My Edible Garden

My new Vegetable Garden is planted! Ouch! I can't believe how sore I am from just squatting, bending and kneeling for a couple of days. If all goes well, I should be tasting the fruits of my labor this summer - corn, lettuce, onion, bell pepper, pole beans, eggplant, and  strawberries.This in addition to the other vegggies we already planted back in March and are now starting to eat - cucumbers, zucchini and carrots.

When returning some books to the library yesterday I picked up The Edible Flower Garden by Rosalind Creasy. I love the pictures, the easy planting instructions and preparation tips for eating each flower.

I already planted Johnny-Jump-Ups ( tri-color Violas) and placed a large pot in the Garden so that I can  plant some Nasturtiums ( both flowers are edible, the jump-ups taste a little like lettuce).
 I'm contemplating another area in my back yard to use solely for edible flowers. Who knew you could eat a Tulip or a Day lily? Well, I didn't.

I am enjoying From The Garden Up The Story of a First Garden by Amy Stewart, and after reading the chapter on compost ( don't let the chapter title scare you, it is an entertaining book), I'm considering running out and buying a few more bags. I'm not sure I'm up to the challenge of  a composter, but who knows, there may be one in my future.

Short and good.... How else can I read 100 books???

With everything else going on in my life why did I think I could read 100 books before the end of the year?
Well, I haven't given up, I think I can do it by augmenting my usual reads with some short but good books. I know their out there and though the Brown Eyed Girl's Book Club doesn't seek out books of any particular length ( though some members have thumbs down books for being a little too long, or have requested we give ourselves more time to read before we meet again) we have read books we have enjoyed that have been around 200 pages or less.

Memories of my Melancholy Whores by Gabriel Garcia Marquez was a favorite  read of mine and provided a good discussion as I remember. We read several of Alexander McCall Smith's books - Tears of the Giraffe, and The Kalahari Typing School for Men,  both enjoyable and also what I would consider a fast read. Having read Rudolfo Anaya's Bless Me, Ultima  in college as did most of my friends, we were happy to read his Serafina's Stories which entertained us with a number of cuentos/ stories told by the hero of the story Serifina, a Pueblo Indian in 1680 who by entertaining the Govenor with the stories wins the freedom of a dozen Indian prisoners.

So to better my chances of reading 100 books I will include the following  books (that I think won't dissapoint) on my to do list:
Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote, Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Sijie Dai, Shop Girl by Steve Martin, Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon, and Push by Sapphire.

If anyone can suggest any other fast but very good reads it would be appreciated!

A Day at LATFOB

I always enjoy myself at the festival . Many people get tickets in advance to see certain authors of interest but unless I really have to see someone, I and my brown eyed buddy check out as many booths as possible, peruse any books that catch our eye, and run into to authors, celebrity/authors, and activities at random.

We went on Saturday, and happened upon Jeff Garlin signing his book, My Footprints:Carrying the weight of the World, the Life of Pi Author Yann Martel signing his new book Beatrice & Virgil and Top Chef's Betty, C.J., and Stefan (you know who they are if your a fan of Top Chef on Bravo, like I am) in a quick fire challenge. We strolled through the Children's area, and saw Carl Reiner reading from his book, Tell Me a Silly Story , saw several Wayan Brothers, and Henry Winkler. We sat down to hear two author's speak and only because we happened upon them - Jeffrey Ross talking about his book, I only Roast the One's I love and Louis Gossett Jr. being interviewed by Pat Morrison and her Hat (I'm not kidding but the woman always has a hat on!) about his book, An Actor and a Gentleman. I know it's a take off on his movie An Officer and a Gentleman, but the title fits him to a T. Jeffrey Ross had everyone cracking up. I always feel funny laughing at people making fun of other's, but he is just too good at it!

We left the festival a little tired, but satisfied and ready to read!

                                             

Growing Inspiration

I've search for a book to to read that will compliment my garden activities this week, and I think I found it. From the Ground Up: The Story of a First Garden by Amy Stewart. Though I have a small area of my garden devoted to several types of vegetables, I've prepared a much larger plot and this Sunday I plan to start planting. I know I'll need a break ( probable a few) and that's when I'll start the book.    


I stopped by the Growing Experience in Long Beach yesterday for a little inspiration.  In celebration of Earth Day, I and everyone else who dropped by were offered delicious appetizers made from the garden produce. There were activities for the kids, and information about the garden and gardening in general. I did speak with Adriana who's blog, Anarchy in the Garden I will continue to follow. I received some bean and marigold seeds from her table, and will incorporate them into my garden along with the suggested corn.

I took a shot of some of their growing greens - and look forward to seeing my own in the near future.

It's Earth Day

My plans are to head over to an Earth Day celebration at the Growing Experience in Long Beach this afternoon. I got the heads up about it from Adriana at Anarchy in the Garden http://www.anarchyinthegarden.com/. I have been gardening for a while now, but only recently branched out into the world of vegetable gardening. Last year I grew tomatoes,some huge squash ( a little too huge), a few carrots, and a nice variety of herbs and raspberries. So far this year it looks like I have a nice bunch of carrots coming up, a smaller variety of zucchini, cucumbers, and  tomatoes. I have prepared an additonal plot of ground that would have been lawn, but now will hopeful produce something more useful. I'm hoping to get some good advice from the master gardeners that will be at the Earth Day event today!

Would a Brown Eye like Olive Kitteridge?

When ever I finish a book, I consider if I would recommend it to the Brown Eyes - would they like it, find something in it of merit - finish it?We have read many books as a book club, and most of our members are drawn to books that may hold some tragic elements, but don't dwell on the hurts and dissapointments of others.

Though Olive Kitteridge wouldn't be a book I would recommend for our club, I finished it accepting that there wasn't going to be a fix- to tie things up with a pretty little bow for any of the characters.  There were glimmers of hope, understanding and even love in the lives described by Strout that were enough to leave me feeling hopeful. Sometimes, as in this case, hope can be better than a happy ending.

Olive is bumming me out!

Just about finished reading Olive Kitteridge.  I had to take a break.  It's truly bumming me out, not because it's a bad book, but because I'm reminded on every page of all the ways people can hurt. I have to finish the book to see if anyone is spared from heartache!

Read and take care of a baby?

Busy weekend! Hands full with a 7 month old since Friday night. It was hard to give him up - those old maternal gut feelings sprung up ( like "he needs me", and "who will take as good care of him as me") when I dropped him off this morning. His Paternal Grand-Parents have him until Thursday, when his Mom and Dad return from a two year delayed honeymoon. He will be fine - I keep telling myself). I don't know how these blogging mothers find time to read all those books they write about, I only squeezed in about 30 pages myself during the time I had him.

To Kindle or Not to Kindle

I received a Kindle for Christmas. As I still have in my possession more than several books I have yet to read, I have been going back and forth between the device and the books. I do love the ease in purchasing what I want to read  the moment I want to, but it does take some getting use to, or least it did for me. I received it without a cover, so reading from a flat piece of metal, though sleek and light was kind of weird. I now have a cover which makes it easier to handle and I no longer fear it will be scratched. It is great to accumulate a library of books on  a device weighing only 10.2 ounces, but I still feel good holding a book, turning the pages, and admiring the cover illustrations that sometimes are the reason I'm drawn to a book in the first place.

I do like my Kindle (Thanks Mom) and will continue to use it, and on occation buy a book, if not only to have a place to put one of my many bookmarks!

The best Macaroons I've ever tasted

Macaroons....I don't even want to check how many calories I consumed of these last night. I torn this recipe out of a copy of the LA Times Magazine in 2002. Please note the fold lines and wrinkles. I don't bother to copy recipes - I just fold and stuff into my recipe box!

I guess you just can't have one. My daughter made some for relatives on Saturday - at their house. She brought one for me - I ate it - loved it - and couldn't stop thinking (out loud) about how much I wanted to have another one. Thus last night, my daughter in return for helping her prepare for her "simulation", made them for me. ( She is a nursing student and will be examining a newborn today under the watchful eye of a teacher that she is more than a little intimidated by.)
I ate three! I tried to avoid my husbands rolling eyes...but I noticed. But so what, they came out great, and I will only save a few and give away the rest.....I promise.

The recipe came from the magazine article written by James McNair and it's adapted from his book Afternoon Delights Here it is:
Coconut Macarrons
Makes 1 dozen cookies

14    ounces sweetened shredded coconut, about 4 cups
11/2   cups granulated sugar
1       cup egg whites (from about 8 large eggs)
1/2       cup all-purpose flour
2        teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/4        teaspoon salt

Line a baking sheet with kitchen parchment and set aside. In a heavy saucepan, combine all of the ingredients and mix thoroughly. Place over medium heat and cook, stirring constantly and scraping the bottom of the pan to prevent scorching, until the mixture is fairly dry and stiff, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
Using a #20 (1/4-cup) ice-cream scoop with a release mechanism, scoop up level portions of the mixture and place about 1 inch apart on the lined baking sheet. Transfer baking sheet to a 350-degree oven and bake until the macaroons are golden brown, about 20 minutes.
Remove the baking sheet to a wire rack to cool for about 5 minutes, then peel the macaroons from the parchment and place directly on the rack to cool completely. (Macaroons may be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.)
Enjoy!

The 2009 - 100+ Reading Challenge

I'm joining my first book challenge! I should have joined in January, but oh well, I have until December to complete the challenge.

1. The goal is to read 100 or more books. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.

2. Audio, Re-reads, eBooks, YA, Manga, Graphic Novels, Library books, Novellas, Young Reader, Nonfiction – as long as the book has an ISBN or equivalent or can be purchased as such, the book counts.

What doesn't count: Individual short stories or individual books in the Bible.

3. No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.

4. Crossovers from other reading challenges count.

5. Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2010. Books started before the 1st do not count. Go to Home Girl's Book Blog: The 2009 - 100+ Reading Challenge: Post Your December Reviews to join in.

My Books:
1.The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society  by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
2. This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper
3. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
4.Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer

I'll keep adding, but I better get a move on!

Book Selection for May

After a little bit of back and forth regarding length and interest, the Brown Eyed Girl's Book Club decided that for our next gathering we would read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. I haven't started - I'll wait till it gets closer to our next meeting in May. I just started reading Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout. It's starting out a little dark, but I like dark.

LA Times Book Fair

Pan Dulce coin purse from Xochico

My only purchase at the LA Times Book Fair last year was this coin purse. I bought three, gave one to my

Mom and the other two went to my Aunts. They loved them.  

Seeing Culture Clash was a highlight, especially for my Book Club Brown Eye who accompanied me. She stood in line to get sign copies of several of their CD's. We sat in to hear several authors speak, including Marlee Matlin. She is smart, frank and funny. The thing is I didn't buy one book! We browsed for hours, found a number of books that I knew I would buy in the future. What I came away with -  besides the conchas - was real pleasure from being in the mist of so many authors, and thousands of people that share my love of reading.

 We will be going to this year's Fair on Saturday April 24th. www.latimes.com/extras/festivalofbooks I'm really looking forward to it.

Saturday's Meeting

All went well at our book club meeeting this week. No drama....I guess there was enough at the last meeting. Everyone was on their best behavior and seemed to have come ready to enjoy and participate. There was plenty to eat, and the girls seemed pleased with the wine selections. I was glad that everyone seemed pleased with the reading selection (The Help), and  had something to contribute to the discussion.


Everyone agreed that they would recommend the book to others, as it was well written with character's and a story line one could connect with on an emotional, sociological and historical level. For us, all being Latina, the book did bring to mind  Latina women who even now housekeep and care for the children of other women and  continue to experience degrading and unfair working conditions.


One member recalled how her boss had been outraged that the housekeeper who she had let go ( she didn't like her ungrateful attitude) called the house to speak with the children to see how they were. This same women  had decided to reduce the wages of her current housekeeper as the housekeeper would no longer have to drive the children to school but yet,  asked the housekeeper to do additional chores around the house with the extra time. Another member suggested that someone give her a copy of The Help. I reminded them there would be no guarantee she would connect her behavior with anything she would read in the book. Miss Leefolt sure didn't when she read what had been written about her. The girls agreed.


We all had a good laugh though when the chocolate cream cupcakes were distributed. I can only hope the person who brought them didn't have any hard feeling against anyone there! You would have to read the book to understand.