What’s New?
What’s new, you might ask? A lot, really. I’ve been working like mad updating the graphics and links on the website. There’s still more to go, but hopefully you are seeing some new and pretty changes. The clock graphic in this post is one example. Here’s another, a new look for the home page. This is a side by side comparison of the old and new side by side.
A couple of weeks ago I added a new header and a new background and last week the Jane Austen Reading Room came online. There’s also a new button in the side bar to subscribe to my newsletter. If you haven’t done that, I’d love for you to! Kind of fun to freshen up the place a bit and I’ve got a few more new goodies up my sleeve yet.
And finally, I worked out a couple of new recipes. Sometimes I take a concept and play with it and occasionally it is worth making again. This one was and is a good go to for the upcoming cold season:
Chorizo Chili
- 16 oz Chorizo
- 1-2 onions, diced
- 15 oz can of black beans
- 15 oz can of corn kernels
- 3-15 oz can of diced tomatoes
- 2T or 1 envelope of your favorite taco seasoning
Remove chorizo from casing. Brown with onions until you’ve got a nice carmelization. Drain the corn and beans. Add all the cans and seasoning to the pot. Stir well. Return to a simmer. Either simmer until reduced to desired thickness OR (and I love this) put the whole thing, uncovering into a 275F oven for 2 to 4 hours, stirring when you think of if. Goes really well with corn bread.
I make this ahead and freeze or refrigerate for up to 10 days. It’s a nice twist on standard chili.
One last new thing, AustenProse posted a lovely review for Remember the Past, so hop over and check it out. Austenprose always has great Austenesque articles!
With any luck, I’ll have a new chapter of my WIP, Mrs. Drummond’s School for Girls up this week. I’m trying a first person version here and a third person version at Austen Variations. The jury is still out, so please comment and let me know which approach you like best!
All told the writing week was a bit light with all the website work.
Words of Fiction Written: 4500 words on 3 different fiction projects
Words of Nonfiction written: 3000 words
Blog Posts Prepared: 3 posts for 2 different sites
Emails written: 50 emails, about 3000 words
Social Media Interactions: 30, about 600 words
Articles Read (Research and writing craft/business): 25 research and 20 craft/business
More website updates and additions.
This weeks total words: 11,100
No new entry from my Writer’s Sketchbook, though. I suppose things will be really interesting next week…
I would love to hear what you think. Please have your share of the conversation in the comments!
I like the way the new home page is looking. It is more symmetrical and attractive to the eye. I enjoyed your P200 post today and am looking forward to a new Writer’s Sketch Book entry as well as a new chapter to Mrs. Drummond’s School for Girls.
Thanks, Deborah. I’m trying to do this all in baby steps and not get too overwhelmed by it all. But it is hard not to want it all done at once!
The new layout of the homepage is very nice. Your new clock and your new photo for History a la carte look good!
Thanks, Leslie! I’ve been driving myself a little nuts with the new graphics, but I’m happy with them.
Lovely, there is a lot to keep a reader fascinated. I need more time – so many good things to explore!
Stop by and visit whenever you like. I try hard to have lots to entertain!
Would Mrs Drummond’s school be a Regency reform school for refined young ladies?
The title of your new first draft, ‘Pert Opinions and Fine Eyes’ sounds very intriguing – promising!
Hope you are enjoying yourself – your pace is wearing me out! LOL
That’s the vibe i was going for David. I couldn’t find record of one like this actually existing, but I think it is consistent with the period and could have existed.
I’m glad you like the title for ‘Pert Opinions and Fine Eyes’, I hope it lives up to expectations, but the draft is really rough and definitely needs work! LOL
I am trying not to work myself into burn out, but I”m not always very good an knowing when to quit!
Thanks!