Love Come To Me

Happy Friday!  It would appear that Pinterest has changed how they imbed pins and I can't seem to figure out how it now works.  So, I might not be sharing any more Friday Funday posts that include my favorite pins for the week.  Therefore, today I thought I'd share a light and fluffy book review to round out this week and prepare you for the weekend.

My mother-in-law said the funniest thing to me earlier this week.  We were talking about the kinds of books that we like to read and she was going through her list and included some genres that she didn't like.  And you know what one of them was?  She termed it "bodice busters."  I started laughing and she asked me, "Well, isn't that what they call them?"  I told her I'd never heard of that term before, but I liked it and thought it was funny. 

Well, if you've read this blog for any length of time you know that, from time to time, I need a little fluff in between intense books.  And sometimes that includes a "bodice buster."  Well, that's what I was looking for whenever I picked up this latest Lisa Kleypas.  I had just finished The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, The Light Between Oceans and Redeeming Love.  I'd read enough factoids to go on for a bit and I'd cried/teared up enough that I didn't want to pick up another book that would make me feel the same way.  So, behold...

There is just something about a Kleypas book that makes for a fantastic reading palate cleanser.  Whenever you pick up one of her books you know precisely what's going to happen...two people are going to fall in love and live happily ever after in the end.  Yet, how she weaves her story is always enjoyable even if it does fall within that "bodice buster" classification.  Love Come to Me wasn't my favorite Kleypas, but it was still pretty enjoyable and I would recommend it if you're in the mood for this kind of book.

Harvest Time!

This has been a pretty eventful week! It's wheat harvest time for anyone who might wonder about the pictures below. Before I married David, I guess you could say I was blissfully unaware of anything having to do with harvesting of crops/grains. Now, we can't drive down a highway without him quizzing me on what the various crops growing on the sides of the road happen to be. I've learned a lot, I guess you could say!

I will say that there are parts of harvest that are pretty. The fields waving in the wind can be very calming. Though, when it's time to cut...those are looooong days for the men on the farm!

While the men are out in the fields, you can't overlook what the women are doing. The farm still has to run, even during this time. That includes cooking, cleaning, watering the garden, feeding the animals, etc., etc. 

Here's a pic of the delicious enchiladas that my mother-in-law and I made on one of the first days. Donna was trying to figure out how to use up the meat in a roast, so I suggested shredded beef enchiladas. And because we were out (and town isn't super close) we made our own enchilada sauce and tortillas! They were delish!

We also made a few desserts. And my mother-in-law made her famous cinnamon rolls. So good!

Of course, one of my favorite things about this visit was the newest member of the farm! My in-laws have always had cats for the barn; they need those mousers! And when their old cat passed a while back, they decided to wait a while to get another (or 3). 

They recently received a momma cat and her two babies. Only one of the babies has been sociable and they're not even sure if the momma has hung around, we haven't seen hide nor hair of her. However, here are some cutie patootie pics of the sociable little kitten. She's suuuuper sweet and loves to play, be held and petted. 

And I can't not include the Ferg. Fergie is, quite possibly, the best farm dog ever. Love her. 

And you know Molly got to venture out to the field some too! My mother-in-law and I arranged it so that each dog got to go every other field meal delivery. 

While harvest isn't completely over, David and I will have to reacquaint ourselves with our regular everday lives again tomorrow. David's worked hard and I've enjoyed helping my mother-in-law this past week. But, it's back to normality again soon!

Fall of Giants

I must say that I think Ken Follett is becoming one of my favorite authors. Fall of Giants is only the third book of his that I've read. However, the previous two are definitely faves and upon finishing this one, I'd say this series is well on it's way to becoming yet another favorite. 

The main premise of this book surrounds how different families around the world react and are affected by the Great War (aka World War I). You follow people in England, Germany, Hungary, Russia and the United States. Each person, in some way, either knows, becomes connected to or meets the other characters. And there is just something magical about how Follett manages to weave that web of social complexity. He really does have a gift for it. 

The only main difference I'd say in how the characters develop and how the plot thickens in this book versus Pillars of the Earth and World Without End is the sex. I don't normally talk about "those types of scenes" in books. However, because it just wasn't that prevalent in the others, I was shocked at how much there is in this one. In fact, one of the main male characters is...well, my mom used to use the term "horn dog." And this character fits the bill with that description!  So, if you blush easily...tread carefully with this one!

Needless to say, I would definitely recommend this one and am greatly anticipating reading the second book in this trilogy, Winter of the World. 

Have you read any Ken Follett? What did you think?

Redeeming Love

Before I start with this next book review, I have a little bit of a "mud" post to write and share with you.  And the reason I picked this particular post to do it is because: if this book were a movie, it would more than likely fall into the following category.

Let me set the stage a little bit.  For 2-3 days each week, David comes home from work and then immediately changes to go to the gym.  He doesn't stop to eat dinner or hang around much and once he leaves he's gone for a little over an hour (our gym is super close and he works out for approximately an hour each session).  Well, when he left I started channel flipping and stumbled upon an oldie, but goodie.  Steel Magnolias.  OMG, I think most women love this movie because it takes you on that roller coaster of emotions...you laugh, you feel nostalgic/sentimental and most of all sad. 

This type of movie I treat almost the same way each and every time I watch it...I watch approximately 2/3 of it and then I shut it off.  When David came home he asked me if he could change the channel and I said, "Absolutely, I can't watch the end of this anyway."  He just looked at me like I was crazy and said something like, "Why?  Doesn't Julia Roberts die?  That's all, nothing to cry about."  Excuse me, that's all?  Apparently these types of movies don't affect men the same way...or something.  A couple of examples of other movies that fall within this category are Stepmom and Fried Green Tomatoes (though I can normally watch this one all the way to the end).

Redeeming Love is the fourth Francine Rivers book that I have ever read.  And I have to say, I can see why so many people just love her.  Rivers' writing style is so fluid and easy to read.  It's amazing how she can look at a bible passage, do some biblical research and then a beautiful story with dialogue flows from her fingers.

This book is a retelling of the slightly obscure bible story of Hosea and Gomer.  The main premise of the bible story is that Hosea is spoken directly to by God and given the command to marry a prostitute.  Not just any prostitute, mind you, Gomer.  In Redeeming Love the character's names are John Hosea and Sarah, but she is primarily called Angel.  Rivers sets the stage in California right in the middle of the gold rush. 

Angel/Gomer runs away from Hosea three times in both stories.  The effects of these actions, both emotionally and physically to the two involved can be heart-wrenching.  I had a friend ask me if I got irritated with Angel for continuing to run away from Hosea.  And I have to say 'no.'  I know that I am not as messed up in the head as this woman was...for instance, in the prologue you learn that Angel heard her very own father tell her mother that he wishes Angel had been aborted.  Talk about a need for some counseling!  This book isn't an easy read at times and you will most definitely get a little irritated from time to time, but I could understand and see why each character acted the way they did. 

It took me a while to read this book.  And not because it was all that long (though it was) or because I got bored with it.  Rather, there were times when I would read 20-50 pages and then want to "stew on it" for a little while.  This was one of those books that I wanted to sip like a fine wine.  So, I took my time...and I'm glad I did...it was worth it.  Over one million people aren't wrong, this one is definitely a keeper.  I would most definitely recommend it!

Elephants Can Remember

Remember how I got a ton of books (especially Agatha Christie) from my great-great aunt's house a little over a year ago?  Well, this is one of them!

Elephants Can Remember is, as you might be able to guess, the story of a cold case.  A middle-aged, slightly reclusive authoress (Mrs. Oliver) is attending a literary luncheon when a rather brass woman approaches her and pulls her aside.  It turns out that this woman's son is interested in marrying Mrs. Oliver's goddaughter, Celia.  However, before she can allow that to happen she wants Mrs. Oliver to find out definitively what happened to Celia's parents twelve years ago.

You see, Celia's parents' bodies were discovered on their property, near a cliff.  Both had been shot and the gun was lying on the ground between them with both their prints on it.  Did the husband shoot his wife then himself or did the wife shoot the husband then herself or was it a suicide pact?

Mrs. Oliver has no desire to help this rather rude woman, but she is rather curious herself.  So, she decides to call up her good friend, Hercule Poirot, and the two begin a private investigation. 

I will say that while this is the third Agatha Christie I've read and that I would rank it third amongst the others...I didn't dislike this one a bit!  The girls at my book club said that was just a nice way of saying I liked it least.  Well, that's just not the truth!  I still liked this one, but it just lacked that extra bit of intrigue and interest the other two had.  I would definitely recommend it and thoroughly enjoyed this quick and easy read!

P.S. I've yet to guess 100% the ending of an Agatha Christie mystery...she's surprised me all three times!

The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich

This book is definitely not one that you will feel warm and fuzzies at the conclusion of, for sure.  The reason I picked up The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich is because it was one of my best friend's favorite book.  I mentioned Tom's passing when it happened, almost a year ago.  It still doesn't feel quite real, but yet I know that it is.

Because this book is ginormous and I knew it was going to be dry, I was ecstatic to see it available in audiobook form via my local library's app.  I listened through all 57+ hours and I wasn't really all that surprised by the content, simply because Tom had talked to me about it before...many times.  It's dry.  Very.  Only if you're a history buff or just really wanting to read it, will you get through.  I will say that listening to it helped tremendously; I'm not sure I would have made it through had I read it like an everyday book.

There are definitely some interesting tidbits within this book...for instance, did you know that Hitler was in love with his niece?  Creep-o factor at a 10!  He was a very stealthy, tricky, smart person...but, he was also what I would call very evil.  I'm pretty sure most of the world would agree with that.  But, regardless...this book isn't just about Hitler.  It surrounds the entire third reich.  I learned a lot and I'm, for sure, glad that I read it.  However, I won't be picking it up again any time soon...if ever, really.  If you're really interested in this stuff I might recommend it, otherwise not.  For a lot of this book, it's like reading a textbook.  And once we get out of school/college, who wants to do that anymore?

Rhubarb Pie - A Dave's Fave

One very important thing that meeting David has done for me involves introducing rhubarb to my eating/cooking/baking repertoire.  I'd heard of it before meeting him, but had never tasted the wondermousness that is this fruit/vegetable.  And when writing this post, I had to stop and look up whether or not it's a fruit or vegetable.  According to Wikipedia, it's both!  How funny and odd!

Anyway, other than coconut cream pie (for my recipe click here), rhubarb pie is David's absolute favorite.  Like most all fruits and vegetables, rhubarb has a harvesting season and is only available certain times of the year.  For the most part, spring and early summer.  I don't see it very often in the grocery store and almost never at the farmer's markets around here.  So, when I do see it, I snatch it right up!

Today was one of those days.  Lookie at my grocery store loot! 

If you've never looked for or seen this in your grocer, this is what it should look like.  A red celery, if you will.

So, with this delicious cruciferous veggie/fruit, I thought I'd share with you my favorite recipe (and David's)!  And extra bonus points, it's suuuuper easy!  Only four ingredients in the filling!!

Rhubarb Pie

2 recipe's worth of pastry crust (for my good ol' standby recipe, click here)
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
6ish cups of fresh rhubarb, sliced (I say 6ish because I usually just grab a bunch, like above, and whatever I end up with is what goes into the pie.)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Line 9-inch pie plate with one pastry crust.

In a large bowl, gently toss together the rhubarb, sugar, flour and cinnamon.  Do this until the rhubarb is completely coated.

Transfer rhubarb mixture to the pastry-lined pie plate.

Place second pasty crust on top.  Trim/crimp edges and slice openings in the top as desired.

Brush pastry top with milk and sprinkle additional sugar before baking.

Bake for 25 minutes.  Cover with foil and then bake for another 20-30 minutes. 

You could also do this opposite (cover with foil, then uncover and bake longer).  Whichever way suits you best!  I just like to get the proper amount of browning out of the way first, so that I don't have to worry about is so much at the end.  There's nothing worse than over-browning your crust within a few minutes of pulling it out of the oven.

Let the deliciousness begin starting...now!

This pie is best served with vanilla ice cream, but it still tastes great without.  I hope you give this pie recipe a go.  It really is worth the effort!