With so much bad news these days, hurray for good news. I'm talking about the book, The Faith Club by Ranya Idliby, Suzanne Oliver, and Priscilla Warner. This book is about three women, a Muslim, a Christian, and a Jew, who come together to understand each other's religion.

Of course, the first meetings were to dispel stereotypes. Stereotypes popped up over and over. This seems to be one of the biggest problems in defining religion. They were out to examine the other religions as well as their own. They addressed prayer, the holy text, heaven and hell, being American and dealing with their religion, and holidays. As they discussed, more and more issues were brought to the table: Who does the Holy Land belong to? How can the Israeli and Palistinian conflict be resolved? How can the voice of moderation counteract the extremists? What can a quiet minority do? How can we obtain peace in this complex world?

The women became friends and spread what they had learned to others. Their greatest challenge was sticking up for each other in their own communities. The book lays out how to start a Faith Club and an extensive bibliography for study. It is a great model to bring people together and not to continue creating differences.

Wishing for peace on the earth, I will pass on a website that I find helpful in my day-to-day living. http://www.peaceisthewayglobalcommunity.org/Masters/7Practices.aspx

House of Fields, by Anne-Marie Oomen is a definite read. Her portrait of life in Northern Michigan could be a picture of farms across the country. You could change the time and setting, but you would still have the fears and loneliness of growing up with a worldview that is made up of the fields and farms of your home. Oomen's use of language, it's confusion, and it's way of broadening the universe, was intriguing. I could especially relate since, I was raised on a farm with little knowledge of what the world had to offer. I didn't have the language to understand. It was a great mystery.

When I went to college, I made a big joke of flushing the stool and flicking the lights on and off. I was from the "sticks". It was my first chance to see how other people lived: city people, ethnic people, other than farm people. When I went to the reservation in Arizona, I felt like Columbus falling off of the edge of the earth. Anne-Marie reminded me of the love of home and the knowledge that home is such a small dot on this planet. That's where the loneliness comes from.

My mom always said that you had to go away to come back. And so I did, and so I have lived on my family farm next to the big house where I was raised for the last thirty odd years. I am thankful for my travels and adventures around the world, I have language from these places. My going away has made me deeply appreciate my present surroundings. I love the memories that come from trees and hills, and roads and rocks. I cherish my history. I belong here.

Oomen's tale of a rural education has sent me a flood of memories. I would say that is high praise for any book.

A crust of homemade bread with big globs of butter straight from the oven, I've died and gone to Heaven.

With the zero temperatures and no place to go, BF decided to make bread today. A good idea since it takes all day giving a body something to do, the bread baking negates the smoke from the woodstove, the oven warms up the kitchen, and we don't have to buy bread from the store for a few days. I made onion soup, so soup and bread will be on our menu for the week. And hey, how about thick slices for toast?

But really, nothing can beat that first bite of warm homemade bread. BF is top chef in my cook book.

Did I tell you I love wood heat? I do. With a mild blizzard outside, I am toasty warm sitting near the fire. The temp. got up to 14F. today and is now hovering around 5 F. and so it is pretty cool in most homes, but we are feeling a balmy 80F. in our living room thanks to our trusty woodstove. I even took a little nap in front of that little box this afternoon. Just like when I was a kid, I put a blanket down and let the heat radiate over my back. It felt delicious. Ah, the good ole days with wood heat.

Did I say I hate dealing with woodstoves? I do. I was raised with woodstoves. I've had many years of experience. I hate the woodchips and ashes. I hate starting fires and them going out or roaring away in the chimney out of control. I mildly dislike bringing in wood, since I never fail to drop some on the way. Filling the woodbox was one of my big chores as a kid. I mildly hate cutting wood even though I like the outdoors and I have many fond memories of helping my dad. He would cut down the trees and cut up the logs while I pulled back tree branches and helped throw chunks into the pickup box to be brought back to the house to be piled in cord stacks.

My little house has had its share of woodstoves. We once had a fashionable round oak stove in the center of the house that would glow red hot if too much wood was put in. I have vivid memories of BF running out the back door with a flaming chunk of wood. There was no way to regulate the heat. If it got too warm in the house, we would just open the windows. At one time, we had two woodstoves, one in the kitchen and one in the living room. Luckily, I only cooked on a woodstove in my mother's house.

So, with all of that in mind, I love the toasty warm house when the winter winds whip around up here on Wyndehill. I don't worry about storms and loss of electricity because I can cook on my stove top and keep warm too.

Thanks, little woodstove.

Having a manicure is pure luxury. When I worked full time for the last 30 years, I was under the impression that I couldn't afford it. But now that I am partially retired and make less, I feel like I need to get my nails done. Go figure. I don't understand my own reasoning.
Here's the rub, the nail polish lasts about a week and then my nails look chipped and unkept. I am an art teacher so my hands take a great deal of abuse. I try to put a layer of polish at the ends of my nails to make the polish last a few more day. Finally I can't stand the look any longer and take off the polish.
Maybe I should get those French dos. Or maybe I should just do my nails myself. It's just that I like being pampered. Any suggestions?

Potato and Leek soup really hit the spot on this cold winter day. RS and I went to a cooking class yesterday. Most of the recipes we cooked used winter vegetables. I try to make soup each Sunday for Sunday supper. I make enough for one meal during the week. Here is today's soup:

Potato and Leek Soup

Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

1-4 medium leeks (I used 1 and a big onion)
2 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
1 lb. red potatoes ( or any potatoes), peeled, cut into 1/2" dice(about 4 large potatoes)
1 small carrot, 1/2" dice (optional)
4-6 cups chicken or vegetable stock or any combination of
1 bay leaf
Salt ( be careful if using bullion since it can be very salty)
Pepper
2 TBSP parsley leaves, minced

Method:

1. Clean and prep leeks: trim away dark green tops and tough outer leaves. Trim away roots. Cut leeks in half lengthwise. Rinse leeks several times under cold running water. I washed the leeks from the middle so the dirt was washed down and out of the leek rather than into the leek. Rinse several times since they can be very dirty. Cut the leek in thin strips and cut the strips into thirds.

2. In a pot, heat the oil over medium heat, add the leeks and saute until tender and just beginning to golden(around 9-11 Minutes). Do not brown.

3. Add potatoes, stock, bay leaf, and a touch of salt and pepper.

4. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and cook until potatoes are tender (about 20-25 minutes).

5. Using a spoon or ladle smash some of the potatoes to thicken the consistency of the soup (not all of them).

6. Remove bay leaf. Add salt and pepper as desired and stir in parsley leaves

7. Serve immediately.

Move over Campbells!

Mother Teresa's Prescription-Finding Happiness and Peace in Service by Paul A. Wright, M.D. Even though I am not a church- goer, I am interested in religion and spirituality, to say nothing about the fact that FB has a degree in the Academic Study of Religion. I am especially interested in people who practice what they preach. Mother Teresa has always been an intriguing person.
This little book is, as the title explains, a prescription for finding happiness. Mother Teresa suggested the following ten spiritual attitudes which should guide one's life (they guided her life): Commitment to community, reverence for all human life, compassion and love, contentment and gratitude, faith, humility, tolerance, patience, forgiveness, and honesty.

Dr. Wright, a very successful cardiology, sought out Mother Teresa to discuss his depression, anxiety, and fear that he was wasting his life. His work with Mother Teresa has resulted in his founding the "Poorest of the Poor" program to send clothing, food and supplies to needy in the U.S. and around the world. He developed the "Medical Mission" program to give free prescription drugs to needy residents of northeastern Ohio where he lives. He is also a coworker of the Missionaries of Charity.

This little book gives clear answers and direction to the eternal question: What is the purpose of my life?

Aunt B drinks, yes. Martinis, once in a great while. This post is in response to Patrick who sent a comment and recipe for making a Nutella martini. Now, it sounds really good. And, thanks, Pat.

I must confess, I have had three martinis in my life (that I can remember). I had a chocolate martini, a plaid martini-raspberry and melon, and a regular martini.

The second confession is that I don't like martinis. Maybe it is because one has to acquire a taste. I had this problem when I first started drinking wine. Most of it was cheap wine and not very good. I really like the expensive wines. Maybe it is a question of sophistication, which I admit, I'm not. Or, maybe it has to do with the person who makes it and the ingredients used. I won't know until---Spring of 2008.

Patrick, I invite you to make me a martini, then I will know. It will be a part of the S and B celebration. Waaahooo!

Aunt B drinks beer. Have you ever just wanted some beer because it would taste good? That was the way I felt tonight on my way home from work.

I bought one bottle of Scarecrow Golden Pale Ale for about $4.00 at Paradise Meats. Using my small Michigan Brewers Guild Summer Festival beer glass that NB gave me as a souvenir from the Beer Festival, I poured myself two small glasses of a light, great tasting beer. I shared the rest of the bottle with BF, so won't be able to have any to go with pizza.

Usually that's when I like beer- with pizza. And I usually like beer when the weather is really hot- not today with 14 degree temps.

I will say that I am a little mellow. Two small glasses of beer and I'm ready for a nap. Talk about a cheap date! Boy, did it taste good! Good thing I don't have to buy a case at those prices!

Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai is my latest finished book. Don't be put off by the first few chapters because it does get better. And it has a happy ending. The setting is at the foot of Mount Kanchenjunga in the Himalayas in India.

The title says it all. Each of the characters are grieving over their historical, cultural and personal loss. The characters are bound by Indian culture with the class and caste system, colonialism, racism, and nationalism.

The book is sometimes funny, but mostly sad. The characters are attached, but some are trying to leave to find a better life. The judge sells his soul as he is schooled in England. His grand-daughter is raised in a Catholic school and then is dropped on his doorstep with no idea of anyone's past or her own future. Biju, the son of the judge's cook, has gone to the U.S., but is constantly in fear of being deported. His life is drudgery while his father thinks he is getting rich, because everyone in America is rich.

So much betrayal, so much anger in this book.

Desai has a wonderful way of describing life in India. If you haven't been there, the descriptions are sometimes shocking. The book brought back memories of my brief visit to India.

I recall flying into Calcutta at night and staying with someone who had guests departing that we(Rebecca and I) met at the airport. We were chauffered through the city and stayed in a lovely house so we were in for a shock the next day. We stayed at the YWCA and I thought I would die in the bathroom after eating capers in some sort of beef. No one at home knew where we were. I remember the beggars in the train stations with legs that had been broken and grew turned at the knees so they used their hands and arms to move themselves along. I traveled from Calcutta to New Delhi on the train in what was then known as "cattle car" class. I sat under the Buddha tree where Buddha was enlightened. I went to the Taj Mahal with it's beautiful clean grounds and gave money to a little girl holding a dead baby just outside the gates of this world wonder. I saw the poverty and felt the desperation. When I flew to Greece, I thought it was the cleanest place on earth. And, yes, I felt I was rich.

I highly recommend this book.

Nutella or Hazelnut cocoa spread, either way, very tasty. I received a big jar from NB for Christmas. For the last few nights, I have been eating it by the spoonful as my late night dessert.

Then, I thought it might have a better use in some sort of large dessert, but no recipes came to mind and there are none on the jar. Good ole internet, found me a ton of recipes http://www.recipegoldmine.com/nutella/nutella.html.

I was surprised to find drinks using Nutella too. So, now I have to try making some of the delectables mentioned. One cheesecake recipe calls for a whole jar of Nutella. I think I'll stick to some cookies to make it last longer. Yum. Yum!

400 thread count sateen sheets-did I say I love them? No more 250 count cotton sheets for this household. What have I been thinking or missing all these years? AS and NB told me about their encounter with high thread count sheets, and then they were obsessed about getting some of their own. So, not to be outdone by the "kids", I had to try some too. And, lordy, what a luxurious feeling sliding in and out of bed. Thus, the B's have arrived, our bed will never be the same. Next time maybe I'll get the 1000 thread count Egyptian sheets ( I never knew such a thing existed).

Take a quiet time out, get a hot cup of chai, snuggle up in your favorite easy chair, and read the adventures of a mole, a toad, a rat, and their friends. I just finished reading The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame.This children's classic is nothing heavy duty, earth shattering or mind boggling. It is just a nice fantasy. BF gave me this little hardcover book. I even enjoyed the pictures. It would be fun to read it aloud. If you can keep my secret, I did read it aloud to Mudge when I started reading it the other day. He wasn't a very attentive listener- he fell asleep. At any rate, it's still a fun story and we could all use a little reprieve from the woes of the world.

Chef BF is back at it. He is off work for a few days so he has been doing kitchen detail. Yummy for me, because he made chicken pot pie with a phyllo dough crust.

Now, I won't complain, but he went to a lot of work and the crust just popped off in three or four layers when it came out of the oven. And, the kitchen was a mess with dough all over the place. The dough had to be broken up and mixed in with the chicken. It was very tasty, but very messy.

BF is a risktaker and after this try, we decided that the regular pie crust is just as good as phyllo. He doesn't have to cook tomorrow because I made beef with barley soup. Maybe he will make homemade bread to go with it. Yum! He's a really good bread maker!

Cashmere- did I say I love it! It's so soft and cozy. I found a gray cashmere sweater at Goodwill which I wore to bed most every night last winter and then the beginning of this winter. It's totally worn out.

Then I have a black turtleneck cashmere sweater that I wear mostly under my vest. Moths somehow found it in the drawer and riddled it with holes. So, I found a new black turtleneck and it's cashmere.

I even have cashmere socks. Luxury, vanity. I'm too old to worry about what others think. Again, cashmere- I love it! I'd have cashmere underwear if I could. :)

M.C. Escher(1898-1972)- isn't his work weird and wonderful? I got out my Escher books and calendars because I am teaching tessellation to my 6th grade art students. I'm emphatically impressed!

You know, sketched lizards coming off of the paper realistic and then back on, stairs leading no where, stairs going up and then change perspective and people are going down the stairs, a head peeled like an orange, and on and on. The guy was really amazing. Even Lindsay Lohan likes Escher.

Maybe it has some thing to do with his name- Maurits Cornelis. At any rate, its great to see the work of such genius. I hope the kids are impressed as much as I am.

Light in August (1932) by William Faulkner is my latest reading material. I thought I had better read some of the classics. No wonder it is called a classic! Faulkner wrote most of his works while in his 30's. This one has racial issues, bootlegging, the poor, life in the South-definitely a portrait of the times.

I don't recall reading other works by Faulkner. Perhaps I read something in high school or during my college career, but I can't remember.

At any rate, this book has definitely developed characters and a plot that twists and turns with some real surprises. I had trouble putting it down. The hardest part is the long repeating sentences and the southern voice. It is a very troubling book with characters that would fit right in with today's bizarre world. As one blip said, the book explores the nature of evil. This will be considered my "heavyduty" reading for the month.

"All Songs Considered" from NPR has been a great gift. AS gave BF two CDs this last year and two the year before. I love the variety of music and never tire of it.

Because of these CDs, I found Moby. So, Moby has become my new favorite to listen to. I especially like "Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?" from Moby Play. Don't really know what to say about Moby except that he is one exceptional guy. More about his life-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moby

If you get a chance, have a listen to this music.

The Madonnas of Leningrad by Debra Dean is an interesting combination of dealing with memory. The main character, Marina, a tour guide, has created a "memory palace" to contain the Hermitage Museum's priceless masterpieces as the German army sets siege to Leningrad in 1941. Young Marina uses her mind and memory to endure terror, horror, hunger, and death as she deals with the war.

In contemporary America, Marina, an elderly grandmother, is dealing with Alzhimer's. Her daughter has little inkling of her mother's past, as is so often the case. How many of us really understand our mother's youth and past?

This was an absorbing reading subject. I found the descriptions of the artwork delightful. Dean has a gift for this. She also gives the State Hermitage Museum website which I couldn't wait to view. How beautiful! The website:http://hermitagemuseum.org/ gives history, digital reproductions of the collections, and a walk through various rooms of the museum.

Yes, the subject of war is always difficult, but it is a reminder that war creates the tragic loss of culture, art, and history.

Handmade cards are my newest old thing. I got a big box of fabulous cards from Lady J and I think I'm inspired. They're the kind of card with little three-dimensional cutouts, glitz, and remarkable designs.

What I mean is that I want to get back into making my own cards. I have made invitations to my teas and maybe a once-in-a-while birthday card. I don't have much equipment-stamps, paper, ink, etc. I guess I will have to be creative, because I'm really not up for a big investment hobby.

So, this may be my new/old thing besides eating, drinking, and reading, of course working ,which I try not to mention. One may be coming your way.