Independent Thought

O.k. I admit it this is very much a chick-flick but I loved it and may need to watch it again, the play of language and the acting were brilliant. The idea of a woman making a living as an author or "by the pen"...shocking.

My favorite lines "What's she doing?"
"Writing"
"What can be done about that?"

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

Calming Orange

I like buying packets of bath products. They're relatively inexpensive, I'm not stuck with a huge box or bottle of something I don't like and I get to try lots of different products. This is a new one to me but one of my favorites. Although many products claim they are "aromatherapy" this one really was. The fragrance of sweet orange, patchouli, lemongrass and ylang ylang filled the bathroom as soon as the hot water hit the sea salts and lingered long after my bath was done. It didn't dry out my skin which is a rarity in bath products. 100% pure essential oils and it had none of the bad stuff...no synthetic colors, fragrances or preservatives.

the Van Gogh Blues

Writing Nag interviews Dr. Eric Maisel on the release of the paperback edition of the Van Gogh Blues. READ HERE.

Writing Nag's Pear and Cranberry Chutney

Writing Nag's Pear and Cranberry Chutney

1 Tbsp vegetable oil
2 Bartlett pears, peeled and cut into small dice
1 Granny Smith apple, peeled and cut into small dice
1 small onion, cut into small dice
2 cloves garlic, chopped fine
2 cups water
1 1/2-2 cups brown sugar
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1/4 tsp. allspice
2 cinnamon sticks
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
pinch of ground cloves
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
2 12 oz bags whole cranberries
1/2 cup toasted walnuts, optional


Heat the vegetable oil over low heat and add the onion, pears, apples, and garlic. Cook gently for approximately 10 minutes or until the onion has softened. Add all the spices, water, sugar and vinegar and bring to a boil. Add cranberries, bring to a second boil and then turn down the heat. Simmer until cranberries have burst, stirring occasionally for approximately 20 minutes. Take off heat and stir in toasted walnuts. Serve at room temperature or refrigerate and serve chilled. Adjust the spices to your liking. Remove cinnamon sticks before serving.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Lovingly,
The Writing Nag

U2 - Beautiful Day

Angry Pasta for the Holiday Table

ANGRY PASTA

Chris Rea : Driving Home For Christmas

Travis - Writing To Reach You

Blog Action Day 2007

Soups, Wonderful Soups

It's that time of year, falling leaves, pumpkins, cool evenings and soup, soup, soup!


More to follow. I post daily at my writing site. Visit me at Writing Nag.

Olives-Heart Healthy Friends

I just wrote a new post about one of my favorite foods! Olives.

24 Boxes

I found this site, 24 Boxes through Blogger, very cool blog with great recipes and photos, the blogger is eating her way through her boxes of local vegetables. Very interesting concept.

Writing Nag and Live Holistically

I haven't posted here in awhile, because I'm blogging almost daily at my writing blog. Stop by and visit me here or visit me where I write about healthy eating with some other great bloggers.

Seven Random Things

I have been tagged by Lauri.

1. Since I can remember I've had an irrational fear of sea turtles.

2. I love pumpkins, the smell, the taste, the look, pumpkin products, everything about them and I've been growing them in my garden...lots of different varieties for the last seven years.

3. I have a Victorian mourning coat in my closet with a red wine colored silk lining. It's too small to fit me but I love it.

4. When I was younger I entertained my mom as she did dishes by standing on a kitchen chair and singing Irish ballads to her that I made up.

5. Athough I love being alone, I'm afraid of dying alone.

6. I think poets are the most underrated writers in the world.

7. I don't know seven other bloggers that I can tag.




Each blogger should list 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to then report this on their own blog with their 7 random facts as well as these rules. They then need to tag 7 others and list their names on their blog. They are also asked to leave a comment for each of the tagged, letting them know they have been tagged and to read the blog.

Kate Nash -Foundations

for anyone who has held on to a bad relationship.

Italian Cooking

My column is now online, many more recipes to follow!

Congrats Ron!

My very talented writer friend Ron Cree had his book signing at Poor Richard's last night. I snuck into the picture. Great young adult summer read!

Ron read us a chapter that got cut from his book, Desert Blood, and it was very interesting to hear about his start from beginning writer to his successful publication. I look forward to hearing more from Ron.

Dinner with the Sopranos

I'm sad to see the Sopranos go for many reasons... it was a good series, well written, directed and acted and our Sunday Soprano Dinners are over. Not that we can't continue our Sunday tradition of eating Italian but it was fun to think of menus that would work well with our theme. For the finale we decided on:

Herb Crusted Grilled Pork Loin
Creamy Polenta with Sigillo di Garanzia
Sauteed Garden Spinach with Garlic
Quick Marinara Sauce


I'm still not sure what I think about the finale, but the dinner was fantastic.

More Ephemera!!

Ephemera for $1.99
I was excited this morning to find that one of my favorite sites had redone their website and opened their vintage market.


they also have a poetry portal where I just happened to win 2nd place for my poem, Relics.