OMG, Lilac Girls is one of the most depressing books I've ever read! It was an excellent story, but holy hell. The title led me to believe it would be a lot more about lilacs and flowers and pretty things than...well, everything it turned out to be about. Just a word of warning to anyone out there who's like "ooh, that cover looks pretty and maybe it will be a nice story!" LOL.
May I share one of my favorite "family, friends, and gardening" books? The Garden of New Beginnings by Abbi Waxman. I mean, she talks about worm casings! What's not to love?
I used to love gardening, when I lived in Winnipeg, and my wife was still alive. I had to almost start learning from scratch, because, of course, when I had been a kid and tasked with helping Grandma, I never was interested. When I became interested, dementia prevented me asking Grandma, so I had to figure it out from books and TV cooking shows.
At first, I did a lot of vegetable gardening, but once we put in an in-ground swimming pool and therefore fenced the yard to make a true backyard oasis, I tilted in the direction of flowers for aesthetics. We had what to me was our own little bit of fairyland, that you could just step out into, and actually feel stress fall away. My wife loved how much floating in the water helped with her osteo arthritis pain, and I loved just sitting by the pool and reading.
For some reason, I always gardened with an aim towards fall. Perhaps it was from the innate knowledge of the brutal Canadian prairie winter coming, but I loved that last burst of colour, when the sunflowers matured, and the pumpkins began to turn orange.
I finally found out what time period writers consider as the Regency, and an thinking of writing a little piece set in it to try sending one of the magazines.
It's so worth the effort to get back into gardening, even if a small way. I am happy that I don't have to rely on only what I grow for our meals though. That would be quite stressful! I do love the fall season and those fall vegetables are so underrated.
I haven't had a chance to do a ton of reading, but I did finish that tenth book in the Gaunt's Ghosts series, The Armour of Contempt. An excellent book not only for the realistic action and portrayal of war, but also at some points a contemplation on the very nature of evil - does (in the Warhammer 40K universe) Chaos - actually come from the outside to corrupt a man, or does it simply allow him to give free rein to what was already inside him, just waiting for permission to be unleashed? Which is worse? And why are some individuals immune to this type of corruption, regardless of whence it comes?
Now I am reading an sf-horror novel called Europa. So far, I am liking it.
There is so much you can do with the hard-shell squashes! You can use spaghetti squash just the same as pasta, putting whatever sauce you want on it. And pumpkin too. Pumpkin soup (based on home-made or store-bought organic chicken or vegetable stock) with bitter chocolate and and a dash of chilies ( I actually grew, dried, and ground my own). And, of course, the seeds.
I think the gardening with an aim towards fall was from something in me that responded to the season of death that was crowding up right behind. Yet we could still get 30-degree plus days in October, which were like gifts, but also, from literature, reminded me of Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes. Because the heat was different from July heat; the sun felt old, like it was using its' last energy for one last stand fight to the death. Which also made me think of Jack Vance's Dying Earth stories.
Wow, sorry for going on, but these subjects really excite me.
No need to apologize! You brought back so many memories. One year my mom made this stew that she served inside a smallish pumpkin. My brother (who was and still is a picky eater) was completely grossed out. It wasn't all that bad, but I don't think she ever made it again.
I am a huge fan of spaghetti squash. Throw it in the instant pot and it's perfection with sauce on it in no time!
Ah! Pretty much my favorite things about reading.... one topic leads you to another topics... which reminds you of a book... and on and on it goes.
OMG, Lilac Girls is one of the most depressing books I've ever read! It was an excellent story, but holy hell. The title led me to believe it would be a lot more about lilacs and flowers and pretty things than...well, everything it turned out to be about. Just a word of warning to anyone out there who's like "ooh, that cover looks pretty and maybe it will be a nice story!" LOL.
I know 😬 but the story is good! Thank you for warning everyone though!
May I share one of my favorite "family, friends, and gardening" books? The Garden of New Beginnings by Abbi Waxman. I mean, she talks about worm casings! What's not to love?
Worm casings? Count me in. lol. I will go check this one out. I love gardening books. Why are they such a relaxing read?
I used to love gardening, when I lived in Winnipeg, and my wife was still alive. I had to almost start learning from scratch, because, of course, when I had been a kid and tasked with helping Grandma, I never was interested. When I became interested, dementia prevented me asking Grandma, so I had to figure it out from books and TV cooking shows.
At first, I did a lot of vegetable gardening, but once we put in an in-ground swimming pool and therefore fenced the yard to make a true backyard oasis, I tilted in the direction of flowers for aesthetics. We had what to me was our own little bit of fairyland, that you could just step out into, and actually feel stress fall away. My wife loved how much floating in the water helped with her osteo arthritis pain, and I loved just sitting by the pool and reading.
For some reason, I always gardened with an aim towards fall. Perhaps it was from the innate knowledge of the brutal Canadian prairie winter coming, but I loved that last burst of colour, when the sunflowers matured, and the pumpkins began to turn orange.
I finally found out what time period writers consider as the Regency, and an thinking of writing a little piece set in it to try sending one of the magazines.
It you are planning a Regency era short story, you should consider entering it into the upcoming History Through Fiction short story contest. https://www.historythroughfiction.com/short-story-contest
It's so worth the effort to get back into gardening, even if a small way. I am happy that I don't have to rely on only what I grow for our meals though. That would be quite stressful! I do love the fall season and those fall vegetables are so underrated.
What have you been reading this week?
I haven't had a chance to do a ton of reading, but I did finish that tenth book in the Gaunt's Ghosts series, The Armour of Contempt. An excellent book not only for the realistic action and portrayal of war, but also at some points a contemplation on the very nature of evil - does (in the Warhammer 40K universe) Chaos - actually come from the outside to corrupt a man, or does it simply allow him to give free rein to what was already inside him, just waiting for permission to be unleashed? Which is worse? And why are some individuals immune to this type of corruption, regardless of whence it comes?
Now I am reading an sf-horror novel called Europa. So far, I am liking it.
There is so much you can do with the hard-shell squashes! You can use spaghetti squash just the same as pasta, putting whatever sauce you want on it. And pumpkin too. Pumpkin soup (based on home-made or store-bought organic chicken or vegetable stock) with bitter chocolate and and a dash of chilies ( I actually grew, dried, and ground my own). And, of course, the seeds.
I think the gardening with an aim towards fall was from something in me that responded to the season of death that was crowding up right behind. Yet we could still get 30-degree plus days in October, which were like gifts, but also, from literature, reminded me of Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes. Because the heat was different from July heat; the sun felt old, like it was using its' last energy for one last stand fight to the death. Which also made me think of Jack Vance's Dying Earth stories.
Wow, sorry for going on, but these subjects really excite me.
Best of luck for your garden for this year.
No need to apologize! You brought back so many memories. One year my mom made this stew that she served inside a smallish pumpkin. My brother (who was and still is a picky eater) was completely grossed out. It wasn't all that bad, but I don't think she ever made it again.
I am a huge fan of spaghetti squash. Throw it in the instant pot and it's perfection with sauce on it in no time!
Ah! Pretty much my favorite things about reading.... one topic leads you to another topics... which reminds you of a book... and on and on it goes.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Thank you.
You too!
Great post! It would be 'In the garden with Jane Austen' for me 🪻
It's such a good book! Great pick!