A Merry Christmas Celebration

Create a memorable celebration this holiday season with a little help from the Web and all the great stuff you can find here.  From decorations to dinner, you'll find Christmas memories in the making here.

How to Cook a Ham

Ham is easy to cook and is a traditional and delicious centerpiece for holiday dinners at Christmas and Easter in particular. From a festively glazed baked ham to casseroles, sandwiches and omelettes, ham can star at any meal.  Because it can be served so many ways, ham is also an economical choice for cooks who want to stretch their cooking efforts to several meals from a main course. 

Best Web Info for Bread Bakers

Much of my work involves writing. I was quite interested to learn that Sylvia Plath and other writers found baking to be a relaxing diversion. With today's advances in bread machines, it's easier than ever to create professional quality baked goods at home.

The Legacy of Warren Zevon

If the mention of Warren Zevon makes you howl in homage to his mainstream hit, but not much else comes to mind, you may have missed his genius until now.  It's not to late to discover (or re-discover) Warren's music.  In fact, you may have heard his farewell tune, "Keep Me in Your Heart for a While," on Boston Legal.  He recorded it as part of a collaborative album featuring a who's who of rock that would be his last. Working right until the end, Warren rocked and wrote and recorded a VH1 documentary.  It includes footage from Warren's final appearance on The Late Show. When asked by David Letterman, Warren advised fans to, "Enjoy every sandwich." Warren's untimely death has left fans saddened. His music lives on, a legacy of wickedly clever lyrics and catchy tunes that chronicle and comment on the realities of human behavior. 

Fishing Lure Collection

It started with a muddy old tacklebox that was virtually buried behind old plasticware and pans on the bottom shelf at the back of the second hand store. Its tag read $4, but it was blue, which meant half price that day.  Recollections of hearing about a single fishing lure fetching a five figure price on eBay came to mind, so I put the box on the little rack under the basket of my shopping cart to add to the day's purchases. Fortunately, I had a small cardboard box in my trunk, which protected the carpet and, as it turned out, was also helpful for catching small lead sinkers. Given the condition of the tackle box, it took a while for me to mention it to my husband and a little longer for him to decide he wanted to open it.  The day after he finally did, he suggested we find some price guides for fishing lures. We thought it would be fun to share our research about the fishing lure collection we found...

Amtrak - Travel America by Train

Traveling by train evokes memories of another era in America.  It's a stress-free and sometimes convenient way to travel, particularly if you have time to get to your destination and appreciate the changing panorama of scenery that unfolds along the way. If you've never traveled by train, I recommend taking a scenic trip soon! 

Twitter - The Next Big Thing in Web 2.0

On March 1, 2007, asked to name the next big thing in social media Robert Scoble and Chris Heuer named Twitter. Wonder what Twitter is?  I am sheywood on Twitter.

Mercury Retrograde

Several times a year, the planet Mercury enters a transit known as "retrograde."  Mercury Retrograde (or Rx) occurs when Mercury appears to be moving backwards in the sky. During Mercury Retrograde, communications and travel are likely to feel like they are moving in slow motion, or even backward.  Mercury also rules machines like computers, so it's always a good idea to make sure your computers are all backed up before Mercury Rx!  (Of course, you do back up regularly, anyway, right?)   If it seems like Mercury Rx is ruining your month, try going with the flow.  Rather than fighting the slowdown, use it productively to re-visit past projects and tie up loose ends. Rather than dreading Mercury Rx, you may learn to look forward to it!

King's Crown Pattern Pressed Glass

Tiffin-Franciscan King's Crown-Cranberry Flashed Glassware is a versatile pattern that will work with a wide range of decors. A variety of serving and accessory pieces are available   King's Crown, also known as "Thumbprint" was made by Tiffin, a Steubenville, Ohio glass firm, which started when A. J. Beatty and Sons, built a large glassworks in Tiffin, Ohio in 1888. In 1892, the firm merged with the U.S. Glass Company. During the mid-teens, Tiffin's master craftsmen began producing delicately etched, cut and blown stemware and dinnerware patterns in clear and colored crystal.

How to Cook a Turkey

Few meals inspire fear in the heart of the new cook like holiday dinners.  Faced with cooking a bird that weighs in in the double digits, it's easy to feel a little overwhelmed. With the right tools, turkey roasting is relatively easy. This Lens uses links to the videos and articles from Bon Appetit's Turkey School to guide you step by step through your turkey roasting experience.  You'll also find links to  find the culinary gadgets that can make the difference between dry and delicious for your bird this holiday season or anytime.