My Monday

It is Tuesday--but it's my Monday at work, because we just got back into town yesterday from being 'up north' in Washington State.  The Handyman's mom is not doing too well, so we ran up there for a few days to visit and help where we could. (which isn't very much when you live far away)

These are the good things...

1.  Got to see our niece and her family.  And her weird collection of pets  ( she's a vet-tech, so she has had her share of weird ones...)

The Hissing cockroaches and the hairless cat.

I realize that some people are just squeamish---SOME people.

But I didn't realize I had a bunch of weeny friends. a BUNCH of them.  Okay, MOST of them.  Exactly ALL of them.

All the comments were 'nope' 'no way' 'not me' 'ewwwww'

Weird.

The ugly hairless cat does not know it's ugly---so it acts all cute like and rubs up against us.

It looks like a bat.

But---you gotta admire any cat that goes potty in the toilet--and he does

2.  Got to meet our first great-grandchild, Grayson, who is adorable and oh-so snuggly!

Rich (on the right) with his grandson, Jorell and his great-grandson Grayson.

I told you---he's snuggly!

Grandkids, Great Grandpa, baby, Great Uncle and Great Great Grandma! 

3.  Got to watch some Seattle Seahawks football  (we never get Seattle down here in Nevada) with my brother and sister-in-law.  They invited us to do the Alzheimer's Walk (in honor of our mom)  in the afternoon, but we weren't able to do that.  Next year!

4.  Got to have Spudnuts!  

5.  I read a quick romance on the way to Washington---but nothing while I was up there. I had planned to finish my Kate Morten Book, The Distant Hours, and get a lot more into my slow and steady read, Glamorous Powers by Susan Howatch, but I just didn't have the time.  Anyway--if you like romance, this is pretty good.   It's a road trip romance--like when Harry Met Sally, kind of, but they are together at the end of the week long trip across the country.  And it ends at Thanksgiving!

Even tho it was bittersweet in a way--it's always good to see family and do a bit of reconnecting.

Sisters

A couple of my sisters-in-law and me.

Now... back to work!

To Blog again?

Hello friends!

It's been a long while since I've posted anything on here but some Friday Friend Cookbook challenge posts.

I'm not sure why I stopped blogging, but I think I want to begin again--even tho, blogs are so yesterday.  Is that a fair statement?  kind? generous?  I mean, you're all bloggers here!

I don't mean to insult anyone--I want to join the community again! 
It's just that all the kids say blogs are so yesterday!
huh. What do they know?

Here is my problem.

Books or Food or Just Life.

I've never known where I fit in, in the blogging world.

So I guess I'll just be me and do it all.

I should just take the plunge, right?

Today, it'll be books...

What I'm looking forward to reading in October and my favorite book related moment in September!

I'm looking forward to some atmospheric books this fall.
I'm not a fan of horror (except for Stephen King) but I do like a little bit of spookiness/creepiness.

The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai
(okay this is not spooky or creepy, I just want to read it)

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
I figured I better get on the bandwagon--everyone else has passed me by!

The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel
A Story of Sleepy Hollow by Alyssa Palombo
I've always loved the story of The Headless Horseman by Washington Irving, so I hope this lives up somehow.

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe
People magazine said it's  "Spooky"
Enough for me.

The Distant Hours by Kate Morton
I don't think this is traditionally spooky, but there is an old castle and the story of the Mud Man who creeps out of the mote and climbs the castle, all in the first chapter!

So the Distant Hours  it is!
I've started this and I think it will be good.
In fact, I think I'll go snuggle up with a cup of cinnamon tea and this book, right now.
I'll leave my favorite September book moment until next time.

Bookclubs and more Bookclubs!

On Monday, I said this about this book:

This one was---just okay.  I read it for book club and tomorrow night I have to go defend my opinion in someone's house, who really loved it. 

I would recommend with reservations.

But here it is Wednesday, the day after book club and guess what?  I still would recommend it with reservations, BUT we had the best discussion last night.

It was all about women's issues--which the book brought to light in a different way.  I guess they weren't just women's issue:  health, love, parenthood and worry, infidelity, aging, friendships, discovering yourself.  But the book talked about these things among women, so we really, REALLY, got off subject and didn't talk so much about the book's characters, but rather, ourselves.  The book was the catalyst tho.

I still don't know if I'd recommend it,  I didn't love it, but I did love the discussion it brought about.

It was a small group last night--only half of us--but it was fun.

I could kick myself for not stepping outside and taking a picture of Kerry's view. I don't know why I didn't, it's so beautiful, and as you know I like it when I can show off  Nevada's beautiful side.

I took a few photos but my head must have been somewhere else.

Betty and Kerry were our hosts. They served some great appetizers

And Kerry has a very big lazy susan, so serving ourselves was easy peasy.

****************

On Wednesday afternoon,  we had our first Literary Guild Luncheon of the season.

The Literary Club (we gave up the word Guild some time ago) has been meeting since 1952.

We don't all read the same book (except for the month of May), but we have a nice lunch and listen to a book talk.

We have a little booklet with all the members names in it and phone numbers.

Every October we donate money to purchase Dictionaries for all the 3rd graders in the county school system.

And this is the book which Terri gave the report about.

She says we all should read it!

Why do I?

Why do I think that I can go away for a quick weekend trip and read 8 books?!

I am exaggerating a bit, but 5 books is not an exaggeration. I often take 5.

This time I am only taking 3.  

And my Kindle.

And my phone with my audible app.

And my current read--which I will finish on the way up there.

And a new cooking magazine.

I'll be okay.

I have 4 hours of 'light' this evening as we head up.

(4 hours of dark)

and 8 hours of light on the way back.

I CAN DO THIS!!

But tell me why? Why do I feel more comfortable with a tote full of books in the backseat?

Maybe I'm crazy!?

Maybe not.

Non-Fiction November FAIL-- kind of

I have failed this year keeping up with Nonfiction November posts.

I was feeling a bit bummed about it, because I really do love to connect with others thru memes/challenges and events, and I really love non-fiction.  I like to find out what's trending and what everyone is recommending  this year.

So yes, I was a bit bummed--until I went to see an author at the library this afternoon.

You might be thinking, yeah, so what, you saw an author. But we live in rural Nevada.

Rural.  Nothing around for miles and miles.  It's not an easy sell for an author.    TJ Stiles is a Pulitzer Prize wining author of nonfiction!  Pulitzer Prize!!  Winnemucca scored!

I had not read his books before today, but was excited to see  him and hear his book talk.

Guess what?

He was such a great speaker and was so interesting to listen to!   He's written  three books and I bought all three.  In fact, our little town bought ALL of the books he brought.  We cleaned him out.

He was just so thoroughly enjoyable.

So I was feeling good--I was able to attend a speaking engagement by a non-fiction author this month and purchase his books to read.

While I was visiting with him as he was  signing my books, I mentioned that it was Non-fiction November and he said  "you have a blog?"  I said that I did.

You all know that I don't identify with being a 'book blogger' right?  I'm just someone who  has a blog and LOVES books.

But today--I was so happy to be included and be a  part of the book blogging world!

So even tho I am failing at the proper way to participate in Nonfiction November, I just feel I scored big!

Off to go read some Non-Fiction!!

Weekend Cooking--this and that

Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book reviews (novel, nonfiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs, restaurant reviews, travel information, or fun food facts!

Hosted by Beth Fish Reads!

It's a rainy day in Northern Nevada--again.  I just heard we are having the rainiest October on record. 

I like it.

I am spending today just going through new magazines that I received in  the mail this week.

I've always loved "Taste of the South" and plan on making those yummy looking  Pecan Pie filled thumb print cookies for the holidays. 

And this....the

First edition of Christopher Kimball's "Milk Street Kitchen", so excited to get it finally. 

I really like it.  I like the look of it a lot.   It's a teeny bit reminiscent of  Cooks Country, but I like that magazine too.

I'll probably get a subscription for the year.  It's good reading. If you like this kind of thing.

I've also been enjoying a little this book today:

A Foodies book of days. This is lovely, but not something you read completely  in one setting--it's one you read a daily passage of a few times a week.  Sometimes I'll read 7 days at one time, but never more than that as they are nice to ponder.

I'm also loving working my way thru (reading, not cooking, but I might do that someday too) How to Celebrate Everything.

This is the perfect cookbook--foodie memoir-- to read early in the morning!

There is a page in this  cookbook where Jenny Rosenstrach has a photo of   her husband's grandmother's cooking notebook. It has clippings from magazines and handwritten recipes, complete with yellow tape!

(I told you....Jenny and I have so much in common.)

The bottom is Rosenstrach's cookbook, the top notebook is my mom's.

I didn't know that this notebook of my mom's existed until after she passed away, but in it she too, has recipes clipped from magazines and some handwritten family recipes. I think she began this while she was in high school, as some seem to remind me of  pamphlets from Home Ec class.

I'll keep it forever...and probably never make Shrimp Elegante or Seaside Supper, but as  Jenny says "It's nice to know it's there" 

From Jenny's cookbook......

I said I'd never make any of these recipes but

serendipitously  (thank goodness for spell check) I found an old recipe that my mom used to make for my husband.  He once told her he loved it and she so she would always make it for him when we came to visit.  It was  a standard.  I'm not sure if he loved it as much as she thinks he did, but---maybe.   Anyway, he did tell her that (yay him for making my mom feel so good), so she would make this Teriyaki Steak with rice and peas.    A throw back to some 1960's international flare!

I think I'll make it for him--for nostalgias sake.  We'll see if he really likes it or not.

This will be fun!

And I just loved these people from this page in my mom's homemade notebook.

They are dieters for sure!

Having a good weekend.  How about you?

Outdoor Wednesday

I've been off the blogesphere for almost 2 months.  No reason really--just busy and time goes by so fast!!

Oh..and we had grandkids the whole month of July, 2 and 3 different sets but still, the whole month of July.

We are kind of tired this month.

OUTDOOR WEDNESDAY is as good a time to jump back in to the blogging community--don't you think?

On Wednesdays I'll sometimes join A Southern Daydreamer and her Outdoor Wednesday meme to share some pictures.

Stop by and check out other great photos of the outdoors!

Since I'm jumping back in after 2 months of being gone, I'm just sharing a few photos of my Grandchildren and Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce Indians.

We have a cabin close by this lake and there is a lot of history (as there is in any place).  The Nez Perce Indians used the lake and the Eagle Cap Wilderness as their winter campgrounds.  And Old Chief Joseph died here. 

The Statue is of Young Chief Joseph (the "I will fight no more forever" Chief. You all know your Native American history, right?), the grave-site is his father's.

The cute kids are mine.

And that is where I was during the month of July!