soeurs du jour

The First Husband - Book Club

One word review: Meh.

Usually I love sneaking chick lit into my reading time to the point that when Margie asks what I'm reading I always share the title of the other book on my plate. She knows I hide this from her. I was excited to get this book, chick lit that I had to read for book club. A book I could boldly claim I loved.

I expect these books to be predictable, simple, quick to read and forgettable.

The First Husband by Laura Dave didn't do it for me. Oh sure, it had the requisite elements but I couldn't get interested or connect with any of the people in the book. I had no desire to spend a Saturday afternoon fluff reading. It was, just, well, meh. So there, Margie was right this time, even without reading the book!

We're discussing The First Husband over at Blogher.  I see they've mined the only nugget that was memorable from the book and we're asked who would the opposite of you be?

xo

Kath

 I was compensated for this BlogHer Book Club review
but all opinions expressed are my own.

Pinspiration

The kitchen in the apartment we're renting has a vintage vibe. 

I am tempted to drop a carrot top into the tiny vase at the back of this plate and see if it will grow. Or maybe a pea shoot? 

Pinterest is one of my favourite places to go for inspiration. After months of collecting ideas, I've started breathing life into them and introducing them to my home.  For instance, ivy planted in mason jars gracing a shelf in my vintage kitchen.

xo

K

progress

like every other spring, opening the cottage eats up an entire weekend.  the emptying of outdoor paraphanalia that is stored inside during the winter, the spring cleaning and checking for "winter visitors".  andy has the unfortunate task of putting in the pump and the dock, i clean the boat and he does the heavy work.  

two of our four muskoka chairs got a new coat of paint, the other two will be dark green, perhaps by the end of this weekend.

i love driftwood, always looking for ideas and projects to use our abundant supply.  i built this wall, andy helped with the schlepping and a bit of drill work.  i am so happy with the result.

i spent a week in new brunswick with my newest grandson, harry david.  when i saw him hugging his sock monkey i knew that a photo would bring a smile to a few faces.

xo 

margie

Stitch

It's been an odd spring, hot, cold, wet, dry. I have had trouble keeping my place in the seasons. Winter and spring coats hang side by side in the closet, snow boots nestle against rain boots and the flip flops have worked their way back into the back hiding in the corner after the single warm weekend back in April. In some respects it almost feels like summer came and went without me.

This past weekend finally brought things into focus. It was appropriately sunny and the temperature felt right. I still layered up when we went out, "just in case". We rarely entertain overnight company in the winter and come May our spare bedroom starts to get booked up. It is a sure sign that the seasons have changed.

One of my favourite things to do is to bring my guests to Jordan, Ontario where you will find a "sanctuary for knitters, quilters and needle artists" called Stitch.

We arrived to find owner Jocelyn unpacking after a busy weekend at the quilt show in Oakville. I just knew this store would blow Margie's mind and I was right. We spent a long time fondling fabrics, oohing and awing over the yarns and samples, I came away with a little bird project and Margie bought some supplies for a project which might be a surprise for someone so I won't reveal it here.

Jocelyn good naturedly talked us through our fabric choices and let me take photos of her charming shop to share with you.

Margie is gone and is visiting Harry David, Mom is here visiting with me. My no good terrible week turned much better once I got Mom picked up at the airport.  

xo

Kath

The no good very horrible day!

Today so far, no voice, sore throat, car quit on the way to work, tow truck was delayed, forgot to give the dealership the keys to the car, they had to send a driver to get them, it rained, and my shoe just broke.

Now I am laughing, because it won't do any good to cry.  It's obviously time to buy a lottery ticket because this has got to change!!!

XO
Kath

Tea & Butter

Today we are having breakfast at home, drinking tea, I'm going to fix Margie's knitting and give her some pointers. Then we're off to the theatre, home for dinner and I think, if we can still move, out to listen to some rock and roll.  I wish we could be together all the time. 

I love the label on this tea, "Marie Antoinette frolicking in a summer meadow". If we frolic in a meadow after drinking, we will be sure to take photos. Although if there was going to be frolicking in meadows, it would have happened yesterday bcause we visited eight or nine wineries (it gets hazy after a while).

In between wineries, we antique shopped, had a culinary delight of a lunch at Strewn and enjoyed an amazingly beautiful day. Early to bed last night after a light dinner of sushi salad and beer. 

The lemon cake I made is delicious. We decided that anything with a pound of butter in it has no choice but to be awesome. We now just call the cake, "Butter".  Pass the butter please.

xo

Kath

Sunday morning orange

The sisters are hooked on orange lately. Eating, wearing, decorating ... orange is the new black.

That "to go" breakfast in the photo is what this Sunday morning looks like. I am at work, but with good reason. Margie is coming to visit (yay) and I have booked Friday as a day off to be with her. Work this weekend = day off Friday << works for me!

We watched a stupid, funny movie last night, "Date Night". It was dumb but cute and did make us laugh out loud.

This week I retired the iPad from my bedside. I had been staying up far too late, mindless surfing, pinterest and playing games have been stealing my sleeping time. A stack of magazines replaces it, a good choice as I can only read a page or two before I feel myself drifting off. Tiny changes can have huge results. It is all in being aware, noticing what is working and not working. "Is this good for me right now?" I am trying to incorporate the "right now" into my life because my self-imposed rigidity of lists, new regimes and rules often means I set myself up to be disappointed that something is not working or becomes too much.

So for now, that is what I'm up to .... Happy Sunday!

xo

Kath

Sunday Morning Kitchen

 

dish towels inspired by vintage linens

fresh ginger in hot oatmeal

grinding beans for a cheerful orange coffee pot 

puts a whole new meaning to "drink your orange juice"

xo

Kath

The Book of Jonas - Stephen Dau

I have had a slow start to my reading year and am grateful to Blogher for hosting book club again this month. Two good reads in a row. The Book of Jonas by Stephen Dau is a book about memory and war and how three lives intertwine.

I didn't set out to do so, but read the book in two sittings, in the same day -  we all know that when a book grabs me, I don't put it down, everything else can wait.  This was one of those books. I couldn't drag myself from it.

Beautifully written with evocative imagery this book tells an epic tale in a scant 272 pages. The beauty of a first novel is that we can hope for more from Mr. Dau and I sincerely hope he is at home writing another novel.

I found myself reading aloud passages, just to savour them ...

"Every so often the wind puffs through the open windows and billows the soft cloth, startling him with a strobe of sunshine, like the bright end of a run-out movie reel."

I want you to read this book. You are going to love it. 

xo

Kath

This is a paid review for BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are my own. 

go out and play

playing with lightroom,

my new best friend.

buttons and mason jars,

my new passion.

listening to bruce cockburn.

making homemade pizza.

with wine.

and episodes of mad men, nurse jackie and game of thrones.

kath, what are you up to?

margie