A Day in My Life

Yesterday and today were picture postcard gorgeous, both days sunny and in the 70's with low humidity.  That is darn near perfect weather.  Worked in the garden most all of yesterday afternoon planting flowers and transplanting a huge hosta.  Now that transplanting is a big deal, digging and lifting and then digging and lifting some more.  I really had serious doubts that I would be able to step one foot in front the other this morning, but no problems.  Gardening must be good for your body and soul. And since I don't do yard maintenance any more (best decision I ever made to hire a landscaping company to handle the weekly yard chores, mowing, trimming, cleaning up) I now have more time to spend in the gardens, which is my true love.

Today was B&N coffee time with my gal pals, but 3 of them are leaving for their summer places and won't be around much if any this summer.  Insert sad face here....!!  And then off to the final 1st Wednesday Book Club luncheon and book review for the summer.  We don't gather again until September, another group I will miss seeing this summer.  We enjoy a nice lunch and after lunch one of the members presents a book review.  During the winter after a pleasant lunch when we are all bundled up in cozy sweaters and jackets, many have a tendency to dose off during the presentations, which unfortunately I have been guilty of in the past.  I have volunteered to be a presenter next year during the winter-time, I wonder how I am going to feel when I look out on my audience and see heads bobbing...hmmm.  My choice for lunch today was a summer salad made with grains, (quinoa, never knew how to pronounce that word until recently, I wanted to pronounce it quin o aa but I think it's pronounced keen wa...who comes up with these names?) fava beans (reminds me of Silence of the Lambs) chickpeas, and kale. Since I don't eat well at times I thought this would be the healthiest choice.  It was very tasty but with all those beans I have been having frequent reminders of them ever since. Decided not to go to summer Bible study this evening for just that reason. (snort!) And yes, I was wide awake the entire time, in case you wondered.

Sitting on the back porch this evening I spotted two Mourning Doves (Love Birds) landing on the dead tree branches in my neighbors back yard (another story) and grabbed my camera for what I hoped would be a "love" shot.  Not so much, they must have been in a disagreement because they turned their backs on each other and never spoke.  Obviously a lover's spat.

My roses are blooming.....yea!!!

And I still have peonies yet to bloom.... (and just because I have a little bit of fence in this shot, I am joining Theresa at The Run*A*Round Ranch Report for her Good Fences on Thursdays.

I love summer.

"Summer: Hair gets lighter. Skin gets darker. Water gets warmer. Drinks get colder. Music gets louder. Nights get longer. Life gets better."  ~  Author Unknown

Until next time.....

Now I Am A Book Snob!!

I am very fortunate that I live in a town that has an independent book store.  Last night I attended a book review of good books for book groups...an event that occurs a couple of times a year and is presented by two of the ladies that work at the book store and actually read the books that they recommend.  Now I say that because many times if you go into a "big chain" store ala Barnes & Noble and ask for a recommendation the people there are not actual readers they just shelve books, and take your money. Now I shouldn't put them all into that category because I know there are many that work in large bookstores are readers and can recommend but my experience has been that many are not, or only read whatever happens to be on the "best-seller"  or "popular fiction" list at the moment.  Now James Patterson & Danielle Steele's books hit the best-seller lists almost as soon as they are published but I wouldn't call any of their titles book-club worthy discussions or consider them literary fiction.  Oh dear, now not only am I a pumpkin snob, but it sounds like I am a book snob as well.  I guess when I was younger, "those" books appealed to me, but as I grow older and appreciate a good story and a well written book I no longer read what is on the "best-seller" list.

Anyhoo, last night we were presented with a list of their latest picks and I thought I would share these with you today.  I love it when people share and recommend good books.  All of these are in paper-back, are great discussion books for those of you in book-clubs and are in no particular order.

Fiction

• THE STORYTELLER by Jodi Picoult (wondering how to pronounce her last name? "PeeKo"
• THE SILENT WIFE by A.S.A. Harrison
• FLIGHT BEHAVIOR by Barbara Kingsolver
• I AM FORBIDDEN by Anouk Markovits
• MRS. LINCOLN'S DRESSMAKER by Jennifer Chiaverini
• ARCHIPELAGO by Monique Roffey
• SCHRODER by Amity Gaige
• DEAR LIFE by Alice Munro - short stories
• MRS QUEEN TAKE THE TRAIN by William Kuhn
• ROUND HOUSE by Louise Erdrich
• ORPHAN TRAIN by Christina Baker Kline
• THE DINNER by Herman Koch
• TIGERS IN RED WEATHER by Liza Klaussman
• THE LIFEBOAT by Charlotte Rogan
• THE TWELVE TRIBES OF HATTIE by Ayana Mathis
• THE LOWER RIVER by Paul Theroux
• HOUSE GIRL by Tara Conklin

Non-fiction

• SHAKESPEARE SAVED MY LIFE by Laura Bates
• THE WARMTH OF OTHERS SUNS by Isabel Wilkerson
• THE END OF YOUR LIFE BOOK CLUB by Will Schwalbe
• THE INVISIBLE THREAD by Laura Schroff
• THE BOY IN THE MOON by Ian Brown
• QUIET by Susan Cain
• I NEVER PROMISED YOU A GOODIE BAG Jennifer Gilbert

And a couple of hardcover recommendations - 

• THE RETURNED by Jason Mott (the author was working in a Verizon store when he wrote this book and shorty after it was published it was picked up by Brad Pitt's production company to film a mini-series based on this book, needless to say, Jason quit his day job) 
• MUD SEASON by Ellen Stimson
• LONGBOURN by Jo Baker (for lovers of Jane Austen and Downton Abby 

Tonight is book club and this month we read THE LIGHT IN THE RUINS by Chris Bohjalian.  It was an OK book, I've read better and it left me unsatisfied.  Does that make sense?  It bounced back and forth between 1943-44 and 1955 in Italy during World War II when the Germans occupied much of Italy.  I will be interested to hear how the rest of our group liked it.  So for books, and there are many, and for book groups that inspire good discussions I am grateful.

Until next time.....

                   

Reading Anything?

Are you reading anything at the moment, anything you would recommend to us who love a good book?

This past month I read two books, "The Kitchen House".  Another of the many, many stories of the lives of American slaves.  This ofcourse, takes place in the South, on a big plantation with many slaves, mostly well treated.  Along comes an orphaned white child and because there is nothing else to do with her, she ends up living among the slaves and considers them her family.  It is her story, living among both families white & black as she becomes a woman struggling with the treatment of the blacks in the deep south.  Many characters in this book, took me awhile to get everyone straight, who belonged to who...almost needed a little cheat sheet.  This was the book chosen for our February Book Club, and unfortunately I missed it.  I think if I would have attended the discussion I may have found more of an appreciation for this book, sometimes discussions do that.  But it did not compare to my favorite book of the South, "The Help" altho a completely different era, sometimes the treatments were the same.

The second book I completed recently was "The Lost Wife".  Again a story of history, taking place during the rise of Hitler and the devastation he wrought among the Jews.  Slavery in a different form.  Two people, Josef a young Gentile man living in Poland and Lenka a young Jewish woman also living in the same city.  They meet and fall in love but are torn apart by the ravages of war, Josef to the US and Lenka to the Jewish workcamps never reuniting until many, many years later.  It is both of their stories, beautifully written with phrases that will no doubt bring tears to your eyes before you close the pages of this book.

My sister-in-law recently sent me a delightful book which I am reading in between....The title, "Eight Girls Taking Pictures".  Individual chapters on early women photographers, their histories, their journeys in becoming photographers.  Such a insightful read.

And now am starting "The Secret Scripture" by Sebastian Barry....a book group favorite.  Just barely started, will give you a review later.

And must begin our Book Club choice for this month, "Don't Let Me Go" by Catherine Ryan Hyde.

I am hoping all this shows up....I was doing a copy paste and I am not sure blogger likes that.  And I don't know what the heck all that space is on top, I can't get rid of it.  Spacey....like me!  aha, went back in and was able to remove all those spaces.  Blogger, definitely a mind of HIS own.

Until next time....

Hallelujah

Good morning and Hallelujah the world is still spinning and all that talk about the world ending according to the Mayan calendar was just that...."talk".   And along with all that "talk" the weathermen were once again wrong in all their talking about the big snowstorm heading our way with predictions of 3-6 inches of snow by morning.  I am putting the weathermen and the Mayan's in the same category....wrong.  Last night about 6:00 PM the snow began, my excitement built, but within an hour the snowflakes had turned to a light nothing and this morning all we have is, at best, 1/4". not even enough to cover the grass.  Darn.

But with the disappointment of no snow there was joy to be found at The Book Club Christmas Party.  Not only joy, but good food and lots of laughter.

We played games (last night's were a bust, too difficult), we ate, and we chose our books for the year...

• The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty
• The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom
• Don't Let Me Go by Catherine Ryan Hyde
• The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
• Killing Lincoln by Bill O'Reilly
• Jefferson's Sons by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
• The Hummingbird's Daughter by Luis Alberto Urrea
• Defending Jacob by William Landay
• The End of Your Life Bookclub by Will Schwalbe
• The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

My Christmas flowers are still blooming which is always a delight....and a good thing, as Martha would say.

So how about you, have you found joy to overcome the disappointments that happen in your life?  Sometimes it is a struggle but personally my joys far outweigh my disappointments, you just have to look and be aware.

More tidbits....

"I've learned that you should never put a rubber snake in your older brother's bed."  ~  Age 7

"I've learned that receiving a thoughtful note or unexpected act of kindness from someone can make my day."  ~  Age 18

"I've learned that while it's important to be my daughter's friend, it's more important to be her mother."  ~  Age 36

"I've learned that when I awake aching in various joints and thinking "Oh what's the use?" if I get out of bed, don some clothes, splash cold water on my face, put on a little lipstick - I can face the world for another day."  ~  Age 86

So let's get out there with lipstick on for another day.

Sharing with 5 on Friday and Orange You Glad It's Friday....(once again I cannot copy & past the badge for this...anyone else having any trouble??)

Until next time....

Day 4 - Pieces of Me

Ahh..day 4 of the Beyond Layer's Pieces of Me Prompts is already almost over.  I've been gone all day so this is the first chance I have had to post. Today's prompts are (1) what I am currently reading  and (2) a light fixture....

I seem to be reading a multitude of things right now.  I have started 4 books and need to start a 5th & 6th for book clubs in September and October.  It's not that I don't like the books I have started, I am like the kid in the "proverbial" candy store when it comes to books.  There are just so many, it is hard to choose which one to read so I try and read multiple books and then end up having a hard time finishing them.  Pretty dumb huh?? Right now my started ones are:

1. The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister - a sweet lovely little book about a cooking school and those that attend.  
2. The Soldier's Wife by Margaret Leroy - Our bookclub book for August.  Didn't finish it, but still reading.  Interesting story that takes place on the isle of Guernsey during the war.  Beautifully written.
3. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkenss - this received so much press and the author has just released the sequel that I thought I would see what all the hype is about.  Well written story of a modern day witch in Oxford, England along with her vampire, soon to be love.  
4. Sister by Rosamund Lupton another English setting with a twin sister that has been murdered and the remaining twin desperate to find how and why.

And the two I need to get started are:

1. The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
2. Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake by Anna Quindlen

Looking forward to reading both of those.  Any good books you are reading??

And the 2nd prompt is "a light fixture".  Well, I have to post this.  It is my 3rd and final bathroom re-do. I bought this little chandelier at the flea market a couple of months ago in anticipation of putting it in my new re-done bathroom.  

The color of the paint looks different in these two pics....I am sure it was the lighting.  But it is a lavender purple.  I love it.  Will show more pics later.  

I am now officially tired and need to go to bed...tomorrow is another busy day.  Be sure and hop over to my collaborative blog on Friday (Focusing on Life) to ride along with me as I go on another adventure.  

"Unlock your natural desires by doing what you enjoy."  ~  Hans Selye

Until next time....

Friday Thoughts

OK, last night was book club and the above was the book chosen for this month.  So along with re-doing bathrooms, I was trying to get this read before we met, it is always a good idea to have read the book prior to discussion or it just might spoil the ending, ya think??  I do believe this may be number 1 on the Best Seller list, at least it was last week.  Our group was really split on like/no like and it was definitely a love/hate relationship.  Two of us did not like this book, one was split and the rest loved it.  I don't deny that the story was a page turner, and it definitely had it's twists and turns but what I did not like were the characters, a man and a wife.  Granted there were other peripheral characters, police officers, family, a lover, TV personalities, lawyer but Nick and Amy (Amazing Amy) were pretty much it.  And to sum it up with a quote from the book by Nick's lawyer, "You two are the most f_ _ _ _ ed up couple I have ever met."  And they absolutely were.  Both had issues, both had no redeeming qualities, and both deservedly needed some kind of comeuppance.  (I guess that comes later)  The language was a little raw for my taste, it's not that I consider myself a prude, but come on, do ya have to use f _ _ _ constantly?  It kinda left a yucky taste in my mouth wondering if there are really these type of people and I am sure there are, sadly.  Our discussion led us to the similarities of this book with the Lacy Peterson true life case, so yes, Scott Peterson is living proof that evil does exist.  And omg I just saw the info about the shooting at the Batman movie in Colorado.  "Gone Girl" is fiction, but this is real life.  Prayers are there for the victims and families.

OK enough of that, on to more pleasant thoughts.  I am off to see my sweetie and my daughter's new bathroom.  She had a re-do too, you know what they say, like mother - like daughter.  AND the temps are in the 80's today, that in itself is enough to celebrate.

Hop on over to my collaborative blog, Focusing on Life, and try to guess who's who...you might just win a prize.

"Time is the coin of your life.  It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent.  Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you."  ~  Carl Sandburg

Until next time......

Cell Research Can Be Interesting....

Today has been spent finishing "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" the title of our bookclub selection for February.  And since tonight is "bookclub" night, thought I better finish reading it.  Rather fascinating non-fiction read about Henrietta Lacks, a poor black woman who died of cervical cancer in the 50's, and whose cells were taken, without the family's knowledge, and used for research in polio, HIV, Cancer, etc. Her cells (commonly called HeLa cells) continue to grow and are still being utilized in research today.  Not our typical bookclub read but have to admit it was a fascinating and interesting book.  The author, Rebecca Skloot, was able to take a subject like cell research and make it readable, not an easy task.

Other than finishing the book, the day was pretty barren in completing any tasks or items crossed off the never-ending, never-finished list.  I did manage some photos and sharing with Deb at This or That Thursday.  Hope your day was more productive than mine.

"To acquire the habit of reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost all the miseries of life."  ~  W.Somerset Maugham

Until next time.....

The Party Continues - The Book Babes Edition

Last night was our annual Book Club Christmas Party. I can't even remember how many years we have been doing this, but it is always fun, filled with food and a great way to end our year of reading. After the food is finished I usually plan a game or two....sometimes there is a groan, sometimes there is an "oh goody" but this year I decided no games....I was just too busy. Remember I was sooo late in getting all my Christmas decorations up that I was still carrying boxes back down to the basement at 4:30, so unfortunately no party game planning time. Decided to ask everyone their greatest joys and their deepest sorrows for this past year and if they had any New Year's resolutions that they were going to try their darndest to keep. Fortunately, most of us had far more joys than sorrows. Some had lost loved ones, two had new grandbabies, all immediate families were gainfully employed except for one, most were healthy. So all in all a good year for us as a group. There are 11 of us, except 2 were missing last night due to sickness and a previous committment.

Resolutions are not at the top of the priority list for the new year, most have tried but failed in past years, but one kept her resolution last year and is continuing again this year with a slight twist. Donna is such a homebody and would rather stay at home than go out. Her husband, on the other hand would rather go out, take interesting trips, have fun. Donna's resolution last year was to not be hesitant when her husband suggested a trip and thus at the end of this year was delighted in the adventures they took. Now this year Donna has decided that at least once a month she will plan a nice outing for just she and her husband and not find themselves sitting home each weekend. Norma's resolution is to retire by the end of the year....hurray!! Gina is planning on taking time for herself (Gina has two children that she has homeschooled for several years)....yeah for Gina. And me, I want to take more photography courses to continue the learning process and possibly take a writing course at our local college. How about you, do you have any New Year's resolutions??

The tree was lit and the candles were burning bright to welcome my "Book Babes"

Everyone arrived, then the food and drink was served....Debbie concocted a delicious punch with vodka, wine, juices, fresh cranberries and oranges...Joanne made a salad and brought that delicious salad dressinThey g from Olive Garden and added aLOT more black olives to the salad.  Vicki brought a yum, yum good for you veggie casserole, Cathy's tasty dish was a pineapple souffle that was like an Hawaiian Hula in the mouth that enhanced the Ham that I made.  Ham was/is/will be delicious for a long time to come.  I bought a 10 pounder??? so I will have ham forever.  Thank goodness it freezes.  Julie graced us with the traditional green bean casserole with those crunchy onions on top, just something about this casserole that feels like home.  And Donna brought the ever-delightful cheesy baked potato casserole.  Loved that she put chex on top, so extra crunchy.  I don't know about you but give me a good crunch in any food.....nuts (any kind), chex, potato chips, corn chips, canned onions, water chestnuts, celery, jicama...love that crunch.  We were so full by the time dinner was over none of us had room for Gina's scrumptious apple crumb pie.  Gina sliced it, and we each took one home (will I didn't take it home, I just left it on the kitchen counter) to enjoy when the tummy craved food again.  I had mine with coffee this AM and enjoyed each bite.  Norma brought a candy tray with some of my favorite candy, the only thing I can say about Norma is, she didn't leave the candy tray accidentally sitting on the dining table which I was really hoping she would.  And she did bring Toby a little plate of doggie treats...which he managed to eat and enjoy.

JoAnn - we have been friends for at least 12 years....met at the Stamp Shack and have remained good friends....it's so nice to meet and keep good friends.

 Cathy, ooops not a good pic of Cathy...she is a beautiful lady but I certainly did not do her justice with this pic.

 Norma, one of the original members, along with me of the Book Babes.  Norma will be retiring in 2012, and is enjoying a new grandbaby, and didn't leave her candy tray.

Donna is the "let's keep this enjoying going out" girl....can't wait to hear what her first outing will be.

Vicki smiles all the time...and when she does her whole face lights up with gladness which brings everyone around her gladness and joy. 

Gina, bakes a mean apple pie and is planning "me" time for the New Year. 

Julie is our newest member...she is our quiet one, and oh so sweet.  She wanted to make sure I had a place to go for Christmas. 

And Deb....so sorry I didn't get a picture of Debbie.  I think she was finishing off the punch in the kitchen when I was taking individual pics.  But I do have this one....doesn't she have pretty polished fingernails and jewelry.  And she is really enjoying the plate full of delicious morsels each made with loving hands.  (I think they were all loving hands....at least I hope they were clean hands) 

 And me....wishing you all good cheer for Christmas and the New Year (especially if you make New Year's Resolutions.)

Just fyi for those of you who like to read or in a Book Club......our picks for 2012

• State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
• The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
• The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
• The End of the Affair by Graham Green
• Mrs. Tom Thumb by Melanie Benjamin
• The Scent of Rain and Lightening A Novel by Nancy Picard
• Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
• The Note by Angela Hunt
• Turn of Mind by Alice LaPlante

And we still have 2 more from the ladies that were not able to come to the party. 

"Ofcourse, the most indispensable ingredient of all good home cooking is love for those you are cooking for"  ~  Sophia Loren

Until next time.......