I'm reading a biography of Eleanor of Aquitaine by Alison Weir, who I usually respect greatly as a researcher and writer. However, in her chapter on daily life in England in the 12th century, she writes: "Stuffings, marinades and rich sauces, often flavoured with garlic, were used to disguise the taste and smell of rancid meat that had in many ( Read more... )

Saturday new_man and I has a lovely outing. We drove to Worcester and had brunch at the Miss Worcester Diner, a classic dining car. We shared some very creative stuffed french toast: hash & cheddar and apple, pecan, caramel. So good ( Read more... )

Back when I was in college, jhitchin turned me on to the SPQR books. They're detective novels set in the waning days of the Roman Republic and I adored them immediately. John Maddox Roberts, the author, has a good knowledge of the era and his detective, Decius Caecilius Metellus, is terribly appealing ( Read more... )

The snow is not entirely gone from the backyard, but almost! I can see my garden again! The chives are starting to come up. And I can see the possibility of crocus. Spring might actually exist ( Read more... )

Please let me know if you're interested in any of the following (and how I can get said book to you):

An American Bride in Kabul: A Memoir by Phyllis Chesler

The Bones of Paris by Laurie King

The Forsaken by Ace Atkins

High on the Hog: A Culinary Journey from Africa to America by Jessica B. Harris

A Spy Among Friends by Ben MacIntyre (anastasiav)

( Read more... )

Today is new_man's birthday. He's really hard to buy gifts for. I did pretty good last year when I got him a Marrus portrait of Albert ( Read more... )

( longish )

I woke up yesterday with a mysterious pain in my left knee. Sitting and walking were fine, but stairs were agony. I swear it was fine when I had gone to bed. Today it still hurts a little, but I took the stairs without thinking too much about it instead of needing to use my hands for support. I have no idea what I did.

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new_man and I are big Spenser ( Read more... )

Judy Blume's book Tiger Eyes was made into a movie! She wrote the script along with her son, who directed the film. I have high hopes.

It's my favorite book of hers (even if it does diss the SCA in passing) -- I was exactly the right age when I read it.

It's not playing around here, but it'll be available for streaming on Friday.

I love spring. The cherry tree is in full bloom. There are even some violets despite the landscaper's eradication of them in the fall (I was not pleased). Years ago I planted a heraldic display of tulips (red, black, and white, for Yevsha's arms) which lasted all of 1 year. A couple of the white ones seem to have survived. My neighbor across the ( Read more... )