tid bits of the past few days

my favorite drink on a hot summer day

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To Kill A Mockingbird, a book I was forced to read in 7th grade English, but didn't remember a single thing about because I was only 12 years old and not interested in the least...at 12 years old, I could barely make myself read this...why do they make 12 year olds read American classic literature???  I was way too young to even appreciate this story....I think you've gotta experience life a lot more than 12 years to be able to appreciate the social and cultural aspects in this story.  It is not a difficult read at all, it's quite pleasurable...but not for a 12 year old. As an adult, I loved this story!! Especially now that I can look back on my childhood and laugh at the hilarious antics of Scout, Jem and Dill.....and now that I know what it's like to be a parent, I can appreciate the character of Atticus as well as Calpurnia...and now that I have been around racial and social issues, I have so much more sympathy and empathy for the characters in this book. There is no way I was going to get that kind of emotion and understanding when I was 12 years old. Especially thinking about  the part  in the story ~  the  morning after Tom  Robinson's trial,  Atticus awoke  to a  table filled with food, all  brought to his house by Tom Robinson's friends and family and Calpurnia was making chicken for breakfast!!! I just cried  when I read that part...that was beautiful and so powerful. Ain't no way a 7th grader would experience those emotions after reading that. Anyhow, my point...if  you read this in high school, and you are much older now, and you've been through the ringer a time or two, and you've experienced  love and blessings as well as pain and loss and suffering, please give this book a second chance....don't just go by your feelings about it when you were forced to read it in middle school.

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And then, last but not least,

I've done a little quilting!

I had so much fun making this block!!  I used fabrics from  my stash. What I really wanted to do was  go out   and buy more fabric...but I've gotta stop that! Use what I have!!!!!!  Anyhow, I'm going to make another one with reds and whites! I think that will be very pretty!! This square is going to be made into a kitchen table mat. Something to put in the middle of  table for your salt and pepper and butter dish to sit on. I still have to make the binding and quilt it.

Well, there's my little tid bits of life these past few days.

What have you been up to??

Summer Reading Giveaway !

Oh yes...I've got that itch for summertime reading again!

When it comes to imagination and far off lands, there is nothing quite like the old classics. 

I absolutely love finding these old vintage reads at my local, used book store.

I can pick them up for less than a dollar a piece.

What a deal!

And what great stories!

I especially love these quick reads, no more than half an inch thick, these books!

The writing style of way-back-when, really intrigues me.

It's nothing like today.

The language, it's so proper and charming!

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading all of these titles pictured above . . . 

and I would love to share them with one of my readers!

* Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson
*written in 1886,  first copyright 1958
A young man trying to claim his inheritance finds himself at the mercy of his wicked Uncle who wants the inheritance for himself. When he fails at trying to murder the boy, he sells him to pirates. The young man eventually manages to escape and finds himself on a very long adventure trying to seek his fortune.

* Seventeen, by Booth Tarkington 
*first copyright 1915
A 17 year old named Willie falls desperately in love with a young lady named Miss Pratt. She is his first crush and he tries so desperately to do the right thing, say the right thing and wear the right thing, all in attempts to charm the young lady right into his arms. This story has many moments of hilarity and I think we can all remember back when we wanted so much to impress someone. It was especially interesting reading the point of view of a young man...definitely entertaining!

* The Light In The Forest, by Conrad Richter
*first copyright 1953
A young boy of 2 years old was taken captive by Native American Indians. He was raised by them, just like a son, until he was 15 years old. Suddenly the white man has made a deal with Indians to turn over all of their white captives. When the young white boy is returned to his family, it is not the happy homecoming that everyone expected. Find out how this boy fares being forced back into his white family he has no memory of.

Also included in this giveaway is this set of 3 bookmarks, handmade by me!
I had so much fun making them, and I hope you will enjoy them!

To enter my Summertime Reading Giveaway, 

leave a comment below, 

I will choose one of you at random. 

Drawing will be held on 

Monday, July 9, 2012.

Good Luck!

Happy Reading!

Crusty bread * * * Canning * * * and Rainbow Swiss Chard * * *

Wow! Right now, my head is just all over the place...and I am loving it!  There are SOOO many new things to try, and thankfully, I have actually been getting to some of them.

For instance...I finally made myself try this very easy.... very beautiful.... very delicious.... no-knead bread, that is baked in an insanely hot Dutch Oven. It turned out perfect and was no bother at all! I am now hooked and I am never looking back....ever! Here's the link to the recipe. Simply So Good--Crusty Bread.

Another thing I am so excited and ready to dabble in, is canning! I am planning to start out slow and easy...taking my time...learning all there is to learn, studying all there is to study, watching videos on YouTube, the whole nine!  I am bound and determined to experience canning this Spring! So far, I have purchased a water bath canner, funnel, jar tongs annnnnnnd....this wonderful book, by Ashley English, called Canning and Preserving. It just arrived in the mail today and I am ecstatic! I flipped through it at the book store 2 days prior and decided this was the one....THE BOOK...to get me started. It is very informative and Ashley really spells it out....every little detail...and that is definitely me....I am such a detail person! Especially when it comes to canning...you've got to know what you're doing! I haven't made the purchase of a pressure canner yet {for veggies/low acid foods}. Not sure if I am ready for that yet! One thing at a time....baby steps!

I've come across a wonderful website called Sweet Preservation. It's all about canning.... great information and great recipes! Check it out! I have to admit.... I am nervous and don't want to mess up or make anyone sick!! I will be following the recipes and every single step to the letter! I believe I am finally confident enough to do it. Oh...you will most definitely be reading about  my canning adventures here on this blog...so stayed tuned for that my friends!

Another thing I've been into lately...... trying foods that I have never tried before..... things like Swiss Chard, golden beets, dandelion greens, turnips, parsnips, rutabagas, collard greens, and plenty more....these things have been on the grocery produce shelf forever, and I keep passing them by. I have had beets before...but only the red ones...this is the first time I've ever seen golden.....they are a yellowish, orangey color. I cooked with rainbow Swiss Chard for the first time last night, and it was fun! It was great trying something new! Just look at the colors of this veggie! Just stunning and brilliant....so vibrant! I was reading how Chard is one of the most highly nutritious vegetables out there! That's pretty awesome, and that will definitely make it a contender for new foods winding up on our dinner plates!

I cooked it with chicken, shallots, and garlic in one big fry pan...all in a bit of olive oil and a bit of water. It turned out great! I got the recipe from the twister tie that was holding the stalks of Swiss Chard together in a bundle! How great is that!

By the way...I did not do the cheddar cheese part of the recipe...somehow, it just seemed to cheapen it. Cheddar cheese??? It just seemed wrong....here was all this healthy food I was cooking...and then to top it with cheddar cheese! I don't think so!

Well, let me close with that.....that being the last subject for now. There are many other things that I've been excited about and they will be turning up here...sooner or later!

For now, have a great weekend and enjoy your blessings!

book review: How Starbucks Saved My Life by Michael Gates Gill

Ahhhhhhh...summer reading...I love it!

Here is a book I happened to bump into at The Book Tree {my local book trade store}.

Perusing the store, I happened to look down...and there, laying flat...not sitting upright and shelved properly...I spied the catchy title of a paperback "How Starbucks Saved My Life". Naturally I was drawn to the book, as I love Starbucks coffee. The book was white and trimmed in kelly green...the traditional Starbucks colors. "Hmmm" I thought.."now what could this be about?"



Picking up the book, I read the back and was instantly hooked! I was already holding a copy of Anne Frank's, Diary of a Young Woman, and was basically on my way out of the store...but making one final round to see if I missed anything. I'm so glad I did make that one final round.

To my pleasant surprise, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was an easy read and the pages just flew by. The book is a true story written by Michael Gates Gill based on the details from his journals at a time when he was down on his luck...cast aside by the younger, up and coming executives of a company he had been so tenaciously loyal to for over 20 years. So loyal in fact, he always put the company and it's interests before his own wife and children...a mistake he realized a little too late.



The book starts at the point where he is fired from his job and has to find his way looking for a new career. He was in his early 50's and all of his experience was in advertising. For a while, he made his way, starting his own consulting firm, but soon found life spiraling out of control. His wife divorced him, business dried up, clients seemed to fade away, no one was calling anymore, money was tight, and even more scarier than that, he recently found out that he had a brain tumor.

Financially and emotionally broke, he found himself sitting in a Starbucks...drinking a latte...in his $2,000 suit, with his expensive leather brief case and his cell phone..still trying to look the part of a successful businessman...when he was suddenly asked a simple question..."would you like a job?" Much to his own surprise he found the word "yes" coming out of his mouth. The woman that asked him the question was a manager of Starbucks. She was conducting interviews that day hoping to find potential employees.

The story goes from there. This man, once a money hungry, pompous, Mr. Powerful Big Shot advertising executive, now had to humble himself...lower himself...and work a real, honest to goodness job! He had completely ran out of options. He was used to being served, and now he was doing the serving. He was used to calling the shots and giving orders, now he would have to do what his boss told him to do...someone 35 years younger than he was! A definite culture shock for him...but soon he becomes aware of what life really means...what's really important.



If you want to find out how this man fairs at his humbling job at Starbucks...at the age of 63...working with people much younger, stronger and quicker than he....and you want to see how a working a good, honest job at $10 an hour changes his life..then pick up a copy of "How Starbucks Changed My Life"...you won't be sorry!

P.S. After reading the book, I recently found out that this story is to become a movie! Tom Hanks is to play the main character of the story. Apparently, he was very interested! I tried to find a release date, but things seem a little unclear as to when it is due to be out. The only thing I can find is that it is "still in development". I hope it all pans out and that we will get to see this on the big screen. I would love to see Tom Hanks play this part! It would be fantastic!

book review: A Long Fatal Love Chase by Louisa May Alcott

Ok, I've been in the reading mood lately. I think because it's summer...and you always hear the phrase "summer reading".

Well, I went to one of those book exchange kind of places...if you're not familiar with the concept..here's what it is. You bring in your old books, any kind of book...paperback, cooking, history, childrens, etc...and they will give you "credit" for half of what the original price of the book was. Usually, you can find the price printed on the back. When you want to make a purchase from them, you can use your credit on 50% of your total. I love that place!! I find books that I wouldn't normally come across at a normal book store.

While browsing in the "classics" section, I found what I thought seemed to be the perfect, enticing summer read! The book is called "A Long Fatal Love Chase" by Louisa May Alcott. She is also most known for her famous book "Little Women". I found this book to be a quick read...I could never put it down! I always felt like I wanted to continue on. I don't think there was a boring part at all. The book was written in 1866...which, I thoroughly enjoy how they spoke back then...so proper! Also, men were men and women were women...men were gentlemen and women were put on a pedestal and treated with so much care and respect. It is really just amazing how our society has changed so drastically. I just really enjoy reading novels from that era...there's just such an innocence about it that I dearly love!



I will not give anything away, but here's a little tid bit:

A lonely young lady, just 18 years of age, lives with her aging grandfather. Having no friends or other family, she is dreadfully bored. Her days are spent reading and spending time with her grandfather who seems to care less of her presence.

One day, an unexpected visitor comes to visit her grandfather. The young woman is very intrigued by this man, for he has traveled the world and has had many wonderful adventures. The young lady soon finds herself drawn into his carefree life...a life of travel and riches...wanting nothing more than to feel free herself...to leave this lonely world all behind...to loved and be loved.

But...is this man someone she can trust? Is he a man of character? Can he make her happy all the days of her life? Wanting a life of excitement and adventure may be exactly what she gets...maybe a little more so than what she asked for!

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

Ok, that's all I'm going to say...read the book if you want to find out what happens to this young, passionate, naive woman. You won't be sorry!

Enjoy!

Next book review: "How Starbucks Saved My Life" by Michael Gates Gill
It's not what you think..it's not about a cup of coffee that is so good it changed someone's life...no not at all. It's actually a true story...I am almost half way through the book and very much enjoying it!!