Two Good Books

 

 

Some of my favorite posts to write are about books I want to read or books I have read. It makes the inner book nerd in me happy to discuss reading and I could do it all day every day, to be honest. When I find a good book, I want to let you know and recently, I read two really good ones.

 

 

The Widow, by Fiona Barton (from my Spring reading list) is reviewed as a psychological thriller, but it's so much more than that. It has elements of all my favorite books, with points of view devoted to a policeman, a journalist and the protagonist. A crime has been committed, but until the very end you don't know how it happened, or who actually did it. The widow's point of view is interesting and little is given away, until the very end, about her role. This is a book I did not want to put down until I finished; always the sign of a good book.

 

 

Circling The Sun, by Paula McLain is a story rich in detail of colonial Kenya and an English girl who makes her mark there. There are glittering parties, safaris and a look into the world of high stakes horse racing and the early days of aviation. It is the story of Beryl Markam and how she became successful in two fields dominated by men. This book is written in the style of a biography, but the details and conversations are fictionalization, just like the author's other book, The Paris Wife. I really enjoy this style of writing and there are quite a few in this genre that I have read in the past. Of course, it's the author's perspective, but the details of a real life story are fleshed out and that is what I enjoy.

Happy Wednesday!

 

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Sausage Spinach and White Bean Soup

 

 

 

I don't mean to keep talking about about the weather, but when I wake up to snow on a Sunday morning in nearly mid April, it is worth mentioning. I just wanted to burrow under the covers and stay that way until spring arrives for good. But, I decided to make the most of the day and headed to the grocery store for ingredients to make a cozy and delicious soup to warm us up. There is something about having a pot of soup cooking on the stove that makes a home seem warm and inviting, even on the dreariest of days outside.

This soup recipe was a new one and had wonderful flavor. The combination of the smoked sausage, beans and veggies gave it a hearty texture and we enjoyed it very much. It really was perfect for a chilly Sunday.

 

Sausage Spinach and White Bean Soup

 

1 package smoked sausage links, sliced thin

3 carrots, chopped

2 celery stalks, chopped

2 (15 ounce) cans great northern beans

1/2 cup chopped onion

3 cups spinach

1/2 tsp oregano

5 cups chicken broth/2 cups water

Kosher salt and pepper to taste

 

Add all ingredients, except for spinach, to a large stockpot. Bring to boil and then turn down heat and simmer for about 90 minutes, or until vegatables are tender. Add spinach just before serving.

Note: This soup could be made in a crock pot. Cook on low for 7-8 hours.

 

{Linking with these friends}

French Country Cottage

A Stroll Thru Life

Savvy Southern Style

The Charm of Home

Art and Sand

Between Naps on the Porch

Cozy Little House

Eclectic Red Barn

Skip To My Lou

Rooted in Thyme

DIY by Design

21 Rosemary Lane

New House New Home

Stonegable

Rattlebridge Farm

 

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What Baseball Means To Me

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Opening Day at Comerica Park in Detroit is today and the city will be alive with baseball fans celebrating the start of another season. I love baseball and especially the Tigers and it's been a lifelong love affair for me. Baseball to me means summer afternoons with the sound of the announcers calling the game over the radio. It brings sweet memories of other Tiger fans, like my grandfather. It means nights at the ballpark, under the lights, when the sun finally sets, a cold beer is in your hand and you feel the cool breeze of a Michigan summer night.

It means memories of how Detroit has changed over the years, but its love for the Tigers has remained. Baseball has always brought people into the city; to the games and to the bars and even helped unite the city after the riots in 1967. Detroit has a bad reputation nationally, but things are slowly changing and it will be evident with its vitality on Opening Day. New restaurants and bars are opening all the time, neighborhoods are being revitalized and there is so much hope for a beleaguered city.

Baseball will be the background music of my summer. There is a full schedule to watch, to listen to and even a game or two to attend. My favorite players to watch hit home runs or pitch that elusive no hitter. It's Opening Day in Detroit and I couldn't be happier.

Have a wonderful weekend.

 

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