Oh Hey Monday

Good Monday morning everyone. How was your weekend? Ours was good, low key, and felt summery thanks to the weather.  

Friday evening we had friends coming over for a 'dinner cruise', which was going to be mainly hors d'oeuvres and snack-y type foods that could easily be eaten on the boat. Then we shifted gears and decided not to bother lugging all the food onto the boat, and instead relaxed on the patio which was really nice. 

We had cold shrimp, cheese and crackers, fruit skewers, pasta salad served in cups, and then hubs grilled two ribeyes because he can't help himself. They were delicious! He cut them into cubed sized pieces for easy dining. 

Did I snap a picture? Nope. 

But I baked peanut butter cookies earlier that day, and those did come along for the ride. 

The weather was lovely and we putzed around the lake, looking at houses and all the new things people have done over the winter months. Mostly we just enjoyed the perfect evening air. 

Saturday morning we decided to kayak. Sounds simple, right? And it would be if we left the little brown dog at home, but where hubs goes he goes, especially if the lake is involved. 

Here's how kayaking looks with a dog, or rather how preparing to kayak looks...

The kayaks hang on the side of our bridge so it takes hubs a minute to move them onto the dock. I watch because I'm not helpful in this endeavor. Nor is the little brown dog, who whimpers and paces and goes right to the edge of the dock and considers jumping in. Then he whimpers some more because there is nothing more exciting than the thought of getting on and in the lake. 

Hubs gets the first kayak on to the dock and the pup hops in to that kayak like he's the captain. But at least he's momentarily not in the way. I put the steps down and the pup hops out of the kayak and into the water, which honestly is better because this takes his adrenaline down from a hundred to maybe eighty. 

He is soon back on the dock because he's not missing this. Hubs gets the second kayak down while I hold the dog, then he gets my kayak in the water. This is almost too much for the pup to take, but so far so (mostly) good. Hubs holds the dog while I get myself into the boat which is now in the water. 

Then hubs has to release the dog in order to get himself into his boat, and because the little brown dog is afraid he'll be left behind he launches himself off the dock, and starts swimming for my boat. Hubs yells for me to paddle fast and get away from the dock. It's quite something. 

Hubs gets himself launched and chases us until he reaches the dog. We have our pup in a life jacket made with a handle on the back for this very reason. Hubs helps him up into his kayak and we're off. The little brown dog sits right on top of hubs until he's sure he's actually coming with us and then he at long last relaxes. 

We kayak across the water over to an island with a little beach, and as soon as we're reasonably close to the island hubs lets him jump in and swim the rest of the way because this is what he lives for. 

And y'all. It is like this every.single.time we take the kayaks out. There's much less drama with the paddle board, but we wanted to kayak. It's more of a workout than it needs to be, but also a lot of fun and the dog is just so funny to watch. His excitement puts you in a good mood. 

Saturday was such a pretty morning on the water, and when we got back to the dock I actually got in the lake for a minute. The water is still a little cooler than I like, but the air was really warm so it felt good. 

We're in our outdoor shower era. The view from the shower is on point-

We had some lunch, then I chatted on the phone for a while, and we watched some baseball. We're all in on the College Baseball World Series, and our favorite team was still in it although they lost on Saturday. Sunday too, but I'm still talking about Saturday. Hubs grilled brats for dinner and there were crazy thunderstorms later,  so I was happy to be home with no where we had to be. 

Sunday was church followed by brunch right after, then more baseball. I worked on my blog and read and we watched the Vols lose another game to Arkansas, so they're out of the series which is disappointing.  

We have a busy couple of weeks coming up, so a low key couple of days felt just right. What were you up to this weekend? 

Linking with Holly and Sarah for their regularly scheduled Hello Monday blog hop. Feel free to add yours to the party too. Have a great week everyone~

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 606

Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here on Wednesday (obviously), June 11th, to add your link to the party. See you there! 

1. June 10th is National Herbs and Spices Day. Besides salt and pepper what herb or spice container do you reach for most often? Is there a spice you truly dislike? What's a recent dish you made that called for more than salt and pepper?  

2.  It's been said 'variety is the spice of life'...in what way is this true for you? Elaborate. 

3. What's something in your life that adds 'spice' (excitement, intensity) even if also comes with challenge or unpredictability? 

4. If you could instantly master one skill or hobby, what would it be and why? 

5. We're halfway through the year...what's one book, movie, or activity you've loved this year that you'd recommend to others? 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Share Your Shelf-May

It's the first Thursday of the month which means it's time to share what we read the month prior. May was a mix of fiction, non-fiction, memoir, and classic. I listened to one (very long) book on Audible, but the rest were read in hardback copy. 

I'm still trying to read one classic each month, and I've also inventoried my Goodreads 'want-to-read' list, and am reading at least one that's been sitting there a while too. Years in some cases. Okay, here we go-

Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra 

Starting off with a doozy, so strap in.

A few months ago, I bought tickets for my daughter and me to see the ballet Don Quixote as part of her birthday gift. My husband has had the novel Don Quixote on his to-read list for a while now—he’s big on biographies, particularly of presidents, world leaders, and military figures. Oddly enough, this fictional Spanish knight keeps popping up in those circles. According to my source, aka the Internet, leaders admire Don Quixote for his unwavering commitment to his ideals—even when those ideals seem ridiculous, misguided, or doomed to fail. Interesting.

Especially because the book is actually quite funny.

I don’t remember ever reading Don Quixote before, but I knew I wanted to experience the story before seeing the ballet. Given its reputation and historical context—not to mention that it's set in 17th-century Spain—I figured audio was the way to go. It's 40 hours long, so there's that.

I chose to listen solo since my husband and I weren’t going to have enough shared car time to get through it before the ballet. (He can start it whenever he wants now—I’ve done the heavy lifting.)

Often described as the first modern fictional hero, Don Quixote debuted in two parts, published in 1605 and 1615. The novel is not only one of the most translated books in the world but also among the best-selling. It’s widely considered the first modern novel.

The story follows the adventures—or more accurately, the misadventures—of Alonso Quixano, a minor nobleman who reads so many tales of chivalry that he loses touch with reality. Believing himself a knight-errant, he dons an old suit of armor, renames himself Don Quixote de la Mancha, and sets out to revive knighthood and serve his country. He’s accompanied by Sancho Panza, a down-to-earth farm laborer who becomes his squire and constant foil. The contrast between Quixote’s lofty delusions and Sancho’s dry pragmatism is the heart of the book’s wit.

The first part of the novel does require some sticktoitiveness—but it’s worth it. As an aside, I'm really glad to have read the book prior to seeing the ballet, although I think you could enjoy the ballet either way. My daughter and I both loved the show and felt they captured the essence of the book very well. The ballet, including intermissions, was a little over two hours. 

The Heart of Winter by Jonathan Evison

This is the story of a long marriage with all its ups, downs and sideways. The author weaves past and present together as we follow Abe and Ruth, a couple who've been married for seventy years, and who've called Bainbridge Island their home for nearly all of that time. Through a series of present day events and past experiences we watch as they navigate parenthood, tragedy, infidelity, sickness, and more in their long life together. Abe and Ruth are opposites in nearly every way, yet their marriage has endured. 

This book came with a lot of hype and five star reviews but it was just okay for me. I loved the premise and there was a lot of honesty I thought when it came to how aging was portrayed, but I didn't find Ruth or Abe all that endearing. Especially Ruth.  

Also, the kids? I didn't think we were given enough of their back story to really care about any of them. They were lacking something. 

I definitely enjoyed the present day storyline more than the look back. This one started off strong, but felt flat in the middle. The author wrapped it up pretty nicely in the end. Three stars for me.  

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

This is one that's been sitting on my Goodreads 'to-be-read' list since 2012. Yup. A long time. Coincidentally my book club is reading this book for our June meeting so it was an easy pick from my long list. 

Question for you...how does your book club choose books? We vote on ours after everyone has submitted two or three titles for consideration, and then will have the entire year's calendar laid out up front. We like this format which allows you to read ahead if you want to do that. Unless it's a classic we don't normally read something I'll call newly old. But someone suggested it, and the title received a lot of votes since it seemed most in our group had not read it. We do try to read one non-fiction book each year so this one also fit that bill. 

Henrietta Lacks or He La as she's known to scientists, was a poor African American tobacco farmer who,  while a cancer patient at Johns Hopkins back in 1951, had her cells taken from her without her knowledge. These cells became the first 'immortal' cells grown in culture and are still alive today, decades after Henrietta's death. Her cells became one of the most important tools in medicine and were key to developing the polio vaccine. In addition her cells have led to advances in cancer treatments, cloning, and gene mapping, along with many other gains in the fields of virology, medicine, and science. 

The family has not benefited in any way from the use of their mother's cells, and the issues of informed consent, patents and profits, and medical ethics are all things we continue to grapple with today. 

In terms of non fiction the book is written in a relatively easy to read fashion. There was more science than I was expecting, but it held my interest. There are essentially three parts to the book, although they're not labeled as such. We have Henrietta's personal family history, there's the medical piece, and finally there is the author chasing down the story. Skloot developed a close relationship with one of Henrietta's daughters, and she inserts herself into the story in a way that didn't feel quite right to me. 

Interesting, thought provoking, and still very relevant...four stars for me. 

Lasting Ever: Faith, Music, Family, and Being Found by True Love by Rebecca St. James and Cubbie Fink

I've liked the music of Rebecca St. James since she first became popular way back in the 1990's. I'm also a fan of her brother's music (King and Country).  I saw her book as I was checking out of Hobby Lobby recently, and hubs and I had just watched the movie about their family (Unsung Hero) so it caught my attention. 

I will say up front I'm not the demographic for this book, Their story is aimed more at young adults, women especially, who are navigating the world of relationships and also singleness. Rebecca and her husband both delve in to what it has meant to lean in to God's promises and His love for us, in both the good times and the hard times too. Their book details how they met, and we hear Cubbie's side of the story too. In some spots it felt a little saccharine, but they seem genuine so that didn't bother me. Many who know them in real life say they are exactly as they come across in the book. 

Rebecca was at one time, more or less the face of the True Love Waits movement, a movement that was g was taken to extremes by some, and was used in harmful ways by others.  All of that is addressed in the book.   

Three Days In June by Anne Tyler

Anne Tyler has a gift for taking the ordinary experiences of life and making them feel a little less ordinary. She creates stories you enjoy reading and this 165 page novella is no exception. 

Gail Baines is a 61 year old woman who walks out on her job after she's passed over for a promotion mostly, she's told, because she lacks 'people skills'. She's never been told this before and it both surprises and wounds her. 

That's day one of three days in June, which will also include her daughter's wedding, and her ex-husband turning up with a cat, but no wedding suit. Just before the rehearsal the bride shares with her parents something about her fiance that has them feeling conflicted, and this all combines for a heart warming humorous tale with far more depth than expected. 

I love Anne Tyler's writing and this novella with it's quirky yet relatable characters, managing life amidst a wedding weekend, is another winner.  Four stars for me. 

So what have you been reading? What's next on your to-read list? Hop over to the host blogs (My Joyful Life , Memphis Bridges, The Other Side Of The Road, and Slices of Life) to see what others are reading too. 

A Hodgepodge By Any Other Name...

Welcome to June and this week's edition of The Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for your neighbor there. Here we go... 

1. What do birthdays look like in your house? How are they celebrated? Any special traditions? What about birthdays growing up? 

If you've followed me for any length of time then you know I love celebrating birthdays, especially my own. True story. 

I also like to make the day special for my girls, my grands, and my hubs when their birthdays roll around. There will definitely be cake (or sometimes pie for the hubs) and I'm a fan of balloons to make things festive so there will always be balloons. 

And definitely a birthday card because I still love to write wishes inside a card. I also like to make a favorite or special meal if I'm celebrating with family in person. 

I love a theme and hosted many a themed birthday party for my girls when they were growing up. We enjoyed coming up with the theme and then adding lots of detail to make it happen. 

Oh and my favorite birthday parties are home parties with a made from scratch cake. A venue now and then is okay, but I love the coziness of a home party.  The big thing for me and birthdays, my own or someone else's, is I want the celebrant to feel like they were thought about ahead of their special day. 

As far as tradition goes, hubs always gets me a chocolate cake with raspberry filling and a chocolate ganache on top. 

Growing up I had birthday parties some years and others it was just family. My mom always made me a German Chocolate cake which is still a favorite. I remember feeling loved and special on my birthday which is how I want everyone to feel on their birthday. 

2. Someone is sending you a dozen roses...what color are you hoping for? Are you someone who gets accused of seeing the world through rose colored glasses? Is your accuser correct? Elaborate. 

If hubs is sending me roses they're most likely yellow as those have always been one of my favorites. I also really love the roses that are a little bit pink and a little bit peach. I think they're called Tiffany. 

I've often been told I wear rose colored glasses to see the world, but I'm okay with that. I'm a total optimist and I own that. Do I know the world isn't always rosy? Absolutely. But I'm always going to be the person looking for the silver lining, the bright spot, the rose amidst the thorns.  

3. June 4th is National Cheese Day...will you celebrate? What's something (besides a burger) you make in the summer months that calls for cheese? 

Since cheese is a favorite here I have it in some form most days. In the summer months my favorite is probably a Caprese salad with vine ripened tomatoes, basil from my garden, and sliced mozzarella with salt, pepper, and a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic glaze. 

4. 'tis the season...any weddings on your June calendar? What's the first word that comes to mind when I say marriage? 

We have just one wedding on the summer calendar and it happens to be in June. I love weddings and look forward to celebrating newly marrieds. 

The first word that comes to mind when I hear the word marriage? Trust. 

5. What are you most looking forward to this June? 

We have a lot on the June calendar to look forward to including the above mentioned wedding, catching up with friends we haven't seen in several years en route to said wedding, my daughter's birthday, a grandson's third birthday, our anniversary, Father's Day and celebrating all the wonderful dads in our family, and of course lake time. 

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

Have you watched the short documentary film on Netflix called The Quilters? If not I recommend. It's the story of prisoners who learn to quilt and then go on to make quilts for children in foster care, autistic children, and others. It's only about thirty minutes long, too short actually because you want to know more...definitely worth viewing.  

Hola Monday

Hello friends and hello June. We're halfway through the year which seems crazy because I feel like Christmas was yesterday, but here we are. Question-is it a sign of aging when you constantly talk about how fast time is moving? Possibly. 

We had a nice weekend and here's how that looked-

The sun shone and that seems worth mentioning. Not every minute, but there were some really pretty moments. 

Friday morning I made a trip to the grocery for a few things then spent the afternoon in the kitchen. I did not take many pictures because when I bake I get caught up in whatever I'm doing and forget. True story. I baked a batch of chocolate chip cookies (using m & m's) to give away, and also a blueberry pie to take to dinner at the neighbors. My neighbor asked me to bring dessert and the blueberries are really good right now. 

I make my mom's recipe which instructs you to mash one pint and leave one pint whole. I think this makes the pie so good, because you get some actual berries mixed with the fruit filling and the texture is delightful. This recipe also calls for a whipped cream topping as opposed to a double crust and I definitely prefer the whip. 

Do I have a picture? Sort of. Here's proof I use my pie weights-

My neighbors had a childhood friend and her husband in town and invited us to join them for dinner. The weather was nice and we ate on their porch, then played our favorite card game inside. 

And ate blueberry pie of course, of which there is no picture. Carry on. 

Saturday morning hubs and I went to a funeral, a lovely service for a truly lovely woman. We got home and hubs left pretty much right away to go to a real estate open house. I read some, then did more cooking for a dinner I was dropping off later that evening. 

My son-in-law and the boys were at the house when we got home from the service which is always a sweet surprise. They were paddle boarding, then my daughter dropped by a while later with Little Miss and we sat on the porch chatting for a bit. Such a treat to have a daughter close enough to drop in. 

Sunday was a sweet sweet day. We went to church, then right after Daughter1 and I left in my car to go into the nearby city to celebrate her birthday. I truly cannot remember the last time I got to celebrate a birthday with her in person, and we made the most of it. Her birthday isn't until next week, but her hubs made plans for them on her actual birthday, which is also nice. 

Almost as nice as an afternoon out with your momma. 

This girl has always been a gentle graceful woman child who loved ballet. She's the one in front, so serious about her dance. She started ballet as a tiny tot and kept at it until she graduated from high school. Other forms of dance too, but the last few years focused solely on ballet.  I always loved watching her dance. 

For her birthday this year we had a girls day. We started with brunch in the nearby city, or jazz and Jesus as my daughter called it. There was a jazz trio playing and singing in the lobby of the restaurant and their playlist featured jazzy versions of some very well known hymns. I've never heard a jazz version of Blessed Assurance before, but we did on Sunday and it was good! 

We toasted to another year with this venue's version of a Bellini. Not quite as good as Harry's in Venice but still delicious. We couldn't make up our minds about what to order and decided to split two of their entrees. Both were wonderful. 

I ordered the crab cake Eggs Benedict with pepper jack grits (yum!) and my daughter ordered the lavender scented brioche style french toast with an espresso mascarpone cream, maple syrup and bacon. We both love french toast but knew we'd want something savory to cut the sweet and the eggs were perfect. I will definitely be trying to recreate that espresso cream at home. 

The french toast was a lot and even splitting the order we only ate half. After brunch we walked a little, browsed the downtown bookstore for a bit, then walked over to the nearby venue to see the International Ballet's performance of Don Quixote. 

The music was wonderful and the costumes were colorful and so so lovely. And the dance was just amazing. They make it look so easy and we know it's not easy. 

It's been too long since either of us have spent an afternoon getting lost in a ballet, too long since we had a mother-daughter day date. We loved every minute. I know we were celebrating her birthday, but it felt a little bit like a gift to me too. 

Linking today with Holly and Sarah for their regular Monday morning weekend recap party. So what were you up to this weekend? 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 605

Here are the questions to this week's Hodgepodge. Hop back here on Wednesday (June 4th) to add your link to the party...see you there!  

1. What do birthdays look like in your house? How are they celebrated? Any special traditions? What about birthdays growing up? 

2. Someone is sending you a dozen roses...what color are you hoping for? Are you someone who gets accused of seeing the world through rose colored glasses? Is your accuser correct? Elaborate. 

3. June 4th is National Cheese Day...will you celebrate? What's something (besides a burger) you make in the summer months that calls for cheese? 

4. 'tis the season...any weddings on your June calendar? What's the first word that comes to mind when I say marriage? 

5. What are you most looking forward to this June? 

6. Insert your own random thought here.