My Content: Hubs, Answers, and Forums
22Why Do People Take Pictures?
A photograph is merely an image captured on paper or in a file. It is ephemeral. It's only importance is the value someone puts on it emotionally or monetarily. Many photographs taken before the days of digital photography still languish in boxes...
2The California Weeds You Need to Pull Now!
If you live in an area of California that has just had a good rain and the ground is still moist, but not muddy, it's time to start pulling weeds. Here are the ones you need to pull first if you have them on your property: thistles, poison hemlock, coyote brush, and mallows. I'll explain why and show you what they look like and tell you how to pull them.
8Video Enjoying the Beach at Cayucos, California
Cayucos is a small beach town on California's Central Coast. I have tried to capture its atmosphere in this short photo and video essay. I hope these will beckon you to visit in person.
2Video The Cold War and Importance of Propaganda to Communist Regimes
My husband tells his story of growing up in post-World War Two Yugoslavia during the Cold War period of 1948-1950. He shares how the importance of propaganda freed him from a communist prison where he was held with his parents as a child.
8Video Exploring Moonstone Beach in Cambria, California
Join me on a brief photo and video tour of Moonstone Beach in Cambria, California. Unlike the southern beaches of San Luis Obispo County, the Cambria coastline is rocky and has more interesting trees. Instead of a pier, it has a very long boardwalk, which I am walking as I take the pictures for this article. I hope you will come along.
9Do You Know What Your Local Government is Doing?
If you think politics is just for politicians, think again. As grassroots movements to resist the implementation of Smart Growth policies are getting more vocal, you may discover it's time to get involved yourself. Here's how.
15Broccoli Salad for All Blood Types Following Eat for Your Type Diet
My favorite broccoli salad is healthy for every blood type for those using Dr. D'Adamo's diet plan, and beautiful enough for a holiday table or party. Try it, and see if you don't agree it's delicious.
10Getting Started on the Eat Right for Your Type Diet for a Healthier Life
Have you started to eat right for your blood type yet? Maybe you haven't heard about this healthy way to eat. Many start Dr. D'Adamo's blood type diet to lose weight and discover that they are seeing other health benefits. Shouldn't you check it out?
14Cheesecake Squares: A Bar Cookie that Melts in Your Mouth
This my favorite and most popular bar cookie recipe. It makes a great party dessert and it's a finger food. Even children have gone back for seconds.
42How and When HubPages Became My Favorite Writing Site
When I joined the HubPages writing community, it was not my favorite writing site. But as I became more active and wrote more, it gradually moved into first place in my writing life, and I could declare that I'm now a HubPages "addict." Here's why.
6Quick Italian Cube Steaks
This is a quick and easy meal for anyone who wants a flavorful meat main dish that's done on the stovetop. It's also ideal for a person with BloodType O who is eating for his or her blood type.
10Sarah's Zucchini Cheese Casserole
This zucchini cheese casserole is just right for a light lunch or supper. It's great with a green salad or a carrot and raisin salad and your favorite bread.
10Recipe for Banana Oat Blueberry Bread
This is my favorite banana bread recipe. I modified my original recipe to make room for blueberries in it. The bread is moist, and a 1/2 half inch slice is only 114 calories. It makes a healthy snack or dessert. If you use it for breakfast, be sure to have more than one slice.
2Simple and Versatile Bean Salad Recipe
Bean salad recipes abound, and each family has a favorite. This versatile bean salad recipe has been our family favorite for 40 years.
6Barb's Tuna Mousse
Tuna Mousse is one of our favorite summer dishes. It can be fixed the night before and taken out the next day when you are ready to serve it. Molded in a fish mold, it's centerpiece that makes a good spread for crackers or bread. Or eat a square straight from a bed of greens as a light lunch.
10Recipe for Date Oatmeal Bars
This Date Oatmeal Bar recipe is one of our favorite desserts. It's more than empty calories and is high in fiber. Try it. You will like it if you like dates.
0Where Has the Tea Party Gone?
Have you wondered lately where the Tea Party has gone and why it isn't as visible as it used to be? Here's the answer. This is what they are up to.
14Barb's Power Breakfast Cereal
I love the power breakfast I eat most mornings. It's all natural, and except for the fact that the oats were rolled, there is no processing except my cleaning and cutting up the ingredients. For 350 calories you get a high fiber breakfast with 12 grams of protein and no refined sugars or unhealthy types of fat. If you eat this, you won't be hungry for five or six hours. you can fix it in only 20 minutes.
16Ratatouille Pasta Sauce with Meat and How to Use It
Ratatouille Pasta Sauce with Meat is great just to serve over hot pasta. But you can also do other things with it. Besides the recipe for the sauce, I also tell you how to make a casserole and an open faced sandwich using it. I have eaten about four of the sandwiches since I made this batch, and my husband and I both love them. We almost finished off the casserole today, too. It was the second meal we got from it.
10Video A Walk through the 2012 Festival of the Arts in Paso Robles, California
Have you ever been to an art festival? You might want to join me on my walk through the 2012 Paso Robles Festival of the Arts in photos and video. Most events were free, and those are the ones I captured. Come along to see the sights and hear the various music groups who performed, as well as the diversity of the art.
12Life Without A Camera? Unthinkable!
When you take your camera everywhere, you feel lost when it stops working, especially if it's the night before a planned photo shoot. Here's how I solved my problem in time to have a suitable camera for a long day of shooting pictures over the weekend.
6Video Sights and Sounds of Avila Beach, Port San Luis, California
Join me on a day trip to Avila Beach's Port San Luis and watch the wildlife there with me. Even getting there was fun, since I spent time at the Kelsey See Canyon Vineyard, which was home to a flock of peacocks. Experience the sights and sounds, and soak up some of the beach atmosphere through my videos and photos.
0Video The Phantom Project Creates A Huge Ephemeral Art Exhibit in Paso Robles, May, 2012
Have you heard of the Phantom Galleries popping up all over the country? We are in the midst of our first one ever in Paso Robles, California, and it has generated a level of excitement in the art community here that I've never seen before. After all, we've never had so much art under one roof in this city before. Have a look around with me.
2Video Sights and Sounds on An Evening Nature Walk on My West Templeton Property In May
Please join me on a walk around my property at dusk. We will check on my fruit trees, admire the irises and the life on them, see my elderberry tree in bloom, catch some deer on video, and learn a bit about the wild flora. One of these is poison oak, which is just coming back from dormancy.
20What to Expect When You Grow Old
When we are young, we rarely understand the emotional and physical changes we will experience when old. If you know what to expect, you can take steps now to deal with solving some problems the elderly face.
26Quinoa Chicken Salad with Vegetables: A Quick Meal for Every Season
Quinoa Chicken Vegetable Salad is easy to prepare, nutritious, and refreshing as a summer main dish when it's hot outside and something light is called for. If you're out of chicken or my suggested vegetables, most protein substitutions will work just fine to still provide a tasty meal.
6Zurker Is a Social Network with Possibilities.
Find out all about the new Zurker social network, how to use it, how to own a piece of it for free, and get you invitation to join.
26Ten Reasons Why I love HubPages
After three years writing on HubPages, I've decidedHubPages is my favorite writing community. Here are 10 reasons why.
11Spring Rain: A Meditative Photo Essay
The sights of spring are yearly reminders of the event that changed history over 2,000 years ago-- the resurrection of Jesus, who came as the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world. God has always used pictures to help people remember his work. Spring is but one pictorial reminder of God's love and power.
62Extrovert, Introvert, Or Ambivert?
Are you an introvert, extrovert, or ambivert? Read this to find out, and take our easy quizzes to see which label fits you best.
4God Who Seeks Man before Man Seeks God
Which happens first? Does man seek God or does God seek man? What does the Bible teach about this?
33The Bible Is Still the Best Guidebook for Life
Ever wondered if the Bible has anything of value to say to 21st Century people? Here's why I think a book written thousands years ago is still a good guidebook for life today.
18The United States is in No Danger of Becoming a Christian Theocracy
Do you really think the United States could become a Christian theocracy? What would the obstacles to that be?
6How I Relieve Stress in My Life
Stress can make our lives very tense and destroy our joy in life -- if we let it. But there are constructive ways to deal with our stress, and in the end, when we have learned to make peace with our circumstances and let the peace of God rule our lives, we will grow as people and be be more mature and more interesting.
20I'm a Pinterest Addict
Pinterest is the up and coming social network that's easy to use and potentially addicting. It's also controversial. Here's how and why I use Pinterest
72Video How Artists Actively Promote their Work
Learn art marketing tips from successful artists with years of experience. Watch their video interviews. Decide what will work best for you.
13How I Met My Husband on Halloween
I had just been rejected by a new love. Little did I know I'd meet my future husband at dinner that night. Here's how it happened.
9My Search for the Salinas River and How it Found me
Have you ever stood in a dry river bed in the path of a river just beginning to fill? I did, and I took pictures and made a video of it so you could share the experience. It was an unexpected treat for me, and the reason I always carry my camera is so I will not miss this kind of photo opportunity.
25Trees in Autumn: A Seasonal Display of Splendor and Sadness
Autumn is a season in nature and in life that contains both splendor and sadness. It's also a season when it is evident if a tree, or a person, has been fruitful or not. Autumn colors fade, leaving only the bare tree visible. So it is, too, that autumn years reveal the spirit and character of a person.
11Poem: The Prayer of a Waiting Wife
What does a wife do when her husband's had a long day out of town, is exhausted, and is supposed to be driving home, and he hasn't called in hours? When she's getting more worried about the silent phone, she prays, and writes a poem about the situation to distract herself.
9God's Gift of Rain: A Poem
In the summer and fall, it seems all of nature joins the people in hoping for the return of rain to make the earth green again. The poem and pictures focus on the results of rain in the Paso Robles neighborhood near the Salinas River and Lawrence Moore Park.
11Rare Photos of Paso Robles Wine Country
These unusual views of Paso Robles wine country can only be seen a distance from the roads or from private property. Now you can see them.
12When You are Tormented by a Painful Love
Christians are as subject to the temptations of the flesh as other people. And like other people, they sometimes find themselves in a wrong relationship they know they should have avoided. What then? How does one deal with the hurt of the break-up that seems inevitable? Is it too late to save marriages where partners are broken from betrayal?
7Embers and Sunset: Poems of Love Gone
What happens when two people who are married find themselves falling in love outside their marriage? Are they doomed to frustation? Is there any way to heal their marriages?
22Imaginative Play : What Kids Think of On Their Own
Children don't always need to have expensive toys to enjoy playing. Often they can use their imaginations to turn whatever is near into a prop for creative play. Here are some of the things my own children did with just their imaginations and a few props.
9Coyote Bush: Blessing or Curse?
Coyote brush grows all over the coastal ranges of California and up into Oregon. It plays an important part in nature's plan, but can prove to be a pest in the garden. It's a blessing or a curse, depending upon your point of view. If you don't know what it looks like, you will see it in all states of life in this hub.
16Nature Photographer Unwinds after a Photo Shoot by Writing Light Verse
Ever had writers' block or a mind too exhausted to be serious? So did I, which is why I wrote this bit of nonsense verse. I also mention some of the hazards of nature photography.
22Poison Hemlock: Lovely and Lethal
Poison hemlock is a lovely but lethal plant that needs to be respected if you encounter it in the wild or eradicated if you have it on your property. Learn to identify it here by looking at photos as it grows in parks and private property. I will explain the significance of the photos as you look at them.
62Milk Thistle and Hemlock: The Prickly and the Poisonous
Milk thistle and poison hemlock growing together, as they often do. Almost anyone who walks in Lawrence Moore Park in Paso Robles or has rural property in Templeton or Paso Robles has seen these two gorgeous weeds and has probably seen them growing...
16Rain- Before, During, After: A Photo Essay
Rainbow Blesses a Vineyard In Templeton, California As I write this, the rain is drumming on my roof, making me think of fireplaces and hot popcorn, neither of which is available to me tonight. But I'm happy that the rain is falling for the third...
22May I Walk with You on Your Journey?
Christian friendship is one of the Christian's most precious gifts. God never intended for Christians to walk through life alone, apart from their Christian brothers and sisters.
19Milkweed: Food Fit for Monarchs
Milkweed is the plant that supports both monarch butterflies and their offspring and plays host to the milkweed bug, as well. See how the Narrowleaf Milkweed, which grows on the West Coast of the United States, looks through most seasons of the year. See a monarch caterpillar in the wild, and watch the milkweed bugs dine.
13Oak and Poison Oak in Photos: Can You Tell the Difference?
Before you head into the woods, or even your own property to hike or to clear brush, be sure you can identify poison oak so you can save yourself from a nasty rash and lots of misery. Even some experience woodsmen have been fooled. Join me on my video walks and study the provided photos to learn to recognize poison oak in all its forms through every season. Prevention is the best cure.
23The Mortician
Have you met the mortician yet? Most of us hope we will never have to encounter him professionally, but most of us will. This poem is a result of my working with five different morticians after five different deaths in my family.
19Croad Wines from Vineyard to Bottle: A Photo Essay
Have you ever wondered how a commercial vintner turns the fruit of his vineyard into delicious wine? If so, you will want to read this and see how it's done at Croad Vineyards in Paso Robles, California, a producer of unique boutique wines. You will see pictures of the vineyards in their fall colors and videos which show you the harvest and wine-making processes. Please join me on this visual tour.
15Tears for You After You Took Your Life
Suicide devastates those who are left behind -- the family and friends who will always wonder why, and if they could have said or done something to keep their loved one from taking that last drastic step to escape physical or emotional pain.
18Photogenic Oak Trees in North San Luis Obispo County
Oaks are everywhere, especially in the vineyards, when you visit North San Luis Obispo County. I love every one of them, but have picked the photographs of some of my favorites to share with you.
16Kiler Canyon Road: A Scenic Drive in Paso Robles, California
Have you ever wondered what would happen if you decided to take an unfamiliar local road from its beginning to its end? I had been wondering about Kiler Canyon Road in Paso Robles, California, since a failed attempt several years ago. I finally decided a couple of weeks ago, during our dry season, to take the road to its end. I'd love to have you along for the ride. Let's start the adventure together.
89Enemies of the People? Life in Communist Yugoslavia
Ever wondered how it effects the life of ordinary citizens who own a business or property after the Communists take power after a revolution. My husband lived it with his family, spending some time in prison when he was still a child, and being taken to the killing fields with his parents and sister. He tells his story of life in Communist Yugoslavia after World War 2 in this video.
49Should it Be Illegal to Grow Vegetables Instead of a Lawn in Your Front Yard??
How far do private property rights go in a residential area? What if a homeowner wants to grow a vegetable garden in the front yard instead of a non-productive and expensive lawn?
8Can We Go Overboard with Social Networking?
Is there such a thing as too much social networking? If so, when do you know when you've reached the point when you should stop joining new networks or dropping some you've already joined?
14Artisans Demonstrate their Creativity at Templeton's Annual Day in the Shade Art in the Park Celebration
When most people think of art, they think of pictures -- paintings, photographs, or drawings. I saw some of each of those forms today at Templeton's Annual Day in the Shade, where local artisans and artists have a chance to display and sell their...
68Before You Hire an SEO Firm, Read This
Toward the beginning of this year, I was approached by a Search Engine Optimization company (which I will not yet name) about contracting for their services. My site is over 600 pages, and I had not yet finished switching it over from FrontPage...
40How to Transition from Squidoo to HubPages
If you've been writing at Squidoo and want to start writing at HubPages, you will notice a few differences. Here's how to adjust and start writing great hubs from the start.
21Is everyone a racist?
There's a lot of talk about racism these days. What exactly is racism? What can be done about it?
16Eternity Lives in the Heart of Man
Why is it that people quite can't believe they will really be gone forever when they die? Why do they cling to the idea their souls are immortal? Is the thought of eternity really planted in our hearts?
25Who Are the Tea Party Patriots and What Do They Want?
Since the Tea Party Patriots have come to the nation's attention, many have wondered what they really want and what they stand for. This should help you find out.
7The Two Seasons of the Salinas River in Paso Robles
I was an adult before I saw my first real river. Now I love having one nearby -- for at least part of the year. The rest of the year goes underground, and then I explore its bed.
6What to Expect When You Go to the Emergency Room with Chest Pain
It's a tough decision to go to the ER when you're in bed and feel mild chest pain. Maybe it's nothing serious. Maybe it's a heart attack. Here's what to expect if you do decide to go to the hospital.
11Barb's Favorite Fried Rice Recipe
This fried rice is a great recipe for using the leftover rice, meat, and vegetables in your refrigerator. Can be used as a main dish with a salad or a side dish with meats or other stir fry dishes. Good even with brown rice.
12Should I Spray This Mallow? Or Eat it?
Most people eradicate mallow they find on their property as a weed that can grow over their heads if left to thrive. So did I, until I discovered it was edible. Here's what I found out.
2What is Stephen Ministry Training Like? Stephen Ministry Part 2
Stephen Ministry training sessions are the same everywhere. Your Stephen Leaders have been to their own regional or national training sessions to learn how to train their local Stephen Ministers. My church is quite small. Only five of us had...
7Should You Become A Stephen Minister? Stephen Ministry Part I
Has your church started a Stephen Ministry? Are you wondering if you should take the training to become a Stephen minister? Here's what to expect if you take that important step to serving others in the Stephen Ministry.
6How to Embed Video in Your Word Press Magazine Basic Blog
At the beginning of 2011 I started a new blog â Tidbits from Templeton--my first to be self-hosted. I had heard hosting oneâs own blog was the best solution if one wanted the blog to earn any money. Iâd been perfectly happy with my blogs on...
15Is it Poetry or Prose or Merely Verse?
What is it that makes poetry poetry, rather than just verse? Just what is poetry?
12Should You Join a Fitness Club?
If you're wondering if you should join a fitness club, you may find your answer here. I tried my husband's fitness club, which he loves. It's a great club, but a fitness club is not for everyone. Here's why.
54What happens when a Christian marries someone who is not a Christian believer?
Many women who have confided in me about their unhappy marriages were Christians who had thought it was no big deal to marry a non-Christian. Some of them had walked away from the Lord during the period in life when they were dating and choosing a partner. But after marriage, especially when they had children, they returned to their faith and discovered the fact that not having a common faith was a big deal after all. Here's how to keep this from happening to you.
47Should You Squidoo?
It's a writing community that has a lot in common with HubPages. If you want to see a good comparison, read darkside's hub comparing Squidoo with HubPages. It's a good description of what Squidoo was like when I joined in 2009. I'm not going to...
14Advice to Christian Brides to Be: Getting Ready for Your Marriage
There's much more to getting married than planning a wedding. Here are some important things to think about in preparing for marriage before you tie the knot.
6How to Detect A Fraudulent Customer on the Internet
I have had an Internet online bookstore for 16 years. I love genuine customers, but there are a few scam artists that only pretend to be customers. What they are after is not your products, but your money. These thieves send emails with questions,...
26How to Grieve and Go on With Life
When you lose someone you love, you may think there is no more reason to go on. It may seem impossible that you will ever be able to enjoy life again. I want to encourage you. I walked the dark valley and you can, too.
8What it's Like to Live in Wine Country During the Grape Harvest
Watch the harvest at Croad Vineyards in Templeton with me from my yard, just across the fence. Listen to the sounds of rural Templeton and learn what's it's like to live surrounded by vineyards in wine country.
8Castoro Cellars Winery in Templeton, California
Castoro Cellars is one of the most popular and beautiful Templeton wineries. Come along with me to their beautiful vineyard, grounds, and tasting room.
49Great Short Hikes in North San Luis Obispo County: Paso Robles, Templeton, and Atascadero
Ever been in a strange town while traveling and wondered where you could find a short hike just right for stretching one's legs and possibly also close to a picnic spot or a place to buy food? If you ever come to North San Luis Obispo County, I have such a walk for you along a river in Paso Robles, around a lake in Atascadero, and in the woods beside a vineyard in Templeton. All are close to the 101 Freeway through the North County. Enjoy.
31The Importance of Grammar, Spelling, and Punctuation in Your Writing
If you don't proofread and edit your work, you may not make a good impression or get the grade you hope for. One of my favorite on line activities is screening intel at Qondio.com. It's interesting to see the topics people choose to write about....
14Birthday Poem for a Friend
A birthday poem written for a Christian friend when he turned 30 that deals with the doubts and fears many Christians struggle with in mid-life.
16Bogus UPS Quantum View E-Mail Notification Scam
Are you aware of the UPS email notification scam that will probably appear in your inbox soon, if it hasn't already? This article will help you tell a genuine UPS notification from an email which might give you a virus if you click on it.
16How to Find Old Friends on Facebook
Do you have an old friend you'd like to connect with on Facebook you has a very common name? Here on some hints on how to locate that friend so you can be Facebook friends, as well.








