Good morning from southwest Florida. We were out early this morning for our weekly trip to the farmers market - in February. What a treat! This certainly isn't central New York. We bought fresh seafood, meat, and poultry for the week, as well as vegetables, a baguette, and a ball of homemade mozzarella. We'll grill the fish and roast some veggies tonight, but I'll need to come up with a menu plan for the rest of the week.
Next up is a walk on the beach, lunch, and an arts festival. I could get used to this...
Now for the books.
After finishing The Warden by Anthony Trollope last Sunday, I decided to read some nonfiction and picked up Tolstoy and the Purple Chair: My Year of Magical Reading by Nina Sankovitch. That was just an okay book for me and now I'm having trouble settling into anything.
Some Luck by Jane Smiley is on my kindle and will disappear in two days. No such thing as an overdue ebook ;-) It's the first book of a planned trilogy (more a negative than a positive for me) and after about ten pages, I'm not ready to commit to the story. I am willing to give it a little more time, but a trip to the library is on tap for tomorrow... something else may catch my eye. If not, there's always airplane mode.
On audio, I started An Unnecessary Woman by Rabih Alameddine. I really liked the beginning but have not had much listening time, so will reserve judgement for now.
My reading seems to be floundering this weekend.
On the blog//
Other than my Tuesday Intro post of An Unnecessary Woman, the blog has been quiet. It's time to buckle down and write some reviews.
In the kitchen//
My father-in-law was under the weather this week, so I tried a new recipe for Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup from Cooking Classy. He didn't eat much of it, but the rest of us liked it a lot.
Anticipating//
My sister and brother-in-law arrive on Saturday. Next week is her winter break and they're more than ready to escape the snow and cold. As much as I love spending the winter in paradise, I miss having my family around. I know we'll all have a great time together.
I'm also looking forward to another installment of Downton Abbey tonight. There can't be many episodes left...the season is ending far too quickly.
What are you reading today?
This post will link to It's Monday, What are you Reading? hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.
Oh, how I'd love to go to a Farmer's Market right about now!
ReplyDeleteKathy - I'll be there every Sunday for as long as we're here!
DeleteI hate that floundering feeling. Hope you find the perfect read soon.
ReplyDeleteDeb - I went to the library and came home with six random choices. One should do the trick!
DeleteA walk on the beach in February. Sounds so good. Enjoy the grilled fish today!
ReplyDeleteAm reading J. Winspear's new book, an ARC of A Dangerous Place. Not bad, a mystery set in Gibraltar.
Harvee - I like her books... look forward to herring more.
DeleteIt's Mardi Gras down in Galveston, or I'd be tempted by our warmer weekend to drive down to the beach. I hope you can settle on a book soon! And the Farmer's Market does sound wonderful. The ones around here are during the week, so I never get to them. Happy Sunday!
ReplyDeleteLisa - We're luck to have markets on Saturday at home and Sunday here. It's become a tradition for us. I went to the library today and am excited about several of the books I checked out... am sure one will do the trick!
DeleteThe Warden ... and christening my new slow cooker. A healthy corn chowder from America's Test Kitchen - so far, it looks wonderful. :) With another foot (or two?) of snow on the way, I'm channeling summer.
ReplyDeleteAudrey - Hooray! You decided tot get a slow cooker! How did the corn chowder turn out?
DeleteAll this talk of the farmers market has made me hungry!
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy your reading this week :)
Sam - LOL, sorry! ;-)
DeleteWhat a wonderful wonderful view! Sounds like the perfect weekend and such a great escape from the snow. I'm headed to Fort Lauderdale tomorrow with the girls, so I'll be waving across the state to you. ;) I'm not sure I'll get a whole lot of reading done on the trip, though. Hope you enjoy your time with your sister! I LOVE living so close to family--everytime we talk about moving I just can't stomach the thought of being more than 10 minutes away from my mom. LOL!
ReplyDeleteTrish - Hope you're having a great time in Ft. Lauderdale! It was another snow day at home today... so happy to be here!
DeleteWe love going to the Farmer's Market, especially in the winter when the weather is so nice! So much fresh stuff. My reading is non-existent with all the puppy chasing going on here lately.
ReplyDeleteSandy - You can probably kiss reading good-bye for now. I think puppies are like having a new baby in the house!
DeleteI'd love to read one of Jane Smiley's books! I have many of her works in my wishlist. I hope you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteAthira - Jane Smiley is hit or miss for me, but I'm chalking this miss totally up to my mood.
DeleteSounds fantastic!! I love the Farmer's Market too, something invigorating about it! I hope you have a great week ahead.
ReplyDeleteJillian - We got to the market earlier than normal this week and still missed out on the boneless chicken. Next week I'll either order head or get there at the crack of dawn ;-)
DeleteAren't you just having a lovely time in Florida?! Farmer's Market in February sounds wonderful. :) We were in the upper 50s yesterday, so I took an hour-long walk on the bike trails and listened to The Various Haunts of Men by Susan Hill. So far, it's very good!
ReplyDeleteSorry you father-in-law isn't feeling well. I'll bet he enjoys your company down there, though! I'm going to check out your recipe for the soup later today. I've been using my crockpot at least once a week and it's been a godsend to come home from work and have dinner ready. What kind of fish did you grill?
Hope you get back into your reading groove. I've got 5 books going right now and really need to get that back down to just 2!
Have a great week, JoAnn!
Les - After all the bad weather, 50's must feel like spring! There was another snow day at home today... can't say that I miss it at all!
DeleteWe grilled swordfish last night in a lemon-garlic marinade. I think Wegmans seafood is incredibly fresh, but this was amazing... just off the boat I think!
I went to the library today and left with 6 books. I'm excited about all of them and am sure one will pull me out of this reading funk.
I liked Some Luck -- the characters really grew on me.
ReplyDeleteBeth F - I'm going to give this a try some other time... am certain it's just my mood that's keeping me from enjoying it right now.
DeleteYour photo is great. The fresh food and outing to the market sounds great. I have Downton season one here to watch. Have a great week. I hope your father-in-law feels better.
ReplyDeletePat - I hope you love Downton! I'll be sorry to see this season come to an end.
DeleteI'm sorry that your last couple of books weren't amazing. Maybe something wonderful will leap out at you from the library shelves. You can see my week here. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteKathy - I'm sure one of the 6 books I brought home from the library will do the trick!
DeleteI can see why reading would take a backseat to being outside enjoying the weather. I'm in the house so much because of the weather, which is why I'm reading (and watching) more. I only manage to drag myself out to go to work.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog...have a wonderful week! Try and send some warmth and sunshine our way LOL.
Catherine - I usually get much more reading done in the winter... this beautiful weather is slowing me down ;-)
DeleteOh your picture and description of Florida makes me yearn for summer and farmers markets! :) I am glad your family will be joining you, I love to be around my family as well. :) Enjoy the sunshine and warm weather!
ReplyDeleteErin - Thanks. My sister had another snow day today and is dying for some warmer weather! Have a great week :)
DeleteSo sorry about Some Luck...I have it, but haven't started reading it yet...and I know it's because her books are hit and miss for me, despite her numerous awards. But maybe I'll surprise myself.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your Florida time...and thanks for visiting my blog.
Laurel-Rain Snow - I think I might like Some Luck better another time, so I'm keeping it on my wish list. Her books are hit or miss for me, too, and I'm not in the mood to committing to a trilogy right now.
DeleteOh sounds like you're having beautiful weather! We're warming up and have no snow but no farmer's markets going on just yet! Too bad about Some Luck but I know forcing myself to read a book I'm not loving can land me in a reading rut. Have a great week and enjoy your library visit!
ReplyDeleteKatherine - The library visit was just what I needed! I came out with six books and am excited about them all... hope that busts the slump :)
DeleteLovely photo :) I need to write some reviews too, lots I've read that I've not written about yet but would like to. Happy reading this week, hope you have a good one!
ReplyDeleteLindsay - I'm going to try and write a review a day this week... we'll see.
DeleteSince I spent 15 min scrapping ice off my car this morning while my kids stared out the front windows screaming, I'm beyond jealous of your nice weather and farmer's market trip!!
ReplyDeleteI feel like Some Luck got a ton of hype, but I never saw many reviews of it amongst the bloggers....never a good sign :) I had it on my TBR last year, but will probably take it off...unless someone I trust convinces me that it just blew their mind!
Sarah - It was pretty miserable at home today, too... another snow day for my sister. It almost makes me feel guilt down here ;-)
DeleteMy mood may have been standing in the way of enjoying Some Luck, so I'm keeping it on my wish list and will borrow it again from the library at some point, or pick it up if it's a kindle daily deal.
Love Farmer's Markets!! But because we live in the high desert, even in the midst of growing season, we don't have much in the way of a good farmer's market. Love your posts -- Hope your father in law is feeling better.
ReplyDeleteDebbie - I'm a huge fan of farmers markets and am ridiculously happy to be able to shop at one in February! My FIL came for dinner last night and it was the first real meal he's eaten in a week. So glad he's on the mend.
DeleteLife in Florida looks sweet - how will you bare to leave it ?
ReplyDeleteWell done for finding any reading time when outside looks so inviting :-)
Brona - It's not going to be easy...
DeleteI love fresh seafood, that sound fabulous. glad you are a good time, and enjoy the balmy weather!
ReplyDeleteGreg - I feel so bad for all my friends and family in the northeast, I hate to even mention the gorgeous weather.
DeleteI finished An Unnecessary Woman in print over the weekend - it is a lovely, heartbreaking book.
ReplyDeleteCarrie K - I had a feeling it would not be a happy book. Haven't listened in a couple of days... need to get back to it.
DeleteIt isn't a "happy" book, but it is a hopeful book.
DeleteCarrie - I'm glad to hear that!
DeleteHello from north Florida! I just started reading a Jane Green book, I needed a light book to takes mind off of medical stuff'
ReplyDeleteThe soup sounds good
Tina - Oh, dear... hope the medical stuff sorts itself out quickly. Jane Green books are fun. I loved Jemima J!
DeletePurple Chair was just "okay" for me as well. It wasn't what I expected, I guess?
ReplyDeleteYour weather is making me jealous...hello from the frozen tundra of Wisconsin ;)
Jennifer - Purple Chair wasn't really what I was expecting either.... will probably do some sort of mini-review soon.
Delete