book club - Sex and Vanity by Kevin Kwan

 2020-32

 

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Lucie glanced covertly at the people seated around her.  She loved checking people out and making up stories in her mind about them.

 

painted rocks

 Spotted this Spring on a walk - 

book club - Summer of '69 by Elin Hildebrand

 2020-31

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"But name calling is for the weak. Actions are for the strong.  Got it?"

Being responsible for her own happiness, she has realized, is a lonely proposition.

She squeezes Jessie's hand, and for the first time ever in her life, Jessie understands that her mother is real.  It is a revelation.  Her mother is a human being who feels pain - sadness, loneliness, confusion.  Jessie thought all grown-ups lived in a different atmosphere, one that was like a cool, clear gel.  

i made an omelette!

I've watched a few episodes of Selena and Chef on Crave, and it's a pretty fun show.  The premise if you haven't seen it is that professional chefs teach a non chef how to cook - over video chat.  Truly a made for a pandemic tv show.

I've had a couple of favorite episodes, but the episode with Chef Ludo Lefebvre was the top for me, because now I know how to make a real omelette.

When I was a kid my mom had one of those omelette pans that was 2 separate sides and hinged in the middle.  I don't think it really gave her the results she wanted, because I don't remember her using it a ton, but I do remember not being very excited about omelette breakfasts because the outside of the omelettes were always browned, and I HATE eggs that are cooked so long they brown.  Hate hate hate.  And because of that I never made them at home or ordered them at restaurants.  

But!  The recipe he showed Selena cooked quickly and didn't brown and I was so interested to try it, so I did, the very next morning.

You guys, making an omelette is so easy.  So easy!!!!!  I made 3 practically perfect omelettes in almost no time at all.

My favorite part might have been the filling - boursin cheese, which we happened to have in the fridge, yay, a cheese that the chef called something like "the velveeta of France."

 I've made them a few times now and they turn out lovely every time.  

If you've never tried to make one before you should!

Ludo Lefebvre's omelet recipe at Bon Appetit

Ludo Lefebvre's youtube video 

Spotted Sign

 

book club - The Heir Affair by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan

 2020-30

 

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"Men are weak, but women are not.  We aren't afforded that luxury."

I was never a religious person, although I hoped the afterlife existed; all those artists and warriors and thinkers and lovers seemed awfully wasted if their only point was to kiss the earth once and leave.

"It's unrealistic to expect to find peace in the arms of someone else if you can't find it within yourself."

"A person is always the hero in their own story, and thus an unreliable narrator."

my favorites in october

 Did I have any true favorites in October?  No.  But I'll take this opportunity to share some photos and stuff.

First - a bunch of stuff I listened to/watched on my phone while I worked.  I'm still working from home, and working weekends, and it gets lonely in the basement.  Sometimes it's nice to hear talking, although I'm sure when I go back to the office I'll be inwardly furious each time someone talks near me.

 

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Some baking and cooking that happened - 

Tomato Relish, to use up some of the tomatos ripening in the basement with me while I work

Buns!

Rice Krsipy Treats made with Mars Bars instead of marshmallows and then topped with chocolate

CLT bagels for breakfast

Apple Muffins

Thanksgiving dinner, including broccoli rice casserole from Pioneer Woman

And Thanksgiving dessert!  Pumpkin Roll cake and David Lebovitz's chocolate mousse 

New tea, which came with a pretty little scoop that made me happy

book club - The Memory Wood by Sam LLoyd

 2020-29

 

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"There are people on this earth," Annie says, "that have no business walking it."

spotted sign - Davison Orchard September 2020

 

book club - My Sister, The Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

 2020-28

 

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When she is older, she will remember him as her first love.  She will think of how perfect his crooked nose was, and how soulful his eyes.  But even if she forgets his face, his voice will stay with her in her dreams."

Ayoola lives in a world where things must always go her way.  It's a law as certain as the law of gravity.

Covert Farms Family Estate

One of the highlights of our Summer was a visit to Covert Farms in Oliver.  

Covert Farms is an organic farm and winery run by the same family for 4 generations.

Their farm and location are absolutely stunning, and for a couple of hours I got to pretend my dream of living on a farm had come true.

Covert has a few options when you visit them - you can do a wine tasting - they have different tastings to choose from, or a couple of different farm tours.  We took the Hands on Harvest Tour.

 Our tour started at their beautiful outdoor patio which has a lovely view of the outdoor entertainment area and lawn game area, including a bouncy trampoline like thing the kids were desperate to get to.

Our very friendly guide first took us to meet the dogs and Delilah the pig, as well as some chickens and ducks.  We fed the llamas and got a peek at the new baby llama too.

Then we climbed in the back of the super cool farm truck and started the driving part of the tour.

In addition to learning about grapes, vines, wine, and their winery in particular, the scenery was incredible.

Beautiful!

We stopped by the farm portion of the property and our guide gave us our own bags and boxes to pick blueberries, blackberries and peaches.

We ended back at the patio for our tasting.  Since I don't drink, The Mister quite enjoyed his doubles of everything.

Our wines came with a charcuterie board which was so delicious.  Don't worry, the kids weren't left out.  They got to do a juice tasting and had their own charcuterie board.  They drank the juice, ate some strawberries and crackers and then ran off to play with Delilah and jump on the trampoline.

The few hours we spent there was truly one of the best parts of our Summer, possibly the year!  If you enjoy wine or farms or delicious cheese or beautiful locations, this is a good spot to visit.

Covert Farms Family Estate

book club - The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan

 2020-27

 

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"But it doesn't give you license to sit here and wait for life to find you.  It just means you can survive whatever is out there."

my favorites in september

 I will NOT talk about how quickly September flew by.  I will not.

On Prime -

Golden Girls

On Crave - 

Veep

Jann

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 We are trying Hello Fresh!

I need some breaks somewhere and getting some help with meals and groceries sounds wonderful to me.  We had our first order this past week and not only did we love all 3 meals, we had leftovers from all 3, including the one we served to 5 people instead of 4 when The Grandpa came over.  We won't use it every week, but I am already excited to get another order in a few weeks.

 

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Cucumber Mint Cooler from David Lebovitz

 

 

Whipped Frozen Lemonade from Eating Well

My current favorite hot sauce

 

My current favorite hot sauce on a bagel with garlic cream cheese and cucumber

My current favorite hot sauce on a BLT bagel

A very, VERY excellent read on the "leader" of the US and what it really means if you support it -

The Consequences of Your Actions