It hasn’t even started, and already I’m fearing today.

We really need a good alternative to Monday. However, my fear is whatever we choose to replace Monday, will just become Monday. Kinda the opposite of “A rose by any other names should smell as sweet” (which was disproved by scientists I’d like to point out.) Would a Monday by any other name still be as horrific?

Last time we were driving back from Fredericksburg, Michael and I ended up calling my aunt & uncle to ask, “what’s the building near Quantico that looks like a sinking ship?”

He eventually called us back and told us the building was the Marine Corps Museum, but I still think it looks like a sinking ship.

The Mary Washington campus is very pretty, and has a ton of azaleas that were in full bloom. Gorgeous.

My cousin Math is graduating from college today, so I’m off for that.

Have some flowers to tide you over in the interim.

Service please!

Since I know not everyone reads my book blog, I thought I’d mention that I recently finished the Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan and enjoyed it.

It’s a very good book that you really should read. Though I think Fast Food Nation was better. (I really enjoyed Eric Schlosser’s talk when he came here several years ago.)

Michelle: You didn’t have to do that.
Grandmom. I know I didn’t. The only thing I have to do is pay taxes and die.
Michael: You don’t even pay any taxes!

OK, so I read this series awhile ago, but it’s still one of my favorite, and since this is my series I can do as I please. So this week I’m recommending the Julian Kestrel series by Kate Ross.

Kate Ross died in 1998, after writing four books in her Julian Kestrel series. I’ve loaned the series to both my grandmother and mother, who both were crushed when they discovered there would never be any more books in this series.

Julian Kestrel lives in Regency England. (Not that it was called that at the time.) He’s worked hard to gain a reputation in society and to make something of himself, even if it’s not quite clear just what that is. He’s a dandy known for his clothing and being a gentleman, and even if he isn’t truly of the set–or truly a gentleman–he can pass as one, and that’s good enough for the Ton. At least for now.

What do I love about these books? Pretty much everything. The mysteries were sharp, the characters were engaging and the dialog was lovely. And Julian is simply fabulous. Here’s a snippet of dialog, with Julian talking with the young sister of the man he has befriended:

“If everyone who died with unpunished sins on his conscience came back as a ghost, the living would be crowded out of every home in England.”
“You’re cynical. I thought you would be. Can you sneer?”
“With terrifying effect.”
“Oh, do it, please! I want to see it!”
“I’m afraid you’re much too young to withstand it. I should be accused of stunting your growth–perhaps even sending you into a decline.”
“I wouldn’t go into a decline. I’m robust. My governess says so.”

“I’m robust. My governess says so,” just makes me giggle.

That bit of dialog makes the characters crystal clear in my mind. She’s a young girl with a crush on her older brother’s friend. He recognizes her crush for what it is, and strives to treat her like a sister, without making her feel like a child or in any way ridiculous.

The books are filled with such dialog, as well as wonderful storytelling and vivid characters. Essentially, they’re everything I want in a Regency/Victorian mystery: witty dialog, interesting clothing and manners, and a sharp mystery.

As I said, there are only four books, so I recommend you find all four, then read them slowly, in order, savoring them, as they are all we will every have from this talented writer.

Cut to the Quick (1993), A Broken Vessel (1994), Whom the Gods Love (1995), The Devil in Music (1997)

As I’m being crushed at work, you’re getting a bunch of pre-written posts this week. But they’re totally fresh and new for you, so no complaining.

So let’s get this week’s game of word association started, shall we?

shark

This is modified from a recipe I made at Christmas (which I’d already modified from the original). Grandmom can’t eat nuts, and she’s not supposed to have many cranberries, so I had to make some substitutions. I made half the cookies without cranberries, and half with. Or maybe a little bit more than half with. Directions are for with cranberries.

Oatmeal Cookies with Coconut, White Chocolate, and Cranberries
325 F, 12 minutes
3/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 tbsp corn syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 large egg (room temperature)
1 3/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2+ cup oats
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup coconut
4 oz white chocolate, in chunks (I take a 4 oz bar and crush it. If you can find white chips those’d be fine.)

Beat the butter until light. Add in the sugars and continue beating until mixture is light and fluffy. Add in corn syrup and vanilla, and beat well. Beat in the egg, then add four, soda and salt.

Mix in the oats, then the coconut, then the white chocolate chunks, then the cranberries.

Scoop onto parchment paper covered cookie sheets.

Bake for 12 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through baking.

Allow cookies to cool on the sheets for a few minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

It’s Morgantown, so it’s raining.

Did a bit of gardening yesterday–went to the WVU Greenhouse plant sale and then took a trip to Lowes. Filled in the herb garden. The rosemary didn’t survive the winter (unsurprisingly, considering how cold it got this winter), and although some of the parsley came back (WTF?) I got more parsley, three tomato plants and two basil plants.

I also got some pansies to put in the boxes on the front deck.

At Lowes we got a dogwood to replace the broom in the back of the house that died, and bought a small broom to put at the front of the house, in the hopes it will do better than the one on the back of the house did.

(more…)

If anyone in the area wants some chive plants, mine are currently trying to take over my entire herb garden. You taken ’em or they get composted, so even if you think you might kill ’em, it won’t be a loss.

They’re very hardy, and very good in grilled veggies and bread dressing and everything in between.

I know what the cow says!