I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith:
This book has skirted in my field of vision for the past several years: I'll see the title or hear something about it in passing and think I want to check that book out and then promptly forget all about it. Thankfully, I was reminded recently by an article titled 50 Great Books that Will Change Your Life. I do wish I had read this book as a teenager because I think I would have loved it even more than I did, because of the young age of our protagonist. But, beggars can't be choosers and I'm just happy that I discovered it at all!
17-year-old Cassandra is working diligently on her speed writing. To practice, she has decided to write about her life and her family, as things happen. Lucky for us, she has a very interesting life and a very eccentric family. They live in a centuries-old dilapidated castle, in poverty. Her beautiful older sister, Rose, is desperate to find a man and get some money. Their father, once a great author, holes himself up in the remote gatehouse, apparently reading novels all day. Topaz, their step-mother, thinks of herself as an artist's muse, but really just does the cooking and cleaning. Puppy-like admirer Stephen is shy yet hopeful that he can win Cassandra's love and admiration. Little brother Thomas seems like a studious background figure, until he proves himself to be a person with great intelligence and ingenuity. Life is pretty interesting with all these characters, but things get even better when the rich, young, handsome Cotton brothers move into the grand estate next door......
The novel is written in the 1st person narrative in a very clever way: Cassandra is practicing her speed writing (sorry to repeat that fact) and so her writing details things as they happen. Sometimes, she creates tension by purposely holding off on the story, such as "but shall I be able to write about the wicked thing I did on my birthday? Can I bring myself to describe it fully? Perhaps I can work up to it." Reading the book feels like reading a 17-year-old's diary - I really don't think the story would be quite the same if it had been written in a different style.
One thing I really loved about the book is its humor. Cassandra's insights and musings are full of character: "nobody has sent me a parcel since we quarrelled with Aunt Millicent. (The last one she sent had bed socks in it, most hideous but not to be sneezed at on winter nights. They are finishing their lives as window-wedges." Or, "....perhaps dear Mrs. Cotton will prove to be the teeniest fly in the ointment (I should like to know what fly was originally in what ointment.)". Not only is Cassandra endearing, but there are lots of funny moments in the story too - a mix up with fur coats and imprisoning the father, to name a couple.
This was a delightful story to get lost in for a few days. I must try to remember to slyly set down a copy of this book for our DDs when they get to be around Cassandra's age, leaving it somewhere that I know it will be picked up out of curiosity (on top of a box of cereal? Underneath the keys to the car?). They're going to love it.
-Cheryl
Monday, July 29, 2013
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Ice Cream Sundays - {rocky road}
Little Dude just turned 6 recently, and when asked what kind of ice cream he'd like on his big day, he said rocky road. I'm not sure where that came from, since I don't think he's ever had rocky road before, but hey, rocky road it is. I used the excellent chocolate ice cream recipe from The Perfect Scoop by David Lebovitz. I usually make it with half bittersweet and half semisweet chocolate, and it's always perfect!
There are instructions beneath the chocolate ice cream recipe on how to make rocky road ice cream, and it couldn't be easier: add chopped up toasted nuts (I used almonds) and mini marshmallows (I had big plans to make homemade marshmallows, but ran out of time and figured a little person just turning 6 wouldn't mind either way).
This rocky road rocks! Little Dude loved it - I have a feeling it will be requested again soon, way before his next birthday.
Speaking of birthdays, Ice Cream Sundays has been up and running for a year now (a whole year of delicious ice cream!). And it's been a blast sharing my favorite ice creams with you. Starting next week, Sundays will take a slightly different direction, one that I hope you'll enjoy just as well. I hope you'll stop by then!
-Cheryl
There are instructions beneath the chocolate ice cream recipe on how to make rocky road ice cream, and it couldn't be easier: add chopped up toasted nuts (I used almonds) and mini marshmallows (I had big plans to make homemade marshmallows, but ran out of time and figured a little person just turning 6 wouldn't mind either way).
This rocky road rocks! Little Dude loved it - I have a feeling it will be requested again soon, way before his next birthday.
Speaking of birthdays, Ice Cream Sundays has been up and running for a year now (a whole year of delicious ice cream!). And it's been a blast sharing my favorite ice creams with you. Starting next week, Sundays will take a slightly different direction, one that I hope you'll enjoy just as well. I hope you'll stop by then!
-Cheryl
Monday, July 22, 2013
Book Nook - Just Like Me Knits
Just Like Me Knits: matching patterns for kids and their favorite dolls, by Brandy Fortune:
It's been so long since I sat down and looked through a new knitting book, and doing so with Brandy Fortune's Just Like Me Knits was pure pleasure. While I have not yet knit any of the projects from the book, I think my knitting queue is about to expand!
The idea behind the book is to knit matching items for children and their dolls. I suppose you could outfit their favorite stuffed animal if they aren't into dolls (the Bachsters never played with dolls much, but have always loved stuffed animals). The Waldorf dolls in the book are adorable, and I can see how a little boy or girl would be thrilled to have a special handknit for them and their favorite doll. Of course, you could just omit all the doll patterns, and there are still a ton of wonderful items for your kiddos.
Of all the patterns, the one I like the best is a simple stockinette sock called the James Mixed Up Socks. As soon as I saw them, I thought how great it would be to make each of my Bachsters handknit socks for the holidays. Wishful thinking, I know, but I love that idea and I might just go for it. Hello, queue!
There are lots of cute sweaters and vests, hats, a skirt, a shrug - even a mermaid tail! I'm reminded, as I look through the book, that I should try to get more handknits on my Bachsters - they are growing so fast, and I should make the effort now, while their bodies are little and require less yarn! I'm kidding, but this is just the book that would inspire any knitter to grab their needles and knit up something special for a loved one.
-Cheryl
It's been so long since I sat down and looked through a new knitting book, and doing so with Brandy Fortune's Just Like Me Knits was pure pleasure. While I have not yet knit any of the projects from the book, I think my knitting queue is about to expand!
The idea behind the book is to knit matching items for children and their dolls. I suppose you could outfit their favorite stuffed animal if they aren't into dolls (the Bachsters never played with dolls much, but have always loved stuffed animals). The Waldorf dolls in the book are adorable, and I can see how a little boy or girl would be thrilled to have a special handknit for them and their favorite doll. Of course, you could just omit all the doll patterns, and there are still a ton of wonderful items for your kiddos.
Of all the patterns, the one I like the best is a simple stockinette sock called the James Mixed Up Socks. As soon as I saw them, I thought how great it would be to make each of my Bachsters handknit socks for the holidays. Wishful thinking, I know, but I love that idea and I might just go for it. Hello, queue!
There are lots of cute sweaters and vests, hats, a skirt, a shrug - even a mermaid tail! I'm reminded, as I look through the book, that I should try to get more handknits on my Bachsters - they are growing so fast, and I should make the effort now, while their bodies are little and require less yarn! I'm kidding, but this is just the book that would inspire any knitter to grab their needles and knit up something special for a loved one.
-Cheryl
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Ice Cream Sundays - {basil ice cream with honey pine nut pralines}
When I went to the Worthington Farmers Market a week ago (here's the link to the post), I brought home a big bunch of basil. It was so fragrant and plentiful, I used it in a couple of recipes, but still had a ton left over. What to do, what to do? Make ice cream, of course!
The basil ice cream recipe is from David Levobitz's The Perfect Scoop. When I first saw the recipe, I thought I should give it a try when I'm feeling a little adventurous. Then, I saw a basil ice cream recipe in Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams at Home that added honey pine nut pralines in the mix. I just had to try it!
So, the basil ice cream recipe is from The Perfect Scoop and the honey pine nut pralines are from Jeni's. They go fabulously well with each other: the ice cream has a hint of lemon, which pairs nicely with the basil, and the honey pine nut pralines add wonderful sweetness and texture (I loved that the pine nuts were sort of soft, too).
The pairing was so delicious, that DH insisted on taking some to a colleague at work (and they do culinary research & development, so they know their stuff). His colleague liked it so much, he took some home to his pregnant wife. Pregnant women know their stuff, too!
Now, I must get back to get to the Farmers Market to get some more basil while it lasts....so that I can make more ice cream!
-Cheryl
The basil ice cream recipe is from David Levobitz's The Perfect Scoop. When I first saw the recipe, I thought I should give it a try when I'm feeling a little adventurous. Then, I saw a basil ice cream recipe in Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams at Home that added honey pine nut pralines in the mix. I just had to try it!
So, the basil ice cream recipe is from The Perfect Scoop and the honey pine nut pralines are from Jeni's. They go fabulously well with each other: the ice cream has a hint of lemon, which pairs nicely with the basil, and the honey pine nut pralines add wonderful sweetness and texture (I loved that the pine nuts were sort of soft, too).
The pairing was so delicious, that DH insisted on taking some to a colleague at work (and they do culinary research & development, so they know their stuff). His colleague liked it so much, he took some home to his pregnant wife. Pregnant women know their stuff, too!
Now, I must get back to get to the Farmers Market to get some more basil while it lasts....so that I can make more ice cream!
-Cheryl
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Visions of Metro Parks exhibit
For those of you in the Columbus, Ohio area, come check out the Visions of Metro Parks exhibit, which runs through Saturday, July 27th. The exhibit is at the High Road Gallery in Worthington, in a really neat old house. There are some seriously beautiful and inspiring photographs of scenes in the Metro Parks of Columbus. I have a couple of nature shots in the exhibit, my first time participating.
Don't live in Columbus? Can't get to the gallery? Here's the link to all the photos on flickr. Enjoy!
-Cheryl
Don't live in Columbus? Can't get to the gallery? Here's the link to all the photos on flickr. Enjoy!
-Cheryl
Thursday, July 18, 2013
The Farmers Market
Last weekend, I had the opportunity to head out to the Worthington Farmers Market, one of the larger farmers markets here in Central Ohio. I can't believe that I haven't visited this particular market up until now, as it is my favorite! (Here is my post from last year's market.)
What fun it was! As always it was so crowded but in a great way, like this is the place to be way. It makes me so happy seeing so many people buying from local farmers!
I did the market by myself, and all in one trip - I just didn't feel like making a pit stop to drop things off at my car. So, by the time I was all done, I was carrying the following: a few pounds of grass-fed beef, a couple of pounds of pastured pork, a pint of blueberries, a peck of peaches, half dozen ears of corn, a big bag of green beans, a big bunch of basil, a bunch of kale, a bunch of beets, a zucchini, a bunch of nectarines, a quart of maple syrup and a frozen cold pack. I'm amazed that I was able to hobble to my car carrying all that stuff!
Oh, and my camera....I also had my camera:
-Cheryl
What fun it was! As always it was so crowded but in a great way, like this is the place to be way. It makes me so happy seeing so many people buying from local farmers!
I did the market by myself, and all in one trip - I just didn't feel like making a pit stop to drop things off at my car. So, by the time I was all done, I was carrying the following: a few pounds of grass-fed beef, a couple of pounds of pastured pork, a pint of blueberries, a peck of peaches, half dozen ears of corn, a big bag of green beans, a big bunch of basil, a bunch of kale, a bunch of beets, a zucchini, a bunch of nectarines, a quart of maple syrup and a frozen cold pack. I'm amazed that I was able to hobble to my car carrying all that stuff!
Oh, and my camera....I also had my camera:
-Cheryl
Monday, July 15, 2013
Book Nook - Annie Leibovitz At Work
Annie Leibovitz At Work by Annie Leibovitz:
I really messed up: last Fall, the Wexner Center here in Columbus, Ohio had an exhibit of Annie Leibovitz's portraits, and I never made it. I had all the best intentions of going, even had the ad for the exhibit posted on the fridge. But life (or laziness) just got in the way. When I was chatting with a fellow photog and he mentioned that he had gone, I was resolute to at least take a peek at some of her most famous portraits, including the session with Queen Elizabeth II that my friend had told me all about.
Hence this book, Annie Leibovitz At Work. Yes, just about all her famous portraits can be found here. But what's even better than viewing all the portraits are the stories behind them that she shares on just about every shot in the book. Anyone interested in photography would do themselves a favor to read this book, because she reveals so much of the process behind her work, the technical details and, perhaps most importantly, the things she learned along the way.
Leibovitz recommends that photographers do their homework: if you are photographing a dancer, for instance, check out that person's performance, study all that you can ahead of time about that person. Now, this advice is most applicable to photographing celebrities, but it could certainly be applied in many areas of photography (I'm thinking nature photography especially - learn all you can about dragonflies, for example, if that's what you're shooting. Portrait photography and editorial photography can also benefit from that advice).
Sometimes, it's just a random interesting thought that morphed into an iconic shot. When she photographed The Blues Brothers, she pondered how interesting it would be if they were actually painted blue. Sometimes, her research led her to these interesting thoughts, like when she watched Whoopi Goldberg's stand up comedy act and thought about photographing her in a tub of milk based on a part from Goldberg's act. Time and time again, Leibovitz invites us in to her creative thought process, and shares with us what she learned from specific shoots and specific celebrities: "John [Lennon], who was a legendary figure, someone I revered, taught me that I could be myself."
In addition to sharing almost 200 photos and the insights and processes behind them, Leibovitz also discusses her evolution with equipment, and 10 most-asked questions. Also, there's a really impressive chronology of her professional accomplishments and awards.
Perhaps I did myself a favor after all by missing out on the exhibit. Reading the stories behind the photographs and hearing the lessons she's learned has greatly enriched the experience of viewing her portraits. As DH and I always say, sometimes it pays to procrastinate.
-Cheryl
I really messed up: last Fall, the Wexner Center here in Columbus, Ohio had an exhibit of Annie Leibovitz's portraits, and I never made it. I had all the best intentions of going, even had the ad for the exhibit posted on the fridge. But life (or laziness) just got in the way. When I was chatting with a fellow photog and he mentioned that he had gone, I was resolute to at least take a peek at some of her most famous portraits, including the session with Queen Elizabeth II that my friend had told me all about.
Hence this book, Annie Leibovitz At Work. Yes, just about all her famous portraits can be found here. But what's even better than viewing all the portraits are the stories behind them that she shares on just about every shot in the book. Anyone interested in photography would do themselves a favor to read this book, because she reveals so much of the process behind her work, the technical details and, perhaps most importantly, the things she learned along the way.
Leibovitz recommends that photographers do their homework: if you are photographing a dancer, for instance, check out that person's performance, study all that you can ahead of time about that person. Now, this advice is most applicable to photographing celebrities, but it could certainly be applied in many areas of photography (I'm thinking nature photography especially - learn all you can about dragonflies, for example, if that's what you're shooting. Portrait photography and editorial photography can also benefit from that advice).
Sometimes, it's just a random interesting thought that morphed into an iconic shot. When she photographed The Blues Brothers, she pondered how interesting it would be if they were actually painted blue. Sometimes, her research led her to these interesting thoughts, like when she watched Whoopi Goldberg's stand up comedy act and thought about photographing her in a tub of milk based on a part from Goldberg's act. Time and time again, Leibovitz invites us in to her creative thought process, and shares with us what she learned from specific shoots and specific celebrities: "John [Lennon], who was a legendary figure, someone I revered, taught me that I could be myself."
In addition to sharing almost 200 photos and the insights and processes behind them, Leibovitz also discusses her evolution with equipment, and 10 most-asked questions. Also, there's a really impressive chronology of her professional accomplishments and awards.
Perhaps I did myself a favor after all by missing out on the exhibit. Reading the stories behind the photographs and hearing the lessons she's learned has greatly enriched the experience of viewing her portraits. As DH and I always say, sometimes it pays to procrastinate.
-Cheryl
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