Adapted from Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking by Marcella Hazan —One 28-ounce can whole plum tomatoes (Cento San Marzano or Muir Glen Organic), tomatoes roughly chopped with their juices —5 tablespoons salted butter —1 medium yellow onion, peeled and halved Heat a heavy, medium saucepan over medium heat. Add all of the ingredients and bring to a…

Pray. Do ten Hail Marys. Get a stiff drink. Work feverishly for 8 to 10 hours. Or… Contact Thomas J. Raef at http://wewatchyourwebsite.com Pay him $39.00 and he will clean your site and monitor it for 12 months. I highly recommend his services!! If I had taken this advice, I would have not lost my…

Finding a tribe of people that understand who you are is one of the hardest things on earth. Where you find that tribe, you will discover encouragement, refreshment and inspiration. A refreshed, encouraged, inspired person is a more creative person. CEO’s need more creativity. Artists need more creativity. Pastors need more creativity. In fact, everyone…

1. Privacy — So I’m tooling around Facebook and I notice a picture of a friend of mine in an advertisement in the sidebar. I immediately give him a call kidding him about the ad. He asks me what I’m talking about. I say, hey, you’re in an ad for a product on Facebook whether…

“Unfinished Symphony” Original Watercolor 24″ x 124″ $750. To purchase go HERE.

I hate church as usual. There, I said it. I’ll admit I’m cynical, burned out and hurt deeply…by a church that prepares her followers to engage a world that no longer exists. Even the word “church” conjurs up visions of my tongue licking a razors edge. Most of my therapy dollars (and there have been…

1. Maple Manhattan—My new favorite martini. 2 oz. Rye Whiskey, 3/4 oz. Sweet Vermouth, 2 dashes Angostura Bitters, 1/4 (no more!) oz. Maple Syrup, garnish with a stemmed maraschino cherry. (from Citizen Club, Nashville, TN) 2. Lychee Martini—The perfect summer drink. Not too sweet. 2 oz. Hendricks (or your fav) Gin, 1 oz. Dry Vermouth,…

Through A Glass Darkly 28″ x 38″ — Original Watercolor — $750 To purchase the original or archival prints click HERE. Prints are available for all watercolors. Limited Edition Giclee Prints on Watercolor Paper are priced as follows: 8.5″ x 11″ $55. US 9″ x 13″ $65. US 11″ x 17″ $85. US 13″ x 19″…

Who: Anyone who wants to more effectively engage their clients and fans in a rapidly changing digital world. What: A one day interactive seminar covering: Effective website and blogging philosophy and technique. Best and affordable website hosting, website plug and play themes, best WordPress widgets and plug-ins and much more. Putting the pieces together for…

I closed my eyes, drew back the curtain To see for certain what I thought I knew Far far away, someone was weeping But the world was sleeping Any dream will do This fascinating lyric comes from the Broadway show Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Will any dream do? Or do we all have…

by Keith Jennings The creative life is a tough life. It’s filled with unique tensions, contradictions and dilemmas. And it comes with heavy doses of doubt, fear, block, burn-out and rejection. So why do we do it? Why do we sacrifice and slave for years practicing a craft despite the odds of success? Why do…

Aslan The Great 12″ x 16″ Original Watercolor Finally, the Original Watercolor of the best-selling Elrod print of all-time is now available to the highest bidder. Just comment below or e-mail me at randyelrod [at] comcast [dot] net and make an offer today and the original will go to the highest bidder. Minimum bid is:…

I love to cook! As I travel and cook in various homes, I continue to be amazed at the exotic items I find in kitchen pantries. It seems that everyone is influenced by the regional cuisine of their childhood. For example, in my pantry you will find a special sauce for burgers that I discovered…

Burlap to Cashmere spins gold with new CD Folk-rockers Burlap to Cashmere, who received acclaim for their CD “Anybody Out There” in 1998, put their trademark songwriting abilities to the test 13 years later and succeeded again with their self-titled CD that released July 19 on Jive/Essential Records. The long hiatus is due primarily to…

For better or worse, I have followed the travels (and words) of Ernest Hemingway around the world. His life of adventure and daring was legendary. I caught only a glimpse in his non-fiction book The Dangerous Summer. Hemingway quotes that resonate with me include: “Live life to the fullest.” “In order to write about life, first…

Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur or just want to look like a genius, these ten keys to creativity from Southwest Airlines are just the ticket. 1. Keep the idea simple enough to draw on a napkin. In 1966, Rollin W. King sat with his lawyer, Herb Kelleher, in San Antonio’s St. Anthony Club and drew a…

I’m celebrating Burlap To Cashmere‘s first album release in over TEN years today by giving away 50 signed CD’s and 3 Limited Edition Vinyl Records. All you have to do is comment!! I will do a random drawing on this glorious day from all your glowing remarks to determine the winners. Charlie Lowell of the…

It is rare for one crack in time (a new idea that changes culture as we know it) to happen in a decade. We have experienced what I believe are TWO cataclysmic cracks in time in only 19 short days. At this rate the whole world will be going ’round in circles and seeing spots. Ha!…