M. M. Justus
Novelist (historical fiction set in the Old West with a whiff of of fantasy) and freelance writer and museum worker. I was a professional dilettante, aka reference librarian, for 16 years. I also have a museum studies certificate at the University of Washington. My current freelance gigs are at the Tacoma Historical Society and the Lakewood Historical Society. I live an hour and a half from Paradise (on Mt. Rainier), and visit Yellowstone as often as possible. Several of my novels are set there. 2 cats, 1 garden. Bookaholic. Quilter, cross-stitcher, crocheter. Favorite authors, Lois McMaster Bujold, Elizabeth Peters.
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Education/Experience
Museum Certificate, University of Washington, MLS, Indiana University, BGS, Ohio UniversityInterests
Writing, reading, history, travel, gardening, quilting, cross-stitching, crocheting, museum curation.Motto
Professional Dilettante -- everything is interesting.Favorites
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Displaying Results 1 - 31 (of 31) for All Content
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Apples, Fall Foliage and Ghost Towns in the Okanogan Highlands of Washington StateOkanogan County is the largest and one of the most sparsely populated counties in Washington state. On the dry side of the mountains and off the beaten path, Okanogan County's beauty and history are often overlooked by natives and tourists alike. -
Choosing Spring-blooming Bulbs for Your GardenSpring bulbs are often the earliest flowers in your garden, and depending on your climate and your choices, you can have color from bulbs from when there's still snow on the ground until the beginning of summer. -
Choosing a Freezer for Once a Month CookingChoosing the best freezer for your family and for Once a Month Cooking involves considering several important factors to make this purchase work its best for you.
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What Not to Do for Your First Freezer Cooking SessionDon't want to get put off freezer cooking for life? Need to make OAMC work for you without getting completely overwhelmed? Then here's absolutely positively what you don't want to do.
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Confetti Gardening and How to Make it Work for YouConfetti (noun): small multicolored bits of paper made for throwing during parades, at weddings, or for other happy occasions Garden (noun): a piece of land where plants are grown -
How to Choose Plants that Will Thrive in Your GardenGardening is much easier and more enjoyable when the right plant goes in the right place. Here are some factors to consider in order to make that happen. -
Tips for Finding OAMC or Freezer Cooking RecipesWhile your best and first freezer cooking recipe choices should be adapted from recipes that you and your family already eat and enjoy, many excellent resources are available when you want to widen your menus and the contents of your freezer.
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Favorite Walks in the South Puget Sound Area, Part TwoA second installment of good places to get out and walk without driving far from Tacoma, Washington, an hour south of Seattle -
Freezer Cooking with Only a Fridge-top FreezerMethods to make freezer cooking work when your freezer is less than ideal, and how to be creative and flexible when working with a small freezer.
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How to Package Your Food for the FreezerA number of options are available for keeping your food safe and handy in the freezer, and several factors need to be considered when you make your choices.
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Saving Time with OAMC or Cooking for Your FreezerHere are three important questions to consider when you're cooking for your freezer to save time. Answering these questions will make your freezer cooking strategies work well for you.
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Visit Nisqually National Wildlife RefugeNisqually National Wildlife Refuge is a great place to see animals, migratory birds, and to hear the sound of frogs and see wetlands plants -
Perennial Fall Color in Your GardenTrees and shrubs are not the only way you can achieve fall foliage in your garden. Leaves on perennial plants often turn colorful before they fall for the winter, and seedheads can add a great deal of interest, as well as food for birds. -
Best Fall Foliage Drives Near Tacoma, WashingtonWestern Washington is not famous for its fall foliage the way New England is, but we have our share of beautiful colors, both planted and natural, that are well worth traveling to see. -
Easy Walks at Paradise in Mt. Rainier National ParkParadise, the most popular stop for most tourists at Mt. Rainier National Park, is best explored on foot. But if you're not a backpacker, and you only have a few hours, these are the best trails to get you out among the flowers and the views. -
How to Paint Behind a Toilet Without Removing the TankOne major drawback to redecorating a bathroom is working around the bathroom fixtures. Here is an easy method for painting the bathroom without removing the toilet tank.
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OAMC or Freezer Cooking: How to Organize a Multi-recipe SessionPreparing more than one recipe at the same time can be a challenge, but it can also save you time and energy, and fill your freezer with delicious, healthy meals in an extremely efficient manner.
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Tricks for Identifying WildflowersIdentifying wildflowers is a hobby that is easy to learn and can last a lifetime. With a proper guidebook and a little knowledge, you'll see much more in a colorful meadow or woodland than you ever did before. -
Four Favorite Walks Near Tacoma, WashingtonLocal walks in the South Puget Sound area. Good places to get out in nature and stretch your legs without a long drive. -
How and when to Freeze an Adapted Recipe for OAMC or Feeding Your FreezerAn important consideration when adapting family favorite recipes for your freezer is when to freeze it. You can freeze ingredients, a partially assembled recipe, or a complete recipe, cooked or uncooked. A number of factors will influence this decision.
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Adapting Your Favorite Recipes for Your FreezerConsider your ingredients when you adapt a recipe for OAMC, or cooking for your freezer. Not all ingredients are equal when it comes to freezability.
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Beautiful Wildflower Walks at Sunrise in Mt. Rainier National ParkThe Sunrise area on Mt. Rainier has some of the most beautiful wildflower fields in the Pacific Northwest. These short hikes will give you a good taste of them. -
Pick a Protein for Batch CookingBatch cooking is one of the simplest ways to fill your freezer with ingredients and meals which will make putting dinner on the table much easier. Choose a protein (for example, whole chickens), and organize your batch around it.
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Six Great Local Quilt Shows in Western WashingtonQuilt shows are a wonderful way to get inspiration for your next quilt. If you live in western Washington state, here are six great quilt shows to get you started. -
Bulk Cooking for Your Freezer to Save Time and MoneyCooking in bulk for your freezer can save you time, money, and energy. Cook just once and eat multiple meals.
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Visit Tacoma's History at the Job Carr Cabin MuseumDiscover the birthplace of Tacoma, Washington, at the Job Carr Cabin Museum. The cabin, located in Old Town, is an important part of Washington state history. -
Six Perennial Flowers to Perk Up Your August GardenSuggestions for perennial flowers to make your August garden beautiful. -
Why and How to Label Your QuiltsQuilts are both art and history, and as such they deserve documentation. Several methods are described for creating labels, and the information that a label should include is also discussed.
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Carbon River: A Little-known Corner of Mount Rainier National ParkThe Carbon River area is the least-known and least-visited part of Mt. Rainier National Park. It is an example of a rare inland temperate rain forest, and a fascinating place to visit.
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Exploring Old Faithful, in Yellowstone National ParkWhat to see and do in the Upper Geyser Basin if you only have one day. Geyser highlights and some fascinating facts.
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Choosing Fabrics for Your First -- or Next -- QuiltLearn how to choose fabrics to make the quilt you want to make. Explore new methods of putting fabrics together into a harmonious combination, whether you use two pieces or a thousand.