Saturday, February 15, 2025

The Sunday Salon: The 40th Classics Club Spin and a Giveaway!

 




Welcome! I am delighted that you joined us here at the 
Sunday Salon

What is the Sunday Salon? 

The Sunday Salon is a place to link up and share what we have been doing during the week. It's also a great opportunity to visit other blogs and join in the conversations going on there. 





We spent last weekend up in East Texas in order to see our granddaughter Annie play basketball. We reserved a tiny house just seven miles from our son's house, and it turned out to be a lovely building. 

Unfortunately, it was located in the parking lot of what is apparently the most popular restaurant in East Texas.

The restaurant features karaoke on Friday night, our first night there, and a live band on Saturday night, our second night there. There was a special parking area for motorcycles right outside our door. 

Tiny house with motorcycle parking next to it.

Live band on Saturday night.

Let's just say we won't be staying there again.

Annie's team won big, though. Happy day!






What I Read Last Week:

Fascism: A Warning by Madeleine Albright
(Link takes you to my review of this important book)






What I'm Reading Now:

Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim (Fiction)

Roots by Alex Haley (Chapter-a-Day)

Pleased to Meet Me: Genes, Germs, and the Curious Forces that Make Us Who We Are by Bill Sullivan (NF)

The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett (Fantasy)

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin (Children's Mystery)






"Read the best books first, 
or you may not have a chance to read them at all."
                ---Thoreau


The Classics Club has issued the announcement of the 40th Classics Club Spin.

What is the spin?

It’s easy. At your blog, before next Sunday, February 16th, create a post that lists twenty books of your choice that remain “to be read” on your Classics Club list.

This is your Spin List.

You have to read one of these twenty books by the end of the spin period.

On Sunday February 16th, The Classics Club will post a number from 1 through 20. The challenge is to read whatever book falls under that number on your Spin List by Sunday, April 11th

Let's see who can make it the whole way and finished their spin book!

I only have four classics to go to complete my Classics Club list. Let's see where the needle stops.

So here is my list.

#1, 5, 9, 13, 17.          #2, 6, 10, 14, 18.         #3, 7, 11, 15, 19.           #4, 8, 12, 16, 20.


UPDATE! Ah, the Classics Club Spin stopped on #4,
so it's off to Rome and a Villa for me!


GIVEAWAY!


Author Deborah Lawrenson sent me a copy of The Secretary from England last week. I really don't read spy novels. Who would like to read this book and review it for her? I will be happy to mail it to someone in the US, if you will note in the comments that you'd like to do this. If more than one person would like to do so, I'll throw your names into the random number selector.

Here's a little bit about the book:

Moscow, 1958. At the height of the Cold War, secretary Lois Vale is on a deep-cover MI6 mission to identify a diplomatic traitor. She can trust only one man: Johann, a German journalist also working covertly for the British secret service. As the trail leads to Vienna and the Black Sea, Lois and Johann begin an affair but as love grows, so does the danger to Lois.

A tense Cold War spy story told from the perspective of a bright, young, working-class woman recruited to MI6 at a time when men were in charge of making history and women were expendable.








Monday Mailbox is back! 

Monday Mailbox is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week.

It is now hosted at I'd Rather Be at the Beach.

Vicki would love to have you join in.





What I Posted Last Week Here at Readerbuzz:





I began to list 3 Good Things every day during the pandemic. Now I've established a regular routine of writing down my 3 Good Things. 

Here are 3 Good Things from last week:


Good Thing #1:
How fun it was to watch 
granddaughter Annie
play basketball last weekend!



Good Thing #2:
Our seeds are in the soil.


Good Thing #3:
Lego Ideas:
Books Are My Passion.




Weekend linkup spots are listed below. Click on the picture to visit the site.

        

I hope you will join the linkup for Sunday Salon below.


Friday, February 14, 2025

Pleased to Meet Me: Genes, Germs, and the Curious Forces that Make Us Who We Are by Bill Sullivan: Book Beginnings on Fridays, First Line Friday, The Friday 56, and Book Blogger Hop

  

Today's Featured Book: 

Pleased to Meet Me: Genes, Germs, and the Curious Forces that Make Us Who We Are

by Bill Sullivan

Genre: Nonfiction

Published: August 6, 2019

Page Count: 336 pages

Summary: 

Why are you attracted to a certain "type?" Why are you a morning person? Why do you vote the way you do? From a witty new voice in popular science comes a clever, life-changing look at what makes you you.

"I can't believe I just said that." "What possessed me to do that?" "What's wrong with me?" We're constantly seeking answers to these fundamental human questions, and now, science has the answers. The foods we enjoy, the people we love, the emotions we feel, and the beliefs we hold can all be traced back to our DNA, germs, and environment. This witty, colloquial book is popular science at its best, describing in everyday language how genetics, epigenetics, microbiology, and psychology work together to influence our personality and actions. Mixing cutting-edge research and relatable humor, Pleased to Meet Me is filled with fascinating insights that shine a light on who we really are--and how we might become our best selves.





 


BOOK BEGINNINGS ON FRIDAY is hosted by Rose City ReaderWhat book are you happy about reading this week? Please share the opening sentence (or so) on BOOK BEGINNINGS ON FRIDAY! Add the link to your blog or social media post and visit other blogs to see what others are reading.

Happy Friday and welcome to the FIRST LINE FRIDAY, hosted by Reading is My Superpower! It’s time to grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first line.


People do the strangest things, don't they?






THE FRIDAY 56 is hosted by Anne of Head Full of Books. To play, open a book and turn to page 56 (or 56% on your e-reader). Find a sentence or two and post them, along with the book title and author. Then link up on Head Full of Books and visit others in the linky. 

Why There Are Grumpy Old Men

“Get off my lawn!” many an old man has yelled, most famously the rifle-toting Walt Kowalski played by Clint Eastwood in the 2008 film Gran Torino. What’s with grumpy old men, anyway? Don’t they have bigger fish to fry? Why are they always so uptight, ranting and raving about how awful the world has become?

Science is on the case. Researchers have named the phenomenon irritable male syndrome; on average, it is most likely to begin at age 70. This figure corresponds with the age when testosterone levels plummet. Recall that low testosterone is associated with irritability, difficulty concentrating, and negative mood, providing a biochemical explanation for the proverbial grumpy old man...






My husband and I listened to this audiobook all the way up to East Texas (4 1/2 hours) and all the way home from East Texas (4 1/2 hours). We are delighted with it, and we plan to listen to the remaining two hours in the next couple of days. Who knew science could be so much fun?







The purpose of THE BOOK BLOGGER HOP is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, and befriend other bloggers. THE BOOK BLOGGER HOP is hosted by Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer   

February 14th - 20th - Have you ever read a Nicholas Sparks romance novel? 

I refuse to answer on the grounds that it may incriminate me. 

(Whole truth and nothing but the truth: Yes. But I wish I hadn't.)





Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Torrijas: Spanish French Toast


There is very little introductory text to Milk Street: Tuesday Nights. Am I the only one unfamiliar with Milk Street? 

I like the description of the book from the Milk Street website: 

Milk Street: Tuesday Nights are our solutions for slapdash weeknight meals. We bring together ideas, tips and recipes from chefs, cookbook authors and food writers, then shape them into simple, flavorful meals using pantry staples and a few other ingredients. Each recipe is designed to come together quickly and to become a go-to in your weekly dinner repertoire.

Fast. Delicious. With ingredients you probably have on hand.

I've gotten to a place in my cooking where I'm bored with my faithful lineup of dishes. Why not try something new? Especially if it's also quick and easy?

I browsed the book and I have now bookmarked Frittata with Pasta, Thyme, and Parmesan; Rigatoni with Ricotta-Sage Pesto; Spanish Eggs and Potatoes; Spanish Ratatouille; Tuscan Soup with Bread, Beans and Greens (Ribollita); Cuban Picadillo; Maque Choux with Andouille Sausage; Mushroom Pork Omelet; Tagliatelle with Portobellos and Chive Ricotta; Orecchiette with Sausage and Chard; Pasta with Browned Butter, Yogurt, and Herbs; Kale and White Bean Soup; Cacio e Pepe; Spaghetti al Limone; Palestinian Crispy Herb Omelet; Three-Cheese Pizza; Chili Chicken Tacos; Buttermilk Biscuits; Rigatoni Carbonara with Ricotta; Follof Rice; Sherry-Soaked French Toast (Torrijas); and Fattoush. 

Shall I start with Sherry-Soaked French Toast? I have a half-a-loaf of homemade bread here that may go to waste if I don't use it.

Sherry-Soaked French Toast (Torrijas)

This is Spain's take on French toast. So, Spanish French Toast, if you will. Usually, torrijas are made with citrus or cinnamon flavorings, but Milk Street uses sherry. I did not use sherry; I used cinnamon. I used a half loaf of leftover homemade bread instead of challah. No orange zest. No orange juice. No cloves. And I used butter rather than a neutral oil. Just so you know.

Ingredients:

  • Four 1-inch-thick slices challah bread, halved on the diagonal
  • 1 cup dry sherry
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 teaspoons grated orange zest, divided, plus 1/4 cup orange juice
  • 1/4 cup white sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup grapeseed or other neutral oil

Directions:

Heat the oven to 350°F with a rack in the middle position. In a large baking dish, arrange the challah in a single layer. In a medium bowl, whisk the sherry, powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon of the zest and the orange juice. Pour the mixture over the bread; do not wash the bowl. Let stand for 5 minutes, then flip each piece of bread. Let stand until the bread absorbs most of the liquid, another 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a small, shallow bowl, stir together the remaining 1 teaspoon zest, the white sugar, cinnamon and cloves. In the same bowl used for the sherry mixture, whisk together the eggs, flour and 1 tablespoon of the sugar-spice mixture. One at a time, remove the soaked bread slices from the baking dish and dunk in the egg mixture, coating on both sides, then return them to the baking dish.

In a 12-inch skillet over medium, heat the oil to 350°F. Set a wire rack in a rimmed baking sheet. When the oil is ready, place half of the slices in the pan and cook until golden brown, about 1 minute. Using a thin metal spatula, flip each piece and cook until the second sides are golden brown, about 1 minute longer. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining slices of bread. Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake until the centers are cooked through, about 5 minutes.

Using tongs, dip each slice into the remaining sugar-spice mixture, turning to coat, then transfer to a serving plate. Serve warm.


Best Spanish French Toast I ever made!


For more photos, link up at Wordless WednesdayComedy PlusMessymimi's MeanderingsKeith's RamblingsWild Bird Wednesday, and My Corner of the World.

Weekend Cooking is hosted by Marg at The Intrepid Reader (and Baker). It is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page. For more information, see the welcome post. 

Be a part of our friendly monthly In My Kitchen community by adding your post here at Sherry's Pickings - everybody welcome! Tell us about your kitchen (and kitchen garden) happenings over the past month.  Dishes you've cooked, preserves you've made, herbs and veg. in your garden, kitchen gadgets, and goings-on.  And one curveball is welcome - whatever you fancy; no need to be kitchen-related.  The link is open from the first of the month to midnight on the thirteenth of the month, every month.

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

All the Love Stories You Could Ever Want: Eleven Posts I've Written About Love and Books

I'm not a big reader of romances. I'm not one for swooning, sadly. And, over the years, I've posted with a certain cynicism (see Top Ten Romances That Would Make It In the Real World for an example of that) about romance in stories. Nevertheless, I'm sharing today eleven share-worthy posts about love and love stories. See what you think.



Eleven Favorite Love Stories in Books (2011)




Top Ten Romances That Would Make It In the Real World (2012)

Warning: Very bleak post.









Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Each Tuesday That Artsy Reader Girl assigns a topic and then post her top ten list that fits that topic. You’re more than welcome to join her and create your own top ten (or 2, 5, 20, etc.) list as well. Feel free to put a unique spin on the topic to make it work for you! Please link back to That Artsy Reader Girl in your own post so that others know where to find more information.   

Saturday, February 8, 2025

The Sunday Salon: Winter Birdwatching on the Bluewater Highway




Welcome! I am delighted that you joined us here at the 
Sunday Salon

What is the Sunday Salon? 

The Sunday Salon is a place to link up and share what we have been doing during the week. It's also a great opportunity to visit other blogs and join in the conversations going on there. 






Misty rainbow over the jetty at Surfside Jetty Park


After snow two weeks ago, 
we had a week of 
gorgeous, almost-80 degree F weather.

We spent a day visiting great winter birding spots 
along the Bluewater Highway 
near Surfside, Texas.

Happiness perks
from being out in nature:

1. No access to the news
2. Fresh air
3. Sunshine
4. Sound of the waves
5. Salty breeze









What I Read Last Week:

The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough (Readalong with Tina)

Says Who? A Kinder, Funner Usage Guide for Everyone Who Cares About Words by Anne Curzan (NF)

The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett (Fantasy)







What I'm Reading Now:

Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim (Fiction)

Roots by Alex Haley (Chapter-a-Day)

Fascism: A Warning by Madeleine Albright (NF)





Monday Mailbox is back! 

Monday Mailbox is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week.

It is now hosted at I'd Rather Be at the Beach.

Vicki would love to have you join in.





What I Posted Last Week Here at Readerbuzz:











I began to list 3 Good Things every day during the pandemic. Now I've established a regular routine of writing down my 3 Good Things. Here are 3 Good Things from last week from our nature walk near Surfside.





Good Thing #1:

Reddish Egret



Good Thing #2:

Ruddy Turnstone



Good Thing #3:

Great Egret





Weekend linkup spots are listed below. Click on the picture to visit the site.

        

I hope you will join the linkup for Sunday Salon below.