Share Your Shelf-February

Hello readers. It's the first Thursday of the month which means it's time to talk books. Here's what I read in February-

1. All The Colors of the Dark by Chris Whittaker

I liked this book, but thought it could have used a bit of editing. A little on the long side, unnecessarily in my opinion. Still a really good read and I enjoy Chris Whitaker's writing. I read one of his earlier books which I also really liked-We Begin at the End.

Back to today's book...Patch is a boy (when the story begins) from a small Missouri town. He witnesses a girl being kidnapped and intervenes, which results in his own kidnapping and subsequent obsession with a girl called Grace he believes is held captive with him. A childhood friend (Saint) makes it her mission to find Patch and uncover the mysteries surrounding his disappearance. There's much more to the 'case' but I don't want to spoil the plot for anyone who might want to read. Four stars for me. 

2. City of Night Birds by Juhea Kim

I love ballet, and in this novel ballet is the star. City of Night Birds is the (fictional) story of Natalia Leonova, a one time prima ballerina whose career was halted by injury. She returns to St. Petersburg two years later to face her past, and consider whether a return to the Russian ballet world is possible. The book portrays so well the cutthroat world of professional ballet at the highest level, the emotion, athleticism, ambition, and company politics that are part of it all

I loved this book, and the author's vivid portrayal of the world of professional ballet. And now I want to book tickets to a performance somewhere soon. I gave it four stars. 

3. The Southern Killer by Peter O'Mahoney (Book #3)

Hubs and I listened on Audible and we both enjoyed it. The narration in this series is good. This is book three in a six- part series, and in this one we're given much more information about the lawyer Joe Hennessey's son's murder two decades ago. 

In The Southern Killer Joe agrees to defend 18-year old Alicia Fenton, a young woman accused of murdering her step father. Alicia's biological father (Cleveland) is serving life in prison and has information Joe wants relating to the murder of Joe's young son 20 years ago. Cleveland says if Joe will take on his daughter's case then he'll tell him what he knows about Joe's son's murder, a case that has never been solved. In these books there are usually two cases Joe is working simultaneously, and they sometimes intersect in unexpected ways. That's true in this one as well. 

I really like the Charleston and Upstate South Carolina settings in these novels, the characters are well drawn, and the plots engaging. Another 4 star book for me. Read these novels in order if you decide to pick one up. 

4. The Wedding People by Alison Espach 

There was a lot of hype around this book and I have to say I enjoyed it a lot. Not a brain strain by any means, but engaging and populated with a variety of interesting and mostly enjoyable characters. 

Phoebe Stone is a recently divorced, extremely depressed, young woman who checks in to a luxurious hotel on the Rhode Island Coast. The hotel has been completely rented out by an over the top and very wealthy bride-to be for the week of her wedding. Somehow one room slipped through the reservation cracks and Phoebe is given that room. 

She checks in to the hotel with the intention of having one final big hurrah before ending her life. Shortly after checking in she encounters the bride, and then goes on to connect with 'the wedding people' in ways she didn't anticipate. The story advances from there.  While there are some heavy topics covered, the author has done so with a light hand, humor, and emotion. 

A fun read...three stars for me. 

5. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

So this is a love story? Hmmm....

I decided I wanted to read (or re-read) a classic piece of literature every month this year. I hadn't read Wuthering Heights since high school and it was fun to re-visit. 

First things first, the vocabulary Emily Bronte uses in telling this Gothic tale is just amazing. I love it. 

Secondly, in this novel the setting (the North Yorkshire Moors) is very much a character. 

The story is darker than I remembered, but so well written. The plot centers mainly around the relationship between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff, an orphan taken in as a child by her family. When Catherine chooses to marry Edgar Linton, Heathcliff is determined to get revenge and starts down a long path of bringing misery and destruction to everyone in his life. He is a master manipulator, cruel and vindictive. 

Again, this is a love story? 

If you've never read Wuthering Heights, or it's been a good long while, go read it or read it again. Books hit you differently at different points in your life and classics are classic for a reason. Five stars for me. 

So what have you read lately that you'd recommend.? You can add your own reviews to the Share Your Shelf link up hosted by Jenn (My Joyful Life),  Joanne (Slices of Life), Marilyn (Memphis Bridges), and Tanya (The Other Side of the Road) the first Thursday of every month. Happy reading! 

Forward, Hodgepodge!

Hello Hodgepodgers and hello March! 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 you love most about March? 

Probably the longer daylight. 

Honestly March is not my favorite month.  It might even be my least favorite. The weather has trouble deciding if it's still winter or truly spring, pollen here starts to fall in earnest, and the month feels so long. 

2. Hey! Did you know March is National Celery Month? Do you like celery? What's something you make (or like to order out) that calls for celery? 

I do like celery and mostly have it chopped in various dishes as opposed to just grabbing a stalk to eat. I love celery in chicken salad and tuna salad both, probably my favorites in terms of recipes that call for celery. 

My hubs does not like the smell of celery. He'll eat it no problem,  but he doesn't want to smell a big bunch of celery when he opens the frig. 

3. _______________ is the soundtrack to my life right now. 

Little people chatter, the Yoto player, giggling, the dishwasher running, the washing machine running, the dryer running, 'Nana I'm hungry...what can I have?'...you get the idea

4. Share a favorite motivational quote for overcoming challenges. 

"Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God." Corrie ten Boom

5. The Hodgepodge lands on Ash Wednesday this year. Do you participate in Lent in some way? If so tell us more. 

I grew up in a denomination that focused more on Easter than specifically marking the season of Lent, but as I've gotten older I've grown to appreciate the act of really focusing on the weeks leading up to the Holy day itself.   

I typically opt for a daily reading, something specifically written for the season of Lent, but haven't managed to get my act together to do that this year.  Hubs and I are doing The Bible Recap together all year and that's been a commitment I've enjoyed and am learning from. 

If you're not familiar with The Bible Recap I highly recommend. You read through the Bible (chronologically) in a year's time, a couple of chapters or sometimes more each day, followed by a very brief recap hosted by Tara-Leigh Cobble. The podcast portion is ten minutes or less but so informative. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

'Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." Psalm 51:10

Tap Tap...Is This Thing On?

I was looking back at my recent posts and they're pretty much all Hodgepodge all the time, and I guess that's because life here lately has felt a bit 'hodgepodge'. Here's some of what we've been up to in February.

Well there's been no down time lol. 

We pretty much just drop where we are these days. The 'kid's are still here with us, and while I'm not in charge of the littles there is still so much that needs doing on a daily basis. I know my daughter manages all the everyday type of household and childcare chores on her own on the regular, but we're all here together so we're trying to help where we can help. 

They're somewhat unpacked here, but they also have bags in the garage and some stashed in the storage room, and things in the attic all of which hey've needed to access since the weather has warmed up. Everything else they own is still in storage and I know they are just so ready to be settled into a home of their own. 

Waiting is sanctifying. Patience is grown in seasons of waiting. I explained to my oldest grandson recently that we learn to wait by waiting. That even when we feel like nothing is happening God is always working out His perfect plan for our lives, which might even include something as simple as what house we will live in next.  

making lemon bars with my granddaughter using lemons picked right off our tree 

Hubs and I know this time together is a gift. Yes it's exhausting, and yes everyone will be glad to resume (or establish) more normal routines, but we also know love that runs deep, that sense of security and precious relationship are built moment by moment. I keep that thought front and center and am so grateful for all these moments. 

marshmallows in the firepit

In other news...I'm buying a lot of groceries. A lot. The first couple of weeks the total was shocking, but now I'm just like whatever. We're not eating out much so I'm sure it all balances out in the end. My daughter and I have been going to the store together and sharing the cost and when we finish paying and combine our two receipts we both kind of gasp. 

Besides all the meal planning and meal making and meal clean up there's laundry and our usual weekly commitments with volunteering, real estate-ing, dinners with friends now and then, and grandchildren wanting our attention. It's nice that we can fill in whatever gaps need filling. We can keep an eye on the 2-year old while momma showers, make breakfast for the whole big hungry crew, I can be available to stay with the kids while the parents run with hubs to look at a house or two, that sort of thing. My son-in-law has a birthday this week and we told them to go out to dinner one night. Alone. Happy birthday!

Speaking of real estate...there's not a lot on the market here currently. They found a house they wanted (mostly). It wasn't perfect, but we've all let go of perfect, and the house was warm and lovely and only 2 miles from us. It was overpriced and the seller wouldn't come down enough to make it make sense so it wasn't meant to be. 

Hubs and I have bought and sold a lot of houses over the course of our married life, and whenever we house hunt I tell myself if it doesn't work out for whatever reason then it's not our house. It can still be disappointing though, as you really need to imagine yourself living in a place before you make the offer, and once you do that you can't help but get excited thinking a place might be yours. 

Typically this is the time of year where the market picks up and we're hoping that's the case this year too. I've enjoyed seeing some of the homes they've considered and we've taken the kids to a couple too. As my daughter says, 'it's good to know the kids can be happy in any house' ha! While mom and dad don't mind a few projects some of these homes are in need of far too much reno. One was also in desperate need of a thorough scrubbing (shudder!), but the kids look around and claim bedrooms and check out the outdoor space and declare it all GREAT!  

Besides all the busy-ness with extra peeps in the house, hubs and I have been working to wrap up our tax organizer, secure a beach house for a summer holiday, track down the covers we need for our outdoor furniture before the pollen really falls, finalize plans for a wine dinner for 20 we're hosting with another couple, manage a huge tree removal from the backyard (these tree guys are amazing)...

 ...and honestly about a hundred other 'things' both large and small. 

We've also had some friends dealing with a really hard thing that's left both hubs and I feeling a little bit down. And then there's America, mad all the time and filled with so much bickering and whining my brain hurts from trying to understand how we've gotten to the place we're in and can we even find our way out? Is this the new normal???

Daffodils are blooming. 

It needs to be said.  Spring is a reminder of so much goodness...hope, beauty, warmth, light, forgiveness, new growth, fresh starts...

Last week some friends invited us to join them for a couple of days in North Georgia at an Air B & B they'd rented in a pretty little vineyard (Buckley for anyone local reading this). 

What a fabulous get away and a beautiful venue! The cabin was so well appointed and the view could not have been nicer. There's a screened porch that overlooks the river and you can make the short walk over to the tasting room if you feel like it. 

We drove down on Tuesday and once we'd dropped our bags we headed in to Ellijay for lunch. 

We sat outside and had a fun waiter who loved to talk. Hubs and I split a salmon BLT and an order of Brussel sprouts and the summer-like day called for a glass of Rosé. 

We came back to 'our' winery after lunch and enjoyed a tasting there in the sunny sunshine of the vineyard. 

We had dinner 'at home' both nights we were there, courtesy of our friends as she had done most of the prep work at home. Easy peasy, for us anyway. Tuesday night we played cards after dinner and talked and it was just so nice to be with friends we've known since college. We've lived a lot of life with these two and they are definitely our people. 

Wednesday we drove into the nearby town of Blue Ridge and meandered through some of the stores we enjoy. I bought these imported Italian chocolates with balsamic which might not sound good but trust me, they are super delicious! 

The center is soft and nougat-like and the balsamic isn't overpowering but it's definitely there. The taste is somewhat similar to a chocolate covered cherry, not as sweet and minus the liquid you get with those. 

We grabbed lunch on yet another patio, sharing a charcuterie board and a small flatbread pizza. The weather was absolute perfection both days.

After lunch we made our way to a hillside winery called Roo Mountain Vineyard.  

Their tasting room is beautiful (no kids allowed here) and their outdoor space has an absolutely gorgeous view. 

It was hard to peel ourselves away, but we eventually managed that and spent the pre-dinner hour sitting beside the fire pit behind our sweet little cabin. 

There were more cards after dinner and we crashed pretty early. Everyone was up and on the road to head home after breakfast on Thursday. 

It was a perfect little break. 

When the noise in your head grows a bit too loud tell it to hush and get yourself outside...

With friends you've known forever. 

I highly recommend. 

This post is linked with the Hello Monday party hosted by Holly and Sarah. Hop over there to read more or add your own weekend recap to the blog list. Also, because I haven't spent much time online this past week my reading list is long. I likely won't get back to read the posts I've missed so if you wrote something recently that was great, newsworthy, funny, or even only slightly interesting let me know and I'll hunt it down.  Enjoy your day! 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 592

Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog then hop back here on Wednesday (March 5th) to share answers with the internets. See you there!

1. What do you love most about March? 

2. Hey! Did you know March is National Celery Month? Do you like celery? What's something you make (or like to order out) that calls for celery? 

3. _______________ is the soundtrack to my life right now. 

4. Share a favorite motivational quote for overcoming challenges. 

5. The Hodgepodge lands on Ash Wednesday this year. Do you participate in Lent in some way? If so tell us more. 

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

Once Upon A Time There Was A Hodgepodge

Welcome to the last Hodgepodge in February. Has the month moved fast or at more of a snail's pace for you? I thought the first half of the month flew, but these last couple of weeks have slowed way down. March is always a tough month in terms of the weather because we're ready for spring, but winter likes to make an appearance now and then too. It's a good month for a get away which is not in the plans here, but probably should be. 

It's time to share answers in our weekly link up. If you've answered today's questions, add your link at the end of my post, then go say hey to your neighbor there. Here we go-

1.February 26th is National Tell A Fairy Tale Day...have you read a fairy tale lately? What's your favorite fairy tale? Do you believe in 'happily ever after'? 

I have read a couple of fairy tales recently since we have littles in the house with us currently. Most recently I read Three Billy Goats Gruff. The boys love when I make different voices for the three goats. My personal favorite is Cinderella. 

Do I believe in happily ever after? 

Perhaps not in the traditional sense of a fairy tale, but I believe I'll meet Jesus in heaven one day, so yes. 

2. Complete one of the following sentences with a thought relating to your life currently-

• Once upon a time___________
• A long time ago________________
• In a place far far away__________

Once upon a time the world didn't come to us with the click of a button and we were all less exhausted by society in general. The end. 

3. Which of the following 'fairy tale foods' is your favorite? Which have you made/eaten most recently? 

porridge/oatmeal (Goldilocks and The Three Bears), an apple (Snow White), a gingerbread cookie (The Gingerbread Man), pumpkin soup/pie/bread (Cinderella), peas (The Princess and the Pea), beans (Jack and The Beanstalk) or a cup of tea (Alice in Wonderland) 

I have a busy week so I'm actually writing some of my answers on Saturday, the same day I wrote the questions. I made oatmeal for breakfast Saturday so that's the most recent. I drink a cup of tea every day and had a gingerbread cookie on Thursday. My favorite of the items listed would be tea. Life wouldn't be nearly as nice without it. 

4. What's your idea of fun? 

A day on the lake, and make it a weekday when boat traffic is at a minimum

A float party with friends
A road trip somewhere new, maybe a drive into the mountains, or to visit family or friends. 
Dining al fresco

An evening of cards with friends
Porch time with my people
A hike in the woods, especially if it's a trail we've not been on before. 
A trip someplace I've never been

5. Next week's Hodgepodge lands in March. Is that right? I guess so.  Give us one noun, one verb, and one adjective that tell us something about your February. To make you think a little harder, you cannot use the words cold or snowy. 

noun-conversation hearts...I've eaten a ridiculous amount of these little goodies this month

verb-doing...there hasn't been a lot of sitting this month, no naps on the couch, no leisurely cups of afternoon tea or morning coffee, just lots of doing (laundry, grocery shopping, cooking, picking up, planning, driving, etc)

adjective-shivery...without using the word I said we couldn't use I want to say it has been the very opposite of warm here 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I have been scarce on the blog recently but we are living life here and I'll eventually get back into my regular posting routine. Whatever my regular posting routine was? 

In the meantime here's a couple of pictures from the air b & b we've been sharing with friends for a couple of days-

"Adopt the pace of nature. Her secret is patience." Ralph Waldo Emerson 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 591

Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here on Wednesday (Feb 26th) to add your link to the party. See you there! 

1. February 26th is National Tell A Fairy Tale Day...have you read a fairy tale lately? What's your favorite fairy tale? Do you believe in 'happily ever after'? 

2. Complete one of the following sentences with a thought relating to your life currently-

• Once upon a time___________
• A long time ago________________
• In a place far far away__________

3. Which of the following 'fairy tale foods' is your favorite? Which have you made/eaten most recently? 

porridge/oatmeal (Goldilocks and The Three Bears), an apple (Snow White), a gingerbread cookie (The Gingerbread Man), pumpkin soup/pie/bread (Cinderella), peas (The Princess and the Pea), beans (Jack and The Beanstalk) or a cup of tea (Alice in Wonderland) 

4. What's your idea of fun? 

5. Next week's Hodgepodge lands in March. Is that right? I guess so.  Give us one noun, one verb, and one adjective that tell us something about your February. To make you think a little harder, you cannot use the words cold or snowy. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

A Puzzler Of A Hodgepodge

Welcome to another 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 the blogger before you. Or all the bloggers before you if you've got the time. Here we go-

1. Many of our earliest presidents created words or expressions widely used today. Teddy Roosevelt is credited with mollycoddle, pack rat, frazzle, and loose cannon...which of those words/phrases currently relates to your life in some way? 

Hmmm...none truly apply at the moment. We try not to mollycoddle the grands and I'm married to the opposite of a pack rat so neither of those work. Am I frazzled? A teensy bit, mostly about three or four semi-large bits of paperwork/organization I need to take care of, but just can't seem to get to. 

I guess I'm going with frazzle. 

2. Have you visited many (or any) of the US Presidents homes, monuments, libraries or related sites? If so what's been your favorite? Are there any you particularly want to see? Here's a link to presidential sites listed by state which is kind of fun to read-Presidential Places by State. And since several bloggers who participate in the HP each week live outside the US, here's a link to Presidential Places Outside the US. Have you seen any of those? 

I've lived a fair chunk of my life on the East Coast, with easy access to many historic and presidential sites. I'm not sure I can even list them all but...Mount Vernon, George Washington's Birthplace, the capitol building in Annapolis, the capitol building in Austin Texas, the capitol building in Richmond Virginia (all of these buildings have a lot of statues relating to Presidents), Monticello, Independence Hall in Philadelphia, allllll the Washington D.C. Presidential memorials/monuments, the White House, the U.S. Capitol building, Arlington National Cemetery (JFK and William Taft are both buried here) and then further west the LBJohnson Library in Austin TX, and the Reagan Library in California. 

3. February 20th is National Cherry Pie Day...will you celebrate? Given your choice of cherry pie, cherry cobbler, cheesecake with a cherry topping, or black forest cake which would you choose? 

I'm not opposed to celebrating but someone would have to bring me the cherry pie because I also have no plans to bake one. I like all of the desserts mentioned so it would kind of just depend on what I was in the mood for at the time. Right now I'd go for the pie or cobbler. 

4. Last time you worked a puzzle of some kind? Something that had you puzzled recently? 

I worked a puzzle with my two oldest grandsons over the weekend. It was a map of the United States. 

Something that's had me puzzled recently? 

AI, 4D printing, the size of our galaxy, and hypocrisy in politics among other things

5. Of the early blooming flowers (January-early March depending on your zone) which one's your favorite? 

snowdrops, lenten roses, pansies, violets, snapdragons, reticulated iris, crocus, winter jasmine

Do you have any of these in your own yard/garden? 

I love them all...how do you choose a favorite flower? We had snowdrops in our English garden and they're definitely a favorite, but I don't have any here. We have lenten roses and iris in our garden and I sometimes have pansies, violets, and snapdragons in pots but currently do not. I love iris and they always make me think of my mom who used to have an enormous bed of iris in one corner of our yard. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

This year I'm trying to bake all the cakes on the Southern Living calendar. They suggest one for each month and I mentioned January's cake in a post here-Buttermilk Cake. 

I made the February cake on Sunday-Raspberry Molten Chocolate Cake-

before baking

This was scrumptious! Normally lava cakes are made in ramekins and baked individually, but this version was baked in an 8 x 8 pan, and it was really easy. 

I wondered if you'd get the 'lava' texture and you definitely do. This cake needs to be eaten pretty soon after  removing it from the oven, and needs a  scoop of vanilla ice cream on top as it's quite rich. It's surprisingly light too, and sooo good! I'll absolutely be making this one again.