My Bit of Earth

Historical Fiction Challenge: Power of a Woman

For my third and final book of the Royal Reviews Historical Fiction Challenge, I read Power of a Woman, Memoirs of a Turbulent Life: Eleanor of Aquitaine by Robert Fripp.

Eleanor was (to the best of my knowledge and a quick Google search) the only woman ever to really, truly be Queen of both England and France.  (Several French and English monarchs claimed to be the "real" head of the other country--e.g. Mary Queen of Scots and France called herself Queen of England at times just to goad Elizabeth I of England--but Eleanor was the only woman to actually exercise power as Queen in both countries.)  Basically what happened was that Eleanor--who was the duchess of Aquitaine, and therefore a large, rich French landowner--was married to the French King Louis VII for several years.  They eventually grew apart, and--more importantly--didn't have a son, so they were divorced.  Shortly afterward, she married Henry II of England.  They had several children together, including Kings Richard and John of "Robin Hood" fame.

Given all of that, you would expect the story of her life to be pretty thrilling, and it is...just not as it's told in this book.  It's a little sad really.  The author tried to write this from the point of view of Eleanor, old and dying, dictating her memoirs to a young girl.  Before choosing this book, I read several reviews that raved about how the author (a man) had done a wonderful job of capturing the voice of this medieval woman.  Um, not so much.  It's a little hard to explain, but this wasn't the voice of woman.  It was the voice of a man trying to write a woman--a subtle difference maybe, but one that ruined the whole premise for me.

And, even further, the telling of the story is so dry.  The author's "Eleanor" tells her story as if she's reading a history book about herself.  There's nothing about her personal relationships with her two husbands, no details about the quirks and personalities of her children.  I mean, here you have a woman who was in a position to observe and interact with some of the most fascinating characters in European history, and the author doesn't even try to imagine anything about their day to day lives--no conversations, no odd habits, nothing!  What's the point of writing historical fiction if you're not going to do anything but present the bare facts?  

I wish I knew of a good book about Eleanor to recommend in place of this one, because she really was incredible.  Anyone (cough, cough, Kathy) have any ideas?

Although I'm kind of sad to end on such a sour note (and take down Mr. Darcy here), this marks the end of the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge.  To recap, in addition to this not-so-good book, I re-read two of my very favorites--I, Elizabeth,by Rosalind Miles and Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles, by Margaret George.  Thanks to the ladies at Royal Reviews for hosting!

Moe Speaks: A Ruff Weekend

Fun times were had this weekend in this Welsh household!

I kicked off the weekend with a trip to my groomer--finally!  But wouldn't you know it, just as soon as I was all shaved it started icing and snowing--brrrrr! 

And then we had a party for the big basketball game.  All my favorite aunties and uncles came over, but they just sat around and yelled at the TV.  It was hard to have their attention diverted from me, but I did sneak a snack or two when no one was looking, and I also insisted they play with me during the commercials.

Which is what led to this picture.  I was happily chewing on my basketball--which I deflated a few weeks ago so that it would fit into my mouth--when somebody (ahem, Dad) decided it would be a funny hat, and somebody else (ahem, Mom) decided the moment needed to be memorialized with a picture.  Oh, those goofy humans o'mine, I tell you what!

Saturday we had a little post game day breakfast.  Biscuits-and-gravy-and-hashbrowns, oh my!  I think Mom and Dad might have even had eggs with theirs too.  I love it when they go all out, and we all definitely needed to replenish our nutrients after the night before.

And, of course, after such a hardcore breakfast, a hardcore nap was in order.  Dad lit a fire, and all four of us snuggled and slept on the couch as the nasty ice came down outside.  There were some "negotiations" between Porter and I over who would lay where, but in the end it worked out quite satisfactory.  I cuddled in the space next to Mom's belly, Porter tucked into the crook of her knees, and Dad....well, Dad might have ended up on the floor by the end of things, but he was really sweet about it.

Then Sunday, more breakfast, of course.  On the menu for us dogs were waffles and eggs.  The icy stuff had stopped by then, and the sun was out, so we took an afternoon walk-and-sniff around the neighborhood.  

All in all a very nice weekend, but I'm glad I have five weekdays to recover from all that eating and sleeping!

Barefoot Bloggers: Brownie Pudding

The Contessa's Brownie Pudding was one of the Barefoot Bloggers bonus recipes this month, chosen by Tia of Southern, Eh?.  I didn't intend to make it--I generally don't do the extra desserts--but it was Saturday night, there was an ice storm, I had all the stuff in the house, so I figured, eh, why not?

Sweet Husband was a little suspicious--"It's still really gooey in the center, are you sure it's done?"--but once it was cooled it was very much like pudding or mousse with a crunchy brownie crust on top.  I used some of our uber strong Christopher Elbow "drinking chocolate"--for hot chocolate we generally sip it in a shot glass portion rather than from mugs--so it was really, really rich.  Didn't have any ice cream to go with, but a glass of milk washed it down just as well.

For the recipe, see the links above.

Spring?

Although we did not get the foot of snow that was predicted, this icy, drizzley stuff....I do not like it.  While I may avoid having to replant all those lovely veggie seeds I put in the ground the other day--most of them have not sprouted up yet--the daffs are toast.

Daring Bakers: Lasagne

It's Daring Bakers Day! The March 2009 challenge is hosted by Mary of Beans and Caviar, Melinda of Melbourne Larder and Enza of Io Da Grande. They have chosen Lasagne of Emilia-Romagna from The Splendid Table by Lynne Rossetto Kasper as the challenge.

I completely underestimated this recipe.  "Lasagne," I thought, "Ha! I can make lasagne--no problem.  Making my own noodles? Just not that hard.  This one's in the bag!"  

So, having barely skimmed the recipe, I decided it was going to make too much food for just Sweet Husband and I, and (at about 3 on a Saturday afternoon) I texted a friend and her boy asking them to come for dinner at 7:30.  I then headed off to the grocery store and a few other errands, and finally got started cooking at about 5:30.

Um, hi, this is not a two hour recipe.  In fact, the ragu sauce, by itself, is supposed to take 2 1/2 hours.  Was there profanity?  Uh-huh, yes there was.

So, I did the only thing possible--I cheated.  Oh boy did I cheat.  Sauce says to simmer for 45 minutes?  F-that, 15 will do--and so on and so forth.  When Nice Friends arrived (right on time and starving) I was just putting the thing together and into the oven.  

Thankfully Nice Friends brought bread.  

Thankfully I had a wheel-o-cheese in the fridge.  

Thankfully Nice Friends think bread and cheese is an acceptable appetizer.

When we finally got around to eating though, the lasagne was pretty good.  I mean, yes, my noodles should have been thinner, and I think the sauce would have been better if it had actually simmered half the day, and it certainly wasn't the most beautiful lasagne ever....but it did taste pretty good.  I think adding bacon to the sauce is a good idea, and it is certainly something I will do in the future,  even if I never do the rest of it again!  

For the recipe, read on.

Barefoot Bloggers: Tomato and Goat Cheese Tarts

This month's second Barefoot Bloggers recipe was the Contessa's Tomato and Goat Cheese Tarts chosen by Anne of Anne Strawberry. 

My puff pastry did not puff as much as I would have liked, perhaps, but the toppings were really good together--onions and garlicky cheese and tomato and basil and thyme.  Can't wait to try this with summer tomatoes and herbs...and maybe on pizza crust or a tortilla?  It could be a winner.

For the recipe, see the links above.

Eight Random Thoughts for a Wednesday Night

1. I got a massage tonight.  I do not ordinarily splurge on things like that, but I had a gift certificate so, you know, I had to go.  It was nice, except that, um, she hurt me.  Like, seriously hurt me.  I probably should have said something, but I was afraid that maybe it needed to hurt.  Like, maybe there were knots in me that were so bad that they could only be purged by pain. 

2. I have a cool, new comment thingy on my blog.  I was reading SouleMama this morning and saw that she had it, and went all, "Wow! How do I do that?"  And she emailed me back and told me, and now I have a cool, new comment thingy.  Try it out, for reals--it's pretty awesome.

3. Sweet Husband and his "Scotch-night" friends taught Moe how to balance a toy on his nose last night.  I've been trying to do it forever, and they get him to do it when they're all half furshnickered--figures!  (Pictures soon though, I promise--it's so freakin' cute!)

4. But while that all was happening, I was at the first night of my Photo shop class.  Compared to what I knew when I walked in, I now feel like a Photo shop ninja master--and I've still got seven more classes to go.  I forget how much of a buzz I get out of learning completely new things until I just go do it.  It's a good drug.

5. And speaking of learning new things (via Janet at foodperson) the University of Missouri Extension is doing food preservation classes this summer.  They've got pressure canning and dehydrating and freezing and pickling and all kinds of stuff.  I already know how to do some of those things, but a) even with the things I think I know how to do, I always wonder if I'm doing it "right" and b) I'm scared of trying learn to use a pressure canner without a real live human supervising me.  So, I think I'm going to sign up for a few!

6. Have you all played around on Tumblr at all yet?  Random, yes, but the easy-posting format is just a lot of fun.  Some of my favorites are [oneshouldreadeverything], death by chocolate is a myth, it's mary ruffle, and infinite Wisdom springs from infinite Love.  Oh, and, of course, Tumledore.

7. Speaking of which, did you know it's 113 days until the Half-Blood Prince movie comes out?  Almost time to start a 100-day countdown.  And the trailer looks soooo good!  I think this is my favorite of the books, so I'm crazy excited to go see it.  (And it's [mostly] the end of Michael Gambon as Dumbledore...oh Richard Harris, why did you have to leave us?)

8. What is Sweet Husband doing as I type this?  Coming up with his own internet randomness.  Example, weird test answers: "What is a Hindu?  It lays eggs."  

And with that, I think it's officially time to put the internet to bed for the night!

Dewey's Books: Savage Beauty

For my third "Dewey's Book" I read "Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay" by Nancy Milford.  Dewey's review of this book was cursory,

"Milford spent 30 years writing this biography of the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. Millay’s life was notoriously “bohemian,” shocking for the time, but her strongest loyalties were to her writing, her mother and her sisters."

I really chose to read this book because one of my very favorite poems, Recuerdo, is by Millay.  The second verse:

We were very tired, we were very merry— 
    We had gone back and forth all night on the ferry; 
    And you ate an apple, and I ate a pear, 
    From a dozen of each we had bought somewhere; 
    And the sky went wan, and the wind came cold, 
    And the sun rose dripping, a bucketful of gold.

I have to confess though, despite being a fan of Millay, I didn't make it all the way through the book.  It wasn't that the story was uninteresting, it was just that Milford is incredibly thorough--too much so for my liking.  I got a little over half way, and then got impatient and skipped to the last chapter.  

Keeping that in mind, I think Dewey's summary of the book is accurate, but I would add that I was amazed at how sure Millay was of herself.  Writing from such a young age, and being so positive that that's what she just had to do....that kind of sense of purpose is mind-boggling to me.  I think I'd like to find a less tedious biography of Millay and try to get all the way through it. 

Early Plantings and Movings and Gardening Things

Stopped by the nursery on the way home at the end of last week, and came away with a plant or two.  It's kind of hard planning this year.  I gave up my plot in the community garden--people were clamoring for spots, and I knew that a) I'll have my own place soon and b) I'm not sure I'll have time--but I still gotta plant something, right?  I mean, what would I talk about all summer with no garden?

So, I decided on some early veggies.  I planted seeds for lettuce and radishes and peas, and bought some little broccoli plants--all plunked in pots and the planter at home.  If they grow before we move, great.  If not, I'll leave what I can't take for the new occupants (who are really good friends who enjoy fresh veggies).

I also decided to move the tulips, already popping up as pictured at lower left.  Don't ask me what possessed me--I've probably killed them for good this time--but maybe they'll still bloom...probably...I hope?

The Grocery List: Salad Days

As I sat down to make this week's grocery list, all I could think of that sounded good was a big, green, leafy salad and a perfect, sweet piece of corn on the cob.  The thought of cheesy pasta or anything else even remotely heavy was just gross.  

It's funny how a little change in the weather will do that.  And while it's a little early for actual corn on the cob, I think I came home with enough lettuce for a family of ten.  This week's list:

• Salmon cakes with salad
• Pizza with Egg and Lots of Other Good Stuff
• Omega 3 and Couscous
• Lamb Kebab Wraps With Pistachios and Spicy Salad
• Penne With Beef and Arugula
• Chickpea Patties and Corn (had to buy the frozen stuff, alas!)and--let's face it--probably more salad

(Picture c/o.)

Second Day of Spring Chicks

I spent all week thinking today was the first day of Spring.  I made plans to spend the day frolicking about to celebrate, and I made Sweet Husband promise he would go to the local feed store with me so I could stand and gaze longingly at the baby chicks for awhile.

Turns out, the first day of Spring was yesterday, but we had to go see the chicks anyway, of course.  Sadly, it will still probably be next Spring before we bring some home, but--on the upside--our feed store actually has quite a bit of variety, so I think I should be able to get whatever I want there rather than trying to mail order.

Don't they just make you want to nuzzle them?

Sacks from Sheets

I may never buy full price fabric again (well, not really, but you know).  I have now made almost three projects from a pair of old sheets I found for less than $10 at the thrift store:  PJ pants, these pillows (which I'm still working on), and these little sacks....

It's just a drawstring sack, but if you need directions (and they do make it better) Betz White has a tutorial here.  She made her's for shoes.  I may make some for shoes eventually, but these were meant for other purposes.  I kept the striped one for myself as a little knitting project holder--lately I never have enough of those--and gave the flowery one away with some yarn in it--a little eco-friendly wrap-sack.

The House

Random (Almost) Spring Thoughts on Sleeping

We had to leave town for a little family emergency on Monday (everything's OK, no worries), so blogging and everything else this week has gone all topsy-turvy.

But, briefly....

Does anyone else get all conflicted about their sleeping habits in the Spring?  Some mornings I want to leap up as if I might "hear golden trumpets".  (Props to anyone who knows what that's from.)  But some mornings (like today) when it's just the perfect temperature (cool enough to snuggle under blankets, but not cold), and a yummy smelling breeze is coming in through the window, and there's a bird chirping idyllically outside....mmm, it would have been such a perfect day to stay in bed for awhile!

A Ride and a Camel, but not a Ride on a Camel

Sometimes when it's nice on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, we'll just hop on the scoot and drive somewhere.  Sometimes we start with a destination, sometimes not, sometimes we make it, sometimes not--you know.

From top left and clockwise....Sweet Husband on the scoot (I know, the helmet is a trip, but it keeps his brain safe so I love it)....burning fields (I love the smell this time of year--keep thinking of going on one of these tours, but I haven't made it happen yet for one reason or another)....a possibly pregnant cow....a camel (Yeah, I know a camel!  In the middle of a field--so weird, made the whole drive!).

Moe Speaks: My Spot

This is my spot on the stairs.  It's one of my favorite places to lay--in addition to my basket--because from here I can survey my entire domain.  Thus situated, I can....

• look through the kitchen window to see if anyone is arriving....
• keep track of my humans, even if one is upstairs and the other is down....   
• monitor activity in the kitchen, and be there in a jiffy if my floor cleaning services are needed....
• almost instantly assail anyone walking through the back door, whether with springs and kisses (for people I love, such as my Uncle Bruce) or with scary barks (for people who are Suspicious)....
• observe and react quickly if a human moves my leash as if to take me on a walk....

....and I can do all of this while appearing to be asleep!  

Do any of you other dogs have a tactically advantageous spot where you like to hang out?

Barefoot Bloggers: Chicken Piccata and Broccolini

This month's first Barefoot Bloggers recipe was the Contessa's Chicken Piccata, chosen by Lindsey of Noodle Nights and Muffin Mornings.  I also went ahead and made one of this month's bonus recipes, Sauteed Broccolini, chosen by Mary of Meet Me in the Kitchen.

These two went very well together--they could have been called "The Dinner of the Three Lemons"!  The chicken was lovely and moist--as breaded chicken generally is--and the lemon and wine added something nice.  The broccolini was a little too lemony for me, but I think mine got doused in the chicken sauce in addition to it's own lemon juice, so that was probably the real problem with that.

For recipes, see the links above!

Look What's Waking Up

Although it's still chilly out, my 'Red Riding Hood' tulips and daffodils are beginning to make their annual appearance.  

I'm a little surprised that they've all come back, actually.  They were swamped by morning glories just about the second they got done blooming last year, and I was afraid they might not have gotten a chance to properly rest and re-fuel.  

Shows what I know, eh?

Porter Speaks: The Start of Walking Season

We've been on four walks in the past week--you know what that means....Walking Season has begun!

Let me explain.  I know silly humans divide it out even further, but for dogs the year has two seasons--Walking Season and Not Walking Season.  

During Not Walking Season we stay inside and lay by the fire and eat all kinds of good food.  Only very badly trained humans expect their dogs to spend much time outside during Not Walking Season.

During Walking Season we go on long walks almost everyday.  There's lots of sniffing and p-mailing and occasionally--if you have well-trained humans like mine--even a vanilla ice cream cone or a cheeseburger.

While both seasons are wonderful in their own place and time, I always look forward to getting out into the sun and starting Walking Season after being inside all winter. 

I Have An Announcement Everybody, I Have An Announcement

*Ding, ding, ding.*  (Think spoon clinking on wine glass.)

I would like to announce that this year's garden will be getting a late start and much limited in scope...due to the fact that, just yesterday, we signed a contract to buy our first house!

*Happy dance!*

Of course, we still have inspections and appraisals and all that fun to get through before it's really-truly a done deal--as a perpetual worrywart I have to give that disclaimer--but there's no reason to suspect that it won't all go well.

And it's so adorable!  It's about a hundred years old, but the current owners have really given it some love.  Beautiful hardwood floors, two nice porches (a big one in front, and a screened-in one in back), a cast iron tub in the bath, very pretty concrete counters in the kitchen...and the garden, oh my god, the garden!  It's heaven--established herbs and asparagus, fruit trees, veggie beds already in place, a little section of prairie....yay, yay yay!

Moving date is June 12th!