Writing and Cooking

      Allie's favorite cardboard.  She adopted this box top several years ago and I had to drag it with me when I moved in 2018.  When Allie first became obsessed with this piece of cardboard, I had to fold it up and put it away whenever my cleaning lady was coming so she wouldn't throw it away.     I'm very excited to report that the audio book for my second Pekin Dewlap book is complete except for mastering.  My wonderful narrator, Erika Schindele, is already working on Pekin 1, and then she'll move on to Pekin 3.  She does an incredible job, both because she has a wonderful voice and because she has an extensive theater background, so she's great with putting real feeling into her reading.       I have an accomplishment to announce.  I've always had an unfortunate cowlick on the back of my head.  I spent super-long minutes every day blow drying my hair against the grain, and then had to use hairspray to lock in my ...

      Allie's into rubber bands now.  She found one in a drawer under my laptop and she keeps trying to open it to get to her rubber band.  I'm pretty sure they aren't a healthy treat...     I successfully created The Oaks Spa recipe for Artichoke Chili Stuffed Potatoes.  They were actually very good, and I'd make them again.  There are a couple of things I'd do differently next time though.     For one, I stupidly didn't cut the baked potatoes in half before scooping out the insides, so it was awkward to stuff the finished mixture back into the potato skins.  And that made the finished product not very attractive (see above).  The second choice I'd make is to add some chopped jalapenos.  The diced green chilies were good, but a little bland.  I also think adding corn would really add a whole new dimension.  For those who want it, here's the recipe:             ...