Canada Reads is NOT a reality show!

Unbelievable what happened tonight on Canada Reads.

This is not a reality show, far from it - this is a quality forum for good books. Someone needs to fill Stacey in on this fact, as she so obviously made the wrong decision to vote off the strongest book to "save her own".

Book Review #10

I've been reading, but I'm afraid I won't meet my goal this year of 35 books. (Insert nail biting cartoon here, I'm too lazy tonight to draw it) I blame the sweater I'm making and the my new iPad. Anyway....

Angela's Ashes - Frank McCourt

Wow. Super powerful, completely depressing and hilarious at the same time. Incredible.

The Lake of Dreams - Kim Edwards

Her earlier book "Memory Keeper's Daughter" was better. This one was interesting, but I found the heroine became a little obsessive and at times just plain annoying. It took three borrows from the library to finish this one, I was always reading something else at the same time, it was a phase I went through. I'm over it now.

One Day - David Nichols

This was an impulse buy off Kobo. Light reading, an interesting love story but I was hoping for something more. Considering the description of the book, it sounded a little like Time Traveller's Wife so that's likely what hooked me. Alas. Overall: meh. I don't even have the drive to see the movie.

The Birth House - Ami McKay


This was a gift and it was also defended on Canada Reads so I was intrigued. It delivered, an interesting read. Any book with recipes at the end is a good bet.

State of Wonder - Ann Patchett

My second Ann Patchett book in the last couple months. I like her books, the plots are fast paced, but I do find that there is a lot of extra stuff in the middle that doesn't seem necessary. Still, I'll read more of her books in the future - from the library.

I attempted two books in the middle of all these and couldn't finish them because they were either too depressing (Mercy Among the Children - David Adams Richards) or too vanilla (The Happiness Project - Gretchen Rubin).

There were also three more, but I'll include them in my next book post. Happy reading out there!!

Emergency Icing

Behold.

A birthday cake for Brad. Baked by me.

I'm not sure what it is with me and baking? Or why it ends up with cake on the balcony, bum cookies and digging through garbage, but here it is:

Brad went into Vancouver on the weekend so I got up early on Sunday to make him a cake.

No biggie.

I got the cake recipe from Looneyspoons. Always a good bet - easy, reliable recipes. The cake part went off without a hitch. There wasn't icing with this cake recipe so I had to source an icing recipe somewhere else....

......from Anna Olsen's 'Another Cup of Sugar'. I started the icing....1/3 cups of butter....3 cups icing sugar.....um, sorry?


Holy dry ingredients?! There was icing sugar flying all over the kitchen and I didn't even have all of it added yet, not to mention the cocoa.

I had 45 minutes until I had to leave to get Brad at the ferry.

It was at this point that the cake ended up on the balcony (it wasn't cooling fast enough, I don't know why I didn't just put it in the fridge) and the panicked phone calls began.


My mom knew exactly what to do: ramble off my Grandma's icing recipe: icing sugar, cocoa, butter and hot water. I was skeptical (why? given my track record with baking - I have no right to be) but desperate, so I started throwing stuff in a new bowl.

No measuring required of course.

I don't know why I would doubt my own beloved Grandma - the icing totally came together. Too sweet - just add more cocoa, too thick - add more hot water. Genius.

Plan 9

Today was one of those days I really enjoy because I didn't have to leave the house. I slept in, read, had breakfast then there was a football game Brad wanted to watch so I made myself disappear.

Have you seen Plan 9 from Outer Space? Oh, it's so bad-good.






The UFOs on wires, the walking dead people who aren't scary, bad acting, strange story and classic scenes:







You have no excuse, it's free to watch on YouTube. Next time it's -40, or you're sick in bed or hung over, it just the thing.

Book Stress

Lately my reading habits have been all over the map. It's not cool.

I've taken The Lake of Dreams out of the library three times now. The problem is that at the time, I was reading another book from the library, thinking I could finish them both before the due date.

Nope.

Then they both expired and I had to wait a couple weeks for another hold to come up. In the meantime, I started another book and then the holds came up and I had three books going...ohmigod.

On a positive note, I've discovered the coolest thing EVER. It's possible to synch my iPad and my Kobo. I bookmark a book on my iPad, turn on the wireless on my Kobo and the bookmark updates.

Can you take it?

Car Pillow!

Awwwhhh! Can you handle it? A car pillow!

I made it for my nephew. Here is the pattern.

While making it I was reminded of the fact that I will never sew another project that I have to stuff. I can do 2D things like bags, pants or napkins. The moment I am creating something with a third dimension - it's just not happening for me.

The end of my little pillow is pretty gimped, and there was a LOT of swearing when I was Frankenstein-hand-stitching at the end.Oh well - he likes it!

Garlic Peeler Thingie

You know those awesome ads that take a common situation like snuggling in a blanket, chopping vegetables or the latest - peeling hard boiled eggs - look like a nightmare?


This is honestly how I feel about peeling garlic. I hate having to smash the cloves, I hate cutting the little ends off, and I especially don't like how the peels stick to your fingers.

I noticed that Michael Smith has a silicone tube that he uses to peel garlic. So I told Brad and Mom that I wanted one, and I got one from each of them.

SCORE!!

This thing is amazing, it's like a magic trick! You put the unpeeled garlic in, roll it on the counter and the peels fall out.

Boots

I'm now a member of this club that all women seem to be in! I bought new boots.

When my mom was here last week, we were walking along the street and both stopped DEAD in our tracks at a gorgeous pair of boots in the window of a shoe store.

They were having a huge sale too. I saw these boots and thought I would wait. If I kept thinking about them, then I would go back and try them on.

I kept thinking about them.

I went back yesterday and it turns out we were made for each other. Plus they are Doc Martens. Figures.

Now I have to re-vamp my wardrobe in order to wear them. All my jeans are boot cut, if I tuck them inside the boots it looks like I'm going riding. I have no leggings and not many skirts that would work with them.

I still think they are worth it.

Cowl

My mom is so cute. Months ago she sent me a letter and included a pattern for a knitted cowl. She didn't say anything, but when I questioned her about it later she said she liked it in black.

It's a super easy pattern, what a great idea for a gift. I found the yarn and knit one up for her. In my usual way. "Gauge. Pshaw, gauge....who cares."

Well, this is what I ended up with after my first attempt.

A cowl for Ziggy. The thing wouldn't fit over my head - no way in hell.

I'm not sure when I'll learn my lesson about making a gauge swatch when I knit stuff. I should put this picture of The Bad Room Mate next to my knitting basket.

Anyway, after I adjusted the pattern I knit it again and it turned out amazing. The black yarn doesn't photograph well, but it has a cable which makes it that much more special. I'll probably make one for myself once I'm done the Kurt Cobain Sweater.

Happy New Year!

For the first time in years we went out for New Years Eve. Usually we stay in and have a quiet night of good food, movies and relaxation.

This year we went to a wine bar with friends. It was a great way to start the new year.

Happy New Year!