Richardderus thread 9 of 2014

“We live, in fact, in a world starved for solitude, silence, and privacy: and therefore starved for meditation and true friendship.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory

I have a category called Orphans, which will still catch all the other reading I do.

My ORPHANED books ticker:




I want to treat the Short Story collection challenge as a ticker-to-itself thread, thinking 48 reviews as my goal. I'll keep the thread over in the Short Stories forum.

My SHORT STORY collections ticker:




I'm keeping a mystery-genre thread over in Crime, Thriller, and Mystery forum. Way way way too many of my reviews have been, in all forums, mysteries and thrillers, and while I love them, I don't want to get too rut-ified and read only those books while keeping up my self-made review writing census.

My MYSTERY & THRILLER books ticker:




THIS THREAD is the 75 challenge for 2014, which will be non-fiction and non-genre-fiction books published in 2013 and 2014, plus recommendations from other 75ers.

My last thread of 2012.
My last reviews of 2013 in this thread.

My 2014 NEW books ticker:




Books 1 & 2...thread 5.

Books are reviewed in post:

Gorgeous library, I'll take it :-D

>3 Ameise1: And Barbara comes in first! In honor of Switzerland's Olympic efforts, here's a facsimile of the 1896 Games gold medal:

Ooof, what a fantastic library! I love the stone wall, too.

Happy New Thread, Richard!!

Thanks, Amber! *smooch*

Thanks a lot dear friend. This medal is gorgeous. *smooch*

Love both the pic and the quote at the top.

Oh man, I want to live in that topper. May I?

I just got her from your last thread, and I want to meet the Coffee Druids. Did I read that right? I bet they're the best.

Very cool medal. That Barbara is so lucky, isn't she?

Happy new thread, RD. And the picture in the topper even has doors with books!

>7 Ameise1: De rien, ma amie

>8 labwriter: Thanks! I do too.

>9 jnwelch: If you move to Boston and convince the historical society that owns it, I'm all in favor. Switzerland and Holland are *killing* at these Olympics!

>10 connie53: I love those hidden-room bookcase doors! Something so satisfying about it.

RD your topper has inspired me. I've been trying to figure out how to get more shelf space in my office/library. Wonder if I can convince hubster that we can replace the light giving french doors with swinging shelf units instead? Yummy.....

*Star*

I'm alive! I can't eat that lovely brunch from your last thread yet but I'll have 5 virtual brunches. I also want coffee with Druids too.

Look at your lovely new thread, Richard! I hope your Saturday is going well. We are (of course) having some snow showers but not supposed to amount to anything, thankfully. Your brunch in the last thread looked scrumptious!

>12 tututhefirst: Yummy indeed! Heck, why not replace silly ol' French doors with book space? Bob's a reasonable man. He'll go for it.

>13 mckait: *smooch*

>14 luvamystery65: Good, good news that your death has not yet eventuated. I'm sending a message to Ken that he needs to change his last name to Druids! He'd sell more books.

>15 rosalita: Snowing here too. Just little spittooees but still, it's the principle of the thing. Enough already with this!

Spoke too soon, just looked outside and it's comin' down now. Yuck!

Hi Richard, the scones are delicious but there is one missing. Hannah says "Love you".

I love the quote. I may copy it and hang it above my door. The outside door, the one people have to knock on in order to disturb my solitude and meditative atmosphere. I think that is a damned good idea.

Raining here. Cold, and rainy. Will continue for the next 10 days at least, probably more.

I love the bookshelves in the opening pic... actually, I love everything about that picture - the rustic plank wooden floor to the stonework wall and even the area rugs. Lovely! *sighs in blissful contentment*

.... of course, the hidden door is a wonderful bonus for such a room. I have told my other half that I want a house with hidden doors and hidden passageways between the walls.... the Gothic in me just loves stuff like that! ;-)

Happy weekend, RD!

RICHARD! *tackle hug* Oh, it's so lovely to see you! I'm so happy for a break this weekend, as I get President's Day off. I'll probably be forced to actually do homework instead of fiddle-fart around the internet, though. *le sigh*

And I love that quote from C.S. Lewis. :) Still need to finish reading The Weight of Glory.

So ... Where in Boston is that? I may have to make a little visit!

Saya sudah datang, Tuan.

Selamat thread baru.

*waves* Hope Stella and you are getting lots of snuggles this weekend. :)

Steampunk + Octopi = thought you might like


Walkies for Otto by Brian Kessinger

His page:
http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/brian-kesinger.html?page=1

Hello Richard, and happy weekend! LOVE the library up top. I could spend many a happy hour there.

Just checking in on the new thread :) Happy Sunday.

Passing by Happy Sunday Eve ... I may have missed 2 threads already this year

Just a wave. Can't hope to keep up.

Rdear, I wish you a lovely Sunday

Hi RD, I hope your sunday will be lovely and happy.

Happy new thread, Richard. That library! *drool*

Happy Sunday, Richard! I love the C.S. Lewis quote at the top of the thread.

*waving as she saunters through*

Morning RD! Congrats on the new thread. Great topper! Did I see somewhere, that you were reading the Martian? I thought it was an excellent Sci-Fi thriller. I hope you feel the same way.
And thanks again for the very scary librarian.

> 35... LOVE it.. thanks for sharing it !

Wishing you a pleasant Day, much more goodness than you expect.. and a week ahead filled with peace of mind, laughter and relief !

>17 johnsimpson: Hi John! Send Hannah my huggings and smoochings back, please. What an adorable sweetie. Have a lovely Sunday evening for all!

>18 maggie1944: Good morning, Karen44, happy to have given your home a motto. Rain here next week, and I don't like to say it but it makes a nice change from snow. (Aack now I'm afraid I've just given the Snow Demon ideas!)

>19 lkernagh: Isn't that lovely, Lori? It does inspire Gothickal phauntaisees. *happy sigh with Lori*

>20 ErisofDiscord: ERIS!! Smoochling! And you gave me my favorite Doctor, too! *baaaaaawwwww* so sweet to me.

>21 michigantrumpet: I'll have to look at the URL on Pinterest to find out...checking...it tracks back to an interior designer's page, one Julie Garmin, though I don't know if it's meant to be a room she's designed or an inspiration or what.

>22 PaulCranswick: ...thank you...?

>23 leperdbunny: Thank you, Tamara! It's a beautiful sunshiney day so I have no complaints. Well, no new ones anyway.

>24 curlysue: Ha! Yes, I like his artwork. I enjoyed Walking Your Octopus when I got it. *smooch* for dear Kara

>25 AMQS: Hi Anne! Happy long weekend back. Hope you're well and thawing. Isn't that a wonderful room? *blissed-out-sigh*

>26 BekkaJo: How do, Bekka, hope Jersey's still above the waves.

>27 roundballnz: Hi Alex! It's easy to do with the pace the group's setting this year.

>28 Chatterbox: Well, here you are, so no further worries my dear.

>29 Ameise1: And to you, Barbara! May it be an exciting Olympic day for you.

>30 connie53: Thank you, Connie, and I don't need to wish the Dutch any better luck this Olympics, do I? Amazing year!

>31 wilkiec: I know what you mean, Diana, and the drool is most justified. *drool*

>32 kidzdoc: It speaks to me, Darryl. I love the library, but the quote speaks loud and clear.

>33 maggie1944: Hiya Karen44!

>34 msf59: I am indeed reading The Martian: A Novel, Mark, and liking it quite a lot. Scary? Scary librarian? She just looks like a regular ol' liberry lady to me....

>36 mckait: Hi Liberry Lady! *smooch*

Rdear, so far it wasn't a Swiss day, but it's the first day of the bobsleigh competition and I hope our guys will do fine :-D

I will cross all my crossable parts that they do well.

Hiya, RD. if C. S. Lewis thought that back then, we are truly in trouble now. I feel like I have the attention span of a gnat these days. Makes reading, friending and thinking pretty difficult.

Hugs to you and Stella.

Good morning, Dear Man. Before I go back to con your last thread, I wanted to mark my place here.

Here's to a good week with great reading and some fun along the way.

I hope you can spread the joy on the Martian better than I did. I dropped the ball on that one. Bad Mark! It is so smart and so fun!

>44 ffortsa: Judy! *smooch* I think CS Lewis would use the modern world as his model of Hell. He wasn't enamored of modernity anyway, and this so far outstrips his era's modernity...!

>45 Matke: *smooch* for darling Danvers

>46 msf59: Can't do everything, Mark, so do what you can and what you're most moved to do.

So Claudia has sold her apartment in the Village, and is moving her stuff after 43 years in the same place. As a result, a lot of books are going to the liberry. Since they pass through these doors, guess who vultures them up? *heeheehee*

Today's excitement:

The Mediaeval Mind vols. I & II
From Plato to Nietzsche
This Was Harlem
The Freud Jung Letters
The Time Falling Bodies Take to Light
The Jesus of Heresy and History
Fifty Days on Board a Slave Vessel
On Being Blue: A Philosophical Inquiry
My First Pair of Shoes and The Little Altar Boy
an old translation of The Odyssey, an annotated Bible, some African spirituality stuff...smorgasbord!

Of course, this could simply be homicide philanthropy on her part, since I now will have to pack and move the stuff when I leave here...hmmm....

Lucky fellow. My post above was your earlier latin greetings to me but in Bahasa Melayu.

Hi Richard! Apologies for missing your last 3 threads, dearest. Your new acquisitions look great! Don't worry about the moving-them part until it happens, no point. Just enjoy! *smooch* and (((HUG))) for you!

>49 PaulCranswick: So Google told me. I was a bit slow on the uptake, though.

>50 LauraBrook: Hi Laura! All that's goin' on in your world, don't you ever worry about missing anything. *smooch*

You got me... *falls over in a flurry of book bullet-ness*

That was me getting my grubby mits on The Martian. No idea when I will get to it, since I also have Life after Life and The Luminaries pending from book bullet-ness. This place is bad for my purse!

Sorry I've been absent but it seems as if you carried on just fine without me! *sniff sniff*

>52 BekkaJo: Heh. Random book-bulletings are a hazard indeedy do dear.

>53 Morphidae: Oh...hello...and you are?

>54 richardderus: *WHIIIIIIIIINES*

Happy Sunday morning, Richard! Well, I guess it's Sunday afternoon now for you, but the sentiment holds.

>55 Morphidae: Tissues, miss?

>56 rosalita: Thanks, Julia, the afternoon is still so young that I'm not all the way sure it is yet.

The current Powerball jackpot is $400MM. Cash value $227MM. The Tome Home needs funding, folks, buy them tickets.

I'll take the tissues if Morphy is finished with them.

There's always a box or two wherever I am. *schnerkle*

> 40!

Yes RD, we did it again. I really love all our speed skating boys and girls!

>48 richardderus:. homicide philanthropy

Why I love your thread.

Oh. My. Gracious. Goodness. ME!

>61 connie53: And rightly so! Amazing what the Dutch team has done this Olympics. So happy for you all!

>62 labwriter: Why thank you most kindly!

Love that photo with the light streaming in. What a great place to read! Hope you're having a good Sunday.

>No. 63 needs rugs like in NO. 1. Make that little adjustment, and I will take the set, please.

>65 phebj: Isn't that just so inviting you could plotz? *happy sigh*

>66 laytonwoman3rd: I'd go for a rug in there. Yeah. That's a great idea! *smooch* for Linda3rd, Master Decorateuse.

#48 - Oh, nice vulturing! I just received On Being Blue (of course the first touchstone choice is The Hobbit) in the mail as my second NYRB subscription book. So that's exciting.

I wonder if The Martian is something I should explore. I do love Mars sci-fi, especially the KSR Mars Trilogy.

>63 richardderus:: Oho. Love.

>35 richardderus: Love it!
Colour me blessed then, I am always looking up or down so sideways at shadows or brick patterns or some such secret masterpiece. I feel like I win the prize and others miss out on so much for not noticing. I guess not everyone can notice everything though ;)

>48 richardderus: yummy book haul windfall. Nice picking!

Hello my dear... Coming in to smooch you and Stella and wish you the best week ever!

Love you!

>63 richardderus: I'm having a love at first sight experience with that chair ......

>68 DorsVenabili: I think the thriller part is as, nay more, important as the setting on Mars. There are some wonderful Mars-specific twists, but it's a very gripping and tightly plotted thriller first and foremost. So go in knowing that.

>69 scaifea: Yeup.

>70 LovingLit: I wonder, so very often, why more people don't notice things like the color of the blossoms on the weeds and the structure of the branches of the different types of tree or the smell of the andromeda bush's flowers. What are they waiting for? A guided tour? *shrug*

I was extremely pleased with what I got.

>71 TinaV95: Hugs, love, and smoochings!

>72 avidmom: The wing chairs (there are two, side by side) are pretty scrummy I agree.

I'm out of commission with a migraine today, but that book nook might pull me out of it--just pull up a footstool for my wing chair, dear, and I'll leave the other to you.

>63 richardderus:: Love the attic hideaway. Reminds me strongly of my childhood.

Congratulations on the unusual book haul! Can't wait to see what else comes in.

I'm sending Good Week whammies your way, Rdear.

>74 ronincats: Oh dear, Roni, I am so sorry about the migraine! Sounds grisly. The Martian: A Novel is a worthy opponent to the migrainings inflicted upon you. Nothing like an interesting read to kick that pain to the curb. *smooch*

>75 Matke: Thank you, darling Danvers! I'm feelin' whammied. Happy New Week Whammy back.

Good morning, Richard. Just stopping in to say howdy before I head to work on FEDERAL HOLIDAY!!

Awww poor Julia! And you working for a state school and all! Boo! Hiss!

Morning RD- Keep the Martian love coming! Everyone NEEDS to throw that on the To-Read list.

Good Morning R-dear, swinging in to say high and get caught back up. Your thread provides lots of amusement as always. *smooch*

Actually, Richard, permaybehaps I should thank you for your holiday whammies? I'm stuck at home today because the parking lot's too icy to navigate with a cane and my landlord is a terrible terrible man who refuses to do his job of clearing the lot. So I guess I've got the holiday off after all!

>79 msf59: I think so too, Mark! I'm even moving towards writing a review. *gasp*

>80 Thebookdiva: Good morning, dear Abby! Happy to have amused you on this fine morning. *smooch* in return

Good Morning Richard Dear smooches to you and Stella. Hope everything is going well with you. I was 3 threads behind very busy lately. I keep hoping things will slow down a little so I can catch up. I just have to skim and mark a spot so I don't get to far behind for the moment.

I saw that in your thread, Monica. Training someone in a job like yours is very stressful in and of itself. Hope all calms down soon, dearie!

>48 richardderus: People give away books when they move? (I've been carting the same hundred boxes of books around with me through 4 moves since 1988. Well, probably more boxes now, since I keep adding to the collection.)

Happy Monday! *smooches*

Thanks, Mary, it's such a bright and sunshiney Monday morning it almost makes up for the sounds of vigorous cleaning that assail my senses.

I was a major major book hoarder for years. I've learned that it's actually a joy to me to use the catch-and-release method of acquiring books. I send my already-reads to friends or to Kath's minibrary in Baden, since they don't have a large acquisitions budget or a sensible book buyer. Realistically, once I've read a non-reference book, I'm not going to spend eyeblinks rereading it. Too old and too few left for the ones I haven't read and want to.

An eminently sensible way to live, Richard! I should try it! (I can hear my non-hoarder sister saying, "Oh, yes, pleeeeaaaase!")

It's a process...start with new acquisitions, let them come in and then go back out as soon as they're read. I'm funny about my books, so I don't donate them to liberrys that put all donations onto the book-sale tables. I give them to liberrys that will shelve them. Older books, ones that aren't appealing to my liberry, I try to find friend-homes for. Crud that I've still got I put on Bookmooch or Paperback Swap. Et voila! The incoming books outnumber the outgoing ones 5 to 1, but that's better than not having ANY outgoing ones.

I am right with you, Richard, on the Book keeping, reading, releasing, etc. etc. I, too, used to haul many boxes of books every time I moved. I still found that what I now have resulted in moving boxes and boxes but the little bedroom in which I've put all the books holds about 1/2 of what I had the last time I lived in this house. Now, I have three small bookcases full of fiction I need to read. Too many TBRs! I must do better. And then, the nonfiction: oh, my, so many fat fat books.

But I do feel happy. I share my home with a library/reading room! Yay. And I do pass along books as fast as I can. Your methods have much to recommend! I may check with the local library and see if they will accept books.

>89 maggie1944: It's very much worth doing, Karen44, and many liberries have specific things they'd like to have...mysteries, especially series mysteries with followings, are often popular donations. Look into it! *smooch* Happy Monday, dearie.

>all the book management posts above. I'm training myself to let go of books too, and isn't it interesting that the first in are the easiest to show the door? I sent some books to Joe in Chicago last week, where they will find a good home. and I'm compiling a stack for the library - don't care what they do with them, but the ones I have in mind are those that are in high demand, so I imagine they will shelve them.

Richard, did you see the end-paper in the NYTimes book review this Sunday? Zoe Heller has a half-page on the policy of 'happy only' reviews that is a calm but potent rebuttal of those policies. Speaks directly to your GoodReads experience, I think.

Aint the sun grand today?

All caught up here, BigDaddy! I love the sentiment on post 35, and I WANT that reading corner in post 63 - looks like a quiet tucked away spot that has been forgotten, and I love the two side by side chairs facing the books. Lovely.

Hoping that Monday is kind to you, dear.

>81 rosalita: Oh dear, Julia, I missed you up there! I commented on your thread, so I don't feel like a complete heel. *smooch*

>91 ffortsa: I haven't seen that piece! I'll go look it up. Such a damfool idjit thing to do, demand only happyhappy joyjoy crapola reviews be published. No one can trust a one-note reviewer. It leads to the strong suspicion that the reviews are by an undiscriminating enthusiast or a calculating cynic.

So sensible to have a deaccessioning!

>92 Crazymamie: Pissarro got that one right on, didn't he? And yep, that's the cozy-love-nest feel I think any pair of booklovers would want in their home.

Monday is beaming bright clear sunshine on me. I am content. *smooch*

Glad to hear the upturn in weather and mood :) Just dropping in as usual.

I could be happy here. I can almost hear the birds singing outside. I imagine it as part of a little house tucked away on Cape Cod somewhere. I want.

>93 richardderus: Nothing to forgive, dear heart!

Oh, I would love to come stay with you in your little book nook, Katie! That looks lovely, and plenty of sofa space for comfy reading.

>94 BekkaJo: Howdy do, Bekka! Glad to see you.

>95 katiekrug: Oh my heck yes! What a lovely space that is.

>96 rosalita: Don't you just smile from one end to the other when you see spaces like that? *happy sigh*

Heh.

>98 richardderus: Nice! I'm forwarding it to my BC-infatuated daughter.

For a very un-pretty lad, he can pull the birds.

>88 richardderus: re: book-getting-rid-of
I had fun the other day taking a bag of novels to a tiny free library/book swap thing. This one:



When I went it was woefully empty, so I jammed the top shelf full and it was very satisfying. I only keep novels I loved. And even then only if they are good format, cover etc. Oh, and Booker winners :) I will collect them too.

>101 LovingLit: Great idea! So satisfying.

^days, yes, definitely needs that 'S', otherwise too short a time period to be worth mentioning. (says she who has been known to take a book in her pocket around the house in case there is a spare 20 seconds)

>95 katiekrug: - I love the bookcases, but I don't think those sofa's are very comfy! I really like the big chairs that embrace you. And what's that ladder doing on the sofa?

>104 connie53: It's there to help you reach the books, and also give you access to the loft-bed. Very space efficient, this design!

Yes, but you can get a higher ladder and have it resting on the floor!

The problem with that is the space taken up by a normal floor-ladder can't be spared in such a small room. And since the ladder is anchored to the wall, there's very little risk of it slipping.

uhhh, anchored? But you have to move the ladder sideways to get to the top books, do you?

I love the bookcases, hate the sofas. I like big comfy chairs which hug you while you read!

Y'all are ruining my fantasy!

;-)

We could have both the sofa's and the chairs, could we?

I have to agree that the sofa/beds don't look at all inviting. Efficient, yes. Curl-up-cozy, no. I don't see how that ladder arrangement functions, exactly. Imagine if you needed to move it to the left--does it just hang suspended from the track with a hefty person clinging to it? Or does it drop to the floor, in which case just WHAT is it anchored to? And what if you wanted to move it to the right while someone was sitting on the sofa... BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD, sez I.

> 112 - My thoughts! ;-))

#95 - If I were to lie in that window with the soft sun streaming in I'd be off to dreamland regardless of my best reading intentions.

Book management: Yep, I used to be a hoarder, too. Now, though, this is how I decide what I keep:

1) Do I think that a growing young boy will ever want to/should read this?
2) Will I maybe want to re-read this sometime ever?
3) It is a hardcover that is so gorgeous that I just want to hold it and run my fingers over the cover and gaze longingly at it?
4) Is it a book that I want as part of my Library When I Die (i.e. is it a book that fits into my "oh my god what an amazing collection this old bag had" ideal of a library)?

If "yes" to any of the above, it's a keeper.

...growing young boy...? Huh. Never a sort criterion I considered in all my acquisitions.

Other than that, sounds like a fine list to me!

>115 scaifea: I love this list. Especially #1. My son is 13 and I'm constantly thinking about books that I love that I want him to read. Which I then have to temper with fact that he is his own person with his own tastes and I can't force my favorites down his throat (much as I'd like him to put down Wimpy Kid that he's read for the 57,000th time and pick up Heinlein or Asimov, at least he's reading)

Whimpy Kid gets old pretty quickly if the boy in my life is any measure. He thought it was hysterical, and went on to read all the books in the series, but now has moved on to all sort of other things. He is 13 just now, too.

>117 mahsdad: I don't know at what age one becomes amenable to book suggestions, but I am all the way sure I wasn't ready to listen to my mother or sisters at 13. It will come. And yes, at least he's reading.

>118 maggie1944: I've never read one, obviously, but they seem to have huge legs in the youff community, don't they?

I like No. 4, Amber — I want whoever gets stuck clearing my things away when I die to be amazed at my intelligence and good taste, as evinced by my library.

One can but hope, Julia.

Richard, unfortunately it was the "metal net around the skull with a key that tightens the tension a bit more every 10 minutes" migraine that doesn't allow one to get lost in a good book. I was able to sleep a fair portion of the day away yesterday, and today to sit out in the sun and read.

I also have gotten better at letting the new books I buy loose after I pass them through my sister--especially if there is demand for them on PaperBackSwap or BookMooch. I do keep ongoing series that I am enjoying, as I will probably need to reread them when new books come out. And my favorite authors whose complete oeuvre is necessary. But I still have a lot of my older books that would be hard to find in a library or used--mostly science fiction and fantasy, of course.

Love the book nooks. The sofas on that last one look great for napping, but not so good for neck support while reading. But the shelves are great!

*smooch*

Oh Roni! Sounds vile, I'm so so sorry you had that experience. Sending hugs for am even-better tomorrow.

Hello, Richard.

I'm skimming through and I'm here to validate that at age 13 I was not yet ready to listen to book recommendations from Mom or Dad. It was about that age that Dad tried to get me to read Lady Chatterly's Lover instead of the Harlequin Romance trash that I was reading. Well, maybe I was 12. In any case, would that I had listened to him but at that age a recommendation from a parent was certain death for any reading endeavor.

ETA: *smooches for Stella*

Hi Richard - Just passing through and waving as I attempt to catch up threads.

Good morning Rdear! Wish you a lovely day.

Hi Richard dear! *smooch*

>117 mahsdad:: I've decided that once Charlie hits middle school, he may read anything from any shelf in this house. I'm not even going to attempt to force him to read any particular book, but I want him to feel that he has absolute access to every book we own, and so I want those books to be good ones.

>120 rosalita:: Exactly!

ETA: Oh, uh, morning, Richard!

Hello ever'body. I'm about ready for lunch, and this is what I want: A bacon-mushroom-herb tart. Puff pastry, gruyere, a little sherry makes the sauce. With a bottle of Freixenet or a sparkling Yellow Tail chardonnay. Ooo baby baby!

>124 EBT1002: Hiya Ellen! To give my mother all the props she absolutely merits, her attitude towards reading was utterly open. She'd say, if I picked up a book that was not what she wanted me to read, "the book will still be there when you've learned more about the world." And it always was. How right she got it! And never, ever recommended a book to me, until I was about 20.

>125 SuziQoregon: Hi Juli! Good luck with that...let me know how you managed to do it if you do.

>126 Ameise1: Thank you, Barbara! *smooch*

>127 wilkiec: Hiya Diana, lovely to see you! *smooch*

>128 scaifea: Take a look at 124's response, Amber. I think a smart parent of an intelligent child should take this attitude. Mama was, to her vast credit, always willing to answer questions or discuss issues around my reading. My sister Winter was, as well, as she was so much older than I it was like having a tutored read at the end of the phone. She had stuff from her college reading, and she owned a bookshop, so I was never out of things to read.

I'll just pop this in here:

>130 richardderus:: I guess I wasn't being very clear, as that's essentially what I was trying to say...

“Thank You. Life is short and TBR lists are long. I know time is precious and I thank you for spending yours with this book.”
― Katja Millay

This author has the proper perspective on things.

No, I did not skim through the posts. I read everyone of them, but no comment on anything! Or it must be the bacon-mushroom-herb tart. that looks delicious!

So 'Hi' RD!

I like the looks of that tart, too. Mmm.

>129 richardderus:....which I'd seen this earlier...I bet there's no fungi tart left. SIGH........would have love slice of that. must try to find recipe to replicate.

>63 richardderus: Love the reading nook. The light, the chairs, the warm wood floors. Splendid!

>95 katiekrug: Change the black pillows and cushions to dark blue or forest green and that would be absolute perfection.

>131 leperdbunny: OH.DEAR.GOD.

Buy one for me, mommy?

Mushroom Tart

Preheat oven to 425°

1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
4 slices bacon, chopped
1/2 red or sweet onion, minced
1 clove garlic, finely minced
4oz (half the supermarket package) cremini or mini bella mushrooms, cleaned and rough chopped (can also have another 1 or 2 extra for garnish, thinly sliced, if you're all fancy-shmancy)
2t dry herbes de Provence
2T white wine
1/2c (half of a small tub) of whipped cream cheese
1/2t each of salt and black pepper
1/2c grated Gruyere

Roll out puff pastry to fit a small tart pan, either round, rectangle, or simply free-form on a parchment lined baking sheet. (If doing free-form, using a sharp paring knife, cut a border about half of the way through the dough about 1/3 of an inch from the edge. This outside edge will puff more and give you an outer crust) Place pan in the refrigerator while you prepare the filling.

To make the filling:

Cook the chopped bacon, onion, garlic, chopped mushrooms over medium heat until the bacon is cooked and the mushrooms have released most of their liquids.
Add the herbs and the wine
Continue to cook until the liquid is mostly evaporated
Remove from heat and stir in the cream cheese, the salt, and the pepper; stir until smooth
Mix in the shredded cheese

Assemble the tart:

Bring the tart pastry out of the fridge and spoon the filling into it. Using the reserved sliced mushrooms, decorate as desired. Also effective and aesthetically pleasing are seeded plum tomato slices or thin strips of red or yellow bell pepper.

Bake for 20 minutes or until the puff pastry is golden brown and the tart filling is also browning. Serve cut into four slices with a salad and a bottle of sparkling wine for a decadent light meal.

Prepare the filling ahead of time and store in the fridge along with some thawed puff pastry to have a low-stress brunch entree.

>134 connie53:, 135, 136 See below...easy-peasy to make and my GAWD is it good.

>137 Jaydit666: How unpleasant to see you, Jude. I hope I won't again.

>131 leperdbunny: OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

>132 scaifea: OIC! Well, I'm not the swiftest today, don't blame yourself.

>138 Morphidae: I know, right?!?

I know, right? He is scrummy!

yuh-huh *drool*

Don't worry...

>141 richardderus:: I've been a bit of a dummy today, too. Big old headache all day.

....although I'm wondering what you said about me to Stephen/APE....he seems to have a wrong idea.

Okay, Jude, here's what I said to Stephen: Please, as a favor to me (meaning myself, Richard), convince Jude to leave me alone.

I don't want to see your moniker, I don't want to read your posts, and I don't ever again want to interact with someone who can feel perfectly okay about telling me I should shut up and die. On Facebook, no less.

Is that clear enough? You're not wanted on my threads. You're not welcome on my threads. I want no part of any nastiness, and you bring nasty like a pile of shit brings stink.

GO. THE. FUCK. AWAY.

I did confront you there, and here, and everywhere else. Narcissistic assholes are the ones who delete comments, delete profiles, and run away until things cool down, then come back to do it some more. Those are the ones who think rather more highly of themselves than is warranted. I just stay right here in the open, and tell it like it is:

You aren't welcome. I don't want you to post in the threads I create. Take it somewhere else.

About the book management issue, my plan is to wait until we find our next rental (should be May/June) and then either donate to one of the Little Free Libraries in the area or start one myself. I agree with you that newest acquisitions are generally easier to part with than ones I've had for, you know, like, 50 years. (But I AM going to read them again! Really!)

My mom did things right. She just left all her books out or in the bookcase and let us kids pick the ones we wanted to read. (I assume that she carefully hid the ones she DIDN'T want us to read.) Which is how I read books like The Last Days of Pompeii, Kon-Tiki, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Dear and Glorious Physician, Peyton Place (which I "found" in my mom's bedroom and "borrowed" surreptitiously), The Silver Chalice and The Robe when I was something like 10-12 years old.

And, because you do so enjoy the art of strategic deletion, here's the entire exchange:

137 Jaydit666 Today, 7:01pm Top
Message hidden because you blocked the member (hide)
God, these women do love you.....if they only knew

140 richardderus Today, 8:14pm Top
>134 connie53:, 135, 136 See below...easy-peasy to make and my GAWD is it good.

>137 Jaydit666: How unpleasant to see you, Jude. I hope I won't again.

144 Jaydit666 Today, 9:14pm Top
Message hidden because you blocked the member (hide)
Don't worry...

146 Jaydit666 Today, 9:40pm Top
Message hidden because you blocked the member (hide)
....although I'm wondering what you said about me to Stephen/APE....he seems to have a wrong idea.

147 richardderus Today, 9:57pm Top
Okay, Jude, here's what I said to Stephen: Please, as a favor to me (meaning myself, Richard), convince Jude to leave me alone.

I don't want to see your moniker, I don't want to read your posts, and I don't ever again want to interact with someone who can feel perfectly okay about telling me I should shut up and die. On Facebook, no less.

Is that clear enough? You're not wanted on my threads. You're not welcome on my threads. I want no part of any nastiness, and you bring nasty like a pile of shit brings stink.

GO. THE. FUCK. AWAY.

148 Jaydit666 Today, 10:20pm Top
Message hidden because you blocked the member (hide)
You are still a narcissistic asshole....I could never figure why you didn't confront me on Facebook, to begin with...rather than drag it over to LT.....

149 richardderus Today, 10:26pm Top
I did confront you there, and here, and everywhere else. Narcissistic assholes are the ones who delete comments, delete profiles, and run away until things cool down, then come back to do it some more. Those are the ones who think rather more highly of themselves than is warranted. I just stay right here in the open, and tell it like it is:

You aren't welcome. I don't want you to post in the threads I create. Take it somewhere else.

RD, dear heart, you've had your say. Now it's time to block to stop reading who you've blocked(!!!) and let us handle it with flagging as necessary.

>150 Storeetllr: Smart moms seem to have the same ideas, eh what Mary?

>152 Morphidae: Excellent advice, Morphy.

Name calling is, after all, a flaggable offense. :D

*smooch*

Off to flag unpleasantness. That Morphy is a smart one :-)

{{{RD}}} I'm with Katie.

I have my flagging finger all warmed up :-)

I was allowed to read pretty much whatever I wanted. However, a lot of my father's library was age-inappropriate (hell, just plain inappropriate) and there was no guidance. It's no wonder I'm so confused about .... things.

{{Richard}} My flag is working overtime.

Good morning Rdear, I wish you a lovely day

Drive by good morning, RD! Are you having weather? Strangely enough, with snow still on the ground on the northern side of our house, I was woken up last night by some very serious thunder rolling through. I think there's an old wives tale about snow 10 days after a thunderstorm in winter..... gads, we've had enough!

Hope your day is loverly.

*smooches* from Horrible

I love how the friendliness and love always outweighs and conquers the rare bit of ugliness that can pop up round here. Just another reason that this group is Awesomesauce.

Adding my hugs to the pile, Richard.

Good morning Richard, hope you had a good Presidents Day.

Good morning, all, and many thanks.

Good morning, RD! Even though I don't drink coffee, I love that mug in #164. I have a feeling my life would be even more miserable than it is if some of the people around me weren't able to self-medicate with coffee!

Coffee makes nearly everything better. *smooch* RD.

Love all the book porn as always you find the nicest pictures. Still can't got part with books. I lost, sold, gave away too many in the past that I suddenly get an urge to revisit so even something I don't think I will want to read again stay.

I'm at the airport (Burlington) with my cuppa, waiting for my flight! It's not bad to get in early and have time for that. I'm always anxious until I'm through security.... then I start calming down!

Many superb library photos - I think I like the dusty atticky one best though.

Interesting book haul somewhere in there too..... ok that is pathetically vague but I am in my travel mode which is sort of detached from reality if you know what I mean.

>154 Morphidae: And I see you suited actions to words! Thanks, cuddlepunkin.

>155 katiekrug: Ain't she? Thank you, Katie.

>156 Storeetllr: *smooch* for dear Mary

>157 AuntieClio:, 158 The books of my mother's that worried her were Mine Enemy Grows Older and The Well of Loneliness. She wasn't too keen on my investigating those. Since she didn't censor my liberry borrowing, I borrowed them from there!

When I finally grasped the concept "lesbianism," I was enlightened and revolted in equal measures. When I grasped the concept "gay," I was *transported* with joy. Thank you, Alexander King!

>159 wilkiec: Thanks, Diana! TransAtlantic support! *smooch*

>160 Ameise1: Good morning, Barbara, and I wish the same for you.

Awww, you're welcome, schnookums.

>161 karenmarie: Hiya, Horrible, we're about to have rain and it's about 40°. I don't call that weather in spring! I love the rare moments when we have a thundersnow. It's just so unexpected and exciting!

Snow after a thunderstorm, eh? Someone needs to ramp up the old-wives beatings til they keep their yammers shut.

>162 scaifea: Thanks for the hugs, Amber! *smooch* It's wonderful to realize your friends will circle the wagons.

>163 johnsimpson: Hi John, I'm still sleeping on the same mattress so I suspect I'm a disappointment to the Presidents' Day folks. Have a lovely evening!

Ooooo a thundersnow - I find those fascinating too.

>165 rosalita: Oh. Hello. Goodness, I can just *see* how well-suited we are to being distant, frosty acquaintances. No coffee, no Iron Druid books, gracious goodness me what do you *do* with yourself there on the tundras of Iowa?

Please do enjoy your day, whatever that may look like in Grimashellworld.

>166 calm: "Nearly" everything? Hmmm. I suppose an acute case of tachycardia wouldn't be helped by coffee...can't think of too much else that's not either hugely improved or utterly transformed with the addition of hot caffeinated beverage.

I'm of the opinion that, if such an urge seizes me, I've always got the liberry to fall back on.

>167 sibylline: It was a most satisfactory book haul indeed, cuz. I think the dusty atticky one is the most ut as well!

Enjoy your travels, and arrive happy to be where you are. The destination brain reinstallation is almost painless, I'm told.

>170 Morphidae: *smooch*

Oh, good grief. I did a bit of late flagging myself.

Have a good one, Champ.

>173 richardderus: Hot flashes. Hot flashes NOT helped by hot caffeinated beverages. That's the real reason menopausal women can be unpleasant to deal with. It's not the hormones at all. It's the decaf.

>174 DorsVenabili: Thank you, Kerri, for the sentiment and the action. *smooch*

>175 laytonwoman3rd: *appalled silence*

Not...not...DECAF on top of the Swansong of the Ovary! NO!!! Insult, meet injury!

>175 laytonwoman3rd:: *snork!*

>176 richardderus:: "Swansong of the Ovary" *SNORK!!* Love it.

>176 richardderus: You made me snort, too! Ugh! That's a horrible sound! What is it with getting older? The older I get the more I snort in laughter.

Heh, I first used that with my mother's voyage through menopause. She did indeed pause, laughed hard, and was much easier to cope with after that since I could make use of it to cause her mood swings to tick upwards.

>176 richardderus: Yeah, well...life ain't pretty sometimes. But I've passed through that valley of shadows, and am back to enjoying the brew.

#173> What do I do with myself on the tundras of Iowa? Mostly drink whiskey and read. But hey, I was born on Long Island and lived there until I was 8, if that helps?

>180 laytonwoman3rd: Oh, that is such good news. Yes indeed. *carefully conceals body armor and tazers* What a relief for you and your nearest and dearest! *shoves keatmine-charged dart gun under sofa*

>181 rosalita: It gives you some nice memories, I'm sure. But the sheer horror of a coffeeless life...! Poor poor angel.

Woo, it has been hot and heavy here. Glad you were able to straighten it all out with the support of your fellow LTers, Richard. My flag is added to the pile. I was just thinking the other day that it's been a while since that kind of ugliness reared up on LT.

On a saner note, thanks for the tart recipe. I have to get over to Mark's thread and see what happened with your comparison of him to Boris. :-)

>183 jnwelch: The delight is that it's infrequent. I'm fully prepared for at least a years' wait for the next outbreak.

Checking in to say I'm delighted to have missed any unpleasantness.

Found this today, which somehow doesn't seem right -- Chocolate that keeps you awake?

>185 michigantrumpet:. Another example that shows the desperate need for a "Like" button for these posts. LIKE!

Hi RD, Put my flag down. Things like this can not be tolerated!

That tart looks scrumptious, Richard. Why is it that all my favorited messages are recipes?

>185 michigantrumpet: Wow, a reason to eat chocolate! At last.

>186 labwriter: Indeedy do.

>187 connie53: Thanks Connie, not the first time she's been rustling the shrubbery for some drama.

>188 ronincats: I empathize indeed. *drool*

>139 richardderus: nice recipe! I reckon I could sub-in some pizza dough or bread for the base and it would still be really good!

>185 michigantrumpet: yes!! YES! I like that , but is it just me, or is that owl sightly evil?
(btw: Wilbur told me yesterday that people who are evil have jars of blood around and spider webs in their homes. Not sure who he has been having play dates with that he would know think that!)

>190 LovingLit: Thinner is better. Too much gawp on the bottom would make for a soggy soggy dining experience.

PS perspicacious lad, that Wilby!

RD, Should I count flagged posts in your tally? hahaha

Megan, Wilbur's school friends need watching!

I am behind again..*sigh*
but what fun. The first post when I went to unread posts was #95... I also see myself there, love the feeling :)

How are you Richard? Hope you have a nice warm weather, no pain and lots of good reads. Oh, let me not forget few vats of good coffee ;)

#164 I WANT THAT CUP.

#185 Doesn't chocolate always wire you 7-8 hours after eating it? It does me. I can't imagine needing special chocolate to do that.....

Good morning, RD! Another day, another book to read. Hope you are reading one or more super books and will have a good-weather day, however you define that.

Today is husband's birthday and the Birthday Elf cleaned off our breakfast table and delivered helium balloons, a Beanie Baby Eagle, candy, two joke gifts, cards, and money. We're going to the beach for 4 days, daughter will join us tomorrow after a mid-term. Yay.

*smooches* from Horrible

Morning, Richard!
Nothing to add. Just, well, mornin'.

Sorry, rdear... so far behind! I have only been visiting my own thread... and coppers. I hope all is well here. I walked Dan through the unfamiliar store and he came home with all the right stuff. That was very helpful.

I hope all is well with you...I hope that your snow is melting and that the weather has been kind to your joints, allowing you to feel better..at least a wee bit better. Geez, I don't even know what you or anyone else is reading :P Hope it's good though :)

Good morning. Spring?

Good morning, Richard. Hope it's an easy day for you and Stella.

Morning Richard! Sorry that I've been a bit absent, but I'm all caught back up here. Caffeinated chocolate…that could be dangerous…and delicious. *smooch* Hope you have a good day free of stress.

>195 karenmarie: I agree, I want that mug!

Good morning Rdear. I wish you a lovely day.

One for your consideration. I like the fireplace (although it is not woodburning) and the ceiling.

>193 PaulCranswick: Yes, count the flagged posts x the number of flags! Heh...I'll be in first place in a week. *gleeful handrub*

>194 tigerlyly: Thanks, Lyly! *smooch*

>195 karenmarie: Me too! Have a fun birthday, Birthday Fairy. Hubs deserves it, no?

>196 scaifea: Happy Thursday, Amber, and happy to see you.

>197 mckait: Howdy do, sweetness. Snow is indeed melting and most likely won't refreeze overnight. Dare I hope for an end to black ice? *crosses aching bits*

>198 maggie1944: Why yes, thank you kindly for the offer, Karen44! Please spread some spring around, quite lavishly in fact. And here all this time I thought Kath was the Weather Goddess. Sneaky of you!

>199 jnwelch: Hi Joe! So far not challenging. I'm quite reveling in the brilliant sunshine, too.

>200 Thebookdiva: Howdy do, Abby me lurve. We all want that mug, don't we? I think it's spot-on and hilarious!

>201 Ameise1: Thank you, Barbara! I'm enthralled by that coffee art. I'd say it's too pretty to drink but that's just crazy talk.

>202 Oberon: Ooo! Erik, you've found the best one in ages! I love a coffered ceiling, and the chairs look comfy enough, though I see the ottomans haven't made it into the photo. Doubtless there are a pair.

Today was "wad-up-a-hundred-and-pitch-it-in-the-toilet" day. That is to say, the annual backflow test that the Village requires. A plumber comes and tests the house's connection to the sewer mains for positive pressure, ensuring basements don't flood with sewage.

Except they do. We've had it happen twice. Each time it was a fatberg at the end of the street junction with the main lines. I've taken to pouring 6 quarts of boiling water down the kitchen drain every day, which seems to have done some good.

I must say that, as annoying pocket-pickings go, this one makes me the most testy. Ah-heh.

Book porn!

Okay... that face on the shelf is freaking me out...

*there there, pat pat*

>206 richardderus: I use that boiling-water-down-the-drain trick, too Richard. We have our own septic system, and have twice had to have roto-rooter come remove a fatty/soapy/hairy clog from the outlet. No fun when the basement toilet backs up.

It's a cheap preventive measure, and at least can do no *harm*, unlike the caustics available.

OK....that's my kinda book porn (207) 'cept I don't have an ugly Greek face - we have a Japanese Haniwa warrior head and I'd sure do away with the Gatsby poster.

Now for septic systems, we have to pour some kinda chlorox and salt mixture down our under the house drains in the wintah to prevent freezing, but other than that, we've so far (10 years) been ok.

I've never had a septic system, so the ins and outs of it aren't familiar to me. But that is some kinda cool book porn!

>212 tututhefirst: Ok, I have to ask a Japanese Haniwa warrior head . A real one?

Love me that original cover for The Great Gatsby.

NOT the brooding eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleberg but I think Daisy's eyes brooding over Gatsby's lost paradise.

" If that was true he must have felt that he had lost the old warm world, paid a high price for living too long with a single dream".

Hi Richardmydear! I'm all caugth up with your thread! Nothing to add but lots of hugs!!!

>214 Oberon: Although we bought it in Japan, I'm sure our Haniwa figures are not "REAL". They are unglazed clay and made just like the ancient ones that were buried with the emperor, etal, but ours are definitely 20th century vintage. We have about 20 different pieces all over the place..I even fear that are a couple outside I forgot to bring in so it will be interesting to see how they fared after the snow melts. sorry RD to hijack your thread- I know how much you hate knick-knacks of any variety.

>214 Oberon:, 217 Ahh. Mmm. Oh.

>215 magicians_nephew: Hi Jim! Heh. I like your interpretation of the eyes.

>216 connie53: Hi Connie! *smooch*

>217 tututhefirst: I won't further defile poor Richard's page with discussion of knick-knacks other than to say I quite like knick-knacks and that is pretty cool even if it is a modern facsimile.

>219 Oberon: *snnoorrrp*smack*smack* mmmwwwhaa? dju say somethinnn *snoooore*

Hi :-)

>207 richardderus:. Oh, I love that original cover from the Gatsby! I think it was the best thing about the book (ducks).

The face on the shelf IS creepy. I have a bag with the original Great Gatsby cover on it, I love it.

The condition of the CEILING is creepy! Yuck!

Popping in real quick, the library is going to shut the 'puter down any minute. I cannot wait to get back and look at your threads. The pics on top are stunning! Wow! I'll see you soon! I have really missed you RD! Been so busy and hatin' it! Haven't stopped reading though!

That room could use a bit of paint or fresh wallpaper.

Chocolate cake with peanut butter icing.

There is a point to life after all.

Good morning Rdear. I guess this cake needs some coffee as well

>221 AuntieClio: Hi! *smooch*

>222 labwriter: I'm no big Gatsbiener. I liked it okay, and was swept into the story many years ago. It's sure better than its movies have been.

>223 Thebookdiva: Very polarizing cover, that one. Makes some people happy, others shiver in disgust. I don't like stuff on shelves except for books, so all "decorative items" go into a box the instant I get a space.

>224 ronincats: Heh! Some ceiling paint, you'd never notice.

>225 mmignano11: Hi Mary Beth! Good to see you. *smooch*

>226 wilkiec: Hi Diana! *also smooched*

>228 Ameise1: What *doesn't* need coffee? Yum! Thanks Barbara!

Rdear, you're welcome. I wish you a lovely day. Here in Davos it's snowing since noon.

Good Morning, it's Friday! I put my books on the shelves and my decorative stuff on top of the shelves. I have books stacked on top of my wine crates too, but it is mostly fun things like pics of Rome & Paris, a bucket of bookmarks, a hershey chocolate glass jar full of wine corks, etc.

>232 Ameise1: Snowing! Only in a ski resort is that good news at the end of February. Have a lovely weekend!

>233 Thebookdiva: Anywhere one can put a "decorative" item, one can...and should...put a book. Just sayin'

I will keep your council in mind. *smooch*

Can I have a piece of that yummy-looking cake, or do I have to take the coffee, too?

>235 Thebookdiva: I am wise beyond my years, indeed.

...wait...that's pretty much impossible...

>236 rosalita: No one will force coffee on you, since it means more for me if you don't drink it. Simply don't request boiled Chinese hedge trimmings. *shudder* The smell is so, so, ew.

Perkins! Some scrummy cake for Miss Julia, please.

Yum! Coffee with chocolate cake and peanut butter icing. That would really hit the spot. :-)

>238 phebj: Agreed!

Something small for the explanation of RL

OMGOMGOMG sooooooooo scrummy!!!!

:-D *smooch*

Afternoon Richard.

Good Afternoon, BigDaddy! *smooch*

Hey, I was just over on Morphy's thread, and it looks like she's having a pretty bad day. If folks, could stop by and leave her some encouragement, that would be awesome!

>242 Ameise1: *blush*

>243 johnsimpson: Hi John! Happy weekend to you and Karen, and an extra *smoochiesmoochsmooch* for the adorable Hannah!

>244 Crazymamie: Mamie dearest! So glad you're here.

>245 drneutron: Aux armes, citoyens! Ride to chez Morphy and dispense hugs freely!

Hi RD! I must admit I can't understand why people put peanutbutter on anything else then a sandwich. Okay, at our home we put it on these:



But I don't think anybody else in Holland does that! It's something my mother used to get us to eat Brussels Lof/ Witlof. It melts and makes a sort of peanutsauce

Peanut butter on endive. Well, that is a complete and total novelty to me. It never occurred to me!

Peanut butter on celery

Peanut butter on apples

Peanut butter with chocolate of ANY type...

Sing it, Sister Woman! Sing it!

So I'm just getting to LT after a really long day & see I've missed all kinds of nasty here. Thank goodness there are so many of us who love you & could take up my slack while I've been on death's door. ;)

I love you, RD!!!

>240 Ameise1: I was scrolling up from the end of the thread and say the bottom 1/4 of the picture first...of course what I saw was a pair of buns in a pair of jeans!!
*what is wrong with me this thread???*

And, just to keep you up with my coffee habits, I had recently cut my coffee shots per cup to 2 (from 3) as was feeling a tad shaky, but the love is just not there, so you think I should up it to 3 again? Thought so. Strong coffee is so much the tastier!

Peanut butter on endive? Euh...

Have a lovely weekend, Richard dear!

What Diana said about Endive & PB

I can't believe it's a weekend again. Hope it's a good one for you...and that there are bright spots everywhere!

That's all I've got. srsly. I can't even keep track of what day it is, and coming up with conversation is beyond me :P

Morning RD- Quick wave to my pal, before I head out. Hope you have a fine Saturday, filled with hot strong coffee and even hotter books.

Morning RD.

>251 TinaV95: baaaaawwwww *blush* thank you, sweetness, that's very kind.

>252 LovingLit: *tsk* The thread, or the threadies? *speaking glunk* As for coffee, onward and upward is my motto. Loser coffee = less powerful coffee, with *ickshudder* decaf at the deepest pit of opprobrium.

>253 wilkiec: I don't know if it would be euh or not, having never tried it, though I confess it fills me with dread.

*smooch* for a discombobulated babe.

>254 mckait: Hi Kath! Bright spots? Errrmmm weeelll sure, there's a bright spot around here somewhere. Bound to be. *smooch* for calendrical reorientation.

>255 msf59: Hi Mark! Thanks for the good wishes. I'm not in the middle of a hot book just yet, but I'm eyeing several candidates. More anon...and happy Sunday off.

>256 johnsimpson: Howdy do, John! Happy weekend! Hannah baking anything?

248- endive???

This is our andijvie



Have a nice and happy weekend, Richardmydear.

Hi Connie, that's CURLY endive here, or really just "mature endive."



On the left is the immature plant, on the right is the mature one.

I never knew they were the same plant! Well you are never too old to learn new things!

Happy Saturday, dear Richard!

>261 connie53: I'm counting on that myownself. Otherwise things just get flat, don't they.

>262 rosalita: Heh. It will be.

One of my all-time favorite books about literature is on sale in electronic editions!

The Discarded Image by C.S. Lewis is only $3.99 and worth full price ($12.99) any old day. It's a deeply scholarly work, yes, but it's more than that, it's a meditation on storytelling as a means of building a map for the material world. It's beautiful and essential. Do read it.

Oh you devil, RD! I've never even heard of that CS Lewis book but after reading your recommendation and the description on the book page, I had to buy it. You should be ashamed proud of yourself.

Good Saturday Morning, dear! Your thread is so entertaining AND educational. Already I have learned about endive things which I did not know - so what does the mature or curly endive taste like, I am wondering. I love the immature kind, although I did not know that it was immature. And what does Connie call the immature version, I would like to know.

Off to scoop up that C.S Lewis that you recommended.

Hoping that your weekend is full of fabulous!

Hi Mamie: You mean what's is called in Dutch?

We call the immature version 'witlof' or 'Brussels lof'
The mature version is called 'Andijvie', very tasty in a stew with mashed potatoes and bacon pieces and a 'Rookworst'

Oh, thanks for that Connie! Yes, that's exactly what I meant.

Sauteed curly endive with bacon, garlic, and lemon zest, is heavenly yum.

Oh, now I am wanting that! YUM!

Just remember to toss the zest in right before serving and it will wow the masses.

I am so going to try that! Thanks!

Huh. So that's what endive is. Whaddayaknow.

Your thread is always full of good stuff, Richard!

Peanut butter on endive actually sounds pretty good to me, but I'm also a fan of PB on celery. Also, PB spread on Oreo cookies with red wine on the side. At least, that was good in college when already tipsy...

Endive must be very very well-washed. Cut the root end off close to the root part (these can be rooted in a vessel of water if you're a cheapskate like me frugal). Chop the endive into three bits: lower stems, middle stems, leafy bits. Throw them all in a bowl of cold water, submerge them and swish them around for a while before removing from the bowl and giving a quick rinse under cold running water. (This works for all leafy stuff, lettuce, rocket, arugula, collards, bok choy, you name it.) Lay out on a towel, separating stems from leaves as well as each other.

Saute the bacon crispy. Set on a draining towel. Saute minced garlic in the bacon fat with a small amount of olive oil added to the hot fat (reduces smoking...canola *shudder* reduces smoking even more but it's so nasty and watery, corn oil adds a weird flavor to this dish). Leave garlic in the pan and add the STEMS ONLY. Cook 4-5min on medium heat until they're soft and very pale. Add leafy bits and the heart. Saute 2min or so, just wilting the leaves and paling the yellow of the heart.

Remove from heat. Give the saute a jolly good scraping to get the garlic and the brown stuff from the bottom of the pan well-tossed into the leaves and stems. Add the lemon zest, toss lightly this time, and put onto a platter, cover with crumbled bacon, and serve.

There is always fat in the pan at this point. I use it to saute the sausage pieces I always serve with this dish. Cut sweet and hot Italian links (1/2lb per normal person) into thirds, chuck them in this pan on medium high heat, and serve with the pan juices all poured over top. No one will spoon the juices up, necessarily, though a good cornbread served with this meal induces all but the weirdos who don't like fat to sop it all up. But even if there's none of that, the juices on the sausage platter prevent the pieces from getting cold and dry.

>272 Crazymamie: An idea is presented above.

>273 scaifea: Amazing, isn't it? I learn so much wandering around LT!

>274 katiekrug: You lost me on red wine with Oreos.

This weekend should be different?

Peanut butter on endive, eh? I'm going to try it before I knock it. I do like it on celery, so...

Peanut butter on lettuce leaves.

Like little pea nutty tacos

And where, oh Satanic Book Warbler, does one find that C. S. Lewis book, because it is not on Amazon?

#280

http://www.amazon.com/Discarded-Image-Introduction-Renaissance-Literature/dp/110...

How about a beet, apple and peanut butter sandwich, Richard? I know you love them beets.

>276 richardderus:: It's the poor man's college student's version of eating fine chocolate with a good wine. Umm, plus peanut butter. So, yeah, we were drunk. Never mind.

>282 jnwelch: YUM!! I hadn't thought of that before, sounds scrummy.

>283 katiekrug: ...but why would one *want* to eat chocolate?

No Hannah baking till Friday.

One wants to eat chocolate because it is a divine gift from the gods and goddesses and makes one feel better about "things."

>285 johnsimpson: Pity, that. Such fun to watch kids learn the kitchen arts.

>286 AuntieClio: Oh! So "chocolate" is code for "coffee." I get it!

No .... I'd rather eat chocolate.

But...but...then you're saying it *isn't* "a divine gift from the gods and goddesses and makes one feel better about 'things.'"

Are you saying that the gods and goddesses can only give one gift to make one feel better about "things?" I would truly hate to have to give up chocolate so I can continue reading. *shudders at the thought*

> 288 - no, I'd rather have coffee!

Not looking at any blue text... not gonna do it.

Oh! coffee... nice afternoon coffee sounds good....!

You, dear Richard, are a darling book warbler and I've left a big *smooch* for you over on my thread. Carry on!

>290 AuntieClio: One. And that less "given" than "wrested from the clenched fists of the one gawd and practiced in defiance of her."

>291 connie53: Amen!!

>292 mckait: *smooch*