Singapore is getting feisty so if I go private in the near future, you’ll know why.
Black bean soup for dinner. It was so cold walking Finn just now that our covered hands got cold. Snow due tonight.
I am determined to finish the Louise Erdrich book that I have been carrying up and down the stairs for so long it’s become a joke. It sits next to the bed while I do the puzzle. And then while I doom scroll. And then suddenly it’s time for lights out. It sits next to the couch downstairs all day long while I walk the dog or make soup or talk to you all here. Unopened.
It’s a good book (won the Pulitzer for Christ’s sake), just not a propulsive one. I hate that term “propulsive” for books but it’s useful here. This story is layered and fragmented and really good but decidedly NOT propulsive (ahem — remind you of another book?)
And one more thing. Can I just say? I can’t wait for January to roll on in just to make all the people who are sharing how many hundreds of books they read this year move on to other topics.
Good Tidings from Snowed in Maine….It’s been YEARS since we had this much SNOW!!! Trees are loaded and bending…. And just a few days ago A green lawn…
I’m envious. In the Metrowest area it’s been years since we had a big snow.
Never get a lot of snow here in New Mexico but always, in the thirteen years that we have lived here, there has been a smattering, sometimes more, for Christmas but not this year. today, you can go outside in a long sleeved t-shirt and no jacket. I never grew up with snow but when we moved to Leavenworth, WA, boy did I make up for it. It snows from October to April and I had such “fun” shoveling snow every day, sometimes twice a day. Still, there is something so magical about snow falling to the ground in December. Plus snow and cold goes hand in hand with making soup and I stared at my turkey carcass from Christmas dinner today and decided to wait until Sunday to make soup. Why Sunday? Well temps are supposed to drop about 20 degrees into the 40’s and that will put me in a soup making mood.
AND about people and their bragging rights about the # of books they read: I will never make any of those lists because I re-read books and savor them for a while. This month of December has found me reading one of my all time treasures, a book of Christmas Recipes and Memories from all over the world, gifted to me in 1989.
A little story regarding this book. As you know, my son in law is British and his Dad and I had a fond friendship and would email every month for years. One year for Christmas, he got together with his Dad and Mom and they sent us a box of foods from England, mince pies, candy, sausage rolls, and a very special sausage, Chipolatas. I was thrilled because one of the stories in my Christmas book was of an English Christmas, featuring sausage rolls and Chipolatas. “Chipolatas are small, thin sausages, typically made from pork, seasoned with herbs and spices like sage, thyme, pepper, and nutmeg, originating from France but popular in the UK and elsewhere as a breakfast or barbecue staple. They are known for their slender shape, often cooked quickly in a pan or on a grill, and are a key component of Christmas dinners as “Pigs in Blankets” in Britain.”
Memories are a way to keep warm those special times in our hearts and my Chipolatas are such a memory.
It was 15 degrees here when we walked Finn and I came home and emptied the freezer of a stowed chicken carcass and several bags of vegetable trimmings and got a stock going. Tonight it was black bean soup and it was delicious! I miss snow. It is less reliably a feature of winters here.
I read a lot. Just not exclusively books. Too much news. We watched the documentary about The New Yorker last night and it made me want to read the magazine at least a little (we get the paper copy and I have it online).
Anyway, I hadn’t heard of that type of sausage before. They sound delicious!
The soup looks so good, though being vegetarian I would adjust a little. Louise Erdrich has always been one of my favorite writers but I’ve not read The Night Watchman. I did read her most recent The Mighty Red and my disappointment was mighty, too. Stay warm!
It finally started snowing here. I’ll finish the book but I wish I had three weeks ago.
Dee~ Your critters are precious and bring the season to life! May you have many days of calm, ease and relaxation as we get ready to ring in a new year. May peace and sanity prevail. (((hugs)))
Yes peace and sanity prevailing sounds better than ever!
I had to look up what propulsive meant. It’s been awhile since I’ve read a good book .. with all the best books in my feed like you mentioned here I’m overwhelmed but hopefully I’ll find a good next read. Glad you enjoyed the holidays with family and are now resting. Despite getting all the vaccines I’ve been getting my ass kicked by a bad cold leaving me coughing half the night and lying in bed half the day. Not feeling sorry for myself I did get to spend Christmas with all my 5 grandkids Michael and my girls. So far no one has called to say I gave them my cold for Christmas. Sure wishing I had a good book to read .. oh well I think I’ll just take another nap.
Sorry to hear you’re under the weather. Flu and colds certainly going around. My husband seems to be coming down with his second cold in a month. Zicam time. He is napping now!
I listen to books when I go out walking. It works really well. I want to keep listening if it is a good book so I keep walking for longer periods. Win win. Book read. Exercise accomplished.
Great practice!