Brummet's Conscious Blog

BOOK REVIEW - Windwalker -   By Donna Sundblad   The first try at reading this book left me feeling a bit confused. I found myself skipping ahead, hoping that the story line would become clear. Realizing I may be tired or affected by some pain medication I had taken, I decided to set it aside and come back to it another time. The thing is, the cover design is simply fantastic; it had me intrigued as soon as I saw it. I also recently read another book by this author that I got absolutely lost in, and so I really did have incentive to understand and fully enjoy this book. I had some time the following day to drop into Amazon to browse the book description and then read the book's intro page again to get some clarity before I gave it another try.  Upon the next reading, I was able to let the book take me on the journey. The author certainly knows how to capture the reader. The first few paragraphs were particularly well written, absorbing and teasing the reader into th...

Understanding Networking, (part 2) *** Check out Part 1 of this discussion, published on Feb 5th. Networking means you need to have something to offer. Will you include their name in your ad?  Can you feature some aspect of their business activities, policies or community projects on your e-bulletin?  Are you able to partner with them for a special sale, or get your staff together for a volunteer activity?  Can you collaborate on a community fundraiser?  How might you distribute each other's coupons or send referrals to each other?  Will you refer customers to them? Can you offer them great resources, for no other reason than to just help them out? Can you introduce them to someone on your contact list? Perhaps you can be a mentor, provide advice, offer services, discounts to their staff, coupon exchanges.  Can you hold sales on the same day, referring customers to the other store's bargains? Can you collaborate on events? Can you collaborate on sharing ad ...

The  Recommended Resources  series has been published for over 2 decades.  With this series, Dave and I have the pleasure of sharing some great resources which can include:   - positive impact organizations and events - citizen science projects  - links to helpful articles, amazing resources & exciting interviews It would, of course, be fantastic if you see a way to: thank them for their work network with them share the sites  get involved in some way ** Want to see a non-profit listed here?   Send us a message  on  FaceBook  ( facebook.com/lillian.brummet )  or  LinkedIn  ( linkedin.com/in/ldbrummet ) -- The Rouge Valley Conservation Centre is located in Toronto, Ontario (Canada) in the Rouge Park , the largest urban park in North America. The Centre focuses on environmental restoration, monitoring and research and offers interpretive walks and educational programs for the general public, school and community gr...

World of Writing - Author Interview  Today we are having a discussion with Dean ( H. Dean) Fisher, author of several books including the pre-teen novel The Redemption of Bes , numerous fiction novels, as well as the Tales of Zhava series.  We met Dean in a writer's group on Alignable recently and are pleased to feature this interview today.  Dean invites you to drop by his Website ( www.hdeanfisher.com ) or visit his Amazon Author Page  ( https://www.amazon. com/stores/H.-Dean-Fisher/ author/B07SYFKQZ9 ) Q: Since we met just recently I'd like to start by having you share a little about your background. A: I was born and raised in North Dakota, I’m currently living in Pennsylvania, and I’ve traveled all over the United States. I’ve visited every state west of the Mississippi except Oregan and Louisiana – although I’m traveling to New Orleans in April for a research conference, so I’m excited I’ll finally get there (and have some authentic jambalaya!).  I...

When a reader leaves a review, or rating, for a book it validates the writer's efforts in spending years behind the scenes making that book available. It feeds the writer when times are tough and the inner voices break in telling us we are nothing.  Thank you readers for taking the time to leave a review :)  Poetic Wanderings Poetic Wanderings is a deeply introspective collection that guides readers on a reflective journey through memory, nature, and time. With themes of childhood nostalgia, love, loss, and identity, Brummet’s poetry captures life’s fleeting beauty and encourages personal reflection. Curated by Dave and Lillian Brummet, the collection explores how we navigate the past, hold onto memories, and find meaning in the present. From the outset, Brummet's vivid imagery evokes life's simple pleasures—often overlooked in the hustle of daily life. In the opening lines, "To roam meadows of memory, so far away. So long ago." , he sets the tone for a journey i...

Understanding Networking, (Part 1) Understanding what networking involves is vital, you need to know about and be prepared for the hidden behind-the-scenes activities that make it all happen.  There is a lot to consider before rushing out and sending out something that could be considered spam, instead of a valuable networking opportunity. You don't want people to work hard, or get confused and give up - jeopardizing your relationship or current campaign. Networking needs to be as effective and efficient as possible.  Even in the very beginning of networking - the entrepreneural mind set should be focused on developing long-term relationships. Do you have time in your schedule or can you utilize staff (or family members) to handle it for you?  - If there are things that can be delegated to anyone with the time and energy to help you out, then now is the time to take advantage of this. They can help with generating interesting networking ideas. They can do some of the leg ...

Refried Beans  - a weird title for this essential Mexican dish. Made with black, pinto and/or kidney beans - it is kept on a low temperature to stew along with the other ingredients and then blended. The cooking process continues until it thickens like you see below. So nothing is really " fried " except the onions. While it is sometimes called  Mexican Beans or Burrito Beans , this dish is most commonly known as Refried Beans . You'll often see it as an ingredient in "7-layer" dips, which is usually served with nachos or thick potato chips. It is also a common ingredient for burrito, enchilada and other Mexican dishes.  *One can of quality Refried Beans costs $4-$5 at the grocery store By making our own we saved $10 , as the ingredients for the 3 batches (pictured below) cost less than $5.  Today, I used black and kidney beans for this dish. The 2 square containers, below, will be heading to the freezer... the other will be served tonight as Crispy Bean Burri...