Bahzah/ Claudia's "Comfy Corner" Series - Book 4

Spring is in the air!
Watch for the full moon Saturday (March 19) when it will be at perigee and looks extra large as it rises on the eastern horizon.




Ostara comes to us from German tradition and is said to be named after the German goddess Eostre. Eostre, a fertility goddess, has been associated with both rabbits and eggs, both signs of fertility.

2011 Books read:

#1 Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende (3.5 stars)
#2 Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier (4 stars)
#3 Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly (5 stars)
#4 The Drama of the Gifted Child by Alice Miller (4.5 stars)
#5 A Lonely Death by Charles Todd (3.5 stars)
#6 Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell (5 stars)
#7 The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (4 stars)
#8 Many Lives, Many Masters by Brian Weiss (4.5 stars)
#9 The Crown Conspiracy by Michael Sullivan (4 stars)
#10 Wesley the Owl by Stacey O'Brien (4stars)
#11 My Own Country by Abraham Verghese (4 stars)
#12 Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin (4.25 stars)
#13 Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier (4 stars)
#14 I Shall Not Hate: A Gaza Doctor's Journey by Izzeldin Abuelaish (4.5 stars)
#15 Room by Emma Donoghue (3.5 stars)
#16 Winter's Bone: A Novel by Daniel Woodrell (4 stars)
#17 On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers (4 stars)
#18 A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny (3.5 stars)
#19 Sophia Tolstoy by Alexandra Popoff (4.5 stars)

I am first!

Hey, I'll be second! I love the mouse! Big kiss! I'm Irish too. My maternal grandmother was born there. I see lots of 4 to 5 star books up above too! Hee hee!

Hi Kara - you are #1 in my book.

Hi Mark - you are #1 too, no seconds on my thread! You're right. I love just about everything I read too. It the LT influence. I'll be lucky if I can read all the really good books before I die... so many on my WL!

Hi Claudia. I always love your gifs!

Hi Pat! Thanks. I'm only about 1/8 Irish,
but on St Patty's Day that expands to 100%!

Hi Claudia, Cute gif. I'm half Irish myself.

How on earth did I miss the move??

Hi Joanne... I knew Iliked you for some reason. lol
On the 17th you can be 100% Irish.

Kath - Ah... caught in chaos, maybe? Sometimes that can be distracting!
Hope you are feeling better today. It'll take time.
How much Irish blood in you?

a little less than half..

I don't think I have a drop of Irish blood in me, but you never know...
Green is my favorite color. Does that count?

What's up next for you reading-wise, Claudia? You've been on a good run so far this year.

Actually... there is scot and welsh and english and slovak in there too.. if I go back far enough.

I like green too! And blue..

Donna, Everything counts on St Patty's Day... so get out the green!
I'm finishing up On Stranger Tides which is a fun black magic, pirate book.
And I'm starting A Rule Against Murder to get my next Three Pines fix.
Also need to pick up my next book club read Sophia Tolstoy as I hear it is slow going and I should not wait til the last minute!

Kath, interesting. :) Mostly an island girl! And you seem to love the sea...
Do you know your ancestral stories and genealogy?

scot highlander, I know that..
My son knows more..
Connemara Ireland I believe..
My great grandfathers family immigrated from Wales..
His wife's family English perhaps ..
All of this on my father's side.

I know very little about my moms side, but Slovak seems
to be the main strain.( thus the haluski/ halupki/ pieroghis etc..
There was something about Austria.. not sure about that.
I am reading free silly fluff today. A freebie for nook.
I need to name nook. neva nook? bonny nook?

Found you and *****STARRED***** this new thread..

Me, Scots/Irish on Mom's side.....(the dreaded) German on Dad's....anything else is my own fault!

{{{{{{hug}}}}}}}

;-}

Me too... Connemara (County Galway). When Mom and I went to Ireland we found some of the very old (ancient) remains of the family's stone houses. Amazing beautiful wild country by the sea.

I like Bonny O'Nook! :D

oooh! I like that too!

Bonny O'Nook it shall be.

I will tell Piper ( my car) later .. when/ if I go out

Thanks for that great hug, Jude!
Another Irishwoman! :)

Hi Claudia!! I like your list of books. Looks like you have a good start to the year!!

Hey Cee... had lunch out.. just a burger. Then came home.. read a book..
The day once again slipped by me.

What did you do?
Are you reading?
Cooking meat and fruit?

Love the Irish mouse, Cee. My husband's father's Irish and St Paddy's Day is big down at their house. I'm supposed to be taking part in a St Paddy's race (starts and ends at a pub ..what a surprise?) on Sunday but since my husband's away, I may not do it.

Hi Tammy - I'm loving my books this year. Thanks to everyone here on LT

Hi Kath - Yup, some reading, some cleaning and paying bills. Another $640 for oil. :P If it were up to me, I'd keep this house at 55!
Sorry to say, our supper tonight is mundane. (Don't listen, Caro) More suited to Ron's taste tonight. Hamburger pie w/ bacon, corn, green salad and sour dough rolls. No fruit.

Oh, hi Caro! I guess I should be writing Paddy (instead of Patty) to be really Irish. Does your husband run with you? or just drink with you? lol

My husband is the crazy runner ... I'm the one who would prefer to stay in the pub. lol...

Ha, Caro! Good one! Got me there!
That might explain your falls and mishaps. hehehe ;-)

Cheers!
glitter-graphics.com

Have one of those left for me, Cee?

Here's to you! Kick-Butt Kath!



ETA: Wait a minute.... I don't even like beer and you are taking meds!
How about more tea? :)

Thanks Cee.. but Ale it must be.. at least tonight..
and maybe for breakfast...

Ok...bottoms up! I can take it. Been a long time since I've done any real partying! But this is a special occasion. I would dance on the tables again - if I could get up there!

:o

Claudia- You don't like beer? And Irish too? Hmmmmm...walks away to evaluate disturbing information.

I'm joining the party, ladies....wait for me!

Getting up isn't so bad.. it's the getting down..

Now, if you get on the floor.. heaven help you when it is time to get up. eek!

hmmm well .. since it is a special occasion, I will drink the green beer :)

Par-tay!

Cyber hangovers?

I haven't had a hangover since the day after my 25th birthday...
( mostly .. since then it was abstention..lol but once I started to
allow myself some alcohol.. no matter what.. no hangover.

Irish genes?

My last hangover was the morning of my sister's (first) wedding.
I was matron-of-honor and I had offered to fix her hair in a pile of curls, etc. I also had a 3 month old baby that needed to be fed and cared for - not to mention getting myself ready.

It was a painful experience. I swore I would never have another hangover again. And I haven't!

we are woman...hear we roaaaar!

It's raining, it's pouring, the old Dan is snoring....

And I am going to take my time and make some dinner soon..

what are you doing?

Hey there! Starred you.

Speaking of hangovers, my hubby and I got reeeeeeeally drunk of Guinness many years ago before we were married--I think it was right before we got engaged. A good friend of ours just kept buying pints and we kept drinking them, WHY? The worst hangover that both of us ever had. We still laugh about it.

I am of Irish descent on my mother's side, my hubby has no Irish in him, only Scots, on both sides of his family.

Sandy K

HI Kath! I see you are adjusting to a normal life already. Good for you!

Hi Sandy - nice to see you in our Irish corner. I remember a few of those early hangovers... we did a lot of Friday night partying. Saturday too, now that I think about it! Happy now to be older and wiser. :)

I'm also of Irish descent on my mother's side - Donovans and Flanagans.

Morphy emerges... ! I don't see much of you on the threads.. nice to see ya ! :)

Good morning Cee!

Welcome, O'Morphy! :) Nice to see you here!

Hi Kath - bleak and rainy here today... lovely.

Yeah, I'm more of a lurker. I read every day but comment rarely. I'm trying though!

Lurking is good... I've been doing a lot of that lately.
Lurking = Reading ! I'm not a writer. :(

BTW, if anyone is interested in a good movie about Tolstoy's last year before he died... our book club got together yesterday to watch "The Last Station". It was better than I thought it would be. Everyone seemed to like it. Now I have to figure out how close to the truth it was.

We are reading Sophia Tolstoy this month - in preparation (I fear) for reading War and Peace maybe next winter.

I do my share of lurking too..

OH NO!!!!!!!!

War and Peace :(

run away.. run away!!!!

Hello to you from my Sloppy Farm!! Snow, i say Snow...last evening....and a pitiful attempt now....much slush & slop...won't be mopping the kitchen floor until things dry somewhat!

Glad we're all getting a jump on St Paddy's day! I'm trying to find a decent Corned Beef for boiled dinner... I dislike beer-died-green...it just isn't right...I take mine straight no funny colors...Hangover? what's that? I don't have one today...

;-}

Hi Jude! Culinary hint: To find a "decent corned beef" - go to grocery store!

Where are you looking? And just for my own information, what makes one corned beef more decent than another???

Yeah, I know Kath. I'm scared. How many pages in that sucker anyway? :P
Still, now that I've seen the movie, I'm a little more interested in Tolstoy"s book. I have it around here someplace.

yea... everyone has it.. but no one has really read it. Not every word.. so I believe. Some few brave souls have skimmed.. but reading it is not possible for a living human. IMO. And I could be wrong.. but surely.. reading it is punishment ..

I've been advised by an actual reader of War and Peace that the most recent translation by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky is actually much more readable. He claims to have read it twice!

I think that truth serum is in order.. but that of course is just me..
I bet what he meant was Cliff Notes.

Claudia...I know....to find a decent Corned Beef, I have to go to the store!!! have been doing...by "decent" i mean, better than the last one i bought...which was way too fatty and "stringy" and....well....it was edible (that's all I'll say)...but i got that one from a regular person and Not a store...so I learned a lesson there...

From personal experience.....the Peaver/Volokhonsky translation of War and Peace...is very good. I've had it on my Kindle for a while....and dip a toe in every now & then.....not for the fainthearted, for sure!

;-}

Morning Claudia- I need to get to War and Peace at some point, along with Anna Karenina. How can you call yourself a fully-rounderd reader and ignore these classics? I ask myself that all the time. Hope all is well with you!

I read War and Peace with the group read in this group...either last year or the year before...I forget. It was really helpful having the support of the group. We read it in 100 to 200 page chunks - per month.
I've never been one who enjoys reading about war strategy and battle scenes, so I admit I read those parts faster and with less interest. The parts about the main characters and their society and experiences were much different...I loved every word! I guess you could say I didn't like War much but I loved Peace! :) I think overall I gave it 4 stars, but I'm not planning to read it again anytime soon.;) Good luck to you Claudia, whenever you read it!

I tried, but alas, failed ....twice, with War and Peace. So I wish you resilience when you get to it, Cee. I do think I ought to give it another shot, but I've a shudder runs through my spine at the thought.... a sign that it's a bad idea, I think.

Kath & Jude: Chunksters don't totally throw me (in general), but War and Peace? It's reputation precedes it. It will be a challenge for sure.

Mark: I can call myself a fully rounded reader cuz I read and I'm fully rounded :) - and only I can say that!

Angela: 100-200 pages /month. (That's discouraging.) GOOD for YOU!!! Wow.

Caro: I haven't tried yet - and I won't till I know I have a shot at success. I think my book cub feels like we need to build ourselves up for this... :}

Here's hoping everyone has a splendid weekend!

I love the word splendid. It sounds like what it is..
splendid..

I haven't read War and Peace....yet. I plan on reading Anna Karenina this year for a start on the master. Doorstoppers don't scare me as long as I have the time to devote to them.

Stopping by to say hello!

I did read and enjoy Anna Karenina . oh my.. it was a long time ago..
the kids were young. I got it and War and Peace at the same time..
they were Book of the Month or something. I got anything
that counted as two for one in the initial offer. I think that is how
I ended up with these two..

If someone offered me a large chunk of cash..
considering the circumstances.. I might cave and
read for money... aside from that.. War and Peace will
remain among my unread... ( she says cheerfully)

Bonnie, Many in our book club haven't read War and Peace yet either. I think I need the group's encouragement to plough through the "war" stuff and I'll be ok with the "peace" stuff (as Angela said above). It still has to come to a vote whether we go ahead with it or not.

TAM! How the heck are ya these days? So glad to see you here. :)

Kath, maybe I could pay you to finish War and Peace for me when I get stuck. lol If you ever do decide to read it, ditch the one you have and read the new translation... so I've been advised. If the old translation is rough going, you probably won't like it. Retirement/alternate lifestyle is a wonderful thing. You just might change your mind about picking it up... heavy though it be!

You don't have a big enough chunk of money to convince me :)
I will let you read it and tell me about it.

where are you ?

Quilts and puzzles! :P
Haddit for today... now I'm gonna read. :)
Finishing up my pirate story - great fun!
I should get an afghan and read out on the deck.
It's almost 46 and sunny!

Hi Claudia- Hope you enjoy the rest of the day with reading. It's raining here in Portland. We are deciding what to do. I bought a copy of The Thousand Autumns yesterday. Are you going to join me on that one?

Just ordered it from Ammy... when does that group read start? Wouldn't want to miss one of your group reads! At least I know if I need it, you will hold my hand and pull me along or protect me. ;-)

Hope you are having a great time despite the tsunami warnings and the rain. :/

I just ordered Shannon. Clearly we have different reading agendas.. lol

Claudia-Alright! That's my girl! I was thinking of starting the G.R. around mid-June.

#17 On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers

This pirate book is gripping fun for pirate lovers! Arrrrgh! Of course you must be ready for adventure on the Caribbean high seas, voodoo magic, incredible antics, gruesome swordfights, and the power of iron and blood. Don't try to make the fantasy real while reading this. Allow Powers' tale-telling to make a bit of real into a lot of fantastic!

The interweaving of the story's many threads brings you to a satisfying, open-ended conclusion... for now...

Recommended for pirate lovers. 4 stars

Really I'm surprised this book has gotten such mixed reviews. I liked it a lot. Pirates are tough and mean... but this book is a fantasy and has gory, righteous goodness (can there be such a thing?) at its core. Ok... it's violent. But it's like watching the cartoon character, Roadrunner, running off a cliff, splatting and getting up and running off again. So unreal. Maybe not good for young children.

I'm going to put the Powers on the spousal wishlist -- birthday is in April and it looks like a good 'un Arrrrrrrr!

Truly, I never have a reading "agenda". I am still a seat-of-the-emotional-pants reader.

Mid-June sounds light years away, Mark. I know. It's right around the bend.

BTW, if anyone is interested in On Stranger Tides let me know and I will pass it on - as Stasia did to me. Thanks, Stasia!!!!

yeah... me too... but we don't seem to be reading the same books much these days..



no matter atall atall

Hi Claudia, just stopping by to say Hi -And to compliment you on your reading! (I cant seem to break double figures yet but I'm soldiering on!)

Hi Megan!

Thanks for stopping by. I seem to be kinda stuck on 4 star books - and if I compare my 4 star ratings they are so very different. I think my reading interests have broadened - maybe because I get good recs to try out different genres.

See..Cee.. I admit.. I did not remember..
Some of the books we enjoy are the same..

I forgot that you are reading Penny..
I am kinda jealous.. that you have more to go ..

I've been purposefully stretching my Pennys... hoping the most recent one will come down in price by the time I get to it. Haven't checked lately... maybe it has. Nope, not yet. Will probably have to wait till the new one comes out.

You are smart! I devoured them as fast as possible, but did not begin at the beginning..

So Kath, given a box of chocolates... is that how you attack? LOL

Don't like boxed chocolates..
When given a box, I give them to Dan.

:PP

gooey!

WHAT????
I'm thinking you have never gotten a decent box of chocolates!
Come on now... is it the box, the mix or chocolate you don't like?

I eat my choc one at a time... maybe one a day
from best to not-as-great.

I think I have A Rule Against Murder figured out...
but I'm usually wrong. :P

Stopping by to say hello! My biggest problem book-wise lately is that I keep picking up books that aren't in my tbr shelves.... so they are looking that messy overstuffed way my little ocd self just can't stand......

Yeah, I know what you mean Lucy. But I don't see it as a book problem. It's definitely a shelf problem. Time for a nice new, tall, wide, cover the wall shelf around here!
Just gotta find an empty wall. hehe
I have always wanted floor to ceiling shelves. Maybe someday. *sigh*

I don't like the chocolates that have those flavored fillings in them...orange, pink...yuck!

give me dark chocolate or some kind of truffle and I am set! :)

some kind of truffle is about right for me too..
I don't like filling..maybe coconut..
am not a huge fan of dark chocolate..but
truffles or something minty is ok..

I have nothing against boxes per se..

Kara and I will have to fight over the dark choc (esp w/nuts).
You and I, Kath, will find out who is toughest when it comes to the coconut filled... but you can have all the minty ones!
Truffles are up for grabs - first come, first swiped!

glad to hear about the boxes being ok... as books arrive in them, too!

IT will work out. With this group I have no worries..

Today is National Napping Day!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/14/national-napping-day_n_835063.html

Cee, really? NND? I wish I knew that ... I could have done with a nap this afternoon. I could have used this as a really good reason to catch a few zzzzs.

Who comes up with some of these celebratory days, I wonder?

Sorry, Caro. Didn't catch this in time to let you know.
There's always next year. :P

NNP:
"First observed in 1999, National Napping Day is the brainchild of Boston University professor William Anthony, Ph.D. and his wife, Camille.

"We chose this particular Monday because Americans are more 'nap-ready' than usual after losing an hour of sleep to daylight savings time," Anthony said in B.U.'s press release. "Our goal is to encourage folks to take a nap wherever they may be, at home, at the workplace, or on vacation, and to make it a regular part of their healthy lifestyle. It is a day when nappers all over the country need to lie down and be counted."

I just got back from buying a corned beef. Guess I am committed now...

Even if you don't care for it, it's so easy... and no fruit! lol

>90 -Cee-: We chose this particular Monday because Americans are more 'nap-ready' than usual after losing an hour of sleep to daylight savings time

Absolutely agree with that; now if only I had know about the nap part I could have done myself a big favor. *sigh*

no fruit is a big sell...

as is cabbage...

afternoon !

kath is taking the corned beef plunge? :)

*nods solemnly*

Yeah, I thought yesterday would be a Napping Day for me...but, my erstwhile boyfriend came over and we did yard work all afternoon (and I didn't have wieners thawed for the Bonfire....dang!)

No corned beef for me...the one i found cost too much, for it being an "off brand".....so, i bought fresh green beans and little red potatoes...fixed them with onions and a ham slice that i chopped up....not bad..

Chocolate for me...is DARK.....none of that pale, sissy stuff..

Hope all is well, Claudia
{{{{{{{HUG}}}}}}}}

;-}

Referring back to Winter's Bone on the last thread. I saw the film last year (on my birthday in fact - a good but bleak way to spend the evening!). I didn't think about whether it was based on a book at the time. May have to look out for that one.

>93 brenzi: I do apologize, Bonnie, for not giving everyone more notice on NND. I barely found out in time for myself! Marking it down for next year.

>94 mckait: Kath, Kath, Kath. I do hope you like your boiled dinner. Do you like fruit at all?

>95 curlysue: Hi Kara! Ready for vacation? SOOOOO ready for vacation?

>97 jdthloue: Jude, A corned beef might be a bit much for one person anyway. Methinks you'd get very tired of it if you pushed through to the end of it.
And I agree, dark chocolate is the BEST! esp w/nuts! mmmm - Thanks for the hug!

>98 gennyt: Hi Genny! So good to see you here! I really need to look up that movie too. Thanks for stopping by. :)

{{{{{hugs to all}}}}}

I'm taking the easy corned beef way out .... I'm just going to an Irish pub for lunch for my corned beef and cabbage. Makes no sense to make it at home since there's just me at home for now with Edd traveling.

Are you reading a Louise Penny book now, Cee?

Why yes I am, Caro. I'm reading A Rule Against Murder. One of the things I like about Penny is her psych commentary. She's very into personalities and inter-relationsips of friends and family. Touchstones keep calling this book "The Murder Stone" which I think would be a better title.

I think your corned beef plans are wise... and Irish pubs are fun! :)

Hope things are going ok for you... and you are getting some rest this week?

Rest? what's that? I've got a conference call in a half hour and another at 11.30pm so no reading time for me tonight. Grrr....

I love Louise Penny. I think my favorite character after Inspector Gamache is Ruth. I especially loved her relationship with the duck

Dratit Caro! Why didn't I think of that?? Irish pubs are great fun, as long as it is not after 6 pm on St paddy's day. Then they are just.. crazy. :P imo

Cee dear.. I LOVE fruit. I love apples and pears and cherries and
most fruit. Not mangoes. Not bananas most of the time. Not pawpaws...
but most fruit. I LOVE tomatoes.

I just think that aside from tomatoes, fruit and meat should not be cooking in the same pot.

Hope you both have a lovely day!

Caro... Yeah, I love the duck thing with Ruth. :)

Kath... I'm sitting here giggling thinking of a yummy recipe I have for chicken with maple and apples. Don't gag!

Morning Claudia- Hope you are doing well! Looks like the next couple of days are going to be beautiful here. Yah! Some Spring cleaning is planned. Boo! Hope your current book choices are treating you well. I'm loving My Reading Life.

too late.. gagging :PPPP

Yup, my 5 day vacation starts at 6pm today!

ETA that I am holding a bucket out for Kath in case she unswallows :)

woot for vacation!

(Thanks for the bucket.. especially considering the maple bacon issue)

night-y night

Hi Mark... wish Chicago wasn't quite so far away so I could crash your party. I'll be watching for pictures!

Kara! You think of everything! Thanks for the bucket to keep my thread clean.
Happy Vacation!!!!

Kath - behave! :) Sweet dreams!

Druids collecting mistletoe..

My kids used to say... I am being haave !
lol..

Morning Claudia! Happy St. Pat's Day! I wish you could make it to the Meet-up too. I bet you would be a lot of fun. Maybe next time!

>104 -Cee-: I have a good chicken recipe w/ apples.,apple cider, a splash of maple syrup & a bit of grainy mustard....everything is braised in a big skillet. smells heavenly and is good on noodles!

(Sorry, Kath.............)

No Irish Pub within 50 miles.....but, I do have a Corned Beef & Cabbage Stir-Fry recipe.....if I can find a link, I'll post.......:

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Corned-Beef-Stir-Fry
*********adjust amounts of Oil & Sugar to taste****

eta: Link

*clutches kara's bucket*

>111 mckait: Love the druids collecting mistletoe... what did they do with it? In Florida in grows pretty high up in the trees.

>112 msf59: The only consolation of not making it to your beautiful city LT meet-up is I won't come home with my head spinning with tons of new book recs. Anyway, have lots of fun!

>113 jdthloue: Jude, your recipe sounds a lot like mine. Yum!

>114 mckait: Kath - are you not feeling well, my dear? So sorry. Get some rest and drink some tea (with olives). :P I mean :) Get well soon.

I was fine until the fruit and meat reappeared :-/

I didn't do it! I was being haave! (We say that too.)

funny eh.. lol

Funny that you say it too.. does everyone?

today.. shaping up to be an interesting one.

I've been saying that for years - but I never hear anyone else use that expression. ???

Beautiful out today... but interesting?

clearly we are twin spirits and I think our families are too !

:)

Dan is up to shenanigans.
Stay tuned for rogue news ..later today

Never heard that expression....

.........sorry, Kath, about the fruit/meat....sometimes I can't help myself...am I forgiven?

Lovely day here..the mud is drying...but, I see more yard work in my future

;-?

Well, Kath... ya gotta give Dan at least one day for shenanigans. I'm thinking today would be the day. Is he Irish at all?

Ya know, Jude... I think she might like it if she'd try it....but the mind can be a formidable opponent! ;-)

Oh, Yes..Claudia...especially where food is concerned
;-)

Hope you had a great St Patrick's day!

*empties bucket for the next go around*

Great vaca activity for you, Kara! :P
Do you need some better suggestions?
You could actually hit the beach! :)

She could.. or she could cook up some meat + fruit

#18 A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny

Penny has written a consistently good string of cozy murder mysteries. Like the others in this Three Pines series, this book is interesting and full of diverse characters. Dang it all, though! I guessed wrong again on the who dunnit?! One of these times I'm going to get it right. Maybe.
3.5 stars

Morning Claudia- I don't do cozies! Character flaw of mine. This seems to be a beloved series. I'm starting a book from a New England author, Ellen Meeropol. It's called House Arrest and it is set in Maine. This author will be attending the BOTNS Retreat.

Wow I was far behind on your thread...but I'm caught up now...
I'm enjoying the Louise Penny conversation, and I'm another one who does not enjoy meat and fruit in the same dish! Hubby does, though. He loves ham and pineapple pizza.

Snowing!!! And tomorrow is spring! So, this would be the last hurrah... right? lol

Mark, I soooo cannot see you reading cozies. Too much edgy adventure in the world for you to ratchet down that much! Have fun today... :)

Angela, One of my favorites (don't look Kath) is Hawaiian pizza! I had a twist on that the other day - a white pizza w/ ham, crumbled bacon, cheese, pineapple. Something of a heart-clogger I imagine, but yum...

I wonder if the clouds will clear up in time to see the full moon tonight? They are keeping the park open tonight for vieiwng the moon rising over the ocean. Maybe I could talk the ambulance crew into supplying hot chocolate like they do for our polar dip???

Snow today would probably finish me off entirely..
it is cold here too though..
:(

That pizza sounds dreadful .. lol

Are you going to the beach??? I hope so !

Mama Day by Gloria Naylor just arrived in my mailbox...
Thank you Cee!

U R Welcome, my friend. Hope you like the book. I read it so long ago - and at the time I loved it.

So... what is your favorite pizza, Kath? Plain cheese? How about lobster?

Claudia- Sorry to hear about the snow! We have sunny and mid-50s. Not to shabby, huh?

Ach, no... love the snow. It was fragile and melted. The sun is now shining and the temp is breaking 40. Lots of bright bird colors... robins, bluejays, red-winged blackbirds, goldfinches, merganzers... to name a few. Honking geese, quacking ducks, hammering woodpeckers, singing-singing everywhere!

Not too shabby for you - not too shabby for me! :)

It looks like you have been away today too?
Did you go to the beach?
Did you see it?

((((Cee))))

Vernal Equinox - Full Moon over the Atlantic 7:15 this evening...
Low Tide - still and serene - waves gently lapping the shore.

This picture does not show the orange color of the moon which was awesome.

gorgeous!

I need another five minutes to have it over the trees....
my view is nothing like yours !

Here's a closeup of the orange moon rising over the ocean:

Beautiful picture! And what a view. I'm jealous!

Moon is due to rise here in another 20 minutes or so and it's clear so should be good, but yeah, nothing like your view.

I was just looking at that on your profile..
gorgeous x 10

>137 -Cee-:, 140: Those are some breathtaking pictures, Claudia. I was just planning to lurk around threads to unwind after a busy, busy day but I had to tell you I'm jealous (but still happy for you if that makes sense) of your proximity to the ocean. At least you're kind enough to share the beauty with the landlocked among us!

I was just outside oohing and aahing about how huge the moon is! And I pop onto LT to say g-night and find your wonderful pic and posts! I love that so many of us are sharing the same experience!

Claudia, those are fantastic pictures. Thanks for posting them.

Morning Claudia- Wow, great pictures! Thanks for sharing!

I would have loved to see it with you... or in a Galisteo, where the stars touch the earth every night...

So glad you all enjoyed the pictures of the moon... it was a wondrous sight. :)
Ron actually took the pictures. He is trying to learn his new camera and having fun with it. A fledgling photographer, he is working on catching a $1 million shot. Good luck!

I love the east coast for many things... and one is being able to see the horizon over the sea. Moonrise and sunrise are many times exceptional sights.
I'm thinking the west coast must have some stunning vistas of sunsets. I know in Key West, FL they pretty much worship and celebrate the sunsets every day.

Kath - What is a Galisteo?

Lovely pictures!!! the moon here was very full...with a tad more yellow than usual...alas! no orange....I stood at my kitchen widow making weird "ooh" and "aah" noises...

Happy Spring to you, too!!!

;-}

Galisteo (NM)is a quiet desert, that nearly touches the sky. It is a place of strong but quiet magic.

Happy Spring to you to. Love the pics!

Still reading.. still loving it.. so ~many thanks for sending me this one.. LOVE it.

Good! I read that on a rec from a professor I had when I was minoring in Women's Studies. She was an English prof and was helping me with a self-study course in women's lit. It was one of the best courses I have ever taken! I *had* to read a lot :) - and write extensive reviews which included my own thoughts. Then we would discuss the readings one-on-one. LOVED it!

Aha! No wonder you write such wonderful reviews..
that and natural born talent and creativity~

Ah, nooo.... that's why my reviews are SHORT now. The critical reviews I did in school had to be around 5 pages long, every book, every week. Still, I loved it.

Short, concise and informative.. as well as good and creative.

and... it is morning! Already!
Wonder what today will bring? I hope it is good things for us all.

Forecast had said snow for today...
but I guess it's invisible.

Rain here.. maybe storms.. goody!

No more snow.....

it's spring

thank the goddess, it is spring..
No storms showed up here..
that's okay though, It is a really lovely day.. near 70F

Love the pics of the perigee moon, Cee. I didn't get any good shots at all from my camera. It just looked like a white ovoid spot. So much for using phone cameras. I should thought to bring a real camera and tripod along. Oh well.

The 2nd day of Spring and it's been snowing all day. *sigh*

LOL, Kara. Snow has gone all the way to May previously. Hopefully not this year though. Happy flowers are very welcome around here. Thanks. :)

Kath, It's Monday and you got a "really lovely day"!
A month ago you wouldn't have believed it. :)

Caro... we were mumbling curses that we didn't take a tripod along. Still... what a sight!

We had a mini-Thunderstorm a while ago...no snow in the forecast

My forsythias are in bud...my grape buds are plumping up...my grass is greening (spotty as usual..my yard consists of many varieties of Grass)...but i can't breathe (sinus) and my insomnia has kicked in..

I will live...but will be crabby for a spell..

{{{{{Spring Hug}}}}}}

OOOOO! Thanks for that great hug! :)

Sounds like you need more snow...hehehe :/
*oops. forgot you were crabby...quickly ducks under cover!*

Seriously, Cee, you and that S-word.... eek!
Time for forsythias like jude says :)
My daughter had a friend named Cindy at one time.
Her mom called them forcynthias. I like that !

Sorry you are grumpy Jude.. hope that passes soon!

"for-cynthias" ! Love it!

Is it time to wash my mouth out and purge the S-word from my vocab for awhile? *sniff, sniff*

Well, a cup of coffee and a little bit of intention should do it!
I am wishing you daffodils!

Sun today... s*** tomorrow... cold and crisp...
I must be living right!

Coming down the back stretch with Sophia Tolstoy - poor woman.
She lived a life of heaven and hell and it nearly drove her mad.

Hope everyone gets to read and have a great day today :)

Claudia

I anxiously await your comments regarding Sophia Tolstoy. I believe I remember that she had 12-13 children, eight of which survived. I seem to remember that her husband presented her with his diaries which chronicled his sexual prowess before he met her.

It is snowing here...I'm very, very weary of it!

EEEEEEEK

Linda! seriously.. lol

As pretty and sparkly as that "white stuff" is that Linda sent to you, I'll stick with my daffodils and For-Cynthias! The young woman I tutor is named Cindy...I'll have to tell her that those sunny stems are named for her. ;-)

>169 -Cee-:: The little I know about Sophia Tolstoy makes me think she was either a martyr or a saint. Which one is it, Claudia? I picked up a lovely book from the library about her (with lots and lots of pictures) while I was reading War and Peace a few years ago. I ended up having the time to look at the pictures only...and now I can't remember what the book was called. I'm eagerly awaiting your book report. Read faster, please!

Typo edit.

:P No time for reading much today. I'll try tonight.

Mom had her cortisone injection Monday and she is feeling her Wheaties today! Just had to completely re-arrange her room cuz she wants to see the stars at night better! I told her she was supposed to be sleeping at night! Ah well, if this makes her happy for awhile, I guess it's worth it.
Dr appts this pm... maybe tonight I can finish up Sophia. I'll bet this is the book you had, Donna. There are several pictures. But even better - it's a very readable book and has lots of Tolstoy family info.

Martyr or saint??? Aren't all martyrs saints and vice versa? Sophia was both. I might even suggest crazy! and very much in love...

so, how did the afternoon go?

Does mom still like the room?

pics??

storming here....hooray!

So you had a good day? Glad to hear it..
have to have some McD's fries now and then.
So it is written... somewhere...

Wind & Rain this evening.....S****W tomorrow(?)

Soup is in the offing....Crabbiness is waning

sending good thoughts to "mom" and another

{{{{{{hug}}}}}} to you!!!

;-}

>175 mckait: Kath, that was definitely written in bold in the 60's/70's.
But sometime since then it was stricken from the records.
Old habits die hard. They still have not come up with anything quicker!

Awww... thanks, Jude.
{{{{{{return hugs}}}}}}
You can send all the S****W to ME...

nope McD's is now a staple of American foods..
just not very often.

Good morning! hope you have a happy day..

:)

Mmmm...McD's sausage mcskillet burrito is IMHO one of the pinnacles of human civilization. Especially now that they're figuring out how to make an acceptable cuppa coffee. :)

Awww thanks, Kath. You are my soul cleansing friend!
You have a happy too! :)

oooooh! What was that , Jim? THAT sounds sinful. Gotta get one of those burritos! I hadn't checked the breakfast menu lately... you are corrupting me! :)

Oh, I love McDonalds coffee! I ask for the senior cup and pay a mere .59!

what??? senior cup???? interesting!

I've snuck a few senior cups when my dad has been visiting. Now that I'm approaching 50, he's enjoying rubbing it in!

Here's the object of my breakfasty worship!



Generally, it's the right mix of egg, sausage, potato, green pepper and hot sauce. The wife and I have them on Saturday mornings for brunch when we're out and about running errands.

Yum! Great idea for a new tradition! Sat brunch... on the few occasions my hubby gets Sat off.

I'm with Linda; a senior cup of McDonald's coffee every work day for me. I prefer it to Starbucks or Dunkin':-)

With my Dad in the hospital this past week, I've enjoyed McD's coffee just about every morning. Now that we have made it home, I guess I'll be making the morning cup for a few days instead of stopping at McD's after going home to feed the cat in the morning.

I love Saturday or Sunday brunch, it's not just the food, it's the luxury of spending a couple of hours relaxing and taking one's time to savor everything.

*smooch*

Hi Bonnie, Lori and Caro! Thanks for stopping by. :)

Wow... everyone loves Mickey D's coffee! I didn't even know it was getting good. It used to be pretty disgusting.
I can certainly try the senior cup...now I'm curious. I've been a Dunkie's fan for a long time.

I agree Caro... brunch is an event to savor. Doesn't happen often enough around here... a time to relax and eat what you normally don't have other mornings. mmmm I think we're gonna do a brunch this weekend. It's time.

Ooops! Hi there RD!
*smooch back*

Not so big on the Mickey D's coffee, but a HUUUGE fan of the McGriddle with snausage, cheese, and egg. *unseemly drool*

OK... I have my weekend challenge:
2 cups of coffee (McD's -vs- Dunkies)
and a 1 burrito

Will take it down by the river (The Mighty Kennebec) and enjoy the view while I'm at it!

ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh! McGriddle :PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP nasty

Wendy's has the best fast food breakfast...
McD's has decent coffee...I am a fan of the new oatmeal, too.

Good morning Cee. It is cold as heck..19F!!!!
shiver....

crazy weather :P
But, I shouldn't complain.. I don't have to go out in it..

OK... maybe I will add oatmeal to the challenge (and then go home and unswallow!) Recalculating....This might require two separate trips...

Kath, Kath, Kath... spring is always crazy... sorry about the below freezing temp.
Send it to me. It's 41 here and sunny right now
w/chilly ocean breeze tho. Loverlie! :)

it is warming up speedily! it is 21F now

*grump*

Awwww, let's see a little smile for another 2 degrees! Come on... :)

I don't really have to watch the weather reports much anymore... I get to see what's coming from all the people on LT west and south of me... which is just about everyone. I also get the editorial comments which makes it more fun.

When summer comes, I'll be right in there with everyone else complaining of heat and humidity. :PPPPPP

Oh! I finished Sophia Tolstoy last night. What a book... what a lady! She is surely in her mansion in heaven after living with her genius (?) husband...
will write a review later.

Now I want to read War and Peace to see if it really is all that wonderful... heavy, heavy sigh.

Cold here this morning...frost on the grass and my daffodils, which are ready to bloom, look seriously tired.......



;-}

gonna rub this in a little.....87-89 degrees here with a nice breeze and low humidity :) :)

War and Peace = door stop ;) good luck claudia

#19 Sophia Tolstoy by Alexandra Popoff

Through the years and across cultures, many have tried to determine the secret of happiness. Literary giant Count Leo Tolstoy was one who thought he figured it out through a religious conversion to non-violence and poverty. Regarded as a genius, he had a strong following though it proved to be a bumpy road for him and his family. Which begs the question, does having special talents or gifts excuse the way you treat those you love? Are extraordinary suffering, nurturing, and affirmation necessary for remarkable success?

Immerse yourself in this well-written and researched biography and be astonished by Countess Sophia Tolstoy’s accomplishments in her lifetime despite overwhelming hostility, disapproval, and challenges. You will be swept away by a devoted wife and lover who spent 48 years worshipping Tolstoy. Everything she did was ultimately for him. The couple had a felicitous marriage until Tolstoy’s philosophical conversion in 1880. Although non-violence - the key to his new ideology - was accepted by Sophia, applying his uncompromising belief that owning property, living comfortably, and sexual behavior (even in marriage) were all sinful was inappropriate to their very deep love for each other and intolerable to raising a family. Read her story and weep.

Over the Tolstoys’ marriage of nearly a half century, she gave birth to thirteen children - raised them, educated them, disciplined and loved them. A strong, energetic woman of untiring faithfulness to her husband and children, she also managed the practical affairs and finances of the properties they owned, assisted in Tolstoy’s writing, copied his drafts over and over (yes, we’re talking War & Peace and Anna Karenina included), published many volumes of his works, entertained, nursed the sick of the family and village, fed the poor during the great famine, and oh… so much more. However, the most difficult burden for her was dealing with the complex nature of her husband and being criticized unfairly by him and his followers. I was shocked by how intimate they were as a couple (reading each other’s diaries), how vulnerable they became, how they unwittingly used their power to hurt to each other, and how close they both came to the edge of insanity.

Popoff's biography bears the task of setting the records straight. It's engaging and easy to read. What was the truth of the Tolstoy marriage and why are we just now finding out? Sophia’s own writings have been suppressed for years while the vicious attacks on her have permeated the literature. And now… I’m ready to read War and Peace – someday.

Recommended - it's a great story! 4.5 stars

I also recommend the movie "The Last Station" starring Christopher Plummer, Helen Mirren, James McAvoy - story of the last year of Tolstoy's life. Very well done and compatible with the book. Though the book has so very much more!

Claudia- Great review of Sophia Tolstoy. It sounds so good! I have to add it to the list. I need to read War and Peace too! I'm embarrassed about that one. I did see the film "The Last Station". It was very good. I loved the leads.

Hi Mark... I think reading Sophia Tolstoy is a good preparation for War and Peace. Tolstoy (and I guess a lot of writers) used family events, impressions and inspirations for his fiction. Sophia added her 2 cents - which no doubt makes it even better. They were quite a couple!

Thanks for that great review of Sophia Tolstoy. I knew you were reading it but had never heard of it before. I'm off now to thumb your review and put it on my wishlist. It sounds great.

thumbing..

hugs

Claudia, that's the book I had in my hand at Border's yesterday...60% off and I didn't buy it! Now that's restraint. I loved your review - big thumb up from me! I think I'll check out the library book I had once before and didn't get to read. It was called Song Without Words and had many wonderful photos in it. Oh yes, now I see it had the diaries of Sophia. I'll be sure to read the words this time around!

Well, thank you ladies for the kind words and thumbs (any green ones in there? I could really use a green one...)!
Too bad you didn't get it, Donna. But, I know. We always have to draw the line somewhere... :} Song Without Words was mentioned in my book. I'll bet it's quite good. Among so many other things, Sophia was a photographer too. Maybe I'll come across it someday. :)

so many books..
so many books. :P

What a great review of the Tolstoy!

Saturday morning.. with a whole day ahead to.....
well.. what will you do with your day?

Lets see..
unadulterated coffee..
toast?
books..
a walk out in the blasted cold?
books
puzzle?
mom
out to dinner!!!!!?
tea
?

Belated "thumb" for Sophia Tolstoy......I was thinking that a good companion to this would be Tolstoy by Henri Troyat...which I read many years ago.....a very thorough bio...probably as "heavy" as some of T's novels..but well worth it..

Have a good day!!!

Thanks, Lucy. Coming from you, I appreciate the comment... :)

Kath... you are peeking at my life.
But... you forgot laundry.
I got into the habit of doing laundry on the weekends when I worked full time.
Can't shake the habit.
Maybe because Ron works weekends now -
so we never do anything exciting anyway.
OK.. that's sad!
Saturday excitement is turning dirty clothes into clean clothes. Oy.

I finished Mom's puzzle for her a few days ago.
(Left the last piece for her to put in... she loved it!)
Unfortunately she tore it apart and started another.
Geeze, I hate puzzles. Now I find I'm doing that one too! :P
No, I'm not getting to like them... just want it done and gone!

No out to eat tonight.
Thinking of making latkes.
Never made them before... I don't think.
What can I have with them?

sour cream...

roast beef?

bacon?

oh you mean vegies..
tomatoes!!

asparagus?

olives?

hmmmm.... no fruit?

tomatoes !

I know.. baked haddock!

Bingo!

yay!!!

now.. will you go out and catch one?

Already caught in the freezer...
Gonna fish it out!

lolol

you guys are something :)

Cee... she isn't saying what ...
Now it is our kara, and she is never ANYthing but nice.. but still..

I used to get haddock off the boat in Lynn..
yum yum yum.

I made crab cakes today... and had one for lunch.

!!!!!!! you hottie you!!!!!!

I LOVE crab cakes! Grr... you've got me craving some now, Kath. *ponders where to go for crab cakes for dinner tonight*

So brunch today, Cee? Or will you luxuriate tomorrow?

OMG! I am the best dang cook in Sagadahoc County! My first time ever latkes - and they were awesome!!!!! ok... I know the recipe said they were easy and foolproof, but I did not believe it! Perfectly cooked, golden brown, happy looking latkes! And the go-with was baked haddock on a bed of baby spinach topped with tomato slices, onion, green and yellow peppers, a bit of oil and lemon juice. mmmm... mmmm...
I'm full!

Everything Kara says, she says in the very nicest way! :)

Crab cakes - another thing I have never made. Don't know if I can top Baltimore crab cakes... or even match them. Maybe someday I will try it since I can get fresh crabmeat here. Need a good recipe.

Brunch tomorrow. It'll be cold by the river... but that's ok. If Ron won't come out - we'll eat in the truck. This will be my McD's/Dunkies coffee taste test.

I cheat. I use Zatarains crab cake mix :P

Your meal sounds delish!

I'm not above cheating! Where do you get that stuff? Is it spicy hot? :P or :) ?

It isn't too hot.. it just has a little bit of heat. I like it.

Claudia- The latkes sound fantastic! Congrats! Hope you are having a nice weekend!

latkes are food of the gods, mark.. seriously..

I envy the Latkes/Haddock dinner...i don't suppose there are leftovers??? Just Kidding..

Buying SEAFOOD...where I live...means "frozen"...and the one good seafood market in Wheeling WVA...closed several years ago..i could go to Walmart...but the last time i bought lump crabmeat there..it wasn't that good...thank god for OLD BAY SEASONING.....

What Kath said about ZATARAINS....i can't get the Crab Cake Mix.....but have done their Dirty Rice..

i better leave now, eh???

Stay as long as you want, Jude.
There were plenty of leftovers - I always make way too much.

So do you get Zatarains at the grocery store? Sometimes Kath only answers half of my questions... maybe I ask too many???? :(

Oooo, a latke weekend in Sagadahoc Cty. as well as by me. Aren't they scrumptious little devils? I don't know why I don't make them more often. I wish i could prepare a good fish. For me, they're always overcooked or undercooked.

Oh..yum yum..

Yes, I can get Zatarains mixes at my Grocery Store...but not the Crab Cake Mix (unless they started stocking it within the past week!)......

You can never ask too many questions, Claudia....the more you ask...the merrier the discussion...am i right???

;-)

yep... grocery store, but jude is right..
not all of them have it.. but! Sometimes ..
it is not with the other Zatarains stuff.. but by the fish..
check that out

You were my inspiration, Lynda. Next time I'll have some homemade applesauce with them. Didn't have enough apples this time around.

Right, Jude! You are always right. :) (you can pay me later. lol)

OK... maybe I'll stop at the grocers after brunch tomorrow for this specialty stuff... ;-)

still a hottie!

your review is still near the top~~!

Wow..look at that! And look who else is up there!!! We'll have to get our "hot pants" back out! ROFLMAO! Remember those? And to think I actually used to wear those things! and mini-skirts! Don't know what happened to those - or the body that went into them! LOLOL

We have nice friends here... :) Thanks for taking the time to read and thumb y'all!

Off to brunch soon (tho it seems a little early to me for brunch). This afternoon is the town's annual "Get to know your neighbor" party... catered by our 5 star restaurant. I'm going to need to get some "extra-cise" today.
Have a nice Sunday!

omg yes.. hot pants.. lol
In those days I actually looked okay in them!

What a fun town you live in! I am trying to attach the house to the rogue right now!

And yes.. it is good to have friends who thum :)

Somebody listed 'a walk in the blasted cold' up their either you or Kath -- but yesterday -- I went out all bundled up and got about down the road a bit when a big blast of knife-like wind hit me and I said "Dang" (highly edited), and turned around and came home. Even the dog didn't seem disappointed. What is it? The extra moisture that is around now, even when it is around freezing??? Goes right through you. ugh.

Today looks sunnier and less windy so far, but that could change in a heartbeat.

hmmm I think it was me.. Cee would have shouted with joy and taken off her hat!

It was you, Kath. Surprised the heck out of me!

What hat??? I have a canvas bag full of all the hoods that come with my jackets... never wear them. Still, sometimes I try to walk in the cold wind and get so short of breath I feel like I'm dying by the time I get up the hill. Truly. It's scary. When the wind is this strong and icy - Can't. Breathe. Stay. Inside. :)

Good!

I look for coats with hoods.. and use them now and then..
*shiver* Although today is a toasty 23 F

Morning Claudia- "We'll have to get our "hot pants" back out!" Come on, I need to see some pictures of this! BTW- You definitely deserve that Hot Review!

>226 -Cee-:: That settles it. You can make latkes when you come to visit...*adding more books to "Claudia's" room*...I think I can handle the homemade applesauce if you'll let me add some 'red hots' to add a cinamonny flavor.

Kath,
If you ever need a hood, let me know. I got lots and don't know what to do with them!
Mark,
Thanks - maybe someday I will get bored and look for some old pictures. Not my fav activity.
Donna,
deal!

OK.. results are in.
McD's senior cup of coffee:
58 cents; well insulated cup -no burnt fingers; tastes great!
Dunkin's small cup (same size)
$1.59; thin cup - burns fingers even with too big cuff I had to ask for; tastes great!
I'll do the math for you... save $1.01 and go to Mickey D's! Your budget and your fingers will thank you. Really, it was that good - and I drink my coffee black so I can tell! This was not the outcome I expected.

And the burrito at McD - I must have gotten the wrong thing. It was tiny and did not look like the pic above (#183). Sorry, Jim. It was the only thing they had in that category and it wasn't to die for... but ok. I was starving! Maybe Maine doesn't have the extensive menu you have???

Here's where we ate and taste-tested our brunch - the shores of the "Mighty Kennebec" :

Just saying Hi! I caught up with you again...nice photo in the above message. :)

Oh Lord...late again!!

Don't talk about Hot Pants....I used to wear them too....today i am swaddled in sweats and am still chilly...

Sun is shining today...but s***w is in the offing later this week...I woke up yesterday to a "Powdered Sugar" dusting on the ground...but no donuts...so I went back to bed!

I don't know about Mickey D's burritos....but I have a recipe similar to the one pictured...and you can make 'em as big as you want..

I agree, nice photo!!

;-}

you are beautiful! love the pic

Hey! good morning... nice cold morning here.. you would love it!

*waits patiently for new thread*

especially with a cuppa in front of your fire!

Good to "see" you smiling! :)

Terrible headache this morning... not migraine.
I'm reading a wonderful little book by Helen Humphreys The Lost Garden.
So poetic in style... she weaves in some of the best descriptions of war-torn England and feelings of loss and longing. I'm counting on a happy ending tho... ???

oops... yup... time for a new thread...rats!

New thread - hop over to http://www.librarything.com/topic/113028&newpost=1#lastmsg

;-)