Elementary, My Dear

I thought I'd share this great story by Don Williams, a prize-winning columnist, and the founding editor and publisher of  New Millennium Writings an annual anthology of stories, essays and poems. His awards include a National Endowment for the Humanities Journalism Fellowship at the University of Michigan, a Golden Presscard Award, the Malcolm Law Journalism Prize and many others.   http://www.mach2.com/williams/

How a writer thinks—elementary my dear 
by Don Williams

During a holiday sometime back, the Williams clan, including in-laws, outlaws and assorted friends, gathered to play Trivial Pursuit.

 

A competitive lot, we turn such games into raucous entertainment. Lots of praise, derision and laughter pertain, not necessarily in that order.

 

The games were close and the questions difficult, prompting snorts and catcalls, and three of the teams had flamed out by the time my friend the writer’s turn came to answer a question.

 

My sister Rebecca drew a card and read: 

 

Sherlock Holmes turned into the gate at 221 Baker St, stepped inside the door and climbed ___ steps to his second story flat. How many steps did he climb?

 

There was a collective groan.

 

“Bury that one,” a brother-in-law said, even as Rebecca was discarding the question. “He’ll never get that.”

 

“Hold on!” My friend held up his right hand. “I’ve only read one Arthur Conan Doyle book, and it wasn’t Sherlock Holmes, but I’ll take a shot at that.”

 

“No way. How are you going to guess that one?”

 

“Elementary my dear Watson,” my friend replied. “In the time-honored Holmes-ian way. Deductive Reasoning.”

 

“That’ll be the day,” my brother Tim said.

 

“Listen up,” said my friend. “It has to be at least 10 steps to Sherlock’s apartment, even if the risers are relatively high, say, 10 inches, because they have to clear that first-floor apartment’s ceiling. And the answer likely won’t be more than, say, 20 steps, even if the risers are short, because that would put the esteemed detective’s pad more than ten or twelve feet above street level. See? Already I’ve reduced the universe of possible answers to 10.”

 

“Yeah, yeah,” my brother Rodney said.

 

“So,” my friend continued, “the answer lies somewhere between 10 and 20. Let’s take them one by one.”

 

“Better hurry,” said my sister Kathleen, eyeing the sandglass.

 

“OK. Ten is a lazy number that would make the author appear lazy too, so a writer like Doyle would never use it. Not here. Nor can it be 11, because that’s a lucky number, mildly distracting and therefore intrusive. More importantly, Sherlock’s a deductive thinker, so the author wouldn’t suggest, even subliminally, that his detective’s success owes anything to a lucky number. Number 12? Again, distracting. Sir Doyle wouldn’t want his readers to be thinking, even subconsciously, about Twelve Apostles or even 12 months. Unlucky thirteen? Similary distracting.”

 

“Time’s almost up,” said Kathleen.

 

I could see my friend faintly flush, but he continued in a calm if faster voice. “Fourteen? Now there’s a Plain Jane. No writer worth his salt would dull down a book with such tasteless seasoning, even if it is red.”

 

“Red?”

 

“See? That could be a subjective thing. And 15? Again, like 10, it’s too pat and pregnant. Makes the author appear lazy." 

 

“Sixteen?” a brother-in-law asked, eyeing the fleeting sands.

 

“Like 14, another Plain Jane, even if it is black,” my friend added.

 

“Seventeen?”

 

My friend smiled. You could almost hear bells going off. “Seventeen seems random,” he said, savoring the moment, “but it’s actually quite sexy. That unobtrusive 7, peeking from behind the place-holding 1, is subtly mystical, alluring even, hardly rising even to the level of the subliminal, yet there it is.”Rebecca rolled her eyes. “So, is that your final answer?” she asked in a bored voice, as she glanced at the card, but we knew her attitude was all bluff.

 

“Yesssss,” my friend whispered aloud, calmly assured. “Seventeen it is. By far the most interesting number between 10 and 20.”

 

Her eyes widened. “You’re right. How did you do that?” she asked as she flashed the card, answer-side up, on the table.

 

“Elementary, my dear. I’m a writer.”

Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes

BTW, Sherlock Holmes never said "Elementary, my dear Watson" in any of the stories by Conan Doyle.
      

Hot German Potato Salad!

Since it's a holiday weekend and all, thought I'd share a few of my all-time favorites. My mother wasn't known for her extensive repertoire in the kitchen, but she did make a couple of good things, like her hot German Potato salad (hot as in served warm, not spicy;). This recipe was published in the Better Homes & Gardens Cook Book, most likely where she originally discovered it in the 1960's. This version is a little different from traditional recipes in that it doesn't use mayonnaise as the dressing, and it's delicious.

Hot German Potato Salad
6-8 servings

6 medium potatoes, about 2 lbs.
6 slices of bacon
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 tbsp. flour
2 tbsp. sugar
1-1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. celery seed
dash pepper
1/2 cup vinegar
2 hard boiled eggs, sliced

Cook potatoes until tender, peel and slice. In large skillet cook bacon until crisp, drain and crumble, reserving 1/4 cup drippings to cook onion until tender but not brown. Add in the dry ingredients, then the water and vinegar. Cook while stirring constantly until thick and bubbly, then continue to cook 2 more minutes. Stir in bacon and potatoes and continue to cook until heated through Lightly toss in egg slices and serve.

BH&G has an updated version of this same basic recipe on their website, includes the addition of frozen peas and fresh herbs, or balsamic vinegar to jazz it up a bit. Hot German Potato and Pea Salad

And for the Grill Master of the house, here's the best resource ever, complements of the Kansas City Steak Company, for a melt-in-your-mouth piece of meat;)
Steak Grilling Chart

Happy Memorial Day weekend!
Bon Appetit!

The Versatile Blogger

Twice as nice--two great complements came my way this past week via fellow MNINB challenge writers, J.Lynn Sheridan of Writing On The Sun and Muddy Kinzer of Muddying the Waters. To be a Versatile Blogger is an honor and I get a cool badge to post! Very nice! Thanks again, ladies!

The VBA is a great way to support other bloggers. Here are the rules:

•  Thank the person(s) who gave you this award. (check check)
•  Include a link to their blog(s). (check check again)
•  Next, select 15 blogs/bloggers that you’ve recently discovered or follow regularly.
•  Nominate those 15 bloggers for the Versatile Blogger Award.
•  Finally, tell the person who nominated you 7 things about yourself.

Here are my nominations for most excellent Versatile Bloggers:

Emily E. McGee: One Trailing Spouse
Sarah W. Bartlett: Sarahscapes
Blyth McManus: Blyth McManus
Sopphey:  Sopphey Says
Paul Ellis:  It Was A Dark and Stormy Night
Stephanie Puckett: La vie moins ordinaire
Claudine Jaboro: Fiction, Family and Science
Elizabeth Saunders: Travels with Books
Brandi Amara Skyy: My Drag Life and Drag Life Inspirations
Jo Ann J. A. Jordan: Chronicles
Jane Ann McLachlan: The Flight of Happiness
David Stoddard: What I Don't Know
Carol Early Cooney: The 9 inch plate
Mona AlvaradoFrazier: Strong Women Grow Here

As far as 7 things about myself, well, I love to make things, must be my Cancerian tendencies. I hate cigarette smoke, it makes me sneeze. I love all pasta equally, all shapes, sizes, and textures. The Vaseline Intensive Care commercial with the sand paper hands makes my skin crawl. I'm allergic to dogs and cats, and I have 4 dogs and 2 cats! I hate spiders, okay, and snakes. And I have an embarrassing weakness for Bavarian creme-filled powdered sugar coated Bismarks. I don't purposefully seek them out, but if one (or more) happen to present themselves to me, well, that's another story.... yummy, yummy, yummy, I got love in my tummy! (plus some unmentionables of which I will not speak;)


Cheers!
K

Manic Monday

Yea! The Hewlett Gulch fire is now over 85% contained thanks to the half inch of rain dumped over the area Friday night and early Saturday morning. The downfall to that is the 5 am thunder-boomer that led the organizers of the Saturday outdoor market to cancel--bummer--even though the streets were mostly dry and the sun was coming out by the time the event was scheduled to begin at 9 am. I must admit I'm a bit miffed by losing my vendor fee due to the whining of those ill-prepared participants that convinced the powers-that-be to cancel because of the possibility of severe weather. This is Colorado and the weather is unpredictable and the forecasts are only accurate some of the time, and most, if not all events are held 'rain or shine':() That's why vendors should be prepared with a sturdy shelter and whatever else needed to keep everything dry and safe.......

The good news is that now I have three weeks to sew maniacally in preparation for the next festival, the Taste of Fort Collins, a two day event featuring foods and beverages from local eateries and micro-breweries and national restaurants, and of course, eclectic works from local fine artisans and crafters. The festival also features various musical groups that play throughout the day and evening on the center stage in Civic Center Park. This year's headliners are Everclear and Mat Kearney, should be a great weekend--weather permitting. (I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed!) If you're going to be in the area and want to check it out, here's a link: Taste of Fort Collins

Well, my Bernina is waiting for me patiently, ready to begin the day's creations after a luxurious overnight spa treatment with sewing machine oil;)

Here's one of the custom orders I just completed, a beautiful over-sized lined travel tote.

Until next time, here's to no wild fires, productive days (and nights;), and glorious weekends!

K

Fire Season 2012

It's quite creepy to see the glow of a forest fire from your deck, a mere 8 miles away. The Hewlett Gulch fire is still burning, now over 7,600 acres with 11% containment. This past spring's lack of any significant precipitation has created optimal conditions for wild fires. Just one instance, whether caused by human or natural forces, can destroy so much, so fast, and once it's gone, that's it--finite.

When considering how prepared we are for an evacuation, we're not, at least not as well as we should be. Sure we have a survival bag with a few necessities, but nothing like meds, clothes, food, important documents, not to mention all the pet paraphernalia we'd need for 4 dogs and 2 cats, and anything else you wouldn't want to burn up. A 15 or even 30 minute evacuation notice isn't enough time if you're unprepared. With a forest fire that's a few miles away you have a little more time than if one of your neighbors decides to clandestinely burn garbage on his or her deck and it gets out of control. And where we live, the entire neighborhood would probably go up, if the conditions were right. Scary.

The smoke from the fire is so thick in town that some outdoor events scheduled for the weekend may be canceled due to poor air quality. I'm one of those vendors scheduled for the French Nest Market in old town Fort Collins tomorrow, and if the health department says it's okay then the festival will go on, and if not I'm out my vendor fee;( The weather forecast says 63 and a 40% chance of rain, which is a good thing. I can do light rain at an outdoor event, just not torrential rains and mud puddles where everyone has to walk on cardboard sidewalks to avoid having their shoes ruined.

Fort Collins covered in a blanket of smoke.

Here's to a fire-free damp weekend!
Cheers!

The Liebster Blogger Award

Talk about making my day start off with a bang! After sewing feverishly until midnight last night making wine totes (among a thousand other things), I was pleasantly surprised by a message from a fellow blogger, Anne Kimball of Life on the Funny Farm, to tell me that my blog was one of her nominees for the Liebster Blogger Award!

Specifically, "Because you are perfectly imperfect, you make me laugh, and you show me good food." That's the best complement, EVER! Thank you, thank you very much Anne!

 So, here are the Liebster Blogger Award rules:

1. Thank the one who nominated you by linking back.... ty, Anne;)
2. Nominate five blogs with fewer than 200 followers (hopefully I'll entice a few more of you   
    to follow;)
3. Let your nominees know by leaving a comment on their sites.... (working on it;)
4. Add the award image to your site.... (got it;)

And, here are my nominees:

Mel Walsh Jones for Mel's Madness. You speaketh the truth! Tell it sister!

Esther Bradley-DeTally for Sorrygnat, World Citizen. You are a superb multi-tasker after my own memoir-loving heart!

Bonnie Veseley for Right Livelihood, Just Ventures. I love your stories and you've definitely found your path!

Susan Craig for Ideas, Information, Insight. Your scientific mindful musings remind me why I love psychology!

Laura Howard for Finding Bliss. You are blissfully on your way! You go girl!

Now, I'm off to finish more projects at my ever relentless frenzied pace!
And this evening when I'm done (like that ever happens), I'll be enjoying a fine vintage with one of my BFF's, Jody!

This wine tote is one of my late night creations.... and the wine, Insatiable Petite Syrah, one of my favorites.

Cheers!
K

Good Bad Habits

Trying to stay on top of everything, as organized as I am (?!), can be quite a challenge some days. Distraction creeps in or some other random occurrence sucks too much time from what I'm supposed to be doing.... like finishing up my book, tending to my blogs, my websites, my Etsy shop, my social networking sites, and creating a multitude of items for all the summer festivals I've booked. Seems like there's more.... oh yeah, the pets and my duties as a domestic goddess (too numerous to list, and I don't want to bore you)...... AAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

So, until I can go days without sleep or have the ability to automate everything (which will never happen), I'm sticking to this:

The 7 Bad Habits of Insanely Productive People

As you can see, bad habits can come in handy.... I'm going to see how many more I can come up with;()

Little Kitty trying to help.... not.

What are your good bad habits?

K