p.quinn

Recent Reads

I told you I've been busy reading!

And this stack was mostly pretty enjoyable.

The books all revolve round two of my most favorite topics.

Food.

And living vicariously through armchair travel.

So, let's begin.....

"The Olive Farm"  by Carol Drinkwater was a great read if you enjoyed books such as Peter Mayle's "A Year in Provence"  and "Under the Tuscan Sun" by Frances Mayes.  Which I did.  Carol, an English actress, and her French husband-to-be, Michel, pour all their savings into the purchase of a rundown, overgrown olive farm.  This is the story of their trials, tribulations and triumphs.  The sub-title, "A Memoir of Life, Love and Olive Oil in the South of France"  pretty well sums it up.  Excellent!

"Toast"  by Nigel Slater was...well...interesting.  I had never heard of Nigel Slater before I picked up this book---turns out he has written quite a few cook books and a popular London newspaper column.  I just bought it because I liked the title.  And the cover.  A memoir of Slater's childhood and growing up years through the viewpoint of food, it covers everything from milk to eggs and what happens when he eats them.  Let's just say he was a picky eater.  Of course, not being English, I didn't know most of the brand names mentioned or the foods he was telling about, but still, I got the basic idea.  Not a must read, but entertaining on a cold winter evening.

I bought this next book at a rummage sale for the title alone.  "French Women Don't Get Fat"  by Mireille Guiliano.  While this is pretty much a diet book, there are lots of interesting ideas presented on the differences in eating between the French and Americans, eating seasonal and fresh foods, plus tips for eating as you get older to name a few.  Lots of recipes if you are inclined to cook.  I'm not.  I did enjoy this book---I'm glad the title reeled me in.

"Julie & Julia"  by Julie Powell.  I suppose everyone else has either seen the movie or read the book by now....I'm just slow.  Plot:  Julie is cooking her way through Julia Child's classic "Mastering the Art of French Cooking".  365 days, 524 recipes, 1 tiny apartment kitchen says the tag line.  That should also include a sailor's vocabulary.  Julie starts a blog to chart her progress and some of her bleaders  {as she so lovingly calls her readers} comment that she uses the word f**k  too often.  I agree.  While I loved the idea  of this book, I was actually disappointed.  Sorry.

"True Confections"  by Katharine Weber was probably my favorite of this stack.  I had a little trouble getting into things at the beginning, but it didn't take long and I was hooked.  Alice Tatnall goes to work at Zip's Candies straight out of high school, marries the owner's son by October, eventually ending up running the company.  Covering the history of the Ziplinsky family from the early 1900s, this tale also tells much about the candy industry in America.  Ooey gooey, full of love, betrayal, family bickering, and, of course, lots of chocolate.  I enjoyed this one!

Have you read any of these?

What did you think?

What has caught your attention lately?

I'm already well into my next stack.

Once again all from authors I've read and enjoyed.....

Finally Finished: The Idea

OK.

I know I've spouted off about this before.

But somehow, this time, I think I'm {just a tad bit} more serious.

I'm talking about all my unfinished projects.

OK.

Alright.

I admit it.

Some are also un-started projects.

I always have lots of stuff floating around in my head.

It gets jotted down on little bits of paper.

Quick sketches.

That get shoved into the ever growing pile.

And lost in the shuffle.

Does that ever happen to you?

{glad to know I'm not alone...}

Depending on what your craft is, you probably have a mood or inspiration board.

Not me.

I have inspiration trays.

{think multiple...}

Full of all kinds of goodies.

These are just a couple of them.

I'm sure if you look closely, you'll see treasures in my trays that are part of my blog banner.

Yep.

That's how long some of this stuff has been around.

Of course, some of it will never get used...

I bought it to hoard and enjoy.

Anyway.

Just look at those tiny brass crowns!

The nubby silk!

The groovy beads!

Makes my mouth water.

And my fingers itch.

And let's not forget the baggies and boxes full of cool old stuff just waiting for a new life.

So what does all this mean?

Well.

With Pammy's Simplification Act of 2012 now in full swing, it means I've decided I will actually {start and/or} finish these projects.

Uh huh.

For real.

I'll show my progress here.

You will hold me accountable.

Does that mean I won't be working on something "new"   if it strikes me?

Nope.

I'm just letting you know that I will tame this beast.

Are you with me?

I'll keep you posted.....

 

I Got Mail!

Oh yes I did!

Actually, I received this awesome gift awhile ago from my Blog Buddy Bobbi.

And, as usual, I am late in sharing.

Anyway.

Just look at that wrapping!

I was like a little kid at Christmas.....

Playing with the wrapping and ignoring the present.

But not for too long.....

Oh, Bobbi!

I think this performance will last way longer than two hours!

First there was a vintage bookmark---the second one I've received from Bobbi.

{I think she reads as much as I do!}

Both bookmarks have been given good work outs since I've had them.

OK.

Now for the star of the show.....

OoooLaLa!

One of Bobbi's super cool crocheted garlands!

Just for me!

{also notice the neat-o card she made to wrap the garland up on...}

Will you look at all those perfect teeny tiny stitches?!?

Amazing.

And I love the colors!

Perfect for me.

Bobbi makes all kinds of nifty garlands {even hearts!} and has them for sale in her Etsy shop.

I'm pretty sure she'll even make you a custom garland if you ask.

She's just that nice.

But I have my garland and I love it!

Thanks, Bobbi!

XOX

Parting Shot

Brrrrr......

Stay warm this weekend!

Still Knitting

Yup.

I'm still knitting.

I recently delivered all the scarves I had finished to the homeless shelters and Salvation Army, so now my pile is starting over.

My stash of yarn is running low though.

I didn't find much at last year's rummage sales.

But the Knit Wit ladies have been good to me.

Right now I am working my way through some super soft baby yarn from 90 year old Elizabeth.

She says she is done knitting baby stuff.

So I'm knitting it up two strands at a time into warm scarves.

As I knit, I keep the balls of yarn in an old Universal Cambridge mixing bowl.

I love the Iris pattern.

Years ago when I had a little country antique shop, this pottery never stayed around long before it was snapped up.

There are lots of pieces besides the mixing bowls.

Serving platters and bowls of all sizes, covered casseroles.

The custard cups are especially cute.

Keep your eyes open and I'm sure you'll find some at flea markets, estate sales and vintage shops.

I just finished this scarf and added some fringe.

Next up?

A tan and purple combo.

Thanks for the yarn, Elizabeth!

I'm Only One Day Late......

Hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day!

I was busy enjoying the Dessert Extravaganza at Mom's facility.

{which was complete with a chocolate fountain and champagne...}

{no, I didn't stick my head in the chocolate fountain}

So I'm sending you this XOX in the snow, wishing you a {just a tad bit} late Happy Valentine's Day!

Mid-Winter Slump?

I don't know what it is.

The best way I can describe it is the old-fashioned term out-of-sorts.

I've had the feeling for awhile now.

I feel blah.

I feel boring.

I feel very uninterested.

And uninteresting.

Like I have nothing to share.

I've been trying to stay focused.

I've been trying to simplify.

I've been trying to de-stress.

Am I trying too hard?

Or not hard enough?

I want to be like Mary.

Basking in the late afternoon sun.

Full of peace.

Is that possible?

The Loot

Last Saturday was the {big} flea market.

It was packed.

The concession stand had run out of pizza already when I stopped for lunch.

What?!?

But I did get a couple Cinnamon Crumb muffins from the baked goods booth that made up for it.

{kinda...}

Anyway.

As I said, the place was packed.

There was plenty to look at, but things just didn't seem quite as interesting as usual.

I did score some loot, though.

{duh}

Some nifty carded buttons.

{when was the last time you paid 25 cents for buttons?}

Great for a vignette or a sewing project.

For me.

Or someone else.

These are my absolute favs.

Spunky.

And sparkly.

Seems I can't go anywhere without buying ironstone or religious items.

Butter pats always hold a special place in my heart.

They're just so darn cute.

And if one is good, a whole stack is better.

They cluster well.

Anybody need Litmus paper?

I think I might have extra.

I love stuff in glass vials.

Especially if there are cool old labels.

And I love the real corks marked "Portugal".

Perfect for the Industrial look.

Just the opposite of last month, most of what I bought this time will eventually find its way to my poor, empty vintage Etsy shop.

Except for these....

These are mine!

It was love at first sight.

I even spent hoarded birthday money on them, so you know it was serious.

Not plastic.

Heavy metal.

Delicately painted in muted shades.

Perfectly chipped with age.

And only five inches tall.

Yup.

These are mine.

Been to any good flea markets lately?

Find any good loot?

 

 

 

 

  

Recent Reads

Winter.

Prime reading time.

Well, actually any season is prime reading time, but winter is especially good.

I've been busy...

Lots stacked up to read.

Several stacks read and ready to report on.

Today I'll start with my all new-to-me author stack....

"Belong To Me"  by Marisa de los Santos was a book I grabbed quickly at a rummage sale just because I liked the cover---a whole line of brightly colored Wellies.  After reading the book, I'm still not really sure how those Wellies fit in.....  Anyway.  Cornelia and Teo Brown move to the suburbs.  Enter neighbor Piper, typical Queen of Suburbia, and fellow new residents, Lake, and her brilliantly gifted son, Dev.  The ladies start to become acquainted, some easily, some not so much.  Lives start changing in mighty big ways with one huge surprise thrown in along the way.  Not the best book I've ever read, for sure not the worst.  Well written.  I have another de los Santos book in my waiting stack{s}...we'll see...maybe I just don't have quite the feel for Marisa yet?

"Stealing With Style"  was a fun, light mystery involving one of my favorite things---antiques.  Of course these were diamond brooches and silver urns---a far cry from the vintage ironstone and buttons I play with---but still all rather entertaining.  I'd read a write-up about this book and had it on my "To Look For" list for several years...  I was ever so happy to find it on the sale shelf in a used book shop and it was a delight to read.  The author, Emyl Jenkins, is an antiques appraiser and has written several books on the subject along with a syndicated column.  This was her first novel.  Another book has since been added to the Sterling Glass series and I will be looking for it.....

"Mr. Rosenblum Dreams in English"  by Natasha Solomons.  Another debut novel.  Jack and Sadie Rosenblum, German Jews, arrive as refugees in England in 1937.  All Jack wants to do is become English.  Very  English.  All Sadie wants to do is remember the old ways.  Jack pretty much succeeds in his quest except for one thing...membership in a golf club.  There is only one hitch.  No club will admit him because he is Jewish.  Finally, Jack decides he will have to build his own golf course.   Jack and Sadie move to the country where the colorful locals call them the "Rose-in-Blooms".  Throw in the coronation of Queen Elizabeth, golf pro Bobby Jones and the fabled Dorset Woolly Pig and you've got quite a story.  Through the entire book, I kept finding myself wanting to cheer for Jack and give Sadie a great big hug.  This was by far, the best book I have read in ages.  At the end, I read late into the night, propped up on pillows in bed, grinning from ear to ear.  Definitely a keeper that I will read again.  Highly recommended.

"Dear James"  by Jon Hassler covers a lot of ground from small town northern Minnesota, to Ireland, to Italy, all in the life of Miss Agatha McGee.  Agatha spent her entire life teaching at St. Isidore's Elementary in Staggerford, Minnesota.  She taught almost everyone in town and everyone knows her.  Now the school has closed and Agatha is at loose ends.  Sylvester Juba starts suggesting they marry...not a welcome idea.  Agatha leaves for a pilgrimage to see the Pope and finds happiness with former acquaintance, pen-pal and nemesis, Father James O'Hannon.  Lots a detailed writing and humor.  I'll give it three stars and will read the other books in the Staggerford series if I come across them.

"The Hunger Moon"  by Suzanne Matson.  Yet another debut novel.  Each chapter alternates being told by one of the three main characters {all women} except for one short chapter near the end told by a man.  Every person is hiding secrets.  Every person is having major life changes.  Somehow, they all end up meshed together.  I'm giving this book only two stars.  There was some good reading here, but the main character, Renata, has a young son and she goes into great detail and depth about nursing her baby.  Over.  And over.  And over again.  After awhile, it felt like the book was a continual journal on nursing baby Charlie.  I kept thinking "Oh no!  Not again!"

So, that is the stack.

A pretty wide variety.

One extra special book.

What's go your attention these days?

I Cooked!

Let's just say that I don't spend a tremendous amount of time at the stove.

I do, however, love to eat.

While I was still feeling mighty puny from the flu, not too much sounded very good.

It was a cold, crappy, snowy night.

So I looked in the fridge and went with what I had....

The remains of a bag of baby carrots.

Some celery.

Three left-over baked potatoes.

Onion Salt.

Salt.

Water.

Milk.

Butter.

I threw it all in pan.

Cooked it until hot and the veggies tender.

Dished it up.

Drug out the crackers.

Some cheese.

And enjoyed!