Hello, friends. I hope you're enjoying a relaxing weekend. Here in southwest Florida, the first hint of fall has arrived... and by that I mean it cooled down to around 70 degrees last night and the high today is expected to hit 84. It feels so much comfortable with lower humidity. I hope it lasts.
The blog name change I've been contemplating is official - Lakeside Musing is now Gulfside Musing! You'll also notice that the old wooden dock in my profile pic has been replaced by a palm tree. My twitter and instagram handles have been adjusted as well.
Finished this week//
by Colson Whitehead
narrated by JD Jackson
What an amazing book! I finished yesterday and can't stop thinking about it.... that ending! The Nickel Boys is even more powerful knowing it's based on a real reform school, the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys, which operated in the Florida panhandle until 2011. I plan to attend a book discussion at the library later this month and maybe even write a review. You'll surely see it on my year-end list of favorites. In the meantime, I've added Colson Whitehead's entire backlist to my tbr.
Current reading//
by Ruth Reichl, narrated by the author
I'm starting Nonfiction November with Ruth Reichl's foodie memoir about her time as editor of Gourmet magazine. It's just the 'something completely different' I need to follow The Nickel Boys. I started listening on my walk this morning. The ebook is also available from the library... this might turn into a read/listen combination!
On the blog//
Nonfiction November, Week #1: My Year in Nonfiction
In the kitchen//
Lots of baking! Last weekend I mentioned this Cinnamon Sugar Apple Cake from pinch of yum. I made it on Sunday and it was delicious! I used two large Honeycrisp apples and real buttermilk rather than the milk/vinegar alternative. Everyone loved it! Since I had more buttermilk to use, the next day I made a second one for my FIL's freezer.
We had dinner guests again on Wednesday and there was still more buttermilk left, so the search was on for another cake recipe. I decided on a Farmhouse Buttermilk Cake, a moist cake with a super-sweet pecan topping. Our guests loved it, but the topping was a little too sweet for my husband.
P.S. The buttermilk is finally gone ;-)
Renovation update//
The building permit for our remodel has been filed. The project will begin once it's approved... hopefully within the next week or so. Last week we selected the roof.
How was your week? What are you reading today?
The Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.
I hadn't been much of a fan of Ruth R. before but I did enjoy this one. (I'm also enjoying the idea of your 'taste of fall' ... we went from 70 degrees and high humidity on Thursday to 38 degrees yesterday morning. (I confess I like mine better...) I'm glad things are moving forward with your new house!
ReplyDeleteAudrey - I read, and mostly enjoyed, a couple of Reichl's early memoirs with my book club years ago. This one seems more interesting so far. We'll see how it goes. One of the local TV stations posted on facebook that you know it's fall in Florida when the license plates start changing color... made me laugh, but now I know it's true. There's been a marked increase in out of state license plates this weekend, too!
DeleteI love the changing colors joke!
DeleteWoot woot! A new name and a new (gorgeous!) header.
ReplyDeleteI've been noticing a lot of positive reviews for The Nickel Boys and may have to make it my book club nomination for 2020.
That apple cake recipe might be good for our Autumn potluck later this month. We always seem to have buttermilk around here since my husband loves homemade buttermilk pancakes. :)
We got the RV unloaded and washed and put away in storage for the next few months. Now to start planning our next trip! I hope to get all my travel posts published before that one, though.
Good luck with all the renovations. I don't envy you, but I'm sure it will all be worth it in the end.
Les - The Nickel Boys was excellent! Why haven't I read Colson Whitehead before?! So much to discuss, too. I'll let you know how it goes, but I'd feel pretty confident nominating this book.
DeleteWe would have preferred not to renovate (the memories from our 2002/03 project are still too fresh), but this house was the perfect size/floor plan and we just couldn't pass up the location. Other than the roof, it's mostly cosmetic. I shouldn't be anywhere near as bad as the last time. (Famous last words!)
I'll look forward to your travel posts. You've given us so many good ideas!
Congrats on the blog relaunch--it must feel so good to be on the road to being settled, rather than just on the road!
ReplyDeleteI'm on the wait list for audio version of Save Me the Plums at my library--sounds so interesting.
I want to read The Nickel Boys, but I'm thinking I need to wait until January--I have to be in the right frame of mind for the intensity of Colson Whitehead.
JaneGS - This was my first experience with Colson Whitehead, so I didn't know quite what to expect. (Recommendation on what to read next are most welcome!) Reichl's memoir is a complete and welcome change of pace... such an interesting subject, free from social outrage and emotional punch.
DeleteI bet your dinner parties are fabulous!
ReplyDeleteI loved The Nickel Boys, too.
Kathy - I love to cook for friends and family!
DeleteI like the new name and look of your blog. Enjoy your new home, too, and your books.
ReplyDeleteLaurel-Rain Snow - Thank you!!
DeleteVicki - Even a cloudy sunset at the beach can be beautiful! The cakes were SO good, but I'm glad my FIL took most of the leftovers home. We're tying to cut back, but need to get him to gain some weight ;-)
ReplyDeleteIt has been cooler here too and it's wonderful. My weekly update
ReplyDeletePussreboots - At last!
DeleteI’ve bookmarked that Cinnamon Apple cake recipe :)
ReplyDeleteGlad you have settled in to your new home.
Wishing you a great reading week
Shelleyrae - That apple cake is going to be a fall regular here!
DeleteThat cake looks amazing!! And I need to read Save Me the Plums. :)
ReplyDeleteErin - I'm almost halfway through Save Me the Plums and loving it!
DeleteYou have motivated me to add Nickel Boys to my books-to-read-before-the-end-of-the-year list. I saw Whitehead speak in September. What he had to say was powerful. Last week I heard Ta-nehesi Coates and I again I was moved. I have Nickel Boys and Water Dancer in my stacks. I wasn’t sure if they might be too dark for me in this present political climate, but I think I need to read them anyway.
ReplyDeleteSave Me the Plums was an excellent read, I thought. It’s perfect for Nonfiction November. I hope you enjoy it, too.
I don’t know about where you have come to live, but the humidity almost never goes down much here along the Gulf. But, hey, it keeps our skin young, they say.
I love all the baking. I need to try real buttermilk in my recipes. Thanks for sharing these cakes and your tips. I’m a baker in training.
I hope you have a fabulous week!
Deb - The Nickel Boys is a must read. I can't imagine why I haven't read Colson Whitehead before! I'm on the fence about Water Dancer right now... loved Between the World and Me, but am not sure about a novel.
DeleteI'm loving Save Me the Plums and think I may need to follow up with her memoir about being the NYTimes restaurant critic. Hope you have a good week :)
As you already know, I too thought The Nickel Boys was amazing. That ending, yes! I will be discussing it today with one of my reading groups. I read Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Reichel and enjoyed it immensely. Your cakes look amazing.
ReplyDeleteJudy - I'm still in awe of the ending! Will be curious to hear what your book club has to say. So glad I'll get to discuss this with a group... even if it will probably be all new people.
DeleteSave Me the Plums is wonderful! I may want to follow up with Garlic and Sapphires... unless one of my library holds arrives in the meantime.
Have you moved to the Gulf Coast from the Lake, JoAnn? While you're basking in your balmy new home, hope you will still keep contact with one, cold neighbor to your north. Snow today and temp. below 30F. Books and films will keep us warm. :) -- Arti at Ripple Effects
ReplyDeleteArti - Yes, we sold/closed on our lake house in mid-October and purchased a house on Sanibel Island, Florida the following week. We have had a winter place here since 2013, spending more and more time here since then. After my husband retired, we decided to live here full time and escape to cooler areas in the peak of summer/hurricane season. We'll start our remodel soon, then sell our condo when it's complete. I'll definitely stay in contact! :)
DeleteI'm glad to hear you're settling well into your new house; that your renovation work will start soon; and that the name change is finalised. It's all so exciting right now for you.
ReplyDeleteI am currently reading the fascinating non-fiction The Golden Antilles by Tim Severin and the mystery-thriller he Virgin of the Wind Rose by Glen Craney. Happy reading and renovating! :-)
Thanks, Jessica, It's definitely an exciting time for us. Hope you have a good week, too!
DeleteJoAnn: you must be a great cook & baker! I feel I need to attend your academy to get there. Congrats on your building plans. And I too thought Nickel Boys was one of the best & most important of the year. The twist near the end is pretty raw. Here is my thoughts on it: https://www.thecuecard.com/books/the-nickel-boys-and-recursion/
ReplyDeleteSusan - LOL, I don't know about that, but I do enjoy cooking for friends and family. The Nickel Boys was a masterful novel... the twist at the end was totally unexpected and took my breath away. Thanks for the link to your review. I skimmed it at the time since I knew I'd be reading the book myself.
DeleteLooks like your baking efforts have paid off. Sounds so delicious.
ReplyDeleteI am reading King. Still King. It's very good I am just so distracted. I am beginning to wonder if I need a vitamin supp or something. I can't focus on anything but want to do tons.
Ti - Thankfully, I can send most of my baking home with guests... can't keep it around the house! I don't know how you can concentrate on anything all with the wildfires out there. It would scare me do death!
DeleteSo many changes! Where shall we start? Well, I changed the name of your blog on my site to reflect Gulfside Musings and I love all the changes you've had in your life lately.
ReplyDeleteThe Dozier school was investigated by some of the agents where I work at FDLE, lots of news and investigative reports coming out of that.
The Cinnamon Sugar Apple cake is still on my agenda to attempt. It looks very tempting. Recently I bought myself a bread cookbook that I'm hoping to try. And not get too fat!
Tina - Please accept my apologies! I just found this comment today... for whatever reason, blogger failed to notify me that it was pending. We've had a very good month... trip to Key West and Everglades. Now we're picking out kitchen cabinets and appliances, but looks like it won't get done before we head north for Thanksgiving. I'll stop over and see what new with you :)
DeleteI really like your new blog name and look. :) I need to read a few more Colson Whitehead books. All I've read is Zone One, which I read before I'd even heard of him. I don't think it's known as one of his better books. Wasn't bad, though.
ReplyDeleteRachel - This was my first experience with Colson Whitehead, but will not be my last!!
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