he has time to spend there, he hopes his love of the soil will soothe and smooth the inevitable feelings of transition he expects to experience. Instead, he begins an adventure of mind, heart and spirit that will shake him to the core of his being.

It all begins with the innocent discovery of a marble in the soft friable earth. One of those big, bright, green glowing cat’s eye marbles kids used to call “shooters”. The marble flashes scenes of his boyhood, flashes of remembrance of his younger brother Billy, who had been so dear, the brother whose disappearance had left behind an unsolved mystery and a hole in Sam Moore’s heart. The marble seemed alive in his hand, glowing and almost hot to the touch, reminding Sam that this, the first day of his retirement, was also the anniversary of his brother’s birth.

…memory flashed through him—brief, but palpable. Billy and he, aged twelve and eleven, had walked barefoot on the hot pavement after a spring rain. Soft tar warmed their feet. Rain puddles sizzled and misted on the road. The boys laughed, then raced home to dinner. Steak, corn on the cob, baked potatoes, and salad. Billy's favorite. Sam checked the date on his watch. May twenty-fourth. Billy turns sixty-one today.

The little boy who slept in the bottom bunk, who breathed hot, sweet breath on his face when they hid in the closet beneath the stairs, who offered his sticky hand during scary movies, and who mysteriously disappeared on his eleventh birthday—would be sixty-one today.

He closed his eyes and let the wind blow across his face. The breeze lifted his hair. Sam felt the cool soft touch brush his leathery skin. He pictured his brother communicating with him from Heaven. He'd often imagined it, and was comforted by the thought.

Had it really been fifty years? Was he hearing his brother speak to him from across the void?

A strange ritualistic serial killer had been targeting young boys every five years since the time of Billy’s disappearance. Could Billy have been one of his victims? Bodies of other young boys had been found. But Billy simply had disappeared without a trace. Questions swirled and whirled in Sam’s mind. Was the killer still alive? Would he strike again? Was his own grandson a potential target?

Aaron Lazar is a master storyteller. The sense of intrigue never dims in this book. As we look over Sam Moore’s shoulder into the fire of the Green Marble, we are drawn with him into an experience of the paranormal, seeing into the unseen worlds he unearths, never to rest until we know the whole truth about what happened to his brother Billy— and to the others.

Though never fond of detective stories or murder mysteries myself, even when written by such greats as PD James, or Agatha Christie, I now must confess that I feel quite compelled to read all of Aaron’s novels. I love a good story. This is one of the most intriguing stories I have read in a very long time.

Healey’s Cave is the first of the Green Marble Mysteries, a riveting paranormal series by Aaron Paul Lazar, which feature our hero Sam Moore; scheduled to be released by Twilight Times Books under the Paladin Timeless Imprint on August 28th 2010, it will soon will be followed by One Potato, Blue Potato in 2011, and For Keeps in 2012. For more information, see: http://www.mooremysteries.com

The LeGarde Mysteries— Double Forté, Upstaged, Tremolo, Mazurka— with hero Gus LeGarde, have long been popular and come highly recommended. Firesong, the newest book in this series, will be coming out later in 2010. For more information, see: http://www.legardemysteries.com

Aaron Paul Lazar tells us that he “writes to soothe his soul.” The author of LeGarde Mysteries & Moore Mysteries enjoys the Genesee Valley countryside in upstate New York. His characters embrace life, play with their dogs and grandkids, grow sumptuous gardens, and chase bad guys.

Visit him on Gather.com: http://aplazar.gather.com/ and on his websites: http://www.mooremysteries.com; http://www.legardemysteries.com

Natalie Neal Whitefield writes about ranch and family life in the contemporary west. A student of history and in love with the great outdoors, she works alongside her husband, guitar maker Stephen Neal Saqui, on the banks of the Salmon River in the rugged mountains of central Idaho.

Visit her on Gather.com: http://writerswrite.gather.com/

© 2010 Natalie Neal Whitefield - All rights reserved

There is no time limit for self-realization...

2010-07-24T13:38:00.001-06:00

“There is no time limit for self-realization. It could happen quickly in minutes, or take as long as one could take. Once mind is stilled and impurities cleared, then one is near the goal. The time factor depends on the level of Being. The guru is always with the disciple. There is no question of leaving him at all. The guru will never leave him unless he sees the disciple reaches his goal of self-realization. Even death would not break the relationship, so one should be carefree because the help from the guru is assured. As long as realization hasn’t been achieved by the disciple, a mental picture remains in the mind of the self-realized man until the disciple has reached his goal and they are united. One can be very sure of being cared for.”

~Shantanand Saraswati

Summer is in Full Bloom!

2010-07-12T08:35:00.000-06:00

Enjoy Every Moment!

Mark Twain and The Jews

2010-06-06T21:58:00.000-06:00

”...If statistics are right, the Jews constitute but one percent of the human race. It suggests a nebulous dim puff of stardust lost in the blaze of the Milky way. properly, the Jew ought hardly to be heard of, but he is heard of, has always been heard of. He is as prominent on the planet as any other people, and his commercial importance is extravagantly out of proportion to the smallness of his bulk. His contributions to the world’s list of great names in literature, science, art, music, finance, medicine, and abstruse learning are also away out of proportion to the weakness of his numbers. He has made a marvelous fight in this world, in all the ages; and had done it with his hands tied behind him. He could be vain of himself, and be excused for it.

The Egyptian, the Babylonian, and the Persian rose, filled the planet with sound and splendor, then faded to dream-stuff and passed away; the Greek and the Roman followed; and made a vast noise, and they are gone; other people have sprung up and held their torch high for a time, but it burned out, and they sit in twilight now, or have vanished. The Jew saw them all, beat them all, and is now what he always was, exhibiting no decadence, no infirmities of age, no weakening of his parts, no slowing of his energies, no dulling of his alert and aggressive mind. All things are mortal but the Jew; all other forces pass, but he remains. What is the secret of his immortality?”

- Mark Twain
(“Concerning The Jews,” Harper’s Magazine, 1899)

Akshaya Tritiya, Day of Lasting Achievements

2010-05-14T15:27:00.000-06:00

Akshaya Tritiya, the Day of Lasting Achievements, is considered one of the most auspicious days of the Vedic Calendar. Any meaningful activity started on this day is said to have the greatest chance to be fruitful. This precious day falls upon the third day of the bright half of Vaishakh month (April-May), when the Sun and Moon are in exaltation---simultaneously at their peak of brightness, which happens only once a year.

Akshaya Tritiya, is also known as "Akha Teej"--- traditionally the birthday of Lord Parasurama, the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. People conduct special pujas on this day, bathe in holy rivers, give to charity, make sacred offerings, and show devotion to Lord Ganesha and to Devi Lakshmi on this day.

The word "Akshaya" means imperishable or eternal --- that which never diminishes. Initiations made or valuables bought on this day are considered to bring success or good fortune. Buying gold is a popular activity on Akshaya Tritiya, as it is the ultimate symbol of wealth and prosperity. Gold and gold jewelry bought and worn on this day signify never diminishing good fortune. Indians get married, begin new business ventures, and even plan long journeys on this day.

Traditionally "SatyaYug" or the Golden Age - the first of the four Yugas must begin on that day. In the "Puranas", the holy Hindu scriptures, there is a story that says that on this day of Akshay Tritiya Vedavyas along with Lord Ganesha started writing the great epic Mahabharata. Ganga Devi or Mother Ganges also is said to have descended to earth on this day.

People born during this time shine bright in life. Many luminaries have been born during this period: Basaveshwara born on May 4, Ramanujacharya and Adi Shankaracharya on May 6, and Lord Buddha on May 16.

So, let us have sankalpa in our hearts on this day. And enjoy the fulfillment of our hopes as Nature helps us to bring our pure and life-supportive desires to fruition in the relative existence of this world!

My Darling is a Foreigner - A Hit at the Box Office!

2010-04-07T14:06:00.001-06:00

Link to On-line Review:

Wishing you all a Happy Easter!

2010-04-03T20:04:00.001-06:00

Christ has died and Christ is risen

And with Christ I too am raised... ~Colossians 3:1

In Japan - Starting April 10th

2010-03-27T20:35:00.000-06:00

Jonathan Sherr and Mao Inoue star in MY DARLING IS A FOREIGNER...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv23-Wg8OxY

Celebrating the Divine Mother...

2010-03-19T12:13:00.001-06:00

Nine Days of Mother Divine---This festival is observed twice a year in India at the beginning of two very important junctures of climate change, spring and autumn, when solar influences are seen as the most auspicious opportunities for acknowledging the divine power of Nature, and also for expressing thanksgiving for Nature’s ability to maintain correct balance in the entire universe. As these dramatic changes occur in Nature, changes also occur in the bodies and minds of people everywhere, so it is only natural to pay tribute to that which helps all of us to maintain our physical and mental well-being.

"Nava-ratri" literally means "nine nights".

I personally adore the richness, and deep level of feeling which is expressed in the religious traditions of India. I myself am not a practitioner of the Hindu religion, but I am one who respects and admires the beauty and truth which pervades the cultural and religious traditions one finds there. My own religious beliefs have only become stronger and more profound since I first was introduced to the rich tapestry of knowledge which reverberates from within the source of all these traditions. Recently UNESCO World Heritage Foundation proclaimed the Vedic Tradition of India to be “the common heritage of all mankind.”

Veda itself is not a religion; Veda means knowledge---total knowledge. When we look closely, we can easily see how ancient Vedic science, Vedic knowledge and Vedic traditions have provided sustenance to all the great religions of the world. That being said, let us examine further the beautiful celebration of the Nine Days of Mother Divine.

During Navratri, the Creator is invoked in the form of the Universal Mother, lovingly referred to as Durga--- “remover of miseries”. She is called “Devi", goddess, or "Shakti"---the divine energy or power inherent in Nature. This divine feminine energy helps the male energy of the creator proceed with the work of creation, preservation and destruction of everything there is. One does not have to be a practitioner of the Hindu religion to know God as the embodiment of eternal silence--- completely motionless and absolutely changeless, the one who is---Brahm, Totality, the One who does nothing and achieves everything. He has created the Shiva manifestation of himself as Infinite Silence, and Vishnu, Infinite Dynamism, and he has manifested the three aspects of Mother Divine who act through the mechanics of Nature to give birth, nourish, and provide for everything in creation. Durga, the Divine Mother unfolds everything which arises from the divine totality, re-confirming the modern scientific finding that energy is imperishable. It cannot be created or destroyed. It simply is---and it always is---there.

She is Mother of All, and we are her children. God's glory, his cosmic energy, his greatness and supremacy are seen as best displayed and depicted through the motherhood aspect of God. Just as a child finds all divine qualities in the mother, the great traditions of India give the mother aspect of God all glory because in the great and ancient cultures of India, Mother is seen as the creative aspect of the absolute nature of life itself.

Vasant Navratri, is celebrated in Spring, and is observed during the Shukla Paksha, the waxing phase of the moon, in the month of Chaitra according to the Hindu and the Vedic lunar calendars. Nine nights are dedicated to honoring the three holy aspects of Mother Divine with continuous performances of puja, yagya, and devotion. This year, 2010, Vasant Navratri begins on March 16th and ends on March 24th.

Vasant Navratri is also known as Vasanth Navrathri, or Basant Navratri, Vasant Navratras and also as Ram Navratri, and it is most popular in northern India, especially in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and other northern states, where religious temples in the hill states conduct elaborate devotional ceremonies and melas (gatherings) during this period. It is a time of expressing great thanksgiving to Mother Nature – who protects and sustains the entire human race. Most devotees in northern India undertake fasting as part of their observance; fasting is known to help rid the body of impurities, to clarify the mind, and to help the body adapt to the change of climate during this time of year.

The first three days of the festival are devoted to that maternal force in Nature we have been introduced to: Durga; Durga, destroyer of “inner demons”--- gives her blessings and helps remove physical impurities which may be hindering us from seeing the truth.

The second three days honor Lakshmi, the aspect of Mother Divine who is adored as the giver of spiritual well-being and material abundance; she is the power of Nature which bestows inexhaustible wealth to the world.

The final set of three days is devoted to Saraswati, giver of wisdom and the divine personification of learning, music and the arts. In order to have all possible blessings and success in life, adoration is given to all three aspects of Mother Divine during these nine days and nights of devotion, which are marked by powerful ceremonies (yagyas) and continuous celebration. In some instances, there is a further delineation into 9 aspects of the divine feminine powers found in Nature, which are then grouped into these three.

Ram Navami, is the special day which falls on the ninth day of this festival and is a day dedicated to the memory of Lord Rama, hero of the classic tale, the Ramayana*, and to the commemoration of his birth. Lord Rama is remembered on this final day of celebration for his prosperous and righteous reign---a period of peace and unparalleled prosperity in which “suffering was not found."

*This is an epic poem of courage, magic and humor, containing 18 books and 24,000 verses divided into 500 songs.

At midday, when Lord Rama is supposed to have been born, a special prayer is performed in his honor.

In northern India especially, an event which draws great popular participation is the Ram Navami procession. The main attraction is a gaily decorated chariot in which four persons are “dressed up” as Rama, his queen Sita, his brother Laxman, and his disciple Hanuman. The chariot is accompanied by a phalanx of men dressed as Rama's solders and colorful displays. The participants vigorously shout out praises about the happy days of Raja Ram’s reign.

For a glimpse of some of these ceremonies during this festival, go to:

http://www.maharishichannel.in/ ~ Choose Channel 3

My Darling is a Foreigner Road Show

2010-03-07T19:58:00.000-07:00

My Darling is a Foreigner...Subtitled

2010-01-17T16:01:00.000-07:00

My Darling is a Foreigner...

2009-12-20T21:30:00.000-07:00

My Darling is a Foreigner, which finished filming Oct 2, is scheduled for release on April 10, 2010. Jonathan Sherr stars opposite Mao Inoue, one of the most celebrated young actresses in Japanese film and television. Jonathan, well-known to Tokyo Comedy club audiences for his energetic comedy improvisation, was chosen for the role from almost one hundred contenders because of his spontaneous good humor and command of the Japanese language, not to mention his other obvious qualities! What fun! And good luck, Jonathan. We can hardly wait to see this charming romantic comedy. Best Foreign Film perhaps?

Here's the link to his official website/blog.

Visit the Center for Leadership Performance

2009-07-03T22:43:00.001-06:00

Video | Center for Leadership Performance
“During the TM practice, the active thinking mind settles down naturally to a state of inner wakefulness, where the mind is silent yet fully alert. At the same time the body gains a profound state of rest and relaxation. This unique state of “restful alertness” develops the total brain and eliminates accumulated stress and fatigue. This experience is the basis for the increased creativity and intelligence and improved health reported by people who practice the TM technique.” ~ Dr. John Hagelin

Maharishi's last wish for the world...

2009-01-26T14:35:00.000-07:00

On January 11, 2008, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi publicly announced that he was "retiring into silence." He said he would be "closing his designed duty" to his spiritual master, Guru Dev and that he had one last message:

"Live long the world in peace, happiness, prosperity, and freedom from suffering.

The future of the world is bright.

That is my delight!"

Maharishi passed to the other side of life a short time later, on February 5, 2008. For over 50 years Maharishi brought forth blessings from his teacher Guru Dev and shared these glories, worldly and divine, with all of us who love life. We thank you for these gifts, Maharishi. You have given us so much and brought such happiness into our lives. For this we can only say what we have always said, repeating after you with thankfulness...~Jai Guru Dev

Educators Applaud the Quiet Time Program

2008-11-01T12:17:00.000-06:00

On October 16, the National Summit on Student Health and Education was held in New York City. Over 375 educators, government leaders, and philanthropists attended the Summit, which highlighted the benefits of 35 years of scientific research and classroom experience with the Quiet Time/Transcendental Mediation program. Over 85 schools have already signed up to start the program.

Highlighted in this second of a two-part report on the Summit are comments from several of the principals, assistant principals, and students who spoke during the Summit:

George H. Rutherford II, Ph.D., a 44-year educator in Washington, D.C. and the current principal of Ideal Academy Public Charter School, where every student from grades 6 to 12 meditates, said that when the students began to meditate together, they “got along better with one another, attendance improved, and academic achievement went up.

Fights, behavior incidents, and suspensions went down.”

Rochelle Jones, Ed.D., assistant principal at Weaver High School in Hartford, Connecticut, first introduced the program to a small group of students. When the English, Math, and Science scores of the test group went up, she implemented it school-wide. Since then, 500 students and teachers have learned the Transcendental Meditation® technique.

“Kids tell me they appreciate the program and now they are excited to come to school,” she says.

Joseph Thomas, a senior at Weaver High School, explained that the Transcendental Meditation technique improves his athletic performance, gives him more energy for training, and helps him calm down after football practice.

“The TM program minimizes the craziness in the school.”

Angela Dunnham, president of the senior class in Weaver High School, described how during the practice of the Transcendental Meditation program the noise and distractions of her environment magically disappear.

“Weaver is becoming a more harmonious place as a result of students regularly practicing the TM program.”

Nancy Spillane, head of Lowell Whiteman Primary School in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, saw a video segment on the NBC Today Show about the success of the Quiet/Time Transcendental Meditation program in Detroit. “I thought if I didn’t look into it, I might be doing a disservice to our children,” she says. The school incorporated the Quiet Time into the school curriculum by cutting back just a few minutes of each class period. “Now the teachers wouldn’t want that time back: students’ concentration and attention increased and discipline issues decreased.

In one year, all the teachers, as well as several board members and parents learned the Transcendental Meditation program.”

James Dierke, principal of Visitacion Valley Middle School in San Francisco and national middle school principal of the year in 2008, found “a tremendous happiness” in his school. “Student and teacher absences have been reduced, and the general attitude of the school has improved greatly since we started the Quiet Time activities.”

Ashley Deans, Ph.D., director of international programs for the Committee for Stress-Free Schools who also served for 18 years as the principal of the Maharishi School of the Age of Enlightenment, explained that the TM® technique is key to the educational process because,

“Only the experience of inner silence gained during the practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique develops the whole brain.”

To view the Summit in its entirety, please visit webcast.stressfreesummit.org.

For more information about the expansion of the Transcendental Meditation program in education, see www.TMEducation.org

Maharishi University students are changing the world!

2008-10-21T15:38:00.000-06:00

Sustainability Students are transforming campus and student life at Maharishi University of Management and soon will be making a big difference in the way our world works from now on! Three students discuss the Sustainability Program in the following press release:

Alex Cequea — Marketing Sustainability and Consciousness Major

Alexander Cequea, was raised in Venezuela and attended the University of Houston. But in Spring of 2006, he visited M.U.M. during the first David Lynch Weekend and enrolled that fall. “I was looking for an education that would bring more personal growth,” he says. “When I started meeting the students and faculty I immediately knew I was in the right place.”

“What we're doing at M.U.M., creating collective peace and radiating it to the world, is truly revolutionary. I feel blessed to have found this university, an oasis of consciousness.”

Along with M.U.M. students Troy van Beek and Robbie Gongwer, Alex formed a green consulting and media company called The Tidal Wave Group, with the motto: Navigating environmental sustainability and consciousness.

Tidal Wave offers businesses consultations on sustainability. Using marketing techniques, such as networking and blogging, the firm helps businesses tap into the areas of the Internet where consumers interact with each other and create a buzz about their product.

Alex is editor-in-chief of Conscious Times, MUM’s student newspaper. He will graduate this year and plans to enroll in MUM’s MBA in Sustainability.

Elisabet Humble — Sustainable Living Program

Elisabet Humble was on her way to a paralegal degree in Texas when she found out about Maharishi University of Management. Intrigued by the University’s holistic approach to education and the deeper element of consciousness, Elisabet attended a Visitors Weekend in July of 2007 and three weeks later her she enrolled.

Elisabet was interested in permaculture so she enrolled in the Sustainable Living program. “This program has us learn actively, not just from books,” she says. “The hands-on projects make learning more concrete for us so we get an idea what it is like in real life.”

In her first year, Elisabet became the student organizer for the Eco Fair. She booked the speakers, secured the venue for the event, and oversaw marketing. Since then she started two student clubs: the Bee Collective, for students interested in bee keeping, and the Guild of Herbalists, for students who want to learn the identification of herbs and make medicinal preparations.

Elisabet has a lot more in store for the future: “I want to start a business that will provide financial backing to create sustainable communities.”

Todd Ashelman — Living the Busiest, Yet Most Relaxing Life

Todd Ashelman had lived in an earth house in West Virginia, watched his father build solar-powered electric cars in Hawaii, and even worked as a massage therapist. He was drawn to M.U.M. for three reasons, “Family, sustainability, and consciousness.”

Todd contributes to the M.U.M. community in so many ways. As Sustainable Living President of the Global Student Council of M.U.M. he acts as a liaison between the University’s sustainable administration and the student body.

As head of the Bike Club, Todd offers instruction on how to fix bikes and he is preparing to collect donated bicycles for students to use. He is also active in Green Screen, a weekly environmental movie night and helps organize the annual Eco Fair. “I enjoy the challenge of testing how much I can do and still remain rested,” he says.

Somehow, Todd has room for more projects in his calendar, including assisting in the installation of wind generators and solar collectors on campus. “These projects should be examples for other universities to be sustainable and profitable,” he says.

Wow! These young people are the future. Aren't we blessed?

National Education Summit - October 16, 2008

2008-10-15T16:27:00.000-06:00

You are invited to view online or attend in person the
National Education Summit and Luncheon, which will showcase an
effective program for reducing classroom stress and teacher
burnout and improving academic achievement.

The mounting crisis of classroom stress, which undermines academic achievement and damages health, demands an innovative, practical solution. There is significant and compelling data that the answer lies in a stress-reducing, nonreligious in-school quiet time/meditation program.

On Thursday, October 16, in New York City,at 12:45 EDT, the “National Summit on Student Health and Education” will highlight 35 years of scientific research and classroom experience with tens of thousands of students participating in the Quiet Time/Transcendental Meditation program.

You are invited to view the Summit online at Webcast.StressFreeSummit.org

For more information, please see StressFreeSummit.org .

Information provided by,

George Rutherford, Ph.D.
Principal, Ideal Academy Public Charter School
District of Columbia;
Co-Director, U.S. Committee for Stress-Free Schools

It's time to bake Hoot Owl Cookies...

2008-10-13T13:23:00.000-06:00

About this time of year I start seeing different versions of my cookie recipe pop up on the internet. Some people seem to think they can improve upon it or perhaps they simply think that if they change something they will not be violating the copyright.

The copyright to this cookie is no longer held by a major flour manufacturer, so if you wish to share it with others, simply give credit where credit is due. All that I ask, as the originator of this recipe, is that you identify this cookie as the second grand prize winner in Pillsbury's 8th Grand National Bake-off and that you bake these cookies using the original wholesome ingredients.

Make these with your kiddos for Halloween. They will have fun and so will you!

Natalie’s original Halloween Hoot Owl Cookies

2nd Grand Prize Winner in the Pillsbury Bake-off®, many, many years ago...

Ingredients:

2 ½ cups sifted all purpose flour

2 teaspoons double-acting baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

¾ cup of butter (Do not use margarine or butter substitute)

1 cup firmly-packed brown sugar

1 unbeaten egg

1 teaspoon of real vanilla (Do not use artificial vanilla)

1 ½ squares (1 ½ ounces) unsweetened chocolate

¼ teaspoon baking soda

Chocolate chips (Do not substitute carob chips or butterscotch chips)

Whole roasted salted cashew nuts

Method:

* Sift flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl.
* In a separate bowl, work the butter, gradually adding the sugar and creaming it well. Blend the egg and the vanilla into the sugar mixture and beat well.
* Melt the unsweetened chocolate in the top half of a double boiler. Remove the pan from over the hot water and set aside to cool.
* Add dry ingredients gradually into the egg/butter mixture and mix well to form a ball of dough.
* Remove 2/3 of the dough to a floured board.
* Stir the 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda into the chocolate and blend chocolate mixture into the dough that remains in the bowl. Chill this chocolate dough in the refrigerator for 1/2 hour.
* Roll out half of the light-colored dough on your board to a 10 x 4 inch strip.
* Shape 1/2 the dark dough into a roll 10 inches long; place the dark dough roll onto the strip of light dough. Mold the sides of the light dough around the dark; wrap this in aluminum foil and chill in the refrigerator.
* Repeat this process. Chill both aluminum-covered rolls of dough about two hours.
* Remove aluminum foil and cut rolls into slices about ¼ inch thick; place two slices together on greased baking sheet or on a parchment-line baking sheet and press the slices together to resemble an owl’s face. Pinch the outside corners of each slice to form “ears”. Place chocolate chips, upside-down in the center of the dark circles to make "eyes"; press a whole cashew nut with the pointed side down between the slices to form the "beak".
* Bake in a moderate oven (350 degrees) for 8 to 12 minutes, just long enough for the cookie's light-colored rim to become slightly brown. Remove cookies from the baking sheets immediately and place on racks until completely cool. Makes about 4 dozen cookies.
* Cookies can be wrapped, single layer style, in aluminum foil for storage.

Hoot Owl Cookies © 1955 and re-established in 2007 by Natalie Neal, the first junior contestant ever to win a grand prize in the Pillsbury Grand National Bake-off®

It's Victory Day!

2008-10-09T13:19:00.000-06:00

Maharishi said, "Pick something great to do. And do it!" Good advice. Time to meditate and act. Every single day. The results will amaze us when we follow this simple formula: 15 or 20 minutes of Transcendental Meditation twice a day. And taking action in between! We are snatching Victory from the jaws of Deceit and freeing ourselves from the shameless policies of the past. This financial crisis is simply a necessary correction. We are changing the institutions of every country into organizations which shall be driven by honest policies and profoundly transparent competent actions. This is a "wake up call" to every one, every country in the world. Happy Victory Day!

The day of the blissful rain...

2008-09-10T14:14:00.000-06:00

September 10 is the beginning of the nourishing monsoon season in India, when everything is revived and refreshed.

It is also marked by Padma Ekadashi - A Day of Vishnu when there is an opportunity to increase prosperity and help in destroying calamities...

Using a cow for a compass?

2008-08-25T17:10:00.000-06:00

Cows seem to know how to find north and south, say researchers who have studied satellite photos of thousands of cows around the world.

The cattle which were grazing or resting tended to align their bodies in a north-south direction, a team of German and Czech researchers reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

And the findings held true regardless of the continent, according to the study led by Hynek Burda and Sabine Begall of the faculty of biology at the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany.

"The magnetic field of the Earth has to be considered as a factor," the scientists said.

Guru Purnima is July 18th!

2008-07-07T19:42:00.001-06:00

How will you celebrate?
Are you going to Holland?
Maharishi Vedic City? or Fairfield?

Here's wishing you fulfillment of your most precious desires...

Jai Guru Dev~

My garden, My city...

2008-05-11T18:04:00.000-06:00

On 11 May 2008 Asian News International reported: The pollution-free city of Chandigarh, which borders both the states of Punjab and Haryana, India---with its flowering trees, parks, gardens, and 'vast green expanses'---is a model city for the rest of India and the world to emulate.

In the planned city*, "One can today notice how the general feeling of---My garden, My city---has influenced the entire landscape and ultimately turning out to be the essence of Chandigarh. Chandigarh has also gained worldwide reputation for being a verdant haven. Be it roadsides, colonies or every possible place, care is given to ensure beautification through greenery."

The city's administration has employed over 600 gardeners to keep the city's gardens and landscaping green and beautiful.

* For more insight into the planning of Chandigarh go to:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandigarh

© Copyright 2008 Global Good News^®

Every day Global Good News documents the rise of a better quality of life dawning in the world and highlights those programs which have been proven to raise the quality of life for people in every society.

Nuggets of Gold...

2008-05-09T11:12:00.000-06:00

This poem was written by my mother as a gift to me and every Mother's Day when I read it I understand a little bit more about my mother and myself...

NUGGETS OF GOLD

I would, if I could, give you nuggets of gold,

But all I can offer are gems such as these…

A ray of sunlight on a new-green leaf,

A moment of quiet in a garden in bloom.

Thunder sounding on a bone-dry day,

And the rain that's sure to follow...

I can smell it on the way.

Embrace it! Enjoy it!

Treasure it, too.

Golden gifts seem far too few.

But I see some shining there for you

Like nuggets glistening in a mountain stream…

Waiting there for you to see.

You'll remember these things

When you're old like me.

You won't doubt any longer,

You'll be totally free to

Look back at what's happened

And suddenly know

Your life has had value,

It was full of ...

pure gold.

The undeniable lightness of lemons...

2008-05-01T17:11:00.000-06:00

The weather is inviting. Farmers' markets are opening and fresh flowers are beginning to appear everywhere in abundance. It certainly is spring in most places now. In some areas fund-raising events are in beginning to take place. Last year I volunteered to serve refreshments at an arts council event. The lemonade we served was a huge hit. Other beverages sold well, of course, but my station was the only one where people actually were standing in line to buy re-fills!

To make lemonade for the crowd that will be attending your event, you will need: simple syrup, water, crushed ice, fresh-squeezed lemon juice, and lemon slices.

The day before the event you will want to do the following:

Make up a batch of simple syrup:

Combine one cup of white sugar and one cup of water in a heavy saucepan. Simmer the sugar and water over medium heat and stir until all the sugar dissolves. Continue to simmer for about 5 minutes until the syrup is clear. Then remove the pan from the heat. Cool to room temperature. Pour this cool simple syrup into a gallon jar; add enough cool water to fill up the jar. One gallon of watered-down syrup is about right for a large family picnic.

For a fund-raising event, you will need to triple the amount of simple syrup shown above and add the cooled syrup to three gallons of water. Three gallons of watered-down syrup will serve a large crowd.

Reserve the sugar/water mixture in your refrigerator.

Next you will need to squeeze a lot of lemons. How many is up to you. But if you have a large event you will want one gallon of fresh-squeezed lemon juice for every three gallons of simple syrup/water mix. Reserve this lemon juice in a glass gallon jug or in several glass containers in your refrigerator.

Slice lemons cross-wise for garnish, wrap these in plastic wrap and refrigerate.

On the day of the event, set up your serving station:

Fill a clean ice chest to the brim with crushed ice. Place a sturdy scoop inside the ice chest so it will be handy.

Position a stack of tall beverage cups at your table/station.

Fill a glass pitcher with syrup mix and one with lemon juice. Place these, side-by side, and use a small sauce ladle for dispensing the lemon juice.

Have lemon slices on a pretty plate---at the ready.

Scoop ice chips into each beverage container as the order is placed.

Fill each beverage container 3/4 full of the syrup mix.

Add 2, 3 or 4 ladles of lemon juice depending on the customer's taste---Ask how they like it---mild, medium, or very tart?

Add a lemon slice as garnish and a swizzle stick or straw to stir.

If you are serving at a fund-raiser, smile sweetly and say, "Two dollars, please."

This recipe will return a tremendous profit, and gives enjoyment to all who buy!

Many thanks to Claire, my friend, neighbor and fellow arts council member who shared this recipe with me.

Still Life with Lemons was painted by Wanda Westberg, one of America's finest traditional plein-air landscape painters. This painting and others are currently offered for sale at William Lester Gallery: http://www.williamlestergallery.com/

April 25th is Arbor Day!!

2008-04-24T18:14:00.000-06:00

"For the forest to be green, each tree must be green!" ~Maharishi

Concerned about the environment?
Plant a tree today!

And start TM as soon as possible...
For a teacher near you: http://www.tm.org/

The blue birds are back!

2008-04-22T18:46:00.000-06:00

This morning the pine trees are crowned with male mountain bluebirds, each confident that he is the bluest and fairest of them all. The lady bluebirds keep a lower profile, clustering in shy groups, looking every bit like coy schoolgirls in soft blue-brown gowns. Image of a male mountain bluebird courtesy of the Montana Natural Resources Information System

Sunday visitors...

2008-04-18T17:37:00.000-06:00

I have had the pleasure of entertaining guests today.

Swinging from the branches of a holly tree, the Cedar Waxwings play

Like naughty well-dressed children released from church.

Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) perched in the branches of a weeping holly tree. Photo was taken with a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50 by Ken Thomas who has graciously provided this beautiful image to the public domain. Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Ken_Thomas
Photographer's personal website: http://kenthomas.us/

Thank you, Ken. You are a gifted photographer and a generous person.

Thank you!

2008-02-18T12:37:00.000-07:00

Best in the Whole Wide World was a semi-finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award competition!

Many thanks to those who submitted reviews. May I quote you?

P.S. Cover art by Bob Vale at Graphic Word

Maharishi's last wish for the world...

2008-02-08T13:23:00.000-07:00

On January 11th, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi publicly announced that he was "retiring into silence." He said he would be "closing his designed duty" to Guru Dev, his spiritual master, and that he had one last message:

"Live long the world in peace, happiness, prosperity, and freedom from suffering.

The future of the world is bright," he said.

"And that is my delight!"

Maharishi passed to the other side of life on Tuesday, February 5th.

For 50 years Maharishi brought forth blessings from his teacher. Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati of Jotir Math, and shared these glories, worldly and divine, with all of us who love life. We thank you for these gifts, Maharishi. You have given us so much and brought such happiness into our lives.

For this we can only say what we have always said, repeating after you with thankfulness..."Jai Guru Dev." To enjoy an on-going review of Maharishi's life and accomplishments, go to Channel 3 on http://maharishichannel.org/

The Japanese reviews are in!

2007-09-24T17:05:00.002-06:00

BEST IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD was chosen by readers as one of the best romance novels in Simon & Schuster's First Chapter's Competition. We placed number 20 in a field of 296 entries, without bringing our own entourage. Although not chosen by the Gather Team to go forward into the finals, 165 people left positive comments.

Going to Montana in my mind...

2007-07-27T14:03:00.000-06:00

What I wanted to do and what I did do this summer are worlds apart, and yet if I stop and think carefully, perhaps that is not a true sense of the meaning behind emerging events. I’d planned to go to Montana to complete research for my third book, much of which takes place there. I was going to dig deep, search for information and reach out for experiences not contained within files, photographs and musty papers. I’d wanted to be there---to place my feet on that piece of land, to feel that sky sweep above me. To touch the wind as it caressed my cheek, to taste the ice-cold water. I’d wanted to experience the scent of grass growing green from beneath the earth. I’d wanted to hear the songs of those birds. As is my habit, I wanted my knowing to be first-hand for one can’t experience the real Montana in a day or two, or on a week’s vacation, or simply by driving through. To really know something about living in that place during the chaotic sweep of the 1800’s, I would need a stretch of time from the end of one winter to the beginning of the next---affectionately known in these mountains as “summer”---a brief idyllic respite from harsher aspects of life within which is contained the entirety of all seasons.

Since I wasn't able to go peacefully into Montana for the summer, I had to find a way to bring those mountains here. After all, our mountains are not much different from their mountains, and our grass is not easily distinguishable from theirs. What exactly would I do differently if I were there instead of here?

Truly, not much would change. If I were to look at the teeming life around me under the same glass that I had intended to bring to Montana, would I not experience much that was the same? And of course, provided I am not run over by a truck in the very near future, there is still time left to verify this summer’s conclusions.

There is no time like the present. Today is a fine young day in these mountains. There are already a few snow banks forming on the east-facing ridges above me. And a ruby-throated finch is singing, heart full of joy, atop the blue spruce tree directly in front of my newly opened eyes. A river, foaming, frothy with white water, well-fed by tiny cascading brooklets racing madly down each crest, roars past my perch on the porch above it. And a sharp breeze moves directly up river coming all the way from the Bitterroots to kiss my cheek as I write.

The views from where I sit could not be more akin to ones I’ve clung to had I constructed these with my own hand.

A rock, my rock, as big as or bigger than our house, sits serene in the sunshine clothed in springtime green, garlanded by tiny blue asters and the dark green leaves of violets that soften the stark and craggy stone. And a natural “park” as pretty as any designated by federal authority sits beneath my rock, lush and inviting, with music provided by a rock band of red-winged blackbirds nesting in the willows beyond. A natural stone chimney at the edge of my park invites us to grill our favorite treats over hot coals at its base, much as the aboriginal people did a century and a half ago when they enjoyed the bend of this river as their home. Summer here is good and we have duties. It is our turn now to be caretakers of this place. Mountains, river, the music of life, glorious green things clinging, tall grass growing, a scent of fresh feathery sage---I have only to let myself go, to close my eyes and breathe, to keep my eyes closed and listen. I have only to touch the strand of hair that blows against my cheek to be in a place called “montana”---land of mountains.

When my stories had their beginnings, there was no place called Montana---no strange-sounding name. All this was THAT with no lines on paper to demarcate territory or ownership. There was only THIS which stretched unlined, untouched, forever expanding in all directions within the great circle of awareness which lives in all things.

There was only this...and it was good.

Time to do what works...

2007-07-23T11:58:00.000-06:00

Poppies turn their bright faces towards the sun. Soon they will scatter their children to the wind, wish them well, hope for the best and sink back into the earth, participating in a never-ending cycle of rest and activity. They are enternal optimists. Never doubting the reality of their own re-birth, they stay where they are, doing what they've always done because it works.

Sometimes though, life unexpectedly changes direction. Once, this river traveled serenely south like any other river. Then there came a time 52 million years ago when violent cycles of vulcanism turned all things upside down, sending this mighty stream back from whence it came. A river doesn't have much choice. Against all conventional wisdom, this river now flows north. Rivers, too, no matter how mighty, must always do what works.

For things to change, I've got to change. ~Jim Rohn

Natalie Neal-Whitefield writes from the banks of the Salmon River. She, her husband Stephen and their dog Trevor are trying to make heads or tails of the world in which we all live. How can we make it better? How do we keep hope alive when truth and decency are destroyed daily by evil doers, both foreign and domestic?

My family's traditional bread recipe...

2007-07-10T16:24:00.001-06:00

In my family, the pivotal ingredient of daily fare has always been bread. My grandmother’s family were wheat ranchers. For them bread-baking was a way of life. This method has been handed down for generations.

THE OVERACKER/FREEMAN FAMILY BREAD METHOD:

First, grind wheat berries into flour. Then fire up the wood cook range in the summer kitchen. Only kidding!

My grandmother actually did have a screened outdoor summer kitchen complete with a sink and wood-fired cook range. My mother didn’t have a summer kitchen but she did have two cook ranges in her big farm kitchen, one wood-fired and the other electric. Almost no one cooks that way anymore.

I take that back. Amish women still do. We used to attend Amish auctions in Iowa where women and girls would serve refreshments prepared inside one of those big screened summer kitchens. Pies, cookies, cakes, lemonade and coffee were always available for purchase by those in attendance. If you ever get a chance to go to an Amish auction, don’t hesitate. It’s a real treat!

Even if you have no summer kitchen, you will have to turn off the air conditioning. And close any open windows. The ideal temperature for yeast to activate properly is between 70 to 82 degrees F. Bread dough likes a warm cozy place so it is essential to maintain evenness in room temperature throughout the bread making process.

The basic ingredients for this method are liquid, flour, and yeast---and time. Eggs, oil, extra fiber and salt are optional.

Make sure you will have sufficient time to devote to the process. The entire morning. Or an afternoon. You can be doing other things around home, but a certain amount of focused attention is needed to maintain an evenness in the procedures as these unfold.

If possible have all your ingredients at room temperature. You will also need a supply of clean kitchen towels, a large mixing bowl, and a heating pad. (If you don’t have a heating pad, that’s Ok. We’ll deal with the constant temperature issue later.) You will also need a wooden “bread board” or a clean smooth wooden surface such as a low table top upon which you will knead the dough. Or you could use a pastry cloth on top of any clean table top surface. Even the backside of a clean wooden kitchen cutting board will work if it is a big one. But don’t use the side that you’ve sliced and diced on. You wouldn’t want the dough to absorb the tastes of old garlic or fresh onions!

Ok. We’re ready. Let’s do it! Let’s bake bread.

Liquid

I use about one cup of liquid for each loaf of bread. For our purposes, we’ll make enough dough for two standard loaves. You may use water, the water left over from cooking potatoes or carrots, or you may use milk. I use milk. If I had fresh organic milk, I would use that, but since I no longer have access to my family’s dairy farm, I buy milk at the grocery store like everyone else. You can use skim milk, 2%, or whole milk--- It’s up to you.

The liquid must be scalded--- whether we use milk, plain water, or vegetable cooking waters---This step is to make sure there are no natural yeasts or bacteria present in the liquid. Scald means to heat until tiny bubbles appear around the edges of the liquid inside the pan. Do not bring milk to the boiling point as it scorches easily and will boil over the sides of the pan. (Allow scalded liquid to cool to a lukewarm temperature.)

Oil

Put a couple of pats of butter into the hot milk, or a couple of tablespoons of olive oil. If low-fat bread is desired, this addition can be eliminated.

Fiber

Add a couple of handfuls of wheat germ, or flax seed, or flax seed meal, oat flakes, sunflower seeds, or even cooked cereal left over from breakfast. Add some, all or none of these ingredients. It’s up to you. Whatever you add will give texture to the bread and help to cool the milk. You may also add a beaten egg or two at this point once the milk/cereal mixture has cooled to lukewarm. Cover your milk/cereal mixture with a clean cloth and set it aside in a warm place.

Leavening

If you have sour dough starter:
I use a cup or two of my sour dough starter to create a sponge, placing the sour dough in a warmed mixing bowl and placing the bowl on top of an electric heating pad which has been placed beneath a towel. I place a clean white kitchen towel over the bowl and let my starter sponge begin to bubble. I might proof and add an additional tablespoon of dry baker's yeast to this mixture if my sour dough is not particularly active.

If you're starting from scratch:

Use two cups flour and enough water to get a sticky gooey dough going and then add 1 tablespoon dry yeast which has been proofed. I proof the yeast in a glass cup with about 1/4 cup warm water and a teaspoon of sugar. When this yeast mixture starts to foam up, I scoop this out into the flour mixture and mix it in with a wooden spoon.

Cover the bowl with a clean cloth and let the mixture get to bubbling. Turn your electric heating pad to medium, so that it maintains an even warm surface beneath a towel placed under your bowl. If you don’t have an electric heating pad, you may place your bowl in any warm place in your kitchen as long as it’s free from drafts.

The Sponge

The yeast mixture is called the sponge. When it gets to working you will notice lots of nice bubbles forming. Once the bubbles are lively, it is time to add the tepid milk mixture to the sponge. Once you’ve added your liquid/cereal mixture to the sponge, place a clean kitchen towel over the bowl, and let it do its thing. You will want the sponge to take on the appearance of a bubbly pudding.

WARNING: NEVER TASTE THE YEAST MIXTURE! Even if it looks good enough to eat, it is NOT cookie dough! Uncooked yeasts can cause severe intestinal distress and do great damage to the ecology of the gastrointestinal tract!

Salt is optional.

Bread made without salt will not draw moisture from the atmosphere after baking, so it will not easily mold in a bread box. On the other hand, bread with salt has a nice taste. It can be refrigerated to maintain freshness. Moldy bread is not a problem at our house because it is eaten before it gets a chance to go stale.

I mix in 1 teaspoon salt for each loaf of bread.

High gluten flour is optional.

At this point I usually add some high gluten flour---approximately 1 tablespoon or so for each cup of flour already in the mix. High gluten flour makes the bread lighter in texture and helps buoy up any fiber content in the bread. If you have an allergy to gluten, please consult recommendations for substituting another kind of flour for wheat.

Now you have a bubbly, gooey mixture. Yeah. Hurrah! It's time to add flour!

Use any kind of flour---white, all purpose flour, whole wheat or rye---just enough to form a big blob of springy dough in the bottom of the bowl, one which is just stiff enough to be able to remove it from the bowl. And time to work the dough...

By now your flour will be at room temperature. Time to bring out your bread board. My husband made me a nice one which I use exclusively for making bread, but even the back side of a kitchen cutting board will do, as long as it is absolutely clean. Flour your board. That is, place a about two cups of flour right in the middle of your work surface.

White flour or whole wheat---it doesn’t matter---white or all purpose flour makes a lighter loaf, whole wheat a heftier one.

Make a "well" ---an indentation in the middle of the flour. Spread a little flour to the edges of the board so dough will not stick to it.

Place the sticky ball of dough into the well and begin working flour up and over and into the dough with clean hands, a little at a time, until the dough is pliable. The goal is simply to make a dough ball that holds its shape--- still sticky but not at all stiff. Time to pre-heat your oven to 375 degrees. And time to set the dough to rise.

Pour a little olive oil into the bottom of your original mixing bowl. Grip the ball of dough in your strongest hand and turn upside down, anointing the top of the ball in the oil and then turning it so that the anointed section is now topmost when you put the dough ball back into the bowl.

Cover the bowl with a clean cloth once again. Place the bowl back on top of the heating pad, (or in the same warm corner of your kitchen as before). I know some people advocate using the oven which has been warmed up at low temperature, and that's fine, if you're a real pro at temperature regulation. If the dough is mistakenly overheated, the yeast will be killed, leaving the new bread maker with a loaves that are as hard as bricks!

Allow the dough to double in bulk. The dough needs a warm steady temperature to make it rise---that's why my mother and grandmother used a woodstove in a hot kitchen, but I use a heating pad. (FYI…A heating pad also works great for making yogurt.)

When the dough has doubled in bulk, "punch" it down with clean hands to get the carbon dioxide out of it. The dough ball will look like a deflated balloon and return to original size.

Allow the dough to double in bulk one more time.

When double, turn it out on your floured board, and knead it. It is hoped that your board can be placed on a low table, so you will have sufficient leverage to work the dough. You will want to lean into it, using the heals of your palms to work the dough ball with the rocking motion of your body and your wrists. It takes awhile to get the feel of it, but you will soon get the knack. At this point you will be taking up only as much flour as is necessary to keep the texture of the dough "flesh-like" and bouncy.

Fold the dough towards the center, press down and push away, turning the dough a quarter round each time, repeating the process again and again until the dough no longer sticks to your hands or to the lightly floured board. Too much flour will make the loaf heavy and dry. So easy does it. Always handle the dough with a light but confident touch. The dough will soon feel smooth and elastic. It should feel alive---like the proverbial baby's bottom. If your bread is whole grain, it should feel like a strong man's arm.

Cut the dough ball in half. Fold each half as if you were folding a table napkin and fashion into two loaves. Grease two standard bread pans with shortening and put the loaves in the pans. Allow the loaves to rise just to the tops of the pans but no higher.

If you would like a round free-form loaf, do not use bread pans. Use baking sheets.

If a glazed crust is desired, see options in the two types of bread shown below.

Fashion the two loaves into large balls, sprinkle cornmeal on the baking sheets, and place the hand-shaped loaves on top of the sprinkled cornmeal. Allow the loaves to double in bulk.

Then place the prepared loaves in the pre-heated oven. Toss 1/2 cup of water onto the bottom of the hot oven and close the oven door quickly to capture the steam. Bake for 50 minutes at 375 degrees or until the golden brown loaves respond with a "thump" when smacked with your thimble finger. Cool the loaves on a wire rack before storing. Loaves that are thoroughly cooled may be refrigerated in zip-locked plastic bags to maintain freshness.

The Overacker/Freeman Family Bread Recipe is easily adapted to other traditions.

Here are two other types of bread to consider:

French Bread:

Omit the sugar and oil.

Divide dough into 4 equal parts and hand shape into long, narrow loaves. Use French bread pans, or baking sheets lightly greased. Slash a cut through the top of each loaf from top to bottom and prepare a mixture of egg white beaten with water to glaze the tops of each loaf. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes and then at 350 degrees until the crust appears crisp, and brown.

Challa - Sabbath Bread:

Use white or all purpose flour.
Don’t add extra fiber---well, maybe a little wheat germ.
Use salt.
Use potato water for the liquid.
Use baker’s yeast instead of sour dough and proof it in 1/4 cup water with a teaspoon of sugar.
Add two or three beaten egg yolks and oil to the sponge.
Proceed as usual.
Cut dough in half. Put one half on the board and cut into 3 equal pieces. Roll these pieces into equally long segments and braid these together. Pinch the ends tightly and tuck under. Repeat with the other half of the dough. Sprinkle baking sheets with corn meal and place these braided loaves on top of the corn meal. Brush the tops of both loaves with the beaten yolk of one egg and top with sesame seeds or poppy seeds. Bake in hot oven (400 degrees) for 15 minutes and then turn oven down to 350 degrees and continue to bake for about 45 minutes or until the braided loaves are golden brown. Place on wire rack to cool.

Congratulations! You've baked enough bread for the week. It's time for lunch. Enjoy!

Why not put a couple of slices in the toaster and make a nice Apple Salad Sandwich?

Place diced apple, diced celery, and chopped sweet onions into a small bowl.

Add the drained contents of a can of high-quality tuna. Mix in a tablespoon of homemade mayonnaise*, a teaspoon of Dijon mustard, fresh ground pepper and sweet pickle relish to taste. (Or use diced cubes of cooked chicken instead of tuna. *No commercial mayonnaise ever tastes as good as mayonnaise you can make yourself. There are lots of recipes available on the web.)

Spread the apple salad mix on toasted homemade bread.
Serve these nutritious sandwiches with tall cold glasses of fresh milk! Buy local. Help support organic farmers and family farms whenever and where ever you can.

A message from the mountain

2007-07-04T18:10:00.000-06:00

Phonetically, the sign says, "Iiy-tsu mah-dey mo, Kii-ray de, Kii-yo-rah-ka nee...

Keep this (mountain) beautiful and clean for all times."

Fujisan gives good advice on how to keep a marriage beautiful.

Golden currants cascade in clusters...

2007-06-27T15:59:00.000-06:00

Golden currants cascade in clusters from twig and branch. All things proceed rapidly towards quick conclusion. The snows melt quickly. The rivers rise, rush and rage. Then subside to a proceed at a dignified pace. Fur-lined nests are empty within mere days after baby rabbits have been born. The occupants, now half-grown, are out on their own.

Currant bushes, covered with delicate yellow flowers but a few weeks ago, are now gloriously bejeweled with golden fruit. Everything is in a hurry to burst forth, grow and mature before our brief summer ends.

Rythmns are different here. The long slow winter, slipping and sliding into May, jumps into summer by the second week of June, then jumps out again by August's end as if the water is already much too cold.

I am watching the golden clusters carefully. If I want my jar of jam, I must be quick. Cedar waxwings know precisely the hour when the berries are truly best. I have found it almost impossible to teach wild birds how to share.

Oh, to be a fly on the wall...

2007-06-27T15:32:00.000-06:00

Well, you probably wouldn't want to be a fly at my house!

You wouldn't get much of a chance to listen in or to observe what was going on. You see, we live in the country. And like most homes out here, our buildings are older, built solidly but beset with crooks, cracks and crannies into which and from which winged things come. And now it's summertime. The time for all buzzing creatures to hatch, reproduce and complete their life cycle.

To live and quickly die!

My guests and I am are here to help with the "dying" part. We are part of the endless systematic workings of nature. Our job is to cut short the life cycle of the fly.

Here are your freshly-laundered sheets. Your towels. And here is your weapon. A super-sized fly-swatter.

Have at it!

I have a rock...

2007-06-27T14:47:00.000-06:00

Yes, I have a rock. And my own mountain. And a wild river, too. Clean air. Clean water. A snug place to sleep at night. A bowl of soup and a piece of toast. Shade trees in summer. With such blessings how could one not be happy?

I am troubled that so many in this world are denied such blessings.

Have I done something special to deserve this grace? Or is my good fortune the random disbursement of bounties being cast in all directions by the hands of fate?

My gratitude is unbounded, but my task perhaps is to enjoy these blessings without a heavy heart...

Do you ever feel guilty for your blessings instead of counting them?

Life is different for me now

2007-06-26T13:18:00.000-06:00

It used to be all about me, me, me. And that's Ok because I didn't have any one else in my life at the time. I was all there was! Once children came, my sense of self expanded and family trumped all. I found I liked being a team player. It was much more fun than going it alone. And when Stephen came into our lives, we became the home team. With children of their own now, the other members of that team come back to play whenever they can. We've never lost that spirit. We still root for one another, and jump and shout when one of us hits a home run. There is no such thing as win or lose. For us it's always been about how to play the game.

The past is always perfect...

2007-06-25T11:04:00.000-06:00

I've been working steadily these past few days scanning yellowed clippings which have been lying dormant in the scrapbooks of a former life. I thought the experience might be a bit depressing, but no. It's been rather refreshing to become re-aquainted with the person I once was. She reminds me of someone I may still want to be. We had good times, she and I. And the clear conviction behind her eyes tells me there are good times that remain. Places to explore. Ideas that require her attention and mine. We're still pals. That girl I used to be...and me.

I am told I must blog...

2007-06-23T12:38:00.000-06:00

I love to write but this is ridiculous. I have been given a kind of ultimatum of sorts by other writers who maintain that one must blog, the modern-day equivalent of the evolutionary theory, adapt or die! Time has no meaning to the techno novelist of today. It's a 24/7 world now and if I can't handle it, I should prepare for oblivion.

Well, I don't think I'm cut out for the write now, write all the time world. I spend four to six hours a day as it is, fighting with my characters over the various, twisting, turning events which seem to have taken over my third book. Let me revise that statement slightly, which have taken over their book. I forgot. I exist merely to serve.

And I am told I must promote. Constantly. Name recognition is paramount. Even before I have a name, I must be working on creating an identifiable entity on line. Always on the alert for every conceivable opportunity to root to toot toot my proverbial horn...

Ok. How else for an unknown to become a household name? But do I really want to become a household name? I've done that a couple of times in the past and I can't say it was all that much fun! Perhaps I should try writing for the fun of it, if there is such a thing. I don't know. I haven't decided yet. I've got these people standing over my shoulder telling me to get back to work. After all, their story is more important than my musings and they don't like to be kept waiting...

Welcome all who love the writing life...

2007-05-02T22:03:00.001-06:00

If you have read the first two chapters of The Best in the Whole Wide World, please feel free to leave your comments here...