Time Marches On!

Cheers to all you Sunday Salon people and any others!  Sunday Salon is a weekly re-cap of what we've been reading and doing.  Hosted faithfully by Deb Nance of Readerbuzz

We are Marching inexorably toward Christmas, and Yikes!  Shopping to do, or else everyone will end up with a bottle of Lillikoi Syrup or Lillikoi Kombucha. Yes, the passionfruit are plentiful at the moment. Feel free to come and pick up some.

I missed a week which just means more stuff here.  Above you see the kombucha right before bottling, with the SCOBY on top. After pouring it into bottles, some fresh passionfruit juice was added to create a second ferment.  That's why room is left on top, and a secure lid, so we don't get what they call a Booch bomb!

BOOKS READ:

Recipes for Love and Murder, by Sally Andrew, was set in rural South Africa, and interesting for the setting.  Not as insightful or profound as the Alexander McCall Smith series based in Botswana, The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.  I was continually flipping back to the glossary, looking up African words.  I mean if you write in English, why switch back and forth?  Just annoying.

The Marlow Murder Club, by Robert Thorogood, was a delight however.  Several women of a "certain age" unite to solve a murder in their backyard.  Intriguing mystery, capably written, the characters develop as the Murder Club evolves, including a harassed woman police officer.

Death comes to Kurland Hall is #3 in the Kurland St. Mary, Regency mystery series by Catherine Lloyd.  I loved the two previous ones, and this was enjoyable though a bit overcomplicated.  

The Gardener's Plot, a promising debut, by Deborah Benoit.  The bodies are piling up as our amateur sleuth, Maggie uncovers the plot, in the heart of the Berkshires.

In this latest, of my reading anyway, in the Martha's Vineyard mystery series(the third) the 92 year old police deputy (for her extensive knowledge of the area and its citizens),  down-to-earth, Victoria succeeds once more in helping to solve the murders.  Great characters, including a raucous toucan.  Luckily there are more to read!

NOW READING:

A debut by Clara McKenna, set in 1905, Hampshire, England.  We'll see, good so far.

MEMORABLE MEALS:

A pasta dish made with my new purchase, Tonnino Tuna Ventresca.  Apparently the high end of the tuna world, which I was persuaded to buy.  Good though, and worth it.

And a lovely, spicy Lamb Tajine.  Thankfully I made enough to provide for several meals.

FUN OCCASIONS:

We had a very well attended Art Studio Tour here, and the works were overall just fabulous!  Some really talented Artists.  I went with a friend and we had a great time, going from studio to studio, most with several artists represented.  I got a few gifts and some items to keep!

FROM THE GARDEN

Breadfruit, known as ulu here, dehydrating and dried.  Next stop flour!

Well, that's about it for now.  Enjoy the weekend everyone!

Praising God and Practicing Gratitude!

Thanksgiving is a great time to practice gratitude!  Doing that here, whilst Joining up with Deb Nance of Readerbuzz for her Sunday Salon.

We are celebrating many things!  Family, friends, good food, fruit from our trees, and this week a report of over 9,000 shoebox gifts  collected at our Operation Christmas Child Hilo Drop Off location! The boxes go to hurting and impoverished children in Third World countries and other places, wherever folks are going through various disasters, to orphanages, etc. This is the second and final container.

Much to be Thankful For!

ABSOLUTELY!! Looking back at the highlights of our week, to be posted on the Sunday Salon, hosted by Deb Nance of Readerbuzz. Did you know that Wednesday, the 20th was National Absurdity Day? Well, I happen to have one of those calendars that let you know all the important days! We had a fun drive to Waimea on Wednesday, ate at my favorite restaurant and shopped at my favorite (one of them) dress shops, while Bob took care of some Real Estate.

A Thanksgiving Lunch

Going into the week approaching Thanksgiving we do have much to be thankful for, and to celebrate!  Since my grandson and family are going to be away on the Mainland, for the holiday visiting the other grandparents, he took us out to lunch.  The kids were adorable and amusing!  Bob was taking the pictures and mom got lopped off.

Onward and Upward All!

 A delightful week, altogether!  

Here we are, at Sunday Salon again, and in the universe!  Yes!  I too choose love!!  We are celebrating!  With Champagne even, or at least Prosecco.  This is some art my husband Bob posted recently (Sean is his younger brother) and I was reminded of it by Deb at Readerbuzz, the stalwart hostess of Sunday Salon, as last week she posted this cover of Bob's Saucer Repair, which is now on my reading list for Sci-Fi month.

Sunday Salon - Another Week in Review

 

A Sunday Salon, hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz,  Recap of my week, wherein I try to remember what all went on.  Some Gardening, collecting produce, reading, and cooking.  Oh and a bit of working at our office.  It does help to pay the bills.

Another Wild Week? Maybe Not.

 A Week in Review

 Hello everyone at Sunday Salon, hosted by Deb Nance at Readerbuzz, Heather at the October Foodies Read, and Marge, hostess at Weekend Cooking, along with anyone else out there.

First off, it's time for bacon!  Yes, we've got a pork belly curing.  Today is Day 1 of a 10 day cure.   Sorry all you vegans and vegetarians!  But, I do love my bacon.  No pictures though.  Who wants to see a slab of pork belly?  Instead, maybe a recipe or two later. 

Favorite Beverage of the Year! 

The Week of New Stuff

Well, hello all you folks out there in the Sunday Salon, Foodies Read, and elsewhere in the cosmos!  It's been an interesting week!  Wanting to get over various skin issues, I got into a bit of fasting, beginning with  a few intermittent ones and then a 3 day water fast.  This book, Eat, Fast, Feast, was an excellent guide, and very helpful.  Skin things are a bit better and a few more fasts may even finish the job!

The Shooting at Chateau Rock - It Wasn't the Duck

 

I've just finished the latest (for me anyway) of Martin Walker's Bruno, Chief of Police, series - The Shooting at Chateau Rock.  What a delightful read, an exciting storyline, evocative and full of inspiring food and drink!  A good summary here from the Publishers:

"In Walker's outstanding 13th outing for St. Denis, France, chief of police Benoît "Bruno" Courrèges (after 2019's The Body in the Castle Well), 70ish retired rock star Rod Macrae, his much younger wife, and their college-age children, Jamie and Kirsty, are spending a last summer together at their country house, Château Rock, before the parents amicably divorce. Jamie is joined by his girlfriend, Galina, a Russian oligarch's daughter. When a sheep farmer dies and his children learn that they've been disinherited, Bruno investigates. He soon suspects there's a connection between the farmer's suspicious death and Galina's father, whose shadowy shell businesses may be a cover for illicit activity throughout the Mediterranean and the E.U. Meanwhile, the obliging Bruno helps plan and prepare meals, teaches children to swim, and considers breeding his pedigree hunting dog. Francophiles will relish the evocative descriptions of the Périgord region and its cuisine."

It's like old home week, reading a new novel in Walker's series.  The familiar characters once again come to life, joined by some very interesting newcomers.  His books are always especially inspiring in the gardening, food and wine departments.  Sometimes it's just hard to know where to start. I take notes on the meals and wines. For today, we'll begin with gardening.  Bruno always spends some time caring for his fruit trees and vegetable patch.  I can use encouragement in that area. You can see below that weeds need to be pulled.