Any good books?

By Judy at My Freezer is Full

I love to read.  Anywhere, anytime- almost anything.  But, with working full time and trying to keep up with the house, garden and children, I have little spare time to read.  Oh, I tried for a while to read before I went to bed but that didn’t work out so well for me. Either I fell asleep or, more likely, I would get sucked into the book and lose track of time.  Then I would pay the price the next day when I needed to get up at 5:30 am to get to work. So that didn’t work.   Then, I went through phases where I would just leave the housework and read for a day, but then I would feel guilty.  So for a while, I just gave up on reading, even though it was hard on my spirit.  I needed to find balance.

But now, I have discovered my reading time.  Since we moved in July, I have been riding the city bus to and from work every day.  I have about 25 minutes each way where I can read, so I have rediscovered my passion for reading.  I’ve also been finding other moments recently: waiting for the latest batch of apples to come out of the canning bath, waiting in the car for one child or the other to be picked up, every little moment counts. I just have to carry my book with me.

I love our local library, although, with riding the bus now, I don’t walk by it every day anymore (sigh) on my way home.  We have a huge library of our own that we have collected over the years so I can almost always find something to read.  I don’t often treat myself to new release books but a few weeks ago I indulged.  As I was waiting for the bus I noticed that the local bookstore was having a 25% off sale on Dan Brown’s new book, The Lost Symbol. It was a fun read.  That book finished, I was looking for something to take along on the bus this morning and picked one of the books my youngest son just got with his school book order from Scholastic.  You remember Scholastic book orders, right?  And you know, for a spooky mystery story for kids, it isn’t half bad.  It’s got a family curse, the ghosts of six children and stone circles.  For a quick read on the bus, it was great. I’ll have to find something new for tomorrow though.

I’m loving my bus riding reading time.  I’m much happier now that I’m getting my reading fix on a regular basis.  How about you?  How do you manage to fit time to read into your busy day?

food for thought, and thoughts on food

by Stacy from Little Blue Hen

Many of us post often — both here and on our individual blogs — about food: growing it, cooking it, finding it, storing it. While we need to eat, food is more than nourishment, it is tradition, culture, heritage, politics, and more. Sharing food, breaking bread, and sitting down to a meal are all more significant than the singular act of eating.

Here are some food and home-related gems I wanted to share.

I’m currently reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver and the following quotation leaped off the page:

“Full-time homemaking may not be an option for those of us delivered without trust funds into the modern era. But approaching mealtimes as a creative opportunity, rather than a chore, is an option. Required participation from spouse and kids is an element of the equation. An obsession with spotless collars, ironing, and kitchen floors you can eat off of — not so much. We’ve earned the right to forget about stupefying household busywork. But kitchens where food is cooked and eaten, those were really a good idea.”

We have already had several posts about saving time in the kitchen. What is important, however, is not how much time we spend in the kitchen, but that we are there at all. My last post might have set me apart as one who is less worried about saving time because I am often interested in the challenge of cooking (also, I don’t have kids, which helps a lot in that regard). But most of us, I would think, still invest in certain holiday meals or special treats.

One of my favorite blogs is TheKitchn, and they have a great end-of-the week reflection called Weekend Meditation that I really enjoy. These are some highlights:

May 10, 2009

“Food is more than the sum of its nutritional and caloric counts. It’s a whole web of events that have come together: energy from the sun and earth, from the growers and pickers and truck drivers and grocery store workers. It’s the forces of nature like weather, forest fires, early thaws and nibbling deer. It’s the time and energetic engagement of the cook and the gratitude (or not!) of the eater.”

June 28, 2009

“Food also helps to create family that is not necessarily connected through marriage or genes. Once again, breaking bread together, sharing the bounty of the harvest and each other’s presence is a powerful bond for human beings.”

July 12, 2009

“So this summer I’m going to try to say yes more often. Maybe I’ll cram three eager helpers in my kitchen, let my guests do the dishes or allow a friend pay for a dinner. Saying yes is accepting an offer to be more intimate, allowing someone into my life in a deeper way. A little risky, yes, but ultimately the way to go. In the end, what will be more important: efficiency or intimacy? Perfection or relationships? Having it my way or the messy, complex, sweet mash-up of friendship?”

(The last one reminded me so much of Paulette’s recent post about accepting help.)

Do you have a philosophy about food? I’m always finding new ideas, recipes, cookbooks, and ingredients that keep me excited about food. I would love to hear what motivates you! Gardening and canning to be self-sufficient? Bento box lunches? Christmas cookies? Frugal gourmet? Dessert? Special diets? The Slow Food movement? Or do you not care, and just want something quick to satisfy your hunger?

Escaping the World

Sometimes I need to escape, I imagine we all do from time to time.  Escaping can come in many forms: trips, hikes, walks, eating out, watching a movie, etc.  For me, there’s nothing quite like escaping into the pages of good book.  I read alot about subjects that interest me but when I want to escape I want something fun and easy.  I don’t necessarily want great literature.  I do want books with interesting characters and fun plot lines that draw me and allow me to forget the word I’m living in and escape to a completely different place and time.

I hit the library often when I’m looking for an escape, but I do keep a few of my most favorites on hand for those days when I need an escape, right quick.  Here’s a few suggestions for those of you looking for a quick escape:

• The entire Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich is a great escape.  The characters pull you in immediately, the story lines are over-the-top but believable in the Stephanie Plum world.  You won’t regret the time you spend in the pages of these books and they are quick reads.  In fact, I’m willing to bet that you’ll get hooked and be reserving the next book at the library before it comes out.
• Indian Creek Chronicles by Pete Fromm – A true story about a college student who signs up to live in a canvas wall tent for 7 months in the winter in Idaho.  It’s a great read that allows you to escape into the solitude of wilderness and feel the all the emotions from fear and loneliness to wonder and excitement. 
• The Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder – Ok, you’re all grown up now, but trust me this series isn’t for kids only.  In fact, if you read these books as a child, I suggest you read them again and be amazed all over again.  The different perspectives from child reader to adult reader who understands what running a home and feeding a family is about makes re-reading them well worth your time.
• Even Cowgirls Get the Blues by Tom Robbins – Its impossible to avoid escaping when your follow the main character on her hitchhiking adventures through some very amazing characters.
•  The Poisonwood Bible and/or Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver – I admit that it took me a while to get into the Poisonwood Bible, but once I did there was no turning back, in fact I still wonder about the characters in that book.  I never wanted it too end.  The prodigal summer allows you to escape into the woods and hearts of simple folks living an amazingly intertwined life.

Seeing as I’m always looking for the next great book and liking to keep a good escape at hand, do tell – what books do you recommend for escapism?