I had to look a little harder for my #100HappyDays, but found them in little furry friends, a good book, and a quiet Friday evening with my husband. I'm trying to share photos daily on Instagram. Saturday was day 60! Search for lakesidemusing if you'd like to follow along.
Read last week// I finished Beyond the Pasta; Recipes, Language and Life with an Italian Family by Mark Leslie. The combination of travel diary and cookbook is almost always a hit with me. My plan is to have a review ready for Saturday's Weekend Cooking post.
Currently reading// I'm making good progress with An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser. It's nearly 900 pages (a fact that's easy to overlook with an ebook) and I've finished the first third. The read/listen combination is working well, and relatively short chapters make me more likely to pick it up even if I have only ten minutes to spare. The story is very good, too!
Starting soon// I got into a nice routine last week reading An American Tragedy at odd moments during the day and Beyond the Pasta in the evening. A less demanding book is perfect for before bed, so I'm considering adding an Agatha Christie to the mix (Katherine has tempted me!) or possibly Big Little Lies. I'm at the top of the library hold list for Liane Moriarty's latest and am hoping to get it sometime this week. Both books look good...
On the blog//
Tuesday Intro: Beyond the Pasta by Mark Leslie
Review: The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
Review: The Ship of Brides by Jojo Moyes
Weekend Cooking: Grilled Peaches with Rosemary & Balsamic Vinegar
In the kitchen// Besides the grilled peaches mentioned above, I tried another recipe from Weber's Real Grilling for Trish's Cook It Up cookbook challenge - Tandoori Ckicken Kebobs. I'll post my review of the cookbook on September 6. We also had Indonesian Grilled Swordfish this week, courtesy of Ina Garten.
Looking ahead// Our house will fill up again for Labor Day weekend. Twin A returns from Paris on Wednesday (I'm hoping Icelandic volcanic ash does not become an issue), then she and Daughter #1 will take the train up from NYC on Thursday. After a quick unpack, repack, and a lot of laundry, Twin A returns to college on Saturday. Daughter #1 is with us until Monday.
Today// The sun is finally shining again. I'm going to get out there and enjoy it! Happy Sunday... I'll catch up with you later this evening.
This post will link to It's Monday, What Are You Reading? hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.
I hope you have a much better next week - it does sound like it will great! I have to check out An American Tragedy. It looks to be a good book. 900 pages would put me off though. I'm reading another 1000 page book right now, so I'll look at this one next.
ReplyDeleteAthira - Books that long are really a commitment on the part of the reader, but I'm really enjoying An American Tragedy.
DeleteThose grilled peaches look so delicious! I grew up surrounded by groves of peaches and assorted nuts, etc., and then worked in canneries as a teenager. It took a long time before I found peaches tempting...LOL.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your week...Hope the next one is better. Here's MY WEEKLY SUNDAY/MONDAY UPDATES POST
Laurel-Rain Snow - I'm sure an experience like that would put you off peaches for quite a few years, lol! It's a beautiful day today, so this week is already starting on a high note.
DeleteI'm drooling over the peaches...I must try this recipe! Hope you're feeling better and that next week plays out to your liking.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog.
Catherine - I may just have to pick up a few more peaches this week! Hope you have a good week, too.
DeleteI read An American Tragedy as a precocious teenager long time ago and love it. I recall the last third or so is the court room drama. I love court room drama....
ReplyDeleteJames - This book was actually given to me by my high school English teacher (35 years ago!), but I never got around to reading it. Now the print is too small so I donated it to the library and went the digital route... much better for my aging eyes! I'm really loving the book so far and appreciate the local aspect.
Delete900 pages!! Wow, that makes my head spin. ;) I'm glad the story is good and holding your attention!
ReplyDeleteDiane - Strangely enough, it doesn't feel like 900 pages... at least, not yet. It's really a great story.
DeleteWell you know what book I recommend! Murder is Announced is a good one - a Marple if I remember correctly. I've added Beyond Pasta to my wishlist. It definitely looks like my kind of book! Enjoy your swordfish - I'm not a huge fish eater but an Ina recipe has never let me down! I'm glad you're enjoying An American Tragedy. I'll have to add it to my list for next time! I look forward to seeing your thoughts for the book as a whole. Hope Twin A returns home with no problems! Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteKatherine - I ended up starting A Murder is Announced last night and am at the 7% mark now... Christie is wonderful! I'm taking Beyond Past to my mother this afternoon so she can read it before it goes back to the library.I'm sure she'll love it, too. Ina's recipes always turn out for me... I really need to buy her cookbooks!
DeleteHeadaches are the worst! I hope you won't have to deal with another one for a good long while. Fingers crossed that this week will be much better than the last one.
ReplyDeleteVasilly - Have had a head-achy day like that in a long time - yuck! This week has definitely started off on the right foot :)
DeleteEnjoy the sunshine and hope that your head is feeling better! Sometimes just a quiet night in and some relaxing is nice but the worst is when you want to read but can't because your head hurts so badly!
ReplyDeletee-readers have become my favorite for longer books. Even though it doesn't seem to help my speed as it does with other bloggers, longer books do seem much more manageable when you're not constantly seeing how many pages you have left.
Those peaches look so delicious!!
Trish - It's strange, but I actually prefer ebooks now. So much lighter, more portable, and the adjustable font helps, too! I'm going to have to stop buying so many books at the library sales...
DeleteI know just what you mean JoAnn! I've been trying to be more conscientious about buying physical books lately because I do so prefer e-reading.
DeleteTrish - But who can pass up a book sale? Kind of like the thrill of the hunt... ;-)
DeleteDoes the weather change give you headaches? It does sometimes with me, also pollen. Hope that all goes away. And 900 pages. Hmmm. It would have to be like the best book ever written to convince me to read something that huge. Big Little Lies isn't a short book but is really a fast read. You know me, slowpoke, and I read it three or four days. It is pretty compelling and true to Moriarty, spot on.
ReplyDeleteSandy - Hmm, I hadn't considered the damp, yucky weather in relation to the headaches, but it's certainly possible. Back to gorgeous weather today - at last!! I'm shocked at how much I like An American Tragedy... we'll see how the next 500 pages goes ;-)
DeleteI'm so sorry for the headache - I know how that feels, as migraines have sidelined me many times. I'm glad you're doing better, and I hope you are having a wonderful time visiting with your girls. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm off to put the new Moriarty on hold at the library - I hope they have it!
Carrie - It's been a long time since I've had a migraine like that. Hopefully it won't happen again for quite a while. I really hope I get the Moriarty book from the library this week. Time seems to go even slower once you get to the top of the list, lol!
DeleteI hope this we is great for you and you enjoy your time with your family.
ReplyDeletePat - That doesn't happen as often these days, so I'm sure we'll all enjoy the time together. Hope you have a good week :)
DeleteI just started Big Little Lies on audio...not loving it so far. The characters are driving me crazy...just like The Husband's Secret and What Alice Forgot! Those grilled peaches look fantastic - I grill them sometimes and drizzle with a little honey and sea salt at the end. Missed Weekend Cooking this weekend b/c I'm on vacation.
ReplyDeleteSarah - I haven't read Moriarty yet and was lucky to be one of the first ones on the hold list for Big Little Lies. I'm also on the list for The Husband's Secret, but a ton of people are ahead of me there! Will be curious to see if the audio grows on you.
DeleteI'm going to get more peaches today, so I'll be able to try them with honey next time. My husband wants them with ice cream!
I would go for the Agatha Christie! I just read And Then There Were None last week, and I really need to read a lot more of her. Wow, grilled peaches! :)
ReplyDeleteJennifer - And Then There Were None is the only Christie I've read, but it was wonderful! Decided to read the first couple chapters of A Murder is Announced last night and have high hopes for that one, too.
DeleteIs this the same volcano that erupted the year Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein, the year without a summer?
ReplyDeleteBeyond the Pasta sounds awesome!
Quixotic Magpie - Hmm, I don't know. But since I haven't heard much more about it, I'm assuming she won't have a problem Wednesday.
DeleteHOW did I not realize An American Tragedy is that long???? But I loved Sister Carrie so much, I don't even think I care. But still. !!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteAndi - Now I have to go look up how long Sister Carrie is! Have a feeling I'm going to want to read that, too.
DeleteI am not a Dreiser fan -- but hope you love it. Can't wait to hear about that Pasta book and about your grilling recipes! Hope this week is more relaxing.
ReplyDeleteBeth F - I hit the 40% mark today and really love this book. I'm shocked!
DeleteMy reading was slow again this week but I'm hoping to get to Big Little Lies next week. Looking forward to your Beyond the Pasta post on the weekend. Hope this week is a much better one ... enjoy the sunshine and happy reading!
ReplyDeleteTeddyree - Thanks! This is the third day in a row of sunshine... hoping we can eek out another. My mother is reading Beyond the Pasta now and I have a feeling she will love it, too.
DeleteSounds like great family time coming up, good for you. Enjoy! I've been thinking of reading some Christie too, and I agree- Katherine's enthusiasm for the queen of mystery has got me thinking about revisiting some of her books (I've only read a couple). Good time of year for it coming up..
ReplyDeleteBig Little Lies sounds good too (and I like that title!). Hope you had great weekend.
Greg - Katherine's enthusiasm for Christie is definitely contagious. I started A Murder is Announced last night and really like it!
DeleteI hope the ash does not delay your daughter's arrival. Enjoy your time together. I was hoping all the kids would come home for Labor Day weekend, but they've made other plans ;(. Looking forward to Big Little Lies.
ReplyDeleteNise' - I haven't heard anything more about the ash, so I'm hoping it's no longer an issue. It will be nice to have everyone home at the same time!
DeleteThose peaches look amazing. I've got a case of peaches coming any day now and I'm definitely going to have to give that a try. Did Twin A have marvelous Paris stories to share when she got back?
ReplyDeleteLisa - Her stories and photos made me want to visit Paris more than ever!
Delete