Well, I finally finished reading Heirloom Vegetable Gardening but while I was reading it, I also managed to finish a couple of other books! The Heirloom Vegetable Gardening tome is a great volume and I would like to have a copy of it on my gardening bookshelf for future reference. Now, on to the other books …
I read Something from the Oven while I was in Asheville for my mom’s birthday. This is a thorough piece of research that touches on many sources that are generally hidden from the lens of history, including practice and personal preferences. For those interested in the social reception of new technology, the women’s movement, and food history, this volume offers something for them. In addition, it is an easy read for those who are not academic historians and only have a passing interest in the subject. Read more »
Okay, starting next week, I am teaching elementary and middle school children writing and grammar. In preparation for that, I have been writing some lesson plans and planning some activities. This book, Writing Extraordinary Essays, was one of the books that Fairfax Collegiate sent me to use during my courses. Of the books on writing that I have seen, this one is remarkably good. It stays away from trying to teach to a test or trying to just teach a rubric and sticks to teaching the skills that make writing fun, useful, and exciting (to both read and write).
Alongside The Classic Guide to Better Writing, this book will help any teacher think about how they teach writing and the skills that are important for students to have to be successful writers.
Ain’t this a cute little honey pot! It would look great alongside our Fiesta and with our Le Creuset cookware …
In rural France, a new castle is taking shape! It is being built using medieval techniques on a medieval timetable (an estimated total of 26 years). Read more »
Besides being in the midst of the 400+ page tome, Heirloom Vegetable Gardening, I have also been reading several other books …
A great book if you are trying to build your kitchen supplies from scratch or are trying to reduce the clutter in your kitchen. While I regularly read non-fiction, that is not to say that I don’t occasionally read a piece of fiction, but I generally only read the classics …
Easily Faulkner’s most accessible work, The Sound and the Fury is a powerful reflection on the human consciousness and its timeless quality. In addition to that, Faulkner’s prose is beautiful and dense. Honestly, alongside Joyce and Conrad, I have to say that Faulkner is one of my favorite authors.
A couple of additional gardening books that I am currently reading …
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The first book (Heirloom Vegetables: A Home Gardener’s Guide to Finding and Growing Vegetables from the Past) is an ideal beginners book. About half of the book concerns the reasons to grow heritage vegetables and some of the details about how to find and grow them. The last half of the book is a small selection of vegetable profiles and resources – including a very good list of seed suppliers and saver networks. Unfortunately, when compared to the second book (Heirloom Vegetable Gardening: A Master Gardener’s Guide to Planting, Seed Saving, and Cultural History), its profiles and resources show their true limitations. But, the little Heirloom Vegetables book would make a nice gift for a new gardener or just someone getting into those special plants. Read more »
Thanks to Elizabeth for the photo!
Just got back from the beach with Jill’s family and we had a very good week! Our lasagna went over well and Jill enjoyed holding little Ryan … Read more »
Garden is doing well …
And, we are starting to get a regular supply of items … we have gotten a handful of small tomatoes, these two squash, and one large tomato. But, from all of the fruit on the vines, we are going to have a lot of little tomatoes soon and probably 8-10 large ones!
From the Weekend Express a little over a month ago, a recipe that will help you beat the heat! With it expected to be in the triple digits for the next couple of days, this milkshake recipe from Spike Mendelsohn may come in very handy.
- 116 oz. bag of Jumbo Marshmallows
- 2 cups whole milk
- 2 cups creamy vanilla ice cream
- 1 tbsp sour cream
Preheat broiler. Reserve 4 marshmallows for garnish. Char marshmallows under broiler, stirring to ensure even cooking. Remove and cool.
Repeat with garnish until golden. Remove and cool.
Blend all ingredients, except garnish, until smooth.
Pour into four 8-ounce glasses and garnish.
Enjoy!
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