Alle Wells's Blog
December 22, 2011
Do you wonder why people do the things they do? Does a cosmic force map out our lives and drive us along? Does society dictate who we are? What part does our environment play in the decisions we make? When do we reach self-awareness? Where do we go when there’s nowhere left to go?
These are the questions that compel me to write. I want to know what makes people tick, tick, and tick along at so many different speeds and in so many different directions. In my novels, I look at the lives of people from different time periods and different walks of life. I hope you will join me in exploring my characters and what makes them tick.
Check out my new novel, Railroad Man, coming December 27th!
Happy Reading!
These are the questions that compel me to write. I want to know what makes people tick, tick, and tick along at so many different speeds and in so many different directions. In my novels, I look at the lives of people from different time periods and different walks of life. I hope you will join me in exploring my characters and what makes them tick.
Check out my new novel, Railroad Man, coming December 27th!
Happy Reading!
November 14, 2011
I'd like to extend a huge THANK YOU! to Jacques Antoine, Author of the Emily Kane Series, for introducing me and my first novel, Lame Excuses, on his site, Action Adventure Inc. Along with in depth looks into Emily Kane's adventure series, Sensei/Sempai, Go No Sen and Sen No Sen, you will find other great books such as Requiem by S.B. Jones and The Impenetrable Spy by Spencer Brokaw.
Looking back to former posts, I was particularly intrigued with the author’s blog, Yoga, Meditation and Christianity. Being an avid yoga practitioner for several decades, I found Mr. Antoine’s position on the practice of yoga and Christianity interesting. He presents a valid question. Does the euphoria, enlightenment and self-consciousness achieved through yoga conflict with traditional Christian belief?
You may find Antoine’s views on this subject and others enlightening. Visit him at Action Adventure Inc. http://ronin1999.blogspot.com/
Looking back to former posts, I was particularly intrigued with the author’s blog, Yoga, Meditation and Christianity. Being an avid yoga practitioner for several decades, I found Mr. Antoine’s position on the practice of yoga and Christianity interesting. He presents a valid question. Does the euphoria, enlightenment and self-consciousness achieved through yoga conflict with traditional Christian belief?
You may find Antoine’s views on this subject and others enlightening. Visit him at Action Adventure Inc. http://ronin1999.blogspot.com/
November 5, 2011
We hear so many dos and don’ts in today’s world. Who is right? Who is wrong? Which studies should we pay attention to and which should we ignore? We all know that everybody has an opinion. Most opinions that differ from our own quickly drift away into dead space. On the other hand, when advice is repeated time and again, we tend to sit up and notice.
I enjoy the posts to my Facebook page from http://www.veglov.com . The site offers great recipes, up-to-date news from the FDA and sound nutritional advice. I have taken the privilege of sharing some of their posts that reiterate the importance of a vegetarian lifestyle.
Here are ten reasons to quit meat:
The beef industry has contributed to more American deaths than all the wars of this century, all natural disasters, and all automobile accidents combined. If beef is your idea of “real food for real people” you’d better live real close to a real good hospital.
~ Neal Barnard, M.D.
http://www.veglov.com/2011/10/beef-in...
Lowering meat consumption in the UK would prevent about 45,000 premature deaths a year, according to a new study. http://www.veglov.com/2011/06/excessi...
Large studies in England and Germany have shown that vegetarians are about 40 percent less likely to develop cancer compared to meat-eaters. http://www.veglov.com/2011/10/vegetar...
A study of 25,000 Seventh-Day Adventists showed that these vegetarians had one-third the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease than a comparable meat-eating population. http://www.veglov.com/2011/10/vegetar...
Six reasons of why vegetarian diet is so good for you:
1. Vegetarian cuisine is naturally low in saturated fats, and foods of plant origin contain little or no cholesterol.
2. Plant foods are also much higher in fiber than animal foods.
3. Many plant foods contain significant amounts of vital B-vitamins, and folic acid: and fruits and vegetables are powerful sources of phyto-chemicals – nutrients that help every organ of the body work better.
4. Vegetarians tend to eat fewer calories, since grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables, volume-for-volume, tend to be lower in calories than meat and poultry. Studies have shown that as long as their diet is balanced and nutritious, the people who consume fewer total daily calories live longer and healthier lives.
5. Veggie lovers believe that foods from plant sources, which are lower on the food chain, are safer than animal foods, since pollutants tend to concentrate in fatty tissues. While raw fruits and vegetables can carry harmful bacteria and pesticide residues just like meat, you can remove many of these pollutants by washing the plant foods. Trimming the fat from meat or chicken is less effective. Meat, poultry, and seafood are also more frequent carriers of food-borne illnesses than plant sources.
6. Environmental conservationists believe that having more plant-based diets is healthier for the planet. It takes less energy and less farmland to feed a vegetarian than it does to feed livestock.
http://www.veglov.com/2011/10/six-rea...
You can find more great posts like this at http://www.veglov.com
I enjoy the posts to my Facebook page from http://www.veglov.com . The site offers great recipes, up-to-date news from the FDA and sound nutritional advice. I have taken the privilege of sharing some of their posts that reiterate the importance of a vegetarian lifestyle.
Here are ten reasons to quit meat:
The beef industry has contributed to more American deaths than all the wars of this century, all natural disasters, and all automobile accidents combined. If beef is your idea of “real food for real people” you’d better live real close to a real good hospital.
~ Neal Barnard, M.D.
http://www.veglov.com/2011/10/beef-in...
Lowering meat consumption in the UK would prevent about 45,000 premature deaths a year, according to a new study. http://www.veglov.com/2011/06/excessi...
Large studies in England and Germany have shown that vegetarians are about 40 percent less likely to develop cancer compared to meat-eaters. http://www.veglov.com/2011/10/vegetar...
A study of 25,000 Seventh-Day Adventists showed that these vegetarians had one-third the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease than a comparable meat-eating population. http://www.veglov.com/2011/10/vegetar...
Six reasons of why vegetarian diet is so good for you:
1. Vegetarian cuisine is naturally low in saturated fats, and foods of plant origin contain little or no cholesterol.
2. Plant foods are also much higher in fiber than animal foods.
3. Many plant foods contain significant amounts of vital B-vitamins, and folic acid: and fruits and vegetables are powerful sources of phyto-chemicals – nutrients that help every organ of the body work better.
4. Vegetarians tend to eat fewer calories, since grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables, volume-for-volume, tend to be lower in calories than meat and poultry. Studies have shown that as long as their diet is balanced and nutritious, the people who consume fewer total daily calories live longer and healthier lives.
5. Veggie lovers believe that foods from plant sources, which are lower on the food chain, are safer than animal foods, since pollutants tend to concentrate in fatty tissues. While raw fruits and vegetables can carry harmful bacteria and pesticide residues just like meat, you can remove many of these pollutants by washing the plant foods. Trimming the fat from meat or chicken is less effective. Meat, poultry, and seafood are also more frequent carriers of food-borne illnesses than plant sources.
6. Environmental conservationists believe that having more plant-based diets is healthier for the planet. It takes less energy and less farmland to feed a vegetarian than it does to feed livestock.
http://www.veglov.com/2011/10/six-rea...
You can find more great posts like this at http://www.veglov.com
October 21, 2011
Did you know that there are eight types of vegetarians? Sometimes I wonder what kind of vegetarian I am. I decided to explore the different types of vegetarians to find out where I fit in.
The most popular vegetarian is L-O-V (lacto-ovo-vegetarian). L-O-V doesn’t eat animal meat or fish but does like eggs and dairy products. Don’t confuse L-O-V with L-V (lacto-vegetarian). L-V doesn’t eat meat, fish or eggs, but likes dairy products. L-O-V and L-V agree and disagree with O-V (ovo-vegetarian). O-V doesn’t eat meat or fish, does like eggs but not dairy products. I agree with freedom of choice, but the ovo-lacto-ovo labels make me feel like I’m at the Gynecologist.
The three types of vegans shy away from animal products including animal by-products and processed foods. Being vegan means spending time in the kitchen unless you are a raw vegan who only eats raw vegetables. The macrobiotic vegan adds fish, seaweed and sea vegetables to the vegan diet.
I’m not sure the last two types of vegetarians are vegetarians. Pescatarians aren’t picky; they just prefer fish to other meats. Flexitarians eat meat whenever they feel like it. I don’t think flexitarians are real vegetarians.
Vegetarianism has gone mainstream. For many, vegetarianism is a way to express social or political views. Recently, I’ve had the pleasure of joining several vegan and vegetarian blogs and pages. Some of the larger sites serving the vegetarian community share informative cooking tips about fifty percent of the time. The smaller sites rate much lower than that. I like sharing ideas and a little help goes a long way in the kitchen. I don’t like hearing how hard it is to be a vegetarian or rabid ranting about social and political views. My social and political beliefs have nothing to do with the way I eat. I do not eat meat because it is a healthy choice my body. That’s it, confirmed by every doctor I’ve seen in the last year. It’s all about good health.
I am at least 95% vegan and at most 5% L-O-V. My recipes occasionally include a splash of milk, an egg or a can of soup to make the dish taste like I think good food should taste. I believe in the old adage, season to taste. If there is a vegan or vegetarian label out there for me, I’m sure someone will tell me. What kind of vegetarian are you?
The most popular vegetarian is L-O-V (lacto-ovo-vegetarian). L-O-V doesn’t eat animal meat or fish but does like eggs and dairy products. Don’t confuse L-O-V with L-V (lacto-vegetarian). L-V doesn’t eat meat, fish or eggs, but likes dairy products. L-O-V and L-V agree and disagree with O-V (ovo-vegetarian). O-V doesn’t eat meat or fish, does like eggs but not dairy products. I agree with freedom of choice, but the ovo-lacto-ovo labels make me feel like I’m at the Gynecologist.
The three types of vegans shy away from animal products including animal by-products and processed foods. Being vegan means spending time in the kitchen unless you are a raw vegan who only eats raw vegetables. The macrobiotic vegan adds fish, seaweed and sea vegetables to the vegan diet.
I’m not sure the last two types of vegetarians are vegetarians. Pescatarians aren’t picky; they just prefer fish to other meats. Flexitarians eat meat whenever they feel like it. I don’t think flexitarians are real vegetarians.
Vegetarianism has gone mainstream. For many, vegetarianism is a way to express social or political views. Recently, I’ve had the pleasure of joining several vegan and vegetarian blogs and pages. Some of the larger sites serving the vegetarian community share informative cooking tips about fifty percent of the time. The smaller sites rate much lower than that. I like sharing ideas and a little help goes a long way in the kitchen. I don’t like hearing how hard it is to be a vegetarian or rabid ranting about social and political views. My social and political beliefs have nothing to do with the way I eat. I do not eat meat because it is a healthy choice my body. That’s it, confirmed by every doctor I’ve seen in the last year. It’s all about good health.
I am at least 95% vegan and at most 5% L-O-V. My recipes occasionally include a splash of milk, an egg or a can of soup to make the dish taste like I think good food should taste. I believe in the old adage, season to taste. If there is a vegan or vegetarian label out there for me, I’m sure someone will tell me. What kind of vegetarian are you?
Emily is looking for readers and reviews. "Lames Excuses" on Smashwords for 99 Cents with coupon: XZ94H
http://bit.ly/rkfNBV
http://bit.ly/rkfNBV
October 16, 2011
This weekend, I stepped back in time to study life during the Great Depression and Pre-WWII era. Have you ever wondered how people made it through those lean times? Maybe the answer is size. Basic human needs haven’t changed that much since then, or have they? The difference comes into view when we look at our supersized world compared with the simplicity of life that existed in that era.
For example, the dashboard of the 1930 Chevrolet Phaeton displayed four knobs, four gauges and a key switch. Two people weighing less than two hundred pounds each could sit comfortably in the front seat. The back seat legroom was limited to child-size legs. The trunk, efficiently attached to the back of the car, was smaller than today’s average piece of luggage on wheels. In comparison, today’s family mini-van comes fully equipped with hands-free communication, navigation, and high-tech media systems. The dashboard houses so many monitors—well; you have to read the manual. Today, the typical family van seats six or seven oversized humans.
Our idea of a dream home today is around 2,600 square feet with four bedrooms and two-and-one-half baths. The average 1930 to 1940 bungalow was 1,300 square feet with three bedrooms and one bath. Many Americans grew up in houses taking up less than 1,500 square feet of space. The main rooms were typically ten by ten by ten, ten feet wide, ten feet long and ten feet high with lots of windows so you didn’t feel closed in. There were no Jacuzzis in the bathrooms or islands in the kitchens in the ‘30’s and ‘40’s, just plain old living space. Is it possible that sharing a bathroom and central living space enhanced family relationships and created more considerate citizens in the community?
Having a vegetable garden in the Post-Depression and Pre-WWII era was standard for most families. A sweet potato and bowl of black-eyed peas were highly anticipated meals. Fried chicken or some other affordable meat was served as a Sunday treat before the days of Spam and McDonalds. The 1950’s introduced the TV dinner, the microwave oven and fast food. In today’s supersized world, we have taken the convenience of fast food beyond its diminishing return. Minimizing our food intake and cutting down on meat consumption can go a long way in preserving our health and putting money in our bank accounts for retirement.
Are we happier and healthier than our ancestors in the 30’s and 40’s? Will we live as long as they have? Has the expanding world of technology taken us so far that we can’t find our way back to simplicity? In these hard economic times, downsizing may be the answer to the health and financial problems we face today.
Comments to my comments are always welcome!
For example, the dashboard of the 1930 Chevrolet Phaeton displayed four knobs, four gauges and a key switch. Two people weighing less than two hundred pounds each could sit comfortably in the front seat. The back seat legroom was limited to child-size legs. The trunk, efficiently attached to the back of the car, was smaller than today’s average piece of luggage on wheels. In comparison, today’s family mini-van comes fully equipped with hands-free communication, navigation, and high-tech media systems. The dashboard houses so many monitors—well; you have to read the manual. Today, the typical family van seats six or seven oversized humans.
Our idea of a dream home today is around 2,600 square feet with four bedrooms and two-and-one-half baths. The average 1930 to 1940 bungalow was 1,300 square feet with three bedrooms and one bath. Many Americans grew up in houses taking up less than 1,500 square feet of space. The main rooms were typically ten by ten by ten, ten feet wide, ten feet long and ten feet high with lots of windows so you didn’t feel closed in. There were no Jacuzzis in the bathrooms or islands in the kitchens in the ‘30’s and ‘40’s, just plain old living space. Is it possible that sharing a bathroom and central living space enhanced family relationships and created more considerate citizens in the community?
Having a vegetable garden in the Post-Depression and Pre-WWII era was standard for most families. A sweet potato and bowl of black-eyed peas were highly anticipated meals. Fried chicken or some other affordable meat was served as a Sunday treat before the days of Spam and McDonalds. The 1950’s introduced the TV dinner, the microwave oven and fast food. In today’s supersized world, we have taken the convenience of fast food beyond its diminishing return. Minimizing our food intake and cutting down on meat consumption can go a long way in preserving our health and putting money in our bank accounts for retirement.
Are we happier and healthier than our ancestors in the 30’s and 40’s? Will we live as long as they have? Has the expanding world of technology taken us so far that we can’t find our way back to simplicity? In these hard economic times, downsizing may be the answer to the health and financial problems we face today.
Comments to my comments are always welcome!
October 3, 2011
Earlier this year, I decided to take simple living and my vegan lifestyle a step further. My goal for 2011 is to trim my grocery bill as much as possible while going completely organic. While revamping my kitchen, I found way too many canisters of herbs and spices. There was no doubt in my mind that aluminum canisters and plastic containers were not organic. So all the spices packed in aluminum cans and herbs in plastic containers were trashed. I decided to keep the herbs in glass since I paid more for them. But this fresh organic herb notion didn’t fit into my economic plan to trim my grocery bill. I cringed at the price tags in my grocer’s produce section on bunches of cilantro, parsley and basil. That is why I decided to plant an herb garden.
My new herb garden was born a little late in the spring planting season, limiting my choices. I purchased everything I could find being three varieties of basil, parsley, cilantro, lemon balm and oregano. A month later, the basil and cilantro were thriving. I hung the herbs in a warm place to dry naturally like I had done with Yarrow and Hydrangeas. A week later, I had a wilted, gross looking mess. My herb garden grew easily on its own with no help from me. I make a lot of tomato based dishes, but I couldn’t keep up with the basil taking over the raised bed.
I was freezing vegetables like crazy. So I strategically placed sprigs and leaves in freezer bags and laid them flat in my refrigerator freezer. This preserves the flavor one hundred percent and gives a nice head rush when you open the freezer bag. Frozen herbs work well in soups and sauces if bundled in a sachet, but not for sprinkling on food. I continued to collect freezer bags of herbs until I had more than I bargained for and lost interest.
Today, I walked by my forgotten herb garden and stopped, amazed. The hardy crops were impressive and begging, harvest me. I was still looking for a way to sprinkle fresh herbs on my food. Thus, my third attempt at preservation. I gathered large baskets of lemon balm, lemon basil, cinnamon basil, sweet basil, cilantro, oregano and parsley. I admit here that I am a Mason jar freak. My kids give me Mason jars for Mother’s Day. So I pulled a case of jars from the basement, cleaned and clipped the herbs into perfectly usable pieces, filled and sealed the jars. So far, harvesting was fun and the jars look great on my pantry shelf. I’ll let you know how it turns out. To be continued…
My new herb garden was born a little late in the spring planting season, limiting my choices. I purchased everything I could find being three varieties of basil, parsley, cilantro, lemon balm and oregano. A month later, the basil and cilantro were thriving. I hung the herbs in a warm place to dry naturally like I had done with Yarrow and Hydrangeas. A week later, I had a wilted, gross looking mess. My herb garden grew easily on its own with no help from me. I make a lot of tomato based dishes, but I couldn’t keep up with the basil taking over the raised bed.
I was freezing vegetables like crazy. So I strategically placed sprigs and leaves in freezer bags and laid them flat in my refrigerator freezer. This preserves the flavor one hundred percent and gives a nice head rush when you open the freezer bag. Frozen herbs work well in soups and sauces if bundled in a sachet, but not for sprinkling on food. I continued to collect freezer bags of herbs until I had more than I bargained for and lost interest.
Today, I walked by my forgotten herb garden and stopped, amazed. The hardy crops were impressive and begging, harvest me. I was still looking for a way to sprinkle fresh herbs on my food. Thus, my third attempt at preservation. I gathered large baskets of lemon balm, lemon basil, cinnamon basil, sweet basil, cilantro, oregano and parsley. I admit here that I am a Mason jar freak. My kids give me Mason jars for Mother’s Day. So I pulled a case of jars from the basement, cleaned and clipped the herbs into perfectly usable pieces, filled and sealed the jars. So far, harvesting was fun and the jars look great on my pantry shelf. I’ll let you know how it turns out. To be continued…
October 1, 2011
I signed up for the October Unprocessed 2011 challenge sponsored by Eating Rules sponsored http://www.eatingrules.com/2011/09/oc.... The guidelines are simple–when it comes to eating, keep it simple. Simplicity is the name of the game when living vegan. I don’t eat tofu or tempeh and I’m not too sure what the word tofurky means. I refuse to munch on anything remotely related to bark unless I get stranded in the wilderness over three or four days.
Being a whole food vegan can be work and requires creativity. My friends ask if I survive on salads and suggest that I must be hungry all the time. But I can’t remember the last time I ate a salad or teetered on the brink of starvation. I learned early on in my search for a healthy lifestyle that sugar consumption heightened my appetite. I also learned to be an adventurous cook. I hear there are thousands of different veggies in the world. When I step into my favorite food market in any given season, I can usually find five or six fresh seasonal vegetables. This count includes the plentiful summer crops found at my local farm store. Eating in season solves the dilemma of boredom and the mystery to eating vegetables all the time. I cheated a bit this summer and packed a freezer full of summer vegetables that I look forward to falling back on this winter.
Being vegan in during the cold months is easier if you are like me and enjoy soup. Before I decided to spend my entire summer in the kitchen snapping beans, shelling peas and blanching tomatoes, I relied on soup and dried beans to keep me going. The soup and bean system works, although it can become monotonous. Sitting pretty now with a freezer full of food, I look forward to a variety of soups and beans this winter. When all the menus are read and unhealthy choices are ruled out, I’ve found that soup is a simple answer to the complicated question of what to eat!
Being a whole food vegan can be work and requires creativity. My friends ask if I survive on salads and suggest that I must be hungry all the time. But I can’t remember the last time I ate a salad or teetered on the brink of starvation. I learned early on in my search for a healthy lifestyle that sugar consumption heightened my appetite. I also learned to be an adventurous cook. I hear there are thousands of different veggies in the world. When I step into my favorite food market in any given season, I can usually find five or six fresh seasonal vegetables. This count includes the plentiful summer crops found at my local farm store. Eating in season solves the dilemma of boredom and the mystery to eating vegetables all the time. I cheated a bit this summer and packed a freezer full of summer vegetables that I look forward to falling back on this winter.
Being vegan in during the cold months is easier if you are like me and enjoy soup. Before I decided to spend my entire summer in the kitchen snapping beans, shelling peas and blanching tomatoes, I relied on soup and dried beans to keep me going. The soup and bean system works, although it can become monotonous. Sitting pretty now with a freezer full of food, I look forward to a variety of soups and beans this winter. When all the menus are read and unhealthy choices are ruled out, I’ve found that soup is a simple answer to the complicated question of what to eat!
September 27, 2011
Dear Friends,
I sincerely hope you can help me with a dilemma lying heavily on my heart. Around midnight last night, I picked a brand-new book from the Amazon shelf. A detailed storyline advertised by the publisher promised intrigue and adventure.
I settled in bed with my iPad ready to be sung to sleep by my new read. Punctuation errors distracted me from the get-go. The characterization was so unlikely, I stumbled and lost interest. Still awake, I read on to find two misused homonyms on the same page!
Maybe I was cranky because it was so late. Maybe I was cranky because I wished that I had spent the time and money on a better book. Whatever the reason, I quickly jabbed out a quick one-star review suggesting the author hire an editor and a different publisher.
Regretting my reaction today, I appeal to my fellow readers and authors. Is a bad night with a bad book review the kiss of death for a new Indie Author?
I welcome your feedback.
Alle
I sincerely hope you can help me with a dilemma lying heavily on my heart. Around midnight last night, I picked a brand-new book from the Amazon shelf. A detailed storyline advertised by the publisher promised intrigue and adventure.
I settled in bed with my iPad ready to be sung to sleep by my new read. Punctuation errors distracted me from the get-go. The characterization was so unlikely, I stumbled and lost interest. Still awake, I read on to find two misused homonyms on the same page!
Maybe I was cranky because it was so late. Maybe I was cranky because I wished that I had spent the time and money on a better book. Whatever the reason, I quickly jabbed out a quick one-star review suggesting the author hire an editor and a different publisher.
Regretting my reaction today, I appeal to my fellow readers and authors. Is a bad night with a bad book review the kiss of death for a new Indie Author?
I welcome your feedback.
Alle
September 25, 2011
To all of my new reading friends! You make reading and writing worthwhile. Thanks again for adding me as your friend!
Alle
Alle
